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Fifteen years after the release of Enchanted, a real-life and fairytale animation movie from Disney, comes its highly anticipated sequel—Disenchanted.

The movie’s trailer shows how hard a married life is for Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) and his husband Robert (Patrick Dempsey) as they settle in a suburban home. Was it a happily never after instead?

Disenchanted is a continuation of the events in Enchanted, where, as the family adjusts to their new home, Giselle soon realizes that the magical life she once knew is no longer present. So, desperate to bring back her enchanted life, she turns to Andalasia (her fairytale place) to wish for a fairytale life in her new town.

This, however, did not turn out as expected as the magic had gone wrong and turned out to be causing chaos between both worlds. Even in its poster, the trailer hints at Giselle turning into an evil stepmother. 

In a scene, Giselle is seen telling her stepdaughter, Morgan, how her wish for a fairytale life has gone wrong. She, however, added, “… or terribly right.”

Alongside Adams and Dempsey, James Marsden and Idina Menzel will also be portraying their original roles in the film as Edward and Nancy.

Disenchanted remains an American live-action/animated musical fantasy romantic film. This sequel is directed by Adam Shankman and is written by Brigette Hales from a story by J. David Stem, David N. Weiss, and Richard LaGravenese. 

A decade and a half of waiting has surely not been wasted in vain, as Disenchanted arrives on Disney+ on November 24. 

The latest Disney live-action adaptation trailer of the 1989 classic animated film, The Little Mermaid, was finally unveiled at the D23 Expo 2022.  

The classic story of Ariel is finally confirmed to be back on the big screen despite the production being pushed around and delayed by the pandemic. From its original slated release in November 2019, it is now set for release in May 2023.

Adapted from the 1989 film by John Musker and Ron Clements, which was based on the Hans Christian Andersen 19th century fairy tale of the same title, it tells the story of Ariel—the youngest daughter of a sea king. She falls deeply in love with a handsome human prince after saving him from a shipwreck.

A Grammy-nominated actress, Halle Bailey, is set to play the role of Ariel. This marks her first starring role in a feature film. However, along with the waves of joy coming from Black children who have watched the teaser and initially admired its racial representation also comes the racist backlash towards the casting of the lead role.

In its initial trailer release, hashtags of #representationmatters have been seen across social media as videos of little Black kids being happy to see a princess who is a person of color trends. However, despite the constant universal call for equality, an opposing hashtag, #NotMyAriel has surfaced on the internet.

"I want the little girl in me and the little girls just like me who are watching to know that they're special and that they should be a princess in every single way," says Hailey.

The Little Mermaid's upcoming American musical fantasy film is directed by Rob Marshall from a screenplay by Jane Goldman and David Magee.

 

Harry Styles to Dominate Theatres Twice

2022-09-08
image source: Indie Wire / Vanity Fair

Yes! It has long been confirmed that the English singer-songwriter Harry Styles will have two movies in theatres this fall. These would be released in consecutive months—September to October.

From the announcement to the filming of the movies, fans have been anticipating its release, and now that it's getting close, they may begin clearing out their schedules and have their dates blocked.

The first movie starred by Styles is entitled Don't Worry, Darling. It will be in cinemas on September 23, while My Policeman will land on October 21 before becoming available to stream on Prime Video from November 4.

The better news is that these movies are not just for Styles’ fans; book lovers are also anticipating these exciting films as both are based on novels.

Don't worry, Darling is a psychological thriller directed by Olivia Wilde. The story follows a housewife, played by Florence Pugh—one of the main characters, who begins to uncover a disturbing truth about her husband, portrayed by Styles. In addition, actor Chris Pine will also play the charismatic cult-like leader in a mid-century-styled experimental community.

On the other hand, My Policeman movie is based on a romance novel by Bethan Roberts. This tells a story of a very intriguing love story set in the 50s where Styles will play a policeman who fell in love with a teacher, played by Emma Corin. However, a more engaging storyline comes after Tom—Styles' character—engages in a passionate affair with a curator named Patrick.

Movie lovers, book lovers, basically Harry Styles lovers will surely enjoy this.

 

Two Movies, One Classic Tale

2022-09-01
image source: BBC News Entertainment

Fascinating how new ways of storytelling develop, yet classic stories still trend and never grow old. Who would've thought that Disney's second animated film would get two adaptations released in the same year—2022? We swear this isn't a lie. We don't want our noses growing!

That's right! We are talking about Pinocchio and how it is getting two film adaptations from two of the highly subscribed streaming platforms—Disney+ and Netflix.

Although Pinocchio has been made for the screen several times since its publication in the 1883 children's novel by Carlo Collodi, these upcoming films are guaranteed to be binge worthy for people of all ages.

How are they different?

Disney stories and adaptations have played a massive part in making our childhood complete. From increasing our vocabulary as kids, meeting new friends due to the mutual likeness for books and movies, to the formation of our moral values, which even until adulthood remains with us.

Through Disney’s new streaming platform—Disney+ (Disney Plus)—Pinocchio’s story is set forth in a family-friendly, live-action remake, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks as Geppetto, to be released next week.

Netflix, on the other hand, being one of the world’s leading and trending entertainment platforms, is set to release a stop-motion animated version by the Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro and starring Ewan McGregor stars as Jiminy Cricket.

Del Toro announced his intention to make Pinocchio 14 years ago but struggled to attract financing for the film, so it was canceled in 2017. Now, Netflix has already confirmed its release in December.

Retelling one of our favorite classic tales is indeed great news to kick off the fall season.

Stepping-Stones to the Red Carpet

2022-06-03
image source: 9Honey Celebrity

Have you ever wondered what your favorite Hollywood stars did before they got their A-list celebrity status? You’d be surprised to find that a few of them were actually already in the entertainment industry! Yup, some of the biggest stars worked run-of-the-mill jobs that paved the way for them step into that red carpet. In this listing, we look into three Hollywood high rollers’ first jobs. 

We begin the list with People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2008, Australian actor, and Greatest Showman star, Hugh Jackman. Before he became all of this and embodied the role of Logan, might we add, he was actually a party clown. And not a very good one in his own statement. He recalls in an interview how he worked as Coco the clown while simultaneously being a physical education teacher! Talk about doing the greatest show!

