Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo to star in horror-comedy for Regal

Nagkaroon ng impromptu brainstorming session si Mother Lily Monteverde, ang legendary lady producer behind the 48-year-old movie outfit na Regal Films a few days before New Year’s Eve. Naganap ito sa Starbucks coffee shop na housed at the Imperial Palace Suites, the residential-business hotel in Timog that she owns.

“Ano bagay gawing movie nina Juday (Judy Ann Santos) at Ryan (Agoncillo) for Regal?” out-of-the-blue na tanong ni Mother Lily. Apat na writers lang ang kaharap niya that time, including this one, Alfie Lorenzo (the young superstar’s manager), show biz columnist Jun Lalin at isa pang member ng local entertainment press.

“Dapat siguro Mother, horror (ang gawin nila) kasi yun ang kumikita ngayon bukod sa romantic comedy,” suhestiyon ni Jun Lalin to which everyone agreed. Pinoint-out ni Tito Alfie na nakagawa ng dalawang horror movies si Judy Ann recently, ang Ouija at Mag-ingat Ka Sa Kulam na parehong kumita sa takilya. Bakit daw hindi horror comedy ang gawin ng Regal for Juday and Ryan since ang Quija at Kulam ay parehong may touches of drama.

“Oo nga,” sang-ayon ni Mother Lily. At nagsimula na siyang magbanggit ng mga pangalan ng direktor na puwedeng mamahala sa magiging first Regal project together ng popular na show biz couple. Matatandaang Ryan and Judy Ann have starred together in two past MMFF entries produced by Star Cinema: Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo in 2006 and its 2007 sequel Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo.

In the end, Mother Lily settled for Mike Tuviera, the director-son of EatBulaga producer Tony Tuviera to direct the project slated for an early 2009 release. Puring-puri ng producer si Direk Mike Tuviera na siyang nag-direk ng “Nieves” episode ng Shake, Rattle and Roll X, one of Regal Entertainment’s two entries in the recent Metro Manila Film Festival, the other being Desperadas 2. According to the lady producer, ang nasabing episode na pinangunahan ni Marian Rivera as an engkanto slayer combined horror and comedic elements effectively. “You should watch Nieves, ang galing ni Mike. Bagay siya para sa movie nina Juday atRyan,” huling hirit ni Mother Lily.

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