B3
SHOWBIZ
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023
Angelica Hart leverages sensual films to launch her acting career, showcasing her versatility as an actress
lifeandshow.manilastandard@gmail.com NICKIE WANG, Editor ANGELICA VILLANUEVA, Writer
Sultry newcomer opens up about doing intimate scenes in Vivamax’s ‘Higop’ By Nickie Wang
‘Higop’ stars Fabio Ide, Angelica Hart, and Josef Elizalde
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LL roads led to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Dec. 14 as some of Asia’s biggest artists and tens of thousands of their fans converged at the muchanticipated 2023 Asia Artist Awards (AAA). Gracing the show were NewJeans, Le Sserafim, Zerobaseone, Nmixx, Boynextdoor, Stray Kids, Itzy, The Boyz, Kwon Eunbi, Kep1er, Seventeen BSS, SB19, Kim Seon Ho, and Ahn Hyeo Seop and more, making AAA’s debut in the Philippines a truly memorable experience. K-Pop sensation NewJeans emerged as the big winner at the AAA, securing two grand prizes—Singer of the Year and Song of the Year for “Ditto.” They also received accolades for Hot Trend, Asia Celebrity, Best Choice, and Fabulous Awards. Seventeen BSS won the Grand Prizes for Album of the Year and Performance of the Year with a jaw-dropping number to wrap up the show, while Korean singer Lim Young-woong achieved a remarkable feat by taking home five awards, including the grand prize for Fandom of the Year. On the other hand, in the field of acting, Lee Junho clinched the Actor of the Year award for the second consecutive year, this time for his role in the romantic comedy series King the Land. Meanwhile, Filipina actress Melai Cantiveros was honored with the AAA Best Actor Award for her portrayal of a policewoman in the movie Mam Chief. Filipino fans didn’t miss the opportunity to share their thoughts on social media during the show, powered by Smart, enabling fans to share their favorite and most memorable moments during world-class events instantly. TV host Ryan Bang and comedienne Melai Cantiveros emerged as the top trending topics
IN THE latest Vivamax movie, Higop, rising star Angelica Hart shared her experience of working on intimate scenes with co-stars Josef Elizalde and Fabio Ide. The sexy newcomer expressed feeling secure in the on-set environment, praising her co-actors for their professionalism and careful approach to delicate scenes. “They took care of me, we discussed everything beforehand. So, every intimate scene was well-communicated and rehearsed. Everything was done with my consent,” emphasized Hart, who sees her roles in Vivamax as a potential stepping stone toward her dream of becoming a recognized dramatic actress. Directed by Topel Lee, Higop is a sexy drama that follows the story of Noah (played
by Josef Elizalde), a charismatic lady’s man who undergoes a transformation when he reconnects with his past love, Ysa (Angelica). Noah is a carefree individual known for his ability to charm and please women. Despite his numerous relationships, he remains haunted by memories of Ysa. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when Noah stumbles upon Ysa, now going by the name Okinawa, working in a milk tea shop that transforms into a secret nightlife venue after dark. “Noah’s longing and misery for his ex-lover changes when he chances upon Ysa working at a milk tea shop. However, she goes by the name Okinawa and denies their past,” Josef said. A motivated and determined Noah is not about to let Ysa slip away again, so he investigates and finds out that the milk tea shop is a façade for
a prostitution house. The names of the women that customers will “order” are based on milk tea flavors. As Noah endeavors to win back Ysa’s heart, he uncovers a hidden world of underground business and learns that Ysa’s involvement is not by choice but rather a result of her relationship with Mon (played by Fabio Ide), a foreigner and the proprietor of the clandestine establishment. “It’s a sexy movie that also tells an intriguing story. It’s not just about the skin, it has a story that a lot of people can relate to,” Fabio shared. Completing the cast are Van Allen Ong, Lester Llansang, Aila Cruz, Zsara Laxamana, Princess Zian, Jonica Lazo, Joanna David, and Chloe Mendoza. Higop is now streaming exclusively on Vivamax.
