Why box-office director Cathy Garcia-Sampana made her first short film

Cathy Garcia-Sampana made a huge name for herself directing some of the most beloved full-length films in contemporary Pinoy cinema (One More Chance, 2007; Four Sisters and a Wedding, 2013; Seven Sundays, 2017; Hello, Love, Goodbye, 2019) — so why did she accept the job of directing a short film?

That film is Toss Coin, a 12-minute movie starring KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad.

For the box-office director, accepting the job was a great move because it was a way to challenge herself.

Sabi ko nga, if you could tell the story in five shots, tell it in two. If you can say it in two sentences, say it on one. Mahirap siya. It’s a disciplined kind of directing na ang totoo ay hirap ako, admittedly. That’s why I took on the challenge,” she said after the screening of the short film.

Sabi ko, tatanda na ako (I said, I will grow older). Fifty-two years old na ako, hindi pa ako gagawa ng short film? (I am already 52, and still I will not do short films?)  Gawin na natin ‘to (Let’s do it). Let’s do this,” she said.

Working with Estrada and Ilacad (KDLex to fans) was a breeze; the director described the tandem as “sponges.”

“I always tell this, I always love to work with new actors. Siguro it’s the mother instinct, that I want to be part of their formative years. Alexa and KD are like sponges,” she said.

“They’re smart kids. Lagi kong sinasabi, ang acting, malaking bagay diyan intelligence. And because they’re intelligent people, they’re smart people, they understand it.  They know what I want.”

Kim Chiu’s cryptic caption

Ang eagle-eyed follower of It’s Showtime host Kim Chiu noticed that the actress host deleted the caption in one of her recent posts.

Kim’s original caption to her photo showing her in a dancing outfit was: “Tout arrive pour une raison” (French for “everything happens for a reason”).

What did she replace it with? Symbols.

Chiu seemingly does not want to stir controversy, now that rumors of her breakup with Xian Lim has reached feverish heights.

A fan was moved to comment: “Indeed, everything happens for a reason. I pray that when you find the love again, i hope it is everything u dream about… I pray that you find a love that has the power to tear down the painful walls of ur past… Dasal ko na ikaw naman ung mahalin ng sobra kasi sobra ka magmahal, lahat binibigay mo, sana ngaun ikaw naman ang mahalin ng sobra (I pray that you will be loved more because you give everything, so I hope you this time you will get more love).”

16 million views for ‘Rewind’ trailer

ABS-CBN Film Productions recently dropped the trailer of the comeback movie of the country’s powerhouse reel-to-real couple, Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.

Rewind amassed over 16 million views within 24 hours since its release on various Star Cinema and ABS-CBN platforms last 4 December.

The film, a drama on family, faith and love, is the much-awaited return of DongYan on the big screen. It’s showing in cinemas nationwide beginning this Christmas as one of the official entries of the Metro Manila Film Festival.

Completing the stellar cast are Sue Ramirez, Joross Gamboa, Lito Pimentel, Ina Feleo, Ariel Ureta, Pamu Pomerada, Mary Joy Apostol, Via Antonio, Chamyto Aguedan and Coney Reyes.