THERE are simply so many things to be glad about and happy for. And like all new beginnings, we can look forward to creating a more fun, exciting and amazing year ahead.
Despite mixed reactions and varied opinions, we’re happy for the coming baby of John Lloyd Cruz and Ellen Adarna. If they’re so in love, then who are we to question that? Don’t we all want to find our special someone that we’d make beautiful memories (and babies) with?
We look forward to the collaboration of maverick filmmaker Mikhail Red with powerhouse actors Charo Santos and Bea Alonzo for his first foray into the horror genre. Targeting to have its world premiere in Korea, the project is titled Eerie, and is a coproduction between Pelikula Red and Media East, with Star Cinema coming in as the film’s distributor.
Red’s most recent film, NeoManila, featuring the powerful performances of Eula Valdes, Timothy Castillo and Rocky Salumbides, is slated to have its international premiere at the 2018 Rotterdam International Film Festival at the end of this month. We are excitedly waiting for the next major announcement from the camp of Sarah Geronimo, whether it’s for a new film assignment or a development in her personal life. We are sure it’s just a matter of time.
Whether you’re one of those die-hard fanatics or just an observer of the Alden Richards-Maine Mendoza tandem, we’re positive you can be happy for them if they‘d spread their wings and grow separately as individuals and artists.
Before summer ends, the well-loved film producer for all seasons Bianca Balbuena will tie the knot with her Malaysian filmmaker fiancé Bradley Liew on a famous island in central Philippines. Recently feted by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards with the prestigious International Federation of Film Producers Award, Bianca has not only been making beautiful music with Bradley but the two have collaborated on many amazing projects in the past few years.
We look forward to the start of production for Bradley’s second feature, Motel Acacia. We also eagerly await their new movie, a musical with Lav Diaz, shot in Malaysia last year.
If the right project comes along, perhaps Sharon Cuneta can take on the hat of an indie-movie producer, which she says she’s very much open to explore—working with only a core group of really brilliant minds, entrusting the creative process entirely on people who are good and reliable, and who truly matter.
Coming at the heels of the surprise success of the historical film Heneral Luna, we wish TBA Studios continued success when it finally releases Goyo, which is based on the life of the country’s hero Gregorio del Pilar. Principal photography has wrapped and the team is now into long hours and arduous days of postproduction work. We’re confident that director Jerrold Tarog will leave no stone unturned to make sure that his next big film will be a cinematic success.
More and more people are seriously venturing into film production and we wish them both luck and success. Cousins Sara Santiago and Kara Rhoumini of Waning Crescent Arts, Rex Tiri of T-Rex Entertainment, Perci Intalan and Jun Lana
of Idea First Company, Baby Go and Romeo Lindain of BG Productions International, Paul Soriano of Ten17P and a lot more are investing in movies nowadays. We just wish they work with only sincere, kind, efficient, honest, reliable, dependable and good people who will take their films to greater heights.
We have very high respect for writer-directors and we certainly look forward to the new scripts and film projects of Paolo Villaluna, Giancarlo Abrahan, Jason Paul Laxamana, Zig Dulay, Antoinette Jadaone, Derick Cabrido, Chris Martinez, Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, Adolfo Alix, Pepe Diokno, Joseph Abello and Alvin Yapan.
We’re happy that regional filmmakers are given more opportunities to showcase their works and a lot of big doors are opening for them to shine, in the Philippines and around the world. We hope many will follow in the footsteps of Mindanao filmmakers Arnel Mardoquio, Sheron Dayoc and Arbi Barbarona, and promising Visayan film creators Victor Villanueva and Ara Chawdhury.
We anticipate the buzz becoming louder with Erik Matti’s next film Buy Bust nearing release. We’d like to see how the fierce and fabulous Ilonggo filmmaker will be able able to transform the beautiful Anne Curtis into a screen action goddess.
We’re also betting on Richard Somes and his many wonderful film ideas and visions. He has wrapped up work for We Will Not Die Tonight featuring Erich Gonzales, and is currently working on Virgo with Bryan Revilla and Jess Mendoza. He’s also in the planning stages for a Max Eigenmann solo starrer.
The list of beautiful things to look forward to and be thankful about regarding Philippines cinema seems endless, and we’re certainly more than happy about it.