Summer’s about to get even hotter with the upcoming latest adaptation of Stephen King’s classic thriller Firestarter starring Zac Efron, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Sydney Lemmon, Kurtwood Smith, John Beasley, with Michael Greyeyes and Gloria Reuben.
In Firestarter, a girl with extraordinary pyrokinetic powers fights to protect her family and herself from sinister forces that seek to capture and control her. For more than a decade, parents Andy (Efron) and Vicky (Lemmon) have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie (Armstrong in the titular character, previously played by Drew Barrymore) from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction.
Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, which is triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns 11, the fire becomes harder and harder to control. After an incident reveals the family’s location, a mysterious operative is deployed to hunt down the family and seize Charlie once and for all. Charlie has other plans.
From Universal Pictures International, Firestarter will soon open in local cinemas on May 11.
In the new action-comedy The Bad Guys from DreamWorks Animation, based on The New York Times best-selling book series, a crackerjack criminal crew of animal outlaws are about to attempt their most challenging con yet—becoming model citizens.
Awkwafina lends voice to the tech-savvy Ms. Tarantula along with an immensely talented voice cast in the action animated feature film – Sam Rockwell as the dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf, Marc Maron as the adroit safecracker Mr. Snake, Craig Robinson as the master-of-disguise Mr. Shark and Anthony Ramos as the short-fused muscle Mr. Piranha.
Sharp-tongued, genius hacker and expert multi-tasker, the most independent member of the gang, Ms. Tarantula is always quick with the comebacks. As the gang’s only female member, she doesn’t cut the “Guys” any slack. She prides herself on perfection. When she encounters an un-hackable code, she goes into “beast mode”—employing her eight legs to achieve super-cyber decrypting speeds.
In Aaron Blabey’s book series, Tarantula is actually a “Mr.” But when adapting the story for the screen, Blabey was supportive of the filmmakers switching the character to be a kick-butt female techie. Producer Rebecca Huntley has loved audiences’ reception to Ms. Tarantula. “One of the surprising things was how parents responded to the fact that Ms. Tarantula was representing women and girls in S.T.E.M. She’s a cool, confident hacker, and to have audiences see her as a role model in that regard was wonderful.”
She was thrilled to join such a brilliant group of fellow voice performers, as well as occasionally work alongside them—a rarity in animation. “This is a stacked cast of brilliant actors, and I’m a huge fan of all my fellow Bad Guys,” Awkwafina says. “When I heard who was going to be in it, I was mind-blown.
The actor enjoyed playing a character who is not unconstrained by societal rules. “The Bad Guys are pretty much the villains of everything,” Awkwafina says. “They scare people out of restaurants, which I imagine would be great because you could get a table anywhere. As a group of friends, they do quite like each other. Because they’re such outcasts in the world, they relish in who they are.”
Additionally, Awkwafina admired how deftly the source material and the script balanced joyful imagination and poignant themes. “The story is pretty existential, and these are characters with sincere dilemmas,” Awkwafina says. “It is symbolic of how we, as humans, see ourselves, how society does and how we embody that—until we realize that we don’t have to be defined by certain things. I like the way that The Bad Guys plays with aspects of good and bad. Those are two terms that we see misconstrued all the time. We see people that look bad but aren’t, as well as people who look good but aren’t.”
A Universal Pictures International release, The Bad Guys will open in cinemas on April 27.
The options of getting the latest 5G-capable Apple product from Globe Postpaid has never been greater! With the launch of the new iPhone SE 3rd Gen, customers can already get their hands on a 5G device for as low as a P1,200 one-time cash-out for GPlan 1999. While for those willing to indulge a little bit more, the new iPhone 13 mini & iPhone 13 in green and the iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max in alpine green are also available on Globe Postpaid’s GPlan.
Available for pre-orders starting April 8 are the freshly released iPhone SE 3rd Gen and the new color of the iPhone 13 lineup.
