Q and A: 'Interstellar' filmmaker Nolan on his robots
Source: Philstar.com (November 01, 2014 at 02:08PM)
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After his falling out with actress Louise delos Reyes, actor Enzo Pineda has moved on and is playing sweet music with a non-showbiz girl.
In a recent interview, Enzo shared how he cherishes his newfound love, whom he met through common friends.
“What I like about what we have is that we understand each other, mas mature,” he said of her, a Psychology student. “Ta’s tahimik ‘yung buhay ko ngayon sa showbiz, nakakapagtrabaho ako as Enzo, ako talaga. So parang ’yun na nga ang maganda dun.”
It also helps that the two of them have different worlds, so to speak.
“At least natututo ako sa kanya dahil iba rin ’yung mga pinanggalingan niya, ’yung career path niya, (which is) psychology. It also helps in acting kasi I get to understand people, kung bakit sila ganun…hindi ka magiging judgmental.”
Enzo, who broke up with actress Louise early this year, has been transparent with his girlfriend about his past love.
“Para at least, alam din niya san ako nanggagaling,” he reasoned. “(And) I think ’yun naman ang dapat, maging open kayo (sa isa’t isa).”
The actor maintains being in a relationship is no distraction to other priorities.
“Even though I’m dating someone, nagwo-workshop ako in between para at least mapaghandaan ko talaga (any upcoming project),” he said.
On Aljur
Enzo’s split with Louise easily became tabloid fodder especially with the latter’s leading man, actor Aljur Abrenica, figuring in the issue.
Despite not being able to talk about it with Aljur personally, Enzo says everything is okay between them.
“Past is past na eh,” Enzo said, adding that he finds no need for “intense na mga meeting and stuff like that.”
Enzo came to the realization while in the US. He remembered telling himself, “Pahirapan ko pa ba sarili ko? Ang dami ko pang bagay na dapat gawin, dami ko pang responsibilities. Hindi pa nga ko nakakalayo sa acting career ko, at least binibigyan ako ng break ng GMA ngayon, so kailangan kong pagpursigihan to… ”
He admits, though, that “may times talaga na nababagalan ako (sa pag-usad ng career ko), lalo na pag nabakante ako ng matagal. But I still have fans naman…”
Enzo tries his acting mettle anew on GMA-7’s newest light-hearted drama series “More Than Words,” starring budding love team Elmo Magalona and Janine Gutierrez. The show premieres on Nov. 17 after “24 Oras.”
NEW YORK | Thirty years after its initial Broadway run, Scottish actor Ewan McGregor is heading an all-star cast in the latest revival of Tom Stoppard’s Tony winning play, “The Real Thing,” about love, truth, marriage and infidelity.
The Roundabout Theatre Company production, which opened on Thursday, marks the Broadway debut of McGregor, known for his film roles in “The Impossible” and “Moulin Rouge” and his co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal (“White House Down”).
The pair play lovers in roles originated on Broadway by Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close in the 1984 production directed by Mike Nichols. Another prize-winning revival was staged on Broadway in 2000
Although USA Today said “Stoppard’s ‘Real Thing’ has real magnetism,” the New York Times found the latest revival tinny and lacking in authenticity.
“Evidence of real feelings, real chemistry and real life in general is dishearteningly scarce in this interpretation,” it added.
McGregor is Henry, a witty, British playwright, who is married to an actress named Charlotte, played by Cynthia Nixon, but is having an affair with Annie (Gyllenhaal), also an actress.
The revival is a return to the play for Nixon, known for her role in the TV series “Sex in the City,” who played Henry and Charlotte’s teenage daughter Debbie in the 1984 production.
“The Real Thing” opens with a play within the play, which mirrors reality, as Annie’s real-life actor husband Max, played by Josh Hamilton, confronts Charlotte about a suspected infidelity in a play called “House of Cards” that was written by Henry.
After Henry’s affair with Annie is revealed, they split from their spouses to be together and marry. But before long Henry becomes suspicious about Annie’s relationship with an actor.
Variety described McGregor’s performance as “impressive” and the Daily News said it is a “bang-up Broadway debut.”
“With no sign of struggle, he’s charismatic and convincing as he plays Henry’s various facets – witty, glib, snobbish and importantly, romantic,” it said.
London’s The Guardian newspaper agreed, adding he is “wounded and needy and still somehow appealing.”
But the New York Post found him “too cuddly” and the New York Times said although he is charming and hands on and delivers his lines with flair, he doesn’t portray an author ravaged by inner doubts.
“You can’t imagine real life getting under his skin,” it added.
Reviews for Gyllenhaal were also mixed with USA Today saying her Annie was grounded from the start with an “effortless sensuality” and The Daily News calling her debut “vibrant, sensual and reckless.”
Although the New York Times said her performance was “very poised” it added “she seems more like a visiting lecturer on the subject of passion rather than its avatar.”
Stoppard’s sharp, biting script is sprinkled with Henry’s favorite pop songs, including Neil Sedaka’s “Oh! Carol” and The Crystals’ “Da Doo Ron Ron,” that the cast sing together.
While the music irked some critics, the New York Post thought it worked, but found the overall production disappointing.
“While ‘The Real Thing’ traffics in big ideas – art, love, cynicism, fidelity – the whole feels muted,” said the Post said.
PARIS | Bearded Eurovision queen Conchita Wurst, who found fame in the 2014 version of the singing competition, brings her distinctive brand of sexy to the famous Parisian cabaret club the Crazy Horse next month.
