Sunday, January 27, 2008

Philippine Star article: An Acting Break for Von Arroyo

An article from Philippine Star featuring our lead actor Von. Just to correct the end part of the article, my thesis film's title, the one that won the Kodak Film Award 2003, is "Karsel." I just copied and pasted the exact article from its source. And to add up, filming "Pera-perahang Lata" has been possible through our grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). :D

For the original copy of the article, click here for Philippine Star archive or click here for the same article at Philippine Headline News Online

An acting break for Von Arroyo
FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo
Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Curtain-raisers:

• For a few years, they were a beautiful couple, perfect for each other, until they broke up out of the blue it seemed (because there was not the slightest hint that something was going wrong). The girl is being linked to a dashing, young actor but they seem to be happy just “being friends;” while her “ex” is reported to have gone back to his own “ex.” What a merry-go-round! But how come the girl describes her “ex” as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”?

• A rich man is said to be willing to marry a popular and controversial actress whose relationship with a non-showbiz figure is rumored to be headed for the rocks even if they are putting up a front that nothing’s the matter between them. But here’s the hitch, according to Funfare’s “exclusive village” DPA: Even she’s said to be slowly but surely falling for the alleged “new man” in her life, she isn’t sure and/or convinced that he will (but he surely can) provide her with all the comforts and amenities (complete with bodyguards) her “old man” is giving her. She can’t have her cake and eat it, too, can she?

• A pretty TV host now “on leave” desperately wants to have another child but she just can’t because, as she puts it, “those damn eggs na ayaw mahinog-hinog,” a defect that has been bothering her since she was in high school. “It’s a good thing I was able to have a child,” said the TV host who might resort to taking fertility pills because she wants not just one more child but twins. Oh well, maybe she can also pray to Sta. Clara and dance the pandanggo.

* * *

Congratulations to Von Arroyo who has finally realized his dream of being an actor even only in a short film.

“At least,” said Von with a smile, “even if it’s a short, it’s still a film.”

Oo nga naman , ano!

Titled Pera-perahang Lata (Penny From the Tin Can), the 15-minute narrative, written and directed by Rianne Hill Soriano, is about a young factory worker who struggles with guilt during the Christmas season. In trying to make up for a mistake, he inadvertently leads himself to a tragic and life-changing experience.

It turned out that Rianne was looking for someone who was an “introspective and observant thinking guy” for the role of the factory worker, not hunky yet not frail, not too strong yet not too weak, and sympathetically vulnerable. Von fits the role to a T.

“It’s my first acting experience and I hope to do more acting, maybe in a full-length film,” said Von, keeping his fingers crossed.

A former member of the ’90s teen group 14K (together with Jeffrey Hidalgo, Rhada and the late Tenten Muñoz, sister of Jolina Magdangal’s boyfriend Bebong Muñoz), Von has been concentrating on his singing (with four albums to date, by Viva Records and Prime Music), even if he could have put in harness his four-year theater experience, singing in Ballet Manila’s musical shows.

A cum laude Masscom graduate, Von taught (as instructor/coach) at John Robert Powers. He was hired in the same capacity for the ABS-CBN reality-TV Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA) and had a stint as host of PAGCOR’s Magic5 Draw.

Now on its post-production phase, Pera-perahang Lata is expected to make heads turn in the film-festival circuit like Rianne’s other short films Aninag (shown at the 2005 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival, the 2006 Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival, the 2005 New York Filipino Film Festival, the UNESCO Audio-Visual E-Platform and the 2006 Viva’s PBO Digitales Film Competition where it placed third); and Kanser (Kodak Film Award 2003 and Best Production Thesis 2003 of the UP Film Institute, at the 2006 International Women’s Film Festival and nominee for the Gawad Urian Short Film in 2003).

Britney pays tribute to RP in her new song

Did you know that Britney Spears pays “tribute” to the Philippines in her new song titled Piece of Me?

This was pointed out to Funfare by reader Arman Domingo of Bakersfield, California, who e-mailed the complete lyrics of the song, but I’m printing only the first few stanzas.

Okay, altogether now:

Piece Of Me

I’m Miss American Dream since I was 17

Don’t matter if I step on the scene

Or sneak away to the Philippines

They still gon’ put pictures of my derrière in the magazine

You want a piece of me?

You want a piece of me...



I’m Miss bad media karma

Another day another drama

Guess I can’t see the harm

In working and being a mama

And with a kid on my arm

I’m still an exceptional earner

And you want a piece of me



I’m Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous

(You want a piece of me)

I’m Mrs. Oh my God that Britney’s Shameless

(You want a piece of me)

I’m Mrs. Extra! Extra! This just in

(You want a piece of me)

I’m Mrs. She’s too big now she’s too thin

(You want a piece of me)



I’m Mrs. ‘You want a piece of me?’

Tryin’ and pissin’ me off

Well get in line with the paparazzi

Who’s flippin’ me off

Hopin’ I’ll resort to some havoc

End up settlin’ in court

Now are you sure you want a piece of me?

(You want a piece of me)



I’m Mrs. ‘Most likely to get on the TV for slippin’ on the streets’

When getting the groceries, no, for real..

Are you kidding me?

No wonder there’s panic in the industry

I mean please, do you want a piece of me?

