Roger Serna
Sounds and images
ASIDE from few big-budgeted movies, what really keeps the local film industry alive and kicking are indie movies.
In a new digital film, Pilantik, LCP Productions tapped director Argel Joseph—megged outstanding films, like Roman Rapido, Joaquin Bordado, Obra—others to direct the suspense-thriller top billed by character actor Mon Confiado.
Mon has a long list of projects (both in cinema and television) in which he portrays varied roles. This has made him one of the most sought after thespians in local cinema.
As if to prove his versatility, this time Mon portrays the role of a drag queen who grew up with pain and anger in his heart, and who takes the law into his hands to avenge his fate and that of his mother, the only person he loves and who loves him back.
Ably supporting Mon are Ma. Isabel Lopez, Pen Medina, Keith Cabanez, Adonis Pascual, Jordan Castillo, Shalala, Jao Mapa, Kris Martinez and Alvin Bondoc.
Pilantik is now showning at New Eden Theater in downtown Cebu.
***
Although she had been around winning children’s beauty contests, Kelsey Adams was noticed even more in the local scene when she joined and then won the runner-up slot and the Texters’ Choice awards in ABS-CBN’s Little Big Star-Cebu tilt.
She had been singing since age five and has since mounted successful concerts here and in Manila. Now, at 14, Kelsey will release her CD album, entitled Definition of Cool, carrying the PolyEast Records label. It is a testimony of the company’s trust and amazement at the teener’s self-assured musicality and attitude.
The album consists of 10 songs including the title track, Welcome To Me, Cut That Out, Plenty of Time, What If, Not Polite To Stare and What’s It Like, to name some. The songs talk about everyday concerns of teenagers like her.
Born Kelsey Quinn Racoma Adams in Hawaii, USA, to Richard Charles Adams and Jasmine Racoma Adams, the bubbly teenager possesses the looks and the talent that can serve as her passport to fame and fortune in the local entertainment industry or even abroad. Watch out for this pretty girl.
* * *
Early last month, Globe Telecom execs from Manila, led by corporate communications head Yoly Crisanto and external legal counsel Rodulfo Salalima, met some members of the Cebu press in a combined post-Christmas and pre-Sinulog get together.
This was at the posh You Resto-Bar at the Park Mall. Many guests went home with the prizes they won in the raffles. Some of these were lawyer Ely Espinosa (Sun.Star Cebu columnist) who went home with a hi-end Nokia cellphone and Joe Recio who won a laptop.
Some also received prizes in the parlor games. An additional prize, a Blackberry Curve 8520 courtesy of attorney Salalima, kept the guests excited and so had to stay and enjoy the live music from the Infrared band on their seats and on the dance floor. Shortly before midnight, the winner was announced. Who won? The smile on my face in this column’s accompanying photo is the clue.
***
Award-winning and respected playwright-director Al Evangelio celebrates his 45th anniversary in arts and culture with the staging in a gala premiere of the hit Broadway and movie musicale “Dreamgirls.”
Slated at the SM City Cebu Cinema One on March 6 at 7:30 p.m., “Dreamgirls” stars fresh talents whom the director handpicked and painstakingly honed to perfection to come up with the characterization that their respective roles demand from them.
Director Al describes his life as one dedicated to the development of Cebuano artists in the performing arts, an uphill climb marked by sacrifice, and rocked by intrigues. But always concluding with awesome fulfillment as local artists graduated from the ranks of the amateur to national and international prominence. For this alone, director Al deserves all the support the Cebu community can muster.
r