British Comedy Actor Richard Ayoade Joins Ben Stiller in 'The Watch'

                Fast-rising British comedy talent Richard Ayoade joins Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill in the neighborhood comedy "The Watch" directed by award-winning writer and musician Akiva Schaffer ("Saturday Night Live").
 
                "The Watch" follows four suburban men who formed a group to guard their neighborhood after a series of unexplained fatalities start to toll in their town.  Headed by the civic-minded Evan (Stiller), along with Bob (Vaughn), Franklin (Hill) and Jamarcus (Ayoade), the group initially follows some dubious teens who stay way past their bedtime, thinking they might find the culprit in their midst.  It wasn't long before they realize that they're fighting forces greater than they have imagined.  The four eventually comes to terms to settle their differences when the aliens start rummaging and rampaging through their watch in an attempt to take full control of earth.
 
                To play the four members of "The Watch," Levy and director Akiva Schaffer (a creative force on several famed "Saturday Night Live" short films) tapped three comedy icons and a new talent.  "We wanted the best," says Levy," and so we went out and got the best – three titans …together in the same movie! And then we threw in the 'grenade' of 'what the hell are you going to get with Richard Ayoade?'"
 
                Ayoade is a British comedian, writer and director best known for his iconic portrayal of Maurice Moss, the beloved über-geek in the award-winning British sitcom, "The IT Crowd."  Ayoade's innovative twist on the high-tech misfit has garnered him nationwide acclaim and honors including the Monte-Carlo Television Festival's award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Comedy Series.
 
                Equally masterful behind the camera, Ayoade's foray into directing began with helming music videos for English indie rock bands such as the Arctic Monkeys and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In 2010, he made his directorial feature debut with the coming-of-age adaptation, "Submarine," which he also wrote that received rave reviews and garnered Ayoade a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding Debut.
 
                Ayoade's role Jamarcus, who is newly divorced and perpetually hungry for love, eagerly embraced The Watch's off-kilter camaraderie.  "Jamarcus feels that The Watch is an opportunity to burst out of his shell," says Ayoade, who is also a noted filmmaker, having written and directed the acclaimed British film "Submarine."  Adds Schaffer: "He's just looking to get out of the house and meet some ladies – and have sex with them."
 
On the surface, Jamarcus is kind of an odd duck, but he may prove to be a secret weapon in the looming battle against the forces threatening the neighborhood.  Levy says it was Ayoade's "idiosyncratic energy" that made him perfect for the role.  "He's wildly inventive and completely strange in the best possible way. You never know what you're going to get next with Richard." "Richard is the one the audience isn't expecting, so he can sucker-punch them…with lovable jokes," Schaffer concurs.
 
Beyond the R-13 rated hilarity lies a story about four guys who were not complete, or their best selves, until they joined forces.  As Bob admits to Evan: "You took a ragtag group of misfits and taught us there was something bigger than a few beers and some bro-time.  You taught us about community and how important it is."
               
                "The Watch" opens September 5 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
 

007 Celebrates 50 Years on Film with 'Global James Bond Day'

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise on the anniversary of "Dr. No," which enjoyed its world film premiere in London on October 5, 1962, and in anticipation of the worldwide release of the 23rd James Bond adventure "Skyfall," Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today that October 5, 2012 will be Global James Bond Day, a day-long series of events for Bond fans around the world.

             A new feature documentary from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Passion Pictures and Red Box Films, "Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007," will be also be unveiled, country-specific details to follow. Directed by Stevan Riley ("Fire In Babylon"), "Everything or Nothing" focuses on three men with a shared dream – Bond producers Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman and author Ian Fleming. It's the thrilling and inspiring narrative behind the longest running film franchise in cinema history which began in 1962.

             Further worldwide events celebrating Bond's golden anniversary include a global online and live auction charity event of 50 lots to benefit twelve charitable institutions organized by Christie´s in London (full details at www.christies.com/bond), a global survey to discover the favorite Bond film by country, a film retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, a "Music of Bond" night in Los Angeles hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and an exhibition, "Designing 007: 50 Years of Bond Style," at TIFF in Toronto.

             Leading up to "Global James Bond Day," for the first time ever fans can own all 22 films in the franchise on Blu-ray Disc in one comprehensive collection with "BOND 50," releasing worldwide beginning September 24. Further updates by country will be announced in due course on 007.com and facebook/JamesBond007.

             Commenting on "Global James Bond Day," Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of "Skyfall," said, "We are absolutely thrilled to be celebrating James Bond's golden anniversary on film with this special day of events for Bond fans around the world."

             Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in "Skyfall," the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In "Skyfall," Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

             The film is from Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Directed by Sam Mendes. Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan.

             Opening across the Philippines in October 31, 2012, "Skyfall" is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.phto see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games. Like us atwww.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

Voice Cast of New LEGO Movie Revealed

             Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pratt and Morgan Freeman will lend their vocal talents to the LEGO® world, starring as characters in the upcoming original 3D animated LEGO feature, currently in production, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures.

             The film, the first-ever full length theatrical LEGO movie, follows Emmet, an ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.

             Chris Pratt ("Moneyball") stars as Emmet. Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") and Elizabeth Banks ("The Hunger Games," Emmy nominee for "30 Rock"), will star as two of Emmet's fellow travelers: Vitruvius, an old mystic; and tough-as-nails Lucy, who mistakes Emmet for the savior of the world and guides him on his quest. She also calls upon the mysterious Batman, a LEGO® minifigure voiced by Will Arnett (Emmy nominee, "30 Rock"), with whom she shares a history.
The 3D computer animated adventure will open nationwide on February 28, 2014.

