LOS ANGELES—Not one but two Filipino-Americans are nominated in the upcoming 83rd annual Academy Awards that will be held on February 27, 2011.Filipino cinematographer Matthew Libatique of Black Swan, who is the son of Justiniano Libatique (from Dagupan, Pangasinan) and wife Georgina (from Lucena, Quezon), is the first 100-percent Filipino to earn a major Oscar nomination. Libatique, who already bagged Best Cinematography from the Los Angeles Film Critics, the New York Film Critics, and the New York Online awards, is nominated for best in cinematography for his work on Black Swan. He’ll be competing against the cinematographers of Inception, The King’s Speech, The Social Network, and True Grit.
Also representing at the Academy Awards this year is 14-year-old actress Hailee Steinfeld, whose father is Jewish and whose mother, Cheri, is part-Filipina. She’s been nominated in the best supporting actress category for her performance in True Grit and will be competing against Golden Globe winner Melissa Leo of The Fighter; Amy Adams, also of The Fighter; Helena Bonham Carter of The King’s Speech; and Jacki Weaver of Animal Kingdom.
LIBATIQUE, MAGNIFIQUE!Forty-two-year-old Matthew Libatique, who is fondly known as Matty to his colleagues, won a Best Cinematography trophy from the Independent Spirit Awards for Requiem for a Dream, which was named one of the best shot films of 1998-2008 by the American Cinematographer, the magazine of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
A former American Film Institute (AFI) classmate of Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky, Libatique has impressed Aronofsky so much that he has already done four other films with him—Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, Pi, and Protozoa—and will soon be working with him on a fifth: Wolverine 2.
The award-winning cinematographer has come a long way from his first job delivering lechon as a 16-years-old; but he credits his dad as his first tutor in the art of photography, having learned the basics after being given his first camera.
Libatique, who began his career shooting music videos, has done films with Spike Lee (Inside Man, Miracle at St. Anna, and She Hate Me), Joel Schumacher (Tigerland and Phone Booth) and Jon Favreau (Iron Man and Iron Man 2).
Says Aronofsky of Libatique, “We actually grew up with similar backgrounds. He grew up in Queens, and I grew up in Brooklyn, so we have a lot in common. We just connected really well. It has been a really great lifelong collaboration. And Matty, of course, has gone on to do these huge films like Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Cowboys and Aliens. He’s big time now. It is great working with him because he is able to bring that skill set.”
Plus, Aronofsky added, “Matty also makes the best chicken adobo!”
ALL HAIL HAILEEThe lovely, charming, and talented Hailee Steinfeld admits, “I have not been to the Philippines, but I am looking forward to going there one of these days. I hear it is a beautiful country.”
Steinfeld, whose performance as Mattie Ross in the 2010 adaptation of True Grit by Ethan and Joel Coen also earned her nods from the Houston Film Critics Society and the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association.
We recently bumped into Steinfeld and her mom Cheri at the 68th Golden Globe Awards, and the part-Filipina actress was happy that her mom, whose father is Filipino, has decided to devote all her attention to Steinfeld’s acting career. “My mom used to be an interior designer,” Steinfeld said.
Having the best actors in Hollywood—Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin— as co-stars in her first movie was quite an experience for Steinfeld. “They all have daughters of their own, and I felt like I was one of their own,” she admitted. “They’re just so amazing, down-to-earth and humble. I learned so much from their actions. They are such a joy to be around on and off set. I am so honored and blessed.”
E-mail the writer at jrnepales_624@yahoo.com for your comments or questions.
(Photos by Ruben V. Nepales)
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