hbo – Page 9 – Jellybeans in the City

Starring Jeffrey Wright, HBO Films’ O.G. premieres Feb 24 exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

The HBO Films drama O.G. debuts same time as the U.S. on Sunday, February 24 at 11am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The film repeats on the same day at 11.30pm on HBO. Starring Jeffrey Wright (Emmy® winner for HBO’s “Angels in America,” two-time Emmy® nominee for HBO’s “Westworld”), the film is directed by Madeleine Sackler (Emmy® winner for HBO’s “Dangerous Acts Starring the Unstable Elements of Belarus”) and written by Stephen Belber (Emmy® nominee for HBO’s “The Laramie Project”).

O.G. follows Louis (Wright), once the head of a prominent prison gang, in the final weeks of his 24-year sentence. His impending release is upended when he takes new arrival Beecher (Carter), who is being courted by gang leadership, under his wing. Coming to grips with the indelibility of his crime and the challenge of reentering society, Louis finds his freedom hanging in the balance as he struggles to save Beecher.

Also starring Theothus Carter and William Fichtner (“Crash”), O.G. premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, where Wright won the award for Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film. It was filmed over a five-week period at Indiana’s maximum-security Pendleton Correctional Facility.

Groundbreaking in that it was filmed in an active prison, with several of the incarcerated men and prison staff appearing as first-time actors, O.G. takes an intimate and unflinching look at the journey of one man at the precipice of freedom.

The film is executive produced by Sharon Chang, Kareem “Biggs” Burke, Mark Steele, Nic Marshall; produced by Madeleine Sackler, Boyd Holbrook, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler, Nick Gordon, Trevor Matthews, Stephen Belber and Ged Dickersin.

Director Madeleine Sackler describes the inspiration behind the film’s uniquely realistic approach, noting, “There have been so many prison films that it’s become a genre of its own. To me, when a type of story becomes a genre, it can lose its uniqueness or its specificity in the storytelling.

“My goal was to disregard the prison genre and start from scratch, starting with one character, a man preparing to leave after many years behind bars. To do that as authentically as possible, to truly understand and portray that experience, I wanted to make the film in close collaboration with people going through the experience themselves, so I started calling different departments of correction around the country. And I was very lucky when the state of Indiana called me back.

“This film wouldn’t be what it is if we hadn’t made it as a collaboration with the prison and with hundreds of men incarcerated there. And to have two films come out of the experience, one fiction and one nonfiction, is very exciting. We were able to explore many different themes.”

For Jeffrey Wright, it was a unique experience filming in an active prison, which helped him step inside his character. He explains, “It was absolutely necessary for me to wrap my head and my body around who this character was and what the story was that we were trying to tell. It’s a pretty informative place. It’s an affecting place. There’s an energy inside that place unlike no other, no other. It’s heavy, it’s kind of laden with trauma. It’s just molecularly heavy inside, and it certainly informed our understanding of the story, of the issues, and in my case, the character that I was playing.”

Director Sackler describes her introduction to Theothus Carter, saying, “His audition was incredible. We were watching hundreds of people in one week, and you can’t imagine the array of men who are incarcerated, and the talent and depth that they bring to the dialogue. There’s just no replacement for the real way that people move and interact and talk. And then Theothus came in, and he just blew me and the casting director away. And then he worked harder than anyone else.”

Wright says, “Theothus was all business, and he has a force to him. He has capabilities that we see through this film, that he had never tapped into in a way as constructive as this, perhaps in his lifetime.”

O.G. is an HBO Films and Maven Pictures Presentation in association with Brookstreet Pictures, a Great Curve Films production of a Madeleine Sackler film. The behind-the-scenes team includes director of photography Wolfgang Held; editor Frédéric Thoraval; production designer Michael Bricker; and costume designer Heidi Bivens. Music by Nathaniel Méchaly; casting by Richard Hicks.

After the screenplay for O.G. had been developed and Sackler was prepping to shoot the film, she began collaborating with 13 men incarcerated at the facility on a nonfiction film. In IT’S A HARD TRUTH AIN’T IT, co-directed by Sackler and those men, several of whom were also first-time actors, they study filmmaking as a vehicle to explore their memories and examine how they ended up with decades-long sentences. Animated sequences by Yoni Goodman (“Waltz with Bashir”) bring their stories to life.

