Escaleras and Ungasis (20 years After)

Kung nalungkot ang regular viewers na walang Enteng Kabisote sa Metro Manila Film Festival this year, marami naman ang natuwa sa reunion nina Tito, Vic & Joey, dahil ang tatlo ang bida sa Escaleras and Ungasis (20 years After) ng OctoArts Films at M-Zet Productions.

Ngayon lang uli magsasama-sama sa pelikula ang tatlo at bubuhayin ang characters nila sa Iskul Bukol.

Written and directed by Tony Reyes ang pelikula na magpapakita ng bagong pakikipagsapalaran nina Tito at Joey Escalera at Vic Ungasis.

Gusto palang malaman ng mga nakabasa ng script kung sino ang gaganap sa role ni Sharon Ungasis? Maggi-guest kaya si Sharon Cuneta sa reunion movie ng tatlo?

Source: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351943

KC Concepcion looks forward to doing a movie with Piolo Pascual

Back in the country after attending two successful US premieres of her first film For the First Time, KC Concepcion is happy and looking forward to doing more projects soon.At the Sony Armed & Fabulous product launch held last Sept 19 at the Rockwell Tent, the Sony Cyber-shot spokes model shares that there are two things she is looking forward to the most right now: attending the European premiere of her film with Richard and hoping to share the big screen with heartthrob Piolo Pascual. “I just attended the For the First Time premiere in Los Angeles and San Francisco. It was a good turnout. I didn’t know that there’s so much support from Filipino fans there. It was both an exciting and fulfilling experience for me. I know they were really enjoyed the film. Of course it would’ve been nice if Richard was there too but he was also busy here. We’re going to Austria next week for our Vienna premiere. For the first time there’s a Vienna premiere for a Star Cinema movie so it’s something special,” she admits.

KC also admits that out of all the possible leading men out there, she hopes that she can one day do a project with Piolo. “I would like to be more active in my roles and I would like to work with Piolo Pascual. I know he’s a great actor and I know I’ll learn a lot from him. And he’s also a good friend so I know we’ll be comfortable with each other if we’ll be working together,” she shares. Slated to do a Valentine movie with Richard next year with GMA films, KC hopes her fans will be just as supportive as they were with For the First Time. “Sana kiligin ulit sila. It’s going to be with a different film company so it’s going to be something different. A different director and a different story. So sana yung mga nakakita at nagkagusto sa For the First Time, ay magustuhan ulit nila. Hopefully, ma-accept nila yung mga bagong darating,” she confides.

The talented young actress-product endorser is also proud to show off her movie to the kababayans in Vienna, Austria. “I know excited na rin yung mga kababayan natin doon. Natutuwa rin ako na ngayon napapadala natin yung ating mga pelikula sa ibang bansa. Excited na ako ipakita yung pelikula sa mga kababayan natin doon. Gusto ko rin makita kung paano sila mabuhay doon. At the same time, maipapakita rin namin yung itsura ng Santorini, Greece at para maipagmalaki sa kanila na meron tayong pelikulang ganito,” she excitedly shares. KC also shared that she learned a lot of lessons while doing the movie. “Of course in For the First Time was my first time, which is exactly why we named it that (laughs). My partnership with Richard was great. I learned from him professionally. He comes on time and he treats people well. He doesn’t complain. I also learned a lot from Tito Philip Salvador (who played her dad in the film). He always gave me advice about being patient with the craft. And of course kay Direk Joyce Bernal natutunan ko na magpakatotoo sa lahat ng ginagawa ko. Kung sino ka, yun ka eh kaya yun ang ipakita mo dahil yun dapat,” she concludes.

Source: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?s=bcf84747fa72c7945aea7a3fde1a6aea&t=360082

ABS-CBN, suportado ang Ploning!

KA-CHAT namin kahapon sa YM (Yahoo! Messenger) si Direk Dante Nico Garcia (direktor ng Ploning) na kasaluluyang nasa Singapore para sa Asian Festival of First Films.