Powered by Globe 5G, it allows users to enjoy unlimited possibilities using the new devices:
faster downloads and uploads;
real-time interactive experience in apps such as gaming with low lag times and high-latency, as well as higher quality video streaming or video calls;
better watch party experience using SharePlay while on a FaceTime call with friends, streaming movies and shows in HDR.
Embracing sustainability, Apple’s iPhone SE is made with 100% recycled rare earth elements and tungsten, and its redesigned cover has eliminated the outer plastic wrap, contributing to Apple’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.
This mobile handset is best paired with Globe’s Eco-SIM, the first to be launched in Asia that is made from 100% recycled materials including polystyrene waste from refrigerators. GPlan subscriptions now come with an eco-friendly SIM card.
In partnership with global tech leader Thales, Globe introduced the eco-friendly SIM card in January as part of its drive to contribute to sustainability and reduce its carbon footprint.
Globe Postpaid subscribers can enjoy the iPhone 13 mini & iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 Pro & iPhone 13 Pro Max’s features in new colors—green and alpine green, respectively. The iPhone 13 lineup powered by Globe 5G, allows users to have a more meaningful mobile and data experience. To know more about Apple devices available through Globe’s wide range of postpaid plans, visit https://glbe.co/ip13-green and https://glbe.co/ipse-3rd.
Following hits last year including Squid Game and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Netflix members across the globe have continued embracing shows from Korea in 2022. For 10 of the 13 weeks in 2022, Korean series have been #1 in Netflix’s Global Non-English series Top 10.
This week’s Non-English series Top 10 features six Netflix original shows from Korea, with Business Proposal claiming the top spot for the third consecutive week.
Business Proposal, a romantic comedy based on the popular webtoon, is also the third most-watched of all series globally this week, behind only Bridgerton (Season 1 and 2) with over 32 million watch hours. The show was also #1 in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and #2 in India and Sri Lanka this week.
The enduring popularity of Korean drama goes beyond romantic comedies, with a diversity of genres including a zombie thriller (All Of Us Are Dead) and a youth crime drama (Juvenile Justice) both reaching #1 in the Non-English series Top 10 this year.
All Of Us Are Dead, which premiered in January this year, has already become the third most-watched Non-English series of all time on Netflix.
You can view this week’s full Top 10 here. The six Korean series in this week’s Top 10 include Business Proposal (#1), Twenty Five Twenty One (#2), Forecasting Love & Weather (#4), Juvenile Justice (#6), All Of Us Are Dead (#7), and Thirty-Nine (#9).
The season one finale of Business Proposal also saw strong fan reactions across social platforms. The show captured the hearts of global fans with its gripping romance, fast-paced storytelling, and a charming ensemble cast. Here are some highlights from fans reacting to the final episodes this week:
Here are some reactions from fans around the world:
business proposal is that one kdrama when i look back in the future, i would think of something like 'ah, thank you for existing during the time i needed you the most'
#BusinessProposal finally ended. It's a feel good series with so much heart. The plot keeps you hooked. No upsetting plot twists just pure lightness and fun. 😭 A must watch if you just want to be happy. The casts are just perfect for their roles. 10/10 😭#BusinessProposalEp12pic.twitter.com/e1WF27gPvL
business proposal gave all the clichés, funny and heartwarming scenes, making it one of my comfort kdramas (it also made my mother a kpopper becos of sejeong 😂) it was a refreshing and entertaining ride indeed #BusinessProposal#BusinessProposalEp12pic.twitter.com/APcwRajdAs
Manusia ga ada puasnya. Di kasih sad ending, ngamok pengen happy ending. Ada yg happy ending ga sampe wedding, ngamok pengen ada wedding scene. Udah di kasih wedding scene, masih ada aja yg ngotot pengen season 2 nyeritain kehidupan rumah tangganya 🤣#BusinessProposalEp12pic.twitter.com/Q7uFLf5mHS
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with 222 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
A new K-drama is heading to Netflix, bringing us grounded and comforting stories about people who are in different stages and must face different aspects of their lives. Set on the warm, lively Jeju Island, the omnibus drama Our Bluespromises a series of beautiful tales revolving around the island’s inhabitants.
