Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Los Angeles, California, Edwin A. Santos is an award-winning creative professional both as an SAG/AFTRA actor and a feature film producer.
Edwin has studied Method Acting with the Odyssey Theatre’s Beth Hogan. He was trained both at Weist-Barron-Hill and the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). He has performed in theatre as well as various independent films that starred, and worked alongside with Dominique Swain, Nick Mancuso and Danny Trejo. He wrote and performed sketches with the University of Iowa’s famed No Shame Theatre (Los Angeles Chapter) at the Powerhouse Theater from 2006 to 2009 and with his sketch comedy team, Oi! Oi! Oi! at iO West’s Saturday night headlining shows in 2013.
In 1998, Edwin created the concept Beyond The 4th Wall: An Acting Seminar for Filipino American Actors (original title), the annual Filipino Hollywood Actors Panel is a panel discussion and networking seminar for aspiring actors to avoid the pitfalls of the entertainment industry while shining a spotlight on Filipino talent in Hollywood and the world today. Implemented in 2015, Edwin booked Vincent Rodriguez III (Netflix' Insatiable, The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Manny Jacinto (films: Top Gun: Maverick, Bad Times at the El Royale, NBC’s The Good Place), Nico Santos (film: Crazy Rich Asians, NBC’s Superstore), Ginger Gonzaga (film: Ted; HBO’s Togetherness, ABC’s Mixology, Showtime's Kidding), Rodney To (HBO's Barry, ABC's Modern Family, NBC's Parks & Recreation) Angela Relucio (CBS’ Code Black, History Channel’s Six), Reggie Lee (film: The Fast & The Furious; The Dark Knight Rises, CBS' All Rise, NBC’s Grimm), Aina Dumlao (CBS’ MacGyver, HBO’s Ballers), Tess Paras (Amazon Studios' Just Add Magic, The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, NBC’s Grimm), Bernardo Bernardo (films: City After Dark, Imbisibol), Jason Rogel (Netflix' Tall Girl and Prime Video's Homecoming), Ruben Maria Soriquez (ABS-CBN's Dolce Amore, film: Of Sinners and Saints), Eugene Cordero (Warner Brothers’ Kong: Skull Island, truTV's Tacoma FD), Jon Jon Briones (FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story), Joy Regullano (The CW's Supernatural and 90210, CBS' Carol's Second Act, ABC's Castle), JB Tadena (CBS' SEAL Team, ABC's Grey's Anatomy) and Ellen D. Williams (FX’s Baskets, CBS' How I Met Your Mother) as well as casting directors, talent agents and talent managers; all who represent the craft of acting across the board, as special his guest panelists.
After a few years as an actor, Edwin delved into producing in 2001. With five feature length films released domestically and internationally in theaters and digital video streaming platforms, Soap Girl won Best Feature Film in the Asian American Category at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival in 2002 and Mad Cowgirl starring Sarah Lassez, James Duval, Devon Odessa and Walter Koenig won two awards including Best Feature Film at the Silver Lake Film Festival in 2006. He was a production executive for Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance starring Bai Ling, Tommy Wiseau and the original 1991 cast released internationally in cinemas and streamers in 2015.
From 2008 to 2009, he was the line producer and videographer for the online new media weekly episodic web series, Flipped Switch. It featured exclusive interviews with celebrities and influencers such as John Cho, Lynn Chen, Bobby Lee, Randy Couture, Stephen Chow, Apl.de.Ap, Mark Dacascos, Michelle Krusiec, Michael Yo, Christine "HappySlip" Gambito, Karina Smirnoff, Neil Patrick Harris, Alice Braga, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini as well as media event coverages such as JC Penny's Asian Excellence Awards and the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture. Also, sketch comedy vignettes with the show’s in-house Filipino and Asian American cast for each episode. In 2015, he wrote and produced the sketch comedy A Getting Laid Getaway for Funny Or Die. And, from 2016 to 2017, he executive produced two seasons of FAC: Behind-The-Scenes episodic web series on YouTube. The series featured interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage with special guests and young FilAm filmmakers.
