SM Cinema bags top awards in the prestigious 2020 Stevie Awards

SM Cinema, the Philippines’ leader in movie entertainment, recently took home a slew of top honors—three bronzes and one gold—in the prestigious 2020 Stevie Awards. As the world’s premier business awards, The Stevie Award judges include many of the world’s most respected executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business educators. 

These awards recognize SM Cinema’s aim towards making moviegoing more inclusive, enticing and exciting, and most of all, help foster family ties in a big way.

In the Award for Innovation in Community Relations and Public Service Communications category, SM Cinema’s entries — Into the Moors: A special exhibit for children with special needs, and SM Cinema’s “Kids Watch for Free”: Championing Filipino families through movie watching, bagged bronze awards each. 

Meanwhile, in the Award for Innovation in Entertainment Events category, SM Cinema’s entry —SM Cinema Into the Movieverse: Bringing the cinema experience into the real world, also won a bronze.

For Into the Moors: A special exhibit for children with special needs, SM invited the children of Deaf and Blind Foundation Philippines, an institution that caters to the educational and physical welfare of PWD kids, where they were treated to a multi-sensory exhibition, allowing them to experience the tale of Maleficent through a specially-made Braille system. Thus, SM Cinema becomes known as a place for all as everyone gets to experience and enjoy going to the movies. 

For “Kids Watch for Free”: Championing Filipino families through movie watching, SM featured a kid-friendly title every month, wherein children under the age of twelve can watch the movie free of admission, given that they are accompanied by a paying adult. This helped strengthen family relationships—fun bonding moments—through movie watching!

For SM Cinema Into the Movieverse: Bringing the cinema experience into the real world, SM Cinema embarked on a “Reel-to-Real” campaign which showcased various movie-themed special events inside some of the biggest SM malls in the country, bringing movies to life and bring cinemagoers to a movieverse beyond the theater walls.

Meanwhile, in the Award for Innovation in Entertainment Events category, SM Cinema’s entry, Sine Sindak: A winning Halloween movie event, won a gold award.

Here, eight (8) spine-tingling and scream inducing horror film features were screened, each one handpicked by the booking and marketing teams of SM Cinema, with fun side activations and events. These included a special press screening with games and cosplayers in creepy costumes that spurred interest in movie watching while making the trip extra thrilling!

What makes these efforts innovative and unique is how these were able to engage mallgoers with exciting activations, Instagram-worthy and larger-than-life installations and interactive displays, as well as through fan fests and meet-and-greets. Similarly, these activities also impacted the local entertainment industry by attractive movie and TV celebrities and influencers, garnering conversations and engagements online and on social media. 

“We’re extremely honored and thrilled to take home these top honors from the 2020 Stevie Awards,” said Ruby Ann Reyes, SM Cinema’s Vice-President for Marketing. “At SM Cinema, our aim has always been to elevate the local movie going experience by mounting various innovative and themed promotional events that not only help create awareness and anticipation for new films, but also add an additional fun and exciting dimension that viewers can look forward to, thus sustaining patronage among moviegoers.”

Enjoy your favorite K-Drama at Home! Get 1-month iflix from PLDT Home

Now is the best time to catch up on your favorite movies and TV series at home!Whether you’re just new to the K-drama land or already a fan seeking for more streamable shows, you got a lot of reasons (and time) now to settle in and binge-watch with your family. 

Oppa fans can now enjoy a month-long k-drama marathon as PLDT Home brings unlimited VIP access for one month to everything on iflix! Pick any genre – Korean rom-coms to thrillers, historical fiction and more – because you can find binge-worthy k-drama that will suit you and your family. 

Existing subscribers of PLDT Home Fibr Plan 1899 and up in Luzon can now enjoy a one-month subscription to iflixVIP usable until April 30!Here are some of the titles you can catch when you get your free month on the streaming service:

1. Confidential Assignment

K-drama fans who loved Crash Landing On You will definitely love Confidential Assignment, an action film that also stars Hyun Bin as a North Korean officer who must work with South Korea to track down a criminal. It’s got the perfect blend of action and comedy—plus Hyun Bin—to keep everyone entertained at home.

2. The Last Princess

In this epic 2016 South Korean movie, Son Ye-Jin plays the real-life Princess Deokhye, the last princess of the former Korean Empire’s old Joseon dynasty. The movie follows the princess’s life from her teenage years, when she was forced to move to Japan, to her attempts to return to her homeland in her later years. Historical drama fans will love this masterful and moving performance from Son.

