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HBO remembers Gloria Vanderbilt with Encore Presentation of NOTHING LEFT UNSAID: GLORIA VANDERBILT & ANDERSON COOPER exclusively on HBO GO

HBO remembers Gloria Vanderbilt with an encore presentation of the poignant documentary NOTHING LEFT UNSAID: GLORIA VANDERBILT & ANDERSON COOPER, which is available for streaming exclusively on HBO GO. The documentary will also encore on HBO SIGNATURE on 23 and 26 June, 2.30pm and 6pm respectively.

Debuting in 2016, the feature-length film intertwines archival footage and previously unseen home videos spanning eight decades with present-day scenes to paint an intimate portrait of one of America’s most fascinating families. In a series of candid conversations, Cooper and Vanderbilt tell the story of their past and present, losses and loves, and show how, in life, patterns repeat themselves in the most unexpected ways.

NOTHING LEFT UNSAID: GLORIA VANDERBILT & ANDERSON COOPER is a Moxie Firecracker Films production; a film by Liz Garbus; directed by Liz Garbus; executive producer, Anderson Cooper. For HBO: senior producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.

HBO Original productions as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers in the Philippines. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

HBO Films’ SHARE premieres July 28 exclusively on HBO and HBO Go

The HBO Films presentation SHARE, which screened in official selection at Cannes Film Festival this year, debuts same time as the U.S. on Sunday, 28 July at 10am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The film encores the same day on HBO at 10pm.

Based on Pippa Bianco’s Cannes Film Festival award-winning short of the same name, this feature-length drama stars Rhianne Barreto as 16-year-old Mandy, who discovers a disturbing video from a night she doesn’t remember and must try to figure out what happened and how to navigate the escalating fallout. SHARE also stars Charlie Plummer, Poorna Jagannathan, J.C. MacKenzie, Nicholas Galitzine, Lovie Simone and Danny Mastrogiorgio.

At the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, Pippa Bianco received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award and Rhianne Barreto won the Special Jury Award for Achievement in Acting, both in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. The film was also featured this year as the closing night screening of MoMA and Film Society of Lincoln Center’s New Directors/New Films Festival, and most recently screened in official selection at Cannes Film Festival.

SHARE is an HBO Films presentation of an A24 and Loveless production; written and directed by Pippa Bianco; produced by Carly Hugo, Tyler Byrne and Matt Parker.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Series details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Header image from IMDB.com.

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HBO’s Emmy-winning series Little Big Lies returns June 10 on HBO and HBO Go

HBO Emmy®-winning series BIG LITTLE LIES returns same time as the U.S. on Monday, 10 June at 9am, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The episode repeats on the same day at 10pm on HBO. New episodes premiere every Monday at the same time. The second season of this subversive, darkly comedic drama will explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode…the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom.

The Monterey Five – Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman), Jane (Shailene Woodley), Renata (Laura Dern) and Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) – are joined by Celeste’s visiting mother-in-law, Mary Louise (Meryl Streep), and their husbands, Ed (Adam Scott), Nathan (James Tupper) and Gordon (Jeffrey Nordling), in this seven-episode season.

Created by David E. Kelley; teleplays by David E. Kelley; story by David E. Kelley and Liane Moriarty; based on the novel by Liane Moriarty; directed by Andrea Arnold; executive producers, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, David E. Kelley, Andrea Arnold, Jean-Marc Vallée, Bruna Papandrea, Per Saari, Gregg Fienberg, Nathan Ross and Liane Moriarty.

Series details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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Five-part miniseries CHERNOBYL premieres on HBO and HBO Go on May 7

Premiering the same time as the U.S. on HBO GO and HBO on Tuesday 7 May 9am, CHERNOBYL dramatizes the 1986 nuclear accident, one of the worst human-made catastrophes in history, and tells the story of the brave men and women who made incredible sacrifices to save Europe from unimaginable disaster, all the while battling a culture of disinformation.

