Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man in 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'. (Sony Corp)
LOS ANGELES | Captain America, Spider-Man, the X-Men and Transformers are storming back into movie theaters, returning in sequels to save the world from mass destruction, while at the same time churning out profits for movie studios.
Hollywood will pack 13 sequels into theaters over the next 20 weeks. The parade begins on Friday, when Captain America dons his red-white-and-blue superhero suit for the U.S. debut of Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” and continues through summer, Hollywood’s most lucrative season.
Studios generally don’t have to spend as much to raise awareness of sequels months in advance, as they do with other big-budget films, executives say.
And when sequels reach the big screen, ticket sales in foreign markets, which can account for up to 80 percent of a film’s box office, often exceed their predecessors.
“When you can say, here’s ‘Avatar 2,’ and you’ve got six billion people ready to see it, it doesn’t take a lot of marketing to get them into the theater,” said Jim Gianopulos, chairman and chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment. “It’s a self-propelling marketing message in a very big world.”
The first installment of 20th Century Fox’s animated “Ice Age” series took in $207 million overseas in 2002. The fourth “Ice Age” from the studio owned by Twenty-First Century Fox earned $716 million at international box offices in 2012.
Sequels are hardly a new Hollywood phenomenon. But in recent years, as DVD sales crumbled, movie studios began to cut back on the numbers of films they produced to trim the risks.
Starting in 2008, they began to churn out more sequels and big-budget event films, turning away from riskier original films like independent dramas and romantic comedies.
This year’s sequels include superhero films “The Amazing Spider-Man 2″ from Sony Corp, Fox’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” and “Transformers: Age of Extinction” from Viacom Inc’s Paramount; animated movies “Rio 2″ from Fox and Dreamworks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2;” and Sony comedies “22 Jump Street” and “Think Like a Man Too.”
What mostly drives the studio top brass is that audiences keep buying tickets for sequels. In 2013, nine of the top 12 films in the U.S. and Canada were sequels or prequels, including Marvel’s “Iron Man 3″ and Lions Gate’s “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”
Those films generated $2.6 billion in domestic ticket sales, nearly one-quarter of the year’s $10.9 billion total, and another $4.5 billion worldwide.
That shift away from riskier films has helped studios increase or stabilize their profits, said Janney Montgomery Scott analyst Tony Wible.
Operating margins at Time Warner Inc’s Warner Bros., the studio behind the “Harry Potter” franchise and “The Dark Knight” Batman series, hovered around 7 percent in 2007 and 2008, Wible said, before rising to about 10 percent for each of the next five years.
The cast of 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'. (Fox)
At Walt Disney Co, the focus is on a smaller number of films with the potential to produce sequels, drive toy sales and inspire theme-park rides.
In a typical year, Disney is aiming to release one film each from Pixar, Disney Animation, and “Star Wars” producer Lucasfilm; two from Marvel, and four to six from its Disney live action division, said Alan Horn, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.
“We choose our sequels carefully,” Horn said. “If we have a picture that has earned a right to have a sequel, it’s because the audiences loved it.”
Next year’s crop of sequels may set even bigger records. Studios are already planning to release new installments of some of the biggest films of all time, including “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park” and “Marvel’s The Avengers.”
The rash of sequels has prompted even filmmakers to make fun of their world. In the opening number for “Muppets Most Wanted,” Disney’s sequel to its 2011 “The Muppets” movie, the furry puppets break into a song called “We’re Doing a Sequel.”
“That’s what we do in Hollywood,” the puppets sing, “and everybody knows that the sequel’s never quite as good.”
Chris Evans. (Marvel Studios)
LOS ANGELES | With a suit of stars and stripes, and a loyal Marvel fan base behind him, actor Chris Evans once again brandishes the shield of superhero Captain America in a new film. In real life, the actor finds himself at odds with the demands of fame.
