L.A. entertainment scene starting to look like Manila

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Don’t look now but the L.A. entertainment scene is starting to look and feel more like home — “Like Manila,” wrote L.A.-based Bernardo Bernardo in his exclusive report to Funfare.

In the last two weekends, the Directors Guild of America hosted the premiere showing of Raymond Red’s Himpapawid, the all-Filipina cast of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues directed by Ted Benito at the Aratani Theater, Annie Brazil at the Gano Excel Promenade, and Miguel Vera at San Gabriel Valley Music Theater in Miss Saigon in Concert.

According to BB, “The audience at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival last Saturday gave Himpapawid (Manila Skies) a very warm reception. Red carpet interviews and Q & A after the screening had the film’s director, Palm D’Or awardee Raymond Red, and its lead star, Raul Arellano, interacting with audience members who were impressed with the film. As expressed by the film’s presentor, Joel Quizon, ‘It’s perhaps a modest linear plot, but in Red’s hands, Manila Skies reaches heights uncommon in many films. A subtle twist here and a play with expectations there and suddenly a whole world opens up revealing a radical and dramatic film heavy with consequences and colored with nuances’.”

The previous week, Pinay star power took the forefront with the high-caliber talents of varied actresses such as Lea Salonga, Becca Godinez, Jennifer Paz, Giselle Tongi, Janelle So, Tamlyn Tomita, Lara Avengoza and Leslie Ann-Huff.

“The whole cast was incredible and they had the audience rooting for them all the way,” says BB. “It bears mentioning that Lea’s beautiful performance brought the event to a standstill. ‘Magical’ is almost a tired description, but her honest emotional intensity had the audience breathless and in tears as she read a comfort woman’s recollection of the horror of rape at the hands of Japanese soldiers during World War II (Say It). Becca, a true theater veteran, captivated the audience with her vibrant characterizations and authentic accents (The Flood and Hey Miss Pat). However, I have to admit that it was Tia Carrere’s show-stopping and riotous Moan Monologue (The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy) that really brought the house down. Her undulating Dominatrix Diva is enough to make a gay guy go straight!”

On the same night, the ageless Annie Brazil, billed as Asia’s Queen of Jazz, thrilled her audience at Gano Excel Promenade in Irwindale with Tateng Katindig as her musical director.

Gushes BB, “She was amazing, looking radiant and sounding better than ever — belting out tunes playfully and scatting vigorously or, alternatively, surprising listeners with the honesty of softly sung, heartfelt standards. The thing is, she was singing over a very bad cold which could have killed the performance of a lesser talent. Bravo!”

BB reports that although he’s still doing occasional stand-up comedy and has shows lined up for Seattle, San Diego and Dallas in the coming months, his main preoccupation right now is teaching Tagalog at the University of California, Riverside, and doing PR work for the only Filipino-owned ambulance company in California — the Good Shepherd Ambulance Company.

“I occasionally bump into Miguel Vera, Michael de Mesa, Simon Soler, Leandro Muñoz and Carlo Muñoz who are all popular ‘ambulance pushers.’ They are very effective in marketing; apart from their being smart, personable and amiable, their clients happen to be Pinoys who comprise more than 80 percent of the nurses (Directors of Nursing, Administrators, RNs, CNAs, LVNs) in the local medical service industry.”

Another Fil-Am in Hollywood

Bernardo Bernardo also e-mailed to Funfare a related story about a Fil-Am in Hollywood named Hernando Planells who helps hip-hop legend Common train for the upcoming movie Just Wright in which Common plays Scott McKnight, an NBA All-Star for the New Jersey Nets, co-starring with Queen Latifah who plays Leslie Wright, a physical therapist who helps McKnight rehabilitate his body and mind.

In order for Common to play the role of NBA All-Star, the basketball scenes, including plays, background and athletes had to be believable.

In August 2009, Planells, a Fil-Am basketball coach/trainer, traveled to New York for Mark Ellis’ Sports Studios where he recruited basketball players who could pass as NBA professional players and choreographed scenes to give the impression of an actual NBA game.

“The NBA is the ultimate stage for athleticism, strength and team play,” BB quoted Hernando as saying. “It was so important for us to capture the true essence of the NBA.”

The basketball scenes were filmed at the IZOD Center, the home arena for the New Jersey Nets.

“The atmosphere was truly amazing,” Hernando explained. “The crowd was into it and so were the actors.”

Besides working with Common, Hernando also worked with NBA stars Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis of the Orlando Magic, Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat and Bobby Simmons of the New Jersey Nets.

“Working with Dwight, Dwayne and the others was a tremendous experience,” Hernando recalled. “They made everything so much easier, and their presence only enhanced the realism of what we were doing.”

BB said that Just Wright is Hernando’s eighth motion picture. His work can be seen in other blockbuster movies such as Coach Carter, The Longest Yard and Spider-Man 3, as well as various commercials and television shows. Aside from working in production, Hernando is also an NBA Scout for Marty and Ryan Blake, Directors of Scouting for the NBA.

Added BB, “Drawing from his experience in production, Hernando recently launched a set of On-Camera Production workshops in North Carolina and California. This summer he will be teaching a workshop at Cal State Dominguez Hills where he hopes to give students the unique opportunity to get in front of a camera and understand what it feels like to be on set.”

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Hernando has had a very diverse career in sports.

Reports BB, “He has coached basketball at the high school, college and professional levels for nearly 15 years and has traveled the country as a motivational speaker and basketball trainer. Along with Hernando’s coaching endeavors, his talent and passion for both sports and film has allowed him the unique opportunity to choreograph, coordinate and consult on sports action/scenes in movies, commercials and print.”

Jabbawockeez at MGM Grand in Las Vegas

More interesting news from “out there”...

Fresh from its Philippine tour, and the opening act on two different tours with New Kids On The Block and The Jonas Brothers, the dance gurus Jabbawockeez present M.Ü.S.I.C., “an audio-visual story of inspiration brought to life through the harmonization of sound and movement,” at Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, from May 7 to the 26th at 9:30 p.m. nightly.

If you happen to be there and have time to watch the show, you can buy tickets (priced at $59 and $49, not including applicable service charges and taxes) at any MGM Grand box office outlet. (To charge by phone, call [800] 929-1111 or [702] 891-7777. Tickets also are available for purchase online at www.mgmgrand.com and www.ticketmaster.com.)

You know the unique Jabbawockeez act: Dressed in expressionless white masks and white gloves, the members (some of whom are Filipino) guide the audience’s attention away from individual identities toward a unified and synchronized group. A fan aptly describes it: “The Jabbawockeez create a canvas for the audience to visualize the music as they paint beautiful and artistic imagery through precise, intricate movements.” The members wear masks so the audience will focus on the dance routine instead of on their looks.

Established in 2003, this young professional dance crew has developed a unique show consisting of choreography, athleticism and intricate synchronization, totally changing the art of dance and the way people see it.

Awarded the championship on MTV’s Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew, the Jabbawockeez campaigned for Gatorade with their “G” campaign spawning TV ads with Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. Additionally the group opened for the nationally televised NBA All-Star Game and performed with Shaquille O’Neal, making national headlines. The guys have gained millions of fans and been featured on numerous television shows including Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Regis & Kelly, The Today Show 2009 Summer Concert Series, E! News, America’s Next Top Model and MTV.

You don’t have to be young to enjoy the show.

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