Next on our list also hails from down under, is an incredibly versatile actor, and will celebrate her birthday this month, Nicole Kidman. The actress as won a boatload of awards and began acting in the early 90s. But before the spotlight shined its bright lights on her, she actually ushered cinemagoers to see their favorite films. Yes, the actress was on the other side of the screen, handing out tickets, showing patrons to their seats, etc. We wonder if she ever just wants to sell tickets to Aquaman, you know, just for laughs!

 The daughter of Jon Voight got her chance to shine as a music video extra once upon a time. Have no idea who that is? Let us help you out! We are talking about the one and only Angelina Jolie, American actress, director, and humanitarian who has had a massive impact not only in Hollywood but in her philanthropic work. 

Well there you have it! These three had one foot in the business all along. Now they are award winners and undoubtedly successful in their craft. Did any of those first jobs intrigue you?

Top Gun and Tom Cruise

2022-05-27
image source: Yahoo News Malaysia

Tom Cruise quite literally and figuratively reached the sky when he took on the role of Pete Mitchel. His acting career took off, and he has not landed after more than three decades. The role resulted in countless films across different genres and permanently put Tom Cruise’s name in the spotlight. 

Top Gun is a training ground for the United States Navy’s elite fighter pilots. In the film released in 1986, the students competed to be the best in the class. The first film was directed by Tony Scott and starred by Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, and Tim Robbins.

Three decades later, Top Gun finally has a sequel with, you guessed it, Tom Cruise taking the lead. Top Gun: Maverick is set to be shown in theatres today, May 27, 2022—a perfect opportunity to revisit cinemas if you haven’t been in one since the pandemic began.

In Top Gun, we saw Pete Mitchel be the student. But according to its IMDb page, Top Gun: Maverick will show us the teacher in him. The film features Pete Mitchel after more than thirty years of service as one of the navy’s top aviators. Tom Cruise will be starring alongside Jennifer Connelly and Miles Teller in the film directed by Joseph Kosinski. 

There is a theory that artistic and creative skills are genetic. This means that parents’ artistry and interests can potentially shape the career paths that their children take. This theory is perhaps very true for the Skarsgard family

Stellan Skargard is the father of eight children. He is prominent Swedish actor who began acting as a teenager and is most known for his roles in Pirates of the Caribbean, MCU’s Avengers, specifically in Thor movies, and Mamma Mia! With this overview, it is clear that he has worked on pretty big films with reasonably noticeable roles.

What’s more, three of his eight children are sharing the Hollywood limelight with him. Let’s take a glance at the Skarsgard family, shall we?

Alexander Skarsgard is the eldest son of Stellan, and he is a face that you’ll swoon at. He’s played the irresistible Eric Northman in True Blood, a TV series that ran from 2008-2014. More notably, he played Tarzan in The Legend of Tarzan. He’s also a credited producer, director, and writer!

Bill Skarsgard, unlike Alexander, has a smile that is to die for. He is most notable as the actor who played Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It and It Chapter Two. But more than that, he actually also directed the films. 

The last but never the least Skarsgard on our list today is Gustaf Skarsgard. He is not the last famous Skarsgard in Hollywood by any means, but like his siblings, he is an accomplished actor and director known for the film Vikings, Westworld, and The Way Back. 

The Skarsgard patriarch reportedly always encouraged his children to go after their passions and never pressured them to go into showbusiness. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the Skarsgard family is slowly building a Hollywood dynasty!

 

Star Wars Before CGI

2022-05-13
image source: Screen Rant

Star Wars is perhaps one of the best movies to compare how sci-fi films were made before and after CGI was used. Computer-generated imagery (CGI) changed many industries over the years. This is especially true in the filmmaking game. Creating virtually anything on a computer has made film production more practical, costing less money and time for any movie genre.

If you’ve never heard of Star Wars, I’m not sure what planet you’re from, but we’re here to tell you that it is one epic saga that blew up in 1977. The original trilogy had painstaking special effects as CGI had not been created or become prevalent in filmmaking yet. So how were the first movies made? Well think creatively! Animators typically spent an hour creating about one second of footage. Yes, it was animated and photographed. The production made use of trick photography to capture the vehicles and space technology which was made from miniature models. The actors wore costumes, especially for C-3PO and Chewie. This description is monumentally different from the green screen that is propped up on movie sets and edited in computers today.

So how does it work?

Actors go on set and see a skeletonized version of the location, and they just use their beautiful talents to picture it. Take Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker which was released in 2019. That is more than four decades after the first movie was released. In this movie, no more miniatures were used. Most notably, the producers were able to CGI Carrie Fisher into the movie to play Leia. They had a double come in and play the part, but they CGI-pasted Carrie Fisher’s face on there. Weird? Yes, it may be. But if you’re a fan, you wouldn’t want to replace her! This way, Leia left Star Wars in the most amazing way possible—as a Jedi and a mom!

CGI proves that with technology, no movie is too radical or impossible.

 

Good Reads for Mom

2022-05-07
image source: Interior Design ideas

Books are a foolproof present for moms and mother figures. They don’t go out of style, don’t need to be fitted, and don’t have an expiration date. Plus, you can give your loved ones a few insights and a few days of literary pleasure. So this mother’s day, give your moms a new book for her shelf. Here are a few celebrity recommendations that your mom could also enjoy!

1. Oprah Winfrey once picked this for a book club selection and Barrack Obama once shared it on a Facebook post. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones focuses on a married couple separated by the husband’s incarceration and what happens when he comes home.

2. Reese Witherspoon loves this book. She’s picked it for book club and produced a movie out of it! Where the Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens is one of the features in the Metro Films. It’s about a girl who grew up alone in the marshes of North Carolina and is ready to connect to the outside world.

3. Natalie Portman is all about discovering what it means to be a woman in society. She recommends Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami. It’s set in Japan and features three women—a mother, a daughter, and an unnamed narrator—and follows their struggle with identity and bodily autonomy in Japan. 

