INDEPENDENT film producer Baby Go does not get tired of churning out movies pandemic season or not. In 2021, she produced a film, Avenida, which is slated to be shown this month. The project stars Allen Dizon with director Louie Ignacio at the helm

Baby attests her films are not the big budgeted ones. Since she ventured into film production in 2013, she has wrapped up 17 films to date. “Hindi ako tumitigil mag produce dahil nababawi ko naman ang puhunan ko,” she disclosed. “Hindi malaki pero bumabalik naman.”

After her husband died in 2021, Baby readily resorted to producing films. Her latest project, Avenida, has been fielded in three international film festivals abroad. Baby also plans to come out with a film with veteran singer Pilita Corrales. Dream projects for her are films with Vilma Santos and Nora Aunor.

“Natutuwa ako dahil ang mga pino-produce ko, hindi nai-iwanan,” Baby explained. “Wala din akong movie na naka-tengga. Lahat binibili abroad. Abangan na lang natin ang pagsanog ulit ng BG Productions.”

Baby stopped producing for a while after her husband got sick and eventually passed on in 2021. She produced Avenida after the death of her husband. She also plans to bankroll her life story.

“Tutuluyin ko ‘yan one day,” she said. “Nasa pipeline na ‘yan.” “Wala pa akong material pero naka line up na ‘yan. Nag comeback na si Vilma with her Till I Met You in Tokyo where she won best actress. We can negotiate na a project with her.”

Baby is ready to go full blast in film production this year. “Marami akong planomg gawin dahil gusto kong bumalik ang sigla ng showbiz,” she said. “Ayoko munang sabohim lahat ng plano ko. Mas maganda ‘yung nangyari na.”

Horror comedy opens for Viva in 2024

THE horror-comedy “My Zom-Babe,” starring Empoy Marquez and Kim Molina will be Viva Films’ year opener for the big screen this 2024.

The film was the first project pitched by writer-director Bobby Bonifacio for Viva back in 2018.

“May mga inayos sa material at ng mag-uumpisa na sana kaming mag-shoot, pumalo naman ang pandemic,” recalled direk Bobby. “Blessing in disguise pa rin sa amin dahil nai-ayos pa namin ang script to fit real situations. Finally after almost five years, maipapalabas na namin ang pelikula.”

“My Zom-Babe” went through a lot of challenges after Empoy was tapped to be the lead in the film. “Nang i-present ko ang concept ng ‘My Zom-Babe’sa Viva before, pang Empoy talaga ang male character,” said direk Bobby.

“Kaya masaya ako dahil ng i-pitch ko sa Viva ang project, nag-agree agad sila. Laking pasasalamat ko na tinanggap ni Empoy ang project.”

Direk Bobby is undoubtedly interested to really bring back zombies to the big screen. He is also interested in the horror genre and he is willing to cross-over in different genres like horror-drama with romance.

“My Zom-Babe” is the first big screen partnership of Empoy and Kim.

“Finally, ng sinabi na si Kim ang female lead, natuwa ako dahil alam kong madami pang maibibigay si Kim bilang kapareha ni Empoy,” shared Direk Bobby. “Naging excited kami. Madaming additional inputs si Kim para mapaganda pa ang kwento.”

For the first time, Kim is not paired in “My Zom-Babe” with her real-andreel life partner, Jerald Napoles.

“It’s refreshing, of course, to have a new partner for me,” said Kim. “Friends talaga si Empoy at si Je (Jerald). I’m a fan of Empoy. Very exciting for me to work with him. He brings something different to the table.

“Excited din si Je for Empoy and I. He’s very supportive about this project. Working with a different leading man, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Noong pandemic, nasanay ako na si Je palagi ang leading man ko. Iba na ngayon.”

Although it is the first time for Empoy and Kim to be paired on the big screen in “My Zom-Babe,” they earlier worked together in the primetime teleserye, “Ang Probinsyano,” where they played partners.

The horror-comedy, “My Zom-Babe” is Viva’s year-opener to be screened January 8.

Also starring are comedian Yanyan de Jesus, with Billy Villeta, Jao Mapa, Suzette Ranillo, Liz Alindogan, Andrea del Rosario, Andrew Muhlach, Nico Locco, Garry Lim, Isadora and Marnie Lapus. By Leah C. Salterio