OctoArts Films International: TOM HANKS IN THE FACE OF RECESSION IN “A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING” [R13]

Award-winning actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks stars in “A Hologram for the King” set in recession-ravaged 2010 as an American businessman named Alan Clay adapted from the book of the same title by acclaimed author Dave Eggers. 



Hanks’ role in the movie is a broke, depressed and freshly divorced man who arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to close what he hopes will be the deal of a lifetime. His mission: sell a state-ofthe-art holographic teleconferencing system to the Saudi government. Adrift and alone in an unfamiliar land, Alan befriends taxi driver Yousef (Alexander Black), who chauffeurs him through the desert to the “King’s Metropolis of Economy and Trade,” a surreal ghost town of vacant skyscrapers and half-completed construction projects. Baffled by the bureaucratic reception he gets at the so-called “Welcome Center,” Alan struggles to figure out why his small IT support team is being forced to spend its days in a sweltering tent as it preps for the big presentation. Worse, because of the Saudi way of doing business, he’s unclear if the king will ever show up for the long-scheduled meeting.

Clay arrives in Saudi Arabia without any prior knowledge of the place, other than his own cartoonish, stereotypical concept, according to Hanks. “Though he’s not a happy guy, when Alan tries to sell the upbeat nature of the 3-D hologram and rally his team, he becomes this other guy, the former Alan Clay, a man with energy and vibrancy. That’s where the comedy comes from.”

In addition to emphasizing the book’s humor, Tykwer bolstered the romantic elements as he translated Eggers’ story from page to screen. “The longer I worked on the script, the more profound the love story became because it connects to this whole third-act decision where the movie becomes a more optimistic tale,” Tykwer says. Alan is coaxed out of his funk by Zahra Hakem, an alluring, talented surgeon portrayed by London-born Sarita Choudhury. In her role as CIA Division Chief Saul Berenson’s long-suffering wife Mira on the Emmy-winning series “Homeland,” the half-Indian, half-English actress developed an avid following that included Hanks himself. “I remember seeing Sarita for the first time on ‘Homeland’ and thinking, ‘Alright, I don’t know who she is, but that woman is riveting. I don’t know where she comes from but I can’t take my eyes off her.”

In Hollywood’s finest black-comedy tradition, “A Hologram for the King delivers laughs spiked with bittersweet undertones. “We’ve made a crisis comedy that points the finger at the fact that our economic structure is falling apart and the apocalypse seems to be looming just around the corner,” Tykwer says. “We use comedy as a tool to embrace tragedy like a balloon you stick with a needle so it explodes and the energy that comes out is cheerful. Despite all of Alan’s problems, I hope this movie cheers people up.”

For Hanks, who’s earned iconic status and five Academy Award® nominations by playing regular, good-hearted Americans who triumph overhard luck circumstances, A Hologram for the King is the story of a man who stumbles upon an emotional and spiritual oasis after wandering in the desert. “Why make a movie about a guy where nothing ever works out for him? That might work fantastically as a piece of literature but as far as the cinema goes, the story requires this other thing — for want of a better word, let’s just call it hope.”

 

“A Hologram for the King” opens June 1 in cinemas from OctoArts Films International. 

 

 

DANIEL RADCLIFFE WHIPS MAGIC ANEW IN DARING CAPER THRILLER “NOW YOU SEE ME 2” [PG]

Daniel Radcliffe, best known for his role in the phenomenal worldwide hit franchise “Harry Potter” enters the magic realm once again in the astounding caper thriller “Now You See Me 2.” 

Directed by John M. Chu, “Now You See Me 2” sees the master magicians known as the Four Horsemen return and elevate the limits of stage illusion to new heights to clear their names and ultimately expose the ruthlessness of a dangerous tech magnate. One year after their astonishing Robin Hood-style magic shows win the public’s adulation and confound the FBI, the quartet resurfaces for a dazzling comeback performance that will make their previous escapades seem like child’s play. With the help of FBI Special Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo), the Horsemen — J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and new addition Lula (Lizzy Caplan) — mount a meticulously planned surprise appearance, in hopes of exposing corrupt tech tycoon Owen Case (Ben Lamb).