Alongside a bevy of topless burlesque dancers — sporting little more than fake beards in one number in Wurst’s honor — the Austrian singer will perform for a week in the theater located on the posh Avenue George V off the Champs-Elysees.
On the playlist is her Eurovision-winning hit “Rise Like a Phoenix”. In another, she belts out Ike and Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High” while poured into a silver minidress designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, the dancers behind her wearing only shiny silver bell-bottoms and suspenders.
When first approached by the Crazy Horse, Wurst – whose real name is Tom Neuwirth – said the prospect sounded intimidating.
“I visited the show and I was like, ‘I’m not good enough, I’m not sexy enough, I don’t move that well, you know. I’m just a singer’,” she told Reuters TV at a preview.
“And now … it feels quite good. It’s a match.”
The cabaret founded in 1951 is renowned for its sexy shows and guest stars including burlesque star Dita Von Teese and TV star Pamela Anderson.
Each year, the club goes through 2,500 pairs of stockings, 500 liters of body makeup, and 300 red lipsticks, according to the management. The 255-seat theater is equipped with plush red velvet booths, each with its own illuminated champagne bucket.
“I love being a woman on stage, and I’m not a biological woman, so this is something special in the first place, that I’m the first ‘special lady’ in this show,” said Wurst.
“I really feel comfortable being a lady on the stage, but … this kind of sexiness is something different. I mean they’re real women (on stage), you know what I mean? So I really have to find also this side of my female character.”
Since winning Eurovision in Copenhagen in May, openly-gay Wurst has spoken on a number of gender and sexuality issues, performing at the European Parliament earlier in the month in support of an initiative to fight homophobia.
She is also set to meet U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and give a performance in Austria next week but plays down her high-profile political interventions.
“For me it would be great that people would just accept the way you are, you know? If they focus on your character and if they focus on what you do, that would be great,” she said. “There are more ‘different’ people out there than you think.”
TOKYO | Joshua and Benny Safdie’s “Heaven Knows What,” the story of a young heroin addict who finds love in the streets of New York, took the top prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival on Friday.
The Safdie brothers also won the best director award for the U.S.-French production, which is based on a real-life account of the female lead, Arielle Holmes, and co-stars Caleb Landry Jones of “X-Men: First Class” fame.
“It was very simple,” competition jury president James Gunn said on selecting the winner. “This was the film that inspired us the most and got us the most excited.”
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” director added that “Heaven Knows What” was the most balanced of the films in competition in terms of imagery, story and acting.
“Heaven Knows What” was one of 15 films competing for the $50,000 Tokyo Grand Prix, after premiering in Venice and screening at Toronto and New York.
The main competition lineup featured a strong slate of other films making their Asian premieres after screening at major festivals, including “1001 Grams,” Norway’s Oscar submission for Best Foreign Language Film, and French thriller “The Connection.”
Lone Japanese entry “Pale Moon,” about an ordinary housewife who becomes involved in embezzlement, won the Audience Award.
Outside the main competition, this year’s festival put greater emphasis than previous years on animation, highlighting Japan’s strength in anime.
The festival opened with the world premiere of “Big Hero 6,” Disney Animation’s next big feature after last year’s hit “Frozen.”
It also featured a section on the works of “Evangelion” animator Hideaki Anno, while “Super Mario” creator Shigeru Miyamoto unveiled his 3D “PIKMIN Short Movies,” based on the Nintendo game characters.
Tapos na ang paghihintay ng Richard Gomez at Dawn Zulueta fans sa muli nilang pagbabalik tambalan. At Bea Alonzo, sinagot na ang isyu ng break up umano nila ni Zanjoe Marudo.
Erika Jayne’s new song “You Make Me Wanna Dance” has made quite an impact on charts in Asia. A slight departure from her usual fare, it’s also getting a lot of attention online.
Erika, known for having the most number one singles on the Billboard club dance chart, takes a new musical direction in that her new song blends an up tempo beat with rhythmic waves that are indicative of the best pop songs.
“You Make Me Wanna Dance” begins with an electro beat that gives drive to the rest of the instrumentals. Lyrics by the Grammy, Emmy, and award-winning lyricists Eric Martin and Andre Pessis perfectly combine with instrumentals that give the song its unique pop-dance club appeal.
Erika’s voice and range capture the mood, and when she passionately declares “I come alive” in the chorus, the feminine quality of her soulful voice makes you not only believe it, but want to join her as well.
If the video release, coming out within the next few days, gives the same feeling of independence and resolve as the song, we’re in for a real visual treat that will make us all want to dance!
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‘GOD’S NOT DEAD’: A MOVIE THAT CALLS FOR REFLECTION
Time Horizon Pictures is staying true to its goal of bringing world-class movies to inspire Filipino audiences as they present the new film “God’s Not Dead” this month.
The film, which has made waves overseas and performed well at the US box-office, will be gracing big screens across the Philippines starting on Nov. 12. It tells the story of college student Josh Wheaton whose Christian faith is challenged as he enters a philosophy class under an eloquent and passionate professor who believes that God is dead.
The movie stars Kevin Sorbo of the “Hercules” TV series, Dean Cain of the “Lois & Clark” TV series, and young actor Shane Harper as Josh. It also features special appearances by renowned band Newsboys, and Willie and Korie Roberston of the “Duck Dynasty” fame.
