Zachary Levi Brims with Hope, Enthusiasm as “Shazam!”

 

Zachary Levi ("Thor: The Dark World," TV's "Chuck," "Heroes Reborn") stars as the titular DC Super Hero of New Line Cinema's origin story "SHAZAM!" 

 

Director David F. Sandberg says Levi's passion and youthful nature were vital in his casting.  "It was important to find someone who could feel like a kid in a grownup's body.  I think a mistake a lot of people make when grownups try to play kids is that they just sort of lower the IQ, just play it dumber.  And kids aren't dumber, they're just inexperienced, and more enthusiastic about life.  And they don't have the filter that a lot of adults have.   So that's what we were looking for and what we absolutely found in Zachary Levi."

 

In the film, streetwise 14-year-old foster kid Billy Batson (Asher Angel) can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Levi), by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!— courtesy of an ancient wizard.  Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers.

Levi was thrilled with the opportunity to tap into the 14-year-old in him.  "I don't want to say I'm a man-child," he jokes, "but I happen to be an enthusiastic, hopeful, energy-filled type of person.  So, to show up on set and get to play this character, Shazam, and fly around and fight bad guys?  I was totally in!  I was so eager to shoot every scene of this film, to be able to bring not just a really badass Super Hero to life, but one who has so much heart and charm and humor."  

The actor surmises that growing up reading comic books and playing video games probably set him on a particular trajectory, but still, "the scene where the Wizard first transforms Billy into Shazam and he hears his voice for the first time—and it's my voice!  I couldn't wait for that moment, I knew it was going to be so much fun."  Or, to act out the moments "when he sees his reflection for the first time, the whole montage of him learning what his powers are…" Levi adds.  So, really, everything.

Levi says that to play a boy in a grown man's body was really about straddling the two sides of himself.  "Kids don't get bogged down with life the way adults do.  They're not dealing with 401ks or mortgages; they're just going to school and thinking, 'I really don't wanna go to math right now.'  They haven't built the catalogue of experiences in their journey to adult wisdom yet to understand why things are the way they are.  

 

"But even as an adult, and especially as an actor," he continues, "I've always tried to maintain a lust for life, along with enthusiasm and sincerity, which I think is what most kids just exude naturally.   Up to a point, they have a purity of heart, and I think that's what's so great about this story and what's unique about Billy specifically.  He is pure of heart, and that's why the Wizard endows him with this power.  And that's a big gamble—giving this 14-year-old kid the power of the gods."

 

Along with the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the endurance of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the fighting abilities of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury, "He's also got the ability to wield lightning, which is very much in tune with his Zeusitude, if I can be so bold as to call it Zeusitude.  I'm coining that phrase right now," Levi quips.

 

On set, the actor had as much fun with the discovery of Shazam's powers as the character did.  "One of the moments that just delighted me was the scene when he's stopping the robbery, and he figures out he has bullet immunity.  Basically, he just starts giggling because the bullets literally tickle him." Long before production began, just reading the scene, Levi confesses, "I just lost it, I started laughing out loud, legitimately LOL-ing by myself in my living room.  Because it's the joy of that moment.  You don't get to see Batman or Superman being tickled by their abilities.  Those guys are dudes who've had a lot on their shoulders for a long time, while Billy's just stepping into this world.  You get to experience his delight, and I just loved it."

 

Speaking of Shazam's fellow Super Heroes' attributes, director Sandberg offers, "Shazam has the best secret identity of all.  He becomes a totally different person, a young boy.  So, if he needs to blend in or get away, he can say 'Shazam!' and turn into Billy, just a normal kid."

 

In Philippine cinemas April 3, "Shazam!" is a New Line Cinema production, and distributed by Warner Bros., a WarnerMedia Company. 

By: JENG On 3/20/2019 09:37:00 AM

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Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray Shows Off the ‘Best Twirl Ever’

Jollibee—the country's number one fast-food brand—brought another stellar member to its growing family of iconic celebrity endorsers: Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

 

In her first-ever commercial for the proudly homegrown brand, Catriona shows off the twirl that sent waves on- and offline, all over the world: the iconic slow-motion twirl.

