Viva scores a hit

Author: Isah V. Red
Column: Life & Entertainment

At the press screening of Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat at the Podium cinemas last week, Veronique del Rosario Corpus, daughter of Vic del Rosario Jr., the guy who for decades is known simply as Boss Vic, told this writer his family’s wish—that the movie would make it big at the box office so Viva could make more movies in the coming months and years.

Indeed, it has been quite some time since Viva Films took a forced sabbatical from producing movies, due mainly to the sagging box-office receipts for locally made movies (thanks but no thanks to movie pirates that have been robbing legitimate movie producers of the much-needed revenues to roll their capital for new projects) and the popularity of home theater systems that have kept those who can afford to pay the stiff price for an admission ticket to class A cinemas at home watching movies on DVD on their new widescreen 42-inch plasma or LCED screens.

Last Wednesday, at the victory lunch hosted by Viva at Jay-J’s Chicken Inasal located along Doña Julia Vargas corner Meralco Avenue in Ortigas, Veronique was in a jolly mood despite a slight accident involving her vehicle and mine at the parking lot in front of the restaurant.

She even dismissed the accident and why not? After all, Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat was a smash hit at the box office, grossing P9 million in its first week.

The long lines at theaters showing Apat Dapat tend to validate the prediction of many that the film would surpass Ang Cute ng Ina Mo as the comedy blockbuster of the year.

Both films were directed by Wenn Deramas and written by Mel del Rosario.

“I’ve seen Ang Cute ng Ina Mo and I must say Apat Dapat was more hilarious,” one moviegoer said after viewing Deramas’ latest comedy, which stars Rufa Mae Quinto (who is on board also as producer), Eugene Domingo, Pokwang and Candy Pangilinan.

Apat Dapat follows the wacky adventures of the four friends who were compelled to try their luck as domestic helpers in Hong Kong.

A misfortune befalls Candy whose employers are pathological psychos who treat Candy more as a slave than anything else. The employers—a Chinese woman married to a Caucasian man—are also murderers who kill Candy and threaten Rufa Mae, Eugene and Pokwang that the same fate will befall them if they report the incident to the authorities.

The three living friends had no choice but to go back home with the dead Candy in tow.

How to escape the wrath of Candy’s family is the mien of Derama’s wacky DH treatise. And I believe, the gags really worked I even laughed at most of them.

There is the cheekiness that gives the movie its comic flavor without being too forced in. Thank heavens for the natural comic flairs of Rufa Mae, Pokwang, Candy, and most especially Eugene who without meaning to steals the thunder from everyone in every scene she is in.

The movie also introduced me to perhaps one of the industry’s underrated actors—DJ Durano. Sadly, this young man has been cast in minor roles (on both television and in the movies) when he can very well do better than being in the supporting cast. In this one, he is the most competent of the male cast that also included Dick Israel, Chester Nolledo, Vince Saldana, and Pinoy Big Brother alumnus Kian Kazemi.

Well, with the success of Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat, at the tills, Veronique and his older brother Vincent can now sit down and plan what Viva should do in 2008. The Company has enough talents (some of them are on loan to ABS-CBN and GMA) to populate the movies they will do in the following years.

Boyz.com at Klownz Angeles and Zirkoh Timog

The live concert scene heats up when Boyz.com stage their first series of major shows this October! They will be at Klownz, Angeles City tonight with Alessandra de Rossi, and at Zirkoh, Timog in Quezon City next Saturday, Oct. 27 with Giselle Sanchez.

Boyz.com is the newest all-male band composed of Polo Ravales, Alwyn Uytingco, Frank Garcia, Gabb Drilon and Joseph Bitangcol.

Since they were launched by Manny Valera’s DMV Entertainment last August, they have become sought-after performers in variety shows and the live music circuit.

In fact, in their last mall shows, the five sang and danced to hordes of screaming fans at Metropolis Alabang and Starmall Mandaluyong. Boyz.com graced those venues upon the invitation of the malls’ event organizers.

Their shows at Klownz and Zirkoh will be bigger, livelier and sexier! Boyz.com will present new repertoire composed of the current hits, classic pop tunes, OPM favorites and many more. “I am super excited about our shows this October,” says Polo Ravales. “We have been practicing every week under our voice coach, Tony Carpio. We have chosen a good mix of songs that will surely be appreciated by our fans and supporters. Maganda ang blending namin. Abangan nila!”

For the first time, the guys will also showcase their ability to play musical instruments—Polo, Alwyn and Gabb will play the guitar, Frank will play the keyboards and Joseph will play the drums. Truly, no other all-star male performing group in the country today has the versatility of Boyz.com! Their upcoming shows are definitely a must-see as they will unleash their musicianship like they have never done before!

Special guests Alessandra and Giselle have prepared stimulating musical numbers to complement the song-and-dance routines of Boyz.com. Giselle, in particular, will have sexy comedy sketches with the hunky Boyz.com.

The Boyz.com shows are directed by Manny Valera, produced by DMV Entertainment and supported by Bioessence and Bonjour De Corp. For ticket reservations, contact 374-1361 or (0917) 4532427.

