In the heart of Quezon City, atop a busy Filipino restaurant, a group of eight individuals is orchestrating a cinematic revolution, one frame at a time. Rein Entertainment, an eight-person production company led by Lino Cayetano, Philip King and Shugo Praico are blazing a path where art, entertainment, and a profound commitment to Filipinos’ values come together to form a unique tapestry of storytelling.
Rein Entertainment is derived from the initials of the children of Cayetano, Praico, and King. This personal touch exemplifies the heart and soul the this tight-knit team invests in their work. They are driven not only by the desire to make blockbuster hits but also to make a meaningful impact on the lives of its audience.
Cayetano, one of the co-founders, explained their vision by saying, “We don’t need to produce a lot, but the movies and films we produce are engaging, compelling, may kabuluhan, at hopefully may saysay sa mga buhay ng mga manunuod. That’s very important to us. We’re focusing on premium content. It does not need to be done in ten days, hindi sa mahal ha, yung may oras, kasi ang pinakamahalaga sa amin ay yung oras namin, so pwedeng mura yung isang project pero anim na buhay namin ang inilagay dyan. Yun yung pinakaimportante sa amin. We won’t produce something na hindi namin mahal, hindi namin pinapaniwalaan.”
Rein Entertainment is a refreshing change in the entertainment industry which seems to be bent on churning content without much regard for quality. Because of this commitment, Rein Entertainment has been recognized as The Eddys 2022 Rising Producer by the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors. It has not only garnered acclaim for its craftsmanship but also for its powerful narratives. Two of their notable series have been won awards at the Asian Academy Awards: “Bagman, has won best actor for lead star Arjo Atayde, while “BetCin” won a national award in the Best Comedy Program category.
Rein Entertainment’s 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Nanahimik ang Gabi,” written and directed by Praico, has clinched four awards — Best Actress in a Leading Role (Heaven Peralejo), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Mon Confiado), Best Screenplay (Shugo Praico), Best Feature Film (Rein Entertainment) at the industry-run Asian Academy Creative Awards set to happen in December in Singapore.
“Nanahimik ang Gabi” is also a major contender at The Eddys 2023 that will happen in November. It has earned a total of eleven nominations, including Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Director.
Next, the team is focusing on two new projects: King’s “Elevator” and Praico’s “Caretakers.” A co-production with Viva Communications and Cineko, “Elevator” is written and directed by Philip King and features Paulo Avelino, Kylie Verzosa, and Singaporean actor Adrian Pang. The romance-comedy is set within a Singapore hotel and features the world of migrant workers. It was made in collaboration with a Singaporean co-producer Dogma Films. “Caretakers” is a horror movie, Praico’s followup to “Nanahimik ang Gabi” and is now casting for the two warring families who come from starkly contrasting social backgrounds.
Said Cayetano: “‘Elevator’ means a lot to many of us, about OFWs, mga Filipino na nakikipagsapalaran sa araw araw, ‘Nanahimik ang Gabi’ means something to all of us.
“I think we care deeply and passionately about our projects and ako moving forward, we’re working with a lot of co-producers. Yung next step, we’re working with a lot of directors, working with more writers, actors.”
