ABS-CBN's Star Magic Introduces Their Lucky 13, Promising New Talents Out To Conquer The Highly Competitive World Of Showbiz

 

WE REMEMBER the first Star Circle batch launched in 1995. There were 13 of them, among them Jomari Yllana, G Toengi, Regine Tolentino, Victor Neri and the late Rico Yan. The next batch had more names that became popular like Marvin Agustin, Diether Ocampo, Carlo Aquino and Stefano Mori (still child stars then), Jolina Magdangal, Patrick Garcia, Angelica Panganiban, Camille and John Prats. This must have been the batch with the most successful stars.

Through the years, other batches were introduced and the harvest included Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz, Kristine Hermosa, Jericho Rosales, Jodi Santamaria, etc. A lot of stars are introduced but as the saying goes, many are called but only a few are chosen to succeed. Some were never really given good breaks so they quickly faded away back to oblivion and anonymity. Now, Star Magic launches its latest batch that introduces the lucky 13 new talents, 5 boys and 8 girls, some of whom are not really new anymore.



Let's start with the ones who we've already seen in past projects.

Anna Luna

 
Anna Luna, 22 - She has appeared in many indie and mainstream films, notably in "Maestra" fo which she won the best actress award at an international filmfest held in Venezuela. It's her performance in "Changing Partners" that made Mr. M notice her enough to ask her to join Star Magic.

Tony Labrusca

Tony Labrusca, 22 - He didn't make it in Pinoy Boyband Superstar but he was cast in "La Luna Sangre" and that became his breakout role as the werewolf Jake. This made people take notice of him. He has also recorded his first single, "Tanging Ikaw".






Some are the children of more famous parents:

Leila Alcasid

Leila Alcasid, 20 - The daughter of Ogie and ex-wife Michelle Van Eimeren, she has already released her first single, "Completely in Love with You".

Donny Pangilinan

Donny Pangilinan, 20 - The son of Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan, he's familiar as a VJ in MYX. He has recorded two songs, "Did You" and "Different Kind of Love". He is doing a movie with Regal, "Walwal", and a soap with Kisses Delavin, "Playhouse".

Henz Villaraiz

These are the other three boys:

Henz Villaraiz, 18 - He was discovered in Pinoy Boyband Superstar where he made it to the top 10. Born in Manila, he studied in Australia and Japan. He's now part of the morning soap "Sana Dalawa ang Puso Ko" and is doing an indie film for Cinemalaya.

Karl Gabriel

Karl Gabriel, 20 - Another Pinoy Boyband Superstar discovery, he's a mechanical engineering student and although he was eliminated from the reality show, Star Magic signed him up and he landed a role in "Wansapanataym".

Markus Paterson

Markus Paterson, 19 - This Fil-Brit guy is a football player and looks very mestizo. He also joined Pinoy Boyband Superstar but didn't make it, but that opened doors for him and Mr. M signed him up. He later became part of "ASAP Chill Out" and Tarsier Records signed him up to a recording contract.

Here are the six other girls:

Zonia Mejia

 Zonia Mejia , 16 - A part of PBB 737, she comes from a family of swimmers. She has since appeared in several shows, including "Luv U" and "The Promise of Forever".

Yasmyne Suarez

Yasmyne Suarez, 20 - She's been taking Star Magic workshops since 2013 then studied acting in New York University for two years. She has done a movie, "Spirit of the Glass 2", and dreams of being directed by Olive Lamasan someday.

Daniella Stranner

Daniella Stranner, 15 - This Fil-German girl is one of the two youngest members of the batch. She plays football and wants to become a model, but Mr. M saw her and told her to take acting workshops. She hopes to be given the chance to do romcoms.

Chantal Videla

Chantal Videla, 15 - This Fil-Argentinian girl started  doing commercials when she was 13. She then auditioned with Star Magic and is now part of their latest batch of new stars. She hopes to work with her idol someday, Liza Soberano.

Patty Mendoza

Patty Mendoza, 20 - This UST student was discovered while modeling and did a number of commercials. She then took acting workshops and hopes to eventually do a movie with her idol, Bea Alonzo.

