CHRIS Herald Duco started filming music videos and short films using a camera phone when he was still a student.
“Akong ginabuhat ato nga time is mag video ko sa usa ka-phone while sa pikas na phone ang music (What I would do back then was to film the music video using one phone and another phone to play the music),” Duco, founder and owner of Chris Duco Films, said.
It was during this time that Duco also started to develop passion in creating films.
He was able to further develop his skills as a filmmaker when he was given an opportunity to work for a wedding studio in his home province, Cotabato.
Duco said he was invited by a friend to shoot their wedding when he was discovered by the owner of the wedding business.
“They saw me at the wedding and asked me to shoot for them, which I accepted,” he said in the vernacular.
He enjoyed capturing timeless memories so much that when he graduated from the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, Cotabato he continued his passion for making films.
In 2013, he founded Chris Duco Films to be able to do what he loves.
“I created Chris Duco Films because the films I produce from my studio are my works of art,” Duco said.
In 2016, he went on to join and compete in a filmmaking contest in Davao City. Here he met the owners and founders of Visual Mirage.
Visual Mirage invited Duco to be part of the team as its creative director and editor.
Duco said he is tasked to plan and to look into their different shoots from the script, shot list, and story board.
He said Visual Mirage offers a variety of multimedia services like producing wedding films and corporate videos.
Duco balances his time as part of the Visual Mirage team and his own business.
As a businessowner of a film production studio, Duco underscores the importance of having the right equipment to meet the needs of his clients.
“Una nako iinvest akong equipment. Tung naga start pa ko lisod kaayo wala equipment kay sige rent (I would make it a priority in investing in the equipment. When I started, iut was quite difficult to keep on renting equipment),” Duco said.
He added that around 30 percent of his income would go to renting equipment.
Duco said in choosing equipment, he would choose the best quality that is also worth the value it is sold at.
“Many would say that if you are in the film making industry, the equipment is not a big deal if gwapo imong story (if the story is good). But sa wedding industry, people would look at quality,” he said underscoring the importance of having the right equipment to do the job.
In producing his films, wedding films or not, through his own film studios, Duco said he would the one to shoot and edit as he wants to ensure that whatever he produces for his clients are only the best. However, he also gets a team of freelancers to help do the job.
Duco also said the prices he offers to his clients are competitive as to what is being offered in the industry. He assures clients that they will only get the best quality from him.
Lastly, Duco said he loves what he does and the business he is in to.
“Lingaw siya kasi (It is fun because) you have control over time and you get to visit places,” he said.
Interested clients may visit his Facebook page, Chris Duco Films, to see his portfolio. They may also contact him through his mobile number (0930) 632-5083 or his email, chrisheraldduco@gmail.com