Roberto A. Suarez (November 27, 1942 – February 8, 2010), commonly referred to as "Bobby" or "BAS", was a Filipino film producer, director and screenwriter.
Suarez had a very humble beginning. At an early age, he sold various things on the street to support a sick mother and 3 younger siblings. Since they were homeless, a Kalesa operator allowed them to stay beside a horse's stable for shelter. When his mother died, he and his other younger brother were brought to the Manila Boy's Town, a temporary refuge for abandoned and orphaned children. While inside the orphanage, he served as an altar boy and would be sent out on the streets to sell various things like newspapers, Sampaguita flowers, and shined shoes. Suarez showed exemplary intelligence while inside the orphanage. He was a consistent leader of his group and graduated valedictorian. When he reached puberty and it's time for him to leave the orphanage, he worked as an errand boy at the Manila City Hall in the Office of the City Mayor of then-Mayor Arsenio Lacson.
Career
Early career and breakthrough
To help pay for his college education, Suarez worked as a janitor-messenger for the Philippine branch of international movie distributor, J. Arthur Rank Film Distributor. Through his dependability and resourcefulness, Suarez was soon promoted and eventually became the company's assistant sales manager in 1963.
Then in 1965, Bobby was appointed Sales and Marketing Manager for Fortune Films, owned by retired general Macario Peralta.
His film marketing expertise brought Bobby to Hong Kong where he established Intercontinental Film Distributors in 1969, in which he also served as managing director. He was the one who introduced dubbing Chinese films to English and selling them all over the world.
During that time, Bobby became close to legendary Spanish filmmaker, Sr. Don Antonio Isasi and was able to learn the rudiments of movie directing.
To help meet the growing demand for movies worldwide and armed with a knowledge of directing he learned from his 'master' director Isasi, Suarez then ventured into producing and directing movies, producing and directing many low-budget quality English movies featuring both Caucasian and Asian actors. His movies were marketed all over the world, including theatrical exhibitions in the US and Canada, considered to be the most sophisticated and hard to penetrate market territory. Some of these movies even landed in the Top 50 Grossing Films during their theatrical run in the said territory. His movies are considered cult classics. Some of his movies even became the gigantic inspiration of superstar Hollywood directors.
In the early 1980s, Suarez said he was working on a film meant to star Weng Weng and Marrie Lee that never materialized.[1]
Later career
In 1990, Suarez was given a special award by the European Publishers as the Asian movie producer and director whose movies are at par with European movies in terms of quality and standard.
He was awarded the Gregorio Valdez Memorial Award and the Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award both by the Filipino Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences(FAMAS). The Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award was given to honor performers and directors of productions who have gained international recognition for their cinematic excellence. In February 2006, The Singapore Straits Times gave Mr. Suarez a special award for his contribution in helping place Singapore in the Movie World Map. In December of that same year, he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Academy of Film and Television for helping put the Philippines in the Movie World Map.
Mr. Suarez's experience and mastery in the art and science of international movie production, distribution, and marketing of commercial movies is evidenced by his membership of prestigious organizations such as the Writer's Guild of the Philippines, the Director's Guild of the Philippines, the Writers Guild of America-West, the Independent Movie Producers Importers Distributors Association of the Philippines (IMPIDAP), and the Philippine Motion Pictures Producers Association (PMPPA).