 

Clad in white, Catriona talks about how the universe has spoken, referring to a new twirl that is set to win everyone's hearts. For the 25-year-old beauty queen and singer, the "best twirl ever" is not her crown-winning move—it's the new and improved Jolly Twirl!

 

Her face—lit up in desire and anticipation—and her elegant, seamless movements are in perfect sync with the irresistible twirls of the soft-serve ice cream.

 

 

"We are honored to have none other than Miss Universe 2018 herself join the Jollibee family in bringing more joy and pride to our customers," said Francis E. Flores, Jollibee Global Brand Chief Marketing Officer and Jollibee Philippines Marketing Head. "Having her show off her world-famous twirl alongside her love for both the Jolly Twirl and Jollibee is an incredible opportunity for a proudly Filipino brand."

 

The new and improved Jolly Twirl comes with a thicker, creamier texture and a special formulation that makes it slow-melt so that everyone can enjoy it longer. It's still the same delightful vanilla soft-serve ice cream generations of Filipinos have grown to love, but with improved characteristics to make for a better dining experience. Whether you're looking for a sweet way to cap off your favorite Jollibee meals or an indulgent treat to enjoy "just because," the Jolly Twirl is indeed the best twirl for you!

 

 

The Jolly Twirl comes in the following variants: the Chocolate Sundae Twirl (PHP 30.00), with the vanilla soft-serve ice cream complemented by a drizzling of rich chocolate syrup; the classic Vanilla Cone Twirl (PHP 10.00), with the thicker, creamier vanilla soft-serve ice cream twirled into a crispy cone; the Chocolate Cone Twirl (PHP 15.00), with the vanilla soft-serve dipped in chocolate; and the Mini Chocolate Sundae Twirl (PHP 24.00).

 

For more information on Jollibee's products and promotions, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Studios on YouTube, and follow @Jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

 

*Prices may vary across locations.

By: JENG On 3/20/2019 09:34:00 AM

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Koreanovela “That Man Oh Soo” Premieres in PH via TVplus’ Asianovela Channel

 

Korean superstars Lee Jong-hyun and Kim So-eun are teaming up to unload kilig and spread love through their fantasy rom-com series "That Man Oh Soo" that will hit TV screens in the Philippines via TVplus' Asianovela Channel starting March 18 (Monday).

 

Lee Jong-hyun plays Oh Soo, an attractive and smart IT engineer who serves as Cupid for people looking for love using a magic pollen. Despite Oh Soo's incredible matchmaking skills, his heart does not belong to anyone. But all this is about to change when Oh Soo meets Seo Yoo Ri (Kim So-eun), a policewoman who will capture his heart. 

 

"That Man Oh Soo" first premiered in South Korea in 2018 and immediately became the talk of the town because of the undeniable chemistry of its two lead actors and the romantic story. In the Philippines, "That Man Oh Soo" will air on weekdays at 10:00 AM with same-day replays at 3:00 PM and 12:00 midnight.

 

Meanwhile, Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young will return to TV as their hit Korean romcom "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim" airs on TVplus' Asianovela Channel on March 18 before "That Man Oh Soo."

 

More and more TVplus users are also watching programs on Asianovela Channel that is now the eighth most watched channel among DTT households based on Kantar Media's Q4 2018 report that covers DTT households nationwide. 

 

Other programs that will surely entertain TVplus viewers are the medical romance drama "Doctor Crush," the romance fantasy "Tomorrow with You," and the iconic series "Meteor Garden."

 

For more details, visit Asianovela Channel on Facebook (fb.com/AsianovelaChannel).

By: JENG On 3/20/2019 09:30:00 AM

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Thriller “Us” Puts Lupita Nyong’o Front and Center of Shocking Tale

Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o stars in Universal Pictures' new horror thriller Us, playing the film's central character is Adelaide Wilson, a woman hiding an inexplicable childhood trauma from her past.  She discovers that her attempts to push down and suppress the incident now threatens to destroy not only herself, but her husband and her children. 

 

For such an expansive and complex dual role, director-writer Jordan Peele and his fellow filmmakers quickly turned to Nyong'o. 

