GMA Pinoy TV launches Stronger Together podcast
The international channel GMA Pinoy TV marks its 17th year with a podcast. Stronger Together: The GMA Pinoy TV Podcast showcases conversations with GMA personalities, global celebrities, and Filipinos around the world. The program aims to inspire and encourage its listeners to see pockets of hope in their day-to-day lives. Featured in the pilot episode is actress Bea Alonzo as she talks about her personal life. For the second episode, the lead stars of To Have and To Hold, Carla Abellana, Rocco Nacino, and Max Collins will share the things that kept them hopeful and positive during the pandemic. The guest lineup also includes “Kuya” Kim Atienza where he shares the issues he went through during the lockdown. The Clash judge, singer Lani Misalucha, is also set to talk about her recovery and adjustments in the pandemic, as well as living in the US. Hosted by Tonie Pua, the podcast is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and Google Podcast.
Band renames and releases two tracks
The band Nathan & Mercury has changed its name to “of Mercury” and has released two tracks under the title CHANGIN’ Vol. 1 via Sony Music Philippines. In a statement posted across social networking platforms, the band cited creative and personal disagreements as the two main reasons for going on a hiatus. After working on their differences internally, the members decided to restart under a name that they feel would represent them better as artists. The dual release, which features the songs “I’m Fine” and “Heaven on Earth,” finds the band pushing their sound to an unexpected direction. “Think of this release as a re-introduction to us,” of Mercury said in statement. “This release is a statement from us that we’re growing, we’re changing: a foretaste of what the album is going to be.” CHANGIN’ Vol. 1 serves as a reintroduction to the quartet. It is available on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines.
Pinoy film reaches 100M homes in US
Circle of Bones, an independent horror/action film written and directed by Filipino filmmaker Vincent Soberano made history as the first Filipino film with a day-and-date release in the US, opening in US theaters from Oct. 22-28 in 10 major cities, followed by a digital release to cable and streaming platforms that reached more than 100 million homes in the United States. It is now available in US platforms such as Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV, Vudu, Redbox, and cable services such as Comcast, Cablevision, AT&T, and RCN. It will next release in Canada, the UK, and Ireland, before going worldwide in early 2022. The movie is in Tagalog and English and was filmed in Panglao, Bohol and Cainta, Rizal. Circle of Bones is based on Mr. Soberano’s unpublished book, Yawa, a tale of local superstitions and modern-day urban legends of the Visayas region. The story is told by a lone survivor of a mysterious cult suspected of mass murders and human sacrifices. It stars Sarah Chang, Jana Victoria, Marela Torre, Ian Ignacio, and Epy Quizon, with a cameo by Joel Torre.
Short films to screen for free
Short films and video work from around the world will be screened for free at the MCAD Commons: 2021 Artists’ Film International (AFI) Program, from Oct. 30 to Dec. 4. For its 2021 exhibition, AFI explores the various ways of addressing the concept of care. It features short films handpicked by Whitechapel Gallery in London, England; Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila, Philippines; Bag Factory in Johannesburg, South Africa; Bonniers Konsthall in Stockholm, Sweden; Fundacion Proa in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, USA; Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania; and Tromsø Kunstforening in Tromsø, Norway. These are: 4Runners (2021) by Bratislava-based Mihály Stefanovic, which follows ultra-runners on treadmills who move through different spatial and temporal landscapes; Sharla, Shabana, Sojourner, Selena (2016) by London-based Rehana Zaman narrates the personal audition roll call experiences of six female leads; Dear Friend (2019) by Lithuanian Agnė Jokšė speaks of diverse forms of love, affection and care in the modern world; Breakfast in Bed (2016) by Kenneth Tam investigates male-to-male intimacy and constructions of masculinity; TORONTOIDES (2019) by Julia Sbriller and Joaquin Wall studies the body, the space and its mysteries; Approaching a Ghost (2019) by Swedish filmmaker Victoria Verseau attempts to capture the memory of their friend; Mag-uuma (Farmer) (2014) by Filipino filmmaker and human rights activist Kiri Dalena features songs of protest by a young female dissenter from Mindanao; KASSARAM (2020) by South African artist Thania Petersen presents a historical orientalist lens on the various communities around the world. The Philippine screening of the 2021 AFI Programme will be presented by MCAD Manila. It is free and open to the public and will be on view via on-site video installations at the independent artist-run platform Project Space Pilipinas in Lucban, Quezon. It will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.mcadmanila.org.ph/aficare/. For reservations, e-mail projectspacepilipinas@gmail.com.
GMA Public Affairs shows now on earlier time slot
GMA Public Affairs launches its new programming strip, “GTV Reality,” airing weekdays at 10:30 a.m. beginning Oct. 25 on GTV. It features some of GMA’s multi-awarded and flagship public affairs shows now on an earlier time slot. It starts on Mondays with Stories of Hope, highlighting resilience, grit, determination and hard work. On Tuesdays, it is the docu-magazine show On Record, which features heartwarming and inspirational content. Every Wednesday, award-winning broadcast journalist Pia Arcangel tells the stories of people from all walks of life in the docu-reality program Tunay na Buhay. On Thursdays, its investigative program Reporter’s Notebook, hosted by veteran journalists Maki Pulido and Jun Veneracion. Capping off the week is Good News Kasama si Vicky Morales every Friday. “GTV Reality,” airs Monday to Friday at 10:30 a.m. before Balitanghali, starting October 25 on GTV.
