Motorcyle - Cinema One Originals Digital Filmfest

Motorcyle is one of the 7 finalists for the 2008 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival starring Jason Abalos.

Motorcyle is an entry by Jon Red with screenplay by Karlo de Guzman. The cast of Motorcycle includes Urian Best Actor Jason Abalos, Nonie Buencamino, Kat Alano, Sharmaine Centenera, Lovely Rivero, Jao Mapa, Soliman Cruz, Jojit Lorenzo and Lance Raymundo.

Synopsis: A tale of self-discovery, centered around a young man who journeys to Vigan, Ilocos Norte. Instead his trip becomes a sojourn that will unlock his real identity and the secrets of his family. He goes on this road trip onboard his motorcycle as a favor to his father.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/11/20/motorcyle-cinema-one-originals-digital-filmfest/

‘My Only U’ Hits P62.2 Million in 2 Weeks

The latest James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, topped Philippine Box Office last weekend while Star Cinema’s “My Only You” earned P62.2 Million on its 2nd week run.

My Only You is currently at no. 10 in the list of biggest pinoy movies for 2008, just right after Mag-Ingat Ka Sa Kulam which ended its run with a gross of P64.26 million. The Vhong Navarro-Toni Gonzaga movie is currently on track to surpass My Big Love’s (which also starred Toni Gonzaga) P68 million and Supahpapalicious‘ (which also starred Vhong Navarro) P66.98 million.

My Only U received a grade of “B” from the Cinema Evaluation Board.

Philippine Box Office
(November 5-9, 2008)

1. Quantum of Solace - P53.63 M
2. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa - P30.37 M
3. My Only U - P15.34 M
4. High School Musical 2: Senior Year - P3.29 M
5. Max Payne - P581,446.03
6. City of Ember - P504,860.00
7. The House Bunny - P272,947.63
8. Body of Lies - P208,750.58
9. Eagle Eye - P165,315.96
10. Tropic Thunder - P66,008.86

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/11/11/my-only-u-hits-p622-million-in-2-weeks/

Mag-ingat Ka Sa Kulam Hits P64.2 M in Two Weeks

The Regal Films horror movie “Mag-ingat Ka Sa Kulam” starring Judy Ann Santos and Dennis Trillo earned P64,261,522.00 on its first 2 weeks of screening.

“Kulam” has been the no. 1 movie in the Philippines for 2 consecutive weeks since it opened last October 1 beating Hollywood movies like Eagle Eye, Body of Lies, Tropic Thunder, Mirrors and Bangkok Dangerous. It registered an opening weekend gross of P43,360,883.00, the year’s 6th highest for a local film.

Top 10 Opening Weekend Gross for Pinoy Films in 2008
(as of October 2008)

1. For the First Time (Aug. 25-29) - P78,966,833.66
2. Caregiver (May 28-June 1) - P62,852,844.56
3. A Very Special Love (July 30 to Aug. 3) - P58,440,333.16
4. My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend (Feb. 13-17) - P45,834,201.35
5. Dobol Trobol (Aug. 13-17) - P44,672,115.60
6. Mag-ingat Ka Sa Kulam (October 1-5) - P43,360,883.00
7. When Love Begins (April 30-May 4) - P40,757,517.52
8. My Big Love (Feb. 27-March 2) - P30,763,209.40
9. My Monster Mom (July 2-6) - P16,157,096.73
10. Manay Po 2: Overload (April 16-20) - P14,346,933.50

GMA Films’ I.T.A.L.Y. marked its 4th week of screening with a total gross of P22,173,261.00. On the other hand, Star Cinema’s “For the First Time” starring KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez ended its run with a final gross of P134,695,005.00, the 3rd biggest local movie of the year after A Very Special Love and Caregiver. “For the First Time” is currently the 5th top-grossing movie in Philippine Box-office for 2008 if we are to include Hollywood films in contention.

As of October 20, 2008:

Top 5 movies in Philippine Box-office for 2008:

1. A Very Special Love (Star Cinema/Viva Films) - P180.00 million
2. Iron Man (Paramount) - P174.18 million
3. The Dark Knight (Warner Brothers) - P159.14 million
4. Caregiver (Star Cinema) - P139.54 million
5. For The First Time (Star Cinema) - P134.70 million

Here are the Top 5 Local movies for 2008 so far:

1. A Very Special Love (Star Cinema/Viva Films) - P180.00 million
2. Caregiver (Star Cinema) - P139.54 million
3. For The First Time (Star Cinema) - P134.70 million
4. My Bestfriend’s Girlfriend (GMA Films/Regal Films) - P101.26 million
5. Dobol Trobol Get Redi 2 Rambol - P90.51 million
(Octoarts Films)

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/10/24/mag-ingat-ka-sa-kulam-hits-p642-m-in-two-weeks/

Top Grossing Pinoy Movies for 2008 - October Update

Find out the 10 pinoy movies this year that dominated the local box-office as of October 2008.

The 10 Highest-Grossing Pinoy Films for 2008 so far:

1. A VERY SPECIAL LOVE - P179.23 million
(Star Cinema/Viva Films)

2. CAREGIVER - P139.54 million
(Star Cinema)

3. FOR THE FIRST TIME - P134.7 million
(Star Cinema)

4. MY BESTFRIEND’S GIRLFRIEND - P101.24million
(GMA Films/Regal Films)

5. DOBOL TROBOL GET REDI 2 RAMBOL - P90.51 million
(Octoarts Films)

6. WHEN LOVE BEGINS - P89.38 million
(Star Cinema/Viva Films)

7. MY BIG LOVE - P68 million
(Star Cinema)

8. SUPAHPAPALICIOUS - P66.98 million
(Star Cinema)

9. MAG-INGAT KA SA KULAM - P64.26 million *
(Regal Films)

10. MANAY PO 2: OVERLOAD - P30.4 million
(Regal Films)

* not yet final, still screening in theaters

With the upcoming movies like My Only U, One True Love, Land Down Under and the Metro Manila Film Festival entries, this list could very much change.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/10/24/top-grossing-pinoy-movies-for-2008-october-update/

Metro Manila Film Festival 2008 Official Entries

8 movies are selected this year as official entries to the 34th Metro Manila Film Festival as announced by Julie Borje, chair of the Selection Committee.

1. Dayo
Cutting Edge Productions
Director: Robert Quilao

2. Baler
(Viva Films)

3. Desperadas 2
(Regal Films)

4. Shake, Rattle and Roll X
(Regal Films)

5. Magkaibigan
(Maverick Films)

6. One Night Only
(Canary Films)

7. Escaleras and Ungasis (20 years After)
OctoArts Films

8. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat
(Star Cinema)

Unlike last year, all movies this year will be screened simultaneously as one batch during the 10-day run. It was the first time in 34 years that an animation movie is one of the official entries of the filmfest. Cutting Edge Production’s “Dayo” is one of the selected films this year.

This year, official entries were chosen on the basis of the following criteria: Story, creativity, innovativeness, global appeal, commercial viability, Filipino cultural/historical value, and the production outfit, capacity to produce the film in time for the December filmfest.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/07/01/metro-manila-film-festival-2008-official-entries/

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