DIRECTOR JOHN AD CASTILLO IN THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILM ABOUT DRUG COURIERS

By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE

From his blog Manila Showbiz and Lifestyle also farmed out in different versions to Remate Online, Pssst, www.pmpcstarnews. com.ph, Pilipino Mirror, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update

I have always maintained that not only the son would rise to higher expectations more than his father, but also in the case of Director John Ad Castillo as the brother of the famous film  director of his time Director Celso Ad Castillo ( the living legend in the league of both dear departed National Artists for Film Directors Ishmael Bernal and Lino Broca).

Director John Ad Castillo on the set

         

Director John Ad Castillo who literally drinks, sleeps and eats movies worked for decades with the older Celso Ad touted as the Messiah of Phil. Cinema. In fact, we have worked together as well in some movies before in my capacity as production designer and scenarist with Celso Kid like “Pikoy Goes To Malaysia,” a Lito Lapid starrer “Pedro Tunasan,” “Ang Daigdig Ay Isang Butil Na Luha,” etc.

         

I saw it coming for  John Ad Castillo that he would be out on his own as film director himself. His latest caper “Drug Mule” will soon be out and its trailer is now on You Tube produced by Ed Millana, the maverick young producer of Millawave Production.

         

Director John Ad’s staff include Carlo Labalan,Director of Photography; Willan Rivera,Cinematographer; Willan Rivera, Rusel Rivera, Editor/ Colorist/ Sound Designer; Jun Pikoy Garcia Production Coordinator; Evan Nioda Millana, Production Designer; Erib Mandia,  Production Assistant; and Studio 053068 Digital Production, Photography.

We all know that a drug mule or a drug courier is someone who smuggles something with them  across a national border. In some cases, the goods are hidden in the bag or vehicle of an innocent person.

        

 Another method is referred to as body packing in which the mule swallows latex balloons like condoms, latex gloves, or  special pellets to be recovered later from the mule’s feces. Some packs are inserted directly into the anus or vagina which is highly vulnerable to  body cavity searches.

           

We expect to see all these gruesome scenes in John Ad Castillo’s “Drug Mule” which will be shown in some theaters of Metro Manila soon.

         

This is an expose of the lives of the country’s desperate OFW’s who resort to   smuggling drugs as mules. For the record, over 690 Filipines are currently sitting in jails around the world on drug offenses,  227 in China alone. 85 are currently facing death row from drug-related crimes, more of them are women.

        

Records show that the illegal drug trade in the country has evolved into a lucrative industry valued at over $8.4bn.

Before “Drug Mule,” Director John Ad Castillo co-directed with a top Malaysian director named Z. Lokman in two Malaysian co-production ventures, namely “Untamed Virgins” and “Seksing Masahista” with Mocha Uson of the famous Mocha Girls in the female lead opposite  hunk actor  Zyruz Imperial who was  picked out by  Director John Ad Castillo himself from a grueling  audition process.  

        

 

 

Director John Ad Castillo’s “Seksing Masahista” proved to be Zyruz Imperial’s launching vehicle for his budding career in the movies. In fact Zyruz also appears in an important cameo role in “Drug Mule” as an undercover agent. As singer and actor, Zyruz Imperial has quite a hefty portfolio of indie films to his credit  having been cast for the second time  as  male lead in “Pakawala” (the first one in “Seksing Masahista) produced by aVancouver-based Pinoy expat directed 

 by  Daryl Cruz, the controversial first assistant director of Director Tikoy Aguiluz’ “Asiong Salonga.” 

Moreover, Zyruz has done important character and support roles in Richard Somes’s “Supremo,” Paul Sta. Ana’s & Cinemalaya's “Oros,” Joven Tan’s “Ben Tumbling,” Tony Reyes’s “Enteng Ng Ina Mo," Mario O’Hara’s & Cinemalaya’s “Paglilitis Ni Andres Bonifacio,” Jigz Recto’s take on the heinous Maguindanao massacre “The Road To Ampatuan” and “Tagsibol,” John Ad Castillo’s “Drug Mule,” including some films in-progress like “ Kuratong Baleleng, The Ongkoy Parojinog Story” with Robin Padilla in the lead by Spongky Villarin, and “ Brown Kamasutra” also by John Ad Castillo.

LOVETEAM NINA JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE AT ELMO MAGALONA SWAK TO THE MAX

By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE 

PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club)

 

From his blog Manila Showbiz & Lifestyle also farmed out in different versions to Pilipino Mirror, www.pmpcstarnews.com.ph, Remate Tonight Online, Saksi, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update 

JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE & ELMO MAGALONA

Talking of health situation ang aming katotong si Eddie Littlefield ay na-diagnose naman na may hernia (translate:loslos)  which led Sen. Lito Lapid’s  PR director  Alex Marcelino at the Senate Lounge to joke kung si Eddie ba ay “bottom” or “top.”  Sabi naman ni Eddie ang hernia has nothing to do with sexual positions. Maniwala naman kaya si Alex hahaha!