As a writer and blogger, Edwin interviewed Ray Utarnachitt (executive story editor and writer of the CW’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Mark V. Lágrimas (producer, They’re Watching), Jonathan Wandag (composer, They’re Watching) and Kris Wolf (professional wrestler from World of Wonder Stardom and Ring of Honor). He wrote recaps, reviews and op-eds about Filipino Americans working in entertainment today for FilAm Creative’s blog site. One of his op-eds titled, Self Acceptance vs. Self Denial: This Is My Filipino American Story went viral and was shared by many. Most notably, the Filipino American National Historical Society in Seattle and Asian American Life in New York. Edwin expanded FilAm Creative’s social media reach at 34.3k interactions/shares a week from its: Facebook Page (1.8k followers), Facebook Group (1.0k members), Twitter (1.1k followers), its Blog which reaches 134 countries with 400 views a week, and its Instagram account (600+ followers). He currently writes for Pinoy California.
By day, Edwin works in marketing and acquisitions with Cinema Epoch, a U.S based film distribution and production company specializing in international cinema thru Entertainment One (eOne). He has produced three feature films with the outfit, and with his handling of its social media marketing, Edwin has expanded the company’s reach: its Facebook Page (5.4k followers), its Twitter (2.2k followers) and its YouTube (2.3k followers).
He previously worked behind-the-scenes at E! Entertainment, Comcast Entertainment Group, Crest National Digital Media and Mark Massari Productions’ Real Stories of the Highway Patrol.
With a Bachelor-In-Arts Degree in Radio, Television & Film from California-State University, Northridge along with his ongoing support for the creative and visual arts, Edwin was an honorary recipient of the Catherine Clymer Scholarship Award from the Alliance for Women in Media as well as an honorary recipient of the Educational Equity Award for Outstanding Service presented by the School of Cinema & Television Arts of California-State University, Northridge. On his spare time, he volunteered with the Southern California Chapter of the Alliance for Women in Media from 1992 to 1996 in various event committees. He created the themed event, Night and Day: The 1993 Industry Awards that honored Leeza Gibbons and Lee Phillip Bell.
Giving back to the next generation of creative individuals, he has donated to the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication of California-State University, Northridge, to The Clubhouse, a nonprofit, volunteer-run comedy venue for improv, sketch, variety shows and classes in Hollywood, California and to Asian AF’s Filipino AF comedy show at UCB Sunset.
Edwin is a 5th generation direct descendant of Marcela Mariño Agoncillo, the principle seamstress who sewed the first Philippine Flag, in accordance with General Emilio Aguinaldo’s design which later became the Official Flag of the Philippines.
Edwin has studied Method Acting with the Odyssey Theatre’s Beth Hogan. He was trained both at Weist-Barron-Hill and the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). He has performed in theatre as well as various independent films that starred, and worked alongside with Dominique Swain, Nick Mancuso and Danny Trejo. He wrote and performed sketches with the University of Iowa’s famed No Shame Theatre (Los Angeles Chapter) at the Powerhouse Theater from 2006 to 2009 and with his sketch comedy team, Oi! Oi! Oi! at iO West’s Saturday night headlining shows in 2013.
In 1998, Edwin created the concept Beyond The 4th Wall: An Acting Seminar for Filipino American Actors (original title), the annual Filipino Hollywood Actors Panel is a panel discussion and networking seminar for aspiring actors to avoid the pitfalls of the entertainment industry while shining a spotlight on Filipino talent in Hollywood and the world today. Implemented in 2015, Edwin booked Vincent Rodriguez III (Netflix' Insatiable, The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Manny Jacinto (films: Top Gun: Maverick, Bad Times at the El Royale, NBC’s The Good Place), Nico Santos (film: Crazy Rich Asians, NBC’s Superstore), Ginger Gonzaga (film: Ted; HBO’s Togetherness, ABC’s Mixology, Showtime's Kidding), Rodney To (HBO's Barry, ABC's Modern Family, NBC's Parks & Recreation) Angela Relucio (CBS’ Code Black, History Channel’s Six), Reggie Lee (film: The Fast & The Furious; The Dark Knight Rises, CBS' All Rise, NBC’s Grimm), Aina Dumlao (CBS’ MacGyver, HBO’s Ballers), Tess Paras (Amazon Studios' Just Add Magic, The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, NBC’s Grimm), Bernardo Bernardo (films: City After Dark, Imbisibol), Jason Rogel (Netflix' Tall Girl and Prime Video's Homecoming), Ruben Maria Soriquez (ABS-CBN's Dolce Amore, film: Of Sinners and Saints), Eugene Cordero (Warner Brothers’ Kong: Skull Island, truTV's Tacoma FD), Jon Jon Briones (FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story), Joy Regullano (The CW's Supernatural and 90210, CBS' Carol's Second Act, ABC's Castle), JB Tadena (CBS' SEAL Team, ABC's Grey's Anatomy) and Ellen D. Williams (FX’s Baskets, CBS' How I Met Your Mother) as well as casting directors, talent agents and talent managers; all who represent the craft of acting across the board, as special his guest panelists.
