"POSES CONTROVERSY"
PRODUCER JOJI ALONSO COMES TO SON'S RESCUE
• Iza Calzado excited for new show
• Martin del Rosario thankful for movie with Ate V
• End of Showbiz Central saddens John Lapus
As a mother, Atty. Joji Alonso of Quantum Films has every right to come to the defense of her son, Nico Antonio, who is being getting the flak because she decided to give him the lead role in “Posas,” the Cinemalaya entry being directed by Lawrence Fajardo and is entered in the Directors’ Showcase section. “Bilang isang ano bang producer, pakialam nila eh pera ko naman ito. Sa totoo lang, let’s call a spade a spade. Whose money is it anyway? It’s mine. I can Kung cast anyone I want. may problema sila, ako na lang, wag na lang ang anak ko. It’s very Matagal unfair for him. na niyang gustong maging artista and he worked for it since he started as a stage actor in Ateneo where he won best actor,” says Atty. Joji, who produced such award-winners like “Minsan Pa,” “Kubrador,” “Here Comes the Bride,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” and “Bisperas.” The last two mentioned films were both winners in the Cinemalaya last year.
Nico fits the role of the snatcher in the film and even Jeffrey Jeturian (who was the original director of “Posas” but could not do it because he just signed a new contract for ABS-CBN to do a soap opera) agreed that Nico suits the role. When Lawrence Fajardo took over the directorial chore (direk Jeffrey and Atty. Joji liked his work in “Amok”), he also agreed to cast Nico in the male lead.
Atty. Joji had been producing movies for 10 years and she has given breaks to the likes of Ms. Gina Pareño, (Kubrador), Angelica Panganiban (Here Comes the Bride) and Eugene Domingo (Ang Babae sa Septic Tank) who all won awards for their respective movies.
She sees no reason why she can’t give her own son a chance. “I am the worst critic of my children and if I feel that Nico doesn’t have what it takes, I would have not cast him in the first place. If he didn’t deliver, I would have taken him out after our first shooting day. But I was surprised when I saw the film because Nico did very well,
Sana modesty aside. before they pass judgment on my son, I hope that they watch the film first,” she says.
Atty. Joji says their movie “Posas” is an underdog in this year’s Cinemalaya because they are many star-studded entries. But she proudly says that “Posas” made it to the short list of entries to Cannes.
For his part, Nico says the challenge in having his first lead role is to make sure that the movie
“Kailangan hindi earns money. masayang ang ginastos ni Mommy in producing this movie,” he said. As for his other wish, “I hope to win the Balanghai trophy for best actor."
*** New Kapamilya actress Iza Calzado is excited with her brand new drama series on ABSCBN entitled “Kapag Puso’y Masugatan” which started airing on Monday. This is her first project as a Kapamilya star after signing up with ABS-CBN last January.
She started her career in GMA 7 where her dad ( the late Lito Calzado worked until he died last year). Iza believes that wherever he may be now, he is happy with Iza’s decision to spread her wings by signing up with ABS-CBN. Her dad supported her decisions when he was still
alive. She believes her dad is still watching over her from heaven.
Iza says she is in a state of gratitude and excitement because of the new developments in her career like this new soap with ABSCBN where she shares the spotlight with Gabby Concepcion, Andi Eigenmann and Jake Cuenca. This is a new beginning for her and she would like to thank the Kapamilya network for the warm welcome.
Aside from “Kapag Puso’y Masugatan,” she is also doing a movie together with John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo under the direction of Cathy Garcia Molina.
*** Young actor Martin del Rosario confessed that more than being intimidated, he feels so blessed to be given the exceptional chance to be part of ABS-CBN and Star Cinema's grand tribute to the 50th anniversary in showbiz of Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos via suspense-horror film, "The Healing," which will be shown on theatres on July 25.
“I admit that on our first shooting day, I was so scared even with Ate Vi’s touch. I just couldn’t believe that I was actually working with her,” says Martin. “I know that I’m very blessed for this break because apart from the fact that Ate Vi rarely makes movies now, I’m so lucky that I got the role as his son in this movie.”
Ate Vi was like a real mom on the set, according to Martin. “She was so kind. She helped me in all our scenes. She joined me in rehearsing, even prior to the actual rehearsals," he says. "Off-cam, she would invite us over her standby area. We all enjoyed eating together while chatting with Ate Vi."
“The Healing,” Vilma’s first- ever suspense- horror movie, is totally a new brand of suspense-horror directed by Chito Roño. It tackles the stories about the Filipino tradition of going to faith healers for guidance and treatment of ailments.
Aside from Martin, “The Healing” also features highly acclaimed powerhouse cast composed of Kim Chiu, Janice de Belen, Mark Gil, Allan Paule, Cris Villanueva, Daria Ramirez, Ces Quesada, Ynez Veneracion, Simon Ibarra, Abi Bautista, Joel Torre, Chinggoy Alonso, Mon Confiado, Carmi Martin, and Pokwang.
“The Healing” opens in cinemas nationwide on July 25, 2012!
*** John Lapus admitted feeling sad with the decision of GMA Network to cancel “Showbiz Central,” the Sunday showbiz talk show of the Kapuso channel. He will miss his co-hosts as well as the show’s production staff. They have been together
for five years and Sweet (John’s pet name) says he was driven to tears when he realized that Showbiz Central’s cancellation is for real. “Nalungkot pero one lang naman time bigtime ako umiyak. Hindi naman ako iyakin,” says Sweet when we got to talk to him at his birthday party last Saturday. He even had a birthday celebration at Showbiz Central last Sunday. But he did not cry in the tribute given to him by the show’s staff.
The rumored reformat for Showbiz Central was false as the show was really into the chopping board. It came as a surprise to Sweet because the show even marked its fifth anniversary a few weeks ago. But Sweet is hopeful that another show is forthcoming and he wishes it is going to be a showbiz talk show which is his forte. There were even suggestions that Sweet be included as one of co-hosts of Startalk.
“Although I am having separation anxiety, this happened when I made my transferred to GMA 7 from ABS-CBN five years ago, and now,
kasi mawawalan ako ng show but I am still hoping for the best and I’d like to feel excited on what kind of show I’d be given next,” he says. He doesn’t have a network contract with GMA 7 but is on a per show basis and his contract expires in October. Nevertheless, he will remain a Kapuso.
"Sabi nga nila,
when God closes a door, He opens a window. Excited na akong makita kung ano ang nasa kabila ng
na iyon,"
window says Sweet.