But their scheme backfires, exposing Dylan’s involvement with the Horsemen and sending all five of them back on the run. To regain their freedom and their reputations they are forced by wealthy recluse Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe) to recover an unimaginably powerful computer chip stolen by his treacherous former business partner — none other than Owen Case. The Horsemen soon find themselves once again squaring off against unscrupulous businessman Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine) and professional skeptic Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) as they attempt to accomplish the most difficult heist of their careers — but even they cannot anticipate the ultimate surprise awaiting them.

New addition Daniel Radcliffe joins the cast as Walter Mabry, a wealthy boy-wonder entrepreneur in hiding in a fabulous high-rise apartment in Macau. “Daniel has displayed a lot of different sides throughout his career, but this playful, weird, demented side is something we’ve never seen,” explains Chu.

What stood out for Radcliffe about the first film were the wide-ranging experiences of the accomplished cast. “It’s such an amazing group of actors, all bringing such different things from interesting and varied careers,” the actor says. “They seemed to be having such a great time together and that’s really compelling for an audience to watch.”

A mystery man with a complicated proposal for the Horseman, Mabry will not take no for an answer. His background may be high tech, but his passion is magic.

“Jon has done a fantastic job,” Radcliffe says. “To take on something of this magnitude requires real vision. He breaks down immense sequences into streamlined storytelling in a way that is wonderful to watch. There’s a crucial sequence in which the Horsemen have to steal something right under people’s noses. Jon created an incredibly cool, complicated scene that uses stage magic to pull off the heist in a way that hasn’t been seen before on screen.”

There is something about magic that reduces us all to children, believes Radcliffe. “Sleight-of-hand is very hard, but some of the best tricks in the world are so incredibly simple and effective.”

“Now You See Me 2” opens June 8 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

Pioneer Films - MARRIED AND ABUSED IN ROMANTIC KOREAN COMEDY MOVIE “MY NEW SASSY GIRL” [Rated PG]

The story of the hapless Gyeon-woo (played by Cha Tae-Hyun) in the fall-of-your-seat Korean romantic hit movie “My Sassy Girl” continues in the highly-awaited sequel “My New Sassy Girl” where he is now married to an unpredictable tough woman played by Victoria Song.

In "My New Sassy Girl," Gyeon-woo has trouble forgetting his "old" sassy girl (Jun Ji-hyun), but soon reunites with his childhood love (Song). The "new" sassy girl, the only child of a rich family in China, returns to Korea to marry Gyeon-woo despite disapproval from her family. However, Gyeon-woo's married life with his new, but familiar sassy girl is tougher than he ever imagined. Directed by South Korean veteran Jo Geun-shik, “My New Sassy Girl” now explores the problems of the newly married couple.

Cha Tae-hyun who reprises his role shares that, “The new movie elaborates on the romance, and love can be blind, risky, and unpredictable theme. There's no change to the characters, except that Gyeon-woo was a student back then, and is now an office worker and a husband. The woman has changed, but her way of treating me hasn't changed at all. I loved the plot a lot. I think there will be a new trend of people following certain actions from the film as there was with the first film.”

Victoria Song, a Chinese actress-singer, revealed in her previous interviews that she felt she had to live up to the expectations set by the actress in the first movie. “Jun Ji Hyun's effect on the movie is a big pressure for me," Victoria said. "However, this is a new step for me. I believe I have the strength to overcome the pressure."

Likewise, Cha has high hopes that the audience will still love the sequel despite changes in the lead female role. “Gyeon Woo' from 'My Sassy Girl' is a character I can't help but note as memorable. Even after all the characters I've played, it's a character who will forever be connected to my name. I was determined to not participate in the second movie, but because of my personal attachments, as well as my trust in director Jo Geun Shik, I'm just hoping that things will work out in the end," Cha admits.

Mark your calendars for one unforgettable funny romantic escapade when “My New Sassy Girl” opens June 1 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

EWAN MCGREGOR CHARGED WITH MONEY LAUNDERING IN “OUR KIND OF TRAITOR” from OctoArts Film International

Money moves the world in the espionage thriller “Our Kind of Traitor” starring Ewan mc/gregor and Naomi Harris based on the hit novel of the same title by celebrated novelist John le Carré. 