Before the premiere of its pilot episode this April 9, we got to attend Netflix’s virtual press conference for Our Blues, where the creators and cast of the TV show shared some interesting details on how they formed the series and the characters that live in it. Check out the highlights of the presscon below:
Different stories tied together by Jeju Island
A refreshing format for a K-drama, Our Blues tells the stories of fourteen characters whose lives are somehow connected through the Seopseop 5-day Market of the Pureung village– some are friends, neighbors, and relatives. Each episode is told through the eyes of one or two characters, and with every episode, the viewers are given a glimpse of the lives of the other characters who have their own stories to tell in yet another episode.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
“An omnibus style is something that I wanted to try on a drama series for over ten years,” shared writer Noh Hee-kyung. “I kind of, got sick and tired of just seeing a male lead and a female lead. You know, we are all the main characters in each of our lives, but why is it that everything just revolves around two people in a drama? And that question has led me to choose an omnibus style.”
As for why the writer of the series chose Jeju Island as the setting for this drama, she answered: “I believe Jeju is a place where the very Korean and local sentiments remain intact. In Jeju, the whole neighborhood could be blood-related, and if not, they’re still very close to one another. And their close-knit culture was something I could really use to portray the Korean culture.”
Experiencing a series & film in one
Having a fresh format for a K-drama, Our Blues director Kim Kyu-tae also shared how he approached the direction of the show. According to the director, he saw Our Blues as a hybrid between a film and a series.
“When we were planning the show and I read the script, it felt like a hybrid of a drama series and a movie. It sat on a fine between the two,” Kyu-tae began. “So I also wanted to make sure that this provided the viewers two experiences– one of watching a film and the other of watching a 20-episode series. That is what I focused on the most.
“I [told] myself, let’s just get back to the basics. I didn’t want to go overboard to kill two birds with one stone. I got back to the basics, I wanted to go about it the classic way, and in a sophisticated way. So that was my focus. Nowadays we tend to see a lot of fancy video techniques, where we sometimes just go for instant thrills and stimulus. But instead of going down that path, I wanted to focus more on the characters, their stories and their emotions. And I didn’t want to force anything onto the viewers. I just wanted to let them watch and slowly immerse themselves into the emotions and stories in a more natural way. I think that’s what’s most important,” the director added.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
An exciting ensemble of stars
To bring the captivating stories of Our Blues to life, the production has gathered an impressive ensemble of actors, including Shin Min-ah (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha), Lee Byung-Hun (Mr. Sunshine, Squid Game), Cha Seung-won (One Ordinary Day, The Greatest Love), and Kim Woo-bin (Uncontrollably Fond). Also joining them are Lee Jung-eun, Han Ji-min, Uhm Jung-hwa, Roh Yoon-seo, Bae Hyun-sung, Kim Hye-Ja, Ko Du-shim, Park Ji-hwan, and Choi Young-joon.
Shin Min-ah and Lee Byung-hun’s chemistry
Lee Byung-hun stars as Lee Dong-seok, an innocent truck driver who was born and raised in Jeju Island. Dong-seok stumbles upon romance when his paths crossed with Shin Min-ah’s Min Seon-a, the actress’ first role as a mother, who had to leave her child and move to Jeju Island.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Asked about his chemistry with Min-ah, Byung-hun shares: “Youthful and energetic was how I always imagined Min-ah, but through filming this drama I got to know that she had a very profound depth to her, and her acting has depth too. I was surprised and impressed, and I think we had very good synergy… She and I had great chemistry while filming, so it was exciting and I felt confident while working with her.”
