November 25, 2014
What are the odds when the world’s elitest of spies join forces with the earth’s chicest undercover organization in the all-adventure family movie “Penguins of Madagascar.”
The most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private. These elitest of the elites are joining forces with a chic undercover organization, The North Wind. Led by handsome and husky Agent Classified voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. Together, they must stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine, voiced by John Malkovich, from destroying the world as we know it.
The Penguins are ever-confident in their ability to deal with Dave’s insidious plans, but a group of covert operatives known as The North Wind (their motto: “Nobody breaks The Wind!”), who help animals in need, do not think the guys are up to the task. In fact, the members of The North Wind do everything they can to take over the mission to stop Dave, much to the chagrin of Skipper and the gang.
“On the surface it looks like The North Wind is the real deal and Skipper maybe should get out of the way,” says producer Lara Breay. “It’s like the ‘grown-ups’ have arrived, so the kids can go home now. But during the course of the adventure, we come to appreciate the Penguins’ strengths. They don’t have the flash or training, but they have something that’s more important.”
The North Wind is led by Agent Classified. The first thing you should know about Classified is that his name is actually classified, and not “Classified.” He’s a highly-trained but cocky secret agent who underestimates the Penguins’ operation. Classified is the Alpha male of the tech-savvy team, and Skipper’s polar opposite. The casting of Benedict Cumberbatch, a celebrated and in-demand actor thanks to, among other performances, his work in the title role of the phenomenally popular BBC/PBS series “Sherlock,” came about almost three years ago, just before “Sherlock” debuted in the U.S. Smith explains: “One of our crew is Australian, and the series had already aired there. He told us that we should check out the work of this guy called Benedict Cumberbatch. We saw ‘Sherlock’ when it arrived in the U.S., and we knew then he was a special talent and would be the perfect foil for Skipper. Benedict is so eloquent and has a fantastic voice that was perfect for Classified.”
The British actor reveals that Classified is “an all-action wolf who heads up The North Wind, which looks after animal welfare wherever it needs looking after. He knows about Dave’s plot and Classified attempts to con the Penguins to reveal everything they know about their mutual adversary.”
“The North Wind team thinks they hold all the cards because they’re highly-trained, educated, have the best equipment, and nobody could ever top them,” Darnell continues. “The Penguins are the underdogs.” But Classified and the rest of the North Wind team soon learn that you underestimate Skipper & Co. at your own peril. In fact, the conflicting teams are two sides of the same coin. “Everything about The North Wind is chic, professional, planned and rigorous, and everything about the Penguins is haphazard, gung ho machismo,” Cumberbatch explains. “That’s why the two teams so complementary. By the end of the film they really need each other’s help, because they’re even more powerful as a combined, elite force.”
Cumberbatch says he enjoyed having no inhibitions in portraying and researching the role. Moreover, he embraced Classified’s skills and slick operation, as well as the character’s hidden but important vulnerabilities. “Classified has to learn to abandon his intricate and gadget-laden planning and sometimes just run at the problem, like the Penguins do. I like the idea of ‘unpacking’ a spy and making him a bit more human, even if he’s a wolf. And I’ve never done that on screen before.”
Classified isn’t the only operative being “unpacked.” He is joined in The North Wind by Short Fuse (Ken Jeong), a small seal who, though he looks like a plush toy, is as tough as any member of the team. The North Wind’s explosives expert, Short Fuse has a volatile temper to match his vocational expertise. Then there’s Eva (Annet Mahendru), an intelligence analyst and thrill-seeking, brainy beauty of an owl with a killer instinct. Finally, Corporal (Peter Stomare), a polar bear who’s eight feet tall and armored in a half-ton of muscle, is the brawn of the Wind.
A Dreamworks Animation feature, “Penguins of Madagascar” opens November 26 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox nationwide to be distributed by Warner Bros.
(Promotional material from Ms. Mae Vecina)
November 19, 2014
The world’s hunger for the most anticipated “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” will finally be filled when the biggest-projected movie to open this 2014 opens November 20 (Phils.).
Tracking projections on this week’s opening movies continues and “Mockingjay –Part 1” stays on top of the list in the US and in the local front (Phils.). To-date, it’s not much a question if “Mockingjay – Part 1” will finish top but more on how much it will make once it makes it the top of this week’s list and the odds are in favour with projected receipts tracked at more than US$150 million once it opens.