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Susann White, “Our Kind of Traitor” is a taut thriller about an unsuspecting married couple, Perry (Ewan McGregor) and Gail (Naomie Harris) on holiday in Marrakech, who meet the flamboyant and charismatic Russian, Dima (Stellan Skarsgård). He befriends them over games of tennis and lavish parties at his villa before revealing he is the top money launderer for the Russian mafia and wants to defect with his family to Britain. From that moment on, Perry and Gail are thrown into the fractured, dangerous world of international spies and dirty politics as they endeavor to save Dima and his family, and ultimately themselves. Indeed, “Our Kind of Traitor” captures a very British fascination with espionage, international double-dealing and Britain’s place in the world.

McGregor, who boasts an eclectic career with memorable roles in films including “Moulin Rouge,” the “Star Wars” franchise, and most famously as the heroin addict Renton in his break-out film “Trainspotting,” plays regular guy Perry, a man in his mid-40s whose life has not turned out how he hoped it would. He is a little bit lost and looking for a way back to his life, not entirely unlike the hopeless souls recruited by the Russian mafia in jail to the Vory, a real-life organised crime cohort.

For the actor it was, as always, about the quality of the script. “It’s harder and harder to find movies like this,” McGregor admits. “But it’s what le Carré does best in that his characters are very real, very human characters and in this case even more so because he’s put two civilian people into the world of espionage. He’s plonked them right in the middle of this thriller. That’s interesting because you think, ‘What would I do in this situation? How would I react?’”

McGregor read the script before going to the book. “Perry is more serious and quiet and withdrawn in the book and he’s been brought forward a little bit in the screenplay but he’s still quite a thoughtful, quiet character,” McGregor says. “Gail absolutely holds her own and it’s a very modern marriage in that respect, there’s nothing traditional about it and there’s no husband and wife roles. They’re both in this thing together and she gives as good as he does. You see the consequences of what they’re doing and how it affects both of them. It’s quite nice as it’s quite unusual.”

For screenwriter Amini, McGregor is the perfect Perry, dressed in vintage-looking jeans, boots and leather jackets. “I love the idea of Ewan playing Perry, because as an actor what I’ve always admired in his work is that there’s an edge and a toughness but there’s also something incredibly vulnerable and innocent,” says the screenwriter. “Perry is thrown into this world and copes with it pretty heroically but at same time is almost wide-eyed in his purity and his reaction to the moral compromises and the darkness in people he is witnessing.

“What’s great about Ewan is that he feels morally so solid,” Amini continues. “You really sense his outrage and his disappointment in people, but also the toughness and an edge that allows him also to be an action hero, and that’s required too. It’s that combination that makes him so ideal.”

Susanna White praises McGregor’s ability to engage with audiences. “He and I talked early on about the challenges of playing a real relationship of people whose marriage is in trouble,” she says. “He liked the idea of scrutinizing what it felt like to be slightly emasculated by a wife who’s more powerful than you are. In theory if you ask Perry whether he thought it would be good to have high achieving women, he would say ‘of course, women deserve that.’ But when he is faced with his own situation he starts to feel threatened by Gail and challenged by it. Part of the challenge was keeping audience appeal while seeing his weakness at the beginning of the film and his journey to rediscovering himself, who he is and redefining his relationship of with Gail. It was a very interesting journey with Ewan. He wasn’t afraid to play a character that was weak at the beginning of the film but who gains in strength.

“Our Kind of Traitor” opens June 8 in theaters from OctoArts Film International.

AWARD-WINNING TOM HANKS STARS IN NOVEL-TO-MOVIE DRAMEDY “A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING”

Adapted from the novel by Dave Eggers, “A Hologram for the King,” starring Tom Hanks is set in a rising Saudi Arabian city, far from weary, recession-scarred America, a struggling businessman pursues a last-ditch attempt to stave off foreclosure, pay his daughter’s college tuition, and finally do something great. In A Hologram for the King, author Dave Eggers takes us around the world to show how one man fights to hold himself and his splintering family together in the face of the global economy’s gale-force winds. This taut, richly layered, and elegiac novel turned movie is a powerful evocation of our contemporary moment — and a moving story of how we got here.

