The GMA Bloggers Style Camp 2017 Big Winner is Team Action

Last October 27 was the culminating activity of the #HeartOverHate campaign of the Kapuso network involving social media influencers. This was held at the URBN Bar in Timog Ave., Quezon City.

Two teams battled for domination: Team Rainbow and Team Action. The latter won the people choice award as well as in several other categories, and emerging as the champion with their concept of having an alter ego to take action against bullying.

Meg Imperial, Matthias Rhoads, and Kim Domingo, all Kapuso artists, were part of the campaign which mainly involved a photoshoot in connection with the campaign. The winners took home Canon items as well as items from the other main sponsor, Primera Light brandy.


Mark Casas is the project head for the GMA Bloggers Style Camp 2017 and he did mention that future installments might involve individuals from other occupations as well as the end product of short films.

Their official facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/GMABloggersStyleCamp/

Viddsee Juree Awards Top Ten Finalists Announced By Viddsee

Young filmmakers to win Blackmagic camera and film course in L.A. at Viddsee Juree Awards 

Manila, 30 Oct 2017 -- Fresh, innovative and inspiring stories have been chosen to vie for top honors at the Viddsee Juree Philippines, a festival of short films that aim to celebrate and support filmmaker communities in Asia. 

The nominated films are by upcoming talents from different schools such as the University of the Philippines, Far Eastern University, Mint, College of St Benilde, Letran, and International Academy of Film and Television. Their works are about families, personal struggles and the realities in rural communities— a young boy’s dream of becoming a mermaid, two brothers dealing with the loss of their parents shot entirely on a drone, a father battling grief and injustice after his son’s death, and more moving stories. 

Viddsee’s head of content Nikki Loke comments: “Themes from the top ten films highlight local cultures and nuances, while others reflect universal themes of mental health and identity, for example. Overall, I was very impressed with all the elements of storytelling like casting, cinematography, script, supporting the authenticity of these stories.” 

The winners of the Viddsee Juree Awards will be announced at a ceremony on Saturday, November 25, at the FDCP Cinematheque Centre Manila. Viddsee will also hold a series of workshops, forums and short film screenings at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on 24 November, and at the Cinematheque from 24 to 26 November. All these are open to the public. 

The initiative kicked off three months ago through an online campaign and offline roadshows in Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao where it received encouraging response from the creative community. 

Two top entries will be named Gold and Silver winners. They will win production equipment including a cinema camera sponsored by Blackmagic and a five-day Film Immersion Course in Los Angeles sponsored by the Motion Picture Association. 

For the nominees, landing on the shortlist is a prize in itself. 

“There are some people who have criticised my work,which made me question my ability as a filmmaker. Being part of this competition made me more confident as a person and a filmmaker, and that I have the chance to be recognized by a bigger audience, that I have a shot in this industry, says Tashana Rivera, director of the film “Companion”. 

For Christian Candelaria, director of “In His Island,” being selected is also a tribute to those who helped him make his film. He declares, “I’m humbled and deeply proud to have the privilege of collaborating with such amazing and fine group of people who shared the same passion.” 

The jury is composed of Loïc Valceschini, festival programmer of Neuchâtel Int' Fantastic Film Fest and Locarno's Semaine de la Critique, Marcus Manh, Vietnamese film producer and founder of YxineFF, and Antoinette Jadaone, Filipino film writer director of blockbuster hits like “That Thing Called Tadhana and “Love You To The Stars and Back.” 

Viewers can see these films and other eligible in out-of-competition films for free on Viddsee.com.

For more information on these events and the shortlisted films visit https://www.viddsee.com/juree/philippines2017

https://www.viddsee.com/submit/juree/philippines

Carlos Morales is on a Roll with ROLYO

"Kung hindi ako makahugot sa sarili kong ano, humahanap ako ng energy sa ibang tao," said Carlos Morales when asked about his acting style.

Carlos Morales first bagged a Best Actor award in the 2000 Star Awards for Movies, having garnered a nomination for the same category in the same year for Gawad Urian. The film was Laro sa Baga under Regal films, with a script penned by the venerable Edgardo M. Reyes. Now, he aims to dabble more in professional filmmaking.

In fact, he won the Best Screenplay for his film Piring under the Filipino New Cinema category of the World Premieres Film Festival in 2015.

Now, he's on a roll with Rolyo, a feature film written and directed by C.C. Woodruff (his real name). Last October 18 was the opening and awards night of the International Film Festival Manhattan. for which he won a Best Actor award.

