I don’t watch Filipino telenovelas and Filipino movies, save the very few gems I can find (mostly classics, documentaries and a few indie films). It’s not because I can’t support and be proud of the Philippine TV and Film Industry it’s just I can’t make myself to patronize crappy and mediocre  materials. Strong words? Come on…that’s just stating the obvious. Most of these television series and movies – doesn’t matter what genre – are poorly scripted, poorly researched (if it was researched at all!), poorly acted, poorly directed, with themes and content that are idiotic, nonsensical, irrelevant and ridiculous. To borrow the words of my father: Cheap movie! Pweh!

We’ve got comedy and gag shows with jokes that aren’t really funny, not even witty. And since when did insulting another person became funny? You know what I mean. We’ve got “comedians” made famous by belittling other people. Our telenovelas are nothing but extended sampalan and crying blues. And what are the messages these dramaseryes convey to its viewers? That all rich people are oppressors; paawa effect can get you out of the rut you’re in; marrying rich guys will save you from poverty; that the destitute and impoverished should solely depend on the financially able instead of  learning to earn their keep? Philippine noon time entertainment shows brandish barely clad dancers and employs hosts that either blurts out off-color remarks and green jokes or just plain got nothing intelligent to say. And they do this without concern and consideration for the minors who may be watching them…wait, aren’t there kids that’s actually part of these noontime shows? Right! Goodness gracious! How about those series intended for tweens and teens? Their content is nothing but ligawan and kaartehan. Why should these kids worry their life on boyfriend/girlfriend? Shouldn’t it be about studies and being a good daughter or son? And what about leading a Godly life? To the parents, you let your children watch these junk?? Want more ridiculousness? Let’s take Amaya for example, I get where they going with this “epicserye” and I actually applaud them for providing a series about our Filipino heritage, but the reason why Amaya was mestiza was so absurd my jaw dropped to the ground!!! She was white because “hindi siya naaarawan”. Seriously????? If this series is about our cultural & ethnic heritage why not get a morena Filipina beauty for the role? Ohhh…it was business first after all..MarianR.=popular=ratings=profits. Wow, sellers of whitening products could thank Marian Rivera for the boost on their sales . And what about court room and medical scenes that obviously lacks accuracy because the writers, directors and producers didn’t bother hiring consultants?  You’d say, why even bother?, well if you do your homework you’d be surprised at how many viewers take what they see on the idiot box a.k.a television at face value. And please don’t get me started on originality, because we have nil.

When will the Filipino viewers set up some standards? When will Filipino viewers demand quality for the hard-earned cash they pay at the ticket booth? Now, I heard an argument that these movies & series are what they are because they were tailored and catered to the “masang pinoy” who takes the largest viewing population. Sure many of the masang pinoy, due to severe poverty, never finished school but for the life of me I don’t believe that all of them are stupid. Uneducated? Yes. Brainless? Not all of them. Ikaw ba? Papayag ka bang sabihan na hanggang doon lang ang kapasidad mong umintindi??   Of course not! Media, not everyone realize this, is a very powerful medium. It can desensitize a whole population, it can dumb down its viewers/listeners, and it can also teach & educate. It’s beyond me why many of these directors, writers and producers are graduates of top schools yet they allow themselves to produce trash. A voice in my head told me, “Pera-pera lang yan.” Hmmmm…that’s a sad case, if its true…

I don’t demand that each movie and television series/show released be serious or heavy on cerebral themes or topics. What I demand is quality films   that will let its viewers think, reflect, use their heads and subsequently communicate worthwhile information and lessons. How about you? When will you start demanding value for your time and money?

I found out that it copied a chinese film, yes that’s b.shit. Now what’s the future of our movie industry? The best picture for MMFF, copied a film abroad without any permissions or something the we know of.. Now that’s what you call plagiarism. Shame.

