Key Points
- Filipinos are the fifth largest migrant population in Australia, despite this, there's rarely a show on television about Filipinos.
- With the help of SBS and Screen Australia, the animation 'Fish Boi' aims to give a glimpse into the lives of Filipinos in Australia.
- Oscar Shortlisted animator and writer-director Robertino Zambrano's 'Kapwa' is one of 18 recipients of Screen Australia's Enterprise Business Grant Program.
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Robertino Zambrano's Kapwa among the 18 Screen Australia's Enterprise Business recipients
16:32
'Fish Boi'
Inspired by conversations with friends about the lack of Filipino representation on Australian television, Oscar Shortlisted animator, writer and director Robertino Zambrano set out to create 'Fish Boi,' crafting a story that reflects his own experiences.
"It did start as this idea that, maybe we should make something that's based on our life experiences, growing up in Sydney and then in Western Sydney, as Filipinos."
In due time and collaboration with producer and filmmaker Dulce Aguilar, the story of 'Fish Boi' took shape.
"When Robertino approached me with this amazing project, I couldn't say no. So many stories in my own life experience resonated with what he was talking about and it was just, I think. it's time for us to partner up and really get these stories out there," shares Aguilar.
'Fish Boi' follows the story of Kiko 'Fish Boi' Dela Cruz, a stuck-in-the-rut fish deliveryman who is forced to raise the stakes on his side-hustle game to avert the demise of his parents’ Filipino Mini-Mart.
We're sort of like Aussie but still Filipino stuck-in-between kind of generation. And, you know, it's fun to be able to tell that story.
In December 2023, they submitted the story of 'Fish Boi' to the Digital Originals Initiative of SBS, National Indigenous Television (NITV) and Screen Australia where they were among the 10 shortlisted among the 197 applicants.
"Screen Australia, SBS and NITV run this program annually called Digital Regionals. It's a talent escalator and project development program, for emerging creatives and underrepresented creatives in the industry," Zambrano reiterates.
"It's basically to help people develop short form, drama projects that will end up being a sort of six by ten-minute mini-series that will go live on SBS on Demand, or NITV, or SBS Viceland.”
In July 2024, SBS and Screen Australia announced that 'Fish Boi' is officially included in the funding for development.
The Digital Originals initiative is aimed at developing exciting and innovative short-form drama projects to premiere as a single hour-long episode program on SBS On Demand, SBS Viceland and NITV, from screen creatives historically under-represented in the sector.
Representation
Writer-director-producer Robertino Zambrano was born in the Philippines but grew up in northwest Sydney.
"I grew up in the north-western Sydney area and growing up I have not seen anything on TV in Australia about us [Filipinos]."
Fish Boi producer, Dulce Aguilar (left) and creator-writer-director, Robertino Zambrano. Credit: Fish Boi
"The big message [from this story] is that a lot of the time we'll end up finding that a lot of the tools and the things we want out of our lives are actually what can make us happy and make us connect to our own essence and the community around us," says the animator.
A big part of that message does resonates with other Australians and other cultures too. Because I think all Australians, we’re all migrants of some sort and everyone is trying to define their own identity and find that in the people around you."
Each of us and every new generation of Filipinos will have to find their own way of being Filipino... And a lot of times you think you have to run away from who you are, who your parents are, just to find your own way.
For Aguilar, having that third-culture experience would have that kind of multi-layered identity or being raised with the ethnicity and the culture of the Filipino community, but also being raised in a country that is not the Philippines.
"Especially for me who was born and raised here [in Australia]. There's a disconnect that you do feel growing up, but you were so ingrained in it, including all the eating, and the chismis, the titas and all of that, they're still part of my life, which really ties me to the Philippines," Aguilar fondly talks about some of the Filipino traits.
For Zambrano, he's no stranger to projects that represent his heritage.
He graduated with a degree in design and continued doing animation while working in advertising agencies.
His multidisciplinary approach as director and designer developed during his time in New York, US between 2008 and 2012.
When he returned to Sydney after living in the US, he founded 'Kapwa' in 2013, a boutique design and animation studio that was initially a commercial motion graphics studio.
Kapwa was founded to pay homage to his Filipino roots all while bringing honour too for Australia when their studio's first animated film, Love in the Time of March Madness, was released by their studio.
It won the Tribeca Film Festival at its premiere and was later shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2016.
Members of the 10 shortlisted projects, including Fish Boi, who took part at the Digital Originals Workshop in 2023 hosted by SBS, NITV and Screen Australia. Credit: Mark Gambin as supplied by Robertino Zambrano
"We want to tackle a lot of these issues with the mix of drama and a bit of comedy, just to use that as a tool to be able to laugh at ourselves and our own experiences, especially some of the experiences," Zambrano explains.
Filmmaker Dulce adds that comedy and drama are also important in the lives of Filipinos.
"The whole idea of comedy and drama is very integral to, I think the Filipino culture, we love to laugh at ourselves laughter and fun and just kind of having a really light heart is really integral and it's what our communities like. I just felt it resonated so much with our community,"
Support for 'Kapwa'
In July 2024, Screen Australia announced over $5.2 million in funding for 18 individuals and 18 business recipients to help them with their projects.
Robertino Zambrano's Kapwa is among the 18 organisations and companies receiving the Enterprise Business Grant Program.
'Kapwa' is among the 18 recipients of the Screen Australia Enterprise Business Grant program. Credit: Kapwa
"I think for a lot of creatives it feels like we're outsiders from a lot of this process and you'd ask yourself how do I get into these programs," Robertino points out.
With the help of the funding, Kapwa proposes to establish a Filipino-Australian focused Film & TV slate and talent development program.
"This is basically a gateway for people like us and other people to actually get the ideas and actually get to make and be in charge of making it," Robertino gladly shares.
"These organisations are really trying to help people who are emerging really working hard out there trying to make their own content," Dulce Aguilar adds.
