The horse to beat in Thursday's Perth Cup at Ascot Racecourse is the Adam Durrant-trained mare Real Love who secured her spot at the top of the markets with a gun barrier five draw overnight.
Melbourne Group 1 performer Mr Moet carries the 59kg top weight in Thursday's Perth Cup field at Ascot Racecourse. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Perth Racing officially released the field and barriers for this summer's $500,000 Group 1 Golden River Developments Perth Cup (2400m) on Monday evening with a full line-up of 16 starters plus two emergency runners accepted for the classic.
Short-priced favourite through Ladbrokes in both the pre and post-field Perth Cup betting markets is Durrant's four-year-old daughter of Desert King Real Love.
She could jump from as close to the inside as barrier four if the two spares fail to gain a run on New Year's Day with the state's number one jockey William Pike retaining his association with the consistent stayer.
Real Love comes off back-to-back wins at Ascot from December with a two and a half-length effort in the Group 3 Queen's Cup (2200m) followed by her narrower victory over Balmont Girl in the Listed W.A. St. Leger (2100m) at the track on the 20th.
In the St. Leger Real Love carried 56kg to victory and she will relish getting down to the 54kg minimum weight for Thursday's rematch with the Paula Wagg-trained W.A. Oaks winner Balmont Girl.
During the autumn Real Love finished second best behind Balmont Girl in the Group 3 Oaks over 2400m and then ran third to the Grant Williams-trained Respondent in the Group 2 W.A.T.C. Derby (2400m).
The Perth Cup favourite then is proven over the mile and a half, and with the light weight and nice draw will be hard to hold off in the January first showdown.
Balmont Girl is the mare most likely to score an upset Perth Cup result then according to bookmakers around the country even after her wide barrier 15 draw.
The four-year-old also goes up to 57kg for the Cup which is the heaviest weight she's ever been asked to carry, jockey Shaun O'Donnell staying on.
O'Donnell has ridden the daughter of Balmont for all but two of her 21 career starts to date including her second behind subsequent Group 2 C.B. Cox Stakes (2100m) winner Elite Belle in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) earlier this season.
Respondent meanwhile comes off a close third in the St. Leger when beaten just over half a length in one of the traditional Perth Cup lead-ups.
That was an improved run from the Haradasun gelding, winner of the W.A.T.C. Derby back in April after he ran seventh and 13th respectively in the Railway Stakes and Kingston Town Classic.
Along with the favourite Real Love, Durrant has also accepted for the 59kg top weight Mr Moet and Chester Road who carries 58kg from the inside barrier one draw, the duo having dead-heated for fifth in the Cox Stakes last start.
Also launching a triple-pronged attack on the race this year is the Myalup-based Justin Warwick saddling up Tattersall's Cup winner Global Flirt (barrier 16), Verglas mare Lucciola (barrier two) and his best chance of success Son Of Something (barrier 17).
Blackfriars five-year-old Son Of Something may have the wide draw but his lead-up form has been excellent including a Queen's Cup second to Real Love and a fourth last time out over the 2200m again on December 24.
Adding more interest to the Perth Cup field this season is the addition of Neville Parnham's stalwart God Has Spoken who races in the event for the fifth time, his best efforts being second place finishes in both 2012 and 2014.
Drawn in gate 10 the veteran Blackfriars eight-year-old comes off a C.B. Cox Stakes ninth but drops from 59kg under weight-for-age conditions there to 54kg on Thursday with Jarrad Noske to ride.
Parnham's sons Steven, Chris and Brad meanwhile all have Perth Cup rides this week aboard Ihtsahymn (58.5kg), Bass Strait (54kg) and Respondent (54kg) respectively.
Fred Kersley's 2013 Kingston Town Classic winner Ihtsahymn has barrier six for Thursday and comes off a close fourth when under a length off Elite Belle in the Cox Stakes.
His jockey Chris Parnham is the youngest of the three brothers and comes off a short stint in Melbourne where he won the Listed Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day aboard the Leon & Troy Corstens-trained Tried And Tired.
