MORE than just its unusual story about a lobo (werewolf) and a vampire falling in love intensely with each other and getting married eventually, what makes the series Imortal, aired daily on ABS-CBN unique and highly interesting?
It’s because of the action and fight scenes not just between lead stars John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin, who naturally had clashes bago sila nagkaibigan, kung hindi among their fellow lobo and vampires too.
The action, not to say, fight scenes, are so well-choreographed that as a regular viewer of Imortal (like us), you wonder who is behind it all.
Well, now it can be said that no less than Lester Pimentel, wushu expert, is the action director of Imortal. The series’ regular directors, of course, are Jerry Sineneng and Richard Gomez, who both agree na malaking factor ang mga fight scenes sa Imortal, para mapanatili nito ang high ratings.
In the latest survey, kasama ang Imortal among the top five na high ratings shows not just in Metro Manila but nationwide.
So, kumusta ba sa kanilang mga stunts sina John Lloyd at Angel?
“You will be surprised, pero they are not just cooperative, kung hindi madali ring turuan.
“Sa tingin ko, they enjoy and anticipate their fight scenes. Isama na natin diyan ang ibang members ng cast.
“After every action scene, pinanonood naming lahat sa monitor how they delivered. And the more breathtaking the eksena is, the more they approved it,” ani Lester.
* * *
Lester came into the showbiz scene well-prepared for his job. A Dela Salle University Philosophy graduate, it was his Bicolano father (they hail from Naga City), na nagbigay sa kanya ng ideya to get into wushu. His dad was martial arts enthusiast.
The Philippine Sports Commission along with 12 other wushu enthusiasts sent him to China para mag-train ng nabang-git na sport.
His stint as action director started nu’ng Star Cinema assigned him na pangasiwaan ang mga action scenes ni Victor Neri sa Ex-Con. Soon, other action assignments, wika nga, came his way kabilang na ang mga tv series na Ang Panday, Palos at Lastikman.
Lester says ang decision niya to direct action scenes sa TV at pelikula is his way para kahit papaano ay maipadama o maituro niya sa kanyang kapwa Pilipino ang itinuturing na part of Chinese culture.
* * *
Nawala daw ang passport ni Kim Chiu, kaya ’di daw ito nakaalis kasama ng first batch ng Star Magic talents na magku-concert abroad.
Tsismis ito sa amin ng isang reliable source who immediately also said na nakuha naman din agad ang nabanggit na passport ni Kim. Kaya lang, sa basurahan na ng airport.
Kim finally will start work on her tv series Binondo Girl when she comes back.
Hopefully, ang magiging leading man niya ay si Jolo.
* * *
Nice naman of Cesar Montano for finally giving his blessings to his son Diego (Loyzaga), sa desisyon nitong pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at pag-aartista.
Actually, kung si Cesar ang masusunod, hindi muna siya papag-artistahin ang anak, since he would have wanted him na magtapos muna ng kurso bago mag-artista. Na obviously, Diego’s mom, former actress Teresa Loyzaga, didn’t agree, too.
In fact, she came home from Australia, where she new resides, para tulungan si Diego na pirmahan ang contract nito with Star Magic.
Diego is now with the cast of the high rating series Mara Clara at pumapel bilang suitor ni Kathryn Bernardo who plays Mara.
Si Julia Montes naman ang gumaganap bilang Clara.