“Otlum” can be dark horse in MMFF

The unheralded film “Otlum” could possibly emerge as the dark horse in the forthcoming Metro Manila Film Festival 2018.

Many were caught by surprise when “Otlum,” a horror film directed by Joven Tan, was selected by the MMFF Screening Committee to be part of the festival, besting Brillante Mendoza’s award-winning film “Right to Kill.”

Star Circuit talked to Direk Joven last week at the grand mediacon of “Otlum” held at Play Hub in Scout Madrinan in Quezon City and like what he said at the at MMFF announcement presscon for the four remaining finalists, he didn’t expect “Otlum” will be chosen.

Direk Joven had often submitted film entries to the MMFF but it is only now that a film that he did made it as an entry.

“Masaya ako. Sinuwerte na makasama ang pelikula namin. Siyempre sumali ka sa isang contest. Dalawa lang naman ang pupuntahan niyan. It’s either mananalo ka o matatalo ka. Siyempre sumali ka, may intensiyon kang manalo. May intensiyon ka na mapili. Masayang-masaya ako,” said the first-time director at the MMFF.

What are your expectations with the selection of your movie as festival entry?

“Basta matuwa lang ’yung mga laging nanonood ng traditional horror films na pampamilya at pambarkada, happy na ako. Wala akong expectations. Basta mag-enjoy lang sila,” he said.

“Otlum” is pitted against another horror film, “Aurora” from Viva Films which has one-time MMFF Best Actress Anne Curtis in the lead. Compared to “Aurora,” it can be said that “Otlum” is a small film. What are his thoughts?

“Ibang horror naman ang sa kanila. Itong Otlum naman ay masa ang dating, parang Shake, Rattle & Roll while ang Aurora ay tipong serious horror film. Sabi ko nga, mapili lang kami sa walo, masaya na ako. Parang okay na iyon. Pero sana lahat ng entries ay kumita,” said Direk Joven.

Featured in “Otlum” are Buboy Villar, Jerome Ponce, basketball star Ricci Rivero, Michelle Vito, Kiray Celis, Inigo Delen and introducing Danzel Fernandez.

To get the perfect cast for his film, did Direk Joven and his team research on what and who the public wants?

He said they received many requests to have Ricci Rivero in the film. Ricci is the controversial former De La Salle basketball player who will be playing for the UP Maroons next year.

“Hindi ko rin siya kilala noong una pero marami ang nagre-request for him. Nag-Google ako and I found na marami pala siyang followers. Tapos pinuntuhan ko siya sa isang mall show. Hindi ko siya kilala kasi hindi naman ako mahilig sa basketball pero nalaman ko marami siyang followers sa Twitter.

“Tapos kinausap ko ang manager. Eh, ang manager pala ay si Dondon Monteverde so madali na. Kaya mas madali ko siyang nakuha kasi dati ko naman kasamahan si Dondon,” he related.

Ricci plays one the members of the barkada in the film.

“He is very nice and works well. If he is trained well, he has the potential to become an actor. He is a natural.”

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A new member of a popular dance group which performs regularly on a Sunday show is the latest addition to the growing list of celebrities embroiled in video scandal.

The guy, who has barely started dancing with the group, is being talked about because of a video that has surfaced on net where he is shown naked and playing with his manhood. The guy is definitely a looker and it was his looks, aside from his dancing skills, that merited him a spot in the dance squad.

But there is nothing new in having a video scandal. Other known celebrities, one time or another, had their “sex video” uploaded on the net. Whether it was accidentally uploaded without their knowledge, the video scandal will give the person his 15 seconds of fame. The only thing left for the person involved in the video scandal is to admit it or deny it. Either way, he has had his 15 seconds of fame, until the next video scandal comes along.