Sackler says, “In a way, O.G. and IT’S A HARD TRUTH AIN’T IT are two different sides of the same coin. In O.G., Louis is preparing to leave prison after 24 years of incarceration. In IT’S A HARD TRUTH AIN’T IT, the men look deeper into the paths that got them to prison in the first place. In that sense, neither film is about being in prison, but something deeper.”

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.

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.

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

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8 Facts you may not know about Game of Thrones

We still have quite some time to wait until the much-anticipated final season of HBO’s juggernaut of a series Game of Thrones hits the TV screens in April.

Based on George R. R. Martin’s book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, the TV show chronicles the struggles of nine noble families for power in the land of Westeros, as an ancient enemy rises up to threaten the entire land.

With its far-reaching influence and popularity, not just in entertainment, but in general pop culture, you would think that the show’s fans know all there is to know about their favorite show.

But here are some facts you may not know about Game of Thrones.

1. The show’s creators are referred to as D&D.

When you hear “D&D” in the context of Game of Thrones, this actually refers to the showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

2. Peter Dinklage (“Tyrion Lannister”) and Lena Headey (“Cersei Lannister”) are good friends.

They may snipe at and antagonize each other on-screen, but, away from the cameras, actors Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey have been friends for years. In fact, Dinklage was the one that recommended Headey to D&D for Cersei’s role.

3. The show’s cast includes actors from the Harry Potter franchise.

Among prominent cast members who also appeared in the Harry Potter movies are: Natalia Tena (“Osha”) played Nymphadora Tonks, David Bradley (“Walder Frey”) played Argus Filch, Michelle Fairley (“Catelyn Stark”) played Mrs. Granger, Ciaran Hinds (“Mance Rayder”) played Aberforth Dumbledore and Jim Broadbent (“Archmaester Ebrose”) played Horace Slughorn.

4. Four actors also appeared in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.

Jack Gleeson (“Joffrey Baratheon”) and Richard Brake (“The Night’s King”) appeared in Batman Begins while Aidan Gillen (“Littlefinger”) and Burn Gorman (“Karl Tanner”) were in The Dark Knight Rises.

5. Two cast members were cast as leads in Marvel’s Iron Fist.

Finn Jones (“Loras Tyrell”) and Jessica Henwick (“Nymeria Sand”) headline the Netflix series Iron Fist as Danny Rand and Colleen Wing, reapectively.

6. Jon Snow and Ygritte ended up together in real life.

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie who played ill-fated lovers Jon Snow and the wildling Ygritte fell on love while filming, got engaged in 2017, and got married in 2018. Harington was even prodded by actress Nicole Kidman about proposing to Leslie while on The Late Late Show with James Corben when she found out that they have moved in together.

7. Two of the female leads have played the same character from the Terminator franchise.

Both Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke (“Danaerys Targaryen”) have played Sarah Connor: Headey in the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Clarke in Terminator Genisys.

8. A prequel series is in the works.

A spinoff starring Naomi Watts is being developed. Set a thousand years prior to the events of Game of Thrones, it will chronicle Westeros’ descent from the Age of Heroes to the Longest Night.

Game of Thrones’ eighth season is set to premiere in April 2019 on HBO, 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.

If you haven’t watched the series yet or want to review previous episodes, Game of Thrones Seasons 1 to 7, as well as other HBO Original Series 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.

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Third season of True Detective to premiere Jan 14 on HBO and HBO Go

Starring Oscar® winner Mahershala Ali and created by Emmy® nominee Nic Pizzolatto, TRUE DETECTIVE returns for its eight-episode third season with two episodes debuting back-to-back on Monday, 14 January at 10am, with a same day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO, followed by single episodes subsequent Mondays at the same time.

1980: Will and Julie Purcell, the children of feuding parents Tom and Lucy Purcell, go missing a week after Halloween in West Finger, Ark.

2015: Retired detective Wayne Hays, who originally investigated the crime, is asked to look back on the twists of the unsolved case with a true-crime documentary producer.

Playing out in three separate time periods, the third season tells the story of a macabre crime in the heart of the Ozarks, and a mystery that deepens over decades. Mahershala Ali (Oscar^® winner for “Moonlight”) stars as state police detective Wayne Hays, with Stephen Dorff (“Somewhere”) starring as Roland West, the detective who investigated the case with Hays, and Carmen Ejogo (“Selma”) starring as schoolteacher and writer Amelia Reardon.