The Suicide Squad premieres on HBO Go on Nov. 4
The Suicide Squad — featuring the most degenerate delinquents in the DC lineup — will be blasting their way onto HBO GO from Nov. 4. Belle Reve prison is where the worst supervillains are kept and where they will do anything to get out, even if it means joining the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Made up of a motley crew of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin, and Harley Quinn, Task Force X is dropped on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave and Amanda Waller’s government tech in their ears, tracking their every movement. The film stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi, Michael Rooker, Nathan Fillion, Sean Gunn, with Sylvester Stallone and Viola Davis. The Suicide Squad and more DC films, series, and animated features can be streamed or downloaded on HBO GO.
Sequel A Quiet Place Part II comes on Nov. 10
A Quiet Place Part II is opening in Philippine theaters on Nov. 10. John Krasinski who wrote and directed the film says “It’s very exciting to be able to come back to the theaters and to see A Quiet Place Part II because it was always designed for a theatrical experience.” The second chapter of 2018’s A Quiet Place, in A Quiet Place Part II the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path. The film is directed, written and produced by John Krasinski and stars Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, and John Krasinski.
BINI, Lola Amour to headline online concert
P-pop girl group BINI, Filipino rock band Lola Amour, solo singer-songwriter Pixie Labrador, and Gen Z DJ Sev Laudico will headline a free public digital concert entitled UNITE 2021: Back to the Future on Oct. 29. Organized by the Student Trainers (STRAINS) under the Center for Student Life-Student Involvement Unit (CSL-SIU) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the futuristic-themed event will likewise showcase a number from the Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company (SBRDC) — contemporary as well as a series of performances from homegrown artists and bands including Catharsis, a.v.d.i., SINODA, Motion Picture Blur, and The Strays to channel creativity, talent and unity. UNITE 2021 will be livestreamed on the official Facebook page of Student Trainers. Pre-show starts at 5:45 p.m. while the event proper kicks off at 6:15 p.m. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/StudentTrainers/.
Netflix’s Red Notice releases trailer
Netflix has dropped the latest trailer of its suspense series Red Notice, WHEN an Interpol-issued Red Notice — the highest-level warrant to hunt and capture the world’s most wanted — goes out, the FBI’s top profiler John Hartley (played by Dwayne Johnson) is on the case. His global pursuit finds him smack dab in the middle of a daring heist where he’s forced to partner with the world’s greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world’s most wanted art thief, “The Bishop” (Gal Gadot). Directed and written by Rawson Marshall Thurber, the series also stars Ritu Arya and Chris Diamantopoulos. Red Notice premieres on Nov. 12. To watch the trailer, visit www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1497524747286376.
Nobita releases new single
OPM rock band Nobita has come a long way from its beginnings as a semi-finalist in the battle of the bands, Muziklaban. With the success of “Ikaw Lang,” which has amassed over 40 million streams on all digital music platforms combined, Nobita is putting its own spin to the school of hugot pop songwriting. Now officially signed to Sony Music Philippines, Nobita has released its new single “Di Na Mag-iisa.” Blending sparse, soulful instrumentation with romantic, earnest lyrcs, the song stays loyal to the formula that made “Ikaw Lang” and “Unang Sayaw” hits. The song was written, arranged, and produced by the band with guidance from producer Isagani Palabyab of Monostery Studio. Nobita is currently working on some new songs, including a Christmas-inspired tune. The band is also slated to release a variety of material soon under Sony Music Philippines. “Di Na Mag-iisa” is available on all digital music platforms worldwide.
ABS-CBN shows available on online platforms
ABS-CBN is reaching a wider audience worldwide as it evolves into a global content creator for different digital platforms like iWantTFC, KTX, YouTube, Kumu, WeTV iFlix, Netflix, and Spotify. Asian streaming platform iQiyi has announced that ABS-CBN will produce two original series, Hello Heart starring Gerald Anderson and Gigi De Lana, and Saying Goodbye which stars Seth Fedelin and Andrea Brillantes. ABS-CBN also continues to strengthen its ties with Filipino livestreaming platform Kumu, where it has channels like FYE, MYX Global, and SeenZone. More than 100 of its contract artists have their own livestreaming channels in Kumu as well. Pinoy Big Brother has started its second season in partnership with Kumu, called PBB Kumunity Season 10, wherein its online auditions, 24/7 livestreaming, and online shows are all done on Kumu. Later this year, ABS CBN’s latest co-production with Kumu, Love at First Stream, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, will be released. Primetime Bida teleseryes are also now available for streaming before they air on TV on WeTV iFlix aside from iWantTFC, where users can stream ABS-CBN’s wide library of content for free. The playlist “Kapamilya YOUniverse” on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel offers content made for the platform.
Kelvin Miranda releases new single
Actor Kelvin Miranda has released his latest single, “Slow Dance,” written by Jomari Felices Jintalan, under GMA Music. After making a mark as an actor in Stories from the Heart: Loving Ms. Bridgette and on GMA Public Affairs’ fantasy-romance series The Lost Recipe, the acclaimed actor who made a mark in the independent films Dead Kids and The Fate returns to music with this song, which tells the story of the transition from friends to lovers after prom night. “Slow Dance” is available to stream on Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music.
