"Villa Estrella,” a horror flick, is Star Cinema’s grand 16th anniversary offering. It stars four of the brightest young stars of this generation – Maja Salvador, Jake Cuenca, Geoff Eigenmann and Shaina Magdayao, who all expressed excitement about the movie project.

Shared Shaina: “Siyempre excited ako sobra. Maganda at masaya ang 2009 ko at wala na akong mahihiling pa. Meron akong projects sa TV and then now fortunately napasama pa ako dito sa Star Cinema movie na ito. I’m very grateful na nakasama ko rin sina Maja, Jake, at Geoff.” On the other hand, Jake said, “Bukod sa unang pelikula ko ito sa Star Cinema, this is my first movie na ganitong kalaki ang role ko, so it’s a good feeling. I’m very blessed to have it. Feeling ko talaga sa ABS-CBN alagang-alaga ako…”

From Maja, who is a true-blue Star Cinema baby: “Sobrang kinabahan ako, siyempre iba na kasi ang pressure. Kasi ang daming movies na ng Star Cinema na sobrang blockbuster. Tapos heto kami nina Shaina, Jake at Geoff, sasabak kami sa sobrang laking pelikula. Dinadaan naming talaga sa dasal, sana maraming sumuporta sa pelikula.”

Opening tWednesday in theaters nationwide, “Villa Estrella” directed by Rico Maria Ilarde based on a script written by Joel Mercado, Adolf Alix, Jr. and JP Abellana, promises to go down cinema history as one of Star Cinema’s unforgettable horror movies, in the tradition of “Feng Shui,” “Sukob,” “Wag Kang Lilingon” and “T2.”

Why Rico Maria Ilarde is called the Horror Director

Direk Rico has done several horror flicks and he explained his penchant for this genre and why he loves scaring moviegoers out of their wits: “I look at the movies as a public nightmare and the sheer terror of waking up gives you a different kind of pleasure.”

“I grew up on suspense-thrillers,” continued Direk Rico, son of former Senator and well-loved radio and TV icon, Eddie Ilarde. “And I find them very cathartic. You come out of the two-hour experience cleansed, feeling light, even if it means being frightened.

A De La Salle College high school graduate, Direk Rico finished a Film-Video course at the California College of Arts and Craft (now simply known as California College of Arts) in Oakland, California, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his idols including Alfred Hitchcock, Brian de Palma, Steven Spielberg and Roman Polanski.

He embarked on a directing career in 1999 with the Regal Films action-horror flick “Dugo ng Birhen” starring Monsour del Rosario and Klaudia Koronel, followed in quick succession by the surreal-horror adventure “Ang Babaeng Putik” also with Klaudia Koronel and Carlos Morales; the indie film “Sa Ilalim ng Cogon,” starring Julia Clarete and Yul Servo, which competed at the Buenos Aires Rojo Sangre Fantasy Film Festival in Argentina; the seventh edition of the long-running Regal franchise “Shake, Rattle & Roll” (the “Aquarium” episode starring Ara Mina and Ogie Alcasid); and another indie film (for Cinema One), “Altar,” starring Zanjoe Marudo and Dimples Romana, which won Best Picture at the filmfests in Rotterdam and Vancouver (and later shown at the Motevideo Fantasy Film Festival).

“Villa Estrella” is another dark journey into the unknown as four friends – Jake, Shaina, Geoff and Maja – wander into a villa which is wrapped in mysteries.

Direk Rico has this to say about the movie’s lead stars.

Jake: “A pleasure to work with. He has been getting good reviews for his work in the ABS-CBN soap ‘Tayong Dalawa,’ ‘Villa Estrella’ will confirm his acting prowess.”

Shaina: “She has so much range and flexibility. Her role is very physical and she comes up to challenge.”

Geoff: “He has the pedigree and obviously he inherited not only his parents (Gina Alajar and Michael de Mesa) good looks but also their immense acting talent.”

Maja: “The film’s core is built around her character and her fans will be happy with result. Like Geoff, may pinagmanahan siya, she being a Salvador (daughter of the late Ross Rival).”

Showing starting Wednesday, July 1, “Villa Estrella” also stars John Arcilla, Ronnie Lazaro, Celine Lim, Empoy and Rubi-Rubi, with the special participation of John Estrada and Liza Lorena.

“Villa Estrella” will also have international screenings. It will be shown at the UA Stonestown Twin in San Francisco, CA on July 10-16; and at the UA Horton Plaza in San Diego on the same playdates.

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Who is Sam Riviera?

At her supposed press conference, Sam Riviera didn’t show up and entertainment writers were somewhat baffled. Because she’s supposed to promote something – in this case her album, her book and a concert. Billed as “I’ll Do Anything For You,” it is the launching concert of her book “S.A.M. (Chronicles of a Woman Who Lives and Loves”) and her album “Soul Sonatas” and it will be held on July 3 at 7 p.m. at the Music Museum.

Anyway, Sam was a no-show in her presscon (held at the iRepublik Rest., formerly Heaven N’ Eggs along Tomas Morato) because of unforeseen circumstances – she was abroad for business reasons. Her good friend, Kris Lawrence, was at the presscon however. Kris, along with Jenine Desiderio of “Miss Saigon” fame, Japanese-Filipino singer Kaji Wara and some surprise guests, are the performers in the concert.

Sam Riviera is a songwriter-author whose concept CD titled “Soul Sonatas” is released under Universal Records. She wrote all the songs in the album and they will be interpreted by Kris, Jenine and Kaji. Most of the songs were arranged by Markus Davis and Sherwin Castillo. They include “How Could You,” “Loving You,” “Birthday Song,” “Going with the Flow” and the promotional song “Would Do Anything For You” in two versions, acoustic and pop R&B.

Multi-talented, Sam is also a classically trained pianist who said that the lyrics and pop-inclination of the melodies of her songs came to her in an almost trance-like fashion. “Sometimes I would wake up and a song would just spill out of me. Another time, I was able to write five song lyrics in one night! Back then, I didn’t understand why everything happened so fast. On hindsight, I believe these songs were my catharsis,” she was quoted as saying.

As a songwriter, she can only write from a place of truth, she added. “My songs are about my life that’s why I can’t NOT be truthful. In the end, I hope it will be the same reason people would claim the song as theirs because they hear their own stories in mine. Somehow, we are all going through the same things.”

Part of her book is culled from her blog entries from February to March 2009. She said, “It may not be apparent at first but ‘S.A.M.’ is a spiritual book soaked in drama and incredible twists. But everything did happen and for good reason: I learned from it.”

By the way, part of the sales of “Soul Sonata” will go to the Deborah Foundation for Women Phils.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Wednesday, July 1, go to famous fashion designers Ben Farrales and Bobby Novenario, Baby Linao, Susana Pichay, Zeny Eugenio, Pitang Lopez-Tiongson, Chuchie Hermoso, Queenie B. Savellano, Mario Regresado, Gina Lyn Maricirs C. Orpilla, Ron Molina, Janet Torrechiva,Precious Valencia, Arch. Julio Matias, Atty. Paul Gancayco, Lek de Castro, Dr. Lorraine M. Sanchez, and Arch. Reginald T. Yaneza…