"Carmine & Lyca" Poster as of November 1

"Carmine & Lyca" and PULSE Live Party Venue

PULSE Live Party Venue is the place to be on November 12, 2011 where the "Carmine & Lyca" - Hollywood FX Group of Artists and Models will be seen first with what it aims to be in the business. Hollywood FX wants to establish itself as a theatrical group. Where theater is concerned, modelling and all art-forms become. So thanks to Atty. Lord Alfred Tennyson Gaccion, PULSE Proprietor, Hollywood FX will have a venue to start from. The goal on the 12th of November would be to fashion theatrical modelling for what may be the first time in Cagayan de Oro City. But don't raise your expectation bars just yet because Hollywood FX wants to keep it subtle as the crowd may not warm up to the idea easily. Slowly but surely, so they say. 


Apart from PULSE Live Party Venue, which becomes Hollywood FX co-organizer for its first big event, Sticky Media-Harvest by Marissa and Michael Turner, Mutya ng Cagayan Sue Susada-Montalban, Ryan Cielo Marquida of Cielo Marquida Shop, and Global Icon Advertisding have helped the ease it up for the group in the events scene. This is made possible together with the media partners for radio and print, Mellow Touch, Killer Bee and Sunstar Cagayan de Oro.


The models are excited as well as those who heard that Hollywood FX will sneak in a little lingerie show. They will be strutting to Hollywood FX's clothing company Miss Match Rentals with its formal wear, FUSHU Shoes from Cielo Marquida shop and should Oroama Supercenter choose to dress the models, Hollywood FX models will fill the runway with formal wear, fashionable shoes, casual wear and sexy lingerie like modern day vampires and werewolves.

"First 15" at FIRST 5

Hollywood FX "First 15" models were given a chance to unwind at the Tanduay First 5 concert last October 22nd at the SM CDO Car Park. Thanks to the Marketing Strategist and Manager, Jenefer Maagad who secured free passes from the Tanduay office itself, 10 out of the "First 15" were given the chance to meet and rock with 5 of Philippines' top rock bands. The strategy with how the models were chosen randomly seemed allusive of Tyra Bank's Bankable "America's Next Top Model" challenges. The Executive Director decided that this may well be the scenario for the next following events. Besides encouraging sportsmanship among the models, it becomes a gauge as to the extent of their participation and willingness to be part of the Hollywood FX family. 

On October 20th, after the Marketing Manager got the tickets, the Executive Director sent out to announce on Facebook that the "First 10" who gets to like the post will go to the concert. But it wasn't just fun and rock and roll - the models were in fact sent out on a mission where Marketing Manager observed how the models come up in a crowd. The considerations were - do they blend in? Do they stand out? Do they turn heads? It seemed that either was the case since everybody there went for the First 5 anyway. It was, anyhow, all fun and rock and roll at the end. Photographers Christian Erfe Gesta, Jeanny Dizon and Jessica Jane Tesoro Villegas had reserved slots as well - for what little benefit would do the Hollywood FX artists from some kickback? Due to even more busy schedules on the ladies' part, only Christian held his hands up and banged his head with the models and Marketing Manager.

(Photos courtesy of Nina Marie Tano)

"Carmine & Lyca"

In Hallow's Eve 2010, the Executive Director and her favorite models - her sister and a couple of cousins came together for a fun Halloween shoot called "Carmine & Lyca". Carmine is after its synonymous word bloodred and Lyca, a shorthand term for Lycanthropy or "of werewolves". It inspired a mood for vampires and werewolves as it was the height of Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" saga. 

This year, the Executive Director chose to bring it back to life on the runway. Initially, the Fashion Party concept was to be slated on October 29th, a Saturday. But due to congested Octoberfest schedules in venues, the event was moved to a more appropriate time, November 12, 2011 -  a week before the world premiere of the first part for "Breaking Dawn" the last installment of the "Twilight" series. 

