FEATURE
Lights, Camera, Popcorn!
By Gerry Plaza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 15:39:00 01/02/2010
Filed Under: Entertainment (general), Cinema, Television, Celebrities
WHATEVER the outlook may be for the global economy and the ecological situation, the heavens seem to loom brighter for the stargazers of Philippine cinema.
The year 2010 is considered a promising one in Philippine entertainment. Plans are afoot for more big-budget films and television shows in the months ahead, either through single or co-production ventures between movie studios and TV networks. This should bring hope to an industry saddled with losses and negative or flat growth for more years than it cares to recall.
Here’s what’s in store for the closing year of the millennium’s first decade in Philippine entertainment.
Movies
The country’s leading film outfits remain confident of their prospects despite the gloom that has befallen an industry which, nearly 30 years ago, produced the Best Asia-Pacific Film of All Time, “Himala,” (as determined by CNN in late 2008) and boasted an output of about 10 to 16 films per year.
With movie production fizzling down to about four movies a year at most because of increasing production costs, competition with foreign films and dwindling box office receipts, producers have become cautious. But they’re not about to ring down the curtains on filmmaking.
Star Cinema will continue offering its successful stew of romantic comedies and dramas this year, with the Bea Alonzo-John Lloyd Cruz starrer, “Miss You Like Crazy,” set for release in the first quarter. Other untitled projects include films featuring other ABS-CBN love teams, among them Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, and Anne Curtis and Sam Milby.
A reliable source revealed that Star Cinema has a Gabby and KC Concepcion movie project in the planning stage, a light drama that dwells on the father-daughter relationship. The source added that a cameo role had been proposed for Sharon Cuneta, but the Megastar’s response is still forthcoming.
Over at rival GMA Films, only one figure is prominent: Claudine Barretto, whom the network signed on after the actress’ 16-year stint with ABS-CBN. Claudine will initially appear in one film and two television projects at the start of her two-year exclusive contract with the Kapuso channel. She will start filming a Viva Films-GMA Films co-venture in January 2010 and the sequel to the 2007 film “Ouija” that starred Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal, Iza Calzado, and Rhian Ramos.
Viva Films will be active in co-productions with Star Cinema, which is now considered the most successful film partnership in terms of box office returns. Its monster hits include “A Very Special Love” and its sequel “You Changed My Life,” which grossed a total of more than P300 million. There are plans for a third installment of the series featuring John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo, but this may take a backseat to another Sarah movie with a Star Cinema matinee idol. Gerald Anderson was being eyed for this project but the increased network focus on his love team with Kim Chiu could hold him off from other pairings in the near future.
Regal Films, the oldest and certainly not the least active among the country’s leading film companies, similarly has big plans for 2010. Three films from the 50-year-old studio have been lined up for the first three months of 2010, starting with “Nieves,” a horror flick starring Marian Rivera, Iya Villania, Shaina Magdayao, and Jake Cuenca. The movie was originally intended for the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival but had to be pushed back after director Mike Tuviera fell ill. Other Regal projects being planned or filmed for a 2010 playdate include “My Other Man,” again featuring Marian Rivera, Dennis Trillo and Carla Abellana, and the horror comedy “Ang Nanay Kong Aswang,” starring Eugene Domingo and Carla Abellana.
A source also mentioned that Regal will conclude its “Mano Po” series during the 2010 MMFF, with a planned dream team of Vilma Santos, Maricel Soriano, and Sharon Cuneta, who is currently starring in “Mano Po 6: My Mother.”
Also mentioned was the Manny Pangilinan-led TV5’s projected film venture, which plans to produce several big budget movies in 2010 and is reportedly eyeing a business partnership with Regal Films. This set up is not at all strange for Regal matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde, who lent a helping hand in terms of talent dole-outs and production agreements with the fledging ABS-CBN Broadcasting Company when it reopened after the 1986 Edsa Revolution.
Television
Speaking of Philippine television, only one genre comes to mind: the television soap opera, which is either a telenovela or a teleserye, depending on which side of the TV spectrum you’re in. The genre remains phenomenal as ever, especially in 2010, with the country’s leading networks, ABS-CBN and GMA 7, pulling out all the stops to churn out the most ambitious offerings. The rival networks are dead set on continuing their neck-and-neck battle on the TV airwaves.
After a sterling run of family-oriented light dramas, such as “May Bukas Pa” and “Kokey,” and the grandiose offerings “Tayong Dalawa,” “Katorse,” and “Dahil May Isang Ikaw,” ABS-CBN has lined up several new offerings that are sure to push the network’s nationwide dominance on ratings.
A promising drama to watch out for is “Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo,” which will again showcase the blossoming primetime team up of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson. After the successful “Tayong Dalawa” movie, the “Kimerald” love team will get a new powerhouse dramatic team, led by Gabby Concepcion, Albert Martinez, Coco Martin, Maricar Reyes, Jaclyn Jose, and Maxene Eigenmann.
But what’s expected to draw the viewers would be the very first TV dramatic outing for Kris Aquino and the showbiz debut of her youngest child, Baby James Yap, Jr. It is also one of the rare TV projects megged by director Laurice Guillen.
Judy Ann Santos will return to drama in “Habang May Buhay,” where she will reunite with Derek Ramsay, her co-star in the 2007 series “Ysabella.” Other notable thespians in this project include Will Devaughn, Joem Bascon, Gladys Reyes, Gina Alajar, Rio Locsin, Tetchie Agbayani, John Arcilla, and “Super Inggo” star Makisig Morales.
