Latest news with #TBAStudios'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Game of Thrones' Actor Iain Glen on Tackling Philippine History in New Film ‘Quezon': It ‘Makes You Appreciate the Era That You're in'
'Game of Thrones' veteran Iain Glen's latest role is portraying Major General Leonard Wood in 'Quezon,' the upcoming historical drama from acclaimed Filipino director Jerrold Tarog. In an interview with Variety from the film's set in the Philippines, Glen discussed his preparation for inhabiting the role of Wood, who served as governor-general of the Philippines from 1921-1927 and was instrumental in Manuel L. Quezon's quest for Philippine independence from the United States. The film is a biopic that chronicles the life of Filipino lawyer and soldier Quezon, who served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. More from Variety 'Game of Thrones' Star Iain Glen Joins TBA Studios' Philippines Historical Biopic 'Quezon' (EXCLUSIVE) 'Bridgerton' Star Luke Thompson, 'Gangs of London's' Sope Dirisu and More Join Cold-Read Play 'An Oak Tree' at Young Vic (EXCLUSIVE) Why Producers of 'Daryl Dixon,' '3 Body Problem,' 'The Crown' Keep Coming Back to Spain: Crews, Locations, Service Companies 'Quezon' stars Jericho Rosales in the title role of Quezon and the cast also includes Mon Confiado, Benjamin Alves, Karylle Yuzon, Romnick Sarmenta, J.C. Santos and Cris Villanueva. 'I was sent the script and, hold my hands up, I didn't know a great deal about Philippine history and I didn't know much about Major General Leonard Wood either,' Glen says. 'I read the script as a script, realizing that it was a kind of historical depiction of that period, and was just very taken by the words, taken by the role.' The film is part of Tarog's historical trilogy, following his previous acclaimed works 'Goyo: The Boy General' and 'Heneral Luna.' Glen reveals that watching these earlier films served as 'a crash course in Philippine history' that helped him get ready for his role. 'The production sent me research material, writings of Wood from that period, other writings about that period, as the Philippines reached for their independence,' Glen says. He also studied archive footage and voice recordings of Wood himself, which he found 'very useful' in bringing him 'very close' to the historical figure. Glen praises Tarog's meticulous approach to the material. 'Our director is incredibly thorough in everything that he does, and he's very, very well researched, and he imbues the script with all that material, so it's kind of there for you,' he says. Discussing the process of portraying a real historical figure, Glen explains his process: 'Once you've done your research, once you prepare, once you feel you've found the voice for him… then you kind of have to not let go of that, but hope that sits with you, and then just play the scene for what it is.' Glen highlights the film's potential impact, saying that it 'makes you appreciate the era that you're in, because you look at the battles that were fought to allow you to live in, in this case, the democracy that is currently being enjoyed in the Philippines.' The actor was impressed by the production value of 'Quezon,' praising 'the period, the art direction, the costumes, the sets that we're shooting in.' 'It really takes you on a wonderful journey,' he adds. Working with Tarog and a predominantly Filipino cast has been a unique experience for Glen, who describes the director as 'an auteur' with 'an extensive encyclopedic knowledge of the territory.' He likens Tarog's directing style to composing music, noting that 'everything is orchestrated' with a clear vision of 'where the highs and lows are, where the quiet moments, where the emotional thrust must come.' Glen also praises his Filipino co-stars, calling them 'consummately good performers, very talented, very suited to the roles' and says he appreciates the 'playfulness on set,' adding, 'There's laughter, there's fun. And that I really enjoyed.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aaron Kwok Drama ‘IOU' Unveiled by Distribution Workshop at Hong Kong FilMart
Distribution Workshop has revealed its latest feature film 'IOU' for international sales at Hong Kong FilMart, starring award-winning actor Aaron Kwok in the lead role. Directed by Steven Zhang Zhonghua, an emerging filmmaker from China's post-80s generation, 'IOU' tells the story of a desperate man (Kwok) who blockades the rural lodging of siblings in China's Shaanxi province, attempting to force their father to repay a loan. The siblings' simple-mindedness and compassion eventually transform Kwok's character, leading to an unexpected decision when he returns to their shabby lodging on Lunar New Year's Eve after fleeing other creditors. The comedy-drama, set against the backdrop of recent illegal fundraising scams, satirizes what the producers describe as 'the selfishness of an interest-driven society.' More from Variety 'Game of Thrones' Star Iain Glen Joins TBA Studios' Philippines Historical Biopic 'Quezon' (EXCLUSIVE) Venice Winner Aditya Vikram Sengupta Produces Hong Kong's HAF-Selected Indian Satirical Comedy-Drama 'Republic of Mahalaxmi Apartment' 'Squid Game' Star's Cannes Closer 'Next Sohee' Nabbed for North American Release in Deal Unveiled at Hong Kong FilMart (EXCLUSIVE) The film represents a reunion between Kwok and accomplished Hong Kong producer Julia Chu, following their previous collaborations on 'Port of Call' (2015) and 'Where the Wind Blows' (2022). 'IOU' has already gained industry attention as a Top-30 finalist in the 33rd Golden Rooster Film Project Market and at the 20th HKIFF Industry event. Production began in early March with a budget of approximately $3 million. Director Zhang has built a reputation for his work with child actors, with previous credits including 'Hearty Tomato' (2012), which was selected for the 28th Warsaw International Film Festival; 'The Home in the Tree' (2019), nominated for Best Children's Film at the 32nd Golden Rooster Awards; and 'Home by the River' (2025), which competed at the Poland Kinolub Film Festival. Other titles in Distribution Workshop's current lineup include Juno Mak's 'Sons of the Neon Night,' Dante Lam's 'Operation Hadal,' Vincent Chow's 'Little Red Sweet,' and 'Penguin Girl' from Taiwanese first-time director Yuyu Yang. The company is also representing 'Dear Black Sheep,' a documentary following Taiwanese TV personality Bowie Tsang's experiences with cancer patients. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hong Kong's FilMart Gets Animated as More Toons Join Project Market Lineup
