OMG!

Gusto kong mag-audition! Waaaah!

Ericsson!

Short film exercise on shooting protocol and character and camera. No sound. No artificial lighting. No camera movement. 4 hours shooting time. Shot last December 2007.

EDIT 1


EDIT 2

Who Will Win American Idol 7?

The results are in. We already have our final 12. I only got 8 out of 12 right. I guess VFTW didn't rally enough votes for Danny and I certainly underestimated Kristy Lee Cook's beauty and "pimpage". I'm disappointed of course, considering I got 10 correct picks last year but it's ayt coz this just makes me more excited to improve my standing next year. Adik! Haha! :)

Some say the race now is just for second place because of the obvious popularity of a particular contestant. But I say it's still too early to make that statement. After all, didn't we think Melinda had it in the bag around the same time last year? Along the same lines, most of us also thought it'll be a Daughtry-McPhee finale in Season 5, or that Mario Vasquez (remember him?) would give Carrie a run for her money in the 4th edition.

Or maybe I'm just saying those because I don't want to forego my annual tradition of predicting who'll bag the AI title after the announcement of the Top 12. Haha! Regardless, I'll still make my predictions and do it ala-Survivor Sucks by giving you my Brain, Heart and Gut picks to win American Idol 7. ;)

BRAIN

versus

Obviously, I was referring to David Archuleta earlier. He's the one to beat. This is his game to lose. He's the most popular contestant this season and his rabid fans are making sure everyone knows by massively buying his performance songs on I-Tunes. His version of "Imagine" is the most downloaded AI performance song so far. But Jason Castro is catching up. After performing Hallelujah last week, the Jeff Buckley version skyrocketed to number 2 on ITunes. His shirtless pictures spreading on the net don't hurt his chances either. But still...

BRAIN PICK: David Archuleta


HEART

versus

I've a confession to make. While I've been an AI fan since Season 3, I actually haven't bought any of the contestants' albums. I love the show more than the contestants. :) I do have some guilty pleasure songs from past Idols which I downloaded in Limewire. They're Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" and "Since You've Been Gone" and Blake Lewis' cover of "Time Of The Season" to those who are curious. :D I'm saying these because I'm basing my Heart pick as to which Idol contestant will likely have me download his or her songs on the net (or who knows, even buy his or her album). That being said, I really really like David Cook not just for singing the songs well but also making them his own. TPTB might even make him win in order to make up for the Daughtry debacle. However, I'm a big fan of 90's alternative music and the texture of Michael John's voice highly reminds me of that. His performances are also pleasing to the eyes. And so...

HEART PICK: Michael Lee Johns


GUT

versus

I didn't predict Brooke to make it to the Top 12. While her voice is soothing and beautiful, her range is noticeably limited and for a show that relies heavily on themes, I just didn't think she'll survive. But boy, how she surprised me! What I like about her is that she's aware of her range and so she chooses the right songs and interprets them using her own style. It works to her advantage because it differentiates her from the other girls who are mostly big-belters. The question is, how long can Brooke keep this up and will she be flexible enough to adapt to any theme? (Disco night, anyone?) What more, can we really see Brooke singing in the finale songs like "I Believe", "This Is My Now" or "A Moment Like This"? I believe Blake lost to Jordin because of that. On the other hand, five things work in Carly's favor. She's the most technically polished singer in the group. She's got a big voice and can belt. She has the support of TPTB. She has a very interesting background and personality. And she's by far the most controversial contestant this season because of her previous pro experience. People always love comeback stories.

GUT PICK: Carly Smithson

So there you have it, my TOP 6 and my Brain, Heart and Gut picks to win American Idol 7. :) How about yours?


---
My picks to win in the previous seasons:
American Idol 6
American Idol 5
American Idol 4
American Idol 3

Mga Pang Sense Memory!

,Guilty. La lang. Nagi-guilty lang ako kay Miss Mari. Napakabait kasi n'ya. Lam n'yo namang last kong raket e My Big Love pa (last August pa 'yun) dahil sa school. Tapos nung nalaman kong siya na ang headwriter ng Your Song, sinabi ko kay Henry (na close friend ni Miss Mari) na I-reco n'ya ako kay Miss Mari kasi 'yun yung show na gusto kong raketan. Lam n'yo, kahit magkakakilala lang kami ni Miss Mari dahil sa pagiging dating Creative Assistant ko sa Star, tinext niya agad ako na welcome ako. Naka-can nga lang daw ang mga episodes kaya baka sa next story na ako papasok. Tapos yun, eh biglang di ko inasahang may darating na isang raket, tapos may training program pa kami sa TV aside from our 2nd short exercise project sa school, wala akong choice kundi humindi sa kanya nung tinext n'ya ako na magbi-brainstorm na kami. Nagi-guilty lang talaga ako kasi nakakahiya e. Ako na nga ang humingi ng raket, tapos ngayon ako na ang nagsabing di ako pwede. Ugh. Kakahiya talaga.

Pagod. Twenty hours nakong walang tulog. Umattend kasi ako ng premiere kagabi sa My Big Love tapos bigla akong inofferan ng one day raket ng Super Papalicious as crowd director. Di naman ako makahindi kasi nakakahiya nang tumanggi. Ilang beses na kasi tapos si Miss Zel pa ang EP, ang bait nun sakin. Kaya umoo na rin ako kahit 6 on the set ang coltym. Di ako nakatulog talaga. Nininerbiyos rin kasi. Kahit crowd director lang ako sa Super Papalicious, first time ko rin kasing mag-production work ulit sa mainstream cinema after All My Life (2004 pa 'yun) kaya medyo anxious ako. Siyempre si Manong Gilbert pa yun. Ayokong mapagalitan nun. Jusko, pagdating ko sa set, ang laki pala ng eksena. Family day kunyari sa school ni Makisig! La lang. Kakawindang. Kakapagod. Pasaway ang mga batang talents. Haha. In fairness, namiss ko rin palang mag prod work! Na miss ko rin si Manong. Ako dapat AD niya dun sa na-shelved na unang My First Romance movie e. Salamat Yam, Rai, Chris, Gary, Ann and Billy for helping me adjust easily sa set!

