Celebrity L.A. Scene by Oliver Carnay

Singer/composer and Ivory Records' newest hottest find, Cheryl Marie celebrated her 18th birthday with a lavish presentation at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City, California. The debutante's ball was almost like a full show, with close friends participating in almost like a non-stop variety extravaganza. Multi-talented Cherylmarie, a certified Gold recording artist (with her hit single "Love at First Sight) from Manila-based Ivory Records, will return to Manila for other rigorous guest appearances to promote her music video sometime soon. At her Debutante party, special guests were real and tv-life partner Sunshine Dizon and Frank Garcia (who had a successful show at the Patriotic Hall here in L.A.), with former movie producer Dorothy Laforteza (Sunshine's mom). Cheryl Marie is scheduled to do a special movie project with the two Manila-based artists tentatively titled "See You In L.A.".

On Martin and Patti Concert

Being one who was not familiar and had not seen Patti Austin live on stage, the roar of the crowd when she initially emerged on stage at last Saturday's back-to-back concert at the Shrine with Martin Nievera, clued me only into just how popular she is by hearsay. To hear her version of such hits "How Do You Keep The Music Playing" and "Baby Come To Me" is a come-on, and how she was having a much-celebrated Manila stints is a reason to be curious. But before the concert ended, this crooner with an immaculate soothing and effortless voice is a musician's delight. She made me an instant fan. Her live rendition of "It Might Be You" was the best I've heard in years. In my research, I am amazed to dig that this singer/composer icon who has maintained a long association with Quincy Jones, Dave Grusin and Harry Belafonte (touring Europe), and the likes of such music industry icons Billy Joel, Paul Simon, George Benson, and Roberta Flack (to name a few) had a string of successful albums, dozens of compositions recorded by a variety of recording artists, and collaborations with Jazz/Pop/R&B masters. Indeed, Austin remains one of the most prolific musical talents of our time.

Equally not to be outdone at the back to back concert is the talent of our very own Filipino artist Martin Nievera. Martin had always proven that he is an all-around artist who can carry small or big concerts. Martin vocally revealed during the concert that he hopes for a possible album collaboration with Austin and continue his relentless desire, despite having the elusive chance of being acknowledged in the mainstream music industry.

At the press conference given by the concert producer MaxiMedia USA, Martin had to express his disappointment about what went wrong with the supposed one-year extension of his recent Golden Nugget stint. Well, apparently, when he was about to sign the contract, a new management butted in. Much to his dismay, they wanted him to change his repertoire (and image) to a "more mainstream" façade, which he did not like at all, a sentiment we (press media present at the press con) also sympathized with him. This reminds me of Lani Misalucha who is currently having a six-year (correction, one-year!) stint (with the Society of Seven) at The Strip in Bally's, Las Vegas Hotel, fledgling as an impersonator of different well-known mainstream artists (Beyonce, Roberta Flack, Whitney Houston, among others) - and hoping to initiate her mainstream career to a broader definition.

Thanks to Martin and Lani, who never stop dreaming, and whose only wish, like what Martin said at the presscon --- is to make us Filipinos proud!

Congratulations to MaxiMedia USA (special mention to Pres. Felix Co and V. Pres. Jeffrey Cal) who never ceases to suffer the production value of each concerts (Martin-Pops and Martin-Regine) so far they have presented in the L.A. concert-scene, a job well-done!

More concerts to watch out for…!

Acoustic hitmaker Aiza Seguerra is scheduled to team up with the Hotdog Band, hotly billed "Manila Sound Sa Amerika", on September 17, at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. L.A. based talents Joseph Gelito (who is also directing the show) will provide the laughs while Ricky Lacorte, The Sinag Band, and Valerie Gail will do the front acts. Call Jasmin at (562) 864-7739 for tickets.

