REEL DEAL: “DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES” In Natural Locations Using 3D

Following the emotionally arresting story of “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” the latest movie “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” takes place 10 years after a viral apocalypse known as the Simian Flu hit the humans whose numbers have been severely depleted.  The Apes, on the other hand, have done quite well amidst the pandemic with Caesar at their helm.  Caesar,  the prime intelligent ape with human-like qualities,  who can strategize, organize and ultimately lead a revolution, borne and developed by genetic engineering  has now led his kind to freedom and has built a new home where humans have difficulty thriving.

Dawn’s director Matt Reeves, who created a vivid and unexpected sense of realism in his 2008 thriller “Cloverfield,” says, “My hope is that audiences – even knowing about the visual effects – will say, ‘Wait a minute.  There weren’t real live apes in the movie at all?’  “That to me is an exciting idea because it creates emotional reality.  If you believe these apes are real and they are emoting, then your involvement just becomes deeper and deeper. I think that’s one of the miracles of what Weta has achieved.”

REEL DEAL: “CHANNELING” – YOU’RE ONLY LIVE ONCE

In today’s social-media obsessed and advertising-driven world, the upcoming thrilling film “Channeling” brings a thought-provoking commentary on the possible path of destruction on the way we currently channel our lives. It introduces us into a world where people have begun live-casting. Using a camera in the form of a contact lens, people begin sharing every part of their lives. Some lives are more exciting to watch than others.

Written and directed by Drew Thomas, “Channeling” tells the story of a soldier who returns home for his brother’s funeral to find that his older sibling’s death is mired in a mystery involving social media “eyecasting,” where a user places a contact lens with a camera on their eye and broadcasts everything they do. The more hits you get on your “channel” the more sponsors you can acquire. This spawns casinos where gamblers can bet on people’s life events and unscrupulous channel producers who try to spice up the action on their eyecaster channels.  

Winner at the recent Phoenix Film Festival as Best Sci-Fi Feature, “Channeling” opens July 2 in local cinemas nationwide from CrystalSky Multimedia.

Check out the thrilling trailer here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34untXf56ko&feature=youtu.be

New Series "Hawak Kamay" Reaches Out To The Modern Day Filipino Family

How much can the life of a drunkard and aspiring musician change when he finds himself left with the responsibility of acting as a father to three adopted children?

This is what ABS-CBN’s newest family drama, “Hawak Kamay,” will be taking on as it hits TV screens to reach out to modern day Filipino families.

The series is set to take off with acclaimed actor Piolo Pascual at the helm, who will be making a much-anticipated return to television drama following the success of his movie “Starting Over Again” earlier this year. Piolo stars in “Hawak Kamay” along with three of the country’s most powerful child stars, Zaijan Jaranilla, Andrea Brillantes, and Xyriel Manabat. The series will also introduce Grand i-Shiner Yesha Camille, who was under the mentorship of Piolo during her stint in the second season of the Promil Pre-School i-Shine Talent Camp.

Grander Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest On Its Fourth Year

Last year was an unforgettable moment for me as I won the media group for the Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest Year 3 held at New Glorietta Activity Center. As they promised, the new year of the annual eating competition get tougher yet with prizes getting bigger and better.

Though I was not part of this year's competition, it is still an opportunity to support fellow blogger Ruel Umali (www.ruelumali.com) on his bid to be the winner in the media group. I did gave pointers and some techniques that I used and the things I have learned from the previous year which he can use for his way of chomping down bowls of beef. 

Cast of Kapamilya Show "Hawak Kamay" Had Family Day At Hospicio De San Jose

ABS-CBN’s newest family drama “Hawak Kamay”, soon to be part of the Primetime Bida time block is now in the works and they are making it a very inspiring show by first giving back to people with a Family event held at the one of the oldest orphanage and charity center Hospicio De San Jose in Manila.

Just in time for Manila and San Juan day, they set up a large party held at the covered court of the center. Here the orphaned and special children, elderly, volunteers and staff live in the community in the island in the middle of the Pasig River. With sponsors and partners who provided gifts for the kids and elderly, food and sweets for lunch, photobooth and activities like a magic show and a bubble showcase to give entertainment to all who attended.

MUSIC LYF: Sam Tsui and Kurt Hugo Schnieder Are Now Here In Manila! Asian Tour Concert on June 25 & 26.

