SURVEY  SAYS  ORMOC  VOTERS  LIKE  RICHARD  GOMEZ

MANILA, OCTOBER 17, 2009 (MALAYA) DREAM FACTORY by MARIO BAUTISTA  (‘Tuloy na ito as the surveys show na malakas ako sa tao and that’s very encouraging. – Richard Gomez’)

DID Richard Gomez really plan to return to ABS-CBN?

"No, kumalat lang yan when I visited Willie Revillame in ‘Wowowee’ and he asked me to appear on cam," says Goma. "I’m happy with GMA. Heto nga balik na ko sa ‘Family Feud’ this Monday replacing ‘Hole in Da Wall.’ I’m really proud of ‘Family Feud’ kasi kung ano-ano ang itinapat ng GMA noon sa ‘Deal or No Deal’ but kami lang ang nakatalo dito sa ratings."

Are there any changes in the show?

"Yes, we have many surprises. The show will have a brand new look and a more high tech playing mode with advanced lighting effects and studio sets. We also conducted auditions for families in the provinces so we’ll now have contestants from Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Dagupan. We’ll fly them to Manila with free airfare and accommodation so parang on vacation sila rito. Also, instead of the family leader introducing each member of his team, naka-VTR na ngayon ang pag-present sa bawat team member. The ‘Fast Money’ round prize is now P150,000. If they don’t win it, they get a consolation of P50,000. Mas exciting ang show sa pagbabalik namin."

But isn’t he running as Ormoc congressman in 2010?

"Yes, tuloy na ito as the surveys show na malakas ako sa tao and that’s very encouraging. The people there really want change."

So what happens to his being host of "Family Feud" that will run for two seasons?

"I’m not allowed to host anymore only 45 days before election, so yung last two weeks ng show in March or April, wala na ako and we’re thinking of my wife Lucy to replace me as host. Kayang-kaya naman ni Lucy yon."

Watch the new "Family Feud" this Monday at 5:30 p.m.

***

Why is GMA-7 replacing "Bitoy’s Funniest Videos" with "Bitoy’s ShowwwTime" starting this Saturday when it’s still rating high?

"We have to keep up with the times," says Michael V. "We now provide a world-class program for Pinoys not only here in our country but also those living abroad. We opened a website, bitoystv.com, asking for videos showing their unique talents and the response was overwhelming. Talagang international na kami rito at di nagpo-focus sa Philippines lang."

Bitoy assumes the role of a futuristic emperor in the show and he came to the presscon garbed in a Roman style of costume. He’s searching for the best skilled Pinoy and the newest internet-ional star, with Mang Enriquez as the resident court jester. He’ll present his discoveries each week in four segments. "Talbugan" is the live showdown of contestants with individual talents, ranging from eating fire to playing the guitar. The first four contestants during the audition will be the "Bida sa Talbugan" who must defend his title for four consecutive weeks from challengers called "Atrebida" to be the "Bida Best," winning a total of P300,000.

"Videokariran" is for Pinoys abroad who’ll upload their performance via the website. One of three interesting videos will win the segment. Hilarious videos uploaded in the website will compete in the "Facemuk" segment. The funniest created videos (not accidentally caught by the camera) wins a Canon video camera. For those who love to sing and dance, they can join "Gaya Mo Yun?" The best group of five to seven dancers who can perform their own interpretation of today’s hottest song or dance craze wins a big cash prize.

Will they accept contestants who already joined other similar contest like "Talentadong Pinoy"?

"No," says Bitoy. "We want to give breaks to new talents namin. Our difference is that we’re international and we give bigger prizes."

***

Cesar Montano says the rumor floated by his political opponents in Bohol that he’s no longer running as governor is simply not true. "Tuloy pa rin ang pagkandidato ko roon," he says.

Last Saturday, the comedy bar team of Fudge, Jayo and Hans of Team X-Mhin (they’re all gays) hit the jackpot in Cesar’s "The Singing Bee" and won P2 million. "Nag-iyakan sila," says Cesar. "Biro mo, mga komedyanteng nagpapatawa, napaiyak namin."

The last time a group won the P2 million jackpot prize was in January, by the team of Jestoni Alarcon, Jason Abalos and Janus del Prado. This Sunday, they’ll be looking for new champs in "Singing Bee" after "Tiyagong Akyat."

***

Why is director Yam Laranas concentrating on horror-thrillers?

"Because I want to keep the audience in suspense guessing as to what happens next," he says.

After making waves internationally with "Sigaw" and "The Echo," Yam comes up with another chilling shocker in "Patient X," a co-prod of GMA Films, Viva and Richard Gutierrez’ own RGutz Productions.

Why is he very secretive about what the story is all about?

