Calvento Files

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Calvento Files
Format Investigative program
Documentary drama
Created by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Developed by ABS-CBN
Starring Tony Calvento
Country of origin Philippines
No. of episodes n/a
Production
Running time 1 hour and 30 minutes
2 hours
Broadcast
Original channel ABS-CBN
Picture format 480i SDTV
Original run December 10, 1995 – 1999
Chronology
Preceded by Options
Followed by Gimik (timeslot)
Katapat Mayor Fred Lim
External links
Official website

Calvento Files is a now-defunct crime and investigative show which aired on ABS-CBN from 1995 to 1999. It was hosted by seasoned broadcast journalist Tony Calvento. It originally aired on Saturdays afternoon which later transferred to Friday nights and transferred again to Wednesday nights.

Contents

[edit] The Host: Tony Calvento

[edit] Who is Tony Calvento ?

This is the foremost question. Why? Because the credibility and confidence of the viewing public and every story's authenticity will depend much on him as the direct source of information.

Our awareness of his name can perhaps be attributed to his then-popular column in People's Journal. Hotline : By Tony Calvento. The wide following of Tony Calvento's column gives us a built-in advantage in terms of media mileage esp. considering that it has a large target audience, C, D, and E.

Tony Calvento has won numerous awards. He is a Presidential awardee for his contribution in crime solution. A Golden Scroll Awardee for Journalism and numerous awards from law-enforcement agencies like the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation.

In 1999, Calvento Files won the top award as best docu-drama category in the 1999 New Year Film Festival for the episode "Dying young but not in vain".

[edit] The Show

There is no definite structure or formula for the show that we can really pinpoint since it really aims to present a not too predictable treatment and predictability is precisely what we want to avoid. Writers are actually encouraged to have a more free-flowing attitude towards every story given to them. However, the fear that it might fail to establish its own look and identity that will set it apart from other shows is not really a problem. Its being a docu-drama is enough to stand as its unique selling point.

Moreover, despite the fact that Tony Calvento will never seen on screen as this will endanger his life, a voice-over treatment will be used instead. This serves as his direct involvement in the story which will definitely be always present in every episode. Reminiscent of the show Charlie's Angels, the identity of the angels' boss was withheld which added mystery, curiosity, and interest for the show.

The show being so popular Tony Calvento then decided to come out on screen and face whatever danger it entails in the performance of his duty.

On the other hand, creation of the storyline by the writer will not depend solely on the articles written by Mr. Calvento but actual interviews with the people involved will also bear weight to ensure well-developed characterization. More importantly, each episode will be meticulously handled by top caliber directors.

For our pilot episode, a very rich story on the Oroquieta massacre was unanimously chosen by the creative group.

[edit] Treatment

The objective is to stick to the story as much as possible. This will be supported by in-depth interviews with the real people involved who will narrate the story. This will comprise the documentary part of the show.

For the pilot episode, the wife, her mother, and the neighbor who witnessed the crime will be interviewed, as well as the NBI investigators who handled the case. To help sustain the interest of the viewers, real footages and visual support will be used such as their wedding and the funeral. To add the story's authenticity, some scenes will be shot on the site where the crime originally happened. But if the situation does not permit us to do so, we will make sure that the scenario that will be created is close to what actually took place.

[edit] The System/Process of Selecting a Story

All available articles given by Mr. Calvento are read and from there the group chooses the interesting ones. For the pilot episode, for example, the Oroquieta Massacre was deemed as the most controversial one and as such was chosen for the pilot episode.

Initial research is done by the researcher with Mr. Calvento's article as the take off point. Materials are read by the writers and after that, advises the researcher on what other information he needs. On the other hand, the segment producer sets an interview with the people concerned and is provided with questions coming from the writer which he has made based on the materials he read.

After all the interviews have been made, the writer then previews them and then makes a sequence treatment. Said treatment is submitted to the headwriter and the creative consultant. They brainstorm on the treatment, of course, with the supervision of the executive producer, and then give life to the story by coming up with a final sequence treatment.

[edit] The Staff

ABS-CBN's top caliber employees from the drama department are gathered to handle the show. On top of everything is no less than Ms. Cory Vidanes, our TV Program Director; Mr. Tony Calvento, himself, is the Host; Laurenti Dyogi, Director; Edwin Deramas, Executive Producer; Maru Benitez, Supervising Producer; Ginny Monteagudo, Associate Producer (for Docu); Annaliza Goma, Associate Producer (for drama); Roy Iglesias, Creative Consultant; Chris Violago, Headwriter; Richard Reynante, Keiko Aquino-Galvez, Chito Francisco, and Linda Casimiro, Writers; Butch Llige, Ethel Manoloto, May Lacar, and George Mansueto, Segment Producers; Elfren Vibar, Production Designer; Roy Tuazon, Production Manager; Cathy Garcia, Assistant Director; Roda de la Cerna, Head Researcher; Denny Caballero, Nora Gatchalian, Ma. Carla Almazan, Jun Rubio, Zeny del Castillo, and Danny Victoriano, Researchers; Cornelia "Angge" Lee, Talent Coordinator; Rhoda Lacorte, Zoilo G. Barrel, and Raymund Dizon, Production Assistants; Ben Panaligan and Marietta Manlutac, Editors; Edgar Rustia, Music and Effects; Oscar Barbin, Post-prod/ADO operator; Leonard Barbin, Computer Graphics.

[edit] Show Ratings (1995-1996)

Definitely, it has toppled down Mother Studio Presents, which is being shown at a simultaneous slot! On its pilot episode, Calvento Files reached to an amazing nineteen percent (19%) TV ratings over The Mother Studio Presents, which has reached to only ten percent (10%). Undoubtedly, it has been able to sustain its high rating in the succeeding episode. And on the fourth week, last December 31, 1995 to January 06, 1996, its rating reached to thirty one percent (31%) surpassing MSP which has garnered only thirteen percent (13%) of the viewing public. Commercial loads, nevertheless, keeps on getting higher, the fact of the matter is that it has then reached twenty-eight minutes (28 mins.).

[edit] Movie Version

  • The Star Cinema made the movie version directed by Laurenti Dyogi. It stars Diether Ocampo and Claudine Barretto in the "Balintuwad" (Upside Down) episode, while John Estrada, Sharmaine Arnaiz and Cris Villanueva starred in "Nay, May Moomoo" (Mother, There's a Ghost) episode.

[edit] Trivia

  • The name Calvento Files is currently a section of Pilipino Star Ngayon, an affiliate of The Philippine Star.
  • The show has also its radio version in DZMM 630
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