Local features aim to find favor with moviegoers

SALVADOR. Cast as a runner in “Thelma.”

Don’t look now, but the “slumping” or downright “slumped” local mainstream film scene is “suddenly” experiencing an unexpected revival this month, with no fewer than four full-length features ready to play in town. Which ones will find favor with moviegoers?:

“Thelma,” directed by Paul Soriano, stars Maja Salvador as a young competition runner, and features an appearance by racing icon, Elma Muros.

“Zombadings” is a gay romp about switching genders, starring Martin Escudero.

Joey Reyes’ “Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hindi,” is about two contrasting couples, played by Toni Gonzaga and Zanjoe Marudo, and Eugene Domingo and Wendell Ramos.

“My Neighbor’s Wife,” by Jun Lana, is a young-adult drama that topbills Lovi Poe, Carla Abellana and Dennis Trillo.

Granted, the four movies aren’t “major” projects in terms of star power and production values, but it’s still quite bracing,  even amazing to see so many new mainstream movies opening around a single one-month period.

—Is this a sign of more productive and prosperous times to come for the movie house circuit-based Filipino film industry? Hundreds of unemployed or underemployed movie workers definitely hope so!

Hope Martin makes it

We’re particularly bullish about the prospects of “Zombadings (Patayin sa Shokot si Remington),” because it fields fresh talents like its young lead, Martin Escudero.

The gay romp has gotten an “A” from the Cinema Evaluation Board, and hopes are high that it will be both a critical and commercial hit, one of the few indie movies to do well in wider theater release.

That slim list includes the recent “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank” and “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros,” and a sign that “Zombadings” may also do well is the fact that its makers include “Maximo” creators like Michiko Yamamoto and Jade Castro.

Now, about Martin Escudero: He’s a straight actor who “fiercely” and “deliciously” plays it “flaming-gay” in his first lead role, and we hope “against hope” that the “brave” yet risky investment pays off handsomely (or beautifully, as the case may be) for him.

Trouble is, local viewers have a hard time separating an actor from his screen role. So, there will be people who will conclude that the reason Martin does so well at “flaming” is because, well, when there’s smoke, there’s faggot-fire! Now, if enough viewers come to that conclusion, producers will be skittish and loath to casting Martin in straight-lead roles in their future projects—so, bye-bye, career!

If you go by past experience, the risk is definitely there. For instance, despite the popularity of “Maximo,” its young and gifted title role-player hasn’t become a star. And other actors who’ve “gone gay” on the big screen have similarly failed to become major players.

Our hunch, though, is that Martin can pull it off. —Now, if he does succeed, he should very definitely not play another gay role for his follow-up starrer, so his success doesn’t limit his future prospects.