Bass Strait meanwhile also ran well last time out, the Parnham-trained five-year-old finishing a closer third in the Cox Stakes after sixth place finishes in both the Railway and Kingston Town.
The field of guaranteed starters is rounded out by Ask Me Nicely, Classique Ivory, Kirov Boy, Operational and Red Blast.
Starlight Lady and Bedamijo are then the two emergency runners sweating on a scratching drawn in gates nine and three respectively.
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Author: Lucy Henderson
Lucy is an experienced freelance and in-house journo who has a passion for all things sports and racing related. With a wiki-like memory when it comes to horse facts and stats, if she's not in the office you can find her down the track or watching her NRL club at the old Lang Park.
Lucy Henderson on Google+
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News Filed Under: Fields & Form
Related News: Adam Durrant, Ascot, Bamont Girl, Mr Moet, Perth Cup, Perth Summer Racing Carnival, Real Love, Respondent, William Pike
Upper Middle Bogan's Patrick Brammall and Annie Maynard.
Television's best offerings in 2015 are a mixed bag of war stories, Australia's coming of age, reality TV shows that parachute celebrities into the African wilderness and a mix of strange, hilarious and brave imported dramas.
Fairfax Media takes the remote control to channel some of the best shows on offer in 2015, from the critically exalted American drama Transparent to a pair of landmark Gallipoli dramas and a home-grown soap opera about the wealthy House of Hancock.
Glitch (ABC)
The Ex-PM: Shaun Micallef stars in this political sitcom on ABC. Photo: Simon Schluter
The pitch: Australia does zombies. Sort of.
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Star factor: Patrick Brammall, of Offspring and The Moodys fame and who in acting terms is the man of the moment.
The plot: A small-town cop is called to the local cemetery in the middle of the night to discover that six people have risen from the dead in perfect health.
Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris are the hosts of Ten's I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here. Photo: Supplied
The fine print: Great writers, including Louise Fox, Kris Mrksa and Giula Sandler.
Why it will work: The time is right for smart genre stories.
The ex-PM (ABC)
Patrick Brammall stars in Glitch, a series about the Undead. Photo: Supplied
The pitch: Shaun Micallef does House of Cards. For laughs.
Star factor: The brilliant Micallef.
The plot: Andrew Dugdale is Australia's third-longest-serving prime minister, grappling with the challenge of life after The Lodge.
The fine print: Australia's best comedy producer, Nick Murray.
Why it will work: The brilliant Shaun Micallef.
Gallipoli (Nine)
The pitch: "A landmark television event."
Star factor: Lachy Hulme, Matt Nable, Anthony Hayes, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, plus Kodi Smit-McPhee.
The plot: A 17-year-old boy lies about his age to follow his brother into the army and into the Great War.
The fine print: Produced by John Edwards and Imogen Banks.
Why it will work: A powerful blend of scale and soul.
Transparent (Stan)
The pitch: A jangled, jagged family drama with a twist.
Star factor: Jeffrey Tambor and Judith Light.
The plot: Retired professor Mort Pfefferman reveals to his family that he is transgender.
The fine print: The show's creator, Jill Soloway, has written a brilliant series.
Why it will work: It's breathtakingly original. And superbly bold.
Australia: The Story of Us (Seven)
The pitch: "More than 40,000 years in the making ... Australia's history, from the beginning to the present day."
Star factor: CGI sequences that offer a never-seen-before window into early Australia.
The plot: "Stories of the nation's origins and fresh insights into how Australians came to create the homeland they inhabit today."
The fine print: It's a very ABC-seeming program, on a commercial network. That's risky.
Why it will work: Because 40,000 years is a long time to wait for a definitive history of our nation.
Deadline Gallipoli (Foxtel)
The pitch: The Gallipoli story, from the perspective of Australia's war correspondents.
Star factor: Sam Worthington, plus Hugh Dancy, Ewen Leslie and Charles Dance.