3. Rich Man

If you’re looking for a dose of kiligas you spend time at home, this quirky K-drama is for you! Kim Jun-myeon plays a genius CEO and game programmer who hires a college student with excellent memory, played by Ha Yeon-soo, because he is unable to remember people’s faces—especially that of the woman he loves. This intriguing premise and the chance at love is sure to hook people in for a good week or two!

To automatically enjoy these titles and enjoy access to everything on iflixfor 30 days, just follow these simple steps: 

1. Log in to their PLDT Home account
2. Update your info
3. Receive an EDM with the iflixVIP voucher 

To redeem the voucher, go to iflix.com via web/mobile browser or iflix Android app, create a new account or log in to an existing one, click on the burger menu and go to ‘Redeem Voucher’ and hit ‘Submit’. 

What’s more is that PLDT Home Fibr subscribers can enjoy streaming all the entertainment they want at home with the additional Speedboost! Subscribers in highly affected areas in Luzon including Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Kalinga, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Tarlaccan experience a minimum 25 Mbps internet speed until April 30 for uninterrupted work, study, and fun at home!

#StayHome to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep your family connected and entertained. For more updates, follow PLDT Home on Facebook at facebook.com/PLDTHome or visit pldthome.com. All content mentioned is available on iflix at iflix.ph or the iflix app on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Pinoy talent shines in Sweeney Todd’s 40th anniversary run in Singapore

After a successful run in the Philippines, the Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group’s staging of 

Stephen Sondheim’s musical thriller Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is making its way to the Lion City at the Sands Theater, Marina Bay Sands.

Tony and Olivier Award-winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon) returns to Singapore to star in this tasty, thrilling, theatrical treat. The Broadway star transforms as she sinks her teeth into the meaty role of Mrs. Lovett with OPM legend and veteran stage actor, Jett Pangan, playing the title role of the barber, Sweeney Todd.

Among other Filipino talents working on the production is Rajo Laurel for costume design, Musical Director Gerard Salonga along with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. The creative team also comprises Tony Award-winning set designer David Gallo, lighting design by Aaron Porter, sound design by Justin Stasiw. The musical, directed by Bobby Garcia (God of Carnage, Avenue Q, Rent), is a bold reimagining of Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece.

Filipino fans that have missed catching the spectacular musical in the Philippines need not look far to witness the story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street come to life as the production continues to celebrate its 40^th anniversary with a series of shows in Singapore this November.

Sweeney Todd has become a bloody, worldwide success since being awarded eight Tony Awards, (including Best Musical), for its Broadway premiere, as well as the Oliver Award for Best New Musical. The Broadway revival went on to win two more Tony Awards taking its total up to 10 Tony Awards. Sweeney Todd was written and composed by the legendary Stephen Sondheim – winner of eight Grammy Awards, eight Tony Awards, an Academy Award, a Pulitzer Prize and a Laurence Olivier Award.

This is the infamous tale of an unjustly accused barber who returns from exile seeking vengeance against the lecherous Judge Turpin who framed him. The road to revenge leads Sweeney Todd to Mrs Lovett, a resourceful owner of a failing pie shop. Mrs Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people lining up.  

“If you are a Sondheim fan, or a Lea Salonga fan, you will love this production! It is the best performance I have seen Lea give in 25 years. She is sensational”, says Gaurav Kripalani, Artistic Director of Singapore Repertory Theatre. 

Being staged for the very first time in Singapore, Kripalani adds, “Sweeney Todd is one of the cleverest musicals ever written. Sondheim’s music is pure genius. I was amazed to find out it had never been staged in Singapore. SRT is delighted to be working with our friends at Atlantis to bring this production to Singapore.” 

FULL CAST OF MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE ANNOUNCED

Atlantis Theatrical has announced the full cast of MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE, its maiden production for Atlantis Imaginarium Young Theatre. The show, based on the hit Dreamworks Animated Motion Picture will open on August 2, 2019 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. 

MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE follows the story of Alex the Lion and his friends Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe. Alex is the king of the urban jungle, basking in his popularity as the main attraction in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Along with his friends, he has spent his whole life before an admiring public, with everything and everyone at his beck and call. Curious to see what else is out there, his best friend Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and escapes from the zoo into the city. This sets off the madcap journey the four zoosters embark on, from Grand Central Station to the incredibly zany world of King Julien’s Madagascar!

