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Revision as of 20:14, 16 June 2010

This article is about the Filipino production company. For American cinema chain, see Regal Entertainment Group.

Regal Entertainment, Inc. is a Philippine filmmaking and entertainment firm, established by Lily Monteverde in 1962. It has produced movies of all genres.

Regal films

In business for over forty years now, Regal Films has established its name in making movies that appeal to a broad range of Filipinos. While modern competitors like Star Cinema specialize in producing romance and romantic comedy, Regal has produced movies in all genres, including action, animation, fantasy, comedy, family, documentary, romance, historical epics, drama, horror, suspense and so forth. Many Filipinos consider Regal as a symbol of national art and culture as a result of its heritage, its stars and its impact on the people.

The following are a few notable films released by Regal:

  • Scorpio Nights - A highly controversial and extremely sexy movie, released in 1985 at the height of the Filipino people's uprising against then-president Ferdinand Marcos. Directed by Peque Gallaga, Scorpio Nights tells the story of a forbidden love affair between a college student (Daniel Fernando) and a traitorous housewife (Ana Marie Gutierrez). The movie depicts numerous steamy sex scenes and acts of immorality, and was considered graphic as it showed numerous sex acts complete with exposed pubic hair, genitalia and semen. The belief at the time was that Scorpio Nights was approved, uncut, for release by the Marcos administration as a way of distracting the restless public from joining anti-government efforts. A South Korean film was adapted from Scorpio Nights' core story and sex scenes. Scorpio Nights dramatized not only the concept of loveless sex but also Filipino life in poverty and the efforts of the poor to gain the most pleasure out of a difficult existence.
  • Shake, Rattle and Roll - A horror trilogy.
  • Relasyon - A 1982 movie directed by Ishmael Bernal about a married man living a double life with his wife and mistress. While the wife (Vilma Santos) struggles to make her husband happy, the two-timer clearly believes that there is nothing wrong with what he's doing.
  • Tiyanak - A horror movie about a baby that transforms into a killer demon. The movie features Lotlot de Leon and Ramon Christopher.
  • Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure - A fantasy epic about the hunt for the precious Yamashita treasure. This movie was controversial, not because of its improbable combination of action, comedy and historical flashbacks, but because it won the Best Picture prize of the 2001 Metro Manila Film Festival despite having been panned by critics and moviegoers.
  • Mano Po - A groundbreaking family drama movie featuring a cast of Filipino stars (including Eddie Garcia, Kristoffer Marlowe Cruz in his launching movie, Maricel Soriano, Ara Mina, Richard Gomez and Kris Aquino) playing Chinese and Filipino-Chinese characters. As the first Filipino movie that focused on the Chinese heritage of Filipinos, Mano Po was controversial for its cast members playing Chinese people. Regal president Lily Monteverde claims that the movie reflects untold stories from her Chinese ancestry and also declared that Mano Po is the Philippines' answer to America's The Godfather. Mano Po swept the 2002 Metro Manila Film Festival awards en route to a P67.2 million gross (#1 among all entries). It spawned four sequels: Mano Po 2: My Home, Mano Po 3: My Love, Ako Legal Wife: Mano Po 4?! and Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di. It also had a sequel or spin-off, Bahay Kubo, A Pinoy Mano Po. The series returns after three years with Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love.
  • Live Show (aka Toro) - A pornographic movie, released in 2000, that realistically presents the hard life of Filipinos who resort to prostitution as their main source of income. Because of its realism, graphic sex scenes, suggestions of immorality and portrayal of poverty, Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pulled the movie out of theaters using government authority. Leaders of the local film industry blasted Arroyo for her action, describing her as a "puppet of moral terrorists." Political motives may have been behind the decision, as Arroyo's predecessor Joseph Estrada (a former actor himself) was known to have numerous connections in Philippine show business.

Regal Babies

Actors whose careers began at Regal (or whose success is linked with Regal) are often referred to as Regal babies (formerly known as Regal Cry Babies). Among the stars who have deep roots with Regal are the following:

