BLACK RIDER Readies for FINALE WEEK on GMA

Direk Rommel Penesa was so happy about how Black Rider turned out. It has exceeded expectations, and the long time it's been on TV plus the ratings are proof of it. We got to talk to the cast and the people behind the show this afternoon. Thing is, Black Rider will have it's FINALE Week on July 22nd, and there are big things happening in the show.

Ruru Madrid says "I have learned a lot from doing this series, starting from LOLONG, then this one, it feels good to see how their kids actually emulate my character. It's what I always put as a goal, I know what to do in the next projects. In the past, I only dream about it but now they all send me videos, of them living their hero dreams. Eversince, I've always wanted to become an actor, to achieve that and see people dream like me, doing this series, I hope to do a film in the future. I also want to Direct, as I've been watching Direk Rommel Penesa do it. I hope the network trusts me even more in the future. Working with Yassi was quite easy, she really collaborative. She asks the questions to make the scenes better. My character made me realize that we go through things in life, but it's up to us to be consumed by the depression, he needed help and got it from the people around him. He wouldn't survive without them, and that's what I learned about this character. Everyone can be a hero, without super powers, you can help and people can be inspired from that. If we have a book 2, I hope Elias gets out of the tiring vengeance trail. Black Rider needs a change, to fight for others, the small things he can do everyday."

Yassi Pressman says "It's been a roller coaster ride, to my Black Rider family, Vanessa was a joy to do. She's something I've never done before, she loves her family, and with the new revelations, there's just so many emotions to do because I have amnesia, I have to do so many things because there are people brainwashing her. For anything, the experiences I've had with the people will always be cherished. I would say this has really shown what I could do as an actress. With the help of good script writing, there's heart, love, friendship, it's a colorful life. I've always loved working with Ruru because we have done Video City. He also helps me improve what we do, because he's a real good actor. I have a few things lined up this year and next year, hopefully I could tell you about it soon. In life the challenges we face, we always should be positive. You need to find people who can help, especially the important ones, follow your heart, listen to yourself more than anything. Smile, put that energy out there, be kind." 

Jon Lucas adds "Calvin Magallanes won't exist without the help of other actors. The Director also reminds me much of who he is, portraying him is really challenging. My Papa Sir Raymond Bagatsing really told me about playing villains, and the attack is different. Their help and support is instrumental, they take out a lot out of me. Calvin is a really tough person, he wants to fight for what he feels is right. He is just a little hot headed, but he's someone that gives it all. I will miss a lot of people, even before we were launched, I felt I wouldn't be doing much without this. I really had to learn the ropes, from writers, Director, the actors, I will miss them all. I thought this was going to run til December. They gave me a lot of things to think about. Maybe in the next saga, there will be a lot of women empowerment line. A woman by his side, maybe something fun with the story."

Herlene Budol says "The work with Empoy is hard, when you look at him, you can't be serious and I lose character because I am a fan of him. A little move, a little conversation, I laugh at him. Chemistry wise, I enjoy our moments together, we really have to make landi when we are on set. When I finished Magandang Dilag and guested here, I thought it was just a short stint. I think the impact this gave me was huge, because the action sequences are hard. The artists are also big, I'm having separation anxiety already. I learned a lot to listen with co actors, to focus because there are a lot of things I had to understand what the Director wanted me to do. The blocking was another thing, you have to dedicate a lot. I still have a lot in the near future, but couldn't say it yet. You'll have a lot of things to look forward with Budol. My fights with Hector makes me so drained at the end of the day. I feel it physically and emotionally. I take it home sometimes. Aleck Bovick tells me a lot where her slaps would land, I adapt a lot of techniques from her and do it on other scenes."

 

Empoy says "I didn't really have a hard time doing this because my characters are fun, and the people I work with are so nice. When I wake up, I just pray, clean my teeth, look at the script, wear my Black Rider wardrobe and that's it."

Raymond Bagatsing says "Playing Senor Edgardo according to the script is both intriguing and fascinating. As the story went along, he didn't want to become that guy, because his life is hard, and I trust the process of letting the script reveal where my character would go to. It's a collaboration, it's something that I don't realize later on. It's a beautiful set, actors, crew and staff, I think that's how my character bloomed in the story. I can only wish he be happy later on, but I don't really know what will happen to him in the TV series. As Edgardo, he kinda accepts his fate, that's how he is. He doesn't look for pleasure with other people. Elias being his son, and his other son, plus reconciliation with Alma, he deserves to be happy in the next scenes."                

The plan is to close the stories of the characters. It's going to be realistic according to head writer Erwin Bravo. If you are hoping for a next season, it looks positive. The stories will be continued especially for the main story. It's going to be as Filipino themed as possible, it's the promise of Black Rider. Make sure you watch the finale week starting on the 22nd of this month.

This is under GMA Public Affairs, and from the looks of it... they're going to have more programs in the pipeline that's waiting to be discovered!

Michelle Vito,Jon Lucas, Akihiro Blanco for "Dito Lang Ako"

Early morning blog conference today with the stars of new romance movie "Dito Lang Ako" with Michelle Vito, Jon Lucas and Akihiro Blanco.

Aside from the three good looking lads, the film also includes Ms. Boots Anson Road, Freddie Webb, Rey PJ Abellana, DJ Durano, , Garie Conception, Senpai Kazu, Road fill of Moymoy Palaboy with the special guest appearance of James Deakin.