Living up to the world’s already intense expectations, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” heightens the odds against the movie’s heroine, Katniss, played and reprised by Academy-Award winner Jennifer Lawrence when Peeta Melark (Josh Hutcherson) now becomes The Capitol’s precious prisoner. As he comes forth in a series of tell-all interviews with Caesar Flickerman about what happened in the disastrous Quarter Quell, questions arise about his true loyalties. Is Peeta a victim or a traitor and just what does he know?
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1” now accelerates to new, exhilarating levels as the futuristic chronicle of Katniss Everdeen enters into a new realm. The Games may have been obliterated for good, but the fight to survive is about to intensify. Faced with the most daunting odds - and watched by the eyes of a hopeful nation - Katniss must put into motion courage, strength and empowerment against the all-powerful Capitol. This is the moment when she realizes she has no choice but to open her wings and fully embody the Mockingjay symbol. If only to save Peeta, she must become a leader.
Returning in the role of Peeta Mellark is Josh Hutcherson, who knew this film would be different. “Where Peeta goes as a character is really dark and really intense,” he says. “It’s actually what I was most looking forward to as an actor from reading the books.”
Hutcherson notes that when Katniss first sees Peeta on TV, she has no way of knowing what is going on with him, which only leaves her feeling even more unanchored and unhinged. “Now that she knows he’s alive, but seeing the state he’s in, and she hears what he is saying - she doesn’t know if he’s a good guy anymore or if he’s completely turned and now believes the words he’s saying in support of the Capitol.”
While Hutcherson is circumspect about where his character is headed, he says what he loves about the entire Hunger Games series is the way it brings of-the-moment themes together with epic, visual entertainment. “They are really smart movies,” he says. “They go to many interesting places with this story of a girl from a small village who is seemingly just fighting to survive and then becomes swept up in this huge uprising, becoming its leader. Francis has done a great job telling Suzanne Collins’ stories with a thrillingly large scope but making it relatable and grounded so that people connect with it.”
Join the rebellion on November 20 when “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” opens in cinemas across the Philippines from Pioneer Films.
(Promotional material from Ms. Mae Vecina)
November 19, 2014
John Malkovich, considered as one of the world’s lead actor of his generation and who has made an important mark in cinema, lends voice to Dreamworks’ “Penguins of Madagascar’s” tentacled nemesis who goes by the name Dave aka Dr. Octavius Brine.
A renowned geneticist, cheese-enthusiast (at least he has that in common with the Penguins) and donor to public radio pledge drives, the good doctor’s limbs are skewed at impossible angles, which isn’t that surprising because he’s actually an octopus named Dave. Raiding Fort Knox for a tasty treat is nothing compared to the challenges the Penguins face when they come up against Dr. Octavius Brine. And Dave bears a ginormous grudge against the Penguins. Dave was once a star attraction at various zoos around the world, until the adorable, cuter-than-cute Penguins stole the spotlight away from him, relegating him forever as an exhibit also-ran. “You took everything from me!” he bellows at the Penguins, and he’s about to take extreme measures to once again become a star attraction.
The filmmakers wanted Dave to be an adversary whom audiences wouldn’t soon forget. “Dave is a villain like those in the classic tradition of the James Bond films,” says producer Mark Swift. “He has a big agenda; this is a guy who wants to change the world.”
To give Dave a bigger-than-life comic presence, they really thought outside the box in casting the role. “We wanted someone who was new to animated features and would bring gravitas in terms of stage craft, which would bring some weight as well as fun to the character,” says Smith.
They turned to Academy Award® nominee John Malkovich, who has distinguished himself in films, on stage, and on television. Making his animated feature debut, Malkovich quickly latched onto Dave’s vengeance-fueled motivations. “Dave feels he had his life ruined at every zoo and aquatic park he’s called home, once the Penguins arrived,” he notes. “They’re cute, so people oohed and aahed over them, so Dave would no longer get any attention.”
To Dave, the Penguins are the story’s true villains. “These Penguins ruined his life by stealing all the attention and just standing there or waddling around, while Dave actually performed tricks and acrobatics, only to have people ignore him,” adds the actor. “So he has very strong feelings about the Penguins, but they aren’t even aware of him. Which makes them even more annoying to Dave!”
