How recession in US affected The Echo

Author: Bibsy Carballo
Column: Meanderings

WHEN we saw on "The Echo" that Iza Calzado had third billing after the American actors, we were elated like any other Filipino. Perhaps not as much as the director Yam Laranas or Iza herself, but excited enough because it was proof that the Filipino filmmaker and actors were again making their mark in world cinema after years of malingering.

The first and only time we met Iza was some five years ago briefly at the birthday party of our friend and business associate Fanny Serrano. She was soft-spoken and shy, was with her former boyfriend and all I could glean from her was that she still wasn't certain of going full blast on a showbiz career.

Today, after having decided to pursue a career in the entertainment field, she is quickly making a name by dint of her increasingly excellent acting, her lovely presence, non-controversial personality, and an attitude that apparently remains grounded. While she broke into the scene by being the daughter of the superb choreographer and TV director Lito Calzado, who naturally named his daughter after the legendary dancer Isadora Duncan, now Iza's accomplishments are all her own.

A GMA talent, she was noticed in Te Amo (I Love you) with the Argentinian actor Segundo Cernadas, and as Amihan in the fantaserya, "Encantadia. " Her movies include "Moments of Love" with Dingdong Dantes, "Blackout," "Singapore," "Batanes" with F4 star Ken Zhu, "Impostora," although her breakthrough movie was Star Cinema's "Milan" with Piolo Pascual and Claudine Barretto. Until "Sigaw" came along.

The horror movie directed by Yam Laranas with Richard Gutierrez, Angel Locsin, Jomari Yllana, and Iza Calzado won for Iza an URIAN Best Supporting Award in 2005 where the biggest winner was Cesar Montano's Panaghoy sa Suba with a virtual sweep of all categories. We felt that was a big accomplishment for her, knowing the reputation of the Manunuris.

Then came the news that the rights for a remake of "Sigaw" were being bought from Regal Films by Hollywood film producer Roy Lee who had a reputation for doing remakes of Japanese horror pictures like "The Grudge" and "The Ring," and Yam was to be retained as the director. This was good news for the Davaweño whose movie career started in 2001, and who had done "Balahibong Pusa," "Radyo," "Ikaw Lamang Hanggang Ngayon," and "Hibla. " This was his first break into the international market and he wasn't about to allow it go to waste.

It was also significant that Iza got cast after she underwent auditions along with American actresses. Siyempre, natili siya when told she got the role, Yam stated in an interview since he fought for her inclusion with the producers.

We watched the movie although we are really not a fan of horror movies that make us sick in the stomach so that we can't eat for hours afterwards. Our only favorite in the genre is Lore Reyes' Midnight DJ series on TV-5 which we have followed from day one when the DJ was still Paolo Contis to today's Oyo Boy Sotto. Midnight DJ is an engaging, sometimes funny, sometimes frightening, and always entertaining feature. But then we are digressing.

Back to "The Echo," we watched Jesse Bradford in the role of Richard Gutierrez who comes home to a house haunted by ghosts of a past crime committed by a man on his wife (Iza) and kid. Not having watched the original "Sigaw," we can't compare, but it seems from Yam's own published reactions that the US version was more frightening, the sound more eerie, and apart from the ghosts, the issue of domestic violence is rendered more chilling.

Back home after the US experience, director Yam went directly into preparations for his next feature, "Patient X," which this time has Richard Gutierrez as producer through his Iced Out Productions in cooperation with Viva Films and GMA Films. Richard plays the role of a doctor and Cristine Reyes is his patient.

Richard is under the management of Annabelle Rama, so naturally their own talents would be priority for the cast which include TJ Trinidad as the policeman, Rocky and Elvis as vampires, and Richie Paul as the nurse.

Obviously, Yam is now leaving behind the fate of "The Echo" to his producers who have booked screenings in Russia , Bulgaria and Poland. He also has gone beyond feeling sorry that the film will not be getting a North American theatrical distribution. He is happy enough that critic Todd Brown who watched the film at the Cannes Film Market wrote " It is arguably the most art house oriented picture to come out of Roy Lee's very commercially minded - in a good way - Vertigo Entertainment. "

Yam explains that the market has changed for independent films. Nobody seemed to be buying and there were worse casualties than "The Echo. " We can imagine so, since the US is not over its recession no matter what the newspapers and wire services say. Many of our friends have lost their homes and are close to losing their jobs.

Yam has stated that Patient X is a new take on the Aswang folklore. While "Echo" was slow paced, "Patient X" will be a fast paced thriller.

Email to author at bibsycarballo@yahoo. com

Source: People's Journal