MULAT (w/ TheRapist)

Philippine release date:               November 02, 2016  

Director: Maria Diane Ventura

Screenplay: Maria Diane Ventura

Stars: Loren Burgos, Jake Cuenca, Ryan Eigenmann

Genre: Drama, Mystery

BONUS FEATURE: The commercial screening of MULAT (Rated A by the CEB) will include the award-wining short film by Diane Ventura entitled TheRapist (R16). It tells the story of a young man (Marco Morales) accused of rape who is sent for psychiatric evaluation. As he recalls and narrates the details of what transpired the night of his alleged assault, his therapist (Cherie Gil) investigates through psychoanalysis the truth of his story.

MULAT Synopsis 1:

A film by Maria Diane Ventura, about the evolution of love and the understanding of it, as reflected in the dynamics of intimate relationships. Mulat is Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board.

MULAT Synopsis 2:

Sam decides to break off her engagement and leave her tumultuous relationship behind after a brief but life altering experience. She resolves to focus on finding herself, her peace of mind and happiness and in the process she meets Jake, the man of her dreams. Everything seems perfect until she starts experiencing hallucinations and recurring nightmares that prompt her to question her own sanity. 

The process of self-discovery leads Sam to realize how fear and the memories of the past are subconsciously preventing her from getting what she wants the most. Will she allow her doubts and uncertainty resulting from her failed relationship be a self-fulfilling prophecy? Her journey to restore her faith takes her to different realms of possibilities and ultimately leads her to uncovering a shocking truth.

MULAT MTRCB Rating: R13* (Restricted 13. Strictly for 13 years of age and above)

Running Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Cinema Evaluation Board Rating: A

THERAPIST MTRCB Rating: R16* (Restricted 16. Strictly for 16 years of age and above)

Running Time: 15 minutes

IMPORTANT NOTE: For the theatrical run on November 2, 2016, the higher rating of R16 will be implemented at the cinemas.

Released by: Solar Pictures

Official MULAT website: http://www.mulatfilm.com/

Official MULAT Facebook: http://bit.ly/MulatAwakenFB

Video links:

Link to view MULAT trailer: https://youtu.be/Lbb_GHcqvp0

Link to view THERAPIST RED BAND trailer: https://youtu.be/Y0tEdvrF2-o

Mulat: A Revelation in Form and Content

 Of all the triumphs going for Diane Ventura’s first feature-length film, Mulat (Awaken), its genre-bending narrative style and the ace performances of its actors perhaps take the cake. Chief in this long list are its two lead actors—Jake Cuenca (who plays the morose Jake) and Ryan Eigenmann (who is dynamite as Vince)—both of whom effectively quash any preconceived notions viewers may have of their abilities due to their notoriety in more mass-leaning vehicles. Newcomer Loren Burgos is also not to be shrugged off, and it is her impassioned turn as Sam, in equal doses forceful and vulnerable, which serves as the movie’s anchor. Supporting cast members such as the sparring couple of Logan Goodchild (Logan) and Candy Pangilinan (Cathy), as well as theater mainstay Madeleine Nicolas (Sam’s mom), also deserve kudos.

But let’s not kid ourselves here: Ventura’s material is topnotch, and it is our good fortune that she is adamant in presenting things, well, differently. What in lesser hands will be a straightforward three-way love story gets a shot in the arm with the young director at the helm. What we have instead in Mulat is a psychological thriller, a time-hopping mystery, and a perspective-rich romance rolled into one, where linearity is challenged and logic is refashioned. Some may view it as difficult, but any worthwhile experiment is worth some work. And the critics agree: Mulat is worth laboring over. Since its global debut a while back, Ventura has bagged Best Director for Global Feature, while Jake Cuenca took home Best Actor at the International Film Festival Manhattan 2015. The film also won Best Narrative Feature at the World Cinema Festival in Brazil, where Cuenca once again snagged Best Actor honors. Mulat was also given the “A” rating by the Cinema Evaluation Board. 

