Meet The Friendly Monsters of Hotel Transilvania

 An aspect of the making of Sony Pictures Animation's new family comedy “Hotel Transylvania” that set it apart was the chance to bring several of the actors together into the recording studio to voice their roles together – responding to each other as they would in a live-action film.

             After all, several of the actors, including Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, and Steve Buscemi, have known each other for years and acted together in several films, and all were excited by the prospect of working together on a film that everyone in their families could enjoy. “It really doesn’t happen all that often in animation that you are able to bring your voice actors together,” says producer Michelle Murdocca. “It was really fun to see Adam Sandler playing off of Kevin James, and Kevin playing off of David Spade. It was the beginning of them creating these characters and personalities together – it helped make the characters really funny and really emotional.”

             Kevin James voices the role of Dracula’s best friend Frankenstein—an oversized working man with an even bigger heart. It’s been a long time since this monster stormed through the countryside, frightening villagers and constables alike. Now, he’s an unassuming married man who loves his adoptive family, Dracula (Sandler) and Mavis (Selena Gomez).

             “He can be funny and loving and endearing and sweet – he shows us the true Frankenstein, who he is at heart,” says Murdocca. “But make no mistake – he is also a big guy who you do not want to mess with. That doesn’t come out too often in our movie, but when it does, you better watch out.”

             “Frank seems like a big, tough guy, but there are times when he goes to pieces,” says James. “I mean literally. Like to travel, he actually comes apart and gets packed in several suitcases... which is not fun at baggage claim.”

             Steve Buscemi lends his voice to Wayne the werewolf, a miserable data processor by day and a put-upon father by night. He and his wife Wanda have produced litter after litter of pups, and as a result, he barely has the energy to get through a day and has lost most of his sense of smell from a barrage of poopie diapers. So even though he arrives with his misbehaved children and pregnant wife in tow, Wayne can’t wait for his vacation at Hotel Transylvania to begin.

             “Wayne is the classic dad – the guy who works all day and just wants to come home to a little peace and quiet, only to find that the kids are just getting started and ready to jump all over him,” says Buscemi. “OK, that’s one thing, if you’ve got one, two, three kids – but fifty-something?”

             The infamous Invisible Man has a name, and it’s Griffin. He’s good at lurking, and because no one can see him, he has a frustrating habit of blindsiding his friends. He’s always ready with a funny quip… but while he can dish it out, he can’t take it – he’s really sensitive, especially about his curly red hair.

             “Griffin’s problem is that he’s often overlooked. But it’s not his fault – it’s just that he’s invisible,” says Murdocca. “He’s perfect for David Spade – acerbic, dry, witty, but also really good-natured.”

             “Griffin loves going on vacation. He’s extremely handsome and has a killer body. At least, that’s what he tells me, and I’m not gonna disagree,” says Spade.

             Recording artist CeeLo Green voices Murray the Mummy, a big bandaged guy, who’s actually larger-than-life. As a former entertainer to the great Pharaohs of Egypt, Murray is extremely likable, boisterous and always the center of every party. Living most of the year deep inside an Egyptian tomb, every time he arrives at Drac’s hotel, he is ready to PARTY! He’s a ball of fun, and uses humor to avoid confrontations, which he stays away from at all costs.

             “CeeLo Green killed it, right from the first day,” says Murdocca. “He’s a really honest, sweet guy, and that comes across in his performance and his character. He’s just a big, cuddly, loveable mummy, looking for love.”

             Opening across the Philippines on Friday, Sept. 28 in Digital 3D and regular theaters, “Hotel Transylvania” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph for trailers, exclusive content and free downloads. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

NEW TRAILER OF “THE HOBBIT” USHERS IN TOLKIEN WEEK

Debut Leads Up to 75th Anniversary of Publication of The Hobbit and Worldwide Hobbit Day, Marking the Birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) are joining the worldwide celebration of Tolkien Week with the debut of the highly anticipated theatrical trailer for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” which is now up at http://youtu.be/VO2QaMClaLE. The first in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is directed by Oscar®-winner Peter Jackson, who previously brought to the screen the blockbuster “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy. The week-long Tolkien Week celebration encompasses the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit novel and the worldwide celebration of Hobbit Day. The American Tolkien Society first proclaimed Hobbit Day and Tolkien Week in 1978, though Hobbit Day celebrations existed prior to its official recognition. Tolkien fans the world over celebrate by having parties and feasts emulating Hobbit celebrations as described in the books. The celebration will continue on Friday, September 21, with activities related to the 75th anniversary of the book's publication, which occurred on that same day in 1937. On Saturday, September 22, fans around the world will recognize Hobbit Day—marking the birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the Hobbits who are the unlikely heroes of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, respectively—with Hobbit Day parties and celebrations. Bilbo and Frodo were both said to be born on the same day of different years, Bilbo in the year 2890 and Frodo in the year of 2968 in the Third Age (1290 and 1368, respectively, in Shire-reckoning, the Hobbits’ own calendar). Throughout early September, the Facebook page for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will roll out a series of features and ideas to create a fun, communal experience leading up to Tolkien Week, including “How to Throw a Hobbit Party” instructions, a “Fan of the Week” contest, and a special app on which fans will be able to share and collect recipes inspired by Middle-earth. From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