Kalahok ang Plo*ning sa nasabing filmfest at nominado itong Best Film, Best Director at Best Screenplay.

Hindi na makakadalo si Direk Ga (palayaw ni Direk Dante) sa awards night sa Singapore sa Dis*yembre 10 dahil after ng screening ng Ploning sa Disyembre 9 ay lilipad na siya pa-Los Angeles para sa gagawin nilang Oscar campaign sa Amerika.

Kinumusta namin kay Direk Ga ang katatapos na Plato Para Kay Ploning fundraiser na inorganisa nila ni Judy Ann Santos. Ayon kay Ga ay bongga ang turnout ng nasabing charity dinner.

Umaasa silang aabot sa P2M ang kikitain sa dinner plates at auction ng art pieces at mukhang nasa ganu’ng halaga ang kanilang malilikom.

Kinukwenta pa raw ito ngayon dahil ang ibang income ay manggagaling sa sales ng ABS-CBN, tapos ay may percentage din ang mga nag-donate na artist kaya wala pang final breakdown.

In fairness sa ABS-CBN, bukod sa binigay nitong libreng venue (Rockwell Tent), lahat ng kinita sa social ball ay diretso sa Ploning funds.

Kikita lang daw ang Dos sa sales ng commercial spots sa airing ng nasabing event (na wala pang final date kung kelan ipapa*labas).

Ang ganda rin daw ng show nu’ng gabing ‘yon, sabi ni Direk Ga. Kasama sa mga nag-perform sina Martin Nievera, Ogie Alcasid, Sa*rah Geronimo, Richard Poon, Aiza Seguerra, Nina, Sitti, PDA Season 2 Scholars at Arnel Pineda ng Journey.

Source: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?s=bcf84747fa72c7945aea7a3fde1a6aea&t=374804

Star Cinema's "You Change My Life in a Moment" (AVSL Sequel)

Direk Cathy Garcia-Molina talks about A Very Special Love 2

John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo will soon return to the big screen via the sequel to the very successful movie A Very Special Love (AVSL) under Star Cinema. Nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang ABS-CBN.com na makausap ang director ng box-office hit na ito na si Cathy Garcia-Molina at binahagi niya sa amin ang ilan sa mga detalye at concept ng post-valentines movie offering ng Star Cinema.

"When we were thinking of the new concept, the mandate of management was to have a similar feel. Siyempre ang expectations mo, mapantayan or malampasan, laging ganoon e. E kung same feel, baka mahirapan kami. So I'd rather na dugtungan siya. Kami ni Tita Malou (Santos, Managing Director of Star Cinema), we were in one in thinking na ang daming possibilities kung sila na. I think its exciting to see kung paano maging mag-lovers itong sina Miggie and Lyda," paliwanag ni Direk Cathy.

Dagdag pa niya, "Practically, since it's a part two, it's a take-off nung mga characters nila noong una. So dito, they are in a relationship na already. They ended part one na naging sila, so we're opening the sequel na sila na."

Aminado si Direk Cathy na medyo kinakabahan na sila kung tatanggapin pa ba ng publiko ang tandem nila Lloydy at Sarah kung medyo matatagalan pa ang pagpapalabas ng kanilang sequel, at nasagot ang kanilang mga pagdududa nang makapanood si Direk Cathy ng concert ni Sarah Geronimo noong November 8.

"Nakakatuwa. Whatever doubts na meron kami, because some say na baka matagal bago sumunod kasi this will air last week of February, baka nakalimutan na yung AVSL Part 1. But with the concert (of Sarah last November 8 at the Araneta Coliseum where she and John Lloyd sang "A Very Special Love"), nabuhayan kami kasi hindi pa namamatay yung kanta sa audience," kuwento ng batikang direktor.