This latest Tom Hanks starrer is directed by Tom Tykwer who has solidly established himself as a young Spielberg for this well-endowed type of international co-productionalism that basically milks state funds on a global scale. What Tykwer likes about “A Hologram for the King” Tykwer is its tacky surrealism, and he indulges in it. Tom Hanks is the fool in the dunes, but he gets a nice bath in the end, and even romance. When was the last time anyone thought of putting Hanks in a sex scene? That must have been Philadelphia, again. But then Saudi-Arabia is so strait-laced that even Everyman has an edge.

After Tom Hanks gave Dave Eggers' National Book Award-nominated novel A Hologram for the King a rave review on his Twitter feed in 2012, only one issue remained unresolved for the two-time Oscar-winning actor. "I was already a big fan of Dave Eggers' work, having read a bunch of his stuff including things he did with McSweeney's literary review," Hanks says. "Then I read A Hologram for the King in one sitting and my only question when I finished it was whether or not he wanted a movie made out of his book."

German filmmaker Tom Tykwer, who co-directed Hanks in the 2012 sci-fi epic “Cloud Atlas,” felt just as strongly about the source material. "A Hologram for the King hit a very particular nerve in me," Tykwer recalls. "It was the most contemporary novel I'd read in a very long time so I felt like it couldn't wait: this story had to be made into a movie. It's very much about now, yet it still it has the sense of a classic novel in that it's a book for all times. I found that to be a brilliant mix so I turned into this very pushy machine trying to put the movie together as fast as I could."

Tykwer, who had worked with author Eggers previously on a miniseries adaptation of the San Francisco-based author's novel “What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng,” arranged a meeting with Hanks and Eggers at a Los Angeles hotel. After pitching his ideas for the book's cinematic adaptation, Tykwer and Eggers came to a very un-Hollywood-like agreement. "Dave and I trust each other," the director explains. "I love that he offered to get rid of all the contract stuff and just write on some piece of paper 'I promise not to be an asshole' and then we would both sign it. We're very much on the same page when it comes to artistic exchange. Dave understands that once you let somebody take over your vision, you have to keep some distance."

Tykwer was equally excited about partnering once again with Hanks. "Working with Tom is liberating for a filmmaker because he's so open-minded to every moment and every situation," Tykwer says. "He's like a super-intelligent child who comes into a room and says, 'Okay, what are our toys?' And then, 'Let's explore what we can do with them!' That's super inspiring because when you come up with a new idea, he picks it up really greedily and does something with it in a wonderfully playful way."

“A Hologram for the King” opens June 1 in cinemas to be released by OctoArts Films International.

Axinite Digicinema: ULTIMATE BLOOD SPORT IN “GENERATION Z” [R13]

Following a near apocalyptic zombie outbreak in “Generation Z” (aka “The ReZort”), humans now have the upper hand and life has returned to relative normality with only an occasional reminder or mention of recent horrific events. Most people wouldn’t even blink at seeing a zombie now. They know how to handle them. It’s no big deal because humans fought and won the battle and are in control again. 

 
“Generation Z” brings the latest craze in this post zombie-outbreak world is the Zombie Safari: it is the newest and coolest thing in adventure holidays – a chance to go out and shoot the undead in the wild. The ultimate test in action and adventure, the ultimate blood sport and, to many, the ultimate in therapeutic revenge. But unbeknownst to most that go on Zafari, the park is a highly controlled and monitored environment; a maze of concealed security cameras, restraints and barriers. The eyes and ears of trained security personnel are on the guests - and the zombies 24/7, always ensuring a safe shooting distance between the living and the zombies. Nothing is left to chance. Nothing is unplanned.

The zombie movie genre is a popular one, with examples ranging across the decades from George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead to the TV phenomenon The Walking Dead as well as more comedic interpretations like Life after Beth and parodies like Shaun of the Dead. However, screenwriter Paul Gerstenberger was inspired to do a film with a new take on the genre, setting the story in a world after the humans have won the war against the zombie apocalypse and exploring how humanity would recover after such a huge percentage of the population has been wiped out. Gerstenberger relates this to the years after World War II, where there was a generation who had lived through one of the most violent periods in human history with the irrecoverable aftermath on culture and the individual, juxtaposed with a younger generation born after the War, with no understanding of that reality or the lessons it held for society. According to Gerstenberger, the film explores the repetitive and cyclical nature of “man’s hubris. “We get overconfident, we ignore the risks and we get our comeuppance. And humanity is doomed to continuously repeat.”

