MANILA, Philippines - GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar readily admitted that the idea sounded ?crazy and wild.?

?People told us that having KC Concepcion and Richard Gutierrez in one movie was an impossible dream,? Abrogar recalled.

KC is identified with ABS-CBN; Richard is an exclusive talent of GMA 7. And so Annabelle Rama, Richard?s mom and manager, said it was, in fact, nothing short of ?miraculous.?

?I prayed hard for this love team to push through,? Rama said. ?Miracles do happen. I prayed for one movie, but they got two.?

Originally, a co-production deal was proposed by GMA Films. Instead, the two networks arrived at a more suitable arrangement, said Abrogar.

As part of the agreement, the KC-Chard tandem is set to appear in a Star Cinema movie in August 27, to be followed by a GMA Films project in February 2009.

Concepcion signed a contract with GMA Films on Thursday; Gutierrez, with Star Cinema (film arm of ABS-CBN) a few days earlier.

The pair?s Star Cinema outing is to be directed by Joyce Bernal; the GMA Films project, by Jose Javier Reyes.

Discussions between the two companies almost bogged down over production/distribution details, but the two stars persisted, recalled Abrogar.

Compromise

The companies reached a compromise after discussions initiated by GMA Films three months ago, related Abrogar. ?...One thing we learned from this is that it?s always good to go to the negotiating table in good faith.?

Working title for the pair?s Kapuso film is ?When I Met You.?

Gutierrez confirmed that he and KC both pushed for the deal. ?We share the same vision. We were sure we could do it.?
He said the goal was to unite the networks. ?Though we didn?t get a co-production [deal], at least the companies sat down and agreed to something. That alone is a big achievement for KC and me.?

It?s a ceasefire for the network war for now, Gutierrez noted. ?It?s very healthy for the industry, and for actors like me. I?ve always dreamed of working with actors and directors from the other station.?

Concepcion agreed: ?At least, now there?s a little crack on the wall between the two networks. I don?t know how long it will take, or if it will ever happen that the two networks can work in peace together, but at least this is a beginning. I?m very happy that Richard and I were part of the process.?

Reyes concurred, adding that actors and filmmakers shouldn?t be branded as Kapuso or Kapamilya. ?In the end, we are all katrabahos (co-workers). The irony is, Joyce is currently identified with GMA because of the show ?Dyesebel,? while I?m associated with ABS-CBN. I hope this starts a trend [of people being allowed to cross from one channel to another], because you cannot stifle creativity.?