Malkovich quickly embraced his inner mollusk, but was also eager to give Dave’s thirst for vengeance some subtext. “We strategized with John and came up with the idea that this film is the third act of Dave’s life,” says Smith. “Dave’s plot is the culmination of ten years of planning, which entails kidnapping the Penguins, developing a transformative technology that will change Penguin-hood forever, and disguising himself as a human. All that subtext made the role much more fun for John.”
The actor’s physical performance while recording the role so impressed the DreamWorks Animation team that they lifted parts of it to create the final animated performance. “John and Benedict [Cumberbatch, who voices Classified] just didn’t do voice recordings for this film. They act out the scene; they’re very theater-based in that way,” says Darnell.
“Moving around in the booth while voicing the role was kind of natural because Dave is so slippery and gelatinous,” Malkovich elaborates. “I’d move my arms and pretty much the rest of my body. I found it really helpful to have that physical manifestation.”
Perhaps abetting the actor’s drive to get into character was his resemblance to his cinematic alter ego. “Yeah, Dave does look a bit like me – but he looks even more like my youngest sister,” he says with a laugh.
Dave is aided by his octopi henchmen, who do his bidding with ninja-like moves. Their innate abilities, including camouflage, flexibility, and a vise-like grip make them a multi-limbed threat to our heroes. Their interactions with Dave also provide a rich source of verbal byplay, complementing the film’s plentiful physical gags. Dave’s instructions to his team result in hilarious puns; one, of many, examples: “Nicolas, cage [the Penguins]!” The filmmakers had brainstormed dozens of these celebrity-themed verbal gags, the best of which made it into the finished film.
“Penguins of Madagascar” opens November 26 in cinemas nationwide – available in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D from Dreamworks Animation and 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
(Promotional materials from Ms. Mae Vecina)
November 18, 2014
Blazing at cinemas nationwide this November 20 in the Philippines, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” Liam Hemsworth reprises his role as Gale Hawthorne who finds himself at the tipping point in the latest instalment following the events that transpired in “Catching Fire.”
In “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” from the moment Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) wakes up in District 13, Gale is there – one of her only touchstones to the world she left behind. But he, too, is no longer the same. A hero who saved hundreds during the destruction of their home in District 12, he is now becoming a dedicated soldier in the rebellion and yet his heart is as unsettled by Katniss as ever.
Returning in the role is Liam Hemsworth, who says that in the wake of Catching Fire events, “He’s had enough as far as The Capitol’s abuse goes, so he’s not scared to stand up to it. He feels ready to go to war, in spite of the costs, to try to take down The Capitol. He sees the biggest part of his job as being the one to give Katniss the support and courage to become the Mockingjay. He’s now kind of her right-hand man.”
Gale becomes a driving force behind Katniss consenting to appear in the propos films for District 13. “He knows that they have to spread the word that the Mockingjay is alive and that only she can bring people together to stand up to The Capitol,” Hemsworth explains. At the same time, he notes that there is a distance between them. “Gale and Katniss have known each other their whole lives and have a lot of love for each other . . . but the difference between them is that Gale now sees anyone who has anything to do with the Capitol as guilty. Katniss doesn't have those blinders.”
Hemsworth couldn't wait to work with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson again. “You couldn't ask for better people to work with. Jen & Josh are both amazingly talented and working with them is a blessing and so much fun. We've now all known each other for a few years and together we've experienced a lot of pivotal points in our lives.”
He also found great enjoyment in working with Francis Lawrence on the nuances of Gale’s development over time and his increasingly complicated feelings for Katniss. “Francis is the consummate director. He is great at all the big action stuff as well as working intimately with actors. He is one of the most well-prepared directors I've had the good fortune of working with. He knows the ins and outs of the story and everyone’s character. When you ask him a question, he knows the answer. He’s always willing to listen and collaborate with you on your input and ideas.”
Liam Hemsworth has a quiet intensity that transcends the big screen. Demonstrating versatility and skill in a range of performances, Hemsworth has proven to be one of the most sought after actors of his generation. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Hemsworth grew up surfing on Phillip Island. Hemsworth quickly landed his first big acting job on Australia’s popular TV series Home and Away and from there went on to book a role on Australia’s most successful TV show “Neighbors.”
