A CASTING COUP IN "MAGKAPATID"
by Walden Sadiri

Bribery and conspiracy. This is not what the mega movie project of Sharon Cuneta and Judy Ann Santos (under Viva Films) is all about. But it seems that these will take on the sub plot of the film as rumors of such are escalating among people wanting to immobilize the said project.

Just after its recently concluded story conference held at the Viva office, a writer was overheard discussing rumors of big offers made to actors to withdraw from the movie project in order to either delay it or put a total halt on it. And there were even news about the project already shelved.

But its director, Joel Lamangan, dismissed these rumors and confidently asserted that the movie would be well on its way, "Viva has worked hard to put this project together and it will push through," he stressed.

Putting together two of Philippine Cinema's host bankable end high calibre actresses like Sharon Cuneta and Judy Ann Santos in a movie seemed a lung shut for a while. But Viva's success in casting together the two top box office stars was a feat any production outfit would envy. Under the working title "Magkapatid," Viva Film's work in progress could spell huge box office success that could even shatter a number of box office records.

Moreover, "Magkapatid" is intended as an entry to the Manila Film Festival in June. A loaded arsenal indeed compared to other possible entries, it is already a movie predicted to rake in a number of awards from the festival.

Given the film's potentials mentioned above, it is no wonder why anyone would like to jinx the megaproject. It will surely give other possible entries a ntn for their money if it succeeds as an entry for the Manila Film Festival (or any festival for that matter). But that is just the tip of the iceberg. The story itself is said to be a moving dramatic piece, a tested formula that certainly would draw in countless moviegoers and spell great box office success. Plus the fact that "Magkapatid" stars actresses with success stories of losing weight, something inspirational its targeted female market would also want to see. (One of the funniest stories that surfaced about "Magkapatid" was about Juday having the condition of receiving P1 million more for every child she's supposed to have in the movie.)

The Story

According to Joel Lamangan , "Magkapatid" tackles grief and how people take it. "It is about how Sharon copes up with her grief na hindi niya alam nakakasakit na siya ng mga kaibigan at kapatid and that she doesn't take care of her husband anymore ...actually this is a good study of a relationship and how people cope up with different types of griefs," he explained.

The movie revolves around the relationship of Sharon Cuneta, the older sister, and Judy Ann. who plays the younger sister. Sharon plays a successful medical practitioner who after giving birth had to have a ttysterectomy white Judy Ann is her irresponsible sister ,who at the age of 16 already gave birth to her first child and was already married. (Judy Ann will have three children in the movie.)

Being the eldest, Sharon assumes the responsibility of providing for Judy Ann's financial needs. But their happy relationship is shattered by a tragedy. While on a family outing by the lake, Judy Ann removes the life vest of Sharon's kid saying it added to the heat of the already scorching sun as their children go on a boat ride. What follows is an accident that would change their lives Sharon's child drowns!

Blaming her sister for her child's death, Sharon's character withdraws from the world she used to love and seYeres her support for Judy Ann. Judy Ann's family suffers from Sharon's grief until she has to give up one of her children for Sharon to adopt.

"Magkapatid's" scriptwriter Mel del Rosario explained that she penned the story out of the inspiration she got from a conversation with a woman with a lot of children. But she kept her story hidden since 1989 because she felt that it was not yet the time to offer it to producers. The only thing she was certain that time was that she had Sharon Cuneta in mind to star in it if ever it gets produced.

This is the fourth lime that Joel Lamangan will be working with Sharon Cuneta. The past movies he directed Sharon in were "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Kapantay ay Langit" and "Ikaw." For the first time though, he'll be helming the "megastar" in something the public is not used to - as a "kontrabida."

On the other hand this is the first time he'll be working with Judy Ann Santos but nonetheless is proud of having the two passionate actresses in his cast. He will also be working for the first time with Dingdong Dantes who plays an alternative band member and the husband of Judy Ann. And what the public is probably anticipating from Joel is if he would be able to bring out depth and passion from the young actor like what he did for Wendel Ramps in "Hubog."

Putting billing aside and monetary considerations as well, "Magkapatid" is one project that brought Juday jitters from the very beginning. As she had said overwhelmingly during the story conference, "Nakaka tension talaga ang project na ito. After many years in my acting career, ngayon lang ako naiyak sa script. Add this to the fact that I'm working with the megastar for the first time and you know what I mean by tension!"