VELVET PRESENTS THE LIVE AND COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE 64TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS

Velvet brings its viewers closer to the stars at this year's awards that celebrate excellence in television -- the 64th Primetime Emmys on September 24, which will be aired exclusively on the home of Hollywood red carpet events in the Philippines, Velvet. 

The Primetime Emmy Awards give distinction in national primetime programming, presenting top honors annually. This year, some of Velvet's shows have made it to the roster of television's best and brightest.

The wicked medical comedy-drama "Nurse Jackie" has received five nominations including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Edie Falco as the pill-popper Nurse Jackie, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Merritt Wever, while the show is nominated for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series.

In the drama category, the award winning legal drama "The Good Wife" returns with seven nominations including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Archie Panjabi and Christine Baranski, while the show is nominated for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. Serial killer Dexter Morgan portrayed by Michael Hall on the top-billed show "Dexter", is also nominated as the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Reality dance competition "So You Think You Can Dance" earned 6 nominations.  The show is nominated for the Outstanding Reality-Competition Program while choreographers Stacey Tookey, Christopher Scott and Spencer Liff are nominated for Outstanding Choreography.

The Oscars and Tonys, two other illustrious awards events also received their fair share of nominations, with the Oscars grabbing eight and the Tonys capturing five.

Other leading televisions series competing with Velvet's line-up include "American Horror Story" and 60's American depicting series "Mad Men" led the pack with 17 nominations apiece while "Downton Abbey" and "Hatfields & McCoys followed with 16 each. 

Outstanding Drama Award nominees include, "Boardwalk Empire", "Breaking Bad", "Downton Abbey", "Game of Thrones", "Homeland" and "Mad Men" while "The Big Bang Theory", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Girls", "Modern Family", "30 Rock" and "Veep" vie for the Outstanding Comedy award.

Don't miss the airing of the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards hosted by Jimmy Kimmel live and complete on Velvet from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. on Monday, September 24th at 7:00 a.m. with primetime telecast on the same day at 7:00 p.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.

“ROBOCOP” STARTS LENSING IN TORONTO

             Production is set to begin on Saturday, September 15 in Toronto on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures' and Columbia Pictures' "RoboCop," directed by Jose Padilha. The film stars Joel Kinnaman (TV's "Game of Thrones"), Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jay Baruchel, Jennifer Ehle, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

             The screenplay is by Josh Zetumer and Nick Schenk, based on the 1987 motion picture written by Edward Neumeier & Michael Miner. The film is produced by Marc Abraham and Eric Newman, with Bill Carraro serving as executive producer. The film will be released in the US and the Philippines on August 2013.

              In "RoboCop," the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Their drones are winning American wars around the globe and now they want to bring this technology to the home front. Alex Murphy (Kinnaman) is a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit. After he is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp utilizes their remarkable science of robotics to save Alex's life. He returns to the streets of his beloved city with amazing new abilities, but with issues a regular man has never had to face before.

             Commenting on the announcement, Padilha said, "It's exciting to think that we're going to be starting production on 'RoboCop.' I have a dream cast and an incredibly creative production team, and we are all supremely dedicated, working together to make a movie that will not only live alongside the first film but also break new ground, be relevant for modern audiences, and stand on its own."

             Lula Carvalho is the Director of Photography. The production designer is Martin Whist. The editor is Daniel Rezende. Costume Designer is April Ferry. VFX Supervisor is James E. Price.

             ("RoboCop" is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.)

SIMON, L.A., BRITNEY, AND DEMI KICK OFF “THE X FACTOR USA 2” ON STUDIO 23

Studio 23 premieres the highly anticipated second season of hit US singing competition "The X Factor USA" via satellite this Thursday (Sept 13) at 7PM.

Season one judge-mentors Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid are back and now joined by teen sensation Demi Lovato and pop icon Britney Spears as new judges to search for an out-of-this-world 12 years old or over talent – both solo artists and vocal groups – who are bold enough to face the superstar judges and the Fifth Judge, the audience of thousands, who they have to win over during the audition.

Aside from the singing acts that may wow the crowd with their vocal ability, charisma and stage presence, fans are excited to see how Demi and Britney will get along and react with their co-judges especially with the ever-unapologetic Simon.