Walt Disney Co’s Marvel Studios sequel “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” out in U.S. and Canadian theaters on Friday, thrusts the patriotic superhero into battle with an elusive enemy.
The film catches up with Captain America’s alter-ego Steve Rogers after he emerged from being frozen for 70 years and helped save New York in 2012′s blockbuster superhero ensemble “The Avengers.” Rogers is now living in Washington and adjusting to modern life. The former soldier has joined the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and teams with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) to unravel a conspiracy.
The 32-year-old Evans talked to Reuters about what drives Captain America, dealing with the press, and what makes him feel like a kid again.
What has changed about Captain America in the sequel?
He has always been a servant for the people. The problem now is given the current technological advancements, in order to preserve the freedom that we try to promise people, you may have to bend the rules in order to keep people safe. There is a great line in the movie that (S.H.I.E.L.D. director) Nick Fury says, “S.H.I.E.L.D takes the world as it is, not as we’d like it to be.” That’s a tough concept for Cap to swallow.
What do you think makes him stand out among the Marvel characters?
His fight for morality. He puts himself last. For the most part, the majority of other superheroes in the world, their personal conflict is the main conflict. I think Cap tries to not burden other people with his own issues.
There seems to be a humility about him or a reluctance. Is that part of the character?
There is certainly a level of selflessness. He has no desire for fame or accolades.
Is there any parallel to your life in that? You were reluctant to take this role.
Sure. Acting is great. It’s one of my first loves. Acting doesn’t come without strings attached. Enjoying acting is different than navigating fame. At times, it can be a bit of a challenge.
In a previous interview, you said you hate doing press for your movies. Why?
It wouldn’t be so bad if it was all in one nut, if I had one giant conference and we all talked once. There is no question you can throw my way that I haven’t answered 30 times today. That’s the problem. It’s very mundane. It’s very tedious. It’s a real chore. But in the grand scheme of things, I’m not flipping burgers. I’m not in the coal mines.
It’s one thing if you are talking in a room to people who want to ask you genuine questions about the movie. Unfortunately, people aren’t always interested in those. They are waiting for you to slip up. They want a headline. You make some foolish statements, then there’s a headline they can sell. Press is not always simply promoting something you worked hard on. Press is about not putting your foot in your mouth to afford other people to try and tear you down.
You seem pretty at ease. Do you worry that you are going to slip up and say something you wish you hadn’t?
Always, and that’s the problem. You want to try and attack these questions with candid honesty, but you can’t do that because not every interview is going to come and meet you with the same sense of genuine curiosity. A lot of press, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. As a result I feel guarded, and as a result, you don’t get the truth. That’s unfortunate.
You have a couple other projects coming up. One is “1:30 Train,” which you are directing and starring in. Why did you want to direct it?
Acting, you are one small piece of the puzzle. I wanted to be involved in a few more of those choices. I really wanted to build a movie. I wanted to set shots. I wanted to cast characters. I wanted to pick music. I wanted to actually construct the film.
You said you are going to take a little break from acting. What are you going to do?
I’d like to direct. I just enjoyed it. You know when you are a kid and you get a hobby? You find something you like, and you wake up on a free day, and it’s the first thing you think about? You just wake up and you run to do it. Directing was that thing I felt. I love acting and I’ll still act. But I think when I have a little more free time from the Marvel universe, I will probably try and pursue that first.
You always play the hero. Would you ever want to play the bad guy?
I would love to. I hope I get that opportunity. Maybe I can direct something where I get to play the villain. Why not?
Walang kupas pa rin ang karisma ng "Meteor Garden" sa Pinoy fans. Pero nasaan na nga ba ngayon ang astig na F4 at si Shan Cai?
Kristin Chenoweth (AP)
She’s played Glinda the Good Witch on Broadway’s “Wicked,” but there’s something about playing a frog wrought in unrequited love that tickles Kristin Chenoweth’s fancy.
