Latest news with #Sight
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Rachel's love story inspires rom-com with Malaysia as the star
A YEAR after premiering 'Sight' , about Asian-American eye surgeon Dr Ming Wang, Malaysian beauty queen-turned-filmmaker Rachel Tan is back with 'Worth The Wait'. Expected to reach cinemas in August, it is her sixth movie and is partly shot in Kuala Lumpur. At the movie's recent premiere in Dadi Cinema in KL, Rachel said that 'Worth The Wait' was loosely based on the love story of her husband and business partner, Dan Mark, and herself. "While the characters' names are changed, a lot of it is based on our story, a long distance romance between Seattle in the United States and Kuala Lumpur," said Rachel. STAR-STUDDED The movie boasts a star-studded Asian-American cast which includes Lana Condor, Andrew Koji, Ross Butler, Sung Kang, Elodie Yung, Karena Lam, Osric Chau, Tan Kheng Hua, Lim Yu-Beng and Vincent Xie, who doubles as the producer. Taiwan's Tom Lin of 'The Garden Of Evening Mists' fame is the director, and marks his second movie in Malaysia. " 'Worth The Wait' is like my favourite movie, 'Love Actually'. It is a collection of love stories and we shot it over a few days in KL in June 2023," said Rachel, adding that filming took place over 22 days in Seattle and Vancouver. SEREMBAN Rachel, from Seremban, "leaped" from beauty queen to lawyer to film producer. "I was doing my first year of law school and tried out a beauty pageant during my summer break. "I then realised that I loved the entertainment industry," she said. Rachel said that like all of her previous movies, 'Worth The Wait' carries a common theme, healing and breaking stereotypical roles. "I love stories that take viewers on a journey of healing and redemption. "Basically, all movies that touch the heart, promote family values and give hope." She said the representation of East Asian and Southeast Asian talent in Hollywood was evolving for the better. "I hope that we can be a hub for Asian-American and Asian movies and TV shows." FOUR STORIES 'Worth The Wait' is four stories in one. "They are interconnected stories of four couples, one based on Dan and myself, another based on my sister and her husband, and the other two based on friends," said Rachel. She added that the two-hour movie was an exploration of love in its many facets and how it is "no bed of roses, but always worth it." "It's not just about romantic love but also love between parents and children, between siblings and between best friends. "There's even one about a former couple who choose to be friends even though they are no longer together," said Rachel whose nine-year-old company Kingstreet Pictures produced the movie. Tom said that many of the indoor scenes were filmed in KL despite being set in the US. "I'm really happy to be back in Malaysia, as I love the people here. "Everyone is focused and positive, not to mention helpful and friendly." SUPPORTIVE He added that Rachel and Dan were very supportive of the cast and crew, and gave him a lot of ideas to improve the storyline. Malaysian-American Ross, of 'Riverdale' fame, said that he was honoured to play the male lead Kai who is based on Dan. "My favourite scene was one where Lana and I had to eat durians. I love durians, and introduced her to the king of fruits in that very scene," he said, adding that her character Leah was based on Rachel. "Our best filming destination was Batu Caves, and both of us loved the colourful stairs into the cave, plus its cool and refreshing breeze." Osric, who is of Hong Kong and Malaysian descent, said that his character had to deal with the loss of a stillborn child. "While I'm not yet a father, I was able to grasp my character's pain and grief because it was the real-life experience of a close relative. "My character is a sensitive yet strong husband whose wife is traumatised by the death of their child." Tan' of Singaporean comedy 'Phua Chu Kang' fame' said that she was once again playing a strong, compassionate and protective mother, and she loved such roles. "Playing a mother is so much a part of me, and here I become a pillar of strength to both my daughter and son-in-law," she said. Singaporean actor Lim said that his character was Kai's father who does not approve of his long-distance relationship. "He wants his son to succeed him as head of his law firm, and deep down, Kai isn't happy about it. "But gradually, both father and son realise that one should be free to pursue his own path in life." SEQUEL Dan said that he and Rachel would love to have a sequel to 'Worth The Wait' which will feature more destinations in Malaysia. He said: "The movie is a heart-warming romantic comedy that celebrates Asian talent, cultural connections and cross-border love. "We want to create something that celebrates our Asian identity and which speaks to an international audience." The movie was launched by Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy.
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
When Is Animated Biblical Film ‘The King Of Kings' Coming To Streaming?