Actress/Actors name' Network
Sheryl Cruz GMA Network
Keempee de Leon GMA Network
Sheena Halili GMA Network
Iza Calzado GMA Network
Rhian Ramos GMA Network
Cogie Domingo GMA Network
Janice de Belen GMA Network
Richard Gomez GMA Network
TJ Trinidad GMA Network
Jhay Malate GMA Network
Michelle Madrigal GMA Network
Carla Abellana GMA Network
Ehra Madrigal GMA Network
Katrina Halili GMA Network
Say Alonzo GMA Network
Lovi Poe GMA Network
Pauleen Luna GMA Network
Glaiza de Castro GMA Network
Marian Rivera GMA Network
Celinna Katherine Cruz GMA Network
Mike Tan GMA Network
Kris Bernal GMA Network
Aljur Abrenica GMA Network
Dennis Trillo GMA Network
Jennica Garcia GMA Network
Maxene Magalona GMA Network
Richard Gutierrez GMA Network
Mark Anthony Fernandez GMA Network
Yasmien Kurdi GMA Network
Rainier Castillo TV5
Mark Herras GMA Network
Nadine Samonte GMA Network
Polo Ravales GMA Network
Rufa Mae Quinto GMA Network
Jewel Mische GMA Network
Mart Escudero GMA Network
Iwa Moto GMA Network
Gina Alajar GMA Network
Manilyn Reynes GMA Network
Andrea Torres GMA Network
Prince Stefan GMA Network
Rich Asuncion GMA Network
JC De Vera TV5
Eula Valdez GMA Network
Christopher de Leon GMA Network
Ciara Sotto GMA Network
Snooky Serna ABS-CBN, GMA Network
Angel Locsin ABS-CBN
Gabby Concepcion ABS-CBN
Ruffa Gutierrez TV5
Vhong Navarro ABS-CBN
Roxanne Guinoo ABS-CBN
Nash Aguas ABS-CBN
Niña Jose ABS-CBN
Kris Aquino ABS-CBN
Mylene Dizon ABS-CBN
Desiree del Valle ABS-CBN
Sharon Cuneta ABS-CBN
Kristoffer Marlowe Cruz ABS-CBN, GMA Network
Iya Villania ABS-CBN
Francine Prieto ABS-CBN

Controversies

Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure

In the 2001 Metro Manila Film Festival, Regal's Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure won the Best Picture award over the much favored Bagong Buwan (a film about the military conflict in Muslim Mindanao). Many moviegoers and critics were shocked over its selection for the top award as the movie was presented as an adventure comedy film tackling the legend about the lost gold of Yamashita in the Philippines. For the most part, Yamashita was a fantasy and its subject matter was considered irrelevant to "Filipino values", current events or even culture. Prior to its release, Yamashita rode a wave of hype as "the Philippine answer to Hollywood's Pearl Harbor" due to an action sequence featuring Japanese fighter planes attacking a Philippine base (similar to what happened in Michael Bay's movie). The sequence was produced with the most advanced Filipino special effects available at the time.

Aubrey Miles

In 2002, Regal Films announced its decision to heavily invest its resources on Aubrey Miles, a new sex symbol in the Philippines. As part of its publicly announced investment, Miles signed a multi-million Peso movie contract with the company and her first major movie Prosti was released as a heavily-promoted erotic feature.

Miles also appeared on Regal's other films (either as lead actress or supporting actress) such as Sanib, Xerex, Gagamboy, Kuya, Singles, A Beautiful Life and Pa-siyam.

Aubrey Miles is widely believed to be highly paid as an actress with Regal Films. Insider reports that circulated in the media stated that the actress was paid at least P2 million to as much as P6 million per film. Despite having a minor role in A Beautiful Life, Miles was paid P5.8 million, which was P3 million higher than what she received in Xerex.

Despite the resources, critics branded Miles a poor actress. While Prosti (a movie about Philippine prostitution) became a success and brought her some fame, Miles' succeeding movies Xerex and Sanib were both commercial failures and were critically panned.

To date, none of Aubrey Miles' other movies could match the commercial success of Prosti, which made P29 million.Since 2002, Miles has received a total of P40.6 million in salary and bonus payments from Regal Films.

Feud with ABS-CBN and Star Cinema

A feud between Regal Films and ABS-CBN erupted in late 2003 when the latter's film company, Star Cinema, released the comedy Mr. Suave starring Vhong Navarro. Lily Monteverde had long planned on releasing Navarro's first-ever starring role under Regal's banner; the film was Gagamboy, a Filipino superhero movie inspired by Marvel's Spider-Man. But due to extended post-production for special effects, Gagamboy was not released in 2003 as planned. Regal instead scheduled the film for a January 1, 2004 release as part of the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival's 2nd half salvo. Unfortunately for Regal, Star Cinema's Mr. Suave was released months ahead of Gagamboy and officially became Navarro's first leading role.

Since then, Regal has no official business deals with ABS-CBN or Star Cinema. In 2004, the renegade movie outfit started casting majority of the GMA stars for their movies (mostly coming from the reality-based artista search StarStruck) instead of ABS-CBN stars. As a result, ABS-CBN started humbling themselves before Mother Lily and allowed most of its major stars to work for Regal. Among the ABS-CBN talents allowed to do movies for Regal were Christian Bautista, Sandara Park, Nash Aguas, Rica Peralejo, Iya Villania and Pinoy Big Brother housemates Say Alonzo and Franzen Fajardo.