Dougray Scott, who plays Archer in the film, says “It reminds me of one of those old Cowboy movies. So if we get it right, hopefully it will appeal to a wide audience”. Further, Scott describes his role as “a lone wolf, sort of the archetypal cowboy. He’s a very mysterious character who you don’t know why he’s there other than he’s good at shooting”. Unlike the “posh business men and screaming kids” populating the park around him, Archer goes on the zombie safaris to “let off steam” and so when the residents are unleashed, it falls to Archer to protect the group as more and more of his own story is revealed over the course of the film. He is also the first of the group to be aware that something has gone awry and that there might be a more sinister cause.

For Gerstenberger, Scott was the ideal Archer, “When people would ask who would be good for Archer, I had always imagined [he] would be perfect…. He’s one of those actors who can tell a story with his face, his eyes or an expression”.

 “Generation Z” is coming soon in cinemas from Axinite Digicinema.

INTERGALACTIC ADVENTURE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY IN “RATCHET AND CLANK” from OctoArts Films International

The latest out-of-this-world family movie “Ratchet and Clank” stars Award winning Sylvester Stallone along with a talented voice cast including Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne, Rosario Dawson, Jim Ward, James Taylor and David Kaye. 

In “Ratchet and Clank,” two unlikely heroes struggle to stop a vile villain named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. Ratchet is the last of his kind, a foolhardy “Lombax” who has grown up alone on a backwater planet with no family of his own. Clank is a pint-sized robot with more brains than brawn. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called the Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way, the will learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity.

Ratchet, voiced by James Taylor, is the only Lombax anyone has ever seen. A typical impulsive teenager, Ratchet is a gifted mechanic and quite acrobatic. When danger calls he prefers to jump in feet first and to figure things out as he goes. His confidence always leads him into trouble but his quick reflexes and agile mind get him out of it most of the time.He is a bit of a loner, not wanting to rely on anyone but himself. However, he is extremely loyal to friends that he has. Over the course of the film, he comes to consider Clank his one true ally and closest friend.

 

His true friend, Clank, voiced by David Kaye, is the personification of innocent book smart. He is a living computer filled with tons of data that he accesses freely. However, he has only lived in the universe for a short time and retains a lot of the child-like curiosity one would expect from a creature only days old. Clank’s strongest traits are his sense of morality and his heart of gold. He knows right from wrong and will go to any lengths to ensure justice is served. However, he doesn’s just jump in with both feet – he is cautious and mindful, using his considerable powers of reason to form a plan of attack first. In this sense, he is Ratchet’s opposite.

Bella Thorne, who rose to prominence in the television series “Shake It Up” and starred in memorable teen movies such as “The Duff,” “Perfect High” and “Frenemies” lends her voice to Cora in “Ratchet and Clank,” a very tough, competitive and driven Galactic ranger. Though she’s in her teens, her maturity is way beyond her age and that of every other Galactic Ranger (with Clank’s exception). A no-nonsense teen, she has little or no time for humor or childishness but cares deeply for her teammates once they’ve earned her respect.

Family adventure starts in cinemas nationwide when “Ratchet and Clank” opens on May 26 (Thursday) from OctoArts Films International.

“X-MEN: APOCALYPSE” REIGNS SUPREME AT THE PHILS.BOX-OFFICE PHP 230 MILLION ON OPENING WEEKEND

20th Century Fox’s “X-Men: Apocalypse” reigns supreme at the box-office with its PhP 230 million opening weekend (first five days) in the Philippines in 476 screens. It also dominated and opened number one on its first day of release (opened May 18) in the country with PhP 45 million in box-office receipts.

In the Philippines, “X-Men: Apocalypse” has taken the franchise to new heights with its strong box-office results. It now holds as the Biggest Fox Opening Weekend All-Time, tracking 131% higher than “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” It is also now the Biggest Non-Holiday May Opening Weekend All-Time. Ultimately, “X-Men: Apocalypse” records show that it is now the Biggest Opening Weekend in the X-Men franchise.



In addition to its opening weekend box-office results, it has become the Biggest Fox Opening Day All-Time, Biggest Non-Holiday May Opening All-Time and the Biggest Opening Day in the X-Men franchise. “X-Men: Apocalypse” also cemented its apocalyptic power on Philippine soil as it now stands as the 2nd Biggest Opening Weekend for the year, after “Captain America: Civil War.”