In retrospect, Diane Ventura’s previous output, the Cherie Gil starrer TheRapist, was a portent of fine things to come. Another psychological vehicle, the short film is yet another triumph in less-is-more craftsmanship, and it approached weighty issues (rape, abuse, sexuality, psychoanalysis) with deft hands. A new trailer for said film, which got a G rating from the MTRCB after initially being deemed unfit for public viewing, will also be shown in local screenings of Mulat.

  

BROKEN VOWS

Philippine release date: September 28, 2016

Logline/Tagline/Quote:

• ‘Til death do us part
• How far would you go to hide the truth?
• Obsession. Desire. Betrayal.
• A perfect couple. A chance encounter. A deadly mistake.

Director: Bram Coppens

Writers: Jim Agnew, Sean Keller

Stars:

• Wes Bentley (Hunger Games, Interstellar, Pete’s Dragon)
• Jaimie Alexander (Thor, Blindspot, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
• Cam Gigandet (Easy A, Twilight, Burlesque)
• Alexandra Breckenridge (Walking Dead, American Horror Story)

Genre: Romance, Thriller

Synopsis 1:

A charming yet troubled man spirals into a rage after being rejected by the woman he initially seduced.

Synopsis 2:

Broken Vows tells the story of Patrick Flynn (Wes Bentley), whose charm and charisma masks a profound psychosis.

Patrick seduces Tara Bloom (Jaimie Alexander) instantly becoming infatuated with her beauty. Tara regretting her

actions rejects Patrick sending him spiraling into madness and delusion.

Synopsis 3:

On her bachelorette-party weekend with friends in New Orleans, Tara falls for the darkly-sexy bartender Patrick. Waking

in his bed the next morning, Tara instantly regrets her unfaithfulness and flies back home to her fiancé. Her secret flame

becomes a full-on fire when Patrick shows up at her house, surreptitiously tries to cancel her wedding arrangements,

and stalks her every move.

He spirals into madness and delusion, determined to have Tara no matter what the cost. When his efforts fail, he tracks

the newlyweds on their honeymoon where he erupts in a psychotic, murderous rage. Tara will have to find the strength

she never knew she possessed to stop Patrick from destroying her marriage and her life.


Official Hashtag: #BrokenVows

Solar Pictures is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @solarpicturesPH

Media Write-ups/PR:

1. http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/afm/afm-cmg- commits-to- broken-vows/5095847.article

2. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2705174/Jaimie- Alexander-parades- six-pack- abs-white- tank-set- new-

film-Broken- Vows-shirtless- Wes-Bentley.html

3. http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3379903/wes- bentley-and- jaimie-alexander- have-broken- vows-images/

4. http://page58.com/2016/08/how-far- would-you- go-to- hide-the- truth-wes- bentley-is- psychotic-in- thriller-broken-

vows-with- jaimie-alexander- cam-gigandet/

The Three Realities of ZOOM

The Three Realities of ZOOM

From the crazy mind of Pedro Morelli, written for the screen by Matt Hansen, and produced by Niv Fichman, these three creative geniuses collaborated to create the distinct universes of ZOOM. Hansen explains that “originally, the film was similar to INCEPTION in that it started with one reality point and went further into one’s consciousness. This changed when I suggested that we do the film Escher staircase style where we would have different worlds affecting one another. Conceptually, this idea sounded really cool, but we soon realized that realistically the idea was fairly complicated. We then decided cut the film down to three stories, which led us to create ZOOM.”

Emma The Cartoonist

Emma works in a factory that makes love dolls. But when she looks in the mirror, Emma tends to compare herself to the dolls and becomes dissatisfied with her own flawed body. And so, she decides to invest her savings in breast implant surgery. The surgery endows Emma with enormous breasts, just like the dolls. But she has a hard time getting used to their presence and begins to feel like a stranger in her own body. Emma questions her decision and ultimately tries to get the implants removed. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough money left for the surgical reversal.

“The thing about Emma is that a lot of people know a girl like this,” says writer Matt Hansen. “She’s nerdy but not in a pejorative kind of way. She’s caught up in this society of perfect appearances, but unable to see her own inner beauty.” Emma’s inner beauty captivated producer Niv Fichman as well. “Emma is someone who I would love to meet,” says Fichman.“She’s a secret artist, she draws really well. I feel sorry for her because she has this problem where she is not as confident as she looks and wants to be augmented. But this unrealistic image of beauty is something society has imposed on all of us and that is one of the main themes of the film.”

