Page 30 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'B' issue

30 www.hello-philippines.com ENTERTAINMENT January 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 2 • UK & Europe Edition

& Scoop CELEBRITY
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AS with most of his acclaimed films, jury this year. events,” Diaz said in statement furnished
the latest opus of trailblazing filmmaker Described as “a marriage of history, to InterAksyon. John Lloyd Cruz in ‘Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis’ and (right) director Lav Diaz.
Lav Diaz is set to have its world premiere
in a prestigious international film festival. literature and mythology,” the film’s “To yearn for freedom is not an the film was not set into motion until 2015 alongside renowned director Wang
drumbeaters say “Hele” is about the illusion. There are only conquerors and 2011 when the filmmaker met producer Bing of China.
This time, Direk Lav’s “Hele sa Hiwagang history of Filipinos that interconnects the conquered, abusers and the abused. I Bianca Balbuena through actor Ronnie
Hapis” (A Lullaby for the Sorrowful Mystery) narrative threads on the Philippine only hope that this rebellion could mean Lazaro. Balbuena, who was smitten by “Hele” will be screened in the
will compete in the Main Competition section Revolution of 1896-1897 against the something for the country.” Diaz’s script, got the film into the Asian prestigious Berlinale Palast along with
of the Berlin International Film Festival 2016, Spanish colonizers. Project Market of Busan International the other main competition films. The
more famously known as the Berlinale, As reported last July, the film is Film Festival in 2012. film’s contingent to the festival will be
scheduled from February 11 to 21 this year. It includes the story of the ballad headlined by mainstream leading men led by Diaz himself, Ten17P’s executive
“Jocelynang Baliwag”, which became John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual From there, Balbuena produced producer Paul Soriano, Epicmedia’s
In black and white and clocking at the hymn of the revolution; Gregoria and also boasts a strong ensemble cast (with Dissidenz Films) a short film Bianca Balbuena and hopefully the
482 minutes or about eight hours, “Hele de Jesus’ forlorn search for the body that include Cherie Gil, Angel Aquino, version entitled “Prologue to the Great whole cast ensemble led by John Lloyd
sa Hiwagang Hapis” will have its world of the Father of Philippine Revolution Bernardo Bernardo, Alessandra de Desaparecido” in 2013, which premiered Cruz and Piolo Pascual.
premiere at the festival on February 18. Andres Bonifacio; the journey of our Rossi, Hazel Orencio, Susan Africa, in San Sebastian International Film
national heroes’ fictional book characters Joel Saracho, Ely Buendia, Sid Lucero, Festival. Balbuena noted that the “Hele” team
Even though Diaz has had a history Simoun and Isagani; plus the role of the Ronnie Lazaro, Menggie Cobarrubias, still needs to raise funds from the Film
of participating in Cannes’ Un Certain Philippine mythical hero of strength Bart Guingona, Jean Judith Javier, In 2014, she got Executive Producer/ Development Council of the Philippines,
Regard, Venice’s Orrizonti and the Bernardo Carpio and the half-man, Sheenly Gener, Paul Jake Paule, Noel Sto Producer Paul Soriano to finance the film the National Commission for the Culture
Berlinale Forum sections, this marks the half-horse Tikbalang/Engkanto, on the Domingo, Matt Daclan, Melo Esguerra, and principal photography began in early and the Arts and Congress to be able to
first time that a film of his is entered in Filipino psyche. Bianca Balbuena, Moira Lang, Bradley 2015. Just a few months after the end of represent the film well at Berlinale as the
the Main Competition section of one of Liew, Kristine Kintana, Karenina Haniel, production, a rough cut was presented at festival will only shoulder some of the
the world’s Big 3 film festivals. “It is said that it is perilous to argue Sigrid Bernardo, Rcee Tenefrancia and a special Works-In-Progress presentation accommodation expenses. n Edwin P. Sallan
about historical details. It is also said Kuya Manzano. at the Asian Film Market in Busan in
“Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” will that it is more perilous to correct any / InterAksyon.com / January 12, 2016 / 8:43 pm
compete for the coveted Golden Bear distortions made on historical events. Diaz wrote and completed an early
and Silver Bear Awards of Berlinale, with But that it is most perilous of all to turn version of the script in 1999 but ran into
no less than Academy award-winning one’s back to the truth behind these problems with financing. Production of
actress Meryl Streep as president of the

‘Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin’ scripwriter interviews author Bob Ong
NOBODY at Viva Films expected the best-selling books and a few colleagues reclusive author and InterAksyon ang libro. Nag-research ka rin ba tungkol tulong din ang “Trip to Quiapo” ni Ricky
sa pagsusulat ng script o minano-mano
popular but mysterious author Bob Ong have met him in person. (To the contributor Eric T. Cabahug, who wrote mo lang? Was it always your plan to write Lee at ilang sample ng Pinoy screenplay.
to do any press interviews for “Lumayo uninitiated, “Bob Ong” is a pseudonym.) it in that format from the very start?

