20th Century Fox - GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SUPERHUMAN IN SCI-FI THRILLER “MORGAN”

Luke Scott, son of highly acclaimed blockbuster maker Ridley Scott (“Alien,” “The Martian”) debuts as director (full-length film) in the sci-fi thriller “Morgan” starring Kate Mara, Anya Taylor-Joy, Paul Giamatti, Rose Leslie, Boyd Holbrook and Michelle Yeoh.

 

 

“Morgan” tells the chilling tale of a creation that escaped in a tightly-guarded facility for artificial intelligence. A corporate troubleshooter, played by Kate Mara, is sent to the remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate the terrifying incident. She learns that the seemingly innocent “human” who escaped has both infinite promise and incalculable danger.

Scott, from his previous interview with EW reveals that “Morgan” eventually becomes greater that the scientists who created her. “What Morgan really alludes to is human beings becoming, in a sense, the creator. Not in a traditional religious sense, but an idea that we have the capabilities to become our own creator. And what I suspect could happen — we’ve seen it in all these movies, whether it’s Frankenstein or Metropolis — it’s the creation of a being that is greater than the creator. That is fascinating to me, and it definitely feels like a next stage of evolution in the real world.” 

 

Produced by Ridley Scott, “Morgan” opens in cinemas nationwide on September 7 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

“INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE” INVADES BOX-OFFICE WITH P100 MILLION OPENING WEEKEND [PG]

Blockbuster filmmaker Roland Emmerich’s latest alien-invasion action epic “Independence Day: Resurgence” won the local (Phils.) box-office war when it opened with a whopping PhP 100 million nationwide on its opening weekend. “Independence Day: Resurgence” surpassed its blockbuster predecessor’s (“Independence Day”) feat by more than 200% for its opening weekend.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” is currently in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D screens across the nation and has recorded outstanding gross receipts in the following top twenty (20) theaters. Among the top 20 highest grossing cinemas include: SM MALL OF ASIA (4.4 million),; SM MEGAMALL (3.8M); SM NORTH EDSA (3.3M); TRINOMA (3.3M); GLORIETTA4 (2.3M); POWERPLANT (2.2 M); GATEWAY/ ALI MALL (1.97M); GREENBELT 3 (1.95M); BONIFACIO HIGH STREET (1.64M); ALABANG TOWN CENTER (1.58M); SM CEBU (1.57M); SM CLARK (1.43M); SM AURA (1.42M); THEATREMALL (1.41M); UPTOWN (1.4M); SHANG CINEPLEX (1.33M); AYALA CEBU (1.32M); EASTWOOD (1.18M); SM SOUTHMALL (1.16M) and NEWPORT (1.13M). This covered the first five day period June 22 -27.

Directed by Roland Emmerich and produced by Dean Devlin, “Independence Day: Resurgence” stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe and Angelababy. The film takes visual spectacle and human-alien war to new heights. The aliens are back with a vengeance. “Independence Day: Resurgence,” represents director Roland Emmerich’s huge return to the genre that made him famous. The 1996 original shot into the public imagination with its vistas of destruction, its memorable characters and huge impact on both science fiction and disaster movies. With giant alien spaceships unleashing incredibly devastating power upon the world, it took brain, brawn and heroics to figure out a way to fight back.

Now, 20 years later, humanity has united to rebuild the world’s major cities, while salvaged alien technology has been utilized to work on solving many big problems such as climate change. But the lingering threat of the extra-terrestrials’ return still hangs over our heads and the Earth Space Defence programme has formed to be ready for when that day comes. Ominously, it appears that man’s greatest enemy is indeed back. 

 

 

“Independence Day: Resurgence” is now on its second week in cinemas nationwide. The film is a 20th Century Fox presentation distributed by Warner Bros.

“INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE” NOW SHOWING IN MORE THAN 300 SCREENS NATIONWIDE (2D, 3D AND IMAX) [PG]

The latest epic battle “Independence Day: Resurgence” by director Roland Emmerich is set twenty years after the alien invasion that nearly decimated the planet and presents an alternate reality to our world today.


The backstory of “Independence Day: Resurgence” begins in 1996, during an ordinary summer day when, without warning, something extraordinary happened. All eyes turned upward and the question of whether we were alone in the universe was finally answered. In a matter of minutes, the lives of every person across the globe changed forever. With the fate of our planet at stake, the words “Independence Day” took on an entirely new meaning. No longer was it solely an American holiday. It would be memorialized as the day the entire world fought back against a common enemy.



The aftermath of what became known as the War of 1996 saw half of Earth’s population annihilated. Humanity had never come so close to total obliteration. Those who survived the Alien attack to rebuild our world would never forget the fallen and forever remember that unity is our greatest strength.

Aside from a small pocket of resistance in the African Congo, the Alien threat was neutralized—and the world began to rise from the ashes. Reconstruction started immediately as the great cities, monuments and landmarks of the world were slowly restored to their former glory. The near destruction of humankind had an unexpected but welcome effect, as centuries-old conflicts and political distrust dissolved to create an unprecedented cooperation among the nations of the world. Harvesting recovered Alien technology from the aftermath of the War of 1996, the unified nations spent the last two decades rebuilding and collaborating on an immense defense program to protect our planet from off-World invaders. The Earth Space Defense (ESD) program served as an early warning system and a united global defense unit. After years of research and development from ESD scientists around the world, the next generation of Alien-human vehicles and weapons systems were introduced.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” expands the mythology of the Independence Day universe by putting the band back together—reuniting original cast members from the first film—as well as introducing new players from around the world led by Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman with new characters played by Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe, Jessie Usher, Travis Trope, William Fichtner and Sela Ward.



