JOEY PARAS (The Creator of Powerhouse Ensemble)

 

Joey Paras

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Joey Paras is a Filipino theater, movie and television actor, director, filmmaker, singer, writer, playwright, film producer and TV host. He is the playwright behind "Bawal Tumawid, Nakakamatay", one of the plays selected to be produced on stage in the seventh edition of Virgin Labfest (VLF). His rise to fame started in the movie scene when he played the lead role in the film Last Supper Number 3 which received the MTRCB Awards Best Comedy Film for 2010 and Cinemalaya 2009 Best Film. In 2013, he starred in his launching movie and title role Bekikang: Ang Nanay Kong Beki opposite Tom Rodriguez.^[1]

Joey Paras
Born	Joey Paras February 7, 1988(age 33)  Manila, Philippines
Other names	Joey
Occupation	Actor, Theater Director, Filmmaker, Singer, Writer, Playwright, Film Producer, TV Host
Years active	2006–present
Known for	Sunday PINASaya Bekikang: Ang Nanay Kong Beki, IGIB, Ang Kaibigan Ni Imaginary F.

Early lifeEdit

He graduated A.B.Communication Arts in the University of Santo Tomas.^[2] Before becoming an actor, he used to be an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) as a HOTEL LOUNGE SINGER in a lounge group named CICADA where they used to perform in Grand Hyatt Seoul, South Korea and Grand Hyatt Beijing, China. He worked abroad for several years until they disbanded.^[3]

He founded the group Teatro Expedicion de Filipinas which is an organization of young children from underprivileged communities in the country who have talent in acting. He later on founded in October 2013, THE POWERHOUSE ENSEMBLE, which is a group of aspiring actors who undergo free training in Theater and Film Production. The Powerhouse Ensemble produced several stage plays and short films. After holding series of audition and weeks of training, the group held its first theater production on December 28, 2013 entitled “Payback: Playback” wherein eight short plays (“Guho”, “Sapatos”, “Calorie” ,” 5-6-7-8”, “Haunted House”, “Meme”, and “Beauconera”) written and directed by Joey Paras were shown.

After the success of its first production, the group conducted several theater plays in the following months such as “Payback:Playback (The Repeat)” in January 2014, “Pepe Playback: The Musical” in February 2014, “Goodbye Series” in March 2014 and “Boy Bangs: The Musical” on March 16, 2014 as the group's entry to the Pasinaya Festival 2014.

After more than two years since it was established, The Powerhouse Ensemble opened its second season for the next batch of aspiring actors on October 10, 2015.

The Powerhouse Ensemble: Season 2 had its first show called “Eat, Pray, Watch” on October 30, 2015 wherein the past horror films made by Teatro Expedicion de Filipinas’ E-WORKSHOP Recital Films were screened.

Eventually, the second season did its first theater production on December 20, 2015 wherein eight short plays (“I’m Sorry, I’m Late”, “Excuse Me”, “Condolence”, “Byahera”, “Ruben Hud”, “Korean Bag”, “Katleya” and “Truth or Farce”) written and directed by Joey Paras were performed. The production was called “CaptivEight”.

The Powerhouse Ensemble: Season 2 then did a repeat show of “Captiveight” on January 25, 2016. This was followed by the play “Bahamas” that was performed by the group in CCP Pasinaya Festival 2016.

In January 2020, the group shot the short film "ANG KAIBIGAN NI IMAGINARY F." and won an award and made it to the international film festivals. This short film also made it to the final selection of SINAG MAYNILA 2020 (SHORT FILM CATEGORY).

In February 2020, The Powerhouse Ensemble produced and filmed the short film, "IGIB" (FETCH), Written and Directed by Joey Paras. This short film also made it to the international film festivals abroad and gave Joey Paras his very first INTERNATIONAL "BEST DIRECTOR AWARD" `Lazar Gjorgjevikј`in FILMAY INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL KUMANOVO 2020.