Landing his first film role in the feature film “Triangle,” Hemsworth discovered that his true passion was in making movies. “It’s something new and fresh and it’s just a different energy to what I’d worked on before, says Hemsworth. Hemsworth soon began to gain attention throughout Hollywood and, while living with his brother Chris in their manager Will Ward’s guest cottage, Liam beat out hundreds of actors for the part of ‘Will Blakelee’ in the film adaptation of Nicholas Spark’s “The Last Song,” co-starring Greg Kinnear and Miley Cyrus.
Hemsworth then went onto star in two of 2012’s biggest box office hits—“The Hunger Games,” directed by Gary Ross, and “Expendables 2,” directed by Simon West. Last year, he starred opposite Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman in the high stakes thriller “Paranoia,” directed by Robert Luketic and Empire State, directed by Dito Montiel and co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Emma Roberts. He also reprised his role as Gale Hawthorne in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” directed by Francis Lawrence.
Hemsworth eagerly looks forward to more film work with quality actors and directors. He says, “I love acting and I love movies. At the moment, I’m just trying to find people who are doing something different and meet people who are as passionate as I am. I have learned the majority of what I know on set, working. You learn from watching people with experience.”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 “ opens in theatres on November 20, Thursday from Pioneer Films.
(Promotional material from Ms. Mae Vecina)
November 18, 2014
Mayhem breaks out in New York’s Museum of Natural History as Ben Stiller’s night security guard Larry Daley and his historical pals embark on an epic and thrilling expedition to London.
Directed once again by Shawn Levy, “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” is the third and most exciting of the hugely popular family films about Larry’s adventures with legendary leaders, warriors, mythological figures and dinosaurs.
An ancient tablet brings the artifacts to life when the sun goes down. But the magic has gone awry and the characters are malfunctioning, with catastrophic (and hilarious) results. Larry and his friends have to take drastic action. Robin Williams again portrays US President Teddy Roosevelt in one of his final film roles. Ricky Gervais is back as museum director, Dr. McPhee.
Greeting the year 2015 with lots of action and adventure for the entire family, “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” opens January 8 in theatres nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
This is the latest international trailer:
(Promotional material from Ms. Mae Vecina)
November 17, 2014
The most-awaited first part of the penultimate chapter of the world’s bestselling YA novel adapted to screen “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay –Part 1” stands to be the top movie choice at the box-office this coming week and is expected to earn at least US$150 million on its opening weekend in a report by Hollywood Reporter since becoming the top-selling title of the year to date from ticket sales reports from Fandango.com and MovieTickets.com.
Likewise, www.boxofficemojo.com predicts that “Mockingjay” will be the highest-grossing movie of the year at the domestic (US) box-office and is further predicted to earn $385 million when it finally opens November 21 (in the US). The movie opens a day earlier in the Philippines- November 20.
In this latest instalment, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1,” the story begins as Katniss has just been rescued from the destruction of the Quarter Quell. She awakens in a shocking world she didn't even know existed: the deep, dark underground of supposedly annihilated District 13. She quickly learns of the devastating reality she must face: District 12 has been turned to rubble; and Peeta is being held, manipulated and brainwashed by President Snow in The Capitol. At the same time, Katniss’s eyes are opened to a secret rebellion rapidly spreading from District 13 throughout all of Panem – a rebellion that will place her at the center of a daring plot to hack into The Capitol and turn the tables on President Snow.
Acclaimed actress Julianne Moore adds to the amazing stellar cast in the movie as President Coin, as Katniss takes on the public role of the Mockingjay, she is asked by President Coin to appear in a series of “propos” – viral propaganda videos that District 13 uses to communicate with and inspire rebels across Panem.
District 13’s steely leader is the enigmatic Alma Coin, a major new role taken to its full potential by one of today’s most sought-after dramatic actresses: Award-winning actress Julianne Moore. “What amazed me about what Suzanne Collins did with the books is that she wrote a story that has so many substantive things to say about who we are as human beings, how we relate to one another and what standing up for what’s right means,” says Moore. “I was intrigued by Coin because I was very interested in her evolution as a leader.”
Like so many Hunger Games fans, Moore has come to feel a deep connection with Katniss. “What everyone responds to in Katniss is that she carries this moral ambiguity. She doesn't always know what the right thing to do is, so she must act more from her impulses,” she observes. “She’s very much about the idea that you can change your destiny – and other people’s destinies – through your actions.”