Under Jackson’s direction, “The Hobbit” Trilogy has been shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second and will be released in High Frame Rate (HFR) 3D, other 3D formats, IMAX and 2D. Under Jackson’s direction, “The Hobbit” Trilogy has been shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Production has taken place at Jackson's own facilities in Miramar, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and the second and third films of the trilogy—“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again”—are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing being handled by MGM. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will be released in the Philippines on December 13, 2012, with “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” the second film releasing beginning December 13, 2013, and the third film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” slated for release on July 18, 2014.

Preen London Fashion Week SS2013: Fabric Clashing & Patchwork

Do you think you can wear such crazy clashing fabric sewn together in a patchwork like what the Preen London Fashion Week SS2013: have showcased ?

Disney Launched New "Wreck-It-Ralph" Trailer

Walt Disney Animation Studios has just launched the new, full trailer of the 3D adventure comedy "Wreck-It Ralph" from Emmy-winning director Rich Moore (TV's "The Simpsons," "Futurama"). Check out the trailer here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odkUsA8Os0Q&feature=youtu.be. Synopsis: Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer), the "good guy" star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing and seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he's tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a hero.

On his quest, he meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch) from the first-person action game Hero's Duty. But it's the feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) from the candy-coated cart racing game, Sugar Rush, whose world is threatened when Ralph accidentally unleashes a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade. Will Ralph realize his dream and save the day before it's too late? Opening across the Philippines in October 31 in Disney Digital 3D and regular theaters, “Wreck-It Ralph” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.

Top 10 NY Fashion Week Runway Music From SS2013 Show

Time to update your playlist!  Download and listen to the Top 10 NY Fashion Week Runway Music From SS2013 Show  .  We can't take home the clothes from the show yet so we'll have to settle with the music for now!  Enjoy!

New "Godzilla" Movie Stomps Into Theaters May 16, 2014‏

BURBANK, CA, September 13, 2012 – Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have slated their take on the classic Godzilla franchise to kick off the Summer moviegoing season on May 16, 2014. The joint announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, and by Legendary Pictures. Toho Co., Ltd.’s Godzilla franchise contains one of the most widely recognized movie monsters worldwide, including more than 25 films, multiple television programs, video games and book series. Legendary, which has been developing the project, and its partner Warner Bros. will return the character to its epic roots with a gritty, realistic actioner. The project will fall under Legendary’s overall agreement with Warner Bros. The film is directed by Gareth Edwards, who earned worldwide acclaim for his feature directorial debut, “Monsters.” Edwards directs from a screenplay by David Callaham (“The Expendables” films), David S. Goyer (the “Dark Knight” trilogy) and Max Borenstein (upcoming “The Seventh Son”). Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce, along with Roy Lee, Dan Lin and Brian Rogers. Alex Garcia and Patricia Whitcher will serve as executive producers alongside Doug Davison, Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira. A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. The tent pole film is expected to be presented in 3D.

The Funtacular Way To Eat Ice Cream

Have you seen The Funtacular Way I Eat My Nestle Crunch Ice Cream ? You should and then tell me how do you eat yours?  This is not the usual icecream it has everything sinfully good in it that you would want more and mre and more! Check it out ok?

Skyfall Holds Royal World Premiere In London

LONDON, Sept 7, 2012 – Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, producers of the latest James Bond film “Skyfall,” announced today, along with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment, that His Royal Highness Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall have graciously agreed to attend the World Premiere of the twenty-third 007 adventure on Tuesday, 23rd October 2012 at The Royal Albert Hall in London. At the request of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales the premiere will benefit the charities that support former and serving members of the three intelligence agencies (the Secret Intelligence Service, the Security Service and GCHQ). His Royal Highness is Royal Patron of the Intelligence Services. The premiere will be attended by the film’s leading actors Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe, Albert Finney and Ben Whishaw, and the director Sam Mendes. The movie will be released in the UK and internationally from 26th October by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Releasing.

Wilson and Broccoli commented, 'We are thrilled His Royal Highness Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall have agreed to attend the World Premiere of our latest James Bond film, and are pleased this event will help raise funds to support The Prince’s chosen charities.’ Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in “Skyfall,” the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In the film, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. The film is from Albert R. Broccoli’s EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Directed by Sam Mendes. Produced by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Written by Neal Purvis & Robert Wade and John Logan. (Opening across the Philippines on October 31, “Skyfall” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.)

