Is Alma at fault?

Gwen figures in a number of bedscenes that leave little to the imagination. She is also shown taking a bath while seated in the buff on a small basin. There’s also a scene where she does full frontal nudity in front of a full-length mirror.

"I did it because the role calls for it," she says. "Hindi naman basta exploitative ang sex scenes dito but an integral part of the story."

"Room 213" is written and directed by Keith Sicat, whose previous film, "Rigodon," won an award in Greece. "Stylistically, ‘Room 213’ is a bit experimental in the sense that it’s not told in a linear fashion," he explains. "There are a lot of flashbacks, fantasies, and associative ideas, so it’s much more of a visual tone poem. Since dialog is sparse, the film is also purposely relying on the sound and visuals to tell the story. To that end, we were very particular with the lighting, color palette and textures seen in the frame."

What’s the message he wants to give to his audience?

"That a relationship is built on trust and trust is fragile. Secrets never remain hidden, the past is there to haunt, and playing with emotions is dangerous. The film poses the question: in the final analysis, are we really all alone?"

How’s the acting of his lead stars?

"Allen and Gwen are amazing. They give such understated but emotionally intense performances that are pitch perfect to the material. Allen knows that ‘less is more.’ He relies mostly on his eyes and body language to convey what was going on internally with his character. Gwen is constantly surprising us in the way she would improvise during a scene. She would let the moment dictate her emotional state resulting in a remarkable performance. People will see a very different Gwen here."

"Room 213" will be shown exclusively at Robinsons cinemas starting September 24. Watch it and see if you’d agree with what the director said about it.

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Looks like the rift between Gabby Concepcion and his manager Mommy Rose Flaminiano is irreparable. Gabby got lawyer Raymond Fortun to have his previous contract with Mommy Rose rescinded in court. He says the contract he signed with Mommy Rose in January when he was still in California is different from the one given to him later dated April 1, 2008 that makes it appear he was there when the contract was notarized. The truth is he didn’t even see the lawyer who reportedly notarized it, so it should be declared null and void.

But Gabby’s main complaint is that Mommy Rose didn’t abide with the provisions of the contract. He’s questioning the actual income he got from the shows he did, the price of which was jacked up by his manager without even informing him. Because of this, Atty Fortun says: "By reason hereof, please be informed that Mr. Gabby Concepcion is rescinding his management contract with you effective IMMEDIATELY, in accordance with Article 1191 of the Civil Code."

Obviously, the honeymoon between Gabby and his new manager has quickly ended, as correctly predicted by some folks even when it was just starting after he returned here from the US.

***

Alma Moreno was the special guest in "Showbiz Central" last Sunday in the revitalized lie detector test portion now called "Love Me, Hate Me, But Don’t Lie to Me." Two of Alma’s kids, Vandolph (with Dolphy as dad) and Wynwyn (with Joey Marquez as dad) were there to give her moral support. Eight questions were thrown her way and Alma gave only two lies. The questions are: Did you just invent your multiple scleroris illness to gain public sympathy? She says no and it’s true. She said that up to now, she still experiences the pain it causes every now and then, confirmed by Vandolph.

Did you suddenly break up with last boyfriend Gerald Madrid dahil nagsawa ka na sa kanya? She says no and it’s the truth. She adds: "Nag-usap kami nang maayos at alam niyang mas gusto kong bigyan ng priority ang trabaho ko bilang konsehal ng Paranaque."

Nagbuhay reyna ka raw kaya ka hiniwalayan ni Dolphy? Again, she says no, but this time, it’s a lie. She adds: "Basta between us ni Dolphy, alam na niya kung ano ang tunay na dahilan kung bakit kami naghiwalay."

Tutol ka nga ba sa pagpapakasal ni Vandolph kay Jenny Salimao dahil ang feeling mo, hindi pa niya kayang magkapamilya? She says no and it’s true.

Sa palagay mo ba, si Jen ay isang mabuting asawa kay Vandolph? She says yes and it’s true.

May tampo raw sa iyo ang mga anak mong sina Yeoj at Wynwyn kaya sa ama nilang si Joey Marquez na sila nakatira? She says no and again, it’s true. She says Yeoj has always stayed with Joey but sleeps in her place three nights a week. Wynwyn, a Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, lives with her.

Totoo bang si Mark Anthony Fernandez (her son with the late Rudy Fernandez) ang nagbabayad sa iyong mga utang? She answers no and it’s true. She adds that she’s very happy that Mark’s career has recovered and he has regained leading man status with "Kim Sam Soon."

Nasa iyo ba ang problema kaya lahat ng past relationships mo, nauuwi sa hiwalayan? She says no, but it’s a lie. So far, she’s been linked to four guys: the late Daboy, Dolphy, Joey, and the last being Gerald who’s only as old as her son Mark.

***

When Dingdong Dantes appeared in "SOP" last Sunday, his right wrist was in a cast. It turns out he hurt himself while taping an important scene as Fredo in "Dyesebel." In the said scene, he became so angry and emotional over what’s happening to him and Dyesebel that he started punching the trunk of a tree. His acting became so real that he really hit the tree so hard several times, injuring himself in the process. He was taken to the hospital and it’s found he broke a small bone in his wrist, so it had to be put in a cast for it to heal faster.