* * *

E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Clickthecity.com Article: "Pera-perahang Lata" Nears Completion

After the success of her first two short films "Aninag" (New York International Independent Film and Video Festival 2005, Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival 2006, New York Filipino Film Festival 2005, UNESCO Audio-Visual E-Platform, 3rd Place at Viva's PBO Digitales Film Competition 2006) and "Karsel" (Kodak Film Award 2003 and Best Production Thesis 2003 of the UP Film Institute, International Women's Film Festival 2006 and Nominee for the Gawad Urian Best Short Film 2003), writer-director Rianne Hill Soriano saw an opportunity to make a third film with "Pera-perahang Lata," a film that explores the journey of a young factory worker during the Christmas season.

For the rest of the article, click here.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Producers: National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Colorwheel Media Studios

National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) provides grants for artists, project managers, and organizations with various art projects and events including research, scholarships, films, festivals, and performance and visual arts events.

The project proposals pass through different committees (for film projects – via the cinema committee composed of distinguished artists and media practitioners). Once approved by the committee, it goes up different levels until the Board gives its final approval.

Colorwheel Media Studios
Colorwheel Media Studios is a group of freelance production artists providing services for both commercial and independent productions (corporate videos, films, and music videos). Their set-up promotes a cost-effective way for quality production work. Since it’s inception during the production of “Pera-perahang Lata,” Colorwheel has already produced a good number of commercial and independent film and video productions.

The team’s latest projects include a series of videos for De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, an upcoming AVP for the Office of the President’s Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), and AVPs for Tuldok Animation Studios.

Nilo: Von Arroyo

“Pera-perahang Lata” is the debut film of singer, TV host, Pinoy Dream Academy (Seasons 1 and 2) Diction Master, John Robert Powers instructor, and V-Factor Events and Promotions project manager Von Arroyo.

Amidst the extensive auditions, Von is Rianne’s only choice to play the role of Nilo. Professional and good-natured as he is, he had that look that she found solely on him among the roster of talented actors vying for the role.


Von is best known for his musical talents with his very early and yet successful singing career. He was a Ryan Cayabyab music scholar and member of Cayabyab’s 14K. He had a number of music hits under his belt: his first self-titled album “Mr. Lonely” under Viva Records; “Maisip Mo Lang Ako” and “Reborn” under Prime Music and distributed by Viva Records; and the 14K Music album from 1989-1993. His hit singles include “If You Leave Me,” “Single Rain,” and “Through the Fire.”


He appeared in TV commercials for Coke, RCBC, Toyota, and PLDT. He also had his share of theatrical performances including the musicals “Princess of the Moon” at the Aliw Theater from 2002 to 2004 and “Belen” at the Star Theater, Star City from 2002 to 2004. He hosted PAGCOR’s Spin2win Magic 5 and also starred on “Fidel,” his second independent short film.



Von also attended ABS-CBN acting workshops and the 11th batch of Ricky Lee’s scriptwriting workshop.


He is an instructor for Conversational English, Voice and Communications, Believability, Acting, VTR and Eye Contact for John Robert Powers International.



















Gary: Arnold Reyes

More than being a very talented film, TV, and theater actor, Arnold’s attitude and work ethics is an inspiring breath of fresh air. After the dire need of the production for a new actor to play the role of Gary, he is indeed a blessing for the production. And he is undoubtedly the best "Gary" to play the role.

This is his first time to collaborate with Rianne and it has been a truly wonderful experience to have him portray one of the film's major characters.

A familiar face on television, Arnold Reyes did numerous ad campaigns. He was a featured model for Smart, PLDT, McDonalds, San Miguel Beer, Downy Fabric Conditioner, Wrigley’s Orbit Chewing Gum, Lucky Me, Sarsa ni Mang Tomas, Talk N’ Text, Benadryl, Kawasaki, Bacchus, Knorr, among others.

For theater, he acted for: "Hamlet Redux,” Atlantis Productions’ "Rent Manila," Actor’s Repertory Theater’s "Romeo and Juliet" and "Florante at Laura," CCP’s entry to the International Theater Festival 2006 "Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal" for which he was voted Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Dodong (Best of Theater 2006, Philippine Daily Inquirer), and “Orosman at Zafira,” an entry to the “1st International Komedya Fiesta” of the University of the Philippines Centennial Celebration.

He is also into song writing. His song "Paano Na?" interpreted by Bituin Escalante garnered Second Prize Honors at the Metro Pop 2000 Song Writing Festival. In 2003, his composition "Kung Ako Ba Siya?" interpreted by Piolo Pascual made it to the Finals at the Himig Handog Love Song – winning him the coveted Texters’ Choice Award.

He also proved his versatility as an actor playing various roles for renowned independent films including "Big Time," "Pisay," "Ang Huling Araw Ng Linggo," “Imoral,” “Manila,” “Adela,” and “UPCAT.”

He’s also part of the ensemble in Camera Café, the five-minute French comedy show which was adapted by some of the country's leading playwrights to suit Pinoy sensibilities. Arnold also starred in the ABS-CBN “teleserye” “Dragona” and French producer Henri de Lorme’s and director Mark Meily’s “You Women.”


















Adult Beggar: Gio Respall

Gio Respall is an Industrial Design/Fine Arts graduate who does lots of artistic things. As a top dancer, he is member of Douglas Nieras' Powerdance. He also starred in the Cinema One Originals film “Yanggaw.”

Apart from being a dancer and a character actor, he is also known for his hosting and choreography stints.

During the course of filming "Pera-perahang Lata," Rianne and Gio realized that they already worked together years before for a music video of Slapshock.

Juda: Paul Sy

Paul Sy is a theater actor from Gantimpala. As a puppeteer, he's the man behind the character “Kokey,” an ABS-CBN comedy “teleserye” of the same title. He also appeared in the ensemble of Camera Café.