 

"We've admired Lupita for so long, and as we were thinking about casting, we were shocked to realize that she's never been the star of a film, but has instead always played these amazing supporting roles," producer Ian Cooper says. "So we were excited at the opportunity to have her as the anchor at the center of this film. Lupita is someone audiences feel they can access and have an identification with; she's someone you want to spend time with, but she's also so good at turning the screw a bit and making you feel suddenly alienated from her as well. That duality in her performance was perfect for this film, on multiple levels." 

Nyong'o has vivid memories of her first meetings with Peele about the roles. 

 

"At first, every time I spoke to Jordan about these roles, I felt like I needed to sign up for philosophy, psychology and sociology courses at a university to be able to play them," Nyong'o says, laughing. "He's so detailed and, in my first reading of the script, I knew there was more significance to it than I had caught onto. It wasn't until I spoke to him that I realized how much he was investigating and trying to unpack in this one story within the horror genre." 

 

Nyong'o continues, "Early on, I asked Jordan which films were influencing this story or had inspired his imagination.  He created a list for me of films to go through that ranged from Dead Again to A Tale of Two Sisters, The Shining, Alien, The Birds. That was very informative, not just for how he was framing this world, but also for specific moments in those films that he pays homage to in Us." 

"One of the themes Jordan said he was interested in exploring was the sense that one of America's biggest flaws is being unable to recognize its own demons," Nyong'o says. "That is a powerful thing to be able to do, because it's what real self-acceptance is: the ability to recognize both your most noble and your most destructive sides." The idea intrigued her. "We cast judgment on people," Nyong'o says. "We decide who is good and who is bad. But the truth is that we all possess that duality. That's a really powerful statement to make, for us to recognize that evil is not an external force but is very much part and parcel of our experience as human beings." 

Peele also gave her a warning before she agreed to take on the film. "One of the first things Jordan said to me was, 'Lupita, you're going to be very tired,'" she says, laughing. "And he delivered on that promise! I feel like I've made five films, and we've only just made one. This was a really intense and all-consuming film to be a part of." 

 

In Philippine cinemas March 20, Us is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.  Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/ ; Twitter at https://twitter.com/uipmoviesph  and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/uipmoviesph/. 

By: JENG On 3/20/2019 09:25:00 AM

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Olympian Greg Louganis Ready to Officiate 2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Four-time Olympic Gold Medal diver, Greg Louganis, will continue to serve as Sports Director for this year's upcoming Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series - Season 11. The World Series will kick-off on April 12th in the Small and Big Lagoons located in Miniloc Island, El Nido, Palawan. This year will mark the first time the event comes to the Philippines and will likewise be the only Asian stop of the 2019 series.

 

Louganis' Work with Red Bull Cliff Diving

In 2017, Louganis was named as the Sports Director for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series after having attended the event in the past as a judge.

 

"I was invited as a judge on the tour years ago," shares Louganis. "Then after the passing of my dear friend and former Olympic competitor Niki Stajkovic, who was the original Sports Director, Red Bull reached out to me and asked if I could step into the role."

 

Moreover, Louganis is excited to be working on the 11^th season, stating "I am honoured to be back this year on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. I look forward to another exciting year."

 

As Red Bull Cliff Diving's Sports Director, Louganis oversees every athletic and logical aspect of the competition. This ensures that all safety measures are met, in addition to the implementation of consistent competition rules across all the competitors. 

 

"Some of the safety measures we look for is if the diving heights meet the standard requirements for 27 meters for the Men and 21 meters for the Women," says Louganis. "Also that there is at least 5 meters water depth which the divers would be diving in."

 

A Quick Look at Greg Louganis' Unforgettable Career
Louganis, who is widely considered the "the greatest American diver", made his Olympic debut in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where he took home the Silver Medal in the platform event.

 

After having won three combined FINA World Championships in 1979 and 1982, Louganis returned to the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he placed first on both the platform and springboard events. Four years later, at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, Louganis suffered a concussion in the preliminary rounds. An undeterred Louganis continued and outplaced his competition by winning both Gold Medals in the springboard and platform contests.

