Category: Lifestyle

A film heritage building will soon rise in the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila, the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Wednesday.The DOT and its infrastructure arm Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) signed a 22-year agreement with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) allowing the latter to use its Intramuros space to build the structure.The building will occupy an 800 sqm.-lot along Sta. Lucia Street and will be designed to house a cinematheque, film museum/gallery, film and media library, film storage/vaults and film scanning and restoration room.It will also accommodate FDCP offices, lounge areas, board room, as well as a merchandise shop and a cafe.The property will be used with consent from the Department of Finance, the registered owner of the lot.The memorandum of agreement was signed on Sept. 26 by DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid and FDCP Chair and Chief Executive Officer Tirso Cruz III.In he
r speech, Frasco hoped the project will strengthen efforts to attract filmmakers to film in the Philippines.’Film has the power to distill these moments, memories, and vestiges of our culture into an art form that can be fully appreciated by our fellow Filipinos and the world. And therefore, it makes sense for us, in the Department of Tourism, to support as much as we can, this thriving industry that really does require government intervention for it to be sustainable for the long term,’ she said.She said this latest collaboration with the FDCP also goes beyond the establishment of the building, but toward the growth of the creative industry in the Philippines.'[W]e foresee that with our archives in cinema and film in the film industry, having a home, as well as in reaching out to the farthest reaches of the Philippines as far as the development of film tourism, it can only serve to grow the portfolio of Philippine tourism and most importantly, provide employment and livelihood to our fellow Filipinos,’ she a
dded.Lapid, meanwhile, said the partnership reflects the DOT and TIEZA’s commitment to preserving the legacy of Philippine cinema.He said the agreement will also amplify ‘the allure of Intramuros as a prime tourist destination in Manila.'”It enhances the experience of what this iconic site can offer, making our history and culture even more accessible and engaging. Let this MOA signing serve as a sign of our dedication to nurturing our nation’s artistic and cultural architectures,” he added.Cruz thanked both the DOT and TIEZA, saying the ceremonial signing between the agencies is a ‘collective dedication to safeguard and further the Philippine film heritage.’He said the facilities will serve as a “haven for enthusiasts, a source of deep and rich knowledge for students and a treasure trove of Philippine cinema for both our fellow citizens and visitors from all around the world.’The agreement will be effective until Feb. 25, 2045, but subject to renewal of the parties involved, the DOT said.
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Source: Philippines News Agency

Dinagat Islands province opened its Sept. 27-Oct. 1 ‘Bugkosan sa Isla 2023′ on Wednesday in time for the province’s 17th charter day.Bugkosan, which means to bind, is a call for unity among the residents amid the challenges faced by the province in the past years.’Despite the challenges we face, the most difficult of which was the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in 2021, the people of Dinagat Islands continue to be resilient because of the unity they manifest,’ Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. said in an interview.Infrastructure development and livelihood support programs remain the priorities of the provincial government to improve the quality of life of its residents, he said.’We will continue to implement agriculture and fishery support programs, and infrastructure improvements which are essential in the promotion of economic growth in our province,’ he added.He cited the need to empower the youth to enhance their ‘knowledge, skills, and personal growth’ and help foster unity in their communities.In the area of t
ourism, the governor emphasized the need to strengthen the province’s cultural initiatives, as well as sports and recreational activities.The weeklong Bugkosan sa Isla festival features cultural presentations, sports, fairs, and other social activities.The governor’s State of the Province Address will be the highlight of the Oct. 1 culminating activity
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Source: Philippines News Agency

When opportunity doesn’t knock, Korean heartthrob Song Joong-ki is ready to build a door.

Song’s star power has proved itself in several hit drama series, including “Reborn Rich” (2022), “Vincenzo” (2021), “Arthdal Chronicles” (2019) and “Descendants of the Sun” (2016), but his film career has been relatively underrated.

Following the Netflix sci-fi film “Space Sweepers” (2021), Song was looking for roles opposite from what he is known for and volunteered to play a gang member in the crime film “Hopeless,” written and directed by Kim Chang-hoon.

In a group media interview, the 38-year-old said he loved the dark, dangerous feel of the noir film and the strong but fragile character not central to the plot.

He played a mid-level boss role without paychecks and the experience was rewarding. He walked the red carpet in this year’s Cannes Film Festival for the first time in his 15-year acting career.

Screened in the Un Certain Regard section, which presents unusual styles and non-traditional stories, the fi
lm received cheers and a standing ovation from a big crowd for four minutes.

Song said the film’s grim subject of domestic violence and the ambiguous message may have captured European audiences, but he was not sure whether it could resonate with general audiences at home.

“Hopeless” tells the story of a 17-year-old boy (Hong Xa-bin) who suffers domestic violence and school bullies and ends up joining a local gang. Song plays Chi-geon, the big boss’ henchman who has a painful history of suffering domestic violence and sympathizes with the teenager’s pain.

“‘Hopeless’ is not a kind movie. I am wondering how general audiences would view it. Whether it is a compliment or criticism, I am ready to take it,” Song said during the interview on Monday, ahead of its domestic release on Oct. 11.

Like his favorite saying that a rolling stone gathers no moss, Song said he wants to keep tackling new challenges to unleash his potential as an actor.

“I am still hungry for roles in diverse genres. I have a strong desire
for it,” Song said. “These days, I try to perform more naturally. There is still room for improvement. I’m just giving it a try.”

After starring in a series of commercially successful TV drama series, Song was looking for much-needed inspiration and came across the script at the right time.

And his goal for the movie known to have a budget of 4 billion won (US$2.9 million) was humble: passing the break-even point.