Death
He died on February 8, 2010, after a series of heart attacks and a kidney operation. He was survived by his wife, Gene, their children and grandchildren.[2]
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Roberto A Suarez November 27 1942 February 8 2010 commonly referred to as Bobby or BAS was a Filipino film producer director and screenwriter Mr Bobby A Suarez Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Early career and breakthrough 2 2 Later career 3 Death 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditSuarez had a very humble beginning At an early age he sold various things on the street to support a sick mother and 3 younger siblings Since they were homeless a Kalesa operator allowed them to stay beside a horse s stable for shelter When his mother died he and his other younger brother were brought to the Manila Boy s Town a temporary refuge for abandoned and orphaned children While inside the orphanage he served as an altar boy and would be sent out on the streets to sell various things like newspapers Sampaguita flowers and shined shoes Suarez showed exemplary intelligence while inside the orphanage He was a consistent leader of his group and graduated valedictorian When he reached puberty and it s time for him to leave the orphanage he worked as an errand boy at the Manila City Hall in the Office of the City Mayor of then Mayor Arsenio Lacson Career EditEarly career and breakthrough Edit To help pay for his college education Suarez worked as a janitor messenger for the Philippine branch of international movie distributor J Arthur Rank Film Distributor Through his dependability and resourcefulness Suarez was soon promoted and eventually became the company s assistant sales manager in 1963 Then in 1965 Bobby was appointed Sales and Marketing Manager for Fortune Films owned by retired general Macario Peralta His film marketing expertise brought Bobby to Hong Kong where he established Intercontinental Film Distributors in 1969 in which he also served as managing director He was the one who introduced dubbing Chinese films to English and selling them all over the world During that time Bobby became close to legendary Spanish filmmaker Sr Don Antonio Isasi and was able to learn the rudiments of movie directing To help meet the growing demand for movies worldwide and armed with a knowledge of directing he learned from his master director Isasi Suarez then ventured into producing and directing movies producing and directing many low budget quality English movies featuring both Caucasian and Asian actors His movies were marketed all over the world including theatrical exhibitions in the US and Canada considered to be the most sophisticated and hard to penetrate market territory Some of these movies even landed in the Top 50 Grossing Films during their theatrical run in the said territory His movies are considered cult classics Some of his movies even became the gigantic inspiration of superstar Hollywood directors In the early 1980s Suarez said he was working on a film meant to star Weng Weng and Marrie Lee that never materialized 1 Later career Edit In 1990 Suarez was given a special award by the European Publishers as the Asian movie producer and director whose movies are at par with European movies in terms of quality and standard He was awarded the Gregorio Valdez Memorial Award and the Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award both by the Filipino Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences FAMAS The Ciriaco Santiago Memorial Award was given to honor performers and directors of productions who have gained international recognition for their cinematic excellence In February 2006 The Singapore Straits Times gave Mr Suarez a special award for his contribution in helping place Singapore in the Movie World Map In December of that same year he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Academy of Film and Television for helping put the Philippines in the Movie World Map Mr Suarez s experience and mastery in the art and science of international movie production distribution and marketing of commercial movies is evidenced by his membership of prestigious organizations such as the Writer s Guild of the Philippines the Director s Guild of the Philippines the Writers Guild of America West the Independent Movie Producers Importers Distributors Association of the Philippines IMPIDAP and the Philippine Motion Pictures Producers Association PMPPA Death EditHe died on February 8 2010 after a series of heart attacks and a kidney operation He was survived by his wife Gene their children and grandchildren 2 Filmography EditProducer Prodigal Boxer 1972 King Boxer 1972 Scotch on the Rocks to Forget Black Coffee to Remember 1973 Cosa Nostra Asia 1973 Black Dragon 1974 Master Samurai 1975 They Call Him Chop Suey 1976 Bionic Boy 1977 They Call Her Cleopatra Wong 1978 Dynamite Johnson Bionic Boy Part 2 1979 Devils Angels Devil s Three Pay Or Die 1980 The One Armed Executioner 1983 Warriors of the Apocalypse Searchers Of The Voodoo Mountain Time Raiders 1985 American Commandos 1986 Red Roses For A Call Girl Manila Tattoo The Last Deal 1989 Obsessed 2003 Crying Ladies 2004 Co Executive ProducerWriter Scotch on the Rocks to Forget Black Coffee to Remember 1973 Black Dragon 1974 Master Samurai 1975 They Call Him Chop Suey 1976 Bionic Boy 1977 They Call Her Cleopatra Wong 1978 Dynamite Johnson Bionic Boy Part 2 1979 Devils Angels Devil s Three Pay Or Die 1980 The One Armed Executioner 1983 Warriors of the Apocalypse Searchers Of The Voodoo Mountain Time Raiders 1985 American Commandos 1986 Red Roses For A Call Girl Manila Tattoo The Last Deal 1989 Obsessed 2003 Director They Call Her Cleopatra Wong credited as George Richardson 1978 Dynamite Johnson Bionic Boy Part 2 1979 Devils Angels Devil s Three Pay Or Die 1980 The One Armed Executioner 1983 Rhapsody in Wood Documentary 1984 Warriors of the Apocalypse Searchers Of The Voodoo Mountain Time Raiders 1985 American Commandos 1986 Red Roses For A Call Girl Manila Tattoo The Last Deal 1989 Obsessed 2003 Interview The Search for Weng Weng 2013 Special thanks Closer to Home 1995 References Edit Leavold Andrew The Search for Weng Weng DVD USA Wild Eye Releasing 760137943594 Baumgaertel Tilman Bobby Suarez 1942 2010 Southeast Asian Film Studies Institute February 8 2010 retrieved March 6 2010 External links EditBobby A Suarez at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bobby A Suarez amp oldid 1116624941, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
