Iza Calzado wears producer hat anew
Iza Calzado takes her career into another level by agreeing to be one of the executive producers of “Culion,” a film written by Ricky Lee and to be line-produced by the controversial Shandii Bacolod.
It was Iza who approached Shandii and Ricky Lee to inquire if there’s a project that she can be involved with, not just as an actress but as a producer as well.
It so happened that when Ricky and Shandii were conceptualizing “Culion,” they already had Iza in mind to play the central character. It was just a matter of putting everything together to form a synergy, and voila, Iza signed a contract with Shandii as an executive producer of “Culion,” the biggest project of Ricky and Shandii to date.
Inspired by her experience in doing “Mystified,” Iza pitched the idea of coming in as a producer for any project that Ricky and Shandii might have at the moment. All she did was ask and soon a partnership was formed in a jiffy.
“I believe in the project, plus it is written by Ricky Lee. I also heard good things about director Alvin Yapan. When I learned about Ana, the character in ‘Culion’ who wants to get out of Culion and who believes there will be a cure for leprosy, there came forth feelings of excitement, nervousness, kilig, but I was also grateful because they thought of me to portray the role,” said Iza.
The actress-turned-producer met Meryl Soriano, the other girl who will form the part of the exciting triumvirate in “Culion,” and together will embark on an amazing journey to battle the disease.
According to Shandii, they talked to one actress who was very much interested to play the role but has to wait for the go signal of her manager if she can do it.
“Everything depends on what her manager will say but knowing the actress, she might put her feet down and do it. We’d really love to have her on board,” said Shandii.
Joem Bascon will play an important role, alongside the hundreds of hopefuls who auditioned for certain parts. There is a chance that a major Hollywood actor might be asked to join the movie.
“I want to be part of a project that has a good intention and is for a good cause. We’d like to help ‘Culion’ rise from the stigma it has been beset with. And they have an inspiring story to tell…of triumph, perseverance, and hope.”
Iza and the rest of the producers are interested to field “Culion” as an entry to the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival so that the public may be inspired with its story and the values that it hopes to impart to the audience.
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Jane Oineza finally broke her silence regarding the alleged relationship that she and Jerome Ponce had in the past. The two are now top-billing the Regal Entertainment, Inc. film “Finding You.”
“Masaya ako kasi nabigyan ulit kami ng opportunity na mag-work together since we last worked together in ‘Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita,’” said Jane, referring to the 2015 ABS-CBN afternoon teleserye.
She didn’t think they’d be able to work with each other again. The young actress then shed light to claims that she and Jerome became an item.
“Hindi naman naging kami to begin with,” she clarified.
However, Jane revealed that she and Jerome developed a special relationship that is more than friends but less than lovers.
“The relationship did not bloom but it was possible for it to lead in that direction. So we talked. There was a possibility for it to lead to something romantic but it did not reach that plateau. I can’t say it didn’t work because we never tried it. It just didn’t lead to a romance,” she said.
Jane described Jerome as a sweet guy. “He is thoughtful and mabait. And he has a good sense of humor. He was able to make me laugh. That is important to me. We have to be comfortable with each other. No pretensions.”
“Finding You” opens in cinemas on May 29.
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