IZA CALZADO is happy that her comeback vehicle after giving birth to her daughter Deia Amihan is “Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme”.
“I’ve done ‘Shake’ before so I’m happy to be part of it again,” she says.
“I also welcome working with Regal again and with our director, Richard Somes.
"Another primary consideration is they told me that I’d be required to shoot for only 6 days.
"Ayokong malayo ako nang matagal sa daughter ko, like if I’d do a teleserye. Ito, 6 days lang, so I said yes.”
She posted her baby’s photos wearing the Darna costume for Halloween and looks like she’ll also get into showbiz like her mom.
“I won’t deny na may pagka-showbiz nga siya. She loves having her pictures taken.
"Game na game siya. We brought her to the Foreign Affairs so she can have a passport and she was smiling and very friendly to everyone.
"Hindi rin sila nahirapang kunan siya ng picture.”
Does she intend to have another baby soon? “Hindi ko basta masasagot yan.
"It’s not for me to say. We can do all the planning, even with the help of science, but in the end, it’s all up to the Lord kung ibibigay Niya o hindi. So we are leaving it all up to Him.”
She’s happy that she’s playing the role of a mother in her SRR Extreme episode entitled “Glitch”.
“I play a fashion designer, a single mom with two kids, Migz Cuaderno and Jewel Milag.
"I have lost my faith in God due to some personal problems, then biglang malaking problema ang dumating sa buhay nila when a demonic entity started haunting their home.
"This is also about my character’s journey as she regains her faith in the Lord.”
How does she feel that ‘SRR Extreme’ didn’t make it as an official entry in the Metro filmfest?
“Everything happens for a reason, so siguro, baka it’s a blessing in disguise.
"Nothing to worry about naman because ‘Shake Rattle & Roll’ is a franchise that has made a strong cultural impact through the years.
"And I know a lot of its fans are waiting for the newest edition of SRR, kaya kahit kailan mo ipalabas yan, kahit hindi pa kasali sa filmfest, may built in audience na yan.
"I really believe may reason si God kung bakit naging November 29 ang playdate namin.”
Regal producer Roselle Monteverde says that after ‘SRR Extreme’ didn’t make it as an entry in filmfest, she got an offer from a big streaming company who is willing to buy it.
“Our movies during the pandemic were not shown in theaters but via streaming, like 'Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan' and 'Seasons',” she says.
“So ‘SRR Extreme’ is Regal’s first movie to be shown in cinemas and a lot of people are excited to see it on the big screen.
"Kaya nga we decided to release it in theaters kasi very encouraging ang comments ng viewers, based on the trailer pa lang.”
Roselle says “SRR Extreme” is the biggest-budgeted ever, compared to all the 15 previous other SRR films they’ve made before.
It has the biggest cast, the most expensive production values and the most spectacular, eye-popping special visual effects.
The first episode, “Glitch”, starring Iza Calzado is about a mother willing to sacrifice her life to fight a malevolent entity threatening her family.
The second episode, “Rage”, is directed by newbie Joey de Guzman and is about an alien infection that turns humans into ferocious violent beasts.
The third episode, “Mukbang”, is helmed by Jerrold Tarog and is about a group of vloggers and influencers who convene in a meeting held in a huge mansion that they didn’t know is haunted.
“As the daughter of Mother Lily Monteverde, I can say I grew up with all the ‘SRR’ movies our film company has made,” adds Roselle.
“I don’t get to watch all the movies we made, but when it comes to ‘SRR’, lahat sila, I make it a point to watch them.
"I am now proud to say that I think we have made the best ‘SRR’ movie ever.
"I am proud of all the actors and the directors as they really gave their best to make ‘SRR Extreme’ a fitting offering as Regal celebrates its 60th anniversary in local showbiz.”