Hollywood-style premieres

Then: Flashback on a premiere night - June 27, 1991  

There is a de?nite attempt to bring back the days of glorious premieres just like in Hollywood. But I guess comparing our own style of premiere nights to Hollywood is odious. They have their style and we have ours, and how!

The Bingbong Crisologo movie had a big premiere at Greenhills, and it was even televised, which made people believe FLT productions really spent a fortune to promote the ? lm. The fact that it made big money at the box-of? ce could be partly be the reason why premiere nights seem to be the trend again.

The premiere of Kislap sa Dilim was at the New Frontier. This is one picture with a lot of reason for having a big premiere night. For one thing, this is Lino Brocka’s last movie and the ?rst directorial stint of Christopher “Boyet” de Leon, who took over the direction when Lino died in that car crash. The movie was line produced by Lorna Victoria Fernandez (Lorna Tolentino to you). It was also Malu Barry’s ?lm.

Another big reason is the fact that the Philippine Movie Press Club was the bene? ciarynight.

Lorna was in a beautiful dress reminiscent of Gone with the Wind. Even her hair recalled that era. Kislap sa Dilim is a Lorna Tolentino movie. Her rape scene was dif? cult and it must have bruised her black and blue. But it was Christopher’s magni? cent acting that made Lorna’s role more forceful. Christopher, as the tormented husband who saw his wife being raped, was, usual, an excellent actor.

Gabby Concepcion has gone a long way as an actor but his role was too bland to really show his mettle. The ? lm started heavy, with the rape scene in the ? rst few sequences. Malu’s appearance lightened the mood. Malu acted very naturally as a liberated woman who is a singer and a painter. Her role stands out and came a big relief after all the heavy stuff. Malu got raves for her performance here and at the moment is shootinwith Viva Films.

Rudy Fernandez escorted wife Lorna. He came in a dashing barong. Malu was in red velvet and was very much in character.

One of the most memorablescenes in Kislap showed Malu going to Christopher’s of?ce to show her painting. Christopher was in a conference in his of?ce and there was Malu showing her painting: Christopher in the nude with organ details which she“painted from memory.”

NOW: April 13, 2010

Lorna is back on television. For years, she nursed husband Rudy while he was suffering from cancer until he ?nally died. Her ?rst foray back into the business was on the ?lm about Rudy and his friends produced by Jinggoy Estrada. The ?lm was about friendship and was shown in the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Gabby made a dramatic comeback after a long stay abroad. Mrs. Flaminiano of FLT was instrumental in his comeback, having ironed out the legal kinks that prevented him from coming back for a long time. All was going well until he had some trouble with his manager Mrs. Flaminiano. Lucky for him, this was again ironed out and now he is really back in full swing. He has regular projects with the Kapamilya network. In fact, in his very popular series Kung Tayo ay Magkalayo he is paired with the talented and beautiful Kris Aquino.

Gabby’s one big advantage is the support of his daughter KC Concepcion who is now one of our hottest talents. A project of KC and her dad together is in the works.

The New Frontier theater is no longer operational.

Malu is not active in show business. She the special lady of a very powerful man.