Anti-Pinoy slur on Housewives nipped

While we watch the Desperate Housewives episode that sparked a controversy for a racial slur against Filipino doctors in the fourth season premiere of Desperate Housewives last Thursday, 9:30 p.m. on Studio 23, we already anticipated that the remark of Susan Myers (played by Teri Hatcher) poking fun at medical schools in the Philippines would have been deleted after the brouhaha had Filipino Americans and Filipinos elsewhere seething in protest.

The season premiere of Desperate Housewives, which aired in the US last Sept. 30, stirred protests from the Philippine government and demands for apology from thousands of Filipinos.

An ongoing exchange of communications between ABC executives and the Philippine consulate in New York continues in an effort to solve the impasse that the insensitivity of American media to cultures of other countries have created through that episode in a series that magnifies the moribund culture creeping into American homes.

Aside from Desperate Housewives, the new seasons of three other hit US series, Smallville, Grey’s Anatomy, and Kid Nation, will be aired on Studio 23 this month.

Leo Katigbak, Studio 23 managing director, announced just recently that the UHF channel is now current with seasons shown in the US.

“You don’t have to wait for months or buy pirated copies to catch the current episodes of your favorite shows because the programs will only be about two to three weeks behind the US airing,” he told me.

Dean Cain of Lois & Clark finally made a special appearance in the fourth episode of season 7 of Smallville, which airs 9:30 p.m. every Wednesday. In the premiere, America’s favorite Clark Kent met Supergirl (his cousin Kara), who has the same powers as Clark and more—she can fly.

More shows on Studio 23… The doctors are in once again on their first day as residents now with their own group of interns. Included in this new group of wannabe doctors is Lexie Grey, Meredith’s half-sister who she has never met. Watch how Lexie will affect Meredith’s life in the season 4 premiere of Grey’s Anatomy starting Monday, Oct. 22 at 8:30 p.m.

Find out what will happen to the 40 kids who were abandoned in a New Mexico town to live on their own in the most talked-about reality series Kid Nation every Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Indeed, Studio 23 plays home to the biggest and top-rating American TV shows and there is simply no stop to this outpour of new and updated seasons of your favorite shows. So, don’t miss all the excitement in the better than ever Studio 23!

A for Ataul For Rent

The Cinema Evaluation Board praised the film, calling it “bleak, black and beautiful.”

Ataul For Rent (Casket for Hire), a social satire depicting the lives of urban slum dwellers, recently received an “A” rating from the CEB, entitling its producers to a 100- percent tax rebate.

The movie, written and directed by Neal “Buboy” Tan and co-written and produced by Anthony Gedang of Artiste Entertainment Works International, was one of three Filipino films invited for exhibition at the “Focus on World Cinema” event of the 31st Montreal Film Festival.

It has also been invited for competition at the Cairo Film Festival in November.

Featuring a cast composed of some of the most brilliant actors from stage, the movies and television, Ataul For Rent is the story of Guido (Joel Torre), a small-time profiteer and funeral parlor owner who makes his living renting out caskets to his neigHBOrs in a community called Kalyehong Walang Lagusan. Guido also doubles as the embalmer, while his live-in partner Pining (Jaclyn Jose) does the makeup, using on her dead clients the same tools she uses on the living.

The gritty, realistic narrative is told through the eyes of the hobo Batul (Ronnie Lazaro), whose innocence bears witness to the daily drama, misery and evil deeds of the residents of Kalyehong Walang Lagusan.

Also in the cast are Irma Adlawan, Nonie Buencamino, Pen Medina, Tita Swarding, Coco Martin and newcomers Aleera Montalla, Irish Contreras and Denver Olivares.

The movie, which will have its invitational red carpet premiere on Oct. 25, 7 p.m. at the SM Megamall Cinema 9 and 10, was shot using high-definition cameras.

In explaining the “A” rating they gave to the film, the CEB members observed that the screenplay “reflected a powerful depiction of life on the other side of the fence.” They also cited the film’s “realistic” dialog and cinematography and editing which was “excellently done, fluid and engaging.”

As for the cast, the CEB said they gave a “tour de force” performance and that even the cats and rats in the film “were made to act!”

PBL 25th season

More than your usual basketball games, the PBL’s new season opens today at the San Juan Arena.

Those who will come to the arena to watch the games will receive free tickets to a concert featuring (my favorite retro band) Bloomfields, Protein Shake, and Blue Ketchup.

The opening will be hosted by Nicole Ayala and Cristsuper from around 9 a.m. till lunchtime. There will be a videoke challenge (courtesy of Xtreme Magic Sing), movies by Viva, while those who want a makeover can avail of free haircut from Reyes Haircutters.

Snacks will be provided by V-Go, while Britmix will distribute vitamins to the audience.

So, if you’re not doing anything, go to the 25th PBL season and watch your favorite teams on the hard court.

Beaming debutante

Therese Marjorie Tuason Tan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William and Grace Tan, turned 18 on Sept. 15. The Manila Hotel’s Maynila Ballroom turned into a garden of roses on Sept. 14 where Therese and her guests celebrated a “salubong.” That night, Therese donned an exquisite Aureo Alonzo creation.

Guests were stunned at the beaming debutante, now an all grown up 18 and moving on to be a real lady.

Source: Manila Standard Today

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