More foreign music acts coming to PH for must-see concerts with Thailand’s Win Metawin Janella Salvador stars in film shot in Hong Kong

By Angelica Villanueva

THE Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has always supported the in-town production of films from different parts of the world, to spread the city’s unique culture and appealing experiences to global audiences. Among them, the HKTB is supporting the production of a new Asian romantic film Under Parallel Skies, starring Thai actor Win Metawin and the Filipino actress Janella Salvador.

Produced by 28 Squared Studios and co-produced with Two Infinity Entertainment, the film is directed by decorated Filipino filmmaker Sigrid Bernardo

The official announcement was made through a post by 28 Squared Studios on Instagram. The production company is owned by Richard Juan, who will also join Win and Janella in the movie.

“We are excited to announce to you guys that we will be teaming up for the upcoming movie under Parallel Skies,” said Win.

Under Parallel Skies marks Win's debut in the international film industry and his collaboration with a Filipino artist for the first time

Last month, during his first solo fan meeting held at New Frontier Theater, Win expressed his hopes in working with Filipina actress and It’s Showtime host Anne Curtis Win rose to fame when he starred as Tine in the Thai hit BL series, 2gether The Series, with fellow actor Bright Vachirawit. The 24-yearold actor is currently working on his thriller series, Enigma

Meanwhile, Janella is known for portraying notable characters such as Nikki in Be Careful With My Heart and Emma in The Killer Bride

On the other hand, in a tweet shared by Official BrightWin Philippines, it seemed that Win might be working on a global brand which it said to be later revealed. Fans became more excited about what he is up to when he liked the post hinting at a new endorsement from him.

'Barbie' marketing blitz hits fever pitch

HOLLYWOOD A-listers have been walking red carpets in hot pink, glitter is back, and companies from The Gap to Burger King are doing rosecolored collaborations: Barbie mania is everywhere as the hotly anticipated film hits theaters worldwide.

Toy maker Mattel, who first unveiled the iconic doll in 1959, has reached about 100 licensing agreements for everything from roller skates to toothbrushes in connection to director Greta Gerwig's summer flick.

Of course, Barbie is big in the beauty world too – lipsticks, blushes, and mirrors all bear the famous logo.

"In the 30 years that I have been tracking and analyzing box offices and trends, I've never quite seen anything like this before," said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst at Comscore.

"Barbie is tailor-made for marketing," he said. "It's perfect because Barbie is a toy, it's already a product, and beyond that, it's a lifestyle and a color."

The movie, which stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken, has been hyped as one of the biggest blockbusters of the season, with numerous premieres held around the globe ahead of Friday's debut in US theaters.

Of course, that promotion blitz has been curtailed at the 11th hour, with Hollywood actors now on strike over pay and other conditions. But the list of corporate partners is sure to keep the buzz going.

Microsoft, Forever 21, Ulta Beauty, Hot Wheels, Chevrolet, and even Progressive insurance are among the companies looking to cash in on Bar- bie mania. The influential color company Pantone even has a shade to match the zeitgeist: 219C is officially Barbie Pink.

Mattel has even reached a deal with rival toy giant Hasbro, which will release a Barbie version of the classic board game Monopoly in the fall. In exchange, Mattel will showcase "Transformers" on its Uno card game in connection with a Hasbro film release. AFP

Fashion brand Forever 21 brings Barbie fashion in the real world with Forever 21 x Barbie exclusive capsule

Classical crossover group dazzles the music scene

SOMETIMES it's a good sign if a group is formed by impulse rather than via tradition where teenage friends experience it all together from garage jams to concert venues. When remarkable individual talents make way for a strong ensemble, it's a case of the right ingredients falling into place for a good recipe. Such is the scenario that resulted in FilTrio, a new classical crossover group based in Los Angeles whose members are all immersed in the Filipino-American community of performers, artists, and creatives. While each member has his separate journey before becoming a professional act, their intertwined destinies led to the fine mix. Someone saw it coming. The troika, composed of Lyndon Apostol, Kenneth Laurente, and Cristiani Rebada, recorded and put out their version of "O Holy Night" to celebrate Christmas and their group's formal birth. That came after Starlink Promotions, anchored by the beloved-sometimes-controversial Fil-Am singer Garth Garcia, initiated the idea that they perform as a guest trio for the renowned Jed Madela in a previous California concert.

"We instantly clicked, drawn together by our shared passion for classical, musical theatre, and OPM repertoire. Singing together at various events, we formed a strong bond, supporting fellow artists and organizations within the community," expressed the multi-talented Apostol whom I witnessed direct a fashion show at the Scientology Auditorium in North Hollywood.

Fil-Trio did their first concert at the same venue last April, where they were joined by Discovery Philippines second placer Leeana, rising star Savannah Blandino, and The Voice Kids PH alumna Claire Geonzon They are slated to participate at the

Vocal Champs Live in L.A tomorrow (Friday, July 20) that will feature top Filipino singers Kyla, KZ Tandingan, and Yeng Constantino

(Fri

Come August 11, they will also be on hand at Madela's 20th Anniversary concert billed Timeless Twenty So far, their lone record has given listeners a bright idea of what the group is offering. Their follow-up, titled "A Moment Like This," and set to be released in music streaming platforms by Starlink Music, will take the public deeper into their sense of synergy. Laurente, who has quite carved a name for himself with already six singles to his name, elaborated on their musicality: "Fil-Trio's sound is all about combining operatic and classical techniques with a unique twist. We love pushing boundaries and exploring pop and rock fusion, which gives our music an incredible variety of styles."

Rebada's classical training from Silliman University, Apostol's Broadway experience (having played roles including that of Chino from West Side Story and

Minsik Lee from Comfort Women, and Laurente's background as a soloist and member of various choirs (in particular, the Saint John Bosco Chorale Makati which toured Canada and Singapore) came together well to imbue their overall appeal with dynamism and confidence.

"It's clear that classical music still has a special place in people's hearts even in today's diverse music landscape," said Rebada. "We're thrilled to see the love and support for our genre, and it only fuels our confidence to continue delivering."

Stressing the importance of merging authentic talents in an era where artists are somewhat forced to upstage others to get ahead, like in reality TV contests, or on social media where more often the merely daring beats the quietly skilled, Apostol noted, “Fil-Trio’s strength comes from the fact that each member individually stands as their own artist. We happen to enjoy the art we make and we hope to do so as we grow together.”

That is short of saying we’re bound to see a tight group created overnight for a good reason, and may actually last long.