Phil Lord & Christopher Miller ("21 Jump Street," Golden Globe nominee "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs") are directing from their original screenplay, story by Dan Hageman & Kevin Hageman and Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, based on LEGO construction toys. The film will incorporate some of the most popular LEGO figures while introducing several new characters, inviting fans who have enjoyed the brand's innovative toys and hugely popular video games for generations to experience their visually unique LEGO world as never seen before.

The film will be produced by Dan Lin ("Sherlock Holmes," "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows") and Roy Lee ("The Departed," "How to Train Your Dragon"). It will be distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

CHEF SHARWIN TEE CONTINUES HIS BAGUIO CITY ESCAPADE ON “CURIOSITY GOT THE CHEF”

Chef Sharwin Tee will unleash the camper in him as he will bring his viewers to an exciting camping episode on "Curiosity Got the Chef". This time, Chef Sharwin will delve into creating simple yet sumptuous delights that will satisfy a camper's stomach. First, he will make a very healthy dish called, 'Grilled Dry Aged Salad with Sagada Orange Dressing' and a satisfying 'Camper's Stew' to energize a tired camper. For dessert, he will prepare 'Strawberry S'more Cobbler' using the ingredients he handpicked himself. Like last week, all the ingredients he will use will come fresh from the farms of Baguio City. Pack up and join Chef Sharwin's delectable camp in this another exciting episode of "Curiosity Got The Chef" Saturdays at 6:00 p.m. Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. on the Lifestyle Network aired on SkyCable channel 52. For programming schedules and updates, like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LifestyleNetwork.

“Bwakaw” to Hit Cinemas Nationwide on September 5

Jun Robles Lana's critically-acclaimed first independent film "Bwakaw" is set to be released by Star Cinema in cinemas nationwide on September 5 (Wednesday).

 

Rated 'A' by the Cinema Evalution Board (CEB), "Bwakaw" is a drama-comedy about growing old, and everyone's fear of growing old alone. It shares the life of Rene, played by veteran actor-director Eddie Garcia, a 75-year-old man who thinks that at his age it is too late for love, even companionship, and that all there is to look forward to is death. But Rene's life suddenly turns around when a stray dog named "Bwakaw"—a Filipino street slang for greedy—suddenly teaches him a lesson about life.

 

Distributed by Star Cinema, "Bwakaw" made headlines recently as it earned nods from globally renowned movie fests including the Toronto International Film Festival and New York Film Festival. It was also awarded at the 8th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival with Best Actor (for Eddie), Audience Choice, and Netpac Awards in the Director's Showcase.

 

According to Garcia, "Bwakaw" is a heartwarming tale of a unique friendship. "Istorya ito ng pagmamahalan ng aso at isang 75 years old na bading na pinaghahandaan na ang kanyang kamatayan," explained Eddie who topbills the film that tackles about friendship, missed opportunities, second chances, fears of growing old and being alone.

 

Meanwhile, Lana shared that his indie-turned-mainstream film "Bwakaw," was a break to go back to his roots. "I decided to join Cinemalaya this year because I thought it was time to return to my roots. It was not an easy journey, but worth every moment. Writing, producing, and directing 'Bwakaw' was quite liberating. For the first time, there were no templates. All I had to focus on was the story and how to best tell it visually," said Jun, who gained popularity for writing his string of highly-acclaimed commercial films like "Jose Rizal," "Muro-Ami," and "Bagong Buwan."

 

Aside from Garcia and Princess, the dog, "Bwakaw" also stars Rez Cortez, Gardo Versoza, Bibeth Orteza, Soxie Topacio, Allan Paule, Joey Paras, Beverly Salviejo, Soliman Cruz, Bibeth Orteza, Luz Valdez, Jonathan Neri, May-I Fabros, and Ms. Armida Siguion-Reyna.

 

"Bwakaw" hits cinemas nationwide on September 5, 2012.

 

For more information about "Bwakaw," log on to http://facebook.com/bwakawthemovie and follow the Twitter account @bwakawthemovie

Madonna's Directorial Debut 'W.E.' Opens Soon in Manila

             With The Weinstein Company's romantic drama "W.E.," Madonna, one of the world's most famous women, tries to clean up the stained image of another famous American, Wallis Simpson — "that woman" for whom King Edward VIII gave up his throne in 1936, causing a crisis unprecedented in British history.

             Simpson has been dead for nearly 26 years; her ex-king husband, the Duke of Windsor, has been gone for nearly 40. Neither had a good end but their story lives on as one of the most reproduced of royal sagas on stage and screen for most of the 20th century.

             Now, 75 years after the abdication crisis, Madonna's movie, "W.E." helps shift the image of Simpson from the mannish-but-chic party crasher at the palace to a more ambivalent figure, by turns despised, traduced, envied and pitied even by her critics.
"W.E." starts in the year 1998, when Manhattan is abuzz with anticipation about the upcoming auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. But the auction is far more than a diversion for Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), a transplanted Southerner trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage. Transfixed by the exquisite artifacts of the Windsors' lives, Wally becomes obsessed with the love story of Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), the chic, charismatic American who captured the heart of King Edward VIII (James D'Arcy). As she learns more about the sacrifices Wallis made in choosing to be with Edward, Wally finds the courage to follow her own heart and create her own happiness.

