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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
One can say that a company is only as good as its leadership, and then only as good as the vision which that leadership exhibits and places into action. Our unique team possess the skills and experience needed to meet the challenges of this daring film. The following currently comprise our winning team of essential management, legal, production, financing and creative professionals:
Management & Financing
PRODUCER / FOUNDER — John Henry MulderPRODUCER / ACTOR / WRITER — Christina Tongco GarciaOne of the driving forces behind the film's successful execution and soon to be realized commercial success, Mulder founded Mulder-Tongco Entertainment LLC in collaboration with actor/producer Christina Tongco Garcia on whose family story the film is based.
John Mulder brings to the table 10 years of business experience in diverse and professional positions including sales, marketing, and management in the biotechnology, software, and media production industry. He has successfully managed large, complex projects involving multimillion dollar budgets beginning with his illustrious career in biotechnology where he managed teams of researchers at Roche Molecular systems from 1991-1996 to pioneer novel HIV diagnostics tools - resulting in greatly reduced drug development time. He later co-founded a successful media production company in 1997 to produce cutting-edge computer animation for Sun Microsystems to demonstrate the power of real-time animation rendering technology. In 1998, Mulder spearheaded the sale and delivery of North America's largest LINUX-based supercomputer to Lawrence Livermore National Labs in the fall of 2003. This $20 million dollar supercomputer, utilizing one of the most advanced large cluster self-monitoring technologies available, has helped to revolutionize the supercomputing industry.
Despite his many accomplishments outside of the film industry, Mulder's passion for filmmaking has been ever-present and unwavering. Even as a youth, Mulder could be found with his Super-8 film camera creating imaginary worlds filled with strange and interesting characters. He has since produced numerous film shorts and explored both traditional and computer animation-based storytelling.
A member of the Independent Film Producers association (IFP) in Los Angeles, he co-founded Mulder-Tongco Entertainment, LLC as a foundation to produce Asian-themed films which posses both commercial and lasting artistic value. His ability to leverage his extensive and unique mix of business/ artistic backgrounds to carry the vision of The Pearl of the Orient to fruition is the hallmark of his success.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER — Fred deWysockiBorn in the Bicol region of the Philippines to a politically influential family, Christina Garcia's family connections have opened doors essential to the successful mass marketing of the film to the 5+ million strong Filipino community groups in the U.S. and abroad, as well as supporting with important location logistics in the Philippines.
More importantly, as the descendent of the real Elizabeth from whom the story is inspired, Garcia offers a truly unique perspective into the life of the characters portrayed in the screenplay. Her insight, along with her grandmother's heartfelt true accounts, have proven to be vitally important to convey the required sense of authenticity and emotional depth to the story. Equally important is her profound ability to embody the character Elizabeth on camera. She has truly been the driving creative force behind the film and is crucial to its success. Her unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to the project has been truly remarkable.
Christina Garcia also brings an in-depth understanding of the entire production process itself. Upon arriving to the U.S. in 1997, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Television, Radio, and Theater at San Jose State University, and later continued her acting studies at the renowned American Conservatory Theater (ACT) in San Francisco. In 2002 she co-founded Mulder-Tongco Entertainment LLC with fellow producer John H. Mulder to pursue development of The Pearl of the Orient.
She has dedicated all of her resources and experience to overseeing the essential creative aspects of the film's production, as well as providing ongoing script writing collaboration with Ken Russell.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER — Kevin WilsonFred deWysocki is partner and co-founder of Fantastic Films International, LLC. In 2004, he began executive producing with credits that include: Agent Crush (Ioan Gruffudd, Neve Campbell, Brian Cox, Roger Moore), Thru The Moebius Strip (Jonathan Taylor-Thomas, Mark Hamill, Michael Dorn), Medium Raw (John Rhys-Davis), The Snow Prince (Lord Richard Attenborough, Gabriel Byrne) and The Pearl of the Orient (cast to be announced).
Prior to co-founding FFI, deWysocki has been a leading international sales professional for over 20 years. He started the Global Voice and Video sales division of BT (British Telecom) Infonet and was the driving force in growing the company’s international voice and video sales revenues to over $100M annually. DeWysocki has a patent pending for pricing analysis tools he developed at Infonet and as the company’s International Sales Director, he traveled to over 40 countries during his tenure. He holds a Psychology degree from BOSTON COLLEGE and has also performed in over 10 theatrical productions in New York.
Fred deWysocki's passion for film and experience as an executive producer has been invaluable to the success of The Pearl of the Orient. The producers of the film look forward to a lasting, productive partnership with deWysocki and Fantastic Films International.
