PEP EXCLUSIVE: Star Cinema offerings for 2009

Love Me Again (Land Down Under), the first movie of Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin together, marks the end of the 15th year anniversary of Star Cinema.

The film production outfit of ABS-CBN produced a total of 8 films in 2008. These are: My Big Love, Supah Papalicious, When Love Begins, For the First Time, Caregiver, A Very Special Love, My Only You, and Ang Tanging Ina N'yong Lahat.

Four of these films were included in the Top Five movies for 2008, according to key contact persons from SM Cinemas and Robinsons Movieworld. (Click HERE to read related article.)


For 2009, what other milestones can the public expect from the film outfit of the Kapamilya Network?


PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) scheduled an exclusive interview with key persons of Star Cinema, namely Star AdProm director Roxy Liquigan and Star Cinema & TV Synergy Specialist Mico del Rosario to discuss their plans for the Year of the Ox.

"This year, ise-celebrate naman namin yung anniversary ng TFC [The Filipino Channel]," reveals Roxy. "This 2009 is the 16th anniversary ng TFC."

Mico then pointed out, "May play of numbers, kasi 16 years na ang Star Cinema this 2009 and we have a Vilma Santos movie. Remember nung nag-celebrate ng 16th anniversary and MMK [Maaalala Mo Kaya], it was all Vilma."

Vilmanians will surely be proud to learn of this lucky coincidence.

The Vilma Santos movie mentioned is the Olive Lamasan film (still untitled) that will be shot in New York. In a previous interview with PEP, the Star for all Seasons revealed that 60 percent of the film will be shot in the Big Apple and will be screened by September 2009.


This will serve as her comeback film after appearing in Mano Po 3 released four years ago by Regal Entertainment.

The three main characters of the film, Ms. Vilma, Luis Manzano, and John Lloyd Cruz will be shooting in New York by March.

YOUTH-ORIENTED FLICKS. Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz will thrill their fans once again when they topbill You Changed My Life a Moment. Roxy announced that the sequel of A Very Special Love will be screened in cinemas nationwide starting February 25, 2009. "Grabe ang clamor para sa reunion movie nilang dalawa. Part 2 ito ng A Very Special Love."

Directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, the sequel of AVSL will introduce a new character to be played by Rayver Cruz, who happens to be linked to the popstar princess.

Another youth-oriented film is the horror film starring four of ABS-CBN's hottest stars. "We're doing a horror movie with Shaina Magdayao, Jake Cuenca, Geoff Eigennman, and Maja Salvador," says Roxy.

This project (which has the working title Estrella) will be directed by Rico Maria Ilarde, the man behind the horror flicks Sa Ilalim ng Cogon and Altar. Both of these films have been screened in international film festivals.

MARICEL SORIANO COMEBACK. Aside from Ate Vi, Maricel Soriano will also be making her comeback on the big screen via the horror movie T2 (short for Tenement 2).

"Tapos na ang T2, post-production na lang siya," reveals Roxy. "Nag-e-edit na lang si Direk Chito Roño. It stars Maricel and child actress Mika dela Cruz, yung kapatid ni Angelika dela Cruz."

Derek Ramsay will play Maricel's husband while John Lloyd Cruz and Malaysian actress Carmen Soo will have cameo roles in the film.

Roxy describes T2 as a true-blue Chito Roño film that will follows in the footsteps of the highly successful horror movie Feng Shui (2004) starring Kris Aquino.


SAM MILBY AND BEA ALONZO TEAMUP. This year, moviegoers will be treated to a new love team: Sam Milby and Bea Alonzo. They are tapped to appear in the film And I Love You So, which is the story of a young widow (Bea) who is left behind by her husband (to be played by Derek Ramsay).

It will be directed by Laurenti Dyogi, who is currently the business unit head in charge of ABS-CBN's reality shows. Roxy adds, "Napilit namin syang gumawa kasi lagi na lang siyang reality shows. Sabi namin gumawa naman siya [ng movie] at napapayag naman namin."

Direk Lauren's last film was Now That I Have You (2004) starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo.


ANIMATED FILMS? Is Star Cinema planning to venture into animation?

The head of Star Ad Prom responds by saying, "We have plans of doing so, may plano for this year pero fina-finalize pa ang script niya."

Are they inspired to take this path because of the release of other animated films like Dayo sa Mundo ng Elementalia and Urduja?

"No, before pa naman talaga may plano. Nagkataon lang lumapit yung Ambient Media. Maganda naman yung konsepto. Fina-finalize pa kasi siyempre gusto namin yung mga artista ang mag vo-voice diyan, yung mga hindi ineexpect na mag v-voice sa animation, mga sikat na artista."


COMEDY RULES. Based on the research done by PEP, it seems that Filipino moviegoers prefer to watch comedies compared to other genres. Do they think that this trend will continue in 2009?