Entertainment
Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com
C4
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2018
ISAH V. RED
MARK WAHLBERG
in another suspenseful thriller MILE 22, is the fourth film collaboration between director Peter Berg and twotime Academy award nominee Mark Wahlberg after Patriots Day, Deepwater Horizon and the Oscar-nominated Lone Survivor, all box-office hits. As the Ground Branch risks life and limb in Southeast Asia, with the city’s military, police, and even street gangs closing in on them to reclaim the asset, its counterpart called “Overwatch” is tasked to aid them from thousands of miles away. Overwatch has mad hacking skills, monitoring the Ground Branch agents involved in the operation and communicating with them in real time to help keep them alive, in motion and on mission, as the action unfolds and the city quickly becomes a battleground. Mark Wahlberg portrays James “Jimmy” Silva, the brilliant senior officer and leader of this small but lethal group. His brain is like a shark, always moving, always working, and seemingly incapable of slowing down; he is incapable of separating himself from his work. When asked what drives Jimmy Silva, Wahlberg answers, “His upbringing, his youth…He has no family, no ties to anybody. (For him) the mission comes first, last, and in between. So, it’s a very unique kind of skill set that these guys have that are requirements for the job.” Ronda Rousey (Furious 7, The Expendables 3) plays Samantha “Sam” Snow, a member of Silva’s group. This former UFC women’s bantamweight champion fighter excited shares, “They put the script in my lap and it was a completely fresh and different role for me, and I absolutely loved it. My role was not so dependent on being physical and fighting; it was like completely the opposite.” In this film, Rousey’s character exhibits extreme loyalty to her friends. Playing the foreign intelligence asset named Li Noor is Indonesian actor and martial arts master Iko Uwais, best known for his starring roles in the acclaimed action film series The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2. Mile 22 marks Uwais’ American film debut. According to Peter Berg, “Iko is a big reason for me wanting to do this movie; he’s probably what started it.” The director reveals that he was mesmerized by Iko after watching The Raid. Iko has been referred to as “the next Bruce Lee”, and Berg began formulating plans for an action film to bring Uwais to a worldwide audience. That film became Mile 22. Although Mile 22 is a work of fiction, it’s standard practice for Berg to engage a group of consultants with real world experience—from Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, to CIA officers and computer experts—to assist the cast and crew. This intense and explosive film screens in cinemas now. The film is released by VIVAInternational Pictures & MVP Entertainment. Continued on C3
REGINE
VELASQUEZ
Kapuso star Rodjun Cruz renews his ties with his home studio.
joins ABS-CBN stars in Sydney
After welcoming Rayver to GMA, Rodjun renews ties with network
By Nickie Wang
N
OW it can be said, Regine Velasquez is a Kapuso no more.
Songbird Regine Velasquez joins 32 other Kapamilya stars in 'ASAP Line in Sydney,' the biggest Filipino musical spectacle ever to be held in the Land Down Under.