For director Roland Emmerich, the ensemble is a dream team. “It’s exciting to see this handover from one generation to the next,” he notes. “We have veteran heroes from the first film making way for a team of new ones. With the original cast on set, and off, it’s like a 20-year class reunion—the class of ‘96.”



Producer Dean Devlin notes: “The most rewarding part of the project is being on set with these actors again and seeing that they are not just as good as they were then; they’ve gotten even better. When you’re writing the script, you wonder, ‘What’s it going to be like 20 years later?’ Then, our returnees work on this film, and they just light up the screen and our new team shines, as well. It’s the perfect mix.”

“Independence Day: Resurgence” is now showing in more than 300 screens nationwide from 

20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros.

LIAM HEMSWORTH LEADS NEW GENERATION OF HEROES IN “INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE”

Liam Hemsworth leads a team of young pilots fighting aliens in “Independence Day: Resurgence” directed by Roland Emmerich with an all-star cast including Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Sela Ward, Maika Monroe, Jessie Usher and Angelababy.
The aliens are back with a vengeance for “Independence Day: Resurgence,” which represents director Roland Emmerich’s huge return to the genre that made him famous. The 1996 original shot into the public imagination with its vistas of destruction, its memorable characters and huge impact on both science fiction and disaster movies. With giant alien spaceships unleashing incredibly devastating power upon the world, it took brain, brawn and heroics to figure out a way to fight back.

Now, 20 years later, humanity has united to rebuild the world’s major cities, while salvaged alien technology has been utilized to work on solving many big problems such as climate change. But the lingering threat of the extra-terrestrials’ return still hangs over our heads and the Earth Space Defence programme has formed to be ready for when that day comes. Ominously, it appears that our greatest enemy is indeed back.

Demonstrating versatility and skill in a range of performances, Hemsworth has proven to be one of the most sought-after actors of his generation. In “Independence Day: Resurgence,” Hemsworth plays Jake Morrison, a hotshot fighter pilot whose family was killed in the original alien attack chronicled in Roland Emmerich’s groundbreaking 1996 sci-fi thriller. Growing up an orphan, Jake joined the military, and quickly showed an aptitude for daring flight missions.

Hemsworth particularly enjoyed exploring the character’s motivations to be at the front lines of this new battle against the Aliens. “Jake’s parents were killed during the War of 1996, so he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder in this fight.” The chip on Jake’s shoulder impacts his behavior with authority. Hemsworth elaborates: “Jake can be a little outspoken, because he's always been the underdog who had to fight for every scrap. As a result of growing up as an orphan, Jake became resentful and jealous of other people's positions.”

Jake’s outspokenness, as well as his fearlessness and occasional disregard for authority, land him in hot water. He gets his wings clipped and is relegated to piloting a Moon Tug, which is more or less like working a giant forklift or tug boat, transporting weapons to the military’s moon defense base. The outpost is a first-response center in the event of another Alien attack. “The Moon Tug is a lot slower than the jets Jake is used to flying, and basically his day consists of moving heavy parts around from point A to B, on the moon,” says Hemsworth. “It’s not the most exciting job for Jake, who knows he belongs in a fighter jet. And he will end up in a fighter jet.”

Hemsworth says he jumped at the chance to be a part of “Independence Day: Resurgence,” because the first film is one of his all-time favorites, although he was only six years old when it was released. “Battling an Alien invasion fleet in this film was a dream come true for me,” says the actor.

 

“Independence Day: Resurgence” opens June 22 in cinemas nationwide (2D, 3D and IMAX) from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

The gentlemen stopped for a photo call in front of the famed Sydney Opera House (INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE)

Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth and Roland Emmerich's recent press tour in Sydney, Australia for INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (opens in Philippine cinemas June 22).  

 

20th Century Fox FULL-THROTTLE DEFENSE AGAINST ALIENS IN “INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE” ON JUNE 22

After “Independence Day” redefined the event movie genre and became a worldwide hit, its follow-up epic chapter, “Independence Day: Resurgence” delivers a new global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. The most anticipated event movie of the year “Independence Day: Resurgence” stars Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Maika Monroe, Bill Pullman, Jessie Usher and Sela Ward directed by Roland Emmerich. 

Liam Hemsworth heads the cast of newcomers, portraying Jake Morrison. Raised as an orphan, Jake is a hotshot heroic fighter pilot of Alien-human hybrid jets. The looming Alien invasion may just do that for Jake, just as it changes the life of David Levinson, again portrayed by Jeff Goldblum. In the first movie, it was Levinson who figured out how to stop the Alien threat in the great War of ’96 while Bill Pullman reprises his role as former U.S. president Thomas J. Whitmore, who led the planetary defense in 1996. Due to his close encounters with the Aliens at that time, Whitmore has undergone what medical professionals refer to as Alien Residual Condition. Severe internal changes have left Whitmore haunted and disturbed, and “knowing” what the Aliens know. He has visions of their impending return and dark premonitions of the Aliens’ plans for Earth. Another of the film’s many strong female roles is U.S. President Lanford, portrayed by Sela Ward. Having previously faced a global catastrophe in Emmerich's The Day After Tomorrow, Ward was ready to tackle another massive threat, but this time as the commander in chief.