Did you ever think or hope na
Ka Nga sa Akin”, the movie based on his the movie’s screenplay.
2012 book of the same. “Lumayo” is his second book to be Bakit mo naisipan isulat ang Oo, script talaga ang magiging magiging movie talaga siya? Nang
adapted for the screen. it’s a comedy
‘Lumayo’? Siguro ang pinagkaiba lang, matanggap ko ang “masidhing” alok ng

That’sbecauseonlythepublisherofhis trilogy that deliriously skewers the sa halip na mag-post ako ng mga opinyon katawan ng “Lumayo” dahil yun ang Viva para isapelikula ang Lumayo, ang
action, horror, and drama genres that are at hinaing sa social media, iniipon ko ito effective format ng kuwento at gusto pananaw ko ay tulad rin ng pananaw ng

popular in mainstream Pinoy films. para maipaabot ang mensahe sa isang mas kong laging sumusubok ng bago. May mga mambabasa ko: “Sira ulo ba sila???”
In 2014, Viva turned his first kongkretong anyo at malinaw na paraan. background ako sa scriptwriting pero Hahaha! ‘Sira ulo’ talaga? Bakit
Nauna pa yata ang idea ng “Lumayo Ka kinailangan kong hasain kaunti dahil
(reportedly autobiographical) novel, naman? Dahil sa halip na masaktan ay

“ABNKKBSNPala Ako”, into a surprise Nga sa Akin” sa “Kapitan Sino”, pero hindi ‘yun ang unang subok. Hindi halata sa niyakap ito ng Viva. At dahil gusto kong

box office smash starring Jericho Rosales. ko minadali ang pagbuo dahil alam kong trilogy, pero script book ni Neil Gaiman masaksihan kung paano maging advocate

Here, InterAksyon eavesdrops on makikinabang ito sa kaunti pang research ng “Beowulf” at screenplay ng “Benjamin ang isa sa mga perpetrator, sabi ko, sige.

Joey Paras and Cristine Reyes in a scene from ‘Bob Ong’s an online chat, conducted in Filipino, work. Button” ang blueprint ng mga kuwento Good sport naman daw ang Viva at

Lumayo Ka Nga sa Akin’. between Philippine literature’s most Speaking of research, script format nina Diego at Marie. Siyempre malaking marunong tumawa sa sarili.

John Lloyd Cruz hopes congressional probe leads to MMFF reforms Yes, crazy good sport. Hehe.

Ang
MANILA – Actor John Lloyd Cruz is “Inspiring times sa akin itong nangyaring Asked if he believes the film would have Monteverde and director Erik Matti of daming pinagdaanan ng project na
umabot halos dalawang taon bago
optimistic that the ongoing congressional ito. Parang I am in the eye of the storm right a greater chance of bagging the best film Reality Entertainment, said he would matapos. Anu-ano ang mga natutunan
inquiry on the Metro Manila Film Festival now. Kung anuman ang in-invest ko rito, award had it not been disqualified, Cruz said, have raised questions had he won the best mo tungkol sa paggawa ng pelikula from
controversy involving his film, “Honor higit pa ang babalik sa akin because of what “It’s anybody’s game, just don’t take away actor award. this experience? Kung meron man.
Thy Father” would lead to reforms in the happened,” Cruz added.
the opportunity to actually experience a fair “Kung nanalo akong best actor, I Yung printable at hindi mo ie-edit?
Hehe. Dahil wala naman ako sa mga
annual Yuletide film festival. But while Cruz remained upbeat on the game in the competition.” would have said something like, ‘Saan shooting at walang nakasalamuhang
taartits, siguro yung ilang kuwentuhan
The actor who attended the hearings future of the industry with the intercession “Kung na-disqualify, ibig sabihin niyo binase ang performance ko? Sa isang natin at chat namin ni bossing Vincent
for the first time hopes that Congress of Congress on the MMFF controversy, tinaggalan mo kami ng karapatan na pelikula na disqualified? Kaya po siguro I (del Rosario of Viva Films). May nasilip
would lead the way in instituting these he still sounded visibly upset over the lumaban, na magkaroon ng fair chance sa was ready to reject the award.” akong aspeto ng Pinoy filmmaking na
reforms through the creation of laws. hindi ko malalaman sa ibang paraan.
disqualification of “Honor Thy Father,” from competition,” he said in a news conference The decision of the MMFF executive
In his opening statement at the the Best Picture category of the Metro Manila at the House of Representatives before facing committee to disqualify “Honor Thy Romcom na ang pinakasikat na genre
hearing, Cruz said that the issue he was Film Festival (MMFF) which he said deprived the continuation of the inquiry called to Father” from the Best Picture category in sa movies ngayon. Any plans of writing
raising before Congress was not just a them of a fair chance to compete in the tackle the MMFF controversy. something of the sort as some kind of
showbiz matter, but something that could annual local movie festival. the MMFF 2015 has stirred controversy over a sequel?
Romcom parody na dagdag
sa Lumayo trilogy o totoong romcom?
“break or unite” the movie industry. Cruz, who produced the film with Dondon how the annual film festival has been run. Masyado na kasi tayong maraming
romcom. Siguro kung may maihahain
“Nandito ako ngayon dahil mahal Laguna Representative Dan akong iba at magandang dahilan kung
bakit kailangan ako sa genre, walang
ko ang pelikulang Pilipino…Kung may Fernandez, one of the actors in the film, problema. Kung parody, mahirap kasi
madalang ako manood ng romcom.
natutunan ako sa paggawa ng pelikula, filed the resolution that prompted the Hindi tulad ng Pinoy action, horror, at
drama na kinalakihan nating lahat. n Eric
‘yan po ay kung mahal mo, ipaglalaban investigation.
T. Cabahug / InterAksyon.com / January 12, 2016 / 10:09 am
mo,” he said. MMFF overall chairman Emerson

The actor said he co-produced the film Carlos had said the film was disqualified

“so I could exercise my creative rights.” “due to your non-disclosure of your

“I believe this is part of my growth in participation to the Cinema One Originals

the industry, not just as an actor, but as Film Festival as the opening film and after
part of the industy. I’m just exploring,” he
Actor John Lloyd Cruz attends the congressional Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, Quezon City Rep. Winston careful and thorough deliberation.” n Lira
said. hearings on the MMFF controversy involving his film, Castelo and John Lloyd Cruz at the congressional
Dalangin-Fernandez / InterAksyon.com / January 13,

‘Honor Thy Father’. Photos by Ana Relova/InterAksyon hearing on the MMFF. 2016 / 5:55 pm