WORLD WAR Z SCORES NEW BLOCKBUSTER RECORD FOR BRAD PITT

The Brad Pitt suspense-thriller World War Z has made a big splash at the box-office as it set the title as the actor’s best ever first weekend opening movie. Debuting in 220 screens nationwide, it opened at #1, grossing over P88 M on its first weekend, despite competition from strong second week hold-over Man of Steel which had more screens. Top 10 screens were SM Mall of Asia (P3.84M), Trinoma (P3.82M), SM North Edsa (P3.55M), Newport (P3.22M), SM Megamall (P 2.96M), Glorietta 4 (P2.85M), Greenbelt 3 (P2.61M), Alabang Town Center (P2.43M), Power plant (P2.39M) and Eastwood (P2.16M).

The weekend receipts handily out grossed comparative figures of previous Brad Pitt action blockbusters Mr. and Mrs. Smith and Troy. It also scored the 5^th all-time highest weekend opening for a Paramount movie in the Philippines.

The heart-pounding zombie movie scored the similar records in other Asia-Pacific countries like India, Vietnam Indonesia, Malaysia & Hong Kong . In total, WORLD WAR Z has so far taken home an incredible $31,479,178 from Asia Pacific alone and $47,051,370 internationally in its first five days of release.

In the Philippines, the title is expected to hit over P180 Million on its second week with continued strong word of mouth.

WORLD WAR Z is a United International Pictures release through Solar Entertainment Corporation release and is showing nationwide in over 140 theaters.

SANDRA BULLOCK IMPROVS IN “THE HEAT”

Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock stars in “The Heat” and tries on improv comedy for the first time under director Paul Feig.

Bullock stars as Sarah Ashburn, an FBI agent hoping for a promotion and high-tails it from her home base in New York City to Boston, to help solve the mystery behind several murders. Standing in Ashburn’s way is a hard-hitting Boston police officer, Shannon Mullins played by Melissa McCarthy, who’s not happy that the FBI – especially the stuck-up Ashburn -- is treading on her turf. Ashburn is determined to wrestle the case away from Mullins, but the disheveled, foul-mouthed, in-your-face cop is a formidable adversary. They’ll soon discover they have more in common than they ever thought possible, including their misfit status and complementary skillsets.

“Ashburn’s effectiveness as an FBI agent comes from her meticulousness, stubbornness and thoroughness,” says Bullock. “But she’s completely inept when it comes to any kind of social interaction. She’s trying so hard to make up for that particular weakness that she becomes insufferably arrogant on the job. Ashburn is respected but not liked because she isn’t a team player. Every time she opens her mouth, people cringe.”

The improvisational nature fueled the fun and on- and off-screen bonding. “It is great working with Melissa,” enthuses Bullock. “She comes through the door and improv is the way that she does things. Then we had a director who comes from that world too and nearly everyone in the cast was also from that world. The world of comedy that I had been familiar with was always very controlled. There was the script and you had to go through 27 people and the studio before you could change a line. I always wanted to do this kind of comedy that we have in THE HEAT (which I have done in real life, sort of free form,) but I was never really allowed to experience what it was like before on a film.

Walking onto the set of THE HEAT it took me a couple of days to realize: ‘I’m allowed to do it.’ It was very liberating. When you are around that, you take it in and you want to improve your game. It is a muscle that you have to exercise and if you haven’t had much time exercising that muscle, it gets stale. Watching these people work is exciting and inspiring, but daunting sometimes too.”

“Melissa has great moves,” says Bullock,”discussing McCarthy’s comedic skills. “When I saw her dance, I knew we were going to be fast friends.We did the dancing with no practice whatsoever,” she continues.

“We said: ‘let’s not rehearse anything,’ ”interjects her co-star. “Let’s just be as terrible as we’re capable of being. Poor Paul turns around and we both have our faces taped,” laughs McCarthy, “and he’s like, ‘What’s happening?’ It was a weird descent into controlled madness. It was really fun. There was a lot of ruined tape,” she says. McCarthy adds: “Yeah, I got the moves, but I don’t have the sense to stop whatever’s going on.”

“We really hit it off, she is like my sister,’’ adds Bullock. “I’d say it’s rare that actors get together and have the kind of chemistry and connection we have together. It somehow just works and it’s something inexplicable that is bigger than what is on the page.”

“The Heat” opens June 27 in theaters from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Sarah Jessica Parker 'Love To Shop' for The SM Store! FIRST LOOK! : International screen and stage actress – and style icon – Sarah Jessica Parker is the new face of the SM Store.

 
This comes as the SM Store opens its new branch at SM Aura Premier, a world- class mall, which redefines the retail and lifestyle scene in the country.  And with that, the SM Store brings great design and great retail to new heights with its Love To Shop campaign.

As the new face of the SM Store, SJP brings to Manila her love of shopping as expressed in her incredible fashion style.  She has been known to be experimental in her fashion choices – which range from elegant designer gowns to casual street fashion and even sportswear - mixing and matching and looking fabulous.
Her collaboration with SM Store in its Love to Shop campaign is a perfect fit, as her personal style celebrates the SM Store’s passion for fashion, as well as its wide assortment of merchandise. SJP is a fashion inspiration for Manila’s stylish set, as she is one of the very few Hollywood personalities that could pick anything in the store, expensive or affordable, and look awesome.  And most of all, many Filipinos can identify with her, as like them, she loves to shop.