4. Halle Berry fell in love with this Pulitzer prizewinner. The Overstory by Richard Powers is a unique read. It is rooted on the beauty of nature by following the story of five trees and how they change the lives of nine Americans.

5. The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammed and Matem Aly gets the recommendation of graceful ballet dancer Misty Copeland. She chose this as one of her favorite books, saying that the children’s book deftly shows that difference doesn’t have to be scary.

Those are five different books that your mom might be interested to give a read. Which one are you going to scour the bookstores for today?

Movie Makeup Magic!

2022-05-03
image source: Cheezburger

Think of some of the most bizarre characters in your favorite films. Got the image in your head? Now think of what the actor behind that character looks like. Can you picture it? No? Well this is for you.

Here is a little peek into the world of villainy and see who the person behind the sinister character actually is.

Lord Voldemort is one of the most infamous villains in Hollywoord in, dare we say, the world! He had no hair or nose or lips or eyebrows so you can imagine how long actor Ralph Fiennes had to endure to be transformed into he who must not be named.

Another very talented actor portrayed his character for over thirty years. This one has the power to kill you in your nightmare. Yes, we’re talking about Freddy Krueger, the man who put the nightmare in Nightmare on Elm Street. This one is bald and full of burn scars! It is alleged that Robert Englund who played Freddy had to sit through a three-to-four-hour process of putting on fake teeth, makeup, and twelve pieces of latex.

The last, but certainly not the least, movie makeup magic we’ll feature for this one is Bill Skarsgard. Yes, we feature the most horrifying killer clown ever. This 2017 remake gave us a more sinister looking Pennywise. Aside from the tendency to kill, there’s that creepy smile that set his Pennywise apart from the 1990 film.

Makeup is truly a marvel and as it is used in the film industry, it can turn an average Joe into something else!

Love and the Defamation Thereof

2022-04-27
image source: NBC New York

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are making waves online. The hashtag #JusticeForJohnnyDepp allegedly already has over four billion views on Twitter! The virtual masses have spoken, and they are rooting for Johnny. The trial for the defamation case that Johnny Depp filed against Amber Heard began on April 11, and since then, the court has only heard Depp’s testimonies. Within the four days of Depp taking the sand, revelation after revelation has come out. The most recent of which is the audio recording that his lawyer presented. The contents of which shook the world. “Tell the world, Johnny, tell them, Johnny Depp, I, Johnny Depp, a man, I'm a victim too of domestic violence,” Heard says, before going on to challenge him to "see how many people believe or side with you.”

Several recordings from opposing parties have been released and they have, in some way, aided people in giving their own verdict on Amber Heard. Some are calling for her immediate removal from the Aquaman franchise while others are sympathetic on her alleged mental illness and calling for her immediate treatment. However, the judge and jury is far from reaching an actual verdict as the trial is still set to take weeks more, and Heard’s testimony is yet to come.

Whatever the verdict may be, Depp has already expressed that the moment the accusations against him came out, he already lost.  

Songs That Made Movies

2022-04-19
image source: Spotify

A good soundtrack has the power to make or break a film and vice versa. There are just songs that weren’t as popular when they were released versus when they were used in a movie. We have compiled a very short list of songs from various online surveys that topped charts when they became OSTs. 

Don’t You (Forget about Me) by Simple Minds was used in The Breakfast Club’s ending scene. The inclusion of the song made that scene one of the most memorable ones in the entire movie. Plus, it made the song popular enough to be repeated in Pitch Perfect!

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor has become a go-to soundtrack for anyone who’s trying to overcome something major. But Rocky was in fact one of the very first to absorb its electrifying energy, making the song and the movie Rocky III very iconic.

My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. Oh, the instrumentals and the vocals! Such an apt song for the feels that Titanic brought its audience. Did you know that James Horner actually composed the song for the movie? So that’s why it fits so perfectly!

You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman is one of those songs that just instantly let fans think of Toy Story. The song makes the relationship of Andy’s toys with him and with each other all too real.

What songs did you fall in love with because of the movies they were used in? 

 

Keep the Egg Rolling

2022-04-14
image source: Getty Images

Easter is one of the few moving holidays—for some states at least. The origins of this holiday are religious in nature. But how did the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts get to be so popular in modern culture? 

Well Christianity certainly does not have a history of a long-eared furry creature giving eggs to kids on Easter. So are kids’ movies credited for this one? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Some sources say that the Easter Bunny symbolizes fertility and new life which coincides with the religious holy day of resurrection that is celebrated on Easter. With that history, having egg hunts kind of make sense, but that’s still not the entire story.

German immigrants are believed to have begun the U.S tradition when they made nests for hares to lay colored eggs in. This eventually spread across the states and next thing you know, the White House is hosting yearly egg rolls. 

Whether the Easter Bunny came from German immigrants or as a symbol of the season is still up in the air. What does matter are the traditions and beliefs we have that are anchored in this holiday. Will you be attending your Easter Sunday brunch this year or are you getting tickets to the famed White House egg roll? And if you don’t have any plans, sit back and watch a few classic Easter movies!

The Slap

2022-04-08
image source: inquirer.net

The 94th Academy Awards was one to remember. It boasted the usual array of celebrities, glamour, and celebration for the winners. What nobody expected though was the live unscripted slap that everybody is talking about! More than the awardees, we might add.

Reactions are ranging from approval, acceptance, and understanding to outrage, disapproval, and denouncement on Will Smith’s part, of course. Where do you stand? Are you on the side of understanding his actions in some way or are you one of the cancel Will Smith train? 

Before you get lost in the sea of photos, videos, and memes circulating on the internet to date, let us revisit what happened. Chris Rock made a joke about Jada—Will Smith’s wife, Will laughed, Jada rolled her eyes, and Will went up on stage to slap Chris across the face—a sound allegedly heard in the entire venue. So what has happened as a result? The Academy banned Will Smith for participating in any of its activities for ten years. And Chris Rock, although coaxed into pressing charges, chose to forgive Will Smith instead and leave lawsuits out of the picture.

Do you think the Academy was too harsh in its punishment? Or do you believe Will should have been sued on top of being banned?