The King of Kings — starring the voices of Oscar Isaac, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman and Kenneth Branagh — is new in theaters. When will you be able to stream the movie at home? Directed by Seong-ho Jang, The King of Kings is an animated biblical film inspired by famed author Charles Dickens' classic novel The Life of Our Lord. Produced by faith-based film and television company Angel Studios, the summary for The King of Kings reads, 'A father tells his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. 'The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love and redemption through the eyes of a child.' The voice cast for The King of Kings includes Isaac as Jesus, Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Branagh as Charles Dickens and Thurman as Catherine Dickens. Other members of the voice cast include Mark Hamill as King Herrod, Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Roman Griffith Davis as Walter Dickens and James Arnold Taylor as Melchior/Matthew/Thomas/Phillip/Young Jesus. Right now the only way you can see The King of Kings is in theaters, so check your local listings for showtimes. Generally, when new films become available in the home entertainment marketplace, the first stop will be on digital streaming via premium video on demand. However, Angel Studios employs a different model, where it streams its movies on the studio's website and app first. Typically it takes three weeks to a month before Angel Studios releases its films in theaters before they arrive on the Angel website/app. For example, Angel released the Greg Kinnear drama sight in theaters on May 24, 2024, and it arrived on the studio's website on June 24. Additionally, Angel released Neal McDonough's action thriller Homestead: The Movie in theaters on Dec. 20, 2024, and it debuted on the website on Jan. 15. If The King of Kings follows the same pattern as Sight and Homestead: The Movie, it could begin streaming on Angel as soon as Wednesday, May 7. However, in order to stream the film on Angel you must become an Angel Guild member. Basic guild member packages with ads typically cost $12 per month or $144 per year to access all the films and programming in the studio's library. Premium Angel Guild memberships are also available, where members stream the studio's films ad-free plus get two tickets to new Angel Studios films when they are released in theaters. The premium package typically costs $20 for a monthly membership or $240 per year. Currently, however, Angel is running a special on its membership during the Easter season where the website/app is offering a 25% discount on both tiers for new members. The King of Kings will also be available for purchase or rent on PVOD on such digital platforms as AppleTV, Prime Video and Fandango at home. Typically, the wait for an Angel Studios release to reach PVOD is about a month, which is a bit longer than the time it takes for the studio's film to arrive on the Angel website. For example, Angel Studio's film Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. was released in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024, and then arrived on PVOD on Dec. 20. However, Sight was released on PVOD on Aug. 20, 2024, nearly three months after its May 24 theatrical release. Apparently, there are exceptions, though, as Homestead: The Movie has not yet arrived on PVOD despite being released in theaters on Dec. 20, 2024. Suppose The King of Kings follows the same release pattern as Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. and Sight, the film could arrive on PVOD anytime between May 9 and July 11. Rated PG, The King of Kings is new in theaters on Friday.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A Randy Travis Biopic Is Now in the Works: 'Life Story Just as He Lived It' (Exclusive)
A groundbreaking career packed with drama, a near-fatal health crisis, a miraculous and redemptive recovery: Country legend Randy Travis has lived a life worthy of a feature film — and now it's finally being made! Forever and Ever, Amen, named after Travis' signature hit and his 2020 memoir, is currently in production as a theatrical release, and PEOPLE is reporting the news exclusively. Travis, 65, and fellow country artist Clay Walker, who will portray the beloved icon in the biopic, will make the public announcement on Wednesday night from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. 'I'm so glad that this story is going to get told because it deserves to get told,' Walker, 55, tells PEOPLE. Walker's conviction, in fact, turns out to be what ignited the project. A longtime friend of Travis and his wife, Mary, Walker brought the idea to filmmaker Andrew Hyatt, who has directed such inspirational movies as Sight, The Blind and Paul, Apostle of Christ. Drawing from Travis' memoir and other sources, Hyatt has written the screenplay, and he also will direct the film. Eric Groth, Hyatt's partner at Sacred Arthouse film production company, is producing the project. Walker and the Travises also have signed on as executive producers. Randy and Mary Travis received the first draft of the screenplay last fall, and Mary Travis says it was everything they wanted. 'This is what we prayed for — for somebody who would tell Randy's life story just as he lived it,' says Mary Travis, 65, who has served as the couple's spokesperson since a 2013 stroke mostly robbed her husband of the ability to speak and sing. Related: Randy Travis Releases New Single 'Where That Came From' — Crafted with the Help of AI: 'It's Still His Vocal' Indisputably, Travis will go down in history as one of country's most influential artists, almost single-handedly turning the genre away from pop influences and toward more traditional sounds in the mid-1980s. As Garth Brooks once famously said, 'Randy Travis saved country music.' But achieving that high also meant overcoming a turbulent adolescence and a bleak decade trying to gain a foothold in Nashville. Even after his success, marriage to his manager greatly complicated his career, and as that relationship unraveled in the early 2000s, he turned to substance abuse. Then just as he was putting his life back together — with the help of Mary, his fiancée at the time — Travis suffered the devastating stroke. Dramatically defying doctors' expectations, he has since regained much of his health and resumed his public life. Related: Randy Travis Recalls His Stormy Path from Catfish Cook to Country Music Hero Walker and Mary Travis promise the movie won't sugarcoat any of the trials. 