I am glad Deadma Walking has been accepted as an entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival. Now, Rex Tiri will stop saying he should stop producing movies. And perhaps I’d hear him say more often about the new projects his film company (T-Rex Productions) has on board.
Deadma Walking, a comedy-drama-musical about two gay best friends who mount a wake, death, and funeral for one of them who’d like to know how his would be received by friends, family, and neighbors, has gone through an amazing ride, from its screenplay winning the Palanca to being accepted into the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival.
The journey began in 2014 when screenwriter Eric Cabahug had ans wrote the script in early 2015. He gave it to the Palanca Awards for Literature in 2016 and won second prize.
Shortly after, it found its way to T-Rex Productions, which underwrote the 2017 hit, Patay Na Si Hesus. Executive Producer Rex Tiri said he found the screenplay worthy to be brought to the big screen. He green-lighted the project immediately and the casting proceeded with Joross Gamboa and Edgar Allan “EA” Guzman earning the nods of the writer, director, and producer.
While principal photography was ongoing, the award-winning screenplay was published as a paperback by VRJ Books and launched at the Manila International Book Fair in September, landing on National Book Stores’ Top 10 Bestsellers list for Philippine fiction books in October. It has been called “entertaining,” “rollicking,” “beautiful,” “witty,” and “a rollercoaster of feels” by readers.
“Isang maagang pa-birthday sa akin ito ni Lord,” said EA who celebrated his birthday on Nov. 20. “At blessing din kina Joross, Dimples (Romana, co-star), Sir Rex (Tiri, the movie’s executive producer), and Sir Eric (Cabahug, the movie’s writer and one of two producers) na November birthday celebrants din… Simula nang natapos kaming mag-shooting, araw-araw pinagdarasal ko na makapasok ang Deadma Walking sa MMFF. Eto nga, natupad na.”
“Sobrang thankful kami na napili kami… Bonus ang makasali sa MMFF,” said Joross. “We already had a good feeling about it pagkatapos namin panoorin. Excited kaming i-promote. Sana suportahan ng mga manonood.”
Directed by Julius Alfonso, it also stars Candy Pangilinan and Vin Abrenica, with the special participation by Gerald Anderson and Eugene Domingo, plus a host of celebrities in cameo roles including Piolo Pascual and Iza Calzado.
Many netizens have been waiting for the release of this movie ever since its trailer was posted on social media, producing what seems to be a “Deadma” craze.
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For Derek Ramsay’s fans, here’s a bit of good news. Your idol will be back on the ABS-CBN lot after him and the Kapamilya management settled their differences and issues that led the hunk to move to another TV station (TV5) five years ago.
He should be working soon on Star Cinema’s Kasal with Bea Alonzo and Paulo Avelino.
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A push-and-pull love story is the hook of GMA Network’s newest Korean drama deries that began airing last Monday.
In My Secret Romance, the shy and conservative personality of Yumi (Song Ji Eun) will be broken down under the influence of alcohol when she spends the night with the easy-going and playful heir Gino (Sung Hoon). They are brought together by their misfortunes, and after numerous encounters, they effortlessly find comfort in each other.
After spending a promiscuous night together, Yumi realizes what had happened between them and couldn’t believe it, driving her to escape the morning after. This leaves Gino dumbfounded and taught with a lesson, making his personality shift from being prickly to being serious and levelheaded. Three years later they meet again, and initially reject the idea that they know each other. But they couldn’t deny their attraction, which grows more intense as they try to hide it. When will they break down their walls?
Follow their roller coaster ride of a relationship Monday to Thursday after My Korean Jagiya, on GMA.
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GMA Network congratulates Sunshine Dizon for winning Most Outstanding Filipino Actress in Television at the 2017 Gawad Amerika Awards on Nov. 18 at the Franklin Avenue Celebrity Center in Hollywood, California.
Sunshine was recognized for her exceptional performance in GMA Network’s highest-rating daytime drama series Ika-6 Na Utos as Emma. She personally flew to California to accept her award.
Sunshine posted on Instagram post, “Thank you very much Gawad Amerika most specially to the Filipino Community for this recognition. I would also like to share this recognition to all our hardworking cast members, production staff, and crew of Ika-6 Na Utos, as well as to director Laurice Guillen for her guidance. It is ultimately a group effort to give our audience the best.”
She also expressed her gratitude to the network and the show’s loyal viewers. “To my home network, GMA, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of memorable shows that honed me through the years to be where I am today as an artist. Sa lahat din po ng taga-suporta ng show, maraming salamat sa inyong pag-tangkilik at pag-subaybay sa amin,” she says.
Gawad Amerika Awards recognizes the excellence of individuals and entrepreneurs who have gone above and beyond in their area of specialty. It is an independent award-giving body mainly composed of newspaper publishers and selected reputable community leaders.
Organized by Gawad Amerika Foundation (GAF) in California, it aims to create an environment where Filipino-Americans can validate their importance in the American society and construct innovative projects to continually endorse fresh ideas and talents.