Dear VIVA,
Thank you for giving birth to James Reid and Nadine Lustre as VIVA Artists. Everyone would agree with me that 2014 wouldn’t be as exciting as it has been today without JaDine. Patronizing their tandem is one of the highlights of our 2014.
We trust VIVA on how you handle your artists having been in the industry for quite a long time. But we also believe that you put much consideration on how would the fans or people react on certain decisions or strategies that the management does. Launching JaDine last April 2014 was one of the best timing and decisions that VIVA has ever made.
However, coming from the two back-to-back movies that JaDine did, we, as their die-hard fans, tend to evaluate the career run of our idols and their reputation as movie stars. DnP is undeniably a surprising box-office hit, whereas TBYD, though it also performed well in the box office scene, it didn’t exceed the expectation that the fans had coming from the success of the first movie. The latter received a fair share of not-so-good movie reviews from critics due to its jumpy story line and direction. This has made me worried that even so JaDine performed well in terms of their acting and so, if the quality of the movie itself is below the moviegoers’ standards, that wouldn’t make sense at all.
ON JADINE’S NEXT MOVIE
Recently, VIVA Entertainment initiated a social media discussion where fans can vote for the next JaDine movie they want to see. Here are the choices:
1.) Girlfriend for Hire
2.) My Husband is a Mafia Boss
3.) My Sadist Lover
On top of these three options, I also asked some of my Twitter Friends if they have suggestions other than the above-presented stories. They suggested the following:
4.) Project Ex, Project Why and Project Z
5.) All Over Again
I have ‘somehow’ read and studied the story lines of these five wattpad stories. Though I commend the artistry of these aspiring writers and respect the fans of the stories, I couldn’t help but observe that almost all the plots of these stories are common.
Typical Arrogant Boy meets the Palaban Lady. Typical Chick Magnet meets the Palaban / Astig Lady again. Though I see that the stories have their own kilig scenes and attacks, it’s hard not to associate it with the Cross-Eya love story or Dao Ming Xu-San Chai love story. Girlfriend for Hire might be associated with Kim Chiu and Xian Lim’s Bride for Rent due to its title (oops did I mention that the Brye’s surname is also Stanford). Project Ex, Project Why and Project Z have potential in terms of the richness of its plot, but all three still carry a common or predictable story line as their titles imply.
My Husband is a Mafia Boss is another gangster film. It’s too dark for JaDine. We don’t want another Talk Back and You’re Dead Movie, right? And we don’t want to fast forward the maturity of JaDine, like the Mr and Mrs Smith peg of Angelina and Brad Pitt. Please take note that the quality of film doesn’t depend on how many kissing scenes a story has. J (Kahit gusto ko non, pero Vote Wisely pa din.)
When I first read My Sadist Lover, I got interested reading it. But along the way, I’ve found it very heavy since the story is so heartbreaking. It’s like I would feel heavy hearted after I watched it on the big screen. It’s the same with All Over Again. It’s not that popular but both have the same theme: Broken-heartedness.
Looking at it now, I observe that moviegoers opt to watch feel-good and heartfelt movies than those with heavy story lines. Ang drama na kasi ng buhay ng mga Pilipino eh. Remember also that DRAMA is not YET the forte of JaDine.
Don’t get me wrong. I commend the writers of these stories. They have invested time for these stories and gained fans because of their story takes. But not all stories have cinematic potential. Some may be fit for Teleserye Adaptation instead of a movie adaptation. But to justify my points clearly, here are the options that I’d like to present for your considerations.
OPTION A: Petition for ORIGINAL Material
I get it. James and Nadine are the Book King and Book Queen of Philippine Movies and you don’t want to veer away from that title this early. But take note that this has pro’s and con’s. Based on previous experiences, due to wrong direction and unimpressive story treatment of a book adaptation, there’s no denying that the REPUTATION of James and Nadine as an artist has been affected.
They are the face of the film, that’s why they carry the quality of the film. They are the brands of the film so whatever comments the viewers have, the initial blame goes to the lead stars of the film. It’s on the latter part when people realized that it all boils down on the director himself.
Having an ORIGINAL Material is a good selling point as well since nobody knows the exact flow of the film. Disappointment rate wouldn’t be as high as compared with movie adaptation since there’s no expectation coming from the readers’ imagination.
This is also James’ and Nadine’ chance to prove themselves; and work with caliber directors and Star Cinema’s screen play writers.
OPTION B: Diary ng Panget 2 with a Twist
Yes Guys. I hear you! Some fans have been protesting for Diary Ng Panget 2. They missed Cross, Eya, Lory and Chad. They also missed Fab 4 – Nadine, James, Yassi and of course, Andre. I miss you Andre.
At first I didn’t entertain the idea because for me it could be a ‘downgrade’ for Nadine as EYA since she already established her image as the beautiful, rich-achiever, named SAM in TBYD. But how about a TWIST? ( Since we only have one book remaining, sorry Denny for this suggestion)
· After GRADUATION: What if EYA became beautiful, but not as beautiful as SAM. Sakto lang. No pimples. No bad hair days. No jumpers. No sneakers. Tamang feminine lang. Tamang wardrobe makeover. She did that out of insecurity from girls running over Cross. She changed physically but not a big change, same personality still. Until she became noticeable to the eyes of other guys. Another love triangle came along. That guy fell in love with the new EYA. Conflict arises between the new guy and Cross. Jealousy issues..--- I can go on and on.. but it’s like a story about CHANGE; but at the end of the day, CROSS still chooses the PANGET EYA over the NEW EYA. Cliché but at least may twist. (I am sure you guys can think of something better)
It’s hard for me to explain but a story twist as such can be effective to viewers. As much as we want to be faithful on the story line, it’s also better to provide the moviegoers something unexpected, something to watch out for, like a plot twist but of course Cross and Eya pa din in the end.. The conflict in DNP Book 4 just revolves around a showdown with Eya and the ‘other girl’ whose name I forgot. This may seem shallow once it is adapted in a movie.
DNP could be another hit as long as VIVA offers a twist in the story. Do not stick with the book itself.
OPTION C: WATTPAD STORIES but in ONE or TWO or THREE or FOUR CONDITION(s)
Since you want to live with the BOOK KING AND QUEEN TITLES of JADINEs, okay… let’s go with WATTPAD STORIES (could be the 5 options as presented above or other suggestions) but here are the conditions: (these can be applied once you start filming TBYD)
1.) New Director – No more Direk Andoy Ranay this time. Look for other Directors, the likes of Chris Martinez, Joyce Bernal, Mae Cruz, Laurenti Dyogi, etc. Again, a change of direction is a good selling point.
2.) No Rush – Yes we are excited; but we are not impatient. Do not fast-phase the production. Take your time. “Starting Over Again” taped for one year, and also “The Gifted” – both films earned great reviews from movie critics. So please take your time. We are not in a hurry.
3.) Collaboration of Screen Play Writers – Allow Star Cinema Screen Play writers to collaborate with Ms Keiko Aquino. Two heads are better than one. This could address problems in terms of story treatment and poor scene by scene transitions. Get the gist and don’t make us feel again that there are hanging or cut scenes in between. Since most of the choices above are not that popular as compared with DNP and TBYD, writers can just based the story on tho
4.) Please the Non Readers– I have been saying this but please give a story that would please the non readers more than the fans of the book. Take note that the book fans are automatic ticket buyers.
Thank you VIVA. I hope you take into considerations the views and opinions of the fans. I am just speaking on their behalf. I know you have a lot of experience in doing this but listening to the clamors of fans won’t hurt you.
Sincerely,
JaDine Publicist
