US film industry, nalugi ng $5.4 billion sa pirata

Parang maganda ang trailer ng D’Lucky Ones starring Sandara Park and Joseph Bitangcol under Star Cinema.

Nakakatawa ang mga scenes nina Eugene Domingo and Pokwang. Pero makatulong kaya ito para maka-recover sa kanyang nananamlay na career ni Sandara? Kahit naman si Sandara ay admitted na very cold na ang dating ng mga fans na tumitili sa kanya noon.

More on spoof kay Mayor Vilma Santos ang movie. Inspired pa nga ito kay Lucky na mas kilala nang Luis Manzano ngayon.

Anyway, follow up movie ito ng Star Cinema sa movie nina Piolo Pascual and Judy Ann Santos, Don’t Give Up On Us.

Aside from Pokwang and Eugene, also in the movie are PBB Franzen Fajardo, Nikki Valdez, Candy Pangilinan, JR Valentin, Janus del Prado and Carla Humphries.

The movie is set to kick off on April 15.

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Hindi lang naman pala sa ‘Pinas problema ang piracy kundi maging sa America. Ayon sa online report, last year alone, ang US film industry lost $5.4 billion to movie pirates. Kaya naman daw, the American film industry is trying as hard as ever to deal the pirates a crushing blow.

Ang kanilang latest strategy: Mag-train ng theater employees to spot people sneaking video cameras into cinemas.

Ang Motion Picture Association of America also created FightFilmTheft.org, a website offering techniques to detect film pirates.

"Theater employees are the first line of defense against this growing criminal act of piracy," according to MPAA chief Dan Glickman sa online report.     

Ayon pa sa MPAA, sa kanilang statement that over 90 percent "of initial releases that are stolen originate from camcording in theaters." The violation carries with it a prison term of up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Nangangahulugan lang ito na talagang tayo ang may malaking problema sa mga namimirata.

Siguro dapat ding i-train ang mga theater employees natin na maging sensitive sa mga moviegoers na nagdadala ng video cam sa loob ng sinehan.

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Tunog foreign band ang mga kanta ng grupong Solace na nagkaroon ng media launch kamakailan.

Ang Solace ay may four members at nabuo mid-last year: Chad Canares (vocals) na dating member ng UK Lily, isang new wave band sa Cebu, Sam Codilla (lead guitar) na naging part ng bandang Roots, Rodney Vidanes (bass) and Herson Fremista (drums) na na-nominate for NU 107 as Bassist of the Year and Drummer of the Year respectively bilang part ng 2003 Red Horse Muziklaban competition.

Solace - means comfort, relieve, console. At sa ganitong forte naka-focus ang kanilang music sa kanilang first album na all original entitled "Never Easy" na available na sa lahat ng outlet ng Astrovisions.

Influence ng Dave Matthews Band, Sting U2 and Coldplay ang kanilang music.

Kasama sa "Never Easy" ang 10 poetic songs na siya ring title ng carrier single na dealing sa isang bad relationship na hindi ka makaalis, "Bang," "Borrowed Time," "Healing," "Ed," "Dream Maker," "Radio," "Bridging the Gap," "Riding with Angels" and "Hideaway."

Released ng Paragon Music Corporation and distributed by Able Music International Inc. ang kanilang album.

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Masaya at colorful ang naging celebration ng 20th anniversary ng Pilipino Star Ngayon (PSN) last Friday night sa Westin Philippine Plaza.

Masaya dahil nag-mini concert si Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano ng kanyang GV hits medley na "Destiny," "Kailangan Kita," "How Did You Know," "Ikaw Lamang" and 80s medley-"Sweet Dreams," "Every Breath You Take," "Owner of A Lonely Heart" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." As in sobrang nag-enjoy ang guests sa nasabing party sa mga kanta ni Gary V.

At imagine, si Mr. Robert Seña ang nag-perform ng Doxology - "Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring."

Pinasaya rin ni Ogie Alcasid ang mga officemates and advertisers ng PSN sa kanyang two songs from his new album under Viva Records.

Nag-showdown sina Vina Morales, Rachel Alejandro and Geneva Cruz. Grabe impressed lahat ng tao sa abs ni Vina dahil perfect talaga. After the show, Vina texted me na she had fun sa party namin.

Sina Mr. Edu Manzano and Jeni Hernandez ang nag-host ng programa.

Nakisaya rin sa party sina Wendell Ramos, Vice Mayor Anjo Yllana, Jomari Yllana (without Pops Fernandez ha!), Jeremy Marquez, Andrew Wolf and PBL player Arvind Santos na lahat talent ni Tito Douglas Quijano na present din sa nasabing party.

Sa Star Group of Publications nag-start bilang writer si Tito Douglas kaya medyo shocked siya na 20 years na pala ang PSN.

Dumating din si Ms. Girlie Rodis, Ms. Jo Ann Maglipon (editor in chief of YES Magazine), Ms. June Torrejon, CEB Chairman Cristine Dayrit among others.

Pormal ding ipinarinig sa nasabing party ang PSN jingle at ipinakilala ang mascot ng PSN.

Nag-perform after the program proper ang Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee and Shamrock.

Labis ang pasasalamat ni Mr. Miguel Belmonte, PSN/PM President. "Malayo na ang aming narating. Sa pagkakataong ito, nais kong ipaabot ang pasasalamat sa inyong lahat, sa mahal naming mambabasa sa walang sawa n’yong pagtangkilik.

"Napakaraming pinagdaanang hirap ng PSN," sabi ni Sir Miguel. "Ngayon umaabot na sa 350,000 copies ang circulation ng PSN at isa sa dalawang nangungunang pahayagan sa bansa," dagdag ni Mr. Miguel.