“Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme” did not make it as an entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival and lead actress Iza Calzado thinks this might work to the film’s favor.
IZA Calzado is happy that her comeback vehicle after giving birth to her daughter Deia Amihan is “Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme.”
“A primary consideration is that I’d be required to shoot for only 6 days,” she says. I don’t wanna be far away from my daughter for so long, like if I’d do a teleserye.”
She posted her baby’s photos wearing the Darna costume for Halloween and looks like Deia will also get into showbiz like her mom. “She loves having her pictures taken. We brought her to the Foreign Affairs so she can have a passport and she was smiling and very friendly to everyone.”
How does she feel “SRR Extreme” didn’t make it as an official entry in the Metro Manila Film Festival and will be shown on November 29?
“Everything happens for a reason, so siguro, baka blessing in disguise. ‘Shake Rattle & Roll’ is a franchise that has made a strong cultural impact through the years. And I know a lot of its fans are waiting for the newest edition of SRR, kaya kahit kailan mo ipalabas ‘yan, kahit hindi pa kasali sa filmfest, may built in audience na ‘yan.”
Regal producer Roselle Monteverde says that after “Extreme” didn’t make it as an entry in film fest, she got an offer from a big streaming company who is willing to buy it.
“Our movies during the pandemic were not shown in theaters but via streaming,” she says.
“So ‘SRR Extreme’ is Regal’s first movie to be shown in cinemas and a lot of people are excited to see it on the big screen. So we decided to release it in theaters. As Mother Lily’s daughter, I grew up with all the ‘SRR’ movies made by our film company. I don’t get to watch all our films, but when it comes to ‘SRR’, lahat sila, I watch them. I am now proud to say that I think we have made the best ‘SRR’ movie ever. I am proud of all the actors and the directors as they really gave their best to make ‘SRR Extreme’ a fitting offering as Regal celebrates its 60th anniversary in local showbiz.”
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Krissha Viaje started as a wholesome singer discovered in the singing contest “Little Big Star,” then she did supporting roles in soaps and films. She now gets to play the lead role in the new Viva One Wattpad series, “Safe Skies, Archer,” and has agreed to do a love scene with her leading man, Jerome Ponce, with whom she gets to work for the first time.
“Both of us ni Jerome, first time namin to do a bed scene and me, I really prepared myself to do such a scene, ” says Krissha. “Pero si Jerome, siya po ang nanginginig at kabadong-kabado.”
Jerome confirms this. “First time ko, tapos, ni-require ni Direk Gino Santos na shirtless ako, kaya grabe ang nerbiyos ko,” he says. “I wasn’t confident enough kasi galing ako sa soap na puro drama lang, confrontations, so doon ang experiences ko. Pagdating sa bed scene, wala, kaya sobra ang kaba ko.”
“Safe Skies, Archer” will start streaming on November 20 on Viva One. It is the second book in the hit University series on Wattpad written by Gwy Saludes.
Since it’s their first time to be paired and work with each other, how is it?
“I’m grateful na siya ang kapareha ko kasi magaling talaga siya,” says Krissha. “He’s more experienced than me when it comes to acting and he’s very generous kaya natulungan pa niya ko sa mga eksena namin.”
They’re both single. So, is there a possibility of romance blooming between them while they’re playing the roles of Yanna and Hiro in “Safe Skies, Archer”?
“We don’t really know,” says Jerome. “As of now, we’re just enjoying working with each other. Kung may iba pang pupuntahan yun, only time will tell.”
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Rhen Escaño played a student terrorized by a ghost in her last film, “Rooftop.” Now, in Viva’s new fright flick, “Marita,” she plays the title role of the ghost herself, who haunts the students in a school where she used to be the top theater actress.
“Mahirap palang manakot,” says Rhen at the “Marita” press con at Viva Cafe. “‘Yung character ko, si Marita, puno ng poot at paghihiganti dahil feeling niya, naapi siya nung nabubuhay pa siya. Kaya ngayon, nagsasabog siya ng lagim sa mga estudyanteng tine-terrorize niya. Lahat ng scenes ko, nakakapagod.”
Her suicide scene where she hanged herself in front of the audience in their school’s theater was difficult to shoot. “Noong first take, I felt hindi convincing ang pagkakakuha kasi maluwag ‘yung lubid sa leeg ko. Hindi ako happy so I asked for a second take.”
Their director, Roni Benaid, told her there is no need for a take two since the first one seems okay. “Sabi niya sa akin, kaya mo pa ba? Kasi alam niyang natetensiyon na rin ako.
I said yes and ako mismo ang naglagay ng lubid sa leeg ko at hinigpitan ko. Nang tumalon na ako, parang masasakal talaga ako. Buti na lang nag-cut na si Direk and they helped me get the rope off my neck.”
They shot the film in an old school that looks haunted and during their shoot, she really felt something spooky on the set. “I love watching horror films kasi hindi ako matatakutin.
Then while shooting a scene in the dark theater, dalawa kami on stage waiting for a take.
Walang masyadong ilaw except for the camera. Nakatayo kami sa stage, may biglang dumaan sa ibaba, naka-white. Sabi ko, ano ‘yun? Nakita rin pala nung katabi ko. So that means two of us saw the apparition. It’s so creepy! Well, I just hope it’s a sign na marami ngang manonood ng movie na ito on November 22 and it’ll be a big hit.”