       From the Senate Lounge kinaray naman ako ni Eddie L. sa  bonggang red carpet premier ng Just One Summer ng GMA Films thru the beauteous Lendl Fabella na pinagbidahan ng one of the hottest loveteams  ng kanilang henerasyon na  sina Julie Anne San Jose at Elmo Magalona, anak ng yumaong na si Franci M. kung di ‘nyo pa alam.    

Feel-good and feel pretty ang pelikulang ito ni Direk Mac Alejandre and it will make you feel young once more, if not love again for the nth time ‘ika nga.  Swak ang kumbinasyon nila Julie Anne at Elmo.  Postcard pretty and breath of fresh air ang countryside scenes nito ni Direk Mac.

All through much of their scenes ay sobrang kilig ang mga fans nila at hindi magkakumayaw ang mga fans sa kanilang pagsisigaw at paghihiyaw, tanda ng sobrang lakas ng kilig factor nito sa mga viewers. Showing na ngayon ito.

       Napakahusay ng paganap nila Alice Dixson at Joel Torre bilang estranged couple as parents of Elmo. Ganun din si Cherry Pie Picache at sina Boboy Garovillo  at Gloria Romero bilang ama at lola ni Julie Anne respectively.

       Nagsasalpukan sa ngayon ang The Reunion at ang Just One Summer sa takilya . Alamin natin sa Mojo Box- Office Report kung sino sa kanila ang top-grosser. Pero kung ako sa inyo panoorin ‘nyo pareho coz parehong well-crafted and told ang dalawang  pelikulang ito para sa ikauunland ng pelikulang Pilipino, hindi ba naman?

  

SALPUKAN NG DOS AT SIYETE SA TAKILYA

KEAN CIPRIANO & JESSY MENDIOLA

Sa offstage view sa The Buzz ng King Of Talk Boy Abunda ay napag-tripan ng mga reporters ang pagka hospital ni Toni Gonzaga dahil sa pag-malfunction ng kanyang bituka. Ang diagnosis ay hindi na nag-move ang kanyang bituka parang nagka-trafik na ito.

Kasama sa pag-trip ang apat na guests niya na tinaguriang 'Fab 4'  na andun  sa  backstage kasama ni Toni waiting for their cue na sina Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil, Kean Cipriano at Xian Lim, lead actors ng  The Reunion na kung di ‘nyo pa alam ay luckily nakakuha  ng Grade B ng Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB). Meaning na mataas ang kalidad ng  barkada movie ito ng Star Cinema na pinilahan na sa ngayon

       Kasama sa pag-play time ang ‘Fab 4’ as one movie reporter  told Toni in the face na hindi kaya ang dahilan ng pagka-ospital ni Toni ay dahil sa nagpa-abort siya sabay kantyaw sa kanya ng Fab 4 members.

       Tony who was dressed like a Hollywood goddess ready to walk the red carpet just took the comments in stride and laughed it off, saying, “Dios ko papano ako mabuntis hanggang holding hands lang kami ng bf ko ‘noh? “

       Naman. With Mommy Pinty around masasabi rin namin na virgin pa sobra si Toni G. Sa ngayon sa health situation ng dyosa ng The Buzz ay bawal sa kanya ang mabusog. Kakaibang klaseng sakit din ito, ano?

       Anak ng aming kaibigang si Bobot Mortiz of Vilma Santos days ang director ng Reunion na si Direk Frasco Mortiz kung saan ang mga leading ladies nito ay equally ‘fab 4’ din on their own right tulad nila Jessy Mendiola, Megan Young, Julia Montes, at Bangs Garcia.

 

 

 

Underrated indie film director ADOLF ALIX’S ‘DEATH MARCH’ PATATAUBIN MGA KAPWA-INDIE DIREKTOR

By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE
PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club)

From his blog Manila Showbiz and Lifestyle also farmed out in different versions to Remate Online, Pssst, www.pmpcstarnews. com.ph, Pilipino Mirror, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update

DIRECTOR ADOLF ALIX, JR. 

Multi-awarded indie scriptwriter/ director/ producer, though underrated I must hazard Adolf Alix, Jr. is  out to pull off the biggest surprise for his métier sa taong ito after slugging it out at the this year’s Cinemalaya 2012 kung saan napanalunan niya sa Director’s Showcase para sa kanyang pelikulang “ Kalayaan”  ang tatlong awards tulad ng Best Sound, Best Production Design at Best Cinematography.