Asian animation continues to evolve and grow its profile on the global stage in both artistic and commercial terms. That is perhaps most evident at this year's Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum, where a half-dozen promising projects will be pitched to potential buyers, sellers and co-producers. A seventh animated project will also feature in this year's Indonesian spotlight. Held alongside FilMart, HAF received 60% more animated submissions than last year. This year's animation slate features industry veterans and newcomers alike, including acclaimed director Toe Yuen, who won the 2003 Annecy Cristal for best feature with 'My Life as McDull.' The following is an overview of the animated films at HAF. More from Variety Aaron Kwok Drama 'IOU' Unveiled by Distribution Workshop at Hong Kong FilMart 'Game of Thrones' Star Iain Glen Joins TBA Studios' Philippines Historical Biopic 'Quezon' (EXCLUSIVE) Venice Winner Aditya Vikram Sengupta Produces Hong Kong's HAF-Selected Indian Satirical Comedy-Drama 'Republic of Mahalaxmi Apartment' Cloud of the Unknown Director: Gao Yuan (Hong Kong, France) Based on Yuan's short of the same name and produced by Isabelle Glachant and Camille Li, this 2D feature is a surreal exploration of dreams and reality. Produced by Chinese Shadows and Shasha & Co. Production, the film follows Yun, a girl who vanishes into strange worlds when she falls asleep, and Sha, who dreams of being a paralyzed painter in a dystopian world. As their paths cross, they begin to question the nature of their existence. 'The encounter between Yun and Sha motivates them to explore themselves further,' said Yuan. Fly! Directors: Pelixiano Saputranovic, Ellen Xie (Indonesia) 'Fly!' is a tale set against the backdrop of Bali's spiritual landscape. Produced by ArtCodeStory and MOAI Entertainment, the film follows Wayan, a young Balinese boy who embarks on a mystical journey to reunite with his lost father. As he navigates the spirit world, Wayan faces a choice that could alter his destiny forever. 'In a world where so many have experienced loss and longing from separation, 'Fly!' is a reminder that love never truly fades — it simply transforms,' said Saputranovic. The film is currently in development, with an estimated finish date of 2027. Light Pillar Director: Xu Zao (China) Produced by Da Peng and Lu Xiaowei, 'Light Pillar' is a story set in a nearly deserted film studio that mixes live action and animated sequences. Lao Cha, a janitor, finds companionship in a stray cat and befriends a woman named Li in a virtual world, only to discover that Li is actually a 10-year-old boy. Produced by Fengduan Film, the film explores themes of love, happiness and cycles of renewal. 'Love and happiness sometimes need to be pursued, but more often, they need to be discovered,' said Zao, who previously won DOK Leipzig's Golden Dove for a feature with 'No Changes Have Taken in Our Life.' A Mighty Adventure Director: Toe Yuen (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia) Keeping up with a resurgent dialogue-free trend in top animation — think Oscar-winner 'Flow' and nominee 'Robot Dreams' — action-packed comedy 'A Mighty Adventure' follows three insects — a grasshopper, spider and butterfly — as they navigate a vast concrete jungle. Produced by Zero One Film and Flystudio, the film blends live-action footage with CG insects to create a raw yet enchanting visual experience. 'This isn't just a visual experiment — it's a universal, entertaining ride for all ages,' said former Annecy winner Yuen. The film is currently in post-production and should be finished by summer. MIN Director: Li Jiajia (China) 'MIN' delves into the silent struggles of its titular character as she navigates the complexities of marriage and motherhood. Produced by the China Academy of Art, School of Animation and Games, the film explores the delicate balance between personal desires and societal expectations. 'The movie uses animation, a medium most distant from 'reality,' to present a story with a strong sense of realism,' said Li Jiajia, who previously served as art director on the Berlin competition player 'Art College 1994.' Wildheart Director: Marceau Nakayama (France, Belgium, Japan) 'Wildheart,' co-written by Nakayama and John A. Scott, is a Showa-era family drama set in late 1960s Tokyo. Produced by Keytales Studio in France and Forerunner Films in Belgium, the story revolves around Makoto, an 11-year-old girl who cares for her younger brother Kenta. As they search for their mother, Makoto grapples with the guilt of hiding a crucial piece of information from Kenta. 'Wildheart' employs a unique CineMation approach, blending live-action storytelling with the visual freedom of animation. Nakayama described the film as a fusion of Japanese and international cinema sensibilities, resulting in a distinct and original narrative. The Tale of the Holy Beast Director: Triparna Maiti (India) Produced by Bejon K Vinod, 'The Tale of the Holy Beast' is a heart-wrenching story of a young elephant calf who loses his herd to poachers and is subsequently sold to various owners throughout his life. Produced by FAEM, the film explores the bond between humans and animals through the lens of captivity. 'Using animation, we are exploring the wild emotions and complexities of captivity,' said Maiti. The project is currently in development, with an estimated finish date of October 2028. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