Anyway, before anything else, let me share to you what I saw in the film. I saw a heart, at some point I felt it. Despite of it’s overly sound scoring, I felt their emotions.. The actors, somehow, moved me in a very special way just like how the movie, my sister’s keeper, moved me.. Straight to the heart. But it could be possible that perhaps I am biased because I really am a big fan of Angel and Dingdong. Though not as a pair but as individual actors.. To be honest, ever since the movie, “Moments of Love” I fell in love with Dingdong and Iza’s tandem. They really have chemistry. Also, i’m a fan of Angel’s simplicity and beauty.

Moving on, I also found the ending of the film too idealistic. The ending was so surreal to the point that I asked my friend afterwards, “seriously?” and both of us were like “wtf?” while people are starting to go out of the movie house.

Nevertheless, let us still support MMFF, the Philippine cinema as a whole. I now there’s still hope. Off to watch sisterakas. haahah )

***
Five minutes into the movie, John Lloyd’s character does da moves on Bea.

John: ‘Di ba love team sila ni Sarah?
Me: Oo, dati, pero ‘di naman sila exclusive.

***
At the wedding:

JD: Kung ‘di niya ako anak, kung walang nangyari sa inyo, kung lahat ayos sa mundo, anong makikita mo?

JD and Sari turn at the altar and close their eyes, breathe in deep as wind effect reminiscent of Nestea commercials blows on their faces.

Me: Please, no. No, no, no.

John: Ah, ‘di na pinakita.

Sigh of relief.

Then at the ending cave-wedding-fantasy-scene:
Me: Aaaargh.

***
Andaming magandang linya, here’s one I like:

Because you can follow it up with so many questions — like Santa? Good governance? 14th month bonus?

***
I keep thinking, what if the story was told from Sari’s point of view? No dialogue needed, just the way she sees things.

Open on cloth being cut by a pair of delicate hands. A woman’s hands – she’s a mistress. She cuts and sews and fits suits on men who enjoy her company, like that one old patron. After work she goes to the bookstore, browses books, a guy comes up to her, there’s something mysterious and sexy about him, but he’s an unwelcome distraction. She goes home to her family that night. The next day she goes to a different house, is she moonlighting as a maid? Is she keeping a double identity? Oh, she’s a mistress. Oh, that old patron. The next day she goes back to work like it’s nothing, and she meets the mysterious, sexy man again. So on. Quiet, minimal scoring. Maybe make use of the measuring tape more. Mamon stays. Ending – she’s alone, but free, independent, and sewing.

 ”Kaya mo bang mahalin ang isang taong mawawala rin sayo?”

“Thank you for yesterday.

If you happened to be amazed with the last movie Step Up 1 and Step Up 2: The Streets, well, Director John Chu is here again to let you be mazed once again. this time, it is three times the heat, three time the beat that tickles your feet.

The Step Up 3D is to be released 0n on August 6, 2010 in the major cinema house all over the world. The movie is still dance themed (of course! lol)

The film shows back some of the main casts in the previous movie like Channing Tantum (Tyler Gage) and Jeena Dewan(Nora Clark)

This time, the casts is traveled into my favorite city Paris France where the hight and peak of the movie will going to happen! If you want to know the plot of the movie, I have provided it to you! Here it is:

A tight-knit group of New York City street dancers, including Luke (Malambri) and Natalie (Vinson), team up with NYU freshman Moose (Sevani), and find themselves pitted against the world’s best hip hop dancers in a high-stakes showdown that will change their lives forever.

You may watch Step Up 3d online for free in some of your favorite sites!