But the most ambitious offering for the coming year is “Rubi,” which is set to become the biggest dramatic vehicle for Angelica Panganiban on primetime TV. The show is actually a local adaptation of the daytime Mexican telenovela that was broadcast on ABS-CBN. Angelica will portray the role of a hero-villainess wreaking havoc on the lives of the other show protagonists to be played by top network stars Diether Ocampo, Jake Cuenca, and Shaina Magdayao. The cast will also include Cherry Pie Picache, Cherie Gil, Coney Reyes, Bing Loyzaga, Gardo Versoza, Allan Paule, Juan Rodrigo, Dante Rivero, Kaye Abad, Megan Young, Xian Lim, John James Uy, Wowie de Guzman, Susan Africa, Eva Darren and Rey “PJ” Abellana.
Other shows to watch out for on the Kapamilya network include “Tanging Yaman,” which will star the station’s bumper crop of young stars Melissa Ricks, Erich Gonzales, Matt Evans, Enchong Dee, and Ejay Falcon,
the return of “Kokey” featuring Angel Locsin, and “Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal,” which will headline Roxanne Guinoo.
With Claudine Barretto’s transfer to GMA-7, there was talk that her planned series with sister Gretchen Barretto would be discontinued. But insiders note that ABS-CBN will push through with the project with Bea Alonzo as Claudine’s replacement in the still untitled project. John Lloyd Cruz will also return to TV through a team-up with Angel Locsin and a rumored Korean-Philippine production that will pair him with Korean star Kim Yoo Jin.
The network’s “Hapontastic” afternoon drama bloc will feature new Precious Hearts Romances series, “Cheating Heart,” starring Cristine Reyes and Jake Cuenca, “Midnight Phantom,” featuring Rafael Rossell and Denise Laurel, and “Impostor,” which will have Maja Salvador and Sam Milby as lead actors.
On the Kapuso channel (GMA-7), where fantasy dramas, local adaptations of Korean hit shows, and serializations of classic Filipino films made the channel the ratings champion among urban viewers, 2010 will be no different, programming wise. GMA 7 will again bank on this winning formula with its lineup this year.
On top of its list is the April 2010 airing of the local version of the Korean hit “Endless Love: Autumn In My Heart,” the heartbreaking tragic love story that starred Song Hye Kyo and Song Seung Hun. In the GMA 7 production, Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes will reunite on the TV screen after successful solo stints. Marian is currently on Mars Ravelo’s “Darna” and Dingdong is the male lead in “Stairway to Heaven.”
Another drama to watch on GMA is A-List transferee Claudine Barretto’s reported first Kapuso show, “Bituin,” where she’ll have her first television pairing with husband Raymart Santiago and former boyfriend Mark Anthony Fernandez. Angelika dela Cruz also stars. According to GMA sources, Claudine is also being eyed for the lead role of Jang-geum in “Jewel in the Palace,” a local adaptation of the historical epic “Dae Jang Geum,” considered as the highest rated Korean drama of all time.
Regine Velasquez will again appear on GMA’s “Telebabad” bloc with the musical-drama “Diva.”
A surprising yet daring move by the network is banking on two young newcomers who appeared in the local GMA 7 remake of another Korean hit romantic drama “Stairway to Heaven.” Due to their heartwarming and acclaimed portrayals as the young Cholo and Jodi in the series, Joshua Dionisio, 15, and Barbie Forteza, 12, have been green lighted to nail their launching telenovela, “First Luv,” on the “Telebabad” bloc.
GMA will also offer its staple of fantasy shows, particularly the second coming of its successful “Encantadia” series and new offerings, “Odessa,” “Animo” and “The Last Prince,” which will feature the network’s fastest rising love team, Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal.
For its “Dramarama sa Hapon” afternoon programming, GMA will air more Filipino movie remakes in its Sine Novela series. For the first quarter of 2010, the network will premiere TV adaptations of two acclaimed films, "Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita?,” starring Jean Garcia and Jennica Garcia and “Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak,” featuring Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado.
Reality programs
Both networks will highlight a good share of reality TV programs next year. ABS-CBN will again extend its top rating “Pinoy Big Brother” franchise and GMA 7 will continue to air “Survivor Philippines,” which is still in search of a new host after the departure of Paolo Bediones, now a network executive of the refurbished TV5 channel. Insiders say it’s a toss-up between ex-varsity players Chris Tiu and 2008 Sole Survivor JC Tiuseco.
But the reality show to watch in 2010 is ABS-CBN’s “Pilipinas Got Talent,” the local edition of the international “Got Talent” series created by Simon Cowell, which will be hosted by Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford. The series format is ideal for Filipinos, who are innately gifted with wide-ranging talents.
Meanwhile, GMA-7 will carry over its original reality-based talent competition, “Starstruck V,” onto the first quarter of 2010 after its premiere last November.
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what's the writer up to? after a long winded description about the shows of other artists,he only mentioned Angel's Kokey@Ako and show with JLC in a phrase!!!
should i take it as a compliment ..that Angel is that big a star that a promotion for her show is no longer needed for it to rate?
how about the movie with Aga, is the omission intentional or accidental?anyway, i am posting the whole article so you would have a total picture of what is in store for 2010 and what projects are being given to our Angel