IT'S HARD to be Eddie Ilarde's son, new film director Rico Ilarde is finding out. People have such high expectations of you that you have to work extra-hard to impress them. But Rico is succeeding in doing that--and how.

''I've been making short films since I was 16--with my old JVC VHS video camera, the kind attached to those bulky recorders. My actors were my family--my brothers, sisters and cousins. Since the push button of the recorder could only hold for a couple of minutes, I learned about pre-editing my work at an early stage. During high school at La Salle, I did a short film that got a very good grade. As far as I can remember, I've always been fascinated by filmmaking,'' Rico grins.

''Originally, my dad wanted me to study business at UP Diliman. Much to my surprise and delight, he changed his mind and allowed me to take Film subjects at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland in the States. The equipment was low-tech but I still managed to make four short films which combined action and bizarre imagery,'' he says.

One of his short films, ''Z-Man,'' was entered by his brother in an ECP tilt and the 20-minute narrative shot in black and white won second prize.

The works of Don Seigel, Sam Pechinpah and Walter Hill had a strong influence on Rico, who would watch action thrillers like ''Deliverance,'' ''Straw Dogs'' and Taxi Driver'' over and over again.

He returned to the Philippines in 1988 and his dad ventured into producing a low-budget movie that Rico directed. Rico expanded ''Z-Man'' into a full-length film that starred Toby Alejar and Bon Vibar. The all-Filipino production's script was in English. Budgeted at less than a million pesos, it was never shown locally. But Ilarde succeeded in selling the film to a distributor in Los Angeles and it's still available on video in different video in different parts of the world.

Soon Rico was doing whatever production work he could grab. He worked for an American producer of B movies for several years. He also served as assistant director for a couple of commercials, and assisted in his father's show, ''Kahapon Lamang.''

For some years, Rico tried to find financing for a pet project of his, ''El Kapitan.'' It's about a 17th century vampire who comes back to life after a mining crew stumbles upon a mysterious casket. A reluctant hero and his female assistant hold the key to deciphering the archaic code and join forces to destroy the beast.

After many disappointments, Rico finally hit paydirt with Mother Lily and her Golden Harvest film outfit. Mother Lily liked the scipt, which has the elements of horror, action and sex, and decided to produce it.