Min-ah also shared her experience working with Byung-hun for the third time around in this new series: “This time in Our Blues we met again, and I felt like I had met three different people maybe because we had such different roles before. But I can say that I did feel slightly more comfortable with him, so I think that helped create the chemistry between Dong-seok and Seon-a.”
Shin Min-ah’s first mother role
Fresh from the success of last year’s Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Shin Min-ah returns to our screens in Our Blues, this time as a mother. During the press conference, the actress shares her experience acting as a mother for the first time.
“Min seon-a is a character who is still dwelling in her pain. This is my first role as a mother of a child. There was more pressure for me to depict Seon-a’s emotional changes and how she overcomes her pain rather than the fact that she’s a mother. I thought it would be very difficult. But weirdly, I had an understanding of her character and her mindset. I felt her pain. Her pain and her will to overcome that pain. Those two were I thought, would be exciting for me to depict and I wanted to take on this challenge. I guess you could say, Seon-a’s character was the biggest reason I took on this piece. Her emotions and her personality were relatable for me.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Cha Seung-won as the hardworking father Choi Han-soo
Cha Seung-won who recently starred alongside Kim Soo-hyun in One Ordinary Day, plays the family man Choi Han-soo. “From how I see it, Han-soo works in Korea to support his family abroad and to raise his daughter abroad. Even though I’m not supporting my family abroad personally, I still had a lot of similar feelings with Han-soo as a father. I brought those thoughts into my acting for this drama. There weren’t any particular directions or processes that I focused on. As writer Noh said, just going with the flow is the best direction for her drama. Her words and penmanship really shined through all the acting, so I really enjoyed that process.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Kim Woo-bin’s comeback as Park Jeong-jun
It’s been six years since Kim Woo-bin last appeared in a K-drama, and fans of the actor are surely looking forward to his return, especially with his real-life partner, Shin Min-ah, also playing a part in the series. In Our Blues, Woo-bin plays captain Park Jeong-jun, a romantic man with a busy life, from driving off sea divers who harvest Jeju’s sea life to selling fish at the market.
“I put emphasis on trying to put myself in Jeong-jun’s shoes,” stated Woo-bin during the press conference. “So to understand how he grew up and the emotions he feels. I just followed through writer Noh’s script. I followed the emotional journey of Jeong-jun. And while I was getting prepared for the role, I wanted to understand the environment that he lives in. So I went over to Jeju earlier than I needed to, to meet and talk with some boat captains and sometimes just follow around haenyeo divers to see how they commute, and also learn how to trim fish. So I put a lot of time into trying to understand him.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Where to stream ‘Our Blues’
More characters, each with their beautiful and fleshed-out stories, are coming to the K-drama Our Blues, which will premiere on Netflix this April 9, 2022. New episodes will be released every Saturday and Sunday at 10 PM, Philippine time. For more information, visit the show’s official page on Netflix.
ABOUT ‘OUR BLUES’ Director: Kim Kim Kyu-tae Writer: Noh Hee-kyung Starring: Shin Min-ah, Lee Byung-Hun, Cha Seung-won, Kim Woo-bin, Lee Jung-eun, Han Ji-min, Uhm Jung-hwa, Roh Yoon-seo, Bae Hyun-sung, Kim Hye-Ja, Ko Du-shim, Park Ji-hwan, and Choi Young-joon. Distributed by: Netflix Release Date: April 9, 2022 (with new episodes every Saturday and Sunday, 10 PM Philippine time)
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Board of Trustees has earmarked around PHP20M development funding for the launching of the CCP Grants which aims to generate original Intellectual Property (IP) content that reflects the country’s rich cultural heritage with its folktales, myths, and legends. This program hopes to stimulate the local creative economy by providing financial and technical and educational support to our local creative businesses, content developers, artists, and students.
By supporting and encouraging Filipinos to create original content, the CCP aims to produce a collection of original IP and a deep understanding of their IP rights and build a national identity in terms of original Filipino content development that will showcase the talent and ingenuity of the Filipino people that is at par with global standards.
