Pinoy FX master is back in Final Destination 5

Academy Award-nominated and Manila-born visual effects supervisor Ariel Velasco Shaw is back in the fifth installment of the blockbuster horror-thriller Final Destination that will hit theaters nationwide (in the US) on Aug. 12 through Warner Bros. Pictures.

“It will be Shawn’s first foray in 3D filmmaking, where he oversaw the movie’s many elaborate special effects, including those used for the terrifying collapse of a suspension bridge during which a group of co-workers was saved by one man’s premonition,” reports Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre. “But this group of unsuspecting souls was never supposed to survive, and in a terrifying race against time, they frantically try to find a way to escape death.”

With over two dozen films to his credit, including such blockbusters as Batman Forever, 300, Lethal Weapon 4, Armageddon, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the first and third Final Destination films, the Hollywood vet is highly regarded as a visual effects pioneer whose early research in digital imaging established the foundation for today’s revolutionary digital imaging production process.

Academy Award-nominated and Manila-born visual effects supervisor Ariel Velasco Shaw

Edmund caught up with Shaw who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, after moving to the US at age 4. He bagged an Oscar nod for Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and an Emmy Award nom for Tom Hanks’ HBO series From the Earth to the Moon, Edmund said that Ariel has been eyeing directing lately. One of his dreams is to someday shoot a film in the Philippines about Filipino myths or supernatural events in places like Corregidor or Siquijor which is associated with mystic traditions.

Ariel told Edmund that he got inspired when he saw the Chito Roño horror classic Feng Shui that starred Kris Aquino. “It’s a pretty good horror film,” said Ariel, “based on a culture totally different from where I was raised. The Filipino culture is a very interesting culture to work on and bring to the front.”

Ariel revealed that he’s also looking into ways to share his FX knowledge and expertise with Filipino filmmakers.

“They seem to be lagging behind when it comes to visual and special effects,” commented Edmund. “But Ariel was quick to admit that those plans might have to wait given his status as a sought-after visual effects supervisor in the US.”

“That will really be a challenge,” Ariel he said. “But I have a lot of contacts in the Philippines and I have conversations with people there about bringing work there and trying to get them going. But until I actually get out there and see what they’ve done and see how I can move them into the next level, it will be difficult.

“But then I believe it’s all a matter of priorities. It’s a priority of mine to see what we can do about growing the visual effects industry over there. I can utilize good filmmakers and some of my friends out there like Raymond Red, or I could get some of the L.A.-based Filipino filmmakers out there to come along.”

Edmund said that Ariel’s career began in 1984 when he joined the prestigious New York Institute of Technology, one of the premier computer graphics facilities in the world. It was during his research in digital imaging that the foundation for today’s revolutionary digital imaging production process was established.

In 1989, Ariel was asked to work for Walt Disney feature animation for the purpose of designing a digital-imaging department, which resulted in The Rescuers Down Under, the first full-length animated film to be digitally post-produced. This breakthrough technology launched the highly-regarded digital ink and paint system known as CAPS (Computer Animation Production System).

During his tenure as the digital imaging supervisor, Ariel worked on such Disney classic feature films as Beauty and The Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King. His Disney career culminated in an Academy Award nomination in visual effects for his breakthrough work on The Nightmare Before Christmas.

In 1994, Ariel left Disney to join Boss Film Studios, where he assisted in the company’s transition to a fully functioning digital effects studio. While there, he supervised the feature films True Lies, The Scout and Drop Zone. He later moved to Warner Digital Studios and worked on Batman Forever, My Fellow Americans, Vegas Vacation and Contact. Later, at Pacific Title/Mirage, Ariel handled the visual effects for Lethal Weapon 4, Armageddon and Soldier, and the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon.

Since he left Pacific Title/Mirage, Ariel has continued to work as an independent, with credits that include 300, Final Destination and Final Destination 3, Bones, Freddy vs. Jason, Scary Movie 2, Dragonball: Evolution, Jonah Hex and HBO’s Carnivàle, for which he received a Visual Effects Society Award nomination.

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Sam and Enrique don’t mind being second choices

In showbiz, second choices often end up as the better and perfect choices.

Joel Torre replaced first choice Albert Martinez for the male lead in the classic Peque Gallaga epic drama Oro, Plata, Mata. Bembol Roco took the place of the late Jay Ilagan in Lino Brocka’s Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag; while Gina Alajar got her role in Laurice Guillen’s Salome first offered to Alma Moreno.

But destiny played a vital role for Sam Concepcion and Enrique Gil to land their first major roles in Star Cinema’s newest family drama film Way Back Home (directed by Jerry Lopez Sineneng), never mind if they are second choices, stepping into the shoes of the late AJ Perez and Albie Casiño as the leading men of the hit Mara Clara stars Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo.

Sam and Enrique don’t mind.

Said Sam, “I know that I’m a replacement for AJ. In fact, as a tribute to him, my character’s name was changed to AJ. When you are a second choice, you try your best to prove to everybody that you are a good choice. I’m thankful to Star Cinema for giving me the opportunity to star in a big film like this.”

Enrique, who stars in the primetime ABS-CBN soap Mula Sa Puso replaced Albie who was pulled out of the movie for undisclosed reasons.

”I’ve been waiting for a project as big as this,” said Enrique, “so I’m happy maski second choice lang ako. What matters is that Sam and I are the final choices.”

Both contract artists of STAGES and Star Magic, Sam and Enrique topbill the weekly series Good Vibes.

Direk Jerry gave Sam and Enrique the thumbs-up.

“Napakahusay at napaka-professional nina Sam and Enrique sa pelikulang ito. After the experience of working with both of them, masasabi ko na itataya ko lahat ng matataya ko para sa kanilang dalawa.”

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011 Mrs. Philippines-Universe Erilene “Eren” Noche Tumali and 2011 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup

2 Pinay beauties set to conquer the universe

Two lovely Filipinas are set to conquer the universe.

2011 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Shamcey Supsup left yesterday for Bogota, Colombia, for a 10-day training and then she will fly to Sau Paolo, Brazil, for the Miss Universe pageant to be held on Sept. 12.

2011 Mrs. Philippines-Universe Erilene “Eren” Noche Tumali is leaving on Aug. 19 to compete with more than 40 candidates in the Mrs. Universe Pageant in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Aug. 20 to 28.

The Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) gave Shamcey a grand send- off last Tuesday at the Topaz Room at the Gateway Suites, Araneta Center. Aside from BPCI head Madame Stella Marquez Araneta, also present were the Executive Board of the BPCI, reigning and past Binibinis, sponsors and media friends.

Shamcey admitted that she’s facing tough competition but is unfazed by it.

“I thrive on balance, I love challenges,” said Shamcey. “I am a person who knows that winning means being responsible for the task that was handed to you, but still it should be handled with fun and a zest for life. When I won Bb. Pilipinas in April, I knew that the journey to become the next Filipina Miss Universe would be very challenging, but it will be an endeavor to be enjoyed.”

Eren, as she is fondly called by her peers, is a banker by profession and the current president of Rotary Club Roces. She was a full scholar from her elementary grades to college (with a degree in management). An active leader in community service, Eren’s advocacy is to help women suffering from maltreatment and other forms of violence as well as anti-human trafficking.

Eren is set to maintain the good track record of the country’s performance at the annual beauty pageant. In 2009, Mrs. Camilla Kim Galvez placed second runner-up; and last year, Mrs. Ma. Muriel Moral bagged the Mrs. Intelligence award.  — Reported by Funfare’s “beauty experts” Felix Manuel,  Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib

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