Airing every Tuesday at 9am, with a same day encore at 10pm, the five-part miniseries stars Jared Harris (“The Crown”; Emmy nominee for “Mad Men”), Stellan Skarsgård (“Melancholia,” “Good Will Hunting”) and Emily Watson (Oscar nominee for “Hilary and Jackie” and “Breaking the Waves”).

CHERNOBYL, was written, created and executive produced by Craig Mazin (“The Huntsman: Winter’s War”) and directed by Johan Renck (“Breaking Bad”); produced by Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint and Word Games as an HBO/Sky co-production. Carolyn Strauss (Emmy winner for “Game of Thrones”) and Jane Featherstone (“Broadchurch”) executive produce; Johan Renck and Chris Fry (“Humans”) co-executive produce; Sanne Wohlenberg (“Black Mirror”) produces.

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Soviet Union suffered a massive explosion that released radioactive material across Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, and as far as Scandinavia and western Europe.

Jared Harris portrays Valery Legasov, a leading Soviet nuclear physicist. As part of the response team, he is one of the first to grasp the scope of the unparalleled disaster that has occurred.

Stellan Skarsgård plays Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina, who is assigned by the Kremlin to lead the government commission on Chernobyl in the hours immediately following the accident.

Emily Watson portrays Ulana Khomyuk, a Soviet nuclear physicist committed to solving the mystery of what led to the Chernobyl disaster.

The miniseries also stars: Paul Ritter (“Lovesick”) as Chernobyl deputy chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov; Jessie Buckley (“Beast”) as Lyudmilla Ignatenko, a Pripyat resident married to a firefighter on the first response team; Adrian Rawlins (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”) as Chernobyl chief engineer Nikolai Fomin; and Con O’Neill (“Harlots”) as plant director Viktor Bryukhanov.

The cast also includes: Sam Troughton (“The Ritual”), Adam Nagaitis (“The Terror”), Barry Keoghan (“Dunkirk”), Ralph Ineson (“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”), Mark Lewis Jones (“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”), Fares Fares (HBO’s “Westworld”) and David Dencik (“McMafia”).

Writer, creator and executive producer Craig Mazin began researching the Chernobyl disaster in 2014, using a wide variety of materials, including several books and government reports from inside and outside of the Soviet Union. He spoke to nuclear scientists to learn how a reactor works, and interviewed former Soviet citizens to gain a better sense of the culture in 1986.

Mazin also read a great number of first-person accounts, which helped bring an additional layer of authenticity and humanity to the story. He explains, “When you’re reading the personal stories of people who were there – people who lived near the plant, people who worked at the plant, people who were sent to Chernobyl as part of the effort to clean it up – in those individual accounts, that’s really where the story came alive.”

Principal photography for CHERNOBYL took place in Lithuania and Ukraine, with a creative team including: director of photography Jakob Ihre (“Thelma”); production designer Luke Hull (“Howards End”); editors, Jinx Godfrey (“The Theory of Everything”) and Simon Smith (“Endeavor”); costume designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux (“Brooklyn”); casting directors Nina Gold and Robert Sterne (both two-time Emmy^® winners for HBO’s “Game of Thrones”); and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (“Trapped”).

Episodes include:

Episode 1: “1:23:45”

Premiere date: Tuesday, 7 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

April 26, 1986, Ukrainian SSR. Plant workers and firefighters put their lives on the line to control a catastrophic 1986 explosion at a Soviet nuclear power plant.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 2: “Please Remain Calm”

Debut date: Tuesday, 14 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

With untold millions at risk after the Chernobyl explosion, nuclear physicist Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), a leading Soviet nuclear physicist, and warn him about the threat of second explosion that could devastate the continent.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 3: “Open Wide, O Earth”

Debut date: Tuesday, 21 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley), a Pripyat resident, ignores warning about her firefighter husband’s (Adam Nagaitis) contamination; Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) lays out a decontamination plan, complete with human risks.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 4: “The Happiness of All Mankind”