William Shakespeare was a poet, playwright, and actor. To many, he is considered as the English national poet and the greatest dramatist of all time. His work was written in the late sixteenth to early seventeenth century, but they are still greatly studied, valued, and read today. Some of these dramas have even transcended into the modern setting through cinema. However, because they are only loosely adapted from the original plot, some readers cannot tell that the material is Shakespeare. 

Well we’re here to give you a few movies that were adapted from Shakespeare’s plays. 

10 Things I Hate about You (1999)

This is arguably the best adaptation of its time. Heath Ledger’s singing may have had something to do with that. Aside from the setting being called Padua, the plot to have someone date Katarina (the shrew) so Bianca can also date is very prevalent in the play. Fans of The Taming of the Shrew will clearly see parallels in the plot, setting, and characters. And we definitely love the high school setting!

She’s the Man (2006)

Amanda Bynes dressed like a man, what fun! The character names and the plot overall practically scream Twelfth Night. Only the high school scene, importance of soccer, and minor characters and developments are changed in this one. But it was still Illyria, and the love triangle still stands strong!

Warm Bodies (2013)

Zombie romance is a rare occurrence in cinema, indeed. But that is the premise of this Romeo and Juliet-esque feature. Nicholas Hoult is undoubtedly the cleanest zombie ever. The use of R and Julie as character names is not lost on the audience as well.

The Lion King (1994)

Yes! Mufasa speaking to Simba from the clouds is akin to Hamlet speaking to the spirit of his father. Revenge and power are the dynamics that ruled this one despite the fact that it is a Disney movie. nonetheless, the singing and cute animals really made the movie lighter and more fun for all audiences.

Blockbuster Spin-Offs

2022-03-25
image source: IMDb

The Metro Films conducted a survey of the most successful spin-movies in Hollywood today! And we have quite the list for you!

Most movie franchises are successful in their own right. Filmmakers put all their talents into the first film to almost ensure that the entire franchise is beloved by the audience. However, sometimes sequels and spin-offs are not as successful or well loved. They become only fading shadows to their successors. 

Here are 5 movie spin-offs that are as successful, if not more so, than their franchise origins.

1. Bumblebee. This spin off to the Transformers franchise is definitely more well loved than the series. Hailee Steinfeld and John Cena may have a hand at that!

2. Hobbes and Shaw. The initial movie about race wars has long evolved into the action-packed spy movie it is known as today. Fast and Furious movies as well as its spin-off can apparently do no wrong.

3. Birds of Prey. Harley Quinn and her break up with Joker may have been the initial premise of the movie, but her girl friends really took the cake for this one. 

4. Logan. The original X-Men movies undoubtedly had some successes as well as some fails, but this movie is believed to be among the most successful of the bunch.

5. Rogue One. Yes, they made quite a number of Star Wars spin offs. The epic galactic battle has spanned generations and it is not over yet!

Now let’s get into some honorable mentions. Spin offs are not exclusive to the big screen. Franchises have created TV and streaming series depictions to appease the fans. MCU’s blockbuster successes has seen its fair share of this Loki, Wandavision, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D are just some examples of that. Because why not? Everyone loves a good spin off!

 

St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday, to say the least. With vibrant green colors everywhere, scrumptious traditional dishes, and the annual parade of course, it is a welcome reason to go out and have fun! Nonetheless, there is something else that you can do to remember the holiday by—watch a movie!

St. Patrick’s Day in USA celebrates Irish American traditions. So it would be a natural fit to watch a movie about an Irish American, well sort of. We’re setting our sights on one of the underrated movies in the early 2000s, P.S. I Love You. It stars Academy Award winner Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler. Not surprisingly, it is also adapted from a novel by Cecilia Ahern who is again, not surprisingly, of Irish descent.

The movie was heavily criticized when it came out. Critics ranged from saying that it was poorly casted to it having an unrealistic plot. What does 20 plus years answer to that? Well we think it’s pretty great!

The movie casts two incredibly talented leads who’ve excelled in their respective genres but in a romantic comedy together, they do a decent job. As for the plot, you’d have to look at it with a certain perspective, and that is when you’ve lost someone you love so abruptly, how do you cope? We think that is what makes viewers appreciate it most. Plus, that view of the Irish countryside? Stellar!

Curious enough to watch it or watch it again? I know I am. So get comfortable and sport your cute green outfit. Don’t forget the corned beef and cabbage coz you’re in for a pleasantly emotional feature. Enjoy!

The Reel Women of Hollywood

2022-03-08
image source: Variety

The concept of gender equality is a tricky thing to discuss. And it isn’t because the idea itself is complicated. It’s because so many associate it with stereotypes, limitations, and borders. Let us take for example the classic idea that men provide and women tend to the home. This is a belief that has led to prejudice towards women and men alike which luckily is not as prevalent today as it was in the previous centuries.

Let us use the film industry as an example. More to the point, let us go to the man in charge, so to speak. Directing a film was almost always a man’s job. But not anymore. In 2021, the Oscars was graced with the win of Chloe Zhao. She was aptly given the Academy Award for best director for Nomadland, her third feature. Along with it, the title of first Asian woman and second female director was given to her. She is the director of Songs My Brothers Taught Me, The Rider, Nomadland. Most recently, she is with Disney as the director of Eternals.

It is refreshing to see that there are more and more female directors. Emerald Fennell was also nominated in the Oscars for best director for the film Promising Young Woman. It is said that with these nominations, Hollywood is changing. But whether it is or isn’t, the caliber of the movies does not suffer. Female filmmakers are making waves as they are not only directing independent films but also major Hollywood franchises. Some of them include Cathy Yan for Birds of Prey, Patty Jenkins for Wonder Woman 1984, and Niki Caro for the latest live action of Mulan.

With these developments, only one thing is for sure. No matter how tricky gender equality can get, it is slowly becoming a reality.

Watching movies may be one of the most relaxing things to do, but making movies can be one of the most stressful things to do, especially if you’re in charge of budgeting. So if you are planning a movie budget, or are a movie producer, or are just curious about how much movie making costs, you are in for a treat.

