Magikland, katumbas ng anim na pelikula sa MMFF ang nagastos!

Peks man, Salve A., panonoorin namin ang Magikland, entry ng Brightlight Productions, na pag-aari ng three-time Congressman ng Negros Occidental, si Albee Benitez, in the 2020 Metro Manila Filmfest (MMFF)

Noted namin na hindi tulad ng mga nakaraang MMFF entries, hindi sa mga regular na sinehan mapapanood ang mga pelikula. Na labis na pinanghinayangan ni direk Lore Reyes, na co-director ng Magikland with the late supreme writer, producer and director.

Magikland, of course, is a much admired theme park in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Ganunpaman, when, according to former Congressman Albee, he thought of producing Magikland, his objective as not to, kumbaga, popularize the theme park. Instead, he wanted the movie to prove kung gaano na nag-improve ang Pilipinas in filmmaking.

Three years daw halos in the making ang Magikland. Two years nagkasakit si direk Peque Gallaga.

He died of pneumonia in May 2020.

The late direk Peque’s death didn’t dampen former Cong. Albee’s desire, if not eagerness, to finish the movie. “I’d say, Congressman Benitez spent a lot in producing Magikland,” ani direk Lore.

A member of the production staff added: “Kung mga five or six entries sa MMFF, posibleng equivalent sa nagastos sa Magikland.”

Ang baguhang direktor na si Christian Acuña ang namahala ng pelikula nang pumanaw na si Direk Peque.

Naging estudyante raw ni direk Peque si direk Christian nang nag-aaral ito sa isang university sa Bacolod City, kung saan nagtuturo naman ng filmmaking si direk Peque.

Jaclyn, dalawa ang pelikula sa MMFF

Bale dalawang entries meron ang beteranang aktres na si Jaclyn Jose sa 2020 MMFF.

Ang isa nga rito ay ang Magikland, na kung tutuusin daw, ayon kay direk Lore, ay special appearance lang daw ito. “Marami silang magagaling na artista at mga beterana pa man din, ang pumayag na mapasama sa Magikland.

“Truly magic nga ang kuwento, kung bakit nai-produce ang Magikland,” susog pa ni direk Lore.

Well, I’d like to be part of that magic, Salve.

Of her other entry sa MMFF, the movie Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim, Jaclyn plays mother anew to Vhong Navarro, who plays the title role.

As old-time moviegoers know, Mang Kepweng was a title of a movie na nagka-sequel ng kung ilang beses, with the late comedian Chiquito playing the title role.

As the Mang Kepweng movies ni Chiquito was produced in the 1970s pa, none among the cast of the current Mang Kepweng has seen the Mang Kepweng movies ni Chiquito. Except daw siya, ani Jaclyn, who complained na lumang-luma na ‘yung Chiquito Mang Kepweng movie na napanood niya.

Bukod kay Vhong, kasama rin sa MMFF 2020 Mang Kepweng entry sina Ritz Azul at Barbie Imperial.

Asked how it was working with Vhong, ani nina Barbie at Ritz, “Working with him truly make one realize that comedy truly is laughter. Just like Mang Kepweng, from beginning to end.”