Expected na tatabo na naman sa takilya ang proyektong ito ni Direk Cathy na very humble naman sa pagtanggap sa titulong "box-office director" of her generation. "I don’t know how to react, of course ‘thank you.’ Para kasing ‘pag tinanggap mo nang buong-buo some would say… kasi I've been hearing things na malaki na raw ulo ko. I think inevitable naman na bansagan ako ng ganun. Ayaw ko sanang palakihin at I'd like to believe na hindi pa. ‘Pag hindi ko namang tinanggap it's like saying ‘no’ naman to a grace from God na I'm so blessed na all my films have been supported at tinangkilik ng mga manunuod. Ako all I do now, all I can promise is that in every film that I do, I try to give something new, I try to give my best, kasi yun lang naman ang kaya kong ibigay e, to entertain people," pagtatapos ni Direk.

Target ng Star Cinema na simulan ang shooting ng AVSL Part 2 sa November 27 or 29. Nabalitaan din namin na "You Changed My Life in a Moment" ang magiging theme song ng sequel na ito. Natuwa din kami nang ibalita sa amin ni Direk Cathy na hindi nila tatapatan ang valentine movie ni KC Concepcion bilang pag-rerespeto at pagmamahal ng Star Cinema sa anak ng megastar Sharon Cuneta.

MOVIE: "100" (Rated A by CEB)

I'm encouraging everyone to watch "100". It will open Dec. 3 (this week na!) in the following cinemas: GLORIETTA, ROBINSONS GALLERIA, ROBINSONS ERMITA, SM NORTH EDSA and SM MEGAMALL.

The film is Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board. Highly recommended ko rin 'to. You'll laugh. You'll cry. Basta, you'll enjoy the movie. Promise!

Please support Philippine Cinema and our Independent Filmmakers.

Starring: Mylene Dizon, Eugene Domingo, Tessie Tomas, TJ Trinidad, Ryan Eigenmann, Cecile Paz
Written and directed by: Chris Martinez
Produced by: Martinez Rivera Films in association with StraightShooters Media Inc.
Released by: Star Cinema
MTRCB Rating: R-13

"100" chronicles the last three months of a cancer stricken woman who has a list of things to do before she dies. Her list of tasks, mostly closures and practical undertakings, expands to the worldly and the spiritual as people close to her share her last days. The film examines the betrayal of the body, celebrates the senses and contemplates the end of life and how to live it.

A light-hearted, briskly paced, youthful take on a classic subject, 100 took home the most number of awards from 2008 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival -- winning 5 major Balanghai Trophies: Best Director and Best Screenplay for Chris Martinez, Best Actress for Mylene Dizon, Best Supporting Actress for Eugene Domingo and the coveted Audience Choice Award. It also won the KNN Movie Award (Audience Choice) at the Pusan International Film Festival. 100 is also invited to compete in the Marrakesh International Film Festival.

"100" is Chris Martinez’ debut film.

Director's Profile: CHRIS MARTINEZ
Filmmaker. Screenwriter. Theater Director. Playwright. Commercial Director. Author.

Chris Martinez’s debut film “100” was the runaway winner at the 2008 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, winning 5 major Balanghai trophies: Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Mylene Dizon), Best Supporting Actress (Eugene Domingo) and the coveted Audience Choice Award. 100 also won the KNN Movie Award at the Pusan International Film Festival.

Chris wrote the screenplays of Bridal Shower, Bikini Open ( both from Seiko Films, directed by Jeffrey Jeturian), Sukob and Caregiver ( both from Star Cinema, directed by Chito Roño) .

He has won a Gawad Tanglaw for Bikini Open, a Guillermo Mendoza Award for Sukob and an Urian nomination for Bridal Shower.

As playwright, he has won several Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Grand Prize for his plays in English and Filipino. As theater artist, he directed the stage adaptation of camp classic Temptation Island, the critically acclaimed call center monologue Welcome to IntelStar and adapted cult comic book Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah for the stage. His first short film, Bakas, won him a Cultural Center of the Philippines Award for Alternative Filmmaking. He is also the author of Laugh Trip and Last Order sa Penguin which earned a National Book Award nomination.