"I got carried away," Dingdong said when interviewed in "Showbiz Central." "Gusto ko kasi talagang lumabas na maganda ang eksena kaya natangay ako nang husto."

Tonight in "Dyesebel," Marian Rivera’s (Dyesebel) life is put in danger after all the hardships she went through in the hands of her tormentors. Fredo finally tells Betty (Bianca King) that it’s Dyesebel he loves and because of this, Betty’s hatred for Dyesebel intensifies. Fredo tries to take Dyesebel away to revive her, with the help of Erebus (Alfred Vargas), but Betty tries to stop them and points a gun at them. One of them gets shot.

***

Katrina Halili just returned from the US where she had a series of shows in the West Coast with Jonalyn Viray (who’s a "Pinoy Pop Superstar" winner) and Kris Lawrence (a Kapamilya winner in "Star a Million"). "Bale three weeks akong nawala," she says in her segment as "Showbiz Central" star reporter. "We had shows in various cities. Nakakatuwa kasi pinaghalong fun ito and work as we got to make pasyal to several tourists spots like Six Flags, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios in L.A. and the Golden Gate Bridge sa San Francisco. Very warm sa amin ang mga kababayan natin at halos inampon na ako so I’d like to thank all of them."

Katrina left after her hit afternoon show, "Magdusa Ka," ended. Now that she’s back, she’ll be taping anew with Dennis Trillo for their new primetime telefantasya, "Gagambino," that will replace "Dyesebel" in October.

***

Jan Manual is the "Star Struck 4" alumnus who gained fame aping Manny Pacquiao in the "Struck Attack" portion of "Startalk," with Chariz Solomon and Paolo Avelino as his co-hosts. Jan has not been seen in "Startalk" for some time after he figured in a freak accident at the "Kapusolympics" held in Batangas last June. The torch he was carrying poured its gas on him, burning his face and body with second degree burns. He stayed in the hospital for three weeks because of that and he’s still under treatment up to now to make sure his wounds heal properly and not create keloids. He was interviewed live on "Showbiz Central" and his "Star Struck" colleague who was there to rescue him appeared live on the show, Aljur Abrenica, who had the presence of mind to remove his burning T-shirt quickly. Another Kapuso actor who helped him was Richard Gomez and Goma delivered a taped greeting for him. Jan thanked them all profusely and all those who supported him. He says he is raring to go back to work as he really misses showbiz so much.

***

Is Kris Aquino planning to move back to GMA-7 where she actually started in the early ‘90s? Someone saw her at the GMA building on EDSA last week and quickly concluded that she’s meeting with GMA execs for a possible transfer. Her contract with ABS-CBN is allegedly expiring this November (two months from now) and her trip to GMA is some sort of a fishing expedition. But someone close to Kris says she just went to GMA to grant the request of topnotch GMA broadcaster Jessica Soho to be a guest in one of her programs. "Wala naman sigurong masama roon," says our source. "It doesn’t necessarily mean lilipat na siya sa GMA dahil happy naman siya sa ABS hosting ‘Kapamilya Deal Or No Deal’ which is rating very well."

***

Real lesbians will be glad to know that the Velvet Channel brings one of the most controversial series to TV screens, "The L Word Season 3," shown Thursdays, 9:30 p.m. The show is about the lives and loves of a group of lesbian friends living in Los Angeles. The main character Jenny, is a recent graduate of the University of Chicago, who moves to Los Angeles to live with her boyfriend Tim and begins a professional writing career. Jenny’s life is turned upside down when she attends a party hosted by Tim’s next-door neighbors, Bette and Tina, a lesbian couple who are about to take the step into parenthood after being together for seven years. A brief encounter at the party with Marina, the owner of the local coffeehouse, suddenly thrusts Jenny into a whole new world that makes her question her own sexual orientation.

Playing the role of Jenny is Mia Kirshner, a Canadian actress who has appeared in a similar role as a bisexual terrorist in the hit series "24" as well as in the comedy film "Not Another Teen Movie." Playing her boyfriend Tim is Eric Mabius, now known as Daniel in "Ugly Betty." Bette is played by Jennifer Beals and Tina Kennard, by Laurel Holloman. Having been in the industry since the early ‘80s, Jennifer has appeared in over 50 films and television shows. Laurel is known for her role in "Angel" as Justine. Playing Marina, the woman who casts doubts on Jenny’s sexuality is Karina Lombard, a model and actress who was in "Legends of the Fall."

***

Rufa Mae Quinto’s Hispanic American boyfriend, Bobby Lopez, arrived last Saturday and escorted her at the premiere night of "Italy (I Trust And Love You") at SM Megamall on Sunday night. Bobby, 33, works in Hong Kong as an auditor for Mattel, a toy company. Rufa Mae admits their long-distance relationship has been going on for three months.

"I’m proud of my role in the movie as a lounge singer in a cruise ship," she says. "This is our tribute sa mga kababayan nating OFW’s na nagtatrabaho in these ocean liners. Magkaribal kami ni Jolina Magdangal dito kay Dennis Trillo. Jolens is a cabin attendant."

Is it true she’s just a support to Jolina in the movie?