Katniss and President Coin start off on shaky ground. Katniss doesn’t trust anyone in authority anymore, but Coin is equally skeptical of Katniss. “Coin is reluctant,” Moore explains. “In the beginning, she’s reluctant to use her as a mouthpiece because she believes that Katniss is too damaged as a person to be able to do the things that they need her to do, but she also identifies this girl as someone who’s done quite heroic things and has galvanized the revolution.”
Because Coin is largely seen through Katniss’s eyes in the books, Moore had the freedom to create much of her interior from scratch. “In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1, Coin sees herself as a very practical revolutionary, someone who is focused on making the best decisions for her people and for the people in the other Districts. Francis and I talked and while we wanted Coin to feel very real, we also wanted her to be someone who is really hard to get to know.”
Director Francis Lawrence was thrilled with how Moore fused with Coin in her performance. “Coin’s singular vision to unite all of the districts in a massive rebellion is no small undertaking, especially when most of the districts have no idea that District 13 still exists. She has to be a tough leader,” the director notes. “Her relationship with Katniss is very complicated as well. Julianne has done an amazing job shaping the character.”
“She goes into the propos feeling like a pawn, like the Mockingjay is just a symbol she’s not connected to or passionate about,” Lawrence says. “The whole idea of the propos is to get people fired up, to band together – so Katniss faking at being something that she’s not doesn’t work. It’s only when she sees the human cost in District 8 that a true spark is ignited. The more she sees, the more it becomes a personal fight for her.”
Lawrence was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Julianne Moore in the role of President Coin. “When I heard she was going to play Coin, it was the most exciting, unbelievable news in the world. I think Julianne is one of the greatest actresses of all time, just absolutely phenomenal. She was even more impressive in person. She is such a sweet family woman and also hilarious. Working with her was a dream come true.”
While Lawrence and Moore got along, their characters have a cool tension between them. “Their relationship is complicated. They share similar ideals, but with all she’s been through, Katniss feels she cannot fully trust her,” Lawrence comments. “President Coin can see how important Katniss is to leading this rebellion, but she also doesn’t believe Katniss can actually do it. She’s still suffering from post-traumatic stress and President Coin is skeptical that using Katniss is something that she can actually control.”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” opens November 20 in Philippine cinemas (nationwide) from Pioneer Films.
(Promotional material care of Ms. Mae Vecina)
November 17, 2014
The most ambitious and biggest theatrical event is about to happen in the Philippines when “Exodus: Gods and Kings” opens December 5 in cinemas nationwide – presented in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D format.
Crafted by world-acclaimed master filmmaker Ridley Scott (“Alien,” “Gladiator,” “Prometheus,” “Black Hawk Down”), who brings to life Ancient Egypt at the time of Moses using only the latest state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion. Starring Christian Bale as Moses, this all-audience epic adventure is the story of one man’s daring courage to take on the might of a powerful empire. In the movie, Scott recreates the story of the defiant leader Moses as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses (portrayed by Joel Edgerton), setting 400,000 slaves on a monumental journey out of Egypt and its terrifying prophecies of the deadly plagues.
Bringing one of the oldest story known to man, Scott brings to the fore the grandest film ever created on screen, the film also stars Sigourney Ben Kingsley, Aaron Paul, Indira Varma and John Turturro. Producing with Scott are Peter Chernin, Mark Huffam, Michael Schaefer, Jenno Topping and Adam Somner - waited for the right technology to be available to represent the epic story for today’s movie audience. With today’s 3D and visual effects breakthroughs, audiences will experience this story and time period in ways never possible before.
Aaron Paul was fresh from his triumph on the critically lauded TV show “Breaking Bad” when Ridley Scott came calling to ask if was interested in joining a stellar cast for the director’s epic adventure, “Exodus: Gods & Kings.” Paul plays Joshua a former slave who joins Moses – played by Christian Bale – as he leads the Israelites out of enslavement in Egypt to freedom. Exodus: Gods & Kings was filmed at Pinewood Studios in London and on location in Almeria, Spain and on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, where some of the key scenes, including the parting of the Red Sea, were created.
