I know "What You Did" last month...

Get the scoop on how to stage an indie Filipino film screening in Los Angeles.

Mar 28, 2025

Filipino movies often fall into predictable patterns—romantic comedies with the latest “love teams,” over the top family dramas, or some other corny version of a non-Filipino movie that was a hit. But every now and then, a film comes along that breaks the mold. What You Did, the debut feature from Director Joan Lopez-Flores, is one of those. It dives into a topic that isn’t openly discussed in Filipino culture: mental health. Centered on trauma, healing, and the pandemic experience, the story begins with Arvin Espiritu, a young man who finds himself with no job prospects and trapped in his own home because of the COVID-19 virus —a simple (and relatable - since we all went through it!) yet powerful premise that draws you in and doesn’t let go. The film is beautifully crafted, from the compelling script to the top-notch acting, to the meticulous editing. It was a breath of fresh air and, honestly, a film we were proud to share with the world.

The idea to premiere What You Did in Los Angeles started with Miss Angel Jones, who believed this indie film, starring Tony Labrusca, had a story that would resonate with Filipino-American audiences. After watching it ourselves, we couldn’t agree more. It’s not just timely and relatable, but it also feels like the kind of representation we’ve been waiting for—thoughtful, raw, and authentic. It was a bonus that Tony is Angel’s son and having a screening in LA, meant the two could spend some mother-son time together.

From there, things moved quickly. We had Zoom calls with the Director and her team in Manila to iron out the details, and soon we were deep in the trenches of event planning. Finding a theatre wasn’t too difficult. The Laemmle in Glendale felt like the perfect fit; after all, it had recently hosted the Oscar-eligible documentary “Nurse Unseen.” With the venue locked in, we got to work on everything else—securing sponsors, getting the film on a DCP (digital cinema package), creating invites and posters, and more. Angel handled most of the groundwork while I focused on the website, tickets, and promotional materials. It was a true team effort.

Three months of planning flew by, and before we knew it, the film was in our hands, and Tony was back in LA. The premiere itself was an unforgettable morning. It was really cool how everybody turned out on a Sunday morning - not your usual evening movie premiere time. Held at the Laemmle Theatre in Glendale, followed by an after-party at BJ’s Restaurant, it was a celebration of talent, culture, and the kind of storytelling that deserves a bigger stage.

We’re so proud to have brought something creative, meaningful, and relevant from the Philippines to a new audience here in the U.S. What You Did isn’t just a film—it’s a conversation starter, a reminder of the power of storytelling, and, most importantly, a step toward normalizing discussions about mental health in our community.

Photos by Sthanlee Mirador and David Rodriguez.