Mother Lily says she doesn’t approve of the changes in the next Metro Manila Filmfest. “Let’s face it, the filmfest coincides with the Christmas season, so mas maraming families at mga bata ang manonood diyan kaya kailangan natin ng more commercial entries. Kung puro indie na pang-award ang entries, what do you think will happen? Isa pa, the biggest stars are with the big companies like Star, Viva and APT, so sila ang mas may chance sa box office. Kung award-winning movies nga ang entries but walang big stars, baka bumagsak sa takilya and the theater owners will complain and they’ll do everything para mabalik ang Christmas playdate sa Hollywood movies. No matter what you say, making movies is still mainly a business. They have to make money so producers can go on making more movies. Iyong mga producers, hindi pinagtanggol ang rights nila sa filmfest committee.”
Why didn’t she become a part of the executive committee?
“Kasi, when I attended their first meeting and someone nominated me, Malou Santos of Star said, ay, huwag na si Mother, magulong kausap. Siempre, my feelings were hurt, magulo pala akong kausap, ‘di hindi na ako nag-attend uli ng meeting nila.”
Mother Lily says Regal is producing four new films. Her last releases, “Haunted Mansion” and “Love is Blind” were both box office hits so she wants to do more movies this year.
First is “Mighty Yaya” with Ai Ai de las Alas in the title role. At first, they want to get Gabby Concepcion and Solenn Heussaff to play a love triangle with Ai Ai. But Gabby quoted a very high talent fee and Solenn will be busy with her wedding in May in France, so replacing them are Zoren Legaspi and our first Miss World, Megan Young.
Then there’s the follow-up movie for young comedienne Kiray Celis after her “Love is Blind” became a hit, “I Love You to Death.” “Nagpapasalamat ako sa ABS kasi pinahiram nila sa amin si Enchong Dee as Kiray’s leading man. This movie will be handled by Jun Lana. Then we’ll do a new Derek Ramsay movie, with Ellen Adarna, plus another comedy.”