Leading the cast as Alex the Lion is Markus Mann, who recently made his debut on the Philippine stage as part of The Drifters in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Markus was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. He is thrilled to be back in Manila doing what he loves best. 

Joining Markus is Nelsito Gomez as Marty the Zebra. Nel was last seen in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as Neil Sedaka. His notable work in theater include Louis in Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, Alfonso Ossorio in Angry Christ, and Asher Lev in My Name is Asher Lev. Gloria the Hippo will be played by Sarah Facuri who will also be Associate Director for the production. Sarah’s theater credits include Kinky Boots, American Idiot, Secret Garden, The Sound of Music and most recently, Waitress. She is also a regular faculty member of the Atlantis Musical Theater Workshops. Making his theater comeback as Melman the Miraffe is Altair Alonso who was last seen in Atlantis Theatrical’s Jersey Boys. Altair has had several shows under his belt such as Saturday Night Fever, The Full Monty, Disney’s Little Mermaid, Shrek the Musical, and The Addams Family. 

The four friends meet the zany king of Madagascar himself, King Julien, to be played by George Schulze. George was last seen as Barry Mann in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. He was also part of Waitress, Hair, Monty Python’s Spamalot and 50 Shades! The Musical Parody. 

Completing this roster of young and talented actors are Mica Fajardo, Jep Go, Barbara Jance, Franco Ramos, and Ber Reyes. 

MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE is directed by Steven Conde, with choreography by Cecile Martinez, musical direction by Farley Asuncion, set design by Lawyn Cruz, lighting design by Pocholo Nario, projection design by GA Fallarme, costume design by Jay Lorence Cunanan, sound design by Glendfford Malimban, hair and makeup design by Jaydee Jasa, vocal coaching by Arman Ferrer, and puppet design and coaching by Kayla Teodoro and Marvin Choa.

The Asian premiere of MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE will run from August 2 to 18, 2019. Buy four tickets and get another one for free! Terms and conditions apply. Book now at www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891 9999.

MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE is presented by Atlantis Imaginarium Young Theatre and Maybank Performing Arts Center. Puppets provided by Puppet Theater Manila.

YouTube FanFest inspires Manila with first-ever Moms Edition

Filipino moms and YouTube fans gathered at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 17 and 18 to catch the exciting celebrations and festivities of the first ever YouTube FanFest Moms Edition.

The show brought together top parenting, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and food creators from the Philippines and abroad for two days of fun exhibitions, educational presentations and insightful panel discussions about being a mom in the modern times.

Local creators Bianca Gonzalez, Andi Manzano Reyes, Fun Fun Tyang Amy, Haidee and Hazel, Crisha Uy, Lyqa Maravilla, Isha Borromeo (Purpleheiress), and LIVE LOVE PARTY joined international sensation and mommy vlogger Judy Travis for workshops and live demonstrations about all things mom.

Fans also got up-close and personal with their favorite creators during the meet & greets and discussions on stage about parenting and personal stories on being a mom.

“Women in the Philippines are using YouTube to upskill themselves and create economic opportunities with our platform. It is truly inspiring to see how the Filipino creative community is coming together to produce educational, enriching and empowering content for women, leveraging YouTube as a platform to drive positive changes,” said Marc Lefkowitz, Head of YouTube Creator and Artist Development for APAC.

YouTube FanFest Moms Edition is made even more memorable with booths and activities from presenting sponsors NIDO 3+ and MAGGI.

“NIDO Growing Up Milks understand that being parents, especially to toddlers and pre-schoolers has never been easy. And so with the help of our panel of experts in toddler nutrition and Development, we are excited to share Parenting and nutrition tips during the YouTube FanFest Moms Edition. This event has the same vision of improving Filipinos’ lives that’s why it is really a good venue for us to reach out to our #1Moms,” said Missy Ayson, Vice President and Lead CMM for NIDO Growing Up Milks, NESTLÉ Infant Nutrition.

Pixie Eraña, Service Pillar Executive from MAGGI, said, “Helping Filipino moms cook the fresh food they love is the core of what we do here at MAGGI. That’s why we’re very excited to be a part of the first ever YouTube FanFest Moms Edition with our special guest Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo. It’s the perfect venue to launch our website maggi.ph, the Simply Good Kitchen, a culinary destination made better for the digital savvy mom community of YouTube. It’s a great opportunity for us to share recipes and tips and support this vibrant and meaningful community.