Charlie Dizon

Charlie Dizon, 21 - Her name might be Charlie, but she's a girl. She already has a college degree in Human Resource Management but acting is her real love and she has done small roles in movies like "Finally Found Someone", "Seven Sundays" and "Loving in Tandem". She's now also part of the new primetime soap, "Bagani".






So, who do you think among these newbies will make it big? Showbiz has become so highly competitive so let's just all wish them good luck.

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Gerald Anderson So Lucky That He Can Be Paired With Any Leading Lady & The Movie Will Still Make Money, Like With Pia Wurtzbach In 'My Perfect You'

 AFTER HIS teen love team with Kim Chiu faded away, Gerald Anderson is so lucky as he became one of those leading men who can be paired with any leading lady and the movie would still make money. Among his leading ladies are Sarah Geronimo, Arci Munoz and Bea Alonzo. He now gets another screen partner in former Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, in his newest romantic comedy, "My Perfect You", directed by perennial hitmaker Cathy Garcia Molina.

"It's my first time to work with Direk Cathy and I like my role as Burn, a guy who proposes marriage to his girlfriend played by Marlann Flores, but gets quickly rejected so he gets depressed and goes to a distant resort in the mountains," he says. "Doon, I met Pia Wurtzbach as Abbi and we're exact opposites. Ako, puno ng bitterness at sama ng loob, pero siya naman, puno ng energy at very sunshiny ang disposition. Isa ito sa pinakamahirap na movie na ginawa ko dahil sa complex character na ginagampanan ko at sa layo ng aming location in Masinloc, Zambales. But the film carries a good message about hope and having second chances and eventually, babaguhin ni Pia ang outlook ko sa buhay."

So how would he rate Pia as an actress? "Noong una, sabi ko, mahihirapan siya kasi ang location namin is in a very remote town na walang signal. Eight hours ang trip, one hour, by dirt road, at doon sa tinirhan namin, no hotels. Sa cottages lang kami natutulog at walang magandang CR. E, Miss Universe pa naman siya. I stayed there for 12 days straight at siya naman, one week. But she turned out to be a real trouper, very humble, down to earth at kalog talaga. Hindi nagrereklamo kahit nasaktan siya sa isang eksena na tumama ang tuhod niya sa bato, pero tinuloy pa rin niya ang shooting. When it comes to her acting, second movie lang niya ito after 'Gandarrapido', but I would say she's very, very good and I'm really glad to be given the chance to work with a Miss Universe."
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Sunshine Dizon'S Advice To Wives With Unfaithful Husbands Now That Her Hit Soap 'Ika-6 Na Utos' Is About To End This Friday

SUNSHINE DIZON is somehow sad to say goodbye to Emma, her character as the wronged wife in the hit afternoon show helmed by Laurice Guillen, "Ika-6 na Utos", which is ending this coming Friday after a year of very successful airing.

"Marami na akong nagampanang roles at isa si Emma sa most memorable characters na nagawa ko," she says. "Marami siyang pinagdaanang hirap, kaapihan at pagsubok, ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng yan, hindi siya sumuko at ipinaglaban niya ang kanyang karapatan bilang legal na asawa hanggang sa huli."

What advice can she give to women who are experiencing the same hardships that Emma went through?

"Una sa lahat, unahin mong mahalin ang sarili mo at lalo kang magpakatibay ka," she adds. "Huwag kang panghihinaan ng loob dahil talo ka agad kapag basta ka susuko. Mahalin mo ang mga tao na naiwan sa'yo at gawin mo silang inspirasyon para mas ayusin ang takbo ng buhay mo. May mga bagay sa buhay na dapat ipaglaban, pero kung tingin mo, hindi na rin makakabuti para sa'yo, dapat matuto ka ring magpaubaya na lang sa Diyos. Walang Siyang pagsubok na ibibigay sa atin na hindi natin kakayanin kung patuloy tayong kakapit sa kanya. Isang araw gigising ka at sasabihin mo sa sarili mo na kaya ko pala, kaya ko palang mag-isa at hindi sila kawalan sa buhay ko."

