Piolo, Though Loveless, Looks Forward To Producing More Films

Even with so much on his hands, Piolo Pascual remains passionate about accomplishing more for his career and in testing his artistic limits, especially when it comes to producing films.

The award-winning actor and singer revealed to Bulletin Entertainment and select members of the media that, “We have many concepts na gusto naming i-develop.”

“So lumalabas na lang ‘yon, bigla na lang naiisip mo ‘yung mga ganung konsepto. We’re working on a couple of concepts na sana mag-materialize in the next couple of months,” he added.

His first venture into producing came in the form of “Manila,” a twin bill independent film helmed by esteemed directors Raya Martin and Adolf Alix Jr., released in 2009. “Manila” had a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival in France. It was also the opening film at Cinemalaya Cinco.

The same year also marked the release of “Kimmy Dora: Kambal sa Kiyeme,” the box office, critically-acclaimed film he produced. Its sequel, “Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme” was released last June.

Piolo does not dismiss the possibility of a third “Kimmy Dora” film, given that “maganda nang franchise ‘yon para kay Uge (lead star Eugene Domingo) and marami pang idea na puwede nating laruin.” He noted, however, “hintayin natin si Chris Martinez (writer) tsaka si Joyce Bernal (director). Sila naman ‘yung utak nun eh.”

His personal life has been quiet since his split from KC Concepcion last year. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old Kapamilya star is happy even without a special someone.

“Trabaho muna. Masaya ako sa trabaho…” he said. Indeed, he maintains his bankability more than 10 years since his career took off. He’s gearing for a TV series with Angelica Panganiban, as well as a movie in which, he hinted, would see him in his most offbeat role to date.

Another thing that keeps him occupied is sports.

“Nag-Ironman (triathlon) kami pero I just did the bike leg so I really wanna be able to do all three – swim, bike, and run – and that’s what I’ve been training for in the last couple of months kaya masaya, masarap,” Piolo added.

Of course, Piolo also tends to his daddy duties to 14-year-old son Iñigo, who has returned to the US to resume his studies after a two-month vacation in the Philippines.

“He was with me during summer in the States so para kaming kambal na magkasama, hindi kami nagkakahiwalay, kahit sa’n ako kasama ko siya. It was good na we had time together,” he enthused.

Piolo graced the gala night of Sun Shorts held Sept. 7 in Resorts World Manila. The event showcased five digital films by Filipino directors, which were produced by long-running insurance company Sun Life Financial-Philippines (of which Piolo is an ambassador) in collaboration with Unitel Productions.

The short film collection features visually captivating works by Jerrold Tarog (“Sun Dance”), Jolly Feliciano (“A Life In A Day”), Chris Martinez (“Oh My Goth!”), Nic Reyes (“The Debt”), and Jun Reyes (“1945”) – all of which underscore the values of friendship, family, love, chasing one’s dreams, embracing possibilities, as well as positivity.

These films can be viewed via youtube.com/sunshorts and sunshorts.com.ph.

source: mb.com.ph

Ubisoft taking ‘Assassin’s Creed’ to big screen

Videogame firm Ubisoft is moving into the film business with an adaptation of its blockbuster title “Assassin’s Creed” — sidestepping the Hollywood movie machine by producing the film itself.

With rising star Michael Fassbender of “Prometheus” and “X:Men: First Class” fame signed on to play the title role, the film will be the first produced by Ubisoft Motion Pictures, a division set up by the Paris-based firm so it can retain creative control over adaptations of its game franchises.

“Ubisoft has decided to never sell its licences because it wants to have creative control,” Ubisoft Motion Pictures CEO Jean-Julien Baronnet told AFP.

“There are strong licences and investments in important games that require us to diversify sources of franchise value and synergies.”

The firm provided no details about a possible director or release date for the “Assassin’s Creed” film, but it can rely on a rabid fan base, with more than 30 million units of the game’s franchise sold since its 2007 launch.

The series moves from one generation to another as players follow the ancestry of a fictional assassin to solve a perilous modern-day mystery.

Previous instalments have been set during the Crusades and in Renaissance Italy and “Assassin’s Creed III” — set during the American Revolution — is due for release on October 30.

A hallmark of the franchise has been “historical fiction” that blends rich details from past centuries with fantasy characters locked in a battle between assassins and Templars hunting for a mysterious orb of great power.

Baronnet said that despite Ubisoft’s experience in producing a cinematic computer-generated experience, it has decided that a traditional live action film would be the best option for “Assassin’s Creed”.

“Humans convey more emotion on the big screen. And it shouldn’t be forgotten that actors bring viewers into the cinemas,” he said.

Plans are in the works for other productions involving Ubisoft’s game franchises, Baronnet said, with its motion pictures division separated into film and television arms.

First up will be a television adaptation of its wacky “Raving Rabbids” franchise for French public television and US children’s channel Nickelodeon, due for broadcast next year.

Plans are also in the works for adaptations of Ubisoft’s stealth franchise “Splinter Cell” and tactical shooter game “Ghost Recon”.

For all of its films, Ubisoft will maintain full creative control over scripts, directors, casting and budgets, Baronnet said.

“We prefer making the film a 100 percent by ourselves instead of having a studio that could betray the spirit of the license, because this would have a negative effect on the image of the game,” he said.

Ubisoft’s move is a smart one, said analyst Laurent Michaud of European tech consultancy Idate, especially as videogames become more and more cinematic.

“The videogame is a content creator. Instead of giving up this wealth to third parties, it makes more sense to learn to exploit it yourself,” he said.

“Who is in a better position to exploit the value of a licence than the one who created it?”

source: interaksyon.com