A very welcome Japanese ‘invasion’- DIRECT LINE by Boy Abunda

The Lords of Creation, an international movie which stars martial arts guru Genta Ogami and Filipina actress Joyce Jimenez has started shooting in the Philippines last January.

Fresh from the box-office success of Balahibong Pusa, Joyce now plays the role of Maria, the daughter of Señor Alonso, who has sold everything he has, including her daughter, to Big Bill, an obnoxious capitalist.

In the male lead role is Genta Ogami, a Japanese martial arts expert tasked by a voice from above to fight evil and save Asia, a role very close to his heart. Ogami believes in helping the poor and the oppressed.

Genta Ogami heads the G.O. Group, a private organization which aims to help control the balance between the two wheels of economy and culture. Much alarmed by the surrender and helplessness that have spread all over the world, including the Philippines, Mr. Ogami has come up with several philosophies to help alleviate the eroding foundations of our society.

"My heart bleeds for those who are victims of an unjust society," says Mr. Ogami, "That is why I am doing my best to somehow make a difference in this world by promoting a new outlook in life, based on my philosophies."

It is in this light that Mr. Ogami has tapped the big screen as a medium to deliver his message to the world and has chosen the Philippines as location for the movie. "The Philippines is a beautiful country. The people here are very kind and gentle. This movie will be one way of exploring the untapped possibilities you have in this country," adds Mr. Ogami.

The Lords of Creation will have a host of local and foreign actors under the direction of our very own Toto Natividad.

A Playshop summer

Self-conscious? Shy? Bored? Dying to break out of a colorless life? Bogged down with mundane responsibilities and not enough time for creativity? Or just at a loss as to how to spend the hot summer months?

Well, Playshop 2001 has the solution! For the past seven years, Playshop has been a haven for anyone wanting to discover his/her uniqueness, an ideal venue for self-expression, a place where God-given talents are unearthed and nurtured, where artists are born and bred. A take-off point for those who want to fly!

Trumpets Playshop is now the country’s leading multi-media summer workshop. From a modest acting class of 20 students back in 1993, Playshop has evolved and grown at such a phenomenal rate. Last summer alone, there were over 1,200 enrollees! This summer, exciting new classes have been added to the already diverse curriculum and the best teachers have been tapped to handle these.

For the very first time, Supermodel Tweety de Leon will conduct a Modelling course where kids and grown-ups alike can learn the basics of modelling like how to pose for pictorials, do ramp modelling, act for commercials and pick-up pointers on style and make-up.

Production designer Mio Infante and a team of accomplished visual artists will give Art lessons for children and teenagers.

Playshop 2001 has also expanded its dance programs. Aside from the Street Dancing taught by the Manoeuvres, James and Liesl Laforteza (formerly of Powerdance) will be teaching Jazz and a one-of-a-kind course called Song and Dance where aspirants can learn to perform a la Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, ’N Sync or Ricky Martin. Also part of the dance program is the classical Ballet for kids and teens to be conducted by Venus Basa.

For those wanting to develop their singing ability, opera singer Lionel Guico, Jojo Macarambon, Annie Quintos-Uy and Sweet Plantado of The CompanyY (no less!) will be giving Voice lessons.

Those interested in learning the Broadway / West End style of performance where the art forms of drama, music and dance are fused, can join in Playshop 2001 ever popular Musical Theater course with classes for children, teens and adults to be handled by theater stalwarts Audie Gemora, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Carlo Orosa, Dennis Faustino, Chari Arespacochaga, among others.

Basic acting for kids, teens and adults will be taught by Little Mermaid writer/director Jaime del Mundo, theater actress Lorna Lopez and Leni Rivera, a graduate of New York University’s theater program.

Of course, live entertainment wouldn’t be possible without the technical aspects of production so Playshop 2001 offers classes in Stage Management and Technical Theater.

Another very good stepping-stone is the TV Newscasting class of Kata Inocencio, where many of ABS-CBN’s news talents like JC Gonzales and Joyce Anne Burton got their first lessons in the said field.

Ace TV Director Kokoy Jimenez will teach students to shoot their own music videos among other things in his TV Production class.

Toch Arellano, one of the most sought-after photographers in the country, will be sharing tricks of his trade in this year’s Photography course which will touch on field shoots, studio set-ups and darkroom techniques.

Playshop 2001 is brought to you by Dunkin’ Donuts and Lactum, in cooperation with Levi’s, Burger King, Nescafe Frothe, Philippine STAR, Parent’s Magazine, Airheads and Benson’s Eclair, Globe Telecom, RX 93.1, Joey 92.3, 93.9 KCFM, 105.1 Crossover, 97.1 WLS and 98.7 DZFE.

Enrollment for Trumpets Playshop is going on. For inquiries and reservations, call 633-5010, 636-2842 or visit the Trumpets office on the 6th Level of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Playshop 2001 is ongoing up to June 7, with classes in five premiere malls – the Shangri-La Plaza, SM Megamall, Alabang Town Center, SM Southmall and Onstage Greenbelt, Ayala Center with satellite classes in SM City Cebu and Tagaytay Canyon Woods.