Finally, a Pinay at the Oscar Awards!

LOS ANGELES — After 78 long years of Oscar Awards history, a Filipina filmmaker has finally made the list of nominees.

Pia Clemente recalled the morning she found out "Our Time is Up," a short film she co-produced with American writer, director and producer Rob Pearlstein, made it to the nominees’ list in the Short Film, Live Action category:

"I was in the East Coast visiting my dad. Luckily I didn’t have to get up at 5:30 in the morning. I was in front of the television, looking for any kind of news about it. At the same time, my computer was on as I kept hitting the refresh button, waiting for something. After an hour of nothing, I got up, ready to start my day. That’s when Rob Pearlstein called me. I just heard his voice. Immediately I asked, ‘Are we in?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, we’re in.’ And we cheered and hugged each other over the phone. We were just so excited," she told members of the Filipino American press who joined her in Culver City, CA recently for an intimate gathering to celebrate her feat.

Winston Emano of Fil-Am Arts, a non-stock, non-profit organization that aims to promote Filipino culture in LA, arranged for the gathering at the Filipino-owned HighGround Visual Effects studio.

"This is huge. It’s not often you hear the words ‘Filipino’ and ‘Oscar’ mentioned in one sentence so when it’s an occasion as rare as this, it’s something that we all celebrate," he explained, adding that Clemente’s nomination comes as a very encouraging news to other Fil-Ams struggling to make it in the industry. "They now realize that it is possible. It can be done."

It Can Be Done

"Our film is about 14 minutes long. We had won as Best Film in the Aspen Film Festival which was a qualifier for the Academy Awards. As a result, we got an entry and we made it here to this round," Clemente said to introduce her short film which stars notable actor Kevin Pollack as a psychiatrist dealing with the issues of his patients while coming to terms with his own terminal disease.

Clemente said she was introduced to Pearlstein by a common friend; and that became the start of their successful collaboration. She admitted to liking the script right after the first time she read it. But she added that when they started with pre-production, the golden statuette that had long been elusive to the Filipinos and other minorities was the farthest thing from her mind.

"You do a movie because you want to tell the story and you want to make a good film and you want a festival to get exposure and you want people to see the work you do and create a resume of work. You never think this could happen and here it is happening," she said.

Clemente has been working in the entertainment industry for the past decade. In 2000 she worked as staff producer at Orbit Productions, a commercial production company. After Orbit, she became a freelance producer/ production supervisor for projects with companies such as Coppos Films, Bob Industries and Moxie Pictures. Her commercial credits include campaigns for Volkswagen. Target, Sears, Carl’s Jr. and The Manadalay Bay Hotel.

She also worked on the Filipino coming-of-age film "The Debut" as a line producer. It was on that set that she built strong friendships with other Fil-Am actors, including the lead actor Dante Basco who will soon be starring in the film "Take the Lead" with Antonio Banderas.

Despite his busy schedule that includes taping for Disney Channel’s cartoon called "The American Dragon" in which he is also the lead; and doing a show called "Avatar" on Nickelodeon; Basco attended the gathering to personally congratulate Clemente: "I’m very overwhelmed. Working with someone on a film is like going to war with someone. Afterwards you always have this kinship feeling for a fellow artist, a fellow filmmaker. And so to see them later get recognized and validated, you’re just overwhelmed with pride and love. It’s just exciting."

Clemente also shared the honor with her fellow Fil-Ams in the industry: "We’re growing up together. We’re growing in the industry. This is us now and we’re just trying to have a voice and have an influence. This is a very special time for us."

A Very Special Time

For the Oscar awards night on March 5th, two questions are asked the petite Bulakeña: 1. Who will she wear on the night of the Oscars? 2. Who will she bring as her date?

In response to the first and, according to her, "the most asked question," this "proud to be Pinay" announced that she would love to wear a Filipino designer. Monique Lhuiller who was in New York for Fashion Week was one name that stood out. David Tupaz and Rajo Laurel are finally doing her gown.

The second question is more difficult for her to resolve, having come from a close-knit family, with two younger brothers.

"Maybe we’ll draw a lottery, or the person who’ll give me the largest gift," she said jokingly, although she clarified that it’s not only a toss up between her two brothers. "My dad and mom also want to go."

Clemente was only 3 years old when the family migrated to New Jersey. Both her parents are from Bulacan; her father from Santa Maria, and her mother from Bocaue. Clemente noted that the first thing she did after she got the call from Pearlstein was to call her family to tell them the good news.

"It was such a pure moment when I told them. It means so much to me that it means so much to my family," she said. "When I was in my twenties I was watching the Oscars with my father and he said, ‘Wouldn’t that be great if one day that was you?’"

What seemed to be a rhetorical question is answered now. And beyond the questions of "Who to wear?" and "Who to bring?" and other preparations for Oscar night, if Pia Clemente makes it, she will be the first ever Filipina to take home the much-coveted Oscars. And then there’ll be no question about it.