During the recent Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, one of the most talked-about was Babagwa (Spider’s Lair), produced by Quantum Films, Kamaru Productions and Cinemalaya Foundation. Was it the love scene, highlighted by some “pumping,†between Alex Vincent Medina (who bared his butt) and Chanel La Torre (the name should ring some bell because she has done nine other indies)?
“It helped, no doubt about it, but there’s more to the film,†said Quantum producer lawyer Joji Alonso (who’s also behind Ekstra, another Cinemalaya entry that won Best Actress for Vilma Santos). “It has a nice story, something especially Internet-users can learn from.â€
Directed by John Paul Laxamana, 26, a BA Broadcast graduate from UP, Babagwa (Kapampangan word for spider) is the story of Greg (Alex) and Marney (Joey Paras, Best Supporting Actor winner at the Cinemalaya) who victimize people through a fake Facebook account. It’s also the story of Daisy (played by Alma Concepcion), a fortyish wealthy and beautiful spinster duped by Greg and Marney into depositing money in their account. Trivia: Alma revealed in the presscon last Wednesday that she is healed of epilepsy that she suffered from for 26 years and that she has been loveless for two years now.
Scheduled next month for screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival (October), Hawaii International Film Festival and Warsaw (Poland) International Film Festival, Babagwa also features Nico Antonio, Kiko Matos, Marx Topacio, Raqs Regalado and Sunshine Teodoro. The movie starts its commercial run on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Here’s the “body talk†with Alex Vincent Medina, Joey Paras and Alma Concepcion who play Babagwa’s main characters.
How often do you work out?
Alex: Once or twice a week at least.
Alma: Twice or thrice a week. (She went to the presscon straight from the gym.)
Joey: I haven’t been working out for three years now.
What part of your body is most vulnerable?
Alex: My forearms.
Alma: My heart.
Joey: My feet.
What part of your body is your favorite?
Alex: My hair.
Alma: My legs. (After all, she’s a former Bb. Pilipinas-International.)
Joey: My eyes.
What part of a woman’s/man’s body do you notice first?
Alex: Her face.
Alma: His face.
Joey: His face.
What kind of diet do you follow?
Alex: Less pork/meat.
Alma: Low carbs or none at all.
Joey: I’m trying to lessen my carb intake.
How many glasses of water do you take per day?
Alex: 10.
Alma: Six to eight.
Joey: Around three liters. My doctor told me to drink more because I have gout.
How much sleep do you get per night?
Alex: Seven to eight hours.
Alma: Six hours.
Joey: Seven to eight hours, depending on how much work I have during the day.
Favorite sleepwear?
Alex: Boxers.
Alma: Nothing.
Joey: Shorts and shirt.
Never in the nude?
Alex: Sometimes when I’m too lazy.
Alma: Always.
Joey: Before, when I was with my French lover.
First thing that you do as soon as you wake up?
Alex: Shift.
Alma: Check my celfone.
Joey: Check my phone and pray.
How do you cope with stress?
Alex: Focus.
Alma: Work out or meditate.
Joey: I pray.
How’s your love life?
Alex: Fine.
Alma: Happy.
Joey: Zero.
How’s your sex life?
Alex: (No comment.)
Alma: Happy.
Joey: Perfect 10.
Outlook in life?
Alex: Jeremiah 29: 11-13.
Alma: Happy.
Joey: I believe in God, so all great things are always with me for God is my King and I am His servant.
Three men you think have nice bodies?
Alex: Brandon Boyd, Michael Fassbender and Bar Brothers.
Alma: Piolo Pascual, Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper.
Joey: Hugh Jackman and Ricky Martin. I can’t think of the third.
And three women you think have nice bodies?
Alex: Too many to mention just three.
Alma: Scarlett Johansson, Beyoncé Knowles and J.Lo.
Joey: Halle Berry and Beyoncé Knowles. I can think of only two.
Using only body language, how would you make a man/woman know that you admire him/her?
Alex: Nagpapa-cute, hehehehe!
Alma: My eyes light up uncontrollably.
Joey: Smile and tell him straight.
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