REGINE VELASQUEZ has a new movie and it excites us as we’ve always told her she has the potential to be an award-winning drama actress like other singers before her who went into acting, such as Ate Guy, Sharon Cuneta, Zsa Zsa Padilla.
“Hindi naman kasi talaga ako artista, singer naman talaga ako,” she says. “Pero nung i-offer nila sa’kin itong ‘Yours Truly, Shirley’, nabudol ako, I accepted it. Niligawan kasi nila ako, e. Maganda yung role ko as a widow na ang akala, yung husband niya is reincarnated in a young man played by Rayt Carreon. Comedy naman ang approach at hindi drama kaya hindi masyadong nakaka-stress sa emotions.”
We heard she has now intimidated all the other actresses that have an entry in the coming Cinema One Originals since she is the biggest star in it. They now concede she would win as best actress in the festival. “Hindi naman totoo yan,” she says. “May entry rin si Cherie Gil. Ano naman ang panama ko roon? Saka hindi ko alam na may competition. Hindi po ako na-inform.”
But the other actresses admit Regine has an edge when it comes to box office appeal and even in the best actress race.
“Malaking pressure po kasi big star naman talaga si Ms. Regine,” says Anna Luna who stars in the movie “O”. “E kanina lang, bago mag-presscon, nang pumasok siya sa dressing room, nanginig na kaming lahat nang makita namin siya. But we’re very happy na makasama namin siya sa isang festival like CInema One.”
“Actually, nang malaman kong may entry si Regine, ayoko na sanang magpunta rito sa presscon,” says Alessandra de Rossi in a joking tone. “Sabi ko, kailangan pa ba ako? Kaya na niyang mag-isa. But we’re really glad that she is acting again, pero gusto ko naman siyang hamunin sa isang singing showdown.”
This made Regine laugh a lot. “Ako yung honored na makasama sa isang festival na ang daming magagaling na artista,” she says. “Hindi ko naman tinuturing ang sarili ko na isang aktres, so hindi ko maihahanay ang sarili kong kasama nila. Salimpusa lang ako rito.”
Regine’s movie is directed by Nigel Santos and will premiere at Trinoma on November 10, 9:45 PM. The other entries are: “Metamorphosis” - A coming of age story starring teen actor Gold Azeron as Adan, a 14-year old born with both the male and female genitals, with Ricky Davao and Yayo Aguila as his parents, plus Iana Bernardez (daughter of Angel Aquino) and Ivan Padilla, directed by J.E. Tiglao.
“O” - A horror-black comedy with Jasmine Curtis Smith, Lauren Young and Anna Luna, directed by Kevin Dayrit. It’s about a morgue intern who meets a vampire, Matilda. In exchange for her life, she is then forced to obtain blood for the vampire that is then commercially sold in sachets to other vampires.
Sila-Sila” - A drama with Gio Gahol and Topher Fabregas, this is directed by Gian Abrahan who won Cinema One best picture in 2017 for “Paki”. He describes it as an LGBT ghost story about a man who had messy break ups in his relationships then finds himself entertaining other feelings and options he thought had long left him when he attends their high school reunion.
“Tayo Muna Habang Hindi Pa Tayo” - Denise O’Hara makes her Cinema One Originals debut with this romantic comedy starring Jane Oineza and JC Santos. The film is about love and the fear of commitment and how it can be traumatic for some people.
“Tia Madre” - A horror drama-thriller told through the eyes of a 10-year-old girl, Camille played by Janna Agoncillo, whose alcoholic mother, Emilia (Cherie Gil), inexplicably changes into something more sinister and violent that is possibly not human. This is written and directed by Eve Baswel.
“Utopia” - The stories of a freelance videographer, a rookie police officer and an undercover agent intertwine after a comet flies over Manila and the cosmic disturbances turn everything on its head in the city’s underbelly for one night and everything that can go wrong actually goes right. This stars Enzo Pineda, Joem Bascon and Aaron Villaflor, directed by Dustin Celestino and Dustin Uy.
“Lucid” - A movie about dreams starring Alessandra de Rossi and JM de Guzman, directed by Victor Villanueva. Alex plays a lucid dreamer whose waking life and dream life start to get complicated when he meets a mysterious man, JM, who challenges her to make her dreams more colorful and daring.
Cinema One Originals, now on its 15th year, will run from November 7- 17 at Trinoma, Glorietta, Ayala Manila Bay, Gateway and Powerplant Makati.
