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Lauren, lumayas sa 'ZZZ' dahil kay Eula?

Author: Billy Balbastro
Column: Take Billy

REGARDED as one of the best films of 2006 and strongest contenders for best picture in local award-giving body selection, Kubrador, it seems isn�t through with its foreign festival hopping.

It�s starting its second season for the world�s festivals early this month. If last year, since May 2006, it had gone to 22 festivals, winning 9 international awards in the process, it has still 16 festivals to go to during the first two quarters of 2007.

This month, Kubrador goes to the Palma Springs Festival in California. Moreover, it also goes to festivals this month in Gotenberg (Sweden) and Tromso (Norway).

Producer Atty. Joji Alonso and film director (Jeffrey Jeturian with actress Gina Pare�o look forward to the Bangkok International Film Festival in Thailand later this month.

The 2007 Bangkok filmfest starts on Jan. 26 and ends on February 15.

Last year, Dante Mendoza�s Masahista was the lone Philippine entry.

We gathered that this year, we have two: Kubrador and Donsol.

Incidentally, we got inside info that National Commission for Culture & the Arts has approved a financial commendation to Kubrador for its winning the film award at the Osian�s Cine Fan Festival at New Delhi last July 2.

That time, it also won best actress (Gina Pare�o) and the FIPRESCI critics award.

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INTRIGA 2007: With Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah being popularized by its film version for the 2006 MMFF, the Cultural Center bosses think it apt to resume the showing of its play version.

After all, it was the stage version, a musical early last year, which revived the award-winning komiks original of Carlo Vergara of the early 2000�s. Result of the revived interest: ZZZ Ze Movie.

Most of the cast is being retained: Eula Valdez as ZZZ, Ricci Chan as Ada, Agot Isidro as Queen F. But who appears as Dodong (formerly popularized by Lauren Novero in the play)?

Talks reach us that Lauren Novero backed out for a reason.

Is it true that he felt bad and awkward about talks linking him to very much married Eula Valdez that he decided just to do something else. Don�t laugh: this is serious matter.

So auditions were recently made and quickly they got a Baguio-bred youth, a varsity cager at the St. Louis University over there who was earlier convinced to do a small role in Ihman Esturco�s Troika.

Now, Janvier Daily, a six footer, is 2007 stage Dodong.

Good, talks about Lauren and Eula had died down and her husband Richard Litonjua is now here from Australia.

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TONIGHT: Skin at Mr. World brings in the big celebration for 2007 as Mr. World Entertainment Bar (near Monumento, along MacArthur Highway) shows off its array of hunks and models and major attractions on the ramp tonight.

Friend Archie Adducul says they hope to outdo themselves with exciting numbers and sounds with the Big Show starting at 10 p.m.

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MOVIES NOTES: To complete its impressive offering for the first quarter of 2007, 20th Century Fox through Warner Bros that has Eragon in the theaters now, has also Live Free Or Die Hard which is the ultimate in action, The Hills Have Eyes 2 and Mel Gibson�s Apocalypto.

They will be shown soon nationwide in regular theaters.

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ONE-LINER: Enjoy what you do or it shows if you don�t.

Source: Abante