Kid Kulafu

Last updated

Kid Kulafu
Kid-kulafu.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Paul Soriano
Screenplay byFroilan Medina
Story by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyOddesy Flores
Edited byMark Victor
Music by
  • Robbie Factoran
  • Ricardo Jugo
  • Mark Villar
Production
companies
Distributed byStar Cinema
Solar Pictures
Buena Vista International (International release)
Release date
  • April 15, 2015 (2015-04-15)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryPhilippines
LanguageFilipino

Kid Kulafu is a 2015 Filipino biographical sports drama film produced and released by Star Cinema together with Ten17P owned by the film's director Paul Soriano. The film dramatizes the life of the boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao during his childhood. [1] [2] It stars Buboy Villar, Alessandra De Rossi and Cesar Montano.

Contents

Kid Kulafu was the second biopic of Pacquiao 9 years after Pacquiao: The Movie , which had focused on his early career as a boxer and stardom.

Plot

Kid Kulafu as early life boxing of Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao or Kid Kulafu. Before he became one of the world's greatest boxers Manny Pacquiao was a young boy living a hand-to-mouth existence, trying to survive from one day to the next. When he discovers his natural talent for boxing, he embarks on a brutal and intense journey that takes him from the mountains of the Philippines to the streets of Manila, and must risk everything to become a champion - for himself, his family, and his country. [3]

Cast

Production

Background and pre-production

Pacquiao himself served as a producer of the film. Manny Pacquiao at 87th NCAA cropped.jpg
Pacquiao himself served as a producer of the film.

Director Paul Soriano is aware that there has been a movie about the boxing champ which was the 2006 film, Pacquiao: The Movie by Star Cinema. He describes his film as focusing in Pacquiao's "mountain life" and his move from General Santos to Manila and said that the 2006 film focused more on his boxing career. The film which covered the first 15 years of Pacquiao's life, was described by Soriano as a "prequel" to Pacquiao's "championship life". [4]

Froilan Medina was the writer of the film. [5] Marie Pineda is the producer. The executive producers of the film are Malou N. Santos, Charo Santos-Concio, Evangeline Del Rosario, and director Soriano. The supervising producers are Jaime de los Angeles and Erwin Blanco. The film's production design was done by Joey Luna. Mark Victor was the film's editor. [6]

For the sound and music, the composers of were Robbie Factoran, Ricardo Jugo, and Mark Villar. The sound designer was Mikko Quizon and sound recordist was Mark Locs. [6]

It took three years to produce the film. Two years were spent in doing research and conducting interviews with Pacquiao and the boxer's relatives, friends and former trainers. [7]

Manny Pacquiao himself assisted in the production of the film although such aid were not financial in nature. Pacquiao went over the film's script and assisted Soriano in facilitating interviews with key people. [7] Pacquiao allowed Soriano creative freedom to depict events on his early life both good and bad. Soriano remarked that the film is 80 percent factual, while clarifying that he did not invent any scenes and only compressed 15 years of the boxer's life into a single film. [8]

Casting

An audition was held for the role young Manny Pacquiao. Soriano said that the dilemma for the casting for the role of Pacquiao is between getting a boxer and to teach him how to act, or is it to get an actor and to teach him how to box. Robert Villar was eventually chosen to portray Pacquiao. Producer, Marie Pineda said that Villar was chosen for the role, for his acting skills, his resemblance to Pacquiao, and his ability to mimic the boxer's fighting style and remarked that these characteristics set himself from others who vied for the role. [8]

Villar said that when he was auditioning, the production team kept the true nature of the role secret from him. They said that they were looking for someone to portray the role of a poor boy named Oscar. [9]

Fight choreography

Erwin Tagle, a mixed martial artists was tasked by Soriano train Robert Villar and Igi Boy Flores, who portrayed Pacquiao and his friend respectively, to "think like fighters and act like fighters". Soriano said that initially Villar and Flores weren't "wired like fighter" adding that when one sees a punch, one's natural instinct is to close one's eyes as one tries to avoid the punch. Soriano also spoke of Villar being "like a sponge" noting that he "absorbed" everything he taught to him while he remarked that the rest of the cast were willing to learn. [5]

Villar spent three months in building muscles and learning how to box in a Southpaw stance for his role as Pacquiao. [7] [9]

Pineda remarked on Alessandra de Rossi's portrayal of Dionisia Pacquiao, the mother of the boxer. The producer comments that de Rossi "was able to capture Manny’s mom’s humor and strong personality without making it too much of a caricature. She was able to balance showing her love for her son while also showing her humorous side,” [7]

Filming

Ten17P, an independent film company owned by the director, was responsible for shooting the scenes of the film with most of them shot on location. [7] One of the most costly scenes to make were those shot in the mountains-which composed of considerable portions of the whole film. Many scenes were also shot in original locations in General Santos which includes the boxing ring located in the city, where Pacquiao himself fought. Pacquiao himself helped Soriano secure the shooting locations in the city. Shooting in General Santos took about two weeks. [8]