"So far everything has been so much fun for all of us. Everything is like a ew experience for me. It's a lot of fun and the talentsare amazing," shared Britney.

Simon earlier commended the girls, in an interview with People.com, for doing a great job. He even quipped that Britney, after taping a few episodes, turned out to be quite mean and very difficult to please. Demi, on the other hand, he said was quite annoying. "I thought she was very confident, very bright, then became quite annoying, but knew what she was talking about," explained Simon.

When it comes to their judging, Britney described her style as "subtle" and that she will try to use constructive criticisms, while Demi simply put it as "happy" and "really honest"

Simon also revealed that more of the mentoring process can also be expected this season. "A lot of what we did was off-camera. I think the mentoring process, how we actually work with the artists, how they interact with each other, where they're staying, is an important part of this show.  I think all that process has to be shown."

Last season, Melanie Amaro was crowned winner and Simon, who mentored Melanie and the rest of the Girls came out on top. But will one of the other judges dethrone him this year? Who among the contestants are worthy of the $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music?

 

But before the whole world meets the second "The X Factor USA" winner, Filipinos will first meet the first grand winner of "The X Factor Philippines," hosted by KC Concepcion and airs weekends on ABS-CBN. The finale is getting nearer as only six finalists compete for the title.

 

Don't miss the two-part via satellite premiere of "The X Factor USA 2" this Thursday (Sep 13) and Friday (Sep 14), 7 PM on Studio 23. Catch the show in the succeeding weeks every Thursday and Friday, at 7 PM, with a same day encore run at 10:30 PM.

FIRST-LOOK: “FINDING NEMO 3D” ONE-SHEET

            The teaser poster for the upcoming 3D theatrical release of the Academy Award®-winning film "Finding Nemo" has just been shared by Disney/Pixar.

             "Finding Nemo" returns to the big screen in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™ for the first time ever. Teeming with memorable comedic characters and heartfelt emotion, this stunning underwater adventure follows the momentous journey of an overprotective clownfish named Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and his young son Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home to a fish tank in a dentist's office.

             Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

             Directed by two-time Oscar® winner Andrew Stanton and produced by Graham Walters, with an Oscar-nominated screenplay by Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds, "Finding Nemo" also features the voices of Willem Dafoe, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Joe Ranft, Geoffrey Rush and Elizabeth Perkins. Stanton serves as the unflappable sea turtle, Crush, and Peterson as the musical manta ray teacher, Mr. Ray.

             Opening across the Philippines in December 2012 in Disney Digital 3D, "Finding Nemo" is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

FILMING BEGINS ON NEW THRILLER “HIDDEN”

Alexander Skarsgård and Andrea Riseborough star in thriller

             Principal photography is underway in Vancouver on Warner Bros. Pictures' "Hidden," starring Alexander Skarsgård (TV's "True Blood") and Andrea Riseborough ("Shadow Dancer").

Ray (Skarsgård), Claire (Riseborough) and their seven-year-old daughter, Zoe, are an average American family in Kingsville, North Carolina—except they have existed in a bomb shelter since escaping a day of devastation that changed everything.

For 301 days, they have transformed their cement prison into a home, holding on to memories of the past and hope for a normal life someday. And for 301 days, the family has eluded what looms above the surface—the heavy breathing and booming footsteps that punctuate the night, threatening their fragile existence.

All the while, the family has managed to stay hidden. Until now. Now their safe haven has been breached…and something is coming for them.

Brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, who wrote the original script, make their feature film directorial debut on "Hidden." The film also stars Emily Alyn Lind ("J. Edgar") as daughter Zoe.

Roy Lee ("The Departed"), Oscar® nominee Mason Novick ("Juno") and Lawrence Grey ("Hope Springs") are producing. The executive producers are John Middleton, Sebastian Aloi, Jim Rowe and Katterli Frauenfelder. Michelle Knudsen is serving as co-producer.

