Mark Herras in "Sapi"

Mark Herras leads the cast of a new independent film titled Sapi. This is his first taste of acting outside his home studio GMA-7. The first Starstruck Ultimate Survivor relates, "Sinabihan ako ng GMA. I think it's about time na pinayagan nila ako gumawa outside GMA Network. At sobrang happy ako sa opportunity na ito."

Mark is joined by fellow GMA artist Aiza Marquez, Ricky Davao, Nanding Josef, Joel Torre, Nina Medina and Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition winner Keanna Reeves.

The film is helmed by Arnold Argaño, who sits as the director's chair for the first time. Arnold was previously the associate director of Troika, another indie film. He also directed several television commercials and documentary magazine shows.

The director has only praises for his young actors, Mark and Aiza. "This is the paramaters. This is what I want. And then kung may kulang, I add and I try to motivate. I give them scenarios. But for Mark and Aiza, they will push and it works."

Arnold is also proud of the fact that he is able to work with theater luminary, Nanding Josef.

"Twenty years ago, he was my teacher. And twenty years after, he's my actor," he said and smiled towards Nanding.

Sapi(Possessed) is produced by Win Asia Pictures, a newly established independent film production company headed by Leonor Sarmiento Vintervoll and Eden Lim Peñalosa. Arnold and his producers are hoping to bring this in the international market, with plans of entering it to the Berlin International Film Festival.

SYNOPSIS
A test of faith threatens to tear apart a small town already reeling from a communist insurrection. The conflict is set between the outspoken parish priest, Padre Allan (Ricky Davao) and the charismatic faith healer whom everyone calls "Manong" (Nanding Josef). In the middle of this conflict is the death of Ada (newcomer Stella Peñalosa), a young woman who many believed was have been possessed by the devil before her death.

"Manong" still feels the agony for his failure to save Ada, as the soul of the young woman roams the barrio. He senses that his own death is near as well and anoints Mario, a young farmer (Mark Herras) to be his heir apparent. But Mario's wife, Isay (Aiza Marquez) is skeptical about the faith healer and the promise of a child for the couple.

As days pass by, the young woman's ghost appears to Mario. Mario is reluctant and tries to make sense of the message Ada's spirit is telling her. The conflict between the priest and the charismatic healer is unwoven. The young healer takes the old's man's place and the town heals its spiritual wounds.

Sapi will open in SM cinemas starting November 19.

Source: http://www.pep.ph/guide/2881/Mark-Herras-stars-in-his-first-indie-film-Sapi

Lalamunan

Lalamunan ,Leo Films' latest addition to its roster of sexy flicks, will open on November 19 in selected theaters nationwide.

Written and directed by Jigz Recto, Lalamunan features boxing champion Jordan Herrera in his boldest role. Viewers will get to see a different side of the Pinoy Mano-Mano winner when he engages in homosexual acts and appears in a very sexy shower scene.

Binyag star Ran Domingo, who is cast as the mysterious driver-lover, has nudity in front of a mirror. Also in the cast is hunk Rico Barrera, who has a love scene with Viva Hot Babes Maricar dela Fuente. Hazel Cabrera sings lonely tunes to her appreciative crowd but at home, she is a battered wife to her neurotic husband.

Maricar reveals her bosom as she caresses herself while Hazel bares all. Rico flaunts his body in skimpy briefs in many scenes.

The director of the film says: "My film is relevant to our present times. Although packaged as a sex film, Lalamunan delves deeper into the issues of marital rape, domestic violence, and repression. All the sex scenes in my film are integral to the story and were done in good taste." Direk Jigz also happens to be a theater actor and scriptwriter.