The film centers on Larry, a lucky and wealthy family guy whose live goes on  a downward spiral after his wife gets diagnosed with terminal cancer. A series of events lead him to discover the valuable lessons life has to offer as well as the kindness of strangers which will lead him to get back what he lost and start anew.

Rolyo was shot for 6 days and have a budget of over 1 million pesos.

He cited a particular director he looks up to. "Kaya nagiging successful si Direk Brillante kasi ayun yung Pilipino eh. Di natin kailangang magpretend na mayaman tayo," he said with regards to Filipino films winning awards abroad. 

When asked regarding his comparison with contemporary Allen Dizon, who recently won an acting award at the Warsaw Film Festival for Bomba directed by Ralston Jover, Carlos humbly said that "malayo pa siya" since Allen already had international awards. He considers all Filipinos competing abroad to be from the "same camp" so "we should support each other".

REP launches anticipated lineup of productions for the 2018 theater season

Still enjoying the success of a wonderful 2017 season, Repertory Philippines or REP, is already hyping everyone up for what amazing things are to come in 2018.

The current season marks the premier theater company’s golden anniversary, which aptly culminates with the grand musicale Hair, opening to audiences on November 17, and running all the way through December 17.  REP’s production of the first-ever tribal love-rock musical on Broadway is directed by Chris Millado, and is a great indicator that the succeeding year will continue delivering amazing plays, wonderful performances, and more reasons to celebrate.

“We at REP are more inspired than ever to keep showing quality theater to our audiences,” shares President and CEO, Mindy Perez-Rubio. “For 50 years, we have been bringing the best of West End and Broadway to the Philippines and creating a space for theater arts and artists to develop. We are embarking on these next 50 years with the same passion and drive to bring live theater to more people. 2018 is a good start, and we have a superb lineup of meaningful shows that are sure to touch and inspire.”

Kicking off the new season is the hilarious, Paris-set Comedy of Tenors, running from January 26 to February 18; followed by the interesting story of female astronomers, Silent Sky, from March 2 to 25. From April 6 to 29, audiences will be dazzled by Arsenic and Old Lace, the black comedy play popularized through a film adaptation starring Cary Grant.

By September 15, REP returns with the REP Theater for Young Audiences show, Rapunzel, which will run until January 27 of 2019. Then, launching the 2019 season is musical Miong, telling the story of Emilio Aguinaldo’s life. It will run from March 22 to April 14, 2019, in time for his 150th birth anniversary. REP aims to collaborate with Ayala Museum for the anniversary of Aguinaldo that will feature snippets from the show, costumes of the era and hopefully memorabilia of General Emilio Aguinaldo.

“The upcoming REP season is one we’re very proud of, and we believe that this roster of productions offers something for all audiences to enjoy,” says Artistic Director Joy Virata. “Everyone involved worked tirelessly to make sure we bring only the best stories that make those who watch feel and think. With the new season’s wide range of performances, from the magical and witty re-telling of Rapunzel to the historic and inspiring Miong, we’re hoping to show people that theater is for everybody.”

As the excitement for REP’s coming season builds, interested individuals and groups can already secure seats for all the shows with the release of the 2018 season passes. All the shows will be held at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati.

For inquiries, you may call REP at 843.3570, and Ticketworld at 891.999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.

For updates and show schedules, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph, like and follow repertoryphilippines on Facebook and Instagram, and follow @repphils on Twitter.

IFLIX PARTNERS WITH STAR CINEMA TO STREAM LOVE YOU TO THE STARS AND BACK

Fresh off the cinema - the blockbuster romantic comedy starring Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia will premiere exclusively on iflix, two months after its cinematic release

MANILA, 24 October 2017– iflix, the world’s leading entertainment service for emerging markets, is thrilled to announce it has acquired exclusive SVOD rights to Star Cinema’s latest box office hit, Love You to the Stars and Back. Starting October 30, iflix subscribers in the Philippines will be able to stream and download the latest romantic comedy offering from Star Cinema, unscheduled and on their own terms.

Written and directed by Antoinette Jadaone, Love You to the Stars and Back follows a young woman (Julia Barretto), who forms a bond with a terminally ill young man (Joshua Garcia) while on a road trip. The critically acclaimed film grossed PHP 60 million just a week after its cinematic premiere in the Philippines last August, and continued to debut at select cinemas in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in September.