The truth is, you can make a movie with as little as a camera and a laptop or as much as four hundred million dollars. The range can be astonishing! And this is all because of the many factors of movie making.

One of the major factors in filmmaking is the type of film you’re trying to make. Sci-fi films are often said to cost the most because of the special effects, stunts, camera angles, and number of takes needed. Avatar, for example, is said to have cost 425 million dollars to produce! But it all paid off when it grossed two billion dollars in the box office.

Another factor to consider is the cast and crew that you’re going to hire from the pre-production to post-production stages of the process. The film director, for one, is paid up to 250 dollars an hour. Then there are camera crews, actors, and video editors to consider. And this is just the basic stuff. Major film productions also hire stuntmen, caterers, and so many other personnel that take care of the needs of the cast and crew.

The other major factors that affect the cost of a film production are the location, the rights to the script, and equipment. All these can make costs balloon and explode to the millions.

The bright side is that there are free and paid software applications that you can use to help you with your budget. Much better than that, you can get a tie up with a film company, like The Metro Films and let the producers curate your film budget for you!

The Anatomy of a Reverse Adaptation

2022-02-21
image source: The Conversation

Do you recognize this scene? It is one of the highlights of The Dead Poet’s Society, a film that starred Robin Williams as an unorthodox teacher that inspired his students. It is a movie that, spoiler alert, shows how much connections impact us. In the movie, poetry is the medium used to influence and build connections between the teacher and his students as well as between students. As the movie progressed, we saw the connections grow and evolve until it reached this iconic scene that made the movie memorable to all its viewers. Connections matter. That is how movies become blockbusters.

In the entertainment industry today, the highest demand goes to stories that are told across multiple media. With multiple media exposure, stories are better heard, seen, and read which is probably how adaptations began. Books are adapted to movies, TV series, and even comic books as in the case of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. However, what is not so common is for a screenplay or movie to be adapted into a book. Nonetheless, there are authors that have succeeded after taking this route. One such example is that of N. H. Kleinbaum’s Dead Poet’s Society. Before it became the classic it is known as today, its screenplay was passed around, revised, and made into something else until eventually, someone saw its true potential and created the movie magic that it is!

So write that story, don’t despair. Your medium may not have been discovered yet.

Casting the right person for a role is not as easy as picking the hottest lead possible. Movie executives don’t just point at a photo and go, “I want him to play the lead!” But in a perfect world, it’s just that easy.

Casting a lead role begins with the very thing that makes the movie come together—the screenplay! The screenplay describes key characters of a potential movie! Producers and executives will read this screenplay and put together a wish list for the leads. This wish list is also subjected to factors like the budget, which also kind of tells the size of the production, and the genre of the movie. See, actors have a certain reputation for certain genres. Like how Tom Cruise is known for his plethora of action movies. After these factors are considered and a wish list is made, the casting directors will take a look at this list and narrow it down to a more workable list of potentials! Casting directors will look into who is already working on a current project and who might be unavailable because of preferences to movies or chemistry with the other lead. They may also add up-and-coming actors that producers are not familiar with. Sometimes executives will work with marketing agencies or sales agents to see if this list is desirable to audience that the movie is targeting. Then the search begins! Yes, the search, audition, deals, contracts, and all the logistics of casting a lead for a role goes into full swing. And finally, the leads come together during production.

So really, there’s so much that goes into choosing and finding the right male lead. And sadly, it isn’t like the movies where they just come at the right time and have all the right things to say. Though everyone wishes they were like that!

Black History Month is here! February is set apart and celebrated for the history and achievements of our fellow Americans. Historically, our integration has not been easy. The Civil War of the United States of America bore witness to that. However, it is observed and celebrated for the victory that we won in the process. We have come a long way since that era. And today, we can do the simplest things to celebrate it. Here’s eight things you can do to remember Black Heritage Month:

·        Stream your favorite movies. Hollywood may not be the best place to get information on black heritage, but it certainly is entertaining. An inspiring movie to stream this month may be 2016’s Hidden Figures. Best of all, it is based on a true story penned by Margot Lee Shetterly.

·        Read a good book. Aside from your OG history book in school, there are numerous fiction and nonfiction books about Civil Rights Movement. One interesting manuscript may be the work of James Baldwin Remember This House in 1979 who was alive during the actual movement. His manuscript, although considered unfinished, was even turned into a documentary called I Am Not Your Negro.

·        Listen to some tunes. Many of the modern songs today are influenced by jazz and blues which, no surprise, was practically started by black American communities back in the day. Today though, it is prominent everywhere! So go get your groove on and have a listen!

·        Answer some trivia. Do you know who Lewis Howard Latimer is? How about Maya Angelou? Brush up on some trivia about the achievements and contributions of our black American friends and how their contributions changed your life today!

Entertain yourself with these three feel-good activities this month or if watching, reading, and listening are not your thing, you can always go to the nearest historical museum. You are bound to find a plethora of information on African American history. If museums don’t exactly tickle your fancy either, you can call your friends and have a party at your favorite African American owned restaurant! Better yet, you can look online and do some research or even donate to a good cause!

These activities are sure to get you a great lesson and appreciation of Black Heritage and of USA for that matter.

Great Book vs. Terrible Movie

2022-02-03
image source: Pinterest

Icons exist in every industry, and our bookshelves are no exception to their presence. All readers dream of seeing their favorite characters jump out of the pages and materialize in front of their eyes. But the best they get is a film adaptation of their favorite books. Unfortunately, page to reel transitions do not always create the magic we imagine. Sometimes, we even boo at the once loved plot just because it didn’t come out the way it was supposed to. This is why some fans and even some authors have reservations about having their beloved manuscripts adapted into screenplays.

The success of a book-to-film adaptation is often measured on the revenue of the film or the popularity of the series. Some classics that were initially thought to be a sure thing end up tanking in the box office. Why is that?

A primary reason is our imaginations always have better cinematography than any CGI or any sort of actor in the industry. Books like Stephen King’s Dark Tower and Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game were fan favorites that almost testify how a movie shy of two-hours cannot give justice to the pages upon pages that describe a whole new world. Perhaps books like these are better left off the screen or perhaps they are just ahead of their time.