Ben Aflecks "Argo" Wows In Toronto Film Fest

Warner Bros. showcased one of its biggest fall films, the feel-good thriller “Argo,” during the Toronto International Film Festival’s opening days, proving an across-the-board hit with audiences. “Argo,” actor-director Ben Affleck’s take on a CIA mission to rescue six Americans from the 1979 Iran hostage crisis under the guise of a movie shoot, generated a standing ovation Friday night, Sept. 7 from the audience at Roy Thomson Hall. On hand were Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Victor Garber, Bryan Cranston and Tate Donovan, plus Affleck’s wife Jennifer Garner and sometime collaborator Matt Damon.

“Argo” premiered, aptly, on the same day the Canadian government closed its embassy in Tehran. The film depicts a little known incident wherein the CIA and the Canadian embassy helped six Americans escape Tehran during the Iranian hostage crisis. Based on true events, “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis—the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck (“The Town,” “Good Will Hunting”) directs and stars in the film, which is being produced by Academy Award® winner George Clooney (“Syriana”), Oscar® nominee Grant Heslov (“Good Night, and Good Luck.”) and Affleck. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. “Argo” also stars Oscar® winner Alan Arkin (“Little Miss Sunshine”), Bryan Cranston (TV’s “Breaking Bad”) and John Goodman (“You Don’t Know Jack”). The main cast also includes Kerry Bishé, Kyle Chandler, Rory Cochrane, Christopher Denham, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Victor Garber, Zeljko Ivanek, Richard Kind, Scoot McNairy, Chris Messina, Michael Parks, and Taylor Schilling. Affleck is directing the film from a screenplay by Chris Terrio, based on a selection from Master in Disguise by Antonio Mendez. David Klawans, Chris Brigham, Graham King, Tim Headington, Chay Carter and Nina Wolarsky are serving as executive producers. (Opening across the Philippines this October, “Argo” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.)

Hangover Part 3 Starts Production

Director Todd Phillips takes stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis on one last wild ride. BURBANK, CA, September 10, 2012 – Principal photography is underway on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Hangover Part III,” the third and final film in director Todd Phillips’ record-shattering comedy franchise. This time, there’s no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

“The Hangover Part III” reunites Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha as Phil, Stu, Alan and Doug. Returning to the ensemble are Ken Jeong, Heather Graham, Jeffrey Tambor and, as the guys’ long-suffering wives, Gillian Vigman, Sasha Barrese and Jamie Chung. John Goodman joins the cast as well. Phillips directs from a screenplay he wrote with Craig Mazin, who also collaborated with him on the screenplay for “The Hangover Part II.” Phillips is producing the film under his Green Hat Films banner, together with Dan Goldberg. Thomas Tull, Scott Budnick, Chris Bender and J.C. Spink are the executive producers. Also back for another round are Phillips’ behind-the-scenes creative team from the first two films: director of photography Lawrence Sher, editor Debra Neil-Fisher and costume designer Louise Mingenbach. They are joined by production designer Maher Ahmad (upcoming “Gangster Squad”) and editor Jeff Groth (“Project X”). A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures, “The Hangover Part III," scheduled for release beginning May 24, 2013, will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Fiming for new thriller Hidden begins

Principal photography is underway in Vancouver on Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Hidden,” starring Alexander Skarsgård (TV’s “True Blood”) and Andrea Riseborough (“Shadow Dancer”). Ray (Skarsgård), Claire (Riseborough) and their seven-year-old daughter, Zoe, are an average American family in Kingsville, North Carolina—except they have existed in a bomb shelter since escaping a day of devastation that changed everything. Alexander Skarsgård and Andrea Riseborough star in thriller

For 301 days, they have transformed their cement prison into a home, holding on to memories of the past and hope for a normal life someday. And for 301 days, the family has eluded what looms above the surface—the heavy breathing and booming footsteps that punctuate the night, threatening their fragile existence. All the while, the family has managed to stay hidden. Until now. Now their safe haven has been breached…and something is coming for them. Brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, who wrote the original script, make their feature film directorial debut on “Hidden.” The film also stars Emily Alyn Lind (“J. Edgar”) as daughter Zoe. Roy Lee (“The Departed”), Oscar® nominee Mason Novick (“Juno”) and Lawrence Grey (“Hope Springs”) are producing. The executive producers are John Middleton, Sebastian Aloi, Jim Rowe and Katterli Frauenfelder. Michelle Knudsen is serving as co-producer. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Tom Townend (“Attack the Block”), Academy Award®-nominated production designer Jim Bissell (“Good Night, and Good Luck”), editor Jeffrey Werner (“The Kids Are All Right”), and Oscar®-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Chicago,” “Memoirs of a Geisha”). The music is by Jeff Grace (“Meek’s Cutoff”). Opening across the Philippines in April 2013, “Hidden” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Resident Evil Retribution Approved Without Cuts PG13

Columbia Pictures' 3D action-thriller “Resident Evil: Retribution,” the fifth installment of the wildly successful film franchise adaptation of the popular video game series, has been rated PG-13 Without Cuts by the Movie and Television Review & Classification Board (MTRCB). The MTRCB recommended an additional advisory: “The movie contains violence that may not be suitable for young viewers. Strict parental guidance is advised.” In the film, the Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella's most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun.

