Monday, October 8, 2007

Arnold Arre's 'Andong Agimat' to the US film mart



'Andong Agimat' to the US film mart
By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- Unitel head Tony Gloria has a new baby.

"This is my pet project," he says of "Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat," a popular graphic novel by prize-winning author/illustrator Arnold Arre.

Gloria has acquired the rights to "Andong," which he plans to produce into either a feature film or a TV series. Or both.

"It can start as a feature film and we can later turn it into a TV series," he says.

For the role of Andong, Gloria is eyeing Robin Padilla.

"He's not your typical hero. Andong's a loner and an ex-convict," he explains.

Unitel is preparing an audio-visual presentation on "Andong," which Gloria will screen at the American Film Market, running from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7 in Santa Monica, California.

It's Unitel's fourth time in the US film mart. "We scanned and colorized the storyboards. We edited and set the footage to music. We also gave it a 3-D title," he says.

He hopes to attract investors—to finance or to co-produce—with the "Andong" teaser.

Gloria admits that producing "Andong" is expensive.

"You can't do it with P20 million. If I had P50 million that would be ideal. But I can make it with P30 million to P35 million," he says.

Feedback from the film mart will decide whether "Andong" will be a film or a TV series.

Gloria is bullish about its prospects abroad. "It's different. Very Asian."

Which was what attracted Gloria to the graphic novel.

"I wanted an original Pinoy hero."

It also combines the mythical with the historical, he says. "In the story, Maria Makiling is in love with a Katipunero (revolutionary). I am thinking of shooting in Old Manila — Quiapo, Binondo and Intramuros."

Gloria plans to use Unitel's latest Sony HR 444 high-definition camera in shooting "Andong." "It has the highest resolution. HD cameras were used in Hollywood movies like 'Superman Returns' and 'Zodiac.'"

He envisions "Andong" as a "showcase" of the capabilities of Unitel's post-production arm, Optima.

"Optima has the latest computer software for an effects-laden film like 'Andong,'" he says.

Unitel is also bringing to the film mart its finished films—Ato Bautista's "Blackout" and Pablo Biglang-Awa and Veronica Velasco's "Inang Yaya." Also, three other indie movies—Sockie Fernandez's "Gulong," Jay Abello's "Ligaw Liham" and Neal "Buboy" Tan's "Ataul for Rent."

[Link to the original Inquirer article.]

6 comments:

KITCHOY said...

waw! An Andong Agimat Film!!! now that's something!!
Na-gustuhan ko talaga tong nobelang to (kahit na ung prelude lang yung nabasa ko... binasa ko lang kasi sa bookstore yun... pero promise, bibili ako nun... ipon muna) infact sa sobrng pagkagusto ko dito ay gumawa pa ako ng acct dito sa Blogger para lang makapag comment dito!!
so dun naman sa sadya ko dito, gusto ko lang mag suggest na mukhang hindi maganda kung si idol Robin Padilla ang gaganap para sa lead role. hindi sa kadahilanang di ko sya type (lol), infact idol ko nga sya, ito'y kundi dahil sa palabas nyang Joaqiun Bordado sa GMA7.
Ayun na nga, dahil nakilala na si BINOE bilang "Ang Markadong Hinirang", kaya marahil magka-impression ung mga viewers na-copycat o mas malala, isipin nilang parte ito ng Joaquin Bordado...
diba ampanget nun...
yun lang...
Nagmamahal,
Kitchoy.... XD

KITCHOY said...

waw! natapos ko na basahin yung libro at... ANG LUPET NITO!!!
SULIT NA SULIT yung halos P400 na presyong binayad ko!
Good job on "subtly" wrapping the story up. (waw inglish! pa-chis burge... nuff said).
It left us only wanting for more. *nose bleeds*

bytheway, super astigen talaga nung HARI NG TONDO! at kung ako tatanungin, mas bagay gampanan ni BINOE (Robin Padilla) ang character na ito. Ang astig talaga lalunglalo na yung naka motor sya... nakikita ko na ang lahat... The bad-ass Binoe... as "Hari ng tondo"... the motorcycle scene... shot gun... BIGTIME BAAAD-ASS ACTION!!! It doesn't get any better than that. *more nose bleeds*

and another thing, hang cute nina boy bato taska nung babaeng kasama ni Silang (i forgot the name)! bagay sila! lol sana magkaroon kayu ng kahit mini-series about these other characters... hindi pala, sana magkaroon pa nag maraming istorya tungkol sa Mundo ni ANDONG AGIMAT!!

that's all, and more power to mr.Arnold and all his crew... pati na rin sa lahat ng mgaTFC subscribers...

Willie-ngly yours, truly,
LUCKY ME

Cynthia said...

Kitchoy, salamat sa mga comments mo! Mga katulad mo ang dahilan kaya di nawawalan si Arnold gumawa ng librong gaya ng Andong. (:

ulpa12 said...

I read Ang Mundo ni Andong Agimat last 2 years from a friend and it never left my mind since then. (I also like the Trese Series lalo na ung 3rd book) Every graphic novel I read, naiisip ko parang mas maganda pa rin si Ando hehehe well di muna ao bumuli noon dahil mejo tight pa sa budget.. lately I said to myself na I need to have a copy of it.. Kaso Waaah Wala na ako mahanap! Mapa Power books or National wala!
Kahapon lang... hah nakakita ako sa National bookstore sa Robinson's Pioneer ng 1 copy and take note dilapidated na ang book... sabi nun sales lady "Sir, if u like may 5% discount na lang since ganito na itsura... actually may nag pa reserve na nga rin nito eh pero sige bigay ko na senyo..." Well I got the book with pakisuyo na plastic cover na free hehehe well honestly kahit walang discount or plastic cover i will buy the book na rin naman YEEEEY!!!!

I hope magkaroon ng sequel Mr. Arnold :)

denice said...

i agree with kitchoy. i like the idea of having mini series focusing on the other characters, a graphic novel about maria makiling perhaps? it's far better than making a film especially if the book will be unjustified. fans like me would love to see ando in motion, but please make sure to make the legend remain a legend and even more.

more filipinos shall witness the greatness of andong agimat, appreciate our own culture which is the pre-colonial culture and moreover support philippine publications.

mabuhay ang andong agimat at mabuhay ang gawang-pinoy.

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