MATAGAL nang tapos ang pelikulang Unlucky Plaza na pinagbibidahan ni Epy Quizon at idinirehe ng Singaporean director na si Ken Kwek, pero sa Abril 20 pa lamang ipalalabas ito sa ating bansa na ini-release ng Viva Films.
Kaya marami na akong nakikitang magagandang review at pinupuri ang pelikulang ito na tumatalakay sa isang Filipino na namumuhay sa Singapore pero nang malugi ang negosyo ay napilitang gumawa ng hindi maganda.
Nanalo na ng award sina Epy bilang Best Actor sa International Film Festival Manhattan at si Kwek bilang Best Direktor sa Jasmine Film Festival.
Sa Toronto International Film Festival nagkaroon ng premiere ang Unlucky Plaza at naipalabas na rin ito sa Warsaw Film Festival na nagkamit rin ng nominasyon para sa Grand Prix at sa Kolkata International Film Festival na nagkaroon din ng nominasyon para sa NETPAC Award. Naging opening film din ito sa Singapore International Film Festival 2014.
Kaya naman kapwa proud sa isa’t isa sina Epy at Kwek nang makausap namin ito noong Martes sa Viva board room.
“I have to say that for me, I am most proud of Epy’s work. Because to me, the first and most important elements of the movie I am making tends to be workshops with actors. I work very closely with my actors. I do a lot of rehearsals and I often rescript my story according to contributions, the faces, the shape, the action of my actors.
“So, when Epy won the award in Manhattan, I was very, very happy for him but not the least bit surprised,” pagkukuwento ni Kwek.
Sinabi naman ni Epy na, ”for me, the award is secondary. It’s actually the reactions of people watching it, that’s probably the biggest award. I always get this when someone leaves the theater and approaches me and says ‘that was very good’ or ‘you did a good job’. That’s when I receive the biggest award.
“But of course, International Film Festival Manhattan is International Film Festival Manhattan. And when I got it, I also got the Ani ng Dangal award, and for me, who would ever thought that I was gonna get awards such as.
“Of course, napaka-ipokrito ko naman kung sasabihin kong hindi ako masaya. Of course, I’m very proud that I have received such an honorable award.”
Aminado si Epy na pinakamagandang role na nagampanan niya ang saUnlucky Plaza kaya naman nang mabasa niya ang script ay agad niyang tinanggap ito dahil kakaiba sa mga nagawa na niya.
Bagamat Singaporean film ang Unlucky Plaza, ukol naman ito sa buhay ng isang Pinoy OFW na nanirahan sa Singapore at nagkaroon ng pamilya roon. Kaya umaasa si Epy na tatangkilikin pa rin ito ng mga Pinoy.
SHOWBIZ KONEK – Maricris Valdez Nicasio