Following its US release, Forbes called the movie a “break out hit” and the Huffington Post said it “keeps its message alive.” Local celebrities as sisters and ABS-CBN artists Toni and Alex Gonzaga, Kim Atienza, Jinkee Pacquiao, beauty queen Dang Cecilio, Coney Reyes, Anthony and Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Ogie Alcasid, father and son director Jeric and Paul Soriano, among many others, support the movie and have likewise endorsed it.
“God’s Not Dead” asks thought-provoking questions about faith, reason and the consequences of beliefs. It is one of those movies that stay in the mind even after leaving the movie house.
Time Horizon Pictures brought us 2011’s critically-acclaimed “Thelma” starring Maja Salvador, which continues to rake in awards both here and abroad, most recently snagging the Bronze Palm Award at the Mexican Film Festival.
For more information on “God’s Not Dead” and its distribution in the Philippines, visit timehorizonpictures.com.
“Gangster Lolo” is one movie you must not miss because it is guaranteed to keep you laughing from beginning to end. It also offers a moral lesson: Crime does not pay.
During its premiere presentation at SM City North Edsa recently, its director, William Mayo, arrived in a wheelchair. He was undergoing treatment at the time but it only shows how passionate he is with his work.
The movie stars Leo Martinez, Rez Cortez, Soxie Topacio, Pen Medina as the Gangster Lolo(s).
Having been recently freed from years of incarceration, the group is now trying to eke a better life for themselves, only that they’re having a hard time finding a job. Apparently, nobody wants to take a chance on them being ex-convicts. Their only hope is a treasure map, which they got from one of their co-inmates.
“Gangster Lolo” is fast-paced and quite fun. Watching Leo and Soxie do their thing is such a treat. Surprisingly, Rez and Pen, both known as serious actors specializing in drama and action, both did well as comedians.
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PAPA JACK RECEIVES ‘KA-PADI’S AWARD’
John Gemperle, better known as Papa Jack of 90.7 Love Radio, received a birthday surprise recently, becoming the first male recipient of the “Ka-Padi’s Award.”
The award was given in recognition of Papa Jack’s efforts to provide entertainment to Padi’s Point “kabarkadas.”
Papa Jack, who was also awarded as the Male DJ of the Year at the Yahoo! OMG! Awards, has been doing gigs in different branches of the bar and resto chain for the past five years.
His schedule this month includes stops at Padi’s Point Las Piñas on Nov. 2; San Lazaro, Nov. 8; Tomas Morato, Nov. 9; Metro East, Nov. 15; Remedios, Nov. 16; South Station, Nov. 22; Fairview, Nov. 23; Biñan, Nov. 29 and Novaliches, Nov. 30.
• • •
TIDBITS: Happy b-day greetings today, Nov. 1, go to actress Sharmaine Arnaiz, Dr. Ronaldo Asuncion, Fiscal Dick Escueta, fashion designer Jun Peña, lawyers Crisanto Saruca and Norberto Capistrano, Col. Jimmy A. Tiu, Mrs. Mina N. Reyes, Gladys Maningding-Armas, Lina Misa, Cora Perez, singer Nina, Winnie Cordero of “Umagang Kay Ganda” and awarded actor Coco Martin… Happy wedding anniversary to Augusto and Pilarica Abaya… Nov. 2: Rep. Lynnette A. Punzalan, former actress Jenny Syquia, singers Jaime Blanch and Mell Salas, Engr. Remigio P. Biazon, Alexander Asuit of PCSO PR Dept., Yolanda Ibuna Fajardo, Frederick R. Sibug, Mark F. Gavino, Jenny Trinidad Fernandez, Ezekiel Joshua Dimaguila and Arnold Clavio of GMA-7’s “Unang Hirit”… Nov. 3: Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Mabel Abano, singer Amapola, Evelina Ramos-Cavett, Atoy Perez, Eric S. Tagle, and Maria Manna T. Merk… Belated b-day greetings to Vince Reyes of EM IMC Form (Sept. 22) and Estrella Cuadrasal (Oct. 24)…
It took a while, 10 years to be exact, for Michelle Madrigal to finally have her first leading role.
But despite her starmaking turn as a woman who is willing to do anything to have the offspring that has eluded her happy marriage in Edgardo “Boy” Vinarao’s “Bacao”, this may be the last time we’ll see the 26-year-old actress do something this daring on the big screen.
“May maiitotodo pa ba dun? I’m not so sure if I can do a sexier role and show more than what I showed here in this film,” Michelle told InterAksyon and other media after the recent gala premiere of the non-horror entry in the ongoing Film Development Council of the Philippines’ Sineng Pambansa Horror Plus Film Festival.
The actress was not only referring to her steamy love scenes with Arnold Reyes who plays her husband but also to her much talked about breast exposure in at least two key scenes in the film. Also, because it focuses on a couple desperate to have a child in a small town filled with sexually active residents, including the characters of Marife Necesito and Alvin Anson who play their neighbors, and Irma Adlawan and Menggie Cobarrubias who play Arnold’s parents, “Bacao” has drawn comparisons to the so-called ST (sex trip) and TF (titillating films) features pioneered by Seiko Films during the 1990s.
Such comparisons are further reinforced by the fact that many of those sexy films had agriculture-related titles like “Kangkong”, “Talong” and “Patikim ng Pinya”. “Bacao” means corn in the Isabela dialect.