Writer and director Madonna had been developing the idea for "W.E." for many years. She had a longstanding fascination with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, yet she was not interested in making a conventional biopic. She sought instead to capture the essence of their romance and convey her interpretation of one of the greatest love stories of the 20th Century. She says, "Truth is subjective. Everything I have to say about the Duke and Duchess is the conclusion I came to after all my research. I wanted to present a more well-rounded portrayal of Wallis than was commonly known. I created the Wally character because the movie needed a point of view. Wally goes on a journey thinking this is the greatest love story only to realize that it wasn't such a perfect love and that both of them made huge sacrifices. Strangely enough, Wallis seemed to make more of a sacrifice than Edward did."

             Madonna comments, "I couldn't get my mind off the fact that a man gave up the throne for a woman. From my perspective, men since the beginning of time have fought to get on the throne. Men are power-seeking animals, so why would this man run away from power? Why would he give it up? What drove him to do that? If it was for a woman and it was for love, what did this woman have that would inspire him to make such a great sacrifice? I wanted to know more about her."

Fascinated by this woman and this powerful love story, Madonna spent two years writing her script, and although "W.E." is, in part, a fictionalized story, she also spent this time heavily researching the project. She devoured every book published on Wallis and Edward, watched every documentary and broadcast available and interviewed countless people who knew Wallis and Edward.
During her research, two elements became particularly important. Wallis and Edward wrote to each other constantly throughout their relationship, sometimes even when staying in the same house. These letters are used throughout the film and even provide the title "W.E." due to the way they would sign off their letters with their initials. "I found the letters very insightful because I think people reveal a lot about themselves in a letter. Things you don't get from a book – the way they speak to each other, the nicknames they gave each other," concludes Madonna.

("W.E." will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas – Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma – starting Sept. 12.)

Penshoppe 2012 FanCon Starring Zac Efron is Happening on September 29

IT'S OFFICIAL: Hollywood golden boy ZAC EFRON is coming to Manila this September. As committed last March during his contract signing with leading casual wear brand PENSHOPPE, Zac has confirmed to fly to Manila and be the brand's lead star for the annual PENSHOPPE Fan Conference 2012.

 

"Team PENSHOPPE is very thankful to Zac for accepting our invitation to visit and meet his fans in the Philippines. PENSHOPPE FanCon 2012 starring Zac Efron will be our biggest event to date as we continue to bring PENSHOPPE to new levels," says Brand Director Alex Mendoza.

 

Just in time to welcome the holiday fashion season, PENSHOPPE FanCon 2012 organizers have confirmed the highly anticipated event will take place on September 29, 2012 (Saturday) 7PM at the Mall Of Asia ARENA. Access to the event is FREE for every single-receipt purchase made at PENSHOPPE and exchanged for SM tickets from September 1 to 23, 2012 or until passes last.

 

Promotional period will start on September 1 in the following outlets: PENSHOPPE stores located at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, Ayala Trinoma, SM North Edsa (Main Mall), SM Pampanga, SM Baguio, SM Lucena, SM Batangas, SM Cebu, SM Iloilo, SM Davao and SM Cagayan De Oro.

 

For every single receipt purchase worth P800 (general admission), P1,200 (Upper Box), P2,500 (lower box), P3,500 (Patron) up to P5,000 (VIP front seats), customers must request for a temporary FanCon voucher made valid once signed by the store manager. Customer must then present the temporary pass to any SM Tickets (www.smtickets.com) branch nationwide in exchange for the actual FanCon ticket.

 

Ticket redemption period is from September 1 to September 23, 2012. Customers will not be allowed to enter without the actual ticket. All ticket categories are free seating. Any pass not claimed within the redemption period will be forfeited in favor of PENSHOPPE, with the approval of DTI. Passes are transferable but are not for sale and are not convertible to cash.

 

PENSHOPPE Fan Conference 2012 starring ZAC EFRON is an original concept by leading entertainment publicity group PR Asia Worldwide for PENSHOPPE 2012/13. Official media partners include The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GARAGE Men's Magazine and Summit Media's Candy Magazine, OK! Philippines, Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP), SPOT.ph plus more.

 

For more information follow PENSHOPPE's official twitter account @PENSHOPPE or LIKE them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/penshoppeofficial

Milla's Alice Gets Unchained in 'Resident Evil: Retribution'

            As always, the central figure in the gritty and gripping fifth "Resident Evil" movie "Resident Evil: Retribution" is Alice, played once again with implacable ferocity by Milla Jovovich.

             "Milla is a huge factor in the success of the films," says producer Jeremy Bolt. "One of the things that makes Resident Evil interesting is that we present a woman as a convincing action hero. She's tough as hell. She's a leader; she's determined. If anybody's going to beat the evil corporation Umbrella, it's Alice."

             Alice has evolved with each chapter of the ongoing saga, transforming from naïve amnesiac to superhumanly gifted warrior and, now, a battered foot soldier in the ongoing war against the ultimate evil. After playing the character for a decade, Jovovich has come to know her more intimately and care more deeply about her action-hero alter ego.

             "Doing this series has been such an adventure," the actress says. "It's always amazing to come back to this incredible, fantastical, magical world and to Alice. I know her so well now. I know how she will react, what she will and won't do. She's become a huge part of my life, and as I grow, she grows. I'm always excited to see where she's going next."

             "Milla as Alice is a force to be reckoned with," says producer Don Carmody. "She is not only beautiful, she's also genuine and funny. People think of her as 'Milla Jovovich, the Russian supermodel,' but she's very down-to-earth, very accomplished and very dedicated. And nobody knows Alice better than she does."

