unSAULicited

It’s payback time in the action-packed “Riot” starring Matthew Reese along with veteran actor Dolph Lundgren about a man who deliberately throws himself into prison to kill another prisoner who murdered his wife. Jack Stone (Reese) purposefully orchestrates a bank robbery in order to be thrown into prison with the notorious Russian kingpin, Balam (Chuck Lidell). More than just a mob criminal, Balam is a very cunning and dangerous lord who controls the police force from behind bars. His cell is a lavish private room built specifically for him, inaccessible to most in the depths of the prison structure. However, Stone eventually finds an ally with a fellow prisoner played by Lundgren. Surrounded by his loyal henchmen and guards in his sectioned off fortress, Balam doesn't know Jack is coming for him to avenge his family, whom Balam murdered in cold blood. “Riot” opens in cinemas on June 29 from CrystalSky Multimedia. Check out the film’s trailer here:

The Film Development Council Philippines in cooperation with the Cinematheque Centre Manila proudly presents the third World Premieres Film Festival (WPFF) slated from June 29 up to July 10, 2016. The WPFF celebrates the power and magic of film by showcasing the works of film directors from across the globe. Featuring a dazzling array of human narratives, cultural diversities, and social issues, the festival provides a unique opportunity for filmmakers to reach new audiences in the Philippines, and launch their international premieres in Asia’s rapidly growing film climate. This year, over 60 international films will be shown at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, as well as partner venues: SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, Greenbelt 3, the Shang Cineplex, and Uptown Cinemas. Films will be shown at a festival price of P100 at all venues, unless indicated otherwise. The Festival’s 12-day duration kicks off on June 29 – 3pm at the Cinematheque Centre Manila, with the Opening Film premiere...

Ever had that first taste that you enjoyed so much you just had to have another bite and you end up eating everything of it that was served? Friends, this was exactly how my Wednesday went for my soul. You might have already heard of the name Tendo Kato. His craft is the cause of my overflowing being right now. Tendo-san is that 21 y.o. free soul that started selling his photos in Cebu. You name the price that you would want to pay for the photos you'll get. Prior to landing and selling in Cebu, Tendo-san has already been in many different countries. He shared that he got the idea from another traveler who was selling photos in Thailand. Thanks to the viral post above, Tendo-san has caught the attention of netizens and the media. (Trivia: His favorite photo so far is the one with birds flying.) My first encounter was short and already awesome. As I went through the wonderful photos, my hands were literally shaking and my mind quickly chose which ones to get...

In just three years, Red Turnip Theater has changed the landscape of the commercial theatre scene, proving that the straight play has always been suited to Filipino audiences’ tastes, provided that the content and form are of top-notch quality. Red Turnip Theater now mounts their most captivating season yet, kicking the Fourth Season off with the offbeat love story TRIBES and closing it with the sci-fi thriller THE NETHER. Both plays are powerfully written by the first female playwrights in the Red Turnip roster: award winners Nina Raine and Jennifer Haley, respectively. Last season, Red Turnip travelled outwards, exploring not only different countries but time and space in the critically acclaimed productions of “33 Variations” and “Constellations”. This year Red Turnip returns to its roots, going back to what it does best: journeying inwards. In TRIBES, a deaf young man tries to find his voice in a comically loquacious, anti-sign language family that just wants to make him fe...

Every artist have dreams to pursue, but it is how one conquers those dreams that make a difference. Over the last couple of months, noted award-winning actor and classical / crossover artist AL GATMAITAN was quietly working on a dream project to further hone his craft in music and theater. To further widen his horizons, Al Gatmaitan embarked on a major decision --- a bold move that he has taken very seriously in the forthcoming production of Linda Faigao-Hall’s “THE FEMALE HEART” under the direction of Banaue Miclat-Janssen for the UP Playwrights’ Theater. Set in the late 1980's, the play follows Adelfa and her elder brother Anghel’s struggles as resident of the infamous mountain of garbage popularly known as Smokey Mountain. Confronted by extreme poverty and her brother's ailing health, Adelfa agrees to become a mail-order bride in the United States. When queried by Al’s peers about this challenging job as Anghel, he was straightforward to share his point of view and...

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 he...

In the latest epic family movie adventure “Ice Age: Collision Course” from the highly successful “Ice Age” franchise, audiences worldwide will be propelled to new environments like the cosmos and a crystallized world known as Geotopia, with many of the characters beginning their own new journeys. Scrat is, of course, one character that never changes. In “Ice Age: Collision Course” he continues his pursuit of the cursed acorn. But this time Scrat’s quest is taking him where no Ice Age character has gone before—the cosmos—where the consequences of his antics are nothing short of “Scrat-tastrophic.” Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe, where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age world. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, as they travel to exotic new lands and encounter a host of colorful new...

Featured in the Toronto International Film Festival, Director Rooth Tang gives you 3 couples in 3 cities, during 3 different times. Sway is a cross-cultural masterpiece that highlights how languages, even silence, bind and separate us as humans. It also shows how words become political in what we want and how we attempt to sway others so that we may find our place in this world, a very universal theme. Shot in Bangkok. L.A., and Paris, Sway forces us to think if we are really where we want to be. It challenges our wants to move and our need to stay. It was perfect for my alone time a few nights ago. The movie and a bottle of beer accompanied my loneliness perfectly. Make time and catch the sublime in Sway. Let it take you away even just for a little over a hundred minutes. Sway is available in FilmDoo. Simply go to  https://www.filmdoo.com/films/sway to view the trailer and purchase the film for streaming. Just recently, FilmDoo released 14 internationally recognized S...

Every business must answer a need. Otherwise, it would soon meet its demise and fade out in a sea of start-ups, trampled over by the next big thing. Fifteen years ago, Michelle Asence-Fontelera noticed how expensive imported bath and body products were and how no local brands provided the same good quality at affordable prices. Hence in 2001, Zen Zest was born. It was Michelle’s answer to the need of every Filipina to elevate her beauty, style, and home without breaking the bank. As a beauty junkie and fragrance lover herself, Michelle believes in investing in your passions. For three months, she trained under a chemist and learned how to formulate her own products. Her initial colognes, hand sanitizers, lotions, perfumes, and soaps were all concocted and personally packaged in her home. With a P350,000 capital borrowed from her family, she opened Zen Zest’s first humble stall in SM Megamall and earned exactly P4,178 on her first day of business. From that one small ki...