Joel Lamangan is new director of Richard-KC movie under GMA Films

Pagkatapos ng story conference ng upcoming Sine Novela ng GMA 7 na Paano Ba Ang Mangarap? sa 10th floor HRD meeting room ng GMA Network noong December 15, bumaba ng tatlong floors si Direk Joel Lamangan, sa 7th floor office ng GMA Films. Ito ay para naman sa meeting niya sa producers ng second movie nina Richard Concepcion at KC Concepcion.

Nag-resign na nga si Direk Joey sa project "due to creative differences" at ang ipinalit sa kanya ay si Direk Joel.

Nasa nasabing meeting sina Lily Monteverde at ang anak nitong si Roselle Monteverde-Teo ng Regal Films, at sina Annette Gozon-Abrogar at Joey Abacan para sa GMA Films. Present din ang dalawang bida sa pelikula na sina Richard at KC. Kasama ni KC ang kanyang manager na si Shirley Kwan.

Napagkasunduan nang si Direk Joel ang magdidirek ng pangalawang pagsasama nina Richard at KC sa pelikula, at gagamitin din ang original script ni Aloy Adlawan. Aayusin na lang ang schedule ni Direk Joel dahil nakatakda siyang magsimula ng taping para sa Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?, na pagbibidahan nina Jennylyn Mercado at Mark Herras, sa December 19.

Naka-set naman na kunan ang ilang mga eksena ng pelikula mula December 18 hanggang 22, bago mag-resume ng shooting ng next year para umabot sa Valentine playdate nito next year.

Si Direk Joel ang direktor ng Deathrow, starring Eddie Garcia and Cogie Domingo, bago nag-revamp at nag-produce muli ang GMA Films sa pamamagitan ng unang Valentine movie ni Richard na Let The Love Begin, kasama si Angel Locsin.

Tinanong ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) si Roselle, na nakausap namin sa ground floor ng GMA 7, at pati na rin si Aloy, na kasama naman namin sa meeting ng Paano Ba Ang Mangarap?, kung ano na ang final title ng pelikula nina Richard at KC. Magkaiba pa rin ang sagot nila.

Ang alam ni Roselle, When I Met You (ito ang pinapatugtog na background music noong araw na pumirma si KC sa GMA Films). Si Aloy naman, ang alam niya pa lang ay ang working title ng kanyang original script, With A Smile, na dapat ay original theme song pala ng pelikula mula sa Eraserheads.

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/139642/Joel-Lamangan-is-new-director-of-Richard-KC-movie-under-GMA-Films

Desperadas 2 Full Trailer

They are back! The hip, fearless half-sisters of Regal Entertainment’s Desperadas reunite in the highly-anticipated and much awaited sequel – Desperadas 2 - bigger and funnier than what the movie audience fell in love with one year ago.

Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado, Marian Rivera along with their fifth long-lost sister, Ogie Alcasid bring another hilarious and bigger treat to everyone who has followed and still yet to find out the life story of the Desperadas sisters.

The new film catches up with the eventful lives of Ruffa (Isabella), Rufa Mae (Patricia), Iza (Stephanie), Marian (Courtney) and Ogie (Luga Luda) who share an unbreakable bond as half-sisters. The five are brought together by the love and affection they hold for each other.

Desperadas 2 is one of Regal Entertainment’s official entries to the Metro Manila Film Festival under the helm of award-winning director Joel Lamangan and penned by scriptwriter Roy Iglesias. The film brings a deeper and closer peek into the different issues and personal struggles of the five sisters as they cope with life’s endless ups and downs.

Ruffa Gutierrez gives life to Isabella, who, at present is a successful entrepreneur of beauty products. Despite her thriving business, Isabella gets entangled in a big scandal that will change her life instantly.

Rufa Mae Quinto is Patricia, an easy-going woman who has a politician-boyfriend played by the handsome actor, Christian Vasquez. Patricia feels she has no problems at all until a revelation of having a corrupt partner surprises her.

Iza Calzado portrays the role of Stephanie, who now has a kid and experiences post-partum blues. In the midst of her marital woes, Stephanie turns to her sisters and seeks their help and advice.

Marian Rivera is Courtney, an accomplished and chic fashion designer who is married to basketball star Patrick (Will Devaughn). Unknown to Courtney, she has a stalker played by Alex Castro.

Lastly, Ogie Alcasid plays the role of Luga Luda, the Kwelali Princess who happens to be the long-lost half-sister of the Isabella, Patricia, Stephanie and Courtney. Despite being physically-absent in the lives of her half-sisters, Luga Luda manages to develop a special bond and friendship with the four Desperadas.

Desperadas 2 brings together some of the country’s most talented and stylish showbiz personalities today with Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado, Marian Rivera and Ogie Alcasid – in exceptional roles that will definitely make the audience laugh, cry and get a huge dose of pure entertainment this holiday season.

A bigger, better and funnier Desperadas awaits everyone this December. Make way for the funkier ladies in Desperadas 2 and share in the belief that in this world, all we need is LOVE!

Desperadas 2 for the Metro Manila Film Festival 2008 awards. Desperadas 2 is actually a sequel to the first movie, Desperadas and stars the same set of character from Ruffa Mae Quinto, Ruffa Gutierrez, Marian Rivera and Iza Calzado. This is a Regal Entertainment feature and directed by the critically acclaimed Joel Lamangan.

Source: http://www.starmometer.com/2008/12/07/desperadas-2-full-trailer/

"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