Mother Lily Wants To Be More Active In 2016 And Produce A Movie For The Three Kalyeserye Lolas

MOTHER LILY MONTEVERDE, who was recently given a lifetime achievement award by the Directors Guild of the Philippines for her contributions in local cinema, says that although she has no big name stars in her Metro Filmfest offering, “Haunted Mansion”, she is confident that the movie will make lots of money at the box office when it opens on Christmas Day.

“I’ve seen the movie at effective si Direk Jun Lana in coming up with really scary scenes,” she says. “Ako mismo, natakot, grabe, napatili ako. At kahit first movie lang ito nina Janella Salvador, Marlo Mortel and Jerome Ponce, puro magagaling sila. Mas dadami ang fans nila after this movie.”

She wants to produce more movies in 2016. “Gusto ko talaga maging mas active and do more movies next year. After the filmfest, our first movie is the rom-com, ‘Love is Blind’, starring Derek Ramsay and Solenn Heussaff, directed by Jason Paul Laxamana. Then I’m tapping Malou Choa Fagar to produce four movies for me next year.”

Malou says she wants to do a movie starring the three lolas: Wally Bayola as Lola Nidora, Jose Manalo as Lola Tinidora and Paolo Ballesteros as Lola Tidora. “Ay, oo, maganda yan,” says Mother Lily. “Kasi may sarili na silang following. Let’s talk to Mr. Tuviera para magtulong kami in producing the movie with the three lolas.”

WE’VE BEEN hearing that top networks are doing remakes of this and that old project, like “Encantadia” and “Ang Panday”. We honestly don’t know if they’d still sit well with audiences today who belong to the social media generation that doesn’t seem to care anymore for costume or period materials unless they’re made on the same spectacular scale as “Star Wars, The Force Awakens”. What we would like to see to be remade, though, are the following local movies:

“Jack en Jill” - This is based on an original Mars Ravelo novel about a tomboy sister and a gay brother who switch roles, filmed by Sampaguita Pictures in 1955 and which catapulted Lolita Rodriguez to stardom, with Dolphy as the gay brother and Rogelio de la Rosa as the leading man. This was remade by Dolphy himself with Nora Aunor. Later, Sharon Cuneta and Herbert Bautista also did it. This has never been done on TV. We believe that if ever the AlDub love team would do a TV series, this would be a perfect vehicle for them as it’s not a soggy soap but a very light romantic-comedy, which viewers seem to prefer these days. Maine Mendoza would be perfect as the tomboy and Alden Richards would be her dashing leading man. As for the gay brother, we have no one else in mind but Sef Cadayona. Paolo Ballesteros will also be okay, but Sef would match Maine better.

“Sapagkat Kami’y Tao Lamang” - This was the classic love triangle movie that launched the formidable triumvirate of Lolita Rodriguez, Eddie Rodriguez and Marlene Dauden. It was such a mammoth hit in the 60s that it spawned many clones, including “Kasalanan Kaya?”, “Babae, Ikaw ang Dahilan”, “Lalaki, Kasalanan Mo”, and many more. It was remade in the 80s with Christopher de Leon, Alma Moreno and Lorna Tolentino. Its theme song also became very popular sung by Ric Manrique: “Puso kahit hindi turuan, nakapagtataka, natututuhan di ang magmahal.” With the popularity of such love triangle soaps as “Dalawang Mrs. Real”, “Legal Wife”, “Two Wives”, no doubt this will also be a hit.

“Rubia Servios” - Vilma Santos did several films in 1978, (about a dozen, we think) including such classics as “Ikaw ay Akin” by Ishmael Bernal and “Pagputi ng Uwak” by Celso Ad. Castillo, and such hits as “Disco Fever” and “Nakawin Natin ang Bawat Sandali”. But this movie about rape by Lino Brocka is the one that has the most commercial possibilities to be remade as a drama serial on TV. Based on a true legal story, Vilma plays Rubia, who’s about to marry Mat Ranillo III when Phillip Salvador abducts her and rapes her. Phillip is jailed but gets paroled after three years and starts harassing Vilma again. Both of them give great performances that would be perfect acting vehicles for any actor who’ll do their roles on TV. Other Vilma Santos movies that will be great TV soaps: “Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig?”, “Kapag Langit ang Humatol”, “Pakawalan Mo Ako”, “Dama De Noche” and the classic “Relasyon”.

‘Bakit Bughaw ang Langit?’ - This 1981 movie from Director Mario O’Hara is the touching story of an oppressed outcast, Nora Aunor, who develops a poignant relationship with a mentally handicapped young man, Dennis Roldan in his first starring role. The story can be fully developed as a TV soap and will also be great acting vehicles for actors who’ll be chosen to do them on the boob tube. Other Nora Aunor vehicles that will be ideal for remakes are “Kastilyong Buhangin” (the tragic love story also by O’Hara between two friends, the girl becomes a famous singer while they guy ends up in jail), “Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit” (the story spans two generations) and Brocka’s “Ina Ka ng Anak Mo” (about a mother and daughter sharing the same husband.)