Jose Mari Chan, The Manilas String Machine to join AEGIS for The Christmas Bonus concert

The OPM icon will be performing some of their Greatest Hits, as well as beloved holiday classics

Filipino music icon AEGIS is set to conquer the big stage with a Christmas-themed concert happening at the Theatre at Solaire in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, on December 20, 2023, from 8:00 p.m. onwards.

Dubbed AEGIS: The Christmas Bonus Concert, the year-end celebration aims to showcase the career-spanning legacy of the powerhouse band and its signature anthems that touched many people’s lives on a personal level.

Erik Matti’s “Food Lore: Island of Dreams” bags 2 awards at the 2020 National (Philippines) Awards by the Asian Academy Creative Awards

Erik Matti’s “Food Lore: Island of Dreams” and Angeli Bayani recently brought home the “Best Single Drama/Telemovie/Anthology Episode - Philippines” and “Best Actress in a Leading Role - Philippines” respectively during the announcement of the 2020 national winners by the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA) in a livecast in Singapore yesterday. 

“Food Lore: Island of Dreams,” was the pilot episode of the said HBO Asia anthology.

The said episode explores the life of the Nieves (Angeli Bayani), an ambitious and hardworking woman, who left her husband and children to work as a domestic helper in Metro Manila to provide them with a better life. Returning home for their annual fiesta, Nieves realizes that she may have grown estranged to her family due to unexpected changes in her life. 

‘Food Lore’ on HBO GO brings Pinoy Pride in ContentAsia Awards

After being prominently featured in the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) last year, the Philippine episode in the HBO Asia Original series, ‘Food Lore’, received two additional feathers in its cap at the inaugural ContentAsia Awards held last August 28. 

‘Food Lore: Island of Dreams’ multi-awarded director Erik Matti won Best Director of a Scripted TV Programme while the gastronomical series, ‘Food Lore’, won the Best Asian Drama for Regional/International Market category at the Awards.

"Kwaresma" Unfolds This Easter Season With Sharon Cuneta and John Arcilla

This May, Reality Entertainment will be presenting a new horror-thriller KUWARESMA which is made in partnership with Globe Studios and Cignal Entertainment. Starring Sharon Cuneta, and John Arcilla, the film is set to bring chills and scares next month. Building the narrative story written by Katski Flores and Erik Matti, the former leads in direction and has not made a horror film since Seklusyon.

It is also a first time for Sharon to be paired with John Arcilla for a film and the trailers show their dark and twisted characters in a very odd family situation. Despite both having hectic schedules, they were able to find time to shoot for the film. It took them a month shooting in Baguio City as production requires a lot of preparations, make up, and props to make the scenes more immersive and thrilling.

Drugs, Crime, and the Neon Lights of Manila in the Eye-Opening, Mind-Blowing “BuyBust”

Following its world premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival, the action-crime movie“BuyBust,” starring Anne Curtis and MMA fighter Brandon Vera, opens August 10 in theaters across the U.S. and Canada.

“BuyBust” is directed by Erik Matti, of the highly-acclaimed “On the Job,” from a script also written by Matti and Anton Santamaria.

After surviving the slaughter of her entire squad in a drug raid compromised by dirty cops, anti-narcotics special operative Nina Manigan (Anne Curtis), is eager to go head-to-head with the drug cartels that hold a bloody grip on Manila. But when her new mission in the city’s most dangerous slum goes south; the angry civilians turn on her squad.

International Reviews Are Out! Arjo Atayde Got Thumbs Up From Film Critics!

Reviews of Buybust are out! Arjo Atayde’s character in the film is lauded by film critics. Along with the praise for the film in the New York Asian Film Festival. 

Given his acting prowess with drama and action, he is surely the man for the job. His bloody and gritty look here tells us there will be a lot of blood and violence. He also looks very different from his previous roles with a blonde hair and sinister appeal. Can this also lead to a possible Hollywood role in the future? These things already makes us more excited when Buybust is now showing in cinemas nationwide with Internationals screenings also available (schedules posted on Buybust facebook page).

HOOQ Filmmakers Guild Is Looking For Great Original Content!

HOOQ – the largest Video on Demand service in South-East Asia — today announces their latest addition to the juding panel of HOOQ Filmmakers Guild.  Representing the Philippines on the judging panel is renowned director Erik Matti who will lend his hand in the selection progress of this South-East Asia wide project that aims at turning the most imaginative TV series ideas of filmmakers into reality, thus celebrating Asia, the nation from which great TV arises. 

“I believe the Philippines still has a lot of undiscovered filmmakers out there just waiting for their big break. The HOOQ Filmmakers Guild, will give these aspiring filmmakers a chance to see their ideas become reality, and hopefully inspire others pursue their dream,” says Director Erik Matti. 

