JERRY OLEA
Maluwalhating natapos ni Direk Adolf Alix Jr. ang shooting ng pelikulang Pieta kung saan bida sina Nora Aunor, Alfred Vargas, at Gina Alajar.
“Very smooth po ang shoot namin ng Pieta,” sabi ni Direk Adolf nitong Marso 27, 2023, Lunes ng gabi, via Messenger.
“Even when we were in the cornfields sa Pampanga, sa gitna ng init, we shot very interesting scenes nina Ate Guy, Direk Gina & Alfred.”
Formidable ang casting ng Pieta, kung saan tampok din sina Jaclyn Jose, Bembol Roco, Ina Raymundo, Alan Paule, Angeli Bayani, Tommy Alejandrino, Jak Roberto, at Miggy Jimenez.
Read: Alfred Vargas, proud sa casting coup para sa pelikulang Pieta
Kuwento pa ni Direk Adolf, “Maganda po ang rapport nila sa eksena. In character po silang lahat and they were very attentive to the instructions as medyo complicated po ang blocking.
“When we rolled, they were who they are in the script and I was happy with the takes that we took. They were in their fighting form po.
“It is one of the very few times na Ate Guy played a blind character and she even wore contact lenses to play the part. Minsan po kapag nahihirapan, siya na po mismo ang sumusubok na magsuot ng contact lens.”
Ang Pieta ay isinulat ni Jerry Gracio, na siya ring scriptwriter ng bagong pelikulang isyusyuting ni Direk Adolf, ang horror movie na Poon.
Gaya ng Pieta ay formidable din ang casting nito.
Pangungunahan ang Poon nina Ronaldo Valdez, Gina Pareño, Janice de Belen, Lotlot de Leon, Ara Mina, Bembol Roco, Allen Dizon, JC de Vera, at Jaclyn Jose.
Nasa cast din ng Poon sina Rico Barrera, Kristel Moreno, Tabs Sumulong, Martin del Rosario, Kelvin Miranda, Joao Constancia, Althea Ablan, Will Ashley, Elora Españo, Nella Dizon, Miggy Campbell, at Kiko Ipapo.
Sa dami ng mga artista sa Poon, paano babalansehin ang kani-kanyang role, exposure, o highlight?
Pahayag ni Direk Adolf, “I am very happy to once again pull off this casting for Poon. It’s a horror/mystery/family drama so we wanted to get the horror icons of Pinoy Cinema.
“I saw Ronaldo Valdez sa Fe, Esperanza, Caridad [1974], Gina Pareño in Halimaw [1986]; Jaclyn Jose in Magandang Hatinggabi [1998]; and of course Janice and Lotlot in the iconic Tiyanak [1988].
“The script written by Jerry Gracio naman po provides a good opportunity for the characters to shine in their own right to serve the story and the themes.
“Excited din po ako to see how they will bring life to their roles and interact with the young actors.”
Ang Poon ang first venture ng High Cricket production.
NOEL FERRER
Senti si Alfred Vargas sa Facebook post niya noong Marso 18, Sabado, kaugnay sa pelikulang Pieta kung saan gumanap siyang anak ni Nora Aunor.
Lahad ni Alfred, “Na-miss ko tuloy bigla ang nanay ko.
“First time ng ating one-and-only Superstar and National Artist Nora Aunor na gumanap ng isang character na nabubulag at may Alzheimer's. Ibang Ate Guy ang makikita ninyo dito #PIETAmovie kahit na she’s done hundreds of roles na in her illustrious career.
“I play her son, ISAAC, na nakulong ng mahabang taon at naghahanap ngayon ng katotohanan. “Ibang klaseng artista talaga si Ate Guy. Magical at nakakamangha. Naramdaman ko mismo ang ‘Nora Magic’ tuwing magkaeksena kami. She has that unbelievable command of both her heart and art, expressing nuances so effectively that she pulls in her spectators, unaware, to a world of her sincere creativity. Naramdaman ko sa mga eksena na parang nanay ko siya talaga!
“In these days that I've been so blessed to work with her — alongside legends like Direk Gina Alajar, Jaclyn Jose & Bembol Roco — I cannot help but feel that this movie has already made me a better person and artist. It has changed me.
“Kaya't nag-uumapaw ang excitement ko para sa araw na mapapanood na ninyo sa wakas ang #PIETAmovie!”
GORGY RULA
Excited si Alfred na mapanood natin ang eksenang kasama niya sina Ate Guy, Jaclyn, at Direk Gina.
Kinikilabutan daw siya kapag naisip niya kung paano nila ito ginawa. Bawal daw ikuwento ang eksenang yun kaya mas maiging panoorin na lang daw.
Pero puring-puri ni Alfred si Ate Guy pati sina Jaclyn, Gina, at iba pang cast dahil wala raw silang problema sa set.
Minsan, mas nauna pa raw si Nora sa staff, kaya lalong tumaas ang respeto niya sa superstar.
Wala pang napagdesisyunan ang production kung kailan ito ipalalabas sa mga sinehan o kung isasali sa Metro Manila Film Festival sa December. Mas gusto raw ni Direk Adolf na subukan muna nila sa mga international filmfest.