Takeshi Kaneshiro and Masami Nagasawa work on a kiss scene

Takeshi Kaneshiro (Gum Sing Mo) and Japanese star Masami Nagasawa starred in the John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) directed new film THE CROSSING (TAI PING LUN). Earlier they worked on location on an isolated hill in Huairou. Reportedly they were working on a passionate kiss scene in a cavern. In the film they had a life and death romance. around 7:30AM, Gum Sing Mo left his hotel. He was dressed so casually that the Mainland media joked that he was collecting for the electric company. Later he went to the location. After changing into his costume, drizzle began. He carried an umbrella and entered the cavern. Then Masami Nagasawa also arrived and displayed a sweet smile. Seemingly she and Gum Sing Mo were working pleasantly. Ng Yu Sum looked serious on the set and later entered the cavern to direct the shoot personally.

courtesy of mingpao.com

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Arashi's Matsumoto Jun to star in NHK drama for the first time

On July 14, it was announced that popular Arashi member Matsumoto Jun will star in the NHK drama "Hajimari no Uta" that will begin airing on September 23.

Though Matsumoto, as a member of Arashi, has served as the host for NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen for 3 consecutive years, this is actually the first time for him to have a leading in a drama on NHK. This is also the first time in 15 years for him to appear on an NHK drama since his last one aired back in 1998 which was even before he made CD debut as Arashi.

The motif of the drama is "Furusato" which was the song made for the special corner in 2010's Kohaku Uta Gassen. Arashi members sang it on the Kohaku not only in 2010, but also in 2011, and in 2012.

The song was written by Koyama Kundo, and it expresses the nobility of hometown. The song has also been chosen as the compulsory song in the NHK National School Music Contest for this year (for Elementary School division). As this year will be the 80th anniversary year for the music contest, the drama adaptation has been planned.

In the drama, Matsumoto plays a young man named "Wataru" who left his hometown to Tokyo. Wataru once had a dream to be a teacher, but he could not make it come true, and became a freelance photographer for a travel magazine. The drama starts where Wataru returns to his hometown after he is given an order to take photographs in there.


By meeting with the local elementary school kids who are aiming to participate in the choir competition, his ex-girlfriend (played by Eikura Nana) who is an elementary school teacher, his old classmates, and family, he eventually regains his old dream to be a teacher.

Reportedly, there is a scene where Matsumoto plays a piano in the drama, so he is currently practicing for it. He left a comment, "Though my role is a photographer, there will be a scene I have to play piano, so I would like to prepare well for both before I attend the filming. I will do my best so that the viewers could find a delight in chorus, and also feel the power of music."

source : nipponcinema

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Vina Morales Agrees To Play The Mother Of ‘Maria Mercedes’

Vina Morales would reprise the role of Magnolia, the mother of the lead character in the Filipino adaptation of the hit Mexican telenovela ‘Maria Mercedes.’ In that role, she would be playing the imprisoned mother of Maria Mercedes, to be played by 20-year-old Jessy Mendiola.

This would not be the first time Morales agreed to depict the role of a mother. She had already done several of those in ABS-CBN. She played mother roles in the soap operas ‘Maria Flor de Luna,’ ‘May Isang Pangarap’ and ‘Agua Bendita.’ However, she revealed that this would be the first time she is playing a mom to a 20-year-old character.

Morales is confident that her director would handle the job well. She disclosed that she once hesitated to do the role because she may still look too young to have a 20-year-old daughter, which is just about the age of her younger sister Shaina Magdayao. But she thinks she can very well give justice to the role.

Good director

Morales is pleased to be finally working for the first time with ace director Chito Roño. She revealed that she has been amazed so far at how the good director has been effective in extracting emotions from her especially during highly dramatic scenes. According to Morales, Roño has a special technique in making his actors internalize their roles.

She is also happy to be working for the first time with Mendiola. The Kapamilya actress revealed that they would have scenes wherein they would use the Waray dialect. That was necessary because in the story, Magnolia would come from the province.

Mother in real life

Morales said she did not hesitate taking mother roles because she is a mother herself. She is currently raising her daughter Ceana single handedly. She admits that she is finding it difficult to live up to the challenges of being a single mother.

However, she is proud to say that she has been doing it well for more than four years now. Morales revealed that she draws strength and emotional support from her own family, who has never left her no matter what happened.

For Morales, her daughter is still her No. 1 priority these days. She thinks motherhood has prompted her to work harder and to work more professionally. For her, she could do anything just to make sure she is securing the future of her daughter.

‘Maria Mercedes’ would be one of the upcoming TV series to be unveiled soon by ABS-CBN. The original series was played by Thalia in Mexico way back 1992. The telenovela was aired in ABS-CBN in 1996, at the height of the popularity of another Thalia series ‘Marimar,’ which was then aired over RPN-9. Mendiola and Morales would be joined by Jake Cuenca, who would play the leading man to the lead character.

source : pinoystop

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Gretchen Barretto, John Estrada Reunite In Teleserye

Showbiz personalities run in circles. At one point, they decide to sever ties with some people and as time goes by, they get reunited through some projects. This was the case for Gretchen Barretto and John Estrada, who after years of trying to avoid each other to prevent public malice are now ‘back to each others’ arms’ but only in TV.

Gretchen Barretto has agreed to take an important role in ABS-CBN primetime series ‘Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala,’ which stars Judy Ann Santos, Sam Milby, and KC Concepcion. Apparently, Estrada is part of the cast of the TV show. Thus, although their roles might not have a romantic inclination, the two stars would certainly meet on the set.

It was in 2008 when Barretto and Estrada made headlines when they were photographed allegedly kissing each other. The controversial photograph was taken in a party where the two attended. They seemed to be sober in the pictures, which shocked many showbiz insiders.

Kissing photo scandal

Back then, Estrada was still single, but reportedly dating several women one after the other. On her part, Barretto’s relationship with long time live-in partner was believed to be on the rocks then. It was a controversial period because she got involved not just with Estrada but with other men, including businessman Dodie Puno.

Speculations emerged after the photo leaked and spread across the social media. That time, Claudine Barretto was also quoted as saying that she may not control herself when she sees Estrada in ABS-CBN. Back then, Claudine was like the shock absorber, facing and answering most of the intrigues hurled against older sister Gretchen.

After several weeks, Barrettos’ manager, Boy Abunda, talked about the controversial picture. In a short, but meaningful statement, Abunda admitted that it was really Gretchen and John in the pictures and that none of those photographs were altered to create a stir. But he strongly reiterated that the kissing occurred but nothing was going on between the two stars.

Moved on

After some time, the controversy met its natural death. They both moved on and have taken paths away from each other until now. In a media interview, Estrada said there is no issue with him and Barretto working together. He revealed that she would only take a guest appearance in the show.

Barretto would depict the role of a lawyer who comes to the defense of the character played by Santos. Estrada thinks no other actress could play the role better than Barretto. He even reiterated that the two of them have remained friends despite all that happened.

‘Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala’ airs over ABS-CBN Primetime Bida, after ‘Muling Buksan and Puso.’ Its other stars include Estrada, Mylene Dizon, Joseph Marco, and Amalia Fuentes, who also has a guest appearance.

source : pinoystop

‘Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala’ airs over ABS-CBN Primetime Bida, after ‘Muling Buksan and Puso.’ Its other stars include Estrada, Mylene Dizon, Joseph Marco, and Amalia Fuentes, who also has a guest appearance. - See more at: http://www.pinoystop.com/news/celebrity/1604/gretchen-barretto-john-estrada-reunite-in-teleserye#sthash.huNgHve4.dpuf

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