My untold remake of Rosalinda

by Julius Roden

Posted on INQUIRER.net Cybervision

October 18, 2009

Reaching thousands of views from different people all over the internet, I was so surprised that several kapuso fanatics around the world share the same perception with me, regarding the shameful failure of the Filipino adaptation of Rosalinda on GMA 7.

Before the remake was shot for broadcasting, I came up with the idea of creating and uploading a fan-made video of Lovi Poe and Aljur Abrenica for the lead roles. Photos came to life on slideshow with the song “No Me Ames” by Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. This visual demo is on my YouTube channel - Julius Roden.

Uploaded in 2008 for public viewing and continues to get more hits.

The fast-paced conversion of a huge six-month running Latin telenovela to a shortened cheap miniseries totally proved its weakness to keep the audience following the show. Major flop as blogged by hundreds of netizens all over the internet.

In my level of truth, there was really something wrong with the casting; especially, the lead stars. In addition to that, most of the scenes were shot at night, taking each viewer to cloud boredom.

Telenovelas are filled with burning passion of love, that it makes it easier for the human eye to see more colors during daytime. Therefore, it turned out to be some sort of suspense-thriller miniseries. Making it worse, some close-up shots used a slow-motion effect as if it was going to take each viewer to

“Oh no! What’s going to happen next?!”

kind of feeling.

The theme song was disgusting as well.

Has anyone noticed Carla Abellana’s hairdo during the early episodes? It was just like Marian Rivera’s in the remake of Marimar. Aside from that, the women in the series were not like those hot Latin Telenovela stars in high-heeled shoes and perfect make-up. This GMA 7 remake lacked creativity, preparation and passion. All they did was to serve the audience with silly storylines.

Despite of its huge production as hyped by the media, it didn’t look like one. Quite in fact, the network could have saved much money if 90% of the scenes were shot in the morning since practical lights become so available. Wake up sunshine.

Just my two cents:

If we want to come up with a real telenovela, we must realize that Latin telenovela studios have followers all over the world. Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States of America.

Therefore, halting the motions of corny and pathetic 80’s style ingredient for remakes would be the best idea to embrace change and accept evolution.

I guess Carla Abellana can do better in her next soap.
There is always a room for improvements.

And to those who sent me private messages to my YouTube channel, those Kapuso fanatics that voted Lovi Poe and Aljur Abrenica before the remake came to production, just keep supporting your idols, hope that GMA 7 will give these two talented young actors their own soap opera in the future.

Well, not as a loveteam but rather two actors working together as lead stars in a telenovela with a very nice storyline.

In the meantime, to the solid fans of Lovi Poe and Aljur Abrenica, enjoy this picture I photoshopped for my own novelization of Rosalinda Filipino remake.