Zombadings: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington on August 31

From award-winning filmmakers Michiko Yamamoto (writer of the excellent tearjerker Magnifico), Jade Castro (director of the charming love story Endo), and Raymond Lee (writer of box-office gems Anak, Milan and In My Life, and producer of Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros), comes a one-of-a-kind thriller/comedy/coming-of-age story about a curse, gay zombies, and a boy’s journey into gayhood and back—while being chased by a pink pashmina and a congregation of dead Diano Ross lookalikes.

The film is Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington which opens in theaters nationwide this August 31. This is the first output from the all-writers group Origin8 Media and headlines an extremely winsome cast composed of young stars and veterans: Lauren Young, Janice de Belen, John Regala, Angelina Kanapi, Kerbie Zamora, Leandro Baldemor, Daniel Fernando and launches to stardom 21-year-old Martin Escudero as Remington. Comedy royalty Roderick Paulate and Eugene Domingo portraying pivotal roles, lend an extra dash of fabulousness to a film brimming with first rate performances.

Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington brought the house down when it premiered to a full-packed CCP Main Theater last July as the closing film of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. It was hailed by critics, and getting good nods in the acting department were Roderick and Eugene.

The film also got the highest grade – an A – from the Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB) which described the film as a “thoroughly entertaining and hilarious offbeat comedy that presents a very different story – one which Philippine cinema needs in these days of when formulaic films dominate the movie fare of today” and “incredible achievement with an amusing and rare synergy of horror, comedy, satire and drama.”

The CEB also wrote, “undeniably, the film is worthy of all the critical attention that it will surely reap. The young filmmakers are to be congratulated for this enjoyable and original concept which wasn’t afraid to take it to its humorous extremes.”

Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington has received a PG-13 rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (<TRCB) without any cuts. The makers are very grateful that the MTRCB recognized their intention and the novelty of their concept. “We got the rating that we wanted and the approval means that we can reach and entertain more people,” says producer Raymond Lee.

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Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo embarked on a restaurant business years ago as some sort of stress reliever for her. But she found out that having a restaurant is not like just buying a piece of RTW item. “You have to nurture your business like a child.. That’s the reason why I entered into a culinary arts course because I felt there is a need for me to learn more about cooking. I have to be attuned with the times and I learned that if I were to have a restaurant again, I need to go with the times. But it would probably take time before I’d think of putting up another restaurant,” says the drama actress who is taking a new job as host of the cooking show Junior Master Chef Pinoy Edition starts tomorrow on ABS-CBN.

“Why would I venture in a business that I am knowledgeable in? I’d like to be sure of what I am doing so I’d rather study first and learn about a business before getting into it. Mahirap malugi na wala kang laban kaysa yung nalugi pero kaya mo naman. Mag-aaral muna ako. Hindi importante ang basta salita. Mas maganda mag-aral muna so that I am prepared for it,” she added.

How does it feel to have Junior Master Chef compared to doing a drama series? “It’s a dream come true. I never imagined I’d see the day I’d be hosting this kind of a show when I am fond of watching Master Chef. Hindi ko naisip na makakarating ang show na ito sa Pilipinas kasi parang I doubt kung mayroon talagang sasali sa ganitong klaseng show if ever the franchise of Master Chef gets into the Philippines ,” she says.

“When this was offered to me, when I saw the logo, naiyak na ako kasi I am a big fan of this show. I am nervous because I am not a TV host. What I know is to memorize lines and act out a scene. Arrive at the set na I am ready to act. But with Junior Master Chef, I have to arrive at the studio na ready ako to talk with the kids, and act as a mother as well to encourage the kids at times na naiiyak sila pag mayroon silang hindi nagagawa.

“It’s a different experience. It’s a learning process for me who had been acting since I was a young girl but being a TV host is like me entering college. It’s a different world for me that’s why I am so nervous. I know some people would like it and would believe that I can do it. But I know that there are those who would probably not like it and criticize the way I’d host the show. I am ready for criticisms.”

Judai says hosting Junior Master Chef Pinoy Edition is an adventure, and she considers it a privilege to be given the chance to host Junior Master Chef. She knows that there are other stars who may be called chefs (those who had taken courses in culinary arts). She’s not yet a chef but she’d like to be referred to as one someday.

Junior Master Chef makes Judai’s comeback to TV after giving birth to Baby Lucho. She had planned to get back to TV a year after Baby Lucho was born but she changed her mind when she was presented the offer to do Junior Master Chef.

She said it was not a difficult decision to make but it was something that she did on impulse, immediately saying yes to accept the hosting job. “I love doing this show and I really liked it the first time they presented it to me. I am excited to do this show that I nearly forgot to tell Ryan (Agoncillo, her husband) about it,” she added.

Watch the primer of the show titled “Appetizer: The Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition Primer” tomorrow, August 20. The Top 60 kids featured in the primer will be whittled down on the premier of “Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition” on August 27 on ABS-CBN. For updates, like http://www.facebook.com/jrmasterchef on Facebook or folow @jrmasterchef_ph.

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Did you know that JM De Guzman used to be a mixed martial arts buff? He used to weigh 185 lbs and was not that active in showbiz then. But he will soon do an indie film based on a true story of a boxer.

JM hired a pro boxer to train him for the said indie film role. The movie would be shown in theaters. JM says the producer chose the life story of two unknown boxers to be filmed with JM as the lead actor. He has yet to start training for his new role in between the promo of his new album under Ivory Music. He will be doing a series of mall shows to promote his album, which contains two of his own compositions. JM has no idea yet what would be his next show under ABS-CBN after the successful remake of Mula sa Puso.