For director Roland Emmerich, “Independence Day: Resurgence” marks a return to the universe he and co-writer and producer Dean Devlin created two decades ago. They captured cinematic lightning in a bottle—electrifying audiences around the around the world with drama, action, fun, unforgettable characters, and a presidential speech that’s still quoted today. In the movie, we find the world using recovered Alien technology wherein the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the Aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.



Notably, the new film is Emmerich’s first sequel. “This world is very special to me, and I wanted to do right by it and the characters,” says the filmmaker. “Enough time has passed that it all felt fresh to me.” Also nudging Emmerich back to the world of Independence Day was the chance to employ visual effects that were light years ahead of those available twenty years ago.



“Independence Day: Resurgence” transports the audience into the midst of the action where one of its set pieces include an Alien spaceship that’s a super-structure of unfathomable size, and has a gravitational pull that wreaks havoc with the entire planet, hitting all of the famous landmarks on Earth. “Independence Day: Resurgence” is that kind of boundary-pushing juggernaut, mixed with a playfulness not typical for this genre. “This one is so much bigger than ID4,” says Jeff Goldblum, who reprises his starring role as scientist/world savior David Levinson. “But the film’s spirit of fun, wonder and delight is just as important.”



In fact, as Emmerich notes, the characters and fun are now taking center stage. “Audiences really like these characters,” he explains. “We’ve expanded the universe of Independence Day, and I can’t wait for people to experience it.”

 

 “Independence Day: Resurgence” opens June 22 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Available in 2D, 3D and IMAX screens across the Philippines.

ARRIVING ON JUNE 22 NATIONWIDE IN PHILIPPINE CINEMAS “INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE”

The aliens are back with a vengeance for “Independence Day: Resurgence,” which represents director Roland Emmerich’s huge return to the genre that made him famous. A sequel to “Independence Day,” the 1996 original sci-fi groundbreaking film that captured the public imagination with its vistas of destruction, its memorable characters and huge impact on both science fiction and disaster movies. With giant alien spaceships unleashing incredibly devastating power upon the world, it took brain, brawn and heroics to figure out a way to fight back.

In “Independence Day: Resurgence,” now, 20 years later, humanity has united to rebuild the world’s major cities, while salvaged alien technology has been utilized to work on solving many big problems such as climate change. But the lingering threat of the extra-terrestrials’ return still hangs over our heads and the Earth Space Defence programme has formed to be ready for when that day comes. Ominously, it appears that our greatest enemy is indeed back.

Emmerich assembles an all-star powerful cast starring returning actors Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum with new characters played by Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe and Sela Ward. Liam Hemsworth plays Jake Morrison, a hotshot fighter pilot whose family was killed in the original alien attack. The daughter of former President Whitmore (Bill Pullman), Patricia (played by Monroe), is a tough cookie from a young age when she lost her mother in the original attack. Patricia now works in the White House for the current president played by Sela Ward, but also takes care of her ailing father as he’s haunted by the psychic connection to the aliens established during the last invasion.

From the original blockbuster film, Jeff Goldblum was cast as MIT-trained satellite expert David Levinson, who intercepts and decodes the message coming from massive alien ships hovering over the world’s major cities, figuring out that they’re broadcasting a countdown. Levinson escapes the ensuing attack along with his father Julius (Judd Hirsch), US President Whitmore (Bill Pullman) and a handful of others. Levinson, now the head of the Earth Space Defence initiative, is in the front line of figuring out how to tackle this vast new challenge as even bigger spaceships arrive to threaten us with destruction.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” director Roland Emmerich has established himself as one of the most creative and successful directors in film. Emmerich has proven himself in a variety of genres and has enjoyed blockbuster success with films such as “Godzilla,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “10,000 BC” and “2012.”

Yet it was in 1996 that Emmerich and Devlin would make the film for which they are still best known: “Independence Day.” Electrifying audiences from the moment its teaser trailer blew the White House apart, the blend of science fiction adventure and grand disaster movie became an influential moment in cinema, relighting the desire for such films and triggering any number of attempts to replicate its formula of huge effects and memorable characters. In the original, huge alien spaceships arrive and begin to lay waste to the world’s cities. Eventually, thanks to some chance discoveries and a lot of heroics, a small group is able to defeat the mothership and save the human race.

Now, 20 years later, Emmerich is back for the follow-up, “Independence Day: Resurgence” which moves the story on 20 years. Earth in the wake of the infamous “battle of ‘96” is a much more unified place, and humanity has learned to use some of the salvaged alien technology for the good of the planet and its people. And yet they live with the knowledge that the aliens will one day return, and in force; and that day has now arrived.



 

 

“Independence Day: Resurgence” opens June 22 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. Also available in IMAX and 3D screens. Trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O50t3JskH4

WHAT LOVE IS LIKE IN THE FUTURE IN “EQUALS”

Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult star in “Equals,” an emotionally and visually arresting film set in a dystopian future where where everyone has had their deepest feelings and emotions genetically deactivated to promote a more stable, violence-free culture.