According to CCP Board of Trustee Benedict Carandang, “Global Animation Industry revenue is around US$270 Billion and the Philippines contribute to around US$20 million to $30 million per year. We have an estimated 10,000 full-time artists supporting this industry. On the other hand, the Global Gaming market is around US$174.9 Billion, and $1.38 million is the local contribution or .008% of the market worldwide. In the comics industry meanwhile, we have around 1000+ self-published titles, 266 Published titles from 12 Publishers, and an estimated 5000 original IP creators supporting this industry.” Trustee Carandang hopes that the seed investment of the CCP will help encourage future government legislators to support and fund programs like this that can help stimulate the local Creative Economy.
Filipino content creators can pitch their ideas for a chance to win in any of the following three categories, namely: Game Development Grant, Animation Grant, and Comics Grant.
For the Game Development Grant, a potential of four SEC-recognized game development organizations will be awarded a maximum cap funding of PHP1.5M each, and a maximum of PHP300,000 each to independent game developers to create and complete a digital game project with a mix of creative, cultural, and commercial outcomes, and content derived from the CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art.
The Comics grant offers PHP330,000 for a potential of six winners; while the Animation Grant has funding of PHP2M each for four potential winners to bring into life 5-minute animated short films. Both the animation and comics output must be developed around the theme, Philippine Folktales, Myths and Legends. In addition, a training component with leading industry professionals will be integrated for the winners.
CCP Board of Trustee Nikki Junia closes, “In this digital era, visual and literary arts in the form of animation, comics, and even gaming have made an impact in the lives of the public. Animation allows us to tell stories that both children and adults can relate to while it stimulates imagination and creativity bringing it to real life. Comics are a creative way of communicating history and sharing cultures that can be intriguing and entertaining. An equally thriving industry is the gaming industry, as it helps build communities and connect people from all over the world. All these art forms are important to be given attention to as they can support the preservation, development, and awareness of the culture and arts that will be engaging for today’s generation.”
The CCP Grants program is supported by the following associations namely Creative Content Creators Association of the Philippines (SIKAP), Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI), and KOMIKET. Filipino individuals and organizations at all stages of their careers are invited to join.
To learn all the details, visit the Game Development Grant Application form: https://forms.gle/cvM1UNqLmWSEK6239 and the Animation and Comics Grant Application form: https://forms.gle/7P6PNASVPsXhtgUo9
We’re just a few days away from Easter Sunday! After celebrating it at home for two years, the easing of the protocols will now also allow us to enjoy the occasion with the family at our favorite hotels. Aside from the fun activities they have in store for the whole family, we can also expect curated menus to satisfy our cravings for the season! Below are some of the hotel dining deals you can enjoy this Easter from hotels around the metro!
If you’re celebrating Easter Sunday at Crimson Hotel in Filinvest City, then you can enjoy a lavish Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet at Café Eight. Their culinary team will serve you with international and local buffet selections, brunch favorites, live cooking stations, salad bar and charcuterie station, a variety of meats to choose from, seafood, a kiddie corner, and an assortment of continental desserts. Access to the buffet is priced P1,900 net per person.
This year, EDSA Shangri-La is set to hold an enchanting celebration dubbed La Casita Madrigal, inspired by Disney’s Encanto, this April 17. Enjoy HEAT’s Easter Lunch buffet which includes Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Mediterranean, and Filipino fare alongside their signature 36-hour roasted Angus beef leg. Rate is set at P2,950 net available from 12 nn to 2:30 pm.
Photo: EDSA Shangri-La
EDSA Shangri-La’s other offerings are: the Easter Afternoon Tea set available for the whole month of April; The Bakeshop’s Easter Cake priced P1,450 net and Easter Hamper priced P2,800 net available until the end of April; Senju’s Sunday buffet on April 17 priced P2,800 net; and the Easter Take-Me-Home sets available at P5,500 net (good for 5 persons) from April 11 to 17. Check out all of their offerings here.