The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Tom Townend ("Attack the Block"), Academy Award®-nominated production designer Jim Bissell ("Good Night, and Good Luck"), editor Jeffrey Werner ("The Kids Are All Right"), and Oscar®-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood ("Alice in Wonderland," "Chicago," "Memoirs of a Geisha"). The music is by Jeff Grace ("Meek's Cutoff").

Opening across the Philippines in April 2013, "Hidden" will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

BEN AFFLECK'S “ARGO” WOWS AT TORONTO FILM FEST

             Warner Bros. showcased one of its biggest fall films, the feel-good thriller "Argo," during the Toronto International Film Festival's opening days, proving an across-the-board hit with audiences.

             "Argo," actor-director Ben Affleck's take on a CIA mission to rescue six Americans from the 1979 Iran hostage crisis under the guise of a movie shoot, generated a standing ovation Friday night, Sept. 7 from the audience at Roy Thomson Hall. On hand were Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Bryan Cranston and Tate Donovan, plus Affleck's wife Jennifer Garner and sometime collaborator Matt Damon.

             "Argo" premiered, aptly, on the same day the Canadian government closed its embassy in Tehran. The film depicts a little known incident wherein the CIA and the Canadian embassy helped six Americans escape Tehran during the Iranian hostage crisis.

             Based on true events, "Argo" chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis—the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades.

             Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck ("The Town," "Good Will Hunting") directs and stars in the film, which is being produced by Academy Award® winner George Clooney ("Syriana"), Oscar® nominee Grant Heslov ("Good Night, and Good Luck.") and Affleck.

             On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

             "Argo" also stars Oscar® winner Alan Arkin ("Little Miss Sunshine"), Bryan Cranston (TV's "Breaking Bad") and John Goodman ("You Don't Know Jack"). The main cast also includes Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Victor Garber, Zeljko Ivanek, Richard Kind, Scoot McNairy, Chris Messina, Michael Parks, and Taylor Schilling.

             Affleck is directing the film from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, based on a selection from Master in Disguise by Antonio Mendez. David Klawans, Chris Brigham, Graham King, Tim Headington, Chay Carter and Nina Wolarsky are serving as executive producers.

             (Opening across the Philippines this October, "Argo" is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.)

Season 3 of 'The Voice' Airs on AXN

Clinching four Emmy nods certainly bodes a good beginning to the premiere of the brand new season of The Voice, coming to AXN  on September 16 (Sunday) at 8pm. Winning the show's first ever nod in the 'Outstanding Reality Competition Program' category makes The Voice the only music reality series to be nominated in the category, beating out rival show American Idol, the first time in 10 years Idol has been left off the ballot!

In 2011, the novel vocal talent reality series first made waves in the entertainment industry with its refreshing approach to sieving musical talents – by having the four on spinning red chairs, back-faced to the talents so that all they can rely on are their ears. Now in its third season, the highly popular reality series continues to be helmed by host Carson Daly, as well as the four charismatic and surprisingly competitive coaches Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake 

Shelton and Cee Lo Green, and their sizzling chemistry to boot!

The formula to the show's success? Setting themselves apart from the million other reality competition series. Season 3 of The Voice continues to up its ante with "re-tweaks" to its successful format. For one, viewers will get to see way more of what made the show tick and that of course, refers to the blind auditions. To spice things up, everyone's favorite bit about the blind auditions - the spinning red chairs - will now be introduced to the battle rounds. According to host Carson Daly, the battle rounds will also be 'playing with some potential interchangeability'. Here's a long shot but our guess is that the judges might now be able to pinch an evicted member from a rival team. 

When asked about the new challenges to face in Season 3, here's what coach Christina Aguilera has to say: "It's a great idea that keeps the show fresh and also keeps us coaches on our feet. Now with the steals we have to know our team and all the other teams as well so we can be strategic."

"I love the concept behind the show and celebrating the voice and the talent behind it", the pop diva added.

Also, anticipate much stiffer competition from the contestants. The number of contestants has been lessened for this season. With fewer contestants, wise judgment calls have to be made by the four coaches and, for viewers, this means contestants of a higher caliber and more performances from each potential superstar the world has yet to meet.

