Enzo Williams, the director of the critically-acclaimed and award-winning movie “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” tried his hand at a new genre in filmmaking. He is at the helm of the new Regal Entertainment offering titled “The Escort” which stars Lovi Poe, Derek Ramsay, Christopher de Leon and Jean Garcia.
Direk Enzo considers it a big honor to be given a chance to work at Regal, certainly one of the country’s elite production outfits. “It is also a challenge to work on a story that tackles the escort service which is very current as well as interesting,” said the director who is doing his debut film under Mother Lily Monteverde’s company.
Direk Enzo said the project was a concept of Roselle Monteverde, the daughter of the Regal matriarch. “I was excited when I read the script since this is something different from my last project which was a historical drama. What added excitement is that I am working with three professional actors with whom I collaborated well during the shoot. They are very good actors and it was a privilege to have worked with them.”
Direk Enzo is a US-trained director who earned a best director award in the 2014 Metro Manila Film Festival for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” starring Robin Padilla. It was the most awarded entry in that year’s MMFF.
The shift from a historical drama to a sexy film was a welcome challenge for the young filmmaker. But he shared they all had fun doing the film because of the excellent cast and the support given to him by his producer.
The erotic offering is Derek and Lovi’s first team-up so they both gave their all to their respective roles. The new screen pair threw all their cautions to the wind—frolicking as well as burning with feverish passion in bed, in the swimming pool and other odd places to satisfy each one’s desire for each other.
Both Derek and Boyet have love scenes with Lovi that will surely be talked about when the movie opens on November 2.
“I would like to thank my fabulous cast for their cooperation, especially with the numerous love scenes which required several takes,” said Direk Enzo.
He also thanked Regal Entertainment for trusting him and giving full support. He had full creative control with the project. Direk Enzo can’t wait to watch “The Escort,” the trailer of which has become a hot item (mainly because of the lead stars’ sizzling love scenes ) on the net since it was uploaded.
It’s been a while since Derek was last seen in an out-and-out erotic sex drama. And he won’t disappoint eager followers in “The Escort.”
Lovi, for her part, also shed her inhibitions in romancing Derek onscreen, the same work attitude she had for her daring October FHM pictorial which featured her in lingerie with a snake wrapped around her body.
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The Arts Management Program under the School of Design and Arts (SDA), De La Salle-College of St. Benilde ties up with emerging theater group TAXI to present the horror theater production “Mulagat” this October.
“Mulagat,” a multi-sensorial theatrical play, written and directed by Eric Villanueva dela Cruz, makes use of Theater-in-the-Dark in some portions of the play, designed to provide an alternative experience to the visual bias of watching the play by plunging the audience into complete darkness to stimulate the other senses.
The story centers around a graduating architecture student Nico, who wakes up in the middle of the night and investigates strange sounds emanating from the hallway outside his condo unit. The tale unfolds in a series of eerie encounters that spirals down uncontrollably, escalating into a spine-chilling revelation.
The show stars Ike Carpio, Japoy Dones, Tim Castillo, Denise Nayve, Cathrine Go, Jasper Jimenez, Dylan Ray Talon, Doori Chin, and Kyle Confesor.
TAXI (Theater. Applied. Experiential. Immersive) Theater is composed of Imagtects (Imagination Architects) and XPgineers (Experience Engineers) – a group of young theater practitioners and collaborators from various disciplines working with the creative process of synthesizing art and science to extend the boundaries of audience engagement and deliver unique theatrical experiences.
The group is founded by Eric Villanueva Dela Cruz, a faculty of the Theater Arts Program in Benilde, who acts as one of its Creative Navigators together with fellow practitioners, Meann Espinosa, Julia Enriquez Cristobal, Norbs Portales and Tim Castillo.
The play will run from October 7 to 29 at the SDA Black Box Theater, 6/F Benilde School of Design and Art Campus, 950 P. Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. For inquiries, contact TAXI Theater at +63 908 485 4983 or taxi.theater@gmail.com. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/taxitheater for more details.
Show dates are October 14-16, 21-23, 28-29 with 4 p.m. matinees and 8 p.m. Ticket is priced at P500.