TO LORD

1
MANILA
P.O.
T^Jtn. Armida Siguion-Reyna of Perafilms
is the 1977 president of the Independent
Motion Picture Importers-Distributors
Ass'n of the Philippines. Remy Monteverde,
Regal Films, is board chairman. Other 1977
officers of the organization include Valerio
Chua, Golden Films, first vice-president:
Raul Bagatsing. Associated Films,
second vice-president; Mariano Laurel. Centennial
Films, secretary; Ng Mcng Tarn.
Gotesco Films, treasurer; Ramon Ong. Oriensia
Films, assistant treasurer; Eduardo dc
Castro, Screen Spectaculars, auditor; Dr.
Alejandro Tin. Movierama International,
public relations officer; Sixto Dy, Orbit
Films, and Eduardo Sazon. Cinefilms,
board members.
Hermenigildo Aragon, Prudential Films,
was the first president when 1MPIDAP was
founded in 1969. Later presidents: Miguel
Mateo. Worldwide Films. 1970; Eduardo
de Castro. Maxim Films. 1971 and 1972;
Remy Monteverde, Regal Films, 1973
through 1976. Mrs. Armida Siguion-Reyna.
the fifth president, is the association's first
woman president.
The Philippines' Manunuri Ng Pelikulang
Pilipino. critics of Philippine movies, have
awarded the first Urian trophy for best
director to Eddie Romero, internationally
known Filipino movie director and director
of several American movies. Romero is the
only Filipino director included in America's
Directors of Class B movies for his direction
of "Paano Kayo Noon, Ganito Kami
Ngayon" ("How Were You Yesterday, We
Are Like This Today"). He also was awarded
the Rajah Soliman trophy as best director
during the Metropolitan Manila Film
Festival last December for "Paano Kayo
Noon." which also won the best picture
award at the same Manila festival.
Incidentally, at the December film festival
here, Vic Salayan was adjudged best
actor, and Nora Aunor. the Philippine's
singing superstar, carried off best actress
honors. Salayan has appeared in several
American movies filmed in the Philippines.
Louis George, president of Arista Film
Sales, was a Manila visitor for three days
recently, jetting in from Los Angeles, Calif.,
and staying at the Intercontinental Hotel.
George sold "The Amazing Dobermans"
and "Scorchy" to local film buyers, then
flew on to Tokyo.
Your Boxoffice correspondent for the
Philippines, Miguel Mateo, met and interviewed
George at the hotel. Film exporters-distributors
or film owners and producers
who are planning to visit Manila on
business—to sell pictures or look for Filipino
partners for co-production ventures
may write to Boxoffice Correspondent.
P.O. Box 3575, Manila, Philippines, lotpossible
assistance. Also buyers of Philippine
(Tagalog) pictures.
"King Kong" broke all first-day boxoffice
records in this city and had overshot
the 4,000,000 peso mark after five weeks
and still was drawing big. The big Paramount
adventure drama is distributed locally
by Movierama International, an independent
distributor.
SAN FRANCISCO
JJerb Caen's San Francisco Chronicle column
for Monday (1) related that Stan
Draper, Theatrical Transit, received an advance
of $100 for delivering prints to the
Hookers' Film Festival, which was held at
El Rey Theatre. "Aren't too many guys
around who can brag they took $100 from
a hooker," Stan boasted to Caen.
Joe Peixoto, who was transferred here
from the Los Angeles branch office, is the
new head booker for United Artists . . .
Vivian Tomargo has left Mann Theatres to
work for Paramount Pictures as contract
clerk . . . Ken Newbert, who had been a
salesman here for Columbia Pictures, has
been promoted to manager of Columbia's
Minneapolis branch. Coming to San Francisco
from the company's Philadelphia exchange
to replace Ken is Jerry Tevrow.
David Van ran his annual Oscar contest
out of his UATC cubbyhole; by early Tuesday
morning, March 29, he had checked all
356 entries and announced that he had 1
winners to split the $356 prize money.
Getting seven out of nine categories correct
were Ray Lockerman, UATC (two entries);
David Baughn. Scope III, Los Angeles;
Mark Borde, Seymour Borde & Associates,
Los Angeles; Larry Gleason, Mann Theatres,
Los Angeles; Martin Swearingen,
UATC operations; Gene Walkingshaw, UA
Corp., Seattle; Tom Muller, Universal Pictures,
San Francisco, and, of course, Wayne
Case of Columbia, who won with three out
of his eight ballots. Wayne, the fan's fan,
is a perennial winner.
InterGalactic Audio-Visual Systems, Inc.,
has announced plans to produce "The Fabulous
Furry Freak Brothers in Gone With
the Weed—An American Classic." The
film, to be based on the creations of local,
internationally famed comic artist Gilbert
Shelton. will be a live action feature to be
shot in the Bay Area this summer. Casting
will include a national Freak Brother lookalike
search. Interested parties may contact
Richard Dupell, InterGalactic Productions.
Box
94101.
1012, San Francisco, Calif.
Jack Scanlan, local Columbia publicist,
held an unusual press conference for Geri
Murphy, Underwater Continuity Supervisor
on "The Deep." Murphy was interviewed
while submerged in 25 feet of water in the
Reef Tank at Marine World! Of course,
submarine sandwiches were served . . .
Frank DcFelitta, author of Audrey Rose,
and Susan Swift, who plays the title character
in UA's film, were here for press
interviews in advance of the film's opening.
French director Rene Allio was feted at a
reception given by the Pacific Film Archive
and University Art Museum, in conjunction
with the French Cultural Service, University
of California's Department of French and
the Society of French Historical Studies.
The party was given Friday (1), preceding
the West Coast premiere of Allio's new
film, "I, Pierre Riviere, Having Cut the
Throats of My Mother, Sister and Brother
. .
." Actress Delphine Seyrig was also in
town for the festivities.
The UC Theatre in Berkeley has just
completed a successful Buster Keaton Festival,
which ran during March. The theatre
is running an extensive Science Fiction Festival
this month and next.
An item that recently appeared in this
column was apparently attacked by gremlins
on the way to the printer, so we will
try again: John Tarantino, formerly a manager
trainee at UATC's Coronet Theatre,
has become the new manager at Plitt's St.
Francis Theatre. The new manager at
Plitt's Northpoint Theatre is Keith Hansen,
who was the Cannery Cinema's manager
for many years.
Matt Collins Gets Role
Of Valentino in 'Lover'
HOLLYWOOD—Matt Collins has been
signed for a role in Gene Wilder's "The
World's Greatest Lover," currently filming
for 20th Century-Fox release on the studio's
Century City lot. Collins, a top male mode
for Wilhelmina in New York, is making hi:
motion picture debut in the featured part o
Valentino.
"The World's Greatest Lover," written
directed by and starring Gene Wilder, alsif
stars Carol Kane and Dom DeLuise. Col
producers are Terence Marsh and Chri
Greenbury.
'Mean Dog Blues' Leading
Role Goes to Gregg Henry
LOS ANGELES—Gregg Henry, wh>
starred in "Rich Man, Poor Man, Book II
for ABC-TV, has been pacted to play tr
starring role in Bing Crosby Production
"Mean Dog Blues," according to Charll
A. Pratt, BCP president.
This is BCP's second major feature f'
1978 release, "The Great Santini" havii;
been previously announced. The compai'
recently completed "Final Chapter—Waling
Tall" for June 15 release.
W-4 BOXOFFICE ;: April 11 19? '