Celebrated Broadway music producer Jhett Tolentino is in the Philippines to screen his bio film about how a child from the slums of Iloilo rose to critical acclaim in New York.
Tolentino, a 3-time Tony Awardee and Grammy winner, is currently screening his self-written, produced and directed short documentary “Life Is What You Make It” in Iloilo theaters as part of his mission to inspire indigent and indigenous children.
The Tolentino bio film shows how the Broadway producer has been self-reliant since the age of 12, fought to be educated amidst poverty in rural Philippines, beat the odds by becoming a successful Broadway music producer, and his journey home after over a decade as “an accomplished individual, to trace his steps and reunite with his family and his hometown,” describes BroadwayRecords.
In a social media post about the bio film, the Calumpang, Iloilo City native shared, “We aim to take this film wherever it would lead us, to reach the most depressed areas where children have no means to educate themselves.”
“This film may be able to open minds of both poor children to be resourceful and be educated; and for the well-to- do to do more in helping educating indigenous children.”
The short film’s theme song has already earned a Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievement at the Global Music Awards.
The “Life Is What You Make It” theme written and performed by Dennis Sy has also received a nomination for its Message Song/Social Impact from the Hollywood Music Media Awards scheduled to be awarded in November 2017.
The “Life Is What You Make It” original motion picture soundtrack is now available on iTunes, Amazon and BroadwayRecords.com. Proceeds will go to the foundation that is being set up to provide high school and college scholarships to indigenous children in the Philippines.