Star Cinema Head, Concept Development and New Media, Star Creatives, Enrico Santos said: “This is a ground-breaking level up in our partnership with iflix, but it is only the beginning! We will continue to grow our collaboration to give iflix subscribers even more amazing content in the coming months. We call this - the rise of the kapamiflix!”

iflix Philippines Head of Content, Marketing and Operations, Georgette Tengco added: “iflix’s partnership with Star Cinema is a testament to our commitment to bring the best of Filipino content to subscribers around the world. Following the tremendous success of Bloody Crayons on iflix, subscribers can now catch the recent blockbuster hit Love You to the Stars and Back on iflix, less than two months after it premiered in cinemas.”

“Localisation drives iflix’s success, and we commit to continue to bring our consumers a wide variety of top content as we provide Filipinos with a new way to experience entertainment - affordable, convenient and on demand,” she added.

Now available to over one billion consumers across 23 territories throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa, iflix has established itself as the clear market leader in video streaming. Offering consumers, a vast library of top Hollywood, Asian and Middle Eastern regional, and local TV shows and movies, including many first run exclusives and award-winning programs, each subscription allows users to access the service on up to five devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, and television sets, for viewing wherever, whenever.

ABOUT IFLIX

iflix is the world’s leading entertainment service for emerging markets, offering users unlimited access to thousands of TV shows, movies and more. With a vast selection everyone’s favourite comedies, drama, K-drama, Turkish drama, Bollywood, Nollywood, cartoons, movies, live sports and more from Hollywood, the UK, Asia, The Middle East and Africa, iflix places the entertainment people want at their fingertips to either stream or download. For one low monthly fee, iflix subscribers can watch on their mobile phone, laptop, tablet, TV… wherever, whenever.

Let’s play.

iflix is currently available to consumers in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, Vietnam, the Maldives, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Sudan, Cambodia, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Nepal.

GLOC-9 MARKS 20 YEARS IN THE BIZ WITH THE RELEASE OF “ROTONDA” EP

Gloc-9 is not one to brag about his work because he believes that it should speak for itself. Yet there is no underestimating his 20 years in the music industry, especially since it is not just about being rapper and performer, but also about being a songwriter.

It also is about having struggled to get to this point where he has nothing to prove, and now realizing that he has in fact put in the work and must only compete with himself. “Kung titingnan ko ‘yung 20 years, parang siguro ang biggest lesson ay ang magpatuloy lang do’n sa gusto mo talagang gawing mga kanta. Kasi siyempre maraming kailangan i-consider minsan, pero kung gano’n kasi, baka hindi ka na makakasulat,” he says.

Gloc-9 is not one to plan on writing a hit song, which makes each and every hit song a welcome surprise. What might be most interesting though is that the songs that have become hits are the ones that speak of very distinct issues of nation: LGBT rights, OFWs, poverty, prostitution, corruption. He says:“Na-realize ko rin sa tagal ko na ring nagsusulat ng kanta, na wala naman akong puwedeng isulat na hindi ko naranasan o nakita manlang. Kasi ‘yun ‘yung trigger din sa pagsusulat, na may makita ako, may tanong ako tungkol sa isang bagay.”

This might explain why Gloc-9 hasn’t found the need to follow fads or go for what’s trending in music. He is also not one to deny his age, in fact he finds comfort in it. “Parang mapapaisip ka rin na kung dalawang dekada ka na rito sa business na ‘to, then nadaanan mo na rin siguro ‘yung dinadaanan ngayon ng mga mas batang rapper,” he smiles. “Hindi ko na kailangang makipagsabayan sa kanila, time nila ito.”

Besides, there is enough space for everybody, and Gloc-9 is of the belief that the more rappers there are doing different things, then the better for original Pilipino music and its fans. His focus remains the same as 20 years ago when he himself was a young un-discovered rapper: to make songs that he is proud of, and hopefully put together an album.

On his 20 th year of course, a new album is what Gloc-9 does have, and he couldn’t be happier. “Yung Rotonda is an EP na sobrang natuwa ako sa bawat kanta, kasi dumating sa’kin paisa-isa, and parang nung nabuo ko ‘yung lima, sakto siya do’n sa gusto kong i-discuss na mga bagay na hindi ko pa napagusapan sa ibang album.”

ROTONDA is Gloc-9’s ninth studio album, and his third with Universal Records. AVAILABLE NOW  in CD and Digital formats.

Catch Gloc-9 perform live on November 4 (Saturday), 7 pm at Eastwood Central Plaza for his Rotonda EP Launch. Get a FREE Gloc-9 Rotonda T-Shirt for every CD purchase. First come, first served!

