A whole bunch of Hollywood biggies

I don’t know how but I just did it – yes, interview a bunch of 14 Hollywood biggies all in five days in both coasts of the US, with two jazz artists squeezed into the air-tight schedule that put to a crucial test not only my endurance and perseverance but also my sense of time (the Philippines is 12 hours ahead of New York and 15 hours ahead of L.A., remember?).

When Chris Sy, head of United International Pictures (UIP) in the Philippines, asked me if I could swing between two press junkets, Red Dragon in New York and The Tuxedo in L.A., I said, "Why not?" I was (overeager) to face Anthony Hopkins, Hannibal the Cannibal no less (playing the same role in Red Dragon, the prequel to Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal), and his co-stars Ralph Fiennes (pronounced Rafe Fines of Schindler’s List fame, as the other killer Francis Dolarhyde a.k.a. Tooth Fairy a.k.a. Red Dragon) and the enigmatic Edward Norton (The Fight Club, etc.), the favorite of young actors (local and foreign) today.

I have done two one-on-ones with Jackie Chan, star of The Tuxedo (with Jennifer Love Hewitt), first in New York in 1998 for Rush Hour 1 before he became the Hollywood superstar that he is now (Rush Hour 2 is listed among The 100 All-Time Box-Office Hits) and then in Hong Kong in 2000 for Shanghai Noon (sequel coming soon), so a third encounter in L.A. wouldn’t hurt, would it?

Then, Bernie Lim-Cheng of Buena-Vista International asked if I could interview Reese Witherspoon, star of Sweet Home Alabama, in L.A. (with leading men Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas, plus director Brett Ratner), and I told her that since I would be in L.A. around that time, "Why not?" That would be killing two birds – and what birds! – with one stone.

So I took the Philippine Airlines PR 102 flight to L.A. Friday night the 13th (of September), with a connecting flight to New York on American Airlines, arriving at The Big Apple Saturday the 14th at dawn. Shaking off jet lag as soon as I checked into the Rihga Royal Hotel in Manhattan, the same venue of the Rush Hour press junket in 1998, I called up my friend Raoul Tidalgo who rushed on the E-Train from Jersey City to join me for a quick lunch and to hear Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

That same night, I joined 80 other journalists from around the world for the screening of Red Dragon (a "must" for participating journalists).

All of the following day was devoted to the TV interviews with Hopkins (very "threatening"), Fiennes (very "mysterious") and Norton (very "distant"), along with producers Martha and Dino de Laurentiis, the srcriptwriter (name escapes me at the moment) and the director, 32-year-old Brett Ratner (who also megged Jackie in Rush Hour). Monday was slated for the print interviews.

As usual in international press junkets like this, you are not supposed to ask for autograph and/or pose for souvenir photos with any of the stars. I saw the same faces, most of them looking like clones of my journalist-friends back home. The overbearing lady from Spain reminded me of .... never mind! The bitchy, aging critic from France reminded me of.... never mind! And the Etang Discher deadringer from Italy reminded me of... never mind!

Early Tuesday morning, I flew (American Airlines) to L.A. and met up with GMA 7’s Paolo Bediones for the Sweet Home Alabama presscon at the Four Seasons Hotel – that is, after previewing the movie the night before. The next day, we did the round of TV-print interviews with the refreshing Reese Witherspoon (perfect for the role of a country girl trying hard to be a city girl, only to realize that country is where she’ll find true happiness), leading men Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas, and director Andy Tennant.

Same night (Sept. 19), I hooked up with Bulletin’s Cris Belen (who flew in from New York two days earlier) for the premiere of The Tuxedo at the Chinese Theater in the heart of Hollywood, with the screening preceded by a martial arts exhibition by a hundred young Jackie Chan enthusiasts on the street fronting the theater, closed to traffic for the event.

Next day, the round of TV (morning) and print (afternoon) interviews with Jackie and Jennifer Love Hewitt (you should see this singer as an action star!), plus director Kevin Donovan (a director of commercials making his movie debut). Like Reese Witherspoon, Jackie and Jennifer were very engaging and very open, even joking with the journalists, unlike the Red Dragon stars who were serious and much too formal (but accommodating just the same).

Enough already?

In between those heady schedules, concert producer Eliza Gotico managed to (almost bodily) bring me to Orange County, more than three hours drive from L.A. in the traffic-clogged freeway for an interview with jazz artist Bobby Caldwell who requested for us to meet halfway, he coming from San Diego. The venue was the sprawling Ritz-Carlton Hotel overlooking the ocean. We arrived two hours late but Caldwell understood (after all, he was the one who asked for a last-minute change of venue, originally set at Four Seasons in L.A.).

