Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn fight for survival as Samira and Eric in “A Quiet Place: Day One”

 

Lupita Nyong’o was fascinated hearing writer-director Michael Sarnoski’s vision for the newest installment in the A Quiet Place film series, as she prepared to play Samira, one of the main survivors in A Quiet Place: Day One. “Like [the previous A Quiet Place films]them, the new story is character-driven and there are scary creatures. The difference is the setting and how these people choose to deal with this catastrophe.”

Watch the Lupita Nyong’o Micro Featurette at https://youtu.be/b7f7I5L-g34

Samira was formerly a successful published poet, when life threw a wrench in the works and left her bitter and angry, according to Sarnoski. Her character was developed from his initial pitch for A Quiet Place: Day One, which was a woman going through the city in the middle of the apocalypse, to get pizza from a childhood restaurant. “She suddenly finds herself confronting the violent end of everything she knows,” says Sarnoski. “It forces her to face her memories. Lupita does a spectacular job of embodying her.”

Nyong’o recalls the intensity in embodying this role. “It was such a meal to play Samira,” she continues. “When the creatures land, she blacks out. When she awakes, it’s an entirely new world where no one will allow her to speak and she has no idea what happened. How many popular films ask an audience to sit and witness silence? It ends up speaking volumes.”

In the middle of the chaos and horror, Samira and her cat Frodo finds companionship in the form of Eric, played by Joseph Quinn. In Quinn’s portrayal, writer John Krasinski saw real potential, along with his chemistry with co-star Nyong’o. “Joe’s wildly talented,” says Krasinski. “In Day One, he walks the razor’s edge of fight or flight on what is the worst day of his character’s life. He and Samira are trying to survive under harrowing circumstances that force them together. That relationship makes them the heartbeat of the movie.”

Watch the Joseph Quinn Micro Featurette at https://youtu.be/LrjsSYd_1ao

Quinn is fascinated in the nuance of both Samira and Eric, and how their personalities don’t really fit the traditional archetype of film protagonists. “She[Samira] lacks compassion and wonders what’s worth saving in this world anyway. Her apathy is intriguing to Eric. She doesn’t seem to be as rattled by all of this. But that’s where Michael’s writing is so subtle. He’s so good with the unsaid.”

Quinn also observes the compelling and unusual set of circumstances that brought the two characters together. “He is in love with a New York that doesn’t exist anymore. He’s got no family or friends there, so Samira may be his best chance at getting out of this alive. All she wants is a slice of pizza, which is very funny and very human, but within the narrative there are some beautiful moments about grief, mortality, and loss. All they have is each other really, and if that goes away, what are they left with?”

Watch them navigate the massive city of New York as it falls apart as A Quiet Place: Day One arrives in Philippine cinemas on June 26.

About A Quiet Place: Day One:

Executive Producer: Allyson Seeger, Vicki Dee Rock

Produced by: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, p.g.a., Brad Fuller, John Krasinski

Story by: John Krasinski and Michael Sarnoski

Written and directed by: Michael Sarnoski

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou

Arriving in Philippine cinemas on June 26, A Quiet Place: Day One is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Connect with #AQuietPlaceDayOne and tag @paramountpicsph

Photo and Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”

NOW A DAD OF FOUR, GRU FACES ONE OF HIS LIFE’S MOST HILARIOUS CHALLENGES IN “DESPICABLE ME 4,” IN CINEMAS JULY 3

 

Steve Carell talks about the fun and challenges of life with Gru Jr. in the latest film in the Despicable Me franchise, also starring Will Ferrell as the new villain!

Photo credit: Universal Pictures International

“Gru has his hands full, as usual,” says Steve Carell, who voices the beloved villain-turned-good-guy Gru. 

In the latest installment to the beloved Despicable Me franchise, Gru’s life is turned upside down with the arrival of his and Lucy’s (Kristen Wiig) new baby, expanding his role to a father of four and a dedicated Anti-Villain League (AVL) agent. 

