Monday, October 23, 2006 Costanilla: Text review By Sam Costanilla Spotlight
WE are glad to know that a Cebu-based Hollywood production outfit is willing to finance films with a Filipino concept. I read somewhere that Bigfoot Entertainment is ready to spend as much as $2 million for this purpose. Paging local scriptwriters - this is now your chance.
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THE same report says Bigfoot Entertainment is only requiring writers to ensure that their scripts have an international appeal—meaning their plots should not be about outer space, aliens, volcano eruptions or huge airplane chases. We should commend the Hollywood film outfit for its readiness and willingness to finance local movies. After all, Cebu has a surplus of prolific scriptwriters that are only waiting to be tapped.
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TEXT may have its share of cinematic lapses but it is an effective shocker for those who dig horror flicks. In the movie, Roman’s (Oyo Sotto) spirit continues to hound his girlfriend (Angel Locsin) by sending her nasty and scary text messages and pictures indicating that his is a disturbed spirit after they met a tragic and (for him) fatal car accident. Alex (Dennis Trillo) is dragged into the mess because Roman’s disturbed spirit doesn’t want Alex to court his girlfriend.
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MICHAEL Tuviera’s film direction of Text, is passable despite being a neophyte. However, some dragging scenes in the movie could have been avoided. On the other hand, the film effectively imputes that some cops can be bribed, not necessarily with cash, but even with a second-hand cellphone! In some scenes where Angel is required to shout in fear, the lovely actress needs some more realistic and convincing facial expression, otherwise her shouting becomes mediocre. Overall, however, Text is a truly entertaining horror treat.
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TOMORROW, Tuesday, our weekly television show Sam Enchanted Evening (over INTV/CCTN channel 47 or Skycable 56, 8-9 p.m.) will be graced by the lovely songbird Myles Carciller who is appearing in the Cebuano teleserye Langit ug Yuta. Aside from her, recording artist Leo Patrick Acibar will also be in our show. Both Myles and Leo will be rendering your favorite love songs, so be sure to catch them with this writer (as their pianist) tomorrow evening.
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THIS made me and the other guests laugh. In a birthday party I attended, the gay emcee told the celebrant, “Happy birthday to you. Enjoy because life is so very wonderful to live in!”
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THIS veteran lounge singer here is warning the public not to deal with a Japanese businessman whose racket is to entice his would-be victims to invest in an entertainment nightspot with him as the fund manager. The singer herself was victimized by the Jap when they agreed to open a bar. The place operated for four nights only. The Jap suddenly vanished, leaving the singer with P150,000 in various payables.