Follow on Google News News By Tag * Pokwang * A Mother's Story * Rayver Cruz * Tfc * Abs-cbn * Star Cinema * Xyriel * Lazatin * Beth Tamayo * Ofw * Remittance * Movie * More Tags... Industry News News By Location Country(s) Industry News
Follow on Google News | TFC marks debut into international film production with U.S. premiere of “A Mother’s Story”Film’s lead Pokwang graces first public screenings in Los Angeles
By: Nerissa M. Fernandez Headlined by Pokwang, one the country's leading comedy sensations in her first dramatic role, A Mother's Story had its premiere showing at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on November 6 before enthusiastic crowds in two screenings. Some 100 TFC subscribers, who were selected randomly, got a chance to have their pictures taken with the film's lead star, Pokwang, at the premiere's venue. Filipino movie enthusiasts around the world are also getting their chance to witness Pokwang's transformation from a comic host to a dramatic actress when A Mother's Story was shown starting November 11 in major cities worldwide including Calgary, London, Madrid and Milan. “We at TFC are overseas Filipinos ourselves so we live and breathe in the world our kababayans abroad are in. Thus, it’s not enough to tell stories of Filipinos that come from the homeland through TV programs and movies, but also share those that come from us who have lived outside of it,” said Kerwin Du, TFC North America’s head of theatricals. Du continued: “Film is one of the essential purveyors of narratives. The journey of the overseas Filipino is among the finest and richest sources of compelling stories that need to be told to the world. Hence, TFC’s foray into film production is a natural and relevant progression of our mission to serve Filipinos wherever they may be.” A Mother's Story gives life to the story of Medy, played by Pokwang, a make-up artist who dares to make a life in the United States as an illegal immigrant in exchange for saving the life of her infant daughter. The film focuses on the everyday sacrifices that millions of Filipino parents make as they leave their homes to find jobs overseas. “For TFC's initial offering, we dedicate A Mother's Story to all the Filipino parents and children who continue to live and love apart,” explained John-D J. Lazatin, the director of A Mother's Story. Lazatin embarked on the journey of helming TFC's very first production as a way to honor his own mother. “She was a widow who also came to America and sought the American Dream to secure the future of her kids,” shared Lazatin as he added that the film, “is very personal to me, having lost my mother during the post-production stages of the movie.” Beyond the universal themes of a parent's love and sacrifice, A Mother's Story also showcases both the travails and triumphs of illegal immigrant Filipinos. Juxtaposed with their humiliation as they suffer from physical and emotional abuse from employers as well as the betrayal they experience from fellow kababayans are the kindness of strangers and the value of treating every human being with decency. In returning to the Philippines, Medy is also forced to deal with the resentment of her oldest son King, who felt that his mother abandoned him seven years ago, while her seven-year old daughter Queenie treats her with innocent wonder. TFC chose host and comedienne Pokwang to play Medy because her own personal life epitomizes the struggles of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). “She does not just know it, she has lived it. She has a full grasp of what sacrifice means to the overseas Pinoy,” Lazatin pointed out. Lazatin praised Pokwang for her “authentic” Joining Pokwang are Nonie Buencamino, Daria Ramirez, Rayver Cruz, Ana Capri, Beth Tamayo and child sensation Xyriel Manabat. Screenplay is by Senedy Que, who also wrote the award-winning film, "In My Life". A Mother's Story is currently shown across the U.S. in the following theaters and on the following dates: SAN FRANCISCO November 11-24, 2011 Century San Francisco Centre 845 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 SF-UNION CITY November 11-24, 2011 Century 25 32100 Union Landing, Union City, CA 94587 SF BAY - MILPITAS November 11-24, 2011 Century Great Mall 1010 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035 SF BAY - SACRAMENTO Century Laguna 16 9349 Big Horn Blvd., Elk Grove, CA 95758 CHICAGO Pickwick Theatre 5 South Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, IL 60068 FLORIDA - JACKSONVILLE November 11-17, 2011 Cinemark Tinseltown 4535 Southside Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32216 HAWAII November 11-24, 2011 Pearlridge West Theatres 98 - 1005 Moanalua Road, Aiea, HI 96701 LAS VEGAS November 11-24, 2011 Regal Village Square Stadium 9400 W Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89058 NEW JERSEY - BERGENFIELD November 11-24, 2011 Clearview Bergenfield Cinemas 58 South Washington Ave., Bergenfield, NJ 07621 NEW JERSEY - CLIFTON November 11-24, 2011 Clearview Allwood Theatre 96 Market Street, Clifton, NJ 07012 NEW JERSEY- HOBOKEN November 11-24, 2011 Clearview Hoboken Cinemas 409 14th Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 SAN DIEGO November 11-24, 2011 CUA Horton Plaza 475 Horton Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 SEATTLE November 11-24, 2011 Parkway Plaza Stadium 12 5910 South 180th Street, Tukwila, WA 98188 TEXAS - DALLAS November 11-24, 2011 Cinemark (The Legacy) 7201 Central Expressway Suite #100, Plano, TX 75025 TEXAS – HOUSTON November 11-24, 2011 Tinseltown USA 12920 NW Freeway, Houston, TX 77040 TEXAS – MISSION Nov 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 (Saturdays & Sundays) Border Theater 905 N. Conway Ave., Mission, TX 78572 Showtimes: 1:00pm & 3:30pm VIRGINIA November 11-24, 2011 Cinemark 18 880 North Military Hwy Norfolk, VA 23502 For more information on the film's US and Canada screenings, please visit http://www.abs- For high-resolution images of the cast and the film's promotional pictures, please visit http://www.4shared.com/ # # # About ABS-CBN International ABS-CBN International was created over 15 years ago to be of service to all Filipinos. With the launch of The Filipino Channel (TFC), the company became the first and most successful Filipino content distribution company in the U.S. The company offers telecommunication, retail, theatricals, money remittance and cargo services, online audio and video streaming, IPTV, On Demand, along with philanthropic support for Filipinos and the communities they now call home. Based in Redwood City, CA, ABS-CBN International is a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation, the Philippines’ End
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