Joining the now growing Hollywood FX family is the newly appointed Marketing Strategist and Manager, Jenefer Maagad, who is a neonate but avid nonetheless in her travel and landscape photography. Reinforcing the ingenuity of Christian Erfe Gesta and Jeanny Dizon is a brilliant concept photographer, Jessica Jane Tesoro Villegas who showed great promise during her debut photoshoot with Hollywood FX - the "Carmine & Lyca" poster shoot.

Chosen to represent the group of models for the poster are the "vampiric" Nina Marie Tano and Taiza Ejem with the equally wolfish Charles Banez Bulawan, Joseph Karmelo Bajuyo and Clyde Mondero, an applicant for Hollywood FX male models who was asked to join as his first screening. After his "Clean Folio Shoot" with the other aspiring models besides the "First 15" Clydie is likely to make Hollywood FX his second home. 

Hollywood FX aims to make an impact firstly with its poster since it will create and maintain a lasting impression - being its very first brain child. But with the ingenuity and talent from the creative team, Hollywood FX may well just have brought the necessary FX from Hollywood even with its sneak peak pictures.

 The Executive Director-cum-stylist-and-MUA with model Taiza Ejem

(Photo courtesy of Jessica Jane Tesoro Villegas)

Model and now official Assisting Set Director Kevin Abdala with the models for the poster.

(Photo courtesy of Christian Erfe Gesta, gadget by Nina Marie Tano)

The Beginning of More Hollywood FX

It was a Sunday, October 9th, 2011 when Hollywood FX came to publicly extend its invitation to rising and aspiring male and female models in the City of Cagayan de Oro. The Clean Folio Photoshoot and Orientation was the first ever event that Hollywood FX worked in cooperation with Exoro Events, an Australian-based group, which gladly helped sponsor the occasion. In Budgetel, Cagayan de Oro, 15 models were chosen to become the "First 15" of Hollywood FX Models Circa 2012. Making the fifteen are Ana Nash Azucena, Angelica Marie Baqui, Candy Villafranca Abutan, Elaine Roselle Aquino, Maria Salalah Isabella Enerio, Sheena Butra, Nina Marie Tano, Maybelle Ann Naca, Paula Nekolai Hernandez, and Tiaza Ejem to complete the First 10 Females. Charles Banez Bulawan, Earl Allic, Kevin Abdala, Joseph Karmelo Bajuyo and Siegefred Josol were the 5 male models who completed the circle of "First 15". 

The event was, apart from the assistance of Exoro Choice - Exoro Events, also sponsored by More Bites Pizza a popular pizzeria in the city, which supplied five large boxes of pizza for the models. Chai Online Store in Facebook provided for clothes, which the "First 15" wore in their "Clean Folio Shoot."

The "Clean Folio Shoot" concept is merely a shorthand of "Taking photos without makeup" where the models were observed for camera readiness sans enhancements. The Hollywood FX group, specific with its choice for models who can speak well and who can speak their minds, took the time to video screen the participants. There, they were made to walk a runway flow, where each model presented himself or herself with a short self-introduction at the end of the runway.

Sharing their skills and talents in photography are Jeng Dizon, a member of the Kapitik Group of Photographers. She took family photos of the Executive Director and her family months before the screening. Christian Erfe Gesta, a member of Mindanao University of Science and Technology Junior Photographer's Club joined, presented his passion for photography to the Executive Director after she presented Hollywood FX in a pre-pageant attended by the photographer. Adding to the group is guest photographer, Marvin Claver, a friend of Christian who hails from a family of photographers from the Claver Studio.

Hollywood FX is satisfied, in fact pleased with the "First 15" but it is not closing its doors yet. It is open to even more aspiring and rising models looking for a group - nay, a home where they are not only considered as models but as artists in their own rights.

