“Tirador,” a digital movie about the life and survival of small-time crooks, won the Caligari Film Prize at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival held February 7 to 17.
Directed by Brillante “Dante” Mendoza, “Tirador” is the first Filipino film to be screened in the Berlin Forum where new or unconventional films come together and find an audience known for its enthusiasm and discerning cinematic eye.
The Caligari prize is conferred by the German Federal Association of Communal Film Work in cooperation with Filmdienst magazine. The winning film is awarded 4,000 Euros, half of which is given to the director, and the other half is granted to its German film distributor.
“Tirador” (international title of which is “Slingshot”) is an intimate glimpse into the lives of criminals who have to deal with police raids and other hardships on the gritty streets of Manila. The film premiered at the UP Film Institute on Dec. 3, 2007.
“Tirador” stars Coco Martin, Jiro Manio, Kristoffer King, and Nathan Lopez with the special participation of Jaclyn Jose, Simon Ibarra, and Julio Diaz. The independent film, shot in 10 days, was produced by Centerstage Productions.
The 2008 jury described “Tirador” as “a thematically innovative and stylistically creative film, which successfully exposes the audience to events, rather than aiming at identification and involving them emotionally.”
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Claire dela Fuente shed tears at the launching of her latest Viva album titled “Something In Your Eyes” held last Friday at the Bar One of Holiday Inn Manila, with no less than the famed Richard Carpenter, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo the Carpenters, as special guest.
Richard, who composed such Carpenters hits as “Goodbye to Love,” “Top of the World,” “Yesterday Once More,” and “Only Yesterday,” also composed the title track “Something in Your Eyes” for his sister Karen, who died in 1983.
Although she never stopped performing here and abroad, it was only last year that Claire decided to revive her recording career. It was sometime in October when Claire learned that she will be doing an album to be produced by famed record producer Christian de Walden. And the icing on the cake was the fact she’d be recording a song composed by her idol Richard Carpenter.
“I really don’t know what to say,” declared Claire as she was momentarily speechless. She said she couldn’t find the right words to describe how she feels that after 28 years in the business, she’s on the brink of international stardom.
On December 2006, she lost her husband and Claire felt devastated.
“Sabi ko sa sarili ko, kapag nawawalan ka pala ng asawa, iba pala ang pakiramdam. Para palang napuputulan ka ng paa. Tapos sabi ko, paano kaya ako mag-uumpisa uli? Paano kaya ang gagawin ko sa aking buhay,” she recalled.
When she met Christian de Walden, the record producer told her why was she hiding in Manila. He told her she should cut an album and also informed that she will be able to meet her idol, Richard Carpenter. She cried like crazy.
“The biggest dream of my life is to be able to record a song composed by my idol, Richard Carpenter,” Claire added. “Until now, I could hardly believe that all the things happening to me are true. Parang panaginip lang pa rin lahat.”
The title track “Something In Your Eyes” is a Richard Carpenter creation. When Richard first heard the final copy of the recorded song, he was all praises for Claire’s performance. This is simply the reason why he readily accepted Claire’s invitation to be the guest of honor in the album launch held Sunday at ASAP 08 at ABS-CBN.
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A lot of people are saying that “Pinoy Big Brother” Celebrity Housemate 2 member Zara Aldana is very promising because she’s fresh and young. We wonder, however, if ABS-CBN would be interested in giving her a break in a soap opera.
All that Zara is doing right now is being one of the puzzle girls of Kris Aquino in “Wheel of Fortune.” We heard comments that her manager (Joey Aquino) did the wrong thing in agreeing to cast Zara in the game show hosted by Kris.
But in due fairness, Zara has a good exposure in “Wheel of Fortune” and Kris seems to be fond of her. The question now is, will ABS-CBN give her a second look?
Well, why not? Zara has a pretty face. And after she was tagged as the “crying lady” inside the PBB house, maybe she has a wellspring of experience that she can draw from in case she is cast in a teleserye.
If being a “cry baby” was the reason why she was booted out of PBB, maybe this time Zara could use being a “cry baby” to her advantage.