Just like you, I was dumbfounded why BLADE a car accessory center suddenly went into movie production. Talking to Blade’s Founder and CEO Robertson Sy Tan he says “This was all planned as content for our social media channels but after shooting it, the budget grew, the stars aligned and we followed the same Hollywood formula. This love story will encompass generations, young, old, LGTBTQ, and everything in between so you really would have something for everyone. We thought if this was just for our social media content, it would have been a waste. So we decided it was good to actually put these episodes together and use the content as a film. With the way the first people who watched it reacted, they saw something good and apt for cinema. This is how “Dito Lang Ako” happened. James Deakin is very influential, he became our friend and we just asked him to be involved in the project and he inmediately said Yes, he didn’t hesitate to help us.”

Akihiro says “I play the role of Victor, son of the owner of the Blade store where she works. That’s also the place where she’s working, it’s where I fell in love with her. We all helped each other, we took time to make things work. They have been so good to me, Jon and Michelle are so chill in and out of the set. Romance and effort, respect, it was all present in that age so you’ll learn from that.”

Michelle Vito sas “I play the role of Nelia, an employee at Blade. I was so happy to do this but nervous at the same time. I hope people would like the film. I had to take strides doing shots because sometimes I had to think every shot is critical, we had to do it fast and precise in every scene. The 70’s is different, we had to speak differently, dress differently, and we had to do it consistently. They need to watch this so they could learn what was good during that time. Some kids are so rough today so this may serve as a little reminder on how we should do things. I hope people understand that in everything, we need to do good, treat people with respect. They can fall in love with that. Ms. Boots will be me in the present sense, Mr. Freddie Webb will be Jon. It’s a fun project and we can’t wait for you to see that.”

Jon Lucas adds “I play Delfin, the first person to fall in love with her. A little crazy but he’s a good man. I was a little pressured to do this. This one is challenging because in a sense it is a period film. The clothing, the way we speak, it was all set in the 70’s. We are also a romance - drama genre, I am glad to work with our director because he made all things easy for us to do. Millennials need to watch this, they need to see how courtship was done during this era. People will realise that breakups are not solutions to relationships, both have to work on it. When I went out with my baby, I had really good feedback, they appreciated that I said the truth. I learned to be a responsible parent, I think that counts.”

This film is directed by Roderick Lindayag and is produced by Blade Entertainment. This will be shown on August 8 in cinemas nationwide, premier night on August 6. Visit ditolangako.com for more details about the film.

KUMAGCOW
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Haunted Forest for MMFF 2017

Mother Lily is more than ecstatic for being able to actually have an entry in this year's Metro Manila Film Festival. Regal Films has been a regular presenting iconic Shake Rattle and Roll series for years, quite all memorable and craftfully prepared for kids during Christmas season, and they haven't been able to do so last year... so they're raring for a comeback. This is also Direk Ian's first time do a full film with Regal films, which he deem is both an honor and responsibility because Regal has always come out with really good horror flicks, but he also wants to put his mark into it.

The script is written by Jeps Gallon and will tackle the lives of Aris and Nica, a policeman and his daughter. Their world will be changed when they go into a Haunted Forest, and perhaps get an elemental to posess Jane, playung on their awkward relationship, their family, some love and even small things that may have an effect on it. Jeffs says "We worked so hard to make the script appeal to the masses, it's what this film was made for. I know the standards of Regal is high especially in horror films, so we really tried to surpass or even be at par with the other films they made. The sitsit was done by the creative team, it's creature based so we needed to add more things to the usual horror flick. You will see that on the 25th. It's loosely like the mythical creature from Samar, but really not based on Philippine folklore. There is a huge difference, this one is born out of pure evil. We added and had some revisions in the story, we have it also appear like a dark being, but we don't want to spoil things. We wanted the actors to feel it is real so they can project it too like they are scared. People may be sayig this has similarities to other films but with 300 years of film, there may be similarities in any film, but for us it wasn't intentional."

Jameson says "This is my second film, but this is very tiring to make as it is very challenging. It's very physical, we didn't see any ghosts but we certainly feared something while on set. I don't believe that much in these things because I grew up in Hong Kong, but my Mom told me about it when I was a kid."

Jane says "This isn't my first but I enjoy doing horror films so I am really happy doing this with them. You just have to be a cowboy because it's really a forest, very dirty, but you shouldn't mind because you're making a really scary movie and you need those elements. I guess we offered something so we wouldn't be having any problems with the locations, we know we are just temporarily using it so we do it just to be sure. If I get lost in the forest, I will try to make temporary shelter, not just depend on my phone."

Jon added "This is one happy set, I only wore flipflops during the whole shoot and I needed to wear that until the end scenes. I miss my tsinelas because I lost it after the scenes we did in Tanay and Bulacan. I always think about things like the superstitious belief we used to hear about my parents. I will have to walk miles, and pray that I would be safe if ever. I don't want any award, maybe Best Supporting actor (then he chuckles) or maybe star of the night who knows!"

Haunted Forest will be headlined also by actors Raymart Santiago, Joey Marquez, Jerald Napoles, Betong Sumaya, Myrtle Sarrosa, Miho Nishida, Beverly Salviejo, Fiona Yang, Betong Sumaya, Kelvin Miranda and other actors. Yes you will also see Jane Oineza, Jameson Blake, Mariz Racal and Jon Lucas on their first starring film, so make sure you'll be there! 

Line up on Christmas day and see it with your family. See also the other films on the film festival because they need all the fans to support them! The writer said if you don't watch it, the sitsit will come to your house instead! LOL

KUMAGCOW

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