Debut date: Tuesday, 28 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) and Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) consider using lunar rovers to remove radioactive debris, while Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) faces government hurdles in determining the truth about the cause of the explosion.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 5: “Vichnaya Pamyat” (finale)

Debut date: Tuesday, 4 June at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) and Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) risk their lives and reputations to expose the truth about Chernobyl.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Series details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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SKY treats subscribers to exclusive Game of Thrones events

SKY subscribers who are die-hard Game of Thrones fans were recently given one-of-a-kind experiences: an ice skating spectacle inspired by HBO’s phenomenal hit TV series and an exclusive live screening of the final season premiere in one of the trendiest establishments in Poblacion, Makati.

On April 12 and 13, they witnessed Fire or Ice: A Musical Spectacle at SM Megamall’s Skating Rink.

There, they were treated to the outstanding performances by the country’s top figure skaters Joel Minas and Sofia Guidote. Minas, who has bagged over 30 gold medals in various local and international skating competitions, masterfully brought King in the North Jon Snow to life on the ice. Guidote, on the other hand, in her role as Mother of Dragons Danaerys Targaryen, displayed the grace and athleticism that helped her bag the gold medal for the third year in a row at the Philippine National Competition. Together, they gave absolutely stunning performances.

This remarkable event was made possible by SKY’s partnership with SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.

On April 15, selected SKY subscribers were invited to an exclusive live viewing party at the Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion. SKY partnered with Diageo, the company behind the Johnnie Walker brand, in hosting the event. Guests were treated to a sumptuous breakfast with food items that whimsically reference Game of Thrones characters and locations. Ten bottles of White Walker, Johnnie Walker’s limited edition Scotch whiskey inspired by the show’s most chillingly enigmatic of characters, were also raffled off to lucky winners.

Of course, the real highlight of the event was the live screening of the Season 8’s premiere episode in full high definition on HBO HD (SKYcable ch 168), all the better for attendees to see (and obsess over) every detail as they happen onscreen.

During both events, attendees were asked to choose their side: vote for their choice on who will sit on the Iron Throne and rule over the seven kingdoms by the series’ end.

They were also serenaded by 4G String Quartet who performed their own haunting renditions of the show’s theme songs and musical scoring.

Cosplayers from Westeros Cosplay PH also graced the events, bringing the show’s lead characters to life, and gamely posed with the show’s fans for selfies and photo opps.

With these two events, it is certainly a great time for a GOT fan to be a SKY subscriber!

Game of Thrones fans can look forward to more immersions into Westeros with the upcoming SKY Alive event at the SM Mall of Asia on April 27 and 28. Here, they can participate in games and contests, interact with their favorite Game of Thrones characters through the attending cosplayers, be entertained by more performances by 4G String Quartet, and experience what it’s like to sit on the Iron Throne!

New episodes of the eighth and final season of GAME OF THRONES will air in Asia same time as the U.S. every Monday at 9am, with a same day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (SKYcable ch 54 SD | 168 HD in Metro Manila).

Based on the popular book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” by George R.R. Martin, this hit Emmy®-winning fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom. Members of the ensemble cast for the seventh season included Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Aidan Gillen, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams. Season seven credits: executive producers, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernadette Caulfield; co-executive producers, Bryan Cogman, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, George R.R. Martin.

HBO GO is HBO’s online streaming service that gives subscribers a chance to watch and enjoy the world’s best movies, HBO Originals and more through the website or the mobile app. Subscription to the app also gives SKY subscribers free access to cable channels – HBO Hits, HBO Family, and HBO Signature. To register your SKY account and subscribe to HBO GO, visit mysky.com.ph/hbogo.

Video Credits: SKYcable on Youtube

All other images are mine.

Check out my other recent posts on Game of Thrones:

HBO holds party for pay TV operators at Cove Manila

Every year, one of the most anticipated events during the week of the Philippine Cable Show is the party thrown by HBO for its local affiliates.

