Starting Over Again Film

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Tory Lattin

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Aug 4, 2024, 6:33:10 PM8/4/24

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StartingOver Again is a Filipino romantic comedy film directed by Olivia M. Lamasan, starring Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga and Iza Calzado. It was produced and distributed by Star Cinema as part of its 20th anniversary.[2] It officially premiered in the Philippines on February 12, 2014.[3]

The film was an instant box-office success earning 25 million pesos on its opening day.[2] On March 15, 2014, a month after its theatrical release, the film earned a total domestic gross of 410 million pesos.

The story revolves on two former lovers who meet again four years later through a project, and the plot goes over flashbacks - an email, a backstory, and the self esteem of moving on, letting go, and redemption - a narrative used in most Olivia Lamasan films.

Development began eight months prior the release date with a working title of "Unlove You."[6][7] The film was written by Carmi Raymundo who was behind some of Star Cinema films like It Takes a Man and a Woman released in 2013, and Bride for Rent released in January 2014.[8] According to Raymundo, her vision of the film was to stray away from traditional Filipino love stories (which are already too mainstream in the Philippine market) so the film was created with an aim to tell a love story with a twist.[5] The film was directed and produced by Olivia Lamasan, the woman behind successful films such as Madrasta (1996), Minsan, Minahal Kita (2000), Milan (2004), In My Life (2009), In the Name of Love (2011) and The Mistress (2012).[9] According to Lamasan, the film was about a lover wishing for a second chance.[10] Despite being the head of ABS-CBN's creative department, Lamasan was told to do a film that would fit Pascual to make their reunion worth it since they haven't done any projects for the last decade.[9] The film also served as a reunion not only with Pascual and Lamasan, but for the lead actor and actress as well. Their first collaboration was 13 years ago in a soda commercial.[10][11] In an article by Crispina Martinez-Belen of the Manila Bulletin, it was stated that Malou Santos personally chose Gonzaga to portray the lead role.[12]

The Starting Over Again red carpet premiere in the Philippines was attended by its principal cast members at the SM Megamall on February 10, 2014.[15] The film was then commercially screened on February 12, 2014.[3] The film also had a North American premiere held at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City, California, United States on February 15, 2014.[8][16] It was later released commercially starting February 21 to 27 in the United States, February 21 to March 6 in Canada, March 6 in Australia and the Middle East, specifically in Dubai, Qatar and Bahrain.[3]

Rappler's Zig Marasigan praised how the pacing of the movie went, making the audience realize that a perfect love story can also have flaws. He also called the story "realistic, satisfying, and brave". However, he criticizes the film's tone and said that it is questionable inserting comedy in a dramatic and painful scene.[20] Florence Hibionada of The Daily Guardian said that the scenes are "memorable" and worth it. She also noted the film's unpredictability and sense of direction.[21] Rianne Hill Soriano of Yahoo! Voices expressed dismay at most scenes that she described as "annoying." She criticizes the pre-climax scenes as "lame" and the hospital scene for the character's closure as "disappointing."[22] Philbert Ortiz-Dy of ClickTheCity.com awarded the film 2 stars out of 5, stating that the supposedly mature film turned to a completely novice-made one. He also stressed that it "failed to take its own advice," wherein the film ended up the old way.[23]

The film earned 25 million pesos on its opening day.[2] After four days, the film earned 150 million pesos after being shown in over 270 cinemas nationwide.[24] It earned another 50 million pesos on its fifth day, earning a total gross of 200 million pesos.[25] On March 3, 2014, eighteen days after its theatrical release, the film earned a total domestic gross of 360 million pesos.[26] According to Box Office Mojo International, the film was consistently number one in the box office since February 19 to 23.[27] On March 15, 2014, after a month since it was released, the film had already earned 410 million pesos.[28]

Every time we start over we also attempt to erase our past or erase us or at least parts of us. I know many of us are struggling to forgive ourselves of our past mistakes or struggles or regrets. Or we wish we had been or done differently in the past. But when we look to erase these parts of our story or completely start over, we don't honor who we are today.

I would not be this happier, healthier, healing person without my past.

I would not be this happier, healthier, healing person without my mistakes.

I would not be this happier, healthier, healing person without the previous unhappy, unhealthy, suffering person I was before.