The SM Store’s Love To Shop assembled a stellar glam team led by SJP’s official stylist Tracy Cox, hair stylist Andy LeCompte, make-up artist Leslie Lopez and shot by the fabulous photographer Daniela Federici.

Parker, who played Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO television series, Sex and the City (1998-2004), has won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards.  She served as a producer and reprised her role in the screen adaptation of the hit series with the theatrical release of Sex and the City and Sex and the City 2.

In the fall of 2013, Parker will return to the stage in the world premier of The Commons of Pensacola by Amanda Peet opposite Blythe Danner.

Past film credits include I Don’t Know How She Does It, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, Smart People, Failure to Launch, The Family Stone, State and Main, Mars Attacks!, Ed Wood, The First Wives Club, Miami Rhapsody, Honeymoon in Vegas, and Footloose.

Parker also lends her time to charitable causes.  She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the New York City Ballet and is a UNICEF ambassador.  In November 2009, the Obama administration elected her to be a member of the President’s Committee on Arts and the Humanities.  In April 2012, she adopted the Martin Luther King, Jr. School in Portland, Oregon for the Turnaround Arts Initiative.

Sarah Jessica Parker as the new face of the SM Store – now that’s great fashion news.
For more updates, join The SM Store online community on Facebook+ YouTube+Pinterest /The SM Store or Twitter+Instagram@thesmstore. #sarahjparkerlovetoshop.

TURBO 3D: no dream is too big and no dreamer too small…

From the makers of "Madagascar," "Kung Fu Panda" and "The Croods," "TURBO" is a high-velocity 3D comedy about an underdog snail whose dreams kick into overdrive when he miraculously attains the power of super-speed. But after making fast friends with a crew of streetwise, tricked-out es-car-goes, Turbo learns that no one succeeds on their own.

So he puts his heart and shell on the line to help his pals achieve their dreams, before Turbo-charging his own impossible dream: winning the Indy 500.

No dream is too big and no dreamer too small

"Turbo 3D" features a stellar voice cast - Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Samuel L. Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Pena, Maya Rudolph, Ben Schwartz, Richard Jenkins and Ken Jeong.

"Turbo" is from DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox to open on July 19 in theaters nationwide.

Mercato Centrale is coming to Pampanga this June: Invites Pampanga and Central Luzon-based food entrepreneurs

The Mercato Centrale Group is bringing the premier food and lifestyle night market experience to the culinary center of the Philippines – Angeles City, Pampanga in Ayala's Marquee Mall!

“We’re inviting food entrepreneurs from Manila, Pampanga and the surrounding provinces of Central Luzon to join our newest market - Cocina Centrale! It will be a culinary showdown where the best of Pampanga will meet the best of Manila!” said RJ Ledesma, co-founder of the Mercato Centrale Group.

Mercato’s Cocina Centrale will have its grand launch on June 29, Saturday at the Marquee Park of Ayala's Marquee Mall in Angeles City Pampanga. It will be open every Friday and Saturday starting July 5 from 4pm to 3am.

Interested food vendors who want to join Cocina Centrale may call (+63917)8401152 or (+632)8120102 or email admin@mercatocentrale.ph. You may also visit www.facebook.com/cocinacentrale.

“This is our first food market outside of Metro Manila, and we feel the most ideal place where we could share the Mercato Centrale experience is with the Pampanga foodies,” said Anton Diaz, Co-founder of the Mercato Centrale group and the blogger behind the popular food and travel website www.OurAwesomePlanet.com.

“The great tradition of cooking in this part of the country means we have to ‘level up’ when it comes to the quality of our gourmet and artisanal vendors, so that the food satisfies the discerning taste buds of the Kapampangans,” added Diaz.

The Mercato Centrale Group is the events team behind Metro Manila’s most happening night weekend markets that include Midnight Mercato in Bonifacio Global City, Cucina Andare in Glorietta Park Makati, and two in Quezon City -- Mezza Norte in Trinoma and Levante in Eastwood.

All food vendors undergo a taste test by the Mercato Centrale Group.  Vendors are chosen based on flavor, innovation and uniqueness.

RUNNER RUNNER

In the sexy, sultry thriller RUNNER RUNNER, Richie (Justin Timberlake), a Princeton college student who pays for school with on-line gambling, bottoms out and travels to Costa Rica to confront the on-line mastermind, Ivan (Ben Affleck), whom he believes has swindled him. Ivan sees a kindred spirit in Richie and brings the younger man into his operation. When the stakes get incredibly high and dangerous, and Richie comes to fully understand the deviousness of his new boss, he tries to turn the tables on him.

"Runner Runner" will open very soon this September from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

The New American Dream in The Purge

If on one night every year, you could commit any crime without facing consequences, what would you do?

In The Purge, a speculative thriller that follows one family over the course of a single night, four people will be tested to see how far they will go to protect themselves when the vicious outside world breaks into their home. In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity—including murder—becomes legal.

The police can’t be called. Hospitals suspend help. It’s one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking.

When an intruder breaks into James Sandin’s (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.

“The Purge” is released and distributed by Universal Pictures and United International Pictures through Solar Entertainment Corp.