Celebrity L.A. Scene by Oliver Carnay

Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid's "The Songbird & the Songwriter" back-to-back concert last Saturday (March 20, 2004) at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in L.A., the kick-off concert of a six-city U.S. tour, not only proved they are (still) two of the most forceful Philippine artists, but can retain enough clout to attract a sold-out market, finding well-versed forms in new taste and creativeness, as fiercely as they can be.

Regine Velasquez, a constant box-office money-maker and crowd-drawer on the U.S. concert scene was brave enough to try a more risky costume for their surprise ("Darna" and "Captain Barbell") number. Multi-talented (singer/songwriter/comedy actor) Ogie Alcasid ingeniously walked a tightrope camaraderie with masterful interactions with his audience. The "Ocho-ocho", "Bulaklak" and "Spaghetti" acts were some of the highlights (with dancers in tow, clad in transgender attire), conveying production values which never suffered from start to finish, maintaining a momentum of applause and delight from the cheering crowd, one act after another.

The comical act never faltered for a second, an easy task for two dynamic performers who have always been at ease on stage and television. The classic medleys and movie themes, alternate solos and duets, imbedded with video presentations from past films, Regine with leading men, Ogie's new soap opera "Hanggang Kailan" clips, and the funny re-enactment of their parents' love stories/ reconciliation, were a hit with the Fil-Ams, as well as with the several foreigners in the crowd. Although, the two artists stick-out more novelty songs, a few romantic English selections were perfectly considered. Regine's vocal range (and at times comical ingenuity) was quite charismatic. Ogie's funny outbursts complement Regine's innocent but witty attitude. Reminiscent of last year's Martin & Pops' successful concert at UCLA, a common rapport hardly beaten, "Songbird" Regine & "Songwriter" Ogie says a lot in delivering strong impressions.

As expected, the sold-out 5,000 capacity venue rocked from one Filipino retro-pop song after another, giving an edge to what could be the concert of the year, another feat from Ana Co-Puno, President of (newly formed) Star Media Entertainment and Vic Perez of V Entertainment Groups' team, doing a well-presented and well-loved concert. The production team, with Regine & Ogie, conceptualized a rhythm-paced theme song intended for selected sponsors of the show.

Catch the tour's next stops: San Francisco - Nobhill Masonic Center (March 27); Las Vegas - The Orleans Arena (March 28); Atlantic City - The Trump Taj Majal Casino (April 2); Washington D.C. - The Showplace Arena (April 4); and Chicago - Oriental Theatre (April 17). (More pics from the L.A. concert at www.picturetrail.com/olivercarnayphotos. E-mail at carnay25@yahoo.com for comments)

Billy Crawford Excluded at "The Exorcist IV: The Beginning"; New Album Soon to be Released in Europe

Europe's current hottest singing sensation Billy Crawford, who was cast to play the possessed kid in Warner Bros.' "The Exorcist IV: The Beginning" (the prequel to "The Exorcist" 1973, starring Linda Blair) has been dropped off the list. His scenes will be deleted in the (fourth "Exorcist") new film, which tells the tale of Father Merrin's journey and subsequent encounter with demonic forces as as a young missionary priest during post World War II in Africa.

The movie has been plagued by revisions and re-shoots since it started in 2002. Alterations have been made in the original cast: Liam Neeson has been replaced by Stellan Skarsgaard (as Father Merrin); Gabriel Mann, replaced by James D'Arcy (as Father William Francis); Isabella Scorupco was replaced under a new script, whose character, Rachel, has been completely written out. Original director Tom McLoughlin (Friday, the 13th Part IV: Jason Lives; Sometimes They Come Back) was dropped and was replaced by director John Frankenheimer (Ronin, The Manchurian Candidate), who picked Crawford to play the part.

But on July 6, 2002, after Frankenheimer's untimely death, the job went to Director Paul Schrader (Cat People, 1982 remake). As the film got closer to release (March, then moved to July 18th, 2003), Warner Bros. decided to relieve Schrader. Apparently, Warner Bros. was not happy about his directorial style (WB wanted to retain the "spinning heads and slimy vomiting" genre, pinning on a more scarier pic). Everything had to be scrapped, re-shot (with an additional $8 million dollar budget) with the final hired director, Renny Harlin. Warner Bros. is now aiming for an August 2004 release.