Another feud between ABS-CBN and Regal was started again, this time over Angel Locsin and her existing contract with Mother Lily's movie outfit. It was reported that Angel signed an 8-picture contract with Regal back in 2003 but when she signed up with ABS-CBN, she also signed up for the Lopez network's sister company, Star Cinema. Mother Lily got furious over the said deal, because Angel only made 3 movies with Regal, not counting the co-production deals made between Regal and GMA Films.

Displeasure over 2005 MMFF awarding and film festival boycott

Due to her anger over the results of the 2005 Metro Manila Film Festival, Regal founder Lily Monteverde shocked the public by announcing her company's boycott of film festivals in the future and her assertion that she would encourage other producers to do likewise. In confirming the announcement, Regal Films released an official press statement, which read as follows:

"Regal Entertainment Inc., while appreciative of the many accolades and awards received by its film Blue Moon, would nonetheless like to voice its concerns over the unclear and confusing basis that may have applied by the MMFFP jurors in deciding the winning entries in certain categories.
In particular:
1) On the choice of (OctoArts Films') Kutob as winner of the Gat. Antonio Villegas Award: The Gat. Antonio Villegas Award is given to the film which best showcases and exalts Filipino values. Since Kutob is a film about a psychotic young man, what are the Filipino values supposedly depicted by this movie?
2) On the Best Director Category: The quality and excellence of a motion picture largely depends on the skill and performance of its director. The movie Blue Moon exemplified excellence and technical superiority, as shown by the fact that it was awarded Best Picture, Best Story, Best Screenplay, Most Gender Sensitive Picture, as well as the texters' vote awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
Considering the numerous awards for Blue Moon, it is unusual that it did not get the jurors' nod for Best Director. What were the standards considered by the jurors for this category?
3) On Mulawin (co-produced by Regal Films with GMA Films): Mulawin was the only motion picture graded "A" by the Cinema Evaluation Board, and this grade recognized the superior acting in, and technical quality of the movie.
Despite this fact, Mulawin did not win a single award. Again, what standards were utilized by the MMFFP jurors, and how different were these from the standards applied by the Cinema Evaluation Board?
4) On comments made by an MMFFP juror: Regal is particularly disturbed by comments made by one juror, reported in the newspapers, praising the movie Kutob even before the awards night.
Considering that jurors are supposed to be neutral and unbiased, Regal would like to request an explanation from this juror on comments he made to the press, which seem to indicate bias and partiality.
My heart tells me to return the awards. This is how I felt last night out of anger. Not only was I deprived but also my colleagues involved in the creation of the motion pictures, Mulawin and Blue Moon (2006 film). However, Regal has been advised by its legal counsel that, pursuant to its contract and undertaking with the MMFFP at the time it joined the Film Festival, it is bound to honor and uphold the decision of the Awards Committee. Nevertheless, we believe that our concerns are critical and serious, and deserve discussion, debate, and consideration. As a producer, we serve the moviegoers who will appreciate the movies. The moviegoers are our ultimate judges of our accolades."

Recent movies released

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Upcoming releases

Release Date Tentative Title Director Starring
August 2010 Mamarazzi[1] Joel Lamangan Eugene Domingo, Diether Ocampo, Carla Abellana, Andi Eigenmann, John Lapus, Xian Lim, JC Tiuseco
September 2010 Ang Nanay Kong Aswang[2] Joel Lamangan Pokwang, Agot Isidro, Carla Abellana, Rafael Rosell & Roxanne Guinoo
December 2010 Super Inday[3] Mike Tuviera Marian Rivera, Dennis Trillo
December 2010 Temptation Island[4] Maryo J Delos Reyes Pokwang, Carla Abellana, Katrina Halili, Andi Eigenmann, Nina Jose, Diana Zubiri and Sheena Halili
October 2010 White House[5] Topel Lee Gabby Concepcion, Pokwang, Iza Calzado, Tom Rodriguez, Mo Twister, Lovi Poe, Dennis Trillo

References

  1. ^ Regal Entertainment reveals lineup of movies for 2009
  2. ^ Carla Abellana to be launched on the big screen via Regals Ang Nanay Kong Aswang
  3. ^ Regal Entertainment reveals lineup of movies for 2009
  4. ^ Regal Entertainment reveals lineup of movies for 2009
  5. ^ Regal Entertainment reveals lineup of movies for 2009
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