CLOE Barretto was introduced in Joel Lamangan’s “Silab” last year where the climax shows her cutting off the sex organ of her leading man. Now, she’s back in a lead role in “Tahan” as Elise, a girl forced into prostitution by her own mom, Jaclyn Jose, who later murders the men who get involved with her.
“I’m very excited with ‘Tahan’ kasi first time ko to work with Miss Jaclyn Jose,” says Cloe.
“First time ko rin to do a psycho-thriller. Sobrang idol ko si Miss Jaclyn sa acting, so nung una ko siyang makaharap, nahihiya ako. Na-starstruck ako. Dahil first time ko siya maka-work, I told her nahihiya ako sa kanya. Sabi niya, huwag ka mahiya, then she kissed me on the forehead to relax me. May scene na sinampal niya ako at natuwa akong nasampal ako ng isang Jaclyn Jose, best actress sa Cannes film fest.”
She also wants to thank her leading man, JC Santos, and their director, Bobby Bonifacio.
“Noong una, I was so nervous kasi ang hihirap ng mga eksena. Pero nakaya ko naman palang gawin, dahil sa suporta nila sa akin. I’m happy na maganda ang feedback sa trailer namin. Sobrang sexy nitong ‘Tahan’ at mas daring ito sa ibang mga nagawa ko na before.
I’m very proud of this movie kasi hindi lang siya puro hubaran. Very challenging din sa actingan, kaya abangan nyo sa July 22.”
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Rayver Cruz is so happy his new primetime GMA series “Bolera” is rating very high and the reaction of netizens to his performance as Miguel, one of the two leading men of lead actress Kylie Padilla, is very positive.
“I’m lucky kasi maganda talaga ang role na ibinigay nila sa akin,” he says. “He is considered a phenomenon. Bata pa siya, kinakitaan na siya ng kakaibang skill in playing billiards kaya inalagaan siya nang husto hanggang maging champion siya. He has competed and won abroad. He is driven in his game and very competitive.”
The character comes off as quite cocky, which Rayver is not. “Yes, may kayabangan siya kasi he knows his capabilities and he is sure of how good he is,” he adds. “He’s got a dominant personality at medyo maangas ang dating niya kasi alam niyang magaling siya.
Quite overconfident and arrogant, which is very far from who I am in real life.”
Does he really play billiards? “Oh yes. My father was the one who taught me how to play it.
It was one of our family bonding activities, kasama ang mga kapatid ko. Magaling talaga maglaro ang daddy ko. But for my role as Miguel, I had to undergo more training to be convincing as a billiards champ.”
Rayver’s career really took a turn for the better when he transferred to GMA. His love life suffered when he and Janine Gutierrez broke up but it seems he has now recovered with the help of Julie Anne San Jose.
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‘Well, sana naman, they do not wait for him to be a centenarian before they name him a National Artist!’
Writer-director Joey Reyes is now making his first mini-series for Vivamax, “Katawang Lupa,” which will have four episodes. This is his second project with them after the movie, “Secrets.” What convinced him to do a series?
“So many changes have happened because of the pandemic and you have to accept, learn to adjust to the changing times. Nag-iba na ang platforms, ang viewing habits ng mga tao and you cannot be a dinosaur, you have to face the challenge and adjust to streaming.”
“Katawang Lupa” is about people having two sides and it aims to show this duality. Leading the cast is Janelle Tee, a murder victim and as cops investigate her case, people will be shocked as it turns out that she’s leading a very colorful and controversial double life.
In mainstream movies, filmmakers have to play it safe as they know their works will be scrutinized by the MTRCB. But with a streaming platform, there are no such constraints.
“Like itong ‘Katawang Lupa’ and the duality in people, matagal na ang material na ito sa akin, but alam ko hindi ko magagawa sa mainstream because of its very mature theme. We should really be thankful to Vivamax kasi now na down ang industry, sila lang ang patuloy na nagbibigay ng trabaho sa maraming tao.”
What can he say about Tirso Cruz III being the new FDCP Chair? “Alam naman natin ang kalagayan ng pelikulang Pilipino ngayon. Nanonood lang ang tao sa sinehan kapag big Hollywood movie like ‘Top Gun’ or ‘Thor,’ not for local movie. But I’m very positive, I’m confident that Tirso will be able to continue to do the good projects of Liza Diño and add also his own vision to help the industry survive. We’re all praying na sana, sa darating na Metro Manila film fest, bumalik na ang mga tao sa sinehan.”
He says this is where government can help. “Ang unang makakatulong sa producers is giving the industry a tax holiday as we are the most taxed film industry in the world.”
Joey is turning 68 this October. He has an impressive body of work as a writer and director, and he is also a much-respected academician. As a writer, he did the award-winning “Oro Plata Mata” and on TV, the long-running hit sitcoms “Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata” and “Palibhasa Lalake.” He also wrote many stand-up comedy acts and concerts.
As a real auteur who writes his own films and directs, he did memorable, feel-good films like “May Minamahal,” “Batang PX,” “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin,” “Iisa Pa Lamang,” “Pare Ko,” “Radio Romance,” “Kung Ako na Lang Sana” and “Kasal Kasali Kasalo.” Now, tell me, are these credentials not enough for him to be named a future National Artist? And obviously, he has no plans of slowing down.
“None, I plan to outlive my mom who passed at 101,” he says.
Well, sana naman, they do not wait for him to be a centenarian before they name him a National Artist!