HOOQ Hangouts Presents SEKLUSYON Premiere Night

Upcoming MMFF entry "Seklusyon" by Erik Matti is one of the most awaited films for the season. And with Reality Entertainment's partnership with HOOQ for the upcoming On The Job The Series, they came together for the exclusive premiere night with HOOQ.

The movie stars Ronnie Alonte Neil Ryan Sese, Lou Veloso, Rhed Bustamante, Phoebe Walker, Elora Espano, Dominique Roque, John Vic De Guzman and JR Versales. Set in the 1940s, the movie follows a young deacon (Alonte) who hides from the devil in a sacred sanctuary seven days before he is ordained as a priest.

REEL DEAL: Honor Thy Father REVIEW

If there would that would stand out this year for the Metro Manila Film Festival is the inclusion of the film HONOR THY FATHER by Erik Matti. The film was also produced by its lead actor John Lloyd Cruz. The announcement of the film to be included in this year's roster was made in late October which surprised the public, and also gave a shorter time for marketing compared to the other entries.

Honor Thy Father is unique by showing a spectrum of fathers in matriarchal inclined Filipino film industry. But mothers also play a great part on this movie that intensifies the scenes. It has also been ages since we seen a film made in the North, as we see not the tourist sites but the mountains, the mines, and the terrains that gives us a new feeling.

Honor Thy Father comes as a relief to film goers who prefer serous and meticulous movies that targets real social issues and would definitely make an impact in for the festival. But despite the great reviews it got with earlier screenings as a feature film in Cinema One Original Festival, the film cries fouls with initially the limited cinemas and some are pulling out the film to give the slot to the popular films. There is also the controversy with the disqualification from the Best Picture Award because of "non-disclosure" that did not comply to the regulation of the festival.

Despite the movie being disqualified in the best picture race, it bagged awards in the Festival for Best Original Song, Best Make-Up Artist (Ryan Panaligan & Erika Racela), Best Supporting Actor (Tirso Cruz III) Best Child Performer (Krystal Brimmer), and Best Director (Erik Matti). But due to the controversy, Erik Matti did not go to the awards night but sent a representative to read his statement as his acceptance speech.

Let Jeron and Robi Guide You to MAN UP

To be a man, there are a lot of things to be considered. There are also the social standards that has evolved throughout the years. And in this new age, the new standards of being a man has indeed changed and still continues to progress.

That is why men needs to cope up with the changing times, be in the know and also be more active with activities such as sports.

Those are the things Robi and Jeron will be sharing with the new show on ABS-CBN Sports+Action, MAN UP.

MAN UP is a 30-minute sports and lifestyle docu-magazine program hosted by two of today’s hottest young male icons - popular TV hosts ROBI DOMINGO, and college basketball superstar JERON TENG.

Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2 REVIEW

This upcoming MMFF season, I am happy to see that GMA Films and Reality Entertainment has an entry for the Film Festival which gives another flavor among the recurring films which has left it saturated. Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2 is a follow up to TikTik which was shown back in 2012. Starring Dingdong Dantes as Makoy, he ventures first to Pulapandan to get her pregnant girlfriend back which eventually led them into a big fight with the Tiktiks. And the conflict continues with another group of aswangs called the Kubot, aswangs who have very long hair which they use to envelop their prey and eat their insides.

We have always seen aswang in many ways in Philippine Cinema but we have yet to discover the diversity and the various aspects that they add to the Filipino society. And direk Erik Matti's concept of having a trilogy about them would help us know more about our own monsters which is not limited to tyanaks and Mananangals.

REEL DEAL: The Aswang Chronicles Continues With Kubot

We have waited enough and Direk Erik Matti and Dingdong Dantes has finally made Christmas complete with the entry of Agosto Dos and GMA Films for the second installment of the aswang series after Tiktik with Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2.

The second movie will continue from where they left off after defeating the group of Tiktik which had a lot of action and unfortunate events. Though there were a lot of things to improve on for the first movie, they have made amends and applied that on the second movie. This time the action moves from the rural landscape into the urban city life. Makoy finds himself more involved with the Aswangs as another kind wants him and his family dead.

“ON THE JOB” Hits Philippine TV This Sunday On Cinema One

The Philippines’ number one movie channel and top cable channel, Cinema One, will be the first to premiere the award-winning crime thriller “On The Job,” happening this Sunday (June 29) during the channel’s Blockbuster Sundays movie block at 8:00pm.

“On The Job,” which was directed by Erik Matti, stars Piolo Pascual, Gerald Anderson, Joel Torre, Joey Marquez, Angel Aquino, Shaina Magdayao, Empress, Leo Martinez, Michael de Mesa, Vivian Velez, and Rayver Cruz in some of their grittiest roles to date.

