source: MAUREEN MARIE BELMONTE | mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Indonesia-based but Filipino-owned film distribution company Starlink Asia related the story behind singer Christian Bautista’s first starring role in the Indonesian film “A Special Symphony” and gave a glimpse of the Indonesian horror flicks they will bring here.

“While Christian was still working with his previous music label in Indonesia, 'yung isa sa kanila approached the film’s producer (Nation Pictures) and suggested ‘Bakit hindi kayo magproduce ng movie with Christian Bautista as lead cast [member]?'“ Starlink Asia’s Managing Director Shirley Tayer-Calibara began sharing to Bulletin Entertainment on how Bautista got the role.

“I think Christian, when he was offered to have this movie, got very excited. Kasi hindi lang 'yun acting para sa kanya kasi I think para sa kanya, it’s more of contributing and giving more inspiration through music,” Tayer-Calibara added.

Shot August last year, "A Special Symphony," according to its release, is an "Indonesian-produced musical light drama... inspired by a story in the newspaper, which documented an orchestra that consisted of special children studying in a school in Beijing, China. The teachers in the school experimented on teaching the children music to stimulate their minds and to boost their self-confidence.”

Being a musical person himself, Bautista easily related to the character of Jayden Valarao, a struggling Filipino musician who can’t seem to get a break in showbiz at home, prompting him to move to Jakarta, upon his Aunt’s (played by Filipino singer Maribeth behind the Indonesian hit song “Denpasar Moon”) prodding, to be with his mother (Ira Wibowo) and to try his luck overseas.

Jayden later finds himself teaching music to an unlikely bunch of kids – special children. He later on realizes that while being famous has been his lifelong dream, teaching music to special children makes him feel even better, especially after seeing how the children have changed even after teaching them just one song.

“'A Special Symphony (Simfoni Luar Biasa)" showcases music’s power to move people, and to inspire and improve a person. “Kasi 'yung focus niya very advocacy-type and inspirational. Kaya I think Filipinos should really be proud of it,” Calibara noted.

The film will be released here on Aug. 3, in Indonesia by September, then in Malaysia and Singapore after that.

On the other hand, following “Horror in Facebook (Setan Facebook),” the first Indonesian film brought by the company to the Philippines in April this year, comes Helfi Ch Kardit’s “The Empty Chair.” Set for release here on June 22, Calibara points out that the film’s cast is comprised by non-actors, a deliberate move by the filmmakers in order to highlight the story.

Shot some three years ago, “The Empty Chair (Bangku Kosong)” is based on true events that took place at a school in West Java Province, Indonesia where a school has left a chair empty for years due to occurrences of ‘Kesurupan’ or possessions and supernatural events whenever the chair is occupied.

“Hindi siya 'yung horror na basta tatakutin ka, but meron siyang story,” Calibara said. Weaving high-school love story, revenge and bits of Muslim practices in a hair-raising horror film, the story is easily accessible to all kinds of audiences, in whatever age group.

“Hindi siya 'yung napaka seryoso na pangmatanda. Kahit ako or ikaw manood pwede siya,” she said. “Also timely rin siya [kasi kakabukas lang ng school].”

Another horror movie that Starlink Asia will bring to the country on Sept. 7 is “The Promise (Yah Varda Raha).”

Completed some two years ago, the film revolves around Adit’s (Ben Joshua) promise that he made to to Annisa (Nadila Erneste) before she pursued studies abroad: “Together forever.” Eager to surprise Adit of her return, Annisa was disappointed to learn that Adit has found a new love. After her discovery, Annisa decides to trail after him.

Meanwhile, Adit and his mother move to a new house. There, they experience haunting that they never even thought possible. What started as mere whisperings at night grew worse as the ghost becomes aggressive. The terror continues and only Anit has the key to put a stop to the haunting.