Even the judges are thrilled to be working with the new Grammy-winning celebrity mentors making guest appearances this season – soulful crooner Michael Buble with Blake Shelton, Matchbox Twenty's frontman Rob Thomas with Cee Lo Green, R&B singer Mary J. Blige to Adam Levine's team, and Green Day's singer/songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong to Christina Aguilera's Team Xtina. 

Even before the announcement of the new mentors, Cee Lo has already introduced everyone to his new paramour in tow, and one that might just overshadow Christina's over-the-top head gear and low-cut tops. With Purrfect the Cat out of the picture, Cee Lo has picked up Lady, a pink Moluccan cockatoo, whom he met while 'vacationing on Fantasy Island'.  Added Cee Lo cheekily, "She's my little lady with a big opinion. Sometimes whispers inappropriateness in my ear, but always ladylike."

Aside from the same-week telecast and exciting rounds of blind auditions with the iconic spinning chairs, look forward to the playful banter among the four coaches. That, and the genuine rapports forming between the coach and contestant along the way, is what keeps viewers coming back for more. Not to mention it is the only show with Adam Levine and for most of us, and that alone makes The Voice stand out.

The Voice Season 3 premieres on September 16, 2012 

Every Sunday at 8.00 pm (PH)

First and Exclusively on AXN

SELENA GOMEZ IS DRACULA'S DAUGHTER IN “HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA”

             Teenage actress Selena Gomez ("Monte Carlo") provides the voice of Mavis, Dracula's sheltered but free-spirited daughter, in Columbia Pictures' new hilarious, 3D animated comedy "Hotel Transylvania."

             In the film, Mavis is totally pampered by her father (voice of Adam Sandler); however, she is headstrong and smart, and in many ways, a typical 118-year-old teenage girl. She's grown slightly bored with the domain of her childhood—she has lived within her father's hotel and its grounds all her life—and she longs to travel, experience life and see the world. Now, she's met a newcomer who could make that a real possibility: but should she leave and risk breaking her father's heart, or remain, and break her own?

             "Selena found a way to play the character that can be sweet and loving to everyone – and also be the only one who can put Dracula in his place," says producer Michelle Murdocca. "Dracula is a softy who'd do anything for his daughter – and doesn't she know it. Selena makes her a regular teenage daughter who knows what she wants and she's gonna get it from her dad."

             "Mavis is like a lot of teenagers," says Gomez. "She's got the cute hairstyle, dresses stylishly, has a little bit of an attitude, but she's really sincere and cares about her dad – she just kind of wants to have a little bit of independence. It's the same thing a lot of girls my age are going through – she's very relatable in wanting to have freedom, to see what the world is like. Everybody tells her these stories but she wants to experience it for herself and meet new people and be independent."

             Mavis is Gomez's first starring role in an animated movie. "I really wanted to do a fun, family movie – not to mention that I grew up watching Adam Sandler, so working with him was super exciting. I'm glad to be a part of it – it's a great movie," she says.

             The last several years have been a whirlwind for actress-singer Selena Gomez as she has wrapped up her hit Disney Channel series, released three albums and launched a film career – not to mention created her own fashion line and fragrance.

             A Dallas native, Gomez made her mark playing Alex Russo in the hit Disney Channel series "Wizards of Waverly Place," which premiered in 2007. With the success of the series, Gomez became an internationally known actress with a legion of fans. Gomez and her castmates won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Program in 2009 and 2010.

             She landed her first feature film in 2003, when she was cast in "Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over." Other films include Fox's "Ramona and Beezus" and "Monte Carlo" directed by Thom Bezucha. She recently wrapped "Spring Breakers" opposite James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens for director Harmony Korine, in a role that will be her most challenging to date. Gomez is currently filming The Getaway opposite Ethan Hawke for producer Joel Silver.

             Opening across the Philippines in Sept. 28 in Digital 3D and regular theaters, "Hotel Transylvania" is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

BRIT ACTORS CHANNEL DOOMED ROYAL COUPLE IN “W.E.”

            British talents James D'Arcy ("Master and Commander") and Andrea Riseborough ("Never Let Me Go") play the ill-fated Duke and Duchess of Windsor in The Weinstein Company's elegant romantic drama "W.E.," Madonna's Oscar-nominated film about one of the greatest real love stories of all time. The will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma) starting Sept. 12.

