GMA-Mentorque's Debut Collab Puts Gen Z Spin on Horror

Collaboration is becoming a defining strategy in the local showbiz landscape, and the latest partnership to watch is between Mentorque Productions and GMA Pictures on the upcoming horror film "Huwag Kang Titingin."

- By Nathalie Tomaada

GMA Pictures' recent films include "Firefly," "Balota," and "Green Bones," with the latter currently shortlisted as the Philippines' official Oscars entry, while Mentorque is behind "Mallari," "Uninvited," and the arthouse "Kono Basho."

Fresh from winning "Producer of the Year" honors at the EDDYs and FAMAS, respectively, the two outfits are joining forces for the first time on a horror tale aimed at a Gen Z audience. Directed by Frasco Mortiz with a script by Ayz de Guzman—the team behind the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival hit "Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay"—the film "weaponizes the modern obsession with viral internet challenges and mashes it with deep-rooted folkloric fear," the creators said at a recent storycon attended by The STAR.

"Huwag Kang Titingin" assembles a youth-oriented ensemble cast, featuring "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab" housemates Shuvee Etrata, Charlie Fleming, Michael Sager, Josh Ford, and Kira Balinger, alongside Sparkle artists Sofia Pablo, Allen Ansay, Marco Masa, Sean Lucas, Anthony Constantino, and veteran actress Sherilyn Reyes.

GMA Network senior vice president and GMA Pictures president Annette Gozon-Valdes reportedly handpicked the cast. "It's an ensemble film, so inisip namin kung sino talaga yung OK na ipasok, na mukha talaga silang barkada na mag-ge-gel together. Siempre, dahil mai-ingay din yung ibang artists, lumaki din yung mga roles nila, in-adjust," she said.

Bryan Diamante, president of Mentorque, noted the strategic casting. "They're marketable, they're the hottest also," he said, particularly referring to the "PBB" housemates.