Loren acknowledges Mother Lily’s undying support for the entertainment industry
In line with the celebration of her 30th year in public service, Senator Loren Legarda held a press conference today at the Imperial Palace Suites in Quezon City.
In the said event, Loren dedicated much of her time acknowledging Mother Lily Montverde’s contribution to the Philippine movie industry stating that Mother Lily is a woman that should be emulated not only because of her contributions to the entertainment industry but because of her ability to never lose hope.
To further show my gratification to Mother Lily for giving life to this dying industry in a time when other producers chose to abandon it, I have filed Senate Resolution (SRN 676), which has been adopted by the Senate last October 9, saluting her magnanimity of doing everything in her power to bring joy and entertainment to the Filipino viewers, Legarda stressed.
Legarda also thanked Mother Lily for being the propagator of avant-garde cinema in the country, even before the advent of digital cinema. She cited internationally recognized films such as Manila by Night and Sister Stella L. Are as the beautiful product of Mother Lily’s risk of diverting from the monotonous flavor of the entertainment industry.
Legarda concluded by saying that Mother Lily’s contributions to this industry have reached the zenith of selfless service to the Filipino viewers. The entertainment industry would be lifeless without her, because she has been its mother for more than 4 decades. I look forward to the next 40 years of her undying support for Filipino artistry.
Senator Legarda, an icon of the entertainment industry herself, willingly shared the limelight with another admirable woman, in the person of Mother Lily Monteverde.

Star For All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto on Star Cinema’s upcoming movie en-titled In My Life, the official movie trailer was released, you can watch it online for free FREE TAGALOG MOVIES AND PINOY LIVE TV, 2009 Tagalog Movie next big hit on Philippine Cinemas In My Life Movie.
Also starring John Lloyd Cruz and Luis Manzano, they are the gay couple in the movie, and the expected highlights of the movie as most fans are looking forward to was to see in the movie, the “kissing scene” videos between the two full character actors of the year 2009. Sobrang Cheezy!In My Life movie is on theaters nationwide this comming September 16, 2009.

Watch full movie trailer of In My Life!

In My Life Full Trailer

]]> http://theblogcompact.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/the-making-of-a-master-showman/ Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:47:50 +0000 Neil Rara http://theblogcompact.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/the-making-of-a-master-showman/ My one-on-one interview with one of the revered pillars of Philippine film and television industries.  This is the shortened version of my article, which was published on the GMA Kapuso Magazine.  The full-length version of this article will be posted soon.

“Before Kuya Germs discovered the most-coveted artists of today, he first discovered himself.”

The days of the vaudeville are long over, and television has taken over the spotlight.  The growth of the local television industry previously dominated by film, created a universe that needed to be filled with talented individuals — most of whom would risk everything to become a star. This led to the overabundance of hopefuls and not enough TV shows.

Thanks to star builder and revered TV host German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, there’s always room for another potential star. But before Kuya Germs discovered the most-coveted artists of today, he first discovered himself.

Before the spotlight shone upon him, German Moreno sold candies and cigarettes in Escolta. When his father passed away when he was only nine years old, German was one of the seven children left to a housewife who had to sell sandwiches to make ends meet.

“All of us would sleep late at night because we had to help our mother spread fillings on the sandwiches, which she would deliver to department stores early in the morning,” recalls Kuya Germs.

Just like other success stories, Kuya Germs’ shining moment did not unfold until after going through adversities. At 16, he wrote to the owner of the Clover Theater to apply for a job as janitor. But because he was a minor, the owner turned him down.

At that time, theater owners looked-up to fire brigade captains for an understandable reason –- they kept their businesses from being charred. Luckily, German’s uncle was one of them. Upon his uncle’s recommendation, German was hired with the understanding that his name would not be listed on the payroll.

Kuya Germs did not mind being a janitor, what mattered was he could watch movies for free. His fascination for movies drove him from being a janitor and later, a curtain raiser to a theater manager and eventually, a movie star.

“One day, an assistant director from Sampaguita [Pictures] approached me and asked me if I could host a promotional event for the film ‘King and Queen for a Day’ at the Life Theater. It was a movie starring Dolphy and Panchito,” recollects Kuya Germs. “She asked for my rate but I told her, ‘let me finish the job first before I tell you how much’.”

After the 10-day engagement, Kuya Germs charged Sampaguita Pictures not a single penny. In exchange for his services, he asked only for one thing –- that he be considered for the position of an “extra” in the next Sampaguita film.

“That was the beginning of my stint in Sampaguita,” Kuya Germs proudly declares.