This writer spoke with Crawford's management on March 15, 2004. Although Billy's scenes (which he shot for three months last year) are going to be deleted in the final cuts, he was still paid in full.

Still, things are looking up for Billy. He is currently the toast of the tabloids in Europe for allegedly marrying one of Europe's famous pop stars, which his management has dismissed as merely gossip.

What Billy is excited about, his management company revealed, is the fact that he will be releasing his new single next month under V2 Records (Europe). His new album entitled "Big City" will be released in August this year. "He is expected to be very busy promoting all over the key cities in Europe," said Victoria of Cuzzins Management, Crawford's manager. "We have pulled out Billy from V2 Records (USA), Billy Crawford's United States album distributing company, and we are currently scouting for a more aggressive distribution company in the United States. V2 Records (Europe) still handles the distribution all over Europe and outside, except in Australia, Japan, and U.S.A.," she added.

Billy Crawford, who has been a major recording star in the U.K., France, Japan, and Germany after singing the theme song "Pokemon, The First Movie" in 1999, won best male international artist (beating, among others, Robbie Williams) at the NRJ music awards in Cannes, France, last year, on January 18, 2003. The talented Filipino artist who has made a name in Europe is currently the toast of pin-up teen cover magazines as well as a favorite subject in music record magazines Spin and Billboard in Europe.

Billy Crawford started his career in the Philippines on a local popular television show, GMA's "That's Entertainment", under the tutelage of Master Showman German Moreno. He did ten movies as a child actor, earning a Best Child Actor Performance in the movie "Pahiram Ng Isang Umaga" (1989, starring Vilma Santos and Eric Quizon) until he migrated to the United States to join his father in Texas at age 12. Fate led him to be rediscovered by a New York talent agency, singing "I'll be There" in a Dallas talent contest. V2 Records signed him and released two hit albums "Urgently In Love" and "Trackin'." Billy Crawford, who is not only a singer and songwriter, is also an excellent dancer. He has previously joined major stars onstage, such as N'Sync, Michael Jackson (1995 MTV Music Awards), Brandy, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, and other major European artists.

E-mail at carnay25@hotmail.com)

OLIVER CARNAY regularly writes for BALITA MEDIA, INC. ("Balita USA", "Weekend Balita" and "Go4Women Magazine", available online at http://www.balita.com/ and www.Go4Women.com), ASIAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE'S JOURNAL (circulated in northern and southern part of California), Philippine and other Asian Headline newspaper – circulated in Sacramento, San Francisco and its vicinities) also published in northern and southern parts of California. In San Diego, he writes for FAME Magazine and PHILIPPINES TODAY. In New York, he writes for PLANET PHILIPPINES, with an online version at http://www.carouselpinoy.com/. He is a also contributor for BUZZINE Magazine (www.buzzine.com), AUDREY Magazine (www.audreymagazine.com), an occasional correspondent for www.siklab.com, PARA TODOS Magazine, and other L.A. based publications. He is the Los Angeles correspondent of Global Pinoy Entertainment Corporation (GPEC) which publishes S Magazine (circulated in Manila, all over the United States and other parts of the world) and PINOY GAZETTE (published in Hong Kong, Japan, and its vicinities). He is an active member of the National Press Photography Association (N.P.P.A.), Press Photography Association of Greater Los Angeles (P.P.A.G.L.A.-see www.ppagla.org for member listings), and is under the directory list of the Motion Picture Association of America (M.P.A.A.) covering movie Premieres and other Hollywood events. More recent news and Photo Galleries of Hollywood and local Fil-Am events recently covered can be seen at his new web site http://www.hollywoodflip.com/. Besides being busy maintaining his web site and writing for domestic and international publications, Oliver Carnay manages Talents, is also a Publicist and an event organizer. Email him at carnay25@yahoo.com or at webmaster@HOLLYWOODFLIP.com

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