The Youtube Dynamic duo Sam Tsui and Kurt Hugo Schneider is now here in Manila for their concert happening at June 25 and 26 at the SMX Convention Ceneter at the SM Mall of Asia Pasay City.

Known for their covers of popular songs from Adele, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry.  as well as favorite classics like the Michael Jackson Medley. They are also known to be part of "College Musical The Movie"  and made music for Coca Cola promotional video last January. Currently Sam Tsui has 2 studio albums and a number of extended plays, mash ups and singles which are also uploaded in his youtube channel.

At the presscon held June 23, the duo are first timers in the Philippines and are game to try out things here especially the food. Starting from doing musicals and joining music clubs, Sam shared that consistency and passion are needed in pursuing their dreams. They have also worked with other youtube sensations like Alex Goot, Against the Current, Landon Austin, Luke Conard, and King the Kid.

“ Protect the Goal ” kicks off in the Philippines

Global football-based HIV prevention campaign headlined by the Philippine football national team, Azkals, targets youth at risk.

The campaign was officially be launched in the country on June 22, 2014 during the opening of the LoveYourself Anglo, a new free HIV testing community center along Shaw Boulevard near Ortigas.

Protect the Goal, the football-based HIV prevention campaign that has swept the world with its sports-oriented approach to promoting HIV testing and safer sex behavior, has kicked off in the Philippines.

The campaign ultimately seeks to help lower the risk of HIV transmission among the Filipino youth, specifically among young Filipino men. In the Philippines, 71% of new infections since 1984 were in young people and that two-thirds of high risk young people actually do not know their HIV status.

REEL DEAL: “DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES” International Trailer Reveal

This July, two worlds will collide as man and ape fight for dominion over Earth in “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” see its latest hair-raising international trailer release here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J_PDau_1Fw&feature=youtu.be

Directed by Matt Reeves and stars a powerhouse cast led by Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman, Jason Clarke and Keri Russell,  “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” sees a growing nation of genetically evolved apes, led by Caesar (Serkis) that are threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier.  They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth’s dominant species. 

REEL DEAL: Academy-Award Winner Adrien Brody Pairs Up With Moran Atias in “THIRD PERSON”

Adrien Brody who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of real-life Holocaust survivor Wladislaw Szpilman in Roman Polanski's “The Pianist” and he is, to date the youngest person to have received the Oscar in that category stars in the latest romantic thriller “Third Person” opposite an impressive cast that includes Liam Neeson, Kim Basinger, Moran Atias, James Franco, Mila Kunis and Olivia Wilde. 

“Third Person” spans three stories of love clothed in mystery where Brody plays Scott, a shady American businessman and reluctant globe- trotter, who is in Italy to steal designs from fashion houses.  At the end of his trip and looking for something American to eat, he goes in search of a decent hamburger and a Budweiser, and finds Bar Americano, where, to his consternation, he finds nothing he is seeking. He is about to leave when in walks Monika (Moran Atias), a breathtakingly beautiful gypsy.  Unable to stop from flirting, Scott discovers that Monika is about to be reunited with her young daughter. When the money she claims to have saved to  pay  her  daughter’s  smuggler  is  stolen,  Scott  feels  responsible  and  is compelled to  help.  Though she  is  skeptical  of  his  intentions, she  reluctantly agrees and quite literally takes him on a ride. While they explore the more dangerous corners of southern Italy, Scott starts to suspect that this girl they have set out to rescue may not even exist. Nothing about their encounter is quite what it seems.

REEL DEAL: “CHANNELING” Real Time, Real Life Selfies Using Wearable (Eye) Contact Cameras

Forget monopods and today’s parity gadgets because the future of live broadcast “selfies” is about to be seen in “Channeling,” a visionary movie taking today’s social media to a new level, using wearable eye-cast contact camera lenses that shows everything the human eye can feast on real time that the audience can watch on their smartphones.    

Set in a future that is just about to happen, the mother of all live streams and updates unfold in “Channeling” directed by first time director/writer Drew Thomas starring Taylor Handley known for his roles in “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” and “Battle Los Angeles,” with interesting supporting cast that includes Kate French, Skyler Day, Dominic DeVore, Ryan Walker and Landon Ashworth, “Channeling” follows the lives of a young group of people broadcasting their daily lives to the most number of audience possible and competing to reach viral hits no matter what the cost.