Dingdong saddened by 'Flop King' tag

Dingdong Dantes is saddened by write-ups labeling him as "flop king" because his new TV series "Atlantika" has yet to score significant ratings since it started airing a few weeks ago. Add to that is the fact that his movie with Iza Calzado titled "Eternity" did not do very well at the box-office. "It may not have done well as expected but it was not a flop either," Dingdong told a number of writers who chanced upon him at the birthday party of fellow Kapuso star Alfred Vargas held Friday night at the Aruba Bar in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

However, if it's any consolation for Dingdong, we must note that he has yet to appear in "Atlantika." The story going on air right now is still focused on the young Aquano. The production people behind "Atlantika" as well as director Mark Reyes are hopeful that the ratings would improve once Dingdong appears in the series as Aquano.

No matter the initial setbacks, Dingdong and the rest of the cast are doing their best to make the show even better. The support of GMA 7 is tremendous and enough to inspire the people involved with the show. The fact that Dingdong is one of the directors inspires him all the more to do his job well.

The boyfriend of Karylle even told the press that he expected to receive negative reactions, but didn't reckon that it would be this harsh. Come Wednesday next week, Dingdong will finally make his appearance in "Atlantika" along with the principal characters in the series.

'Kaleldo' to finally open in theaters

The "little" film "Kaleldo"(Kapampangan term for "summer heat") is finally opening on November 1 in local theaters! The movie stars Cherry Pie Picache (in what may be her greatest performance ever, according to some critics), Johnny Delgado, Angel Aquino and Juliana Palermo. It also features Alan Paule, Lauren Novero and Criselda Volks.

Here's a little trivia on the movie. "Kaleldo" was submitted to be part of the Metro Manila Film Festival last year, but was snubbed by the committee for dubious reasons. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the film was later selected to have a world premiere at the Rome International Film Festival and will proceed to Vienna, Hawaii and Cairo. "Kaleldo" is really different from the other local films that have made the rounds of international film fests.

We hope you will find time to check out this film. This is for those who love to watch foreign movies and wish Pinoy films would be as good. This is for those who ask to watch Pinoy films that are not all about sex. This is for those who wish to find modern gems in Pinoy filmmaking. This is for those who yearn to experience a different kind of Pinoy movie.

3rd Golden Screen Awards pushing through

As they say, better late than never. After so much delay due to production hitches, the 3rd Golden Screen Awards of the Entertainment Press Society is, at last, finally pushing through. The event will be held at the Pagcor Grand Theater at the Casino Filipino in Paranaque on October 26, Thursday at 7pm and will be hosted by Boy Abunda, Phoemela Barranda and Chynna Ortaleza and to be aired on Saturday, October 28 on IBC 13.

Guest performers are Ogie Alcasid, Lovi, Ara Mina, Sexbomb Girls, Aryana, Jenny Hernandez, Kristel Fulgar, Joey, Jeremie Antiporda, Kuh Ledesma and Zsa Zsa Padilla. Trivia hosts are Marvin Agustin, Mark Anthony Fernandez and Nadine Samonte. To introduce the best picture nominees is John Lloyd Cruz.

The 3rd Golden Screen Awards is presented by Tamayo's Catering, Aquasoft, Filgen (The Makers of Super Tibay), Racini Bags and Luggages, Sisters Sanitary Napkin, and KSA Magic Enterprises. The awards night is produced by X Zone Entertainment and PRO-ADS Concepts. It will be directed by Ding Bolanos.

Today, voting members of the Golden Screen Awards will deliberate and choose the winners on the various categories. To refresh your memory, we are running here again the list of nominees in various categories. As much as we would like to do a fearless forecast on who would win, being one of the voting members and vice-president of the Golden Screen Awards at that, prudence and delicadeza dictate that we refrain from giving any. We'd reserve our comments after the awards night.

