Manila Kingpin bags the Best Picture

The 37th Metro Manila Film Festival 2011 has once again dominated the Philippine cinema. Here is the winners of the said festival where Asiong Salonga of Manila Kingpin bagged major awards.

37th Metro Manila Film Festival Awards – List of Winners

Best Director – Darell dela Cruz (Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga)

Best Actor – Dingdong Dantes (Segunda Mano)

Best Actress – Maricel Soriano (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow)

Best MMFF Picture – Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga

2nd Best Picture Award – Enteng ng Ina Mo

3rd Best Picture – Shake Rattle and Roll 13

Best Supporting Actor – John Regala (Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga)

Best Supporting Actress – Eugene Domingo (My House husband)

Best Float – Ang Panday 2

Best Editing – Asiong Salonga (Jason Canapay and Ryan Orduna)

Best Production Design -Asiong Salonga (Fritz Siloria, Mona Soriano, and Ronaldo Cadapan)

Best Musical Score – Jessie Lazaten (Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga)

Best Visual Effects – Riot Incorporated for Ang Panday 2

Best Sound Recording – Mike Idioma (Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga)

Best Original Theme Song – Ely Buendia (La Paloma/(Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga)

Best Make-up – Enteng ng Ina Mo (Florencia Penero, Niccolo Medina, Jayvee Flores)

Best Cinematography – Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga (Carlo Mendoza)

Gender Sensitivity Award – My House husband (OctoArts)

Best Child Performer – Bugoy Carino (Shake, Rattle, and Roll 13)

Best Story – “Lunod” Shake Rattle and Roll 13 (Chris Martinez and Marlon Rivera)

Best Screenplay – Roy Iglesias (Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga)

MMFF Gatpuno Villegas Cultural Award – Manila Kingpin: The Untold Story of Asiong Salonga

Special Awards:

KUTIS GANDA for Female Award – Aiai delas Alas

KUTIS GANDA for Male Award – Ryan Agoncillo

Male Sexiest Appeal Celebrity of the night Award – Gov. ER Ejercito

Female Sexiest Appeal Celebrity of the night Award – Judy Ann Santos

Ellen Lising Face of the night Award for Male – Richard Gomez

Ellen Lising Face of the night Award for Female – Iza Calzado

SMDC Most Glamorous Male Star Award – Ryan Agoncillo

SMDC Most Glamorous Female Star Award – Iza Calzado

Lifetime Achievement Award – Mr. Eddie Garcia

Posthumous Award for Excellence – Director and Choreographer Lito Calzado

Read More

The Next Day

.

 We are taking things easy today. We exert effort to feed ourlives. With our loved ones, we talk about good things in life. Our son asks us as to where will he take his college? Would we send him to a private school? Our daughter on the other hand, while eating the food we have just borrowed from the neighbors, insists that someday she would be an architect.

With the bright future our kids have, at the back of our mind, we tell ourselves to double our effort to make their dreams come true.As a mother and father, the only thing we ask for to the heavenly God,is all good for our children.

By and by, the youngest child come with a plate of noodles and say " Mama and Papa, I left some noodles for you. I know, you haven't taken your dinner". Tears start to flow from our weary eyes. We love our children so much. Despite of being poor, we do not let the realities of our life limit our dreams for our children. We promise to ourselves, as parents, to make them better person someday.

As the moon shines above while the cold breeze, through the dilapidated  windows, embrace our bodies. But it's ok, our children would not feel it for we, as parents, will do anything to keep them warm. There is no better cloth than a hug with love.

With full of hopes to start life again for the next day, we all sleep well.

The next day...

Typhoon Sendong vanishes our dreams and hopes. Flashflood eradicates the future that would have been so bright for the twins and for the future doctor of Cagayan de Oro.

Let us help the victims of Typhoon Sendong. Every cent counts and more lives would probably extended. More hopes and dreams will be saved.

HELP CAGAYAN DE ORO AND ILIGAN!!!
For CDO Flash Flood Victims:
For Globe subscribers:
via SMS, c/o Red Cross – text RED <amount> and send to 2899 – valid donation amounts are P5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 and 1000 (For ex, RED 10). Transaction is free.
via GCASH, text DONATE<space><amount><space><MPIN><space><REDCROSS> and send to 2882
For Smart subscribers:
via SMS, c/o Red Cross – text RED <amount> and send to 4143 – valid donation amounts are P10, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500, 1000 (For ex, RED 10). Transaction is free.
via Smart Money acct. no. 5577-5130-6822-1104 (Baha Fund for Typhoon) at any BDO, Hapinoy or Cebuana Lhuiller outlets

.

Read More

7th Mindanao Film Fest 2011

This time, it's HORROR.

I have been dreaming of making film , at least a short film, in horror genre. For the 6th film I have written and directed since I enter filmmaking, Overtime is my entry for the 7th Mindanao Film Festival 2011.A dream come true film.


