Iza Calzado

It’s a big deal for Iza Calzado that she has an entry to this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival set to premiere on July 20 at the CCP Main Theater.

Iza is one of the lead actresses in the movie “Mga Mumunting Lihim” which is written and directed by Jose Javier Reyes and is included in the Directors’ Showcase segment of the competition. Joining Iza in this movie about friendship are Judy Ann Santos, Agot Isidro and Janice de Belen.

“I say it’s a big deal because Cinemalaya is the first indie film festival of its kind in the Philippines. A lot of beautiful movies with interesting stories are featured in Cinemalaya every year. For an actress, it’s good to say that I was once a part of Cinemalaya,” said Iza whose movie “Dukot” was an entry in Cinemalaya and the said film won for her the Best Actress Award at the Golden Screen Awards.

She enjoyed working with Direk Joey Reyes when they did a new “Working Girls” film (which was not a sequel to the Ishmael Bernal classic) and Iza is excited to work with him again.

“If you are an actor who is used to doing mainstream movies, you yearn to do an indie film for Cinemalaya because you might stumble on a very good script. I am not saying that TV soaps or mainstream movies are not good but sometimes there are a lot of compromises that you have to think of image-wise or because you are concerned if the TV soap would rate or if the mainstream film would make money. With a Cinemalaya project, there are no (such) concerns. No need for adjustments. There is more artistic and creative freedom,” she said.

Iza said she has been wanting to do a project for Cinemalaya but she was looking for a good project. Luckily, Direk Joey offered her “Mga Mumunting Lihim.” Besides, she had the time to do it. Since she just transferred to ABS-CBN, the soap opera that she’s supposed to do for the Kapamilya network is still being prepared thus giving Iza time to do this movie for Cinemalaya first.

Meanwhile, Iza and her manager Noel Ferrer is leaving for Barcelona , Spain this second week of July for the Metro Magazine anniversary shoot and for Japan for the Uniglo shoot (Iza is one of the celebrity endorsers of the clothing brand) but she will be back for the Cinemalaya festival.

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From being a sexy star, Allen Dizon was able to transform himself into a serious actor. He was recipient of several acting awards and nominations. A big boost for Allen was his being named by Gawad Tanglaw as one of the Pinakapuri-puring Artista ng Dekada at the10th Gawad Tanglaw Awards, given by members of the academe and educators.

Allen’s latest advocacy film is “Migrante (The Filipino Diaspora), which tells the story of the life and sacrifices of OFWs. How different is this movie from other films done about OFWs?

“Although Migrante is a domestic drama, it courageously depicted the real situation, tragedy and sufferings being borne by our OFWs abroad. Migrante doesn’t only show real life drama but is also a commentary on social and political issues with regards to the labor problem,” the actor explained.

What can he say about Jodie? “She’s very down-to-earth and I admire her versatility as an actress. From the start to the last frame of the movie, she’s very consistent with her character. She’s very, very good and I feel privileged to have the chance to work with her. My favorite scenes with Jodi were my dramatic scenes with her that Direk Joel really took pains to mount and execute even if it was so cold while we were shooting those scenes,” added Allen.

“This is my fifth movie project under Direk Joel that’s why I can say that I am already very comfortable working with him. He is very good in motivating his actors. He always reminds us not to perform for the camera and forget about soap opera acting. Just focus on our character and be natural with our acting so it would come out effortless. I owe Direk Joel a lot because I learned so much about acting from him. He is very patient with me and for always bringing out the best in me,” said the award-winning actor.

“Migrante (The Filipino Diaspora)” will have a Philippine premiere on July 15 in Robinson’s Galeria Cinema 5. Aside from Jodi Sta. Maria and Allen Dizon, also in the cast are Bangs Garcia, Luis Alandy, Chynna Ortaleza, Ryza Cenon, Rich Asuncion, Jaime Pebanco, Raquel Villavicencio, Alex Castro, Barbara Miguel and Tony Mabesa.

From the script of Bonifacio Ilagan and direction of Joel Lamangan, “Migrante (The Filipino Diaspora)” is produced by XITI Productions

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 “Love, lust and sexual conquest” are the themes presented in the “BedScenes/Sins,” twin-bill of two one-act gay-themed plays “Dapo” and “Carmi Martin,” written by award-winning playwright J. Dennis Teodosio, under the direction of Bong Cabrera (Urian Best Actor nominee) and Paul Santiago respectively.

The play “Dapo” is about the blossoming of new-found man-to-man love, the first play in the trilogy “Tatlong Bulaklak” (UP National Writers Workshop, 2007). Playing the young couple are Jay Enriquez, the college student and Joe Andrei Vegas, the married man.

“Carmi Martin,” meanwhile, has nothing to do with the actress Ms. Carmi Martin. In gay lingo, it means ‘karma’. It is about Gabriel, a straight-acting, curious professor who picked up in the mall, Adonis, a sex trader pretending to be a high school student.

“Carmi Martin” was first performed during the Virgin Lab Fest 6. It got three nominations during the 34th Aliw Awards for Entertainment: Best Play (Non-Musical), Best Director (Paul Santiago), Best Actor (Paul Jake Paule). In this version, Paule portrays Gabriel, and Kyle Thomas David is the call boy.

“Bed Scenes/Sins” is produced by JNP Alternative Theater. Performances are slated on July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5 and August 12, 7p.m, at The Library. Please send an SMS or call, 0939-9087633/ 0915-7594216/415-6684. Tickets are also available at The Library box-office.