“Echorsis”, an out-of-the-box brand of comedy movie opens on April 13

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The most awaited horror-comedy film of 2016 “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good And Evil”  held a special screening at the Cinema 11, SM North EDSA, April 3, 2016. "Echorsis" starring John Lapus, Kean Cipriano, and Alex Medina.

It has been the talk of the town even weeks prior to its April 13 opening in cinemas nationwide, "Echorsis" official trailer has so far gone viral and received over four million views.

An appeal to moviegoers: Support “Echorsis” by watching it on April 13, its opening day

Just like any independently produced Filipino film, “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good And Evil” by critically acclaimed director Lemuel Lorca is at risk of being pulled out of movie houses if it doesn’t perform well on its first day. 

Alex Medina

Thus, the cast and crew of the much anticipated horror-comedy film appeal to Filipino moviegoers to watch “Echorsis” on April 13, its opening day.

“Sana sumugod sa sinehan ang milyon-milyong nag-aabang sa ‘Echorsis’ sa opening day pa lang para manatili ito sa line up ng mga pelikula,” says Alex Medina, who plays the lead role of a gay-swindling gigolo in the movie. 

“Naranasan namin sa ‘Heneral Luna’ na matanggal dahil mahina ang benta ng ticket nung first day,” he relates. “Mabuti na lang naging matagumpay ang campaign sa social media na madagdagan ang mga sinehan.”

In “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil,” Medina portrays the role of Carlo, a sweet-tongued and charismatic gigolo, who was possessed by a gay spirit after the death of his lover Kristoff (John Lapus). 

The film, which likewise topbills Callalily vocalist Kean Cipriano as Father Nick, was written by Jerry Gracio and produced by Chris Cahilig of Insight 360.

Kean Cipriano

It is rated R13 by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

Lapus is optimistic that Filipino audiences—particularly the lesbian, gays, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community—will rally behind “Echorsis.” However, he encourages them to come out and watch the film on its first day, to ensure its long run in the cinemas. 

“Nababasa namin sa comments sa official trailer ng Echorsis na maraming naghihintay na ipalabas ito. Sana lang maglabasan sila sa April 13 kasama ng kanilang mga friends para manood bago pa maging huli ang lahat,” he stresses. 

Out-of-the-box Comedy

According to Cahilig, “Echorsis” is an intelligent and out-of-the-box brand of comedy.

‘Echorsis’ producer Chris Cahilig of Insight 360

“The Filipino moviegoers are ready for a black comedy like ‘Echorsis.’ The box-office records of well-made films such as ‘That Thing Called Tadhana,’ ‘English Only,’ and ‘Heneral Luna’ gave us the courage to push through with the project despite its unconventional plot,” explains the producer.

“I am confident that apart from enjoying the patronage of the LGBT community, ‘Echorsis’ will likewise lure the straight population to the cinemas because of its organic humor and its message of love, forgiveness, and acceptance,” says Cahilig. 

“Echorsis” takes pride in bringing together a powerful and award-winning production team led by Lorca, who recently won the best picture trophy in CineFilipino for his film “Ned’s Project.” He is joined by cinematographer Sasha Palomares, editor Benjamin Tolentino, production designer Paul Infante, assistant director Lorna Sanchez, line producer Sarah Pagkalinawan-Brakensiek, and production manager Rowena Concepcion. International composer and arranger Jonathan Ong and his Sonic State Studio team did the music and scoring.

Lemuel Lorca 

Completing the ensemble cast of “Echorsis” are Alessandra de Rossi, Chokoleit, Kiray Celis, Mich Liggayu, Ruby Ruiz, Negi Negra, Bekimon, Nico Antonio, Francine Garcia, Odette Khan, and 1:43’s Yuki Sakamoto, Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, and Yheen Valero. 

“Echorsis” is supported by BellaVita Land Corp. and McJim Classic Leather.

Kean Cipriano battle with the devil in “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil”

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Callalily vocalist and actor Kean Cipriano is in hair pulling battle with devil in in the much-awaited horror-comedy film, “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil.”

The 28-year-old actor, who has tried playing different characters in the past years, now in his most challenging role yet, Kean is excited because we are seeing a different side of him. What made the task exceptionally challenging, is his role which happens to be a gay priest!

“For me, that’s the thing naman with acting—you get to be someone you can’t be in real life. Like I can’t be a priest pero nagawa ko siya because it was my character in the movie,” Kean said.

Kean takes on the role of Father Nick, an exorcist-priest who is secretly gay. Kean’s character is called upon to cast out a gay demon that has possessed the body of a gigolo named Carlo (Alex Medina) after the untimely death of the latter’s gay lover, Kristoff (John Lapus).

Being someone who believes in the forces of good and evil, Kean was extraordinarily interested in the role.

“It was also one of the most challenging things I’ve done in my career and it certainly fulfilled a dream.”

“Everything is possible in love”

Since “Echorsis” tackles the sensitive topic of same-sex relationships and identity crises, Kean has been asked for his views on the LGBT community. 

“I love them, especially in this industry. In anything they do, gay people are really intense, they are bright. I have tremendous respect for them. Hindi naman sa gender nagbi-base ang mga bagay sa mundo. Nasa puso ng tao, sa good intentions,” he declares.

Kean even believes that a straight guy can fall for a gay person because everything is possible in love.