When a Silas (Hoult) and Nia (Stewart) start to experience feelings, it throws off the balance of their lives and the oppressive society around them. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Drake Doremus, it was necessary to cast two young actors capable of delivering nuanced and subtle turns over a demanding schedule in making “Equals.”

For his part, Hoult was a fan of Doremus’s work and was switched on by the script and its sci-fi future set story. “Drake has got this brilliant touch with films — the way he cuts and edits and gets performances out of people makes him one of the most exciting directors around,” says Hoult. “He has a way of getting a performance out of you but not making it a performance, and instead making it very true and honest. He made me feel very comfortable during the filming.”

For both Hoult (X-Men: First Class) and Stewart (The Twilight Saga), two veterans of global franchise movie series, “Equals” provided a very different challenge and change of pace from mixing it up with mutants and vampires.

The magical screen chemistry between Hoult and Stewart is a testament to the actors and director’s hard work in rehearsal. The two actors would sit in front of each other saying ‘hello’ for an hour. “By the end of it, you’ve fallen into this vacuum of honesty,” Stewart says. “For whatever reason, that acting exercise carried over into the way we addressed each other on set. I knew when he was lying, he knew when I was lying. That alone is scary and bare and very vulnerable.”

Hoult says: “Kristen is incredibly intelligent, and her understanding and passion for this is amazing to see. I find it very inspiring because I can’t quite figure out everything that’s going on, but she explains it and once she’s in the scenes, I believe her.” Doremus knew that Kristen was initially apprehensive about taking on the role. “It’s a very difficult arc to pull off, but I think after the first day of rehearsals, she was very excited and embraced the challenge, and felt really comfortable.” Stewart attests that Doremus simply does what so many people want to do —“to allow themselves the freedom to discover.”

Additionally, Hoult says: “This is the first time Drake is doing work with a script, so we’ve got exactly what we need and at times what we’ve got on the page is exactly what we do, but at other times, he told us to go off and see what happens. With Kristen as the other lead, that’s very easy to do because she’s able to go anywhere and be honest.”

Doremus, a Sundance Grand Jury award winner with his previous work in “Like Crazy,” knew he wanted to experiment with a genre that he had never done before in order to grow as a filmmaker. Picking the sci-fi genre was a bold move and making a love story in a world where love doesn’t exist perhaps even bolder. “For me the film is about long-term relationships, what it means to fall in love, to ride the wave and changes of a relationship, and how by the end of a journey you need to remember what you felt and why you were in that relationship in the first place,” Doremus says. “It’s about trying to maintain what the relationships and love actually mean and love that changes and grows and becomes something else. It fascinates me and I wanted to portray that.”

 “Equals” will open in cinemas on May 11 from Pioneer Films.

 

NICHOLAS HOULT AND KRISTEN STEWART DARE TO FALL IN LOVE IN “EQUALS”

In the romantic science fiction drama “Equals,” Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult play star-crossed lovers being watched closely by a Big Brother in a future where emotions are disabled to achieve a peaceful society. 

 

Produced by Ridley Scott’s production house, Scott Free and directed by accomplished filmmaker Drake Doremus, “Equals” is an emotionally and visually arresting film from a screenplay by Nathan Parker based on a story idea from Doremus.

“Equals” is a nuanced, slow-burning love story, the film is set in a futuristic utopia where emotions have been genetically suppressed in an effort to protect society from the war and strife that has destroyed previous generations. On occasion, the suppression fails and emotions emerge in individuals – the Collective dubs this illness Switched On Syndrome, or SOS. As society is increasingly threatened by this health crisis, all SOS sufferers are heavily medicated or sent to the Den, a corrective facility from which no one returns.

Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult are Nia and Silas who encounter each other as colleagues at the science journal, Atmos. As Silas begins to experience the onset of SOS and his own awakening emotions, he finds himself inextricably drawn to Nia, who is hiding her own SOS. The longer they attempt to suppress their palpable connection, the more the tension fans the flames of their attraction. But with this newfound pleasure of intimacy, comes the threat of discovery and consignment to the Den. With the support of a group of like-minded SOS patients, they realize escape is their only option.

While Doremus and Parker worked on the story and script night and day, producer Pruss and Scott Free strove to assemble the players necessary to push it into production. With the blessing of Scott Free production chief Michael Schaefer, the project attracted a group of heavyweight backers and the project’s journey to principal photography gathered momentum. Putting the project in front of Ridley Scott played a pivotal role in getting “Equals” made.

Pruss says: “Having Ridley Scott as a producer on the film and as someone who is going to present the film, was not just crucial, but very inspiring for us all. Obviously Ridley is someone who knows a thing or two about science fiction and I think you can really feel his imprint on the film.”

“Equals” also completes Drake Doremus’ trilogy of films about love, also comprised of the Sundance winning “Like Crazy” (2011) and “Breathe In” (2013). Equals began its journey to the screen with a question that Doremus posed to producer, Michael Pruss: “What will love look like in the future… do you think we could potentially evolve away from the thing that makes us most human?”

Doremus and Parker instantly clicked and began brainstorming the question and the myriad of ideas it conjured, before landing on the idea of a society where humans are genetically modified to be absent of feeling for the betterment of society. In developing the story, Parker strove to examine not just the positive aspects of love, but also the pain and agony that accompanies caring deeply for another person. “We wanted these two characters, once they discover love, for it to feel like it was a curse,” Parker says. “They don’t want it, they want to run away from it, but are drawn back together because they can’t resist it.”