Eldest son to the late comedian Flip Wilson, Charles Kevin Wilson grew up among the Hollywood elite. He followed in his father’s footsteps into the entertainment industry at an early age, often working by his father’s side as a production assistant during the peak of his TV and film career. Later, Wilson tried his hand at stand up comedy and made occasional appearances at popular Los Angeles comedy clubs.
During the early 1990’s, Wilson sought more challenging business ventures and eventually partnered with life-long friend Franco Basile, brother of 15 year Grammy Awards® producer Renato Basile, to form a music production company specializing in producing songwriters and singers. Wilson’s company enjoyed several pop chart hits during the 1990’s. He is currently co-producing a concert in Dubai that is to be the first of its kind - paving the way for other major venues. Scheduled for late October 2007, the venue will host A-list talent including The Pussycat Dolls and Gwen Stefani.
Wilson has been involved since the early stages of development as his relationships in Hollywood have helped open important doors to cast and financing opportunities. He is also concurrently developing a feature film about his late father tentatively entitled The Flip Wilson Story in collaborating with former head of Sony Pictures, Mark Canton - producer of the blockbuster hit 300 (2007). Cuba Gooding Jr. is set to star as the late comedian.
ProductionOSCAR™-NOMINATED DIRECTOR / WRITER — Ken Russell
The "ageing enfant terrible" of the British cinema, Ken Russell has done more than any other director to open up controversy and anger among those who rarely go near their local screen. The 2-time Oscar™ nominated director tried several professions before choosing to become a film director. He was a still-photographer, a dancer and even served in the army, but it was film that was to be Russell's destiny.
He began by making several short films that paved the way for his brilliant television films of the sixties - acclaimed for his attention to detail and opulent visuals. His third feature film Women in Love (1969) was a triumph bringing him international acclaim and recognition as a filmmaker.
In the 1970s his talent truly blossomed. And over the next 3 decades he would direct a succession of remarkable films including Tommy (1975), Altered States (1980), Crimes of Passion (1984), Gothic (1986) and the cult classic Lair of the White Worm (1988). Most of these films contained his trademark flamboyance that still continues to engross audiences. In spite of his propensity to shock, Russell is a serious director of distinction, whose grounding in television, where he made a number of excellent, imaginative biographies of composers (Elgar, Sibelius, Strauss etc), has given him a command of cinematic language of astonishing fluency. Russell will forever be remembered as a controversial, visionary artist and icon with something of a "third eye" when it comes to making memorable films with captivating images and themes.
Ken Russell's passion and "third eye" will no doubt make The Pearl of the Orient an instant classic, as well. His lucid vision and steadfast guidance of the film will ensure its ultimate success from an artistic as well as commercial perspective. He also possesses a deep appreciation for the struggles of the Philippine people and richness of their culture, and it shows in his screenplay. The entire production team is eternally grateful for Ken Russell's dedication to the film, and fervent enthusiasm for the craft.
A complete filmography of Mr. Russell's nearly 81 films, numerous acting roles and writing efforts can be found here: View Ken Russell's Bio & Filmography
U.S. LINE PRODUCER — Bruce Wayne Gillies
PRODUCTION DESIGNER — Robb Wilson KingDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY — Zoran PopovicFILM EDITOR — Michael BradsellCOSTUME DESIGNER — Victoria Russell
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR / VISUAL EFFECTS COORDINATOR — Jeannine DupuyWRITER — Richard Lasser
PHILIPPINES LINE PRODUCER — Oli Laperal Jr.Mr. Oli Laperal, Jr. was born in rural Philippines in 1950. After graduating Engineering College in Manila in Electro Mechanics at age 19, he left to study in the U.S. where he later received an MBA from Cornell in Marketing and Finance in 1975.
Mr. Laperal returned to Manila in the early 1980s where worked in banking, finance, and real estate development before he founded his own production company RS Video & Film Productions. Today, RSVP is one of the largest production and rental houses in Southeast Asia, and is responsible for the production of hundreds of local film spots for all the major advertising agencies, foreign feature films, U.S. feature films (Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July) documentaries, MTV and news strings. RSVP is also a factory authorized service center for many film cameras, lenses, lights, grip, generators, etc.
He brings to the table the resources needed to successfully conduct filming in the Philippines safely, cheaply, and on schedule. His connections with the local and state governments are extensive, and will prove invaluable for obtaining permits and security forces. He has a permanent, full time staff of over 100 local personnel, some of whom have trained in Hollywood, Munich, and London.
Mr. Laperal specializes in coordinating and facilitating local and foreign filming requirements, securing government and military permits, importation and liaising with various government agencies, location scouts, and much more.
Cast MembersCasting is currently in progress. Click Here to contact our casting office for more information.
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2007 Mulder-Tongco Entertainment, LLC