This year is no different, and HBO more than live up to expectations with the shindig it held at Cove Manila which I attended together with my coworkers and friends from SKY.

Cove Manila is one of the metro’s premiere party destinations. Opened in 2017, it offers a fusion of music, style and dining. The nightclub boasts of employing some of the most hi-tech sound and lighting technologies to put on spectacular shows or awesome parties.

Before entering the venue, guests have the option of having their photos taken while seated on the Iron Throne. Yes, that Iron Throne. With the most-awaited final season of the network’s monster hit original series Game of Thrones set to premiere mere weeks away, you can bet that many of the attendees lost no time in getting their Westerosi royalty mode on while pretending to survey their kingdom in all their majestic glory.

I know I did! 🙂

Inside, guests are treated to a lavish array of finger food and overflowing drinks, all while being entertained with rousing music from a live band. While there are fruit juices aplenty, I couldn’t resist having a taste of the wines: House Red is the Butterfly Ridge Shiraz Australia, and House White is the La Umbra Pinot Grigio Romania. Thanks to a recent wine tasting I attended, I knew enough about my preference in wines to get myself a white wine. (I didnget myself a taste of the red wine though.)

Then the buffet opened.

Ooh, what a thrilling feast for the eyes and the tastebuds! Stations for pasta and all sorts of meats were made available for party goers to get their fill. And, of course, what is a party in the Philippines without the quintessential lechon, huh?

The celebrations went on and on, especially when the guests of honor, the White Walkers, together with their Night Kin, graced the event with their chilling presence (well, thrilling for the GOT fans, that is!)

This year’s HBO Party at Cove Manila is truly one for the books. Now, if only I can wait patiently for the Game of Thrones premiere April 15!

Cove Manila is located at Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Paranaque.

Did you know that you could enjoy spectacular discounts on food in Cove Manila thanks to Zomato Gold? Zomato Gold provides members with 1+1 deals on food or 2+2 deals on drinks. All you have to do is sign up for a Zomato Gold membership here. Use my code JELLYB to get 20% off the membership fee.

Disclosures:

I was invited to a party held at this venue. Food and drinks mentioned in this post were party fare and were not paid for by the attendees including myself.

I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Photo Credit: Mico Marco of SKY for the White Walker shots

Check out my posts on SKY’s ongoing activities for Game of Thrones.

Catch-up on GOT’s previous seasons via HBO GO on SKY

An epic throwback awaits “Game of Thrones” fans as SKY exclusively offers its subscribers free access to HBO GO, giving them a chance to relive the phenomenal television series anytime, anywhere until April 15.

The offer will delight all kinds of viewers, whether they’re new to the world of Westeros or already hooked to the behemoth series, as all seven seasons are available for streaming.

As the show’s previous season saw the Night King heading to Eastwatch with the undead Viserion and the White Walkers marching South, this season is set to bow out with its biggest episodes ever. With only six episodes, Season 8 is expected to be packed with epic turns of events, including its biggest battle—bigger than what many fans consider its most monumental, the massacre at Hardhome. Fans can also anticipate the formation of new alliances.

The free access to HBO GO is available to all digital SKYcable and SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV Plans 8Mbps and 16Mbps subscribers nationwide with HBO channel in their cable line-up. Download the HBO GO app now and register to catch up in time for the premiere of Season 8 on April 15, at 9:00AM. Visit mysky.com.ph/freehbogo for details.

For more exciting updates on “Game of Thrones,” visit mysky.com.ph/got.

Promo details provided by SKY in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

Game of Thrones: The Last Watch feature documentary premieres May 27 on HBO and HBO GO

For a year, acclaimed British filmmaker Jeanie Finlay was embedded on the set of the hit HBO series GAME OF THRONES, chronicling the creation of the show’s most ambitious and complicated season.