Beautifully said, Shine. And as "Ika-6 na Utos" ends this Friday, the question foremost in the mind of the viewers is: Will there be a happy ending for Emma, Rome (Gabby Concepcion) and their daughter Sydney who was kidnapped by Ryza Cenon as the evil Georgia? Don't be surprised if the manipulative Georgia could still come up with some harmful deed to mess up Rome and his family. Considering how scheming she is, we never know what's she is up to next. Iba rin kasi ang "Ika-6 Na Utos" sa dami ng twists. So don't miss the country's number one Daytime Drama on its last few days of telecast as it will still spring a couple more of pasabog surprises before it finally ends the very engrossing saga of Rome, Emma and Georgia.
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Director Jay Altarejos Comes Up With A Touching New Movie About Friendship Between A Straight Filipino & A Gay Chinese In 'Tale Of The Lost Boys'

DIRECTOR JAY ALTAREJOS helmed the blockbuster pink films "Ang Lalake sa Parola" and "Ang Lihim ni Antonio". He now comes up with a new film that's an entry in the current SinagMaynila Filmfest being shown in SM Cinemas, "Tale of the Lost Boys", a co-production between the Philippines and Taiwan with Jay Lin of Portico Productions and Gagaoolala as principal producer.

Oliver Aquino (star of Jay's last film, "Kasal") is Alex, an aimless young man from Manila who visits Taipei and meets by chance a bartender, Jerry (Ta Su), who quickly becomes his friend. Jerry is gay and has a boyfriend who Alex also meets. At the core of the film is their personal issues with their families. Jerry is an aborigine from the Atayal tribe. He's taking up medicine to later go back to his tribe and serve his people. His dad is the tribal leader and wants Jerry to get married and be his successor. Jerry doesn't have the courage to defy the tradition of his parents and admit to them that he's gay, fearing rejection.

There's no bromance between the two men as Alex is straight, but like Jerry, he has his own issues with his parents who both abandoned him as a child. The real reason of why he came to Taipei will later be revealed and, with the help of Jerry, he'll be able to come terms with his long held feelings of bitterness and painful lack of self esteem.

The film has been shown in Taiwan, Hongkong and Japan and Jay is glad that it's finally shown in his own country. It has many touching moments, especially the scenes showing Jerry visiting his family and his interactions with his dad, mom and his sister who, unknown to him, has already sensed his true sexual preference.

The film is well acted by the two leads, especially Ta Su as Jerry, who has a warm presence on screen. According to Direk Jay, Ta Su is a professional actor with an M.A. in acting from the Taipei National University of the Arts and has won the prestigious Golden Bell best supporting actor award for a TV series he did.

Before the screening of the film started at SM North Edsa, Jay confessed that for two years now, he's been under treatment for being bipolar. He had his psychiatrist with him at the premiere night. We ask him if he'd be comfortable if we'd write about it and he says:

"Yes, I am comfortable talking about it because now I understand myself more and maybe I am a better person and co-worker now. I would also like to speak about it because I know there are a lot of people dealing with it, but do not seek treatment because of the stigma attached to it. People like us need understanding and support from our friends and families. That's why we need to speak out about it, so that our friends and families can also understand us. With proper medication and therapy, I think I am able now to manage this condition. I accepted that our brain is just like any other part of or body. Therefore, it is also possible that sometimes something is wrong with it and it would need treatment. "

After doing "Legacy" for GMA, Jay directed "Obsession" and "Wattpad Presents" for TV5. He now is talking with Regal Entertainment for a possible new film project.


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Death Wish Movie Review: Critics Will Tear It To Pieces But It Will Please Those Who Are Sick And Tired Of Police Ineptitude And Our Corrupt Justice System

'DEATH WISH' was first filmed in 1974 starring Charles Bronson and it's a big hit it that spawned four sequels. We now have a reboot starring Bruce Willis this time and it's based on the same 1972 novel of Brian Garfield on which Bronson's version was also based. The story is still the same, about a peace-loving citizen who turns into a merciless vigilante.

