Vilma Santos pays tribute to Eddie Garcia

MANILA -- Actress and Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos expressed sadness over the death of screen legend Eddie Garcia.

Garcia passed away on Thursday, days after suffering from a neck fracture. He was 90.

In an Instagram post, Santos said she is honored to have witnessed Garcia at work both as an actor and as a director.

Posting an old photo of them together, the country's "Star for All Seasons" said: "I will miss you, Tito Ed. Karangalan ko na makasama ka bilang isang aktor at direktor."

"Maraming salamat sa lahat," she went on. "I love you, Tito Ed... Our condolences."

Garcia worked with Santos in various movie projects, like the 1983 film "Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan Ang Nakaraan."

Garcia also directed Santos' classic films such as "Imortal" and "Sinasamba Kita."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Penny Marshall, 'Big' director and TV's 'Laverne,' dead at 75

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Penny Marshall, who played an endearingly graceless character with a thick Bronx accent in U.S. television’s “Laverne & Shirley” before becoming a pioneering film director with hits including “Big” and “A League of Their Own,” has died at 75, her publicist said on Tuesday.

Marshall died of complications of diabetes Monday at her home in Hollywood Hills, California, her publicist, Michelle Bega said in a phone interview.

Marshall played the unrefined but lovable Laverne DeFazio on “Laverne & Shirley,” a situation comedy that ran on the ABC network from 1976 to 1983, following the lives of two single women and their nutty friends in 1950s and ‘60s Milwaukee.

Marshall, known for her bluntness, described the success of the series this way: “We dared to be stupid.”

Marshall, the younger sister of successful TV and film director and producer Garry Marshall, turned to directing after her series ended. Her first film was the underwhelming 1986 Whoopi Goldberg comedy “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” but that was followed by the charming 1988 hit “Big,” starring fellow former TV sitcom star Tom Hanks.

Hanks delivered a great performance in the wistful comedy as a 12-year-old boy whose wish to become an adult is magically granted. The film is known for its classic scene in which Hanks and Robert Loggia play duets by dancing on a toy store’s foot-operated electronic keyboard.

The success of “Big” made Marshall the first woman to direct a film that made more than $100 million at the U.S. box office. The 1992 women’s baseball comedy “A League of Their Own” made her the first woman to direct two films topping $100 million at the U.S. box office.

Hanks also appeared in “A League of Their Own” alongside Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell and pop star Madonna in the story of the first female professional baseball league. The film’s most famous line comes after a player starts sobbing when Hanks, the team’s irascible manager, chews her out for a baseball blunder.

“Are you crying?” Hanks asks with incredulity. “There’s no crying. There’s no crying in baseball.”

Marshall noted that the starring role in “Big” almost went to tough-guy actor Robert De Niro, who she would later direct in “Awakenings” (1990), also starring Robin Williams. “Awakenings” was nominated for three Academy Awards, including best picture.

Other films Marshall directed included: “Renaissance Man” (1994) with Danny DeVito; “The Preacher’s Wife” (1996) with Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston; and “Riding in Cars with Boys” (2001) with Drew Barrymore.

“Our family is heartbroken over the passing of Penny Marshall,” the Marshall family said in a statement, adding that Penny was a tomboy who loved sports, doing puzzles of any kind, drinking milk and Pepsi together and being with her family.

Thousands of social media users, including many celebrities, expressed their condolences on Twitter

Actor James Woods wrote online, “I am absolutely devastated. #PennyMarshall was one of my dearest friends. I loved her. Funny, warm, a true individual and remarkable talent. #RidingInCarsWithBoys.”

“Thank you, Penny Marshall. For the trails you blazed. The laughs you gave. The hearts you warmed,” wrote director Ava Duvernay.

‘I’LL TRY ANYTHING’

She said her lack of fear of being thrown out of Hollywood helped her succeed. “I’ll try anything. What are they gonna do, kick me out of show business?” Marshall told Reuters in 2012. “I didn’t have that problem because I wasn’t ambitious enough.”

“Laverne & Shirley” was a spinoff from the popular “Happy Days” series created by her brother Garry.

“Laverne & Shirley” also starred Cindy Williams as Shirley, indelicate tomboy Laverne’s more well-mannered apartment roommate and brewery co-worker. Laverne was known for a cursive “L” monogrammed on her shirts and guzzling milk and Pepsi.