“Of course! In love, anything goes. When you’re in love, you go crazy; you don’t know what you are doing. You’ll drown and float at the same time, so you swim,” Kean muses.

Not quite a comedian

Kean has been doing a lot of comedies lately—on TV or the movies. Still, he doesn’t consider himself a comedian. He stresses that the people behind him and the materials he is given are what makes him effective in such roles.

Kean said:

“Hindi naman talaga ako nagpapatawa, ang nagpapatawa ‘yung script, ang nagpapatawa ‘yung mismong material, yung director.” 

 “I’m just grateful and blessed to be part of a comedy production that has good materials.”

The musician-turned-actor confesses that he has simply fallen in love with acting and just wants to share the beauty of film making with everyone. He loves being an instrument in telling one’s story.

“I’m an actor! Gusto ko lang gumawa ng mga pelikula, whether indie or mainstream. It’s all about storytelling. Kumbaga, it’s a matter of portraying a character and being an instrument of the director to tell the story that he/she wants to relate to the world,” he says.

Kean, who says that he worked with the best people in “Echorsis,” recognizes the box-office potential of the movie and believes that there is a strong chance that the movie will have a cult following.

“Laugh trip ‘pag napanood nila ‘yung pelikula! Sasabihin nila sa mga kaibigan nila, ‘Uy panoorin mo tong pelikulang Echorsis dahil natuwa ako’,” Kean gushes about the movie that was produced by Chris Cahilig of Insight 360, directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Lemuel Lorca, and written by Jerry Gracio. “I’m excited for everyone to see it!”

Completing the ensemble cast of “Echorsis” are Alessandra de Rossi, Chokoleit, Kiray Celis, Mich Liggayu, Ruby Ruiz, Negi Negra, Bekimon, Nico Antonio, Francine Garcia, Odette Khan, and 1:43’s Yuki Sakamoto, Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, and Yheen Valero.

“Echorsis” is supported by BellaVita Land Corp. and McJim Classic Leather.

“Echorsis” lead star Alex Medina flattered by growing gay fan base

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Alex Medina 

In “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil,” Alex Medina takes on the role of Carlo, a sweet-tongued and charismatic gigolo who was possessed by a gay spirit after the death of his lover Kristoff (John Lapus). 

The film, which likewise top-bills Callalily vocalist Kean Cipriano as Father Nick, was directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Lemuel Lorca and was written by Jerry Gracio.

Mention Alex Medina’s name when chatting with a gay friend and chances are your chum will show all signs of being totally smitten.

Alex Medina is Carlo- a gigolo victimizing gay men

Indeed, the ruggedly handsome actor and lead star of the horror-comedy film, “Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil,” has been the object of the local gay community’s sexual fantasies in the past few years, earning him the moniker “kilabot ng mga beki” or “gay heartthrob.”

Carlo (Medina) became possessed by a gay spirit

“I like it,” Alex, the son of acclaimed actor Pen Medina, unabashedly admits. “If my being a gay heartthrob catches on, eh di sige, okay. I am comfortable with the way I am, which is why I’m fine with it. Nakaka-flatter s’ya actually.”

Medina relates that he used to receive numerous “indecent proposals” from gay fans on social media. However, such rabid attention eventually declined when he became more visible in movies and television. 

“Dati ang dami-dami kong natatanggap na ganung messages, pero lately wala na halos. How did I respond to these? I would nicely but candidly tell them, ‘Sorry po, that’s not my thing,’ ” he says. 

“Doing the role of Carlo was both fun and challenging. Mahirap ang role, lalo na the physical side to it because I had to play various personas at the same time,” he recounts.

Alex even shares that he was initially more afraid of the so-called “curse” that reportedly afflicts those who work on the filming of horror movies than being typecast for such offbeat roles as the one he did for “Echorsis”.

“Yes, I’ve heard stories that the cast and production crews of horror films occasionally experience real-life scary episodes,” Alex claims. “They say that the process inadvertently summons the dark forces that bring about the ‘curse’. Mas lalo akong kinabahan nang may naramdaman kaming mga unexplainable incidents sa set sa Bulacan. Sabi ko, baka ito na yun!”

Such quirky sidelights notwithstanding, Alex is upbeat about the commercial success of “Echorsis”. 

The actor believes that while it is expected to get the support of the pink market, the widely anticipated film will attract an even bigger audience, especially those who are looking for an out-of-the-box and intelligent narrative.

Kristoff (Medina) and Father Nick (Cipriano) in a dramatic scene

“Echorsis is about love and forgiveness. Matatawa ka ng husto pero lalabas ka sa sinehan realizing na ni-respeto ka ng pelikula bilang isang matalinong manonood,” Alex stresses. 

Even now, a few weeks prior to its April 13 opening in cinemas nationwide, the highly anticipated movie has become the talk of the town. Echorsis’ trailer has gone viral, receiving close to two million views.

Kristoff played by John Lapus falls in love with Alex Medina's character Carlo

Completing the ensemble cast of “Echorsis” are Alessandra de Rossi, Chokoleit, Kiray Celis, Mich Liggayu, Ruby Ruiz, Negi Negra, Bekimon, Nico Antonio, Francine Garcia, Odette Khan, and 1:43’s Yuki Sakamoto, Anjo Resurreccion, Gold Aquino, and Yheen Valero.

“Echorsis” is supported by BellaVita Land Corp. and McJim Classic Leather.