While the showbiz world can be a room full of stars and dream makers, the irony is that fake people coexist alongside the “legits.” The ones who can actually run the show, whether in front of or behind the camera, know for sure that survival and success require an individual to be real.
Van Dichoso, the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of RiverRock Films and arguably the most celebrated US-based CPA (Certified Public Accountant) of Filipino descent, has always chosen the same kind of people to keep moving up the corporate ladder. He describes such a bunch in one word: trusted.
“First, you have to be proud of who you are,” he said as we chatted over wine and good food in a Beverly Hills restaurant.
He was referring to being Filipino-born—in Quezon City, to be exact—even if he had been naturally Americanized early on after moving to the US at just seven years old.
He also expressed delight that singer-actress Lea Salonga is getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He mused, “That one is an achievement, definitely, and you could scrape her skin and Filipino blood will come out.”
Such descriptive poetry also reflects the man’s humility. For when we talk about Filipinos making waves in Hollywood, Van is himself at the top of the heap.
Last year, he was named by Forbes as one of America’s Top 200 CPAs. Moreover, the Los Angeles Business Journal has kept him deeper into the list—as one of the Top 100 Accountants for the past three years (2022–2024).
This year, he was selected for the Marquis Who’s Who in America, a recognition of his rise fueled by self-awareness and trust. “You have to build relationships,” he said. “If you’re not trusted, can’t talk to people, or lack empathy, you won’t get far.”
You may call his backdoor entry into the film industry a mere career diversion, but it is a significant move that gives the Filipino-American community some headway. There’s real logic to it, much like every move he makes. His mother, as we should know, had a TV show in the ‘70s called Fiesta Filipino.
The showbiz vibe had always been there, and Van once wanted to be an actor, despite the improbability of becoming one, given that he belongs to a minority group.
Fate redirected him when an uncle urged him to become a CPA. It was a turning point that brought him good pay and a valuable network, things a pursuit of, say, bit acting roles probably wouldn’t have secured.
“I knew my studio partners for years, and I’ve been exposed to decision-makers and company owners long enough,” he noted.
RiverRock Films is a full-service film, TV, and new media production company that develops and finances projects to fruition.
As a co-owner of RiverRock Films, Van handles budgets and accounting while occasionally contributing creatively, especially when music, a key element for him, drives the story. During the pandemic, the company produced Never Alone, a musical about music as a remedy to lockdowns. They’re now working on a spy action film to be directed by V for Vendetta’s James McTeigue.
Last weekend in Las Vegas for meetings and the Manny Pacquiao fight, Van said, “The film business is a lot of work—maximizing profits, going to sets, making sure the cast and crew have food. It’s not glamorous.”
Still, he sees no limits, driven by faith and purpose. “You are responsible for your success. I am responsible for what I am,” he said. “God has been around. You always have to believe in that.”
Known in his circle as a top-tier accountant, he’s now expanding into public speaking, sharing what he’s learned over the years. A health-conscious pro, he stays active and looks younger than his age.
He said he recently played basketball with college students, noting that as long as you can still score, you can continue playing the game. You bet he meant that more in a figurative sense.
Among his important pieces of advice is to know the place you are in. He said, “Whatever the vibe of the city you’re in, that’s where you belong. You go to Washington, D.C., if you’re thrilled by political power. You know what vibe we have here in Los Angeles.”
As for his desire to be an actor, it’s a ship that has already sailed. Van knows business is business. He drew the line, “I am not acting when I own the studio. This is business, not for self-gratification. I am not here to self-serve or make myself famous.”
Besides, for someone like Van Dichoso, an individual track record speaks for itself. He is in the spotlight because of his years of hard work and excellence—and he deserves to be—being an inspirational figure to those who want to hit the big time, to his daughter Vanessa, and of course, to all Pinoys at heart.