In the U.S., the film has already received positive reviews ahead of its grand opening. Jacki Jing of KDVR-TV (FOX) raves, “`Resident Evil: Retribution' is action-packed. The first 15 minutes are absolutely thrilling -- non-stop excitement, one of the best action sequences I've ever seen. It's fast paced and the fight scenes and gun battles keep you glued to your seat. Gamers and franchise fans will love it.” “The best `Resident Evil' yet!,” says Steven Weintraub of Collider, while Evan Dickson of Bloody-Disgusting exclaims, “It's the high point of the series!” Shawn Edwards of FOX-TV yells, “Milla Jovovich delivers again! She’s money as the franchise keeps getting better.” Lastly, Gerrard Hall of TheSevenSees.com swears, “It doesn’t stop: you get thrown in and go, go, go! The action is great and really fun to watch. There’s constantly an adrenaline rush.”

Opening across the Philippines September 12 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D and regular theaters, “Resident Evil: Retribution” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games. Like Columbia Pictures Philippines on Facebook.

Abbie Cornish, from "Sucker Punch" to "W.E."

Catapulted to fame with a breakthrough performance in the blockbuster “Sucker Punch,” Abbie Cornish now stars in The Weinstein Company's elegant romantic drama “W.E.,” Madonna's vision of one of the greatest real love stories of all time. The will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma) starting Sept. 12. “W.E.” starts in the year 1998, when Manhattan is abuzz with anticipation about the upcoming auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. But the auction is far more than a diversion for Wally Winthrop (Cornish), a New Yorker trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage. Transfixed by the exquisite artifacts of the Windsors' lives, Wally becomes obsessed with the love story of Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), the chic, charismatic American who captured the heart of King Edward VIII (James D'Arcy). As she learns more about the sacrifices Wallis made in choosing to be with Edward, Wally finds the courage to follow her own heart and create her own happiness.

The auction became a key narrative device in “W.E.” as Wally, visiting the auction in a bid to understand more about what she thinks is the greatest love story of the 20th Century, “meets” Wallis and learns about the realities of her life. Through various objects – some everyday (a martini shaker, linen tablecloths), some precious (a Cartier bracelet) – Wallis’s life unfolds before Wally’s eyes. Each item tells a story, and it is through Wally’s handling of each item that we are able to go back and forth in time and learn about Wallis. Madonna says, “Wally starts off her journey, longing for a loving relationship, because she is deeply unhappy. It was important for me to create a character who was trapped in a relationship that was not rooted in love and to have her pining for the idea of romantic love.” The casting of Wally required an actress with the sensitivity to convey a myriad of different emotions alongside Wally’s vulnerability. Says Madonna, “Wally doesn’t really have a voice; she lives vicariously through objects and through the Duchess. There is a quietness about her and that is why I wanted to cast Abbie. She has a strength about her as an actress when she doesn’t say anything. There is a weight and a sadness in that silence.” Wally’s obsession leads her to question her own unhappy marriage with William Winthrop (Richard Coyle) and allows her to open her heart to a new romance with Evgeni (Oscar Isaac). Madonna comments, “The relationship between Evgeni and Wally is about to begin at the end of the film. We don’t know what compromises they will make, but one thing Wally knows as a result of her journey is that there is no such thing as perfect love, and we all have to make compromises to make a relationship work.” Cornish explains her passion for the role: “I felt a strong connection to Wally and to her journey. I thought the parallel connection story with Wallis, mixing fiction with non-fiction was really interesting. The subject matter excited me. When I read the script, Wally bounced off the page and got under my skin. She was so full. And then there was the creative team. The idea of making a film with Madonna was exciting. I was interested to see what she would do with this film and what it would be like to collaborate with her”. When Cornish was preparing for her role, Madonna carefully ensured she had the right research material to study. “Madonna and I had a lot of exchanges particularly on email, about who Wally was, what the film is about, what it means to make it and how to access her. She provided a lot of research material and sent me a whole bunch of books on Wallis, her autobiography, and as my character is into art, she sent me books on Lee Miller, Tamara de Lempicka, Frida Kahlo and just inundated me with all this information and said, ‘Here’s Wally, she’s in here, read this.’" Madonna also forwarded Cornish the following passage from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender is the Night: “She had somehow given over the thinking to him and in his absences her every action seemed automatically governed by what he would like. So that now she felt inadequate to match her intentions against his. Yet think she must, she knew at last the number of the dreadful door of fantasy. The threshold to the escape that was no escape. She knew that the greatest sin now and for the future was to delude herself. It had been a long lesson but she had learnt it. Either you think, or else others have to think for you, and take the power from you. Pervert and discipline your natural tastes. Civilize and sterilize you.” Fitzgerald’s description gave Cornish further insight into Wally’s inner life, Cornish affirms. “It summed up Wally’s journey, and in particular, what she’s going through in her marriage.”

