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Willow Q&A: The Stars of the Disney+ Sequel Series Talk About Returning to the Fantastic Fantasy World of Willow Ufgood

This November 30, we get to return to the magical world of Willow in the new Disney+ original series.

A sequel to the 1988 film of the same name that was executive produced by Star Wars creator George Lucas, Willow takes place many years after the events of the movie. It will follow Willow Ufgood as he leads a group of misfits on a dangerous quest to save the world.

Warwick Davis reprises his role as Willow Ufgood, and he is joined by Erin Kellyman (“Jade”), Amar Chadha-Patel (“Boorman”), Ellie Bamber (“Dove”), Tony Revolori (“Graydon”), Dempsey Bryk (“Arik”), and Ruby Cruz (“Kit”).

In a recent press conference for the series, Willow executive producer and writer Jon Kasdan joined the cast in answering questions about the new Disney+ series from the press. Check out the highlights of the press conference below:

Did you ever imagine, thirty- five years ago, that you’d be sitting where you are today, talking about this new ‘Willow’?

Warwick Davis: Certainly not, no, absolutely not. For years it’s been talked about, not by anyone official but by the fans. They’ve constantly pestered me, saying “When are we going to see a sequel to that movie?” And it’s a question that I could never answer. Until I met Jon Kasdan, who I understood was also a fan. And I wondered on the set of Solo who had let him onto set. You know, no fans allowed here, because he was obsessed, talking about Willow. And surely we should be concentrating on making this Star Wars story here, shouldn’t we?

[So we got to] talk about ‘Willow,’ and it was decided that there should indeed be more ‘Willow,’ and so that was the catalyst for this project to happen, really, and it happened very quickly in Hollywood terms. You know, it wasn’t years and years of development. Before I knew it I was sat on set in Wales for the very first day of filming. Once again looking just like Willow, but a slightly older, more mature, better-looking version.

Photo courtesy of Disney

Was it as simple as Warwick makes out?

Jon Kasdan: It was… it was in a lot of ways. I mean, there was the impulse certainly between Ron and Warwick and myself to continue this story, and return to this world. And I came at it as a fan, and they came at it both as the creators, and they found a champion in me, and I kept fighting and sort of hoping that we’d get a chance to go back here, and my ace was always that Warwick would be back and that he would look so attractive and America would – and the world – would really fall on their knees. I think everyone got that, and everyone appreciated that, that there was something really special in the opportunity to bring this character back to the screen.

To the younger cast, how familiar were you with the film before you got cast in this project?

Amar Chadha-Patel: I’m not as young as some of our younger cast, so I have to hold my hand up and say I was alive when it came out. So I first watched it about seven or eight years old, and it sort of fit neatly into my upbringing, in the sense that I grew up on escapism and fantasy, and ‘NeverEnding Story’ and ‘The Princess Bride,’ that’s my childhood. So by osmosis, I’d sort of imbibed the quality of that kind of film. So it was always a part of me, I think. And then I rewatched it again when I got cast, because I figured, you know, research is probably useful.

Tony Revolori: I actually watched it with my parents, and my brother, and yeah, I love the film, I fell in love with the magic of the world and you know when this opportunity came around, I was excited and honored.

Photo courtesy of Disney

The show has this epic fantasy side, but it’s also quite contemporary at the same time. How difficult was it to get that balance right?

Jon Kasdan: You know, that… it’s the challenge. With every episode, you’re sort of walking the line between making it familiar and satisfying, what fans expect from the brand ‘Willow,’ and then trying to push it forward and tell a story that’s surprising and unexpected. And you know, the great weapon we had with us was Warwick, who just lent the whole universe of ‘Willow’ credibility, and the moment you see him on screen, you suddenly believe these six other foolish kids could somehow fit into that world, and really inhabit it. And they did so so beautifully and with such gusto and enthusiasm and authenticity, that it was sort of an amazing thing to watch all these things come together, and become something that feels like a progression from the movie as much as a love letter to it.

How was it going back thirty-five years later, and seeing these locations again from the movie?

Warwick Davis: Yeah, certainly for me, one of the most enjoyable things about the series was really those callbacks to events that had happened in the film. You know, times that when I as a character talk about those events, and that was a really fun way of looking back at those things, and certainly I think fans will get a kick out of it. But also, as you say, we went back to locations, and environments that we’d already been to in the film. In particular, Nockmaar was one of those particular places, that for me really kind of gave me the shivers. You know, there I am kind of standing or sitting somewhere that Bavmorda would have sat, and you know, still kind of felt her presence in that area. That just shows you how powerful the film was, and those settings, and also Jean Marsh’s performance.

Jon Kasdan: There was an incredible thing that happened where we got our friend Kevin Pollak out to reprise his role as Rool. And he told me when he arrived that he and Warwick had never actually done any scenes together because all of the brownie bits in the movie had been filmed at Skywalker in Northern California. And Warwick and he got to actually riff off each other, and Tony got to be a part of that, and it was quite an amazing thing to kind of watch them actually interact, these old friends who didn’t know each other.

