Celebrity L.A. Scene by Oliver Carnay

I was ebullient enough to watch "Queens … On Fire" - Grand Olympic Stadium concert (the second stop of an 8-city U.S. tour, San Diego was the first) and really curious as to how such a lavish production (held at the Old Ultra on February 11 & 12) would be presented when it went on its U.S. tour this April.

The most anticipated day, April 2nd came. A throng of cheers filtered from the crowd, which was to the hilt of the venue.

Pops and Regine -- two major talents that have outstripped most artists when it comes to being concert queens -- maintained a healthy dose of verve each time they came up on stage. Without a doubt the pairing of two voices blended well, which could be seen in several duet spots. Erik Santos added glory to that vibrant evening, and projected well beyond audience expectations as he belted out two of his signature songs "I Believe I Can Fly" and "This Is The Moment." In fact, it was one of the most applauded segments. One even said, "magaling pala talaga'ng kumanta si Erik", and promised he would look forward to his next L.A. act.

Regine's rendition of "Shine" and 'I Believe' were also well applauded. The two divas' portion with Erik Santos was another one, and I think was among the best moments of the repertoire. Pops was the 'sexier' one while Regine was 'naughtier.' The spiels were natural. Regine brought her comedic flair up while Pops, after all these years, still was in her regal momentum. Actually, I've enjoyed more during their spiel interactions than with the whole repertoire - with interruptions from those rude security staff. I must tell you that Grand Olympic Auditorium has the most 'unfriendly' security guards in Los Angeles. But that's another story!

I couldn't help but compare the original production (that I saw when I was in Manila) with the Grand Olympic Auditorium presentation - the first was lavish and longer, more costumes, more (and better!) dancers.

The Queens were on fire, both sizzled on one stage, but edgily tarnished by the visibly lackluster performance of local dancers, an eyesore onstage. To sum up, there were only two dancers who were good enough to pass as real dancers. Dancers add luster to the total impact of the show and it creates and supports the effectiveness of the featured artists. In this case, people were laughing at the dancers. You see, the audience deserves "what was advertised." Two or three professional dancers would do justice (and we're not asking for anything more) as opposed to ten dancers who can't move and fit themselves in one stage. In this part, Starmedia failed to live up to my expectations.

Knowing that the L.A. crowd was the 'hardest audience to please,' I was short to assume that they would choose the best gowns worn from the show in Manila (the all-white attires were my favorites and the Spanish dress worn by Regine). Several segments were cut down from their original repertoire in Manila. I'm not sure if they are going to rehash this in other cities.

I could understand if the producers were tight on budget. But this is Starmedia we are talking about—who had always promised to deliver us "good quality entertainment" in concert-medium productions. To me, it was just fair. I was waiting for the fireworks but the only technical addition I saw was the confetti hurled up during the last few minutes of the show.

So much for the superlatives most of the writers have printed about this concert. Don't get me wrong because this concert is still one concert 'not to be missed' despite its shortcomings. (More pics from the L.A. concert at www.picturetrail.com/olivercarnayphotos)

'Beauty Day' ni Dra. Vicki Belo sa L.A.!

Nagkaroon ng "Beauty Day" at press conference si Dra. Vicki Belo sa New Otani Hotel (downtown, L.A.) kamakailan. Katulong ng beauty-queen-maker ng L.A. na si Monet Lu at ng Pilipina na si Angeli Lacson (Marketing Manager ng Obagi Clinic), sa panga-ngasiwa ng press conference at pag-imbita sa mga piling panauhin. Tinalakay ni Dra. Vicki Belo ang importansya ng pangagalaga ng balat at kaibahan ng skin care treatment para sa mga balat-Asyano at ng mga ibang lahi.

Nobenta porsiyento ng naka-pakinig sa talumpati at eksplanasyon tungkol sa makabagong teknolohiya sa pagpapaganda, katulad ng liposuction, laser light treatment, at iba pang procedures na ginagawa sa Belo Medical Group ay na-engganyo na'ng mag-pagawa kay Dra. Vicki Belo.