“X-Men: Apocalypse’s” powerful presence recorded strong box-office receipts from the following top twenty (20) cinemas: SM MEGAMALL (11million), SM MALL OF ASIA (10.1M); TRINOMA (8.1M); SM NORTH EDSA/THE BLOCK (8M); GLORIETTA (6.2M); POWERPLANT (4.3M); SM CEBU (4.3M); GREENBELT 3 (4.1M); GATEWAY CINEPLEX (3.99M); ALABANG TOWN CENTER (3.95M); BONIFACIO HIGHSTREET (3.8M); AYALA CEBU (3.6M); THEATREMALL (3.6M); SHANG CINEPLEX (3.38M); MARKET!MARKET! (3.31M); EASTWOOD (3.25M); ROBINSON’S MAGNOLIA (3.15M); SM AURA (3.13M); UPTOWN (3.03M); NEWPORT (2.7M).



Indeed record-breaking, “X-Men: Apocalypse’s” Phil. box-office feat is also cited in major news organizations as one of the top performing markets in international territories. As reported in www.Variety.com "The launch featured the biggest Fox opening weekend ever in half a dozen markets including Philippines ($4.9 million), India ($3.5 million), Indonesia ($3.1 million), Singapore ($3 million), Thailand ($2.7 million) and Colombia ($1.9 million).”

Bryan Singer’s return at the helm of the franchise in “X-Men: Apocalypse” along with beloved mutant characters pitted against the most powerful of their kind has generated coherent rave buzz among its fan base round the globe despite polarizing reviews from some critics. “X-Men: Apocalypse” brings returning and new characters on the big screen led by James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Evan Peters and Rose Byrne with young and equally powerful mutants played by Sophie Turner, Ben Hardy, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp. Kodi Smit-McPhee and Oscar Isaac. In the movie, the invincible and immortal Apocalypse is set free after being entombed for several millennia. Enraged that his kind are no longer treated as gods, Apocalypse assembles a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto, to destroy humankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. To end Apocalypse’s path of global destruction, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) and Professor X (James McAvoy) lead a team of young X-Men in an epic showdown with a seemingly unstoppable enemy.



“X-Men: Apocalypse” is now showing in cinemas across the Philippines from 20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros. Available in 2D, 3D, 4D and IMAX screens nationwide.

Hip Hop Dance Queen Parris Goebel shines in “Born To Dance”

Parris Goebel is the reigning queen of the international hip hop dance scene. The triple award-winning dancer and choreographer from New Zealand has several times won the world championships with her The Royal Family megacrew and famed all-female crew ReQuest at competitions held in the U.S. Her explosive, exact and erotically charged movement style pulsates with the rhythms of Maori and Polynesian dance traditions she learned growing up in Auckland: hip hop as ancestral soul.
 

Jennifer Lopez, who saw Goebel dance on video, was so impressed by her elbow-popping, foot-stomping, hip-circling moves she hired the 23-year-old diamond-toothed Kiwi with the bleached blonde hair to choreograph her 2012 Dance Again world tour. Since then, Goebel has worked with Canada’s Cirque du Soleil, choreographing its 2013 Michael Jackson tribute show in Las Vegas, hip hop’s Missy Elliott and Korean pop star, Taeyang. An electrifying performer in her own right, Goebel danced with J-Lo on the season 11 finale of American Idol and appeared in the fifth installment of the U.S dance film franchise, Step Up. Earlier this year, Goebel choreographed Nicki Minaj’s PinkPrint tour and a video for Beyoncé.

Her latest venture is Born to Dance, New Zealand’s first hip hop dance film, directed by actor Tammy Davis of Whale Rider and Black Sheep fame from a script by acclaimed Maori writer Hone Kouka, Steve Barr and Casey Whelan. Goebel choreographed the energized dance sequences performed by members of her own Palace Dance Studios, including Tia-Taharoa Maipi making his screen debut as Tu, the film’s dance-mad male lead. Goebel dances herself in one sequence in which she raunchily fronts a female crew that decimates the men in a forward-charge dance battle.