L.A. Patron of the Arts and (the newest addition among the roster of new producers here in L.A.) Alfonso Chu called last week to invite me at the "Ultimate Showdown … Night of the Champions!" special dinner which he will host when headliners Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Christian Bautista, and Rachel Ann Go arrives in U.S. for their initial three-leg tour (the others to be continued next year). Per Tita Aster Amoyo's reminder, Tito Al (as he is fondly called by all) is busy these days leaving no stones unturned to make this project one of the most talked-about in the L.A. concert scenes. Assuring and predicting that this concert will be a sure-fire blockbuster hit. "Everybody wants a front row seat, I am sure Orpheum Theatre will be packed," said Tito Al, feeling so responsible to make everything works for the best. JNL Entertainment and Marissa Luces Entertainment co-produces with Tito Al.

The four champs, (Sarah Geronimo - Grand Champion, and runner-up Mark Bautista of "Star For A Night", with runner-up Christian Bautista for "Star In A Million" and Rachel Ann Go - Grand Champion of "Search for a Star") generated millions of fans and instant respective careers after winning a reality-based search-singing contest, copycats of the popular American Idols contest. These power-house vocalists is set to take L.A. by storm on October 2, Saturday at the Orpheum Theatre at 8 PM.

Incidentally, and speaking of the American Idols, StarMedia Entertainment's Ana Co-Puno called me to announce that Camile Velasco and Jasmine Trias are all set to have a major concert in Manila, with Piolo Pascual and Erik Santos, to be featured among other Manila-based artists. The concert is slated on October 16, Saturday. The venue is yet to be determined.

Latest on Billy Crawford's "Exorcist: The Beginning"; Schrader's Full Version Debuts on DVD

A lot of my readers are asking if people would ever see Billy Crawford's appearance at the highly (cursed?) "Exorcist: The Beginning", the prequel to the 1973 horror classic "The Exorcist" (starring Linda Blair) which tells the tale of Father Merrin's journey and subsequent encounter with demonic forces as a young missionary priest during post World War II in Africa. The article which I first put out in the media (here at Carousel Pinoy), about Billy Crawford being dropped from the said film created a stir in the Fil-Am, as well as in the Philippines (see previous article here).

In this (fourth "Exorcist") new film, the movie has been plagued by revisions and re-shoots since it started filming in 2002. After Frankheimer's untimely death (who picked Crawford to play the possessed child) in July of 2002, the job was continued by Director Paul Schrader (Cat People, American Gigolo). But Morgan Creek International/ Warner Bros. Pictures, after spending $40 million, decided to relieve Schrader due to "directorial creative styles" (WB wanted a more scarier version). Everything had to be scrapped, re-shot with the final hired director, Renny Harlin (Driven, Mindhunters, CutThroat Island).

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, and Fil-Am talent Billy Crawford's character had to be eliminated.

Warner Bros., its distributor, chose not to screen the movie to the press for review. At the World Premiere Night held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre last Wednesday, for the first time, ticket-holders and celebrity guests were able to view and judge the final cut version from Director Renny Harlin.

As of this writing, Morgan Creek International (Warner Bros. Pictures) announced that Schrader's cut would be entitled "The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen … and Never Will", which should be released on DVD when Harlin's version comes out. And so, yes, Billy Crawford's scenes will be included in the DVD. Novelist William Peter Blatty (author of the book where it was based upon) denotes that after seeing Schrader's version, he found it to be "wonderfully acted and directed, elegant and a class act."

A Baby Shower for Ruffa!!!

Actress Ruffa Gutierrez, who is currently in Los Angeles waiting for her second-child's delivery at the Cedar's Sinai Medical Center sometime soon (in September), had a baby shower at the Promenade posh tower on 880 West 1st Street in downtown, Los Angeles courtesy of MaryAnn Ramos-Samadi of RSG Fine Jewelry. The shower, which was moderated by Manila-based columnist Jun Lalin, was a fun-filled afternoon with unique games and catered food galore. Among the attendees were Manila-based actresses Antoinette Taus, Sunshine Dizon with boyfriend Frank Garcia of Power Four, Sunshine's mom Dorothy Laforteza and L.A. based singer Anthony Castelo.

At Ruffa's Baby Shower held at Promenade Tower in downtown L.A.:

Click for Oliver Carnay's recent column including pics of Ruffa's new baby!

(More pics at www.picturetrail.com/olivercarnayphotos. E-mail at carnay25@yahoo.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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