 “Equals” opens May 11 in theatres from Pioneer Films. 

Check out the film’s trailer here: https://youtu.be/cDuPxOZUTbg

HYPER-KINETIC ACTION MOVIE “HARDCORE HENRY” SHOT ON GOPRO CAMERAS

Prepare for a mind-blowing immersive cinematic encounter in “Hardcore Henry” as it gives the audience a chance to experience the entire film through the point-of-view of its main character (cyborg) named Henry. 

First time director Ilya Naishuller helms “Hardcore Henry” wherein Henry remembers nothing and his wife Estelle (played by Haley Bennett) has been kidnapped by an extremely powerful warlord with an army of mercenaries. The line between hero and villain in “Hardcore Henry” is tenuous as he tries to follow and uncover the devious plot against him within the city of Moscow. The audience – Henry, essentially – assesses in real time just who is friend and who is foe.

Shot almost entirely on GoPro cameras with custom engineered rigs, “Hardcore Henry” completely abandons, even eviscerates, traditional filmmaking and replaces it with a raw and immediate experience, allowing the audience to become one with the protagonist, so viewers go on a very personal and breathtaking journey with Henry. Wide-angle GoPro cameras, commonly used by sports fans and professionals to film their exploits, were used for the first-person style.

"Action cinema has always thrived when it captured the sensation of participating in dangerous situations that most people would much rather avoid in real life. The goal with ‘Hardcore Henry’ was to push it a step further, to put the audience right into the body of the protagonist, to have them experience the primal, exhilarating feeling that we usually view from a much safer distance," says Naishuller.

Naishuller’s creativity, commitment and talent also impressed Bennett. “Even though this was Ilya’s first film, he knew exactly what he wanted and made me excited about helping him to fulfill his vision. He’s an incredibly dedicated artist,” Bennett says.

To take the concept from a short to a feature film, Naishuller and his team conducted hundreds of stabilization tests with GoPro rigs – there had to be enough balance between the hyper kinetic scenes and the more static (relatively speaking) portions. Achieving that balance required a fair amount of R&D, trial and error and blind faith but the payoff was worth it. "A big part of the pre-production process included the creation of magnetic stabilization rigs which allowed the team to mount the cameras on helmets and keep the picture comfortable for the audience," editor Vlad Kaptur says.

“GoPro gave us access to some proprietary software that allowed for exposure control that they've since incorporated into the latest generation of their cameras. We were also expecting to break quite a few cameras, but during my shooting block we only busted two or three. We had about a dozen GoPro HERO3 Black Editions that GoPro provided us with. During one of the breaks from the shooting, GoPro released the HERO 3+ but we decided to keep using the original HERO3 to keep the picture consistent,” Naishuller adds.

“The camera rig was the most important piece of tech in getting the film to look and feel right. We hired an engineer friend of mine, Vladimir Kotihov, who was oddly enough, an American football player and knew a thing or two about helmets. We spent a long time designing and redesigning the helmet while simultaneously designing the stabilization system. It was magnet based and we went through about five or six prototypes. The first one looked like a medieval torture device before we got it where we needed it – something that provided good stabilization, light enough to not put too much pressure on the wearer and strong enough to withstand hits and general damage during the heavy-duty shoot. The final touch was attaching a Teradek transmitter and a zoom mic on it,” Kaptur recalls.

“Hardcore Henry” coming soon in theaters from Pioneer Films.

RUSSIAN FILMMAKER’S IRREVERENT VIRAL VIDEO EXPANDS TO IMMERSIVE VIDEOGAME FILM “HARDORE HENRY”

Ilya Naishuller is a Russian-born filmmaker and front man for the Moscow punk band Biting Elbows. His band’s groundbreaking, irreverent video “Bad Motherfucker” became a viral sensation, catching the attention of fans around the world, attracting over 120 million views. Producer/director Timur Bekmabetov was one of those fans and he encouraged Naishuller to expand his vision into a feature length film and the result was “Hardcore Henry,” an action-packed, immersive experience told completely from the point-of-view of a cyborg named Henry who’s been brought back from the dead by his wife Estelle (Haley Bennett) and soon finds himself surrounded with an army of mercenaries out to kill him and his wife.


Backed and produced by renowned Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, known for his groundbreaking films “Night Watch” and “Day Watch” along with hit Hollywood movies such as “Wanted” that starred Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy and the recent phenomenal “Unfriended” horror for the millennial generation, “Hardcore Henry” is Bekmambetov’s latest foray in pushing the envelope in filmmaking with the use of GoPro cameras for that immersive experience of a first-person’s POV.



Shot almost entirely on GoPro cameras with custom engineered rigs, “Hardcore Henry” completely abandons, even eviscerates, traditional filmmaking and replaces it with a raw and immediate experience, allowing the audience to become one with the protagonist, so viewers go on a very personal and breathtaking journey with Henry.



"Action cinema has always thrived when it captured the sensation of participating in dangerous situations that most people would much rather avoid in real life. The goal with ‘Hardcore Henry’ was to push it a step further, to put the audience right into the body of the protagonist, to have them experience the primal, exhilarating feeling that we usually view from a much safer distance," says Naishuller.