Not long after, Kuya Germs began his own musical variety show called Germside, which aired on GMA Network. Several other programs followed it — the most prominent of which is That’s Entertainment, the precursor of modern-day talent search programs.

Kuya Germs thought everything in his life was right, until he met the “most wonderful” disaster of his life –- his sidekick, Shalala.

Lito Reyes worked for VIVA as an Advertising and Promotion Specialist. As such, he was in charge of the promotion of movies, record albums, and concerts produced by the company. It was this job that led him to the Master Showman, and eventually to having the odd moniker “Shalala”.

“VIVA was quite small when I started and I was fortunate to have an entertaining job; I worked close to the stars,” recalls Shalala. “I was in charge of taking artists to radio and TV stations to promote their albums or projects. It was how I first met Kuya Germs.”

With Kuya Germs’ reputation as a pillar of the industry, Shalala never thought that he would one day become the Master Showman’s ultimate sidekick.

“At first, I thought Kuya Germs was ‘hard to reach’ — after all, he was already an institution. But after some time, I realized that he was a very humble and approachable person.”

Shalala’s television career waited for several years before it materialized. Opportunity knocked on his door when Kuya Germs thought of coming up with a new segment in his show Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman.

“It was supposed to be a gossip segment, wherein a black ugly doll would appear in front of the camera, while Shalala would give the doll its voice,” explains Kuya Germs. “There was another idea where Shalala would dress (and copy the look) of Oprah Winfrey. But to my surprise, he refused to do so.”

“I was ashamed to be on TV,” quips Shalala. “Much more to appear on TV in women’s clothes.”

Fortunately, with encouragement, Shalala finally overcame his bashfulness. Albeit sometimes, the confidence goes slightly overboard.

“Minsan nga pag niyayaya ko siya, tinatanggihan na niya ako e,” says Kuya Germs. “Samantalang dati-rati, lagi niya akong sinasamahan. Kung wala naman ako, inaangkin naman niya ang radio program ko.“

Aside from their late night TV program, Kuya Germs and Shalala also host an afternoon radio program on Super Radyo DZBB.

“Sa radio program naman, akala mo parang lagi kaming nag-aaway kasi nung mag-umpisa kami sa program, sabi ni Sir Mike [Enriquez] dapat yun daw yung program namin kaya kunwari nag-aaway kami ni Kuya Germs,” explains Shalala.

Kuya Germs and Shalala’s team-up is rooted in a deep level of friendship.

“Kapag may problema ako, katulad nung nagkasakit ng cancer yung kapatid ko, si Kuya Germs and nilalapitan ko. ‘Pag may mga panahon na malungkot ako, si Kuya Germs ang tinatakbuhan ko. Napakahalaga talaga ni Kuya Germs para sa akin. Minsan ang turing ko sa kanya parang ama na talaga.”

Catch Kuya Germs and Shalala on Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman
(Saturdays, 12 midnight), and listen to their radio program Master Showman from Mondays to Fridays at 2:30pm on DZBB-AM 594Khz.

RELATED VIDEO:

Billy Crawford reconciles with Kuya Germs on Walang Tulugan.  Click on this link to watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNnG1cz9U8o

Official Site: http://beta.abs-cbn.com/Movies/NextAttraction/tabid/81/Default.aspx

Synopsis:
ONE MORE CHANCE
For anyone who has loved … and lost

Popoy (John Lloyd Cruz) and Basha (Bea Alonzo) have been together all their lives. Their love story started when they met as students in the university. Their families loved them, they shared friends, they eventually worked in the same firm and their life plans revolved around each other. There is no Popoy without a Basha and vice versa. They were certain that they will get married someday and build a home together. Everything seems perfect. At least that’s what Popoy thinks.

But all the planning and dreaming eventually took a toll on Basha. Past issues and current controversies suddenly become the main fare in what would have been a routine lunch date. In their first major fight in over five years, Popoy and Basha begin their heart-rending struggle whether to hold on or to move on.