Sinag Maynila, disqualified director issue conflicting statements
RK Bagatsing and Jane Oineza prove they are among the most competent actors in their batch with their good performances in “Us Again,” the post-Valentine offering of Regal Entertainment directed by Joy A. Aquino.
They did very well in their roles as Mike, a struggling artist, and Margie, a frustrated medtech who wanted to be a doctor.
Both have nothing but praises for each other. This is not the first time they’ve worked as screen partners. They were paired in the ABS-CBN teleserye “Araw-Gabi” two years ago.
On a more personal note, Jane and RK praise each other when it comes to personality. In fact, RK even described Jane as girlfriend material.
“She has everything. I am not the only one saying she is a girlfriend material. A lot of people have a crush on her,” said RK.
Jane, on the other hand, says she has seen the good qualities of RK in the times they worked together.
“He’s a fun guy to be with, hunk, good-natured, caring,” said Jane.
Since they are both single, they were teased about the possibility of ending up together. But RK jokes that Jane has not yet courted him. Besides, he is not in a rush to fall in love and he’d rather concentrate on his career first.
In “Us Again,” Mike and Margie met and had an affair they thought was perfect. But the romance did not last. Years after reconnecting, Mike convinces Margie to give their relationship another chance. Can they atone for the wrong decisions they did in the past?
There’s a twist in the story of “Us Again” which we cannot reveal because it will spoil your viewing pleasure. But it is quite an interesting movie.
“Us Again” also stars Jin Macapagal, Sarah Edwards and Miko Gallardo. It opens today in more than 150 cinemas nationwide.
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Filmmaker Joselito “Jay” Altarejos is still mad at the Sinag Maynila, Solar Films and fellow filmmaker Brillante Mendoza for disqualifying his film “Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan.”
In their statement, the Sinag Maynila said, “The Executive Committee, after thorough review found there is substantial deviation from the submitted script and the film is no longer a faithful representation of the approved script.”
“Furthermore, Sinag Maynila reserves the right to disqualify an entry for failure to comply with its rules and regulations as well as the terms and conditions of its agreement with the filmmakers.”
Direk Jay also issued a statement from his end: “The reason that Brillante Mendoza and Sinag Maynila cited for their removal of ‘Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan’ from the festival is a flimsy way out to get rid of me and the film.”
“Brillante Mendoza, sa meeting na naganap noong Feb. 20 sa Solar office, isa lang ang hiniling ko sa inyo – SABIHIN NIYO LANG ANG TOTOO sa statement niyo at susuportahan ko kayo o hindi ako magsasalita.”
“Nagsasalita ako ngayon at patuloy pa na magsasalita sa mga susunod na araw dahil nagsinungaling kayo.”
“Iniimbitahan kita Brillante Mendoza at ang Sinag Maynila na makipag-usap sa akin sa harap ng media para sagutin kung ano ang nangyari sa pagitan ng presscon, kung saan ipinalabas ang trailer, at sa nangyaring meeting nuong Huwebes.”
“Tayo ba ay Martial Law na at ikaw ang tagapagpaganap sa sektor ng pelikula, Brillante?”
“Patuloy kaming makikipaglaban para sa tunay na kalayaan. Kalayaan sa pagpapahayag at kalayaan sa pamamahayag. Makakaasa kayo na sa bawat kasinungaling ilalabas nyo, babalikan ko kayo ng tatlong katotohanan.”
Direk Jay received support from fellow directors like Joel Lamangan, Mike de Leon, the Directors’ Guild of the Philippines and the Film Academy of the Philippines.
We were surprised with the move done by Sinag Maynila regarding Direk Jay’s “Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan.”
Since Brillante Mendoza, one of the organizers of Sinag Maynila, is a known Duterte supporter, and the Jay Altarejos film is anti-Duterte, he must have decided to junk the film altogether because of that.
We are sure before they decided to accept “Walang Kasarian ang Digmang Bayan” as an official entry, they probably watched the movie first before announcing that the film was chosen to be part of the line-up.
If they watched it and saw it was an anti-Duterte film, the Sinag Maynila execom should have disqualified it at once. Sinag Maynila is six years old but can’t seem to make things right. They seem to be ran by amateurs.
Besides, going by the statement of Direk Jay, the statement issued by Sinag Maynila did not tell the truth about the issue.
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