“I couldn’t stop watching ‘Bad Motherf*cker.’ I admired Ilya’s daring, creative spirit,” says Bekmambetov. “There are three major factors that draw me to a project - originality and boldness and an interesting concept. That video was truly unique and unusual. Something that looks like pure insanity turns out to be a well thought out and rational project. Ilya’s process in achieving this effect is one of his most valuable assets,” Bekmambetov says.



“The second night after ‘Bad Motherf*cker’ had become such a hit, I got a message on FB from Timur. He's a huge deal to us in Russia; he’s a cinematic hero. We met over Skype, he said congratulations and asked if I might be interested in expanding it into a feature film? To be honest, I was hesitant at first because I wasn't sure it could be done well enough to transcend the gimmick. But Timur asked, ‘Would you not want to see a great POV action film in a cinema?’ I said yes, and he simply answered 'Well, go make it then,' Naishuller recounts. “The more I thought about it, the more interesting and challenging it seemed. My biggest concern was never the action, but if I could tell a story within this creative cage. I realized that if I could correctly accomplish both, it would make for a mind-blowing cinematic experience. So I flew to Los Angeles to meet Timur, who was amazing, really supportive and a big believer in the project. We talked about the challenges of making this as a full-length feature, hashed out some ideas, and shook hands on it. It was the easiest, most amazing experience. Not only did I just get a chance to work with one of the most respected Russian directors and producers, but that producer promised to allow me to make the film I was envisioning. I went back to Moscow, secured additional financing for the film, and began working on the script. Throughout the process, Timur kept his word, and I got the best of both worlds; a rare producer who was there anytime I needed his help or advice, and who never once pushed me to do anything I felt was wrong for the film. It really was an incredible experience. It also helps immensely that since Timur is an accomplished director as well as a producer, he truly understands the pressure that a director is under.”

“The best way to help promising filmmakers is to give them creative freedom, as well as full responsibility. It gave Ilya a chance to make his own mistakes and then to find ways of making things right in the end,” Bekmambetov explains.

“Hardcore Henry” opens May 4 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

“HARDCORE HENRY” ELEVATES AND ALTERS MOVIE VIEWING EXPERIENCE STARTING MAY 4

Get ready to watch and play in “Hardcore Henry,” one of the most unflinchingly original wild-rides to hit the big screen in a long time. You experience the entire film through the main character Henry. 

 

As the film begins, you remember nothing, just look around. Mainly because you’ve just been brought back from the dead by your wife (Haley Bennett). She tells you that your name is Henry. Five minutes later, you are being shot at, your wife has been kidnapped, and you should probably go get her back. Who’s got her? His name’s Akan (Danila Kozlovsky); he’s a powerful warlord with an army of mercenaries, and a plan for world domination. You’re also in an unfamiliar city of Moscow, and everyone wants you dead. Everyone except for a mysterious British fellow called Jimmy (Sharlto Copley.) He may be on your side, but you aren’t sure. If you can survive the insanity, and solve the mystery, you might just discover your purpose and the truth behind your identity.

A natural talent, with a striking presence, Haley Bennett who also takes on a leading role in “Hardcore Henry” is quickly establishing herself as one of Hollywood's most dynamic actresses. Bennett was last seen in Antoine Fuqua’s hit film “The Equalizer” opposite Denzel Washington and Chloe Grace Moretz. Bennett made her on screen debut opposite Draw Barrymore and Hugh Grant in the Marc Lawrence-directed film “Music and Lyrics”. She then went on to star in a range of different films including the hugely successful “Marley and Me”opposite Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

The movie was shot on location in Moscow and plays out like a punk rock travel guide to the city. For Haley Bennett, Moscow was one of the film’s appeals and she took full advantage of the opportunity to explore Russia.

“I really appreciate that aspect of my profession which allows me to travel to distant lands and immerse myself in the history and culture. Russia has so much going on. You can just get lost. I was very far from home. Being a foreigner, the crew made sure I felt comfortable. I appreciated that, especially because there was a significant language barrier. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. My assistant, Lidia, took me on a little journey outside of the city of Moscow to the countryside. Her mother prepared us a very memorable home cooked Russian meal. That was a highlight. Seeing how her family lived and having a taste of their traditions,” Bennett relates.

Shot almost entirely on GoPro cameras with custom engineered rigs, “Hardcore Henry” completely abandons, even eviscerates, traditional filmmaking and replaces it with a raw and immediate experience, allowing the audience to become one with the protagonist, so viewers go on a very personal and breathtaking journey with Henry.

 

Brace for an all-new viewing experience when “Hardcore Henry” opens May 4 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

Check out the film’s trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOrBWP0TdA4&feature=youtu.be

Now Showing: Lost in the Pacific from Pioneer Films [PG]

“Lost in the Pacific” opens Today in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

SUPERMAN STAR BRANDON ROUTH ABOARD PLANE MAYHEM IN “LOST IN THE PACIFIC”

The high-flying and non-stop thrilling action movie “Lost in the Pacific” starring Superman’s Brandon Routh aboard on the maiden flight of a giant, luxury aircraft called The Titanic in the Sky. Unfortunately, just like its historical ocean counterpart, the plane hits an abandoned aircraft carrier on its first voyage and its pilot, played by Chinese actress Zhang Yuqi, must try to land on an island in the middle of the Pacific.

