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Journalist mines Hollywood for Filipino A-listers, artists
Once you get hold of the book, “My Filipino Connection: The Philippines in Hollywood,” it’s easy to understand why Ruben Nepales is not your run-of-the mill entertainment journalist. He asks questions many celebrities dread most: the difficult ones. And asks them without trepidation and with great fondness for his sources. To Michael Caine, he asked […]
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2 filmmakers and their uplifting stories
Two filmmakers are telling stories in different ways: Gerry Balasta through comedy and Lea Dizon via the futuristic narrative — both incorporating entertainment and a social message. Gerry, whose first film, “The Mountain Thief,” has won honors in festivals in San Francisco and France, has a quick follow-through in “The Solar Champion,” a comedy about […]
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Dindi Gallardo: ‘I wanted to live normal, breathe some air’
By Cristina DC Pastor No matter how she tried to submerge her fame, former actress Dindi Gallardo will remain a recognizable face. At a festival she attended with her boss, Filipinos reached out and asked for her autograph. Her boss, an artist who had no clue who his assistant was, gasped, “Who are you?” Dindi […]
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Lea Salonga sings Lady Gaga, Cee Lo
By Elton Lugay I must have followed Lea Salonga’s every concert in New York, and nothing sends me to Dreamland faster than her bluesy opening number, “How About You.” I listen with my eyes closed, knowing the best is yet to come. On May 4 at the packed Town Hall theater on Broadway, Lea did […]
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Droll humor, special effects make ‘Avengers’ Marvel-ously enjoyable
By Daniel de la Rosa Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey is a bandbox of a shopping center with a refurbished moviehouse where the seats swallow you and the arm rest is as big enough to plant your corn shrimp, fries and humongous Diet soda. Drove there on a warm Friday evening that had […]
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Philippine film paves ‘Road’ to Hollywood via horror thriller
A horror thriller will be screened in the U.S. and Canada this May, paving the way for a Philippine-made film to enjoy a commercial release in North America. GMA Films, through a distribution agreement with Hollywood-based Freestyle Releasing, will screen “The Road” in mainstream American and Canadian markets beginning May 11. “The Road” revisits a […]
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Great entertainment at Martin-Pops concert, but why did Ai-Ai walk out?
By Elton Lugay Ludi de Asis Hughes, possibly the most prominent Filipina political fundraiser in New Jersey, was at front row clapping to the rhythm, tapping her feet and laughing at every campy joke dished out by Ai-Ai de las Alas. She and thousands others turned out for the April 29 Martin Nievera-Pops Fernandez concert […]
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It’s all about the Lin
By Elton Lugay New York Knicks’ point guard Jeremy Lin may be Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential, but to the Chinese media covering the gala, he’s nothing but a “snob.” “I felt discriminated,” a Taiwanese journalist was steaming at the red carpet arrivals for the press. “I cannot believe he went straight to the center […]
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Toasting the Tribeca Three
Filmmakers, actors, moviegoers and writers packed the Kalayaan Hall’s cocktail reception for three Filipino filmmakers exhibiting at the Tribeca Film Festival. “This is the first time we’ve seen the Kalayaan Hall this full,” noted Deputy Consul General Tess Dizon de Vega. “This is almost a fire hazard.” It was clear as day who the star […]