             "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 New Yorker 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 (Riseborough), the chic, charismatic American who captured the heart of King Edward VIII (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.

             Finding the right actress to play Wallis Simpson was essential to the telling of the story. Director Madonna needed someone who was able to embody Wallis's feisty "pep," but with a hint of fragility. The acclaimed British actress Andrea Riseborough was eventually cast in the role of Wallis Simpson. She was fresh from her critically acclaimed performance as the young Margaret Thatcher in the BBC film "The Long Walk to Finchley," which earned her a Television BAFTA nomination.
          

   Recalls Madonna, "Casting Wallis Simpson was almost impossible. She was very particular, and I was looking for a certain quality – something fragile, something androgynous and yet still feminine in a really old-fashioned way – plus this nervous, birdlike energy. When Andrea walked into the room, I knew immediately she was the one. It was the way she wore her dress, the length of her neck, the expressiveness of her hands. I had seen her play Margaret Thatcher and I had seen her in a period piece as well, "The Devil's Whore" and I saw that she transformed herself in each character."

             For her part, Riseborough was drawn to "W.E." after hearing two friends talk about it in New York. "They were meeting with Madonna to talk about being involved, so this was my first inkling that it was happening," she says. "When I first read the script, I found the dual reality interesting. Seeing a historical figure through the eyes of a modern-day woman and then on the flip side being able to relate to a woman in the late 1930s who was about to potentially become a Queen, I thought this was very interesting."

             Madonna's evident passion for the project was also a lure, Riseborough explains. "I really wanted to play Wallis with Madonna directing because she has such an affinity with Wallis. Madonna has read every publication about her, and I think she understands her in a very specific way in relation to her own life, but that is not something I have talked about with her. I just knew from the first moment that we met and talked about Wallis that she needed to tell the story."

             After joining the cast, Riseborough's preparation period began with researching her role and the period. Riseborough found the private letters between Wallis and Edward particularly illuminating. "The letters were just fascinating. They go all the way up to and past the abdication, so you can really get a full picture," the actress remarks. "Wallis and Edward had a really interesting language they used with one another, like a private code."

             British actor James D'Arcy was cast in the role of the Duke of Windsor, and as with the other actors, found Madonna's knowledge of Wallis and Edward to be highly impressive. "She had clearly done mountains of research, had written the script, and what became immediately obvious was that she'd been working on this for a long time," D'Arcy remembers. "She had read more or less everything there was to read about Edward and Mrs. Simpson."

             The interwoven story between the modern-day and the 1930s also appealed to the actor "What I liked about the script was that the period flashbacks were very real, very honest and very immediate. Sometimes when I watch period dramas, I feel quite a distance from them, that these are not real people. I hope that what you get with this film is you really believe that these are real people."

Meet Alex Cross

Based on James Patterson's best-selling novels (with over $3 billion in worldwide sales), "I, Alex Cross" will reboot the global franchise originated by the films "Kiss the Girls" and "Along Came a Spider".

Alex Cross (Tyler Perry) is a decorated detective, forensic psychologist and devoted family man.  Working with his long-time partner, Tommy Kane (Ed Burns), he catches a complicated quadruple murder case and begins to profile a killer whom he labels Picasso for the drawings he leaves at the scene.  Picasso (Matthew Fox) is a suave, highly skilled assassin who is targeting an elite list of executives all part of the corporate empire of Leon Jospin (Jean Reno).

After Cross successfully thwarts one of Picasso's murder attempts, Picasso retaliates by targeting Cross' family.  Now it's personal as Cross blurs the lines of justice to pursue a killer no one can stop.  The film leads to a thrilling climax where Cross and Picasso face off in an intimate battle only one can win.  And in the end, a final twist reveals all was not as perceived to be and Cross is changed forever.

"I, Alex Cross" will be a taught, psychological thriller and powerful family drama.  The film will re-imagine the thriller genre with a polished, high gloss stylization.  In success, the film will launch multiple sequels.

 

"I, Alex Cross" is released and distributed by Solar Entertainment Corp.

Showing soon across the Philippines!