Photo courtesy of Disney

Did Warwick give you any wisdom or advice when you guys started out on this journey?

Ruby Cruz: Wisdom and advice from Warwick Davis? I think honestly, just being in his presence was like… I was going to say a lesson in its own right, but not in that way. But I think getting to just be around someone who’s so good at what he does, and someone who’s such a professional in what they do… Watching you be able to just switch it on and off, which is something I really struggle with, was a huge– honestly, I really admire you for that. Coming in, you’d just waltz on set, and then suddenly you’d be like in the most emotional state. Or you’d be like cracking one-liners the entire time, while everything is [a] disaster. So I think it was just being around you, and getting to witness you in your element, that was really cool.

This is your second project with Lucasfilm, and your second series on Disney Plus. What has kept you coming back to this company, and what appeals to you about these roles, such as Karli and Jade?

Erin Kellyman: I feel like I don’t ever want to stop playing these badass women. I think they’re all so multi-layered, and I love trying to pick them apart and understand them. I think Karli was super hard to understand because she does a lot of messed up stuff. But Jade, I think has been the person that I’ve put the most work into. I think me and Jon had the time to like really go back into her past and created that space where we could make time and I could understand her a bit more. Yeah, I really can’t wait for people to see her.

Photo courtesy of Disney

Val Kilmer’s Madmartigan is not in this new ‘Willow.’ How did you address his absence?

Jon Kasdan: Not tricky at all. It was always sort of going to be, right at the core of the story we were telling. And it really had to be… but because we were telling a story that had so many young characters, and they were all sort of searching for their identity, the search for Madmartigan, and the question of what had happened to him was right at the heart of the story we were telling. And we knew that it would be woven into this quest in a fundamental way, really, to see where he was and what had become of him, and what he’d given up. Particularly for Ruby’s character, Kit, and for Dempsey’s character, Airk, in order to do good.

And that question sort of follows the whole season. And we always knew that we sort of wanted to pay it off in one way or another, and we had a lot of ideas about ways to pay it off and ways to leave it open. And one thing that happened, because Val himself wasn’t able to come out to Wales and work with us, was that we added this texture of a friend of Madmartigan’s, who could give us some clues about his whereabouts.

How much input did George Lucas have, and did he have any advice at least for the project?

Jon Kasdan: You know, it’s funny actually, I’ve been getting this question a lot today, and Warwick was actually there, present on the day that I had my one and only conversation with George about this project. He came and visited the set of Solo because he is devoted to Ron, and they are dear, dear friends in real life. And they told us that he was going to come for just a moment, and we shouldn’t make direct eye contact or ask him any direct questions, and instead, he ended up staying for six hours and answering all our questions and being nothing but lovely.

And I sort of said to him in this moment when I found myself sitting next to this god of my childhood, “You know, the one thing I thought that Lucasfilm really had an opportunity to do was to tell more Willow stories.” And he kind of smiled wryly and said he couldn’t agree more, and had been trying to make that happen for quite a while, and was a supporter and an advocate for any of that that we could get off the ground. And that sort of faith and excitement and genuine boyish enthusiasm was really critical to feeling like, this was something we could go off and do.

Photo courtesy of Disney

What is it that fans love so much about this world, these characters, and this story?

Jon Kasdan: Oh I mean, you know, George entering the universe of fantasy, working in that genre is such an exciting thing. And I remember the feeling of being eight years old and hearing that George Lucas was giving us a new franchise. And this one would have magic and wizards and sword fights, and it wasn’t called Star Wars. That was a pretty unbelievable concept to an eight-year-old kid. And for me, it’s sort of a miraculous thing that it hasn’t been developed more and that it sort of remains as this artifact from a certain time in my life, with all this potential for more stories and more adventures.

What do you think is the one thing that you hope fans will take away from this series as a whole?

Tony Revolori: I think it’s the relatability of the characters, you know? Credit to Jon Kasdan, our writer, of Dawson’s Creek fame and Californication. He wrote every single character to have multiple layers, and we all got to play and have fun with them, and they’re very unique, and I think beyond it just being a family-friendly thing, that you can sit around with your family and watch, and point and go, ‘you’re like him, you’re like him, or her,’ or whatever it may be. I think that relatability, and the idea that these are flawed characters, and we grow through it, and maybe they can empathize through it a little bit. At least, that’s what I hope they take…

Amar Chadha-Patel: One of my favourite things about the show is that no character has it figured out at all. And that is so true to life. The entire quest is not just a physical one, to rescue someone. It’s also about us figuring out what the hell we’re doing. And some of us thinking that we know, and not knowing, and that couldn’t be more true to my own feelings. And I think seeing that reflected back in a big magical world is going to be real charming.