The plot: Charles Bean, Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett, Phillip Schuler and Keith Murdoch bear witness to the events of 1915.
The fine print: Bryan Browne as General Bridges and John Bell as Lord Kitchener.
Why it will work: An iconic moment in history told from a new perspective.
Grace and Frankie (Netflix)
The pitch: Rivals become friends when their husbands run off together.
Star factor: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.
The plot: Long-time rivals Grace and Frankie are brought together when their husbands (Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston) announce they are in love.
The fine print: Created by the woman behind Friends, Marta Kauffman.
Why it will work: It's two-thirds of the iconic comedy 9 to 5. Can a Dolly Parton guestie be far off?
House of Hancock (Nine)
The pitch: Dynasty, Australian-style.
Star factor: Mandy McElhinney as Gina, Peta Sergeant as Rose and Sam Neill as Lang.
The plot: The true story of the Hancock mining dynasty, and the clash between daughter Gina and her father's housekeeper-turned-wife Rose.
The fine print: Produced by Michael Cordell, Claudia Karvan and Paul Bennett.
Why it will work: Pure soap, but ripped straight from the headlines.
Gogglebox (Ten)
The pitch: Watching people watching TV.
Star factor: The format, which is tricky to get your head around, but brilliant when you do.
The plot: Cameras capture ordinary Australians as they watch TV and interact with each other.
The fine print: It's a hit format elsewhere in the world, and its success depends heavily on smart casting.
Why it will work: It's brilliant. Difficult to explain clearly. But brilliant.
The Great Australian Race Riot (SBS)
The pitch: Australia's hidden history of mob rules.
Star factor: Best-selling author and columnist Peter FitzSimons.
The plot: A three-part documentary series that charts Australia's 170-year history of violent mobs and race riots.
The fine print: It will turn everything you think you know upside down.
Why it will work: A punchy approach that illuminates a provocative topic.
I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here (Ten)
The pitch: Celebrities parachuted into the wilderness and left to fend for themselves.
Star factor: Hosts Julia Morris and Dr Chris Brown.
The plot: Reality series based on a hit format, usually produced in Australia for other countries. This one is filmed in Africa.
The fine print: In this genre, casting is everything, so it needs the right mix of B- and C-listers.
Why it will work: It smells new, and the Australian market, presently, smells a little stale.
Just a few years ago, underemployed TV writers were complaining that reality programming was taking over their industry.
Now the scribes are having their revenge: Unscripted programming is mired in an unexpected slump.
Onetime smashes such as "Survivor" and "Dancing With the Stars" are drooping with age. Coca-Cola recently wrapped up its 13-year sponsorship of "American Idol" after Fox's singing hit plummeted in the ratings last season. NBC's own singing show, "The Voice," saw its season finale drop nearly 10% this month.
And what's worse, no new hits are taking their place.
Fox bet the farm early this season on "Utopia," a voyeuristic series in which a group of isolated "pioneers" was observed trying to create a new society. Viewers yawned, and the network eventually canceled the program, for a loss that insiders pegged at more than $50 million. ABC drew disappointing results this summ er with its gimmicky singing show "Rising Star."
"Reality TV was supposed to be a long-term fix to the problems of television, but that optimism was misguided," said Jeffrey McCall, a media studies professor at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. "Program executives overestimated the true value of the commodity and drove the genre into the ground."
Even cable networks, a longtime proving ground for the genre, are seeing diminishing returns.
A&E's "Duck Dynasty" ratings have plunged, even though they are still high by cable standards. TLC this fall quickly shelved its hit "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" after matriarch Mama June was accused of dating a sex offender, but viewership had already declined sharply. And this fall, AMC largely abandoned a three-year foray into unscripted programming, deciding to return its primary focus to its signature scripted series such as "Mad Men" and "The Walking Dead."