             Alice was stripped of her superpowers in "Resident Evil: Afterlife," a move that Jovovich believes was critical to the development of the character. "We've moved closer to the original Alice, who was a little more vulnerable," she says. "When she's in danger, the audience can be scared for her because she can't just make everything explode. She's still a badass, just not a superhero badass."

             As Alice becomes acclimated to being human again, she has to learn to trust and depend on those around her, adds Jovovich. "Without her superpowers, she doesn't feel as isolated. She feels more in touch with other people, and she has to be much more of a team player. And she has been able to acquire bit of a sense of humor about it all. If all you do is go around killing zombies and being chased by Umbrella storm troopers, you may as well take it with a wink and a smile."

             When director Paul W.S. Anderson talks about the actress, who is also his wife, it's clear she is his muse for the film series. "Over the last ten years, as this character has developed, we've had the opportunity to see her grow as Milla has," he says. "Alice was a blank slate in the first film because she had memory loss and knew nothing about herself. She has slowly gathered around her this family made up of other survivors of the apocalypse.

             "This is a big step for her," he adds. "You see a lot of conflict come out of that because she is a hardened warrior who has sacrificed for the battle she's chosen to fight. She has given up family, friends and a future. Now, she is a slightly more complex character."

             Opening across the Philippines on Sept. 12, "Resident Evil: Retribution" is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Prepare to Scream for 'Amorosa: The Revenge'

You can run, but you can't hide. No matter where you go, Amorosa: The Revenge will find you when it hits theaters in a few days. Brought to you by Skylight Films—the maindie (mainstream indie) film arm of Star Cinema and the same group behind the successful Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang—this movie will give audiences plenty to scream about.

To hear the cast tell it, a lot of screaming went into the making of this movie. Actress/TV host Angel Aquino, who makes her horror film debut in Amorosa: The Revenge as doting mother Rosa, admits that she was constantly fighting her fear while shooting. "I used my imagination a lot. So kung ano man yung instructions sa akin ni Direk Topel [Lee], na-i-imagine ko na totoo talaga. Kunyari sasabihin niya sa akin na merong multo sa likod ko, hindi na talaga ako lilingon, kasi na-i-magine ko nga na meron talaga. Minsan tinatanong ko si Direk kung bakit pa niya kailangan sabihin sa akin yun kasi madali akong matakot."

Angel adds the spooky atmosphere on their set made the experience a lot scarier. "We actually think there were really ghosts there kasi one of the castmembers took a photo in one of the rooms, and sa photo niya may lumabas talagang reflection on the door. That door is so old, as in hindi siya makintab or varnished, so imposible na magka-reflection siya, but sa photo, there really was an image of a girl in a white dress on the door! Nung pinakita sa akin, natakot ako talaga. Sabi pa ng stylist naman namin na may third eye, meron daw talagang multo doon."

Enrique Gil, who plays Rommel, one of Rosa's two sons, used to dismiss the possibility that their location was haunted. But after several days on set and hearing all the scary stories from his co-stars and the crew, Enrique changed his tune. "Nung una ako pa yung nagsasabi sa kanila na walang multo sa set namin. Pero habang nagtagal, pati ako natatakot na rin. Nakakatakot talaga sa lugar na yun kasi sa gabi may fog, tapos nag-ha-howl pa yung wind. Kaya nga kung pwede, ayoko maiwan sa standby area ng mag-isa."

Martin del Rosario, who plays Rosa's blind son Amiel, was one of the few cast members who kept his fears at bay. When asked how he did it, he shared that he just focused on how great it was to be part of Amorosa: The Revenge. "Mahilig kasi talaga ako sa horror movies. Kung papipiliin mo ako, horror kasi gusto ko panuorin. Kaya masaya ako na napasama ako dito. First time ko rin makatrabaho sina Ms. Angel at Enrique sa isang movie. Masaya, parang magkaka-age lang kami. Very comfortable kaming lahat sa isa't-isa—kahit minsan may nangyayaring nakakatakot sa set na hindi namin talaga ma-explain."

But don't take the cast's word for it—see for yourself how terrifying the movie is when it hits theaters on August 29.

Amorosa: The Revenge is directed by Topel Lee. Also starring in it are Empress, Carlo Aquino, Ejay Falcon and introducing Jane Oineza. Franco Daza, Nico Antonio, Jairus Aquino, Mosang, Richard Quan, with the special participation of child star Xyriel Manabat, round out the cast of the movie.

HERO FACE OFF WINNERS FLY TO SINGAPORE FOR THE SINGAPORE TOY, GAME AND COMIC CONVENTION 2012

Winners of the HERO FACE OFF 2011 and 2012 will have the time of their lives at the cosplay competition in the Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention (STGCC) 2012 this coming September 1-2 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands.

Ma. Ann Orduna who cosplayed Azure Rathalos from Monster Hunter, winner of this year's Face Off will go to Singapore with last year's champ Dyerik Torres who cosplayed Dissidia – Warrior of Light from the popular video game franchise, Final Fantasy.

Aside from the grand all-expense paid trip to Singapore, this year's ultimate champ also received P30,000 at the HERO FACE OFF 2012 held recently at the SM Mega Trade Hall 1 while Torres, received the same amount during last year's face off.

Orduna and Torres will be participating at the STGCC, portraying the same characters that gave them their big win.

"Thank you so much Hero TV for giving us this splendid opportunity to see Singapore and participate in the cosplaying event at STGCC. I'm very excited to mingle with fellow cosplayers and meet new friends!" Orduna said.

