Amusing and hilarious Astro dela Cruz will show off his colorful story to moviegoers at the 2010 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival from November 10 to 16 at the Shang Cineplex.
Young actor and dancing heartthrob Arron Villaflor plays Astro Mayabang in this comedy that is also a social satire about a financially, socially, intellectually and sexually frustrated Kapampangan who boasts his patriotism and nationalism by promoting his Pinoy pride, spirit and yes, even attires. Ironically he ends up either embarrassed or humiliated because of his aggressive ways. He buys OPM music but are all pirated cds. He wears clothes and paraphernalia that swank the colours of, or the Philippine flag per se. He antagonizes anybody especially foreigners who he feels discriminates Pinoys but he utters racist jokes against our own cultural minorities. But when his string of shortcomings start to chase him, what Astro ironically gets himself into is how shallow his beliefs and existence happen to be. Its cast also stars Megan Young, John Lapus and Marco Morales.
Astro Mayabang is a breather of a film because while digital films are stereotyped to be ‘serious,’ this movie which has a sociological basis is a comedy. Its Director and screenplay writer Jason Paul Laxamana, who has been involved in various movie projects, will show a great fusion of the indie film feel and mainstream movie sensibilities in Astro Mayabang by espousing what the regular Filipino should not be. Likewise, the film scoffs at the superficialities modern society is embracing to give the illusion that the country is developing when thru Astro dela Cruz, there are still millions of Pinoys who must be out there, moving on but are unsure of what they want and who they are. “Importante kase na makita ng mga tao na si Astro Mayabang eh isang Pinoy na may kakulangan sa sarili niya. For us not to fall into the same superficialities ni Astro, kailangan ma-avoid natin iyung mga delusions niya. He’s untrue to himself eh. He’s all surface layers pero walang laman. Let’s not be like him.” This is to say that Astro Mayabang exhorts everyone, may they be professionals, students or otherwise, that pretentions will not get them anywhere.
Astro Mayabang’s main star Aaron Villaflor deadpans over how enthusiastic he is about his character and is hopeful it will give him the opportunity to be noticed as an actor amidst his current mark being one of the dancing heartthrobs called the Gigger Boys. “Naku ang sarap gampanan ni Astro!” Then the 20-year old former runner-up of the Star Circle Quest becomes more cerebral when he deciphers who his character is. “Nung pinag-usapan po namin ni Direk (Jason) ang personality ni Astro dela Cruz, malalaman nating ang laki-laki pala talaga ng insecurity niya sa buhay na iyung pagiging mayabang niya sa pagiging Filipino niya at saka pasuot niya ng things Filipino, cover up lang pala. Kung baga empty pala siya. Tapos sana mapakita ko sa acting ko kung sino si Astro.” With the level of laughter and inner seriousness Astro Mayabang is armed with to give viewers at the Cinema One Originals, its film-maker makes a humble foresight. “Astro Mayabang ang puwedeng maging breather I think sa pitong finalists kasi, nakakatawa iyung storya pero sasabihin sa iyo kung saan ka dapat lumugar being a Pinoy para di ka matulad kay Astro. Plus I believe I have a competitive screenplay.”
Arron Villaflor will show a new level of his talent when we see him as Astro Mayabang when the 2010 Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival kicks off from November 10 to 16 at the Shang Cineplex. The Awards Night will be held on November 14 at the Dolphy Theater of the ABS-CBN.
The Cinema One Originals Film Festival 2010 is an annual project of Cinema One. Cinema One is the movie channel on cable owned and operated by Creative Programs, Inc.
Cast
Aaron Villaflor - Astro dela Cruz
Megan Young - Dawn
John Lapus - Mama Suk
Marco Morales - Iggy
Hermes Bautista - Raffy
Crystal Herrera - Claire
Crew
Director - Jason Paul Laxamana
Screenplay - Jason Paul Laxamana
Executive Producer - Ronald Arguelles
Assistant Director - Carla Baful
Director of Photography - Ryan Cecogo
Production Design - Veronica Guingon, Rachel Escueta
Sound - Jedd Dumaguina
Production Manager - Jai Macasieb
Editor - Jason Paul Laxamana
Consultant for Cinema One Originals - Sherad Anthony Sanchez
To view the rest of the Entries:
Cinema One Digital Film Festival 2010