Dempsey Bryk: I feel like, another thing Jon Kasdan does so well is, he really presents different philosophies and ideas, and Jon, you can just Venmo me or whatever after this [laughs]… But so it’s really presenting different philosophies and ideologies that are all sort of equally valid, and sometimes there’s just no right answer. And I feel like today for like, you know, a younger generation, that’s a really confusing thing. To be like, ‘well I feel this,’ and then, ‘but you feel that,’ and maybe nobody’s right. Maybe it’s just okay to have different opinions.

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Willow starts streaming on Disney+ this November 30.

November 23, 2022
The Emotional Impact of Cold-Hard Facts: a review of ‘She Said’

I came into the cinema without any knowledge on what She Said would be about. All I knew before coming in was that it was a movie about investigative journalism with Carey Mulligan as one of the leads, who is also gaining a lot of attention for her performance. What threw me for a loop was that the film was based on real events, and ‘She Said’ is the story of Jodi Kantor (played by Zoe Kazan) and Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan), the two journalists of The New York Times who investigated and published the article on Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and sexual misconducted that sparked the #MeToo movement back in 2017.

The film opens strong with Mulligan as Twohey and how she goes head-to-head with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump prior to the 2016 election. She breaks the story on Trump’s misconduct with women and how, despite the reports, Trump still manages to win the election and Twohey’s world starts to get tougher as she and her source receives death threats and the like.

Five months later and we then follow Kazan playing Jodi Kantor who is following up on a story that she picked up about sexual abuse and workplace harassment in Hollywood. As she begins following the threads of the story, it begins to resemble the Harvey Weinstein incident and she calls on Twohey to help her put the story together.

Photo from ‘She Said’ trailer

What is absolutely incredible about director Maria Schrader’s coverage of this story is how devoid of drama it is. Except for one scene that feels scripted and manipulative, a scene between Twohey and Kantor in the middle of the film where they ask each other if they wished they didn’t go through with this story, the rest of ‘She Said’ is just dealing with the facts of the case and the process by which the two journalists and their editorial board at The New York Times went about putting the story together.

Photo from ‘She Said’ trailer

If you remember strongly the Harvey Weinstein case, celebrities and actresses like Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ashley Judd were names that were being tossed around this investigation. The film doesn’t shy away from this, representing the real people of this story from Trump, Paltrow, and McGowan to phone conversations with actors who sound very much like the people they are portraying and Ashley Judd, who appears on screen as herself. Part of the stripping down of the film’s dramatic flair, director Maria Schrader keeps most of the real-world stars as voices on a recording or on a telephone and minimizes their close-ups when they do show up (as they did with Ashley Judd). With very little tricky camera work, ‘She Said’ is focused entirely on the stories of these women, especially the women working behind the scenes, whose lives were destroyed by their interactions and engagements with Weinstein.

Photo from ‘She Said’ trailer

Except for one story, almost all the recounting of the acts of abuse and sexual misconduct were told by the actor portraying these women with no flashbacks or cutaways. It’s almost as if these are testimonials and we have to listen to them like a jury. Of the many performances of these testimonials, it is the ones by Jennifer Ehle as Laura Madden, and a spectacularly riveting monologue by Samantha Morton as Zelda Perkins that really shows the power of truth spoken aloud without the need of additional flourishes.

Schrader and screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz (based on the book by Kantor and Twohey) go through the details of the two journalists’ challenges on being able to gather the evidence needed to publish their story. Through every step of their investigation, they uncover horrendous systems in place that protect men in power and silence women. Devoid of over-dramatizing scenes and story points, ‘She Said’ can seem clinical, antiseptic but the cold-hard facts of what is uncovered creates the drama on its own. I was sitting in the cinema wringing my hands and getting angrier with every new testimonial.

Who knew that facts alone could be so emotionally charged?

Photo from ‘She Said’ trailer

Very much like ‘Spotlight,’ this movie revels in the process of investigative journalism. It’s the process, not the emotions nor even the case itself, that ignites the energy of the film and amplifies its theme. What Schrader and Lenkiewicz does, to push the humanity just a bit without going too over-the-top, is to frame both Twohey and Kantor not just as courageous and determined journalists, but also as empathetic women and dedicated mothers as well. It’s these little details – from juggling parenthood and career and the way with which these women empathize with their subjects – that really underscore the issues of this film.

We know this story and we’ve read it in the news. We’ve seen how it ends but seeing the process of it, the details of the investigation, clearly defines our world for the misogynistic and patriarchal world that it was (and still is).

I hope more and more people get to see this film.

My Rating:

.

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She Said is now showing in cinemas nationwide. Buy your tickets here.

November 23, 2022
Interview with the Filipino Artists Behind Disney’s ‘Strange World’

Disney has yet to take us into another adventure with their new animated feature film, Strange World!

