Hollywood based Pinoy director, actor and producer Ace Cruz chooses to imbue his films with positive messages instead of using darker themes.

An example of this is his suspense thriller film, “Outrage,” which is set to premiere in the Philippines on August 14 at SM Megamall Cinema 1. According to Cruz, the film espouses the law of attraction; that is, what one thinks of constantly, manifests into similar realities.

“It’s like what’s said in the book ‘The Secret,’” he told Bulletin Entertainment and other members of media during a pocket interview on July 19. “Like begets like and vice-versa. It’s that simple.”

“Outrage” tells the story of a vacation gone wrong for friends in the remote woods of Northern Georgia. Eventually, a medicine healer reveals that one of the characters’ fears drew the nightmare upon them.

“People must let go of their own fear and anger before passion would enter their lives” is what Cruz believes.

Perhaps a testament that the principle works is shown in the success of “Outrage” itself. The film won the Best SciFi Picture Award at the Action on Film (AOF) International Festival held in Pasadena in 2009. It was also screened at the most recent Cannes Film Festival Awards where Cruz met with different industry movers from all over the world.

 Though Cruz acknowledges that there is a niche for dark art films, it’s not his cup of tea.

“I respect people such as Brillante Mendoza and Quentin Tarantino for their vision but their themes are not for me. I watch their films but mostly for study. I want my films to have characters that grow and become better persons as the story unfolds,” he said.

Born in Manila, Cruz immigrated to Los Angeles with his family at age 3. He studied filmmaking at the University of Southern California (USC). “Outrage” is the 6th feature film in his cap after “Urban Task Force,” “Psychotic” (with Sam Jones of “Flash Gordon”), “”Fate” (with Lee Majors of “Six Million Dollar Man”), “Last Chance” (co-starring Todd Bridges), and “The Golem.”

“Outrage" is as star-studded as its predecessors. Some in the cast are famous Hollywood actors Michael Madsen (“Kill Bill”), Natasha Lyonne (“Blade: Trinity”), and Michael Berryman (“The Devil’s Rejects”).

“Because I’ve been based in the US for quite awhile now, it’s easier for me to contact Hollywood producers and scriptwriters and stars. If I don’t know these people personally, I’m almost certain that there’s someone in my circle who does,” he said.

Cruz, in fact, is “designing” a script around “High School Musical” star Vanessa Hudgens; sure that the star will be offered the part at least.

Titled “The Wishing Well,” it will be a “combination of ‘Memoirs of A Geisha,’ ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘August Rush,’ quite uplifting” Cruz said. “I’ve been writing it in Boracay with this gorgeous view in front of me the whole time that’s why creativity just flows.”

Cruz admits that the commercial success of his films is important to him.

“I also have to think of my co-investors. Besides, if my films don’t sell, how am I going to finance the next ones?”

He vows to open more doors for other Filipino film makers and actors if he becomes big in Hollywood. Recall that Cruz cast Sunshine Cruz in “Urban Task Force” and Judy Ann Santos in “Last Chance.”

“Here’s how I see it: I start small but I make sure mine are quality projects. Hopefully, these will win awards or at least get noticed in international film festivals. If either of the two happens, then major Hollywood studio offers can't be too far behind.”

Sounds like a good plan.