The good news is that not all great books make terrible movies. Authors are now more involved in the production of a movie and more careful about selling their masterpieces to Hollywood! This pleases fans a great deal and creates a better connection between industries. In turn, companies like The Metro Films are giving authors more of a say of what and where the production of their book-to-movie adaptation will go so that in the end, we all live happily ever after!

The Character Behind the Actor

2022-01-28
image source: Den of Geeks

“Pity. Clearly, fame isn’t everything. Is it, Mr. Potter?”

If you know who said this line in which movie, you are clearly a fan of the Harry Potter franchise. Yes, it was one of the iconic lines of Professor Severus Snape who was played by none other than Alan Rickman. Despite his death some six years ago from pancreatic cancer, the actor is still making headlines as his personal diaries are set to be published by Canongate Books.

The diaries span twenty-five years of Rickman’s life. It has his personal thoughts of his everyday life, acting career, political views, and so much more condensed in one book. It will reportedly be called The Diaries of Alan Rickman.

His widow Rima Horton went on to say that his writing reveals not just the actor but the real person with his sense of humor, sharp observation, craftmanship, and his devotion to the arts.

The diaries were compiled and will be edited by Alan Taylor, editor of the Scottish Review of Books who also put together The Country Diaries. He reportedly says that the diaries are anecdotal, indiscreet, witty, gossipy, and utterly candid.

If these inside statements are any indication, the publication and release of the diaries in the fall of 2022 will be as sensational as the actor’s career! This is truly something that readers and fans alike can look forward to. More so, it will be a posthumous dream come true for the great Alan Rickman!

Grishaverse Is Emerging from the Fold

2022-01-25
image source: PopSugar Entertainment

Netflix has unleashed another universe onto its audience. The screen adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s trilogy Shadow and Bone has been consumed by the fans of the series as well as new fans. But unlike the Fold, you can get into Grishaverse unscathed, and you won’t want to come out. It is a universe that, apparently, the audience cannot get enough of. Viewers have been clamoring for news of a second season after the first ended in 2021. This has given producers and writers more incentive to go on with production and get all the regular cast on board.

Viewers will get to see more of Alina and Mal as Netflix officially announces that the second season is definitely in production although they’ll have to hold their breath on the premiere date. So what should viewers expect for season 2? Well if you haven’t seen the series, you should tune out now because spoilers are definitely coming! Alina and Mal are on the run with the darkling on their tail, this means viewers can expect just about anything!

If you find yourself at the absolute edge of your seat, go ahead and grab a copy of Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo since that is most likely the plot. One thing’s for sure, Grishaverse is dominating the Netflix scene and we’re all here for it!

The human imagination is a fascinating place. It is filled with a plethora of stories that are just waiting to be written. Writers become authors largely because of their active imagination. But penning a great story is only as good as how the manuscript is published and marketed. That’s where you’ll need help!

For most writers, the next step after creating a brilliant story is publishing. Whether they like to admit it or not, it is a process that could feel like a mind field of choices, wrong turns, dead ends, and detours. But fret not because we have a simple guide that’ll give writers a bird’s eye view into one of the directions that publishing can go. The first step of publishing is most often choosing how you want your work to be published. Writers have three options in that arena. One of them is self-publishing—the most common route that fresh writers take.

Self-publishing, for the author, entails having a hand at every part of the book. That means partnering with a company that will handle the cover designs, editing, layout, and everything else based on the writer’s ideas, concepts, and input. Essentially, they finance their book publication—licensing and all the work that goes into it—while their chosen company does the legwork for them. This is looking at it from a very broad sense.

Unfortunately, what writers may fail to see is that the publishing company they partner with can and will play a huge role in the sales that their book will generate. Thus, self-publishing, more than anything is diving into a whole new world with several outstretched hands ready to grasp your own. All you need to do is pick the hand that you’ll hold on to and that’ll change your life.

If you want to explore your self-publishing options, take a short tour of the sites of our Industry Partners to kickstart your publishing journey!

Films You Didn’t Know Came from Novels

2022-01-07
image source: Business Insider India

Most books are popular before they are adapted into movies. But there are rare cases where screen producers believed in the material despite its lack of attention from the public’s eye. This has proven to be successful for both the film industry and the author of the book, resulting in more sales and popularity for the author. Let’s look at a short list of movies that led to the popularity of the book and the author!

  • Winston Groom’s Forrest Gump

         Initially, the movie was undoubtedly more popular than the book! Some had even refused to believe that the Academy award winning movie is based on the pages of a now New York Times bestseller.

  • Amanda Brown’s Legally Blonde

        It comes as a surprise that the novel is a nonfiction account of the author’s experiences in Stanford Law. These two details are probably the only major differences between the movie and the novel though.

  • Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon

        Who didn’t fall in love with Toothless and Hiccup? This adorable DreamWorks trilogy is actually based on a children's book with about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III although the book is not exactly the same as the movie.

  • Robert Bloch’s Psycho

         The novel is allegedly based on the crimes of Ed Gein. However, the novel was almost finished by the time that the serial killer was arrested, so that could not have been the truth. Still, both the crimes and the plot have frightening similarities which made for an infamous film.

  • Jane Austen’s Emma

         Clueless is believed to be a modern retelling of Emma—the setting being Beverly Hills in the 90s rather than England in the 19th century. But it is purely entertaining to see the connections made between the two. With so much available content in the bookshelves, it is no surprise that some of them are overlooked and more exposed through cinematic representation. Which of these were you most shocked to learn?

The Entertainment Enterprise in Pages

2022-01-04
image source: Premier Contact Point, NCW Libraries

Published material has long been a source of blockbuster plots in the film industry. With a tried-and-true fan base, movies adapted from books are a sure thing. This is illustrated by adapted movies like the Harry Potter books, the Lord of the Rings books, Chronicles of Narnia, The Princess Diaries, and so many more! This is probably why movie adaptation is as huge today as it was when it first came out in the nineteenth century.