Ilang beses na'ng naanyayahan si Dra. Vicki Belo sa iba't-ibang panig ng mundo para maging speaker tungkol sa mga makabagong teknolohiya at kaalaman sa pag-papaganda. Hindi lahat nito ay available sa lahat ng lugar ng Estados Unidos, katulad ng "mesotherapy", na iilan pa lamang ang gumagamit sa Beverly Hills. Sinuman ang interesado at sumangguni kay Dra. Vicki Belo ay puwede ninyong buksan ang web address na www.belomed.com at mag-iwan ng e-mail address kung saan kayo puwedeng makontak.

Richard Gutierrez, um-attend at in-interview ng foreign media sa Premiere ng "Kung Fu Hustle"

Marahil ay nakabalik na ang sikat na young actor na si Richard Gutierrez sa Maynila habang binabasa ninyo ito. Ang tinaguriang pambato ng GMA 7 na si Richard Gutierrez ay nagbakasyon din ng matagal-tagal dito sa L.A., nang matapos ang highly-rated na teleserye niya na "Mulawin". Ngayong nakabalik na ito sa Maynila ay magsisimula na siya ng panibagong tv-series, ang "Sugo". Nang narito pa si Richard, naglambing ito sa akin para mapanood ang "Kung Fu Hustle" at um-attend ng Premiere Night nito sa Cinerama Dome. Kaya naman tinawagan ko kaagad ang kaibigan kong publicist at ipina-reserve ito ng tiket sa Will Call. Nailakad si Richard sa red carpet at na-interview pa ng foreign media. Malakas ang karisma nito sa mga nag-aabang na mga media.

Medyo may pagkaka-hawig pala sa "Kung Fu Hustle" ang bagong action/comedy tv series na gagawin ng guwapong aktor sa GMA 7 pagbabalik nito sa Pilipinas, kaya gusto nitong mapanood ito. Kabilang sa mga nakahalubilo ni Richard sa after-party ay sina Chris Judd, Black Eyed Peas, Dustin Nguyen, James Hung, Greg Araki, Michelle Krusiec, Eugenia Yuan (Mail Order Bride), Roger Fan (Better Luck Tomorrow), atbp.

Naka-tsikahan ko si LaLaine nang concert ni Leah Salonga sa Universal Amphitheatre. Si LaLaine ay kilala bilang Miranda, ang best friend ni Lizzy McGuire sa sikat na television show ni Hilary Duff. Magkakaroon ito ng bagong tv show sa WB Channel 5 na siya mismo ang pangunahing bida, spoof ito ng karakter ni Miranda sa Lizzie McGuire.

Alam pala ni LaLaine na padating si Richard dito sa L.A. ay siguradong magkikita silang dalawa dahil simula nang umalis sa Pinas si LaLaine nitong nakaraan ay magka-text ang mga ito. Kasalukuyang abala si Lalaine sa pagsu-shooting ng bago nitong video para sa single na kanyang iri-release under Warner Bros. Records label company. Pero siguradong isisingit ng dalawa ang kanilang pagkikita. May mamuo kaya sa kanilang pagiging magkaibigan?

Dessa, May Hinaing sa Ichiban!

Nakausap ko ang tinaguriang "Divette" na si Dessa. Nakabalik na ngayon si Dessa sa Los Angeles at pinaghahandaan nito ang comeback concert nito na pinamagatang "Divette in White … Men In Black" na gaganapin sa Alex Theatre (Glendale, California) sa buwan ng Mayo. Syempre, katulad ng titulo nito, nag-iisang nakaputi si Dessa at ang mga "men" naman ay sina Armand Mandia, Erick Lerma, Retz Gajardo, at ang magaling na komedyante/entertainer na si Bobby Solis.

Kapapanganak lamang nito last month at mayroon itong reklamo laban sa Ichiban, ang dati nitong regular na kinakantahan na sing-a-long comedy bar sa may Daly City, California. Hindi raw siya binayaran nito ng ilang buwan at kasalukuyang ina-asiko nila ni Jay Inoue (ang kanyang live-in partner) kung magdi-demanda sila ng breach of contract laban sa may-ari ng Ichiban. Malakas daw yata ang loob ng may-ari dahil nataon na bumalik na ang komedyanteng si Leonard Obal sa Ichiban, kaya may pamalit na sila para gawing headliner. Pipilitin kong kunan ng komento ang may-ari ng Ichiban o kung sinuman sa panig ng Ichiban ang ibig na ibahagi ang kanilang side tungkol sa alegasyon na ito ay nakabukas ang kolum na ito. Kontakin ninyo lamang ako sa carnay25@yahoo.com

RUSBLOOM ni Rustom Padilla, Hindi Na Siya Ang May-Ari!