In her free time, Emma likes to draw cartoons and creates a comic book about the life of a filmmaker named Edward.

Edward The Filmmaker

Edward is designed by Emma to be the perfect man. Charming, handsome and sexy, he is a successful action film director. Immersed in a world of fame, fortune and vanity, he craves to be recognized for his artistic sensibility. Edward's problems begin when his penis dramatically shrinks overnight - the result of a derisive practical joke by his creator Emma, who holds his destiny in her hands. This sudden and senseless mutation leaves Edward in despair.

The character of Edward is far too familiar to those in the film industry. “Edward’s a caricature of a variety of directors in movies that both Niv and I have come across over the years, in that he’s a commercial guy who is trying to make something meaningful or arty,” says Hansen. “He’s a parody of that type of filmmaker, the process of making a film as well as having various people influencing the work, for better or worse.”

Edward's latest project is a movie about a successful Brazilian fashion model who strives to be a novelist.

Michelle The Novelist

Michelle is a Brazilian fashion model living in Toronto. She dreams of becoming a novelist despite the discouragement of her manager (and boyfriend) Dale. But when Michelle shows an incomplete manuscript to a respected publisher, he thinks it has great potential and encourages her to complete it. In order to concentrate on finishing the book, Michelle escapes to Brazil so she can focus exclusively on her work.

Michelle’s character was created around the concept that one should not judge a book by its cover. “Michelle is that kind of girl who people think is just beautiful,” says Hansen. “She has all these advantages in life: she goes to the front of the line; she can get what average people can’t and she sees the benefits and disadvantages to that---one of them being that she is not taken seriously as a writer because she’s only seen as beautiful.”

Throughout her story, Michelle is writing a book about Emma, an insecure woman who works in a factory that makes love dolls.

And this closes the circle between the three realities of ZOOM.

IGNACIO DE LOYOLA

                                                                                                                          

Philippine release date:               July 27, 2016

Loglines/Taglines/Quotes:

·         Soldier Sinner Saint

·         Discover how one man's failure led to his greatest achievement

                               

Director: Paolo Dy

Screenplay: Paolo Dy

Director of Photography: Lee Briones

Music By: Ryan Cayabyab

Stars: Andreas Muñoz, Javier Godino, Julio Perillan and Pepe Ocio

Genre: Drama, History

Synopsis 1:

IGNACIO DE LOYOLA tells the story of a brash, hot-headed soldier in a time of political upheaval in Spain. The young Iñigo went from living a life of brutal violence and debauchery, to becoming one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church. This film chronicles Iñigo's torturous struggle to turn from darkness to light—a struggle that nearly destroyed him, but also gave him the key to a spiritual weapon that continues to save lives to this very day.

Synopsis 2:

A modern and very human take on the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, often called 'The Saint of Second Chances.'

As a brash, hot-headed soldier in a time of political upheaval in Spain, the young Iñigo went from living a life of brutal violence and debauchery, to becoming one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church. This film chronicles Iñigo's torturous struggle to turn from darkness to light—a struggle that nearly destroyed him, but also gave him the key to a spiritual weapon that continues to save lives to this very day.

Produced by Jesuit Communications Philippines (JesCom), IGNACIO DE LOYOLA was shot on location over two months in Spain.

Synopsis 3:

‘IGNACIO’ is a full-length feature film about St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.  It is an incisive and thrilling look at the life of the real man behind the legend, following his transformation from a brash, impulsive youth obsessed with women and sword-fighting; to the masterful, charismatic leader of an order that would change the face of Christendom.

In his lifelong quest to become the heroic Knight of his fantasies, Ignacio stares death in the face again and again, having his leg shattered by a cannonball in battle; driven to near suicide by his inner demons; finding himself imprisoned, accused of being an illuminati;  and finally finding his life in the hands of the Inquisition. Through it all, he would come to see the hand of God working in his life, shaping the self-obsessed sinner into the loyal and passionate soldier-saint.

