“BABE
I LOVE YOU” by
ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. was graded ‘B’
by the CEB last March 30. The film stars Sam Milby and Anne Curtis. Mae Cruz
directed the film.
“Can
love really bring two opposite worlds together?
How
much will you give up for the one you love?”
In
the academe, Nicolas ‘Nico’ Veneracion Borromeo is a highly-esteemed History of
Architecture professor who is on his way to becoming the next Vice Dean of the
Department. He knows that achieving this would finally make his mother proud of
him and forgive him for indirectly causing his father’s death.
And
yet, when he meets an unconventional girl named Sandra ‘Sasa’ Sanchez, his
world turns upside down. He never thought that he could fall in love with
someone who works as a promo-girl and is obviously unacceptable in his life.
But he did. And now their relationship stands to threaten everything he’s
rebuilt since the accident with his father.
Still,
in wanting to keep her, he strives to adjust to her and her past and defends
her to everyone who questions their relationship. Because she also loves him,
she eventually makes changes to fit in his life. It becomes a struggle that
they’re both willing to endure.
This
tests all their principles and despite wanting to accept each other, they
realize that their differences are just too vast. They mutually agree to
separate ways.
Six
months pass and they meet again. Despite their painful parting, they renew
friendship once again.
CEB Updates 11 May2010
“HERE
COMES THE BRIDE,”
by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc., Octoarts Films and Quantum Films, Inc. was
graded `B’ by the CEB last May 11.
The film stars Angelica Panganiban, Eugene Domingo, John Lapus, Tuesday Vargas
and Jaime Fabregas. Chris Martinez directed the film.
The
story revolves around five people, Stefanie (Angelica Panganiban), who is about to get
married to Harold (Tom Rodriguez). Her mother (Cherry Pie Picache) picked on the date
when the solar eclipse shall occur. Precy (Eugene
Domingo) is a feisty lawyer who was picked as the ninang of the
bride. Medelyn (Tuesday Vargas) is a sacrificial nanny to her troubled ward.
Bien (Jaime Fabregas) is a hypersexual paternal grandfather of Harold. Toffee
is a desperate image stylist. Upon traveling for the wedding, they are
travelling the Magnetic Hill. When the eclipse happened, an accident occurred.
Precy's soul went to Medelyn. Medelyn's soul went into Bien. Bien's went to
Toffee. Toffee's went to Stefanie and Stefanie's went to Precy. On the day of
her wedding, Precy who has the soul of Stefanie seek the help of Kim Atienza.
The solar eclipse happens once every two years. The five waited two years for
the eclipse to happen. After two years, they attempt to repeat the accident on
the Magnetic Hill. On the first attempt, Stefanie has the soul of Medelyn,
Precy has the soul of Bien, Medelyn has the soul of Toffee, Toffee has the soul
of Precy and Bien has the soul of Stefanie. On the second attempt, Stefanie was
with the soul of Bien, Precy has the soul of Toffee, Bien has the soul of
Precy, Toffee has the soul of Medelyn and Medelyn has the soul of Stefanie.
When they attempt for the third time, Stefanie has the soul of Precy, who has
the soul of Medelyn, who has the soul of Bien, who has the soul of Toffee, who
has the soul of Stefanie. They were back to normal on the fourth and final
attempt.
“YOU
TO ME ARE EVERYTHING”
by Regal Entertainment, Inc. and GMA Network Films, Inc. was graded `B’ by the CEB last May 04. The film
stars Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes. Mark Reyes V directed the film.
The
film is about Iska, a simple, happy Igorot from the mountains who suddenly
inherits millions after the death of her real father, and Raphael who is from a
rich family who suddenly finds himself penniless after his father is convicted
of corruption in Congress.
The
two meet when Iska ends up in the mansion where Raphael used to live. As fate
brings them together, Iska feels Raphael needs her insights on how to live a
happy life. Since Iska is new in the business, Raphael acts the job of being
her new business manager. As the two grapple in the new realities of their own
lives, they fall in love. But falling in love comes with a price and at what
cost? Only the two of them know.
CEB Updates 16 June 2010
“NOY” by Cinemedia Films Productions, Inc.
was graded `A’ by the CEB last June
1. The film stars Coco Martin, Erich Gonzales, Cherry Pie Picache, Baron
Geisler, JoemBascon and ViceGanda. Dondon Santos directed the film.
Forced
to find a job as his family’s breadwinner, Noy poses as a journalist
commissioned to come up with a documentary following the campaign trail of his
namesake and top presidential bet, Senator Noynoy Aquino, for the 2010
Philippine National Elections.
The
film, infused with actual documentary footage and intercut with dramatic
scenes, deals with themes of poverty, survival, and hope for the Filipino
family.
“EMIR” by the Film Development Council of
the Philippines
was graded `A’ by the CEB last June
7. The film stars Frencheska Farr, Dulce, Julia Clarete, Beverly Salviejo,
Kalila Aguilos, Liesl Batucan, Melanie Dujunco, Jhong Hilario and Sid Lucero.
Chito Roño directed the film.
The
musical film is set in a fictional emirate in the Middle
East. It tells the story of a yaya
(nanny), Amelia, a Filipina from Ilocos who decides to work abroad to help her
family. She takes care of the Sheik’s wife who is about to give birth, and
later acts as the yaya to the newly
born, Ahmed, the Sheik’s eldest son.
