“THE ROAD”
Another new cable channel offers an alternative to those that showcase Hollywood movies. Designed to appeal to Asians, CinemaWorld airs films from around the world, with non-English language movies subtitled to make them accessible to more viewers.
CinemaWorld executive vice president James Marturano elaborated on the frequency of exclusive cable debuts during the launch at the Draft Gastropub in Taguig: “We’ll be premiering 15 to 17 new movies each month. The basic lineup right now is about 70 movies per month. It’s a good mix.”
Co-founder and CEO Suarina Chua added that the channel would feature mostly newer films, primarily because CinemaWorld is an HD channel. Chua clarified: “[In the case of] movies made after 2000, you get them more in HD than in standard definition. We want to give more contemporary [content]. We could bring in movies from the ’90s, for the right reasons—for example, if we’re doing a director’s retrospective.”
Marturano said Asian viewers liked more “current products,” based on observations that he and Chua had made during their lengthy stints as HBO Asia executives. “That’s not to say older movies aren’t good. We try to keep [the selection] current and fresh.”
The channel’s eclectic roster includes well-received movies from Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and Asia. CinemaWorld’s “Saturday Festival Picks” focuses on acclaimed projects exhibited in Toronto, Berlin and Cannes, among other notable festivals.
“We’re kind of purists,” Marturano said. “It is also our aim to make sure that movies are seen the way they were intended to be seen without interruption, without all the other stuff on the screen. We like full credits. We’d like to air uncensored films… we’ll get there someday.” Meanwhile, he promised this much: “A really clean, clear, classy look.”
Chua also described the presence of Philippine films in the lineup as inevitable. “I’ve been asking everyone here (in the country) for help, to recommend some great Filipino movies,” she enthused.
(CinemaWorld is available to Cable Link’s Metro Manila subscribers and will eventually become part of SkyCable’s channel roster.)
“MARRIED to Jonas”
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‘Beauty and the Beast’
Loosely based on the ’80s drama series of the same title, “Beauty and the Beast” stars Kristin Kreuk (“Smallville”) as Catherine, and Jay Ryan (“Terra Nova”) as Vincent. The new show airs Tuesdays, 9 p.m. on ETC.
‘Arrow’
DC Comics’ premier archer superhero Green Arrow now has his own live-action TV series. Starring Stephen Amell (“Hung”) as billionaire vigilante Oliver Queen, “Arrow” airs Sundays, 8 p.m. on Jack TV.
Trendcasts on ETC
“ETC HQ,” a locally produced show, offers the latest trends on all things that interest the stylish youth. The 15-minute weekly capsule airs Sundays, 8:45 p.m.
“EMILY Owens, MD”
‘Emily Owens, M.D.’
Mondays, 9 p.m. on ETC, “Emily Owens, M.D.” follows an intern doctor who finds that the workplace is just like high school, with its share of backstabbing, romance and gossip.
Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep’s daughter, stars as the fresh medical school graduate.
Asian fear fest
The Hungry Ghost Festival in Asia has just ended, but the terror continues on Thrill, Asia’s first and only movie channel dedicated to the horror, thriller and suspense genres.
Eight tales of horror from across the region are featured in Thrill’s first Asian Fear Fest. The featured films are from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines (Yam Laranas’ “The Road”).
The festival plays every Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. on Thrill, till the end of October.
Tonight, the channel premiers the Japanese mystery drama, “Sacred Monsters.” Two episodes air back-to-back Thursdays, 10 p.m. to 12 midnight.
Hari Raya Haji
Disney Channel presents a Mickey movie marathon on Hari Raya Haji tomorrow from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meanwhile, “Gravity Falls,” an animated adventure comedy riddled with mystery, which premiered yesterday at 7 p.m.
For Halloween, Disney Channel presents “Freaky Friday”—about a woman and her daughter who are trapped in one another’s bodies— on Oct. 31, 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. “Casper” at 7:30 p.m.
‘Married to Jonas’
On November 16, E! Skycable presents a new reality series, “Married to Jonas,” about famous married couple Kevin Jonas and Danielle Deleasa.