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/w6zvCQDLqKw?si=PMMiFwEnT1JgvXkq 

While his relationship with Lucy and the girls has never been stronger, connecting with little Gru Jr. has proved challenging. “Lucy and the girls have always been his motivation to be the best that he can be, but with the arrival of Gru Jr., the family dynamic changes,” continues Carell. “Gru Jr. is a chip off the old block, but he’s not warming up to dear old dad. Gru has nothing but love for his baby boy, but he faces an uphill battle to win his son’s affection. It’s every parent’s nightmare to not instantly bond with your kids, and Gru struggles to establish a relationship with his new bundle of joy, while simultaneously saving the world as an AVL agent.”

Photo credit: Universal Pictures International

As if parenting challenges weren’t hard enough, Gru and his family are forced into a type of witness protection program after Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell), Gru’s high school nemesis and award-winning supervillain, escapes from prison seeking revenge. Assuming the identity of Chet Cunningham, a solar panel salesman, Gru grapples with maintaining his cover while safeguarding his loved ones. “Gru struggles to live discretely as his new alias, Chet Cunningham; a boring, somewhat nerdy solar-panel salesman,” Carell says. “It’s a stretch for Gru, as he’s accustomed to a life of excitement and danger. Also, he’s not the best actor, so that invariably leads to some problems!”

Photo credit: Universal Pictures International

When Carell first took on the role of Gru, he never anticipated the enduring journey ahead. “From day one, Gru has been an absolute delight to play,” Carell says. “When we first meet him, he’s an evil, villainous criminal mastermind. But soon, we come to see that he also has an enormous heart, and a great capacity to love. He’s sort of a villain, kind of a hero. But mostly, he’s a husband and a father. 

“I think that it’s fun to watch a character fight against the inevitability of their own goodness. Some people aren’t so nice, but they try to convince the world that they are; Gru is nice, but he tries to convince the world that he’s not! As the series has progressed, the writers have explored different aspects of Gru’s world. He’s still the same guy, but the emotional stakes become increasingly higher for him. It’s always rewarding to see a character grow, and Gru is no exception. The writing keeps the character fresh.”

Photo credit: Universal Pictures International

As much fun as the Academy Award®-nominated Carell has been having being the voice of Gru, the Despicable Me filmmakers have also been enjoying their collaboration of more than 10 years with Carell, who has become synonymous with the iconic character Gru in the world of Despicable Me. 

“Steve basically is Gru,” director Chris Renaud says, in admiration of how Carell has brought to life the lovable yet complex supervillain-turned-family-man, thanks to his comedic brilliance and emotional depth. “It’s impossible to imagine that character without Steve’s voice. He approaches the character with thoughtfulness and care, always striving for the best performance. Our recording sessions, sometimes lasting up to three hours, are a testament to Steve’s unwavering energy and professionalism. He’s a pleasure to collaborate with.”

Besides Ferrell as the new movie’s big villain, Despicable Me 4 welcomes to the family Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family), Joey King (“Bullet Train”), Stephen Colbert (“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”) and Chloe Fineman (“Saturday Night Live”). 

Packed with non-stop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor, Despicable Me 4 opens in Philippine cinemas July 3. #DespicableMe4PH

Follow Universal Pictures PH (FB), UniversalPicturesPH (IG) and UniversalPicsPH (TikTok) for the latest updates on “Despicable Me 4.”

Big city, same rules. John Krasinski explores what it’s like for New York to go silent in “A Quiet Place: Day One”

 

While developing the next installment for the captivating world of A Quiet Place, producer and writer John Krasinski found himself wanting to see how the rest of the world is dealing with this otherworldly crisis. “I especially wondered how people in a big city like New York, with all the chaos and noise there, all the millions of people, would respond,” he says.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/Ym44h27ckmU

This idea formed into A Quiet Place: Day One, where an ordinary day in New York City turns horrific as creatures rain down on Earth and start slaughtering humans indiscriminately. “I wanted to take a place we all know and put it in extraordinary circumstances,” Krasinski explains. “New York City, whether you’ve been there or not, whether you like it or not, is instantly familiar. And in a world where murderous creatures can appear at any time, from any place they detect a noise, New York is not the best place to be.”

For director-writer Michael Sarnoski, he wanted to center all the chaos of a big city crumbling from an invasion around one point and character, based on the unique execution of the original A Quiet Place. “John took the concept and brought it to new heights, it was so elevated and character-driven,” he says. “The first two movies are about one family, so I expanded the world, but that was just incidental. The heart of it is making sure that the characters’ stories are front and center.”