For a living, he directs TV commercials since 2004.

2008 Philippine Box-office Thread

Na-close ang 2008 philippine box office thread dahil sa awayang maricel at sharon. sana this time, wag na ma-close. wag na kasi OT. pag-usapan ang movies ng 2008, wag kung ano-anong bagay na hindi naman na relevant sa thread.

as of this moment, di pa rin nag-aa-update ang box office mojo kahit sa ibang countries so wala pa ang figures ng monster mom. eto pa lang.

Top Grossing Filipino Films for 2008
1. caregiver- 139,536,302
2. my bestfriend’s girlfriend- 101,257,479
3. when love begins- 88,896,280
4. my big love- 68,005,977
5. supahpapalicious- 66,988,528
6. manay po overload- 30,405,258
7. ikaw pa rin, bongga ka boy- 24,887,985
8. ploning- 12,126,481
9. urduja- 11,518,774 (gross for 3 weeks)
10. ate- 2,556,616

Source: http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?s=bcf84747fa72c7945aea7a3fde1a6aea&t=354853

"Magkaibigan" director dares viewers to watch his film without crying

Pagkatapos ng Katas ng Saudi na entry ng Maverick Films sa 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival, nakatanggap si Sen. Jinggoy Estrada ng three best actor awards, first sa Gabi ng Parangal ng Metro Manila Film Fest, second sa Golden Screen Awards ng Entertainment Press, Inc. at ang pinakahuli, sa FAMAS. Wala pala siyang balak noon na gumawa muli ng movie para sa 2008 MMFF dahil busy siya sa public service as one of the 24 Senators of the Philippine Senate.

Pero nang pumanaw ang best friend niyang si Rudy Fernandez, nakaisip siyang gumawa ng isang pelikula bilang tribute dito. Hindi ito true-to-life story ni Rudy, kundi ibi-based lamang sa buhay nito, pero ang bibigyang-halaga ay ang friendship na namagitan sa kanila simula pa noon hanggang sa pumanaw ito, na ang "true friendship is forever." Muli niyang kinausap si Direk Joey Reyes para siyang sumulat ng script at magdirek ng movie na ang title nga ay
Magkaibigan.

"Nagulat nga ako nang nagsu-shooting na kami na halos lahat ng dialogue sa story ay parang siyang tunay na mga usapang namagitan sa amin ni Rudy, hindi naman kami nag-usap ni direk Joey," medyo misty-eyed si Sen. Jinggoy nang makausap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal). "Kahit paano, hindi na ako kailangang mag-isip kung ano ang emotion na ipu-portray ko, kasi ganoon talaga ang nangyari. Mas nahihirapan ako kapag dumadalaw sa set si Lorna [Tolentino], dahil sariwa pa sa amin ang mga huling araw ni Daboy. Noong last shooting day nga namin na death scene ang kinunan, hindi iyon tinapos ni Lorna, masakit sa kanya, bumabalik ang alaala sa final hour ni Rudy."

Si Direk Joey naman ang kinausap ng PEP, sinabi namin sa kanya na nagulat si Sen. Jinggoy sa takbo ng story at sa mga dialogues na parang totoong-totoo.

"Ngayon ko lamang ito ikukuwento," sabi ni Direk Joey. "After kong gawin ang Katas ng Saudi last year, kinausap ako ni Rudy. Gusto pa raw niyang makagawa ng isang movie bago siya mawala. Tinanong ko siya kung ano ang story na gusto niyang isulat ko. Gusto raw niya story of a dying man. Umoo lamang ako sa kanya, pero hindi ko talaga nagawa ang script na iyon, hindi ko alam kung paano ko gagawin, hanggang sa naging serious na nga ang kalagayan niya.