In 2015, retired detective Wayne Hays, his memory failing, looks back at the disappearance of 12-year-old Will and ten-year-old Julie Purcell, recalling the days and weeks immediately following the 1980 crime, as well as developments in 1990, when he and his former partner, Roland West, were subpoenaed after a major break in the case.

Filmed at locations throughout northwest Arkansas, the new season of TRUE DETECTIVE was written by series creator Nic Pizzolatto, except for the fourth episode, which he wrote with David Milch (HBO’s “Deadwood”), and the sixth episode, which he wrote with Graham Gordy (CINEMAX’s “Quarry”). Pizzolatto is also making his directorial debut with two episodes; other directors are Jeremy Saulnier (“Hold the Dark”) and Daniel Sackheim (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”).

Episodes include:

Episode #17 (season 3, episode 1): “The Great War and Modern Memory”

Premiere: Monday, 14 January at 10am

The disappearance of a young Arkansas boy (Phoenix Elkin) and his sister (Lena McCarthy) in 1980 triggers vivid memories and enduring questions for retired detective Wayne Hays (Mahershala Ali), who worked the case 35 years before with partner Roland West (Stephen Dorff). What started as a routine case becomes a long journey to dissect and make sense of the crime. Written by Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Jeremy Saulnier.

Episode #18 (season 3, episode 2): “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”

Premiere: Monday, 14 January at 11am

Hays (Mahershala Ali) looks back at the aftermath of the 1980 Purcell case in West Finger, Ark., including possible evidence left behind at the Devil’s Den, an outdoor hangout for local kids. As attention focuses on two conspicuous suspects – Brett Woodard (Michael Greyeyes), a solitary vet and trash collector, and Ted LaGrange (Shawn-Caulin Young), an ex-con with a penchant for children – the parents of the missing kids, Tom (Scoot McNairy) and Lucy Purcell (Mamie Gummer), receive a cryptic note from an anonymous source. Written by Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Jeremy Saulnier.

Episode #19 (season 3, episode 3): “The Big Never”

Premiere: Monday, 21 January at 10am

Hays (Mahershala Ali) recalls his early romance with Amelia (Carmen Ejogo), as well as cracks in their relationship that surfaced after they married and had children. Ten years after the Purcell crimes, new evidence emerges, giving him a second chance to vindicate himself and the investigation. Written by Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Daniel Sackheim.

Episode #20 (season 3, episode 4): “The Hour and the Day”

Premiere Monday, 28 January at 10am

Hays (Mahershala Ali) and West (Stephen Dorff) see a possible connection between the local church and the Purcell crimes. As the detectives search for one suspect and round up another for interrogation, Woodard (Michael Greyeyes) is targeted by a vigilante group. Written by David Milch & Nic Pizzolatto; directed by Nic Pizzolatto.

TRUE DETECTIVE was created by Nic Pizzolatto; executive producers, Nic Pizzolatto, Scott Stephens, Daniel Sackheim, Jeremy Saulnier, Steve Golin, Richard Brown, Bard Dorros; producer, Peter Feldman.

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

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HBO receives 9 Golden Globe nominations

HBO received 9 Golden Globe nominations for the upcoming 76th annual Golden Globe Awards, which were announced today in Los Angeles. The Golden Globe Awards will be presented on 6 January in Los Angeles.

HBO’s Golden Globe nominations this year include:

3 nominations for BARRY

Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy (Bill Hader)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Henry Winkler)

Synopsis: A hit man from the Midwest moves to Los Angeles and gets caught up in the city’s theatre arts scene.

BARRY is now streaming on HBO GO.

3 nominations for SHARP OBJECTS

Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Amy Adams)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Patricia Clarkson)

Synopsis: A reporter confronts the psychological demons from her past when she returns to her hometown to cover a violent murder.

SHARP OBJECTS is now streaming on HBO GO.

1 nomination for SUCCESSION

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Kieran Culkin)

Synopsis: Succession follows a dysfunctional American global-media family.

SUCCESSION is now streaming on HBO GO.

1 nomination for THE TALE

Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Laura Dern).

Synopsis: A woman filming a documentary on childhood rape victims starts to question the nature of her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.

THE TALE is now streaming on HBO GO.

1 nomination for WESTWORLD

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Thandie Newton).

Synopsis: Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.

Both seasons of WESTWORLD are now streaming on HBO GO.