Hero TV, the No. 1 anime cable channel in the country, is seen on Sky Cable Channel 44 and is available in over 200 cable operators nationwide. For more information, visit their website: www.myheronation.com. 

Mommies are Invited to Attend Working Mom's Annual 'All About Baby' Bazaar

Working Mom Magazine presents its annual "All About Baby" bazaar on Saturday (August 25) at the Rockwell Tent from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Moms only need to present their copy of Working Mom Magazine's August or September issue for admission.

Now on its third year, Working Mom's baby fair is the perfect place to get all the needs of babies and toddlers as it offers the essentials, the latest and most innovative products for both traditional and modern mothers. The baby fair will present a great sale of retail and independent brands. All merchants participating in the fair will be offering discounts of up to 75% off on selected items.

Some of these merchants are Youji & Me, Baby Care Plus, Baby Depot, Baby & Co., Momtrepreneur, Mommy Matters, Mommy Treats, Nursing Mom, Indigo Baby, Cussons, Hatch and Latch, Freycoo, Manila Baby and many more!

Apart from the sale, there will be talks and workshops for moms given by Denise Gonzales of Indigo Baby (attachment parenting, baby wearing, and baby-led weaning), The Medical City and Makati Medical Center.

Mothers will have no trouble shopping and participating in workshops as there will be plenty of activities to entertain parents and kids. "My Masterpiece Movement" will perform on stage and operate an arts and crafts area for kids. At the same time, the GPG Bulilit Bookstore will operate the reading nook, where they will do storytelling activities and where kids can freely browse through the books. Gymboree will further entertain kids with Parachute Time and will teach them the Gymbo Dance. A nursing lounge for breastfeeding moms, and a diaper changing room complete with baby hygiene essentials will also be available for moms.

Don't miss the "All About Baby" bazaar presented by Working Mom Magazine this Saturday (August 25), 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Rockwell Tent. Remember to bring your August or September issue of Working Mom Magazine to be admitted inside the baby fair.

The "All About Baby" bazaar is brought to you by Baby Care, Baby & Co., Cetaphil, Johnson & Johnson, and The Medical City.

Jumpstreet's Jonah Hill in Another Outrageous Comedy - 'The Watch'

After debuting in the comedy "I Heart Huckabees," Jonah Hill has steadily posited himself as a solid hilarious support in the string of his movies that followed.  Appearing afterwards in acclaimed hits like "The 40-Year Old Virgin," "Knocked Up," "Superbad," "Forgettting Sarah Marshall," "Get Him to the Greek," "Moneyball" and the most recent "21 Jump Street" with Channing Tatum which is Hill's highest grossing film after "Superbad."

            His latest movie "The Watch" which is about to open in cinemas this September 5 (in Phils. cinemas) allowed him to work with Ben Stiller, one of moviedom's great comic talents.  In "The Watch,"  four suburban guys formed a patrol which they tagged as 'Neighborhood Watch' after a mysterious incident left a security guard lifeless in the town's superstore Costco.  Headed by the civic minded Evan (Ben Stiller), he recruits fun-loving family guy Bob (Vince Vaughn), tough-talking 'wild card' Franklin (Jonah Hill) and the recent divorcé Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade).

            Even with – or maybe because of – their spiffy new "Watch" jackets, which are emblazoned with fiery wings and a tiger head, the not-so-fearsome foursome initially gets no respect from the residents they're supposedly looking out for.  A group of kids plaster them with eggs, and the local cops think they're a joke:  the Hardy Boys…only far less savvy.

            "When they formed this 'band of brothers', the guys thought, sure, they might encounter some weird neighborhood stuff – maybe a burglar here, or peeping tom there – but suddenly they realize they've facing something extraordinary," says producer Shawn Levy, the director of such hits as "Night at the Museum" and "Real Steel."  "And The Watch is not just unprepared or unqualified, it's not remotely equipped to deal with this problem; yet it's all on them to stop it."

                The youngest member of the team is Franklin (Jonah Hill), a twentysomething, militant looking tough guy with, notes Schaffer "a sweetness just underneath."  (He still lives at home with his mom.)  Franklin has a planet-size chip on his shoulder because he's been rejected as a candidate for the police force and all other law enforcement organizations. So for Franklin, The Watch is the only way he can legally kick ass and take names.  "Franklin is alienated from, well everything," says Hill.  "He's very strange and very funny." 

            Coming off his Oscar®-nominated performance in the drama "Moneyball," and executive producing and starring in the critically-hailed hit "21 Jump Street," Hill was not looking to return to the kind of raucous comedy that had propelled him to superstardom (like "Superbad" and "Pineapple Express"), but he "couldn't resist the chance to perform opposite alongside Ben, Vince and Richard," notes the actor. "It was something I had to do."  Moreover, "if I was going to do another broad comedy, I wanted it to have no basis in reality, and portray a character that could say or do anything.  Plus, anytime you put an extreme amount of danger in the hands of irresponsible people, you know the results are going to be really wild."
More of Jonah Hill and the movie in this interactive trailer of "The Watch"http://www.youtube.com/thewatchintl.

            "The Watch" is a 20th Century Fox movie to be distributed by Warner Bros. in local cinemas (Sept. 5).

SKYLIGHT FILMS RETURNS TO THE HORROR GENRE WITH “AMOROSA” ON AUGUST 29

When Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang hit theaters earlier this year, it was billed as a Skylight Films production distributed by Star Cinema. People were puzzled. They were familiar with the latter, but the former was alien to them. So at the time, the question on their minds was, "What is Skylight Films?"