Look at those smiling faces, those adoring eyes, all focused on you. You are a hip hop dance role model! What does that mean to you?
 
When you work so hard at something you gain a profile, and there are pros and cons associated with that. I get a lot of attention and sometimes it’s hard for me to really handle that. You don’t really know what to do when everyone’s looking at you. But the positive thing about that is being able to reach and touch kids from all over the world. I didn’t aim to be a role model or someone that people want to look up to. That wasn’t my goal. But to be in this position now I have this responsibility to tell the kids and to show the kids that no matter where you are from, what you look like or what age you are, you can do whatever it is you want to do if you put your mind to it. I just feel this huge responsibility about doing that. So it’s more than the fame. It’s hoping that kids will look at me and say, 'If she can do it then I can do it, too.'


Why hip hop and not any other form of dance?

It just spoke to me. I believe that we are all born with a purpose and I was born to do this. It definitely is it. It’s so effortless to me. I do enjoy other styles but for me hip hop is in my blood. The first time I took a hip hop class I just lit up. I’ll never forget it. It was like love at first sight. When I went to that first class, I was like, ‘This is what I love, and I’m going to do it.’ I was only 10 but I just knew. It was like a switch went off, and I will never forget that feeling. Knowing all of a sudden that this is what you were born to do is a very cool feeling and no one can give that you. No one can tell you that this is something you need to do. You’ve got to discover that in yourself.


Tell me about being a female in the hip hop industry. Does it pose challenges?

I mean being a female is a challenge in itself. I talk to women all over the world about this, actually, and when I come across specific women who are also similar to me in the sense of trying to get somewhere with their talent, I always connect with them on this, and they always express to me how hard it is to really make a name for themselves or get a job. Even just to make noise in the industry is hard for a female, for some reason. But I feel it is like that with anything – sport, art, business. A woman just has to work a lot harder just to make noise and get herself noticed. That’s my personal opinion, anyway.


Now that you are making noise, how are people in your industry reacting?

For me to be in this position is really cool – you know, like? I’m really comfortable where I’m at in the sense of feeling like people are really paying attention to what I’m doing, what I’m saying. I’m in a position where, whatever I do, people are going to watch and they’re going to listen, whether they like hip hop or not. So that’s an amazing power to have, and I know that I can change the world with that power. It was a struggle at the beginning. But now, at this age, and at this time of my life, I really don’t feel the struggle any more. I’m in a really confident place where I worked hard as a female and where people, when they think of strong females in the hip hop industry, think of me. I’m really happy about that.


How did New Zealand, of all places, become an epicentre of the world-wide hip hop dance culture?

When I was growing up, hip hop wasn’t as popular but I worked really hard to make it so. I opened a studio to give an opportunity for other kids to shine. I’ve poured my heart and soul into my studio and the kids who dance there. I teach my kids to work really hard and to be the best they can be. So for me their best is good enough. And their best so happens to be the best in the world. Which is crazy, right? But being the best in the world doesn’t really matter. As long as it’s their best. That’s always the goal. But it is really cool that they’ve reached a level where they’re kind of like killing the game internationally.


 
How did you first get the attention of Jennifer Lopez, Cirque du Soleil and other artists who have hired you to choreograph their shows?
 
All through YouTube, actually. I would say that 90 percent of my work has been booked through YouTube. I’m a YouTube baby. Like, I was born into that, and my involvement in the industry basically has come from me posting my work on YouTube. You know, ‘Hey, this is me. I’m Parris. This is my style.’ And then I started getting a following, and my postings went viral, and artists started to pay attention.

I know you didn’t write Born to Dance but how much does the film, about a hip hop dancer who first gains attention on YouTube, mirror your own experience?

Not intensely, but I can relate to him. I’m also a young kid from New Zealand with a dream to make it in dance, so this is also my story. Before all this, before sitting here and being able to talk about myself as a successful person, 10 years ago I was just a young girl in New Zealand with a dream, a stereo in her room and a mirror, you know? No one knew my name.

Born to Dance showcases that style of yours. How do you think audiences outside New Zealand will react to the film?

I think people will love it. I mean, it’s hard not to like it, you know? Like, it’s for everyone. It’s for all ages, all ethnicity. And everyone can relate to it because everyone has a dream and a lot of people do come from nothing and make something of themselves. And everyone loves dance and on top of it is this growing fascination with New Zealand. People are drawn to our country, our culture and our talent. So I know for a fact that this film will do very well.