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

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“Miss Sherlock” and “Talwars: Behind Closed Doors” win awards for HBO Asia

HBO Asia won two awards at the inaugural Asian Academy Creative Awards that took place over two nights on December 6 and December 7 at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore. HBO Asia bagged the coveted “Best Drama Series” award for MISS SHERLOCK, the regional network’s first co-production with Hulu Japan, and also won “Best Documentary Series” for THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, HBO Asia’s first original documentary produced in association with Star India.

The Asian Academy Creative Awards are the region’s version of the International Emmy Awards and celebrate quality broadcast and media content from Australia & New Zealand, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

About MISS SHERLOCK

MISS SHERLOCK, an eight-part, hour-long Japanese drama series, is a bold interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, re-envisioned in Japanese and set in modern day Tokyo, the iconic characters – Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson are played by women. A co-production with Hulu Japan, watch the award-winning HBO Asia Original Series on HBO GO.

About THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is a gripping documentary that examines the double murder of a teenage girl and her family’s household servant in Noida, India, that quickly became one of India’s biggest murder mysteries, capturing worldwide attention. Produced in association with Star India, the four-part hour-long HBO Asia Original Documentary Series is available on HBO GO.

Movie details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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Well-loved cartoons on-the-go on HBO GO

On long road trips, did you ever wish that you can keep your kids entertained? Well, with these new additions to HBO GO’s line up of programs, the little ones will be happy and content at the backseat of the car or wherever your family is as they join their animated friends on merry adventures.

These new shows are part of HBO Asia’s commitment to provide quality content and programs to viewers of all ages. New family-friendly content – from animated series to children’s puppet series, as well as educational live action series – will be available to viewers, both young and old, at their convenience anytime on HBO GO.

Starting this December, HBO GO users in Asia will be able to stream and download popular and beloved family-friendly series including Cartoon Network hits ADVENTURE TIME, BEN 10: OMNIVERSE, DEXTER’S LABORATORY, FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS, REGULAR SHOW, STEVEN UNIVERSE, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS and WE BARE BEARS, as well as FRAGGLE ROCK and SESAME STREET, anytime, anywhere.

These well-loved kids programs join HBO GO’s roster of content which also include blockbuster movies and HBO Originals from the U.S. and Asia available for video streaming.

These programs include:

ADVENTURE TIME (Seasons 1 – 5)

Finn, the human boy with the awesome hat, and Jake, the wise dog, embark on a series of bizarre and unique exploits as they explore the kooky land of Ooo. Whether it’s rescuing a princess from an Ice King, or de-corpsenating dead candy people, one thing’s for sure: it’s always adventure time.

BEN 10: OMNIVERSE (Season 1)

Ben will have a new character design that pays homage to his past and he will have a whole new batch of aliens to battle. Ben explores the quirkier side of things in the alien underground and discovers enemies from his past looking for a re-match, while a mysterious hunter is hot on his trail.

DEXTER’S LABORATORY (Seasons 1 – 2)

Dexter is a typical 8-year-old boy – other than the fact that he is a genius with an enormous secret laboratory, complete with computers, experiments and machines hidden beyond his bedroom wall. Despite sneaking to the lab when he can, he still cannot get away from his big sister, Dee Dee, who loves to dance her way into Dexter’s well-ordered world, disrupting his inventions and annoying him beyond belief.

FOSTER’S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS (Seasons 1 – 2)

8-year-old Mac discovers Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends when his mum tells him he is too old for his trusty imaginary friend Blooregard (aka Bloo). Full of fantastic creations outgrown by children, Mac takes Bloo to Foster’s to provide him with a safe place to live, while still being able to visit every day.

FRAGGLE ROCK (Seasons 1 – 4)

This wonderfully inventive program was designed to entertain while encouraging an understanding and embracing of diversity. Through the fun adventures of the Fraggle gang – Red, Gobo, Wembley, Boober, Mokey and Uncle Travelling Matt – the show features a unique mix of music that includes a number of genres, from folk, blues and gospel to country and rock.

REGULAR SHOW (Seasons 1 – 2)

The series revolves around the lives of two working-class friends, a blue jay named Mordecai and a raccoon named Rigby – both employed as groundskeepers at a local park. They usually try to solve a simple problem, but it often leads to surreal, extreme and supernatural misadventures.

