Philippine Showbiz Today Vol 12 No 13 | Page 9

July 8 - 21 , 2017 Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 Philippine Showbiz Today 9

July 8 - 21 , 2017 Jan . 22-Feb . 7 , 2015 Philippine Showbiz Today 9

Director Erik Matti clarifies that he is not angry at the first four films that made the official MMFF selection .
After being introduced as the Philippine representative to the judging panel of the new HOOQ Filmmakers Guild , director Erik Matti admitted he is excited to take part in the Southeast Asia-wide project that invites applicants to submit their scripts or treatment for a mini-series for a chance to be given funding for their projects to be produced . “ I believe the Philippines still has a lot undiscovered filmmaker out there just waiting for their big break .
The HOOQ Filmmakers Guild will give these aspiring filmmakers a chance to see their ideas become reality , and hopefully inspire others to pursue their dream ,” said Matti during the HOOQ presscon held last July 3 at a hotel in Quezon City .
There have been talks and I think it was Liza Dino lang who kept saying , ‘ Let ’ s stay on .’ And then it happened nga but then no one was talking about it so I just posted . I just wanted it to be talked about .

Director Erik Matti hits MMFF screening process : ‘ Medyo garapal lang ’

Kung tatanungin niyo ako ano main problema ko , wala akong problema sa MMFF as a festival . It ’ s how its run and it ’ s just hard . Wala ba ni isa sa inyo nagtanong , paano in-explain , bakit hinati pa sa apat na script , apat na movies na finished films ? Kahit sino tanungin mo sa loob dun hindi rin sila ma-eksplika yan . Kasi it ’ s a way to be able to decide diretso sa gusto nila . Yung apat na mapipili sa dulo kawawa yan . Wala na . Talong talo ito ng apat na ito and we all know the Metro Manila Film Festival is only ruled by two frontrunners each time . Anyone else under that hindi nakikita yan ,” he explained .
Matti also made it known he was dismayed at the brazenness of the decision to include four of the most commercially viable films in this year ’ s festival after last year ’ s supposed change of how films were selected . “ It ’ s obvious . If you look at the entries that were brought in , it ’ s 30 % artista , 30 % producer , 30 % theme song , 10 % brightness ( laughs ). I have no problem with having a film festival that ’ s for commercial purposes but change your criteria then . Change it into where we only want movies that are commercial , that we feel is comme2rcial . Wala na tayong pag-uusapan . But to hide behind the vision which is artistic excellence , to push for cultural and global appeal , medyo garapal lang , garapal ,” he said .
The talented director went on to explain that star power has always played a big factor in selecting MMFF entires . “ Panindigan lang nila yung gusto nilang gawin di ba ? Dati pa naman , alam naman namin . Sumasali ako dati pa . Ang dami ko ng pelikulang pumasok diyan , walo . Pero alam naman namin dati na yun talaga yung point , sino yung artista , sinong producer , ano story . Wala ngang storya eh . May storya , pero hindi pinag-uusapan kung ano yung kuwento . Tinitingnan lang . ‘ O , Kris Aquino , pasok . O , si Bossing ( referring to Vic Sotto ), pasok , Vice ( Ganda ), pasok .’ Di ba ? Then say it outright . Straight out . ‘ Ito lang gusto namin . Gusto namin may pelikula si Kris Aquino , si ganito , ganito , ganito . Huwag na kayo mag-submit kung hindi niyo makuha yung mga artistang yan .’ Then di ba hindi nasisira yung industriya ?” he added .
Wala lang nakakaalam . Pero ang problema nga lang , it ’ s the same type of films , it ’ s the same kind of movies di ba ? And of course hindi ko naman masabi yung mga insider kong alam kasi pag nasabi ko yun malilintikan pero I know what happened in the selection that ’ s why diyan nanggagaling yung galit ko . I ’ m not judging the four films and I hope you put it out there kasi marami akong makakaaway naproducer . I ’ m not judging the four films that were chosen but I ’ m judging how they selected it . It ’ s the MMFF that I have a problem with and not the movies that were chosen ,” he clarified .
After his Facebook status about the MMFF went viral ,

Tom Rodriguez renews ties with GMA Network

Matti said he wants things in the industry to change for the better . “ Ako lagi , maliit lang yung pinopost ko sa Facebook , ako yung pinakamaraming nakaaway . I stopped doing films way back in 2005 or 2004 and then when I came back I promised myself , ‘ I will do commercial movies . I don ’ t do art house movies . I want to do commercial movies that ’ s not dumb and that ’ s not stupid . Yun lang .’ Kasi marami naman tayong na-e-enjoy nacommercial pero hindi ka naman parang kinuha lang yung pera mo tapos wala na ,” he explained . ( R . M . Santos , push . com . ph ) ●
Sought-after and multitalented Kapuso leading man Tom Rodriguez remains a loyal Kapuso as he renewed his exclusive contract with GMA Network , Inc . on June 27 .
Tom said he is ecstatic to once again sign with GMA-7 and feels very much at home with the network , “ I am very excited and very happy . I feel very , very much at home here . I do really feel that it ’ s the right fit for me . I am very happy that I am given another opportunity and cement my place here , my new home .”
During the contract signing attended by the network ’ s top executives , the actor also added that he is grateful for the continuous trust GMA Network gives him , “ Every single time I say it , I mean it . I am very thankful dahil ang dami talagang trusted projects
that GMA has been giving me consistently na it forces me to stretch and grow not just as a person but as an actor trying to hone his craft .”
Tom currently top bills the rom-com primetime series I Heart Davao together with Carla Abellana . The program , which premiered last Monday ( June 26 ), has already been receiving rave reviews on social media .
“ We are very happy to see the reactions ng mga tao na nasundan namin sa internet right after . Masaya kami dahil nagustuhan nila from the cinematography to the rapport of the cast and crew ,” he says .
Present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty . Felipe L . Gozon ; GMA President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R . Duavit , Jr .; GMA Entertainment TV ’ s Senior
Vice President Lilybeth G . Rasonable ; GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz ; GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago- Lara ; and Tom ’ s manager Popoy Caritativo .
Atty . Gozon expressed his happiness with Tom ’ s contract renewal . “ Well tayo naman , we are really grateful and appreciative na nag-sign up na naman sa atin si Tom dahil siya naman ay talagang magaling na artista at makikita naman yun sa mga programa kung saan siya lumabas ,” he says .
Mr . Duavit , on the other hand , also has nothing but praises for the actor . “ Tayo ay nagpaparating ng pasasalamat din kay Tom sa kaniyang patuloy na pagtitiwala . Tom is a great example of a professional
actor . Patuloy siya sa pagiging isang magandang ehemplo sa kabataan at bukod tangi siya sa kaniyang p r o p r e s y o n . Siyempre we are all proud that he is a Kapuso and will continue to be . Pa s a s a l a m a t din kay Tom sa kaniyang patuloy na pagtitiwala , at makakaasa siya sa mga darating na panahon na sisikapin pa natin m a g h a n a p ng mga pagkakataon para lumago ang kaniyang
career .” ( gma news ) ●