The 2010 Calendar of Birth Flowers Project

The first complete calendar project done in the Hollywood FX way; bedroom studio, makeup and styling by one and photography/editing by one and the same person. It was purely redeeming what was left of Hollywood FX and seen here - there was still so much promise. 

Modelling (L-R) Former ABS-CBN TV Host Sorene Quilinging for January, the originator for February, Registered Nurse Angelica Marie Baqui for March, Private Tutor Vanessa Pearl for April, Jollibee Manager Loren Apit for May, Communications Specialist Kristina Apit for June, Chef Farhannah Lauga for July, Registered Nurse Kathleen June Bajuyo for August, Caregiver Farhannie Lauga for September, Airline customer representative Vanessa Marie Cababarros for October, Nursing graduate Phoebe Albert Bajuyo for November and Registered Nurse & Former ABS-CBN TV Host Rudi Ann Russo.

Hollywood FX is true to its aim of representing people from different walks of life with the FX Hollywood is so loved about.

What Hollywood FX believed in

"We believe that everyone is entitled to walk the red carpet, the star in us is simply waiting to be brought out - with just the right makeup, the right accessories and all the right angles, that 'star' will be forever captured in full Hollywood FX."

This is what Hollywood FX believed in 2005 and this belief remains to be true today.

This is the Hollywood FX campaign - 

"It is not Hollywood but it aims to bring the FX, for which Hollywood is loved for."

The First Image Models

Done as well as the first Hollywood FX photo, this "Natural Vices" export jewelry Color Campaign was edited and re-edited in Microsoft Publisher. 

Seen here as the first models are (L-R) Angelica Marie Baqui in Gold and Glamorous, the originator's sister; Loren Apit in Purple and Perfect; the originator's cousin sister of Kristina Apit-Oco in Green and Gorgeous; Jenifer Abanes in Blue and Beautiful, the originator's classmate; and Jelvette Manuta-Molina in Pink and Pretty, the originator's fellow beauty queen. 

The jewelry as well as the image models reached New Jersey in a colorful and tasty packaging done in the Hollywood FX way.

Hollywood FX Origins

The Hollywood FX logo was extracted from the very first photoshoot attempt by the originator. The tiling was done quite haphazardly but with such clean artistic intention via Microsoft Publisher. Much credit goes to the originator's theater protege, now a popular model and stage actor in Manila - Johnny Macanas, Jr. who lent her the camera with a rotating viewfinder. 

Reliving Hollywood FX

It started in 2005 when the Originator started to experiment on makeup and non-SLR photography with merely herself as a model and a study lamp for light. It worked for awhile. Until she decided that her business in exported handcrafted jewelries "Natural Vices" needed faces, she gathered female friends and family to become her image models. Playing with the colors of her jewelries, she appropriated the colors on her models, which became her inspiration for their makeup. Soon it bloomed to a traveling studio where a customer was to choose a theme and the artist, the originator and executive producer, conceptualized the makeup, accessories and the drama ala Hollywood FX.


But in 2007, the dream of bringing more of Hollywood FX wasn't likely to go anywhere but in exile. The creator had to be sent out where personal safety was assured. It wasn't until 2009 when some sort of her very own Hollywood drama died down that her own digital camera found its warmth in her hands again. Hollywood FX had to start from scratch and what was left of the past - makeup, styling, ideas and everything in an artist's palette. In 2010, Hollywood FX braved to go where no meager non-SLR camera would - to accomplish a full 12-month calendar with all the models, props, and glamour that would bring justice to the theme "2010 Calendar of Birth Flowers."


Today, inspired by friends from Exoro Choice and Exoro Events, Hollywood FX has extended itself to reach out to more aspiring models in the City of Golden Friendship. With the help of Pascal Guilloux's team from Exoro Choice and Exoro Events, Hollywood FX found itself a place in a business teeming with already a multitude of multifaceted artists. But with Hollywood FX's aim of putting passion before profit and where models are considered as artists themselves, the group believes it will extend its wings to an even bigger and maybe different market.