But both Michelle and Direk Boy Vinarao are quick to point out the one thing that distinguishes “Bacao” from the sexy films in the past is that it does not have frontal nudity. Michelle said that is something that she specifically made clear when she agreed to do the film.
“Sinabi ko kay Direk kung ano ang puwede at hindi ko puwedeng gawin. Okay naman sa kanya and happy naman ako sa kinalabasan. The love scenes were tastefully shot,” she noted.
Vinarao stressed that Michelle’s partial nudity is not the focus of the film. “Even though she exposed a small portion of her flesh, she’s very good in her acting. Moreover, she took her performance sincerely and seriously, especially in drama.”
For Michelle, “Bacao” was indeed an opportunity to flex her acting muscles and show another side of her. Daughter of former sexy star Karla Kalua and sister of the equally sexy Ehra Madrigal, Michelle started her career as one of the finalists of ABS-CBN’s defunct reality talent search series “Star Circle Quest”. Her female batchmates included Neri Naig, Melissa Ricks, Sandara Park and Roxanne Guinoo.
She later transferred to GMA Network where she flourished as a character actress best known for her kontrabida roles. Like her sister Ehra, Michelle also posed for men’s magazines landing the cover of the now defunct Maxim Philippines once and FHM three times.
It was in one of those cover photos that Michelle’s morena features registered well with Direk Boy. The latter told InterAksyon that when he was casting “Bacao”, he could not think of anyone else who was perfect for the lead role of Mayet.
“If she didn’t agree to do the project, I’m not sure if I would still want to do it,” the seasoned filmmaker best known for his work as film editor admitted.
Even as her decision to do the project is proving to be a rewarding experience for her and her director, Michelle said she hopes to explore other facets of her craft in future projects.
“I’m glad I did this film. I’m happy with the finished product but I don’t want to keep the same thing. I’m not saying I’ll never do sexy again but I want to try something different, maybe an action film that is still sexy, like yung mga ginagawa ni Angelina Jolie,” she enthused.
The Sineng Pambansa Horror Plus Film Festival will run at SM Cinema branches nationwide until November 4. “Bacao” is being screened alongside three other films — Gil Portes’ “Hukluban”, Romy Suzara’s “Sigaw sa Hatinggabi” and “T’yanak” by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes.
‘Perfectly Imperfect’
Sarah Geronimo
Sarah Geronimo releases her 11th album, “Perfectly Imperfect,” and, with it, the multi-hyphenate act may just change the way Pinoy pop albums sound.
What was initially a brave jump into R&B-tinged pop with last year’s hit “Ikot-Ikot” is now fully embraced here by Geronimo, who comes up with a like-sounding single, “Kilometro.” This R&B-leaning mid-tempo track sizzles with some EDM and, while most local listeners might be hard put to dig the likes of Tiesto, Calvin Harris and others, they might give Geronimo a chance.
Now this is good; this is new. It’s about time the pop radio listeners get something more than the formulaic love songs, cringe-inducing novelty pop and mind-numbing remakes. And if there’s anyone that can influence a shift in the music taste of the masses, it would be SG.
The album is highlighted by the keyboard-drenched track “Bangon,” a tune that kicks off with an infectious piano lick and SG’s skillful singing. Elsewhere, SG works with themes of yearning, anticipation and yes, love.
She waxes hopeful in the face of heartbreak drenched in echoing beats and tasty keyboards on “Dulo.” She changes tempo and mellows out, acoustic-style, on “This Fight.” Meanwhile, ballads like “Kung Sabagay” and “Minamahal” calls to mind Sarah’s pop roots.
But the kicker in this album is the bubblegum-pop sounding title track and the piano-decked ballad “Bulletproof.” Canadian import producer Adam Hurstfield (Ne-Yo, Superjunior and Backstreet Boys) gave a Top 40 sheen to SG’s sound that, unsurprisingly, fits the singer.
It’s an album of changes for Geronimo. If it sounds this good, then by all means, keep it coming.
Quezon City, the home of major film and broadcast corporations in the country, is being groomed as a film capital in Southeast Asia. In line with this, the city government launched the QCinema International Film Festival, which will showcase critically acclaimed movies from across the globe in special screenings starting Nov. 5 to 11.
The films include “52 Tuesday” (Australia), “Ida” (Poland), “Jauja” (Argentina), “Leviathan” (Russia), “Mommy” (Canada), “The Don Juans” (Czech Republic) and “Two Days, One Night” (Belgium) and “Lilet Never Happened” (The Netherlands).
Another section is a tribute to South Korean master filmmaker Park Chan-wook, where the popular “The Vengeance Trilogy” (consists of “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance,” “Oldboy” and “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance”) will be shown locally for the first time.
“Kaya international film fest is because we want to partner with other countries. Sa mga darating na panahon, we want them to go to Quezon City and make (it) known as a film hub of Southeast Asia, at least for the region. Not just Bangkok na kilalang-kilala na for that. We want to be known regionally and globally as a film hub of culture and arts,” said Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista.
Meanwhile, Leo Martinez, director general of Film Academy of the Philippines, believes that the city can already be considered the country’s film hub, noting that “halos lahat ng production companies and television stations, nandito. Wala namang city na merong ganyan karaming producers.”
He supports the city’s effort in boosting the film industry that, in turn, creates job.
Along with the international films, the festival highlights 11 indie films that received grants from the QC government.
Leading the batch is the Tessie Tomas-starrer “Alienasyon,” which received a P2 million production grant.
