The Philippine Leaf Awards Nominees Announced

The Philippine Leaf Awards proudly announces the finalists for LEAF THEATER 2019. This covers performances from October 1, 2018 - November 30, 2019. Below is the complete list of nominees.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL

• Kim Molina (Rak of Aegis 7/PETA)
• Joanna Ampil (Waitress/Atlantis Theatrical)
• Shiela Valderrama – Martinez (Passion/Philippine Opera Company)
• Aicelle Santos (Himala/9 Works Theatricals)
• Krystal Kane (Spring Awakening/Ateneo Blue Repertory) 
• Tanya Manalang (Ang Huling El Bimbo/Full House Theater Co./Resorts World)

New Latino Actor Lands Villain Role in "Bad Boys for Life"

British born Latino actor Jacob Scipio (upcoming Without Remorse) portrays the main villain in Columbia Pictures’ new action thriller Bad Boys for Life, opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

In the film, Smith and Lawrence’s characters Mike and Marcus, certainly have their work cut out for them. Their prey – and vice versa – is a beautiful criminal overlord from Mike’s past, Isabel, along with her strong-willed and lethal son.

While Isabel was imprisoned, she gave birth to Armando – now a fully-grown assassin (Scipio). Upon her release, she works with Armando to make sure there’s no escape for those who wronged her, turning Armando into a spiteful weapon.

myxRADIO Launches on World’s Largest All-Original Live Audio Platform Dash Radio

Back in 2018, TechCrunch quoted Dash Radio founder Scott Keeney or DJ Skee, a well-known DJ with stints on LA’s KISS-FM and Sirius XM, as saying, “(On the streaming side with Apple and Spotify), there’s not going to be room for much else. But when it comes to radio, it’s the wild, wild west.”

Keeney started Dash Radio, an internet radio platform, with $2 million seed funding in 2014, then raised $8.8 million in 2018 after it reached 10 million monthly listeners. While everyone online was focused on live video, Dash Radio concentrated on live audio.  

Today, Dash Radio is the largest all-original live audio platform in the world, with over 12 million monthly listeners, 80 stations and over 500 DJs and shows. Dash Radio has over 50 distribution partners that include all mobile devices like the iOS and Android, smart speakers like Amazon’s Alexa and Sonos, car companies like Honda and Jaguar, smart TV platforms like Apple TV, Chromecast, Pluto TV and more. Celebrities and entertainment brands like Snoop Dogg and Kylie Jenner have stations alongside the UFC and Insomniac Group. One of the biggest music festivals in the world called “EDC or Electric Daisy Carnival” livestreams exclusively on the Dash Radio platform. They have multiple studios which include storefronts on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, Empire State Building in New York, downtown Atlanta, and will be launching Nashville soon.

James Wan'ss Original Horror/Thriller "Malignant" Wraps Production

Shooting has wrapped in Los Angeles on Atomic Monster’s “Malignant,” the latest creation from “Conjuring” universe architect James Wan (“Aquaman,” “Furious 7”).  The film marks director Wan’s return to his roots with this new original horror thriller.

“Malignant” stars Annabelle Wallis (“The Loudest Voice,” “The Mummy,” “Annabelle”), Maddie Hasson (YouTube Originals’ “Impulse,” “Novitiate,” “I Saw the Light”), George Young (“A Bread Factory” Parts 1 & 2, “Containment,” HBO Asia’s horror mini-series “Grace”), Michole Briana White (“Lila and Eve,” “She Hate Me,” “Encino Man”), Jake Abel (“Another Life,” “Dirty John,” “Love & Mercy”), Jacqueline McKenzie (Netflix series “Pine Gap,” “Halifax: Retribution,” “Romper Stomper: Next Gen”), and Ingrid Bisu (“The Nun,” “Toni Erdmann”).

"Evil Dead" Creator Sam Raimi Revives "The Grudge" for Today's Audiences

Fifteen years have passed since one of Hollywood’s most successful producer/directors, Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, Drag Me to Hell), first introduced worldwide audiences to The Grudge. Now, the creator of the Evil Dead series is excited to return to world of The Grudge in an R-rated version.

(Watch the film’s new spot at https://youtu.be/1FiiBt_SJUE.)

“When we made the original in 2004,” Raimi says, “horror was still on the outside, and it was still for the cult audience.  But it has now moved into the mainstream.”  

Harry Styles “lights up” with groundbreaking new album, Fine Line

Harry Styles’ sophomore album, Fine Line is finally arriving on December 13, 2019—just in time for a Friday the 13th release.

Fine Line includes previously released tracks “Lights Up,” “Watermelon Sugar,” and latest single “Adore You,” whose cryptic marketing campaign sparked tremendous buzz for weeks. The second studio release also reunites Styles with producers Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon, who refined the overall sound of his debut album. 

A “brazenly honest” record

On Fine Line, the former One Direction star opens up about “constantly dancing in and out of desire and destruction,” as Entertainment Weekly puts it, and exploring his more brazenly honest side in terms of the songwriting process leading to the final touches of his newest album. “For me, it doesn’t mean I’ll sit down and be like, ‘This is what I have for dinner, and this is where I eat every day, and this is what I do before I go to bed,” Styles shares in a recent Rolling Stone interview. “But I will tell you that I can be really pathetic when I’m jealous. Feeling happier than I’ve ever been, sadder than I’ve ever been, feeling sorry for myself, being mad at myself, being petty and pitiful — it feels really different to share that.”

REVIEW: Mindanao - Bigger Battle Than War

There has been countless films about Mindanao and its people, yet Brillante Mendoza wants to share another view of the diverse island which comprises of many cultures, people, and stories. Though there is still the concept of war still happening in some parts of the island, they also incorporated the story told by a mother to her child with a legend of the dragons of Mindanao.

Starring in the film are Judy Ann Santos, Allen Dizon, and Yuna Tangog as the family who is struggling with both war and the illness of thir daughter, Aisa. Originally titled "Maguindanao" it was later changed to Mindanao to reflect  an expanded worldview. Brillante Mendoza also mentioned that this is part of his trilogy about the region, the first one which is also a MMFF entry, Thy Womb featured Nora Aunor and Lovi Poe tells the story about the Bajao people.

The film garnered the most awards at the MMFF 2019 awards night that includes Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress among it's hauls. Judy Ann already had an advanced best actress award before the MMFF at the Cairo International Film Festival, while Brillante also got  an award for the Henry Barakat Award for Artistic Contribution.