The Hobbit Trilogy Showing

FIRST FILM “THE HOBBIT: UNEXPECTED JOURNEY" SECOND FILM TO BE TITLED “THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG” AND THIRD FILM TITLED “THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN” Warner Bros Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures jointly announced today that the final film in Peter Jackson’s trilogy adaptation of the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, now titled “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” will be released worldwide on July 18, 2014. All three films in the trilogy are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. The Studios also announced the title of the second installment in the franchise, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” which will be released on December 13, 2013. The first film in the trilogy, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” opens this holiday season, on December 14, 2012. Shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second, the trilogy of films will be released in High Frame Rate (HFR) 3D, other 3D formats, IMAX and 2D. Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, stated, “We wanted to have a shorter gap between the second and third films of ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy. Opening in July affords us not only the perfect summer tentpole, but fans will have less time to wait for the finale of this epic adventure.”

Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, added, “‘The Hobbit: There and Back Again’ will be an action spectacle and an emotional conclusion for this already much-anticipated trilogy. Opening in the summer will maximize playability for what promises to be an event film for fans the world over.” From Academy Award®-winning director Peter Jackson, the trilogy of films is set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first film in the trilogy, is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the films, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers. Under Jackson’s direction, all three movies are being shot in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Additional filming, as with principal photography, is taking place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand. “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and the two remaining films in the trilogy are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing, being handled by MGM.

Seeing A Friend For The End Of The World

Set in a too-near future, a man searches for a meaningful connection as humanity's last days are at hand, in Focus Features’ new comedy “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.” Can he find his greatest love at the worst possible time? Dodge (Steve Carell) is a man who has always played by the rules of life, while his neighbor Penny (Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley) is an extroverted woman who hasn't. From these opposite perspectives, both initially choose to navigate the impending end of the world with blinders on. Dodge declines joining his friends in increasingly reckless behavior, while Penny fixates on her relationship issues with a self-absorbed musician.

The two misfits meet first when Penny has a rough night and then again when she belatedly delivers Dodge a lost letter. That letter could alter Dodge's future; it's from his high-school sweetheart Olivia, the love of his life. When a riot breaks out around their apartment building, Dodge realizes that he must seek Olivia out before it's too late while Penny makes the decision to spend her last days with family in England. Seizing the moment, Dodge promises to help Penny reach her family if she will provide transport for the two of them in her car immediately. She agrees, and they escape. On the road together, the unlikely traveling companions' respective personal journeys accelerate, and their outlooks - if not the world's - brighten. We've all imagined the end of the world - along with the attendant floods, fires, earthquakes, pandemic viruses, and the asteroid hurtling towards Earth which will be destroyed at the last possible moment by human intervention of epic proportions. That is not the end of the world as Lorene Scafaria sees it. In writing her feature directorial debut “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” Scafaria was more intrigued by what could happen to ordinary people - and how they would interact with each other - in the days preceding The Event. Scafaria found herself casting a cockeyed glance at "apocalyptic tradition." She notes, "I had a small obsession with 'the end is near,' and a larger obsession with love. So it became a fun challenge to see what would happen when worlds collide - so to speak. I figured I would keep the screenplay at a very human level in scope and tell a story of relationships; what people would do, and how a person with feelings towards another person would be affected." The writer/director didn't necessarily want to make "a 'road movie.' I kept trying not to write it as that, though eventually I gave in and started to embrace the concept a little more - but I keep halting the lead characters' road trip because of basic things like gas. They find themselves in some pickles along their route." A couple of drafts were written, but work stopped and Scafaria's perspective changed once her father fell ill and passed away. She reflects, "I took six months off. Then I came back and rewrote the script, concentrating more on the concept of time - having it, and losing it." Ultimately, she offers, "There is a lot in this story that is me; of the two lead characters, I'm more the Penny type, but I have a strong dose of Dodge in me as well. "Up until this tipping point, these two people have lived their lives very differently. As much as Dodge has avoided life, Penny has been diving in head first. Together, they find they can face the end of the world." “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” will be shown soon exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt3 and Trinoma).

Filming Underway for "We're The Millers"

Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis star under the direction of Rawson Marshall Thurber Principal photography is underway on New Line Cinema’s action comedy “We’re The Millers,” starring Jennifer Aniston (“Horrible Bosses”) and Jason Sudeikis (“The Campaign”). The film is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (“Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”).