SESAME STREET (Season 40 – 41)

It’s another sunny day on Sesame Street, with its famous furry cast, celebrity guests and trademark mix of live-action, animated and wondrous fun. Sesame Street addresses the spectrum of children’s learning: ABCs and 123s, health, mutual understanding and more. Here, children build essential skills, use their imaginations, and respect people’s differences. It is a proven recipe for success in school and life. Sesame Street is the world’s most honored children’s television show and has captured over 150 Emmy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

STEVEN UNIVERSE (Seasons 1 – 2)

Steven is the proverbial “little brother” to a team of magical guardians of humanity, the Crystal Gems. Steven may not be as powerful or as smart as the Crystal Gems and he may not have any control over the magical powers that come out of his belly button but that doesn’t stop him from joining Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl on their magical adventures, where Steven always finds a surprising way to save the day.

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS (Seasons 1 – 6)

When Professor Utonium set out to create the perfect little girls, he mixed in all the right ingredients: sugar, spice and everything nice. But when a fourth ingredient, Chemical X, was accidentally added, he created The Powerpuff Girls – three of the cutest, little kindergarten superheroes. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup dedicate their lives to fighting crime and the forces of evil, all before bedtime.

WE BARE BEARS (Season 1)

The Bears are an adoptive family of three bears doing their best to try and fit in with human society in America – no easy task for bears! Set in the San Francisco Bay area, the series follows Grizz, the oldest of the three, and definitely the most fun-loving, Panda, a social media enthusiast who is easily embarrassed, and Ice Bear, who is the youngest bear but of the strong, silent type. Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear may seem like an unlikely trio, but their friendship is strong to the core.

So on your next road trip when you find your kids harassing you with “Are with there yet?,” just whip out your mobile device and stream these shows for their entertainment, and your own peace of mind.

About HBO GO

HBO GO is an internet-based service that allows subscribers unlimited access to stream and download anytime, anywhere, a wide range of Hollywood blockbusters, all-time favourite kids’ programmes as well as unedited original versions of all HBO Original content from the U.S. and Asia, at the same time as they premiere. Live TV streaming of HBO Asia’s bouquet of channels are also available. The service is accessible on all mobile devices through the HBO GO App and on computers.

In the Philippines, HBO GO is exclusively available to SKYcable subscribers. For more information, visit mysky.com.ph/hbogo.

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

HBO original documentary “The World Behind the Teenage Psychic” premieres Dec 16 on HBO and HBO GO

HBO Asia announced recently that the brand-new HBO Asia original documentary, THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, inspired by the network’s award-winning coming-of-age series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, will premiere on Sunday, 16 December at 8pm exclusively on HBO GO and HBO.

The documentary follows the success of HBO Asia’s first Mandarin original drama series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, that premiered in 2017 with positive ratings and received recognition at the prestigious Golden Bell Awards. Filmed entirely in Taiwan, the one-hour long Mandarin documentary, THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC, seeks to delve deeper into the traditions and culture that THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC is based on.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC follows different characters from various locations in Taiwan, as they explore how the distinct blend of Taoist, Buddhist, Chinese folklore and indigenous belief systems continue to flourish in modern Taiwan. Featuring anecdotes and stories told by an 18-year-old medium in the Sanchong district, a family of Taoist priests from Keelung city and an award-winning actress and singer whose family runs a funeral business in Nantou county, as well as a practicing priest and teacher of religious studies at Fu-Jen Catholic University, the documentary explores the rituals and beliefs surrounding the afterlife and Ghost Month in Taiwan.

Sanchong District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Ming Yi Zhang is an 18-year-old female medium (known locally as a jitong) who acts as a vessel for the Taoist God, the Lotus Prince, at the Sanchong Xiesheng Temple in New Taipei City. In the documentary, she shares her view on the culture and practices involved on being a jitong, including self-flagellation, and how she juggles her temple and personal life. During the shoot, the crew managed to speak with the Lotus Prince through Ming Yi and sought his opinion about his young vessel.

Nantou County, Taiwan

In light of a passing in her family, the documentary also follows Golden Horse award-winning Taiwanese actress, Qian Na Lee (“The Teenage Psychic”), as she returns to her hometown in Nantou County. Having spent her childhood years in an environment bound by traditional folk practices, Qian Na offers an insight into Taiwan’s contemporary perspective of life and death.

