Direk Joyce Bernal weaves box-office magic

Director Joyce Bernal says she's too much of a Noranian to do a film with Nora Aunor. She said she would be too starstruck to be effective.

"I don't think I can do it," direk Joyce told me over cocktails last week after the oath-taking of Cristine Dayrit as chairman of the Cinema Evaluation Board. Direk is also a member of the board.

Anyway, directing Ate Guy is next to impossible now. She's in the US, serving out a sentence through community service.

Direk, who also idolizes Sharon Cuneta and Gloria Romero, has had a good run of box-office hits. Her latest is "Don't Give Up On Us," which brings together former love team Judy Ann Santos and Piolo Pascual. Her "D'Anothers," which starred Vhong Navarro, was a big grosser last year.

At the party, Ms. Cristine's sister, Michelle, was all excited to meet direk Joyce. She said she didn't expect her to be so young-looking. She had her picture taken with direkl, saying her film "Dahil May Isang Ikaw," starring Aga Muhlach and Regine Velasquez, is her favorite.

The guests during the cocktails at Ms. Cristine's Dasmariñas Village residence included CEB members Roy Iglesias, Ms. Digna Santiago, Pete Lacaba and Jacky Atienza, who had also been sworn in as chairman of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

The 39-year-old Cristine has been a member of the CEB since 2003. She's also VP for Public Relations of Miladay Jewels, one of the country's eminent jewelry stores. She has a masters degree in film production from Boston University and has co-produced a number of local films and TV serials.

Cristine has been enamored with cinema since she was a child. Michelle told us Cristine would rather watch a movie or TV than date!

The new chairman has big plans for the CEB. She is particularly interested in how films are faring in the provinces.

Jacky Atienza, meanwhile, wants to develop the economic viability of the film industry and look for new markets for Philippine movies abroad.

"I want to be able to help by instituting measures to strengthen the Filipino film industry like giving tax breaks for equipment importation and materials used in film production and build audience development spearheading film appreciation classes among the youth," Mr. Atienza said.

By the way, Cristine has a column in the Philippine Star entitled Rendezvous. o0o

An entertainment editor was disgusted by what his car's headlights had exposed: an aging actor relieving himself near the house of the editor's friend!

The editor was about to park his SUV when the headlights caught the actor. But instead of trying to cover up, the actor didn't seem to care.

It was the editor who became red-faced that he had turn off his headlights. The editor told me this actor has had few projects lately. o0o

Gary Valenciano will have his Valentine concert, "Faces of Love," with Zsa Zsa Padilla on February 18 and 19, the weekend after the Day of Hearts. Gary does not want to go head to head with several other concerts scheduled for Valentine's. I think that's a wise decision.

Last year's "Faces of Love" was so successful that Gary decided on reprising it this year. He said it will be a totally new show, although some items from last year will be retained. The poster will almost be the same, so will be some of the costumes and songs, according to Mr. Pure Energy.

"Faces of Love" 2 is a joint production of Manna Entertainment Productions, Inc., Manila Genesis Entertainment and GV Productions. o0o

As expected, "Brokeback Mountain" established itself as a favorite in the Oscars derby, corralling eight nominations, including best picture, best director and best actor.

Taiwanese Ang Lee has been nominated for best director, Australian Heath Ledger is in the fight for best actor, and Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams are in the running for best supporting actor/actress.

The film, based on Annie Proulx's short story about two gay cowboys falling in love, is also nominated for best adapted screenplay, cinematography and original score.

Also in the hunt for the most Oscars are Paul Haggis' "Crash," George Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck," and Rob Marshall's "Memoirs of a Geisha," with six nominations each.

Up against "Brokeback Mountain" for best picture are "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night, Good Luck" and "Munich."

The awards will be handed out at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on March 5. o0o

Speaking of "Memoirs of a Geisha," the film has been banned in China. The Chinese government is afraid that the Chinese actresses playing Japanese geishas would provoke anti-Japanese sentiments.

Many Chinese still remember the suffering inflicted by Japanese troops, which occupied China during World War II. Sino-Japanese relations have also been strained in recent years over territorial disputes.

The film stars Chinese actresses Michelle Yeoh and Gong Li as geishas, Japanese women who are accomplished entertainers. The irony is that pirated VCDs of Geisha are already available in China.