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Fil-Am stars celebrate at Jo Koy's 'Easter Sunday' world premiere
LOS ANGELES — All the Titos, Titas, Kuyas and Ates made a trek to the Grauman's Chinese Theatre (TCL Chinese Theatre) where the world premiere of Fil-Am comedian Jo Koy's debut feature film, "Easter Sunday," opened to a packed audience.
The pink carpet was rolled out and all the stars came including no less than the Megastar herself, Sharon Cuneta, who just did a concert with Regine Velasquez here in Los Angeles. The first Filipino American Attorney General of California, Rob Bonta, was also present.
Other guests who walked the pink carpet included Vina Morales, Raymond Gutierrez, Mica Javier, and Ylona Garcia.
It was a historical moment indeed since this is the first Filipino-American film that a major Hollywood studio has distributed with no less than Steven Spielberg and his Amblin Partners producing.
"Easter Sunday" reflects the multi-racial America that is still not reflected in some films and TV shows.
Before the screening, Jo Koy, the man of the hour who was dressed in an all-black suit, went up onstage to welcome an excited jubilant crowd.
The 51-year-old comedian told the audience, "We all deserve this spotlight. I'm not just saying Filipinos in general; I'm saying, everybody. We all get to say our story. We all deserve that our voices be heard. And when you watch this story, you're all going to go, 'Hey, we're the same. My mom is just like your mom.'"
He added, "About 19 years ago, I was still a comic. I met this beautiful lady comic by the name of Tiffany Haddish. Tiffany and I used to work at the Laugh Factory together. Every single day, we would be working there and eat corn dog and drink big. When I brought my son to the Laugh Factory, she would hold my son."
Haddish, with blonde cropped hair and dressed in a sexy gold satin gown, joined Jo Koy onstage and said, "I love you Jo and I am so proud of you!"
Then Jo Koy called his son, Joseph Herbert Jr., up onstage and the 19-year-old teenager joined the two actors and the three decided to take a selfie onstage.
The movie, directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and written by Ken Cheng and Kate Angelo, is inspired by Jo Koy's life experiences and career in stand-up comedy. As LA-based Joe Valencia, Jo Koy is trying to land a role as his mom demands him to come home and spend the Easter weekend with the family in Northern California.
This Filipino family, like any clan around the world, has its share of colorful uncles (Titos), aunts (Titas), friends, and acquaintances.
The cast includes Filipino-American actors Tia Carrere (Tita Theresa), Lou Diamond Phillips (as himself), Eva Noblezada (Ruth), Lydia Gaston (Tita Susan/Joe's mom), Rodney To (Tito Arthur), Melody Butiu (Tita Yvonne), Eugene Cordero (Tito Eugene), Brandon Wardell (Junior/Joe's son), Joey Guila (Tito Manny), Tiffany Haddish (Vanessa), Jimmy O. Yang (as himself), and Asif Ali (Dev Deluxe), among others.
After the screening, some of the guests proceeded and walked to the Roosevelt Hotel nearby where the after-party was held.
Of course, the menu included popular Filipino staples like lumpia (egg roll), leche flan (custard), empanadas (pork, beef or veggie) among others.
At the after-party, Jon Jon Briones ("The Assassination of Gianni Versace," "Ratched," "Miss Saigon") his actor son Teo ("Wind River," "Chucky") and his actress-singer wife Megan Johnson Briones ("General Hospital," "Amnesia") were joined by Eva Noblezada ("Yellow Rose," "Miss Saigon"). Soon, Princess Punzalan got reunited with her former "Yellow Rose" co-star Noblezada as well.
Carrere, who was stunning in an Oliver Tolentino red gown, found herself shaking and grooving the night away with Haddish. A Jabbawockeez dancer started break dancing and then another guest followed suit to the delight of Jo Koy, Cordero, Phillips, Carrere and Haddish.
To, whose jacket with the golden sun emblazoned on his back was definitely an eye-catcher, brought his partner actor James Leo Ryan. But he kept whispering to us, "I want to meet Sharon Cuneta. I heard she's here."
Cuneta, who was elegant in an all-black suit with gold necklaces, became the most sought-after guest at the party. She was accompanied by Anna Liza Recto-Ruth, one of the producers of Cuneta's upcoming movie, Marivi Soliven's "The Mango Bride."
To confided to us after we found Cuneta in a private room with Jo Koy and friends, "I am getting goosebumps." He hugged and talked to Cuneta, his idol, who was charming and friendly to everybody who came up to her. Then he exclaimed, "My mother will be so proud of me! It really doesn’t matter what I have achieved. For her, my meeting Sharon Cuneta tonight is the highlight of my career!"
Even Gaston, dressed in an elegant gown accented with feathers, was looking for Cuneta. So did Butiu, who was dressed in a sexy blue cold shoulder gown with a slit infront. Her brother-animator John Butiu and wife, as well as Melody's partner, Alan Combies, accompanied her to the event.
Reggie Lee ("Grimm," "Prison Break," "Pirates of the Caribbean"), in a white barong and wearing a foot brace, arrived to the event to show his support. Joining Lee later in the night was actor Jason Rogel ("Raven's Home," "Kevin from Work").
Blooming Anna Maria Perez de Tagle-Kline in a Tiffany blue Tadashi shoji off shoulder dress, minus hubby Scott Kline, was also excited to meet Cuneta while the latter said that she still remembers singing with Tagle-Kline's grandmother, the legendary singer-actress Sylvia La Torre, who is now 89.
It was indeed a historic fun evening for Filipino Americans and their friends.
And as Jo Koy said, "It's all about representation. It's like learning little tidbits about someone's culture but then also realizing that we're all the same. A family is a family."
On August 5, when the movie officially opens in all theaters, let's get this party started, Bay-bay!
—MGP, GMA News
