MONTAGE
By GEORGE VAIL KABRISTANTE
PMPC (Phil. Movie Press Club)
From my blog “ Manila Showbiz & Lifestyle” farmed out in different versions to www: pmpcstarnews.com, Pilipino Mirror, Remate Online, Scandal, CMT (Columnists Monitoring Team) Update, etc.
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| DIRECTOR CELSO AD CASTILLO |
I received from the text of Director John Ad Castillo, Director Celso Ad Castillo’s brother early this morning at 03:08:55 informing me of D’ Kid’s (his moniker) death. I said to myself may the great director rest in peace.
For the uninformed Director Celso Ad Castillo was in the triangulated greatness of the 2nd Golden Age of Filipino Cinema along with National Artists for Film Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal.
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| VILMA SANTOS IN BURLESK QUEEN |
Director Celso Ad Castillo was mainly influential in my joining the movies in such capacity as screenwriter (as his scenarist), production designer, and eventually as film/TV director as well. (My legit stage influence was Cecile Guidote Alvarez who founded PETA (Phil. Educational Theatre Association).
The first screenplay or rather some scenarios I wrote for him was for “Uhaw Na Dagat” starred by Eddie Garcia, Dennis Roldan, Gloria Diaz, Isabel Rivas and Elizabeth Oropesa.
Director Castillo got me here as scenarist, meaning I wrote the dialogue for a particular scene that he would describe to me. I was not credited here because I did not finish the job.
The next time he took me to Malaysia to design “Pikoy Goes To Malaysia.” We shot the film for months in Kuala Lumpur with Isadora as female lead.
He got me to do the production design of “Pedro Tunasan” with Lito Lapid in the lead but was credited as Art Director because I did not finish the job and actor Steve Paolo instead who was in the cast took over.
I did the production design of “Ang Daigdig Ay Isang Butil Na Luha” starred by Manilyn Reynes, Gloria Diaz, Dennis Roldan, Ronaldo Valdez, etc. This film got lost.
He would get me from time to time to brainstorm for some of his film projects at hand one of which was his dream film “Ang Lalaking Nangarap Na Maging Nora Aunor ” (which I heard Vangie Labalan is appropriating almost the same title as in gagamitin without batting an eyelash and permission as well for a film she has in mind and dares to direct), “Comfort Women,” “Payaso,” etc.
In all of his lectures/ workshops/ seminars on acting and filmmaking I was all the way with Director Celso Ad Castillo as organizer and speaker as well.
The rest is history, as follows:
Born in Siniloan, Laguna 12 on Sept 1943, movie director/ scriptwriter/actor, Director Celso Ad Castillo studied at Manuel L. Quezon University and obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature in 1964. He is the Son of Atty. Dominador Ad Castillo, lawyer/writer, and Marta Adolfo.
BODY OF WORKS THAT INFLUENCED THE TREND OF PHILIPPINE MOVIES
" NYMPHA " (1971)
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| DIRECTOR CELSO AD CASTILLO |
" ANG ALAMAT " (1972, Fernando Poe, Jr.)
The first action movie made after the declaration of martial Law that defined the uncertain condition of the Philippine movies
" PATAYIN MO SA SINDAK SI BARBARA " (1974, Susan Roces)
The first filipino movie qualified for competition at the Los Angeles World Film Exposition in Los Angeles, California.
" ANG PINAKAMAGANDANG HAYOP SA BALAT NG LUPA " (1975, Gloria Diaz)
The first screen appearance of the first filipina Miss Universe GLORIA DIAZ; introduced wet look in this movie.
" BURLESK QUEEN " (1977, Vilma Santos)
Garnered 10 out of 11 awards at the Metro Manila Film Festival.
" PAGPUTI NG UWAK, PAG-ITIM NG TAGAK " (1978)
Representing Philippines in all film festivals in foreign countries.