Some might remember her from TV’s quirky “Pushing Daisies,” where she played Olive Snook, a woman with a hopeless crush on the main protagonist, Ned; or even from her guest appearances on “Glee” as the somewhat unfortunate April. However, a turn as a pink, fabulous and, yes, poisonous animated amphibian is just something the Tony and Emmy award-winning singer/actress could not pass up.
“With the huge success of Blue Sky’s animation and the incredible world they’ve created in ‘Rio,’ I knew I wanted to be a part of ‘Rio 2’ right away,” Chenoweth says.
“Carlos Saldanha is directing the film, so I said: ‘I’m in,’” she says of the returning director. “I love Carlos to death. He is such a good director. It didn’t take much for me to say yes, because I love the idea of creating something new.”
In the upcoming animation, Chenoweth play a pink singing frog named Gabi, who falls in love with Nigel (Jermaine Clement), the white cockatoo that has and will continue to torment the lives of the rare Blue Macaw protagonists Blu (Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Anne Hathaway).
Gabi, voiced by Kristin Chenoweth, the ‘pretty cute’ little pink frog that sings!
Chenoweth describes Gabi, the frog, as “very sad a lot of the time. She does not have many people in her life, or other animals, because she is poisonous and with one strike of her tongue she can kill you. So she stays away from people and things she cares about, because she is afraid she will kill them. Right there you have a great underdog.”
She knows a lot of women may be able to relate to Gabi “falling in love with someone who cannot return the affection.” She insists, however, that Nigel is much more than the bad guy, “especially to Gabi.”
As to the voice actor behind the great white cranky cockatoo, Chenoweth says, “The crazy thing is that I’ve still never met Jemaine Clement who plays Nigel. But when I meet him I just want to hug his neck and tell him how brilliant he is. He’s so funny and the characters have so much fun together!”
Another thrill for Chenowith making this animation is getting to sing in it. “I remember when ‘Toy Story 2’ came out, and I heard Sarah McLachlan sing ‘When Somebody Loved Me,’ my heart broke. It was the perfect moment. Music elevated and escalated the story.” Although when it was her turn in the studio, things got a little gruff, so to speak.
“The day I was recording ‘Poisonous Love,’ I wanted to be ready and rested,” she shares. “However, these animation people always have chips and chocolate and Coke around for us … all the things I love. Out of nervousness I found myself eating chocolate bars and I realized that, ‘Oh no I am going to have to sing now.’ For the first few takes my voice sounded like charred glass! I was so embarrassed, but it was a real joy to do this film. I loved it.”
The fans who loved “Rio” will love it, too, and surely, the sequel is sure to pick up more a few millions more along the way. Catch the wacky gang of bubbly birds – voiced by the likes of Andy Garcia, Jamie Foxx, Bruno Mars, Will.i.am, and many others – wreaking happy havoc in the Amazon rainforest when it opens on April 9.
Bianca Umali topbills upcoming TV series “Niño”
Actress Bianca Umali aims to do good in her chosen profession if only to fulfill her parents’ wishes.
The young actress’ mom died of cancer in 2005; her dad succumbed to heart attack some two years after.
She said, “Hindi siya (death of her parents) reason para itigil ko ‘yung ginagawa ko kasi ‘yung pagiging artist, ‘yun talaga ‘yung dream ng parents ko for me. Kino-continue ko na lang and everything I do here is for them.”
Despite being orphaned at an early age, Umali remains quite optimistic, believing that “everything happens for a reason.”
She added, “Alam ko na…kaya kinuha ni Lord ‘yung parents ko kasi meron siyang better plans for me and he thinks siguro na I’m strong enough to handle that kind of problem.”
Although she admits that, at times, “It’s hard kasi for me, nakikita ko ‘yung ibang ka-age ko na may parents.”
Umali, who currently lives with her grandmother, maintains that she has learned to stand on her own two feet.
“I just realized, hindi all the time may tutulong sayo. If you have problems, hindi ka puwedeng palaging hihingi na lang ng tulong from others. You also have to learn how to become independent,” she shared.