"I don’t want to spoil the viewing pleasure of moviegoers. All I can say is that Richard is a doctor whose experience with a beautiful but mysterious patient will give viewers a very good scare. If you found ‘Sigaw’ scary, ‘Patient X’ is ten times more scary. I guarantee that viewers will get a good jolt that will push them to the edge of their seats due to severe tension."

The title role of "Patient X" is played by Cristine Reyes, the poster girl of typhoon Ondoy whose fotos while drenched on the rooftop of her own at the height of the storm was circulated worldwide through the internet. She doesn’t mind being a second choice, replacing Heart Evangelista, who begged off not only due to her appendectomy but because she started having nightmares after she saw mysterious ethereal apparitions in an old building in Boys Town where the movie was shot.

"And I must praise Cristine as she turned out to be perfect for the role of the shadowy Patient X," adds Yam. "She’s so lovely at the start of the film you’d never suspect she is actually an entity who’d scare the hell out of you."

How is it working with Richard anew?

"He has definitely matured as an actor. His drop-dead gorgeous good looks make people think he’s just another pretty boy but he really has great talent as an actor. In ‘Patient X,’ he displays a wide range of emotions that shows him as a terrific actor."

Yam also got good reviews of "Asia’s Titanic," his docu based on the 1987 sinking of MV Dona Paz where thousands died shown on the National Geographic Channel. Who are his influences as a director?

"Alfred Hitchcock, Roman Polanski, and Stanley Kubrick. Sila ang idols ko. It was when I saw Kubrick’s horror film ‘The Shining’ that I realized I want to be a director."

***

Director Joel Lamangan is the president of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino (NMPP). He’s very thankful that Sen. Miguel Zubiri, after donating P2.5 million to them as college scholarship fund for deserving kids of their members, now donates another P2 million for their housing project. "We already have a site in Camarin and San Jose Del Monte. We’ll build two buildings that will benefit more than 400 families so we’re grateful to Sen. Migz for his help," says Direk Joel.

"Ang dami naming nilapitang politicians, siya lang ang tumulong sa amin," says Direk Mel Chionglo. "Although Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is now helping us with another project for livelihood."

"This is just the second phase of my helping local film industry people," says Migz. "Fan kasi talaga ako ng local movies. The first one was the scholarship, followed by this housing project. Third will be livelihood skills training and the fourth one is organizing a mid-year Metro-Manila Filmfest so we’ll have one in December and another one in June to further help the industry. We want the June filmfest to be a festival of real good quality films, hindi yung puro commercial projects lang like the ones shown in December. We intend to provide seed money to help directors produce these quality films."

Will he help in screening the members who deserve to be part of the housing plan and the entries to be accepted in his planned filmfest?

"No more. I leave it all up to kina Direk Joel. Sila na bahala sa details. I trust them completely. I also helped in the passing of the bill that provides tax exemption for local films, along with Sens. Bong Revilla and Jinggoy. I want local films to regain its past glory dahil napag-iwanan na tayo ng India and Korea ngayon."

* * *

Gals and gays will have a new fantasy, Jay-L Dizon, who is being introduced in "I Luv DreamGuyz."

Jay-L plays Jake, a dancer whose live-in girlfriend, Jenny (Nina Jose), supports him financially. He auditions for a group called DreamGuyz to be sent to Japan. He makes it and meets another dancer, Rico (Marco Morales), a macho gay (a straight-acting gay) who seduces him and makes him discover that he’s a bi-sexual who enjoys bedding both girls and gays.

Jay-L is 20 years old, from Pampanga, has clean-cut mestizo features and stands 5’10." He has hot bedscenes with both Nina and Marco.

What will his parents say about it?

"Okay lang," he says. "They know how much I want to get into showbiz kasi sumali ako sa Star Circle Quest ng ABS but I was so young at di ako nakuha, then I joined ‘Starstruck’ ng GMA and I didn’t qualify as I had a manager that time and ayaw nila ng may manager. Now, I auditioned for ‘I Luv DreamGuyz’ and finally made it, kaya hindi na ko nag-inarte nang sabihing I’ll to do sexy scenes and will have a nude scene. Siguro, before, hindi pa right time for me kaya di ako nakuha. Ngayon pa lang ang tamang panahon kaya nabigyan din ako ng ganitong break."

How did he handle the gay love scenes?

"I was so nervous but it’s good Marco has done several scenes before kaya sanay na siya. Siya ang nagdala ng eksena namin at inisip ko na lang na babae rin siya when he was kissing me. But yung love scenes with Nina Jose, ako na ang nagdala and I want to thank Nina for being so cooperative."

Does he have a girlfriend?

"Yes, non-showbiz. I told her about it at sabi ko, huwag na lang niya panoorin so she won’t get jealous. But she’s happy for me kasi nagkapelikula na ako."

"I Luv DreamGuyz" will open in several theaters on November 4. You can now view its full uncensored trailer on youtube.