The supporting cast included Michael McKean and David Lander as goofy neighbors Lenny and Squiggy. The series ran for eight seasons, with 178 total episodes.

Marshall chronicled her life in a 2012 book “My Mother Was Nuts,” filled with stories about growing up in New York City’s Bronx borough, her dance-instructor mother and Marshall’s drug-fueled times in the 1970s among famous names.

She also battled health problems, including dual diagnoses of lung cancer and a brain tumor in 2009.

Before “Laverne & Shirley,” Marshall appeared as sports writer Oscar Madison’s secretary Myrna on the sitcom “The Odd Couple” and popped up as a neighbor of main character Mary Richards on “Mary Tyler Moore.”

She was a finalist for the role of Gloria, daughter of the bigoted Archie Bunker on the successful sitcom “All in the Family,” but did not get the role. That series also starred future film director Rob Reiner (“The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally...” and “This Is Spinal Tap”), to whom Marshall was married from 1971 to 1979.

She had a daughter, Tracy, from an earlier first marriage.

Reporting by Will Dunham in Washington, additional reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Scott Malone, Diane Craft and James Dalgleish

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Kevin Spacey seeks treatment after sexual misconduct claims

LOS ANGELES - Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey is seeking unspecified treatment, according to his representatives, following allegations of sexual misconduct that have forced a halt in production of his Netflix show "House of Cards" and a social media backlash.

"Kevin Spacey is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment," his representatives said in a statement late Wednesday.

No details on the nature of the treatment were provided. An email from Reuters seeking further comment wasn't returned.

Spacey over the weekend apologized to actor Anthony Rapp, who had accused the Hollywood star of trying to seduce him in 1986, when Rapp was 14.

As part of his apology, Spacey also announced he was gay. but angered many in the LGBT community and beyond who saw his announcement as an effort to divert attention from the disclosure by Rapp.

Rapp said on his Twitter feed at the weekend that he would have no further comment.

Streaming service Netflix, saying it was "deeply troubled" by Rapp's allegation, subsequently said that production of the upcoming sixth season of its Golden Globe-winning political drama "House of Cards," in which Spacey plays U.S. president Frank Underwood, was being suspended and that the show would end after the 6th season.

It was not clear on Thursday whether the sixth season of the show would go ahead after Spacey's decision to seek treatment.

"We view Kevin seeking treatment as a positive step. We continue to take this hiatus time to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the production and have nothing further to share at this time," Netflix and producer Media Rights Capital said in a statement after Wednesday's announcement.

Spacey's announcement follows harassment allegations against him this week by two other men - Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos, who worked in the London theater where Spacey was artistic director from 2004-2015, and U.S. filmmaker Tony Montana.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm any of the accusations.

Spacey is among a number of prominent entertainment figures who have been accused of sexual misconduct in recent weeks. (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Alden Bentley)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Paul to propose to Toni 'when she least expects it'

MANILA – Commercial and film director Paul Soriano hinted that he will be proposing to his long-time girlfriend, TV host Toni Gonzaga, “very soon.”

Soriano was recently cornered by the media who asked him with questions relating to a possible wedding with Gonzaga since the theme of the actress’ latest movie is about a wedding and family.

Responding to persistent marriage questions, Soriano told Cinema News that he is planning to do it “when she (Gonzaga) least expects it.”

“She’s 30 in January so keep your cameras on, it’s happening very soon,” he said.

The director, however, refused to talk about the matter further, saying their main focus as of the moment is their respective careers.

“She’s very supportive, just like I am with her career. That’s what makes relationships work -- when you share dreams with each other and walang inggitan,” he said.

Just like his girlfriend, Soriano said he also has his hands full with his upcoming projects as director and a producer.

“I got a film in Israel and I’m doing another film end of the year. We are both very busy, both doing our thing. When it’s finally time to become one, we’ll all let you know,” he said.

With the possibility of working abroad, will a long distance relationship with Gonzaga be a problem?

“I don’t think it will be naman a long distance. I’ll always be based here in the Philippines. If work takes me abroad, great. I think it’s about communication. We’ll make sure it works. Toni is always encouraging me. She says, ‘Go abroad, do what you got to do,’” he said.

Soriano and Gonzaga have been a couple for seven years now.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cayetano addresses 'romantic' ties with Kris

MANILA, Philippines -- TV and film director Lino Cayetano has spoken up about rumors romantically linking him to Kris Aquino.