The film also shows how Ignacio wove the trials, errors, and lessons of his eventful life into the fabric of his masterpiece, the Spiritual Exercises. Combining clarity of thought with Ignacio’s own love of fantasy and imagination, the Exercises form a rigorous method of making one’s life decisions, and have guided and influenced countless seekers throughout history.

MTRCB Rating and Running Time: (to follow)

Released by: Jesuit Communications Foundation Philippines thru Solar Pictures

Official Website: http://jescom.ph/ignaciomovie/

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ignaciomovie/

Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/ignaciomovie

Official Hashtags: #IgnacioMovie #Ignaciodeloyola #WhatWouldYouGiveUp

QnA with MIKE VAN DIEM

Academy® Award winning director, Mike van Diem returns to the big screen with an off-beat, charming and romantic comedy, THE SURPRISE

Mike Van Diem won an Oscar for his debut feature film entitled “Character” back in 1997. This was in the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 70th Academy Awards. And in that same year, “Character” was also presented in the “Critics Week” section of the 32nd Cannes Film Festival. Despite many offers from Hollywood, he decided to stay in the Netherlands to direct several commercials. THE SURPRISE will be his return to the big screen. Shot in Germany, Ireland, and Belgium, THE SURPRISE will feature three spoken languages: English, Dutch, and Hindi.

From winning an Academy Award for your debut film and taking so long to make a next one. Fear of failure?

No, not as far as I know. I got many offers from Hollywood. The first few years after winning the Academy Award I was asked to come to Los Angeles many times. Looking back on it, it’s not that surprising. You win an Academy Award because you’ve made a special, original and authentic film and Hollywood isn’t that interested in those films. It’s like receiving a Michelin Star and being asked to grill burgers.

I have been working on several projects for a short time and was hoping to make it more personal and push it to a higher level. In the end only the thriller SPY GAME could be seen on the big screen, after endless postponement and disagreement, but then I had already left. Meanwhile, I got several jobs in the Netherlands as a director of commercials. The financial need to make another feature film was missing and I started to lose interest in feature films. I hardly saw any films anymore, while I used to watch them all the time. That was a sign. Although the people around me told me I was obliged to my talent, I felt I had lost the spirit. It wasn’t easy to acknowledge that and it took some time before I was at peace with it. But ultimately, this resignation made the fire blaze again a couple of years ago. I thought: “I’m finally going to make THE SURRISE.”

 Finally?

In 1990 someone told me about the short story DE SURPRISE by Dutch writer Belcampo, about a man and a woman who both wish to leave this world. But when they meet, they fall in love and want to get out of the deal, which cannot be done so easily. The idea is: only when facing death, you live life to the fullest and everyone should live their life like it’s their last day on earth. I thought this was a strong, universal story that I, as a writer/director, could adapt and personalise. To make a long story short: THE SURPRISE would be my first feature film. But the timing was very unfortunate. Belcampo had just died and his heirs had too much on their mind to think about filming rights. I had just graduated from the Netherlands Film Academy and wasn’t that experienced. Due to mutual lack of decisiveness I didn’t got the filming rights. But when I contacted Belcampo’s daughter a few years ago, she recognised me immediately and was enthusiastic about making a film of Belcampo’s story.

After CHARACTER, you didn’t expect you to write and direct a romantic comedy, right?

Perhaps not in that order, but THE SURPRISE and CHARACTER have more in common than you might think. Not only thematically, but also when you look at the design: again quite grand, real cinema, while the story is again timeless and universal. Besides that, THE SURPRISE isn’t a dime a dozen, like other romantic comedies. The film is very entertaining and romantic, but doesn’t fit in your average romcom list.

Casting actor Jeroen van Koningsbrugge as the main character, who is ultimately funny but also dead serious, is quite remarkable. Why him?

While writing the script some aspects of Jeroen’s role reminded me of Peter Sellers in BEING THERE and Jim Carrey in THE TRUMAN SHOW. Not only the eccentricity of the character, but also the tragic loneliness combined with a very friendly, almost childlike openness. This was something Robin Williams could also play very well. I thought that perhaps I needed a comedian to play the lead instead of a ‘normal’ actor. I had seen Jeroen in the Dutch television show Draadstaal where he had played some moving scenes with the exact childlike innocence I was looking for. He became my one and only choice. Without him I wouldn’t have made the film. Luckily he was very enthusiastic and also accepted my only demand: he needed to lose at least twelve and a half kilo’s. In the end he managed to lose seventeen. He was extremely disciplined.

