Direk Romm to direct Nora Aunor and Maricel Soriano?

There's no stopping for Direk Romm Burlat. After winning back-to-back international awards and getting two shows on TV, rumors have it that he is directing the two female legends, Superstar Nora Aunor and Diamond Star Maricel Soriano in his upcoming movies. We tried to find time so Direk Romm can squeeze in a time for the interview.

"Direk Romm, is it true that you are directing the Superstar and the Diamond Star?" With an impish smile, he replied, "It is a tall order but a dream come true to direct two of the acting giants in the Philippine movie industry." I know the bashers who are all over the archipelago will raise collective eyebrows. Sabihin nila, anong karapatan ng isang Romm Burlat to direct Nora Aunor and Maricel Soriano? We are not talking of "karapatan", whoever gets the chance to do it with a producer who trust your capabilities, then the project must go on.  It doesn't have to be the great filmmakers Joel Lamangan, Chito Rono, Binibining Joyce Bernal, Olivia Lamasan, Joey Reyes or Cathy Garcia-Molina. They may be busy with other projects because they are already up there. So chances are, first-time producers look for other possibilities but hey, I am going further. The truth is I was scheduled to direct both of them in separate projects last year. I already have talked with Ate Guy on the phone and she was amenable of directing her. She was welcoming my entry as one of her directors. Nevertheless, with some revisions of the script, the entire story has changed and the entire cast also changed. Eventually, the project was given also to another director. In the case of Marya, I talked to her manager last year for a film project in Cebu. Marya was fine with adjusting her TF as long as she likes the story like her film Inang Yaya. The script was not finished in due time and she has to start taping the " The General's Daughter" so the Cebu producer had another very good actress Sylvia Sanchez as replacement. I had talked to Jojo (Sylvia) about the project quite a few times. She was also a good choice for the role. But there were several changes in the production which I wasn't in favor of so it ended up with someone else doing the project. I have no news anymore what transpired after that."

"Di ka ba nanghihinayang sa projects?'', we asked. He retorted, "I always believe na kung para sayo talaga ang isang bagay, mapupunta yon sayo no matter what. But if it was not meant to be, then it won't land on your lap. But the good news is, one producer already had an initial meeting with me last year and may have a follow up meeting after the lifting of the community quarantine. The working title of the movie is "That Silver Lining" which will have Nora Aunor, Kim Chiu, Albert Martinez and Ron Macapagal in the leads. It has a very good story concept. I am optimistic the project will push through. Moreover, we may be filming the true-to-life story of "Berta", the alleged gay teacher who fell in love with a drug dependent and now roams the streets of Cebu not in his normal state of mind. It will have me on the lead with the Diamond Star hopefully. Lahat ito on the planning stage pa naman, so we'll never know kung anong kahihinatnan. It is always God who will decide on everything. He gives us kung anong dapat para sa atin. He knows better than us. Basta ako trabaho lang ng trabaho, love my work and help other artists, veterans or newbies para mabibigyan sila ng projects. For me, what God will give me, I will give it back to those people who really need it. Mas maganda yong marami kang matutulugan. Mas masaya ka pag maraming happy dahil sayo."

Direk Romm is getting ready to resume shoots of his two full-length movies, "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and "And I Loved Her". He is also doing three shorts, "Venus In My Mind", "Ban-Uk" and " Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-pirasong Pangarap". On top of these, he is preparing for his two television shows on The Manila Times TV: a celebrity talk show billed "Of Critics and Critiques" and a variety show for the teens named "It's Entertainment".

Direk Romm goes on a back-to-back show on television

After the lifting of the Community Quarantine, multi-awarded director/actor, Romm Burlat will be back with a vengeance. He is not only scheduled to continue shooting the scenes of his two movies, "And I Loved Her" and "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and starting with other films like "Ban-Uk", "Venus In My Mind" and "Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-Pirasong Pangarap", he is also scheduled to go back to TV hosting with two shows: a talk show billed "Of Critics & Critiques" and a variety show named "It's Entertainment", both on The Manila Times TV.

" Of Critics & Critiques" is a show which focuses on review of Hollywood and local films, Every episode, Burlat will have a Filipino Celebrity guesting live in the studio and a Foreign Celebrity guest on a phone patch. It is the first time on local TV to have a show which deals on critics who critiques the movies currently showing. On the other hand, "It's Entertainment" is  a variety show for the talented Filipino teens age 13-19. Direk Romm assured us that this is not identical to a successful show in previous decade billed "That's Entertainment". Burlat quipped, "It may be similar in its title and the goal of recognizing talented youth but in concept and format, it's way different from the show of the great Star Maker, Kuya Germs."

