SNEAK PEEK: “SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD”

Set in a too-near future, a man searches for a meaningful connection as humanity's last days are at hand, in Focus Features’ new comedy “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.” Can he find his greatest love at the worst possible time? 

Photo courtesy of Focus Features

Dodge (Steve Carell) is a man who has always played by the rules of life, while his neighbor Penny (Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley) is an extroverted woman who hasn't. From these opposite perspectives, both initially choose to navigate the impending end of the world with blinders on. Dodge declines joining his friends in increasingly reckless behavior, while Penny fixates on her relationship issues with a self-absorbed musician. 

The two misfits meet first when Penny has a rough night and then again when she belatedly delivers Dodge a lost letter. That letter could alter Dodge's future; it's from his high-school sweetheart Olivia, the love of his life. When a riot breaks out around their apartment building, Dodge realizes that he must seek Olivia out before it's too late while Penny makes the decision to spend her last days with family in England. Seizing the moment, Dodge promises to help Penny reach her family if she will provide transport for the two of them in her car immediately. She agrees, and they escape. 

On the road together, the unlikely traveling companions' respective personal journeys accelerate, and their outlooks - if not the world's - brighten.

We've all imagined the end of the world - along with the attendant floods, fires, earthquakes, pandemic viruses, and the asteroid hurtling towards Earth which will be destroyed at the last possible moment by human intervention of epic proportions. That is not the end of the world as Lorene Scafaria sees it. 

In writing her feature directorial debut “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” Scafaria was more intrigued by what could happen to ordinary people - and how they would interact with each other - in the days preceding The Event. 

Scafaria found herself casting a cockeyed glance at "apocalyptic tradition." She notes, "I had a small obsession with 'the end is near,' and a larger obsession with love. So it became a fun challenge to see what would happen when worlds collide - so to speak. I figured I would keep the screenplay at a very human level in scope and tell a story of relationships; what people would do, and how a person with feelings towards another person would be affected." 

The writer/director didn't necessarily want to make "a 'road movie.' I kept trying not to write it as that, though eventually I gave in and started to embrace the concept a little more - but I keep halting the lead characters' road trip because of basic things like gas. They find themselves in some pickles along their route." 

A couple of drafts were written, but work stopped and Scafaria's perspective changed once her father fell ill and passed away. She reflects, "I took six months off. Then I came back and rewrote the script, concentrating more on the concept of time - having it, and losing it." 

Ultimately, she offers, "There is a lot in this story that is me; of the two lead characters, I'm more the Penny type, but I have a strong dose of Dodge in me as well. 

 

"Up until this tipping point, these two people have lived their lives very differently. As much as Dodge has avoided life, Penny has been diving in head first. Together, they find they can face the end of the world."

“Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” will be shown soon exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Glorietta 4, Greenbelt3 and Trinoma).

“A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD” TRAILER and Poster

Bruce Willis returns in his most iconic role as John McClane - the “real” hero with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing. This time the take-no-prisoners cop is really in the wrong place at the wrong time after traveling to Moscow to help his estranged son Jack. With the Russian underworld in pursuit, and battling a countdown to war, the two McClanes discover that their opposing methods make them unstoppable heroes.

 "A Good Day to Die Hard” opens February 13 in theaters nationwide from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

“SKYFALL” SHARES VIDEO BLOG ON NEW BOND WOMEN

Columbia Pictures has just unveiled a “Skyfall” video blog that highlights Naomie Harries and Berenice Marlohe, the new `Bond women' in the film.

             In this “vlog” at the making of "Skyfall," the upcoming 23rd James Bond film, the new Bond women took the challenge of being beautiful, strong and stylish at the same time. Harris -- who can be seen driving, shooting, and sultrily shaving Bond's face -- says, "I don't think it's enough to just look pretty anymore. That may well have been true in the past, but certainly not now."

Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

             Watch the video to see the ladies in action and hear what Daniel Craig has to say about working with them.

             In “Skyfall,” James Bond’s loyalty to M (Judi Dench) is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

             When Bond’s latest assignment goes gravely wrong and agents around the world are exposed, MI6 is attacked forcing M to relocate the agency. These events cause her authority and position to be challenged by Gareth Mallory (Ralph Fiennes), the new Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee. With MI6 now compromised from both inside and out, M is left with one ally she can trust: Bond. 007 takes to the shadows – aided only by field agent, Eve (Harris) – following a trail to the mysterious Silva (Javier Bardem), whose lethal and hidden motives have yet to reveal themselves.