In the film, David Burke (Sudeikis) is a small-time pot dealer whose clientele includes chefs and soccer moms, but no kids—after all, he has his scruples. So what could go wrong? Plenty. Preferring to keep a low profile for obvious reasons, he learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished when he tries to help out some local teens and winds up getting jumped by a trio of gutter punks. Stealing his stash and his cash, they leave him in major debt to his supplier, Brad (Ed Helms). In order to wipe the slate clean—and maintain a clean bill of health—David must now become a big-time drug smuggler by bringing Brad’s latest shipment in from Mexico. Twisting the arms of his neighbors, cynical stripper Rose (Aniston) and wannabe customer Kenny (Will Poulter), and the tatted-and-pierced streetwise teen Casey (Emma Roberts), he devises a foolproof plan. One fake wife, two pretend kids and a huge, shiny RV later, the “Millers” are headed south of the border for a Fourth of July weekend that is sure to end with a bang. Thurber directs “We’re The Millers” from a screenplay by Steve Faber & Bob Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”) and Sean Anders & John Morris (“Hot Tub Time Machine”). The film also stars Emma Roberts (“The Art of Getting By”), Nick Offerman (“21 Jump Street”), Kathryn Hahn (“The Dictator”), Will Poulter (“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”) and Ed Helms (the “Hangover” films). Vincent Newman, Tucker Tooley, Happy Walters and Chris Bender are the producers, with David Heyman, J.C. Spink and Marcus Viscidi serving as executive producers. Thurber’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Barry Peterson (“21 Jump Street”); production designer Clayton Hartley (“The Other Guys”); editor Mike Sale (“The Hangover Part II”); and costume designer Shay Cunliffe (“The Bourne Legacy”). Shot on location in North Carolina and New Mexico, New Line Cinema’s “We’re The Millers” will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

First Look: Monsters Inc. 3D Movie Poster

Disney/Pixar has just launched the teaser poster for the theatrical, 3D release of the now-classic Academy Award®-winning animated comedy adventure “Monsters, Inc.” One of Disney•Pixar’s most beloved and visually imaginative feature films ever, “Monsters, Inc.” returns to the big screen to delight a whole new generation of audiences and fans alike, this time in stunning 3D.

The film is set in Monstropolis, a thriving company town where monsters of all shapes and sizes reside. Lovable Sulley (voiced by John Goodman) and his wisecracking best friend Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at Monsters, Inc., the largest scream-processing factory. The main power source in the monster world is the collected screams of human children—and at Monsters, Inc., an elite team of scarers is responsible for gathering those precious natural resources. Believed by monsters to be toxic, children are strictly forbidden from entering Monstropolis. But when a little girl named Boo (voiced by Mary Gibbs) accidentally follows Sulley back into his world, he finds his career in jeopardy and his life in utter chaos. So pals Mike and Sulley plot to rectify the mistake and return Boo to her home. But when the trio encounters an unexpected series of complications, they become embroiled in a cover-up catapulting them into a mystery beyond their wildest dreams. Directed by Oscar®-winner Pete Docter (“Up”) and produced by Oscar nominee Darla K. Anderson (“Toy Story 3”), “Monsters, Inc.” will be in Philippine cinemas—again—on January 2013, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Mila's Alice Gets Unchained in "Resident Evil: Retribution"

As always, the central figure in the gritty and gripping fifth “Resident Evil” movie “Resident Evil: Retribution” is Alice, played once again with implacable ferocity by Milla Jovovich. “Milla is a huge factor in the success of the films,” says producer Jeremy Bolt. “One of the things that makes Resident Evil interesting is that we present a woman as a convincing action hero. She’s tough as hell. She’s a leader; she’s determined. If anybody’s going to beat the evil corporation Umbrella, it’s Alice.” Alice has evolved with each chapter of the ongoing saga, transforming from naïve amnesiac to superhumanly gifted warrior and, now, a battered foot soldier in the ongoing war against the ultimate evil. After playing the character for a decade, Jovovich has come to know her more intimately and care more deeply about her action-hero alter ego. “Doing this series has been such an adventure,” the actress says. “It’s always amazing to come back to this incredible, fantastical, magical world and to Alice. I know her so well now. I know how she will react, what she will and won’t do. She’s become a huge part of my life, and as I grow, she grows. I’m always excited to see where she’s going next.”

“Milla as Alice is a force to be reckoned with,” says producer Don Carmody. “She is not only beautiful, she’s also genuine and funny. People think of her as ‘Milla Jovovich, the Russian supermodel,’ but she’s very down-to-earth, very accomplished and very dedicated. And nobody knows Alice better than she does.” Alice was stripped of her superpowers in “Resident Evil: Afterlife,” a move that Jovovich believes was critical to the development of the character. “We’ve moved closer to the original Alice, who was a little more vulnerable,” she says. “When she’s in danger, the audience can be scared for her because she can’t just make everything explode. She’s still a badass, just not a superhero badass.” As Alice becomes acclimated to being human again, she has to learn to trust and depend on those around her, adds Jovovich. “Without her superpowers, she doesn’t feel as isolated. She feels more in touch with other people, and she has to be much more of a team player. And she has been able to acquire bit of a sense of humor about it all. If all you do is go around killing zombies and being chased by Umbrella storm troopers, you may as well take it with a wink and a smile.” When director Paul W.S. Anderson talks about the actress, who is also his wife, it’s clear she is his muse for the film series. “Over the last ten years, as this character has developed, we’ve had the opportunity to see her grow as Milla has,” he says. “Alice was a blank slate in the first film because she had memory loss and knew nothing about herself. She has slowly gathered around her this family made up of other survivors of the apocalypse. “This is a big step for her,” he adds. “You see a lot of conflict come out of that because she is a hardened warrior who has sacrificed for the battle she’s chosen to fight. She has given up family, friends and a future. Now, she is a slightly more complex character.” Opening across the Philippines on Sept. 12, “Resident Evil: Retribution” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit http://www.columbiapictures.com.ph/ to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Boy Writes Girl in Ruby Sparks