She wants to serve as a paragon of strength to other orphans like her to help them “move on and accept reality.”
“Kung tutuusin, wala naman tayong magagawa kasi mangyayari siya kung mangyayari. Kung magmumukmok ka lang sa isang tabi, walang mangyayri sayo, pinahihirapan mo lang ‘yung sarili mo. It’s better na ibuhos mo lahat sa kung ano man ang pinagkakaabalahan mo kasi du’n, in a way, mababawasan ‘yung sakit,” she pointed out.
The actress considers her situation an “advantage” as it helps her channel better performances.
Bianca was last seen on the defunct GMA-7 drama series “Mga Basang Sisiw” and “Paroa: Ang Kuwento ni Mariposa.”
She has earned her first lead role in the upcoming TV series “Niño” where she is paired with “StarStruck Kids” First Prince Miguel Tanfelix.
Bianca counts her six half-siblings from her parents’ previous partners as among her most ardent fans. “Sila ang number one supporters ko. Tinutulungan nila ako mag-promote sa mga work nila. Ang sarap ng feeling na ‘yung siblings mo nandiyan,” she stated.
Apart from being an actress, the soon-to-be 8th grade student hopes to hone her skills in visual arts, noting “Alam ko naman na showbiz is not forever.”
Mike Tan (Bhenj Agustin)
The 27-year-old “Ultimate StarStruck” champ Mike Tan will mark his 10th year anniversary in show business next year and at this point, he can boast of longevity and having done worthwhile projects like the currently airing “Kambal Sirena.”
In an exclusive interview held at Café Breton on Tomas Morato in Quezon City, we asked Mike to ride a time machine in a journey to the past. In full throttle, he shows how it’s possible to remain down-to-earth despite being a star:
What’s your most memorable experience in showbiz?
“’Yung series na ‘Kung Aagawin Mo Ang Langit’ kasi ‘yun ang first break ko. Dun ko napatunayan na kaya kong umarte, mag-drama. Then nasundan yon ng ‘Legacy’ at iba din ‘yon kaya kahit paano, napakita ko ang versatility ko. Dun ako nagsimula magseryoso kasi before, ang akala ko sa pag-aartista, basta dumating ka, i-deliver mo ‘yung line mo in one take, babayaran ka, tapos na. Hindi pala ganun, kelangan mong pag-aralan, paghirapan.
“Nagkaroon ako ng punto na halos nawalan na ako ng trabaho dahil na din sa kagagawan ko. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Hindi ako papayag na maging ganito lang ang takbo ng karera ko, kailangang may marating ako.’ Dun ako nag-invest, nag-theater ako, yung ‘Pamaypay.’ Sabi ko sa handler ko, ‘di na muna ako tatanggap ng kahit anong trabaho. Kailangan ko munang magimprove sa acting, mamuhunan.
“Every work na nakuha ko, nag-audition ako, nag-screen test. Walang inihain na lang.”
Mike Tan (Bhenj Agustin)
You once did a Holy Week special titled ‘Tanikala: Ang Ikalawang Yugto.’ What do you cherish most about it?
“’Yun ‘yung gumanap ako bilang isang closet gay. Masaya kasi in-appreciate nila ako dun bilang actor, na pinaunlakan ko sila. Hindi dahil ang guwapo mo, hindi dahil ang tangkad mo, kundi nakita nila ang mga pinaghirapan mo.
“Pero hindi ‘yun ang first gay role ko, kundi sa ‘Maynila.’ ‘Yung iba, puro light lang, hindi ‘yung may interaction sa mga lalaki.”
What do you remind yourself to pray for all the time?
“Ang magpasalamat. Everytime ‘yan. Pag nagda-drive ako nagpapasalamat ako na nakakapag-drive ako. Pag nagising ako, pasalamat agad.