Why did he need to lose so many kilo’s?

I mainly knew Jeroen from Draadstaal, but I realised that most people in the Netherlands knew him from Ik hou van Holland, a big Dutch TV show airing on Saturday night. In this program he is mostly a sociable and Burgundian guy who keeps the party alive. That image contradicted with his credibility as Jacob in THE SURPRISE. Of course, Jeroen is a very skilled actor and will make you forget about this other image instantly, but losing the weight combined with his clothing and the international setting gave him some extra support.

 How did you cast Georgina Verbaan?

That wasn’t so hard. There are very few good female comedians in the Netherlands and even less that could play a female lead. For the role of Anne we only invited a handful of actresses. We did some screen tests and raised the bar higher and higher every time. In the end, Georgina was the overall winner and I’m sure that none of the other actresses envy her for this victory. When you watch the film it seems like this role has been written especially for her. One day before the principal shooting of THE SURPRISE, Dutch comedian Claudia de Breij praised Georgina’s acting skills in the Dutch television show De Wereld Draait Door and said that Georgina deserved a great project where she could use all of her talents. THE SURPRISE could be that project. And now I have finished the film, I’m absolutely sure of it. Georgina plays a lovely, versatile role and has excellent chemistry with Jeroen.

And Jan Decleir?

Jan, who played the lead in CHARATER, wasn’t supposed to be in THE SURPRISE. Jeroen plays a multimillionaire with an enormous estate and initially I had written the part of a butler in the story, the only person Jacob could talk to. I started casting but couldn’t find an actor with the charisma to make the role of the butler work. Jan has the charisma, but isn’t the butler type of guy. So I rewrote the part of the butler and made him a gardener, which suited Jan better. Jan and Jeroen immediately connected during the first read of the script and their chemistry is visible on screen. Jan also connected so well with Georgina. Jan really enjoyed making this film and we surely enjoyed working with him.

Back to the beginning: if you hadn’t won an Academy Award, would you have made more films?

Who knows? Perhaps for financial reasons, if my job as a director of commercials hadn’t gone so well. But economic necessity isn’t a strong motive for making a good film. I have learned a lot in the meantime and lived rather happily.

So, no regrets about winning the Academy Award?

Ask an ice skater if he regrets winning a medal and he will say no. It’s an amazing experience that I can recommend to everyone. You might think that every advance has its disadvantage, but I wouldn’t say that. Except everyone keeps nagging about when you’re going to make your next film. But that’s a prize I’m willing to pay.

Watch #TheSurpriseMovie beginning May 11, 2016. For more details, visit Solar Pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @solarpicturesPH.

diYOS-DIYOsan | Why you should watch this movie?

Mandaluyong, Philippines – Last April 27, Wednesday, I was invited for a media preview of “diYOS-DIYOsan” a Filipino Christian movie directed by Cesar Buendia. The movie revolves around in the realm world of Philippine politics & faith also, on how the ideology of two main characters changes all throughout the story. Below are my top ten reasons why you should watch this movie:

1   1.)    Because we must support Filipino Film maker

Source/s: https://lloydestrada.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/agm-proud-to-be-pinoy.png

2.)    Low budget yet it has a great story. (no spoiler here, lol )

3.)    Its very timely for the upcoming Philippine Election 2016

Source/s: http://www.update.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/comelec.jpg

4.)    It will help us know who to vote for this May 9

Source/s:http://america.pink/images/3/4/9/8/2/8/2/en/3-philippine-presidential-election-2016.jpg

5.)    It will let you know the real value of brotherhood (in Christ)

Source/s: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nationaldayofprayer/pages/176/attachments/original/1446834464/Men-Praying.jpg?1446834464

6.)    It’s a different Christian movie

7.)    It makes us re-evaluate our theology

Source/s: https://thisfragiletent.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/theology.jpg

8.)    It will help you reflect on your priority in life

Source/s: http://www.joannalindenbaum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/word-images.jpg

9.) You will see the dramatic side of John Prats

10.) Did you miss “Selina” from the tv series of Mula Sa Puso?