Keelung City, Taiwan

Shot mainly in in Keelung City, the documentary follows three family members of Taoist priests whose family have served as priests in Keelung City for over 150 years. Wu Ji Lee watches as his two sons, Ming Jun Lee and Cong Hui Lee, perform sacred rituals for the first time at the annual Keelung Zhongyuan Festival, the largest Ghost Festival in Taiwan.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC is developed and produced by HBO Asia and marks the second original documentary for the network, following their first documentary THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS that premiered in 2017. HBO Asia started producing its Original productions in 2012 and have since expanded their range of Asian Original productions to include series, movies and documentaries. To date, HBO Asia has produced thirteen Asian Originals with more slated to premiere in the coming years.

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC premieres on Sunday, 16 December at 8pm exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (SKYcable ch 54SD | ch 168HD).

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

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Folklore

Stream Season 1 of The Teenage Psychic on HBO Go.

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Don’t miss the season-ender of HBO’s horror anthology “Folklore” on November 11

In “Mongdal,” Chae-Yeon plays Ok-Bin, a loving mother and a strict school principal to her son, Dong-Joo, who has anger management issues. Knowing her son’s situation, she tries to understand his moods and gives in to his demands.

All is well for the two until her son falls deeply in love with the new girl in school. He is determined to get the girl—even if it is against her will.

Up to what extent will Ok-Bin do in order to make her son happy? What is the significance of the bachelor ghost or popularly known as a Mongdal in the story?

Lee Chae-Yeon was the episode’s director Lee Sang-Woo’s only choice for the leading role because he saw in her the star quality that set her apart from the other actresses in their initial choices.

Episodes are helmed by different directors from various Asian countries, and are filmed in the local language of the country that the episode is based in.

Watch “Mongdal” on November 10, 10PM on HBO 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 on Ch. 22 HD. It is 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.

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HBO Films’ “Deadwood” movie begins production

Production has begun in Los Angeles on HBO Films’ “Deadwood” movie, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming. Continuing the story begun in David Milch’s critically acclaimed, Emmy®-winning HBO series, the feature-length presentation is written by Milch, directed by Daniel Minahan and features original cast members from the series.

In the “Deadwood” film, the indelible characters of the series are reunited after ten years to celebrate South Dakota’s statehood. Former rivalries are reignited, alliances are tested and old wounds are reopened, as all are left to navigate the inevitable changes that modernity and time have wrought.

Returning cast members for the “Deadwood” movie include: Ian McShane (Al Swearengen), Timothy Olyphant (Seth Bullock), Molly Parker (Alma Ellsworth), Paula Malcomson (Trixie), John Hawkes (Sol Star), Anna Gunn (Martha Bullock), Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter), Brad Dourif (Doc Cochran), Robin Weigert (“Calamity” Jane Canary), William Sanderson (E.B. Farnum), Kim Dickens (Joanie Stubbs) and Gerald McRaney (George Hearst). The film will also feature new cast member Jade Pettyjohn (Caroline).

During its three-season, 36-episode run on HBO from 2004 to 2006, the “Deadwood” series was nominated for 28 Primetime Emmy® Awards, winning eight, including Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (Walter Hill), and also received a Golden Globe Award for Best Performer by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Ian McShane).

The “Deadwood” film is executive produced by David Milch, Carolyn Strauss, Daniel Minahan, Gregg Fienberg, Scott Stephens, Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant; directed by Daniel Minahan; written by David Milch.

Movie details provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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HBO brings Malaysian myth ‘TOYOL’ to scare viewers this Halloween weekend

The ghost of an unborn infant haunts HBO viewers on SKY as the Malaysian flick “Toyol” airs this Sunday (November 4), the fifth episode of the horror anthology series, “Folklore.”

A Member of Parliament (Bront Palarae) of a fishing town seeks the help of a mysterious woman (Nabila Huda) with shaman-like powers in order to save the town from its dire economic situation. After she miraculously fixes the problem, the two fall in love. But the woman hides a deep, dark secret that will threaten to destroy everything as she could unleash the “toyol” upon the world.

According to Malay folklore, the “toyol” manifests itself as a newborn baby, only with blood-red eyes and sharp teeth. It is summoned through black magic by its owner and does their bidding no matter how gruesome the wish is.

Will the local politician know the real motive of the shaman before it is too late?

HBO Asia’s first horror anthology, “Folklore,” is a series that draws on the local myths from Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Following “Toyol” is the last installment, the Korean episode,“Mongdal.”

Episodes are helmed by different directors from various Asian countries, and are filmed in the local language of the country that the episode is based in.

Watch “Toyol” on November 4, 10PM on HBO 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 on Ch. 22 HD. It is 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.

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