In an interview with ABS-CBN News on Wednesday, Cayetano said he and the 42-year-old actress-host have become closer as friends, but denied that they are romantically involved.

"We're good friends ni Kris. I'm very thankful for her friendship. I'm getting to know her. She's a very good person," Cayetano said.

Rumors of a romantic relationship between Aquino and the film director started to surface in January, following his guest appearance on host's morning talk show "Kris TV."

During the program, Aquino teased that Bianca Gonzalez, the director's former girlfriend, had told her that she "approves" of any romantic ties between the "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw" star and the film director.

Asked how his friendship with Aquino developed, Cayetano said on Wednesday, "I met her before through Liz Uy (fashion stylist, also Cayetano's former girlfriend), tapos sa ABS nagkikita kami, then more and more nag-uusap kami."

He clarified, however, that they have not been "going out."

"Sa akin, it's simple lang -- we're friends. If there's anything more to it, siguro people will know naman, if that ever happens," he said.

On the possibility of working with Aquino on a project, Cayetano added, "Yeah, for sure, I would love to work with her. Ako, I'm attracted to strong and smart women. My ate (Senator Pia Cayetano) is like that, so wala naman problema sa akin 'yun."

source: abs-cbnnews.com

'Life of Pi' earns Ang Lee second directing Oscar

HOLLYWOOD -- Taiwanese-born Ang Lee was the first Asian ever to win an Oscar for directing, in 2006 for gay cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain." Seven years later he has done it again with 3D fantasy "Life of Pi."

"Thank you, movie god," Lee told the audience at the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday after accepting his award. "I need to thank Yann Martel for writing this incredibly inspiring book."

Turning his hand to just about every movie genre, the 58-year-old immigrant has earned himself awards, acclaim -- and sometimes the ire -- of critics and a lot of money at the global box office.

"Life of Pi," based on the 2001 novel by Canadian novelist Martel, tells the tale of an Indian boy cast adrift in the Pacific, sharing his boat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

Almost all of Lee's films have drawn on both Western and Asian culture to depict characters struggling to fit into society, and live up to the pressures of family and repressive social expectations.

His early works include 1993's "The Wedding Banquet," the story of a gay Taiwanese man who fakes marriage to satisfy cultural demands, and his 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's English manners novel "Sense and Sensibility."

This was followed by 1997 social drama "The Ice Storm," his Oscar-winning martial arts epic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000), and blockbuster 2003 superhero movie "The Hulk."

Lee was born in 1954 in Pingtung, Taiwan, where his father fled from mainland China after his own landowner parents, the director's grandparents, were executed during the Communist revolution of 1949.

After setting out to train as an actor, Lee graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts in 1975 before heading to the United States at the age of 24 to study cinema in Illinois and New York, which remains his adopted home.

His feature directorial debut was 1992's "Pushing Hands," a Chinese-language comedy about the generational conflicts sparked as a retired master of the Chinese art of tai chi struggles to find his place in US society.

The film was a success on both sides of the Pacific, and Lee followed it with his sexually conflicted story "The Wedding Banquet," which garnered Golden Globe and Oscar nominations.

He repeated the feat in 1994 with "Eat Drink Man Woman," a comic look at a family only able to express their love for each other through food.

Hollywood came calling, and Lee took on the big-budget 19th-century period piece "Sense and Sensibility," his first English-language film, starring Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant.

But he achieved global fame in 2000 with his imaginative take on Chinese martial arts films in "Crouching Tiger," which won 10 Academy Awards nods and took home four statuettes.

Following his growing flow of movies and a critical bashing of his $120 million "Hulk," the bruised Lee was contemplating retirement until his father, who had never approved of his movie career, talked him out of it.

He decided to do the small $14 million Western "Brokeback," the story of two conflicted gay cowboys who fall into a secret love affair in 1960s Wyoming, in the hope that it would help him heal.

While he was thrilled to make it and gave it his signature subtle, compassionate touch, he remained tortured by the filmmaking process.

"Making movies is my 'Brokeback Mountain,'" he once said. "It's a fight, it's an effort, but at the end, I've found my secret place. The place I feel at home."

Since then he made Shanghai-based erotic spy thriller "Lust, Caution" in 2007 and 2009's "Taking Woodstock," about the era-defining 1969 music festival, which was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or top prize.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

'Jose Rizal' director Marilou Diaz-Abaya dies

MANILA - Multi-awarded director Marilou Diaz-Abaya has passed away.