The songbird who had GMA Network as her home studio for 20 years already said her goodbyes on Saturday during the anniversary episode of cooking talk show Sarap Diva. Regine is believed to be transferring to ABS-CBN, though she has not made any official announcements regarding her departure. Prior to the airing of Sarap Diva episode, ABS-CBN Australia announced that on top of the already confirmed starstudded cast, ASAP Live in Sydney (a concert happening on Saturday, Oct. 20) is leveling up with the addition of Erique Gil and Liza Soberano and the Asia’s Songbird, who they dubbed as the current best-selling OPM artist of all time. The statement further said that Regine will join husband and ASAP mainstay Ogie Alcasid and the rest of the ASAP team as a special guest in the biggest Filipino musical spectacle ever to be held in Australia. “The entire community here is excited
and at the same time ready to represent at ASAP Live in Sydney,”said ABS-CBN Australia Country Manager Jay Santos. “It is going to be an amazing time and experience for us in Australia, particularly in the state of New South Wales where most of the Filipinos in the country live. With ASAP Live in Sydney, Filipinos are celebrating their presence and injecting their unique, delightful cultural flavors that add to Sydney becoming a must-visit destination city at this time of the year.” Regine, together with 32 other stars including Angeline Quinto, Bamboo, Daniel Padilla, Darren Espanto, Gary Valenciano, Moira Dela Torre, and Piolo Pascual, to name a few, will be performing at the ICC Sydney Theatre in the heart of Darling Harbour, a splendid waterside location in Sydney which ticks off all the destination boxes: marvelous aquarium and zoo, great dining options, funky nightclubs, wine bars, bistros, shopping centers, ferries
and cruises, the world’s largest cinema screen, laser skirmish and tenpin bowling, museums and parks, among a rich buffet of attractions. Moreover, the ICC Sydney Theatre is the latest among the world-class venues that ASAP Live is performing, after soldout shows in Singapore, Dubai, Los Angeles, London, New York, Toronto, and Honolulu. It is part of the new $1.5-billion International Convention Centre Sydney complex, Australia’s first and largest fully integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment center. For the event day schedule, to check updates and to buy tickets now to ASAP Live in Sydney download the TFC Live App from the App Store or Google Play and register. You may also visit https:// www.iccsydney.com.au/visit-icc-sydney/ whats-on/ASAP-Sydneyhttps://www. iccsydney.com.au/visit-icc-sydney/whatson/ASAP-Sydney.
‘It’s Showtime’ celebrates 9 years, launches 3 new digital shows IN CELEBRATION of its ninth anniversary, It’s Showtime is launching three new digital shows on YouTube featuring the Hashtags, “Miss Q & A” grand winner Juliana Parizcova Segovia, and “Funny One” grand winner Donna Cariaga. The three new digital shows that will entertain and engage the ‘madlang peopole’ will be housed under “Showtime Online Universe,” a new online hangout platform that will continue to bring good vibes to the fans of the country’s leading noontime show. Juliana engages viewers in a battle of wits in her own show And I Thank You every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.. The members of Hashtags, meanwhile, are also making a splash as travel, food, and lifestyle hosts in Hashtag Roadtrip, which streams every Wednesday at 5:00 p.m..In Donna What To Do, Donna pokes fun at love and relationships with her timely and relatable “hugot” jokes every Thursday at 5:00 p.m.. These shows are exclusively available on www.youtube.com/ShowtimeOnlineUni-
Hashtags members Maru and Zeus
versewww.youtube.com/ShowtimeOnlineUniverse. It is one of the digital initiatives of ABSCBN, the Philippines' leading media and entertainment company, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties. Meanwhile, the noontime show’s hosts
TNT Boys in Singapore for record-breaking charity ball INTERNATIONAL sensation TNT Boys continue to bring pride to the country as they recently performed for the president of Singapore, Halimah Yacob, the third head of state they have sung for after Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O’ Neill. The trio’s latest gig happened Sunday evening (Oct. 14) at the President’s Star Charity, organized by Singaporean media conglomerate Mediacorp under the President’s Challenge, an annual campaign that aims to raise funds for the less fortunate and the charities selected by the president of Singapore. Broadcast live on Singaporean TV, the event raised a record-breaking S$8.3 million, the highest amount raised for the annual event to date. At the charity ball, the TNT Boys sang “The Greatest Love of All” together with the students of Lorna Whiston Schools, and belted out the iconic hit “Listen.” They joined a starstudded line-up of world-class artists, including Hong Kong star Eason Chan, Malaysian Dayang Nurfaizah, Taiwanse ukulele
The TNT Boys with the president of Singapore, Halimah Yacob
prodigy Feng E, Singaporean actress Zoe Tay, and French juggler Mickael Bellemene. Photos and videos of the TNT Boys and Pres. Yacob are also circulating online as the head of state went backstage to personally meet the trio. In a social media post, the boys also thanked Mediacorp CEO Tham Loke Kheng for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at the historic event. The boys’ performances at the President’s Star Charity come just before they are set to fly this week to the US for an international talent competition. The TNT Boys are also busy preparing for their highly anticipated first-ever major concert at the Araneta Coliseum, called Listen: The Big Shot Concert on Nov. 30.
