Friends turned foes: Coco, Vice on warpath?

The 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) is still five months away and already everything is heating up. So what else is new?

The first four official MMFF entries have been announced, based on screenplays submitted:

= Ang Panday, directed by Rodel Nacianceno (real name of Coco Martin, who is also the lead actor); CCM Creative Productions, Inc., producer;

= The Revengers, starring Vice Ganda, Daniel Padilla and Pia Wurtzbach, directed by Joyce Bernal for Star Cinema/Viva Films;

= Almost is Not Enough, starring Jennylyn Mercado and Jericho Rosales, directed by Dan Villegas for Quantum & MJM Productions; and

= Love Traps #Family Goals, starring Vic Sotto and Dawn Zulueta, directed by Antonio Y. Reyes for OctoArts Films.

The last four official entries will come from the list of finished products.

As in previous MMFF, the selection is bound to create controversy, with accusations of “being partial to some companies at the expense of other companies” being thrown around. Some industry people are disappointed that changes in the rules were not being applied. Remember the big controversy in the 2015 MMFF that reached the august halls of Congress?

This year’s brouhaha was kicked off by the resignation of three members of the executive committee, perceived to be in protest against the way the 2017 MMFF is being run. Here’s the official statement of the three, Ricky Lee, Rolando Tolentino and Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala:

We accepted the invitation to be members of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2017 Executive Committee (ExeCom) because we were excited to maximize the gains of the MMFF 2016.

Last year’s festival showcased a wide variety of quality cinema that went beyond the formulaic. There was a shift of emphasis from commercial viability to artistic excellence.

It also celebrated the spirit of a film culture that produced many cult classics in the early years of the MMFF.

After several meetings and deliberations, we resigned because the MMFF 2017 ExeCom took a different direction, by putting too much emphasis on commerce over art.

Our resignation had little to do with the first four selected MMFF 2017 entries.

We had expressed our intention to resign long before the announcement of the first four entries was made.

Some quarters in the ExeCom insist that only big film studios can produce a blockbuster. We believe that producing a box office hit and creating quality film is not exclusive to big film studios nor to independent film outfits.

All excellent Filipino films deserve all forms of support. This support includes movies being screened for the entire duration of the festival with maximum exposure in as many theatres in and outside Metro Manila.

We stand committed to seek reforms in the Filipino film industry. We remain steadfast believing in a Metro Manila Film Festival celebration of the finest of Filipino artistry.

The Filipino audience deserves no less.

* * *

The MMFF causes rifts not just between companies but also between friends.

Case in point: Coco Martin versus Vice Ganda.

As showbiz-watchers know, Coco and Vice are the best of friends since before they became big stars. Recalled somebody close to them, “When Coco was working as a waiter at Max’s Restaurant, he would tease Vice Ganda every time Vice and his friends were at Max’s. That’s how their friendship started.”

Now that friendship might be broken, no thanks to rivalry in the MMFF. Last year, Coco and Vice starred in the Star Cinema movie Beauty and the Bestie which failed to make the Magic 8 but raked in millions just the same when it was shown before the start of the MMFF.

It’s an entirely different story this year. Coco and Vice are competitors and you know what happens in cases like that: friends instantly turn into foes.

“Coco is asking Vice to back out,” added the Funfare DPA, “and, of course, Vice won’t budge. After all, Vice reportedly told Coco, he’s a long-time MMFF joiner and since his movies always make big money, siya na raw ang ‘reyna ng MMFF.’ Now, the ‘former’ best friends are on the warpath. They have started finding faults in each other, nagsusumbatan na sila.”

How best to settle the issue?

Let the moviegoers hand down the verdict when the MMFF opens on Dec. 25.

Whose movie do you think will fare better, Coco’s Panday or Vice Ganda’s The Revengers?

Sharon opens up in NYC presscon

Megastar Sharon Cuneta met with members of the Fil-Am media last July 3 at Tito Rad’s Restaurant in Queens, New York.

The NYC leg of the Mega Tour is scheduled on July 8 at the Colden Auditorium Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Queens College, in Flushing which can accommodate more than 2,000 guests. (Tickets are still available via ticketmaster for those who want to see the show.)

Sharon intimated that her repertoire includes a variety of songs including Willy Cruz classics.

“I believe I give back when I sing for my audience. I have learned a lot, technically, but singing from the soul, feeling the emotions and receiving that certain ‘power’ from the audience always makes a good performance.”

Ai-Ai delas Alas and The Voice Kids’ Antonetthe Tismo will be her special guests, with Louie Ocampo as musical director. West End Hamilton star Christine Allado, who sang at the Pacquiao-Horn match, will be the night’s featured artist.

During the lively discussion, Sharon gladly announced that she already finished her very first indie film, Ang Pamilyang Di Lumuluha, directed by Mes de Guzman which will be shown soon.

For thousands of die-hard Sharon and Gabby fans, this writer included, the announcement of their reunion movie being put on hold was indeed heart breaking.

“I really want to apologize to everyone,” added Sharon. “I know our dearest fans have been waiting for it for a very long time. I really want to do a movie with him again. I hope it happens before both of us get too old!” She also confirmed that she will be doing a movie with Star Cinema, but she still can’t reveal who her leading man would be.

Outside the venue, patrons of an adjacent Filipino restaurant also came out to see her. Fans cheered her on while she was whisked inside the van taking her to the hotel.— Reported by Felix Manuel

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)