Peninsula Manila also has an exciting lineup of activities for Easter. As for their dining offerings, a Seafood Dinner Buffet will be available at Escolta on April 15 to 16, 6:30 PM to 10 PM, with a price of P3,500 for adults, and P1,400 for children under 12 years old. On April 17, 12 NN to 3 PM, Escolta will also have the Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet in Escolta with complimentary access to the Peninsula Candyland Adventure and Egg Hunt, available at P4,300 for adults and P1,700 for children under 12. Learn more about it here.
Photo: The Peninsula Manila
Their other Easter offerings are: the Afternoon Tea at The Upper Lobby with a Crepe, Bibingka, and Puto Bumbong Live Station from April 14 to 17, 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, priced P2,400 and P3,000 with one flute of champagne; Sweet Easter-themed treats at The Peninsula Botique from April 5 to 17; and Asian Delights for dining in and al fresco from Wednesday to Monday.
Marco Polo Ortigas lets you flex your creativity with their Easter Surprise Kit from Café Pronto. The do-it-yourself dessert contains an oversized cookie, frosting, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and themed toppings that will bring out the artistic talents of kids and adults alike. It is available for P1,500 with a special rate of P1,200 for guests booking their stay in the hotel until Easter Sunday, April 17. Orders for the Easter Surprise Kit may be placed via (632) 7720 7777 or through direct message on the hotel’s official social media accounts.
Have an eggcellent Easter by dining at Novotel’s Food Exchange Manila on April 17, and you can get exclusive access to a fun decorate-your-cupcake activity that you can enjoy with your kids for only P2,488 nett/person. The Cultural Palates Sunday Brunch theme is Kalye Pop (Asian Streetfood) on April 17. You can also get a chance to take home exciting treats like Indulge Gelato or buffet vouchers when you buy our Easter chocolate eggs and bunnies.
For inquiries or table reservations, please call +632 8990 7888 or email H7090-FB1@accor.com.
A sweet Easter Sunday awaits with Sofitel Manila’s Spiral at Home Easter Chocolate Set! The set includes a cronut kit, an Easter bunny chocolate, twelve pralines, and a homemade chocolate bar. It is available for the whole month of April and is priced at P2,500 net. They also have the Spiral 2 Go Easter Goodies which include chocolates, cakes, and candies. It is available until April 30.
Dusit Thani Manila’s The Pantry will have a healthy makeover just in time for Easter. Its new Clean Cuisine selection will offer wholesome fare including a salad bar, healthy bowls, fresh seafood on ice, compound salads, dietary desserts, and an extensive juice bar. Other offerings are their signature lechon, Thai street food, Japanese corner, pizza and pasta, Western hot dishes, Asian noodle soup, and more. Sunday Brunch is priced at P2,500 on Easter with 20% off for Dusit Lifestyle members. For reservations, call 7238-8888.
Have a BEAR-Y HAPPY EASTER at The Manila Hotel with their Easter Sunday event at the Fiesta Pavilion happening this April 17, 1:30 PM to 5 PM. The even includes an Easter Egg Hunt, Kiddie Workshops, cupcake decorating, a magic show, and a family Easter photo booth. Families can join with their kids by booking an Easter Room Package or by booking an Easter Lunch at Cafe Ilang-Ilang on April 17, with a minimum single-receipt food bill of P5,000 nett. For more information, call 8527-0011 or email resvn@themanilahotel.com for rooms, or restaurantrsvn@themanilahotel.com for dining.
This Easter, Hilton Manila offers Easter-themed Bring Hilton Home selections fit for two to three diners. Guests may choose between: Herb-marinated Lamb Chop platter coupled with roasted vegetables, mint jelly, or the equally mouthwatering 11-spices Roast Chicken with Basmati rice. Both platters are complemented by a Signature ‘Easter Basket’ Carrot Cake. Prices start at Php 4,000 nett.