“Syempre, humihingi din ako ng guidance and wisdom and courage and perseverance. Pero mas thankful ako lagi, kahit na anuman ‘thank you’ kasi ‘yon ang binigay sa akin.”
The first controversy you’ve read about yourself.
“‘Mike Tan, inihatid ng isang bading.’ Akala nila, isang director eh ‘yun pala, tito ko. Tawa ako ng tawa tapos tinawagan ko ‘yung tito ko, tawa din kami ng tawa. Sinabi ko din kay Direk, ang sabi niya, ‘Sana man lang eh hinatid nga kita, eh ni hindi nga!’”
Let’s test your short-term memory. What’s the last movie you saw and the last time you experienced LSS (Last Song Syndrome)?
“’Wolf on Wall Street.’ Ang bigat (ng movie)! Di naman ako fan ni Leonardo DiCaprio pero gusto ko ngang malaman kung bakit hanggang ngayon, di pa siya nananalo (ng Oscar). Ang problema lang, everytime kasi na gumagawa siya ng sobrang ganda, mayroon laging mas magaling na papasok kaysa sa kaniya. Parang lagi siyang naji-jinx.
“LSS? ‘Let It Go!’ Ang tagal na pero ‘yun pa din ang kinakanta ko, haha. Bigla na lang, bigla kong kakantahin. Pero hanggang (sings) ‘Let it go…let it go…’ tapos wala na.”
Mike Tan (Bhenj Agustin)
Name a veteran actor who gave you most precious advice.
“Si Tita Caridad Sanchez, nung mga ‘Basang Sisiw’ days. Sabi niya sa akin, na, ‘Nakita ko, meron ka eh kaya lang binibitawan mo madalas eh. Hayaan mo munang mag-linger.’ Pero sa akin mayroon akong sariling style na pag-arte na ayaw ko sa lahat nagli-linger. Kasi sa totoong buhay walang nagli-linger. Magli-linger lang ‘yan kapag nakakita ka ng magandang babae, pero kapag nagdadrama ka, hindi ‘yan maglilinger lalo na kapag mabilis ‘yang galaw mo.
“Tapos sinabi din sa akin ni Tita Caridad na ‘Sa lahat ng gagawin mo (sa pag-arte), makikita mo kung ano ‘yung mali, pero never makikita ng ibang tao ‘yan, so ikaw lang din ang magbabago ng pagkakamali mo. Ikaw lang din ‘yung magsasabi sa sarili mo na ‘yang ginagawa mong yan, may kaya ka pang i-improve pero ikaw lang din makakagawa nun.”
What’s your earliest childhood memory?
“Alam ko kung kelan ako nagsimulang tumayo. Sa bahay namin ‘yon, sa Mandaluyong. Nung tinanong ko ang mama ko, tama daw ‘yung sabi ko. ‘Oo, dyan sa may pader.’ Alam ko kasi na ‘yung mga kutkot sa pader na ‘yon, ako ‘yung gumawa.”
“Alam ko din kung kelan ako gumapang, paano ako tumingala, ilang beses akong tumumba, alam ko ‘yun.”
When was your first fistfight and with whom?
“Sa best friend ko. Alam mo ‘yung inaasar lang kayo ng mga kaibigan mo na magsuntukan? Pero hindi kami nagkapikunan, nagsuntukan lang talaga kami. Bigayan kami ng suntok, palakasan, tapos suntukan na! Pagkatapos nun, okay na kami ulit.”
Who is the first person you remember during good times? Bad times?
“Mama ko. Naaalala ko pero hindi ko tatawagan. Alam mo ‘yun? ‘Yung dahil sobrang kumportable ka na sa pamilya mo, naalala mo lang. Pero pag may gusto akong pagyabangan na isang bagay, nanay ko ‘yun eh. Kasi nanay ko, kahit na anong gawin kong pagyayabang, iisipin niya na share lang naman ‘yun.
