Mistulang “semi-formal” ang attire ng Hollywood actor at The Bourne Legacy star na si Jeremy Renner nang humarap kay Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, sa Malacanang nitong Miyerkules.

Sa ulat ni GMA News reporter JP Soriano sa primetime news 24 Oras, nakita sa video si Jeremy na suot ng pambansang kasuotan ng mga Pinoy na Barong Tagalog pero cargo pants naman ang pang-ibaba.

Kasama ni Jeremy na nag-courtesy call sa Malacanang ang mga producer ng The Bourne Legacy na dito sa Pilipinas kinunan ang malaking bahagi ng pelikula.

Nasa Palasyo rin sina Tourism Sec Ramon Jimenez Jr at Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino.

Ayon kay Soriano, magiliw na nakikipag-usap sa mga kawani ng Malacanang ang dayuhang aktor habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Aquino.

Nagpasalamat ang grupo ni Jeremy sa suportang ibinigay ng pamahalaan sa shooting ng pelikula na ginawa sa Pilipinas.

Hanga umano ang mga dayuhang film-maker sa dedikasyon at husay ng mga manggagawang Pinoy sa industriya ng pelikula.

Bilang pasasalamat at souvenir, binigyan ni Jeremy si Aquino ng mga DVD copy ng Bourne series, Town at Hurt Locker.

Samantala, binigyan naman ng pangulo si Jeremy ng chocolates na may presidential seal at libro.

Naniniwala naman si presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda na malaki ang maitutulong sa turismo ng Pilipinas ng ginawang shooting ng The Bourne Legacy sa bansa.

Nitong Miyerkules, tuloy ang shooting ng pelikula sa paligid ng Philpost at Jones Bridge sa Maynila. — FRJ, GMA News

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson’s doctor should not be freed pending an appeal of his involuntary manslaughter conviction because he is a flight risk and has shown no remorse for his part in the singer’s death, prosecutors argued in court papers on Tuesday.

The attorneys said Dr. Conrad Murray, who is serving four years in jail, should be denied his bid for freedom at a Los Angeles court hearing set for Friday.

Prosecutors David Walgren and Deborah Brazil said there was “complete uncertainty” over whether Murray would remain in California or flee if allowed out on bail.

“Based on his failure to accept responsibility for the decisions he made, his complete lack of remorse and lack of insight into the danger of his criminally negligent conduct, he remains a danger to the community,” they added.

Murray was held criminally negligent in the June 2009 death of the “Thriller” singer after admitting giving him the powerful anesthetic propofol and sedatives as a sleep aid. He did not testify at trial and denied culpability.

Murray asked in January to be released on bail or put under house arrest until his appeal is heard, saying that a hearing could take over a year.

The judge in the case will hear arguments from both sides on Friday. – Reuters

After freaking the hell out of moviegoers in the Philippines with its unique but effectively haunting storyline and superb cinematography, GMA Films’ 2011 thriller movie The Road will pave the way to Hollywood fame as it becomes the first ever all-Filipino film to be commercially released in North America and Canada this May.

Through an international distribution agreement with GMA Films, Hollywood-based international film distribution outfit Freestyle Releasing will commercially release The Road in the mainstream American and Canadian markets beginning May 11, 2012.

The movie, a brainchild of internationally-acclaimed film director Yam Laranas, will be shown in over 50 theaters across North America and Canada. And just like any Hollywood movie, The Road will also hold a glitzy premiere night at the Mann Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, California on May 9. The event will be graced by the film’s producers, cast, Laranas as well as prominent celebrities in Hollywood and the international film industry.

“I think this is the first time that a locally-produced Filipino film will be distributed commercially by an international releasing outfit in the U.S. and Canada, and treated like a Hollywood-produced movie. This is not simply a special off-shore screening of a locally-produced film; this is in fact a full-fledged commercial distribution deal, and there’s a big difference between the two,” said GMA Films President Annette Gozon-Abrogar.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to exhibit the ingenuity and creativity of our artists and directors in the international market. It’s about time that we show the world that we, Filipinos, are not only good in boxing or singing, but we can also excel in the field of movie-making. The release of The Road in the U.S. and Canada is good news not just for GMA Films but also for the Philippine film industry because this would inspire especially our new generation of directors, writers, cinematographers and artists to perfect their skills and aspire for greater heights,” said GMA Chairman and CEO Atty Felipe L. Gozon.