The feature documentary, GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH will debut in Asia same time as the U.S. on Monday, 27 May, one week after the series finale, at 9am, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The documentary delves deep into the mud and blood to reveal the tears and triumphs involved in the challenge of bringing the fantasy world of Westeros to life in the very real studios, fields and car-parks of Northern Ireland. GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH will also have a same day encore at 10pm.

Made with unprecedented access, GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH is an up-close and personal report from the trenches of production, following the crew and the cast as they contend with extreme weather, punishing deadlines and an ever-excited fandom hungry for spoilers.

Much more than a “making of” documentary, this is a funny, heart-breaking story, told with wit and intimacy, about the bittersweet pleasures of what it means to create a world – and then have to say goodbye to it.

Jeanie Finlay’s previous credits include the documentaries “Seahorse,” “Orion: The Man Who Would Be King,” “Pantomime,” “The Great Hip Hop Hoax,” “Sound It Out” and “Goth Cruise”. GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH is her eighth feature film.

GAME OF THRONES: THE LAST WATCH is a Glimmer Films production for HBO; director, Jeanie Finlay; executive producers, David Benioff. D.B. Weiss, Bernadette Caulfield; producers, Jeanie Finlay, Rachel Hooper, Martin Mahon; editor, Alice Powell; filmed by Jeanie Finlay, Mark Bushnell, Louise Liddy, Aaron Black, Richard Jephcote; composer, Hannah Peel.

The eighth and final season of GAME OF THRONES will debut in Asia same time as the U.S. on Monday, 15 April at 9am, with a same day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes will premiere every Monday at the same time.

Until April 15, SKYcable subscribers can watch all episodes of Game of Thrones Seasons 1 to 7 on demand via HBO GO for free. Simply download the app and register your SKYcable account. For more details, click here.

Series details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

New HBO drama series Gentleman Jack debuts April 23 exclusively on HBO GO

Starring BAFTA Award Winner Suranne Jones, The Series Tells The Story Of A Woman Who Had A Passion For Life And A Mind For Business, And Bucked Society’s Expectations At Every Turn.

The HBO drama series GENTLEMAN JACK begins its eight-episode season, same time as the U.S. on Tuesday 23 April at 10am exclusively on HBO GO. Created, written and co-directed by Sally Wainwright (“Happy Valley,” “Last Tango in Halifax”), and starring BAFTA Award winner Suranne Jones (“Doctor Foster,” “Save Me”), GENTLEMAN JACK tells the story of a woman who had a passion for life and a mind for business, and bucked society’s expectations at every turn.

Set in the complex, changing world of 1832 Halifax, West Yorkshire – the cradle of the evolving Industrial Revolution – GENTLEMAN JACK focuses on landowner Anne Lister, who is determined to transform the fate of her faded ancestral home, Shibden Hall, by reopening the coal mines and marrying well. The charismatic, single-minded, swashbuckling Lister – who dresses head-to-toe in black and charms her way into high society – has no intention of marrying a man.

The story examines Lister’s relationships with her family, servants, tenants and industrial rivals and, most importantly, would-be wife. Based in historical fact, the real-life Anne Lister’s story was recorded in the four million words of her diaries, and the most intimate details of her life, once hidden in a secret code, have been decoded and revealed for the series.

GENTLEMAN JACK co-stars: Sophie Rundle (“Bodyguard,” “Peaky Blinders”) as Ann Walker, the wealthy heiress on whom Anne Lister sets her sights as a prospective wife; Gemma Whelan (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”; “The Moorside”) as Anne Lister’s sister, Marian; Timothy West (“Last Tango in Halifax,” “Bleak House”) as Jeremy Lister, the sisters’ father; and Gemma Jones (“God’s Own Country,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary”) as Aunt Anne Lister.