             Opening across the Philippines on Oct. 31, “Skyfall” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. Visit www.columbiapictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games. Like us at www.Facebook.com/ColumbiaPicturesPH and join our fan contests.

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SEAN HAYES AS LARRY IN “THE THREE STOOGES”

Caught between accidental and intended hits, Sean Hayes stars as Larry in the hilarious comedy “The Three Stooges.”  Spanning more than twenty-five years since they appeared on television slapping and poking their way in 190 original comedies, the Stooges are about to be seen in a whole new dimension on the big screen. 

Photo courtesy: Twentieth Century Fox

In “The Three Stooges,” Larry, Curly and Moe are released into the wild city landscape after spending half of their lives in an orphanage.  Out to save the orphanage and raise the money to save the only home they know, they decide to tackle the world outside the only way they know how. 

                Starring as the troika of knuckleheads are Emmy® and Tony® Award-winner Sean Hayes ("Will & Grace" ), who portrays the balding, sour-faced, bushy-haired Larry; Will Sasso ("MADtv") as the rotund funnyman Curly, whose trademark "nyuk-nyuk-nyuk" usually invites a physical outburst from older brother Moe; and Chris Diamantopoulos ("24," "The Kennedys") as Moe, the dark-haired leader of the farcical trio known for his distinctive bowl-style haircut and intolerant ire.

Given the Stooges’ iconic stature, casting the middle stooge Larry was as formidable a task as Moe and Curly. The part of Larry, who served as the trio's straight man, was in some ways the most difficult to cast because unlike his two cohorts, Larry lacked a distinctive voice. "It's also hard to define exactly what made Larry so funny," says Sean Hayes, who like Diamantopoulos, attended several auditions to land the coveted role. "He certainly was a great reactor."

                To help turn the handsome Sean Hayes into sour-pussed Larry, veteran Hollywood wig maker Renate (who has created hairpieces for such characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, and "Pirates of the Caribbean" anti-hero Jack Sparrow) styled a replica of the original Larry's unique hairstyle.  It was a time-consuming routine to do the Larry "'do." Each day of shooting, Hayes had his head shaved, cleaned and prepped. Then, the hair team would draw an outline on his pate, apply glue, and affix the wig to Hayes' head using spirit gum and tape.

The filmmakers, the Farrelly Brothers have brought The Three Stooges' unique brand of humor to modern-day moviegoers. "We're giving audiences something they'll have a great time with," says Chris Diamantopoulos. "The movie is old-fresh," adds Hayes about the film's comedy. "You don't have to be a fan of The Stooges to relate to our modern version." Adds Will Sasso: "The characters are based on the original Three Stooges, but, this is a movie for everybody because it has emotion and heart."

CAMERAS ROLL FOR NEW LINE CINEMA’S “BLACK SKY”

BURBANK, CA, August 22, 2012 – Principal photography is underway on New Line Cinema’s tornado disaster film, “Black Sky.” Steven Quale (“Final Destination 5”) is directing the film, which is being produced by Todd Garner (“Knight and Day”).

Richard Armitage

The film stars Richard Armitage (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” upcoming “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”), Sarah Wayne Callies (TV’s “The Walking Dead”), Matt Walsh (“Ted”), Nathan Kress (TV’s “iCarly”), Arlen Escarpeta (“Final Destination 5”), Jon Reep (“Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”) and Jeremy Sumpter (“Soul Surfer,” TV’s “Friday Night Lights”). 

Sarah Wayne Callies and Jeremy Sumpter

In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. 

Told through the eyes and lenses of professional storm chasers, thrill-seeking amateurs, and courageous townspeople, “Black Sky” throws you directly into the eye of the storm to experience Mother Nature at her most extreme.

Quale is directing the film from a screenplay by John Swetnam. The executive producers are Dave Neustadter and Walter Hamada.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Brian Pearson (“Final Destination 5,” “Drive Angry”), production designer David Sandefur (“Final Destination 5,” “Journey to the Center of the Earth”) and costume designer Kimberly Adams (associate costume designer the “Chronicles of Narnia” films). 

Filming began in Michigan, where the entire movie will be shot on location, with some scenes accomplished on local soundstages.

A New Line Cinema production, “Black Sky” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.