It can be recalled that last year, Direk Romm won Best TV Talk Show Host in the 1st Southeast Asia International Excellence Awards  for his travel show on TV, " Romm Around The World".

Aptly named " Jack of All Trades", Burlat is not only a director, an actor, a TV Host but also a writer, talent manager and a resource speaker. He just had a back-to-back win in international film awards as Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in Los Angeles, California and Italy respectively. Last year, he won Best Director in a film festival in India.

Direk Romm Burlat: The next German "Kuya Germs" Moreno?

After the very successful variety show program, "That's Entertainment" for the then young celebrity wannabes, no other variety show followed which showcases talents of the younger generation and the venue to discover new actors of Philippine movies. The show which took television by storm was conceptualized by the terrific star maker, German Moreno, popularly known as "Kuya Germs".  He initially wanted teenage celebrity siblings to star in the show and name it as Brothers and Sisters. But after watching the American film, "That's Entertainment", Moreno decided to change the title of the show. Premiering on January 6, 1986 on GMA Network, the show featured sixteen teenagers. The show later joined the network's Saturday afternoon line-up. The show first aired from the GMA Building in EDSA and eventually moved to Broadway Centrum in 1987 to accommodate a wider studio audience. (Source: Wikipedia). This variety produced popular loveteams of  Sheryl Cruz-Romnick Sarmenta, Manilyn Reynes-Janno and Tina Paner- Cris Villanueva. " "That's Entertainment" also made stars out of Billy  Crawford, Lea Salonga, Ian Veneracion, Gladys Reyes, Judy Ann Santos, Piolo Pascual, Sunshine Cruz among others.

After more than two decades, parents of talented teenagers clamor for a variety show of that type on television to showcase their children's talents hopeful that it will be the venue for their kids to be discovered. With the agreement on the new TV station, The Manila Times TV with multi-awarded actor/director Romm Burlat, soon a new show will be launched on TV billed "It's Entertainment".

When asked if this is similar to Kuya Germ's show, Burlat said, "It is not." It sounds the same and we have a similar goal to discover talents. Nevertheless, the format and concept are way too different." We followed it up with another question. " Are you the next Kuya Germs Direk Romm ? Are you not afraid of bashers if you will be compared to the great Star Maker?". Smiling, the amiable director answered. " Kuya Germs is already an institution, You can not even compare him with anyone. He remains to be an idol not only to me but to everyone. Critics are always there. You may be good or not in a certain task, there will always be people who won't like you. But this kind of people just deserve to be ignored. But they will make me even stronger to pursue my dream of becoming a variety show host on TV."  I may be nothing compared to an institution but I will try my best to give a very entertaining show after the Covid scare."

We threw him another question if this show won't clash with his talk show, Direk Romm just quipped, "It won't as they are aired on different days and they have different concepts".

Direk Romm Burlat who just won back-to-back international awards as Best Actor at Actors Awards in Los Angeles, California and Best Supporting Actor at the Oniros Film Awards in Italy would be very busy this year and next. After the lifting of the Community Quarantine, he will be shooting the remaining scenes of "And I Loved Her" and "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and  starting with the films, "Ban-Uk, Venus in My Mind" and "Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-Pirasong Pangarap" plus one commercial.

Good Luck to this Jack of All Trades!

Direk Romm Burlat wins Best Actor in California,USA and Best Supporting Actor in Italy

Multi-awarded director/producer/actor and socio-civic influencer, Romm Burlat, won two international awards recently. He won Best Supporting Actor in the movie, "Attention Grabbing (Agaw Pansin)" in the prestigious Oniros Film Awards in Italy. He bested 52 semi-finalists for this category. In just a matter of three days, Burlat won another international award. This time, Best Actor in a Horror for his outstanding performance in the full length film, "Covered Candor (Tutop)" in the Actors Awards in Los Angeles, California. In both films, Burlat played mad characters. In "Attention Grabbing", Direk Romm is a mentally-deranged man who raped a woman she used to love and gave him a son. In "Covered Candor", he portrays a crazy father who kills ills in the society like prostitutes and snatchers to feed a cannibal son.