“It didn't take long for me to say ‘yes, please..’” Paul laughs. “I think it must have taken about a second…” Paul reveals that he didn't actually meet Scott until his first day on set in Spain but embraced the chance to work with one of the best filmmakers in the business. He wasn't disappointed. “It’s been an incredible, wild ride every single day. You can see from the scenes that we are shooting today that it’s epic and it’s been like that every single day,” he said during a break in filming on Fuerteventura.
Paul further enthuses on working with Scott, “And Ridley comes to set every day with a smile on his face and he is just so calm – I would be panicked the entire time if I was in charge of a huge production like this – but he just knows what he is doing with every single shot. It’s been awesome.”
On meeting the character of Moses, Paul shares that the first time he sees Moses is actually that scene when his character is being whipped and Moses rides by and sees what’s happening. “Moses is a general and with Ramses at that point. Joshua tends to stay away from those types of people because it’s not appropriate to approach them or talk to them or even make eye contact with them. You just kind of keep your world separate,” relates Paul on one of the most unforgettable scenes in the movie.
The movie event of the year is about to happen when “Exodus: Gods and Kings” opens in Philippine cinemas December 5 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
Here is the Official Trailer of "EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS":
(Promotional material care of Ms. Mae Vecina.)
November 16, 2014
War is on in the world’s most awaited survival game onscreen, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” that reveals for the first time the most covert place in all of Panem: secretive District 13, where Panem’s rebels have carved out their own rigidly ordered society miles underground.
District 13 and The Capitol are mirror opposites in every way. The Capitol is sensationalist spectacles, over-the-top garish hues and gleaming lights. District 13 is steeped in shades of gray, claustrophobia, conformity and the stark reality of what’s happening in the Districts. While The Capitol has been living high on the hog off the people, District 13 has been biding its time, preparing for the day when they would finally take a stand.
Up until now, only The Capitol knew about District 13, having carved out a non-aggression treaty that allowed it to exist so long as it stayed underground. As rumblings of war begin in earnest, District 13 and The Capitol are pitted against each other in a battle of images designed to win support – and key to it all is the ultimate District 13 symbol and foe of The Capitol: the Mockingjay.
Meet the District’s fearless warriors, returning and new characters who are about to take back their long-overdue freedom from President Snow’s authoritative rule.
Gale Hawthorne:
From the moment Katniss wakes up in District 13, Gale is there – one of her only touchstones to the world she left behind. But he, too, is no longer the same. A hero who saved hundreds during the destruction of their home in District 12, he is now becoming a dedicated soldier in the rebellion and yet his heart is as unsettled by Katniss as ever. Returning in the role is Liam Hemsworth, who says that in the wake of Catching Fire events, Gale “has reached the tipping point.” Hemsworth explains: “He’s had enough as far as The Capitol’s abuse goes, so he’s not scared to stand up to it. He feels ready to go to war, in spite of the costs, to try to take down The Capitol.”
Haymitch Abernathy:
Woody Harrelson returns as a very different Haymitch – one who has not only been changed by recent events but taken some time to recover with a stint in rehab. It gives him a clearer view of what matters. “Haymitch’s thing before was always to emotionally detach himself from the people he was mentoring,” explains Harrelson. “He truly sees how much he loves Katniss and Peeta, and he realizes they've become a kind of family to him, in a very real sense.”
Effie Trinket:
Elizabeth Banks returns as Effie Trinket in a greatly expanded role. Effie’s presence is one of few departures from the book. With Suzanne Collins as enamored about Banks’ bubbling-over portrait of Effie as movie fans, it was a change that came with the author’s blessing. Recalls Francis: “When Suzanne saw Catching Fire she called and said ‘There’s no way Effie Trinket cannot be in the Mockingjay films.’ Effie brings such warmth, fun and levity to these dark stories – and fans will love how she has adapted to life in District 13.”
Beetee:
Tech-savvy former tribute Beetee, having barely survived the Quarter Quell, now pushes his master hacking skills to the edge as he becomes a vital part of the rebellion’s plans to breach the mega-security of The Capitol. Jeffrey Wright takes on the character he describes as “resisting injustice.”