Directed by Vincent Zhou, “Lost in the Pacific” is China’s first sci-fi action in English language and boasts of an impressive production crew including visual effects supervisor Bruce Jones (“The Italian Job,” “Star Trek”), art director Ian Bailie (“Atonement,” “Pride and Prejudice”) and Stareast Digital Lab and Venture 3D and Scott Winig serves as director of photography. It was clear that the Chinese production pulled out all the stops with international actors that also includes Oscar nominees Kami Asgar and Sean McCormack for the sound editing, and Academy Award winner Mark Paterson for the final sound mixing of the movie.

“Lost in the Pacific” is a futuristic riveting sci-fi thriller following a group of passengers stranded on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean after their luxury airliner makes an emergency landing. To make matters worse, as they try their best to survive and figure out a way to get the plane back in the air, they soon learn the island has been overrun with strange mutated creatures that take passengers off, one by one. Once in the air again, the two surviving military personnel set course for a secret military base. Little do they know, they’ve taken a sinister stowaway along for the ride. Routh plays a mysterious chef of the plane where Zhang Yuqi takes on the seat of the plane’s pilot. Zhang Yuqi, was recently voted "the most beautiful Asian face and has earned her fame in the world of cinema for her roles in the Chinese box office hits “A Hope (CJ7)” and “White Deer Plain.”

Director Zhou enthused that “We are excited to be working with Arclight Films on the recent launch of “Lost in the Pacific.” Huace film studio will be our main domestic distributor in China, and it will be the first Chinese movie to be distributed by its own distribution department. Huace is the second largest public company in the entertainment industry in China and has been developing a successful model for distribution and looks forward to the film’s release later this year.”

“With complex character relationships, dark, mysterious creatures all in groundbreaking 3D with top-of-the-line visual effects and a celebrated team both in front of and behind the camera, the film has all the makings of a worldwide box office hit,” said Ying Ye of Arclight Films, the company representing worldwide rights on “Lost in the Pacific” outside of China. Ye is also an executive producer on the film.

“I am thrilled to be working with such an amazingly talented cast and the exceptional team behind-the-scenes on Lost in the Pacific,” said Zhou. “We will bring an adventure of monumental proportions to audiences all over the world that will keep them on the edge of their seats until the very end, and even after they leave the theatre. A film like Lost in the Pacific has all the makings of an international success story on a global scale. Buyers from all territories see enormous potential in Lost in the Pacific.”

“Lost in the Pacific” opens March 16 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Now Showing: Allegiant (The Divergent Series) from Pioneer Films [PG]

 “Allegiant – Part 1” is now showing 9 from Pioneer Films.

MOST-AWAITED YOUNG-ADULT FILM EVENT “THE DIVERGENT: ALLEGIANT” IN PHILS. MARCH 9 - AHEAD OF U.S. [PG]

The first of the last part of the bestselling trilogy “The Divergent Series” book-to-movie blockbuster franchise, “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” is about to explode with epic action scenes, spectacular vistas and unexpected twists in cinemas on March 9, one week advance of its US release.

“The Divergent Series: Allegiant follows Tris, Four and their comrades as they escape the walled city of Chicago and embark on their most astonishing adventure yet. With Chicago on the verge of an all-out civil war, Tris (Shailene Woodley) leads Four (Theo James), Christina (Zoë Kravitz), Peter (Miles Teller), Tori (Maggie Q) and Caleb (Ansel Elgort) on a harrowing escape from the walled city, chased by armed guards loyal to self-appointed leader EVELYN (Naomi Watts). Outside Chicago for the first time in their lives, the five find themselves being pursued by EDGAR (Jonny Weston) through a toxic wasteland known as the Fringe before being rescued and escorted to the ultra-high-tech compound of the Bureau of Genetic Welfare.

Once there, Bureau mastermind David (Jeff Daniels) singles out Tris for being genetically “pure” and enlists her to champion his mysterious cause. While Tris receives special treatment, including access to “memory tabs” that enable her to relive her own family history, Four joins Bureau soldiers on a supposedly humanitarian mission to remove children from a ragtag Fringe encampment.

Discovering that David plans to use the Bureau’s astonishing technologies for inhumane ends, Tris hijacks his private aircraft and returns with her team to Chicago. Faced with a shocking betrayal, they must try to stop Evelyn before she unleashes a memory-erasing gas on the city’s entire population, including the Allegiant rebel force led by Johanna (Octavia Spencer).

At the heels of the previously released hit movies from the books by author Veronica Roth, “The Divergent” and “Insurgent,” the latest instalment “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” goes on a different world for the heroic team to finally discover what being a Divergent truly means.

Woodley, too, relished the challenge of pushing her character toward new horizons. “When we first met Tris in Divergent, she empowered herself,” says the actress. “In Insurgent, she’s guilt-ridden and winds up being betrayed by her brother Caleb. In Allegiant, Tris goes outside of Chicago because she feels like it’s part of her destiny.”

Director Robert Schwentke wanted to immerse audiences in the world beyond Chicago by filling the screen with bigger visual effects, more monumental vistas and more exciting action sequences than anything featured in the previous films. Between set-ups, cast members were literally left hanging. “You’d just be there for hours,” Woodley laughs. “It’s not very comfortable.”


Woodley, James, Kravitz, Teller, Elgort and Q, spent three days at the quarry, plus five more days shooting on a smaller, less steeply angled wall built to make it easier for the actors to say their lines while climbing. Elgort, an experienced rock climber in real life, had to forget everything he knew to portray his character properly. “Running up a real wall vertically was pretty sick,” he recalls. “My challenge was making it look like I didn’t know what I was doing because Caleb can’t run and climb. I had to slam my body against the wall. I wore all these pads so it didn’t cut me up, but those scenes completely chewed up my costume.”