Overtime (by Alvertus Films director: Alberto Egot Jr.)

 A dedicated lady employee is haunted by a ghost while working overtime at the office; the ghostly phenomenon unmasks a tragic story of infidelity and misjudgment which alters the employee's life forever. The film is from another film fest habitue Albert Egot which has helmed works like Bad Jao,ChaCha,Hulagway and Facebroke.

I don't care of awards of whatever recognition. I care about the fact that I have proven to myself that I can really scare some audience through my imagination. Well, what you think is right. I am not that adept in terms of technicalities and I am not that good as others do in mainstream. What thing is for sure " I am going there na" lol.


Watch OVERTIME trailer below.

Excerpt from the organizer's announcement 


7th Mindanao Film Fest 2011.
Film Blocks 1,2,& 3 will be shown for FREE on Dec. 10 (Saturday) and Dec.11 (Sunday). Just ASK FOR A TICKET at the TICKET COUNTER.


Film Block 4 (horror films) & Film Block 5 (John Paul Seniel) are selling tickets at P150.00 only.


Please support our Mindanawon filmmakers.


READ MFF 2011 FILM SYNOPSIS.

Read More

The Road of "THE ROAD"

Director Yam Laranas has taken his way once again to another road of success in his filmmaking career. THE ROAD assures moviegoers a new definition of SCARY. A horror film that will give you a fresh sources of your fear. 


I haven't really felt the presence of The Road's promotion on TV. Maybe because I am a Kapamilya so I don't have the chance to feel Yam Laranas. Thanks to HAPPY FEET 2. Because of 'Erik', I wouldn't be able to see The Road's poster in the theater house. Yeah, the poster failed my ass to buy ticket until I found out that it is directed by YL. 


Positive reviews posted on social networks moved me to watch it. YL for the 4th time,after THE ECHO,PATIENT X, and SIGAW made me proud of him not just as filmmaker but also as an inspiration of indie filmmakers in Davao City.


Here's my Kiss and Kick about the film.


Indeed, The Road is treated with new approaches.Seen in different angles.The close-ups and the bumpy shots add the film's tension by letting the viewers imagine what's in below,behind and around? The characters are scared now but the shots are still close-up?That cinematography deserves a clap clap!


The blurring of the scene and the details from time to time is one of the film's new style. I assume the film is shot using DSLR.The depth-of-field is so heavy releasing the subject sharper and sometimes very soft.Using DSLR for movie making is the new world's filmmaking technique. I am just assuming, the film treated this way. Correct me if I am wrong. As a filmmaker myself using the same medium, I know the looks of SLR and a film. [just assuming].


The Kick is not that painful. I just don't like the idea that no one knows of the real 'Luis' past story except him and the ghosts. 'Ella' played by Barbie on the other hand, wasn't given justice.Her story was swallowed that fast by the left and right twists of the film. Well, maybe because YL really made it to create a perfect gruesomeness. 


The road of THE ROAD is going to international. Yam Laranas mentioned one of his interviews that somebody is working now outside the country and he is just waiting for approval to release it.


Here is the interview made by www.jay-elx.blogspot.com featuring Yam Laranas.


Q: How long did it take you and GMA Films to produce this film?

LARANAS: “I began writing the story of “The Road” in 2005. It was completed just August last year. After that, we got the approval of GMA Films sometime in January this year and we immediately began pre-production. The actual shooting started in July.”

Q: What things did you consider in writing the film?

LARANAS: “Nung sinusulat namin ang pelikula, ang sinabi namin‘enough of the Asian horror.’ Not that there’s something wrong with the genre but because marami na kasing nakapanood ng mga pelikulang ganun. For me, with respect to the audience, kailangan magpakita naman tayo ng bago. Yung iba naman.”

Q: We have seen several good horror movies both foreign and local in the past, what sets “The Road” apart from these films?

LARANAS: “Nakakatuwa nga kasi meron kaming listahan ng mga eksenang hindi na dapat isama sa pelikula kasi gasgas na: yung mga tipong hinihila sa ilalim ng kama, yung may tatapik sa likod mo tapos paglingon mo kaibigan mo lang pala, etc. Sabi ko, ‘pag walang kinalaman sa istorya, wag na nating ilagay.’ Kasi yung audience –lalo na yung mga mahihilig sa horror – alam na nila lahat ‘yan e. Hindi mo sila mabobola. At feeling ko nakakahiya sa audience kung ang ipapakita mo sa kanila ay ang mga bagay na napanood na nila.”

Q: So, why ‘The Road’?

LARANAS: “I chose the title ‘The Road’ because it could mean a lot of things. Pwedeng papunta ka pa lang, pwede ring pabalik na. Sa kwentong ito, hindi alam ng mga characters sa pelikula kung pabalik na sila o papunta pa lang. And that adds to the mystery. Sa kwento ng pelikula, na-trap sila sa road for thirty years pero hindi nila alam kung ano ang nangyayari at kung bakit.”

