Some kinks in the Alden-Bea movie have been ironed out
It’s a go for the much-awaited, much-ballyhooed first movie of Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo who first appeared together in a shampoo commercial. That is, after some kinks have been ironed out.
The movie, initially reported to be a joint venture between Viva Films and GMA Films, now has the APT Films of Antonio “Mr. T” Tuviera as co-producer. According to a Funfare source, overlooked during the negotiation was the fact that Alden is an APT contract star (for movie projects).
The Alden-Bea starrer is the Filipino adaptation of the 2004 huge earner South Korean film A Moment To Remember (starring Jung Woo-sung and Son Ye-jin, who recently confirmed she’s dating her Crash Landing On You leading man Hyun Bin) which was based on a 2001 popular Japanese TV drama titled Pure Soul whose theme is “the discovery in a relationship and the burden of loss caused by Alzheimer’s Disease.” The happy marriage of a couple turns sour when the young wife begins forgetting things, a malady diagnosed as early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. In the Japanese version, the couple has a child and that makes the narrative even more dramatic, more heart-tugging.
Of course, the GMA bosses didn’t want Alden...yet!...to play a father role, although at 29 (last Jan. 2), he could very well be (sadly, as you read on, you will learn that Alden hasn’t even found a girlfriend yet). That, too, was easily ironed out.
Shooting of the movie will reportedly start in a few weeks’ time, although it’s not announced when it will be released. That could create a problem as far as box office is concerned (online release may not be as profitable as exhibition in movie houses).
The movie is just one of the many projects lined up this year for Alden (and, for that matter, Bea who is scheduled to star with John Lloyd Cruz in a Star Cinema movie). Besides GMA’s All-Out Sundays and Eat, Bulaga, he’s also hosting Centerstage, the talent search’s kiddie edition which resumes airing starting on Sunday, Feb. 7, with Pops Fernandez, Aicelle Santos and Mel Villena as judges.
On his recent birthday (celebrated with only family members unlike pre-pandemic when Alden would host a big party at Concha’s, his restaurant off Tomas Morato Ave., Quezon City, now closed due to poor business), Alden said that he had only one wish.
“Sana, tuluy-tuloy ang blessings so that I can help more people,” he told Funfare in an exclusive interview. “Sana, I will achieve more in my career and love life.”
In a Funfare interview late last year, Alden confessed that he would focus on his love life now that he has had his family’s future secured and would want to give his own future family a good life. While before he seemed afraid of commitment (concentrated as he was on his career), Alden declared that he was already game na, “Ready na ako!”
He described his “ideal girl” as somebody with a “Pinay look, medyo mahaba ang buhok,’yung typical Filipina beauty. One who will understand me, ‘yung maiintindihan ako at ‘yung mabait.” He even described his dream wedding as “intimate and private, not to be well-publicized, something like Mikael Daez and Megan Young’s wedding” held not just once but twice.
Reminded during our interview (joined by Pops) a few days ago that Valentine’s was only two weeks away, Alden was mum (he had said that it was difficult to find Miss Right, especially during the pandemic when socializing is very limited).
Asked what piece of (unsolicited) advice she would give Alden, Pops shared, “Alden is still young. He should just enjoy life. But if he feels at this moment that he clicks with somebody, go ahead, why not? Go for it! He’s working so hard and he deserves naman an inspiration.”
Loveless like Alden for sometime now, Pops added in jest that she would remind Alden, “Sana, Alden, tulungan mo rin naman ako maghanap. Sana paunahin mo muna ako. I am overdue na...long overdue, hahaha!!!”
Although she said she hadn’t seen Alden perform as a singer, Pops recalled that once upon a time, she did a duet (of Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang) with Alden during an event in Laguna.
“It was impromptu. There was a request from the audience. And there we were onstage. Cool na cool siya. Nagulat ako! May boses pala siya, maganda!”
Who knows, in Centerstage they might be requested to do a “repeat performance.” If and when, perhaps they could do a duet of Alden’s favorite song, Somewhere(?) from a K-drama, or any of Pops’ favorite retro songs.
“I love old songs,” said Pops. “There was a time that all songs made me cry. As soon as I heard the melody, cry ako. And then I listen to the lyrics, cry uli ako. But that was back then. Today, when I hear a sad song, I just say, ‘Ang ganda!’ without crying. What I love are happy songs...those by Odette Quesada, Cecile Azarcon, APO Hiking Society and Louie Ocampo.”
None from her ex, Martin Nievera?
“Siempre mayroon! But not Kahit Isang Saglit. It is so sad. But I love the song that he wrote for me. It’s called You Are To Me. My friends sing that song to me on my birthday.”
Maybe they would on Valentine’s Day and make Pops tear up a bit.
“My Valentine’s has been dry. Either I’m working or...I usually spend the day with my barkada. It’s not like I’m sad or I’m lonely. Masaya kaming barkada having dinner and talking. But not this year due to the restrictions.”
But, Pops hastened to add, it might not be like that for long.
“I’m not closing my doors. Something good might just be around the corner, who knows?”
(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)
Editor's note: Parts of this Philippine STAR article have been edited in the version republished on Philstar.com.
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