Promising to be another fun family flick, Strange World follows the Clades, a family of legendary explorers who sets foot on an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures reside. But as they embark on this journey, the Clades’ differences will threaten their most crucial mission yet.

Before the release of the movie in cinemas, we got to chat with two Filipino artists who worked from behind the scenes of Strange World: Mikee Sevilla (Raya and the Last Dragon, Encanto) who served as an animator for the movie, and Virgilio John Aquino (Frozen 2, Raya and the Last Dragon) who served as a modeler. In a virtual roundtable interview, the two artists talked about their processes in working on the film, how they relate to its characters, and more!

Check out the highlights of the interview below:

What has it been like to witness that shift of diversity and representation in these animated films from Disney?

Mikee Sevilla (MS): I think it’s very important obviously, to have representation in films. That’s something that we’re always trying to strive for. Hopefully, this film inspires young kids to be themselves, be who they are, and allow them to be more comfortable.

Virgilio John Aquino (VJA) : I totally agree. Disney always strives to tell different stories and we always deal with different themes. In this case, we have three generations of the Clades, and they’re trying to get along and trying to figure each other out because everyone has their own dream. When kids see themselves, they’re gonna relate to young Ethan– all the kids who aspire to be themselves and just be accepted to be who they are, and just be allowed to be humans.

Photo: Disney website

In Strange World, did you have a favorite model to work on?

VJA: Yes actually. I worked on the Venture, which is the big exploration ship that they used to go on this fantastic journey into this unknown space. It’s a big task because it has to be a functioning, kind of ship, and it’s always great to see it on the big screen and on the small screen whenever we do testing and stuff.

How was it working on Disney films, before and during the pandemic, and now that we’re almost back to normal?

MS: I started with Disney when the pandemic happened. Even up to now, I’m still working from home, but they’re starting to bring people back in. Actually, in two weeks, I’ll be working onsite at Disney which I’m very excited about!

VJA: For me, it’s been a learning experience, especially during the pandemic. We’re always used to having our fellow artists in the next room, we’re always collaborating. But when the pandemic hit and we had to revert to working from home, it was a little disconcerting but you know, we worked it out and we were able to get our work done. Because we would be concerned that, ‘Oh my gosh, how are we gonna make films now? How are we gonna tell these fantastic stories?’ but when there’s a will there’s a way, and we were able to work from home and as Mikee said, we’re starting to get back into the building… It’s great that Disney is allowing us to have that flexibility to work from home, work hybrid, or just go in [and work full-time].

Photo: Disney website

To which character were you able to relate to the most?

VJA: I think for me, it was more with Ethan, because we’re talking about three generations in the film that are coming together. They’re trying to figure out how to relate to each other and stuff. For me, I’m always relating [them] to my father and my grandfather. You’re always gonna be the young one, you’re always gonna relate, because you grew up being a kid under their eyes, and then you grew up a little, and all of a sudden you have your own thoughts and your own ideas.

So I think that what’s interesting in the film, for me, is how they explore those relationships. And with Ethan, to me, he’s my point of view as far as how he deals with the generational gap and the communication gaps when you talk to your father and grandfather. Sometimes they cannot relate, and that’s fine. At some point you have to work things out.

Photo: Disney website

Is there a particular sequence that you worked on that was most memorable for you?

MS: I was cast on a few family shots where Ethan is talking with his mom in the Venture. That was a very meaningful sequence to work on, mainly because you could see Ethan just longing for something, and his mom being super supportive of it. And working on Ethan, in general, was very meaningful for me, because I got to be involved in pre-production for the character so that’s really figuring out who this character is and how this character moves and behaves. So one of the things I enjoyed doing was, sort of incorporating– although Ethan was I would say generally masculine, you know everyone has both feminine and masculine sides to them– and I think being playful, creating this character, and showing his softer side, that was really fun to do.

How different was it working on an animated film that has a sci-fi adventure genre?

MS: I think for this particular film, since we didn’t really do any research trips on this film, it was really just from your imagination, so I feel like the director was really responding to just strange, weird things. So it’s really just, go crazy, and we’ll sort of pull back if it gets too far. That’s a little different than the films that I had to work on because for films like Raya and Encanto, those are very cultural-specific things, so certain gestures are from that culture. So yeah, this one’s different, I would say, for sure.

Photo: ‘Strange World’ on Twitter

VJA: I think that for this film, there was a pandemic going on and stuff. You know, what I had to do was really find that adventurous part of myself and inventive part in myself as well. And when I was tasked to model the Venture, there were a lot of mechanical things that I wasn’t privy to, because I’m not a mechanic. So I had to research online just how things work, how certain mechanisms would work if it was a real ship.

Then just before the pandemic, we actually had a team that took pictures of going into a real ship and just taking pictures of the interior of that ship. I was able to draw from that as well. But you know, I would like to have gone onto a real ship and looked at it myself, being a modeler and stuff. But a lot of it was like, 80% of it was research online, and 20% of it was pure imagination and just making stuff up, that’s very unique to the film, and I think that we pulled it off.