The first-ever YouTube FanFest Moms Edition kicks off on May 17

Join the two-day festival filled with workshops and live performances from inspiring creators Judy Travis, Andi Manzano Reyes, Bianca Gonzalez, Fun Fun Tyang Amy and many more

This year, YouTube pulls out all the stops to bring the most exciting and memorable FanFest to date with the first-ever Moms Edition. To be held on May 17 and 18 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, YouTube FanFest Moms Edition will be presented by NIDO 3+ and Maggi, together with venue partner SM Supermalls. The two-day festival is set to bring top local and international beauty, lifestyle, and food creators for educational workshops, live performances, and meet-ups with their beloved fans.

The lineup for the Moms Edition includes Judy Travis, Andi Manzano Reyes, Bianca Gonzalez, and Fun Fun Tyang Amy. Joining them are the mother and daughter tandem of Haidee and Hazel, and top beauty and lifestyle creators Crisha Uy, Lyqa Maravilla, and LIVE LOVE PARTY.

For two days, fans will learn things about motherhood in modern times from their favorite creators and take part in interactive exhibitions and workshops focused on different lifestyle interests including wellness, education, life balance, culinary, and fashion.

Subscribers will also get to know more about the life of their internet favorites through special stage interviews, panel discussions, and featured presentations.

YouTube FanFest Moms Edition is open to the public. YouTube creators and sponsors will also be giving away tickets to the meet & greet sessions via their social media channels.

YouTube FanFest Moms Edition

SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, Pasay City, Manila

May 17-18, 2019

Starring:

Andi Manzano Reyes

Bianca Gonzalez

Crisha Uy

Fun Fun Tyang Amy

Haidee and Hazel

Judy Travis

LIVE LOVE PARTY

Lyqa Maravilla

Follow the hashtag: #YTFFPH

Ever Malls kicks off summer with Ever Kiddie Stars Year 16 talent competition

Confident young talents from all over the Philippines are about to fulfill their big dreams of becoming famous TV and movie celebrity idols this summer of 2019, as Ever Malls officially opens the application for Ever Kiddie Stars Year 16!

Now on its 16th year of being a prestigious search for the cutest, smartest, and super talented boys and girls, Ever Kiddie Stars 2019 is excited to welcome its new batch of budding celebrity idols beginning this March. “Ever Malls is very happy to again give talented kids from all over the country this wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shine and get their ‘artista’ potentials discovered. Just the sight of these kids on stage gives a huge amount of joy to their parents, families, relatives, friends and the shoppers of Ever Malls. As with previous editions, Year 16 promises to be a momentous, life-changing event for the most deserving grand winner, as he and she will take home top prizes that includes a trip to Hong Kong for two and cash,” says Chie Arao-Santos, Ever Group of Companies Corporate Marketing Head.      

The successful Ever Kiddie Stars talent search has become an influential annual platform for kids to showcase their exceptional talents in singing, acting, dancing, and many more.  Among the past grand winners who shot their way to stardom through Ever Kiddie Stars are Joshua Cadelina (first EKS grand winner, 2004) who became an ABS-CBN talent and starred in many top-rating shows; Nicole Jeremiah Dulalia (2005), who had numerous roles in TV dramas; Timothy Lambert Chan (2007), who made strides in showbiz doing TV commercials and shows; Ma. Jacie Gwyne Odiver (2007),  who became a commercial model and former ambassadress of goodwill for the Mother Earth Foundation where she represented the Philippines in a pageant; and Byron Spark Ortile (2008), who pursued his passion for acting as he starred on various TV programs and commercials.   

Open to all cute, smart, and talented boys and girls aged four to eight years old (at the time of the Ever Kiddie Stars 2019 search), eligible contestants are requested to prepare and submit completely filled up and signed (by the parent/s or guardian/s) application form with the required attachments: one 5R close-up picture and one full-body picture (both colored) taken with light make up only; original and photocopy of the contestant’s birth certificate (original copy will be returned after proper verification); photocopy of two government-issued IDs of parents or legal guardian.  The Ever Kiddie Stars 2019 application form and contest waiver are available at the Mall Administration Offices of Ever Manila Plaza and Ever Commonwealth. It can also be downloaded online. 

All requested documents (application form, signed contest waiver and requirements) must be submitted to the Mall Admin Office of both malls or at the Mall Atrium. Submission of applications on the chosen screening day is until 5 p.m.
Screening schedules and mall venues are as follow: Ever Commonwealth (April 13 and 27) and Ever Manila Plaza (May 5). Screening of applicants will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. only. Semi-finals will be on May 18 while the Grand Finals will be on June 2 which will be held at Ever Commonwealth. Children joining the search must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during all Ever Kiddie Stars activities.

