CAMILLE  VILLAR  LAUGHS  OFF  RUMOR  LINKING  HER  TO  WILLIE 

MANILA, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009 (MALAYA) DREAM FACTORY by MARIO BAUTISTA (‘Like I said, my idol is my dad and I want someone like him. – Camille Villar’)

RICHARD Gutierrez looks so buff nowadays. The first movie he’s co-producing with GMA Films, "Patient X," just had its last shooting day at Boys Town in Marikina the night before and it’s reported that he’s making "harutan at kulitan" with leading lady Cristine Reyes like they’re now playing beautiful music together.

"We’re just having fun," he says. "After the shoot, we had a party and they started singing. Cristine came up to me at pinahiran ng cake ang mukha ko, so gumanti ako sa kanya. We ended up singing several songs together. Then nagkatulakan sa swimming pool. She’s fun to work with. Nag-enjoy kami."

Does Cristine deliver?

"Yes, more than we expected. Director Yam Laranas is very happy with her performance as she has no inhibitions. Kung anong ipagawa sa kanya, she does it. The script was rewritten to make her role sexier and she has no complaints. Even she says she’s happy to be a part of the movie."

His first film with Yam, "Sigaw," was remade in Hollywood as "The Echo." How is Yam now after his Hollywood experience?

"Definitely a much better filmmaker. Very organized. Pati sa technical aspects, inalagaan niya ang ‘Patient X.’ I saw special lights being used here na ngayon ko lang nakita. We’re using live sound na Dolby 5.1 so we can market it abroad. Ang bilis nga natapos ang shooting. ‘Patient X’ is ten times more scary than ‘Sigaw’ and Screamfest in Los Angeles wants to show us in October, but Yam says he’s partial to Sundance Filmfest in January, so baka doon naman unang ipalabas sa US."

He has changed the name of his production outfit which used to be known as Iced Out. It’s now called RGutz Productions. "For a change, as I’m starting a new chapter in my career. RGutz stands not only for me but all my siblings kasi lahat ng names namin start with R. Even Elvis, Rex talaga ‘yan, e, and he plays a major villain role in ‘Patient X’ as the husband of Cristine."

The movie opens in theaters on October 28 as a special Halloween offering.

***

GMA-7’s "Dramarama sa Hapon" rated higher when they introduced "Sine Novela," serialized remakes of past hit flicks like the toprating "Magdusa Ka," "Saan Darating ang Umaga," "Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin." Now, for the first time, it presents the back-to-back premiere of two classics, "Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit" (1986, directed by Maryo de los Reyes) with Iza Calzado and "Tinik sa Dibdib" (1985, directed by Leroy Salvador) with Sunshine Dizon, starting this Monday.

Both Iza and Sunshine are tense as they know their portrayals will be compared with that of the original stars, Maricel Soriano for Iza and Nora Aunor for Sunshine.

"I saw the original movie and Maricel really gave a memorable performance," says Iza. "The role of Clarissa is difficult kasi she’s an anti-heroine. Akala mo mabait, but so ambitious and scheming pala that she won’t hesitate to kill people just to get what she wants. With the help of our writers headed by Aloy Adlawan and director Topel Lee, I hope magustuhan din ng viewers ang interpretation ko sa role."

As for Sunshine, she says she has no intention of surpassing Nora’s acting as the oppressed Lorna. "Nag-iisa lang talaga ang ating superstar so mahirap siyang pantayan and no one can replace her," she says. "This is my second time to do a role that she did, first was ‘Bakekang,’ and I hope hindi ako uli mapahiya this time around dahil the first time gave me a best drama actress award."

Supporting Iza in "Kaya Kong Abutin" are Lani Mercado as her mom, Angelika de la Cruz as her sister, Pinky Amador and Ricardo Cepeda as the rich couple who adopt her, Isabel Oli as the daughter of Pinky and Richard who makes her life miserable, Wendell Ramos as the boyfriend of Isabel who Iza steals, plus Bobby Andrews, Paolo Paraiso, Victor Aliwalas, Ryan Yllana and Peter Serrano.

In "Tinik," Sunshine is supported by Marvin Agustin as her two-timing husband (originally played by Phillip Salvador), Ara Mina as Marvin’s stepmom who’s also his secret lover (originally played by Pilar Pilapil), Michelle Madrigal as Marvin’s mute sister who knows the truth about him and Ara (originally played by Dina Bonnevie), Bembol Roco and Daria Ramirez as Sunshine’s parents, plus Deborah Sun, Maybelyn de la Cruz, Jen Rosendahl, Rico Barrero and child actor Miguel Tanfelix.

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Camille Villar, Sen. Manny Villar’s only daughter, helps her dad’s Nacionalista Party in organizing "Rockatropa," a concert where they aim to reach out to the youth through the music of popular bands like Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Sandwich, Itchy Worms and Moymoy Palaboy, slated tomorrow, Saturday, September 26, at the SM Mall of Asia Concert grounds. Hosted by sexy stars Cristine Reyes and Valerie Concepcion, the show is free to the public

"The gates will open at 3 p.m. but the show starts at 6 p.m., so come early to get a good seat," says Camille. "This will help launch the NP’s BDABOSS project, which stands for Be the Boss as it aims to promote entrepreneurship awareness. Just like my dad, we want young people to start their own business early."