With the arrival of Disney+ in the Philippines, what are your top three recommendations from the streaming platform while we wait for Strange World to come out in cinemas?

MS: Well, Raya and The Last Dragon, Encanto, [laughs], and John, you give the third recommendation. What else would you recommend?

VJA: Zootopia, yeah, that’s a good one. For me, it would be Raya and The Last Dragon [laughs]. I always liked the classics, I always say, “Watch Beauty and The Beast.” That’s one of my favorite animated films of all time. And if I might be a little self-appreciating– self-promotion I mean– here, go see Lightning in a Bottle at the Short Circuit, there are a lot of great short stories there, but yeah, see mine too.

Photo: ‘Strange World’ on Twitter

ALSO READ
WATCH: Pinoy Animator Mikee Sevilla on Working for Disney’s ‘Encanto: A Magical World’

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Strange World opens in cinemas today! Buy your tickets here.

November 23, 2022
Sport Sperry’s Latest Collection for Your Holiday Escapades

With “revenge travel” reaching new heights this holiday season, packing light is giving way to packing right especially for those who want to look just as good as the places they’re heading to. Here’s how you can look Insta-ready for every OOTD you take, featuring Sperry’s new Holiday Escape Collection.

Pick Your Pastels

While neon has been making a comeback thanks to the Y2K trend among Gen Z, pastels when done right, are a timeless and surefire way to look sharp on your IG feed. Lighter tones are always a good idea for sunnier destinations to keep yourself looking and feeling fresh on the beaches of Boracay or Bali.

Prints Charming

While floral prints may seem like a common resort cliché, we suggest incorporating them into your travel ‘fits in up-to-date, subtle ways. Sperry adds a little summery flair to their canvas boat shoes and slip-ons with their tasteful modernized prints. Paired with Euro-chic separates like chinos or accordion skirts, you’re well on your way to looking like you belong to the French Riviera or the Amalfi Coast.

Slide Into Style

Slides are a must when traveling to give your feet a break. Fortunately, Sperry releases colorful new iterations of their best-selling Float Slides in wearable seasonal prints. Ever so cushy, these look great with tailored shorts and breezy, layered tops. The best part is you can take them to the beach without much worry.

Shop the full Holiday Escape Collection over at Sperry’s official website, www.sperry.com.ph.

November 22, 2022
S-Acetyl Glutathione: Marian Rivera’s Trusted Gluta
Glutathione is well known to be an antioxidant that has additional anti-melanogenic properties. This just means that while it helps our body remain healthy and our immune system in tip-top shape, it also lightens the skin in the process.

But did you know that not all glutathione supplements in the market are one and the same? The most popular type of glutathione in the Philippines is L-glutathione. This type of glutathione still needs to be oxidized in the body for it to be fully absorbed. The second type is called S-Acetyl glutathione. According to clinical studies, it is three times more powerful than L-glutathione since it is accompanied by an acetyl bond. This avoids oxidation and makes the glutathione molecule pass through cells easily, enabling quicker absorption in the body.

Nuwhite is one of the glutathione brands in the Philippines that is formulated with S-Acetyl glutathione, making it more potent and more effective in lightening the skin. Additionally, it contains marine collagen, vitamin E, and sodium ascorbate to further help your skin remain elastic and even toned.

If you want a healthier kutis and embody that “Relax! Ako Lang ‘To!” mindset just like Marian Rivera, drink one Nuwhite capsule daily!

Nuwhite is available in Lazada, Shopee, Watsons, and through the Nuwhite website.

SOURCES:
1. Sonthalia, S., Jha, A. K., Lallas, A., Jain, G., & Jakhar, D. (2018). Glutathione for skin lightening: a regnant myth or evidence-based verity?. Dermatology practical & conceptual, 8(1), 15–21.https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.0801a04
2. Sonthalia, S., Daulatabad, D., & Sarkar, R. (2016). Glutathione as a skin whitening agent: Facts, myths, evidence and controversies. Indian journal of dermatology, venereology and leprology, 82(3), 262–272.https://doi.org/10.4103/0378-6323.179088
3. Dröge, W., & Breitkreutz, R. (2000). Glutathione and immune function. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 59(4), 595–600.https://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665100000847
4. Kerksick, C., & Willoughby, D. (2005). The Antioxidant Role of Glutathione and N-Acetyl-Cysteine Supplements and Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2(2).https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-2-2-38
5. Perricone, C., de Carolis, C., & Perricone, R. (2009). Glutathione: A key player in autoimmunity. Autoimmunity Reviews, 8(8), 697–701.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2009.02.020
6. Schmitt, B., Vicenzi, M., Garrel, C., & Denis, F. M. (2015). Effects of N-acetylcysteine, oral glutathione (GSH) and a novel sublingual form of GSH on oxidative stress markers: A comparative crossover study. Redox Biology, 6, 198–205.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2015.07.012
November 22, 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo Launches First NFT Collection with Binance

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first NFT collection is now available as part of an exclusive, multi-year partnership with Binance, the world’s leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider. The launch is supported by a global marketing campaign featuring Ronaldo, aiming to give his fans an introduction to Web3 through the world of NFTs.