All in all, the shooting of the film took 34 days in a span of three to four months. [8]

Release

Kid Kulafu premiered in Philippine cinemas on April 15, 2015. The film was also first screened in selected cinemas in Canada and the United States on April 24, 2015. [10] [11]

The film was also aired in numerous international film festivals among which was the Guam International Film Festival in August 2015 and the Raindance Film Festival in October 2015. [12]

Critical reception

Accolades

AwardCategoryRecipientResult
Guam International Film Festival Awards (2015) [12] Achievement in ActingRobert VillarWon
14th Gawad Tanglaw Awards [13] Best Production DesignJoey LunaWon

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Kellerman</span> American sports radio host and commentator

Max Kellerman is an American sports television personality and boxing commentator. Until his departure from ESPN in June 2023, he was the host of This Just In with Max Kellerman and the co-host of Keyshawn, JWill and Max on ESPN Radio. He previously was a co-host of ESPN talk show First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim. He also previously was the co-host of the sports radio talk show Max & Marcellus, with Marcellus Wiley, on ESPNLA. Kellerman hosted the ESPN panel talk show Around the Horn from the show's incarnation in 2002 until 2004 and co-hosted the sports comedy talk show SportsNation, alongside Wiley and Michelle Beadle, from 2013 until 2016. He was also a studio commentator with Brian Kenny on Friday Night Fights and a color commentator for HBO World Championship Boxing and Boxing After Dark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Pacquiao</span> Filipino boxer and politician (born 1978)

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao is a Filipino politician, businessman, and former professional boxer. Nicknamed "PacMan", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time. He previously served as a senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

<i>Bubble Gang</i> Philippine television sketch comedy show

Bubble Gang is a Philippine television sketch comedy show broadcast by GMA Network. Originally directed by Uro Q. Dela Cruz, it was originally starred by Ogie Alcasid, Antonio Aquitania, Sunshine Cruz, Jackie de Guzman, Assunta De Rossi, Eric Fructuoso, Susan Lozada, Aiko Melendez, Wendell Ramos and Michael V. It premiered on October 20, 1995 on the network's Friday night line up replacing Vilma. Frasco Mortiz currently serves as the director, with Michael V., Paolo Contis, Chariz Solomon, Betong Sumaya, Analyn Barro, Kokoy de Santos, EA Guzman, Buboy Villar, Cheska Fausto and Matt Lozano serving as the current cast. It is the longest running comedy show in the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jinkee Pacquiao</span> Filipina politician

Maria Geraldine Capeña Jamora-Pacquiao, more known as Jinkee Pacquiao is a Filipina socialite, media personality, occasional film producer and former politician who served as a vice governor of Sarangani, Mindanao, Philippines from 2013 to 2016. She is well known as the wife of professional Filipino boxer and Senator Manny Pacquiao. She also had a brief career in the film industry as a producer for her husband's documentaries and for several box-office titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Pacquiao</span> Filipino boxer and politician

Alberto "Bobby" Dapidran Pacquiao is a Filipino politician and former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2008. In the super featherweight division, he held the Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) title from 2002 to 2004 and the WBC Continental Americas title from 2005 until his 2006 disqualification loss to Héctor Velázquez for repeated low blows. Moving up to the lightweight division, he won the WBO Asia-Pacific title in 2008.

<i>Pacquiao: The Movie</i> 2006 Filipino action-drama film based

Pacquiao: The Movie is a 2006 Philippine biographical sports drama film directed by Joel C. Lamangan. The film stars Jericho Rosales as the title role. The film is based on a true story of Filipino boxer Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao. The film was shot in General Santos, Manila, Las Vegas, Nevada and Los Angeles, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buboy Villar</span> Filipino actor and singer

Robert "Buboy" TamayoVillar, Jr. is a Filipino actor, comedian, host and singer. In 2024, He was formerly one of the main presenters of a Philippine noontime show, Tahanang Pinakamasaya!. Villar is signed under GMA's talent agency Sparkle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey</span> Boxing competition

Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey, billed as The Event, was a welterweight fight for the WBO welterweight championship. The bout was held on March 13, 2010, at Cowboys Stadium, in Arlington, Texas, United States. This match was put together after the long awaited "superfight" between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. had fallen through.

