KC and Richard: Time to move on

By Joseph Peter R. Gonzales

A triumphant-looking Richard Gutierrez and KC Concepcion faced the entertainment media at the recent victory party for When I Met You.

The pair said they were overwhelmed by the public?s warm reception of their second movie.

According to GMA Films and Regal Entertainment, the movie has grossed P80 million and is projected to hit the P100 million-mark.

?We?re really very happy with the film?s performance at the tills. It?s really a blessing that it became a blockbuster and that the public enjoyed it,? the two leads said. Even as When I Met You was a big success, their legions of followers are still clueless when their next big screen outing will be.

?That?s hard to answer as of now,? KC quipped. ?It would really depend on our managers and home studios.?

?I believe that everything happens at the right time. We?re hoping that it will materialize soon. God-willing,? Richard added.

They became very close and sweet to each other during the filming of the movie. Now that they?re on their own again career-wise, people wonder if their special friendship will be affected.

?I hope not! As I?ve said, Chard is the closest guy to me in the ?biz at present. We really had a lot of good times together while doing the film,? explained KC.

?That?s true!? Richard beamed. ?We have plenty of wonderful (or do you mean beautiful? ..Ed.) memories to cherish. We?ll hold on to said memories which will serve as our link (to each other? ...Ed.) even if we?re physically far from each other.?

What will they miss about each other?

?Everything about KC, I will truly miss. In fact, I?m starting to adjust now. I hope our fans will also do the same,? Richard admitted.

?As for me, I?ll miss Chard?s ?kakulitan.? In the six months that I?ve worked with him for our two potboilers, he proved to be so nice. I hope that it wouldn?t really take that long before we do another project once again,? KC optimistically ended.

Ready for his next close up

John Lloyd Cruz is happy that he can now focus on his next big silver screen assignment under Star Cinema called A Mother?s Story where he shares stellar billing with Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and fellow Kapamilya Luis Manzano.

The Olive Lamasan movie is a good follow-up project to You Changed My Life opposite Sarah Geronimo.

?I?m really excited to do this movie. It?s simply a big honor to be working with Vilma Santos. Everybody knows how an excellent actress is she. It?s also my first full-length film with Luis. The thought just thrills me. I?ll just tape my remaining scenes for I Love Betty La Fea then I?ll fly to New York to shoot for A Mother?s Story,? he says.

The plot of the film is definitely one of its strong come-ons.

?I think this is the first time that there?s a local movie that will tackle about the relationship between a mother and her gay son plus his lover. And what?s good is that it?s not a straight drama. As far as I know, we?ll have lots of light moments which make it more realistic and the characters more human.?

This early, many are already curious how he and Luis will pull off their ?kissing scene.?

?I know! Truth is I?m already preparing for it. It?s not that easy to kiss a fellow guy in front of the camera. Luis and I trust our director that she will take care of us and that the scene will turn out fine. We will execute it based on how she visualizes the scene.?

It?s the first time ever that he?s playing a gay character on screen.

?Yes, and I?m challenged. Ever since, I consider every new role that comes my way a fresh journey. This one is no exception. I want to know more about the complex, intriguing but colorful world of gays.?

As part of his preparations, Lloydie watched the critically acclaimed Hollywood flick Brokeback Mountain which also tells the story of two men falling in love with each other.

?I can say it?s one moving film. It made me cry in the end. But definitely, Luis and I will not do the same kissing scenes as what Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger did in the movie. Theirs were torrid. I think ours will be tame,? he states.

Back where she belongs

Ara Mina is glad that she?s back at GMA-7. She has an important part in Totoy Bato as Robin Padilla?s first wife and now, she?s in the Sine Novela offering Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin where she plays a juicy role as well. It?s a remake of the Sharon Cuneta-Gabby Concepcion blockbuster flick in the early ?80s.

Asked if she felt awkward when she set foot on GMA grounds once again, the voluptuous actress relates, ?There was no such feeling since I asked permission from them before regarding my moving to ABS-CBN. They allowed me. During that time, I wanted to explore other options but it was clear in my mind that I will still go back eventually to GMA.?

Did she regret her decision?

?Of course, not. In fairness to ABS-CBN, they also took care of me during my stay with them. In fact, they also offered me a show: one for prime time and another one for the afternoon block. But I already committed to GMA so I?m here again. I?m grateful that they have given me good comeback projects.?

In Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin, she breathes life to the character of Glacilda (played to the hilt by Chanda Romero in the original film version), the more matured woman who?s obsessed with a younger man. It is reported that she will have kissing scenes with male lead Aljur Abrenica.

?That?s why during our initial pictorial, I told him not to feel awkward with me. Our director [Maryo J. delos Reyes] deemed it best that Aljur, Kris [Bernal, the show?s female lead] and me have some bonding moments first before shooting the delicate scenes. I?m happy that the two are very cooperative. I can see that they want to give their best to make their first big show a hit since all of GMA?s Sine Novela projects are ratings champs.?

Now that she?s with GMA-7 once again, kibitzers are asking if there?s a possibility that she?ll go back to Bubble Gang.

?Why not,? confesses Ara. ?I miss the show. I?ve been there for the longest time. I was advised I?ll have a guest appearance there soon. In fact, my friends there congratulated me that I?m with GMA once again. Who knows, right? It?ll be great if eventually, I will be back in Bubble Gang!?