 

In the years since his Olympic wins, Louganis has established himself as a global icon for civil and LGBT rights.

 

Where to Watch Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Catch the live broadcast from El Nido, Palawan, via Red Bull TV on April 13th, 2019. Viewers in the Philippines may also watch the full event, along with the remaining six stops of the 2019 World Series, on SportsAndAction and iWant Sports (iwant.ph), 5PLUS and 5plus.com.ph, FOX Sports, FOX Sports GO, FOX+ app, and online at http://www.foxsports.ph. Check local listings for times and availabilities.

 

We also invite you to follow the World Series on Facebook (facebook.com/redbullcliffdiving), Instagram (@redbullcliffdiving) and Twitter (@cliffdiving).

By: JENG On 3/20/2019 09:23:00 AM

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Jeff Canoy and BAS-CBN Docucentral Premiere “Ang Babae ng Balangiga” on “Sunda’d Best”

A devout Catholic prayer leader, a dedicated sister, a woman who fell in love with the enemy—who was Casiana Nacionales and what was her role in the Balangiga Encounter of 1901? 

 

Award-winning broadcast journalist Jeff Canoy answers these questions and delves deeper into the history of the September 1901 attack by telling the often untold story of Casiana in the ABS-CBN DocuCentral documentary "Ang Babae ng Balangiga" on Sunday's Best, January 20 after "Gandang Gabi Vice."

The town of Balangiga, Eastern Samar was recently back in the spotlight after its famous church bells were returned to their original home in San Lorenzo de Martir last December 15, 2018. Before American troops took the bells as war loot, historic accounts told the story of the Balangiga Uprising, the United States' worst defeat at the hands of Filipinos. 

 

Often left out of the narratives is the Visayan woman who played an important role in one of the Filipinos' biggest victories in the Filipino-American war.  Jeff finds out more about the unsung hero by meeting the individuals who knew Casiana personally and learned of her story through oral tradition, and attempts to sort out fact from fiction. The documentary will also put a face to her name by having an artist render a portrait from the descriptions of those who still remember her.  

 

According to Jeff, the story of the Balangiga Encounter deserves to be told, especially because the events of that time mirror issues happening today. 

 

"There's so much more to the story than what we've seen in history books. It's important to revisit this because we're so used to hearing stories of our people's oppression that we rarely celebrate our victories. Balangiga is a story worth celebrating, and Casiana's bravery, who she was, what she did, and how she subverted societal expectations from women at that time should be heard by everyone."

 

Jeff is fresh from recent wins here and abroad, including awards from prestigious competitions like the New York Festivals in the US,  Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards in France, Society of Publishers in Asia's (SOPA) 2018 Awards, a Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature, and a Marshall McLuhan journalism fellowship from the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines for his stories and documentary on the Marawi conflict. Here in his latest documentary, which he wrote, the "Red Alert" anchor will also tell the full story behind the Balangiga bells and what it truly means to the Balangiga people.

 

"There are so many lessons we could learn even though it all happened over a century ago," said Jeff. "This is similar to the story of Marawi in the sense that it's uniquely Filipino—it is a story of a community and its people, and those are the stories I love to tell." 

 

Who was Casiana, the lone female of the Balangiga Encounter? Find out in "Ang Babae ng Balangiga" on ABS-CBN "Sunday's Best," January 20 after "Gandang Gabi Vice." The documentary will also be available for viewing online via iwant.ph.

 

For updates on the latest documentaries on ABS-CBN, follow @DocuCentral on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For updates follow @ABSCBNpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or go to abscbnpr.com.

Sent from my iPhone

By: JENG On 3/20/2019 09:21:00 AM

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“Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood” Reveals First Posters

 

Columbia Pictures has unveiled the first posters for Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, the ninth film from writer/director Quentin Tarantino.

 

Check out the one-sheet artworks below and watch Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood in Philippine cinemas soon.

 

Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore.   The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age.  

 

Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is produced by David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh and Quentin Tarantino.

 

The cast is led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

 

In Philippine cinemas soon, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

By: JENG On 3/20/2019 09:18:00 AM

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