From one creative to another: Choice Israel on sticking with the process
A career in creatives has to be fought for to this day. At least for some parents, making a living out of writing, acting, drawing, and the like makes little sense compared to the assured stability of certain industries. Thus, the “walang pera diyan” mindset is the graveyard where such dreams go to die—the crossroads where aspiring creatives trade in their passions for a career that “makes sense.
There isn’t anything really wrong with it. After all, that’s just how it is.
The same would have happened to director of photography and camera operator Choice Israel. But through a bit of stubbornness and the right people around her, she pushed past the financial and mental hurdles that once discouraged her.
Within her realm of possibilities
Before working on music videos such as “Ur Man” by Jason Dhakal and “Umaaligid” by SB19 and Sarah Geronimo, as well as productions like “Rookie” and “Trese After Dark,” Israel simply had this vague interest in taking up anything visual arts-related.
“When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a cartoonist. Then in college, where I took up fine arts, I thought about being in an advertising agency,” shares Israel during our shoot at CMB Film Services, Inc.
However, after an agency executive showed her the ins and outs of advertising during one subject, she quickly realized that preparing for presentations and pitches didn’t exactly align with her personality. “I’m very quiet as a person. I’m not very good at expressing myself with words, as you can see.”
But during an elective in her fourth year at UP Diliman, a veteran cinematographer invited her class to a set. Bright-eyed and uninformed about the industry, she even thought this cinematographer owned all the lights and equipment there. “Hindi ko siya pinangarap because I thought it was an industry for the rich. It was outside my realm of possibilities,” she adds.
“Through my professor, I saw how that wasn’t necessarily the case.” As a fresh grad, she quickly gained the necessary experience at A Different Story Productions, where she worked in the camera department on top of studying as a production assistant.
The belief and determination to make things work
Still, working in creatives was a gamble her parents weren’t quite comfortable with. “Na-experience ko ‘yong typical Filipino parents, na may fear na baka walang career sa arts,” she shares. “It’s not as if they were discouraging; they were just worried for my future.”
In the end, it was stubbornness that led her to where she is. “Gusto ng nanay ko na mag-nursing ako, pero pinilit ko ‘yong fine arts. Pinilit ko ‘yong gusto ko because I couldn’t see myself doing anything else na hindi sincere for me.”
Israel maintains that there’s privilege in getting to choose what you want over what you need. In the end, it was all about owning up to her decision no matter what. “Dinaan ko na lang sa tigas ng ulo and a determination to make things work.”
Nowadays, Israel also works with advertising despite her first encounter with it. “I just tend to do ads more because it pays the bills. But honestly I love doing music videos and short films—sila talaga ‘yong mas nakakabusog ng puso.”
“So yes, please continue booking me,” she quips.
From one creative to another
As someone who’s seen both sides of the creative industry—the passionate and the rational—Israel understands what it takes to assert one’s dream.
“Getting to this point was not easy; in fact, I’m not yet where I want to be, but if I can give advice to those pursuing the creative path—as long as sincere ‘yong desire mo, it will show. But never forget to put in the work and grab every opportunity that comes your way.”
“Don’t be afraid to also take up space,” she adds. “That’s part of growing up; you learn to take space and take command. Habang tumatanda ka, mas nagiging sure ka sa sarili mo.”
