Willie opens Christmas season

Author: Edgar Cruz
Column: BuzzStation

With "Wil-come back" billboards on strategic spots along Edsa along Cubao, Guadalupe and Magallanes, Willie Revillame return to Wowowee two Mondays ago head up high. Fearing that Willie would snatch the high end of television rating again, Joey de Leon planned a same-date return like Willie. But he failed to show up that day without explanation.

Proudly holding Willies face mask on stick, everybody was thrilled to see Willie once more. When Willie appeared, they cheered and chanted, "Willie! Willie! Willie!" He went around the audience area to shake hands. They responded with spontaneous kissing and hugging.

With long-time supporter Dr. Victoria Belo and charming daughter Cristalle Henares and new friend Ben Chan on hand to welcome him, Willie sang his signature Christmas song, "Boom Tarat Tarat," signaling his proud return to Wowowee and the onset of the Christmas season!

Willies return clarified issues about him: He denied courting Lorna Tolentino. This denial made Lolit Solis, Lornas manager, real angry. Married and middle-aged women no matter how beautiful they are never Willies type. Whoever made up the buzz did not understand Willie well enough. This made Lolit accuse Willie of using Sen. Manny Villar to drum up interest to his return.

His buying a jet with two partners is not for personal use but for commercial purposes. He wants to put up his own airline company.

He realized entertainment is not a life-long work: He must have alternatives. He found the solution in engaging in business. This is the reason hes been investing such as the Wil Theater-Mall and the jet.

He laughed about running for public office. When he opened the issue on-camera, he proceeded to run around the stage. He said its true he considered running for public office but whenever he opened the issue on-camera, he left it hanging.

What did Willies "vacation" do to and for him?

Willie had a much-needed rest. The six weeks he was away was the longest period he was out of the show, longer than when the Ultra accident happened. It also displayed the ability of co-hosts Pokwang, Mariel Rodriguez and Valerie Concepcion in handling the show. He congratulated them for doing great work. It also allowed him to go to the US where he met and interviewed American impressario David Forster. He announced a show with him featuring Pinoy pride in the US entertainment scene such as Charice, Arnel Pineda and Apl.de.ap.

He thanked the people who covered up for him especially mentioning Wowowee director Johnny Manahan who spoke about the truth about the issue that got him out of the show.

Breaking news: Willie Revillame with Sen. Manny Villar hovered over Pasig, Marikina, Cainta, Marcos Highway, San Mateo, Montalban in a chopper last Sunday for relief operation and food distribution in areas trucks had not reached!

How a scream turned into The Echo

The verdict is out for The Echo: "Terrorific!"

Based on Yam Laranas Sigaw, original stars Richard Gutierrez and Iza Calzado attended the celebrity premiere at SM Megamall cinema. Richards showbiz family, including Annabelle Rama, Eddie Gutierrez, Ruffa Gutierrez, Bubbles Paraiso and Miriam Quiambao came in full force. Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal also attended. Packed with overeager first nighters, only ticket holders were allowed in. Released by Viva International Pictures, The Echo opens nationwide on Oct. 7.

The Echo is the Hollywood remake of Sigaw about an ex-con who moves into an old apartment building where he encounters a domestic problem involving a police officer, his wife and their daughter. When he tries to intervene, however, a mysterious curse entraps him. The screenplay is by Eric Brent. Hrant Allanak plays Max, Jamie Bloch plays Carly, Jesse Bradford plays Bobby and Iza plays Gina.

This is the first Hollywood movie of director Yam Laranas featuring Iza. Released in 2004, Sigaw went on to become a huge hit both here and abroad. Iza is a cast member of the original version with main players Richard and Angel Locsin. In the Hollywood version, she reprises her role as the victimized wife while American actor Jesse Bradford takes over Richards role.

In 2005, Yam received a call from a Daily Variety reporter who told him that a producer named Roy Lee wanted to watch Sigaw so he sent a copy to the US. When producer Roy Lee watched it, he loved it. "Certain scenes made me jump and I have seen so many other horror movies where that never happens," Roy said. It just so happened that he served as a mediator between several Asian movies remade in Hollywood.

Yams masterpiece started its journey from Manila to Manhattan and from Sigaw to The Echo. Some changes were made to Sigaw to make it more suited for American audiences. In the original, the main character just moved into a new apartment. When he questioned the screams he heard coming from it, his girlfriend persuaded him to move out, but he refused out of pride.

For North American audiences, pride alone isnt reason to keep an apartment.

"We solved that problem by giving Bobby, the main character, a criminal record and because of the terms of his parole, Bobby has to stay in the apartment where his late mom used to live," explained Tyler Mitchell, one of The Echos producers. The movie setting was also changed from Manila to Manhattan.

GMA Artist Center releases own star magazine

S magazine has just released a special edition featuring over 100 talents of the GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) a bevy of both popular names and promising personalities whose combined skills and drive assure good prospects for Philippine entertainment.

The special edition, a joint project with the GMAAC, showcases the lifestyles of the many versatile artists of GMA 7's talent management and development arm. The magazine offers not just the glamorous aspect of the stars' lives, but also gives a peek at what its like when theyre off camera but still working and while theyre on their leisure time.

"We also want to be at the crest of the wave of the future, betting on these potential superstars who shall hopefully enliven and add new sizzle to local show business," says editor in chief Wilson Lee Flores.

The special edition features Rhian Ramos on the cover and in glamorous shoots inside. Iza Calzado and Isabel Oli are showcased in fashion spreads of their own. Mark Herras and Aljur Abrenica sizzle in their pictorials. Marvin Agustin bares a different side as he engages in his favorite sport, archery. Yasmien Kurdi and Nadine Samonte go glam in an awards-night scenario. Iwa Moto and Jackie Rice are the bathing beauties in their respective photographs. GMAACs hunks Victor Aliwalas, Paolo Paraiso, Mike Tan and Felix Roco are sure to catch your interest in their sauna spread. Dancing diva Regine Tolentino is captured in a mid-air split. All these and more are presented in the edition's full-color, glossy pages.

Enjoying unprecedented access given by GMAAC, the S mag team was able to put together the special edition dubbed "Living the celebrity life."

Launched only five years ago, the GMAAC has rapidly grown to become the largest of its kind in the Philippines. More than just an ordinary talent management agency, it envisions itself to be a wholistic organization which can discover and nurture talents in terms of their acting or singing, hosting or modeling, in their financial affairs, and even in their character development and moral values.

Acting on a specific mandate from GMA Networks chief executive officer, lawyer Felipe Gozon, the GMAAC has been on a roll via a series of activities through the years aimed at benefiting not only its artists, but the general public as a well.

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Source: The Daily Tribune