"May friend akong doctor sa hospital kung saan siya naka-confine at bago lumabas sa hospital si Rudy, tinawagan ako ng doctor-friend ko at sinabi niyang kung gusto ko raw dalawin si Rudy dahil nag-decide na ang mga doctors niya at si Lorna na ilabas na ito at sa bahay na lamang nila pupunta ang doctors niya. That time, ginagawa ko na ang script ng Magkaibigan.

"Wala ako sa bedside niya nang pumanaw siya, hindi ko alam kung ano ang mga last words na sinabi ni Rudy, kung ano ang sinabi ng mga kaibigan niyang sina Sen. Jinggoy, Sen. Bong Revilla at Phillip Salvador, kaya hindi ko rin alam kung bakit iyon ang mga dialogues na sinulat ko na sinabi ni Christopher de Leon sa kanyang death scene, like iyong "hirap na hirap na ako, pagod na pagod na ako." Siguro, dahil may mga friends din akong nagkaroon ng Big C at ang huli ko ngang nadalaw din noon, si Direk Khryss Adalia. Nakita ko kung paano rin siya naghirap bago siya pumanaw."

Thankful si Direk Joey sa magandang cast ng movie, sina Boyet, Dawn Zulueta at Maricel Laxa na dati na rin niyang naidirek noon. Kumusta naman si Boyet sa role niya as Atoy?

"Tinanong nga niya ako kung ano raw ang acting na gusto kong gawin niya," kuwento pa ni Direk Joey. "Gusto ko na mag-underplay siya at iyon din ang sinabi ko kina Sen. Jinggoy, Dawn at Maricel, ayaw ko nang umaarte sila, na huwag nila akong bigyan ng TV soap opera. Si Sen. Jinggoy, sa death scene, sabi ko sa kanya, gusto ko tahimik lamang siya. Sinabi ko rin sa kanilang ayaw ko nang umiiyak sila sa eksena, let the moviegoers cry in their scenes. Mahirap, pero iyon lamang ang maganda sa mga real actors, nagagawa nila kung ano ang gusto ng director. Pero pagkatapos ng eksena, lahat umiiyak, kasama na rin ako.

"Kaya I dare the moviegoers to go out the theater without crying," dagdag pa ni Direk Joey.

SYNOPSIS
Since their childhood days, Atoy (Christopher de Leon) and Ruben (Sen. Jinggoy Estrada) were the closest of friends. It was not surprising that they remained the best of friends even decades later when Atoy and Ruben had their own families. Atoy became a successful businessman, married to the beautiful Tere (Dawn Zulueta) and with two children, Jonie (AJ Perez) and Katrina (Empress Shuck). Ruben, the more proud and headstrong of the two, found a wife in Eden (Maricel Laxa), with two sons Benjie (Ryan Julio) and Dodie (Justine Plummer).

The relationship between Atoy and Ruben remained the same through the years. Despite their closeness, Atoy was literally Ruben's kuya, going out of his way to take care of Ruben whenever he found himself in trouble or even giving him a sense of control. Even the wives and their children knew about this: the two families were so intertwined that they were closer than their real relatives.

But the true test of this friendship came when Atoy was suddenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Ruben summoned all their friends (Tirso Cruz III and Bobby Andrews), to rally behind Atoy in order to provide him with the strength to fight the deadly disease. Benjie witnessed his father in his most private moments, wrestling with the emotional struggles in order to remain strong for his bestfriend as well as assure Atoy's family that he will be there for them regardless of what happened.

As Atoy underwent treatment, he sometimes obtained false hopes that he will be well only to be further disappointed by his physical regression. Ruben became his caregiver and major moral support. Ruben went through his own personal hell as he felt so helpless watching his best friend slowly die. His wife, Eden, tried to understand this male bonding and the strength this provided both families.

The theme song of the movie is "Kaibigan" written by first Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Davey Langit with musical supervision by Monet Silvestre.