This stellar cast plays out the story of four men struggling to survive and to make a living for themselves and their loved ones. Two of these four are former prison inmates who are hired as contract killers. One of which is Mario (Joel Torre), otherwise known as “Tatang”. He intends to finally go straight when he is granted his parole. The other is Daniel (Gerald Anderson), a younger inmate and Mario’s apprentice, who is set to replace him as the top hired killer. Their story finds itself interlaced with that of two law enforcers and investigators, Joaquin (Joey Marquez) and Francis (Piolo Pascual), who are tangled in a moral conflict. As the story plays out, the stakes climb—and these two groups, trapped somewhere close to the fine line between good and evil, inevitably collide.

REEL DEAL: OTJ

OTJ (On The Job) is a film by Erik Matti that has been to Cannes and soon to be shown here in the Philippines with Star Cinema.

Starring Gerald Anderson, Joel Torre, Joey Marquez, Angel Aquino, Shaina Magdayao, Empress, Leo Martinez, Michael De Mesa, Vivian Velez, Rayver Cruz and Piolo Pascual. This high-octane action movie breaks the usual romance and comedy films that makes up Pinoy cinema today. Also another masterpiece by Direk Erik Matti after "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles". 

In Philippine cinemas August 28, 2013!

Produced by Star Cinema & Reality Entertainment

Like the official page on Facebook at Facebook.com/OTJMovie

Dingdong Dantes optimistic about the success of "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles"

Kapuso primetime royalty Dingdong Dantes is very optimistic about the success of his upcoming horror film, "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronices," which will hit nationwide theatres last Wednesday, October 17.

The movie, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Erik Matti, is pioneering in its use of digital set extension via chroma key or "green screen" technology in all of its sequences.  The film, arguably the biggest horror film of 2012, is shot entirely in green screen and utilises a combination of live action footage and three-dimensional computer graphics (CG).

In his rounds of radio promotions for the film starting with GMA's flagship radio stations DZBB (AM) and Barangay LS 97.1 (FM), Dantes expressed pride for his film, which took more than a year to create.

REEL DEAL: Tiktik The Aswang Chronicles REVIEW

Yes there might have been thousands of aswangs movies made in Philippine Cinema, yet this one has made me excited for months as it was first revealed at summer Komikon with its comic launch. TIKTIK THE ASWANG CHRONICLES came with a different approach and a brand new technology that sets its apart from other local movies.

It was a powerhouse cast starring Dingdong Dantes, Lovi Poe, Joey Marquez, Ramon Bautista, and Janice De Belen for Team Astig (the anti-aswangs). With the situation in the family already in tension with Sonia (Lovi) being pregnant with Makoy (Dingdong) and tries to win her back. And it seems to be an unfair fight with almost a town of aswangs after the small family.

This is also Direk Erik Matti's latest offering after not having movies for quite some time. The movie took some time for it to be shot and post processed. But it was indeed worth the wait and worthy to have a sequel.

Producers reportedly spent close to P80M for "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles"

During the press conference of the upcoming horror film "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles" the producers of the film confirmed reports that they have apparently spent close to P80million for its production.  

Given the complexity of the film's effects, it is not unlikely that its total cost would reach close to the rumoured amount, explained the producers.  While the live action sequences were shot within just 28 days (still unusually longer than most local productions), the post-production stage took more than a year to complete.

Dingdong Dantes' guesting in DZBB and Barangay LS FM

Last Tuesday, October 9, kapuso leading man and lead star of the much talked-about horror film "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles" dropped by the studios of GMA's flagship radio stations -- DZBB AM and Barangay LS 97.1 FM -- to promote his film. GMA Films is one of the five producers of "Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles." The Erik Matti movie will hit theaters beginning Wednesday, October 17.

REEL DEAL: Tiktik The Aswang Chrnicles SPOTLIGHT

Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles is a horror adventure destined to be the benchmark by which films of its type will be judged   

Filmmaking is about taking risks, says Erik Matti, writer and director of the biggest horror adventure of 2012, Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles. What else would you call the movie’s astronomical budget, the decision to shoot it entirely on green screen and have a bad boy character as the film’s main protagonist?

The concept immediately appealed to lead actor Dingdong Dantes who is playing against type in this project. “Collaborating with Erik Matti and executive producer Dondon Monteverde allowed me to break out of the stereotype of my roles on TV and in the movies.”

REEL DEAL: Tiktik The Aswang Chronicles SNEAK PEEK

As a comic fan, I heard about the movie Tiktik The Aswang Chronicles way back in summer Komikon. And when I saw it there for the first time, I was really impressed. It brought Filipino Thriller Movies to a whole new level. We had the chace to take a sneak peek at the movie, with it meticulous production which actually took years in the making.

The movie made a lot of first with its production, and it starts with a very good plot. We know that there are a lot of aswang movies made in the past that we sometimes don't see nothing new with their story. But this one laid a great foundation with building the connection of the characters. Speaking of characters, Dingdong Dantes looks really cool in this movie as he does a lot of action and a unique approach to the character. Plus add heavyweight actors like Joey Marquez, Janice De Belen, Lovi Poe and Ramon Bautista just to name a few makes a unusual yet perfect combination of personalities to the story.