Jasmine Curtis-Smith joins Iza Calzado, Meryll Soriano in ‘Culion’ by Ricky Lee

Jasmine Curtis-Smith completes the cast of the historical drama film “Culion” written by Ricky Lee, and will be joining fellow actresses Iza Calzado and Meryll Soriano as the main characters.

From left to right: director Alvin Yapan, Iza Calzado, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Ricky Lee and Mark Shandii Bacolod. Image: Screengrab from Instagram/@shandiijossa

Curtis-Smith could not help but gush over being a part of the project.

“What a great Saturday for another film project, Culion. I am honored to be casted for a beautifully written script by Sir Ricky Lee about an important part of local history,” the actress said on Twitter last Saturday, June 15. “And thankful to be working with two of the best actresses (by my book): Iza Calzado & Meryll Soriano.”

What a great Saturday for another film project, Culion. I am honored to be casted for a beautifully written script by Sir Ricky Lee about an important part of local history.

And thankful to be working with two of the best actresses (by my book) : Iza Calzado & Meryll Soriano.🥰

— Jasmine Curtis-Smith (@jascurtissmith) June 15, 2019

Mark Shandii Bacolod, a Filipino producer who will be helming the production of the film, also took to social media to reveal the news of completing the cast.

“@culionfilm is complete officially!! @jascurtissmith completes the cast of the historical community film written by Ricky Lee and to be directed by Alvin Yapan,” Bacolod said on his Instagram page yesterday, June 16.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bywj1IrBJCc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The film will highlight the lives and problems of members of the leper colony of the Culion island in Palawan, as reported by Inquirer on April 27. The story is set between 1940 and 1941 — a time when leprosy had no cure.

“If you have the disease, wherever you are in the Philippines, you will be brought to Culion, which was like a prison. You will no longer see your loved ones,” Lee was quoted as saying when he described the island the film was based on.

“Culion” will be helmed by filmmaker Alvin Yapan, who also directed the controversial 2016 film “Oro” which became infamous for featuring scenes of dogs being slaughtered. “Culion” is set to be submitted as an entry to the annual Metro Manila Film Festival this December. JB

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