MANILA, Philippines — Regal Entertainment’s 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “My Future You,” starring the up-and-coming loveteam Seth Fedelin and Francine Diaz, is one of the last films greenlit by the late Regal matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde before her passing in August.
That’s why Regal CEO Roselle Monteverde couldn’t help but get emotional as they entered the thick of promotions for the film.
The romance-family drama will feature a loving tribute to the late movie producer and to her husband as well, Father Remy, as he was fondly called in the showbiz industry. He also passed away this year, just barely a week before Mother Lily’s death.
“So, in the last part of the movie, we put something na… when I first watched yung part na ‘yun, sobrang naiyak talaga ako,” Roselle said.
“I just want a loving memory of my parents. Dun pa lang sa names, naiyak na ako… this is one of the last three films that she (Mother Lily) approved.”
Asked what she missed most about her parents, given that this is the first Christmas she will be celebrating without both of them, Roselle further said in the interview: “Lahat. Everything. Kasi, you know, of course, they are your parents. You cannot be who you are if you’re without them, di ba?”
She’s especially reminded of Mother Lily, who in the past would be very hands-on and busy during the MMFF season.
“My mom was very hands-on, di ba? Parang morning pa lang, tatawag na ‘yan. Tapos she would, you know, say, ‘wag mong kalimutan. Hindi siya yung nag-i-instruct ng what to do. During premiere night, ang pinapaalala niya, ‘O, si ganyan or ‘wag mong kalimutan si ganun.’ She would mention a lot of names, (ito) ang mga nire-remind niya, not really the logistics.”
Asked if she ever feels pressured to be at par with Mother Lily, Roselle said, “No, I cannot be at par with my mom. She’s different, you know? She founded Regal. And I think we could all say that she’s really an icon in the industry. Someone told me — a politician even told me when I received an award recently — ‘Your mom is a legend. You cannot be like her.’ And then I said, ‘Yes, I know.’”
But one of the things she learned from her mom is “being hands-on and truthful in everything that you do.”
“Just be sincere and have the passion,” she continued. “Kasi pag may ganyan ka, parang hindi ka naman napapagod to work. And that’s what keeps you grounded, right? You need to know, kasi siya yung nauuna sa balita. Because her routine every morning was to call everyone. Isa-isa tatawagan talaga, walang tigil that’s why ang bilis niya makakuha ng balita.”
And this is also what she tries to teach her son Keith, now Regal EVP. “As far as the business aspect of it, alam naman niya how to run. The thing is, you know, getting to know people in the industry. Because more or less, nandun yung puso niya. Since he was a kid, he was with Mother. Nakita na niya a lot of people. Although some of the new people, hindi na niya masyado. But nag-effort naman siya talaga.”
‘My Future You’ stars the up-and-coming loveteam of Seth Fedelin and Francine Diaz.
Meanwhile, “My Future You” by Crisanto Aquino is the big-screen debut of the FranSeth loveteam. According to the synopsis, a strange comet connects two timelines that are 15 years apart, making it possible for Karen (Francine) and Lex (Seth) to meet via a dating app. But as they find out that they exist in different years, they try to change the past for a better future for both of them. Direk Crisanto previously said that more than romance, the film explores family matters, saying it’s “50 percent kilig while the other 50 percent is about family.”
Roselle said of the film’s lead stars, “Ang galing nila. (In terms of promo), they both know what they’re doing. I can see their sincerity. It’s not just because they want the movie to make it, but andun yung natural (attitude) nila to mingle. They really have the charisma. Maganda rin yung dinaanan nila. Although this is their first movie together, they’ve done promos and marketing before. They’ve also done series.”
She’s not disheartened that the number of cinemas confirmed is less than they were hoping for.
“Hindi masyadong marami. I think we have about 40-something lang, but I know that’s the way it is,” she said.
“In Metro Manila kasi may mga bunutan. But when it comes to the provinces, since I know there are cinemas in the provinces na isang branch tatlo or apat lang kaya talagang mahirap. And plus, you know, there are 10 movies.
“So, we are trying our best to increase the number of cinemas.”
Roselle also teased what to expect from Regal Entertainment in 2025, sharing, “We’re working on a series. We’re working on two. Plus, we’re already thinking of (what to submit to the) festival for next year. Siguro total of about 45 projects (next year).”
They are also planning a documentary and a movie about the life of Mother Lily.
Roselle, who currently chairs the producers’ guild, said that the group is now focusing on bringing Philippine cinema to the global market.
“I really don’t know how (yet), but it’s spearheaded by our First Lady,” she said, adding that they were also grateful for the Konsyerto sa Palasyo tribute to Philippine cinema held on Sunday because “kung walang ganitong events, parang hindi papansinin ng iba. It adds significance to the industry.”
Told that some artists skipped the event led by President Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos due to political affiliations during the last presidential elections, she said, “Oo. Pero para sa amin, wala naman itong kinalaman sa political party. Ang importante, makatulong sa industry,” Roselle said.
Vice Ganda and Sharon Cuneta were among the big stars spotted at the event.
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