The good news is that all systems go na para sa shoot ng latest caper niya na pinamagatang “Death March” galing sa panulat ng isa pang multi-awarded  scriptwriter na si Rody Vera na siyang master teacher ng  Annual Virgin Labfest sa CCP bilang prime mover at tutor  ng Writers Bloc (a group of emerging and established playwrights in the country)  where if you allow some ‘writing in’ (shy ako, e)  kasama kami sa nasabing samahan and have in fact staged some of my virgin plays as in bago at original  at said CCP Festival held annually bago mag-Cinemalaya.

Excited kami sa project na ito ni Direk Adolf dahil kadalasan ay gino-glossed over lamang  ang power ng makasaysayan at infamous “death march” bilang film material sa pelikula.  

In a way, ambitious ang project na ito but in the hands of Adolf Alix I am more than assured na ang nasabing pelikula ay maging isang makabuluhang kontribusyon sa kasaysayan ng mga underrated na mga bayani ng World War II tulad ng katatapos lamang na  “Supremo” ni Direktor Richard Somes kung saan nasaksihan rin namin mismo ang kakaibang pagtalakay ng kabayanihan nila Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo at Macario Sakay put together in one film, matuk?

DIRECTOR ADOLF ALIX, JR.

Naroon ako sa unang araw ng kanilang audition sa swanky studio mismo ni Director Adolf Alix sa Kamuning and had a tete-a-tete with him and some of his colleagues in the biz tulad nila Cinemalaya Best Actress awardee Flor Salanga who was putting on video the auditionees,   good friend/director way past Agrix Films days Arman Reyes, and “Graceland” sensation Leon Miguel na kailan lamang ay naka-walk the red carpet sa Tribeca International Filmfest ng New York.

In any case, among many other things in the flurry of picking out potential actors at the audition, naibahagi sa amin ni Direk Adolf na hindi “hero- driven” ang narrative ng “Death March.” Meaning, it’s a story of varied characters in a situation at hindi ito naka-focus sa isang traditional heroic character na siyang kinamulatan na natin sa tradisyonal  na estruktura sa paghabi ng isang kwentong pampelikula hindi ba naman?

ZYRUZ IMPERIAL IN 'DEATH MARCH'

 ADVOCATE OF ' LOVE YOURSELF' ZYRUZ IMPERIAL

Seen auditioning at  “Death March” ay si Zyruz Imperial, a singer and  film actor who has quite a hefty portfolio of indie films to his credit  having been cast as  male lead in a Malaysian Production billed “Seksing Masahista” opposite Mocha Uson of Mocha Girls, “Pakawala” produced by a Vancouver-based Pinoy expat directed by  Daryl Cruz, the controversial first assistant director of Director Tikoy Aguiluz’ “Asiong Salonga.” 

Moreover, Zyruz has done important character and support roles in Richard Somes’s “Supremo,” Paul Sta. Ana’s & Cinemalaya's “Oros,” Joven Tan’s “Ben Tumbling,” Tony Reyes’s “Enteng Ng Ina Mo," Mario O’Hara’s & Cinemalaya’s “Paglilitis Ni Andres Bonifacio,” Jigz Recto’s take on the heinous Maguindanao massacre “The Road To Ampatuan” and “Tagsibol,” John Ad Castillo’s “Drug Mule,” including some films in-progress like “ Kuratong Baleleng, The Ongkoy Parojinog Story” with Robin Padilla in the lead by Spongky Villarin, “ Brown Kamasutra” by John Ad Castillo, and “Parampa-Rampa Gang” by  Deo J. Fajardo, Jr.

With “Death March”   sigurado kaming patataubin ni Direk Adolf Alix, Jr. ang ibang indie direktor in the biz  na overrated sobra.  Promise!

DIRECTOR ADOLF ALIX, JR. 101

Here, I took the liberty of reprinting the highly impressive filmography of Director Adolf Alix from the Wikepedia for the record  as follows:

DIRECTOR ADOLF ALIX, JR. 

Born October 17, 1978 in Makati City, Philippines, Director Alix graduated magna cum laude at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) with a degree in Mass Communications.

He started his career as a scriptwriter for films and television. At age 18, he won First Prize in the Film Development Foundation’s (now Council) nationwide screenwriting competition in 1999.    Even better, his prize-winning script, Kahapon, May Dalawang Bata, was made into a feature film by Carlitos Siguion Reyna.