 

According to Star Cinema's Enrico Santos, Skylight Films is the newest unit in ABS-CBN Films. It was established sometime last year, but only started actively making movies this year. "It is the network's 'maindie' or 'mainstream-indie' film unit. It's not a label of Star Cinema. We don't do the kinds of movies that Star Cinema makes, like yung mga family dramas. Ours have more edge. They're not as experimental as the indie films made for Cinemalaya, but they're indie pa rin, although we do try to cater to and entertain mainstream sensibilities."

 

Enrico says Skylight Films projects are indie in the sense that they use the same equipment indie filmmakers use. "Actually, we were one of the first mainstream groups to employ digital equipment. Because of that, the directors we work with are free from things like using expensive film stock." Also, they experiment with new filmmaking techniques, like innovations in color grading, and also find new ways to distribute and promote their movies.

 

To hear Enrico tell it, Skylight Films is like a laboratory. It's mainly a venue for ABS-CBN to conduct experiments, which can involve anything from trying out new techniques to working with new actors (and, in the case of Corazon, which was bannered by the teamup of Erich Gonzales and Derek Ramsay, new combinations), new directors, and new kinds of stories.

 

Enrico says some of those experiments may eventually be used in Star Cinema's mainstream projects, but only in special cases. "If we see it's pang mainstream, sige, go. But we can never be identical to mainstream because the real mission of Skylight Films is to give viewers something different from the usual fare."

 

They began that mission with Corazon, and seem poised to have another hit on their hands with the psychological horror-slash-family drama Amorosa: The Revenge.

 

"Sa Amorosa, nakatirintas ang family drama and horror. It's one of the most twist-filled movies you will see," Enrico promises. "It all depends on how moviegoers will accept the movie. We're taking a big risk with this, but we trust na willing sila."

 

Skylight Films' latest offering will witness some of its stars—including Enrique Gil and Angel Aquino—make their horror film debut. Amorosa: The Revenge also stars Martin del Rosario, Empress, Carlo Aquino, Ejay Falcon and introducing Jane Oineza. Also starring in Amorosa: The Revenge are Franco Daza, Nico Antonio, Jairus Aquino, Mosang and Richard Quan, with the special participation of child star Xyriel Manabat.

 

Amorosa: The Revenge is directed by Topel Lee and will premiere on August 29.

Star Cinema Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Bea and John Lloyd's Love Team via 'The Mistress'

Star Cinema marks the 10th anniversary of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz's love team via "The Mistress," the onscreen couple's first-ever 'mature film' which will be shown on theaters nationwide on September 12 (Wednesday).

According to Bea, she considers "The Mistress" as a milestone project and a grand celebration for her and John Lloyd. "Nakakatuwa kasi ang layo na ng narating nung relasyon namin bilang magkatrabaho. Isang dekada na," said Bea. "Honestly, bawat project ay iniisip namin baka last na, kagaya ng 'One More Chance' at 'Miss You Like Crazy,' pero hindi. Kaya sobra po talaga ang pasasalamat namin sa mga naniwala at sumusuporta sa amin sa loob ng 10 taon."

After a decade of working together, Bea is still amazed with John Lloyd's talent. "Hanggang ngayon, napapatulala pa rin ako kung pano niya dinideliver ang roles niya, he's such a good actor. Everytime na magkatrabaho kami ni Lloydi parang may sense of familiarity ka yet it's always refreshing kasi palagi siyang may binibigay na bago, 'yung talagang mapapasabi ka ng 'uy bago yun ah," she related.

Bea further regard "The Mistress" as her bravest film to date. "Seriously, kinakabahan talaga ako hanggang ngayon. Nagdalawang isip ako noong una kung kaya ko siyang gawin kasi nasanay na ako sa comfort zone ko na ano ako yung regular na mabait na character. By far, ito pinakamatapang na movie ko dahil marami akong ginawa dito na never ko pa nagawa sa teleserye man o pelikula. Mahirap siya, feeling ko aatakehin ako sa puso kada eksena," she explained.

With all her daring scenes in the movie, Bea was thankful that John Lloyd was there to support her. "Jackpot talaga ako na John Lloyd ang kasama ko sa 'The Mistress.' He's very generous when it comes to giving emotions and giving me reactions sa scenes ko kahit hindi niya shot. He's very supportive," she said. "Mas lalo akong nagpupursige kasi iniisip ko siya nga, he's on top right now, halos lahat ng award-giving bodies kinilala na siya, pero hindi siya nagkakampante. Madadala ka kapag makikita mo kung paano siya nagko-concentrate, nagre-research, at kung gaano kalaki 'yung dedication na binibigay niya sa trabaho."

Bea further shared that she brought all what she went through for the past 10 years. "Baon ko dito ang lahat memories at mga pinagdaanan ko, good times and bad times. Nag-grow ako as an actress dahil sa lahat ng experiences na 'yun."

Under the direction of Olivia Lamasan, "The Mistress," according to Bea, is a wonderful 'imperfect love story.' She said, "Siguro habambuhay kong pagsisisihan kung nag-'no' ako sa pelikulang ito. Kailangan mo siyang panoorin para madiscover mo na may another form of love, mayroong imperfect love story pero mararamdaman mo it's a perfect feeling at maintindihan nating may mga bagay na hindi binibigay sa atin para maging happily ever after ang love story natin pero para matuto ka."

