David Chua, a Kapamilya actor, is one of the few “creatively restless” types who struggle to find fulfillment and meaning outside of showbiz.

While he may have relished the many perks of his glamorous profession throughout his decade-long stint with ABS-CBN (with Love Thy Woman as his most recent project), he never ignored the inner voice that nagged him to listen to his artistic and creative muse.

And, despite winning a few acting awards along the way, he stayed grounded and used his boundless energy to fuel his passion for filmmaking, eventually earning his credibility as a legitimate television and film director.

Perhaps it was pure coincidence that David strengthened his resolve to pursue this newfound passion at the height of last year’s global pandemic—a crisis of epic proportions exacerbated by the local government’s unwavering determination to shut down the network.

But, unlike most ABS-CBN employees, David turned the stumbling block into a steppingstone and used the long lull to channel his energies towards the realization of his long-held dream: Dark Carnival Productions, his very own production company.

When asked about the inspiration for his big dream, David rambles on and on like a proud father.

He claims, “I am really inclined to create. I took up Fine Arts in college, and I draw and paint. Just haven’t had time to do more of that. Acting, which I also love to do, took up my time. And then, this network closure happened. Since then, I started to do small directing jobs for segments in the TV5 magazine show Rated Korina. Since, then I realized, ‘Puwede din naman pala,’ and I enjoyed.”

“And then I thought: ‘Wait a minute! Producing is creating.’ With friends who also wanted to make the most of this long lockdown period, we said we could start something small. So, here we are!”

When asked which platforms they are currently focusing on, David responds, “It depends on what the client wants. So far, we’re working on an online ad, an online video advocacy and an indie movie. Anything goes! There’s a lot of talent out there among my friends alone. The landscape of platforms and content has grown so fast and wide. Parang walang limit to possibilities. Excited kami!”

He elaborates on who they are currently collaborating with, saying, “The team of Rated Korina–led by my late mom’s friend, Ms. Korina Sanchez-Roxas–has been so supportive and I’ve learned so much from that group. They work hard and play hard. Such fun working with them. I’m also working with brands who have certain targets that challenge me and my team to think out of the box. And we’re just getting started.”

But, in this day and age, don’t producing and directing come with their own set of costs and risks? David ponders, “We’re starting small and taking baby steps. Times like these are challenging. But art cannot be defeated by a virus. Art will always find a way out. Collaborations are now the means to this end. Dark Carnival has a day job. This helps support our passion to create what we really want to put out there.”

What prompted David to come up with such a morbid-sounding company name? He elaborates, “Well, everyone has a dark side. Hahaha! Also, maybe we’re like a dark horse that can stand side by side with the bigger players? Also, entertainment to me is like a carnival. There. Nagkataon din that DC are my initials.”

In addition to DCP’s current agenda, David was fortunate to lay out his blueprint for a TV and movie project, and he feels equally fortunate to have received approval from his new manager, Joji Dingcong, to enlist Kelley Day and Raymond Bagatsing for pilot projects.