According to a press release, “Alienasyon” is “a story of retired university professor who refuses to leave home in the campus despite an administrative order for eviction.” The story highlights the old professor’s reminisce of the history of his homeland.
“Pinupukaw (ng ‘Alienasyon’) ’yung sense of history natin. He (director Arnel Mardoquio) digs deeper in the film. Mabibigat ang mga pelikulang ginagawa niya, laging ipinapasok ang sense of history natin kung gaano kaganda; kung gaano kagiting ang mga Pinoy mula nu’ng Japanese occupation hanggang ngayon,” Tomas said.
Funding aside, the government also gives the production companies full ownership of the films, giving them the ability to independently market their own film after the festival.
Tomas lauds this setup, noting, “Itinuturing ko ang sarili kong isa sa pinaka-unang supporters ng indie film kasi marami-rami na akong nagawa (na indie films), mga 12 na. Natutuwa ako na talagang yumabong siya,” Tomas said.
Happy for the effort to give our films a global reach, she added, “‘Yung mga filmmakers , they should really see the potential behind the artistry of film, na gamitin ito bilang tool upang iparating sa mundo ang mga pinagdadananang paghihirap ng mga tao.”
Along with “Alienasyon,” other films that received production grants from Quezon City were “1st ko si 3rd,” “Nick and Chai,” “Tigbao,” “Cemetery Life,” “Tres,” “Tila,” “Ang Nanay ni Justin Barber,” “Senior,” “Bonifacio” and “Sa Ngalan ni Ultimate Warrior.”
NEW YORK | Rock legend Bob Dylan will release a new album in 2015, he has confirmed, after he unexpectedly put out a cover of a Frank Sinatra song.
The announcement comes ahead of the commercial release on Tuesday of “The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series, Volume 11,” a six-CD set of restored recordings of Dylan’s 1967 sessions with his ensemble The Band.
A note in the boxed-set says simply: “‘Bob Dylan, Shadows in the Night,’ New album coming in 2015.”
There was no further word on the nature of the album, which would be the 36th studio recording for the now 73-year-old rocker who maintains an active touring schedule.
In May, Dylan hinted at the album by releasing on his website a picture of himself with the title, “Shadows in the Night,” behind blue bars in the style of a record cover.
Dylan also at the same time put out a cover of “Full Moon and Empty Arms,” a pop song based on a work by classical pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff that was most famously performed by Frank Sinatra in 1945.
The song drew speculation that “Shadows in the Night” would be an album of cover songs by Dylan.
Dylan’s last studio album, “Tempest,” was released in 2012. The musically ambitious title track is a 14-minute account of the sinking of the Titanic that uses traditional Irish melodies.
LOS ANGELES | The family of Marvin Gaye has won a round in a court battle over allegations that last year’s blockbuster hit song “Blurred Lines” ripped off the late Motown legend’s work.
A US federal judge on Thursday denied a motion by singer Robin Thicke and songwriter Pharrell Williams who wanted a court to reject the plagiarism accusations made by Gaye’s children.
The ruling clears the way for the dispute to head to a celebrity trial that is scheduled to open in Los Angeles in February.
The Gaye estate says that “Blurred Lines” copied elements of the singer’s 1976 track “Got to Give It Up.”
The two sides brought in music experts who dissected the songs’ structures to debate the merits of the claim.
“Defendants have made a sufficient showing that elements of ‘Blurred Lines’ may be substantially similar to protected, original elements of ‘Got to Give It Up,’” ruled Judge John Kronstadt of the US District Court for Central California.
“Genuine issues of material fact are present as to the extrinsic similarity of the works. The intrinsic similarity of the works is a jury question,” he wrote.
“Blurred Lines” was already controversial.
The song contains the refrain “I hate these blurred lines/ I know you want it” and has been condemned by critics who say the lyrics refer to the issue of sexual consent.
The video features naked women parading before Thicke.
The R&B singer has said that he was fond of “Got to Give It Up” when he went out to record “Blurred Lines.”
But in court, Thicke insisted that he had embellished the connection as he liked being called the “white Marvin Gaye” and contended that Williams — who later recorded the smash hit “Happy”– did all the writing on “Blurred Lines.”
The judge said: “Thicke’s inconsistent statements do not constitute direct evidence of copying.”
Thicke and Williams brought to court a musicologist, Sandy Wilbur, who testified that the melody, harmony and rhythm of the songs were different. She said that only one note in the songs’ key phrases had the same pitch and placement, but did not last the same duration.
But an expert for Gaye’s family, Judith Finell, pointed to eight similarities and said that Wilbur erred in “microscopically analyzing” each musical element in isolation.
VIENNA | Austria’s transvestite Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst will serenade UN chief Ban Ki-moon during his visit to Vienna next week, the world body announced Thursday.
The singer, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, will perform at the United Nations’ Vienna headquarters on Monday and, along with Ban, will deliver a speech on tolerance and the rights of homosexuals.
Ban is looking forward to meeting a “cultural icon”, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York.
The spokesman said meeting with the bearded singer would allow Ban “to reassert his support for LGBT people and for them to ensure that they enjoy the same human rights and protection that we all do.
“Conchita is a symbol in that sense and I think it’s good for them to meet,” he said.
Since the Eurovision victory, the 25-year-old drag queen has appeared at various events to urge greater tolerance and an end to discrimination.
Wurst appeared before the European Parliament earlier this month at the invitation of five euro-MPs from different factions.
