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Poetic time excites Cameron Bailey

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

05/08/2007

1. Breaking buzz

Toronto International Film Festival programmer Cameron Bailey, who was here on a seven-day business trip that ended yesterday, is not an excitable person. Although warm, charming and straight to the point, he makes calculated statements about movies and the movie industry. Perhaps this is a reflection of the delicate responsibility he holds, that of picking out movies for the prestigious filmfest. When I told him about the new poetic time script multi-awarded writer Armando “Bing” Lao is working on, however, something snapped in Cameron, which had him quizzing the storyteller.

We were at at the Annapolis Seafood Restaurant for the intimate dinner hosted by MLR Films producers Roger Rayala and Joji Alonso in his honor. It was a get-together of sorts of the people who made the ground-breaking Kubrador in real time into a globally acclaimed cinematic masterpiece. Director Jeffrey Jeturian, director of photography Boy Yniguez, production designer Leo Abaya, Ignite’s Dave Hukom, Seymour Barros Sanchez, UP professor Wendell Capili and Jay Lozada attended. Writer Joel Jover was a no-show as he was working on a new script.

For somebody who watches around 500 movies a year, it is easy to catch Cameron’s attention. He seems to hold an infinite curiosity for anything new, worth an investigation for his eyes and ears. Asked what he looks for in a movie, he answered, “Something that excites me. Right now, documentaries offer more stimulation than drama. It’s easier to see something new in a documentary. The documentary that excites me is from Iran about a Muslim family separated by the revolution, scattered all over the world, and the only place they can meet is in Mecca.”

I ventured to say that he would probably get excited by the new script Bing is working on, entitled Biyaheng Lupa in poetic time. He was, asking Bing about it, explaining, “Poetic time is based on literature as compared to dramatic time and real time, which I’m propagating right now, started in Kubrador...Poetic time uses quantum logic; it defies time and space. Something like that. I codify them to produce films.” Cameron kept at the subject, expressing interest that something stimulating is coming off the land of bet collectors.

2. Charo does not wear Prada

Charo Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN Head for Television and host of Maalaala Mo Kaya, which is celebrating its 16th anniversary this month, has this thing about Meryl Streep, lead actress of the hit movie The Devil Wear Prada. When asked if she misses acting as she has been busy running Channel 2, she admits, “I envy Miss Gina (Pareño) in the trailer shown earlier. Ang ganda, ang sarap gampanan. Sana ako ‘yung gumanap. When I watch ‘yung The Devil Wears Prada ni Meryl Streep, feel ko si Meryl ako! Ganoon lang. Hanggang doon lang ako muna. I can’t have everything; there are tradeoffs in life. My major role now is really to give direction to television.”

The trailer that Charo is referring to is Baliw, Maalaala Mo Kaya’s Mother’s Day offering this week starring Gina as the mother of three mentality challenged twentysomethings as played by Lotlot de Leon, Jhong Hilario and Sid Lucero. Jeffrey Jeturian directs. Maalaala Mo Ka, by the way, is now the longest on-going television series, registering double the ratings of its “direct” competitor Magpakailaman. When asked if she was wearing Prada during the occasion, a stylish pantsuit number with a polka-dotted top, she answered, “No, I’m not.”

An avid follower of Dely Magpayo and Helen Vela, Charo conceptualized Maalaala Mo Kaya in a brainsharing session with programming wiz Freddie Garcia. Yes! editor in chief Jo-Ann Maglipon points out the similarity in the way Charo and these drama titans talked. She and Olivia Lamasan likened it to a paperclip when asked what show they could suggest when the reborn ABS-CBN began programming anew in 1986. She explains, “Bawat tao, bawat bagay, may kuwento. Tulad nitong clip, siguradong may kuwento rin ito.” They came up with an English title, but Freddie wanted it in Filipino, coming up with the final title Maalaala Mo Kaya from the song of the same title.

3. Regine’s most daring

“Tell my mom they were computer-generated!” pleaded Regine Velasquez at the launch of the new Star Cinema release Paano Kita Iibigin opposite Piolo Pascual. With so many kissing, love and wet scenes (one scene visibly showed her chest) in the movie, she was afraid her conservative mother would not approve. At first hesitant due to the explicit scenes, she finally decided to trust director Joyce Bernal with it, having worked with the latter in several blockbuster movies. In Paano..., Piolo and Regine are Lance and Martee, whose encounter snaps the ties that bind them to their pasts. Lance owns a dilapidated beachfront resort managed by Martee. Her lover abandoned her and their son, played by Quentin Alianza. Paano Kita Iibigin opens nationwide on May 30.