“We believe the metaverse and blockchain are the future of the internet,” said Binance Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer He Yi. “We are honored to collaborate with Cristiano to help more people understand blockchain and showcase how we are building Web3 infrastructure for the sports and entertainment industry.”

“It was important to me that we created something memorable and unique for my fans as they are such a big part of my success,” said Ronaldo. “With Binance, I was able to make something that not only captures the passion of the game but rewards fans for all the years of support.”

The inaugural Cristiano Ronaldo NFT collection last November 18 (9 a.m. UTC) and featured seven animated statues with four rarity levels: Super Super Rare (SSR), Super Rare (SR), Rare (R), and Normal (N). Each NFT statue depicts Ronaldo in an iconic moment from his life, from career-defining bicycle kicks to his childhood in Portugal.

○      The 45 highest value CR7 NFTs (5 SSR and 40 SR) will be held for auction on the Binance NFT marketplace. The auction will remain open for 24 hours, with NFTs awarded to the highest bidder. Bidding prices will start at 10,000 BUSD for SSR and 1,700 BUSD for SR.

○      The remaining 6,600 NFTs (600 R and 6,000 N) will be offered on Binance Launchpad, starting at 77 BUSD for the Normal rarity.

○      Each rarity level will come with its own set of exclusive perks, ranging from:

●      Personal message from Cristiano Ronaldo

●      Autographed CR7 & Binance merchandise

●      Guaranteed access for all future CR7 NFT drops

●      Complimentary CR7 Mystery Boxes

●      Entry into giveaways with signed merchandise and prizes

Additionally, new users who register with Binance.com (and complete KYC) will receive a Cristiano Ronaldo Mystery Box. These boxes may include limited-edition Ronaldo NFTs. The CR7 Mystery Boxes are available for the first 1.5M new Binance users who sign up with referral ID RONALDO.

For US-based users, Binance.US – the US partner to Binance.com – is providing a free souvenir NFT for thresholds of USD deposits made on the platform within the promotion period. Users who receive the souvenir NFT will gain whitelist access to purchase future CR7 NFTs. To participate in the promotion, new and existing US users must register here.

Future sets of the Cristiano Ronaldo NFT collection will be available in early 2023. All collections will be available exclusively on Binance.com; follow Binance on Twitter for the latest updates.

November 22, 2022
‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ Q&A: Rian Johnson, & the Cast Talk About the Whodunit Sequel

Detective Benoit Blanc is back for another Knives Out mystery! The sequel to Rian Johnson’s hit whodunit film is heading straight to Netflix this December 23, and this time, Daniel Craig’s clever sleuth must uncover the truth behind a mysterious murder on a tech mogul’s private Greek island.

In Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Detective Benoit Blanc must investigate yet another colorful lineup of characters to be played by a star-studded cast including Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.

Before the release of the film, Netflix held a virtual press conference joined by its stars, writer and director Rian Johnson, and producer Ram Bergman. Check out the highlights of the press conference below:

Rian Johnson talks about making the Knives Out follow-up.

Writer and director Rian Johnson shared how in making a sequel to Knives Out, he was inspired by how Agatha Christie always introduced new mysteries in her every book.

“The mode in which we were thinking to keep making [the Knives Out movies] was always not to continue the story of the first one, but to treat them the way Agatha Christie treated her books and do an entirely new mystery every time. A new location, a new rogues gallery of characters,” explained Johnson, citing how the author shook it up from book to book.

Photo courtesy of Netflix

“So, sitting down to write this one, that was kinda the marching orders,” the director adds. “Let’s not just turn the crank and do another, let’s come up with something that’s truly different and that actually is gonna make audiences say, ‘Oh, wow. I’m getting the same pleasure I did from the first one, but I’ve never seen this before.’ And that’s kind of the exciting thing.”

This also influenced the setting of the sequel. According to Johnson, “trading the browns of New England for the blue and yellows of Greece felt like a really obvious kind of ‘Oh, we’re in a whole new deal here,’” for the audiences.

He also mentioned that he wanted to tap into the rich traditions of a destination mystery, as seen in classics like Evil Under the Sun, Death on the Nile, and The Last of Sheila. Furthermore, the director adds that he wrote the script in 2020 during the lockdown. “Like a lot of us, I was sitting at home, kind of wishing I was on a Greek island. So that might have had something to do with it.”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Gathering the ensemble of stars.

When asked how he got to round up such an effective ensemble for the new film, Rian Johnson says that it was “as simple as trying to get the best actor you can possibly get.”