Which band is her personal fave?

"Parokya kasi I grew up with their songs ‘Halaga,’ ‘Harana’ and ‘Buloy.’ But no doubt all the rest, puro magaling at may kanya-kanyang fans. Each band will sing 5 to 10 songs so I enjoin young people to rock with us."

How’s Sen. Manny as a dad?

"Sobrang bait. I always say I’m his favorite daughter, kasi nga I’m his only daughter. I’m proud of him as he’s a real good family man. We’re sure ng two brothers ko and my mom na kami lang ang one and only family niya as he’s always there. He’s not unfaithful like other husbands that is why I find it difficult to find a boyfriend as I’m looking for someone like him who’s so devoted to his family. We go to mass together, we eat together, we shop together. Talagang lagi kaming magkakasama. He’s very down-to-earth. He never hides the fact na galing siya sa hirap and up to now, he likes street food like turon, siopao, mais. Favorite fish niya, tilapia, just like me. One thing I learned from him is you cannot get happiness from just material things. Dapat talaga, you have good family relationships and be willing to serve others."

How did she feel when she was linked to Willie Revillame?

"It’s funny kasi we just guested in his show, tapos na-link na kami when we don’t even have any communication. Like I said, my idol is my dad and I want someone like him."

She’s pretty enough to be in showbiz.

"Sorry po, shy ako. Ang gusto ko, magnegosyo, like my dad."

***

One proof of the popularity of the Aljur Abrenica-Kris Bernal love team is the warm reception given by fans when they attended the recent Singkaban Festival in Bulacan.

"Grabe ang reception sa kanila," says Manny Valera, supervising producer of their launching film, "Nandito Ako, Nagmamahal Sa’Yo."

"They were really mobbed. Hirap na hirap nga si Aljur as his right arm was in a cast after his accident."

People were surprised to see how sculptured Aljur’s body is when he stripped in the Cosmo Bash. It’s really tight and chiseled. "I really worked hard for this, lifting weight three to four times a week," he says. "After I won in ‘Starstruck’ as Ultimate Hunk, I was told I should prepare to project a sexier image so nag-gym ako. A lot of people like my hard abs. I do the Manny Pacquiao training of sit-ups and crunches for this. I’m also careful with my diet and eat mostly vegetables."

He’s sad that his TV show with Kris, "All My Life," ended last week. "We don’t know yet what’s next for us. Our fans say mami-miss nila watching us every night. Habang wala pa kaming bagong show, watch muna sila ng ‘Nandito Ako, Nagmamahal Sa’Yo’ opening on September 30. Sa pictorial pa lang namin with the various scenic spots in Bohol sa background, obvious ng we got carried away kasi nakakatangay talaga ang ganda ng mga tanawin lalo na ang Chocolate Hills, Maribojoc Mangrove Plantation at Panglao Beach."

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Sid Lucero gets to work both with his dad Mark Gil and girlfriend Rozie Delgado in the film "Sabungero: Dangal at Tibay" that stars Joel Torre in the title role. "But I don’t have any scenes with my dad," he says. "He plays my lolo in the story and appears only in the flashbacks. Suzie and I have been on for five years and she’s the co-director of the movie."

Rozie is the youngest of five kids of Suzie Laurel (sister of Victor Laurel). Denise Laurel is her cousin. She finished filmmaking at the Ateneo and also took a directing course with Marilou Diaz-Abaya. She has directed short films and music videos before "Sabungero." Her co-director is Miguel Kaimo, who studied filmmaking at St. Benilde. "I’m very soft-spoken so si Miguel ang taga-sigaw sa set. He’s also the one who knows a lot more about cockfighting," she says.

How’s it directing her boyfriend Sid?

"It’s actually easy as he’s very professional."

The movie’s executive producer is JC Bernardo, son of socialite model Conchitina Sevilla. What was his intention in producing the film?

"In 1974, a Hollywood film, ‘The Cockfighter’ starring Warren Oates was shown. All sabungero have a copy, but it’s very bad. Terrible. I’m very passionate about the subject of sabong so I said, why not make a Filipino movie about it? There are 6 million registered sabungero in the country and if all of them would watch the movie, then we surely would have a hit. It’s the first full-length feature on the Filipino sport of cockfighting and it paints a realistic picture of the sport that has long been a part of local culture and heritage. The movie’s cockfighting scenes were shot in actual derbies at local cockpits with genuine sabungero."

"Sabungero" will have a premiere at SM Megamall and Gateway Mall on September 27, and also have provincial premieres on September 29 in Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo where the sport is popular. It opens nationwide on September 30.

Produced by Rooster Content (creator of the No. 1 cockfighting website on the net, sabong.com.ph), "Sabungero" also stars Leo Martinez and daughter Lesley, Maritoni Fernandez, Ricky Davao, Robert Arevalo and Nonie Buencamino.