Words by Bea Lizarondo Soliman
HOOQ, a video-on-demand service for emerging markets in Asia, released Ulan as the company’s first original film in the Philippines. This production was done in partnership with Viva Films, one of the country’s most esteemed production companies.Ulan, starring Nadine Lustre and Carlo Aquino, has already been swamped with praise over praise by its receiving audience. The film is about Maya, who is played by Nadine Lustre, a woman irresistibly drawn to the rain and to its significance in her life. She has the ability to interact with mythical half-horse, half-man creatures known as “tikbalang.”
Maya’s love interest in the film is Peter, who is played by Carlo Aquino. He serves as a volunteer in a non-government organization. While Maya is fascinated with the rain, Peter is fascinated with unraveling the reasons behind Maya’s fascination with the rain. Alongside Nadine and Carlo are co-stars Marco Gumabao and AJ Muhlach.
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When asked about the film, Jennifer Batty, who serves as the Chief Content Officer of HOOQ, said: “This is a significant milestone for HOOQ and HOOQ Originals. We are continuing with our promise to bring the very best content from the most promising and talented actors, scriptwriters and directors in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.”
Sheila Paul, who serves as the Country Manager of HOOQ Philippines, said: “The Philippines has an abundance of talented filmmakers that are really pushing the boundaries of the medium – in terms of storytelling, format and style. We see great promise in the market, and will continue to invest in original content in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.”
“Not only do we want to support local content creators, we want to encourage them to challenge conventions and develop engaging, high-quality Filipino content that we can all be proud of,” she further adds.
Ulan is the fourth feature film from the highly regarded Filipino director, Irene Villamor, who is known in the local film industry for her distinctive cinematic style. There is no question that this film of hers with its mystical twist on an already unconventional love story is in running to be one of the local film industry’s classics.
Irene Villamor also served as the director for the “hugot” films Camp Sawi, Sid & Aya: Not A Love Story, and Meet Me in St. Gallen.
HOOQ’s extensive library of local films and shows includes Irene Villamor’s complete list of films; also included in HOOQ’s film collection are Nadine Lustre’s films, namely Never Not Love You, This Time, Diary Ng Panget, and On the Wings of Love, as well as local blockbusters, namely Sisterakas and Beauty and the Bestie, where she played a supporting role in alongside with her on-screen and off-screen partner, James Reid.
To access HOOQ‘s list of Hollywood and Asian films, customers can simply download the HOOQ app from Apple Story or Google Play. Smart users can enjoy a 30-day free trial, Globe mobile users can enjoy a 45-day free trial, and Globe broadband users can enjoy six months of free trial.
Find out more and sign up today for a complimentary trial at www.hooq.tv.
