Starmaker Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) must be gearing to direct a film for GMA Films of the Kapuso Network. Or he has done one, though it's still under wraps.

We're sure you know that Mr. M has been working as a consultant executive for the EDSA-based network for more than a year now, after leaving ABS-CBN and followed by a brief stint with TV5. 

For all we know, the film that Manahan will do, or has quietly done, can trigger the Pinoys to swarm back to the movie houses and not get stuck on their Netflix, Vivamax and other streaming platforms.

We got suspicious about Mr. M helming a movie for GMA Films when we told one of Mr. M's staff at the Kapuso network that television is what really sustains Pinoy entertainment these days, and no longer the movies. 

"Just you wait, we'll soon have the press invited for a movie project," the staff blurted to us. We were on the network's Studio 7 for the media huddle for Sparkle Goes to Canada, a two-night concert in April of three top love teams of the network, to be directed by Mr. M. The staff and I knew each other since his ABS-CBN days.

On the other hand, the six Sparkle stars revealed at the huddle that they have been rehearsing their production numbers quietly for five months now. And they have never told any nosey showbiz journos and vloggers about those rehearsals. How obedient of them to management instructions! 

If they could "hide" a major project like a group concert abroad, that means they could be mum, too, about a movie they are doing — or have done — with Mr. M, who has helmed several films for ABS-CBN's Star Cinema, aside from sitcoms and the Sunday musical variety, ASAP.

The six Sparkle stars going to Canada next month are the love teams of Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz, Bianca Umali and Ruru Madrid, and that of Barbie Forteza and David Licauco.