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French producer: Filipinos are the best

By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Inquirer
Last updated 11:59pm (Mla time) 10/07/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Without thinking twice, French producer Henri de Lorme asserts that the Filipino cast of the QTV comedy show “Camera Café” tops his list.

De Lorme was co-producer of the five-minute French sitcom which has been spun off in at least 30 countries—including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Spain, Greece, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. He is now the franchise holder for Asia.

“I’ve been to a lot of countries [and] seen the different versions. But, for me, the best is the Pinoy cast,” De Lorme tells Inquirer Entertainment in an exclusive interview. “The Filipinos are even better than the original French cast—who are my friends!”

Filipinos are natural entertainers, explains the French TV exec. “They can do everything: sing, dance, act. It’s ingrained in the culture.”

Director Mark Meily is all praise as well for his 17-strong ensemble, which includes seasoned performers Jaime Fabregas and Joy Viado, as well as drama actresses Angel Aquino and Assunta de Rossi, the comic tandem of Bearwin Meily and Jojo Alejar and fresh talents Tado Jimenez, Patricia Ismael, LJ Reyes, Arnold Reyes and Monica Llamas.

“Show creator Alain Kappauf and Jean Yves Robin of CALT (overall franchise holder) saw our version and were so pleased with it, they want to co-produce other CALT programs for the Philippines,” says Meily.

To think that the Pinoy cast had to go through the wringer while taping the show’s first season.

Ismael recalls that it wasn’t uncommon for them to memorize 28 scripts and tape 10 episodes a day.

Alejar admits, “Memorization is my waterloo. But Direk Mark was very patient with me.” Alejar says that he had to shape up because the script required precision. “We were not allowed to ad-lib because we depended on each other for our cues.”

Time limit

“There was a timer on the set. We couldn’t go over the time limit (three and a half minutes),” De Rossi points out. “Unlike in other shows, where the punch line sometimes gets lost in the ad libs, our show is more direct to the point. It’s quick and funny.”

Aquino compares the experience to live theater. Jimenez agrees, saying that a lot of time was spent on “rehearsals.”

“We couldn’t afford to make a mistake because we’d have to start from the top if we did,” says Llamas.

Another challenge, says petite comic Ismael, was the show’s one-camera set-up. “There’s only one camera angle. Since I’m vertically challenged, sometimes only my bumbunan (top of my head) can be seen in the frame. It’s because the other actors are so tall!”

Seriously now. Is the Pinoy audience ready for the bite-size, snack entertainment offered by “Camera Café” (which debuts on QTV on Oct. 15)?

“Today’s viewers have a short attention span. Hopefully, Pinoys will give the show a chance,” Meily says.

De Lorme is optimistic, insisting that the French and Pinoys have the same quirky sense of humor.

“We have the same spirit,” De Lorme says. “The Filipino scriptwriters quickly understood the show’s concept. I think the scripts written by the Filipinos are even better than some of the French originals.”

CAMERA CAFE!!!

Start:

Oct 15, '07

COMING SOON! Abangan!

WATCH A rich blend of Pinoy and French* humor in a 5-minute comedy show!

Kakaiba siya! “Camera Café” ang tawag sa kanya. Nangyayari ang lahat ng
kabalastugan sa point of view ng coffee machine.

Saan ipapalabas? Sa QTV 11. Kelan? Simula October 15, 2007 (10 a.m.
muna, tapos replay ng 1:45 pm tapos 8 pm) pero ang regular time slot ay ito:
Monday to Friday 8 pm (new episode), 10 am and 1:45 pm (next day replay).

(teka . does that mean may saturday show? o sa monday yun? hmmm...)

Bakit daw kabago-bagong show, may replay na? Why? Coz you can’t get Enough of cam café! Kung sa meals dapat 3x a day, ang cam café dapat 3x a day din! Parang coffee break.

Atsaka…

Commercials lang ba ang may karapatang ireplay nang ilang beses sa isang araw? Bakit hindi ang CAM CAFÉ? Music video lang ba ang inuulit-ulit? Bakit hindi ang Cam Café? We need to laugh more than 3x a day!

Actually …

kasi sa sobrang iksi ng 5 minutes, baka magtimpla ka lang ng kape (o mag-CR) e ma-miss mo na ang show. But have no fear! Replays are here!

Kaya’t… WATCH CAMERA CAFE MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS, A new episode at 8pm, replays the next day at 10 am and 1:45 pm. MANOOD KA!

Not only for people with a short attention span.



*Camera Café is a comedy show that originated from France, but we’ve adapted their characters to Pinoy sensibilities. First stop-over of the Asian franchise is the Philippines.

director: Mark Meily

writers: Rey Agapay, Dennis Teodosio, Vincent de Jesus, Rody Vera, Liza Magtoto

starring: Bearwin Meily, Jojo Alejar, Christian Vasquez, Assunta de Rossi,
Jaime Fabregas, Joy Viado, Patricia Ismael, Sherilyn Reyes, Kalila Aguilos,
Noel Colet, Gerry Montes, LJ Reyes, Monica Llamas, Arnold Reyes, Vince de
Jesus, Tado, and Angel Aquino.