JUST A THOUGHT: The mind is everything. What you think you become. – Buddha
• • •
CINEMA ONE OPENING FILM: “Esoterika: Maynila,” a timely film on transgenderism and a young man’s search for himself and his art, has been picked to open the 10th Cinema One Originals Film Festival.
The film, directed by Elwood Perez and produced by Rex A. Tiri of T-Rex Productions in cooperation with Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and Tribute Entertainment, will be screened on Nov. 9, Sunday, at TriNoma cinema in Quezon City following the opening night cocktails.
Cinema One channel head Ronald Arguelles says “Esoterika: Maynila” is an auspicious start for the festival that espouses creation of new, independent, creative ideas in filmmaking. It is the second in a three-part series of films on the creative process that Perez has envisioned.
It all started with the critically acclaimed “Otso,” produced by the FDCP, in 2013 as part of the All-Masters Film Festival.
In “Esoterika,” co-written by Perez and Jessica Zafra, the director, relying on dramatized reality, draws from his personal experiences as a young man en route to being a creative artist.
In Pilipino komiks tradition, Ronnie Liang embodies the character of an up-and-coming graphic novelist in this entertaining treatise on learning and self-discovery.
Says the film’s flier: “In a voyage of self-discovery, Mario (Liang’s character), alternately ingenious and ingenuous, plunges into the territory of the exalted, the charmed and the bizarre, swimming through the uncharted waters of the unique Filipino mystique. The film’s multilingual cast is a convergence of Manileños of cross-cultural persuasions.’
With an all-star cast, “Esoterika: Maynila” features performances by Boots Anson-Roa, Carlos Celdran, Vince Tañada, Federico Olbes, Tesa Martinez, Francis Manalo and OJ Mariano.
Also cast in guest roles are Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Snooky Serna, Lance Raymundo, Jon Hall, Carlo Calma, Justin de Leon, Julia Varga Wig Tysmans, Zafra and Tessa Prieto-Valdez.
• • •
THE FINAL ENTRIES: With the theme “Intense,” Cinema One announced Wednesday the official list of entries competing in the annual fest that runs from Nov. 9 to 18.
They will be screened in Fairview Terraces, Glorietta, TriNoma, and Greenhills Dolby Atmos theaters.
The 10 new films are: “Di Sila Tatanda” by Malay Javier, “Seoul Mates” by Nash Ang, “Red” by Jay Abello, “Violator” by Eduardo Dayao, “Soap Opera” by Remton Slega Zuasola, “Lorna” by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, “Bitukang Manok” by Alec Figuracion, “Abel/Cain (Esprit de Corps)” by Kanakan Balintagos, “That Thing Called Tadhana” by Antoinette Jadaone and “The Babysitters” by Paolo O’Hara.
Some of the actors appearing in these films are Jericho Rosales, Angelica Panganiban, JM de Guzman, Angel Aquino, Lovi Poe and Rocco Nacino.
Cinema One Originals’ Best of Asian Cinema is showcasing the dramatic masterpiece of Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan titled “Winter Sleep,” winner of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or. Also in this section is Diao Yinan’s mystery film “Black Coal, Thin Ice,” winner of 2014 Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Award.
(nescuar@yahoo.com)
Pinakilig ng mga bida ng "Moron 5.2: The Transformation" ang madlang people nang mag ala boyband sila sa "It's Showtime" nitong Huwebes.
Filipino sister act MICA, composed of Mylene, Irene, Celina and Almira Gollayan, may have lost the opportunity to win big at the Korean talent search show “Superstar K6” but the whole experience only served to further their passion in pursuing a career in music.
The sisters from Santiago City, Isabela made history by becoming the first Filipino to land as finalists on the popular TV show. They were eliminated Oct. 24, finishing at the Top 8.
Almira, the eldest of the group, acknowledged that being part of the show is a “dream come true” for them.
Here’s an excerpt of our exclusive interview.
Bulletin Entertainment: Please describe your journey on the show.
Almira: “It was just like what the ‘Superstar K6’ tagline said: ‘Real Miracles Never Stop.’ Auditioning for the first stage, which was held at the SM Mall of Asia Center Stage is a life changing experience for us. We didn’t plan to audition. At that point, we already gave up on our dreams. We later learned that it’s the biggest star search in Korea. My sister Irene googled it and our mom told us to give it a try.
“The global audition held in Korea was a blast because we saw our idol Ailee in person. The stages we went through was like a huge rollercoaster ride mainly because it’s our first time to perform Korean songs. Even though we love K-pop music, we haven’t really tried to memorize and master the pronunciation. Going against hundreds of talented Korean singers and musicians and making it through was like a miracle.
“When Yoon Jong Shin (one of the celebrity judges) announced that we were among the Top 11, it was like, the happiest moment of our lives. We knew right there and then that God prepared this for us: to share our God-given talent.”
Bulletin Entertainment: How did you learn to sing in Korean? Was it hard?
Almira: “The first Korean song that we learned was ‘Nobody’ by the Wonder Girls. From that moment, we became fans of K-pop music. Joining ‘Superstar K6′ was really different. They were very particular with our pronunciation. After we passed the first audition, we took basic Korean lessons at UP Diliman for us to have some basic conversational skills at least.
“We tried our best but it’s really hard to learn the language in a short span of time. Still, we were able to learn 20 to 30 Korean songs. We studied them day and night including the original choreography. None too soon, we were already injecting a bit of ourselves into the music.”