Source/s: http://images.wikia.com/villains/images/1/18/Princess_Punzalan_SElina.jpg

THE SURPRISE

Philippine release date:               May 11, 2016  

Loglines:              ‘Til death do us part …

                                Love hurts. Sometimes it kills too

                                Love can be murder

                               

Director: Mike van Diem

Screenplay: Mike van Diem and Karen van Holst Pellekaan

Stars: Jeroen van Koningsbrugge, Georgina Verbaan, Henry Goodman

Genre: Romance, Action, Comedy

SYNOPSIS (250 characters with spaces)

An eccentric multimillionaire signs an agreement to have his life ended. While selecting his coffin he meets a young woman who has signed up for the same arrangement. Trouble ensues when the couple falls in love and wishes to get out of the contract.

MTRCB Rating: PG (Parental Guidance)

Running Time: 1 hour and 42 minutes

Released by: Solar Pictures

DIYOS-DIYOSAN: A TIMELY MOVIE ON PINOY FAITH AND POLITICS

dIYOS-DIYOSAn is a socio-political/spiritual treatise that highlights the roots of the country’s current political struggles and economic hardships—the focus on money and power by its leaders.

The film seeks to open the eyes of Filipino millennials to the realities of what a true leader should be, and is expected to be a media catalyst for the large percentage of undecided voters.

Its timing is perfect as it opens shortly before the Philippine national elections.

It is hoped that freedom-loving Filipinos draw inspiration from the film’s lessons and use this as a guiding principle in eventually choosing the rightful and deserving leaders who could change the country’s course for the better.

Directed by Christian film director Cesar Buendia, the movie stars top-caliber actor John Prats and veteran actress Princess Punzalan, with a stellar supporting cast that includes Kiko Estrada, Cheska Diaz, Lorenzo Mara, Vaness del Moral, Glaiza de Castro, Tirso Cruz III and many others.

dIYOS-DIYOSAn premieres on May 4, 2016 at all branches of SM and Walter Mart cinemas all over the Philippines.

Synopsis:

1986- She loved her country but hated God. That is why Estrell, played by Princess Punzalan, made sure that each of her 4th year high school students would do the same.

“Serve the people! But believe only in yourself,” she stressed.

Her brilliant but broken favorite student, Bernard, played by John Prats, did just as she instructed. He believed in himself, albeit only in himself. He did not believe in God.

But somewhere along the way, Estrell met the Lord and became a believer. Bernard, on the other hand grew up and started to believe more and more in himself, that he could somehow be his own god.

It is 2014 – Estrell is now a missionary preaching God’s word. Bernard, on the other hand, has emerged to become an evil and corrupt senator who is one of the strongest candidates for President in 2016. They meet again.

This is a story about the evil in Philippine politics and how the Power of God’s unending love and mercy can cause real change.

dIYOS-DIYOSAn, a victorious story every freedom-loving Filipino shouldn’t miss opens in SM cinemas nationwide starting May 4, 2016.

The Women of Trumbo

In celebration of Women’s Month, we bring you the three ladies of TRUMBO the movie. 

Screenwriter Dalton Trumbo’s acclaimed career comes to a crushing halt in the late 1940s when he and other Hollywood figures are blacklisted for their political beliefs. But all throughout this tumultuous period of his life, he was surrounded by very strong women ---friend, family, and foe.

The first lady is of course lovely wife, Cleo Trumbo, magnificently played by Diane Lane. Cleo was a former child performer who supported her mother and brother as a youngster. She epitomized Hollywood glamour but also had the strength of character to stand up to her headstrong husband. When Cleo and Trumbo first met, she was a carhop at a Hollywood drive-in where her talent for juggling water glasses made her a favorite with customers. Taken with both her beauty and her spirit, Trumbo quickly proposed. She turned him down flat and even returned the outsized tips he tried to leave her, but Trumbo’s persistence eventually paid off and Cleo remained by his side throughout his ordeals.

