Tony Gloria has previously produced award-winning films like “Gaano Kita Kamahal, The Rolly Suclad Story” with Christopher de Leon in an award-winning portrayal and “Crying Ladies” with Sharon Cuneta and Hilda Koronel. The idea of doing a local musical started when he saw “Mamma Mia” on Broadway more than 10 years ago. “But it has to be with songs familiar na sa tao,” he says. “When the songs of APO were revived by various bands and became hits anew, I felt their songs would be great for a movie as it spans many generations, so I talked to Jim Paredes and signed them up to a contract. Two times nang nag-expire ang contract, di pa rin nagagawa ang movie, until I asked Chris Martinez to write the script and he came up with a love story with the pamamanhikan team na bagay na bagay sa songs ng apo. Eventually, we asked him to direct it and his movie surpassed my vision and expectations.”
“’I Do Bidoo’ is a movie na masarap ulit-ulitin sa ganda ng story and songs,” says Madonna Tarrayo who’s president of Unitel and has been with the company for 18 years producing TV commercials. “I grew up listening to the songs of APO. All in all, we used 18 APO songs. We started shooting in January and now, finally, we’re excited to show it to the viewers. Bagay na bagay sina Ogie Alcasid and Eugene Domingo as the poor parents of Sam Concepcion at sina Zsa Zsa Padilla and Gary Valenciano as the rich parents of Tippy Dos Santos. Sam and Tippy took the auditions at ang ganda ng chemistry nila and rapport as they already worked together on stage in ‘Peter Pan’. Even the APO mismo, they’re so happy when they saw the movie. Teary eyed nga si Jim Paredes.”
Madonna adds that they co-produced “I Do Bidoo” with Atty. Ray Espinosa and Bobby Barreiro of Studio 5, the film arm of TV5. Unitel also has an entry in the coming Metro Filmfest, “Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang”, a twin bill directed by Chris Martinez and Jerrold Tarog.