Lalamunan is produced by Cesar Aquino with executive producer Shaleena Dy.
Produced by: Leo Films
Executive Producer: Shaleena Dy
Producer: Cesar Aquino
Supervising Producer: Dennis Evangelista
Production Manager: Melon "Byuti" Antonio
Written and Directed by Jigz Recto

CAST:
Jordan Herrera (grand winner of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Mano-Mano, a boxing reality show)
Rico Barrera (Pinoy Big Brother Season 1 housemate)
Maricar dela Fuente (Viva Hotbabe)
Ran Domingo (lead actor of Binyag)
And Hazel Cabrera (original Viva Hotbabe)

SYNOPSIS
When singer Darla (Hazel Cabrera) temporarily loses her voice to laryngitis, she seeks medical help from throat specialist Andrei (Rico Barrera) who understands that there is something more beyond her physical ailment. Eventually,Darla reveals her real pain--she is Devon's (Jordan Herrera) battered trophy wife.

Source: http://www.pep.ph/guide/2918/Boxing-champ-turns-gay-in-Lalamunan,-Nov-19

Cul de Sac - Starring Sam Milby

The showing of Sam Milby’s indie film “Cul de Sac“, which is originally scheduled to open on November 18, has been moved to December 3, this year.

The movie is produced by Cinemabuhay for PLDT-Smart Foundation. Sam is joined by Chin-Chin Gutierrez, Jodi Sta. Maria and Albert Martinez and directed by Juan Miguel Sevilla.

Sam’s character is a ‘bad boy’ in this suspense-thriller movie about people working in the call center industry and viewers are given this fair warning: “What you see is not always what you get“.

Halatang pagod pa si Sam Milby nang pinapasok sa standby area ng mga press for the set visit of the new Cinemabuhay grant movie of new and young filmmaker Juan Miguel Sevilla, ang Cul-de-sac. Katatapos niya pa lang mag-location taping for his ABS-CBN primetime series Dyosa at dumiretso agad siya sa shoot ng nasabing suspense movie co-starring Jodi Sta. Maria and Chin-Chin Gutierrez.

Kapansin-pansin din ang "sugat" niya sa labi at sa pisngi, so PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked him kung totoo ito o kung prosthetics niya ito from Dyosa.

"He did this to me!" joke muna ni Sam habang itinuturo ang napakabatang direktor nilang si Juan Miguel bago niya sabihing prosthetics pala ito sa movie.

Nabanggit namin kay Sam na nasisira na ang mukha niya sa prosthetics niya sa Dyosa. Last time kasi namin siyang nakita sa birthday party ni Cristy Fermin noong end of July, marami siyang pimples na abot hanggang leeg na niya at na-explain niya na dahil nga ito sa prosthetics.

"I know, but how can I complain, it's a job?" sabi niya na lang.

Cul-de-sac is Sam's first independent movie, his first suspense movie, and his first movie outside Star Cinema. An exclusive star of the film arm of his Kapamilya station, mildly surprised kami na napayagan siyang tanggapin ang pelikula lalo na't wala palang clause ang kanyang Star Cinema contract for any outside movie.

"Gusto ko talagang gawin ang movie," sabi ni Sam. "When I first read the script, I was at the edge of my seat while reading it and I finished it in one seating. I love my character here so I asked my bosses if I can do this one."

Mahigit isang buwan daw silang naghintay ng kanyang manager na si Erik Raymundo bago siya napayagang tanggapin ang pelikula. For Cul-de-sac, kahit hindi niya pa nakatrabaho ang director na inilagay ang pangalan niya as part of the director's wish list of actors, tinanggap pa rin ni Sam ang pelikula and even in his below the usual talent fee.

"The script is that good, I want to do this talaga," sambit ni Sam.

Hindi na rin nagreklamo si Sam na kahit kaaalis pa lang ng kanyang prosthetics sa Dyosa ay lalagyan na naman siya for Cul-de-sac.

Nakiisa rin si Sam sa mga producers of the movie headed by Albert Martinez not to divulge his character for Cul-de-sac.

"I'm a mysterious guy here," ang sabi niya.

