NEWSFLASH

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REGAL PRODUCES CENTENNIAL FILM "SISA"
By Alex Jimenez
PHNO Showbiz Correspondent

Quezon City, July 9, 1998 - Regal Entertainment is pushing through with a centennial film. Apparently, Mother Lily Monteverde caught the centennial fever when noted film director Mario O'Hara proposed the production of "Sisa" a script based on the Jose Rizal's character in "Noli Me Tangere". The plot begins from an unusual premise: that Sisa was someone Rizal knew from real life.

Regal is notorious for its "pito-pito" movies: filming must be completed within seven to ten days during a 15-day calendar period to keep costs low. O'Hara was exempted from this policy by Mother Lily. Aya Medel, the busiest actress in town has been cast as Sisa, Gardo Verzosa as Rizal. Shooting is scheduled throughout this month in Bulacan province and San Juan, Metro Manila.

Earlier, O'Hara had just completed shooting the movie adaptation of Agapito Joaquin's acclaimed play, "Bubungang Lata", retitled "Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata" also starring Aya Medel, together with Mike Magat and Renzo Cruz. The movie's post production has been re-scheduled to pioritize the speedy completion of "Sisa".

Says O'Hara, "While it is true that we cannot match the big budgets of other major studios, I value the freedom I have been given as director. No one interferes with how I want to tell my story on film, just as long as I keep costs under control."

According to O'Hara, the biggest selling point of a movie like "Sisa" is not the glossy photography or the minutely detailed production design and art direction. "If the performances are strong and the story is visually played out in an engrossing manner, then viewers won't focus on relatively minor shortcomings."

The members of the prestigious Directors Guild of the Philippines frown on the prospect of a centennial movie produced on a shoestring budget. O'hara counters: "How else will this otherwise interesting script be made into a film? Filmmaking means coming to terms with the present realities of the industry. Besides having the freedom to pursue your vision, it means loving your producer by being willing to exercise budgetary constraints."

Regal supervising producer and film director Joey Gosiengfiao agrees. "This is the best time to come up with a project like Sisa. After all, we don't want to be out of the running." The project was turned down the first time it was presented to Regal. Then last year, OctoArts Films wanted to produce it with Vina Morales in the lead role. After disagreements over Vina's talent fee, the project fell apart.

Regal was more receptive when Mario re-proposed Sisa last June. This early, movie folks are eagerly anticipating Mario's return to the big screen after his two-year hiatus.