  

Cleo was the emotional anchor for Trumbo. She allowed her husband to get all of the attention. Similarly, Diane is a very generous, giving actress, who recognized that she was going to play second fiddle to Bryan, the way Cleo did to Dalton. She was not only comfortable with that, but she created a kind of stillness that represented what Cleo did in real life. 

    

Although Cleo had the looks and charisma to be a film star, she chose to focus on being a wife and mother. She was very devoted to her husband and her children and her determination to protect them gave her strength. Lane says that while she had heard of the Hollywood Ten and Trumbo, she learned much more while shooting the film. “I became convinced that this story needed to be told,” she adds. “It’s frightening how little history people, myself included, are aware of. The human drama behind it is shocking. This story will be relevant as long as patriotism can be hijacked by whatever group is in charge.”

Nikola ‘Niki’ Trumbo, played admirably by Elle Fanning, is still fiercely proud and protective of her father’s legacy. “He believed Congress had no right to compel him to give testimony about his political beliefs,” says Niki. “I think he was stunned to have lost that battle. This is a story about a man who held true to his own beliefs and principles. We can all aspire to be that kind of hero, whatever our flaws and weaknesses may be.”

  

According to Nikola, the film makers “did a remarkable job of recreating the complexity and passion of my relationship with my father. He and I were, I think, very much alike – stubborn, very determined and challenging. It’s no surprise we butted heads a lot of the time.”

    

   

The real-life Niki Trumbo has high praise for Elle Fanning, the then 16-year-old actress who portrays her in a startlingly mature performance that takes the character from age 13 to 31. It became clear to Fanning through her contact with Trumbo that everyone in the family were victims of the blacklist. “They had to change their entire lives and live in secret,” she says. “Niki couldn’t tell anyone who her dad was or what he did. There’s already so much pressure as a teenager without adding to that, but she came out a fighter. Her sense of right and wrong saved her. And that came from her father.”

And lastly, our main protagonist Hedda Hopper, grandly played by Dame Helen Mirren. Hopper was a stage actress before becoming a contract player in silent movies. She managed to make the transition to talkies, but her film career was not a glittering success. When the roles started drying up, she transferred her substantial energy into becoming a very influential Hollywood columnist with a very large readership. And that she as was good at.

“Helen is a consummate professional and all about the work,” says producer Monica Levinson. “She was incredibly wonderful and you could tell everyone on set felt like we were in the presence of Hollywood royalty. She brought a very human element to Hedda Hopper, who essentially is the villain of the film.”

   

Mirren was enthralled by the story and setting of Trumbo. “How interesting Hollywood was at that time,” she exclaims. “Hollywood was an extraordinary construct, fed by publicity, by the Hedda Hoppers of the world, by the publicity agents and by the studios. There were titans abroad, all the great, great movie stars and filmmakers.”

Also, part of the attraction was the opportunity to work with Cranston whom she has admired for a long time. Mirren quips, “Working with Bryan was like being with an old friend. Actors watch each other’s work and we can develop certain little crushes on each other. Bryan has always been one of those actors for me.” And Mirren is a lover of hats, as was Hopper. She was once deemed worst-dressed at the Golden Globes for her hat, but in 'Trumbo', Mirren rocks the awesome accessory.

   

According to Mirren, Hopper truly believed she was fighting for what was best for America and for ideals that many Americans believed in. “The political dialogue hasn’t changed much. There is still a battle between those who believe that we have an obligation to look after people who are vulnerable and those who believe in individualism and self-determination.”

So, who “run the world?”

Trumbo in cinemas beginning March 16.

ONE OF THE WORST EVENTS IN HOLLYWOOD

By

Ymmanwel Rico Provinio

What tyrannical disservice could a democratic country, like the US of A, impose to its people? Why would a democratic country suddenly brandish communism in its own land?

World War is waving in the horizon, as the relations between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. deteriorated and the fear of the “Red Menace” reached unprecedented heights. A group called the House of Un-American Activities otherwise known as H.U.A.C., investigated thousands of Americans suspected of being communist sympathizers. Nobody was spared, when teachers, military contractors, civil servants, journalists, and others lost their jobs, their reputations, and even their families as suspicion and paranoia swept the nation. And Hollywood land and its denizens suffered from its claws and pangs.