My work in my ever upward recovery has been in the spirit of starting again. Putting one foot in front of the other and choosing the best next step. Not the right step or the perfect step or the reset start over step.

Instant replays have become old hat. We now expect them in all televised sports. Whether it's a tennis pro's impressive backhand or an NBA center's slam dunk or a heavyweight boxer's smashing jab, we never have to worry about missing it the first time around.

Just think of all the things we'd refrain from saying that we blurted out the first time around. And consider the different attitudes we would have toward unexpected interruptions, unplanned babies, unrealistic expectations, unimportant details. I really think we would take a lot more things a lot less seriously, don't you?

But unfortunately, second times around don't happen. We cannot re-rear our children. I cannot re-pastor my first church. Initial impressions cannot be remade. Cutting remarks cannot be re-said. Scars can't be completely removed. Tear stains on the delicate fabric of our emotions are, more often than not, permanent. Memories are fixed, not flexible.

Another chance? No chance. It's absolutely impossible to go back and start over. Today is tomorrow's yesterday . . . and "delayed replays" will never occur. Today is memory in the making, a deposit in the bank of time. Let's make it a good one!

As a young busy mom, I grew in the Lord via Chuck's radio ministry. Many years have passed, and I still enjoy the teachings. My youngest, now in college, also is amazed at the nuggets of truth gained in such a short time listening. May the Lord continue to bless you and your ministry and family.

When I first started this site, I called it Diary of a Perfectionist Wannabe. It was borne out of the desire to be perfect, to have a sense of perfectionism. This is a trait many Asian Americans understand. We strive to be the best, so we try to perfect ourselves in order to be accepted.

Yes, I said family. My brother and I are a bit of the outliers in our family. My mother is Thai and she married an American in order to escape the slavery she was subjected to in her home country. She wanted to give her future children the opportunity to grow up and live in a world where their family would never sell them in order to put food on their table.

Love was not something we received from them. We had to search outside of our home for love. I spent most of my life trying to prove to them that I existed. I just wanted to be accepted. The thing is, the world accepted me, but my family never did.

I remember when I invited my wealthy aunt and uncle to an Indy 500 party. Senators and everybody that was anybody in the political world was there. Senator after Senator told my aunt and uncle what a wonderful person I was and how they thought the world of me.

This means I want to share my world with the people that come here to read or go to my social media to view. It means not just putting a book up in front of me for you to see, but letting you see more into my life and what I am doing, as well as the things I am trying to accomplish.

So with that step, let me tell you what I plan to do from here on out. In my previous post, I shared I wanted to read a book a day. Oh, believe me, that is still a goal. But I am going to take a little step back in the reviewing process, so that I can spend more time writing.

I plan on going back to the film festivals, going to the ballet, operas and Broadway. I plan on hanging out with rock stars, like I used to do. I have every intention of dining out more and trying all of these incredible places that Manhattan has to offer. I plan on building up my wardrobe again. I also plan on buying my first house in the upcoming months, because I need to move in that direction.

Oh yeah, a developer purchased my apartment building. I was told they are giving me a year and a half before they begin the eviction process. I believe that is the amount of time they think they will need to be able to purchase up the remainder of the properties on my block, so they can tear it all down and build something more modern.

Now, I know there are people that go out there, travel the ends of the earth, completely stuck in a moment inside of themselves, trying to escape it. But the truth is we cannot escape ourselves. We will carry that pain, sorrow, humiliation, and grief with us no matter where we go. A new destination does not mean we will be free of our tormentors. Because we still carry what they did to us no matter where we go to try and heal. Moving forward begins inside of us.

I represent when you start your life over as a Background Actor return to Principal roles, run into a pandemic, start over again, and become a filmmaker by default. Here you will find the humble beginnings of my Film Producer and UPM skillset as well as my return to Principal roles. At some point, you have to DIY to live your dreams. After years of putting others in front of me, I finally put myself first and lookie-lookie. People can be difficult and breaking up is hard to do. Sometimes you have to stop serving others more than you serve yourself. So, I took a real chance on myself and am having a ball doing so. If I can reinvent myself for the third time, you can too. So what if it is the umpteenth time? Just get it done and see who you are, who you are.