4. At Kiko and Sharon’s “wedding”

According to Megastar Sharon Cuneta at her and reelectionist Sen. Kiko Pangilinan’s 11th anniversary wedding celebration as hosted by Mother Lily Monteverde, she did not receive an inheritance from dad Pablo Cuneta...The affair turned into a “wedding” with no less than Mother Lily as “wedding coordinator,” complete with kissing doves, cake-feeding and wine toast...Anthony Pangilinan and Maricel Laxa acted as hosts...Daughters Frankie and Miel were not around as they were sick...Twenty-seven nephews and nieces known as the Kiko Kids opened the affair with a dance number...Their daughters have taken to the practice of kissing Kiko’s photo on the bathroom door as he’s an absentee dad during the campaign period...Sharon gave a longer speech than Kiko...She took time to introduce nine members of the Pangilinan brood...Angeli and sons Paolo and Gabby were there, but Gary Valenciano was a no-show. He was shooting a digital movie where he plays a support role...German Moreno beamed with pride when he was acknowledged by Sharon, who called him “tatay”...Sharon revealed they celebrated their real anniversary with a dinner for two, with Frankie giving a violin recital...Alfie Lorenzo announced Judy Ann Santos turned down P10 million to endorse three candidates, but made the personal choice to endorse Kiko for free...Former actress Imelda Ilanan, Maricel’s mom, arrived late...Sharon admitted Kiko’s campaign is encountering financial hitches, revealing he donated the Lucky Me TVC talent fee to UNICEF. Besides his salary as a senator and the earnings of his SM Mall of Asia restaurant, he has no other source of income...Sharon proudly states, “I’m 110 percent behind my husband!”...

5. Rounin CD’s perfect fit

No doubt “Argos” by Bamboo should be pantaserye Rounin’s lead song. This first track in the Rounin CD produced by Bamboo, published by EMI Philippines, released by Star Records and sponsored by Colt 45, is heavy metal with an almost out-of-tune guitar piece built on simple but angst-ridden, intense but cliché

The second track, “Walang Hangganan” by Jojo, follows. Kitchie Nadal’s wishful love song, “Iniibig Kita,” made sensuous by unadorned humming, is the third track. It softens the collection’s rock and alternative rock’s hard edges, usually treated by Wall of Sound to strike the difference. Other tracks are “Tanging Ikaw” by Shamrock, “Sa Ngalan ng Pag-Ibig” by Aicel Bisa (Moonstruck 88’s ex-lead singer), “One Last Time” by Side Crash, “Nasaan Ka Na” by Northgroove, “Kailan Pa Man” by Kevin Roy and “Humanda Ka” by Sandwich. This album is an excellent soundtrack. Why?

Newbie groups loaded with energy and enthusiasm. The mix of pro and newbie reveals a deep ambition to discover and break grounds, something for which all creative groups must aspire. The Rounin CD is another add-on to over-all producer Jonathan Manalo’s already long list of recording triumphs! This CD is one reason Rounin the pantaserye takes television to the next level — a major accomplishment. It will be the yardstick by which future television will be measured.

6. Rep. Alan gets another vote

Dynasty-building should not be an issue in this election at the national level since the people will vote who to elect as senator. This is the concern of Rep. Alan Cayetano as incumbent Sen. Pia Cayetano is an elder sister. Among other flimsy charges such as being a “troublemaker” mostly coming from his political enemies (“Filipinos have the right to know the truth!” he defends), Rep. Alan has been charged of dynasty-building. Buzzstation met him at the presscon hosted by “kingmaker” Mother Lily Monteverde. I think he’s very qualified to be a senator as he has an uncommon commitment to serve the people and a brilliant mind to boot. Then, of course, there’s Sen. Pia to advise him and director Lino Cayetano to do his audio/visual materials and create media mileage being KC Concepcion’s suitor (of course, this is not self-initiated as he is trying to avoid this association like SARS). The issue of dynasty-building is different at the local level as it can easily be turned into a patronage thing.

7. Shorties

Star Magic will launch Star Circle Batch 15 on May 15 in connection with the 15th anniversary of the country’s number one talent development and artist management company! Rikka Dylim promises, “All new faces! No children by stars!”...Failed to join the Oakwood hero Antonio Trillanes’ interview as arranged by Mother Lily. Originally scheduled to be held in Tanay, Rizal, it was switched to Fort Bonifacio...Soldier Antonio Trillanes and beautician Bambbi Fuentes are cousins...Kris Aquino excused herself at the Noynoy Aquino press conference as hosted by Mother Lily Monteverde, saying, “It’s time (9 p.m.) to go home to breast-feed Baby James.”...Tina Solemic praised the hospitality and kindness of Filipinos and Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 housemates, while Bruce got two slurs from Slovenian housemates regarding his brown skin!...This election will prove that millions of pesos spent on TVCs are not enough to elect a senator!...Oyo Sotto did not promote Pedro Penduko at ang mga Engkantao in Wowowee last Friday, perhaps to respect dad Vic Sotto whose show airs at the same time!...

8. No suspension

Pinoy Dream Academy business unit head Laurenti Dyogi and Dream Big Production managing director Jon Ilagan clarified to Buzzstation last Friday that Irish Fullerton, Jay-R Siaboc, Panky Trinidad and Chad Peralta were not suspended. They stated this despite an e-mail dated May 2 signed by both of them announcing such suspensions. Based on a memo released by Jon dated May 3, he self-corrected. It states: “Our six PDA scholars will continue to work with DBP and ABS-CBN after the recommended rest and recreation that they rightfully deserve.”

Buzzstation suggests to DBP management, which handles its own public relations, to rethink the practice of using tab writers to publicize itself. They are responsible for reporting negatively about the misbehaving PDA scholars without any effort to protect them and the company they represent. Theoretically, DBP should have investigated an official statement issued before such negative reports. But these tab writers pre-empted such an action, damaging the images of DPA and DBP. A repetition of the same must not be encouraged.

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