Not your conventional boy-meets-girl romantic story, “Ruby Sparks” leads us to Calvin Weir-Fields, (played by Paul Dano who also appeared in “Little Miss Sunshine,” “There Will Be Blood”) a literary wunderkind with an acclaimed first novel. But since then, he’s been stricken with a stubborn case of writer’s block magnified by a dismal love life. In a last-ditch attempt to reignite his creative spark, Calvin begins to envision a female protagonist in his mind. Then one morning she steps off the page and into his life. Suddenly, Ruby (portrayed by Zoe Kazan who is also the film’s writer) is sleeping in Calvin’s bed, cooking in his kitchen, beguiling him in every way, with one mind-boggling twist: he somehow has the power to change her every time he sits at his typewriter. As Calvin tries to juggle this power, he faces a major dilemma as a writer and a boyfriend: what will it take to make this relationship from his imagination work in the real world? It seems fitting that “Ruby Sparks,” a romantic fable about how two people weave a love story in and out of reality, was brought to life by a married pair of directors (Dayton & Faris) working with two actors who are also a devoted couple (Dano and Kazan). A sharp, modern take on the Pygmalion myth, “Ruby Sparks” is the story of a novelist’s vision who inexplicably comes to life, only to prove far more complicated than even he could have imagined. With a light touch and a dash of magical realism, the first screenplay from actress and playwright Zoe Kazan attracted the attention of Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, the married team who directed the run-away hit “Little Miss Sunshine.” The film takes an unpredictable route into fantasy, identity and the ways we invent love – and how love can re-invent us.

The duo decided to approach the story not as a sci-fi fantasy, but as something that is currently happening in the everyday world, no matter how bizarre it might seem to Calvin. “Even though the story is built around a fictional premise, it illuminates so many truths about relationships. We felt it was essential for the scenes to feel real and honest,” explains Dayton. On the premise’s conception, Kazan shared that “I started wondering what might happen if a writer had a character come to life who could give him exactly what he thought he wanted romantically. How do you love the person you’re with completely without saying ‘I don’t want this part or that part?’ How do you make room in a relationship for two separate people? But things get very complicated because when you really love someone you have to love all of the person, not just the parts you’ve idealized.” As Kazan wrote, she began sharing her work with her boyfriend, the actor Paul Dano, and though she had not set out to write something for the two of them, they couldn’t help but envision one another in the lead roles. “I think I was always subconsciously writing Calvin for Paul,” she muses. “But the weirdest thing is that I was writing a character who is writing my character! There was something very meta going on.” Kazan wasn’t so interested in the science fiction aspect of how a writer’s fantasy character might come to life – she was more intrigued by what would come next. How would a fictional creation fare in the midst of the messiness of real life, especially when the man writing her isn’t sure of exactly what he wants? There has been a long literary tradition of riffing on the man-made object made human: Shakespeare with Queen Hermione in “A Winter’s Tale,” George Bernard Shaw with Eliza Doolittle in “Pygmalion,” and Mary Shelley gave it another take with her “Frankenstein” myth. Kazan wanted to come at the concept from a literary perspective, exploring a writer who pens the lover he thinks he wants in his heart . . . but who makes him so nervous in the flesh, he is tempted to keep changing her. “The story leaves some questions open for discussion,” concludes Faris, “we hope that people will leave the theatre with something to talk about.” Adds Dayton: “Despite this movie’s high-concept premise, we think audiences will identify with Calvin’s predicament.” Kazan chimes in, “I am so proud of the movie we made. After such a happy collaboration, we are really excited to share the film with an audience, hear their reactions, start that conversation.” “Ruby Sparks” opens September 19 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

BRITISH COMEDY ACTOR RICHARD AYOADE JOINS BEN STILLER IN “THE WATCH”