Abaya, who was battling breast cancer, died at the hospital at 6:45 in the evening.

Some of her most well-known works include "Tanikala," "Muro-ami," and the "Jose Rizal" biopic.

Her final film was the religious family drama "Ikaw ang Pag-ibig" in 2011, which commemorated the 300th anniversary of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. -- ANC, Rundown, October 8, 2012

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Anthony Taylor, director of Alma Moreno’s ‘Dyesebel’, dies of cardiac arrest

Director Anthony Taylor died of cardiac arrest at 2pm on Wednesday at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa, talent manager and Regal Films supervising producer Manny Valera reported in a Facebook post.

Valera said Taylor initially suffered a heart attack at the Ayala Alabang home of singer and talent manager Claire de la Fuente before he was rushed to the hospital. Taylor was 71 years old.

Taylor directed the 1978 “Dyesebel” movie that starred Alma Moreno. According to IMDb.com, he also directed five sexy movies, namely “Bedtime Story”, “Harot”, “Climax”, “Unang Gabi”, and “Hayok”.

He also had acting credits in several films, including “Pido Dida: Sabay Tayo”, “Dahas”, “Sibak: Midnight Dancers”, and “Walang Kawala”.

source: interaksyon.com

Hollywood writer, director Nora Ephron dies at 71 - reports

Oscar-nominated Hollywood screenwriter Nora Ephron who penned such romantic comedies as "When Harry met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle" died Tuesday, US media said. She was 71.

A noted American journalist, essayist, writer as well as producer and director, Ephron wrote and directed her last film "Julia and Julia" in 2009 in which she worked once more alongside her good friend Meryl Streep.

Her son Jacob Bernstein told the New York Times that his mother had died of pneumonia brought on by acute myeloid leukemia.

Ephron was born on May 19, 1941 in New York, the daughter of a Broadway playwright and Hollywood screenwriter, who told her to "take notes. Everything is copy."

She was eventually to become the queen of Hollywood romantic comedies, but her writing career began in journalism. In her early years she wrote for Esquire and New York Magazine, the New York Post and the New York Times.

But she graduated onto writing novels and then parlayed them into successful film scripts, many drawn from her own experiences.

In the 1983 "Silkwood" starring Streep, Ephron tapped into the 1980s Cold War fear of a nuclear Holocaust. Her novel "Heartburn" was based on her marriage to Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, becoming a movie in 1986.

But it was for her romantic comedies that she was to become best known, and in particular the 1989 "When Harry met Sally" starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, for which she won an Oscar nomination, and 1993's "Sleepless in Seattle."

Two more Oscar nominations followed -- for "You've Got Mail" and "Silkwood."

source: interaksyon.com

Director Mario O’ Hara, 68, dies of leukemia

Director Mario O’Hara died of leukemia on Tuesday at the San Juan de Dios Hospital in Pasay City. He was 68 years old.

The news has been confirmed by O’Hara’s younger brother Jerry and other colleagues in film and theater.

O’Hara had been confined at the hospital since June 15 where he underwent chemotheraphy to save his life.

Director Jose Javier Reyes immediately paid tribute to his fallen colleague in a Facebook post.

“…Another giant of Philippine theater and film has passed away: Mario O’ Hara, you are a priceless gem…as an actor, as a writer and as a director. The mourning has not yet ceased as we lost another father, pioneer and visionary,” Reyes said.

Theater critic Gibbs Cadiz tweeted: “We just lost another national treasure. Rest in peace, Mario O’Hara — Renaissance Man, creative titan, the last of a breed.”

An early collaborator of the legendary Lino Brocka, the native of Zamboanga who grew up in the tough neighborhoods of Pasay City, began his career as a supporting actor for the director’s movies during the early 1970s including “Santiago”, “Tubog Sa Ginto”, and “Stardoom.”

His big break came in 1974 when Brocka directed his screenplay for “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang”, now considered as the director’s greatest cinematic achievement.

He continued to collaborate with Brocka over the years with outstanding screenplays for films like 1976’s “Insiang” and 1978’s “Rubia Servios” even as he branched out and found his own niche as a respected filmmaker in his own right.

As both a screenwriter and director, O’ Hara’s works are known for their dark sense of realism with social messages that often border on nihilism.