Masyadong komplikado at masalimuot ang nasagap kong balita tungkol sa RUSBLOOM. Matatandaan na dito sa kolum na ito unang lumabas ang tungkol sa magarbong launching ng RUSBLOOM Skin Care na inilunsad ni Rustom Padilla at ng ka-partner nito, ang mag-asawang Bennie at Julius Espina. Nagkaroon na ito ng dalawang launching sa California (Panorama City at West Covina).

Pagkatapos na umikot ang balita sa Los Angeles ang tungkol sa paghihiwalay ng landas ng dating aktor at ng mag-asawang Kuya Julius at Ate Bennie Espina ay sinadya ko si Ate Bennie sa kanyang opisina at detalyadong ipinaliwanag sa akin ang dahilan ng pagkasira nila sa negosyo ng itinuturing na sana nito'ng "adopted son."

Mabigat ang mga dahilang tinukoy ni Ate Bennie at maaring lumikha ng ingay. Hinihiling niya at ipinakiki-usap na "off the record" muna ang kanyang mga ipinagtapat nguni't sinabi ko rin sa kanya na karapatan ng mga tao na malaman na hindi na involved si Rustom sa produkto nito. Nagpapasalamat ako sa tiwalang ibinigay ni Ate Bennie sa paglalahad ng mga dahilan at maseselang bagay na kanyang ipinagtapat sa akin.

Matagal ko na'ng kakilala sina Ate Bennie at masasabi kong isa sila sa mga taong mababait na nakilala ko sa Los Angeles. Sandigan ito ng mga malalaking entertainers o artista sa Pilipinas kapag dumadalaw ang mga ito sa Los Angeles. Dating prodyuser sina Ate Bennie at Kuya Julius ng mga malalaking concerts noon (nina Randy Santiago, Rosanna Roces, Sheryl Cruz, Sylvia LaTorre, Tito German Moreno, at marami pang iba ang ilan sa mga nai-pag-prodyus nito), nguni't tumigil na ito sa pag-pro-prodyus at inasikaso na lamang ang kanilang mga sariling negosyo. Hanggang sa makilala nito si Rustom Padilla during the time na mag-concert sina Juday at Robin Padilla sa Orpheum Theatre. Dalawang taon ang itinigil ni Rustom sa bahay ng mag-asawa habang kumukuha ito ng Directing class sa UCLA.

Ipinakiusap ni Ate Bennie na ayaw muna nitong magsalita sa media tungkol sa pagkawala ni Rustom sa RUSBLOOM nguni't ipina-a-alam niya sa lahat na tuloy pa rin at available ang RUSBLOOM products na mabibili sa mga outlets ng Island Pacific Supermarkets sa Los Angeles.

(More pictures at www.picturetrail.com/olivercarnayphotos)

Paul Schrader's EXORCIST: The Original Prequel Set for Release on May 20
Billy Crawford attended world premiere at BIFFF

Paul Schrader's version of 'Exorcist: The Beginning', the original prequel which has been shelved by Morgan Creek (the Renny Harlin version was released a few months ago and is now available on DVD) had its World Premiere on Friday, March 18, 2005 during the recent 23rd Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film (held between March 11 - 26, 2005) and set to release for theatrical on May 20, 2005, at the same day with STAR WARS: THE REVENGE OF THE SITH. Morgan Creek International is aiming for the title "Dominion: A Prequel To The Exorcist."

Billy Crawford, who plays the possessed kid Cheche in the film and currently in the middle of his European tour (promoting his "Big City" album) stopped by in Brussels to attend the World Premiere together with his director, Paul Schrader.

Renny Harlin's version, which hit theatres last August earned poor reviews and a lackluster $42 million at the domestic box office despite an $80 million budget. "Schrader's intelligent, quietly subversive pic emphasizes spiritual agony over horror ecstasy, while paying occasional lip service to the need for scares," according to Variety magazine. One critic said that "Schrader has delivered a 100 per cent Paul Schrader movie, drenched in the spiritual and moral angst that's watermarked his career," and added that the chiller is "probably too talky and angsty for mainstream auds." The movie was noted it even includes a surrealist homage to the dream sequence in Hitchcock's 'Spellbound.'