"The Mistress" is an extra-ordinary love story of Sari Alfonso (Bea) and JD Torres (John Lloyd) who have crossed paths in an unexpected circumstance. What will you do when the only woman you love is sadly committed to a married man?

"The Mistress" hit cinemas nationwide on September 12, 2012.

For more information about "The Mistress," log on tohttp://www.StarCinema.com.ph/, http://facebook.com/StarCinema andhttp://twitter.com/StarCinema.

Monsters are Just Like Humans in 'Hotel Transylvania'

           "`Hotel Transylvania' is a story about a father and a daughter – it's just that the father happens to be Dracula," says Genndy Tartakovsky, director of Sony Pictures Animation's new, 3D animated comedy, "Hotel Transylvania."

             "Like all fathers, he's an overprotective, psychotic, and endearing guy who'd do anything for his daughter, but unlike other fathers, he's the Prince of Darkness."

             In the film it turns out that the world's most famous monsters – including Dracula, Frankenstein, the Werewolf, the Invisible Man, and the Mummy – are just like regular people, with families and problems and a need to get away from it all… but unlike humans, they have to live in hiding from a world that thinks they're, well, monsters. What better place to hide than Hotel Transylvania, which Dracula himself operates as a sanctuary from the rest of the world and has been human-free since 1898?

             But Dracula has issues of his own… his daughter, Mavis, is a teenager – in fact, she's about to turn 118 – and as she becomes a woman, the vampire's greatest fear is losing his relationship with her. Well, his two greatest fears are losing his relationship with his daughter and garlic, but that's another story.

             "One of the toughest things you have to do as a parent is to let your children go out into the world," says producer Michelle Murdocca, who has shepherded the film since its inception. "You can't protect them; you just have to trust that they're going to be able to take care of themselves. It turns out that even Dracula thinks the world can be a scary place sometimes."

             "`Hotel Transylvania' makes these monsters funny – funnier than they've ever been – but the reason these monsters have lasted through the years is that they all have great personal stories," says Tartakovsky. "There's a humanity to them that makes them accessible. And that's what we've found for our Dracula – there's a great, accessible, bittersweet story, where you see how human the vampire is."

             "When I first joined Sony Pictures Animation – right at the very beginning of the studio – and looked at the development slate, I was immediately struck by `Hotel Transylvania,'" says Murdocca, who also produced Sony Pictures Animation's first feature film, "Open Season." "I loved the fun that we could have with all of these traditional characters as we do a whole new take on them. When Adam Sandler joined the project, it really opened up a lot of possibilities about who Dracula could be – suddenly, we saw the potential of it becoming a bigger and broader comedy than we had ever imagined."

             Opening across the Philippines in September, "Hotel Transylvania" is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visithttp://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us atwww.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

'Be Careful with My Heart' Wins TV Viewers, Advertisers' Hearts

ABS-CBN executives recently attested to the unprecedented success of the country's no.1 daytime TV program "Be Careful With My Heart" as it did not only boost the ratings performance of the network but also contributed in the double-digit growth in airtime revenues that began in August. 

"Richard Yap and Jodi Sta. Maria's soap is turning out to be the biggest surprise hit," remarked Vivian Tin, ABS-CBN's head of customer business development group.

According to ABS-CBN chief financial officer Rolando Valdueza, advertising revenues show signs of strengthening in the second half of the year because of the network's top-rating shows like "Be Careful With My Heart." He said, "We're also experiencing double-digit growth in terms of airtime starting August and if we can sustain this by the end of the year, we may exceed P1.3 billion."

Meanwhile, "Be Careful With My Heart" continues to perform better in the ratings game. Based on the latest data of Kantar Media last Thursday (August 16), the romantic-comedy series is now of the fourth spot of the country's top overall TV programs with 23% national TV rating, or 16 points higher than its rival program in GMA, "Kapuso Movie Festival" which only got 6.9%.

Since it started airing last July, "Be Careful With My Heart" managed to beat different GMA programs including "Chef Boy Logro: Kusina Master," "Baker King: The Big Return," and now "Kapuso Movie Festival."

Continue to feel the 'magic' of Yaya Maya and Mr. Lim's unique love story, catch "Be Careful With My Heart," everyday, 10:45am, before "It's Showtime" on ABS-CBN's Prime-Tanghali.

Jason Sudeikis, From 'Horrible Bosses' to ' The Campaign'

             After starring last year in two ensemble comedies "Horrible Bosses" and "Hall Pass," comic actor Jason Sudeikis will be seen next in Warner Bros.' "The Campaign." He plays Mitch, the loyal but increasingly overwhelmed campaign manager, of incumbent congressman, Cam Brady (Will Ferrell).

             In the film, as Cam Brady brazens through an embarrasing sex scandal with his usual flair, the seasoned politico prepares to segue unopposed into his fifth term in office. But this time, to his astonishment, a challenger appears out of nowhere: local tour operator Marty Huggins (Zach Galifianakis) — a dumpy, soft-spoken, cardigan-wrapped, fanny-pack-wearing oddball with zero political experience. As Election Day closes in, the two are locked in a dead heat, with insults quickly escalating to injury until all they care about is burying each other.

             It's not the first time Cam has been caught with his pants down, though, and he's sure he can put the incident behind him with an appropriately staged public apology, a wide smile and some fancy footwork from his faithful campaign manager, Mitch.
             "You can't teach charisma and Cam Brady is charming as hell. He's been relying on that for years," says Jason Sudeikis. "Mitch is not only Cam's campaign manager but closest friend, the guy who knows him better than anyone and is always there to cover his tracks and put out the fires he sets."

