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New Erap flick to erupt soon

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

04/14/2009

If former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and Star Cinema boss Malou Santos will have a meeting of minds in their post-Holy Week meeting, Erap’s new movie starrer with Ai Ai de las Alas may erupt soon. He will present the full-length feature’s story and discuss the shoot schedules in the said meeting. He wants it to be screened in the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival in what many predict to be in preparation for his running as president in the 2010 election. Blockbuster director Wenn Deramas is buzzed to meg the movie. Wenn directed and wrote the 2008 MMFF topgrosser Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat.

After Maricel Soriano’s starrer T2, directed by Chito Rono, Star Cinema will release Megastar Sharon Cuneta and Ai Ai de las Alas’s Bestfriends Forever (BFF), directed by Wenn Deramas. This will be followed by Bea Alonzo, Sam Milby and Derek Ramsay’s And I Love You So, directed by Lauren Dyogi.

Vilma Santos, John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano’s In My Life, helmed by Olive Lamasan and based on the script of Raymond Lee and Senedy Que, which is currently shooting in New York, is scheduled for a September release.

The plan for a Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion comeback movie includes daughter KC Concepcion in the cast. Wenn took a footage of Gabby in Bestfriends Forever in a cameo role but it has not been decided if it will be included in the final cut.

Also undergoing principal production is the Twilight-like movie directed by Rico Ilarde and starring Shaina Magdayao, Geoff Eigenmann and Maja Salvador. Cathy Garcia-Molina starts shooting the Aga Muhlach and Angel Locsin starrer on April 26.

The Sarah Geronimo starrer with Rayver Cruz as her screen partner with Vhong Navarro and Toni Gonzaga also starts shooting. Lorna Tolentino is also shooting a family drama with Zaijan Jaranilla of May Bukas Pa fame. Jeffrey Jeturian and Maryo de los Reyes are lined up to shoot movies for Star Cinema.

Star Cinema’s television projects for ABS-CBN include Only You with Angel Locsin, Diether Ocampo and Sam Milby in lead roles. The Lorna Tolentino and Gabby Concepcion drama series also starts to air in May.

Baler, best video transfer

Everything is excellent about the Baler VCD release by Viva Video, but the screenplay, cinematography, production design and sound are its most outstanding aspects. The narrative is as natural as the wind, sweeping the characters’ hair. It’s organic, building itself layer by layer. Nothing is hurried despite the fast pacing.

Baler deserves to win all the awards it garnered at the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival. As a video release, transfer is outstanding, maintaining the integrity of the big-screen version. It’s like watching the movie from the big screen. This is the best video transfer of a locally produced movie this year.

Half-human, half-rat twin

In their new afternoon series entitled Kambal sa Uma, Shaina Magdayao and Melissa Ricks play a half-human, half-rat twin. How did their characters acquire the unique feature? Their mother Milagros, played by Rio Locsin, had an uncommon fondness for rats when she was pregnant with them. By some stroke of bad luck, they developed rat-like characteristics. They were eventually separated.

Shaina is Vira in the ABS-CBN remake of Jim Fernandez’s komiks novel Kambal sa Uma, which was made into a full-length feature in 1979. Rio originally played the dual role of Ella and Vira. In the television remake, directed by Manny Palo and Rechie del Carmen, Melissa plays Ella.

Vira is very attractive, but behind her beautiful appearance lays a dark secret. She is considered lucky by the family who adopted her. Rio and then child star Shaina worked in the drama series Marinella.

Ella, on the other hand, has rat-like features who grew up to be a normal woman. She’s obedient and kind, dreaming of reuniting with her twin sister Vira.

Other cast members are Gina Alajar, Bing Davao, Allan Paule, Nonie Buencamino, Valerie “Bangs” Garcia, Jordan Herrera, Matt Evans and Jason Abalos.

Gary V as Jesus

After the spectacular 25th anniversary production “Gary Live@25,” Gary Valenciano continues to inspire and impress with an audio podcast of short stories from the Bible. Gary voice-acts Jesus in the story of Bartimaeus with Jericho Rosales as the blind man, with Mari Kaimo narrating. Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano is the Sinful Woman. Paolo Valenciano is David in another story with Gary as Goliath while Anthony Pangilinan plays Saul. Check them out on www.garyv.com or garyvalenciano.multiply.com or share.ovi.com/garyv.

Victor Aliwalas wins Male Hottie award

The boiler buzz called that Victor Aliwalas scored a major victory in the SOP TAG Awards held in the top-rating musical variety show SOP on April 5. The model-turned-actor won Most Popular Male Hottie, besting other strong contenders such as Aljur Abrenica and Chris Cayzer.

While awaiting for his next GMA drama series, Victor finished the indie film Tutok in which he co-stars with Emilio Garcia, Allen Dizon, Ian de Leon, Lloyd Samartino and Boots Anson-Roa. He plays an ambitious newsman and correspondent. Victor shot the hit song “Dito Sa Puso” music video for Sony BMG Artist Lovi Poe. Shot in Batangas, it was directed by Paul Soriano. For sure, Victor is getting there as a major star!

Dose breaks into global film festival circuit

Senedy Que’s directorial debut, Dose (12), participates in the the 11th Barcelona Asian Film Festival which will be held on April 30 to May 10. Part of the festival’s “Focus on Southeast Asian Cinema” section of the festival, Dose is one of the official participants in the 2008 Cinema One Originals, with Ronald Arguelles as executive producer.

According to producer-distributor Ferdinand Lapuz of Ignatius Films, Adolfo Alix Jr.’s Adela, Tara Illenberger’s Brutus, Ronaldo Bertubin’s Kurap, Francis Pasion’s Jay and Dante Mendoza’s Serbis are also included in the group of Filipino films which will be exhibited at this premium 10-day fest in Europe.

For the first time, BAFF will present the Netpac Price granted by Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema). Netpac is a world organization founded in 1990 in New Delhi, India, with the support of the Unesco, whose aim is to promote and to support the Asian cinema in the world. The BAFF joins the list of events, which includes Berlin, Rotterdam, Cannes, Venice, Singapore and Pusan, in which this prestigious award is granted.

Dose’s teaser trailer, which was rated X by the MTRCB, has reached almost 250,000 hits in YouTube. To watch it; type “Dose Cinema One.”

Rep. Irwin Tieng and Batista support kids with cancer

Buhay Party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng was invited as guest speaker in the recent assembly of Cancer Warriors Foundation, held at Crowne Plaza Hotel. The foundation takes care of less privileged children afflicted with different kinds of cancer. Also gracing the occasion was WWE wrestling professional Batista.

Bora’s troublemakers

Lesser and lesser stars are spending their Holy Week in Boracay this year but they kept the paradise island occupied. Andrew Wolfe grabbed a D’Mall security guard’s .38 gun. He was charged with robbery at the Boracay Police Station, put in the slammer for several hours and released after he apologized.

A man shouted at former Binibining Pilipinas-World Danielle Castano so she threw her bag at him. He tried to punch her, but she got even by kicking him. With other beauty contestants like Abby Cruz, she reported the incident to the Bora Police Station.

Aifa Medina of SexBomb, who was with Rochelle Pangilinan and a non-showbiz girlfriend, had a heated argument with a non-showbiz guy in Crystal Sand Resort over blaring iPod music. When somebody referred to the guy as bakla, he tried to hit her with a water bottle. Aifa retaliated by throwing a glass at his face. The wounds of his face were stitched in a clinic while Aifa’s group was brought to the Bora Police Station.