National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts and award-winning writer Ricky Lee has long been looked up to by writers and aspiring storytellers alike.
PUSH ABS-CBN had the chance to speak with him exclusively as he shared his advice for the next generation of writers.
“Ang usual ko binibigay pag may nagtatanong na ganyan eh, stop aspiring, start writing. Matututo ka lang magsulat. Pag naupo ka na at nagsulat at nakita mo nang hindi pa pala maganda yung sinusulat ko. Hindi pa pala ako marunong. Doon doon ka matututo,” he shared.
The veteran creative noted that while dreaming and learning to write are important, nothing compares to actually putting pen to paper.
“Pag aspire ka nang aspire at aral ka nang aral kung paano magsulat at workshop ka nang workshop at basa ka nang basa at plano ka nang plano na magsusulat, pero hindi ka pa naupo para magsulat, hindi ka pa nakakapag-take ng first step. Uulitin ko, the first step is to see kung ano talagang alam mo. But more important than that, kung anong hindi mo alam. So, doon ka palang talaga makapagsisimula,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National Artist expressed that he’s always excited to lead his renowned writing workshop.
“I've been doing this since 1982. Pero natigil ako for 6 years na. Kaya nang nagpa-workshop ko lang ngayon, sobrang laki ng excitement ko. At libo-libo pa rin yung nag-apply. It's the usual mix. May baguhan, may datihan, may taga-industriya, may taga-labas ng pelikula, may nagkaka-cartoonist, may influencer, may estudyante, may director, may cinematographer, may artista. So yung ganong mix, he shared.
The celebrated writer also explained why he chose this approach for his workshop participants.
“Hindi siya parang classroom sa eskwelahan where pantay-pantay yung mga estudyante at ikaw ang nagtuturo. Ito, hindi lang ako nagtuturo. Nagtuturuan sila. May mas mature sa kanila, may nasishare. Yung mga bata naman, natuturuan nila yung mas datihan na. Yung datihan, nagga-ground sila na hindi kesyo sikat kami eh iba na kami. Hindi ganon. So napagpapantay mo silang lahat. And so nagiging very dynamic and healthy yung exchange ng ideas na galing sa iba-ibang field at iba-ibang larangan at iba-ibang point of view,” he explained.