Director Ben Wheatley talks about why he wanted to helm “Meg 2: The Trench”

Ben Wheatley is known for directing horror, but his best-known work include the quiet sort of horror from psychological thrillers like "Kill List" and thrilling mysteries like "Rebecca" – as opposed to screamfests such as "Meg 2: The Trench."

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/HwokLHOYd5c

What made Wheatley want to direct the sequel to the surprise 2018 hit "The Meg"? 

"There’s something very blue-collar about all of it, the nuts and bolts, and they’re not superheroes," Wheatley told Total Film magazine in 2021 of the characters of the "Meg" movies. "Even though they do quite outlandish stuff, there’s a vulnerability to them, which is exciting. There’s something about the superhero genre where, much as I enjoy it, as it gets bigger and bigger and bigger, there’s problems with the way they’re just invulnerable. That lessens the tension. I like human risk. That side of it is interesting to me."

A Director is Born: Bradley Cooper Soars as He Takes the Helm

Four-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper makes his directorial debut with Warner Bros. Pictures’ A Star Is Born.  

In this new take on the iconic love story, Cooper and Lady Gaga fuse their considerable talents to depict the raw and passionate tale of Jack and Ally, two artistic souls coming together, on stage and in life.  Theirs is a complex journey through the beauty and the heartbreak of a relationship struggling to survive.

Cooper portrays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers and falls in love with struggling artist Ally.  She has given up on her dream to become a successful singer, until she meets Jack, who immediately sees her natural talent.

"Mission: Impossible" Director Returns for "Fallout"

At Tom Cruise’s request, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation director Christopher McQuarrie became the first filmmaker ever to return to direct a second Mission: Impossible film. And does so with the upcoming Mission: Impossible - Fallout (in Philippine cinemas July 25).

“One of the signature elements of the franchise is that there has been a different director for every movie,” McQuarrie explains. “When Tom asked me to come back and direct this one I said I would do it on the condition that I could maintain the spirit of that tradition by completely changing the visual language from the previous film. I want people who watch Rogue Nation and Fallout to feel like two different people directed them.”

"Pitch Perfect" Writer Marks Directorial Debut with "Blockers"

Kay Cannon, the writer and architect of the groundbreaking Pitch Perfect movies has proved that comedies about strong, dynamic women could pull huge audiences of female fans at the box office.

With her directorial debut in Universal Pictures' sex comedy Blockers, Cannon has become only the sixth woman in the history of film to direct a big R-rated studio comedy.

In the film, when three parents discover their daughters’ pact to lose their virginity at prom, they launch a covert one-night operation to stop the teens from sealing the deal. As nonstop helicoptering struggles with awkwardly letting go, the well-meaning trio shares in the raucous comedy that accompanies their kids’ biggest step into adulthood.

Viddsee Juree Awards Top Ten Finalists Announced By Viddsee

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. 

Fil-Am Dean Devlin Marks Directing Debut with Epic Thriller "Geostorm"

Filipino-American filmmaker Dean Devlin (writer/producer, Independence Day) makes his feature film directorial debut with Warner Bros. Pictures' upcoming epic thriller Geostorm (in Philippine cinemas Thursday, October 12).

(Watch the newly released footage from Geostorm at https://youtu.be/TDZ97ZIxL0k.)

In the film, after an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong—the system built to protect the Earth is attacking it, and it’s a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything...and everyone along with it.

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. 

Mel Gibson Guns for Oscar Best Director Prize with "Hacksaw Ridge"

With films that span from the classic, Oscar Best Picture-winning Braveheart to The Patriot, We Were Soldiers, The Passion of the Christ and his most recently directed film, the Mayan civilization epic Apocalypto, Mel Gibson has become known for meshing big themes with atmospheric style that takes audiences into revealing worlds.

Now, Mel Gibson’s re-creates with a mesmerizing realism the epic combat that saw the true-to-life heroism of Desmond Doss in the World War II action-thriller, Hacksaw Ridge.

ART IS A BANG: Cinemalaya 2014 Director Showcase and New Breed Categories Revealed!

Here are the Finalists for Cinemalaya 2014 - Year 10 -- DIRECTORS SHOWCASE Category, based on the posts and tweets of award-winning scriptwriter-director Joey Javier Reyes, one of the screening committee of our favorite indie filmfest in the country: 

1. JOEL LAMANGAN -- "Hustisya"

2. JOSELITO ALTAREJOS -- "Kasal"

3. CARLOS SIGIUON-REYNA -- "Hari ng Tondo"

4. MICHAEL TUVIERA -- "The Janitor"

5. LOUIE IGNACIO -- "Asintado"

BLAH BLAH BLOGS: Pride Tomatoes

I may not be a Palanca awardee, but I do take pride on my works. No matter how shitty it may look to other people, it is my work in progress. We we never born to write best selling books on the first piece we made, but it will be that piece that will lead to more works that will eventually turn their heads around. With a lot of competition around us, we have already a lot of great talents and beautiful works that brings pressure to the artistic rat race.

I do say that even the best writers started with poems and short stories that were never heard or published. But what led them to their masterpieces are those that refined their writing and imagination. I felt writing about this because of a personal dilemma in one of my work which was changed drastically and what surfaced is now an adaptation of the original work. I do understand that change will be necessary and things can turn from red to blue, but a complete overhaul in the story just made me very frustrated. I waited for bamboos to shoot up, rather a grape vine emerged. It looks better, but want bamboos to make a flute.