His others screenplays include Gil Portes' acclaimed MGA MUNTING TINIG, (SMALL VOICES, 2002) and HOMECOMING (2003) and many others.

He also handled film and screenwriting classes at his alma mater and San Beda College-Alabang and currently teaches at De La Salle University-Taft.

His first film, DONSOL was a finalist in the 2006 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival where it won Best Actress and Best Cinematography honors. 

The film was screened in several international film festivals abroad and garnered Special Jury prizes in the Asian Marine Film Festival in Japan and in the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in the U.S.A.

 It was also the Philippines' official submission to the Academy Awards (OSCARS) Best Foreign Language Film category.

Since his debut as a director, he has become one of the most promising and prolific young Filipino filmmakers with his other films screened at various international film festivals. 

KADIN (THE GOAT, 2006) Alix’ second feature, premiered in the Ici et ailleurs section of the 60th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland and competed in the 27th Festival International du Film d’ Amiens in France.

His third film, TAMBOLISTA (DRUMBEAT, 2007) was featured in the Sturm und Drang (Cinema of the Future) section of the 37th Rotterdam International Film Festival. 

ADELA , his feature starring veteran actress Anita Linda, was screened at Toronto, Pusan and Rotterdam International Film Festivals. It also won in all the categories of the Young Critics' Circle Awards 2009 including Best Picture and Best Performer.

After co-directing BATANES (2007) with Dave Hukom, he disowned talents who worked on the movie when they asked him to settle their fees.

MANILA (2009), co-directed with Raya Martin and starring Piolo Pascual, was selected in the Out-of-Competition (Special Screenings) of the 62nd Festival de Cannes.

His latest work CHASSIS (2010), about a mother trying to make ends meet as she lives under the container vans in Pier 16, premiered in the Pusan International Film Festival and was screened in the Vancouver Film Festival. It is also the first Filipino film to compete in the Mar del Plata International Film Festival.

Alix has been recently listed by The Hollywood Reporter in its “Next Generation Asia 2010, which features the top 20 young entertainment personalities in the region deemed “the best and the brightest among their peers” from a vast region considered “the world’s biggest entertainment market.”

His most recent Director’s Showcase in Cinemalaya 2012 billed   KALAYAAN (Wildlife)  received script development support from the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival Rotterdam and PORNO which was part of the Hongkong-Asia Film Financing Forum.

Additional data for his filmography in different capacities are as follows:

AS WRITER: 
D' Survivors (2010) (co-writer)
Presa (2010) (co-writer)
Aurora (2009)
Villa Estrella (2009) (co-writer)
Manila (2009) (co-writer)
Adela (2008) (co-writer)
Kadin (2007) (screenplay) ... aka The Goat (Philippines: English title)
Siquijor: Mystic Island (2007) (co-writer)
Donsol (2006) (writer)
Umaaraw, Umuulan (2006) (screenplay)
The Mourning Girls (2006) (co-writer)
D'Anothers (2005) (co-writer) (story)
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John (2005) (co-writer)
Beautiful Life (2004) (co-writer)
Homecoming (2003) (co-writer)
Mga Munting Tinig (2002) (co-writer) ... aka Small Voices (International: English title)
Kahapon May Dalawang Bata (1999) (story: Ada) ... aka Yesterday Children (International: English title)

AS DIRECTOR:
D' Survivors (2010
Romeo & Juliet (2010) 
Presa (2010) Karera (2009)
Aurora (2009)
Manila (2008)
Imoral (2008)
Adela (2008)
Daybreak (2008)
Batanes (2007) ... aka Batanes - Ang pag-ibig ay walang hangganan (Philippines: Tagalog title: long title)
Nars (2007)

Tambolista (2007) ... aka Drumbeat (Philippines: English title)
Kadin (2007) ... aka The Goat (Philippines: English title)
Donsol (2006)

AS PRODUCER:
Aurora (2009) (executive producer)
Manila (2008) (co-producer)
Adela (2008) (executive producer)
Now Showing (2008) (associate producer)
Kadin (2007) (producer) ... aka The Goat (Philippines: English title)
Donsol (2006) (executive producer)

AS PRODUCTION DESIGNER:
Adela (2008)
Mano Po (2002) (as art director)

NAKA-7-YEAR ITCH NA ANG ASENSO PINOY TV AND GOING STRONG EVER NAKA-7-YEAR ITCH NA ANG ASENSO PINOY TV AND GOING STRONG EVER

By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE
PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club)


From his blog Manila Showbiz and Lifestyle also farmed out in different versions to Remate Online, Pssst, www.pmpcstarnews. com.ph, Pilipino Mirror, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update