The additional cast includes: Katherine Kelly (“Happy Valley,” CINEMAX’s “Strike Back”) as Elizabeth Sutherland, Ann Walker’s sister; Sofie Gråbøl (“The Killing,” “Fortitude”) as Queen Marie of Denmark; Stephanie Cole (“Waiting for God,” “Still Open All Hours”) as Ann Walker’s aunt; Peter Davison (“Liar,” “Doctor Who”) as William Priestley, Ann Walker’s cousin; Amelia Bullmore (“Happy Valley,” “Scott & Bailey”) as Eliza Priestley, William Priestley’s wife; Vincent Franklin (“Cucumber,” “Happy Valley”) as Christopher Rawson, a businessman and fierce rival to Anne Lister; Shaun Dooley (“Gunpowder,” “Broadchurch”) as Jeremiah, Christopher’s brother and business partner; Joe Armstrong (“Darkest Hour,” “Happy Valley”) as Samuel Washington; Jodhi May (“Genius,” “The Amazing Mrs Pritchard”) as Vere Hobart; Rosie Cavaliero (“Hold the Sunset,” “Unforgotten”) as Elizabeth Cordingley; Thomas Howes (“Downton Abbey,” “United”) as John Booth; Jessica Baglow (“Waterloo Road”) as Rachael Hemingway; and newcomers Albane Courtois as Eugénie Pierre and Ben Hunter as Joseph Booth.

GENTLEMAN JACK is directed by Sally Wainwright, Sarah Harding (“Vikings,” “Queer as Folk”) and Jennifer Perrott (“Doctor Who”); produced by Lookout Point for HBO and BBC One; executive producers, Sally Wainwright, Faith Penhale and Laura Lankester for Lookout Point and Ben Irving for BBC One; producer, Phil Collinson.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers in the Philippines. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Series details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

HBO Asia announces new lineup of Asian Original Productions

HBO Asia unveiled a line-up of brand new Asian original productions that are scheduled to premiere soon. Since the regional network’s first original production in 2012, HBO Asia has been committed to ramp up the number of quality Asian original content to their audiences in the region and globally. To date, HBO Asia has produced and aired fifteen HBO Asia Original productions and is expanding its repertoire further in the coming years.

HBO Asia recently hosted a press conference in Hong Kong to further showcase four upcoming projects that included an anthology drama series, a crime drama, a sci-fi thriller and the second season of a coming-of-age drama series. Actors Vivian Hsu, David Wang and James Wen, directors Eric Khoo and Billy Christian and executive producer, Cheang Pou-Soi were present to share insights about the upcoming HBO Asia Original productions. All upcoming HBO Asia Originals will be available in the Philippines exclusively on HBO Asia’s network of channels including HBO (SKYcable channel 54 SD and 168 HD in Metro Manila) and HBO’s online streaming platform, HBO GO.

Mr. Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia said, “Over the past 7 years, we recognise the significance and importance of locally produced programming. Since 2012, the number of Asian original productions we have done has been increasing and they have all proven to be very effective for us. We are encouraged to learn that our Asian productions are working well across the region, especially those in local languages.” He further adds, “We maintain our commitment to producing outstanding programming and will continuously aim to present our content to our audience in the region, in an easily accessible way. We will continue to produce the highest quality content that the HBO brand represents and showcase to the world the best Asia has to offer.”

Series premiering soon on HBO Asia’s network of channels include (in alphabetical order):

DREAM RAIDER is HBO Asia’s first science fiction drama series. DREAM RAIDER is an eight-episode hour-long series that brings together production expertise from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan featuring cast and crew including actors Vivian Hsu, David Wang, Jason Wang, Weber Yang and Ellen Wu, executive producer, renowned filmmaker, Cheang Pou-Soi, directors, Daniel Fu and Simon Hung, and producer, Freeman Xiang. Set in the near future, DREAM RAIDER features a misfit team of scientists and cops that are trying to get to the bottom of a criminal conspiracy that exploits human consciousness. The series opens with a criminal police officer that is investigating a case of missing girls and uncovers a mysterious cutting-edge technology that enables them to enter the dreamscapes of others to find the truth. The series is produced with the support of the Taipei Film Commission and Taipei Cultural Foundation.