Best Motion Picture-Drama: "Blue Moon" (Regal Entertainment); "Dubai" (Star Cinema Productions); "Exodus" (Imus Productions/ Reality Films); "Mulawin: The Movie" (GMA Films and Regal Entertainment) ; "Nasaan Ka Man" (Star Cinema Productions). Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy: "Ako Legal Wife (Regal Entertainment); "Bikini Open" (Seiko Films); "Can This Be Love" (Star Cinema Productions); "La Visa Loca" (Unitel Films). Best Motion Picture-Independent /Digital: "Ala Verde Ala Pobre" (Muchachos Bravos Filmworks); "Ang Daan Patungong..." (Sampay Bakod Productions); "Ang Pagda-dalaga..." (UFO Pictures); "Ilusyon" (Digital Viva); "Mga Pusang Gala" (Erasto Films/MLR Films); "Pepot Artista" (Buruka Films). Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-Drama: Irma Adlawan ("North Diversion Road"); Ana Capri ("Ala Verde Ala Pobre"); Jaclyn Jose ("Sarung Banggi"); Jennylyn Mercado ("Blue Moon"); Meryll Soriano ("Room Boy"). Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role-Drama: John Arcilla ("North Diversion Road"); Carlo Aquino ("Sa Aking Pagkagising Mula sa Kamulatan"); Ricky Davao ("Mga Pusang Gala"); Eddie Garcia ("Blue Moon"); Aga Muhlach ("Dubai"); Yul Servo ("Ilusyon"). Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-Musical or Comedy: Jennylyn Mercado ("Lovestruck"); Zsa Zsa Padilla ("Ako Legal Wife"); Sandara Park ("Can This Be Love"); Cherry Pie Picache ("Bikini Open"); Rufa Mae Quinto ("La Visa Loca"). Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role-Musical or Comedy: Hero Angeles ("Can This Be Love"); Jay Manalo ("Ako Legal Wife"); Robin Padilla ("La Visa Loca"); Piolo Pascual ("Dreamboy"); Jeffrey Quizon ("Lasponggols").

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role-Drama, Musical or Comedy: Boots Anson-Roa ("Blue Moon"); Claudine Barretto ("Dubai"); Gloria Diaz ("Nasaan Ka Man"); Hilda Koronel ("Nasaan Ka Man"); Cherry Pie Picache ("Ako Legal Wife"). Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role-Drama, Musical, or Comedy: Soli-man Cruz ("Ang Pag-dadalaga. .."); Ketchup Eusebio ("Sa Aking Pagkagising ..."); Alcris Galura ("Mga Pusang Gala"); Ping Medina ("Ang Pagdadalaga. .."); Michael de Mesa ("Big Time"); Dennis Trillo ("Blue Moon"). Breakthrough Performance by an Actress: Analyn Bangsa-il ("Ang Daan Patu-ngong..."); China Co-juangco ("Anak Ng Tinapa"); Jaycee Parker ("Ilusyon"); Roxy Ramirez ("Bikini Open"). Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: Cholo Barretto ("Sa Aking Pagkagising..."); Elijah Castillo ("Pepot Artista"); Angelo Ilagan ("Sarung Banggi"); Nathan Lopez ("Ang Pagdadalaga. .."); Rhenuel Ordono ("Ang Daan ..."); Jamie Wilson ("Big Time"). Best director: Jeffrey Jeturian ("Bikini Open"); Joel Lamangan ("Blue Moon"); Clo-dualdo del Mundo ("Pepot Artista"); Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil ("Mga Pusang Gala"); Briccio Santos ("Ala Verde Ala Pobre"); Auraeus Solito ("Ang Pagdadalaga..."). Best Original Screenplay: Roy Iglesias ("Ako Legal Wife"); Mes de Guzman ("Ang Da-an..."); Michiko Yamamoto ("Ang Pagdadalaga. .."); Jorge Isaac ("Blue Moon"); Mark Meily ("La Visa Loca"); Clodualdo del Mundo ("Pepot Artista"). Best Screenplay Adaptation: Jun Lana and Rody Vera ("Mga Pusang Gala"); Don Michael Perez ("Mulawin: The Movie"); Dennis Marasigan ("North Diversion Road").