" ANG ALAMAT NI JULIAN MAKABAYAN " (1979, Christopher de Leon)
Exhibited at the UNESCO FILM CONFERENCE in Paris, France. Philippines' official entry at the WORLD FILM FESTIVAL in Montreal, Canada and at the ASEAN FILM FESTIVAL in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
" VIRGIN PEOPLE 1 " (1983)
Represented the Philippines at the MANILA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL and outgrossing all festival entries at the box-office.
 | THE FILMMAKER Celso Ad Castillo began directing films mid-60's at an early age, but he has since then gained reputation for many other aspects of the craft particularly scriptwriting and acting. In the Filipino movie industry, he holds the unique repuation of being controversial, trendsetter,enfant terrible and messiah of Philippine cinema, and his track record justifies it: he introduced artistry and commercialism in sex films (nympha) when the two were considered incompatible, and introduced sex in artistic projects ( Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa/The Most Beautiful Animal on Earth)when moralistic repression was in vogue. An unfortunate and unfair consequence of the controversy is the recognition due him as one of the finest film commentators on the Philippine social scene, with a visual fluency unmatched by any other contemporary filipino film director. A list of his outstanding outputs (He made more than fifty films to date) would easily find its way under the heading of indispensable introduction to artistic achievements in Philippine cinema: Asedillo, Burlesk Queen, Pagputi ng Uwak, Pagitim ng Tagak (When The Heron Has Turned Black, When The Crow Has Turned White), Totoy Boogie, Pedro Tunasan, Daluyong at Habagat, Julian Makabayan, Patayin Mo Sa Sindak Si Barbara ( Kill Barbara with Panic), Ang Mahiwagang Daigdig ni Pedro Penduko ( The Mystical World of Pedro Penduko), Ang Daigdig ay Isang Butil na Luha ( The World is just but a Drop of Tear). For some of these, Castillo has been rewarded with trophies for excellence: as director of Burlesk Queen (Metro Manila Fim Festival), Pagputi ng Uwak, Pagitim ng Tagak (Urian and Famas Awards) and Paradise Inn (Famas), all of which won best picture in their respective competitions; as co-writer of Pagputi ng Uwak and Paradise Inn and as writer of still another entry Kung Bakit Dugo ang Kulay ng Gabi (Olongapo Film Festival). Performers have also been known to attain award winning peaks in Castillo films: Susan Roces and Rosanna Ortiz in Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara, Fernando Poe Jr. in Asidillo, Vilma Santos in Burlesk Queen, Joonee Gamboa and Angie Ferro in Pagputi ng Uwak, Lolita Rodriguez, Vivian Velez, Michael de Mesa, Lito Anzures in Paradise Inn. Castillo himself has been rewarded a best supporting actor award in Sampung Ahas ni Eba (Ten Snakes Of Eve).
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2010 666
2003 Sanib
2003 Nympha
2002 Virgin People III
1997 Lihim ni Madonna
1997 Mananayaw
1996 Isla 2
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| VILMA SANTOS |
1996 Virgin People 2
1992 Tag-araw, tag-ulan
1986 Payaso
1986 Kailan tama ang mali
1985 Paradise Inn
1985 Isla
1985 Perfumed Garden
1984 Virgin People (as Celso Ad Castillo)
1984 Sampung ahas ni Eva
1984 Snake Sisters
1983 Pedro Tunasan
1983 Dragon's Quest
1982 Brown Emmanuelle
1981 Uhaw na dagat (as Celso Ad Castillo)
1980 Totoy boogie
1979 Aliw-iw
1977 Burlesk Queen
1977 Maligno
1977 Sa dulo ng kris
1976 Daluyong at Habagat
1975 Tag-ulan sa tag-araw
1974 Return of the Dragon
1973 Ato ti Bondying
1973 Esteban
1972 Ang alamat
1972 Santo Domingo
1971 Asedillo
1971 Nymph
1971 The Virgin
1970 Romantika
1970 Usapang lalake
1970 Romantiko
1967 Barako
1965 Mansanas sa paraiso
1965 Misyong mapanganib
1965 Zebra
