Will Vivamax's first foray on the big screen save PH Cinema?

Back in May, the dynamic del Rosario siblings of Philippine entertainment — children of the legendary producer and businessman Vincent "Boss Vic" del Rosario — announced another staggering milestone for their streaming site, Vivamax. President and COO Vincent del Rosario, alongside Senior Vice President for Content Creation Valerie del Rosario of Viva Communications Inc., proudly revealed that their homegrown app had officially surpassed 11 million subscribers and continues to grow stronger.

An impressive achievement indeed, given that Vivamax only launched in January 2021, this milestone raised two questions from yours truly: First, does this unexpected development finally prove that Filipinos now prefer to consume their movies online? And more importantly, should Viva reconsider the effort they continue to pour into the struggling cinema industry, especially since they are doing more than their fair share to lure audiences back to the big screen?

Everyone in the business need not be reminded, after all, that following December 2023's successful Metro Manila Film Festival turnout — and the startling rare one-offs like "How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies" (see sidebar) — cinemas are back to being practically empty these days, no matter how big the actor or the production.

Now, whoever read my column in May would know that Valerie was quick, definitive and committed with her reply. She gave a resounding "no" and said in so many words that they will never stop trying to get people back into the cinemas where their father Vincent "Boss Vic" del Rosario's legacy all began. She specifically cited their next project for the big screen as "something very different and very risqué" and disclosed it was already in the works.

In just over a month, dear movie buffs, allow me to confirm that everything Valerie told The Manila Times Entertainment that day was true. That "something very different and very risqué" has been canned and is ready for commercial screening by July 17.

Now, different and risqué doesn't even begin to describe what the del Rosarios have decided to bring theaters nationwide in a few weeks' time. Nevertheless, it will show how they simply based this nth bid to draw crowds to the cinemas on plain logic.

Long story short, Viva will be showing an all-new Vivamax film on the big screen.

For the uninitiated, a Viva Films title and a Vivamax movie are two very different productions. The former is famed for delivering a wide range of film genres starring the industry's biggest stars, while the latter — which, remember, has become a phenomenal success worldwide amid the cinema crisis — focuses primarily on erotica.

Ergo, Viva Films' next big screen offering is an all-out sensual Vivamax drama romance featuring the very names and figures who catapulted the online entertainment site to unprecedented victory.

Titled "Unang Tikim," the film's headliner is, by all means, the Queen of Vivamax, Angeli Khang, and her de facto runner-up, Robb Guinto. Unarguably the boldest actresses among Vivamax's roster of talents, Angeli and Robb will make their big screen debut under the direction of cult director Roman Perez Jr. in one burning hot GL (Girl Love) movie.

Based on the production notes, Unang Tikim will show how the return of somebody's first love can be both exciting and confusing, especially when two women are involved.

Angeli and Robb, who were both present at the official launch of the movie's trailer, held a small media huddle to help elaborate on their respective roles as Yuna and Becca.

As the story goes, these two seductive women fall madly in love in their youth and share their first tastes of passion, thus the movie's title.

"'Unang Tikim' refers to their first kiss, first touch, and first sexual experience," the ever-confident Robb said straight to the point.

The conflict emerges when circumstances force Becca to migrate abroad with her family, painfully separating the young lovers. Years later, the story finds Yuna in a heterosexual relationship and engaged to be married, crossing paths with Becca when the latter comes home as a successful international photographer with her gorgeous present-day girlfriend in tow. All the feels, emotions and passion of the past naturally resurface for the two adults.

Asked how they felt about being cast in Vivamax's debut offering on the big screen, Robb got the ball rolling and said, "I'm so happy and overwhelmed. There's also a sense of nervousness because it looks like this is the movie Viva hopes will get people back to the cinemas."

Angeli, on the other hand, was more direct with her reply, declaring, "Actually, we were told clearly that this will be Vivamax's first commercial production, and all I could say was, 'My God, I'm finally going to see myself on the big screen!'"

While both agree that Unang Tikim is a massive break in their careers, Angeli and Robb nonetheless admitted they never thought they would be doing intimate scenes with a fellow female when the time came.

"Neither of us has done this before," Angeli added, even if the trailer repeatedly showed their lips and bodies locked, not to mention naked from top to bottom in some scenes.

They related they were grateful for their director's guidance, their respect and regard for one another as professional actors and true friends, and most importantly, a very realistic, heartfelt and meaningful storyline for getting them through their most intimate scenes.

"The first time we had to kiss, we were really awkward," recalled Angeli. "But I also won't say it got easy as we went on because this is really the most challenging movie I've had to do."

Pausing to organize her thoughts, Angeli continued, "In my past movies, all I had to do was just take my clothes off and move along with my [male] co-actor in our sex scenes, if I'm being honest. But here, the blocking and choreography were really precise, and most importantly, every intimate scene we had to do was necessary to tell the story of Yuna and Becca. Because a woman can fall in love with a woman in real life and need to express that love to one another just like any other couple."

As the movie promo begins in time for Pride Month, Robb added, "Angeli and I have many friends from the LGBTQ+ community, so we're excited to represent them and their story in the movie."

"We really hope we make them proud, and of course, Vivamax as well, because we know that so much is riding on this movie."

All that said, only time will tell if erotica will indeed save the cinema experience from becoming a medium of old as July 17 nears. Yet, before then, it is more than certain there may be a few more hurdles for Angeli, Robb and everyone at Vivamax to overcome.

Because at the end of the day, it remains to be seen whether the MTRCB and the Catholic Church, among others, will truly allow the era of "bomba films" to make a comeback, even if it is to keep theaters alive.