FILM. As an advocate of the Cebuano movie industry’s eventual revival, I am happy to know that the Seattle, Washington-based Harana Productions is definitely coming up with a local feature film that will give our homegrown talents the chance to appear as actors and actresses.
My very good friend Albert Chan Paran, the guy behind Cebu Filmmakers’ Club, informed me that the upcoming flick will be set in the Cebu municipality of Minglanilla—and the town’s name itself will be the title of the movie. Paran is the project’s casting director.
Audition. I gathered from him that this Friday, April 5, a half-day audition will be held for those that are ready and willing to appear in Minglanilla. Even those who have acting experience and want to appear in this Visayan movie should undergo the audition, which is from 1-5 p.m. at the International Academy of Film and Television Acting Studio at One Hollywood Boulevard, Bigfoot IT and Media Park in Lapu-Lapu City. Those who will audition must know how to speak Visayan.
Cast. Just to give you an idea as to who will be taken in as stars of Minglanilla, here’s a list of characters: Jun, between 18 and 27 years old, somebody with limited ambition but independent and cocky who is relentless with his love interest; Ray, between 18 and 27 years old, peacemaker by nature; Cora, between 18 and 27 years old, a lovely daughter of a field worker but because of her sheltered family background, she hasn’t taken time to dream about her future; Allan, between 25 and 35 years old, a drug dealer who is well known as a fearless ring leader, powerful and intimidating with a mean streak when it comes to his money; Grandpa, between 50 and 60 years old, extremely protective, militant and structured; Stefano, between 18 and 30 years old, arrogant and constantly puffs himself up in front of others to impress Cora; and several others in important roles as well as extras. Text me (don’t call) should you have queries on this casting issue. You may also open Harana Productions’ Facebook page by typing Minglanilla Movie.
Concert. Cebu’s one and only singing clergy known as Men in White is staging another delightful concert, this time in Carcar city on Friday, April 5. It starts at exactly 7 pm. at the city’s gymnasium. The five singing priests, popularly known as the Cebu Clergy Performing Artists, will definitely offer an evening of hilarious numbers that have been their trademark as entertainers. The St. Catherine Parish Pastoral Council is producing the show simply titled “Men in White: A Concert.”
Delightful. I have watched the five priests in their previous shows and they have always been delightful. They have a distinctive style of entertaining the spectators and there is never a single dull moment once they start performing. I commend them because despite their heavy workload as priests, they still find time to perform every now and then. Aside from Fr. Jun Gutierrez who informed me about their upcoming show, the rest of the singing priests are Fr. Zachary Zacarias, parish priest of Mantalongon, Barili; Fr. Kipling Agravante, member of the team of pastors of Minglanilla parish; Fr. Arvin Pretila, parochial vicar of Guadalupe parish and Fr. Ariel Dotusme, professor of the San Carlos Seminary College.
Teleserye. I heard a local pharmaceutical firm is producing a remake of Manok Ni San Pedro, this time as a teleserye to be aired over TV5. If I’m not mistaken, veteran writer Marcos Navarro Sacol wrote its very popular radio drama version in the ‘80s. More on this happy news next Monday.