Mainstream stars at indie film preem

MERYLL Soriano

While the cast members were generally clad in muddy and ragged clothes onscreen, they came out in red-carpet duds for the gala premiere of Brillante Mendoza’s “Captive,” on Monday night at Greenbelt Makati.

Mendoza led the revelry, welcoming the film’s stars that included Angel Aquino, Che Ramos, Allan Paule, Rustica Carpio and Isabel Lopez, who played hostages in the film loosely based on the 2001 Dos Palmas kidnap crisis.

The film’s other kidnap victims turned up, too—Elizabeth Chua, Goldilyn Uy, Jess Evardone, Perry Escaño, Richard Manabat and Jon Achaval—along with reporter-turned-“Captive” writer Arlyn de la Cruz and cast members Evelyn Vargas, Perry Dizon, Roli Inocencio and Cherry Cornell.

But the lead star, French actress Isabelle Huppert, wasn’t around, prompting Lopez to joke: “Isabelle White isn’t here; only Isabel Brown.”

BRILLANTE Mendoza

Foreign actors

Foreign actors Kathy Mulville and Mark Zanetta, who also played captives, attended the screening in Huppert’s stead.

DENNIS Trillo

US ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. represented the diplomatic community.

The local indie scene’s biggest crossover star, Coco Martin, was present; he has a cameo, as a young soldier, in the movie.

The actors who played Abu Sayyaf bandits came in their dapper best: Ronnie Lazaro, Timothy Mabalot, Tado Jimenez, Oliver Gaton and Sid Lucero, who was with mom Bing Pimentel.

Other celebs

Also spotted were Lucero’s manager Ricky Gallardo, Urian-nominated indie actor Jess Mendoza, stage actress Ruby Ruiz, “The Animals” director Gino

COCO Martin

Santos and “Harana” documentarian Benito Bautista.

Mainstream celebs walked the red carpet: Eugene Domingo, John Lapus, Raymond Gutierrez, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Daphne Oseña and Patrick Paez, Chari Villa, Mara Yokohama, Gwen Ruais, Melo Esguerra, Dennis Padilla, Leo Valdez, Meryll Soriano and Dennis Trillo, among others. Soriano and Trillo topbill Mendoza’s latest movie, “Sapi,” the director’s first horror flick.

MARIA Isabel Lopez

The day before the Greenbelt preview, “Captive” had a premiere in SM Pampanga. Aquino, Lopez and Lucero attended that screening in Mendoza’s home province.

Mendoza has truly crossed over. “Captive,” which opened in local theaters Wednesday, is distributed by Star Cinema.

“I feel it’s important for more of our countrymen to see this movie,” Mendoza pointed out. “As responsible citizens, we need to be aware of what is happening in our society.”

Photos by Arnold Almacen