It is exciting to know that Paul Schrader's version received better reviews (than Harlin's) from the festival screening, and that Morgan Creek is planning to have a limited theatrical release before it goes on DVD. Now, if it will do good during its theatrical release (whether because of Billy Crawford's popularity in the Fil-Am community, or most horror movie die-hards are very curious to see the Schrader version) will Morgan Creek be swayed to have a wider release? The answer is still hanging as the most anticipated final chapter of the STAR WARS trilogy goes nationwide and will surely eat up all movie theatres.

Paul Schrader's rendition of 'EXORCIST: The Original Prequel' stars Stellan Skarsgard, Billy Crawford, Clara Bellar, and Gabriel Mann. Here's the synopsis given:

1944. Lankester Merrin, a parish priest in Holland, is forced by retreating Nazi soldiers to pass life-and-death judgement on his parishioners. This action destroys his faith, breaks his spirit. In 1947 Merrin, now an archeologist, makes a startling discovery in the Turkana district of northwest British East Africa (Kenya). An ancient Byzantine church has been found buried and in pristine condition. It was built, then buried. This discovery brings the attention of the archdiocese in Nairobi who, through Major Granville, assigns young Father Francis go to Derati in Turkana and watch over Merrin's work. In Derati Francis meets Rachel Lesno, a camp survivor who runs the medical clinic and Emewki, the hotel owner. Francis sets about setting up a church school. At the dig site Francis visits Merrin and Chuma, his foreman. After Rachel arrives to administer to a stricken worker, Cheche, a crippled local boy about 15 appears, looking for water. Merrin attempts to aid him but is confront by an angry pack of hyenasis found injured in the village and brings him to Rachel at the clinic. After a disturbing dream, Merrin shows Francis the now uncovered church. The interior is guarded by giant statues who appear to be holding something down. The walls are covered by Byzantine mosaics featuring the War in Heaven, Archangels Michael and Lucifer. Beneath the church, Merrin, Francis and Chuma discover an ancient primitive crypt which had been used for Satanic worship and sacrifice. Merrin surmises that the church was built atop the crypt to hold the evil in and then itself buried. Cheche is oddly affected when the crypt is opened. Merrin and Rachel set out to help Cheche's condition, brining in a doctor from Nairobi to reset his leg. Cheche's condition improves radically and implausibly. He's getting better too fast. At the same time everything else is getting worse. Sebituana, the local chief, is convinced the church as unleashed an evil demon...

About OLIVER CARNAY

With more than a decade of experience in the entertainment industry OLIVER CARNAY is an accomplished international Fil-Am writer, Publicist, Talent Manager, Project Consultant, Booking Agent, Event Organzer, Photographer, Concert Line-Producer, movie associate producer, and Concert Booking Agent.

Oliver has written for major publications, domestic and international, including Asian Journal Publications (www.asianjournal.com), BALITA MEDIA, INC. ("Balita USA", "Weekend Balita" and "Go4Women Magazine," available online at 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: FAME Magazine and PHILIPPINES TODAY. In New York / New Jersey he writes an entertainment column for CAROUSEL PINOY ENTERTAINMENT (www.carouselpinoy.com). He is a contributor for BUZZINE Magazine (www.buzzine.com), AUDREY Magazine (www.audreymagazine.com), 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 Europe) and PINOY GAZETTE (published in Hong Kong and Japan.

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, junkets, and other major Hollywood events.

Oliver is the Publisher of www.HollywoodFLIP.com, an online entertainment newswire magazine. Always a pioneer in bringing first rate news about Fil-Am talents in Hollywood as well as introducing them to the Filipinos and Fil-Am communities in the U.S. and in the Philippines.

Oliver Carnay is the proprietor of International Artists Production Company established in 1995 where he had produced, directed concerts and stage plays.

Oliver Carnay is in full blast as a Talent Manager and Publicist. He is the proprietor of International Artists PR & Talent Management (www.iatalent.com), a full-service publicity and talent marketing company, which represents a roster of multi-ethnic actors, musicians, directors, writers, and other celebrated artists in Hollywood. Oliver Carnay takes pride in being a member of the Talent Managers Association (www.talentmanagers.org). Email at Oliver@iatalent.com

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