The hotel’s Madison Lounge and Bar also treats diners to Easter Goodies with premium chocolate animal designs; Hot cross buns; and Signature Cakes including favorites such as the Pinoy Kendi-inspired selections and Rainbow layered cake, among others. Kids and kids’ at heart may also have a little fun with a ‘Design your own Easter Egg’ paint kit complete with Easter Egg cookie, colored ganache, paint palette, brush. Prices start at 300 nett.
On Easter Sunday, April 17, Kusina Sea Kitchens offers a rich and flavorful menu including the famed Housemade Kare-Kare, Lechon Belly, and succulent seafood from the Dampa Marketplace. The little ones are also treated to fun and egg-citing Kiddie Easter Activities, Kusina’s Easter Sunday Brunch is priced at Php 2,480 nett per person, from 11:30 AM to 2 PM. For inquiries and reservations, please call +63 917 826 6442, send an email to MNLPH_F&Binquiries@hilton.com or visit www.hilton.com.
Reprising the role of Magizoologist Newt Scamander, Oscar Best Actor winner Eddie Redmayne returns in the epic fantasy adventure “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” the newest adventure in the Wizarding World™ created by J.K. Rowling. The film opens in cinemas across the Philippines on Saturday, April 16.
In the film, Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?
“I was thrilled that we finally get to see Newt where he’s at his best and happiest—out in the wild, tracking beasts,” Eddie Redmayne states. “One of the things I’ve always loved about Newt is the seeming anomaly between his physicality, mixed with his slight social awkwardness, and his facility and dexterity when he’s in the field. I’d been appealing to David Yates to show more of that.”
Director David Yates attests, “Eddie is a transformative actor who loves to dive deep into every aspect of his character. He was excited about showing Newt’s anthropological skill set, trekking through the jungle to find the beautiful, mysterious Qilin (pronounced as “chillin.”) We’ve never seen Newt in the wild before, and it makes for a fun way to open our journey with him in this particular story.”
“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” continues the series’ tradition of crossing new borders in the wizarding world. The adventure circles the globe—from China to Great Britain, from New York to Germany, and from the Austrian Alps to Bhutan. The movie also takes audiences back to the beloved Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the nearby village of Hogsmeade.
Redmayne says that the juxtaposition of the wizarding and non-magical world “has always appealed to me—this idea that alongside the world we’re living in, brushing shoulders with us through that wall, is another entire universe that is one of magic and adventure. It ignites that sense of childlike wonder that anything could be possible. And to see that unfold in other countries beyond the UK has been astounding.”
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Heyday Films Production, a David Yates film, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.” The film will be distributed worldwide in select theatres and IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #SecretsOfDumbledore
To celebrate PETA’s 55th year anniversary, the theater company is streaming a recording of its 2017 musical ‘A Game of Trolls.’ It’s a production that was necessitated by events back in 2017, the continued return to prominence of the late dictator’s family, and the proliferation of fake news and misinformation about the Martial Law era. Five years later, the show’s message still rings loud and clear, the impetus to screen this show is as timely as ever, with the upcoming elections and all.
Written by Liza Magtoto, directed by Maribel Legarda, and with songs composed by Vincent De Jesus, ‘A Game of Trolls’ takes on a more in-your-face approach to narrative, using the play as a platform to give voice to the people who have suffered under the horrors of the Martial Law era. It’s the story of Hector, an operator on a troll farm, who must come to terms with his mother, who was absent for most of his life due to her activist endeavors. The catalyst for this confrontation comes in a supernatural form, as he uploads photos of Martial Law victims into his computer’s cloud and they come to visit to recount their stories of suffering, loss, and pain.
In a way, it takes a similar narrative frame as Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’ where voices of the dead come to tell their stories to change the present and, hopefully, to steer the future into something better.
