Red Turnip Theater Closes Its Fourth Season With SCi-Fi Thriller ‘THE NETHER’

Fresh off the critical success of their last outing, the family comedy-drama Tribes, Red Turnip Theater is ready to take audiences into a different theater experience with the sci-fi thriller THE NETHER.

Ever since making their debut four years ago, Red Turnip has already made quite the dent in the local theater scene. By sticking to their vision of producing contemporary straight plays, this young company has almost single-handedly paved the way for the straight play to find equal footing in a landscape formerly dominated by the musical. Younger companies have sprouted and followed suit and there are now more text-driven plays getting produced than ever before. Each of the Red Turnip’s eight productions has gone on to top critics’ lists and garner awards and nominations from both the Aliw and Gawad Buhay Awards, making this company the go-to for outstanding plays that both entertain and move.

GMA Afternoon Prime BlogCon (Villa Quintana, Innamorata, The Borrowed Wife)

GMA Afternoon soaps has defined Pinoy TV viewing in the afternoon. And they have brought many unique yet lovable shows that has go the viewers hooked in the siesta hours where it is the most vunerable hours of TV. And the stories won't bore you with a regular love story, or a filler to dead hours. With all original series and a line up of the best Kapuso stars, these are just some of the reasons many are hooked to the "Dramarama sa Hapon" or GMA Afternoon Prime. We had a chance to mingle with the Stars of the 3 series; Villa Quintana, Innamorata; and The Borrowed Wife.

Pen Medina portrays ‘Mother Ben’ in GMA’s ‘Aso ni San Roque’

Veteran stage and TV actor Pen Medina has replaced Eddie Garcia as ‘Mother Ben’ in the upcoming drama-fantasy series on GMA-7, “Aso ni San Roque.” 

Originally, the role of an elderly and motherly gay, was offered to Eddie Garcia but due to unforeseen health concerns, Garcia later requested the producers to give him a less time-demanding role, instead. Garcia will now portray the role of ‘Supremo,’ the leader of the aswangs. 

As ‘Mother Ben,’ Pen Medina will be the adoptive ‘mother’ to the lead star Mona Louise Rey who stars as ‘Fatima,’ a blind girl who has a dog, ‘Anghel’ for a pal.  Anghel is no ordinary canine; she is the incarnate of San Roque’s dog, which possesses a supernatural power to cure diseases. 

Pen says he enjoys Mona’s very light and bubbly personality which masks the fact that the eight-year-old girl is actually suffering from Type 1 Diabetes.  Pen very well understands her ordeal especially because the actor’s own son – his youngest – who is only ten years old is also suffering from the same disease. 

Mona Louise Rey and wonder dog Anghel banner GMA-7's newest telefantasya Aso ni San Roque

In the tradition of producing innovative and quality telefantasyas, GMA Network launches its newest series about a little girl who is gifted with a power to fulfill a prophecy and to transform the lives of the people she meets via Aso ni San Roque. It will air beginning September 10 right after 24 Oras.

After making audiences cry during her stint in GMA's top-rating teledrama, Munting Heredera and Luna Blanca, Mona Louise Rey is back on primetime to portray the role of Fatima --a blind girl with a good heart, who is the daughter of a mortal man to a mythical creature called “manananggal.” Behind Fatima's persona is a prophecy that is said to end the life of all evil creatures on earth.

Richard goes on a camping trip with some kids

Makapiling kang Muli star Richard Gutierrez had a fun time at the shoot of GMA’s new Station ID, which will feature him in a camping scene with fellow Kapuso actors Mark Anthony Fernandez, TJ Trinidad and Mike Tan along with some kids.

“I really enjoyed doing the scene with Mark Anthony, TJ and Mike, and of course spending time with the kids,” he shared. “We gathered around a bonfire and just talked about anything that came to our minds until we eventually ran out of stories to tell.”

Their part in the much-awaited Station ID portrays a really touching moment between the GMA actors and the children listening intently to the stories of their kuyas.

GMA Films’ ‘The Road’ out in DVD, Blu-ray this July

If you think the thrill brought about by GMA Films' (@GMAFilms) 2011 movie "The Road" (@OfficialTheRoad) is over, you're dead wrong!

After sending chills down the spine of Filipino movie viewers in November 2011 and invading the mainstream U.S.market last May, the Yam Laranas (@yamlaranas) thriller is coming out in DVD and Blu-ray formats in the United Statesnext month.

In a phone conversation with the film's director Yam Laranas, he explained that both the regular DVD and the Blu-ray formats will contain additional features apart from the main film, although the Blu-ray will have more features including the complete "The Making of The Road" video.

The DVD and Blu-ray editions will be available in Amazon, Wal-Mart, Red Box and all DVD outlets in the U.S.

Filipino stars shine in The Road’s U.S. red carpet premiere

At 5:30pm on Wednesday, May 9 (U.S. time), the stars of GMA Films’ 2011 horror film The Road walked down the red carpet and posed for the foreign media covering the film’s Hollywood Red Carpet Premiere held at the majestic Arclight Theater in Los Angeles, California.  

The Yam Laranas film, which received rave reviews from both the local and foreign press and even caught the attention of the New York Times, is set to be commercially released in the U.S. and Canada beginning May 11 (May 12 in the Philippines) through a distribution deal between GMA Films and US-based film distribution company Freestyle Releasing.

Among those in attendance were cast members Marvin Agustin, Rhian Ramos, Alden Richards, and Derrick Monasterio together with GMA Films President Anna Teresa Gozon-Abrogar, Freestyle Presidents Susan Jackson and Mark Borde, GMA Films Project Director Joey Abacan, and the film’s director Yam Laranas.