Laranas also expressed his happiness on the outcome of his film.

“I am very excited for GMA in this history-making and pioneering development for The Road. This opens a ton of possibilities on the international arena not just for GMA Films or GMA Network but also for GMA Pinoy TV. This only proves the quality entertainment of international standards is highly-important to the network,” he said.

Described by international film critics as “creepy to the extreme” (KillerFilm.com) and a “beautifully shot supernatural tale with incredible effects and great scares” (Bloody Disgusting), The Road is a story about a twelve-year-old cold case, which was recently reopened when three teenagers went missing while traversing an infamous and abandoned road.

As investigators try to find leads to the whereabouts of the missing teens, they also unearth the road’s gruesome past that spans two decades – a history of abduction, crimes and murders.

Although the road is isolated, anyone who tries to pass through it can be sure that he is not alone. Lingering in the dark and desolate pathway is a vengeful ghost who makes sure no one leaves the road – alive!

The movie stars Rhian Ramos, Carmina Villarroel, Marvin Agustin, TJ Trinidad, tween stars Alden Richards, Barbie Forteza, Louise delos Reyes, Derrick Monasterio, Lexi Fernandez, Ynna Asistio and Renz Valerio. Also starring in the film are John Regala, Lloyd Samartino, Gerald Madrid, Allan Paule and Ms Jacklyn Jose.

The Road will also be simultaneously released in digital home video format (DVD) and will be made available globally via subscription-based and online distribution platforms including Video-on-Demand (VoD), Amazon Prime, Netflix, and iTunes.

GMA Films is the movie production arm of media giant GMA Network, Inc. — GMA News.TV

Excited at kabado raw si Judy Ann Santos sa unang pagsabak niya sa isang independent movie na ipalalabas sa Cinemalaya.

Sa Star Bites ng Balitanghali ng GMA News TV nitong Miyerkules, sinabi ni Juday na mapili na siya sa pagtanggap ng proyekto dahil na rin sa kanyang pagtutok sa dalawa nilang anak ni Ryan Agoncillo.

Pero kakaiba raw ang istorya at karakter na gagampanan niya sa pelikulang Mga Mumunting Lihim, kaya siya napapayag na mapabilang sa cast nito.

“Iba siya sa iba pang movies na ginawa ko… hindi naman dark pero may misteryo yung character niya,” paliwanag ni Judy Ann kay showbiz reporter Nelson Canlas.

Tinawag ni Judy Ann na out-of-the-box ang kanyang karakter sa pelikula na inilarawan niya na kombinasyon ng happy and sad movie.

At kahit subok na sa pag-arte, kabado pa rin daw ang aktres dahil ang naturang pelikula ay isasabak sa Cinemalaya festival kung saan mas matindi umano ang pagpuna ng mga tao. — FRJimenez, GMA News

Pinagtatapat pagdating sa paseksihan ang mga Kapuso star na sina Sam Pinto at Ellen Adarna, kapwa paboritong cover ng mga men’s magazine.

Last year ay nakuha ni Sam ang titulo bilang sexiest Pinay ng FHM magazine. Last month naman ay pinagkaguhan ng mga kalalakihan ang naturang babasahin kung saan ang sexy photo ni Ellen ang nasa cover.

Sa Showbiz Exclusive ng GMA News TV nitong Miyerkules, sinabing hindi ikinaila ni Ellen na may bahagi ng kanyang katawan ang dumaan sa cosmetic surgery.

Dito ay natanong si Sam kung okey din lang ba kanya na maging kabilang sa mga matatawag na “salamat po doc” beauty.

Pero sabi ni Sam, masaya na siya sa kanyang katawan ngayon. Pero wala naman daw masama kung may mga taong sumasailalim sa cosmetic surgery. — FRJ, GMA News