Celebrity L.A. Scene by Oliver Carnay

Originally expected a Fall 2003 release, the movie 'The Great Raid', from Miramax Films, has been plagued with slot-release changes. This time, the latest is that it will be moved (again) to a pre-holiday spot, December 2, 2005 release date. Last week, I ran a release that it had finally settled for February 18th slate, competing with 'Constantine' and 'Son of the Mask' until the latest announcement arrived right after I released the news.

The movie previously titled 'Ghost Soldiers' (but then later changed to 'The Great Raid' because a similar Tom Cruise/Steven Spielberg project was also said to be in the can) stars Fil-Am actors Cesar Montano (as Captain Pajota), and Paolo Montalban (as Sgt. Valera), together with mainstream actors Benjamin Bratt, (as Lt. Colonel Henry Mucci), James Franco (Capt. Prince), James Carpinello (Colporal Aliteri), Clayne Crawford (Pfc. Aldrige), Mark Consuelos (Cpl. Gutierrez), Connie Nielsen (nurse - Margaret Utinsky), Joseph Fiennes (Major Gibson), Eugenia Yuan (Cora, the Manileña Nurse), and many others.

Among other Filipino actors included in the film are Bembol Roco, Alvin Anson, Ryan Eigenmann, Rez Cortez, Chito Sayo, Nor Domingo, Alfred Nicdao, Den Patricio, Len Cruz, Noel Trinidad, Jr., Ebong Joson, Rommel Montano, R.J. Leyran, and many others.

The movie, directed by John Dahl (Rounders, The Last Seduction, Unforgettable), shot in southeast and far north of Queensland, Australia and partly in Shanghai, China, is based upon the book 'Cabanatuan: Rescuing the Doomed Ghosts of Bataan and Corregidor' by William B. Breuer.

'The Great Raid' is a gripping chronicle of one of the most harrowing rescue missions ever undertaken as told in all its gritty detail by the heroes who made it happen. The movie tells the true story of Colonel Henry Mucci (played by Bratt) and the raid on a notorious Japanese death camp in the Philippines. Forced to retreat from the Philippines, General Douglas MacArthur promised to return. Three years later, January 1945, MacArthur chose Army Ranger Lt. Colonel Mucci (Benjamin Bratt) to lead an effort to liberate more than 500 American prisoners of war from the Japanese camp, Cabanatuan, part of the bloody and infamous Bataan Death March. Col. Mucci had to undergo a vigorous guerrilla warfare-training program, before leading his men, the 6th Ranger Battallion, on a hazardous rescue mission, thirty miles behind enemy lines.

Holiday Thoughts from Ruffa

I received an e-mail from Ruffa a few days before Christmas, and here is what she has to say:

Hi Everyone!!!

Christmas is right around the corner and all my friends are wondering where I'll be for the holidays. No I won't be flying back to Manila this year. For a change, I'd like to experience the entire holiday season in Turkey with my immediate family. We do things a little different here like opening the gifts on New Year's Eve rather than on Christmas Eve. This just gives me more time to shop for loved ones!

We will still be having a sumptuous Noche Buena feast of stuffed Turkey, cranberry sauce, Christmas pudding and roasted chestnuts. Of course we can't do without a fresh pine tree with all the trimmings!

Four stockings are up on the fireplace for Yilmaz, Lorin, Venice and myself. I can't wait to see the look on Lorin's face as she sees what Santa has stuffed in her multicolored stocking. Last year she was only 4 months old...too young to enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

After getting married and being a young mother, my life has changed tremendously! More than ever it's clearer to me that family comes first before anything else. I've made a lot of wonderful friends in Istanbul and I'm beginning to enjoy my time here more and more. With coffee mornings, dedicating my time to volunteer in the different orphanages & charitable institutions, playgroups, barbecues, premieres and galas, my social calendar gets filled up so quickly! Most of the time I go on my own or bring Yilmaz with me. Lorin is also starting to tag along when she can. I've decided that it's best to leave Venice at home till she's at least 6 months old. The last time I took her out, she got the flu!

My health regimen still consists of working out 3-4 times a week with my personal trainer who always pushes me to the limit until I cry in pain! Tomorrow I start private Turkish lessons! I finally want to make the effort to learn my husband's native language. Since moving my bags to Istanbul, I've been speaking in what you call Turklish (a combination of Turkish mixed with English) sorta like Taglish back home. My favorite is "That's so cok guzel!" ...meaning "That's so beautiful!".

During this holiday season I choose to engulf myself in prayer. Prayer for my country, my family, and those who lost their lives in the typhoon. Most especially for the souls of Ninong Fernando Poe, Jr. and KC de Venecia that they may rest in eternal peace in the arms of our Creator. This Christmas, may we all know and realize the true meaning of Christ's birth.

Here's wishing for Peace on Earth and may you all have a meaningful Christmas and a most prosperous New Year!

With love from me and my family,
Ruffa xxxx
Yilmaz, Venice and Lorin

Piolo rocks Hollywood Palladium

Piolo Pascual took the Hollywood Palladium center-stage Saturday, December 11, his third leg of a four-city U.S. tour (Washington, D.C., San Francisco, L.A. and Chicago).

The concert, produced by Wil Pasco of Pasco Productions and line-producer Reyza Roxas-Villarica, opened with Piolo singing fast songs before launching into a melody of fan favorites. He included popular mainstream pop before switching to his own selected faves and sang “Kailangan Kita” (first hit from his first album) as the finale.

From melodramatic repertoires and mellow rock, to addressing personal thoughts (and opening himself up), the night belonged to one man. Piolo proved he is not only a certified recording artist but a better solo performer.

His guest, artist Ai Ai de las Alas, also brought the house down with antics that never fail to cheer up her audience.

More pics from the concert at www.picturetrail.com/olivercarnayphotos

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

HOME