Quinn Carillo (Images courtesy of Facebook)
Talented actress and writer Quinn Carillo recently unveiled the story behind her journey of literary creation. It all began during her high school years, when a jolt of inspiration struck her, igniting her passion to craft her very own captivating tale.
"Noong first year high school ako we had this activity na we had to write a very sad story na kailangan mapaiyak daw namin yung teacher ko," said Quinn, during a press conference for her latest movie "Litrato" under 3:16 Media Network recently.
(In my first year high school we had this activity where we had to write a very sad story that we had to make my teacher cry.)
Quinn added: "Sabi ng teacher ko, you know you have a bright future in writing. Ang ganda-ganda ng sinulat mo. Sobrang naiyak daw siya. At that time siyempre bata palang ako. Feeling ko nakatsamba lang ako nun eh. Pero sabi niya ituloy mo yang pagsusulat kasi ang ganda ngh nabuo mong story. I never would have thought na isang bata na tulad mo ang nagsulat nito."
(My teacher said, you know you have a bright future in writing. What you wrote was beautiful. She said she cried a lot. And at that time, of course, I was just a child. I feel like I was just overwhelmed by it. But she said keep writing because the story you created is beautiful. I never would have thought that a child like you wrote this.) Since then, Quinn was inspired to write anything.
"Nagsusulat na ako noon pero hindi ko pa naman sineseryoso. I think mga Grade 5 or Grade 6 ako nun. Mahilig talaga ako sa anime. I have a Japanese friend who taught me how to draw at gumagawa kami ng mga manga, drawings," she said.
(I used to write but I didn't take it seriously. I think I was in Grade 5 or Grade 6. I really like anime. I have a Japanese friend who taught me how to draw and we make manga, drawings.)
Quinn said that she has been writing professionally for two years now. Her very first screenplay was the movie "Tahan" which starred Jaclyn Jose. In December 2022, Quinn wrote the Metro Manila Film Festival official entry "My Father, Myself" starring Jake Cuenca, Sean De Guzman, and Dimples Romana.
She gets the inspiration to write from people around her.
"Minsan may magku-kuwento sa akin at bigla akong makakakuha ng idea. I would ask permission kung pwede ko ba isulat yun sa film.
"Marami na rin ang lumalapit sa akin dahil nakapagsimula na rin naman ako like yung 'My Father, Myself' for 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival. Sila na rin talaga yung lumalapit para magkwento at doon ako nakakakuha ng inspiration," Quinn said.
Quinn also said that her favorite genre is psycho-thriller.
"Genre ko talaga is psycho thriller. Nakita naman natin yun sa 'Tahan.' Pero ngayon okay din naman yung drama. Pero mas gusto ko rin talaga ang psycho thriller (movies)," she added.
Asked about her goals in showbiz, Quinn said: "Siguro I want to write something that would elevate the Philippine cinema na tipong hindi na natin kailangan sumunod sa formula. I think we're ready na. Marami ang nanonood kung ito ay something different pero yun nga lang marami ring matatakot kasi baka hindi bumenta sa cinema."
Quinn shared her unsolicited advice on writing a screenplay.
"The same advice that Direk Dennis Marasigan had given me, which is magsulat ka lang. Huwag kang matakot. Bata pa lang kasi ako talagang nagsusulat na ako. Isulat mo lang. Yun ang sabi niya sa akin. And then saka mo na i-try kung may makakagusto patra gawing pelikula. My professors would always tell me to take criticisms or rejections with a grain of salt. As an artist, you know your work than anyone. Alam mo yung potential ng gawa mo or lakas ng gawa mo. So kung ayaw nila, it's okay. Meron naman dyang iba na same or align kayo ng vision," she added.
(The same advice that Direk Dennis Marasigan had given me, which is just to write. Don't be afraid. I have been writing since I was young. Just write. That's what he told me. And then consider later your work for the movies. My professors would always tell me to take criticisms or rejections with a grain of salt. As an artist, you know your work more than anyone. You know the potential of your work or the power of your work. So if they don't like it, it's okay. Someday you will meet people with the same or aligned vision.)
Aside from screenplay, Quinn also loves acting.
"Sobrang nag-enjoy ako sa acting. Noong una hindi ko ine-expect na mag-eenjoy ako kasi I've always been behind the stage," she said. (I really enjoy acting. At first, I didn't expect to enjoy it because I've always been behind the stage.)
In the latest movie "Litrato," Quinn said that she cherished her scenes with AiAi Delas who's very supportive and caring on the set.
"Marami kaming eksena ni Ms AiAi. Halos buong movie nakasama ko po siya. Story conference pa lang na-starstruck na po ako kay Ms Ai. Noong bata pa ako napapanood ko lang sila. Now kasama ko na sila. Hindi po siya nakaka-pressure kasi like everyone, she's very supportive. Sobrang maalaga po siya at ramdam ko na hindi niya ako pinababayaan sa mga eksena," she said.
(Ms. AiAi and I had many scenes. I was with her almost the entire movie. I was already starstruck by Ms. Ai at the story conference. When I was young I could only watch her. Now I am with her. She's very supportive. She's very caring on the set.)
Quinn goes to college at the Meridian International Center, where's she taking up multimedia arts. "Doon ko rin natutunan yung pag-scriptwriting." (That's also where I learned scriptwriting).
Directed by Louie Ignacio, "Litrato" also stars Ara Mina and Liza Lorena. The movie opens in local cinemas on July 26.
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