Kaba. Kinakabahan ako ngayon kasi magsastart na rin akong magsulat dito sa commercial project na gagawin namin nina Pablo at Francis. Literally commercial siya, sponsored ng isang brand para i-promote ang kanilang brand obviously. First time kong gumawa ng ganito. Siyempre unang kaba ko nung pinresent namin sa project head ang vision at treatment namin sa project. Sa awa ng Diyos, naaprub agad at script writing phase na. Kaya lang lam n'yo yun, naiintimidate talaga ako sa "commercial" people. Hindi lang dahil nakaka-nosebleed sila o napaka-fasyon pero basta may something e. Lorrrd, tulungan mo ako dito. Siyempre nininerbiyos din ako kasi meron pa akong ibang deadlines na di ko nagagawa. Hello Short Exercise 2! Hello MMK training! Waaaah!

Saya. Ang saya ng premiere night kagabi sa My Big Love. Pumunta pa high school classmates ko kaya masaya ako. (Siyempre kinwento ni Randy sa ibang high school classmates namin 'yung red carpet experience niya. Nahiya ako bigla. Akala tuloy ng ibang high school classmates ko big time ako, e ngerk! ). Andaming dapat i-congratulate sa movie pero siguro pinakauna talaga si Jade dahil nawitness ko first-hand yung hirap na dinanas niya sa project na 'to. And it paid off naman ng sobra sobra! Super-box office hit ang first day! Sana tuloy-tuloy! Kakainggit ka Jade, I'm so proud of you! Di ka lang critically-acclaimed director (c/o Endo), box-office director ka na rin! :) Congrats!

Kahit na di kayo ang target market, big thank you na rin sa mga friends kong nanood sa mga sinehan! Heto pala ang ilan sa mga pictures sa premiere night c/o Michiko. Sorry, walang artista picture!


From Pangako sa 'Yo, to SCQ Reload, and now My Big Love! Hahaha! (Nahiya ako kay Mich! Lahat ng chorva projects niya, kasama ako! :D)


Friends and Colleagues!


Based sa story ni Henry (and Tessa) ang My Big Love!

My Big Love!

Showing nationwide starting February 27, 2008
Starring: Toni Gonzaga, Sam Milby, Kristine Hermosa
Directed by: Jade Castro (of Endo)

SUPPORT! WATCH! PROMOTE! :)

American Idol 7 Top 12 Predictions!

They are not necessarily my favorites but based on the amount of airtime they had, the "pimping" they got from TPTB, their charismatic or polarizing personality, their internet popularity, and okay, their talent as seen during the first Top 24 shows, I predict the following to be this season's Top 12.


Michael Johns


Carly Smithson


David Archuleta


Jason Castro


Alaina Whitaker


Amanda Overmyer


David Cook


Asiah Epperson


Syesha Mercado


Ramielle Malubay


Danny Noriega


Robbie Carico

Just to review my track record (haha!), I got 10 out of 12 last year, 9 out of 12 in Season 5, and 5 out of 7 in Season 4. I think it's more difficult to predict this year especially since most of the Top 24 contestants got fair amount of airtime during the audition and Hollywood rounds. (Only 4 finalists didn't get any, I believe). This basically means that notwithstanding the pimping of the Aussie, Irish and Twink, it's a relatively even field. :)

Rose Is 28!

Michiko, Bing together with her life partner Julius (haha!), and I decided to give our housemate Rose a "dunch" (lunch + dinner) treat at Sonya's Garden in Tagaytay for her birthday. First time kong mag-drive papunta dun at nakakapagod! T'was all worth it though. Ang ganda ng garden at ang sarap ng food (considering na hindi ako mahilig sa vegetables ha!). Mas masaya siyempre dahil kasama ko ang mga matalik kong kaibigan at masaya rin kami dahil kahit papano napasaya namin si Rose. Ang saya! Andaming salitang saya! Haha! Labo! :) (Don't panic when it's organic!)

Happy Birthday Rosie! Nasa trunk pa rin ng kotse at nakatali ang birthday gift namin sa 'yo! :)

Thank you Mich for the pictures!


Strolling sa garden!


"Isipin mo si *toot* na naka-boxers..." :)


Michiko the acrobat!


Posing bago kain! (Rose at the center)


Being Ate Guy!

More pictures in My Multiply!

Watch Endo!

Endo opens on February 13 at SM, G4 and Gateway Cinemas! Support! Watch! :)

VFF's!

Kahit na sintunado, kahit na maraming problema, kahit na ano pang mangyari, videoke friends forever! :)

Ang kanya kanyang kuha sa sarili na Irreplaceable video


Ang ayos na sana pero may panira sa dulo na Sundo video


Ang Can't Take My Eyes Off You "workout" video


At ang pwedeng pang AI worst audition video na Float On

Scatterbrains!

Shoots like what happened during Dan's for his short Scatterbrain (where I played an evil doctor) make you forget how stressful school has become. :)

Thanks to G for the behind the scenes fun vids!

BTS 1


BTS 2