After starring in rom-coms and drama both in films and on television, actor Anne Curtis started to be fussy when accepting offers in films in particular. She wants roles thrown at her to test her physical, intellectual, and emotional range.
Then came the offer from Reality Entertainment with a film it is collaborating with Anne’s home studio Viva Films. The role was exactly what she’s been dreaming and looking for.
For the first time, Anne is dumping her goddess-like image for a role that requires her to deliver intense and gripping action scenes.
In VIVA Films and Reality Entertainment’s latest joint venture, BuyBust, Anne joins Fil-Am, ONE Championship heavyweight champion Brandon Vera. This Erik Matti action-thriller is earmarked for international release.
Two international companies have joined forces to ensure its international success: XYZ Films, the movie’s sales agent and Well Go USA, the movie’s official distributor in North America. The film starts playing in US cinemas starting Aug. 10.
Well Go USA, an international film distributor, is the same company responsible for the distribution of the international hit, Train to Busan, which features Korean Superstar, Gong Yoo. They will formally launch the movie to the public today during the 21st Annual Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza at the San Diego Comic Con.
BuyBust had its world premiere on July 15 as it was to close the New York Asian Film Festival. Anne, Brandon, Erik and Dondon Monteverde of Reality Entertainment attended the event.
Last Thursday, the film was premiered in Canada during the Fantasia Festival. It also graced the Buncheon International Fantastic Film Festival in Korea.
Aside from the film’s screening in US and Korea, the movie will also be seen and enjoyed by Filipinos in the Middle East, Hong Kong, and Singapore soon.
In an interview, Dylan Marchetti, Well Go USA senior vice president for acquisitions and theatrical distribution, said, ”If you lose your mind for an amazing action film, the last hour of BuyBust is going to blow your head clean off.”
The movie revolves around a special forces team sent to raid a drug den only to find themselves trapped in it.
The project is a 360-degree turn as well as a very challenging one for the It’s Showtime mainstay as Anne spent hours and hours of rigorous training to give justice to the character of drug enforcement agent, Nina Manigan in the film.
Here, she is seen stained with blood during hand-to-hand combat with her co-stars.
In a previous interview, Anne said, “I’ve been working on this for two years already and alam kong ang dami nang naghihintay na mapanood siya dito. Ang galing din kasi, at least, masho-showcase ang quality ng Filipino film sa ibang bansa.”
But Anne gets ample support and pointers from Brandon, who, needless to say, is an expert in the mixed martial arts arena. It is Brandon’s big screen debut.
Also in the cast are Victor Neri, Arjo Atayde, AJ Muhlach, Joross Gamboa and Noni Buencamino, among others.
The film opens in cinemas on Aug. 1.
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Indie-Siyensya workshops
More than a hundred students, teachers, filmmakers, and science professionals flocked to the Cinematheque Centre Manila on July 6 for the program launch and workshop of the 3rd Indie-Siyensya Filmmaking Competition.
Indie-Siyensya, the country’s first and only science filmmaking competition, is now open for submission of film concepts for short documentaries that capture science as it works to answer the needs of communities and the country.
“We are encouraging students to create more science films,” says Dr. Josette Biyo, director of the Department of Science and Technology—Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), the competition’s main organizer. “DOST-SEI aims to promote a culture of science in the country and film is no doubt a powerful medium to achieve this,” Biyo adds.
This year, Indie-Siyensya strengthens the competition and its workshop offering by partnering with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP). The free workshop is part of the competition’s series of activities and meant to arm interested participants with the skills needed to create credible and visually appealing science films.
UP Los Baños Development Communication Professor Garry Montemayor, a member of Indie-Siyensya’s board of judges, delivered a workshop on science communication, while 2017 Breakthrough Junior Challenge grand prize winner, Hillary Diane Andales, facilitated the segment on scientific content. Cinematographer Joshua Reyles engaged the participants with training on camera and lighting. Montemayor also joined fellow judges, UP Film Institute Director Patrick F. Campos and FEU and DLS-CSB Professor Seymour Sanchez, in a Q&A session on the contest mechanics.
Indie-Siyensya is inviting all interested students, out-of-school youth, teachers, filmmakers, and science professionals to submit their film concepts until Aug. 3. For approved concepts, the deadline of submission of film entries is on Oct. 15.
For details and inquiries, visit www.facebook.com/indiesiyensya/
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‘The Clash’ panel in ‘Sarap Diva’
“Clash” master and Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid welcomes The Clash panel to her home in today’s episode of Sarap Diva.
Comedy Concert Queen Aiai Delas Alas and Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista will bring us a morning dose of laughter and awesome music.
And get ready for a taste of The Clash battle as Sarap Diva Brings you “va-clash, isang beki laban sa mga bekila with Pekto, Tammy Brown, Echo and Adelantada.
Sarap Diva airs before Eat Bulaga on GMA-7.