Engkwentro signs up with Hollywood firm agency

After winning two awards at last September’s Venice International Film Festival, Engkwentro, first directorial work of The STAR’s Supreme section writer Pepe Diokno, is bound for Hollywood.

“I’m extremely pleased to announce that Engkwentro has found a partner in Hollywood,” Pepe informed Funfare.

The partner is no less than Shoreline Entertainment with which Pepe and company signed up with it as in-charge of selling the movie outside of the Philippines.

“Shoreline is presenting Engkwentro in this week’s American Film Market,” added Pepe, “and it really humbles me to know that our little film has a shot at finding an audience worldwide. Just four months ago, we were shooting in the slums of Metro Manila, struggling to finish the movie. To see something go from our tiny LCD screen to a big screen in Venice to big screens in America is just amazing.”

Starring Felix Roco and director Celso Ad. Castillo, Engkwentro follows the last 24 hours of two teenage brothers on opposite sides of a gang war. It won two awards in Venice — the Horizons Prize and the US$100,000 Lion of the Future-Luigi de Laurentiis Award for Debut Film.

According to Sam Eigen, director of Distribution of Shoreline Entertainment, “We are proud to represent Pepe Diokno’s Engkwentro. It is refreshing to see a first-time filmmaker create something so unique, human and personal while still creating an awesomely-crafted, gritty and eye-opening experience. While this is obviously a film from the Philippines and about the Philippines, this is a work that deserves to be shown around the world and is a shining example of the kind of powerful film we would like to see coming from the world over.”

Since its inception in 1981, the American Film Market is an annual event in Santa Monica, California, where over 8,000 industry professionals from over 70 countries converge to buy and sell distribution rights for completed films or gain financing for projects in various stages of production. Unlike a film festival, the AFM operates more like a trade show by creating a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed.

Daisy: From Miss World to Mrs. World

Here’s a report by Funfare’s “beauty experts” Joey Cezeare, Francis Calubaquib, Gery Yumping and Felix Manuel (here for a vacation from his work as a nurse in New York):

1996 Bb. Pilipinas-World Daisy Reyes-Iqbal is now in Ba Rua Vung Tao, Vietnam, as the country’s bet in the 2009 Mrs. World. The winner will be known on Nov. 22.

During the 1996 Miss World contest held in India, Daisy was given a special award as Miss Personality.

In Vietnam, she will wear Jontie Martinez creations throughout the world’s most prestigious pageant for married women.

The concept of Mrs. World has its roots in one of the oldest and most respected of all competitions, Mrs. America. That extravaganza was reorganized by David Marmel featuring a more contemporary and glamorous approach. While beauty is the key element, the contestants are urged to voice their opinions about marriage and current events.

Over the years, Mrs. World has been held in fascinating locations around the world, including Queensland, Australia; Jerusalem, Israel; San Jose, Costa Rica; Honolulu, Hawaii (for four years); Las Vegas, Nevada (three years); Amby Valley, India (in 2005); and St. Petersburg (2007) and Kaliningrad (2008), both in Russia.

The Philippines has yet to win the title.

Eri Neeman is newest MTV VJ

It took six years for Eri Neeman to realize his dream of making it as MTV VJ. It has been a rocky road.

Said Eri, 22, “I first auditioned when I was 16 but I was too young for it. Eighteen was the minimum age requirement.”

His perseverance paid off.

Perseverance was definitely key to reaching his goal.

After losing in the 2007 MTV VJ Hunt, he immediately got down to business and polished his skills. He did just that by getting into radio. Now, Eri has his own show on the airwaves called The U Know Show on U92 –the FM station of All Youth Channels Incorporated, home of MTV Philippines. He is also a part of Gabe Mercado’s S.P.I.T. (Silly People’s Improv Theater) and is a stand-up comedian for the Comedy Cartel founded by Tim Tayag and Allan Manalo.

Eri is glad that it took him this long to get to where he is.

“I don’t think I’d be as good as I am now if I got the job earlier on.” Asked how he felt about finally getting the stint, Eri said, “It’s really something when you can tell yourself, you got what you really wanted. Now that I have it, I want to work harder, do more things, find more challenges, evolve as a host, as well as an entertainer and performer.”

One thing Eri finds crucial to achieving his goals was surrounding himself with great people.

“I have wonderful friends, like my S.P.I.T. family. Gabe Mercado started the group seven years ago and I’m happy that they took me in. I learn so much from them. Same goes for my buddies at the Comedy Cartel.”

Despite his punishing schedule, Eri finds time to de-stress by cooking at home.

“It’s something I really enjoy. I had to learn how to cook for myself because I live alone. You survive on pancit canton for only so long.”

Asked about the challenges that lay ahead, the newly-minted VJ said, “I want to be one of the best hosts in the industry — if not, at least the best for my standards. I also want to take my comedy act to the international stage. The Hong Kong Comedy Festival is a goal for me next year.”

At such a young age, Eri has definitely something to show and he’s just getting started. For now, catch him doing stand-up comedy, hosting local events, playing your tunes on the radio, and dishing out the latest on the music scene as the newest VJ for MTV Philippines.

Let’s hope he has time to cook.

Briefly noted

• Condolence to Jemela Agraviador Nettles (photo) whose husband, John Nettles, died last Nov. 5 in L.A. John underwent dialysis thrice a week for over four years.

Jemela is the immigration lawyer who worked for the issuance of the extraordinary visas of Filipino artists including Jessa Zaragoza and husband Dingdong Avanzado, Miguel Vera, Mon David, April Boy Regino, Jolina Magdangal and many others.

Jemela told Funfare that since Nov. 5, she hasn’t seen the body of John. Unlike in the Philippines where wakes are held round the clock, in the US there’s a viewing time. The special prayer service for John will be held on Nov. 12 (L.A. time), 6 to 10 p.m., at the Church of the Recessional, Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California and the funeral Mass on Nov. 14 at noon at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Northridge, California, followed by interment at the San Fernando Mission Catholic Cemetery.

(Note: Contact number at Jemela’s law office is 213-234-9591. Or e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected].)

• From Romy Fernando: I am a friend of Mario Bautista residing in L.A., California. I just read your article on Earth, Wind & Fire. I thought you’d like to know that Ralph Johnson’s wife Suzy is a Fil-Am who I had the pleasure of working with in the mid-‘90s at an Aerospace company located in Chatsworth, a suburb of Los Angeles.

• Side A headlines this month’s performing bands at Conways Bar of Makati Shangri-La. Catch Side A on Mondays, 3rd Avenue on Tuesdays, Hi-Way 54 on Wednesdays, Spirit of ‘67 on Thursdays, Version 4.0 on Fridays and Rockin’ Revival on Saturdays. Showtime is 8:30 p.m.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at [email protected])