Blow by Blow, presently under the title Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow By Blow, is a weekly sports television boxing program. It is currently produced by Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions and is currently airing on One Sports channel since 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of boxing in the Philippines</span> Boxing history in the Philippines

The history of boxing in the Philippines is the history of boxing and the evolution and progress of the sport in the Philippines. In the Philippines, boxing is one of its most popular sports, together with basketball, due to the many accolades it has brought to the country, having produced 46 major world champions, one of the most in the world. Despite not having won a gold medal in boxing, the Philippines has had multiple Olympic standouts, with 0 out of its 18 total Olympic medals coming from boxing, along with some of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Filipino greats like Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde are members of the two highly respected boxing hall of fames – International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) and World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) thus, giving the Philippines the most number of Boxing Hall of Famers outside the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Horn</span> Australian boxer

Jeffrey Christopher Horn Jr. is an Australian former professional boxer who competed from 2013 to 2020. He held the WBO welterweight title from 2017 to 2018. As an amateur, he represented Australia at the 2012 Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals of the light-welterweight bracket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao</span> 2015 professional boxing match

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao, billed as the Fight of the Century or the Battle for Greatness, was a professional boxing match between undefeated five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. It took place on May 2, 2015, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Mayweather Jr. won the contest by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring it 116–112 and the other 118–110. Although the fight was considered to be one of the most anticipated sporting events in history, it was largely considered a letdown by critics and audiences alike upon its broadcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Soriano</span> Filipino filmmaker, film director, and producer

Paul David Soriano is an American-born Filipino commercial and film director, producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jejomar Binay 2016 presidential campaign</span>

The 2016 presidential campaign of Jejomar Binay, former mayor of Makati and then-incumbent Vice President of the Philippines, was announced on July 1, 2015, during the launch of the United Nationalist Alliance as a political party at the Makati Coliseum.

<i>Manny</i> (film) 2014 documentary film directed by Leon Gast

Manny is a 2014 American documentary film that is directed by Leon Gast and Ryan Moore. It covers the life of professional boxer Manny Pacquiao, from his impoverished life as a young boy to his boxing glory and entrance into Philippine politics. The film is narrated by Liam Neeson. Additionally, interviews of friends, family members, and people associated with professional boxing, combined with archival footage of Pacquiao, were used throughout the film. Notable appearances in the film include Oscar De La Hoya, Jimmy Kimmel, Jeremy Piven, and Mark Wahlberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boxing career of Manny Pacquiao</span>

Manny Pacquiao competed in professional boxing from 1995 to 2021. Regarded by boxing historians as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time, Pacquiao is the only boxer in history to win twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions. He is also the first boxer in history to win the lineal championship in five different weight divisions, as well as being the first boxer in history to win major world titles in four of the original eight weight divisions of boxing, also known as the "glamour divisions": flyweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse</span> 2018 boxing match

Manny Pacquiao vs. Lucas Matthysse, billed as Fight of Champions, was a boxing match for the WBA (Regular) welterweight championship. The event took place on July 15, 2018 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pacquiao won the fight by 7th-round TKO and Matthysse announced his retirement shortly thereafter.

Anak ng Kumander is a 2008 Filipino action film directed by Jose "Kaka" Balagtas, written by Rod Santiago, and starring Manny Pacquiao and Ara Mina. The film was released on January 1, 2008, as part of the 33rd Metro Manila Film Festival. This film marked the final appearance of Palito during his lifetime before his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Pacquiao 2022 presidential campaign</span> Bid by the Philippine Senator for head of the executive branch

The 2022 presidential campaign of Manny Pacquiao formally began on October 1, 2021, when Manny Pacquiao filed his candidacy for the 2022 Philippine presidential election. He has been a Senator of the Philippines from June 30, 2016 to June 30, 2022 and was previously a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Sarangani lone district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo</span> 2022 boxing match

Manny Pacquiao vs. DK Yoo, billed as "Pacman vs. DK", was an exhibition boxing match contested between former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and martial artist DK Yoo. The fight took place on December 11, 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Kid Kulafu IMDb Movie Information Cast and Crews". Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Kid Kulafu: film on Manny Pacquiao's childhood hits the big screen – video". The Guardian . April 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Kid Kulafu Story". Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  4. ↑ Almo, Nerisa (October 15, 2015). "Buboy Villar brings life to young Manny Pacquiao in Kid Kulafu". Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Choa, Kane Errol (April 18, 2015). "Manny Pacquiao's childhood in Kid Kulafu". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Kid Kulafu | A Film by Paul Soriano" (PDF). Seattle International Film Festival. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Teves, Oliver (April 15, 2015). "'Kid Kulafu' shows how a poor Pacquiao grew up to be champion". The Philippine Star. Associated Press. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Constante, Agnes (November 3, 2015). "'Kid Kulafu' shows Pacquiao's early years". Asian Journal. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Fontamillas, Lei (April 17, 2015). "Buboy Villar didn't[sic] know audition was for little Manny role". Philippine Canadian Inquirer. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  10. ↑ "'Kid Kulafu' coming to Canada". Philippine Canadian Inquirer. April 23, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  11. ↑ Teves, Oliver (April 15, 2015). "New Pacquiao film shows how poor boy grew up to be champion". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 5, 2024. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Sallan, Edwin (October 15, 2015). "'Kid Kulafu' airs on Red by HBO, makes rounds of international filmfests". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  13. ↑ Sallan, Edwin (February 15, 2016). "'Honor Thy Father,' John Lloyd Cruz win big in Gawad Tanglaw". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.