For more detailed information, visit Ever Malls’ official FB page or call 243-2922/ 411-6773.

Magic in the making: Fun facts about the filming of Disney’s live action Dumbo

Disney’s live action “Dumbo” is set to fly into Philippine cinemas next week, March 27, with a new, fantastic take on the beloved animated classic.

While many kids and kids-at-heart are familiar with Dumbo’s inspiring tale, the live-action version is adding more dimension to the film with a fresh story and new characters. With all these exciting changes, here are some fun facts to know about the film before the lovable elephant swoops into the big screen!

The magic of visual effects

As Disney reimagined the animated film into live action, many fans eagerly anticipate what Dumbo would look like in the new movie with the magic of computer-generated imagery. The studio was able to bring to life the adorable flying elephant. The team behind the elephants’ animation pushed available technology to the next level, adding sliding skin, flexing muscles, and jiggling fat to give the animals a sense of mass. The film also utilized state-of-the-art visual effects to portray many of Dumbo’s four-legged counterparts.

Stepping into a fantasy

For the cast and filmmakers to be fully immersed in Dumbo’s magical tale, the production team built as much of Medici Bros. Circus and Dreamland as possible to ground the story in the environment. One of the most fascinating things built for the set was the tank which housed Miss Atlantis. The tank was constructed with double walls – a narrow internal tank that lined the bigger tank was filled with water and fish to create the illusion that she was underwater.

An ode to the original

Director Tim Burton and the production team wanted to honor the 1941 animated film, and throughout the movie, there were elements which pay homage to the original version.

In the film, Milly and Joe, the two children who take care of Dumbo, have a little mouse – a nod to Timothy Q. Mouse in the animated movie. Another nostalgic nugget in the film was the Casey Jr. Train which the filmmakers constructed full-scale. However, since the Medici Bros. Circus is far from new and shiny, the train had to be aged with chipped paint and wear and tear to aptly reflect the state of the circus.

Dressed to impress

Just after the release of the trailer, many viewers already got excited with the visual spectacle they caught a glimpse of. To achieve the stunning look and feel of the movie, the filmmakers paid pain-staking attention to every detail of the film, including the costume design.

With circus performers known for their extravagant costumes, the film’s costume designer, Colleen Atwood, and her team created intricate costumes to help the cast get into character. Miss Atlantis’ costume consisted of more than 100 overlapping scales, which were hand-stitched. Alternating rows of black and turquoise, the scales were constructed from three to four layers of fabric with sequin borders to give each scale a reflective quality.

For Dreamland’s parade sequence, Atwood’s team created more than 200 costumes for the performers, plus an additional 500 for the crowd characters.

The circus family

Filmmakers felt strongly about featuring real circus performers to keep authenticity. Fourth-generation circus performer Kristian Kristof from Hungary was hired to share not only his extensive knowledge of the industry but also his international connections. The result was a diverse array of performers, including jugglers, clowns, knife throwers, contortionists, and more, hailing from all over the world. The significant language barriers made it difficult for the performers to connect—that is until they set up a Ping-Pong table.

With the film featuring authentic circus performers, the main cast also fully embraced their roles which came with a few challenges at times, especially Eva Green, Colin Farrell, Sharon Rooney, and Roshan Seth.  

Portraying aerialist Colette Marchant was difficult for Eva Green as she came into production with a serious fear of heights. Personal trainer and aerialist Frances Haynes was hired to double for Green as needed, and worked with the actress to build her confidence in the air and help her attain the physique and fluidity of a performer. One of the strategies employed to build strength and elegance was ballet. In the end, Green conquered much of her fear and was able to perform a lot of the choreography.

Colin Farrell is no stranger to horses, having appeared in several films that required extensive horse riding (“Alexander,” “Winter’s Tale,” among others). But when the “Dumbo” script described his character as a former circus star with a popular equestrian act, Farrell trained with a lasso and horse-riding instructor.

Many of the cast learned plenty of new skills during filming including Sharon Rooney, who plays Miss Atlantis, as she learned how to play the ukulele for her rendition of the iconic song, “Baby Mine” – a song lovingly sung to her by her grandmother as a child.

From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. “Dumbo” opens in Philippine theaters on March 27, 2019. Join the conversations online by using the hashtag #DumboPH.