And how will it impact the future of hip hop dance, do you think?
I hope it’s going to do something cool. For me, the goal was to choreograph it in a fresh and innovative way not seen in a dance movie before. I wanted to take it from a different angle, and I did that. I hope that other artists and dancers who will be watching will be inspired to try something new as well. I for one have always wanted to dance my own path.

“Born To Dance” is released and distributed by CAPTIVE CINEMA.

SHOWING MAY 25. NATIONWIDE!

The Girl King (Released by Solar Pictures) [R16]

THE GIRL KING is the story of one of the most iconic Queens in history. Queen Kristina of Sweden, raised as a prince at her father’s request, is thrust into a world of conflict. Faced with the austere, fiercely conservative Lutheran values of the times, she begins her reign in confrontation – opting for education for all her subjects and an end to the Thirty Years War. Pulled between the Lutheran and Catholic forces, conspiring for her allegiance, she also faces an internal struggle. Falling deeply in love with her lady in waiting, the stunning Ebba Sparre, she is left confused and wanting. As the forces converge, Kristina is pushed towards making one of the greatest and most scandalous decisions in history. This is the story of the young Kristina, preceding this momentous and influential decision.

THE GIRL KING is the story of Sweden’s Queen Kristina, an enigmatic young woman who defied convention, challenged tradition and changed the course of history. Torn between reason and passion; between her female body and being raised as a prince; between the ancient and modern worlds and between the brilliance of her educated mind and the terror of the emotions she could not understand.

THE GIRL KING paints a portrait of the brilliant, extravagant Kristina of Sweden, queen from age six, who fights the conservative forces that are against her ideas to modernize Sweden and who have no tolerance for her awakening sexuality.

Staring Malin Buska (Easy Money, Happy End), Sarah Gadon (Belle, Enemy, The Amazing Spiderman 2, Dracula Untold), Michael Nyqvist (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, John Wick), Lucas Bryant (Queer As Folk, Haven, The Vow), Laura Birn (Purge, A Walk Among The Tombstones), Hippolyte Girardot (The Conquest, Lady Chatterly's Lover), Francois Arnaud (Blindspot, The Borgias), and Patrick Bauchau (2012, Panic Room, Clear And Present Danger, A View To A Kill).

Directed by Mika Kaurismäki

“The Girl King” opens on the 1st of June of this year, with an MTRCB rating of R-16 without cuts. It is an exclusive film release of Solar Pictures. For more details about #TheGirlKing, visit @solarpicturesPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

“X-MEN: APOCALYPSE” MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS ON MAY 18 – Wednesday

The most awaited epic battle of mutants in “X-Men: Apocalypse” is about to unfold on the big screen on May 18, Wednesday in (midnight screening) selected cinemas – Alabang Town Center, Greenbelt 3, Glorietta 4, Trinoma, SM Aura, SM BF, SM Fairview, SM Light Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Marikina, SM Marilao, SM Megamall, SM Molino, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, SM Clark, The Block, Century Mall, Commerce Center, Eastwood, Evia, Newport, Starmall Taguig, Uptown, Abreeza Davao, SM Cebu, SM Lanang and Gaisano Davao.


In “X-Men: Apocalypse,” we find our favorite group of mutants in 1983, dealing with more than just the fashions of the time. An ancient, powerful and extremely angry creature named Apocalypse has awakened after millennia spent slumbering, decided that our civilization is too corrupt to survive and must be destroyed so he can restore proper order. Charles Xavier must rally his young students for the fight of their lives against not just Apocalypse, but also his powerful Four Horsemen, one of which just happens to be Erik “Magneto” Lensherr.



Opening on May 18 nationwide directed by Bryan Singer, “X-Men: Apocalypse” stars James McAvoy as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique/Raven, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lensherr/Magneto, Oscar Isaac as Apocalypse, Olivia Munn as Psylocke, Alexandra Shipp as Storm, Ben Hardy as Angel, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Nicholas Hoult Hank McCoy/Beast, Evan Peters as Quicksilver, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler, Lana Condor as Jubilee and Rose Byrne as Moira McTaggert.