Friday, May 23, 2008 Serna: Panky goes to Hollywood By Roger Serna Sounds and images
CAREGIVER. This is the title of the comeback movie of megastar Sharon Cuneta after a hiatus of four long years from the wide celluloid screen.
By the title alone, you know it tells about the travails and everything in the life of a caregiver. Shot almost entirely in London, the movie also stars British actors who really auditioned for their roles such as Saul Reichlin, Matthew Rutherford and Claire Jeater.
Promo diva Josie Pereyra of JSP Ads & Promotions confirmed that the megastar is coming over to Cebu today to promote her move. She’ll be meeting some members of the Cebu media covering the entertainment beat at a still undisclosed place.
I’m looking forward to this chance to talk to Sharon. She’s such a lively interviewee volunteering information even without you asking for them.
She can tell kilometric answers for just a single question sometimes making the interviewer wonder how to but in for the follow-up just like the last time we talked to her at the Teatro Casino not so long ago.
Caregiver also boasts of a powerhouse supporting cast including John Estrada, Boots Anson Roa, Ima Castro, Marita Zobel, Anita Linda, Jhong Hilario, Lotlot de Leon, Mickey Ferriols, John Manalo, Rica Peralejo, Makisig Morales and Ella V.
The long wait of the megastar’s fans will finally be over as the movie will be shown simultaneously nationwide on Wednesday, May 28, with overseas premieres also scheduled on May 31 (Los Angeles), June 1 (Honolulu), June 6 (London) and June 7 (Rome).
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The first things I noticed when I entered the Paete Room of Laguna Garden Café last week were the blonde hair, the baby-like skin (a future endorser of a derma clinic?) and the cheerful disposition of former Pinoy Dream Academy scholar Panky Trinidad.
My suspicion that love was part of that cheerful aura proved to be wrong later on. What lifted her spirits was the fact that she’ll be representing the country in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood in July. She was chosen by national director Carlo Orosa from the many who were asked to audition.
Panky is the third Cebuana to represent the country in what is termed as the Talent Olympics after Rizza Navales and Raki Vega who brought home medals of excellence during their turn.
The Goddess of Rock will interpret songs previously popularized by male artists such as Troubled by Elvis Presley (rock), This Ain’t A Love Song by Bon Jovi (pop), Jesus Christ Superstar (Broadway), His Eye is On The Sparrow ni Lauryn Hill (gospel) and I Got You by James Brown (jazz).
With the pitch raised higher for added degree of difficulty, the songs were intentionally chosen to catch the judges’ attention. Good luck, Panky! We’re proud of you!
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When complimented that he was so effective in his gay role opposite Victor Basa in Your Song, young actor Joross Gamboa narrated his experience over a sumptuous lunch of Filipino food at Lighthouse Restaurant. He said that after essaying a similar role in a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode, which made observers and critics take notice of his depth and effectiveness as an actor episode, similar offers had come his way.
He turned down two of such offers (one is a film-bio) because one had a scene showing a bloodied behind and the other one required him to do a frontal nudity. He added that he’s not against frontal nudity but just feels that it is not yet time for him to do so.
Joross will be seen as a naughty young man in Eva Fonda. He divulged that he readily accepted the role as not to be typecast in gay roles and to avoid having his sexual preference put in question.
Joross and young star-host Iya Villania were in Cebu last weekend as the celebrity guests of Rosemarie Gaisano in the final draw of A Million Thanks Raffle Promo held in the packed Bogo City gymnasium where a resident of Balamban won the Mazda car grand prize.
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With pride in her eyes, Iya excitedly divulged that she’ll be graduating in December with the degree of AB Psychology proving to all and sundry, both in and out of show biz, that acquiring education and having a show biz career can blend quite well.
Guess what? Her thesis is about how a person, male or female, develops or becomes a homosexual (to which Joross gave a guffaw). She just hopes that there is no similar research had preceded hers.
Although she already had some respondents, she still has to speak to a lot more for a more comprehensive view of the subject. More power, Iya!
