MANILA, Philippines — It’s not something you see every day: a director with two movies playing in theaters at the same time. Philip King, from Rein Entertainment, is doing just that. He just made his feature film directorial debut with “Elevator,” a romantic comedy with Paulo Avelino and Kylie Verzosa, and “G! LU,” a summer flick starring Ruru Madrid, Derrick Monasterio, and David Licauco.
“Having dreamt of being a director my whole life, it was a surreal feeling. From zero movies to now having two showing at the same time. I feel very blessed and grateful,” King told The STAR.
Asked how he feels that both his films are competing for the box-office pie, he said, “I don’t feel that they’re in competition. They both have a distinct message that I want to share with viewers, and (I am) hoping that it reaches the most possible.”
“G! LU” and “Elevator” were two different filming experiences for the director. The former, for one, is a five-year-old film that faced delays due to COVID, but is now finally enjoying its theatrical run.
“G! LU being my first feature, I feel was more raw for me as a director,” he said. “While ‘Elevator’ being my second and in constant collaboration with my producers Shugo Praico and Lino Cayetano, was more crafted in a way.”
Nevertheless, he said that “shooting both was challenging and exciting at the same time.”
King didn’t only assume the director’s chair but he also wrote the screenplays for both “Elevator” and “G! LU.” These movies capture different stages of life: one is about being young, wild, and free, while the other is about figuring out what to do when stuck at a crossroads between success and failure. “Last note, for me, ‘G! LU’ is living your best life, while ‘Elevator’ is living your best life for others,” King said.
The “double feature” is a major step in King’s “journey” as a writer-director. Before Rein Entertainment, he worked as a scriptwriter for ABS-CBN for more than 10 years where he became part of top-rating primetime shows such as “Noah,” “Budoy,” “Juan Dela Cruz,” “Katorse,” “Kapitan Inggo,” and “Sana Maulit Muli.”
He penned and directed Tencent Pictures’ first Filipino original series, the youth-oriented drama mystery “Section St. Valentine: The Disappearance of Divine” streaming on WE TV. He was co-creator for the critically-acclaimed TV series “Bagman.”
His “Elevator” is an international co-production of Rein Entertainment with Viva Entertainment, Cineko Productions, WASD Media Productions, and Dogma Films. Besides Paulo and Kylie, the movie also stars Singaporean actor Adrian Pang. The love story revolves around two driven overseas Filipinos who fatefully meet after being trapped inside an elevator in a hotel casino complex in Singapore. They eventually must choose between love and their aspirations. According to Rein Entertainment, it was filmed in a hotel populated by migrant workers.
“G! LU,” on the other hand, is ALV Films’ second big-screen venture, produced in collaboration with Bench and Rein Entertainment. This barkada-themed movie stars Kapuso hunks and Bench models Ruru, Derrick Monasterio, and David, alongside Kiko Estrada, Teejay Marquez, Enzo Pineda, Katarina Rodriguez, Kimi Mugford, Sophia Senoron, Michelle Dee, and Chanel Morales.
The film follows the VBC (Valley Boys Crew) as they maximize the last stretch of summer with a trip filled with surf, waves, romance, and epic parties. Shot against the backdrop of La Union’s beaches, the production, which took place before the pandemic, explores themes of friendship, freedom, adventure, and living life to the fullest.
King forms part of Rein Entertainment’s triumvirate that also includes Lino Cayetano and Shugo Praico. Their projects reflect their belief in collaboration and co-production. Aside from “Elevator” and “G! LU,” Rein Entertainment is also co-producing “The Bagman” with ABS-CBN International, Dreamscape Entertainment, and Nathan Studios.
Rein’s first theatrical release was during the Metro Manila Film Festival 2022 for the film, “Nanahimik ang Gabi” starring Ian Veneracion and Heaven Peralejo. It won four National Awards at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, including Best Screenplay and Best Feature Film.