“Pag bad times, sinsarili ko na lang. Tahimik kasi ako na tao. Iniisip ko ‘pag shinare ko, hindi lang maiintindihan or baka ma-burden pa ng problema ko, ‘wag na lang.”
Who’s your first best friend and what were the things you’d do together?
‘Siya yung nakasuntukan ko, si Mak-Mak. Actually tatlo kami, ‘yung isa nasa States na. Kalye akong bata. Nakipagpatintero ako, nakipag moro-moro ako, agawan-base, tumbang preso, text, pitik, dampa. Every night, mag-aantayan kami or magkakatukan kami niyan para mag-basketball sa babang kalye namin, may half court dun. Lagi akong matangkad sa kanila non pero lampa ako.
“Nahilig din ako sa video games. Adik (sa video games) nga ang tawag sa akin, hindi geek. Family computer lang, wala akong Nintendo kasi wala kaming pambili nun pati ‘yung SNES, mahal ‘yun eh.”
Mike Tan (Bhenj Agustin)
What’s a most memorable vacation?
“Wala kasi para sa akin, ang bakasyon isang malaking gastos, haha. Hindi, meron naman, nagbabakasyon din naman ako, like sa Vigan, pero sisiguraduhin ko na parang maliit lang ‘yung magagastos ko. Ang pinakamagastos ko na bakasyon ay ‘yung pumunta lang ako ng Boracay with the whole family. Kasi lahat ng girls sa bahay, August ang birthday nila so pwedeng isang bagsakan lang.”
Recall a recurring dream.
“Sa panaginip ko, sa lumang bahay namin, nagsu-zoom out lahat. Tapos non, alam ko nang nananaginip na ako ng masama. ‘Yun ‘yung trigger nun, yung nag-zu-zoom out. Tapos paggising ko, makakalimutan ko na lahat.”
How do you want fans to remember you when you’ve quit showbiz or retired?
“Tinatanong ko nga sa sarili ko ‘Hanggang kelan ka sa showbiz?’ Gusto ko mala-Eddie Garcia. Dito ako nagsimula eh, minahal ko ito, pinaghirapan ko ito eh, ang dami ko nang ginawa para dito…”
When was the last time you felt like a regular guy?
“Everyday. May isang taong nagsabi sa akin sa workshop, ‘Alam mo, ang pinakagusto ko sa iyo, hindi ka artista kumilos.’ Sa totoo lang, siguro magka-cap lang ako pero bababa pa rin ako at kakain ng fishball. Sa Mandaluyong madalas. Kadalasan kasi kapag magwi-withdraw ako ng pera, may fishball vendor din at kinakausap ko din siya. Or sa likod ng GMA-7, kasabay ko lahat ng staff. Sarap ng fishball dun eh. Kaya ko hanggang P50 worth na fishball.”
What’s a significant purchase you’ve made most recently?
“Ganito akong klaseng tao: Kahit na gusting-gusto ko na siyang bilhin, hindi ko pa rin siya bibilhin. Kumbaga dadaan na ako dun, titignan ko iyan, may pera na ako nun ha, kaya ko na siyang bilhin – pero next time na lang. Ganun ako. Para kasi sa akin, parang… tagal ko ngang hindi binili kinaya ko eh.
“Magkano yung iPhone 4 or 5? Nasa 40K? 40K para sa telepono? Ang phone ko 4S pero hindi ko siya binili. Kasama siya sa plan. Ganun. Pero hindi ako bibili ng phone. Ang huli kong biniling phone ay Walkman phone ng Erickson na binili ko pa sa Greenhills para mas mura.”
If you were reborn but allowed to remember one thing about this life, what would that be?
“Kung gaano kahirap ang buhay. Kasi kung hindi mo alam yung hirap ng buhay, hindi mo maa-apreciate lahat ng pinaghirapan mo. Sa akin, alam ko na kung paano mawalan so bakit ko pa gugustuhing bumalik dun?”