Basta hindi raw siya bida, hindi siya kontrabida. Top billing siya over Jodi and Chin-Chin at wala silang love interest ni Jodi, and that his character's job is a call center agent.

Source: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=370231

Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes - One True Love

The chemistry of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera will be put to a test on the big screen via GMA Films and Regal Entertainment's One True Love. It will open in cinemas nationwide starting November 19.

Working together in a movie offers a different kind of experience for Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. After appearing together in GMA-7's primetime shows, Marimar and Dyesebel, both of them expressed excitement and anxiety over the fact that they're working together in a different medium.

For their first movie project as a love team, Dingdong and Marian will assume mature roles unseen in their past primetime soaps. Iza Calzado also joins the love team in One True Love, which is produced by GMA Films and Regal Entertainment.
In an interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last October 28, Director Mac Alejandre said that the two lead stars are playing "more matured roles in a realistic setting."

SYNOPSIS
In the film, Dingdong plays Migs, a young man who is in a long-term relationship with Iza Calzado's character named Bela. The relationship was put to the test when Bela and her family decided to go abroad, leaving the two lovers with no choice but to settle for a long distance affair. The couple struggle to keep their long distance relationship but they eventually decide to go their separate ways.

Migs then meets a pretty nurse named Joy, portrayed by Marian Rivera. Smitten and confused, Migs fell in love with Joy and immediately offers marriage, leaving Bela and their relationship behind.

Bela, determined to fight for her love, quickly returns to the Philippines with the intention of winning back her former boyfriend. This situation forces Migs to painfully contemplate whether to return to Bela or move on with his new life with Joy.

Who will be the one true love of Migs: his first love Bela (Iza) or his current flame Joy (Marian)?

IS IT TRUE LOVE? "The film poses several questions," explains Direk Mac. "Some questions are answered, some questions may not be answered. But some of the questions, ang true love ba ay ‘yong pag-ibig na ipinaglalaban o ‘yong pag-ibig na nagpaparaya? Kasi minsan ang pag-ibig na nagpaparaya ang pinaka-epektibong paraan ng pakikipaglaban, ‘yon ‘yong isa sa mga tanong. Ikalawa, ang love ba ay nagsisimula sa at nagwawakas sa damdamin o nagwawakas sa isang desisyon? That was another question posed. Number three, ‘pag ikaw ay nagmamahal, hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon nagtutugma ang utak at puso, ‘pag nangyari ‘yon ano ang nararapat mong sundin?"

He further added: "Given the situations of the character they play, these three people are put into a situation where they have to answer through actions these questions and, more often than not, the result is not as joyful as expected."

One True Love aims to present all the extreme emotions involved in falling in love, including pain and happiness—elements that were vividly touched in the film.

GOING DARING. In an separate interview, Marian said that One True Love is her most daring roles so far due to the love scenes required from her and Dingdong.

"Sa Dyesebel kasi kiss lang kami, dito kasi may mga atake na ginagawa si direk Mac [Alejandre] na ginawa namin pero dahil sa mga camera niya, kung paano niya iikot so mag-iiba talaga sa paningin ng tao. Instead kasi na focus agad sa mukha, kunwari balikat muna. So, ginawa niyang mas kapanapanabik siya at mas kaayaaya siyang panoorin na parang hindi bastos pero wow! Parang nakaka-in love," explained the young actress.

Direk Mac commended Dingdong, Marian and Iza for their cooperation and professionalis m especially when it comes to the intimate scenes. "Walang ilangan," he proudly stated, "absolutely wala. And I think because they were well trained for that."

The film was entirely shot here in Metro Manila. Direk Mac stressed that the project's main strength is the story itself and that the film aims to focus on this concept as envisioned by its writers.

"I think it's the formulation of the story and the magic of the actors that created the visual delight of the film," he stated.

Watch Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera, and Iza Calzado in a dramatic love triangle in One True Love, which opens in cinemas on November 19.

Source: http://www.pep.ph/forum/index.php?topic=2940.msg436547