Given a parameter of being set in New York City, Sarnoski began to build an idea for A Quiet Place: Day One, and sell it to Krasinski. “I gave John a one-minute pitch about a woman who comes to New York on a quest for her favorite pizza just as the world is ending. John’s response was, ‘Yeah! Let’s do it,’” Sarnoski says.

With this, the character Samira was born, and for this crucial role Sarnoski already has an actor in mind.  “Lupita was at the top of Michael’s list,” says Krasinski. “She’s a very powerful actress. The role was both physically and mentally challenging — she was effectively terrorized daily — and she handled it brilliantly and elegantly, bringing a combination of bravery and vulnerability to her character.”

Lupita Nyong’o was so ready to be part of this silent world, and she delighted in her role as Samira. “It was such a meal to play Samira,” she says. “When the creatures land, she blacks out. When she awakes, it’s an entirely new world where no one will allow her to speak and she has no idea what happened. How many popular films ask an audience to sit and witness silence? It ends up speaking volumes.”

To accompany Samira on her journey, she meets Eric, played by Joseph Quinn, and the strangers bond through trauma and survival. “Joe’s wildly talented,” says Krasinski. “In Day One, he walks the razor’s edge of fight or flight on what is the worst day of his character’s life. He and Samira are trying to survive under harrowing circumstances that force them together. That relationship makes them the heartbeat of the movie.”

Watch them try to survive a brand new, horrifying new world as A Quiet Place: Day One arrives in Philippine cinemas on June 26.

About A Quiet Place: Day One:

Executive Producer: Allyson Seeger, Vicki Dee Rock

Produced by: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, p.g.a., Brad Fuller, John Krasinski

Story by: John Krasinski and Michael Sarnoski

Written and directed by: Michael Sarnoski

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou

Arriving in Philippine cinemas on June 26, A Quiet Place: Day One is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Connect with #AQuietPlaceDayOne and tag @paramountpicsph

Photo and Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”

DIRECTOR GREG BERLANTI TALKS ABOUT SCARLETT JOHANSSON AND CHANNING TATUM’S CHEMISTRY IN “FLY ME TO THE MOON,” IN CINEMAS JULY 10

(From left) Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson in Fly Me to the Moon

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

Director Greg Berlanti knew from the first rehearsal they had for Fly Me to the Moon that Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum would have great chemistry. 

“When you work with stars of this magnitude – who are stars for a reason – you know that they each have a filming element that most people don’t have,” says Berlanti, whose fan favorite previous works include Love, Simon and the TV series You. “But you do wonder, like until they are in a room together and I’m watching them act together, do they have chemistry? I knew from our first rehearsal. They were so inventive and fun with each other. As young people say, it was giving Rock Hudson and Doris Day, it was giving Spencer Tracy and [Katharine] Hepburn. They each have their own brand of comedy and drama but they really fit well together. It was exciting to see what was going to happen every day.”

Fly Me to the Moon is a stylish, multi-faceted comedy drama with a hint of romance set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Johansson plays marketing maven Kelly Jones, who is tasked by the White House to stage a fake moon landing as back-up – and this mission does not sit well with launch director Cole Davis, played by Tatum. 

But, says Johansson, who is also one of the film’s producers, though there may be a little contempt between Kelly and Cole at times, you still see that they have a connection, and sparks fly.  

(From left) Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in Fly Me to the Moon

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

In Fly Me to the Moon, Berlanti creates a film that is simultaneously a comedy that recalls the sharp banter of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, and also a drama with something to say about the importance of the truth; it is epically told on the enormous scale of the Apollo missions, and also the intimate story of two people coming together. 

“The tether is always the performance – to have actors who can be silly in one moment and serious the next,” he says. “Tone is the number one question I’ve got in my career. I love to blend tones, because I think we live lives of blended tones – it makes the sad stuff more sad, the serious stuff more serious, and the funny stuff funnier, because it adds an element of surprise; you don’t know what you’re going to get from moment to moment. It’s testament to the actors being able to do that.”