'He had bumps and bruises and rough spots,' says Mary Travis, who wed Travis in 2015. 'But Randy never, ever ran from those, and he never denied them. He accepted them. He learned from them. He moved on, and he used them as an inspiration for others.' Moviegoers, Walker says, 'are going to find out the deep struggles that he had. I look at Randy's life, and I see redemption. This is a man who's overcome all those challenges. He's survived it all. Everybody knows that golden voice of his, but I think this movie is going to endear him to people in a whole new way.' Walker has signed on to portray Travis in his later years; other actors, not yet cast, will play him in his youth and during the trailblazing era of his career. Though Walker's acting experience has mostly been in music videos, he's confident he comes with the credentials to play the big-screen part. 'To me, this is largely not going to be acting because I've been through a lot of those hardships that Randy has been through,' says Walker, who's had his own health issues living with multiple sclerosis for three decades. 'I grew up rough. I've been through a divorce. I struggle with walking sometimes. I can put myself in Randy's place. Randy doesn't need sympathy, but I empathize with him, and so I think I'm going to be able to give the role an authenticity.' The one thing Walker isn't going to do for the role, though, is sing; recordings of Travis will be used for the performance scenes. 'This really is about that voice of his,' says Walker. 'Nobody can come even close to getting that right. I can sing pretty good, but I'm no Randy Travis, that's for sure.' Related: Singer Randy Travis Hasn't 'Ever Seen Himself as a Victim' After Massive Stroke, Says His Wife Filming is expected to begin this summer, and Nashville and Travis' home state of North Carolina are anticipated to be among the locations. The production company has set its sights on a spring 2026 release to theaters. Mary Travis says she and her husband plan to visit the set when they can, but they also will be busy with Travis' ongoing More Life Tour, which has just been extended into November. The show, which is being performed before sold-out crowds, features Travis' original touring band, video highlights from his career and guest vocalist James Dupré performing the Country Music Hall of Famer's classics. Travis oversees it all onstage, interacting with the performers and the audience with gestures and his lit-from-within smile. "It's just incredible to watch how Randy orchestrates the whole thing from his chair," says Mary Travis. "It's a beautiful thing." The concerts also are showcasing Travis' new venture into making music with the help of artificial intelligence and voice samples from his career recordings. His first single, 'Where That Came From,' was released last May and debuted at No. 45 on Billboard's Country Airplay. He released a second single, 'Horses in Heaven,' on Jan. 31. Serendipitously, Walker's newest single is titled 'Cowboys in Heaven.' 'Who's gonna ride them horses?' Walker quips. 'You gotta have cowboys!' Neither Walker nor Travis knew about the other's song before their releases, but Walker sees their similarities as a sign of two artists who are now very much in sync. 'I don't really believe in coincidences,' says Walker. 'It's very telling. I think we're on the same path.' Read the original article on People
The Guardian
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Bluish review – dancing, mooching and Zooming with a queer-adjacent vibe
Chantal Akerman's 1975 feature Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles is the ultimate arthouse exercise in provocative monotony, and was anointed by the 2022 Sight and Sound critics' poll as the best film of all time. Now it's hard not to see its influence everywhere, especially in films with a distinctly feminist, queer or queer-adjacent vibe, such as this one from Austrian directors Milena Czernovsky and Lilith Kraxner. Although it doesn't conclude with any extreme Akermanian violence, Bluish closely observes the rituals of daily life for its two twentysomething protagonists, favouring long takes and deep-breath editing rhythms to explore the quotidian. Although we never learn the pronouns Errol (Leonie Bramberger) prefers, their name suggests a non-binary disposition and when it comes to romance they seem to mostly prefer other Afab ('assigned female at birth') people, like a cute young thing seemingly met through a dating app. That encounter is one of the dramatic highlights because a lot of the rest of the movie is just watching Errol sitting around, attending a Zoom university lesson, taking a shower after swimming, and generally mooching about. Russophone Sasha (Natasha Goncharova) is fractionally more active and chatty, and seems to have a boyfriend who is so boring the camera can't even be bothered to record his face. She works with another possibly non-binary artist, helping to prepare for an art show, and likes to dance, either by herself or at parties. The two main characters' stories kind of converge, but narrative seems less important here than simple moving-image portraiture. The frames are carefully composed and care has clearly been taken with the colour palette (unsurprising given the title); nearly every textile and surface is mostly shades of blue with the odd pop of pink or white, as if the design were based on the trans flag. The result is decorative and watchable, if a bit too oblique for casual consumption. Bluish is at the ICA, London, from 21 February.