After a few years as an actor, Edwin delved into producing in 2001. With five feature length films released domestically and internationally in theaters and digital video streaming platforms, Soap Girl won Best Feature Film in the Asian American Category at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival in 2002 and Mad Cowgirl starring Sarah Lassez, James Duval, Devon Odessa and Walter Koenig won two awards including Best Feature Film at the Silver Lake Film Festival in 2006. He was a production executive for Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance starring Bai Ling, Tommy Wiseau and the original 1991 cast released internationally in cinemas and streamers in 2015.
From 2008 to 2009, he was the line producer and videographer for the online new media weekly episodic web series, Flipped Switch. It featured exclusive interviews with celebrities and influencers such as John Cho, Lynn Chen, Bobby Lee, Randy Couture, Stephen Chow, Apl.de.Ap, Mark Dacascos, Michelle Krusiec, Michael Yo, Christine "HappySlip" Gambito, Karina Smirnoff, Neil Patrick Harris, Alice Braga, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini as well as media event coverages such as JC Penny's Asian Excellence Awards and the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture. Also, sketch comedy vignettes with the show’s in-house Filipino and Asian American cast for each episode. In 2015, he wrote and produced the sketch comedy A Getting Laid Getaway for Funny Or Die. And, from 2016 to 2017, he executive produced two seasons of FAC: Behind-The-Scenes episodic web series on YouTube. The series featured interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage with special guests and young FilAm filmmakers.
As a writer and blogger, Edwin interviewed Ray Utarnachitt (executive story editor and writer of the CW’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Mark V. Lágrimas (producer, They’re Watching), Jonathan Wandag (composer, They’re Watching) and Kris Wolf (professional wrestler from World of Wonder Stardom and Ring of Honor). He wrote recaps, reviews and op-eds about Filipino Americans working in entertainment today for FilAm Creative’s blog site. One of his op-eds titled, Self Acceptance vs. Self Denial: This Is My Filipino American Story went viral and was shared by many. Most notably, the Filipino American National Historical Society in Seattle and Asian American Life in New York. Edwin expanded FilAm Creative’s social media reach at 34.3k interactions/shares a week from its: Facebook Page (1.8k followers), Facebook Group (1.0k members), Twitter (1.1k followers), its Blog which reaches 134 countries with 400 views a week, and its Instagram account (600+ followers). He currently writes for Pinoy California.
By day, Edwin works in marketing and acquisitions with Cinema Epoch, a U.S based film distribution and production company specializing in international cinema thru Entertainment One (eOne). He has produced three feature films with the outfit, and with his handling of its social media marketing, Edwin has expanded the company’s reach: its Facebook Page (5.4k followers), its Twitter (2.2k followers) and its YouTube (2.3k followers).
He previously worked behind-the-scenes at E! Entertainment, Comcast Entertainment Group, Crest National Digital Media and Mark Massari Productions’ Real Stories of the Highway Patrol.
With a Bachelor-In-Arts Degree in Radio, Television & Film from California-State University, Northridge along with his ongoing support for the creative and visual arts, Edwin was an honorary recipient of the Catherine Clymer Scholarship Award from the Alliance for Women in Media as well as an honorary recipient of the Educational Equity Award for Outstanding Service presented by the School of Cinema & Television Arts of California-State University, Northridge. On his spare time, he volunteered with the Southern California Chapter of the Alliance for Women in Media from 1992 to 1996 in various event committees. He created the themed event, Night and Day: The 1993 Industry Awards that honored Leeza Gibbons and Lee Phillip Bell.
Giving back to the next generation of creative individuals, he has donated to the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication of California-State University, Northridge, to The Clubhouse, a nonprofit, volunteer-run comedy venue for improv, sketch, variety shows and classes in Hollywood, California and to Asian AF’s Filipino AF comedy show at UCB Sunset.
Edwin is a 5th generation direct descendant of Marcela Mariño Agoncillo, the principle seamstress who sewed the first Philippine Flag, in accordance with General Emilio Aguinaldo’s design which later became the Official Flag of the Philippines.
|
