Xenoa

Xenoa
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Sean Lim
Story by	Maya Cruzada Ali Co Sean Lim
Produced by	Ruben Dela Cruz Melinda Lim Robert Lim Sean Lim Elma Macdonald-Taylor
Starring	Isabel Granada Paolo Ballesteros Rafael Nanquil Geryk Genasky Aguas Clementine Poblete Ronnie Felipe Martinez
Cinematography	Ruben Dela Cruz
Edited by	Gerard Cadlum Ariel Javines
Music by	Arnold Buena Allan Feliciano
Production companies	Asia Pacific College School of Multimedia Arts Visual Camp Xion Films
Distributed by	Xion Films
Release date	August 22, 2007 (2007-08-22)
Country	Philippines
Languages	Tagalog, Filipino

Xenoa is a 2007 sci-fi action-fantasy Filipino film, directed by Sean Lim. The film was released to Philippine theaters on August 22, 2007. It stars Isabel Granada, Paolo Ballesteros and Rafael Nanquil. The film gives a glimpse of the power struggle for the planet Xenoa. When the ruler of the triple-star system, Queen La’ian (Clem Poblete) gives birth to the heirs of the Xenoan throne, she decides to protect them from the scheming General Norak (Ronnie Martinez) by sending the triplets – Eli, Zeus and Drix (played by Granada, Ballesteros and Nanquil respectively) – to faraway Earth.^[1]

The film was released under the tagline "Three siblings. Two worlds. One empire."

The ruler of Xenoa, Queen La'ian, gives birth to the heirs of her throne: Eli, Zeus, and Drix. She decides to protect her triplets from the scheming leader of rival world Zephyr, General Norak, by sending her children to faraway Earth. Two decades later, the lives of the three estranged siblings intersect in the most unexpected way. Everything they know and love is suddenly threatened when General Norak zeroes in on them from light years away. The spiteful alien wants unconditional, uncontested power over Xenoa, but he is unable to achieve this as long as the true heirs to the throne are still alive. He is so hellbent on ruling Xenoa that he does not think twice about turning sibling against sibling in his quest for power.

• Isabel Granada as Eli
• Paolo Ballesteros as Zeus
• Rafael Nanquil as Drix
• Geryk Genasky Aguas as Dennis
• Clementine Poblete as La'ian / Lilia
• Ronnie Felipe Martinez as Norak
• Lesley Leveriza as Amanda
• Marq Dollentes as Alien actor
• Richard Turner as Bartender
• Sophia Castañeda as Bar customer
• Michael Poblete as Chevrolet driver
• Apollo Abraham as Drix's foster father
• Hiyasmin Neri as Jane
• Katsuji Kikuchi as John Yan
• Monette Rosello as Land lady
• Alan Marasigan as Mr. Legazpi
• Lily Chu as Martha
• Daniel Magisa as Mayor Villaruel
• P.J. Lanot as Mike

Sean Lim, director and writer of the film, admitted that Xenoa is his first film, although he has co-directed a Big Foot production shot in Hong Kong. He tells that the film is about hybrid human beings from another planet called "Xenoa". Lim admits to having a longtime crush on Isabel Granada. According to him, he specifically cast Isabel for the role because of her almond-shaped eyes, making her perfect for the role of a hybrid human named Eli. Her character is described as a naïve yet undeniably gorgeous woman. She is trusting and generous to a fault. Eli grows up in an orphanage house managed by nuns.^[2] Granada was supposed to play as the Queen. When director Lim saw her, he re-cast her as one of the triplets since she was too young to play the queen. Xenoa is considered to be Granada's comeback film, since her last movie was still in 2001 which was Halik ng Sirena.^[3]

Xenoa’s world premiere happened on August 14, 2007, at 7 p.m. at SM Megamall Cinema 1, Ortigas Center. Regular showing dates were from August 22 up to 28, 2007 at all SM Cinemas nationwide.^[4]

"Collide" is the official soundtrack single for Xenoa. It was the only song used for the promotion of the film. The song was performed and recorded by Filipino singer Nina. In October 2007, the song was included on her re-issued album Nina Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow. It was also nominated for Best Song Written for Movie/TV/Stage Play on the 2008 Awit Awards.^[5]

On October 22, 2007, the song was made available on digital download through iTunes.^[6]

The music video for "Collide" was also directed by the film's director, Sean Lim. The video starts with Nina, shown lying on a beatle car. She is then seen singing to the song in close-up, with black background and night lights. Later, she is seen in a bedroom terrace and scenes from the movie start to appear. The scene goes back to the beatle car, where a bright light suddenly struck her face. By the last chorus, Nina is seen wearing a black gown, while floating in the air (with the use of special effects).^[7]

• Xenoa at IMDb