Some of his noted films are “Bakit Bughaw Ang Langit”, “Condemned”, “Bulaklak ng City Jail” and his magnum opus, “Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos”, considered as the greatest Filipino film of all time by film critic Noel Vera, a longtime admirer of his work.

In later years, O’ Hara continued to find his niche in independent cinema, churning out one quality work after another and making the most of the limited budgets of his mostly indie productions.

These include 1999’s “Sisa,” 2003’s “Babae Sa Breakwater” and 2010’s “Ang Paglilitis ni Andres Bonifacio.”

Among the many honors he received over the years were two lifetime achievement awards for his film contributions from the Cinemanila International Film Festival and Best Film Of The Decade for “Babae Sa Breakwater” in the 2011 Gawad Urian Award.

As an actor, he was also nominated several times by the FAMAS in the Best Supporting Actor category, including for his unforgettable turn as Bertong Ketong in “Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang”.

His most recent work was as the director of the acclaimed “Sa Ngalan Ng Ina,” a 2011 teleserye for TV5 which also reunited him with Nora Aunor, the star of his best films.

source: interaksyon.com

'Beastie Boys' MCA Dead at 47

11:30 AM PT -- MCA's publicist just released a statement, writing, "It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam 'MCA' Yauch ... passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old."

1:00 PM PT -- A rep for the Dalai Lama -- of whom MCA was a huge supporter -- tells TMZ, "Adam had helped us raise awareness on the plight of the Tibetan people by organizing various freedom Tibet concerts and he will be remembered by his holiness and the Tibetan people."

Adam met several times with the Dalai Lama while he was sick -- most recently last July, when the Dalai Lama blessed him.

article source: TMZ

French director of 'The Artist' nervous ahead of Oscars

SANTA MONICA - Silent movie "The Artist" won another pre-Oscars boost barely 24 hours before the big show Sunday, but its French director admitted he was "nervous" as the moment of truth neared.

The black-and-white movie took three main prizes at the independent Spirit film awards on Saturday: best feature, best director for Michel Hazanavicius and best actor for Jean Dujardin.

"The Artist," a tribute to the silent movie era which is nominated in 10 categories for the Oscars, also won the best cinematography Spirit prize, handed out in a huge beach-front tent in Santa Monica. "I'm a little bit nervous. I'm realizing that I'm a bit tense because the outside pressure is rising considerably," Hazanavicius told AFP at the Spirit Awards, shortly after arriving in California following the French Cesars.

"As a general rule, I'm pretty relaxed, and rather calm, but I'm starting to feel nervous."

The film has scooped a string of prizes during the annual awards season, including a Golden Globe for best musical/comedy, a Screen Actors Guild best actor for Dujardin and a Directors Guild of America prize for Hazanavicius.

It has also triumphed around the world, including at Britain's BAFTAs, Spain's Goyas, and won best film, director and actor at the Australian Film Institute awards.

The French film also shone at home two days ahead of the 84th Academy Awards, netting best film and a string of other awards at France's annual Cesars.

Hazanavicius won both best film and best director at the 37th Cesars ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. "The Artist" also picked up best score for the 1920s and 1930s-inspired soundtrack by composer Ludovic Bource, as well as best set design and best cinematography.

At the Spirit awards, Michelle Williams won best actress for playing screen icon Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn," while Alexander Payne scooped best screenplay for Hawaii-based "The Descendants," starring George Clooney.

Best supporting actor honors went to Christopher Plummer for "Beginners," while the best supporting actress award was won by Shailene Woodley, who plays the older daughter of Clooney's character in "The Descendants."

Best foreign film went to Iran's "A Separation" by director Asghar Farhadi, which is heavily tipped to win that category at the Academy Awards on Sunday, over films from Poland, Canada, Belgium and Israel.

Hazanavicius said the Spirits triumph for "The Artist" was of particular significance. "It's a prize given out by people who take risks, who make non-formulaic films, people who make movies with complete independence and freedom," the French director said.

"To receive a prize from these people, that means that the soul of the film has not been completely lost in the perception which certain people have of it, with the race for the Oscars, et cetera," he added.

At the Oscars, the climax of Hollywood's annual awards season, "The Artist" has one fewer nomination than veteran director Martin Scorsese's 3D adventure "Hugo," with 11 nods.

source: interaksyon