REEL DEAL: The Road NEWS

The U.S. theatrical trailer of GMA Films’ “The Road” became no. 1 among the most popular trailers in iTunes starting 5pm LA time (April 23)  or 8am Manila (April 24).  In the screen capture below, “The Road’s” trailer was at the number 1 spot followed by the trailer of “The Avengers.” As the Road hit US Theaters this May 2012.

Kapuso stars receive warm welcome in Bacolod's Panaad Festival

An estimated crowd of 15,000 Negrenses were treated to an exciting Kapuso experience via the Panaad Festival: Kapuso Night held recently at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

Featuring topnotch performances from RnB Princess Kyla and Steven Silva of Party Pilipinas, and Kapuso leading lady Sarah Lahbati (from the upcoming Kapuso primetime offering Makapiling Kang Muli), the event served as the highlight of the Kapuso Network’s participation in this year’s Panaad Festival.

Steven and Sarah, who are both products of GMA’s popular talent reality search Starstruck, surprised the audience with a special duet number. The sizeable crowd went agog as the two artists fueled the “kilig explosion” with their seemingly good rapport.

The excitement reached fever pitch as soon as Kyla took the stage. And the RnB Princess did not disappoint with her impressive song numbers. She also participated in the Kapuso Meet and Greet in SM City Bacolod at 4pm that day.

REEL DEAL: The Road - Marvin Agustin SPOTLIGHT and List of US Theaters

MARVIN AGUSTIN shines in "THE  To hit US & Canada theaters May 11!!!

The Road is a psychological-horror film directed by Yam Laranas, and starring Carmina Villaroel, Marvin Agustin, Rhian Ramos and TJ Trinidad.  

The film was released in the Philippines by GMA Films on November 30, 2011 and will be commercially released in the United States by Freestyle Releasing on May 11, 2012. It will also be the third Filipino film to be distributed internationally by an American film studio after Genghis Khan (released by United Artists in 1953) and Small Voices (released by Warner Bros. Pictures in 2002).

The Road is about a 12 year-old cold case which is reopened when three teenagers went missing in an abandoned road. In the course of the investigation, deeper and gruesome stories of abduction and murders are discovered. After more than two decades, the secrets and mysteries of the road are finally revealed and the spirit lingering the dark and desolate pathway is out to make sure nobody leaves alive.

Cast also includes Barbie Forteza, Derick Monasterio, Lexi Fernandez, Alden Richards, Louise delos Reyes, Ynna Asistio, Renz Valerio, Jacklyn Jose, John Regala, Lloyd Samartino, Gerald Madrid, Allan Paule, Dex Quindoza & Ana Abad Santos

REEL DEAL: Foreign media talk about GMA Films’ “The Road”

Nothing stands in the way of GMA Film's horror movie The Road as it paves the way for Filipino stars to walk the red carpets of Hollywood. This May, the Yam Laranas thriller will make a debut in cinemas across theUnited States after GMA Films reached a commercial distribution agreement with international film distribution outfit Freestyle Releasing. 

Nothing stands in the way of GMA Film's horror movie The Road as it paves the way for Filipino stars to walk the red carpets of Hollywood. This May, the Yam Laranas thriller will make a debut in cinemas across theUnited States after GMA Films reached a commercial distribution agreement with international film distribution outfit Freestyle Releasing. 

The US screening of The Road is also already making waves among the foreign media. The Hollywood Reporter, Fangoria.com, AllHorror.net, Bloody-Disgusting.com, FlickDaily.com, Variety.com and other print and online media outfits report that The Road will also be released in digital platforms on the same day of its theatrical debut. 

Meanwhile, HollywoodWireTap.com, reported that The Road is the first all-Filipino film to be released commercially in the mainstream market in the US, adding the movie is described by the international horror press as "one of the best horror films of the year."

GMA presents ‘Spooky Valentine’ this February

Hold on to your chairs and never look back as GMA Network brings heart-stopping thrill and terror to your Saturday evenings in “Spooky Valentine,” with episodes that will surely satisfy viewers’ thirst for “horror.”

This Saturday, Spooky Valentine presents its premiere episode “Maestra,” featuring TJ Trinidad and Bianca King, who plays the role of Elena, a loving wife and mother, and an ideal teacher who volunteers to practice her profession in a far-flung province.  There, she meets a mysterious old woman, whose seemingly harmless touch drastically changes Elena’s life.

When Elena returns home to her family, she begins to behave oddly.  Her husband Nestor (TJ Trinidad) and their daughter Onay notice many things strange about her actuations.  Who used to be a loving wife and mother has become a blood-thirsty cannibal. 

Odd as it may be, Elena’s transformation has not shaken Nestor’s love for her.  He decides to defend his wife against the angry mob running after her.  But if Nestor could accept his wife’s predicament, Elena couldn’t.  She takes her own life hoping that this would mean everyone could now live in peace.  But will Elena’s decision change anything?  How will Nestor and Onay’s lives change after Elena’s death? 

Find out what happens on Spooky Valentine presents “Maestra” this Saturday, February 4, after Manny, Many Prizes on GMA-7. 

REEL DEAL Movies and Television: The Road REVIEW

With local films today stilling clinging to comedy, drama and love stories, thriller movies has been left behind due to the lack of that special factor successful movie film has. And with many losing faith in the horror industry GMA Films, The Road takes us on a detour from conventional horror into a more darker movie. The movie transcends into 3 parts interconnected with each other with a different timeline. The thrill in this movie is not really with the gore but the story itself and the twisted characters that makes every scene not to be missed. It will leave you an impression that someone or something is watching you every time you drive at night or pass by a long dark road.