When asked how did he prepare for these characters, Direk Romm jokingly said, "Nothing. In real life, I am "baliw" so it was not difficult to play these challenging characters". He then guffawed. "In Attention Grabbing, I was also the director but I gave the directorial job of Covered Candor to the horror director, Marvin Gabas, since it's his forte. Aside from that, I want to concentrate on my role which demanded gamut of emotions from me". Burlat continued, "These two international awards are fitting gifts for my birthday which was celebrated a week before I received these awards."  Burlat also got nominated as Best Actor  in the Gawad Pelikula Filipinas Awards where is in competition with more established actors, Dingdong Dantes, Ogie Alcasid, Dennis Trillo, Paolo Contis, Raymond Bagatsing and Louise Abuel.

It can be recalled that last year, Burlat won Best Director at the 16th We Care International Film Festival in New Delhi, India which prompted the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to honor him with a Film Ambassador recognition early this year. Next year, expect Direk Romm to be back as FDCP honoree for these two new international awards.

To date, Direk Romm Burlat has 8 Best Director awards, 2 Best Actor awards, 2 Best Supporting awards, 11 international recognition, 3 international awards in films and 8 other international awards. He also won last year as Best TV Talk Show Host and Best Talent Manager in 2018.

Burlat is scheduled to continue shooting, "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and "And I Loved Her" and starts shooting "Ban-Uk", "Venus in My Mind", Nang Pinulot Ang Pira-pirasong Pangarap" and "Bata Pa Si Abel" after the lifting of the Community Quarantine.

Bidaman Ron Macapagal wins Best Actor Honorable Mention at the Oniros Film Awards in Italy

Multi-talented and well-rounded Bidaman Ron Macapagal won Best Actor

Honorable Mention at the prestigious Oniros Film Awards in Italy for his sterling performance in the suspense thriller, "Cuckoo". Playing the role of Leandro, he is a simple young man who witnessed the killing of his mother when he was in his adolescence. This paved the way to him becoming crazy. "Cuckoo" which is about a man's descent to madness was shortlisted at the Cine Filipino and was also a finalist at the Festival Internacional de Cinema da Figueria da Foz in Portugal. His first movie made in 2017, "Cuckoo" gave Macapagal an earlier Best Actor award in the 30th Asia-Pacific Excellence Awards in films in 2018.

At 22, this award is Bidaman Ron's 7th Best Actor award following his wins for the films "Mammangi", "Beki't Ako", "Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo". To date, Macapagal has done more than 10 films, both short and mainstream movies. Most of his films were directed by his manager, Direk Romm Burlat. Macapagal was also a recipient of last year's "Outstanding Men and Women of the Philippines."

After the lifting of the Community Quarantine, Macapagal is scheduled to finish his scenes in the full length movies, "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula" and "And I Loved Her". After ABS-CBN gets its provisionary franchise, Macapagal will be back on "It's Showtime" and "It's Showtime Online".

Congratulations Bidaman Ron Macapagal!

Direk Romm Burlat wins Best Supporting Actor at the Oniros Film Awards in Italy

Direk Romm Burlat won Best Supporting Actor in the Oniros Film Awards in Italy. He bested other performances in a support role as a mentally-deranged father in the suspense thriller, "Attention Grabbing". It's local title is Agaw Pansin. Burlat, who is also the director of the film earlier won Best Director at the 4th Lutas Film Festival. Attention Grabbing is Burlat's 2nd international award. It can be recalled that last year, he won Best Director in the 16th We Care International Film Festival  for the movie, "Father of Your Son (Ama Ka Ng Anak Mo)" in New Delhi, India.

At the Oniros Film Awards,  Burlat's ROMMantic Entertainment Productions won Best Horror Film for his movie, "Covered Candor( Tutop)" and a Best Supporting Actress award for Faye Tangonan. His other entry, "Cuckoo" gave Bidaman Ron Macapagal a Best Actor Honorable Mention award and the movie was finalist for Best Film.

"It was unexpected. There were like 52 entries and I was lucky enough to be nominated and eventually won the award. The movie which was made almost four years ago was my first film. It has already received quite a number of awards in other festivals", Burlat quipped. Of course, I am so happy with this new award. On May 10th, the Actors Awards in Los Angeles. California had me nominated as Best Actor for another film, "Covered Candor." I don't have any expectation. Just hope that I may get the award but if not, I will still be very happy since I got nominated along with other lead actors from other countries."

After the pandemic, Direk Romm will be filming quite a number of films. To wit, we have "And I Loved Her", "Bakit Nasa Huli Ang Simula",  'Surrogate", "No More Maybes", "Ban-Uk", "Venus In My Mind" among others.