NewJeans, Seventeen win big at star-studded 2023 Asia Artist Awards on social media, with Ryan receiving praise for his hosting skills during the red-carpet show, and Melai gaining attention for her humorous moments during the awards show. Fans were also abuzz when Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo appeared together on stage after receiving the AAA Fabulous Award. Smart subscribers shared these iconic moments by seamlessly uploading photos, videos, and stories on their social media accounts in real time. Smart subscribers maximized their AAA experience with exclusive access to exciting perks and awesome activities at the concert. Weeks before the event, Smart Prepaid gave customers the chance to score tickets to the awards night through points redemption on the Smart App. Additionally, Smart subscribers were
able to redeem tickets by activating a Smart Prepaid eSIM and top up with Magic Data+ offers at select Smart Stores. During the event, fans enjoyed a red carpet-themed experience at the Smart Live booth which had the Among the Stars photobooth where fans captured their Asia Artist Awards experience. The Smart Live booth also featured an AAA-list filter for posting on Instagram and TikTok and gave Smart subscribers a chance to win exclusive prizes by answering trivia questions. Smart also offered free charging throughout the venue to ensure fans remained concert-ready. Fans also enjoyed the Smart Live outdoor booth at the fanzone area which had Instagram-ready corners for fans to create their own reels.
The AAA, powered by mobile services provider Smart Communications and Viu, PCCW’s leading pan-regional OTT video streaming provider, is the latest addition to the stellar line-up of Smart Live, which gives subscribers access to exclusive perks and privileges to
world-class live concerts and events. Before AAA, Smart also brought other performers like Harry Styles, and K-pop acts Seventeen and Twice, closer to Filipino fans. Seventeen’s BSS members (from left) Hoshi, DK, and Seungkwan
NewJeans is popularly known for their hit songs ‘Ditto’, ‘OMG’, and ‘Super Shy’
Marvel drops Jonathan Majors after assault conviction RISING Hollywood star Jonathan Majors was convicted Monday of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, prompting Marvel to drop him from a prime role in its superhero blockbusters. Majors’s conviction could see the actor facing up to one-year imprisonment and has upended Marvel’s plans for the franchise, which had his character Kang the Conqueror front and center in multiple upcoming films. Majors debuted as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania earlier in 2023 and was set to appear in at least two subsequent Avengers films – the top franchise in the Marvel universe. The studio will not be moving forward with Jonathan Majors, a source briefed on the decision told AFP after it was reported by US entertainment media. Majors was arrested in late March over a confrontation involving 30-year-old Jabbari during a car ride in Manhattan. The court heard that Majors had received a text message and Jabbari had sought to take his phone, believing the contact to be from another woman, local media reported. There was then a struggle, with the pair’s legal representatives trading accusations over who attacked whom in the ensuing tussle over the device. “Jonathan Majors was found guilty by a Manhattan Criminal Court jury of assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. Majors will be sentenced on Feb. 6, it added. The jury of six people spent more than five hours deliberating over three days, local media reported. Majors has appeared in several major films, including Creed III, Lovecraft Country, for which he was nominated for an Emmy, and Magazine Dreams, a film presented at the Sundance Film Festival. AFP American actor Jonathan Majors
GRAMMY-NOMINATED R&B sensation Tyla continues to gain traction in the Philippines after two of its biggest celebrities, Sarah Geronimo and Kathryn Bernardo, recently made headlines with their renditions of “Water.” The global smash reached number one in New Zealand and landed in the top ten of the official music charts in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, the Philippines, and her home country, South Africa. Filipino pop superstar Sarah G. wowed netizens with her phenomenal take on the TikTok hit at the ASAP Natin ‘To TV performance last Sunday, Dec. 17. The much-buzzed number became a trending topic on X and caught the attention of the South African singersongwriter/performer. After seeing Sarah’s performance online, Tyla immediately responded on X, saying, “It’s so crazy seeing people perform my song with such massive productions, costumes, choreography, etc. etc…. what the heck.” Other celebrities who jumped on the “Water” wave include Kathryn, whose dance performance at the ABS-CBN Christmas Special 2023 also made a remarkable impression on the audience. Released on July 28 this year, Tyla’s “Water” is a refreshing blend of Amapiano and Afrobeats with sensual R&B, immediately catapulting its position as one of the summer’s
Sarah G, Kathryn Bernardo join Tyla’s ‘Water’ wave
Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo and Box-office Queen Kathryn Bernardo
reigning anthems. The Grammynominated megahit was a worldwide success and received remix treatment from hip-hop titan Travis Scott and EDM icon Marshmello. The steamy banger proved to be a runaway hit in the Philippines, peaking at No. 13 on the Spotify Philippines Top 50 and reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Philippines chart. With its prominent presence on television, radio, online, and other
platforms, the track made it to highprofile playlists in the country and even became the cover of Viral Hits Philippines and Pop Rising PH. Tyla is already gearing up for an even bigger 2024 with the upcoming release of her self-titled debut album, TYLA. Her self-titled record will represent the culmination of what’s been an incredible journey to this point for the 21-year-old Amapiano star, but also an exciting beginning.