Wright explains where Beetee is now that he is recovering from the Games in District 13. “You really get to see Beetee in action working in his laboratory designing systems and weapons and trying to hack into The Capitol’s communications,” says the actor. “He has a very critical role in the advancement of the rebellion.”Although, Beetee has his own reservations. “He has a lot of outrage at the conditions in the Districts but, like Katniss, he also is struggling not to become the very thing he is fighting against,” says Wright.
Finnick Odair:
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 also finds former tribute Finnick Odair in an unstable state following the events of the Quarter Quell. Once renown across Panem for his gleaming smile and high-spirits, Finnick now collides with ghastly news at the start of the film. “Finnick finds out that the love of his life, Annie Cresta, has been kidnapped alongside Peeta and Johanna,” Sam Claflin, who debuted in the charismatic role in Catching Fire, explains. “That puts him in a very, very vulnerable position, and he doesn't really know how to deal with that loss.”
Claflin goes on: “What's incredible about Mockingjay is that it picks up at a point when everything has changed drastically, and every character you care about has seemingly gone to hell and back. They hoped that they had escaped from their lives as tributes, but they're actually confined even tighter. Now, they’re in this very regimented, new world of District 13 and it is quite disorienting. I see Finnick as being very broken at the beginning of Mockingjay, but he starts to find his feet again.”
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” opens November 20 in theatres nationwide from Pioneer Films.
(This promotional material provided by Ms. Mae Vecina.)
November 16, 2014
A team of U.S. archaeologists is about to get more than it bargained for when it discovers a lost pyramid unlike any other in the Egyptian desert. As they unlock the terrifying secrets buried within, they realize they aren't just trapped; they are being hunted in “The Pyramid.”
The ancient wonders of the world have long cursed explorers who've dared to uncover their secrets. Most notable among afflictions is the so-called “Curse of the Pharaohs” – vengeance against adventurers who disturb the sacred tombs of the pyramids.For Dr. Nora Holden (Ashley Hinshaw) and her father Miles (Denis O’Hare) it might be the most important discovery of their careers. Using NASA satellite imaging technology, they have uncovered the first three-sided Egyptian pyramid buried deep under the desert for over 5,000 years. Followed by documentarian Sunni Marshe (Christa Nicola) and her cameraman Terrence “Fitzie” Fitzsimmons (James Buckley), and with the help of robotics expert Michael Zahir (Amir Kamyab), the team is determined to explore the foreboding structure.
But with political protests raging in nearby Cairo, the security of the expedition can’t be guaranteed and the site’s officials order an immediate evacuation. Desperate to take what might be their last chance to venture inside the pyramid, the team goes in alone. But what they find in the dark will test them all to their breaking point.
Egyptology was a topic that had always fascinated THE PYRAMID producer Scott C. Silver. He even had a dedicated Google Alerts feed set up to monitor news in the surprisingly fast-moving world of archeology. It was late in May 2011 when he first heard about the use of satellite technology to survey Egypt and the subsequent discovery of 17 lost pyramids. “It set my mind racing to come up with the idea for THE PYRAMID,” Silver notes.
The use of this technology, he felt, could reveal an unexplored environment on a scale that archeology hadn’t achieved to date. Silver imagined a team of archeologists venturing into the dark and discovering the horrors within.
He brought the idea to his producing partner Chady Eli Mattar. The pair had founded Silvatar Media after graduating from the prestigious American Film Institute Conservatory. “I’m drawn to sociological and psychological drama,” Mattar says, “so I was attracted to Scott’s idea, which included elements of the political upheavals that were going on at the time in Egypt. It added another dimension to the story.”
The two producers brought the project to veteran producer and former studio executive Mark Canton and his company, Atmosphere Entertainment MM, with whom they had previously collaborated.
“When Mark got involved, and when we subsequently brought the project to Alexandre Aja and Gregory Levasseur, with whom Mark had worked on “Piranha 3D,” “The Pyramid” became larger in scope,” Mattar remembers.
“I, too, liked the idea of the historical reality to the story,” says Canton. “Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations on Earth and its history is so fascinating.” “Alexandre loved the story and had strong ideas about where to take it,” he adds.
“A movie like this only works when you have a strong starting point,” notes Aja. “I liked the idea of using this new technology to find a lost civilization because it felt so real. It was a chance to explore a clash between the old and new school of archeology.”
Unlocking the terror within, “The Pyramid” opens December 10 in cinemas from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
(This promotional material provided by Ms. Mae Vecina.)