Bulletin Entertainment: You’re the first foreign act and the first Filipino group to reach the finals in “Superstar K.” How do you feel about it?
Almira: “It’s a very huge honor for us to be the first Filipino act to reach the show’s Top 11. We are proud to have been able to represent the country in the biggest reality singing competition in Asia.”
Bulletin Entertainment: Among the 4 judges of “Superstar K6,” who is your favorite?
Almira: “We admire Kim Bum Soo because of his famous song “Bogoshipda” but our favorite is Yoon Jong Shin because he always gave us great compliments and really good grades. He really appreciated our talent.”
Bulletin Entertainment: How did “Superstar K6″ change your life?
Almira: It made us want to travel this path a little bit further. We already gave up singing. We lost hope. ‘Superstar K6′ changed that. Through the show, God made us a living testimony that dreams do come true. Just have faith in Him and your dreams.”
Bulletin Entertainment: What was your most memorable moment in the show?
Almira: “It was when we were housed in a camp for almost two months. It’s the first time we were away from our family. There’s also the discipline and intense training. Eating salad for two months was another.”
Bulletin Entertainment: Among the Top 11 finalists, to whom were you closest?
Almira: “We consider Brian Park a very dear friend. All of the other contestants were nice to us. But Brian is really a nice guy. He can relate to us because when he migrated to Australia, he also had a hard time communicating in English.”
Bulletin Entertainment: How did you feel when you were eliminated?
Almira: We didn’t expect it as we gave our best performance. But we believe that God has bigger plans in store for us.”
Bulletin Entertainment: What are your future plans?
Almira: “We want to continue performing, record an album and sing our own songs.”
Bulletin Entertainment: Thousands of Pinoys and Koreans supported you on “Superstar K6.” What is your message to them?
Almira: “We are so thankful for all your warm support. This is like a dream come true for us. We hope that you will still continue to support and root for us even if our journey in “Superstar K6″ has ended. We are just beginning and we will never stop reaching for our dreams.”
WARSAW | The United States attempted to have the film director Roman Polanski arrested for sex offenses when he traveled to Warsaw for the opening of a Jewish museum, a Polish newspaper claimed Thursday.
Polish-born Polanski, 81, who also has French nationality, has been sought by the American police since 1977 after he fled the country before he could be sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl.
The United States asked the Polish prosector general to hold the director of such films as “Chinatown”, “The Pianist” and “Rosemary’s Baby” until he could be extradited, according to the Gazeta Wyborcza daily.
The request was rejected because it had not been translated into Polish, said the paper, quoting a senior justice ministry official. There was no official confirmation of the request.
In 2010, the Polish prosecutor general said Polanski could not be extradited because under Polish law too much time had passed since the offenses.
But this is not the case in American law, and he still could have been held at the US request, a prosecutor quoted by the paper said.
However, the director was able to return to France, where he is directing a stage show called the “The Vampires’ Ball”.
Polanski was arrested in 2009 in Zurich when he traveled to Switzerland to pick up a prize at a film festival after the United States made a similar request. But he was eventually allowed to return to France after an extradition bid failed.
Polanski had previously made a private trip to Poland in 2011 but his visit this week, where he appeared on television at the opening of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, could not be kept secret.
Although a versatile actor who has had his share of hit comedies (“Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures”) and memorable dramas (“A Walk in the Clouds”, “Sweet November”), it is for action films of varying sub-genres (“Speed”, “Constantine” and “The Matrix” franchise) that Keanu Reeves is best known.
Reeves’ last two films last year found the Canadian actor channeling his inner Asian with the acclaimed martial arts film “Man of Tai Chi”, which he also directed, and “47 Ronin”, which took place in Japan and found him wielding a samurai.
But while “Man of Tai Chi” was well-received by both audiences and critics, “47 Ronin” was generally deemed as a lackluster fantasy adventure and, as samurai films go, was certainly nowhere in the league of the universally successful “Rurouni Kenshin” movies.
Reeves obviously needed to bounce back in a big way. His latest, “John Wick”, finds him in familiar Hollywood territory. Playing the title role of an ex-hitman brought out of retirement by a succession of personal losses, the film is directed by former stunt doubles David Leith and Chad Stahelski, both of whom Reeves collaborated with in “Constantine” and “The Matrix” films.
And judging from the mostly favorable reviews and encouraging worldwide box office take, it looks like “John Wick” could revitalize Reeves’ career in the same fashion that the “Taken” series has reinvented an already aging Liam Neeson as an unlikely action star.
In his review of the film, Time magazine resident critic Richard Corliss puts the actor’s remarkable comeback in the proper context.
“At 50 — 20 years after ‘Speed’ made him a top-billed glowering hunk, and more than a decade since he played Neo in ‘The Matrix’ trilogy — he’s not the hot icon he used to be… Within the narrow range of emotions he displays — mad Keanu, bad Keanu and of course Sad Keanu — Reeves does not exactly act; he just is. And in ‘John Wick’, where he plays a retro Neo in a crime drama with lots of martial arts and gun fu, that ‘is’ plenty.”
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone calls the film “the kind of fired-up, ferocious B-movie fun some of us can’t get enough of.” James Berardinelli of ReelViews calls it “a rousing action thriller of the sort rarely encountered in theaters these days” and recommends it “for those who crave no-holds barred action.”
Here in the Philippines where it is distributed by Pioneer Films and opened nationwide this Wednesday, “John Wick” could prove to be a sleeper hit even as it competes with several horror flicks that reflect the mood of the Halloween season.