Contrary to what was expected, the publishing industry did not die during the pandemic. Instead, the number of book readers even increased and flourished in the different digital mediums available. In fact, there was a 12.6% increase in e-book sales in 2020. Audible, the most popular audiobook website, had a growth rate of over 24.5%, presumably due to the pandemic.

The numbers are only projected to rise or stay steady in 2022. This is especially true for digital book platforms as readers are becoming more and more familiar with staying home and browsing online content. Similarly, this has paved the way for online streaming subscriptions to gain more traction, making the entertainment industry come full circle in its abundance of content. The Metro Films is no stranger to this trend as Director Mark Alvarez and the executive producers of the company continue to partner with the publishing and book industry to find potential content for movie and TV magic.

The Smell of a Good Read

2021-12-30
image source: Pinterest

Do you prefer reading bound and printed book copies or electronic ones?

This topic is a constant debate among many readers across the world. And as the years progress, it is easy to see that more and more readers are favoring e-books and audio books more than the good old-fashioned printed ones. With the reading generation getting younger and younger, patrons of some lesser known, independent bookstores are getting scarcer and scarcer. However, our American bookstore owners are proving to be much more resilient than expected. Over the pandemic, many independent bookstores have begun to sell their books online and provide their patrons with unique reading experiences in their shops. Nonetheless, many of the bookstores showcased below are filling pages for their ingenuity.

Here are three of the many independent bookstores you might want to visit on your next road trip across state lines (or across the street).

  • One with nature, Bart’s Books (Ojai, California) is biggest outdoor bookstore in the world. It has over 130,000 new and used books in different topics. it is conveniently located under shaded stalls, making it a pleasant browsing experience for readers in all weather conditions.
  • Everyday story time is the best way that The King’s English Bookshop has gained popularity in modern times. It has a large children’s room in an eight-room old house in the suburban neighborhood in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • The Potter’s House will fill give you good reads plus food! This bookstore in Washington D.C. not only houses a variety of books but gives food to patrons as well allegedly even when they cannot pay for it!

The Many Faces of Ebeneezer Scrooge

2021-12-23
image source: SchoolWorkHelper, Flickr

Christmas is seemingly one of the holidays that is celebrated almost worldwide. Movie specials, published books, composed songs, and family gathering—all these occur annually to mark the coming of this holiday. However, in the past year, Ebeneezer Scrooge triumphed over Christmas in the face of the infamous virus! More to the fact, every time citizens from all over the world get used to the new normal, another variant seems to fall onto the planet like a snowstorm. This begs the question, “How will Christmas in 2021 look like?”

Like it or not, COVID is here to stay. It was the constant “Bah! Humbug!” of every festivity that people wanted to celebrate in 2020, and although things have definitely opened back up this year, it seems that the old Ebeneezer’s essence have possessed the virus!

The virus might be our Ghost of Christmas Past this year, but just as good old Ebeneezer did, we did learn a thing or two and won’t need to face the Ghosts of Christmas Present and Future. As the latest update from the White House may tell US citizens, they can still celebrate the holidays. And lockdowns, shutdowns, and overflowing hospitals can and will remain in the past for the time being.

This time may be about festive face masks, rethinking big parties, and vaccination queues that are longer than the queues on shopping centers, but if Ebeneezer Scrooge can have a happy ending, then so can we!

The Immortal Anne Rice

2021-12-15
image source: google.com

Howard Allen O’Brien, more popularly known as Anne Rice to her readers, has passed from the land of the living at the age of eighty. Her son, Christopher, took to social media to announce her death to the public. But her fame did not stop with her heart. Today, she is as popular as she was when her novel The Interview with the Vampire was adapted in the big screen in 1994. In so many ways, she is immortal because of the legacy that she left behind. Anne Rice wrote numerous novels, including another major movie adaptation of The Queen of the Damned.

Born and raised in the city of New Orleans, she was in the thick of elaborate cemeteries, voodoo, and the allure of the supernatural. However, it was when she was grieving for the loss of her daughter, Michelle, that she wrote her first novel. It became the springboard for so many more novels across different genres like gothic, fantasy, and even a memoir entitled Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession. In fact, another adaptation of The Interview with the Vampire is set to be adapted in television again on AMC and AMC+. This is a legacy that generations in her family will remember and cherish.

Not Another Dracula Movie

2021-12-10
image source: Cinema Express

You can never go wrong with a classic. Its story is already known and loved, and people may just be intrigued enough to know where you’ll take the plot. With the cinematic magic that exists today that was sadly lacking in the 20th century, it is curious to see how classic fantasy and horror films will be adapted if they were made in the current year. Well, there might just be an answer to that impending question.

Universal Studios’ Renfield will give its audience a unique look at the classic Dracula story where the main character is Count Dracula’s loyal henchman Renfield.

Renfield is first mentioned in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula.

To make the movie more interesting, Nicolas Cage is believed to be playing the infamous count himself, making this role a big Hollywood comeback for the actor. Director Chris McKay, in fact, is eyeing not one but two Nicholases for the movie as Nicholas Hoult is believed to be taking on the role of Renfield.

To say that the movie is interesting is for sure a fact, but what should we look forward to? Almost everybody knows the story that’s been told and retold so many times. We wager that we’ll have to wait for 2022 to find out! The movie is on its pre-production stage and is set to begin filming early next year.

The Action-Packed Film Industry

2021-12-07
image source: google.com

It is easy to surmise that 2021 was and is the age of action and adventure movies. Several surveys and charts point to fact that most of the films produced and released across most streaming platforms as well as in theaters are either action/adventure or action/sci-fi or some other cocktail of action and another film genre.

In a survey conducted by number.com of the highest grossing movie genre of 2021 in North America, the top 3 movie genres are action, adventure, and horror. When compared with the highest grossing films in the last five years, these genres have maintained their spots at the top. The Domestic Theatrical Market survey certainly shows that most audiences are interested and entertained with movies that stir strong emotions like excitement and fear. With this in mind, film producers alike are most probably clamoring for other elements that these top 3 genres can bring to the table.