Amelia
sees Ahmed growing up, rearing him, and in the process, introducing the young
boy to the culture, values, and language of the Philippines. More than a nanny,
Amelia acts as Ahmed’s surrogate mother and is even willing to offer her life
to ensure his safety.
Ahmed
is 12 years old when the villa is assaulted and invaded. Amelia flees to the
desert with Ahmed, camping with the Bedouins. In the ensuing turmoil, Amelia
gets separated from Ahmed and is forced by circumstances to go back to the Philippines,
unappreciated for the heroism she had done.
Seven
years after her forced departure from the Emirates, Amelia is back in Paoay,
tending a small puesto in the market.
One day, Amelia goes home from the market when a limousine stops in the middle
of the road and a dashing young man steps out of the car. Amelia sees a
familiar face. She asks Ahmed who is now a handsome 19-year-old crowned prince,
“Bakit ka naririto?”
Amelia
is embraced by Ahmed and she realizes that indeed, the hand that rocks the
cradle, could rule the world. The film ends with a musical number featuring the
Filipina yayas all over the world.
Six
months pass and they meet again. Despite their painful parting, they renew
friendship once again.
______________________________
AFCNet Board Meets in The Philippines 7 July 2010
The Film Development Council
of the Philippines (FDCP) hosted representatives from Asia for an Asian Film
Commissioners’ Network (AFCNet) Board Meeting in Manila on June 23-25, 2010.
Delegates from member countries
convened in Manila to discuss matters within their respective film industries
and brainstormed on projects that can potentially empower the same, as well as
the Asian film market as a whole. The Board Members present were AFCNet
President Mr. Park Kwang-Su (Busan Film
Commission Director) and Kim Soo-Ah (Korea), Ms. Deborah Gabinetti (Director
of the Bali Film Office, Indonesia),
Mr. Rafayadi Rahman (Senior Executive of Multimedia
Development Corporation, Malaysia), Mr. Toshihiko Inoue (Director of the Sapporo-Hokkaido Contents Strategy
Organization, Japan), and Ms. Digna H. Santiago (Executive Director of the
Philippine Film Export Services Office under the FDCP).
The Board Members presented
the current state of the film industry in their respective countries. Common
issues included: lack of audience patronage due to the massive influx of
Hollywood films, lack of funds, marketing and incentives, and censorship. They
also discussed the various film festivals held in their countries and the
support given by each film commission to their respective constituents.
The AFCNet is an organization
of professional film commissions and production service companies in the Asia
Pacific region. Since its main purpose is to disseminate information on
film-related procedures and locations, and to help each member country attract
foreign productions to film in their area, Mr. Park suggested a project that would
highlight these marketing thrusts and at the same time celebrate AFCNet’s 10th
anniversary in 2013 - a collective project that would address obstacles to the
growth of the Asian film industry.
The members plan to produce a literary
compilation “similar to ‘Paris Je Taime’
and ‘New York, I Love You’,” featuring Asian-made short stories that celebrate
the region’s ideas of love. Each country will submit 5-6 synopses that will
showcase each territory’s unique shooting sites/tourist spots. Prospective
filmmakers who will adopt the stories can then develop these projects in their framed,
featured locations. Films like Eat, Love,
Pray,Barrio and Donsol, which
were respectively shot in Bali, Indonesia, Bohol and Donsol in the Philippines
were cited as examples.
Mr. Park also announced that
the topic of the next Asia Film Policy Forum (that will be held in Pusan on
October 10-11, 2010) will be the CO-PRODUCTION. He asked the representatives to
invite their respective policy makers to attend the forum. This will be the
third Asia Film Policy Forum and will be held within the Busan International
Film Commission & Industry Showcase (October 10-11), during the 15th
Pusan International Film Festival (October 7 – 15, 2010).
'kaSAYSAYan' Historical Scriptwriting Contest Winners Named 28 June 2010
On
June 22, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDPC) announced the
winners of the kaSAYSAYan Historical Scriptwriting Contest.
The
project, launched in February 2010, was done in preparation for the year 2011’s
being a marker for several notable events in Philippine history, such as Jose
Rizal’s 150th birthday, the country’s 65th year of
independence from America, and the People Power Revolution’s 50th
anniversary.
The
contest also aimed to find the most captivating yet unknown story, in the form
of a full-length screenplay, using Filipino natural history as a springboard.
After
an overwhelming response from all over the Philippines and the world, only the
most brilliant three were named winners.
After
gruelling deliberation, these received the highest remarks: It was a toss-up
between first and second place, but ultimately, “Balangiga” by Jose F. Lacaba
took top spot for its sheer brilliance and polish as a full-length screenplay,
and Florencio dela Cruz Quintos’ very impressive “Nan Hudhud Hi Apo Ilyam (Apo
Ilyam’s Hudhud)” won second prize.
Meanwhile, the “Hollywood-ready”
script by Eduardo Rocha and the late Henry Francia, “The Whirlwinds of Dust:
The Fall of Antonio Luna” bagged third place.
The
winners will receive P350,000, P250,000, P150,000, respectively.
Apart
from these, the judges were impressed with Arnel Mardoquio’s “Mangulayon”, granting
it a Special Mention prize for its fresh subject matter and for being a worthy
story heralding Mindanao.
A deciding body of
distinguished educators and industry greats was pooled to determine the winning
scripts. Sen. Edgardo Angara headed the Board of Judges.
Besides
the cash prize, there is a possibility that the first place winner may be
developed into a film.
Winners
will be contacted for the awarding schedule.
