“Walang Uninvited kung hindi dahil kay Vilma Santos dahil storya niya po ito,” shares Mentorque Productions CEO Bryan Dy during the media launch of Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 official entry ‘Uninvited.
It was a grand night for the people in front and behind the camera of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024 official entry ‘Uninvited.’ The grand launch was attended by the film’s stars Vilma Santos, Aga Muhlach and Nadine Lustre with writer Dodo Dayao, director Dan Villegas, producer Bryan Dy, actors Gabby Padilla, Ron Angeles, Ketchup Eusebio, Gio Alvarez, RK Bagatsing and Mr. Tirso Cruz III.
“Actually sa kanya po nanggaling ang storya. We’ve been trying to pitch, of course, bilang bagong producer, pangarap (makatrabaho) siyempre ang isang Vilma Santos. Ilang beses kami nagpi-pitch, sabi ko sa kanya, ‘tigilan na natin ‘to, anong gusto mong gawin?’ And then, madami po siyang binigay na parang peg,” Mr. Bryan Dy continues.
“If I may add, kasi ‘yung Uninvited, eto ‘yung dream story ko talaga. Marami akong, kung titignan ninyo ang interviews ko noong araw, ‘Vi kung magdi-direk ka, ano ‘yung gusto mong gawin?’ Matagal ko nang sinasabi na gusto kong gumawa ng isang pelikula na nangyari lang ng 24 hours, na mag-uumpisa siyang maganda, matatapos siyang dilapidated. ‘Yun ang gusto ko, hindi ko alam ang gitna. Paano mangyayari ‘yun? Sila direk (Dan) and si Dodo Dayao (writer) ang naglagay ng storya sa gitna hanggang nabuo ang Uninvited,” Ms. Vilma Santos adds.
“Dream movie ko ito eh. It’s more of ‘yung inspiration kasi nung nag-last meeting kami bago ma-approve that we will be doing this movie, na-inspire na ako agad. It’s really nice to work when you are inspired kasi you are looking forward kasi maganda ‘to, macha-challenge ako dito, dun nanggagaling ang inspirasyon ko. And if I may, malaking karangalan ko ang makasama ang team na ito,” Ms. Vilma on doing Uninvited.
From When I Met You in Tokyo to Uninvited
“When we were planning and conceptualizing the story of this movie, wala sa plano isali sa MMFF. Ang usapan lang namin is to really make a good movie that we really can be proud of. Pero biglang sinwerte naman at naipasok sa MMFF at natanggap,” Ms. Vilma on Uninvited making it to MMFF after starring in another movie MMFF last year.
Vilma Santos on choosing Uninvited to challenge her
“Ang hirap na maghanap ng role na babagay sa edad ko at ‘yung role that will challenge me. Kasi sa more than 62 years in the industry, parang pakiramdam ko ang dami ko na ding nagawang iba’t ibang klaseng character and ‘yung iba, paulit ulit na. So, etong status ko ngayon, parang sabi ko, ‘I don’t want to do a movie para sabihin nila na meron lang akong ginawang pelikula, kung meron man akong gagawing pelikula, I will make sure na at this point of my career, my age, I will make sure that I will do a movie that can still challenge me.’ At etong Uninvited at ‘yung role ko, palagay ko merong kahit papaano na challenge ako,” Ms. Vilma shares on accepting acting projects at her age.
Official Synopsis
Eva Candelaria (Vilma Santos) has been waiting for this day for the last ten years—the birthday party of Guilly Vega (Aga Muhlach), the billionaire who brutally murdered her only daughter a decade ago and escaped justice.
Disguised as a socialite, Eva attends the opulent event with a single goal: revenge. As the night unfolds, she carefully stalks each person involved in her daughter’s murder, inching closer to her ultimate target. But who is the true villain of her story? Is it Guilly or his daughter Nicole (Nadine Lustre)? Unarmed and without a concrete plan, Eva must make life-or-death choices as her options dwindle. Will she fulfill her mission, or will the night claim her life instead?
‘Uninvited’ opens in Philippine cinemas on December 25, 2024 as an official entry to the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival from Mentorque Productions and Project 8 Projects, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Watch our coverage of the Uninvited Media Launch below: