Liam Neeson is back for a new "Taken" movie. On Wednesday, 20th Century Fox released the poster and global teaser trailer for “Taken 3.”
SNEAK PEEK: Trailer for 'Taken 3' released
Source: ABS-CBNNews.com (October 01, 2014 at 01:24PM)
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Liam Neeson is back for a new "Taken" movie. On Wednesday, 20th Century Fox released the poster and global teaser trailer for “Taken 3.”
There is more to Yam Concepcion than just acting. On Wednesday, the "Pure Love" star showed off her talent in playing drums, when she participated on the game show "The Singing Bee."
WASHINGTON | More than seven years ago on a cold January morning, virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell stood in an entrance to a Washington metro station disguised as a street performer and played his heart out.
No one noticed.
Since then, the story of Bell’s social experiment — which saw more than 1,000 people pass him by and only 27 stop to listen — has become nearly as famous as the Grammy award-winning musician himself.
But on Tuesday, Bell was back in Washington, wanting to prove that, if given a proper chance, the city’s people would listen — in neck-craning hordes.
Once again staking out ground in the public transportation system – this time at midday at the city’s Union Station train hub – Bell, accompanied by nine young string players, played with his trademark passion.
And this time, amid the station’s whirr and hum, people listened.
More than 1,000 fans and curious onlookers packed half of the station’s cavernous main hall for the free 30-minute concert, which included selections by Bach and Mendelssohn.
“The whole idea of the original stunt, I think, for me, was to show that you need active listeners. There’s two parts to the equation of making music,” the 46-year-old Bell told AFP.
“I wanted to show that even though the surroundings are similar, if you have active people who are really there to listen you have a wonderful experience, and it turned out much better than I could have imagined.”
‘NOT A WEEK GOES BY’
The 2007 stunt, which was chronicled in The Washington Post and earned its author Gene Weingarten a Pulitzer Prize, raised questions about beauty and society’s perception of it.
Bell, whose concert hall performances are regularly sold out and who plays on a Stradivarius violin that reportedly cost him around $3.5 million, earned just over $32 when he set out his case at the L’Enfant Plaza metro stop in 2007.
Disguised in a black baseball cap, his efforts went nearly unrecognized in the station at the heart of federal Washington.
“If a great musician plays great music but no one hears… was he really any good?” wrote Weingarten.
Seven years later, Bell said the concert has become a sort of defining moment, with the article repeatedly making the rounds on social media websites.
“There still isn’t a week that goes by without someone remarking that if they had been there, they would have stopped and listened,” he said.
But the Indiana native claims he was not really surprised by how the experiment unfolded.
“Music needs that attention — you can’t throw it to people while they’re rushing to work,” Bell said.
But members of Tuesday’s audience felt sure they could never have ignored him.
Ginger Reich, 62, a retired World Bank employee, said that the commuters at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro stop had engaged in stereotyping.
“They think, ‘He’s at a Metro stop so not really a real musician’,” Reich said.
Meaghan Kilner, a 13-year-old violin student, said she might not have recognized Bell, “but I would have known it was better quality.”
Children, Weingarten reported in 2007, were the only demographic that repeatedly tried to stop and watch Bell.
Tuesday’s concert coincided with the release of Bell’s new album “Bach” and comes ahead of HBO’s “Joshua Bell: A YoungArts MasterClass” documentary that airs on October 14.
Following the performance, Bell said, he would hop on a train.
LOS ANGELES | With the help of Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney, Giambattista Valli and Dolce & Gabbana, human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin vaulted into the top echelons of Hollywood fashion with her stylish Italian wedding to actor George Clooney.
Alamuddin, 36, showcased several outfits during her whirlwind wedding weekend in Venice, picking British, American and Italian designers and channeling golden age Hollywood glamor.
The piece de resistance was an off-the-shoulder tulle and Chantilly lace gown she wore at her formal wedding ceremony on Saturday that was revealed on Tuesday by fashion magazine Vogue and custom-made by New York-based de la Renta.
The British-Lebanese bride told Vogue she and Clooney wanted a “romantic and elegant” wedding, and de la Renta’s romantic and feminine design was the right choice.
The magazine renowned for anointing fashion royalty and whose editor Anna Wintour attended the nuptials, noted “she stands resplendent in her dress.”
De la Renta also supplied Alamuddin’s post-wedding dress, which the magazine described as a “festive, Gatsby-style party frock.” Clooney wore a custom black tuxedo by Giorgio Armani.
Oscar-winning Clooney, 53, one of Hollywood’s most famous bachelors, and Alamuddin’s wedding was attended by celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Bill Murray and Matt Damon. It has drawn comparisons to the nuptials of Kate Middleton and Britain’s Prince William in April 2011.
Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, has become a style icon for her chic ensembles that often incorporate high fashion and high street retail, earning a place in Vanity Fair’s annual best dressed lists over the past few years.
Vanity Fair’s special correspondent, Amy Fine Collins, said Alamuddin was one of the runners up for the magazine’s Best Dressed list this year, and pegged her as one to watch during the upcoming year for her “cosmopolitan view of fashion.”
“Amal has immediately entered the major leagues,” Collins said. “She has her own innate style which comes with maturity and intelligence.”
The raven-haired beauty opted for a chic white trouser and top by British designer Stella McCartney for her civil wedding ceremony on Monday. The outfit drew on effortless coastal fashion, a theme she embraced as she arrived in Venice in a black and white maxi Dolce & Gabbana dress.
As the newlyweds jetted through Venice in a speedboat named ‘Amore,’ the new Mrs Clooney selected a short, bell-skirted dress embroidered with floral motifs by Italian designer Giambattista Valli, showcasing her long legs.
“She executed a very polished overall look that a lot of women can aspire to and emulate,” said Dana Avidan-Cohn, senior market editor at InStyle magazine.
“Everything was elegant and well-suited for the affairs she was going to, and that’s what makes such a stylish person.”
Alamuddin also opted for a blood red Alexander McQueen gown with a dramatic train for her pre-wedding rehearsal dinner. Avidan-Cohn said the lawyer paid homage to her own beliefs and profession by carrying a clutch by Sarah’s Bag, a Beirut-based project where incarcerated women make artisan handbags and receive profits.
Brazilian model Fabio Ide has broken his silence on having a child with Denisse Oca, daughter of actress Melissa Mendez.
Ide posted a statement on Instagram that he got Oca pregnant before he met his current girlfriend, Michelle Pamintuan.
“It was only in May this year that I found out I was a dad…” part of his post read.
Ide vows to support his daughter.
“I will give everything she needs from me as a dad…” he said. “There are many fatherless children out there and I refuse for my daughter to be one of them.”
Saying he was initially scared of how they would break the news publicly, Ide kept everything within the family and friends at first because “I chose to do the right thing.”
Clearing things
Prior, Oca posted on the image-sharing site a screengrab of what appears to be text messages from Pamintuan, saying that Ide regretted getting her pregnant.
“Fabio and I were just talking last night and again this morning how AGAIN he wished too that he never had this baby,” Pamintuan said.
Ide addressed the issue, explaining that he never said those words.
“She (Pamintuan) already apologized for that and admitted I never said such a thing,” he said.
He added, “It’s so painful to see what is happening now… What my girlfriend said is so hurtful…”
Ide also said their issues are best resolved privately.
“My daughter doesn’t deserve any of this…” he said.
He thanked everyone for supporting and understanding this difficult situation.
“Wish things could have been different. Wish none of this would have happened. God bless us all and I pray for this storm to pass soon,” he said.
“These problems should be resolved at home with family and friends, and not through social media,” was the response of Brazilian model and actor Fabio Ide following a public, online spat between Michelle Pamintuan, his girlfriend, and Denisse Oca, the mother of his baby daughter Danielle, who was baptized over the weekend.
Fabio posted a lengthy statement Tuesday on his Twitter and Instagram accounts, accompanied by a photo of father and daughter.
“I’m truly a blessed man to have this beautiful baby girl by my side. 14 months ago (two months before I met my present girlfriend), I had a casual encounter with Denisse Oca and I later found out I got her pregnant. It was only in May this year that I found out I was a dad in a not ideal scenario, but because of my upbringing and family values I chose to accept this child and support her no matter what,” he said.
Denisse, the daughter of actress Melissa Mendez, posted on her Twitter and Instagram accounts earlier that day a screencap of text messages from a certain “Michelle” which read, “Fabio and I were just talking last night and again this morning how again he wished and I wished too that he never had this baby. He wished he could go back in time and sana you had an abortion.”
“Enough is enough,” said Denisse in the same post. “I have been so patient with you, all I wanted was peace, but you have clearly crossed the line and it is war. What kind of person says these things?”
Fabio called the fight — which Michelle started after Melissa posted pictures of the baptism online — “painful to see.” Michelle, who had attended the baptism with Fabio, had assumed all parties had agreed not to publicize the event, ostensibly to protect Fabio’s image.
“What my girlfriend said is so hurtful and evil. She already apologized for that and admitted I never said such a thing. I also don’t agree with Denisse for posting things online,” he said.
For her part, Denisse said she would always fight for her child.
“Michelle, you have crossed the line and you can’t take back what’s already been said. And Fabio, if this is the kind of person you want to be with, then I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter. If you really love Danielle and want to be a good father to her then this isn’t the kind of person you should be carrying around with you who is full of anger and hatred,” she said.
Fabio stressed that he would always take his daughter’s side.
“There are many fatherless children out there and I refuse for my daughter to be one of them. I have been supporting my daughter from the start but I’m only opening up to the public now because it’s such a sensitive issue,” he said. “I promised myself I will give everything she needs from me as a dad.”
He said he wished “none of this” had happened and was praying that the storm would pass soon.
Although her Twitter account shows no trace of it, and her Instagram account is private, Michelle seemed to be extending the olive branch, according to Fashion PULIS.
“I truly apologize for all this,” she replied to Denisse. “This is a hard and tough situation… (Out of) respect to Fabio who has done all he can, let’s resolve this issue between us. It’s my fault and I take full accountability. This situation isn’t easy and yes, it shows how angry and immature I was. …My emotions got the best of me but Fabio is the love of my life, it hurts to see him have a baby with someone else, that’s all.”
I performed with Marissa Sanchez recently and was surprised to learn that she has toned down her act. When before she was wee naughty just like me, earning the tag “The female version of Rico J. Puno” Marissa is now quite wholesome. I decided to interview her to find out why.
GG: What prompted the change in your act?
MS: I think it has something do with my newfound maturity and also my decision to live life like a true Christian. I have been a Christian long before but it was only recently that I decided to practice it in a genuine manner. I realized that, when you become a Christian, you don’t become sinless but rather, you sin less.
GG: You recently launched your new CD “Slowing It Down” – does it mirror your life?
MS: I wanted to slow down, yeah. Musically, I want to evolve and make a difference.
GG: I love the song “Eighteen.” What is it all about?
MS: It is a song I dedicate to my three-year-old daughter Lana and to 17-year-old girls out there.
GG: What is your life purpose?
MS: While on earth, I want to use my time according to what God has required me to do, as gleaned through the Bible. The moment you accept Christ as Lord and savior, you are already victorious. Anytime you go, you have the assurance that you’ll have eternal life.
GG: What lesson do you want to impart in the album?
MS: That life is uncertain and that people might judge you for your reputation, but for God, character is more important.
GG: You were known to do “birit” songs before. Will you still do the same at the launch of your album on Oct. 29 at Area 05 on Tomas Morato?
MS: Yes. I will still do songs like that and more comedy but no more green jokes, definitely.
Malaking dagok para kay Coco Martin ang mga batikos kaugnay sa ginanap na underwear show. Kumuha na rin ng abogado si Coco, lalo't naapektuhan na ng kontrobersiya ang kanyang trabaho.
BUSAN | A South Korean documentary about the Sewol ferry disaster has stoked controversy ahead of Thursday’s opening of Asia’s pre-eminent film festival in the port city of Busan.
The world premiere of “Diving Bell” from directors Lee Sang-Ho and Ahn Hae-Ryong will screen on Monday at the 19th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
The film has already stirred emotions in a nation still recovering from the shock of the April disaster that claimed more than 300 lives — including those of 250 high school students.
The diving bell of the title was a piece of specialized equipment that was drafted in for the widely criticized rescue and recovery operation, but hardly used.
Critics, including a small number of the Sewol victims’ families, say the film is insensitive and overly politicized, and have called on the festival organizers to scrap the screening.
Busan mayor Seo Byung-soo, who is also chairman of the BIFF committee, argued that as the festival is 60 percent funded by the taxpayer, such a contentious screening should not be considered unless “the filmmakers … decide to show the film using their private funds”.
However, festival organisers have stood by their decision to screen the film while Korean filmmakers have called for a full government inquiry into the Sewol disaster and are reportedly planning a press conference during the event.
STAR POWER
With an Asian festival calendar now jam-packed with events all vying for prominence and importance, the Busan event is turning to star power to attract attention with a guest list that includes Oscar-nominated Chinese director Zhang Yimou (“Hero”), actors Ken Watanabe and Tang Wei (“Lust, Caution”), as well as international art house directors Bela Tarr and Mohsen Makhmalbaf.
The festival will be showcasing films — including nearly 100 premieres — from 79 countries including the relatively small filmmaking communities of Bangladesh, Nepal, Lebanon and Iraq.
Busan’s “Korean Cinema Today” programme boasts nine world premieres in a showcase of the country’s independent directors, including Hong Seok-jae’s hotly anticipated “Socialphobia” which tackles issues of cyber bullying.
The festival’s main award — New Currents — offers two prizes of US$30,000 to first- or second-time Asian filmmakers. This year it will be contested by a field of 12 films from 12 countries including — for the first time — Bangladesh (Abu Shahed Emon’s “Jalal’s Story”) and Lebanon (Amin Dora’s “Ghadi”).
‘BRINGING TALENT TOGETHER’
While Busan has traditionally been seen as the region’s top film festival, the Chinese market is increasingly making its presence felt as the world’s second biggest in terms of turnover.
China’s Dalian Wanda Group recently announced an agreement of support with Hollywood’s Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which will see them jointly host the Qingdao International Film Festival in the eastern port city every September from 2016. The eastern coastal province of Zhejiang has unveiled plans to host a “Cannes style” film festival in the near future.
“They are partners to cooperate with, not competitors,” said Kim Young-woo, BIFF’s Asian cinema programmer.
“We keep good relationships with film festivals and exchange information. So BIFF will continue to work with them to collaborate as good partners for one another.”
The festival opens with Doze Niu’s cross-strait drama “Paradise in Service”, set in the 1960s around a time of heightened tension between Taiwan and China. The Taiwanese director said Busan played an important role in bringing film talent together.
“It’s the best exchange platform (for filmmakers),” he said.
“And the subsidies and incentives provided by Busan have directly led to many film collaborations and interactions in Asia. That’s all very meaningful.”
The region’s box office importance is reflected in the four-day Asian Film Market which runs during the festival and includes efforts to promote more international collaborations.
The Busan festival runs from October 2-11 and will close with the world premiere of Hong Kong director Lee Bo Cheung’s thriller “Gangster Pay Day”.
SEOUL | One of K-pop’s marquee acts, the girlband Girls’ Generation, has kicked out one of its star members, sending shockwaves through the group’s devoted fan base in South Korea, Asia and beyond.
Jessica Jung, a prominent member of the nine-girl act that has toured to packed stadiums around the world, said she had been “shockingly” informed by her eight colleagues and agency that she was no longer part of the band.
“I am devastated — my priority and love is to serve as a member of GG but for no justifiable reason, I am being forced out,” the 25-year-old wrote on her microblogging Weibo account.
Her agency SM Entertainment insisted Jessica had expressed an intention to quit earlier this year to focus on her newly launched fashion business.
“As the band had conflicting priorities and interests and Jessica started her own fashion business … we came to a conclusion that we can no longer continue the band like this,” SM said in a statement.
“We made a decision on her departure earlier than originally planned,” it said, without going into detail.
The agency stressed that Girls Generation would keep going with the remaining eight members.
The news made headlines in South Korea and immediately began trending on social networks as messages poured in from devastated fans.
“They kept saying that they were like families and they would sing and stick together until they became grannies,” said one disillusioned fan. “But they were just business partners after all.”
Formed in 2007, Girls’ Generation had a breakout hit with “gee” two years later and morphed into one of the biggest acts the K-pop juggernaut has ever produced, with a huge following in China and Japan.
A Korean-American, who was born and raised in San Francisco, Jessica launched her own fashion line “BLANC” in August of this year.
As 13-year-old newcomer Teri Malvar, she stunned the entire film industry when she defeated no less than Superstar Nora Aunor for the Best Actress plum in the first CineFilipino Film Festival last year.
Her compelling portrayal of a prepubescent lesbian in Sigrid Andrea Bernardo’s coming-of-age comedy “Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita” had such a strong impact that it was recently nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress in the Entertainment Press Society’s Golden Screen Awards.
Despite the initial acclaim, however, Teri will now be known by her real name — Therese Malvar — upon the advice of her handlers at GMA Artist Center, which signed her up recently. That is how she is billed in her latest film, “Tumbang Preso”.
“Sabi po ng manager ko, new beginning, new career life at saka mas unique,” Therese, now 14, told InterAksyon during the recent press conference to promote the film.
In the independently produced human trafficking drama directed by Kip Oebanda, Therese plays the role of a child laborer in a sardines factory who seems resigned to her live of slavery. Her cousin played by Kokoy Desantos, however, refuses to accept their predicament and finds a way to escape.
Therese said that while she enjoyed filming the movie and even did her own stunts, she admitted to being uncomfortable with the part where she and the other kids in the cast had to literally put the sardines in the can.
“Yung buong set, yung buong factory, amoy sardinas. Kaya pag may sardinas, siguro hindi na muna ako kakain,” she confessed.
Overall, she had a great time working in the film and was proud to be in a project that features a cast of dependable veterans and equally promising newcomers like Ronnie Lazaro, Jaclyn Jose, Shamaine Buencamino, Star Orjaliza, Dominic Roco, Kean Cipriano, Kerbie Zamora and Ron Cieno.
“Siyempre, matutuwa ako kung mapapansin siya ng award-giving bodies pero sana mas mapansin ng makakapanood ang important lessons of the film,” she pointed out.
After “Tumbang Preso”, Therese will again be seen in another indie project for the coming Cinema One Originals film festival this November. This time, she will be part of an ensemble cast in Alec Figuracion’s horror thriller, “Bitukang Manok”.
As one of the newest stars under GMA Artist Center’s growing roster of talents, Therese played the role of a young Jennylyn Mercado in the pilot episode of the recently concluded soap, “Rhodora X”. She said GMA is still deciding on her future projects for the network.
Although she is now continuing her education through independent home schooling after her school disapproved of her appearance in indie films in general and “Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita” in particular, Therese said she remains very happy to be a part of the industry and hopes to be as successful as her idol, Anne Curtis.
“I would like to be her, yung maraming projects, maraming endorsements. Yung ganun ka-sikat, ganun ka-successful,” she enthused. “Aside from acting, I’d also love to be a host in a food and travel show. I love to travel and I love to eat.”
Produced by Fathom Pictures and Spears Activation Company, “Tumbang Preso” opens exclusively in SM Cinema on October 8.
Filipina Marlisa Punzalan has made it to the Top 5 of “X-Factor Australia.”
In the show’s live performance last Monday, Punzalan sang Dani Im’s “Super Love,” which earned praises from judges Ronan Keating,
Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Redfoo.
Bassingthwaighte said she loved how Punzalan hit the high notes.
“It was breathtaking for all of us. We were all like, wow. I mean, how far have you gone in this competition. It’s just beautiful to watch,” she said.
Redfoo added, “Every week you just do something great, you take risks. I think that’s phenomenal.”
Though impressed by the performance, judge Dannii Minogue commented on Punzalan’s “runs.”
She told her, “You rock it… you’re so brave you take on the biggest song, big productions. Your big notes are your strength, watch your runs, okay?”
Keating dismissed Minogue’s remark, however, saying “Her runs were great, her runs were amazing. 14 years of age, that’s unbelievable.”
He addressed Punzalan, saying, “You took on a monster of a song… You absolutely nailed it…”
Meanwhile, “X-Factor Israel” champ Rose Fostanes advised Punzalan to keep her focus.
“Wala siyang dapat intindihin sa sasabihin ng iba kasi magsisimula na dyan ‘yung mga hindi magagandang comments. Huwag na siyang makinig dun, basta I-focus lang niya kung ano ’yung meron siya ngayon,” she told ABS-CBN News.
Fostanes also advised Punzalan to not let negative comments get to her.
“Wag siyang magpa-bully. Alalahanin niya mas magagaling ang mga Pilipino kaysa sa ibang bansa. Itaas ang bandera, Marlisa! Go, go, go!” she said.
SYDNEY (AP) — Actress Nicole Kidman on Tuesday broke her public silence since the death of her father more than two weeks ago by sharing her heartbreak and thanking well-wishers for their comforting thoughts and prayers.
“We would just like to thank everyone for their love and prayers over these past couple of weeks,” Kidman and her singer husband Keith Urban said in a joint statement posted on their Facebook pages.
“We are all heartbroken, but knowing we are in the hearts and thoughts of others is so comforting,” they added.
They signed off: “Sending love, Nic and Keith xx.”
The Australian star of this year’s “Grace of Monaco” returned to her home of Sydney after her psychologist father Tony Kidman died during a vacation in Singapore on Sept. 12.
The 75-year-old was in Singapore to visit his other daughter, Antonia, and her family.
Authorities did not reveal the cause of this death.
The symbiosis between TV and film has prove to be a goldmine for the entertainment industry. In fact, it has been quite instrumental for fans of all ages to play catch-up or revisit old favorites that have been given a new lease on life – from the likes of TV’s “The A-Team” and “Mission: Impossible,” to the quirky movies “Fargo” and “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” among so many others.
One such project that has its roots from ’80s Primetime TV is “The Equalizer.” Now a movie, it stars Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, a retired intelligence officer who just can’t turn away from those who need him most, just like his TV counterpart.
Whereas the series saw McCall (then played by English actor Edward Woodward) exacting justice upon various hooligans – murderers and drug dealers and everything in between – the film zeroes in on violent Russian gangsters and the young girl under their control named Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz). The nickname “the Equalizer” naturally stuck.
“Actually I never watched the television series,” Washington admits candidly. “I may have seen a bit of it as a kid, when I was younger, but I don’t remember the series, and we weren’t really looking to emulate the series. Basically it’s just the name. I guess it’s the same premise… (but) didn’t look back to the TV series at all.”
Now that he’s clarified that, the actor nevertheless describes his role seemingly just as anyone would the past TV character. “When he sees what’s happening to this young girl, Teri, he is compelled to help her because he does have that moral compass. I think that they’re kindred spirits,” he says, noting that there are other girls in the situation that McCall feels he needs to set right.
Sharing that he added the obsessive-compulsive behavior as a means to enhance the character and not make him some “mindless guy running around shooting (people).” He adds, “‘Who is he? What’s wrong with him? How does he overcome that?’ All those (were) real questions that we had to answer for the sake of the story.”
Washington says the obsessive behavior gave him “a real handle, so that he’s not just some perfect guy. He’s got issues that he’s trying to overcome. It just makes it more interesting.”
While the actor points out that McCall is “more than just a vigilante” with his own back story of a failed marriage that he wanted to fix but could not in order to help a girl in trouble, there are plenty of action sequences that fans of the genre can expect. Rehearsing for months with experts martial arts prior to production, Washington says, “By the time we got in that room, I knew what we were doing, and I knew what I was going to use. It was well worked out…”
Physical demands aside, Washington enjoyed the collaborations with the director Antoine Fuqua (with whom he’s worked in “Training Day,” for which he snagged an Oscar Best Actor in 2002), as well as his co-stars like Moretz, whom he describes as “quite grown up” and “very professional.”
“It was long days and long nights and a lot of fighting, a lot of going back and making sure we got what we needed, and all that. So yes, it was physically demanding, but I’ve got a great job. I’m not complaining and making ‘The Equalizer’ was challenging but rewarding, too,” he says with satisfaction.
“The Equalizer” opens in local theaters on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas has expressed interest in reopening debates about the revival of the death penalty, following the murder of actress Cherry Pie Picache’s mom.
“I’m open to discussions (about it). Definitely ay gusto kong mahuli ‘yung mga gumawa nu’ng gruesome murder na ‘yun sa nanay ng aking kaibigan. Kahit ako mismo ay tutulong ako to bring them justice. Madali na lang naman ‘yan, pagdating naman sa Plenary, pagbobotohan lang ‘yan,” Vargas said in a recent gathering.
He feels for Picache having lost his own mother last year.
“Nakakaawa. Sa tingin ko, nobody deserves to lose a mother that way. Para sa akin, walang kahit sino mang tao ang may karapatan na gumawa ng ganong (krimen).”
Vargas and his legislative team are currently studying a bill to regulate Internet usage of minors, following a related crime by juveniles in his district.
“Nagulat ako na ang patay (ay) five-year-old na babae. Nu’ng tinanong ko kung bakit siya pinatay, ‘yun pala, naglalaro sila ng ng kaibigan niyang lalaki, nagkapikunan, sinaksak siya nang maraming beses,” he recounted.
“Du’n, medyo na-awaken ‘yung sense of urgency ko tungkol diyan dahil sa Internet, lahat ng bata na-e-expose sa pornography, sa violence, sa bad influence. It just scares me very much as a father kung hindi mai-regulate ‘yan.”
Vargas himself shuns social media, although he is aware that it’s a powerful tool for communication. Apart from being “makaluma,” the 32-year-old has stayed away because he is wary of “bashers.”
“Grabe, ang sakit nilang magsalita na parang… sa panahon ngayon, parang ang hirap ‘pagka mapagtripan ka. Ang sasakit ng mga sinasabi,” he said.
On his first year in Congress, Vargas, along with his colleagues, proposed 10 landmark bills, five of which were passed by the Lower House on its first regular session. These include the mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens, the unified student financial assistance system, national land use management, the creation of special education centers in every public school division and the recently enacted Go Negosyo Act.
Vargas also filed a resolution mandating the establishment of a passport issuance office in Novaliches, which will begin operations in the fourth quarter of this year.
Notwithstanding his political success, Vargas still misses showbiz.
“Kasi passion ko ‘yun eh. Siyempre na-miss ko rin ‘yung kumikita ka sa pag-a-artista mo para kahit papano mabigyan ko naman ng kahit konting kaginhawaan ‘yung family ko ‘di ba? Although second priority ko na lang siya, first priority ko ‘yung public service,” he said.
Jessica Jung is no longer a member of Girls’ Generation.
Jessica herself made the announcement on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo this morning, saying that she was actually “shocked” when SM Entertainment told her about it.
“I was excited about our upcoming fan events only to shockingly be informed by my company and 8 others that as of today, I’m no longer a member,” she said.
She added, “I’m devastated – my priority and love is to serve as a member of GG, but for no justifiable reason, I am being forced out.”
In a separate post, Jessica addressed fans saying, ”You guys are very special people that I love dearly, therefore you deserve to hear the truth from me. I’m deeply saddened and hurt by those who I trusted and hope that you don’t ever have to experience this kind of pain.”
SM Entertainment has since confirmed the news via a statement, a copy of which was obtained by Enewsworld. It read:
“This spring, Jessica told the company that due to a personal situation, she will be stopping team promotions after the end of one more album promotion. Despite Jessica′s sudden announcement, the company and the SNSD members persistently worked hard and pondered on how to continue promotions in a good direction for SNSD.
“However, before agreements could be made on rising conflicts regarding the priority and interests of SNSD promotions, Jessica began her fashion-related business, and a situation arose where it became difficult to maintain the team despite continuous discussions.
“With this, the company decided it had to promote SNSD with eight members sooner than expected, and while it was discussing when to announce the news, Jessica posted her own perspective in the early morning.
“From this point onward, the company will unchangingly support and manage SNSD with eight members as well as Jessica′s personal activities.”
Jessica debuted as part of Girls’ Generation in 2007.
The rest of Girls’ Generation will be holding their first “2014 Girls’ Generation 1st Fans Party” today in Shenzhen.
Nagbigay nang pahayag ngayon si Toni Gonzaga matapos sabihin ng kanyang ina na handa na sila kung maisipan niyang magpakasal sa nobyong si Paul Soriano.
Coco Martin has apologized for his controversial segment in the “Naked Truth” fashion event of Bench.
Sharing Coco’s message on “Aquino & Abunda Tonight,” Kris Aquino read the actor’s apology.
“Humihingi po ako ng patawad at pag-intindi sa mga kinauukulan kasama ang pangako na magiging mas sensitibo ako sa mga isyung may patungkol sa karapatang pantao at pangkababaihan,” Martin said as quoted by Kris.
The actor admitted that he did not see controversy brewing when he sashayed down the catwalk with a leash tied to a female model’s body.
“Sobra akong nalungkot sa mga nangyari. Inaamin ko po ang pagkukukang ko dahil dala na rin po ng pagod sa araw-araw na trabaho, hindi ko nakita ang malalim na kahulugan ng pinagawa sa akin…”
He said that the incident reminded him about “lahat ng responsibilidad na kakabit ng aking trabaho.”
A women’s group, Gabriela, slammed the segment as “a disturbing throwback to concepts of enslaving and subjugating women to male fantasies.”
Bench owner Ben Chan has apologized to Coco for “involving him in the controversial scene.”
“Coco Martin was asked to portray a character in a circus scene of our theatre show, and only played the role given to him. This is to apologize to Coco Martin for involving him in the controversial scene,” Chan said, adding that “more importantly, we also apologize for offending the sensitivities of some persons. We assure you that we shall always endeavor to uphold the dignity of people.”
NEW YORK | Some 45 years after pioneering heavy metal, Black Sabbath will return to the studio for a new album that could be the band’s last, frontman Ozzy Osbourne says.
Osbourne, in an interview published Monday, said Black Sabbath had a “great” experience with last year’s comeback album “13″ and a subsequent tour.
The heavy metal godfather, 65, said he told his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne that he wanted to return to his solo work unless Black Sabbath came together for another album.
“I said, ‘Sharon, I ain’t fucking 21 anymore. If we’re going to do it, I want to do it before I’m 70! Time isn’t on our side,’” he told Metal Hammer magazine.
“So she made the call and came back and said ‘Yeah, the record company wants another album,’” he said.
Osbourne said Black Sabbath has not yet written new music but plans to return to the studio in early 2015 for what would be the band’s 20th studio album. He said the band members had not decided whether to record in their native Britain or in Osbourne’s adopted Los Angeles.
But Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s lead guitarist and driving force behind the music, in a recent message on his website said he has “been in the studio writing and listening to some of my earlier ideas for songs.”
Osbourne acknowledged that Iommi’s health could affect the next album as the guitarist has been treated for cancer.
“Obviously a lot of it is coming down to Tony’s health,” Osbourne said.
He said that the band planned to work again with Rick Rubin, the influential producer whose work has spanned genres from hip-hop to metal. Rubin produced last year’s “13,” which was Black Sabbath’s first album in 18 years and reached number one on album charts in both the United States and Britain.
The band helped pioneer heavy metal, starting with its self-titled first album in 1970. Black Sabbath incorporated elements of the blues into a heavier guitar sound, accompanied by themes of the occult, which often alarmed religious groups.
ROME | The new Mrs Clooney flew the flag for British fashion by wearing Stella McCartney for her civil wedding ceremony Monday but it was an Italian who triumphed in the celebrity wedding of 2014′s style wars.
McCartney’s cream trouser suit, trimmed with navy blue at the former Amal Alamuddin’s tiny waist and around a matching wide-brimmed hat, was suitably elegant and business-like for a visit to the Venice city hall to put the final, legal touch to a weekend of intense nuptial celebrations.
But it created nothing like the buzz generated by the thigh-flashing mini-dress with which Alamuddin wowed the crowds in the City of Canals over the weekend and which was revealed Monday to be the work of Roman haute couture star Giambattista Valli.
Alamuddin, the lawyer who wed Hollywood star Clooney in a private ceremony on Saturday, spent most of her first full day of married life in a stunning, predominately white mini-dress that was intricately decorated with exquisite macrame embroidery in the form of purple and pink flowers.
A high, round neck and long sleeves helped give the piece a demure, bridal feel.
But, in typical Valli style, that initial impression was offset by a high “drop” (higher at the front than the back) hemline that, paired with towering, strappy gold stilettoes, hinted at a racier side to the 36-year-old human rights specialist.
A spokeswoman for Valli revealed the dress that made front pages around the world was crafted from silk, the Paris-based designer’s favourite fabric.
The dress was not specifically designed for Alamuddin to wear. She picked it from a previous Valli haute couture collection and had it adapted to her own willowy measurements.
“It was the first time he has dressed Amal and for sure it won’t be the last,” the spokeswoman said.
- Designer for several Hollywood A-listers -
Valli is a firm favourite among Hollywood A-listers, having designed red carpet outfits for the likes of Penelope Cruz, Natalie Portman and Halle Berry.
He created the much commented upon pink robe that Jessica Biel wore for her 2012 wedding to Justin Timberlake.
The global buzz generated by Alamuddin’s showcase of his skill could help promote his new, more affordable line.
The new Giamba collection, unveiled in Milan earlier this month, is meant to complement his haute couture and ready-to-wear collections, and features mini-dresses in the same vein as the one sported by Alamuddin. It is due in shops in early 2015.
Born in Lebanon but raised in Britain, Alamuddin won international acclaim for the fashion sense she displayed over the course of a weekend of extravagant nuptial celebrations.
Details of the dress that she wore for Saturday’s private wedding ceremony remained a tightly-guarded secret although several influential publications were suggesting that it was the work of Oscar de la Renta, the veteran designer whose back catalogue includes producing clothes for Jackie Kennedy.
The couple, who met through Clooney’s humanitarian work, are widely thought to have agreed a deal to sell the pictures of Saturday’s star-packed wedding exclusively to one publication with the intention of donating the proceeds to one of the causes they support.
Other looks that Alamuddin sported in the floating city include a flowing, scarlet Alexander McQueen dress embellished with an ornamental black print that featured a low-cut but discreet neckline, a tight waist and another asymmetrical hemline. She wore that to the pre-wedding dinner on Friday.
During the day on Friday, she was seen in a black-and-white Dolce and Gabbana number with a ’60s feel.
Breathless reports in the British media suggested the D&G item had sold out after the pictures of Alamuddin wearing it appeared.
Not true, a spokeswoman for the Italian style duo told AFP.
It was in fact a dress from D&G’s 2013 spring-summer collection that the lawyer had sourced… from her wardrobe.
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Troubled former teen star Amanda Bynes was arrested over the weekend on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of drugs in Los Angeles, the California Highway Patrol said on Monday.
Bynes, 28, who has become known in recent years more for her legal troubles and bizarre public behavior than for her acting, was taken into custody Sunday at 4:10 a.m. (1110 GMT), the CHP said.
CHP declined to say what drugs Bynes was suspected of having used. The arrest report said Bynes was arrested “based on the observed driving and her evaluation.”
Officers said they saw her Mercedes-Benz sport-utility vehicle stopped in the middle of an intersection in the Sherman Oaks area, northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Bynes appeared disheveled at the time of the traffic stop, according to the incident report.
The actress was released from Los Angeles jail at midday on Sunday after posting $15,000 bail, according to jail records.
Representatives for Bynes could not immediately be reached for comment. Bynes is due in court on Oct. 23.
Bynes, who became a star at the age of 13 when she had her own comedy show on the Nickelodeon television network, had been out of headlines for more than a year. She was placed under psychiatric care after she allegedly started a small fire in front of a Los Angeles home.
Bynes, the star of 2003 film “What a Girl Wants,” has not appeared in a film since 2010′s “Easy A.”
The actress is on three years’ probation after pleading no contest in February to a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving with an alcohol component stemming from a 2012 arrest when her BMW swiped the side of a patrol car in West Hollywood.
Bynes’ mother had been in control of her legal and financial affairs since August 2013. Celebrity website TMZ said the conservatorship ended earlier this month.
ROME (AFP) – The new Mrs. Clooney flew the flag for British fashion by wearing Stella McCartney for her civil wedding ceremony Monday but it was an Italian who triumphed in the celebrity wedding of 2014′s style wars.
McCartney’s cream trouser suit, trimmed with navy blue at the former Amal Alamuddin’s tiny waist and around a matching wide-brimmed hat, was suitably elegant and business-like for a visit to the Venice city hall to put the final, legal touch to a weekend of intense nuptial celebrations.
But it created nothing like the buzz generated by the thigh-flashing mini-dress with which Alamuddin wowed the crowds in the City of Canals over the weekend and which was revealed Monday to be the work of Roman haute couture star Giambattista Valli.
Alamuddin, the lawyer who wed Hollywood star Clooney in a private ceremony on Saturday, spent most of her first full day of married life in a stunning, predominately white mini-dress that was intricately decorated with exquisite macrame embroidery in the form of purple and pink flowers.
A high, round neck and long sleeves helped give the piece a demure, bridal feel.
But, in typical Valli style, that initial impression was offset by a high “drop” (higher at the front than the back) hemline that, paired with towering, strappy gold stilettoes, hinted at a racier side to the 36-year-old human rights specialist.
A spokeswoman for Valli revealed the dress that made front pages around the world was crafted from silk, the Paris-based designer’s favourite fabric.
The dress was not specifically designed for Alamuddin to wear. She picked it from a previous Valli haute couture collection and had it adapted to her own willowy measurements.
“It was the first time he has dressed Amal and for sure it won’t be the last,” the spokeswoman said.
- Designer for several Hollywood A-listers -
Valli is a firm favourite among Hollywood A-listers, having designed red carpet outfits for the likes of Penelope Cruz, Natalie Portman and Halle Berry.
He created the much commented upon pink robe that Jessica Biel wore for her 2012 wedding to Justin Timberlake.
The global buzz generated by Alamuddin’s showcase of his skill could help promote his new, more affordable line.
The new Giamba collection, unveiled in Milan earlier this month, is meant to complement his haute couture and ready-to-wear collections, and features mini-dresses in the same vein as the one sported by Alamuddin. It is due in shops in early 2015.
Born in Lebanon but raised in Britain, Alamuddin won international acclaim for the fashion sense she displayed over the course of a weekend of extravagant nuptial celebrations.
Details of the dress that she wore for Saturday’s private wedding ceremony remained a tightly-guarded secret although several influential publications were suggesting that it was the work of Oscar de la Renta, the veteran designer whose back catalogue includes producing clothes for Jackie Kennedy.
The couple, who met through Clooney’s humanitarian work, are widely thought to have agreed a deal to sell the pictures of Saturday’s star-packed wedding exclusively to one publication with the intention of donating the proceeds to one of the causes they support.
Other looks that Alamuddin sported in the floating city include a flowing, scarlet Alexander McQueen dress embellished with an ornamental black print that featured a low-cut but discreet neckline, a tight waist and another asymmetrical hemline. She wore that to the pre-wedding dinner on Friday.
During the day on Friday, she was seen in a black-and-white Dolce and Gabbana number with a ’60s feel.
Breathless reports in the British media suggested the D&G item had sold out after the pictures of Alamuddin wearing it appeared.
Not true, a spokeswoman for the Italian style duo told AFP.
It was in fact a dress from D&G’s 2013 spring-summer collection that the lawyer had sourced… from her wardrobe.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexico City man is in Hogwarts heaven after his collection of “Harry Potter” memorabilia was named the world’s largest.
Menahem Asher Silva Vargas has spent nearly 15 years hoarding all things related to British author J.K. Rowling’s young-adult wizard-fantasy series, which spawned eight blockbuster films.
His collection fills two rooms and counts everything from magic wands and toy figurines to Gryffindor scarves and replica Quidditch brooms.
Guinness World Records officially recognized it Monday as the world No. 1, at 3,097 pieces. The old mark was 807.
Silva Vargas said he began with no intent to amass a huge collection. But soon it was like being under a spell.
He laughingly called his obsession both a blessing and a curse: “My salary, my bonuses … it all ended up here.”
NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) — Actor-comedian Tracy Morgan and other people in a limousine struck from behind by a Wal-Mart truck on a highway in June are at least partly to blame for their injuries because they weren’t wearing seatbelts, the company said in a court filing Monday.
The filing was made in federal court in response to a lawsuit Morgan filed in July over the accident, which killed his friend James McNair, who was accompanying the former “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock” star back from a show in Delaware. Morgan spent several weeks in rehab with rib and leg injuries.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., based in Arkansas, said in the filing that the passengers’ injuries were caused “in whole or in part” by their “failure to properly wear an appropriate available seatbelt restraint device,” which it said constitutes unreasonable conduct.
An attorney representing Morgan and the other plaintiffs called Wal-Mart’s contentions “surprising and appalling.”
“It’s disingenuous,” attorney Benedict Morelli said. “It’s not what they said they were going to do initially, which was take full responsibility. I’m very upset, not for myself but for the families I represent.”
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages. It says the retail giant should have known that its truck driver had been awake for more than 24 hours before the crash and that his commute of 700 miles (1,126 kilometers) from his home in Georgia to work in Delaware was “unreasonable.” It also alleges the driver fell asleep at the wheel.
Wal-Mart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said in an email that the company “continues to stand willing to work with Mr. Morgan and the other plaintiffs to resolve this matter.”
Passengers Ardley Fuqua and Jeffrey Millea and Millea’s wife, Krista Millea, also are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Krista Millea was not in the limousine when the crash occurred but is a plaintiff because she has a related loss-of-services lawsuit stemming from the crash.
Truck driver Kevin Roper, of Georgia, pleaded not guilty to death by auto and assault by auto charges in state court. A criminal complaint also accuses him of not sleeping for more than 24 hours before the crash, a violation of New Jersey law.
A report by federal transportation safety investigators said Roper was driving 65 mph (105 kph) in the minute before he slammed into the limo van. The speed limit on that stretch of the New Jersey Turnpike is 55 mph (88 kph) and was lowered to 45 mph (72 kph) that night because of construction.
Roper had been on the job about 13 1/2 hours at the time of the crash, the report concluded. Federal rules permit truck drivers to work up to 14 hours a day, with a maximum of 11 hours behind the wheel.
CHANHASSEN, Minn. (AP) — Nightfall is fast approaching at Paisley Park.
There are few lights on in the cavernous compound, and unseen doves (of course there would be doves) are cooing up a racket before twilight fades to darkness. But even their collective noise takes a back seat once Prince — sitting in the dimmest bit of light — goes to his Mac, cues up a track and hits play.
A melodious instrumental track floods the room, the lush orchestration compliments of the Minnesota Orchestra, whom Prince tapped to perform. Its inspiration has come from a little-heard Dionne Warwick song, “In Between the Heartaches,” which he also played moments earlier.
The track remains a work in progress; Prince has written no lyrics yet. But it’s music like this that keeps him going — to still, after all these years, take music to the next level.
“If you don’t try, how will you get another ‘Insatiable?’” he says, referencing his classic bedroom groove.
Over the next few moments at Prince’s computer, he goes to YouTube to play an array clips that get his musical heart thrumming, dipping from old James Brown clips to the relatively new U.K. singer FKA Twigs.
Prince isn’t always pleased about what he hears from today’s crop of entertainers — “The quality of the music, everyone would agree is not the gold standard,” he muses about today’s mainstream pop universe.
But when it comes to his world, what he’s hearing ranks among the best that he’s heard in ages. On Tuesday, he will release his first album in four years, “ART OFFICAL AGE,” along with music from his latest protege act, 3RDEYEGIRL, “PLECTRUMELECTRUM.”
“I’m completely surrounded by equal talent,” an energized Prince says. “To me it feels like heaven.”
___
It’s not just the music that’s taking his Royal Badness to new heights: For the first time, he is releasing his music with complete freedom. The man that once wrote “slave” on his face in protest of not being in control of his own music and famously battled and then departed his label, Warner Bros., is now back with the label — under his own terms.
“What’s happening now is the position that I’ve always wanted to be in,” says Prince. “I was just trying to get here.”
In the spring, Prince, 56, finally gained what he had sought for more than two decades — control of his musical masters, and, in a larger sense, his musical legacy. In the past, Warner Bros. held the rights to Prince’s music, even long after he left, as part of the contract he signed as a new artist.
But after savvy legal maneuvering, he owns the rights to all of his vast collections of hits, including archival music that Prince fans have been longing to hear for decades. Prince also gained control of the publishing rights to his compositions and has performance rights — which means he completely controls his own musical destiny.
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, who works closely with Prince on legal, business and financial matters, calls it his “fight for justice” and an enormous game-changer for the industry.
“It’s magnificent, and what’s important for him, he wants all musicians to have (this),” she said. “This is just something that he feels incredibly passionate about.”
Long a trailblazer for artists’ rights, and for coming up with innovative approaches to break away from the label-structure that he’s viewed as unfair to artists, he sees the way the industry has unfolded as the ultimate “I told you so”: disappearing labels, a streaming system that some music acts say nets them even less profit for the music they made, and increasing challenge to make money just off of making music.
He scoffs at the image of him that had long been defined by others; a technology-phobe who resisted what was to come in the industry, like that persistent notion that he once declared the Internet dead.
“We were saying it was dead to us — dead energy,” he explains.
For Prince, the old Tribe Called Quest rhyme still rings true: “Industry rule number four thousand and eighty, record company people are shady.” He speaks passionately of his disdain for traditional record contracts and publishing agreements that he believes give most of the power — and profit — to other entities, not the creator of the music.
He considers it not only bad business, but also against God: “The Bible says you’re not supposed to sign your inheritance away.”
The entry of Apple as the major player in music hasn’t helped, in his view. When asked about U2′s much analyzed venture with Apple — in which the company paid them for their latest album, then released it in its customers’ iTunes libraries for free — Prince simply says. “That’s a designer deal. … Of course they got paid. But what about the others?”
___
Prince is hoping to show artists that there is an alternative to the standard way of doing business. Paisley Park is not just a place for Prince, but also a creative sandbox for other artists.
Liv Warfield is one: The boisterous soul singer with the big band and dynamic stage act worked under Prince’s tutelage for her latest album, and has opened for Prince on tour; “The Voice” contestant Judith Hill has come through. At one point, he plays a track by a powerful female voice that turns out to be Rita Ora. Jennifer Hudson will be making a Paisley Park pilgrimage soon, he says.
“How we make music is in a collective,” he says, with the motto: “Best idea wins.”
This spring, he launched NPG Publishing; besides administering his own music, it will do so for other acts.
But he’s quick to note that he doesn’t have artists signed to him.
“We don’t do (record) deals,” says Prince. “I don’t want anything from anybody.”
Joshua Welton, a young producer who is married to drummer Hanna Ford Welton of 3RDEYEGIRL (Donna Grantis and Ida Nielsen round out the trio), is one of the fresh new talents that Prince marvels at; he refers to him as a “Steve Jobs” and marvels not only at his musical might, but also his spiritual strength.
His faith in Welton is so strong that he shares productions with him on the album, and says for the first time, there are tracks where Prince doesn’t even play an instrument, leaving it to Welton.
“Who would have predicted that I would let a 22-, 23-year-old produce me?” says Prince (though he’s actually 24). “He’s supertalented.”
___
For Prince, success today is about audience impact and, as always, taking success to the next level.
He’s not looking for a repeat of 1984: “I don’t need another gold record,” he says matter of factly (though for the record, that was the year of many platinum records).
Nor does he care about charting No. 1 songs or hits. When he explains why he isn’t, he takes it back to Africa and says that’s not the community’s way of thinking: “You don’t quantify success by numbers.”
He’s working on a rerelease of the epic “Purple Rain” album for its 30th anniversary, but when asked if he’s excited about it, he flatly says no.
“Same album, just state-of-the-art sound,” he says. “It’s nice that it sounds better for the fans but I live in the now. I don’t have to go backwards to celebrate.”
He had no hesitation about working with Warner Bros again (after entering what Lamkins-Ellis called an “amazing deal”): “I don’t deal in history nor should they,” he says. “It’s not the entity that’s the problem.”
Prince isn’t stopping with the two new albums and the “Purple Rain” rerelease: His song “Funknroll” is being used by NFL network, and he’s excited about new avenues for his music.
You’ll find his new music on iTunes, and Spotify, but he doesn’t see anything contradictory in that. “It’s about the deal. Anything I’m doing now it’s equitable. I’m happy.”
He adds: “I just thank God that I’m here now.”
Less than a week after it officially became the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 2015 Academy Awards, Lav Diaz’s “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” has already made its presence felt in at least two online Oscar prediction lists.
Debuting at an impressive No. 15 in Indiewire’s Top 20 predictions, “Norte” is one of seven films categorized by writer Peter Knegt as “Other Options that Could Surprise”.
It is also one of only four films from Asia in the list, the others being “The Golden Era” from Hong Kong currently ranked number 12, “Winter Sleep” from Turkey ranked number 7, and “Leviathan” which is ranked at number 3.
Geographically, both Turkey and Russia are transcontinental countries that cover both Europe and Asia.
Indiewire is a US-based daily news site that is not only considered as leading source of information on independent and foreign language films but also a reliable resource for industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews.
Another US-based entertainment site, Hitfix.com also posted its list of contenders (link: http://ift.tt/1os0zfU) for the Oscars’ Best Foreign Language Film. While “Norte” did not make its Top 10, it is listed among the films that are “Also in Play”.
Launched in 2008, Hitfix specializes in breaking entertainment news, insider information, and reviews and critiques of film, music, and television.
AwardsCircuit.com, an Oscar-prediction site where the Philippines has figured prominently over the last two years, with 2012’s “Bwakaw” peaking at number 6 and last year’s “Transit” ranking as high as number 15, has also released its own Oscar predictions for the Best Foreign Language Film category. However, its last update is dated September 21, three days before the announcement of “Norte” so it’s understandable that Diaz’s acclaimed masterpiece is not yet in its list.
As the October 1 deadline approaches, a total of 67 countries have so far submitted their official entries for the Best Foreign Language Film category. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), however, will still determine the eligibility of the submissions.
Based on the posted predictions, several films have emerged as early frontrunners, including Poland’s “Ida”, Canada’s “Mommy”, Russia’s “Leviathan”, Belgium’s “Two Days, One Night”, Sweden’s “Force Majeure” and Turkey’s “Winter Sleep”, the Palme d’ Or winner of the 2014 Cannes International Film Festival.
Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan and others in his limousine were not wearing seat belts when their vehicle was struck by a Wal-Mart truck in a June highway accident, the retailer said on Monday.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc made its contention in a court filing responding to a lawsuit by Morgan and three other plaintiffs over the crash on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Known for his work on NBC’s “30 Rock” and “Saturday Night Live,” Morgan spent several weeks in rehabilitation following the June 7 accident, which killed his friend and fellow comedian James McNair.
In its filing, Wal-Mart said the injuries suffered by surviving passengers were caused in whole or in part by their “failure to properly wear an appropriate available seatbelt restraint device.”
Wal-Mart said that by failing to use seat belts, the passengers “upon information and belief, acted unreasonably and in disregard” of their best interests.
Other plaintiffs include comedian Ardley Fuqua Jr, Morgan’s assistant Jeffrey Millea and Millea’s wife, Krista Millea.
“It’s not a defense. They’re trying to mitigate their damages,” Benedict Morelli, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a phone interview.
“Any time a lawyer says ‘upon information and belief,’ it means they don’t know,” he added. “Maybe they want to play hardball. If so, I’m ready.”
In their July 10 lawsuit, the plaintiffs claimed that Wal-Mart knew or should have known its truck driver, Kevin Roper, had been awake for more than 24 hours before the crash, which under the law meant he should not have been on the road.
Federal investigators have said Roper was driving roughly 20 miles per hour (32 kph) over the speed limit just before the crash.
Wal-Mart has said it was sorry that one of its trucks was involved. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer declined in its filing to address many of the plaintiffs’ claims, citing a pending probe by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Roper has been charged with vehicular homicide and assault-by-auto and pleaded not guilty.