The Metro films, in particular, is combing through so much material and looking for a masterpiece to ensure that action/adventure genre will keep its throne in the coming years. Its director Mark Alvarez is very picky with the material that he endorses. He is quoted to saying that he is looking for the next big thing after MCU. Now that would be a tough act to follow. Nevertheless, it is clear that the special effects, cinematography, and epic movement of action and adventure films are clearly what make them number 1 in the charts! What is your favorite action movie?

The newest stand-alone Spider-Man film has caused quite the hype among MCU fans from all over the world. Speculations about the cast and plot twists have been marketing gold mines that surely put huge smiles on the producers’ faces. The rumors are spreading like wildfire, and the hype may just prove to be worth it. The third installment of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is the perfect opportunity to appease all fans as they can allow their imaginations to run wild and create the perfect Spider-Man movie. Some fans have expressed their desire to have both Andrew Garfield’s and Tobey MaGuire’s Spider-Men while others have asked why there aren’t other Avengers featured in the movie given its epic plot!

As the movie premiere draws closer and closer, speculations and theories have run amok, but Marvel Studios has managed to keep all their juicy secrets on the down-low.

Only time will tell whether any of the speculations are true. Despite Andrew Garfield’s denial of his involvement in the film, fans have continued to hope and speculate that the trailer has given ample evidence of his web-swinging character!

All Marvel fans know that Spider-Man is based on Stan Lee’s tomes of comic book issues of the valiant heroes that make up the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These comics started gaining traction in the early 2000s and has since released film after film of blockbuster magic leading to the well-loved MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Whether the movies are following the original plot of the comics, only the OG fans will know.

Fanning Sisters to Star on WWII Drama Adaptation

2021-11-18
image source: openlibrary.org, BBC America

Dakota and Elle Fanning teamed up once again, this time for a drama film The Nightingale, set during the Second World War.

The real-life sisters will play on-screen sisters in a World War II drama based off a book written by Kristin Hannah. Set in a small village in France, the story follows two sisters, Vianne Mauriac and Isabelle Rossignol. One was forced to house a German officer and had to make one difficult decision after another. While the other was vehement in resisting the German invasion of France.

Aside from the Fanning sisters, Melanie Laurent and Dana Stevens were onboard as the director and screenwriter, respectively. Elizabeth Cantillon of Cantillon Company will be the film’s producer.

The film was originally set to be released on December 22 of this year. However, the released date had been pushed to December 23, 2022, due to the pandemic.

Gaiman’s Sandman Netflix Adaptation: What We Know So Far

2021-11-15
image source: DC Comics, Wikimedia Commons

Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel Sandman would be coming to the screens after Netflix gained Gaiman’s nod. Tom Sturridge would play the Sandman. His costars included Gwendoline Christie, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, and Jenna Coleman. Boyd Holbrook, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Joey Richardson, Kyo Ra, Razane Jammal, and Vivienne Acheampong were some of the casts.

Since the announcement of the series’ adaptation, Netflix treated the fans with trailer and a behind-the-scenes clip. Netflix also dropped the series poster on September 5, 2021. It was also announced that the first season was set to have 11 episodes.

Gaiman confirmed on his tweet that the filming started last October 15, 2020. COVID-19 put a halt to the production though. And though fans had been clamoring for a 2021 premier, the likelier premier date would be early 2022.

Gaiman’s comic book series was published by DC comics. This was a story about Lord Morpheus, or Dream, who was imprisoned by a cult. After his escape from imprisonment, he had to go on a quest for the three tools he needed to have his powers back and restore the balance of his realm—the realm of imaginations, stories, and dreams. Along his journey, he met different historical and fictional characters, and even descended to hell.

This epic, that had its first issue in 1989, was hailed by Los Angeles Times as “the greatest epic in the history of comic books.” This series’ artist included Sam Keith, Mike Dringenberg, Jill Thompson, Shawn McManus, Marc Hempel, Bryan Talbot, and Michael Zulli.

Riordan-verse Soon to Rule the Screens

2021-11-11
image source: rickriordan.com, Variety, The Nerd Daily, Penguin Books

Riordan-verse would soon dominate the screens as his Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles, and Daughter of the Deep would soon have their series and film adaptations. Rick Riordan shared the good news to his readers in a tweet dated November 3, 2021.

Talks about a series adaptation for Percy Jackson had been around as Riordan shared it back in 2020. Disney+ was onboard on this adaptation with James Bobin as the pilot director. As to the show’s casting, Riordan shared that it’s still in the works.

Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles, which was into Egyptian mythology, would be adapted into a film series by Netflix. The author disclosed in 2020 that negotiations about the series’ adaptation has been on the works since October 2019. As to the first movie’s release date, Netflix was yet to give an update.

In an October 7, 2021, blog post, Riordan revealed that his Daughter of the Sea would have a film adaptation courtesy of Disney+. He also stated in his blog that Mythomagic, Riordan’s and his wife’s production company, would be the film’s producers. Riordan would be cowriting with Aditi Brennan Kapil, who is a playwright and screenwriter. Riordan eyed late 2024 as the film’s release date.

The DOJ Says No!

2021-11-04
image source: Library Journal

The publishing world is quaking in its spine. There is tension between the two biggest publishing companies in the US and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The tension is mainly down to the outcome of the buyout that Penguin Random House (PRH) offered to Simon & Schuster. The DOJ has made its position very clear. It opposes the merger in favor of more options and profits for authors.

The agency has gone as far as suing PRH for acquiring its rival. In the agency’s official statement, it expressed that Penguin Random House would have too much control, having influence over half the US publishing industry, ultimately resulting to fewer options and less power for individual authors to negotiate deals.

One of the questions that federal regulators want to answer before approving the deal is definitely how big both companies would get when they merge. This may very well be the exact question that other publishing houses in the country are asking.

Following this tension are countless features of differing opinions from the members of the Author’s Guild and several other writer’s organizations, government agencies like the DOJ, and the publishing houses themselves. These opinions may sway the courts to favor one side, or it may be a moot point, only time will tell as the acquisition is now effectively blocked for further studies. Court hearings are scheduled to begin sometime in mid-2022.