Using this narrative framework allows the play to take a didactic approach to storytelling. Hector must fend off the ghost and their stories as he defends his work as a troll and justifies his estranged relations with his mother.
At the front and center of this play are the real-life stories that are interwoven into this narrative and while this gives the show its weight, it comes at the price of the story of Hector, his mother, and his friends. While the recounting of the atrocities during the dictatorship is important, it overshadows and sublimates the plotline and undercuts the learning of the main characters.
Hector has to change because of the sheer force of the hauntings of the past rather than an action he takes on his own. Later on, he suffers a backlash for the work he does as a troll but this feels like a subplot. Again, the stories of the horrors of Martial Law completely overshadow the narrative. The aspect of Hector being a troll isn’t fully explored and the resolution that unfolds between his strained relationship with his mother comes too easy.
It doesn’t help that this is not Vincent de Jesus’ most affecting work. Unlike his work in ‘Himala: the musical’ or ‘Changing Partners,’ there are only two songs that have really captivating melodies.
The recording is also not the best in terms of coverage of this production. There are only two angles and the sound blows up on my speakers. Hopefully, subtitles will be added to future releases. Because of the limited coverage, it’s hard to see the full stagecraft at work. This is a very busy play, with lots of stage movement as the cast manipulates the blocks after each scene to create a new formation to mark the change in location. There is a video wall that is constantly screening old footage of the Philippines in the 70s and 80s, newspaper headlines, and graphics that align with what’s happening on stage.
I feel that this show would have such a powerful effect when seen live. Myke Solomon is always captivating on stage and Gold Villar Lim seems to hit every beat in her portrayal of Cons, Hector’s socially aware roommate, and his adversary online as a troll. But the distance of the coverage doesn’t always pick up what is probably amazing in a live performance.
It’s when the play actually gets down to the humanity of Hector – like his everyday interactions with Cons – that the show’s potential rises. The person behind the troll, outside of all this discussion about the history and the past, is what can ground the play into something palpable. Because the large motherhood statements about freedom and democracy and the complexities of the relationship of a child who feels abandoned by his activist mother can only be felt and understood through the person underneath. I was hoping for more of that. It gets swallowed by the play’s thrust to ensure that the stories are not forgotten.
But I’m not the audience of this play. This production seems hell-bent on ensuring that misinformation and fake news doesn’t erase the voices of the victims. It takes a clear and defiant stand on what must be remembered and what we must resist. This play is for all the youth who may be victims of propaganda and revisionism. It’s for people who need ammunition when engaging with people who spread lies.
For that, I can see its importance. For that, I completely understand PETA’s release of this play on streaming just months before the elections and on its 55th anniversary. Theater has always addressed the needs of its community, and ‘A Game of Trolls’ answers that call.
My Rating:
––
A Game of Trolls is streaming via ktx.ph for P150 (Video On Demand with 24-hour access) on April 8, 22, and 23, 2022.
In observance of this year’s Holy Week, most malls in the metro will be closed on Maundy Thursday (April 14, 2022) and Good Friday (April 15, 2022).
Here is a list of shopping malls and their announced operating hours. Keep this list handy when going out to shop and dine, especially with Holy Week coming up while Metro Manila is on Alert Level 1 until Good Friday, April 15!
Here’s everything you need to know about Alert Level 1.
Holy Week Mass Schedule of The Chapel Of Sacred Heart Of Jesus
April 11-13 Holy Monday – Wednesday)
5:30 PM Mass | 6:00 PM (Lenten Recollection)
April 14 (Maundy Thursday)
5:30 PM (Evening of The Lord’s Supper)
April 15 (Good Friday)
3:00 PM (Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
April 16 (Holy Saturday)
5:30 PM (Easter Vigil Mass)
April 17 (Easter Sunday)
9:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 6:00 PM
For Inquiries, please text/call 0917-884-3606
[Note: Holy Week 2022 mall hours can change without prior notice, so we recommend also visiting the malls’ respective Facebook pages for additional updates.]