Jampacked with relentless action scenes that include plenty of car chases, gun fights and explosions, the thrill of seeing Reeves’ one-man army take on a formidable bunch of Russian mobsters is certainly a throwback to the classic, “isa laban sa lahat” action films of the late, great Fernando Poe, Jr.
This early, John Wick is included as a playable character in the first person shooter videogame, “Payday 2”. While a sequel is yet to be announced, the prospects of the film turning into a new action franchise for Reeves looks very good.
LOS ANGELES | Oscar-winning filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen will turn their wit on the complex workings of Hollywood’s studios in a comedy featuring George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, Universal Pictures said on Wednesday.
“Hail, Caesar!,” scheduled for release Feb. 5, 2016, will follow a day in the life of a studio fixer who must tackle numerous challenges, the Comcast Corp-owned studio said in a statement.
Set in the later years of Hollywood’s golden age, the film will also star Josh Brolin, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton and Jonah Hill.
The Coen Brothers have previously won the best screenplay Oscar for 1996′s “Fargo” and three Oscars including best director and picture for 2007′s “No Country for Old Men.”
They also co-wrote the screenplay for Angelina Jolie’s upcoming directorial effort, “Unbroken,” also made by Universal.
LOS ANGELES | Hip-hop mogul Marion “Suge” Knight and comedian Katt Williams were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of stealing a camera from a celebrity photographer in Beverly Hills last month, the Los Angeles County District attorney said on Wednesday.
Knight, 49, and Williams, 43, were each charged with one count of robbery, the district attorney said.
They are accused of stealing the camera of a female celebrity photographer on Sept. 5 outside of a studio in Beverly Hills.
Prosecutors said they would seek $1 million bond for Knight, who has a prior felony conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, and $75,000 bond for Williams, whose legal name is Micah.
Williams was arrested at a court in Inglewood, California, after he had arrived for an arraignment in a separate assault case, the district attorney said.
Knight, best known as the powerful head of Death Row Records, a leading label in the 1990s featuring artists such as Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, was arrested in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas police said Knight was separately booked for driving on a suspended license.
If convicted, Knight faces up to 30 years to life in state prison because of his previous conviction. Williams, known for his observations about African-American life, faces up to seven years in prison, if convicted.
Williams’ agent was not immediately available for comment. A number listed for Knight was not answered.
As real-life horror stories go, very few can hold a candle to killer typhoon Yolanda (or Haiyan to the rest of the world).
One of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, it is also the most devastating Philippine typhoon in history leaving over 6,000 dead, over 28,000 people injured, over 1,000 more missing, and over P89 billion worth of damages to properties that left thousands of residents in hardest hit areas in Leyte and Samar homeless.
Now Lav Diaz, arguably the country’s most celebrated filmmaker of the last two years, has taken it upon himself to dramatically capture on digital film the startling aftermath of Yolanda’s wrath, as seen from the eyes of the children that survived the monster typhoon.
Aptly titled “Mga Anak ng Unos” (“Storm Children Book 1”), Diaz’s latest documentary comes on the heels of his consecutive international triumphs with “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan”, the country’s official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film of the 87th Annual Academy Awards scheduled for next year, and his Martial Law-inspired epic “Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon” that won the Pardo d’oro (Golden Leopard) grand prize at this year’s Locarno International Film Festival.
Like the latter film, “Mga Anak ng Unos” is shot in black and white. It had its world premiere last September 23 at the in the non-competition section of the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in Korea.
Next month, from November 6 to 16 to be specific, the film will compete in the Main Competition of the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival where it is described in the festival’s official site as “a sublime, cinematic report from a devastating corner of reality.”
“There has always been a strong impulse towards non-fiction in Diaz’s comprehensive oeuvre. But in the almost dialogue-free ‘Storm Children – Book One’, one of the most uncompromising of contemporary filmmakers has gone all in. The fact that his characteristic, cinematic signature – the long and hypnotic scenes held in patiently observing black and white images – is present in every composition and every instant, underlines the urgency of his vision and its importance in international cinema over the past decade,” says the film’s description in its official site.
Even with all the usual “trademarks” that characterize his films, “Mga Anak ng Unos” has a running time of 143 minutes or two hours and 23 minutes, making it Diaz’s shortest feature-length film in years.
In commemoration of the first anniversary of Yolanda’s landfall, “Mga Anak ng Unos (Storm Children – Book One)” will have its Philippine premiere on November 4 at 7PM in Cinema 6 of Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.
The film screening is a fundraising effort of DAKILA – Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism in partnership with the Embassy of Canada for the Climate Revolution campaign and the trust fund of the children featured in the film.
This special screening will also be featuring an exhibit of DAKILA’s ongoing Climate Walk, a 1,000-kilometer 40-day walk from Kilometer 0 Luneta to Ground Zero Tacloban in time for the anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda, participated by DAKILA’s core members Nityalila Saulo, AG Sano, Charley Sta. Maria, Christine Orias and Steph Tan and led by Philippine chief negotiator and representative to the UN Climate negotiations, Commissioner Yeb Sano of the Climate Change Commission.
Interested parties may reserve tickets for the film’s premiere priced at P250 until October 30. DAKILA can be reached at telephone numbers (+632) 4354309, (+63915) 1780240 or email address at activevista@dakila.org.ph. A reservation form may also be filled up at http://bit.ly/stormchildren-reserve.