Fast-rising British comedy talent Richard Ayoade joins Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill in the neighborhood comedy “The Watch” directed by award-winning writer and musician Akiva Schaffer (“Saturday Night Live”). “The Watch” follows four suburban men who formed a group to guard their neighborhood after a series of unexplained fatalities start to toll in their town. Headed by the civic-minded Evan (Stiller), along with Bob (Vaughn), Franklin (Hill) and Jamarcus (Ayoade), the group initially follows some dubious teens who stay way past their bedtime, thinking they might find the culprit in their midst. It wasn’t long before they realize that they’re fighting forces greater than they have imagined. The four eventually comes to terms to settle their differences when the aliens start rummaging and rampaging through their watch in an attempt to take full control of earth. To play the four members of “The Watch,” Levy and director Akiva Schaffer (a creative force on several famed “Saturday Night Live” short films) tapped three comedy icons and a new talent. “We wanted the best,” says Levy,” and so we went out and got the best – three titans …together in the same movie! And then we threw in the ‘grenade’ of ‘what the hell are you going to get with Richard Ayoade?’” Ayoade is a British comedian, writer and director best known for his iconic portrayal of Maurice Moss, the beloved über-geek in the award-winning British sitcom, “The IT Crowd.” Ayoade’s innovative twist on the high-tech misfit has garnered him nationwide acclaim and honors including the Monte-Carlo Television Festival’s award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Comedy Series. Equally masterful behind the camera, Ayoade’s foray into directing began with helming music videos for English indie rock bands such as the Arctic Monkeys and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In 2010, he made his directorial feature debut with the coming-of-age adaptation, “Submarine,” which he also wrote that received rave reviews and garnered Ayoade a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding Debut. Ayoade’s role Jamarcus, who is newly divorced and perpetually hungry for love, eagerly embraced The Watch’s off-kilter camaraderie. “Jamarcus feels that The Watch is an opportunity to burst out of his shell,” says Ayoade, who is also a noted filmmaker, having written and directed the acclaimed British film “Submarine.” Adds Schaffer: “He’s just looking to get out of the house and meet some ladies – and have sex with them.” On the surface, Jamarcus is kind of an odd duck, but he may prove to be a secret weapon in the looming battle against the forces threatening the neighborhood. Levy says it was Ayoade’s “idiosyncratic energy” that made him perfect for the role. “He’s wildly inventive and completely strange in the best possible way. You never know what you’re going to get next with Richard.” “Richard is the one the audience isn’t expecting, so he can sucker-punch them…with lovable jokes,” Schaffer concurs. Beyond the R-13 rated hilarity lies a story about four guys who were not complete, or their best selves, until they joined forces. As Bob admits to Evan: “You took a ragtag group of misfits and taught us there was something bigger than a few beers and some bro-time. You taught us about community and how important it is.” “The Watch” opens September 5 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Like Father, Like Daughter In Taken 2

Hit action director Olivier Megaton heats up the action arena with twice the thrill, action and carnage in the upcoming sequel “Taken 2” where the first movie cemented Liam Neeson as this era ’s most relatable action hero being a family man keen on saving his daughter at all cost from human trafficking. From the first movie where his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) had been abducted by a cartel of human traffickers, “Taken 2” now follows Bryan Mills and his family at Istanbul where the father of the cartel’s leader is out to avenge his son killed by Mills during his daughter’s rescue. With Mills and his wife abducted this time, Kim tries to save them at breakneck speed taking cues from his father’s infallible timely instructions to track them down. At the helm of the movie is director Olivier Megaton who was born Olivier Fontana – Megaton being his artistic name that fitted right into the mix of a new wave of action directors. Megaton started working on a number of TV and short projects and eventually teamed up with Luc Besson where he wrote and directed the film “Exit.” It was then followed by the crime thriller “The Red Siren” and continued to work in the production of the game-adapted movie “Hitman.” After the success of “Hitman,” he was then offered to direct “Transporter 3,” which went on to become the highest-grossing film in the “Transporter” series. In the first movie Bryan’s a guy with nothing to lose. He's divorced and he's lost filial relations, but all that changed when his daughter was kidnapped. “Taken 2” takes it in a whole new platform where Bryan’s got that relationship back and he's even flirting with his ex-wife (played by Famke Janssen). Director Megaton notes that “ It's almost cheesy, but that makes him all the more human at the beginning of the movie because he's not thinking about his training; he's thinking about his family. He's a little less strong, less robotic. He's a little less lonely, and he has some hope in this one. This hope is initially lost because when he tries to have lunch with his wife, he lets trouble in. He would never have invited Kim and Lenora to Istanbul before because he was working and he wasn't sure something could happen. It's sweet and at the same time it gives the character some more humanity. I think this is the little difference that makes the movie more interesting.” Megaton confirms that “Taken 2” they detoured from the action sequel’s formula, “Bryan Mills is exactly what people are looking for. You realize that you can change the formula, you don't have to stick to it, but what's important is the character. The fact that this guy has a daughter and she's becoming like him was really the brand new thing in TAKEN 2. Suddenly Kim becomes something different – a real action character. At the end of the first movie she's trying to rebuild her life, she tries to fall in love—the classic American girl—but she has been impacted by what's happened to her. These dark memories arrive suddenly and it makes her different, allowing her to become an action hero like her father. That was the real trick of TAKEN 2,” assures the director. “Taken 2” in theaters nationwide on October 4 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.