Tag Archives: Film

Film and TV, International

THE MARY JANE VELOSO STORY: NORA AUNOR TO STAR IN NEW FILM, ‘WALANG HIMALA!’

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Multi-awarded Filipino actress Nora Aunor is unstoppable. She is the lead actress in a new Filipino film that’s been accepted into this year’s prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Brillante Ma. Mendoza’s “Taklub” is one of two films from Southeast Asia included as additional entries in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.

Today, Indonesia-based Bali Films announced that it has signed an agreement with Aunor to star in a new film about the true-to-life story of Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, convicted of a drug crime and sentenced to execution. Veloso was spared from the firing squad (the only one of nine convicts scheduled to be executed this week in Indonesia) which many Filipinos are calling a  “miracle.”

It was of course not a miracle as pointed out in an editorial published by The Adobo Chronicles.

The new film is a sequel to Aunor’s critically acclaimed film, ‘Himala’ released in 1982.

Aunor will play the role of Veloso in this new film that revolves around the stay of execution granted to the Filipina convict. The plot maintains that there was no miracle and follows the many events that eventually led to Veloso’s being spared from the firing squad.

The script was written by The Adobo Chronicles’ lead reporter, Maharlika Mendoza.

President Aquino and his sister, Kris, will  play cameo roles in the film.

Film and TV, International, Sports

FLOYD MAYWEATHER WANTS SHARE IN REVENUES FROM PACQUIAO FILM ‘MANNY’

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imageLAS VEGAS, Nevada (The Adobo Chronicles) – Floyd Mayweather wants a portion of the revenues from Manny Pacquiao’s documentary, “Manny” which recently opened in theaters nationwide, and is available for download from the Internet.

The new documentary film, narrated by Academy Award winner Liam Neeson, follows the life of Pacquiao who rose from being a young boy growing up in a poor family in General Santos City in the Philippines to becoming an eight time world boxing champion, a congressman, a singer, actor, basketball playing coach and a born-again Christian.

In the documentary, Mayweather appears in a cameo role, being interviewed by sports news anchors about his continued refusal to fight the Filipino boxer.

Today, Mayweather told reporters that he was suing the film’s producers for an undisclosed amount to compensate for what he claimed as “unauthorized” use of his taped interviews.

“It’s not about the money,” Mayweather said, “it is about fairness and decency. They used my image, my voice, my interview — they should pay me for it!”

When asked by reporters whether the rumors about an impending deal for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in Las Vegas in May will actually happen, the American boxer said, “If the price is right.”

Business, The Media

TARGET STORE USES THE WRONG ‘ANNIE’ IN ADS FOR NEW CLOTHING LINE

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annieMinneapolis, Minnesota (The Adobo Chronicles) – Target, one of the nation’s big box stores, just launched a new girls’ clothing line that it is calling Annie for Target.

The launch was perfectly timed with the showing of the film, Annie in theaters nationwide.  The film stars black actress Quvenzhané Wallis in the title role.

In celebration of the iconic story, Target partnered with Sony Pictures’ “Annie” costume designer, Renée Ehrlich Kalfus, on a collection of girl’s apparel and accessories that captures the essence of the movie’s spirited characters.

There was one big problem:  all the models used in the Target ads were white.

There is speculation on social media that Target refused to use black models for fear that its clothing line will not be patronized by consumers who are upset that the film stars a black instead of Caucasian actress.

Although the Annie character is fictitious, many Americans had always envisioned a white girl playing the role, just like on Broadway and in musical theaters worldwide.

In a statement issued today, Target said “this is not about race” as it prepared to launch another clothing line for adult women, Selma for Target. Its promo ads also features all Caucasian women, and is being launched in connection with the current theater run of another film, Selma, about the legendary Martin Luther King.