Familiar Situations During the Philippine Martial Law

In the 1940s, Dalton Trumbo (played by Emmy & Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee, Byan Cranston) is one of the highest paid screenwriters in the world, penning movie classics including the Oscar-nominated “Kitty Foyle” and “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo”. A fixture on the Hollywood social scene, and a political activist supporting labor unions, equal pay, and civil rights. Brilliant, ambitious and contentious, Trumbo enjoyed exposing what he perceived as the world’s hypocrisy and injustices in his films. Academy Award-winners “Roman Holiday” and “The Brave Ones” were both written under pseudonyms during his 13-year exile from Hollywood.
 

In the late 1940s, the HUAC paid special attention to Hollywood, aimed at rooting out communists in the film industry. The Blacklist became a dreaded document when scores of prominent actors, directors, producers and screenwriters were publicly berated about their association with an array of organizations deemed to be “un-American”. Threatened with the loss of their livelihoods, many witnesses gave evidences against friends and colleagues. Ten of those called the “Hollywood Ten” refused to testify and answer any questions, denying the committee’s right to ask them about their political beliefs and denouncing the hearings as a violation of their civil rights. All ten were sentenced to prison for contempt of Congress. The best known among them was Dalton Trumbo.

“Trumbo was still known as a communist, but people don’t realize that he was actually patriot. He was a communist in the late 30s and early 40s, when that meant you were pro-labor and anti-Jim Crow, and you fought for civil rights for African-Americans,” says screenwriter John McNamara. “It had nothing to do with Russia and everything to do with how an already great country could improve itself”.

Trumbo’s story really breaks down to human rights as U.S. citizens to free speech and assembly. Trumbo and the other blacklisters were not only denied those rights – but persecuted without having committed any crimes. He was a true patriot – he loved his country. But the system failed him. His story is still relevant today, as the world in which we are living has many people facing too much intrusion from their government.

Indeed, these situations are familiar to the Filipinos who had experienced the dictatorial regime of Marcos in the 1970’s up to the 1980’s.

Powerful Enemies
 

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, actors John Wayne and Edward G. Robinson, together with a gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (played by Oscar winner Helen Mirren) were among Trumbo’s antagonists.

The quintessential man’s man and All-American hero, John Wayne, was one of the chief architects of Trumbo’s downfall. As the head of the Motion Pictures Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, he led the charge to ferret out communist sympathizers who wanted to use movies to influence the American people. Famed actor, Edward G. Robinson, who testified in front of the HUAC four times, ended betraying his friends and colleagues by giving out their names. He faced a moral dilemma of the most profound proportions.
 

Chief among Trumbo’s adversaries is the legendary gossip maven, Hedda Hopper, was a starlet whose career was never a success. She transferred her substantial energy into becoming a very successful Hollywood columnist with a large readership and enormous power. She marshaled the forces of anti-communism in Hollywood and came out strongly against Trumbo in particular. She was determined to convince America that these patriotic writers were traitors, and she wrote scathing, gossipy smears that were read by 35 million people.

Unexpected Allies    

    

At the apex of his career, Kirk Douglas, the superstar was one of the few brave insiders who used their influences to force the end of the blacklist in Hollywood. Douglas was instrumental in helping put blacklisted writers, performers, directors and other entertainment professionals back to work when he hired Dalton Trumbo.

Trumbo prevailed when star Kirk Douglas and director Otto Preminger each put the screenwriter’s real name on screen in their respective 1960 blockbusters, “Spartacus” and “Exodus”, effectively brought down the blacklist era to an end.

The history of the blacklist era and its continued relevance today were also big attractions for all those involved. “We sometimes take our rights for granted,” says the film director Jay Roach. “Free speech is easy to protect when we are saying things that are popular, but the Bill of Rights is designed to protect unpopular speech, especially in times of crisis. The blacklist era is almost forgotten, but everyone recognized that we had a singular chance to remind the world of the importance of this story”.

 

Trumbo will be showing in the Philippines beginning March 16. For more information, visit Solar Pictures on Facebook, Twitter and Instragram (@solarpicturePH).