(From left) Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in Fly Me to the Moon

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

And Berlanti says that if Kelly and Cole’s mission to get to the moon is reflected in their coming together under the moon… well, that’s no accident. “Next to going to the moon, love may be the most ambitious thing a person can take on,” he says, noting that both aspirations – going to the moon, or allowing oneself to become moonstruck – require a leap into the unknown. “The moon is mystical and magical,” he says. “You have to imagine for thousands of years for the human species, it was the brightest light in the evening, when all of the magical romantic things were happening. That’s so ingrained in us. What it has in common with the romance and the aspirations of the world at that time is the ambition – the giving yourself over to something great.”

Will they make it or fake it? Find out when Fly Me to the Moon, also starring Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano and Jim Rash, opens in cinemas July 10. Fly Me to the Moon is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International, #FlyMeToTheMoon @columbiapicph

Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures” 

Samsung strengthens commitment to youth and tech education with first graduating batch of Galaxy Campus Student Ambassadors

 

Samsung highlighted its commitment to education and youth development, empowering student creators, tech innovators, and sustainability advocates as the first Galaxy Campus Student Ambassador Program reached its culmination.  

Launched in October 2023, the Galaxy Campus Student Ambassador Program is part of Samsung's prestigious global initiative, offering a groundbreaking opportunity for student creators to immerse themselves in the world of technology and content creation. The 6 month program is designed to be a vibrant platform for the best and the brightest to engage with Samsung's cutting-edge innovations, top content creators and Samsung tech industry experts. 

Following a rigorous selection process, 50 university students emerged as the first batch of Galaxy Campus Student Ambassadors, chosen from a pool of thousands of applicants nationwide. 

Alongside one of the world's leading tech giants, these young talents delved into immersive experiences, which included exclusive preview events and product launches such as the introduction of Samsung’s first AI-powered phone, collaborative content creation workshops with Team Galaxy, and participation in environmental advocacies like the Galaxy Earth Run. 

After 6 months of sharpening their tech skills, the Galaxy Campus Student ambassadors celebrated the culmination of their journey with Samsung at a festive graduation event. Samsung Electronics Philippines (SEPCO) President Min Su Chu congratulated the Galaxy Campus Ambassadors for successfully completing the program in his opening remarks, followed by Marketing Communications Manager Dominic Nacorda, who highlighted the program's milestones. #TeamGalaxy member Bella Racelis then took the stage to share insights into the world of content creation, and how it has the potential to not just influence but help young people express themselves in a most creative way.

Graduates received certificates from Samsung Philippines, with top students honored for their exceptional performance. The batch’s valedictorian, Iemerie John Maguit, gave a moving speech that highlighted their batch’s journey and the lessons they have learned and put to heart during the Galaxy Campus program. 

“Through content missions, extravagant events, and Galaxy gadgets, these three pillars became our focus, and today, I am happy and honored to be part of the pioneer batch of Galaxy Campus Philippines, having come this far after taking a big leap of faith at the end of 2023,” Iemerie said.”

“I realized the best thing in Galaxy Campus weren’t the devices we received, the events we were invited to, or the exposure we had on social media. The best thing in Galaxy Campus was you, guys. Thank you for providing a creative space where everyone can share their stories,” he shared. 

The memorable night ended with inspiring words from Samsung’s Head of Corporate Marketing, Yna Quimson, who shared her good wishes for the graduates in their future career followed by a photo-op with all of them.

This celebration also heralded the expansion of the initiative as Samsung completes the search for the second batch of Galaxy Campus ambassadors. Marking its deep commitment to the program, Samsung is doubling the number of participants to one hundred individuals, extending this transformative opportunity to more talents.

SEPCO President Min Su Chu shared, "It gives us so much pride to see our first batch of Galaxy Campus Student Ambassadors in the Philippines graduate from this program, and their passion for tech and  learning highlight the immense potential of today’s youth. As we expand this program, we look forward to nurturing more talent and empowering young Filipinos in tech and creativity.” 

Find out more about the exciting activities of the Samsung Galaxy Campus ambassadors at https://www.samsung.com/ph/galaxy-campus/ or follow https://www.facebook.com/SamsungPH/