FOOD LORE is an eight-episode hour-long anthology series that explores the human condition with narratives inspired by and showcased through the perspectives of Asian cuisines, weaving tales of the tastes and aromas that have filled the Asian souls – tales of longing and forbidden passion, of connection and loss, of childhood memory. Helmed by award-winning Singaporean filmmaker Eric Khoo, the series is shot in eight countries across Asia and directed by some of Asia’s most talented storytellers including Don Aravind (Singapore), Billy Christian (Indonesia), Takumi Saitoh (Japan), Ho Yuhang (Malaysia), Erik Matti (Philippines), Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (Thailand) and Phan Dang Di (Vietnam). FOOD LORE is produced as part of a two-year partnership with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore. Through a series of workshops and collaborations with local companies and talent on HBO Asia Original productions, the partnership aims to develop the content production capabilities of Singapore’s media industry.

THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC is HBO Asia’s second returning series, following the success of the first season. The eight-episode hour-long second season of the coming-of-age Taiwan drama series returns with Kuo Shu Yau reprising her lead role as Xiao Zhen, a psychic born with the ability to see spirits and learning to use her abilities to help others. Starring alongside her will be new cast members including two-time Golden Bell Award-winning actress, Wen Chen-Ling and rising star, Fandy Fan. The new season of THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC sees Xiao Zhen back from her summer break and determined to have a fresh start at school, but life is not that simple, especially when she is still coming to terms with the loss of the love of her life. Things get even more complicated with the arrival of Zhan Xiao Tong, played by Wen Chen-Ling, a soft spoken yet resourceful new member of the drama club. Juggling the multiple pressures from school, the drama club and the demands of the spirit world, things are about to take a turn for the worse for the 17-year-old. THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC season two will be directed by up-and-coming director Liu Yan-Fu (劉彥甫). Chen Ho-Yu, director of THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC season one, will executive produce.

THE WORLD BETWEEN US is a ten-part hour-long Taiwan drama series that follows the aftermath of a mass-shooting where all parties involved – the killer, the victims, the victims’ families, the media and the defense teams, whose fates are all intertwined. Shot entirely in Taiwan, the series features an all-star ensemble cast from Taiwan including Alyssa Chia, James Wen and Wu Kang-Jen. The series is directed by award-winning filmmaker, Lin Chun-Yang ) and written by the renowned award-winning screenwriter, Lu Shih-Yuan . The series is produced by Taiwanese broadcaster, Public Television Service (PTS), and will be jointly distributed by HBO Asia and CATCHPLAY outside of Asia. THE WORLD BETWEEN US premieres in Asia on Sunday, March 24 with two back-to-back episodes from 9pm onwards exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. Two new episodes will debut at the same time every Sunday. The series will also be available on HBO On Demand.

2018 was a great year for HBO Asia Original productions. MISS SHERLOCK, the network’s first Japanese original drama series, and the first HBO Asia Original documentary, THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS were both recognised at the Asia Academy Creative Awards 2018. MISS SHERLOCK was the national winner for Japan under the categories for Best Drama Series, Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Supporting Role. THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS was the national winner for Singapore under the Best Documentary Series category. In addition, all six episodes from FOLKLORE, HBO Asia’s first horror anthology series, were recognised at major International film festivals that included the Toronto International Film Festival (Toronto, Canada), SITGES International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain), Fantastic Fest (Texas, USA), and selected for competition at the International Panorama section of Series Mania International Festival (Lille, France).

HBO Asia Original productions have also reached audiences worldwide. Select titles are available in territories outside of Asia including Spain (on HBO España), Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark (on HBO Nordic), and in Central European territories including Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Croatia (on HBO Europe). They are also available to HBO’s U.S. subscribers across the channel’s platforms, including HBO GO®, HBO NOW®, HBO On Demand®, and participating television and streaming partner platforms. These productions most recently included MISS SHERLOCK, FOLKLORE and GRISSE, the network’s first Asian-inspired Western period drama.

Series details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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