Q: What were your bases in casting actors for the film?

LARANAS: “The first thing I asked for was a list of good actors, tapos base sa listahan na ‘yun namili ako. At dahil yung movie ay nangangailangan ng serious acting, pinili ko yung sa tingin ko ay mayroon talagang commitment. Lahat ng artista ko sa pelikula ay may commitment. Hindi lang sa project kundi sa mga character din nila.”

Q: This is the tweens’ first horror movie and their first film with you as the director, so how was it working with them?

LARANAS: “I think yung mga fans ng tweens lalong bibilib sa kanila kasi makikita nila na hindi lang sila marunong sumayaw o kumanta. Mas maa-appreciate nila ang acting ng mga tweens dahil napaka-convincing talaga.”

Q: We are used to seeing Alden Richards portray a role of a “boy-next-door” cutie, but in this film he portrays the character of an abductor and rapist. How hard a task was it to transform a good-looking heartthrob into an evil antagonist? (laughs)

LARANAS: “Si Alden has one of the most difficult roles sa pelikula kasi halos wala siyang speaking lines; halos dalawang sentences lang. Kaya kung ikaw ang artista, paano mo ilalabas ang emosyon mo kung wala kang sasabihin? Ang mga manonood ay, at one point, kikiligin kay Alden and at another matatakot sila and yet ginawa niya ito through pure acting; without the help of so much words. Hindi lang siya magaling, talagang committed pa siya sa role niya.”

Q: Rhian Ramos is one versatile talent. We’ve seen her do drama and comedy, and she’s a good host too, what more can we expect from her in ‘The Road’?

LARANAS: “Rhian will show everyone how great an actress she is in this film. She is very serious in portraying her character. So serious that pag merong moments na pinapaiyak siya, ang hirap niyang mapatigil. Rhian has proven that she is a very good actress and I think she’s going to stay long in this business. I have told her that several times in the past, akala niya nagbibiro lang ako o pinupuri ko lang siya para mas ganahan siyang umarte, but it’s really true.”

Q: Where is this ‘road’?

LARANAS: “Most of our sequences were shot in Teresa, Rizal. Ang ganda ganda ng location; very cinematic and it’s actually the first time that it was used as a location for a film.”

Q: Did you have goose bumps while shooting the film?

LARANAS: “Hindi naman. But at one point, some of crew members refuse to use the restroom on the upper floor of the house where we shot several sequences in. Pati yung mismong road ay nakakatakot din talaga. Kahit nga yung artista, pagkatapos nilang mag-shoot nagmamadali silang umalis. Pati nga yung crew nagtatakutan kasi madilim talaga. Kami lang kasi yung nandun e. ‘Pag pinatay mo yung ilaw, ang dilim dilim niya talaga dahil malayo siya sa mga kabahayan e. Yun pa lang nakakatakot na, and I think yun kaagad ang maeexperience ng audience.”


Q: Your last feature film, Sigaw, reaped international acclaim and was even released abroad. Do you think “The Road” will replicate or even surpass its success?

LARANAS: “I really hope so. May mga [film] festival na humihingi na ng copies. Nakakatuwa dahil trailer pa lang ng pelikula maugong na sa internet. May mga foreign buyer na rin na interested in releasing the movie in North America and Europe. Nagpapadala na kami ng screeners, kinakausap ko na yung mga festival organizer. Actually, ‘The Road’ is currently being evaluated by a big company in the States and hopefully, magustuhan nila at i-release nila.”

Q: What should moviegoers expect from this film?

LARANAS: “Maraming surprises na makikita ang audience sa mga cast ng pelikula. Yung tipong sasabihin nila na ‘Oh my God, ang galing pala nilang umarte.’ Pag nakita mo yung artistang hinahangaan mo TV at pag nakita mo siya sa pelikulang ‘The Road’,mapapansin mong meron silang ibang level sa pag-arte na hindi pa natin napapanood sa mga teleserye o movies na nagawa nila. At ako bilang direktor at bilang kasama nila sa trabaho ay natutuwa kasi nabigyan nila ng buhay yung script at yung kwento.”

Q: Why should horror fans watch “The Road”?

LARANAS: “The Road is a ghost story, that’s why it’s very real. Yung mga nakapanood na ng mga preview screenings namin isa lang ang sinasabi nila: ‘ayokong panoorin ‘tong mag-isa. We guarantee the audience that the ‘scare’ of the road is something new. Sana magustuhan nila, at sana panoorin nila.”

Q: After “The Road,” what kind of film would you want to do?

LARANAS: “Hindi ko pa alam kung anong klaseng movie ang gagawin ko, pero any story that’s compelling — may it be comedy, love story or thriller — walang problema sa akin.”

Read More