Source: http://www.pep.ph/guide/3039/Magkaibigan-director-dares-viewers-to-watch-his-film-without-crying

Cinemalaya 2009 semi-finalists announced

Eighteen semifinalists in the full-length feature category have been selected for the 2009 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition slated on July 17-26, 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The semifinalists are:
24K by Ana Agabin; Ang Mga Pangarap ni Mary Jane by Jerome Chavez Pobocan; Ang Nerseri (The Nursery) by Vic Acedillo, Jr.; Ang Panggagahasa kay Virginia by Alvin B. Yapan; Astig (Mga Batang Kalye) by GB Sampedro; Babae ng Guho (Woman of the Ruins) by Sari Lluch Dalena; Becoming an Archer by Alfonso Torre III;
Child Warrior by Francis O. Villacorta; Colorum by Jon Steffan Ballesteros; Dinig Sana Kita by Mike E. Sandejas; El Ultimo de Las Luciernagas (The Last of the Fireflies) by Sheron Dayoc; Engkwentro by Pepe Diokno; In Nomine Matre (In the Name of the Mother) by Will Fredo and Jay Garcia; Kung Sino Man ang Makabasaby
by Audie Gonzales; Last Supper No. 3 by Veronica Velasco and Jinky Laurel;
Lobby by Mia Angeline Bacarro; Mangatyanan (The Blood Trail) by Jerrold Tarog; and Sanglaan by Milo Sogueco.

Ten finalists will be selected from this group of 18 semi-finalists and will be announced on
December 22, 2008. Who among them will be named as the Best Picture in the next edition of Cinemalaya? This year's Best Picture winner is the film Jay starring Baron Geisler and Coco Martin. Directed by Francis Xavier Pasion, Jay is about a TV show producer who makes a documentary about a slain teacher living a double life.

Now on its fifth year, the Cinemalaya Competition is a project of the Cinemalaya Foundation, CCP, Econolink Investments Inc. and Film Development Council of the Philippines. It aims to discover, encourage and honor the cinematic works of Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity. For more information, call the CCP Media Arts Division at tel. no. 832-1125 local 1704/05 or visit
www.cinemalaya.org

Source: http://www.pep.ph/guide/3041/Cinemalaya-2009-semi-finalists-announced

2009 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition

Entries to the full length feature film category of the 2009 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition are now being accepted.

Only entries by Filipino filmmakers who have not yet directed more than three full-length commercial feature films will be accepted to the full-length category. Works already in production phase prior to December 15, 2008 are not qualified to join.

For the full-length feature film category, applicants must submit a duly completed application form, a one-page synopsis and a detailed sequence treatment (between 50-60 sequences), a brief resume with 2 x 2 photos, and samples of previous film and video work in DVD.

A committee will select 25 semi finalists for the full-length feature category by October 15, 2008. A final group of ten will be announced on December 22, 2008. These finalists will receive a seed production grant of P500,000 from Econolink Investments Inc (EII) Inc, as investment for the production.

For the short film feature category, the deadline for submission of entries will be February 13, 2009. Works already in the production phase prior to July 20, 2008 are not qualified to join. Interested applicants must submit the final work in DVD format, a duly accomplished application form, synopsis of the film and a brief resume with 2 x 2 photos. The ten best short films will be announced on May 8, 2009.

For both categories, all works must be narrative features in digital format. All films must be strictly independent work and not produced by commercial production companies.

All finalists in the full length feature and short feature categories will be screened during the 2009 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition on July 17-26 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the following week at the UP Cine Adarna in UP Diliman. The winner of the Best Film in the fuil length category will receive an additional cash grant of P200,000 and the Cinemalaya Balanghai Trophy while the winner of the Best Film in the short feature category will receive P100,000 and the Balanghai Trophy. Awarding ceremonies will be held on July 26, 2009 at the CCP.

Now on its fifth year, Cinemalaya is presented by the Cinemalaya Foundation, Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and Econolink Investments Inc. Cinemalaya is an all-digital film competition aimed at discovering new Filipino filmmakers.

Source: http://www.clickthecity.com/event/detail.asp?evid=21057