Works of fan fiction were once categorized as a niche part of fandom culture. I've been witness to various fanfics from the world of Twilight, to the legendary boy group One Direction, and even our fave K-pop groups. Interestingly, fan fiction is now getting the cinematic spotlight it deserves.
It's no surprise that production companies are now adapting fan fiction to create something bigger, like films and series. (Case in point: the film Idea of You.) These works of fiction by fans don't just imagine what-ifs—they build entire worlds that readers (and now viewers) can obsess over. And in an age where the audience craves connection and authenticity, fan-written stories offer exactly that. It's raw, it's real, and honestly? Sometimes it slays harder than some original scripts.
We're used to fanfics getting adapted into films, but what about a fanfic turned into an OPM music video? That's exactly what Kring Kim envisioned—and made happen. The fanfic? It was all about the OG Asian drama everybody loved: Meteor Garden.
The Story Behind "Pansamantala" MV And Kring Kim
Kring Kim was known to be one of the "professional fangirls"—she would always be out and about hosting the next big fan meets of various South Korean celebrities in the Philippines, or touring around South Korea to share her experience through her vlogs. In an exclusive chat with Cosmo, Kring shares how she actually started as one of—if not the—youngest Pinay television directors in the country.
Kring is a storyteller. That's why, after directing PULP Studios' debut film, Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul, she has chosen to create more stories that continuously resonate with fans. Case in point: the music video of Press Hit Play's "Pansamantala."
"I've always been a storyteller at heart," Kring tells Cosmo, talking about how she directed various entertainment programs, including reality competitions, game formats, dance showcases, and events at the start of her professional life. Back then, Kring recalls that she mostly shared her personal interests on social media, and not much about her actual day job. It’s no wonder people mostly recognize her for her fangirl moments.
But even before and until now, she firmly declares how she's always wanted to be a filmmaker. Now, she's been getting opportunities to showcase her storytelling skills. Following a long list of projects in content creation, consultancy for entertainment companies, and producing films instead of directing them, she wasn't even sure these would still happen. She reflects, "Sometimes we forget about the dreams that we've had since we're very, very young, but the universe never forgets, and it happens when you're ready."
So, after some soul-searching and taking a break after the film, Ma'am Chief, she's now going all-in, embracing her passion for filmmaking. "This year, I'm really gonna go 'full filmmaker mode,'" she proclaims.
One of the many manifestations of her goal as a filmmaker this year was creating the music video for the song "Pansamantala," which she first heard during a livestream event she hosted with Press Hit Play's (PHP) member, JP. "The song was amazing—I felt like it had magic," Kring stated.
Kring has always supported PHP. The Filipino boy group, which consists of JP, CHRLS, Yuuki, and Sev, is now ushering in a new era of original Pinoy music (OPM). With their talent, music, and their OST-worthy track, "Pansamantala," the group is aiming to make their mark in the P-Pop scene.
Kring's support for the group actually sparked the inspiration for her to create her first music film. There were a lot of interesting things about the music film, namely 1) it's not just an MV, rather it feels like a short film; and 2) it's based on a fan fiction that Kring personally wrote in 2004!
The director-slash-fangirl absolutely had no idea that what was just once a piece of work she did because she was obsessing over Ximen and Xiaoyou of Meteor Garden, would be the backbone of her first music film for PHP—except that she made "Pansamantala" about Boys’ Love (BL).
Moreover, there's a fusion between Korean filmmaking techniques and her Filipino roots. She notes how the two cultures can seamlessly blend to come up with something better. "It's not about trying to be something you're not, but trying to level up the quality to the best that we can," she claimed.
This is one of the moments that shows how her identity as a fangirl influences her filmmaking career, particularly in casting and scriptwriting. She says that Asian cinema aesthetics, feelings, and sensibilities have always been a strong influence on her work. "When I put together a story or finalize a casting, I always stop to ask myself, 'Ano ba or sino ba 'yung gusto kong makita as a fan?' I have to detach myself and think if this is something that a fan would like," Kring stated.
Kring Kim Gets Real About Pursuing Your Passion
Former Pinoy Big Brother housemate and rising actor Dustine Mayores was Direk Kring’s first choice for the project. ICYDK, they worked together in Ma'am Chief. Acting opposite Dustin in the music film is Kurt Deseo. Despite "Pansamantala" being Dustin and Kurt’s first stint together, the two showcased natural chemistry and produced heart-wrenching scenes that moved even the staff members to tears during their filming.
"It's so random how everything fell into place, but I knew the universe willed for this to happen," Kring says as she looks back on the earlier days of producing the music film. Building on this, she talks about how their team had an effortless shoot in Pangasinan and how they adapted the fan fiction into a story that resonates with everyone, whether you're into PHP, OPM, Asian Pop, or even BL.
"If it's meant for you, it will never pass you by," Kring shares, indicating how the stars have aligned for her in this filmmaking journey. "Being a filmmaker, for me, took a while. But none of the things I did prior to filmmaking were ever in vain—even down to creating fan fiction in the early 2000s! Who would have thought those things we dreamed of when we were young could be watched by mass media someday?"
Just like how Kring brought fan fiction to life through a music film—and boldly embraced a path that never strayed from her fangirl roots—she reminds us that there's quiet power in staying the course, even when the journey takes the scenic route.
She leaves fellow creatives with this: "Never ever think that anything you create goes to waste—because all of it helps you grow. There's power in following your passion."
Watch "Pansamantala" music film here:
