'Forgotten Island' co-director Joel Crawford dedicates film to Filipino wife
MANILA, Philippines — Filmmaker Joel Crawford feels a deep connection sharing the helm of "Forgotten Island" as both his wife Kathy and co-director Januel Mercado are Filipino-American.
The newest movie from DreamWorks Animation is heavily inspired by the culture, mythology, and folklore of the Philippines.
It follows best friends Raissa and Jo (Liza Soberano and Gabrielle Sarmiento Wilson or H.E.R., also Filipino-Americans) who are stranded in the mystical world of the forgotten island of Nakali, where the only way home may mean losing a lifetime of memories and emotions.
Liza, H.E.R., and the two directors were in the Philippines last August 25 to promote the film ahead of its wide release next month.
Speaking to members of the media including Philstar.com, Crawford was asked about the specificity of using Filipino culture as the backdrop for "Forgotten Island."
Crawford pointed to the said specificity as the movie's heart and humor, sharing that uniquely Filipino traits like pointing with one's lips was something he wrote into the script — with Mercado's approval — having grown up near a Filipino community.
The director also said the project feels so personal and inviting to the Filipino culture, also serving as his heart going out to Kathy, his wife.
Kathy was nine years old when she left her hometown of Quezon City to live in the United States. She and Crawford have been married now for two decades and are parents to three kids.
"What she's been so open to me is share in terms of identity of who you are, of when you leave the place that are your roots, finding your voice, and finding you matter no matter where you're at," the filmmaker continued.
In telling the film's story, Crawford ensured he was being respectful to Kathy, representing her correctly, and make her feel "she's not alone in feeling this way."
"When you can see one person talk to another person in the writing, directing, or acting, we talk to everybody," the director ended.
"Forgotten Island" also features the voices of Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy, Filipino-Canadian actor Manny Jacinto, Filipino-American actress Amielynn Abellera, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, and Ronny Chieng. It hits Philippine theaters on September 23.
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