If you're looking for an Oscar calibre movie, then you should skip "Death Wish", which is directed by Eli Roth, best known for his violent and bloody horror films like "Cabin Fever", "Hostel 1 & 2", "Green Inferno" and "Knock Knock". Is there a need for a new "Death Wish"? Well, why not, since there's a new "Tomb Raider", for which we also don't really have any important need.

Roth and his screenwriter, Joe Carnahan, updated "Death Wish" to the present. The original was set in New York, now in it's a crime-infested Chicago. Bronson was an architect before, now, Bruce is a doctor, Paul Kersey, who has a successful career and a happy family life.

He competently treats both victims and perpetrators of street crime in the E.R., without knowing that his own wife (Elizabeth Shue) and daughter who's about to go to college (Camilla Morrone), would soon be the next victims themselves. His wife dies when a trio of goons break into their home, while his daughter becomes comatose.

The movie is released right after the horrible shooting in a Florida high school where 17 people were killed and it started protest rallies calling for a gun ban. This movie shows exactly how easy it is really to buy assault weapons in the U.S. The sequence showing Bruce in a gun store really gave us the creeps, with the salesgirl even demonstrating to him how easy it is for them to get the necessary gun permits without any hassle through the magic of corruption.

Bruce realizes how impossible it is for the cops to track down the killers of his wife when he saw
how many open cases of crime are indicated on the board of the cop assigned on his case (Dean Norris). He once tried to help a crime victim on the street but he gets beaten up by the thugs instead.

Eventually, he gets a chance to own a criminal's gun by accident and starts taking matters into his own hands, first killing two carnappers. This was recorded by a bystander on a cellphone and uploaded on the internet. This earned Bruce the tag The Grim Reaper and he became a controversial figure in the media, with people debating whether what he's doing is a commendable heroic act or a felonious crime.

Bruce here is luckier because he eventually tracks down his wife's killers and make them pay, something that Bronson failed to do in the original movie. Violent action films like this may be just another hack exploitation flick that critics will enjoy tearing into pieces like the original, but for city dwellers who are tired of ever escalating crimes of robber and murder, this will strike a chord and deliver well in serving its cathartic purpose as a crowdpleaser, especially when we consider how incompetent and delinquent our police force can be and how corrupt our own justice is right now.

The movie is no doubt gory and violent (especially with the brutal way Bruce gets rid of his daughter's would be rapist in the garage), but it has an emotional core buttressed by Bruce Willis' finely modulated performance. He does well as a man who goes through hell when he experienced a senseless tragedy and returns to his sanity after taking the law into his own hands. His journey makes us feel that vigilante justice is morally warranted in these days of police ineptitude. The cops here didn't really do anything and, in the end, when they discover who the vigilante really is, they even abet his crime with a knowing smile.

Compared to Bronson who's so perfunctory in his role like he's just sleepwalking, Bruce Willis interprets his role as a man whose life is torn apart in an understated manner, exhibiting grief by underlining the motives of his character and giving the narrative more sense of urgency. The sight of him walking in the streets in a hoodie also reminds us of his similarly effective performance as a crimebuster in "Unbreakable".

Giving him competent support are Eizabeth Shue and Camila Morrone as his hapless wife and daughter, with Vincent D'Onofrio as his brother who's the first to discover that he is really the vigilante roaming the streets of Chicago. All the actors who played the thug culprits are properly repugnant they deserve the comeuppance that they got from the hands of the avenging Bruce.

Although the narrative trajectory is already predictable, the movie is still directed with a workmanlike efficiency and a wicked glint by Roth to induce some thrilling moments. There are even unapologetic scenes that are oddly likeable, especially for those who wallow in ruthless revenge flicks like the brutal "John Wick" series.

The scene where Bruce cuts the thigh of a defiant bad guy and it starts bleeding then he pours out break fluid or battery acid into the wound will make you cringe, but you tell yourself that the same act should be done to the criminal who killed 17 innocent people in Florida to make him pay for his dastard deed. Your own take on the film will answer the question of what is your own stand on whether you are pro or con to capital punishment. The film's ending showing Bruce using his fingers like a gun directed at a criminal is a direct tribute to the original where Bronson also does the same thing.
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Meet the Star Magic Circle 2018 members!