“The Divergent Series: Allegiant” opens March 9 in cinemas nationwide from Pioneer Films.

HEIGHTENED PULSE-POUNDING ESCAPE AND SURVIVAL IN “THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT” [PG]

Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Maggie Q and Ansel Elgort return in the most awaited book-to-film franchise in “Allegiant” where Chicago is on the verge of an all-out civil war. The young warriors and heroes with Tris (Woodley) leading the troop -Four (James), Christina (Kravitz), Peter (Teller), Tori (Q) and Caleb (Elgort) sees them on a harrowing escape from the walled city, chased by armed guards loyal to self-appointed leader Evelyn (Naomi Watts).

Outside Chicago for the first time in their lives, the five find themselves being pursued by Edgar (Jonny Weston) through a toxic wasteland known as the Fringe before being rescued and escorted to the ultra-high-tech compound of the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. Once there, Bureau mastermind David (Jeff Daniels) singles out Tris for being genetically “pure” and enlists her to champion his mysterious cause. While Tris receives special treatment, including access to “memory tabs” that enable her to relive her own family history, Four joins Bureau soldiers on a supposedly humanitarian mission to remove children from a ragtag Fringe encampment.

Discovering that David plans to use the Bureau’s astonishing technologies for inhumane ends, Tris hijacks his private aircraft and returns with her team to Chicago. Faced with a shocking betrayal, they must try to stop Evelyn before she unleashes a memory-erasing gas on the city’s entire population, including the Allegiant rebel force led by Johanna (Octavia Spencer).


“The Divergent Series: Allegiant” is directed by Robert Schwentke (“The Divergent Series: Insurgent,” “The Time Traveler’s Wife”) and based on the bestselling young adult novel “Allegiant” by Veronica Roth.

The filmmakers set out to bring Victoria Roth’s original vision to life once again even as they add fresh surprises to her dystopian saga. Brimming with new characters, landscapes and mysteries, “Allegiant” extends a Divergent universe that has already captivated millions of moviegoers. “One reason these stories resonate for young people particularly is that they wonder what their futures hold for them,” James muses. “Whether it’s conscious or not, young people think about, ‘What kind of world will I live in?’ I think that’s why so many people gravitate toward the Divergent stories.”

Although Allegiant remains consistent to the core values of the Divergent series, its heroes encounter new worlds and shocking revelations and the film raises the level of excitement to new heights. “Allegiant gives you a scale and a scope that you don’t get in previous films,” says producer Lucy Fisher. “There are so many things about this movie that excite us, including the action and the visuals. But my favorite part about this entire series is the characters and their relationship to each other. With Allegiant, I love that you’re on the edge of your seat, because there’s something going on every second.”

“Allegiant” opens March 9 in theatres nationwide from Pioneer Films.

“THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT” BREAKS BOUNDARIES IN YOUNG ADULT EPIC ACTION [PG]

The Shailene Woodley starrer "Divergent" series based on the books by author Veronica Roth has recently revealed "Allegiant - Part 1" and "Allegiant - Part 2" have been modified for the big screen.

In the news that have circulated recently, it was revealed that the upcoming two film will no longer be called "Allegiant - Part 1" and "Allegiant - Part 2." The two would now be titled "The Divergent Series: Allegiant" and "The Divergent Series: Ascendant."

The first two “Divergent” films have grossed more than $550 million at the global box office and are Lionsgate’s highest-grossing films outside “The Hunger Games” and “Twilight” franchises.

The third installment of the blockbuster Divergent series franchise, “Allegiant” takes Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) into a new world, far more dangerous than ever before. Beatrice Prior and Tobias Eaton venture into the world outside of the fence and are taken into protective custody by a mysterious agency known as the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. The film is being directed by Robert Schwentke from a screenplay by Noah Oppenheim, Adam Cooper, Bill Collage and Stephen Chbosky.

The story background discusses how a future, ruined Chicago becomes a society that defines its citizens by strict conformity to their social and personality-related affiliations with five different factions. This removes the threat of anyone exercising independent will and re-threatening the population's safety through war or another human-created catastrophe. The factions are Abnegation to uphold selflessness, Amity to uphold peacefulness, Candor to uphold honesty, Dauntless to uphold bravery, and Erudite, to uphold knowledge. Tris tests out for equal aptitude with three different factions: Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless. This classifies her as "Divergent" and capable of independent thought beyond the restrictive nature of the factions. She is warned never to share this information with anyone for fear of her life. Divergent are a threat to the stable society, hunted and killed by the ruthless leader of Erudite, in order to eliminate the "threat" of independent thinking. Those who fail the initiation of their particular faction are deemed factionless, who are treated as a lower class and a drain on society. Tris Prior is shocked by the video released to the public at the end of the Erudite headquarters raid. The video revealed the truth about the faction system and announced that Divergent are needed outside the borders of the city.

“Allegiant” will open in the Philippines on March 9 from Pioneer Films, one week ahead of its US release.

Now Showing: Deadpool from 20th Century Fox [R16]

    “Deadpool” is now showing in cinemas nationwide (2D and IMAX screens) from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.