Philippine Asian News Today Vol 20 No 23 | Page 32

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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY December 1 - 15, 2018
Director, co-star all praises for Anne Curtis
Over a thousand passengers
perish when a passenger ship named
Aurora collides into a rocky shore.
Many of the dead bodies turn up
along the shore of the tiny island
near the shipwreck, but many are still
missing, and their distressed families
are in need of a place to stay in as the
search continues. This is the situation
Anne Curtis’ character finds herself in
“Aurora,” the official entry to the Metro
Manila Film Festival 2018 from VIVA
Films and ALIUD Entertainment.
Anne is Leana, owner of a rundown
inn in the island and guardian to
Rita, her 8-year-old sister, played by
Phoebe Villamor. She is asked to help
look for the cadavers in exchange
for a large amount of money. Leana
is hesitant, but her fear is overcome
by her sympathy for the families and
her sister’s encouragement. Helping
her in the search are her ex-boyfriend
Ricky, played by Marco Gumabao,
and a boatman named Eddie, played
by Alan Paule.
This mystery thriller is directed by
Yam Laranas, the highly acclaimed
director of “Sigaw” (2004) which was
turned into a Hollywood film entitled
“The Echo” (2008), “The Road,” and
“Abomination.”
He also wrote the screenplay of
“Aurora” with Gin de Mesa (“All Souls’
Night”) and serves as one of the
producers.
Anne is once again praised for
her determination to give all she’s got
in portraying her role. Her director
Yam Laranas was impressed with the
actress’ dedication, especially in her
underwater scenes.
She was submerged “for 30
seconds to one minute to shoot
her scenes,” said Laranas, and she
refused to use a double.
Marco was also taken by Anne’s
kindness. It is a dream come true to
be working with her and he did not
expect such a big star to be down-to-
earth. He described her as “sobrang
bait, sobrang humble, easy to talk to
and approachable.”
“Aurora” will be in Philippine
cinemas starting December 25.
(Malaya)
Jericho and Jessy in ‘The Girl in the Orange Dress’
Jericho Rosales was not feeling
well during the press con of “The Girl in
the Orange Dress” but he still attended
the affair to help promote their MMFF
entry. It turned
out he has
dengue fever
so he now
has to rest for
a while.
“The Girl
in the Orange
Dress” is his
second film
fest
entry
with
Atty.
Joji Alonso’s
Quantum
Films.
The first
one
was
“ Walang
Fo r e v e r, ”
which
won
him
the
MMFF best
actor award in
2016. He was
then paired with Jennylyn Mercado.
Now, he’s got a new leading lady,
Jessy Mendiola.
In the movie, he is Rye del Rosario,
a big movie star who’s getting fed up
with his life in showbiz.
One night, he meets a girl in an
orange dress in a party. He leaves
with her and they end up spending
the night together in a hotel. The
girl, Ana (Jessy), doesn’t know he is
a popular celebrity and treats him
just like some ordinary guy and Rye
likes it. But soon, the girl disappears
and he doesn’t even know her name.
So he looks for her and refers to her
as the girl in the orange dress who
regards him as a real person and not
as just this big-named actor.
Did Echo feel awkward doing love
scenes with Jessy who’s very open her
relationship with Luis Manzano?
“Luis is a good friend so he knows
I will respect Jessy. And as an actor,
alam niyang ginagawa lang namin ang
aming trabaho bilang mga artista.”
His leading ladies seem to be
getting younger and younger, just like
Yam Concepcion and Yen Santos in
“Halik.”
“Yes, I know. I’m very grateful for
the chance to work with them. Kulang
na lang, magmano na sila sa’kin. But I
believe in role playing and I’m looking
forward nga to working even with the
likes of Liza Soberano and Kathryn
Bernardo.”
“The Girl in the Orange Dress” has
some very special guests headed by
real-life lovebirds Derek Ramsay and
girlfriend Joanne Villablanca who play
a couple whose wedding Echo and
Jessy attended. Then there’s Jessy’s
sweetheart, Luis, who volunteered to
do a cameo role and plays a waiter.
Echo’s former partner in “Walang
Forever,” Jennylyn Mercado, also
appears, playing herself as an actress
working with Echo’s character. Jen, in
case you’ve forgotten, also happens
to be an ex of Luis. All these stars
appear in the movie gratis et amore.
This makes “The Girl in the Orange
Dress” truly special and one of the
must-see films in the coming MMFF.
(M. Bautista, Malaya)
It’s the time of Vice Ganda
Vice Ganda has been ruling the
MMFF for the past several years
now with top-grossing entries, like
“Praybeyt Benjamin,” “Beauty and
the Bestie,” “Boy Girl Bakla Tomboy,”
“Sisterakas,” “Petrang Kabayo,” and
“The Revengers.” In 2016, his entry,
“Super Parental Guardians,” was
rejected by the MMFF but it turned
out to have earned better than any of
the entries they chose then.
“Wala
naman
po
kaming
gustong gawin kundi pasayahin
lang ang viewers,” said Vice. “At
ginagarantiyahan ko po sa inyo
na hindi lang ito basta raket kundi
patatawanin namin talaga kayo.
Walang lalabas ng sinehan na
hindi natawa.”
It’s really his time now, his
season, so whatever movie he does,
people watch it. Some quarters call
his movies trash
but this proves
that the adage
na “may pera sa
basura” is simply
true.
Vice is glad
to work for the
first time with
former Kapuso
Richard Gutierrez
as the Prince of
Fantastica and
still a Kapuso
Dingdong Dantes
as Gangnam.
“Kakaiba
talaga
ang
dynamics ng big
cast namin,” Vice said. “I play the
role of Belat, anak ako ni Jaclyn Jose
as Miss Fe at mga kapatid ko sina
Edward Barber as Junjun, Ronnie
Alonte as Daks and Donny Pangilinan
as Pepe. Kapartner nila mga ka love
team nilang sina Maymay Entrata,
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
Loisa Andalio and Kisses
Delavin.”
He’s used to directors
like Joyce Bernal and the
late Wenn Deramas. How
is it working with a new
one like Barry Gonzales?
“When Joyce backed
out, Barry was suggested
by Star Cinema. I know
him kasi trainee siya noon
ni Direk Wenn. They told
me to watch his first film
(‘Fanboy/Fangirl’) at okay
naman. Everyone has
nothing but good words
for him at totoo naman
pala. Hindi katakatakang
ang laki ng tiwala ng Star
Cinema sa kanya. Now, nagkaroon
tayo ng bagong comedy director.”