Family History Delivers Ugly Cries, Spitting Laughter

Maybe just maybe, I was expecting less from this project... but they delivered.

Albeit no stranger in front and at the back of the camera, Michael V has stretched feathers among his many hats to be a real life Producer, Director, Writer and Actor for this film called Family History. I have never, been ever, effectively been confused about my feelings while watching a film because as soon as the hospital scenes started (oh that'll be early), I was already trying to stop myself from totally balling in the dark because I didn't want people to see me crying. 

This is a family film - of sorts, ideal in one side... but totally flawed on the next one. I know while you're reading that you're already getting confused, but trust me, it's because the twist in this film would just be making you even more insecure about your judgement about their characters, neither did they.

I initially thought I would be bored about a family drama, but it wasn’t even a few seconds into the film and people were giggling. Michael V and Ms. Dawn were definitely in a class of their own. Heck I can already say Dawn Zulueta can read a phonebook in a scene and still make you do ugly cry, she’s that good and she did that in several sequences. - undoubtedly, she is an icon! 

Michael V on the other hand could stand serious and unfazed with reality in one scene, but stamps his kind of comedy. He is definitely an authority, how can you not be impressed with the very talented Bitoy, who up to this moment I’ve lost count on figuring out how many times he’s transformed into different characters. You will see that happen here so many times. The movie might come off to you as clear, with very nice treatment and color grading but injects several graphics to denote out of this world reactions to everyday struggles. It was a secret nobody knew would happen, and that part was totally effective especially when he was talking to his boss and best man. 

A word of warning, there will be continuous flashbacks, and it is necessary. It gives you a backgrounder on why and how they ended up that way, so you too could understand how characters work. 

It is an awesome film with realistic, heart wrenching situations. If there's a takeaway from this movie, it's the capacity of the human heart to forgive and how to love without condiions (or is it?). Now I suggest you go find yourself some good cinema seats and be awed by how Michael V creates his first mainstream movie with effective artists and make you feel crazy. Hope you’ll end up crying and laughing at the same time, just like me when I was watching it. In the meantime, I didn't want to waste time so here are some of the celebrities that graced the event that afternoon.

I also have huge urge on what ideal movies to watch, this is one nice story. 

Worth every penny, because they over delivered. You'll leave the dark halls hopeful - and happy.

Andrea Torres and Lharby Policarpio for MEANT TO BEH

Fun to see Ms. Andrea Torres and Lharby Policarpio this afternoon at the CAVE in Tomas Morato. We were there to interview them for their film MEANT TO BEH which is the comback movie of Vic Sotto while he's paired with the timeless Ms. Dawn Zulueta.

Andrea Torres says "I am not a bad person here, not negative at all but I will wreak havoc with their relationship. I have been part of MMFF previously, like 10 years ago. I feel this is a blessing to end the year and I am excited. I was a bit stiff in the beginning, thinking of what to say or do Bossing Vic was already breaking the ice. How I wish we could get to do the bonding we did in Baguio, I miss them a lot. I have done comedy before since I am part of Bubble Gang, but of course I was still star struck because they are who they are. Ms. Dawn was so funny too and you can't compare it with what she portrays in real life. I am so glad about their feedback because that's what I wanted to do. I am also shocked at how they treat you like friends. Baste is like a baby brother, such a good kid to actually be with because he always never forget to share food when he's about to eat, he's certainly going to be adored by a lot of people. I am also going to gift myself with an out of the country trip, I think I owe it to myself to be with my folks and my brother. I am really looking forward to another MMFF eventful week. This is a G movie, you will expect the whole family to be there and I am excited to see them watch the film. You'll see this to be blessed in the box office, I wish he could win the best actor trophy. Just to be part of the project was a dream for me, but if ever I win the best supporting actress category would make me really happy. About the Bench Fashion Show, you just would never forget a moment like that. Their feedback was all good and if you were in the back stage, you wouldn't see anything like that because everyone was so nice and they were giving me food left and right, it was just like a celebration for Bench's 30 years."