It was nearly 3:30 p.m. when Eliza and I got back to L.A. for the interview with Phil Perry, who’s having a concert with Caldwell at the Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 19. You guessed it: We were an hour late, with Cris Belen joining us 20 minutes later from a previous appointment.

Sixteen all in all, count ‘em.

On the way back to Manila on PAL PR 103, with Giselle Sanchez (more on her later) seated four seats away from me in the Business Class (thanks to PAL exec Rollie Estabillo for the "upgrading"), I reviewed my hectic schedule and wondered how I survived it. I got home at 4:30 yesterday morning, my head reeling with jet lag, my body parts in a confused state.

Meanwhile, excuse me while I dose off.

(More "stateside" stories tomorrow and succeeding columns.)

Jules airs side

What is the real score on the kidnapping of Jules Ledesma’s two kids? There have been all sorts of speculations even now that the poor kids are back home (was a ransom paid or not?), prompting Jules to issue a statement to clear things once and for all. Here it is:

Sa mga kaibigan namin sa media ipinapaabot ko itong salaysay upang maituwid ang mga lumalabas na spekulasyon, haka-haka, analysis, at higit sa lahat mga reportage na di karapat-dapat.

1. The kidnapping was exactly that. It has been a harrowing experience; we would like to move on and to put this behind us. That singular event will forever be etched and scar the minds, hearts and souls of Ina, Carlo, my family, friends and all those who were privy to this crime. On behalf of our family, Assunta and I would like to thank all who joined us in prayer. May glory be given to God through Christ.

2. I have been curt, even perhaps cryptic in statements made recently. That I have not and cannot elaborate at this time is because our case is ongoing and we continue to cooperate with all concerned authorities. I would like to assure my colleagues that I am aware of my oath and responsibilities as an elected public official. At the appropriate time and in the proper venue, I shall share pertinent details.

Sa mga taong nagbibigay ng iba-ibang kulay at motibo sa mga pangyayari, please parang awa n’yo na, may mga ibang tao na nadadamay. Please search within your hearts – grant us even an ounce of mercy, of kindness.

1. That this event was "STAGED" for whatever ends political or otherwise: Would any of us, of you, subject your children to this? No matter the damage to their beings? This was the first reported event I believe where live ammunition was expended at the target vehicle. Would any of you stage that? Think please... to even think that I would subject my children to the possibility of being struck by accidental fire is unkind at the very least. To hear your daughter cry and scream as they threaten to lap off her head after they shoot her is... words cannot do justice to the terror within.

2. Na gimmick lang ’to para sa political agenda ko. I respect those whose opinions these are. Heto lang po: no position or prize – political or otherwise – is worth subjecting one’s children, and loved ones to that which we have been through. I wouldn’t wish it even on an enemy.

3. As early as May 2001, the succession issue for the congressional seat I represent has been laid out. It will, rather that person shall not, be a family member. I respect others who do this; we will not. Our political group in our district as well as our provincial party hierarchy know of this. It is my obligation as leader to have the long view and provide the means and the talent such that a worthy successor prevails and carries on the plan and vision for our district.

4. Assunta is an actress, will remain an actress, and will continue to mature, improve and master her craft. In time, she shall be mother to our kids just as she is now, mother and friends to Ina and Carlo.

5. As for me, one can be an agent for change even if not in an elected capacity. I am not running for the Senate. I’ve been categorical and consistent on that. Even before last week, the Governor of Negros Occidental, the honorable Joseph Marañon, is our partymate and on his first term. He continues to render outstanding service in the provincial seat just as when he was City Mayor of Sagay. Why would I replace, let alone run against him?

6. Assunta and I will campaign vigorously for our parties’ candidates when we return from our honeymoon in April, 2004.

I would like to apologize to all those who we turned down for interviews. It’s not that we have favored others to the detriment of some. After the date of release where euphoria made us more than willing to talk, sobreity and the still ongoing case now dictate prudence. We beg your indulgence on this.

Ito lang ang ma-share ko po. Kaya natin lutasin tong napakapersonal at traumatic na krimen, kooperasyon lang po.

Na may natutunan ako bilang tao? Marami po. Kung saan pamamaraan po nakilala ako ng taong bayan, siya rin po ang naging pamamaraan sa pag-turo, pagbibigay leksyon at parusat-pagpenitensia sa mga bagay na mali at hindi karapat-dapat sa nagawa ko. – Jules IV