Present during the contract signing between  Asenso Pinoy and SM Supermalls are, from left: PASTOR SID  B. JADUCANA, VP FOR FINANCE, RADIO CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES (RADIOCORP);  FRANCISCO L . CARDONA, EVP and CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,RADIOCORP / PRODUCER –HOST, ASENSO PINOY; ARCH. RENEE C. BACANI, REGIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER ,SM CITY NORTH EDSA;  JOHANNA MELISSA N. RUPISSAN,  ENTREPRENEUR COMMITTEE PROGRAM DIRECTOR & REGIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER , SM SUPERMALLS. Witnessing the contract signing are (standing, from left): ANA GALANGA-CARDONA, PRESIDENT SPOTLITE MEDIA SERVICES INC. / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ASENSO PINOY; DIEGO E. OBIDO, VP FOR ADMIN AND OPERATIONS RADIOCORP; MA. CHRISTINA CECILIA B.TAN, MARKETING MANAGER,SM NORTH EDSA,SKYDOME;  and  MARY JOY E. ARSENIO, ASSISTANT MALL MANAGER, SM CITY NORTH EDSA.

Isa sa pinaka matagal na Magazine TV Program dito sa ating bansa, ang naturang programa ay naghahatid ng mga magagandang lathalain sa Pagnenegosyo, Agrikultura, Turismo at Kultura. Ito ay ipinalalabas tuwing Sabado 11:30am at Linggo 12:30pm sa PTV-4.
Sa temang “Asenso Pinoy: Pitong Taong Kaagapay sa Negosyo at Pag-Asenso,” ang 7th year celebration ay gaganapin sa Hulyo 31, 2012 sa SkyDome, SM North EDSA, Quezon City mula 10:00am hanggang 8:00pm. Magkakaroon din ng Entrepreneur’s Assembly  – ang pagsasama-sama ng mga matagumpay na entrepreneurs -- na naging parte ng programa sa nakalipas na pitong taon, ito ayon kay Mr. Francis Cardona, ang creator at host ng programa. 
“Matutunghayan ng mga bagong negosyante at business students ang tagumpay at  sikreto ng mga matagumpay na negosyante sa bansa na naging bahagi kundi man natulungan ng aming programa.  Mayroong trade booths, business concepts at iba’t ibang negosyo na matutunan ang bawat participant. It would be a day of fun and learning, freebies and entertainment,” ayon pa kay  Cardona. 
Sa nakalipas na pitong taon ng Asenso Pinoy ay nakita ang lumalaking adbokasiya sa pagpapalaganap ng pagnenegosyo at positive values sa ating mga kababayan.  Sa pagsisikap na makapagbigay ng dekalidad at makabuluhang programa, ito ay binigyang pansin ng ilang samahan dahil sa natatangi nitong kakayahan upang makatulong sa pag-asenso ng ating mga ka-Pinoy. ilan na dito ang Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), KBP Golden Dove Awards at iba pa. Naging nominado rin ito sa 2011 PMPC Star Awards for Television.
At dahil editor/headwriter ang aming katotong si Leony Garcia sa Asenso Pinoy, siguradong imbitado ang PMPC sa naturang selebrasyon.
Ang Asenso Pinoy ay isang Television Project ng Radio Corporation of the Philippines headed by its President Mr. Fel B. Billiones, in cooperation with its production partner Spotlite Media Services, Inc. 
Ang bonggang selebrasyon ay suportado  SM Supermalls, Skydome of SM North Edsa, Asenso Ka Pinoy Foundation, Inc., Petron, Ginebra San Miguel. Duty Free Philippines, Marriott Hotel Manila,  Calata Corporation, PLDT Ka-Asenso, Duty Free Philippines, Villar Foundation, Marriott Hotel Manila,  Binalot, Zerona Laser Slimming and Aesthetics, Traders Hotel Manila, Walter Bread, Sundance, Gandour, Decisive Moments, Green Circle, Giga Ventures, Graphics Bay, Binalot Fiesta Foods, Inc., Daily Apple, Kaila Bags & Scramble Ramble, Laguna Water Hyacinth Handicraft Producers Association, Inc.,  Walter Sounds & Stage Light, Sweet Blooms, Hungry Juan, Tony Galvez Salon, Green Circle Realty Sales, Inc., TIEZA, Chrysanthemum Flowers, Fine Nutrition Trading Int’l., JAPPI/AXA Global, Teceruma Spa & Salon, Binalot Fiesta Foods, Inc., Globe, Edmark Phils., B-Meg, Red Cross, Rite Med, Nichols Airport Hotel, Hapi House Donuts, Wood Inspirations, St. Nicholas Catering Services  and Happy Cream Puff.