are busy preparing for their performances for this year’s Magpasikat Week that runs from Oct. 15 to 20. Expect jaw-dropping and never-beforeseen acts from the teams of Anne Curtis and Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla with Jameson, Ryle, Tom, Kid, Sammie, and Kamille; Jugs and Teddy with Zeus, Vito, Maru, Mica, and Joana; Karylle and Jhong Hilario with Ronnie, Jimboy, Rayt, Chienna, and Jessica; Vhong Navarro and Ryan Bang with Nikko, CK, Paulo, Dawn, and Maika; and Vice Ganda and Amy Perez with McCoy, Luke, Wilbert, Krissha, and Mikee. Last year, Team Vhong was named the champion for their moving mirror dance act. Whose team will win this year? Don't miss the fun and good vibes in It's Showtime, on ABS-CBN and ABSCBN HD (Sky Cable ch 167). For the program's past episode, login to iWant TV or onskyondemand.com.phskyondemand. com.ph for Sky subscribers.
ACTOR and performer Rodjun Cruz is looking forward to more years as a Kapuso after renewing his management contract with GMA Artist Center on Oct. 9. He is grateful to the network’s immense support as he embarks on a new chapter in his career and acknowledged the challenging projects that GMA has been giving him. “I’m thankful to GMA for their trust. I was able to explore my abilities as an actor and performer with their guidance. I feel more inspired to work because it allows me to make more people happy through my projects.” He counts his roles in My Husband’s Lover and Encantadia as his most memorable. “First role na ginawa ko sa GMA ay si Martin sa My Husband’s Lover. Of course, favorite role ko rin si Paopao sa Encantadia, and I consider every character I portray challenging,” said Rodjun. He also appeared in several GMA shows such as Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real, Legally Blind, and Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka. The Kapuso heartthrob also hopes to work with his younger brother, Rayver, on a television series. “Hopefully, Rayver and I could work in one project. We enjoyed our guesting in Tonight with Arnold Clavio dahil parang hindi trabaho. We danced and sang together. I hope next time we get to have an acting project.” Present in the contract signing to show support to the actor were GMA Entertainment Group Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz, GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer, Senior Talent Manager Vic del Rosario and Leo Dominguez, Rodjun’s co-manager. “We know that he’s a multitalented artist. Not only can he act, he can also dance. We will have him on Studio 7. People should look forward to that because he may appear alongside Rayver,” Rasonable said.
INTERNATIONAL
‘Teletubbies’ creator in new go-to-sleep kids show ANDREW Davenport, the genius behind Teletubbies, has come up with a new show “guaranteed to stop children climbing the walls,” BBC bosses claimed Sunday. Davenport, an actor and puppeteer known as the “J.K. Rowling of the under-fives,” also wrote and made the worldwide hit In the Night Garden. The British public broadcaster believes that his new series called Moon and Me will transport the next generation of toddlers to the Land of Nod. It got its world premiere Sunday at the MIPJunior children’s entertainment market in Cannes, France. Davenport introduced the show by video link from Atlanta, Georgia, where he is rushing to finish the first series for the BBC’s pre-school CBeebies channel. Commissioning editor Michael Towner called Davenport a “genius” and said the show’s calming combination of story and song is “guaranteed to stop children climbing the walls”. “If any of you didn’t have a lump in your throat towards the end of that, you are not human and you shouldn’t be working with children,” he added, after the
first work-in-progress episode was shown. A mix of puppetry and stopmotion animation, Moon and Me turns on a doll called Peppianna who lives in a toy house with her five friends including Mr Onions—who begins every sentence by saying “onions”—Collywobble, Lilyplant and Lambkin. AFP
The adorable Teletubbies whose creator Andrew Davenport is considered a legend in pre-school television.