If plans push through, the movie superstar Nora Aunor will film in the US will be directed by Celso Ad Castillo whose son Chris Castillo, who’s been a resident of the US for a long time now, wrote the script of the film project “Do Filipinos Cry in America?”

Direk Celso informed us about the film project which should excite the numerous fans of Nora Aunor here and abroad.

“The script was written by my son Chris Castillo who is also a writer filmmaker in Hollywood. We’ve had this project for over a decade now and it was originally attached to a producer that Chris met at the Sundance Film Festival and to be shot in Napa Valley. Then it was supposed to be shot in Australia. But somehow things would just not come together. However I do believe that there is a time for everything and now is the time for this project. Just like it took over a decade to get ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ made. The good projects always take time,” Celso said.

He added: “The concept is about identity. It’s about losing identity and rediscovering it.  It’s about getting lost in the sea of humanity and finding your way back home. Much as the title suggests our own race, the story encompasses everyone. It’s not about just our story in a foreign land. It’s everyone’s story. Even some Americans in their own country feel like a foreigner, as they do not recognize their own country anymore what with the moral and financial collapse. The last thing we want to do with our story is to box it in and make it seem like that this can only happen to Filipinos in America. This is the whole world’s experience.”

The main core of the story is about a mother and her daughter who has to face the harsh realities of her mother’s secret of what she had to do to give her family a better life in America. It’s about facing up to the things that we hide in the shadows as we struggle to keep our family together. It’s about an Americanized daughter who has to find her roots in order to save her mother’s life. It’s a mystery drama.

We asked what attracted him to the project, and CelsoKid’s (one of his monikers) answer was: “It was a project borne out of love. It had been germinating in my mind ever since my kids immigrated to America and were able to make good of themselves there. But how about those that did not? How about those that left our country for a better life only to realize that the American dream is really a nightmare? That’s what I wanted to explore.”

As to how he was able to convince Nora Aunor to do this film, Celso said “My son has a standing order from me to look for Guy in America. Through actor and family friend Abe Pagtama, they were able to connect and the rest is history. Chris and Guy knew each other from the 1986 Metro Manila Film Festival where ‘Halimaw’ won Best Picture and Chris won Best Supporting Actor for “Bagets Gang.” Plus when people want to work with each other, things go smoothly.

Celso believes Nora Aunor is perfect for female lead role in “Do Filipinos Cry in America?”

“Besides being a complete actress, she is one who can truly identify the Filipinos in global cinema being the only one and true superstar of the Philippine movies in the truest sense of the word.  She plays the role of Leonora in the movie and it’s about what she was before she attained stardom in the world of make-believe.  In short, this is her true story sort of before she migrated to America.”

In the past, CelsoKid has been passionately talking about a film project entitled “Ang Lalakeng Nangarap na Maging Nora Aunor” Does Nora know about this project? We asked him.

“Of course I had to seek Nora’s permission before I embarked in ‘Ang Lalaking Nangarap na Maging Nora Aunor.’  The reason I had wanted to do the film is the same reason I am doing ‘Do Filipinos Cry in America?’ this time.  This is sort of a tribute to a great artist.  There is so much superficiality and pretensions among the industry people in this country.  It’s time to shake them up and pronounce the true artists of Philippine movies.

We also asked if he has plans to revive the project and he said “No, there are no definite plans to revive the project.  I was supposed to play the title role.  I think I am no longer young to pursue it.”

Going back of the film project “Do Filipinos Cry in America?,” Celso said they are now in the process of putting the financing together and “hopefully we can start soon. The location will be at Napa Valley in California where the grapes and rolling hills will provide a cinematic backdrop to the story. We want it to have the feel of East of Eden.”

“We are going to use a small handheld digital camera called the S1-2K which is the same camera used in ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ It is very compact which makes us very mobile. I also want to use the video motion aspect of still cameras and experiment with it. As much as I want to go with 35mm, it is just not feasible in this day and age. But this digital camera captures the organic look of film stock.”

What are his plans or hopes for this film?

CelsoKid’s bold answer: “Nothing except greatness.  I hope I can do the feat of Akira Kurosawa in “Rashomon” to be able to create awareness to global cinema that there is such a thing as Filipino movies.”

As to who are the producers behind the project, he said “Right now, everything is still under negotiation but the money will come from different sources which is how international films are made. It’s basically a conglomerate and catalyst entertainment production of Hollywood puts in the major bulk.  Miramax is releasing it.”

Another project of Celso is a TV series called “Medical Center” which he hopes to start working on by end of the month for Ausphil Entertainment Corp.  It will be broadcast over Channel 31 in Australia and on Channel 5 for local stations.

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Delirious? to lead worship at The Big Dome

“I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever,” “Did You Hear The Mountains Tremble,” “Majesty,” “Rain Down,” “Deeper,” and many more – these are just some of the songs penned and made popular by British Christian rock band Delirious? A band that has rocked the Christian music scene in the UK and all over the globe for over 10 years.

In 2008, the band announced that they will be hanging up their boots at the end of 2009 as they move forward in their individual ministries, and thus are traveling the globe one last time for their farewell tour.  Delirious? have done many things over the years, seen plenty of spotlights and looked out over vast crowds. Now, more than ever, things are personal. A little more broken, a little more fragile, a little more determined to join in the saints as they march on their knees towards healing, wholeness and at the feet of the Miracle Maker.  Millions of fans all over the world, especially in the Philippines, have been waiting for the opportunity to see them perform live, and now is the time!

Becca Music Inc. (BMI) presents “Delirious?  The Farewell Tour… Live in Manila!” tomorrow, March 17, at 8 p.m.  Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets. For more information, visit www.beccamusic.com.

This event is for the benefit of World Vision Philippines, an international Christian development organization committed to uplift the lives of less fortunate people and communities in more than 90 countries worldwide.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 16, go to Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma, US-based singer Becca Godinez, Eloisa Nicolas, Mary Grace Tan, Marie Bernabe, Charlene Tabora, Josie Bernando, Abe Florendo, Ma. Lourdes M. Estanislao, Abraham S. Gumatay, Ariel G. Antonio, US-based architect Frederick “Butch” Liwanag, Lovella Cadenas of PSBank, Arch. Felimon “Jun” A. Palafox, Jr., Fiona Claire Miranda and Paw Diaz… Belated happy b-day greeting to Remy Mercado (March 15)