The director also added that they got lucky with the group: “Just my head spins when I think about the fact that we were able to get this group together. There’s also the added element of, it’s a little bit like throwing a dinner party in that it is an ensemble. We know we’re gonna be on location together and all be kind of stuck together for a while. So, you’re also just trying to cast cool people who are hopefully gonna get along and have a good time together.”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

And have a good time they did. The cast likened the experience to being part of a theatre ensemble.

“I’ve had a couple of opportunities, you know, to be a part of great ensembles with Hamilton and One Night in Miami,” shared Leslie Odom Jr., “And this is one of the best. But it’s really an impossible thing, I think, to achieve without the leadership. It happens from the top down… It’s really Rian and Daniel and Ram making it feel that creative and that permissive and that fun.”

“For a lot of us who came into this through theater or just that idea of being in a repertory company, an ensemble, it has a special pleasure,” Edward Norton adds. “It reminds you of your high school drama club, for those who were dorky enough to be in the high school drama club.”

The cast also revealed how they would have murder mystery parties outside of filming the murder mystery movie. When asked who were the easy marks whenever they play those games, Johnson and the cast cited Dave Bautista and Daniel Craig himself.

“[Daniel Craig is] so vulnerable, yeah, and available that you’re like, ‘Oh, he could never be a spy,’” joked Kate Hudson. Norton agrees, adding that “it’s ridiculous, but [Daniel Craig] is the least violent person of all of us. I mean, I think he’s probably the gentlest person and could crush all of us at the same time.”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Getting to work with director Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig.

The cast members also talked about how delighted they were to star in the new Knives Out movie and work alongside director Johnson and its lead star, Daniel Craig.

“I am a fan of everybody on this stage,” said Janelle Monáe. “I think that being able to work with Rian is a dream.
I literally just told myself if I ever had the opportunity, it’s a yes. And then after reading this script, it was a hell yes. You know, because this is a character that you get to play with. So many layers, so mysterious. It took a lot of focus. There were moments when the cast was out having a blast after they did their scenes.”

Madelyn Cline also talked about how she got the news of being cast after she got off a plane in New York.

“I was huddled in a corner at baggage claim ’cause it was so loud and Rian was over the phone asking me if I wanted to be a part of [Glass Onion]. I was like, ‘You’re asking, is that even a question? Of course, I do.’ And then I proceeded to have the best weekend of my life and cheers to that. It was amazing.”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

The stars also talked about their experience working with Daniel Craig, and finally hearing him as Detective Benoit Blanc in person.

“It kind of lifts the veil,” said Kate Hudson. “Like oh sh*t, I’m actually here. I’m in a Knives Out mystery. I mean, for me, I think just watching Daniel work was a privilege and he’s a consummate professional. he shows up ready to deliver every line. He honors Rian’s words and he brings something just spectacular, as any movie star would. Just to be a part of that and to learn from that and to watch that was, for me, really something.”

“His physical comedy too, I was just floored by,” Kathryn Hahn adds. “Just like his control of his body and how he throws himself into this part physically is something that I was so excited to watch. He really is a gamer in that department, it’s really thrilling.”

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Director Rian Johnson on telling fresh stories from the whodunit genre to new audiences.

Director Rian Johnson was also asked what his favorite thing was in helping bring back the genre that he loves so much, for new audiences to consume. The director answered, ” I feel like we’ve kind of rode a beautiful wave of people rediscovering these, which has been really nice with a lot of other great filmmakers bringing them to life. As a whodunit junkie myself, it makes me really happy.”

“And then what makes me the happiest, I guess, is, you know I mentioned Agatha Christie’s books, but those
movies that were based on her books in the late ’70s and early ’80s, when I was a kid watching those with my family, [I remember] how big of an impact they had. And now the coolest thing for me is talking to friends who have kids around that age, and seeing them get into these movies and recognizing, oh, that’s kind of what we made these for. And it’s super, super-cool that they can inspire whoever’s gonna, 30 years from now, do their own version of it. That makes me really happy,” added Johnson.

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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery starts streaming on Netflix this December 23, 2022.

November 22, 2022
Cannibal Love Story “Bones and All” Gets R-16 Rating, To Be Shown With No Cuts

The MTRCB explained in its decision that “the film contains graphic but non-gratuitous depiction of violence and gore, themes of cannibalism, that may not be suitable for children below sixteen (16) years of age.”

In the US, “Bones and All” also received an R rating from the Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA) “for strong, bloody and disturbing violent content, language throughout, some sexual content and brief graphic nudity.”

The New York Times has described the film as “Gory, ridiculous and curiously touching,” while the Los Angeles Times found it “unsettling and heartbreaking in equal measure.”

“Bones and All” is “difficult to watch, but looking away is harder still,” says The New Yorker, as Bloody Disgusting raved that “It’s as elegant as carnal and carnivorous, and it’ll take a bite out of your heart if you let it.”

From Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures comes “Bones and All,” a movie about love, directed by Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me by Your Name”), who recently won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the 2022 Venice Film Festival for the film.

“Bones and All” is a story of first love between Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothée Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter… as they meet and join together for a thousand-mile odyssey which takes them through the back roads, hidden passages and trap doors of Ronald Reagan’s America. But despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and to a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their otherness.

“Bones and All” stars Taylor Russell (“Waves,” “The Heart Still Hums,”), who won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor at this year’s Venice Film Festival; Timothée Chalamet (Oscar-nominated for “Call Me by Your Name,” “Dune”); Michael Stuhlbarg (“Call Me by Your Name,” “The Shape of Water”); André Holland (“Passing,” “Moonlight”); Chloë Sevigny (“We Are Who We Are,” “American Horror Story”); David Gordon Green (“Halloween Ends,” “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”); Jessica Harper (“Suspiria,” “Minority Report”); Jake Horowitz (“Adam Bloom,” “The Vast of Night”); and Mark Rylance (Oscar winner for “Bridge of Spies,” “Wolf Hall”).

The screenplay is by David Kajganich (“Suspiria,” “A Bigger Splash”), based on the novel by Camille DeAngelis.

In cinemas across the Philippines starting November 23, “Bones and All” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company. Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #BonesAndAll

Photo & Video Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

November 22, 2022
Catch the ‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’ Grand Launch Event, Booths, & More at These Malls

Gotta catch ’em all at Robinsons Malls starting this November! As the official partner of The Pokémon Company in launching Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in the Philippines, you can expect exciting surprises and activities from Robinsons Malls.

Kicking things off is the grand launch event happening at Robinsons Manila Midtown Atrium from November 25 to 27, 2022. There will be an official game reveal, game teasers, and actual gameplays to get you all pumped up for this new video game!

You can also check out fun booths and participate in activities at the grand launch event. Head over to the Trial Play Booth if you want to try out Pokémon Scarlet and Violet for yourself. Here, you can test your Pokémon trainer skills and explore Paldea’s towns and open spaces. We’re sure you’d want to continue the fun on your Nintendo Switch, so make a beeline to the Pokémon Goods Corner at the event to purchase the video game as well as cool Pokémon merchandise!

Of course, what’s a Pokémon event without the opportunity to meet them? Take selfies with Pikachu as well as Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly, three new starter Pokémon that you can find in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Look out for the gang as they make stops at Robinsons Magnolia from December 10 to 11, Robinsons Metro East from December 17 to 18, and Robinsons Las Piñas from December 24 to 25.

Show off your hunting skills—like the true-blue Pokémon trainer that you are—when you participate in the event’s Digital Bingo Rally. To join, look for nine QR codes in the event area and scan each of them. Once you complete bingo patterns, proceed to the goal location to redeem cool Pokémon stickers. Plus, you can bring home exclusive Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sun visors just for dropping by the event.

Robinsons Malls and The Pokémon Company have more exciting things up their sleeves after the launch event. From November 25 to December 31, 2023, spot larger-than-life inflatables—including Lechonk, whose name seemingly comes from the festive Filipino dish lechon—across 10 Robinsons Malls nationwide. For those who want to add toys, cards, and other merch to their Pokémon collections, visit the Pokémon Goods Corner made in partnership with Toys R Us. You can find the Pokémon Goods Corner at these Robinsons Malls: Robinsons Manila, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Metro East, Robinsons Las Piñas, Robinsons Galleria South, Robinsons Antipolo, Robinsons Iloilo, Robinsons Galleria Cebu, and Robinsons Bacolod.

For more information, follow RobinsonsMalls on Facebook; @RobinsonsMallsOfficial on Instagram; and download the RMalls+ app to get notified of all upcoming Pokémon events at Robinsons Malls!

November 22, 2022
WATCH: New ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ Vignette Celebrates Whitney Houston

Check out the new vignette titled Celebrating Whitney Houston and watch I Wanna Dance with Somebody exclusively in cinemas across the Philippines on January 8, 2023.

“The most challenging part of portraying Whitney Houston is…portraying Whitney Houston,” says Naomi Ackie, star of Columbia Pictures’ I Wanna Dance with Somebody.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody is a powerful and triumphant celebration of the incomparable Whitney Houston. Directed by Kasi Lemmons, written by Academy Award® nominee Anthony McCarten, produced by legendary music executive Clive Davis and starring BAFTA Award® winner Naomi Ackie, the film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant—and so emotional—journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before. Don’t you wanna dance?

Photo: Columbia Pictures

Directed by Kasi Lemmons, written by Anthony McCarten, produced by Anthony McCarten, Pat Houston, Clive Davis, Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan, Jeff Kalligheri, Matt Jackson, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill, Matt Salloway, Christina Papagjika.

The film stars Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams and Clarke Peters.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Connect with the hashtag #IWannaDanceMovie

November 22, 2022