While the three remaining contestants try to figure out their feelings for each other, they also know that the end is near. Focus has to remain tight for their shot to win Hollywood Boot Camp.

Randy created his own demise bringing Miguel back to life on Hollywood Boot Camp. Now Minco and Denise must deal with the aftermath. Through both tasks the challengers seemed timid and not quite altogether. We have seen better work from all three contestants earlier on.

The acting challenge was especially disappointing on all accounts. I was thinking it would have been much better if there was a scene where Minco reveals his feelings for Denise and explore Miguel’s trigger effect to how fast he rises to anger that Minco beat him to the punch. Totally better than the death scene. That was lame. Method acting and a death scene? How cliché. Edward should have given them weapons to method act with.

I thought the 7th challenge was cool and one of the best ones yet. This is because it demanded so much from the filmmakers. These are the three strongest filmmakers thus far and this challenge really showed that Denise and Minco truly deserved to be in the final round. Miguel never has a good defense. Nothing very original in the rebuttal and only reuses information that was already given to him.

As Denise argued, she was able to do something that Miguel wasn’t able to do and that attention to detail is something that a filmmaker always has to have. She plays to her strengths, which is why she outlasted Miguel’s 2nd run at the title.

Randy’s comment that “it’s all about passion. I’m going back to the Philippines with a lot of passion” is a load of crap. It makes me mad that someone who was so willing to give up took the place of someone who would have fought so much harder for the opportunity being offered. Randy gave up. He simply gave up and left no room or reason why he should be kept on instead of Miguel. And as far as Miguel feeling bad? NO. Absolutely not. Don’t waste your time and energy!

Randy says he chose Miguel because he wanted to learn from him. He chose him because he is 100% there at every challenge. I think he made up his answer because he didn’t know what else to say. Moreover, I’m not sure the biggest crush in this reality program is centered around Denise or Minco. That’s right, I’m saying it could be right in front of our faces here! The whole thing just makes me mad. Randy makes me mad. I couldn’t even concentrate on flags, scrims, XLR’s and whatever else. I was just staring at Randy wondering how he got so much farther on Hollywood Boot Camp than Arvin?

Ok. Now that I’ve got that out there we can move on.

What is it about Minco and Denise that makes them so tough? They keep their cool even when things go so wrong. Then they act all surprised when they win. Ha. Team Jeepney’s performance in the 6th challenge shows that even when they have their bad days (like their unexceptional performance in the task) good teams still find a way to win. It’s all about heart and that is something that Team Rizal lost a long time ago.

The storytelling round of Hollywood Boot Camp turned out to hold the biggest surprise so far on the Private’s journey to the top. In an episode where Apple’s tame demeanor finally showed signs of life, it was quite a shock to see her standing on the outside looking in when all was said and done. Summing up this unique chapter, we must put Private Apple (and Randy) squarely in her place when she shared several times that Randy deserved to stay on. To you Apple, we must say with such sincerely, Randy does not deserve this more than you! Amongst other reasons, he is lacking in all areas of assertiveness and tenacity. And he wanted pink pajamas as the centerpiece of his script which we definitely did not take lightly.

Hollywood Boot Camp is halfway through and both the contestants and I are learning a ton about filmmaking. Above all, it would seem that communication still takes paramount priority superceding all other areas of the Hollywood Campgrounds. Shereen, and her obvious exemplary leadership capabilities and know-how must have forgot this notion. If she had remembered this from leadership school, she most likely would have been around to see what happens next week. But that is not how the judges would have it in week 4. Team Rizal seemed like it only had one chance to defeat Jeepney and that rested on Shereen doing more than talking the talk!

when’s the replays scheduled? QTV is barely off it’s feet to answer these questions. They don’t have definite scheds. I missed the pilot episode. Would it be possible to purchase a copy of an episode? I can’t TIVO. ….damit.

Who knew Pinoys were so darn good at setting up murder? Hollywood Boot Camp proved to be more fun than ever the third time around. The campers seemed to bring out their A-game for the third challenge inflicting bloody wounds and dressing the perfect crime scene.

Miguel was left in the dust this time, but I couldn’t help to notice how close this challenge really was. Both teams fought neck and neck based on what they learned earlier in the episode. It was nothing but fun to learn how the best in the business get down and dirty, crafting the perfect gore! I think my favorite part of the whole show was when Shereen asked how to cover up a zit on Apple’s face as she modeled for the make-up artist. Or to be more specific, it was Apple’s reaction that was the best part.

I was also keeping close watch on Denise and Miguel throughout. With Miguel out now, perhaps there is nothing more to watch on this front. Maybe she’ll try and fan the flame with Minco?

Three things I learned while watching episode 3:

1) I would have traded Miguel in a heartbeat for the chance to see Chitoy go just one more round.
2) I want to destroy shirts for a living and get paid for it!
3) I admit that I’m hooked on that damn theme song. “I’m going Hollywood”…

… till next week

The second installment of Hollywood Boot Camp was more technical this time around. Perhaps in a preview of things to come, it was challenging to navigate through the industry jargon (between scrims and the 2nd 2nd A.D). Good thing they had occasional definitions (anyone know what a P.A. is? Our group is still in the dark on that one.) Just goes to show that the world of behind-the-scenes Hollywood may be less than glamorous (thank goodness we have Google Maps to help navigate!)

Before Arvin even had a chance to complete a sentence without his incessant (dramatic?) pauses, he was gone. And so seven are left to contemplate the consequences of plagiarizing Mel Gibson. Perhaps Private Arvin should have employed his “outside the box” thinking a bit smarter.

I’m excited about the revealing of the new Hollywood Boot Camp trailer. I must admit that when I first heard about this project, I was a bit leery. With On The Lot making its most glorious debut earlier this summer, I felt like this program was gonna be just another copycat Temptation Island 3, Hey Paula or Top Chef. Alas, Boot Camp looks sharper and is set to connect with the Pinoy viewers at home.

Bigfoot Entertainment (the company that is making Boot Camp) has also put up a teaser trailer as well on the website – www.hollywoodbootcamp.net. Check out that poor girl’s face when the producer dumps the coffee!!