 Gloc-9’s latest #RotondaEP  is now available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon and Spinnr

iTunes/Apple Music

https://itunes.apple.com/ph/album/rotonda-ep/id1282469760

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/album/7ujPVtwowGD0xSCILIzYJD

Deezer

http://deezer.com/album/48041732

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Rotonda-Gloc-9/dp/B075LNYDP5

Spinnr

http://www.spinnr.ph/desktop/#albumdetail?albumCode=6019011092659

#RotondaEP PREVIEW: https://youtu.be/55ibVhHX79o

ICE TUBIG MV : https://youtu.be/NyhM9KnWPys

FOLLOW GLOC-9:

http://glocdash9.com

Facebook, Twitter,& Instagram: @glocdash9

THEATER REVIEW: Ang Pag-uusig

Taong 1953 nang maisulat ni Arthur Miller ang The Crucible, at Ang Pag-uusig naman ang translation ni Jerry Respeto na inadapt para sa Tanghalang Pilipino. Ito ay binase si Miller sa Salem witch trials na nangyari noong 1692-1693 kung saan sina Abigail at Betty, dalawang batang babae, ay inakusahan ang mga kasama nila sommunity ng pagiging mga mangkukulam, na nagresulta sa execution ng 20 katao.

Faithful sa original material, ang dula ay nagsimula sa bahay ni Reverand Samuel Parris (Marco Viaña), kung saan walang malay ang kanyang pamangkin na si Betty. But, unlike the original, wala ang narration sa umpisa. Nagwork din naman ito kasi pakiramdam ko ay magiging masyadong mabigat ang simula kung ipinaliwanag pa ang konteksto ng Salem at Puritan colonists.

Mahusay ang pagkakaganap ng  mga aktor sa dulang ito partikular na ang mga gumanap bilang sina John Proctor (JV Ibesate), Elizabeth Proctor (Doray Dayao), Abigail (Antonette Go), at Mary Warren (Lhorvie Nuevo). Malinaw ang motibasyon character growth ng bawat isa: Ang pagkatuklas ni John ng importansya ng dangal; ang pagiging matatag at tahimik na pagpapatawad ni Elizabeth; ang pagiging tuso ni Abigail para makaganti sa paniniwalang kasalawahanan; at ang pagiging inosente at matatakutin ni Mary Warren na magreresulta sa pagkabasag ng kanyang willpower sa isang kumplikadong sitwasyon. 

Ang ilaw ni Dennis Marasigan, na siya ring direktor ng dula, ay naglalaro halos sa dalawang main hues: dilaw at purple-pink. Hindi ito distracting at nababagay sa somber tone ng dula. Maganda ang blocking niya at bilang isang manonood sa gallery area (2nd floor), kita ko na dynamic ang galaw ng mga tauhan. Ang set design naman ni Ohm David ay simple lang, isang skewed flooring na may kama sa umpisa (bahay ni Parris), na ang mga set pieces ay napapalitan kapag napupunta na sa ibang setting gaya ng bahay ng Proctors. Nagsisilbi din bilang parehong allusion at foreshadowing ang pagiging skewed nito sa mga mangyayari sa dula, na isang grupo ng mga mambabatas at ang iba pang miyembro ng especial na korteng deigned for with trials ay mag-aanimo'y baliko ang pag-iisip dahil sa totoo lang, bago pa man isalang ang isang naakusahan ay mayroon na silang konklusyon na guilty ito, kahit na napakalinaw na ng ebidensya na ito'y taliwas sa kanilang iniisip.

Napapanahon ang dulang ito sapagkat hindi naman nawawala ang witch trials lalo na sa panahon ng social media kung saan pwedeng gisahin ang isang tao sa isang online court, baligtarin ng kanyang mga kakilala't ginawan ng mabuti, dahil lang sa gusto nilang makisali sa bandwagon. O takot silang balingan mismo ng mga nang-aakusa. Mahalaga ang pinupunto ng desisyon na ito para mapagnilayan ng mga tao ang kanilang marahas na pagbibintang dahil maaari ito ay isang maling bintang na posibleng mauwi sa isang karumaldumal na katapusan, gaya ng kamatayan.

Ang huling palabas ay bukas, ika-22 ng Oktubre, 3pm, sa Tnaghalang Huseng Batute. Maaaring magwalk-in sa CCP o tumawag sa 891-9999 para makapgreserba ng ticket. Pwede ring bisitahin ang www.ticketworld.com.ph