             Adds Sudeikis, "Mitch runs the gamut from enabler to straight man, to the voice of reason, to a cohort, depending upon what's needed. Mostly he protects Cam from himself and his own appetites and delusions and, at the same time, truly likes him and believes in him."

             "Overall, I think if you threw Mitch into DC or a bigger arena he'd get chewed up, but for the 14th district of North Carolina, he's the man," says producer Chris Henchy. "It helps when there's no one running against your candidate."

             Mitch's loyalty and creativity are perhaps most evident when Cam is pressed to recite The Lord's Prayer in public and must rely on his manager's elaborate back-of-the-room pantomimes to piece the words together, a hilarious performance that Sudeikis ad-libbed in rehearsal. "That was my improv instinct kicking in," he says. "While Cam is sweating it out on stage, he looks toward Mitch for support and I just wanted him to have something to respond to. From there it grew, with [director] Jay Roach adjusting the focus and the writers giving it more context. You never know if that sort of stuff will make it into the movie but it's a good sign when you see the director laughing."

             Next year, Sudeikis' upcoming projects are the feature films "We're the Millers," which re-teams him with "Horrible Bosses" co-star Jennifer Aniston and Adam Shankman's drama "This is Where I Leave You" based on the best-selling novel of the same title.

Opening across the Philippines on Aug. 29, "The Campaign" is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates John Williams and the magic of his music

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra will play well-loved movie scores of legendary composer John Williams in its first solo concert on September 2, 6 PM at the Meralco Theater.

Dubbed as "The Magic of John Williams," the concert will celebrate the composer's 80th birthday and will feature most of his contribution to film music in the six decades of his career.  From the adventurous bicycle chase in "E.T." to the thrilling sea hunt in "Jaws," the haunting melodies of "Schindler's List" and the romantic flying scene in "Superman," Williams helped immortalize these scenes through the sweeping grandeur and tender emotions of his music.  

The members of the orchestra, as well as its Music Director and Conductor Gerard Salonga, are all big fans of Williams, who has surpassed greatness because of his music. "Everyone's always excited to start with the rehearsals for the concert," Salonga shared. "We bought the musical pieces from the US exclusively for this show; these pieces are authentic works of John Williams," said Salonga.

Other movie scores in the repertoire include themes from "Jurassic Park," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Harry Potter," "Yes Giorgio," plus the 1984 Olympics Anthem.

Guest performers are Karylle and Jose Mari Chan. The Philippine Outpost 501st, an international organization of Star Wars fans who wear costumes from the movie, will also serve as an added attraction.

For ticket inquiries for this fun-filled family event, contact Tinky Cruz at 0915-1949760; Chris Graham at (02) 586-6732; Ticketworld at 891-9999; or emailabsphilharmonic@gmail.com. For more updates, 'like'facebook.com/ABSPhilharmonic and follow twitter.com/ABSPhilharmonic on Twitter.

Trouble with the Curve - Movie Poster

             Warner Bros. has just revealed the teaser poster of its upcoming sports film, "Trouble With The Curve."
The film stars Clint Eastwood as an aging baseball scout with a failing eye sight who takes his daughter (Amy Adams) with him on a trip to check out a hot prospect.

             In "Trouble With The Curve," Gus Lobel (Eastwood) is an aging baseball scout for the major league team, the Atlanta Braves. Long since widowed and living alone, Gus has embarked on a recruiting trip—maybe his last, considering his age and the changing business—to find a talented young player. He's joined by his daughter Mickey, a busy corporate lawyer. The two have maintained a mostly episodic and often strained relationship in the past, which secrets and lies have not helped to mend. As they reconnect and attempt to work out their personal issues, they cross paths and fates with Johnny (Justin Timberlake), an upcoming rival scout, in a season that will be deeply cathartic for all of them.

             Opening across the Philippines this September, "Trouble With The Curve" is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

ROMANTIC DRAMA-WAR FILM, “DEAR JOHN”, PREMIERES ON VELVET

Built from the same ingredients as Nicholas Spark's other works, "Dear John" is your typical romance filled with extraordinary love and sacrifice. Premiering on Velvet's Flickpick on Friday (August 17), "Dear John" is a guaranteed tearjerker.

Perfect for the rainy weather to cuddle with your special one, "Dear John" stars Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum, is directed by Lasse Hallström and is based on the novel by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks.

"Dear John" tells the story of John Tyree, a young soldier home on leave, and Savannah Curtis, the idealistic college student he falls in love with during her spring vacation. Over the next seven tumultuous years, the couple is separated by John's increasingly dangerous deployments and is only in touch through a stream of love letters.

According to a New York Times reviewer, A. Scott, "Dear John carefully distills selected elements of human experience and reduces them to a sweet and digestible syrup. It may not be strong medicine, but it delivers an effective, pleasing dose of pure sentiment and vicarious heartache."

Mark your calendars for a romantic Friday night cuddling with Velvet's Flickpick, "Dear John" this August 17 at 7:30 p.m. with encore telecast on Saturday (August 18), 10:00 a.m. Velvet (SkyCable Channel 53) is available on SkyCable Platinum, SkyCable Gold, SkyCable Silver and other quality cable operators nationwide. For updates, log-on to http://www.facebook.com/VelvetChannel.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - 8 Character Posters

Meet the characters of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days":

Greg