MANILA, Philippines – Anne Curtis is set to star in a movie with Filipino American mixed martial arts fighter Brandon Vera. The project will be directed by Erik Matti.
On Instagram, Anne and Erik both posted photos of the two actors with the caption, "Let's get ready to rumble!"
{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHDrMDHD-BS/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Let's get ready to rumble! @annecurtissmith @brandonthetruthvera @dondonmonteverde #nodoubles #kicksomeshitsass</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by erikmatti (@erikmatti) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-25T00:31:07+00:00">Jun 24, 2016 at 5:31pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Anne also used the hashtag "#NoDoubles," which she later explained to ABS-CBN News: “No to doubles. That’s why I’m really putting in so much effort. I told this to direk [Erik] na kung pwede ako talaga. Seryoso talaga kaya inaaral ko as much as I can kahit pasa-pasa na ako, okay lang."
{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHD4wVvgLYl/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Let's get ready to rumble!!!!!! Welcome back to Manila, Brandon Vera. #NoDoubles #PekitiTirsiaKali @erikmatti</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Anne Curtis (@annecurtissmith) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-25T02:29:40+00:00">Jun 24, 2016 at 7:29pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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(I told this to director [Erik], that if it's possible, let it really be me [doing the stunts]. I'm serious, that's why I'm studying as much as I can, even though they're just passing me around, it's okay.)
Brandon himself posted a photo of him carrying Anne and reporter Dyan Castillejo on each arm. Brandon's caption said that he was nervous to work with Anne: "Today is the start of a new set of skills for another set of skills I need to work on. I have a big lead to follow Ms. [Anne Curtis], (she's kinda of a big deaI for real) don't ever think I've been this nervous (no pressure). Even fighting [ONE Championship]."
Brandon is signed to ONE Championship, an MMA promotion body based in Singapore.
{source}<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHIhCC-hevr/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Today is the start of a new set of skills for another set of skillz I need to work on. I have a big lead to followMs. @annecurtissmith (she's kinda of a big deaI for real) don't ever think I've been this nervous (no pressure) Even fighting @onefcmma No matter what you do make sure you're having fun with it. Make people Smilethe faces in this photo is what I try n strive for every single day!!!!!! You ladies are so awesome and humblThank you all @virtualplaygroundph @erikmatti @dyancastillejo @annecurtissmith Ima work my ass off for al of you!!!!! Ouss Okay Ima go train now!! #stayonthatgrind #verafied #OneChampionship #goodtimes #goodpeople #verafiednenja Ouss! MABUHAY!!!!!!!!!</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A photo posted by Brandon Vera (@brandonthetruthvera) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2016-06-26T21:38:34+00:00">Jun 26, 2016 at 2:38pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote>
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Brandon also told ABS-CBN that Anne has improved a lot since she started training. "Nakita ko 'yung first day niya. From first day to day 6, ibang tao na talaga. Natututo siya nang mahusay, maayos," he said. (I saw her first day of training. From the first day to day 6, she became a different person. She learned well, properly.)
"I don’t know how to explain it in Tagalog but she’s a beast."
Brandon, also known as "The Truth," also told ABS-CBN that he's moving to the Philippines for good, as he's a dual citizen: "Nandito na ako. Pilipinas, sa inyo na ako.” (I'm here. Philippines, I'm yours.)
From the creators of 'Honor Thy Father'
The movie is set to be directed Erik Matti and produced by his and Dondon Monteverde's company, Reality Entertainment. (READ: MMFF official denies dictating 'Honor Thy Father' disqualification)
The critically acclaimed movie was involved in controversy last year, when the Metro Manila Film Festival 2015 entry Honor Thy Father was disqualified from the Best Picture category because of a technicality.
Matti ended up not attending the awards ceremony, though he did win Best Director and Honor Thy Father won 5 awards in total.
Their disqualification set off a call for change in the industry, leading the MMFF Committee to change some of their rules, among them, that commercial viability will no longer be part of the criteria for judging.
Since the changes were announced, Erik told Rappler that he's happy with them, saying: "[When we complained about the festival] it's to really make honest-to-goodness changes in the festival, and this came about without us really being part of the ExeCom. And that feels good. That feels good that now, we get the chance to have a real festival." – Rappler.com