If you're a fan of OPM songs, you're bound to listen to one of the most talented singer-songwriters of the 90's and 2000's... and his name is April Boy Regino. He's made remarkable achievements during his time, and made the title IDOL resonate with the masses. This 2024, a movie will be done telling his story under Water Plus Productions. It's called "IDOL (The April Boy Regino Story)", and we got to watch it earlier at the press screening.
This film stars John Arcenas who plays April Boy Regino and Kate Yalung to play the role of his wife Madelyn. I've seen John do several projects in the past, and he's quite a spirited singer doing the classics. He's also an architecture graduate, and managed by star maker Tyrone Escalante (both of them). John has bested 27 people in the auditions, and it was obvious, he's got the voice and mannerisms secured. He studied quite extensively using April Boy's previous movies and TV appearances which he took to work while filming. This is also directed by Efren Reyes Jr. who quipped how much they had to work on finishing this film even before the pandemic. Kate on the other hand is no stranger to films, modeling, commercials and stage. They look lovely on screen, and you could tell, the camera loves them.
Making this film was no walk in the park. They had to dish out production budget for the songs they needed to secure prior to filming. But it was producer Madame Marynette Gamboa's promise to him, before he passed... and they knew, they just had to do it.
Here's the media conference which was done after the screening, please enjoy!
The film really had a very colorful story line. While this is a biopic, it's being told from the eyes of April Boy Regino. His sadness stemmed from a lot of things including getting sick thrice, and the challenges of life was no joke. It also mirrors the crazy life of a celebrity in a Philippine setting, and where he succeeded, got to help his wife and kids, his community, and ultimately be loved. This is something that you would see in the film, and I'm telling you, there were a few members of the press that cried in the dark corners of that theater.
You will learn how to cherish every moment with your family after watching it. If you feel that's something you would like to feel, it comes out in theaters this November 27th. It's also rated PG so you can take your whole family to watch it.
We all adored the movie "The Boy Foretold by the Stars" and that thing moved me. It represented a whole lot of people, who are still capable of love and yes, I was so happy to see the characters of Keann Johnson and Adrian Lindayag develop something out of it.
The budding relationship of Dominc and Luke continues in the new sequel Love Beneath the Stars which is a digital series to be shown on the iWant platform. I had the pleasure of watching the first episode last August 9th. To tell you honestly, I had high expectations because I really loved the movie. I'm tough as a stone but I cried in several scenes (in the movie) and the series, took the role of filling in the gaps for content because if you're looking for details, this fills it up A LOT.
The class jock and endearing effeminate lover was surely going to rock the catholic school. Add to that the complexities of bigotry, the conservative ones, bullies and close minded peeps who will bring unwanted opinion on a relationship of two people. The series will also showcase a lot of things you didn't notice. You call yourself supportive, an ally, but it doesn't match with what you think, say or do. This evidently would encourage change, and I'm excited about the next episodes which will be shown on the same platform.
Here's part of the blog conference earlier this week. I didn't quite had the chance to ask questions because of time constraints and the amount of people that were equally excited about the show. So here you go, enjoy!
The series doesn't make you feel you burdened to change your beliefs, it just shows you what's happening around you and YOU have to decide what you need to do. Keann and Adrian seriously delivered in the acting department, and with a few scenes, you'll surely be hooked and feel for their characters.
Love Beneath the Stars is the kind of show that doesn't hit you with a ton of bricks, but slowly takes over your heart in several acts, finds that small glistening hope that you see beyond labels and prejudice, to see what it is... nothing but LOVE. If you want to watch it, download the iWant TFC app on android and iOS. Aside from that, you can also watch it on Android powered Smart TV's where it is compatible. Streaming will start on August 16. I'll surely watch the other episodes, I heard they're making this in 6 parts.
This is written and directed by Dolly Dulu who also appears on the video above.
Do you believe in fate? Do you believe in soulmates? Do you believe that somewhere out there, there is someone intended to love you? In some ways, I do.
Those questions are pretty hard to answer. However, I've had the privilege of talking to some really smart people who are trying to tell you a story. It's called "The Boy Foretold By The Stars". This is a Filipino BL film starring Adrian Lindayag and Keann Johnson. We also got to talk to the director of this film Direk Dolly Dulu.
This is quite interesting as it is set in an all boys Catholic school. That alone is quite crazy as a venue for an LGBT themed story (for some), but obviously it happens. One is a straight guy and the other an effeminate boy.
Adrian Lindayag plays Dominic, an honor student, achiever, straight A's and doesn't believe in fate or stars.
He told us about how he got into the film and says "I was invited by a friend who told me his friend wrote a script and told me to audition. I was taping Kadenang Ginto and I asked for permission. Good thing we filmed quite near in ABS CBN. I knew when I read the script that I was Dominic. I worked with Keann already and it was easier because of that. Yes there will be kissing scenes, people should note how good Keann is and I trusted him. I really was feeling kilig when he looks at me. I believe he's a nice person, he listens to me when I have issues, I can be myself when I am with him."
Keann Johnson plays Luke, a jock, sports man, and does everything by flipping a coin. He says "I got this role back then when I was celebrating things with fans. When I learned about it, I knew it was a different role and push my limits. It takes two to tango and I feel if it wasn't him it would feel different. I feel really kilig when he gives me things, no awkwardness whatsoever. It's 2020 and people are very understanding, if I'm going to introduce him to my parents I will be bold to do it. I feel he would always ask about his future soulmate, not just career, he's more into finding love. Honestly, the guy is very open to men or women, maybe a pansexual, I learned no one could tell you who to love, but with all your heart."
Direk Dolly Dulu says "I was waiting for the festival to start but it took too long for Cinefilipino to do screenings. I was a little down because we finished this ahead of time, even ahead of the BL wave in the country, but it just wasn't being shown. Jodi asked me about it and then CineFilipino finally decided that they would do things next year, the material was getting old but now that people are craving for it, we knew we had to do it now. This film was written in 2016 and I'm glad a lot of people trusted us, I am so thankful for that. I took it from personal experience, from a one act play of which I was trying to get over someone, I just changed names. It was formed way before the movie, I had to do it in a higschool setting. The casting was really for Dominic as it required a feminine guy doing it. It was hard to get actors who would just do it, I got a legitimate one. Getting Keann on the other hand was a no brainer because we had to get someone who looks good and was willing to do it. I had to do auditions for his role and had to make sure they jive when they are together."
To give you an even better understanding on why I'm so glad I did this interview, here's what happened during the blog conference, enjoy!
Adrian was a ball of energy, very nice and easy to talk to. He's very articulate, snaps humor into conversation and hella fun. Keann (aside from being extremely good looking) was cerebral, takes nibbles to understand questions thrown at him and gives really smart answers. Even if this was the first time I talked with them, I felt I was amongst friends, which is why I enjoyed this blog conference. I haven't felt that way in a while. I have seen the trailer, and these two are very effective, I'd mistake it is real... which is why I am so excited to watch this on theaters soon (or virtually)!
The Boy Foretold By The Stars is produced by teleserye queen Jodi Sta. Maria under Clever Minds Inc., The Dolly Collection and Brainstormers Lab.
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