Trouble looms for GMA Pinoy TV launch in the US?

Is it true that GMA Channel 7, represented by its chairman, president and CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon, is contemplating on filing charges against the company which they hired as their cable provider in the US and is tasked to market GMA Pinoy TV to prospective subscribers?

According to a source, Atty. Gozon felt the cable service provider acted in bad faith when the company allegedly said that they could only sell The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN, and not GMA Pinoy TV after they had entered the deal with GMA. It was only later that GMA learned of this bit of information, yet they had already prepared for the launch of GMA Pinoy TV on July 16 at The Forum in Los Angeles, California. Because of this development, the launch of GMA Pinoy TV in The Forum had been cancelled as of this writing unless GMA can find a way to have the launch go on as scheduled. But the Pinoy fans in San Francisco need not worry because the launch of GMA Pinoy TV on July 23 at the Bill Graham Hall would push through.

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The deadline for submission of entries to the 2nd Boracay International Co-Production Meeting has been moved to July 17, following numerous requests from South and East Asian filmmakers.

The Boracay summit, to be held on August 19 to 21 as part of the 7th Cinemanila International Film Festival, is considered the first co-production market in the Philippines. It will award a cash prize of approximately $10,000 each to two film projects selected by representatives from the Hubert Bals Fund of the International Film Festival of Rotterdam and the Göteborg Film Festival Fund.

Cinemanila festival director Amable "Tikoy" Aguiluz VI explained that the deadline has been reset to accommodate more entries from other Asian countries. Several filmmakers from South and East Asia requested for an extension to give them more time to translate their scripts in English and complete the other requirements.

Aside from providing partial financial assistance to selected films, the co-production meeting also aims to bring together quality and feasible projects from filmmakers with demonstrable talent and ability. Although the selection committee looks closely at the financial viability of the project, the decisive factors remain its content and artistic value.

Last year, the first recipients of the grant from the co-production meeting were Singaporean producer Juan Foo and director Han Yew Kwang for their entry "Pinball" and acclaimed Filipino filmmaker Lav Diaz for his new project "Heremias." Asa and Camilla Larsson from Göteborg and Gertjan Zuilhof from Hubert Bals served as jury.

The Hubert Bals Fund is designed to bring remarkable or urgent feature film and feature length creative documentaries by innovative and talented filmmakers from the developing countries closer to fulfillment. The fund provides grants that often turn out to play a crucial role in enabling filmmakers to realize their projects. Since it started in 1988, over 530 projects (scripts, post production, training and distribution) from independent filmmakers in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America have received support.

On the other hand, the Göteborg Film Festival Fund actively supports film production and has so far helped finance more than a hundred films. The fund ties up with the Hubert Bals Fund to further strengthen the opportunities that are available to the filmmakers in the developing countries.

Meanwhile, the deadline for submissions for independent feature, short films, and documentaries to the annual Cinemanila is set on July 10. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.cinemanila.com.ph or email [email protected].

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* This early Star Records is working doubly hard for the birthday concert and album launch of Gary Valenciano in August. The said birthday and anniversary concert marks the inclusion Gary V to the Star Records family.

Billed "Gary V: Symphony Of The Heart," the concert will be held on August 5 at the Araneta Coliseum. This also marks the first time that Gary is performing with San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra with Ryan Cayabyab as musical director.

Coinciding with Gary's birthday and anniversary concert, Star Records is also set to release a new album for Gary titled "Symphony Of the Heart." This also marks the first time for Gary to record an album under Star Records. If you recall, Gary sang the theme songs of two Star cinema movies, "How Did You Know" at "Because Of You," soundtrack.

Gary V's new album will be launched in at the United States this July. For ticket inquiry and reservation to "Gary V: Symphony Of The Heart" concert, please call TicketNet (911-5555) or Star Records (413-9161).

Even if he's doing an album for Star Records, it doesn't mean that Gary V is leaving Universal Records, his home for the last 19 years. This recording deal with Star Records has the blessings of Universal Records. According to Ms. Angeli Valenciano, "We just wanted to give ABS-CBN token album compilation of Star Cinema movie theme songs like "Kailangan Kita," "How Did You Know,' "Because of You," "Anak," and the TFC theme song titled "Lipad ng Pangarap" plus the "Dubai" movie theme song, and an extra song."

Angeli says Universal Records doesn't mind Gary V doing an album for Star Records because he's doing a pop album for them soon. Also Universal Records is concentrating on the song "Break Me" which Gary dedicates to Bella Tan, and Soul Full album/videoke which is hitting the charts. Besides, ABS-CBN is also promoting Gary's songs from Universal Records. "It's a give and take relationship," says Angeli.

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Finally, LASPONGGOLS, the worst Filipino film of the year, will finally be shown on the following dates below. The film stars Jeffrey Quizon, Dwight Gaston, Boboy Garovillo, andDanny Javier, Jim Paredes, Joel Torre, Ronnie Lazaro, Roence Santos, Soliman Cruz, Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino, Raul Morit, BombiPlata, Sasi Casas, Rapunzel Hernandez, Monet dela Cruz, Ickay Esebio, Hector Macaso, Topel Lee, Rox Lee, EJ Salcedo, Jon Red, Ogi Sugatan, Khavn dela Cruz and The Brockas, and Pete Lacaba and Marra PL. Lanot.

Critics call it "a slightly better film than Mikey Arroyo's "Sablay Ka Na, Pasaway Ka Pa"." Others praise its audio "clearer than the Garci tapes." While one person who refuses to reveal her name and even talk about it in public (kasi baka mabosesan siya) has this to say, "Hello? Garci? Garci? Pakisunog mo nga kopya ng pelikulang 'to." Be one of the first few who will watch this film before a Senate inquiry is called to review its footages!

LASPONGGOLS By Sigfreid Barros Sanchez

CCP Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theatre)
14 Jul/Thu at 10pm
d/w PANAGINIPAN by Anna Isabelle Matutina

CCP Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theatre)
16 Jul/Sat at 10pm
d/w BABAE by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo

CCP Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (MKP
Multi-Purpose Hall)
17 Jul/Sun at 6:30pm
d/w KULTADO by Lawrence Fajardo

CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute (Experimental Theatre)
13 Jul/Wed at 6:30pm
d/w ALIMUOM by Rommel Tolentino