Bourne Identity 4 to be filmed here

BREAKING NEWS: The fourth installment of the smash-hit Bourne Identity (based on the best-selling trilogy by Robert Ludlum) will be shot here in January, not with Matt Damon as star like in the first three but with Jeremy Lee Renner (of Hurt Locker) and Rachel Weisz (the brand-new wife of Daniel Craig, James “Agent 007” Bond no less).

This was confirmed to Funfare by Briccio Santos, head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), at Regal producer Roselle Monteverde-Teo’s post-birthday dinner (her birthday fell on July 14) Thursday night (Aug. 25) at Casa Roces which opened only last June 30. The resto, owned by Peachy Roces-Prieto, is located at the corner of J. P. Laurel and Aguado Streets, right across from Gate 4 of Malacañang Palace.

“We won the bidding over other Asian countries,” said Briccio (whom other movie writers at the dinner remembered as Hilda Koronel’s husband in Mike de Leon’s 1977 movie Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising). “Manila is the setting of the story. The project is good for us because we stand to learn from Hollywood how they make movies.”

Briccio was at the same table with Roselle, her mom Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde, Jun Lana (director of Regal’s forthcoming movie, My Neighbor’s Wife), Waray (from Laoang, Northern Samar) scriptwriter Aloy Adlawan, Annabelle Rama with son Raymond Gutierrez.

Birthday Girl Roselle Monteverde (in blue) with daughter Bridget Teo, mom Regal Matriarch Lily Monteverde and Briccio Santos (head of the Film Development Council of the Philippines)

The juicy showbiz tidbits matched the mouth-watering, tummy-filling items on the buffet table: Truffle Mushroom Puree Soup (“The house’s specialty,” said Briccio); Choritos En Balsamico and Baked Mussels, appetizers; Crispy Lengua Caesar Salad; hot selections of Lengua in Mushroom-Cognac Sauce, Boulliabaise de la Casa Roces, Callos Ala-Abolita, Pork Humba and Leg of Lamb with Caramelized Sweet Potatoes (by Mrs. Peachy Prieto); and Double Chocolate and Devil’s Food Cake, desserts; downed by Sangria-te.

Briccio also disclosed that FDCP will spearhead a national film festival in May next year in which a dozen films will compete, four from each of the country’s three regions — Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It’s aimed at encouraging new writers and showcasing the country’s diverse culture. The scripts will be chosen in a contest.

“The FDCP will give each of the 10 winning entries P600,000 as seed money,” added Briccio who himself has directed a few films. Producers are welcome to invest and/or co-produce entries of their choice.

The planned national film festival, although wider in coverage and scope, has the same objectives as the seven-year-old Cinemalaya which has been attracting a growing audience from the so-called “mainstream” audience and interest from “mainstream” producers who have lately been releasing some of its recent entries, including Ang Babae sa Septic Tank by Star Cinema and Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me by Regal Films.

Roselle, Mother Lily and Briccio with Annabelle Rama and son Raymond Gutierrez. The next day, Annabelle took the L.A.-bound PR102 which made an emergency landing at LAX due to two flat tires.

It will be different from the long-running annual Metro Manila Filmfest whose main objective is to raise funds for MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) projects (that’s why participating producers seem to compete more not so much for the “best” awards as for the Top-Grosser slot).

Incidentally, Roselle’s dinner-party was “tame,” with only selected guests, unlike that of Mother Lily’s 72nd birthday bash last Aug. 19 at the mezzanine function room of her own Imperial Palace Suites which was, so to speak, filled to the rafters with starry guests.

“It’s only tayo-tayo,” said Roselle in her texted invitation.

It also served as the venue of Mother Lily’s Wednesday Club weekly salu-salo so the members were all accounted for, as usual harnessing their singing talent in the regular “karaoke” portion, including Malou Choa-Fagar, Ricky Davao, Jun Nardo, Ian Fariñas, Ana Pingol, Joe Barrameda and Allan Diones. TV Patrol star reporter Mario Dumaual did his own version of Bruno Mars’ Lazy Song.

Front row, from left: Popoy Caritativo, Allan Diones, Serafin Pua and Malou Choa-Fagar. Back row, also from left: Jun Nardo, Ana Pingol, Joe Barrameda, Ian Fariñas, Ricky Davao and Ricky Lo.

I left early so I’m not sure if Briccio stayed until way past midnight to loosen up in the affair’s “jamming and disco” portion that followed the sumptuous feast. Burp!!!

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