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Moviegoers can expect heartwarming family-oriented stories and fresh team-ups from Viva Films this 2010. In an exclusive meeting with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last January 18, Executive Vice President Vincent del Rosario and Senior Vice President Veronique Corpus revealed the movies that they plan to release this year.

Three films are currently being shot in different locations: Of All the Things, Hating Kapatid, and Working Girls 2010.

Aga Muhlach and Regine Velasquez topbill the romantic comedy Of All the Things, which was shot partly in Camarines Sur. The film tells the love story of an intellectual man who falls in love with an overly ambitious and overbearing woman. This marks Regine and Aga's third team-up after being paired together in the movies Dahil May Isang Ikaw (1999) and Pangako... Ikaw Lang (2001), both produced by Viva Films.

Judy Ann Santos and Sarah Geronimo team up for the first time to portray sisters in the family-oriented movie tentatively titled Hating Kapatid. They run their family business in Bocaue, Bulacan where they sell firecrackers. Juday's character is very protective of her younger sister and even puts her sister's happiness over her own. Luis Manzano is cast as the love interest of Sarah while Gina Pareño serves as the grandmother of the two ladies. Wenn Deramas helms Hating Kapatid.


Working Girls 2010 is the modern-day version of Working Girls, which was first released in 1984. Originally directed by Ishmael Bernal, Jose Javier Reyes will helm this ensemble film. Liberated women of different status, profession, and principles will be brought to life by Eula Valdes, Ruffa Gutierrez, Iza Calzado, Cristine Reyes, Eugene Domingo, Carmi Martin, Jennylyn Mercado, and Bianca King. This will be a co-production with Unitel.

Cristine Reyes is also slated to star in the horror film Tumbok.

REMAKES. Viva Films is proud to remake Petrang Kabayo, which was originally played by Roderick Paulate in two movies during the late '80s. This time, Vice Ganda will topbill the project. The stand-up comedian and Showtime resident judge has already signed up with Viva for a multiple-picture contract so moviegoers can look forward to seeing him soon in the big screen.

They also plan to do a remake of Karma, the classic 1981 film of Vilma Santos and Dindo Fernando. Claudine Barretto will topbill this movie but they have yet to finalize who will be her leading man. Viva clarified that Mark Anthony Fernandez is not yet their final choice.


CO-PRODUCTIONS. As mentioned in PEP's previous article about Star Cinema, Viva Films will be co-producing Babe I Love You with ABS-CBN's film production outfit.

Sam Milby and Anne Curtis will topbill this romance movie that is expected to premiere on Black Saturday, April 3.

When asked if they plan to join the Metro Manila Film Festival this year, Mr. Vincent del Rosario explained that this will depend on whether they find a noteworthy project.

"Ang corporate position namin kasi with the MMFF, is that parang yung pie hindi lumalaki gaano. We are splitting it with six or seven companies na isa o dalawa lang ang eventually kikita. Whereas there are 50 other weeks na puwedeng wala kang kalaban. Kung walang compelling reason to participate, like a very good material, like Baler, we'd rather let our people take a vacation during Christmas.

"Our last entry nga was Baler [2008]. And even that was born out of the need to tell a story... kailangang ikuwento. It was funded by special interest groups at that time, si Senator Edgardo Angara and others," he explained.

During the 34th edition of the MMFF, Baler bagged Best Festival Picture, Best Director (Mark Meily), Best Actress (Anne Curtis), Best Supporting Actor (Phillip Salvador), Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Editing, as well as the Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award.

Mr. Del Rosario is also optimistic about Viva's performance in the future.

"I think the difference between this year and the past two years, nadagdagan yung mga talents that either we manage or who become friendly with us. Mas nagkaroon kami ng latitude sa pamimili ng artista. Back then, we were very limited with what we have. Ngayon, yung iba na mga artists, they go freelance, or like si Claudine Barretto, they become available to us."

To date, Viva Artists Agency manage around 40 stars but those who are active in showbiz range from 20-25.

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