Kapuso Stars

Tuloy na tuloy na ang Valentine movie nina Richard Gutierrez at KC Concepcion next year from GMA Films and Regal Entertainment.

Gabi ng Miyerkules, May 21, isang biglaang invite ang natanggap ng PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) mula sa Corporate Communication ng GMA-7 saying "tuloy na ang contract signing tomorrow of Richard and KC and Direk Joey [Reyes] tomorrow 11 am at the 16th floor Board Room."

Kasunod nito ay nakatanggap kami agad ng tawag sa Project Development Manager and Head of Synergy ng GMA Films na si Noel Ferrer. Ang una naming tinanong sa kanya ay kung "naayos" na ang lahat for the contract signing to push through. Oo raw, so all is set for GMA Films to announce its separate project with Richard and KC.

IMPOSSIBLE DREAM. Mula pa lang sa simula, everyone wants to see Richard and KC on screen but it seems to be an impossible dream at first. Richard is an exclusive GMA Films artist at si KC, na-announce na noon na pipirma sa Star Cinema as an exclusive artist.

The actual move of making this happen was borne out of an early morning talk nina Noel and VP for GMA Program Management na si Joey Abacan na bakit hindi nila ito i-suggest sa Star Cinema.

Sinundan ito ng public pronouncement ni GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar, when she said that GMA Films is open to the possibility of a co-production deal with Star Cinema. The next move was for GMA Films to pursue this co-production initiative along with KC's managers, Sandra Chavez and Shirley Kuan. And, in a way, tumulong na rin pareho sina Richard at KC sa pagiging vocal nila pareho na sana nga ay magkaroon sila ng isang pelikula na magkasama.

THE DEAL. A deal was set between GMA Films and Star Cinema. May sariling pelikula na gagawin ang film arm ng ABS-CBN starring Richard and KC at mauuna itong ipalabas this August 2008. And then, ang GMA Films naman ang mag-a-announce ng kanilang separate movie, also starring the two stars na may Valentine 2009 release naman.

Nauna na nga ang dalawang big announcements ng Star Cinema. First ang pagpirma ni KC as an exclusive talent with a three-picture contract. Ikalawa, ang pagpirma ng isang picture deal ni Richard sa Star Cinema para maging kauna-unahang partner ni KC sa big screen.

It was also announced that the Star Cinema movie will be directed by Ms. Joyce Bernal and some of the scenes will be done in Greece.

Naghintay muna ng dalawang linggo ang kampo ng GMA Films bago ito magbigay ng sariling announcement dahil nasa Europe pa si Annette, nasa Dubai si Richard for his Codename: Asero, at busy naman si KC sa UN work niya sa Marawi.

Tuesday, May 20, of this week na-set ang announcement. But some technicalities surfaced na kailangang ayusin about the contract of KC sa Star Cinema kung kaya't na-postpone ito.

"WHEN I MET YOU." Wednesday, May 21, natuloy naman ang story conference and pictorial nina Richard at KC for their Star Cinema project. Meanwhile, the talks continued between GMA Films and Star Cinema para maayos ang ilang gusot and, presumably, all went well for GMA Films to do its own announcement Thursday morning, May 22.

Alas-onse pa lang ng umaga, kumpleto na ang triumvirate ng GMA Films na sina Ms. Annette Gozon-Abrogar, Joey Abacan, at Noel Ferre. Ayos na rin ang boardroom ng 16th floor arranged by the Corporate Communication unit headed by Angel Javier. Maaga ring nagsidatingan ang GMA TV crew pati na rin sina Ricky Lo at Lhar Santiago, at sumunod na ang mga publicists ng GMA Films.

Sa background, pinapatugtog ang kantang "When I Met You." We later found out na ito pala ang magiging title ng pelikula na nina Richard at KC, na isinulat at ididirehe ni Direk Joey Reyes, na nasa ground na rin at hinihintay ang pagdating nina Richard at KC.

According to Direk Joey, When I Met You is a "sweeping romance" about the joy of being young, alive, and in love. Basically, it is everything that's beautiful in the world daw.

PEP asked Noel and Direk Joey kung magkakaroon din ito ng out of the country scenes at ito raw ang isa sa mga pag-uusapan sa itaas. Malamang na magkaroon din daw, pero ayaw munang ipasabi kung anong bansa sila pupunta.

When I Met You is scheduled to open February 11, 2009. Like the first four Valentine movies of Richard—Let The Love Begin, I Will Always Love You, The Promise, and My Best Friend's Girlfriend—it will be co-produced by Regal Entertainment.