Lharby Policarpio was also with us that afternoon and he says "I play Brad here and is a school bully. We have our own story inside the actual film. This is my first time to do an MMFF entry do getting to work with them was a dream for me. Though I was a college bully, it was more concentrated with JC and I did mistreat them a lot. The set is happy because from the director to the stars, they were all cracking jokes. Sue is remarkable, she's like one of the boys. She jokes a lot even if we are changing clothes, she's so chill and she doesn't make you feel that she's a big star. I also can't wait to travel because I do that quite often, for Christmas I wish that I would have time for that. This film is relateable and fun, like what any Vic Sotto project you have seen in the past but with more heart, more inspiration. We are sure this will earn a lot, but the awards will just be a reward for us. We hope you watch the film if you want to get inspired, a little touch of romance and learn about real family relationships."

MEANT TO BEH will be shown on December 25 and will also star Gabbi Garcia, Ruru Madrid, Sue Ramirez, Daniel Matsunaga and supee cute Baste. Bring your family and friends please!

KUMAGCOW

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Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta for MEANT TO BEH

MZET and APT Entertainment will make your Christmas season even more FUN and romantic as they dish out this family film called MEANT TO BEH as part of Metro Manila Film Festival 2017.

Dawn Zulueta was so happy to be oart of it and she says "As an actor I just mirrored it with real life and the delivery is just the difference. I hardly do any comedy but it's exciting to discover this. I believe respect holds the glue to a relationship, and love too. It's nice to learn from the young ones, your mindset is like when you want to get into their heads, it's like an intellectual excercise so I learn a lot of things from them and I can't say anything bad about the people in our cast, they're really good. Bossing is still the same but I've learned how he as an actor is so good in drama. I felt his sincerity, he's very effective. It's an exciting discovery and if he does another one soon, this is a nice preview of what he can do. I don't have any beauty secrets, I just make an effort, perhaps the outlook, I have different friends in different age groups. You have to have time to learn new things from young people. They are just waiting for this and when this project came along I was just thrilled to work with him after so many DECADES haha. I sure hope this earns a lot so we can have a part 2, and hope they get me again ha! You don't feel comedy is work when you are here, it's so energizing and I go home I reach another level of funny. Doing this is something else, a really good break for me."

Bossing Vic Sotto says "Even if last year I missed a lot, it's so nice to finally been able to go back. The fantasy genre has always been a good niche for me but I wanted to so something realistic, it's a serious movie but we just present it in a light manner. The theme is heavy but since this is a family thing, we had to make it apt for Christmas, be family centric. After watching the movie, you'll feel a lot of things that would include values we would like to impart. In a manner you'll laugh, but still learn from it. Acceptance for what he or she is, nothing would come out of it if it's always one person adjusting to the other. Like Dawn's character and how she is totally different from me, I like that part. I like these young actors, these millenials because if they're good they take their jobs seriously. When we started initially, we didn't know how he would deliver but he did, BASTE will be the next BIG thing. We actually learn from them too, they set good examples to the youth. As an actor you want to do everything, not just drama or comedy, you have to perform well in whatever role you get. It may have been a different genre now but it's a serious funny theme, it's difficult but you'll find fun in the conversations with no effort, I just trusted the scene and script. It's still important to earn from it so that you can have another film to show next time. If I come across a very good script, who knows, TVJ may come back but it has to be a good script. When we were planning this, we already had Dawn in mind and this film is some sort of first for me. I now have had the chance to do "idawn zulueta mo ako" in person. If it's about advice, the new actors we had may well advise us because they are good. When we were casting we didn't have problems casting from other networks, it didn't really matter, it felt like actors were not forced into a boundary. Now you may have limitations but shouldn't be a big deal. We all come from one industry. Please watch us first but please watch other films in the festival too. I don't want to put competition on the festival, our goal is to make people happy during Christmas so let's work together, that's the message we are trying to project here too. They are neither kapamilya or kapuso, they are all Kabisotes."

Director Chris Martinez adds "Friendship and love is the secret to a lasting relationship. Bossing is going to be a bit serious here, it's a best actor piece for him so you have to find out if he performs. It's really something different from the both of them."

JC Santos says "If you know yourself and you give your true self to your partner, that can get your relationship to last. I always try and see how they interact with each other, but I'm so glad they don't have star complex at all... they're all really humble. If you look at the Meant To Beh script, you just have to execute it and I'm very lucky to have worked with them."

Make sure you watch the movie this December 25, bring your family because it's intended for you.

KUMAGCOW

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