“I wanted to join the project but worried that my paycheck could increase the total production costs,” he said. “I didn’t want the film to include sequences that follow commercial films’ formulas, such as car chases, because they don’t align with the story’s underlying sentiment. I wanted to keep the film’s charm intact.”

In the movie, Chi-geon has a noticeable hook injury on his ear, indicating his suffering from domestic violence from his alcoholic father at an early age.

“When I put on the special makeup on my ear, I felt different,” Song said. “I have a scar on my cheek. My makeup for past
works focused on concealing the scar but for this film, I focused on highlighting it instead.”

Currently, the Netflix original film “My Name is Loh Kiwan,” in which he played a North Korean defector character, is in the post-production stage and is expected to be released next year.

Song said he has auditioned for several roles abroad over the past years to no avail but remained hopeful about his dream amid growing interest in Korean actors in the global market.

“I want to experience working under different cultures and systems. Thanks to stellar performances by established Korean actors, more people are looking for actors for Asian characters,” he said.

Outside of the big screen, this year was another critical turning point for him.

Song married former British actress Katy Louise Saunders in January and fathered a son in June. He has stayed in Rome, his wife’s hometown, until recently for parenting.

Song beamed as he showed a video clip of his son on his smartphone but confessed he is still learning to
become a father.

With a newborn, the couple hasn’t had the luxury of spending a few hours together to watch a movie, let alone “Hopeless.”

“As new parents, we haven’t been able to sit together and watch a movie,” he said. “It is a new experience. We will watch it together when we have enough time.”

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Source: Yonhap News Agency

K-pop girl group Kep1er returned Monday with its fifth EP, “Magic Hour,” which continues the concept of lovestruck girls from its previous album.

The new release comes five months after the group’s fourth EP, “Lovestruck!,” which was released in April.

“If ‘Lovestruck!’ captured girls who were thrilled and excited after falling in love for the first time in their life, ‘Magic Hour’ depicted them loving to the fullest while spending a magical time,” team leader Yujin said during a media showcase for the fifth EP.

The album comprises five tracks, led by “Galileo,” alongside “The Door,” “Love on Lock,” “Tropical Light” and “Tape.”

The main track, “Galileo,” is of the disco-funk genre that combines a refreshing and groovy guitar riff with Kep1er’s versatile vocals. Its lyrics are about the girls’ attempts to observe and define the feeling of love, imagining that their love reaches their loved ones if they open the window and cast hearts into the sky.

“We wittily used the research of astronomer Galileo Gali
lei on heliocentrism to express the feeling that the whole world revolves around love,” Chaehyun said of the song.

The nine-piece group has challenged themselves with unit songs for the first time since their debut in January last year. Yujin, Xiaoting, Youngeun and Yeseo participated in “Tropical Light,” while Mashiro, Chaehyun, Dayeon, Hikaru and Huening Bahiyyih took part in “Tape.”

“When we were preparing for the album, we listened to both songs and were asked to raise our hands for the song we wanted to do,” Dayeon said when questioned how the units were formed. “It will be fun to listen to because (the units’) vocal styles are so different.”

Kep1er is a project group that was formed through music cable channel Mnet’s “Girls Planet 999” with a planned activity period of two and a half years. However, there have been media reports that the group is in discussions to extend its activities, which has drawn keen attention in the music industry.

If Kep1er extends its activities, it will be the first group
created through an idol audition show to do so.

Asked if the team will remain active past the planned period, Yujin did not give a direct answer to the question. However, she expressed her desire to focus on the group’s current activities and show fans a good image.

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Source: Yonhap News Agency

This year’s MAMA Awards, the K-pop industry’s biggest annual year-end music awards, will be held in Tokyo in November.

The awards ceremony will take place on Nov. 28 and 29 at the Tokyo Dome, making it the first Korean music awards show to be held at the venue, Mnet, the cable channel that broadcasts the show, said Thursday.

Tokyo Dome is a large-scale venue for music concerts that can accommodate around 50,000 spectators. It is known as a “dream stage” for singers.

Launched in 1999 as the Mnet Video Music Awards, the country’s first awards ceremony centered on music videos, the event changed its name to the Mnet Asian Music Awards to reflect the shift of its focus to music and began to present awards in other Asian regions, such as Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Japan, in 2009. Last year’s edition was held at the Kyosera Dome in Osaka under the rechristened name, MAMA Awards.

The awards ceremony will be streamed live on major online channels, including YouTube.

“The ceremony will serve as a platform for music lovers from all over the world to come together, regardless of border, race or generation as it will honor the best K-pop artists chosen by fans around the world,” Sim Joon-beom, head of CJ ENM’s music entertainment division, said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

A new film studio designed for shooting water-based scenes opened in a central South Korean city on Thursday, officials said.

Studio M is located inside Studio Cube, the country’s largest filming studio in Daejeon, about 140 kilometers south of Seoul, where the 2021 global megahit “Squid Game” was shot.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliate, the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), said they opened the new facility with a ceremony after nearly two years of construction.

They said the new studio contains a 30.4 by 20.9 meter tank with a depth of 1.2 meters, which will allow the indoor filming of extensive water-based scenes, such as large-scale naval battles and maritime disasters. Dry set scenes can also be filmed when water is not used.

In addition to the water film studio, the authorities plan to build a “virtual studio” equipped with a LED wall and in-camera VFX at the Studio Cube by 2025 for use by smaller drama and film production companies.

Once the virtual studio is complete, Studio Cube will become the country’s only multipurpose studio filming studio where dry, water-based scenes and virtual scenes can also be shot.

Ministry officials expect the high-tech facilities to help local production companies save significantly on time and costs normally spent on oversees filming and post-production work.

Source: Yonhap News Agency