What's the problem? Industry observers pin the blame on various factors. Too many copycat shows. Too many airings of the few hit shows out there ("Idol," which once aired as many as three times a week, will get cut to one night per week for this winter's Season 14). Too few truly original concepts.
Of course, there are still plenty of reality series to go around. In fact, some TV executives point out that the broadcasters probably wouldn't be able to stay in business without unscripted series. That's because, as overall network viewership has declined in the face of competition from cable and the Internet, ad income has stagnated.
Reality shows are usually relatively inexpensive to produce — "Utopia" was an exception because of a rich deal struck with the producers — and can be scheduled for many more hours than comedies or dramas. Thus, reality is a cheap way to fill prime time.
Take "The Voice." Despite its ratings fall-off, the singing contest remains one of the top shows on TV. This month's season finale delive red 12.7 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. That was off 8% compared with the December 2013 finale, but those kinds of numbers still easily vault "The Voice" into the top 10. Then there's the No. 2 reality series, "Survivor," which has proved an enduring hit for CBS; next year, it heads into its 30th edition.
"These are enormous franchises that, frankly, don't come along that often. Every six or seven years, a mega-format comes along," said Paul Telegdy, who oversees "The Voice" as NBC Entertainment's president of alternative and late-night programming. "I don't think there's anything wrong with the reality business."
That may be true in the long run. But there's no question that the genre has stumbled lately. And there are few signs of the gold-rush mentality that surrounded reality TV a decade or so ago.
Broadcasters are scheduling fewer unscripted series. This fall, a total of 13 hours per week were devoted to reality shows collectively on ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. That's a steep drop from 20 hours as recently as 2011.
Moreover, many of the top executives who helped drive the prime-time reality craze have moved on.
Andrea Wong, who brought "The Bachelor" and "Dancing With the Stars" to ABC, now helps run the international division of Sony Pictures.
Mike Darnell, the reality guru at Fox, left for a job running Warner Bros.' sprawling syndicated TV operations.
Ben Silverman, the former talent agent who helped usher in the prime-time reality trend when he brokered a deal to bring the British game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" to the U.S., finished a turbulent tenure as a top programmer at NBC in 2009 and has gone back to producing programs.
Now corner offices are occupied by people whose main backgrounds are in scripted entertainment, not reality. ABC's Paul Lee used to run ABC Family. NBC's Bob Greenblatt is a former producer who oversaw programming for Showtime. The new top prog rammers for Fox are Gary Newman and Dana Walden, the duo who has for years been supervising the studio side, home of scripted hits such as ABC's "Modern Family" and Fox's "The Simpsons."
"The networks don't have the executives in them anymore who really love reality TV," said Tom Nunan, a producer and former president at the network UPN (now the CW) who teaches at UCLA.
Nunan and other experts believe the networks have depended for too long on supposedly "proven" reality shows lifted from other countries — such as "Rising Star," which ABC adapted from an Israeli hit and sent into an overcrowded U.S. singing show market — and are missing out on opportunities to expand the genre with new concepts of their own.
"Competition, endurance, social experiments — there's still a lot of room to play within those areas," Nunan said. He pointed out that "The Apprentice," "The Amazing Race" and "The Biggest Loser" were all created in the U.S. and went on to become worldwid e hits.
What's more, a reality smash can help promote scripted shows. Fox used "Idol" to market series such as "24."
"Imagine Bob Greenblatt did not have 'The Voice' these past couple of years," Nunan said. "How would he have even promoted 'The Blacklist'?" NBC's crime thriller starring James Spader has turned into a hit partly thanks to its scheduling right after the singing show.
Without a strong reality lineup, the already-sobering prospect for broadcasters can look downright perilous. And that's something that could get the attention even of TV writers who still blame "American Idol" and "Survivor" for their woes.
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10 Hottest New Couples Of 2014
Truth rating: 10
FKA Twigs Robert Pattinson
By Shari Weiss| 11:33 am, December 30th, 2014
(Getty Images)
2014 brought some sizzling hot new relationships to Hollywood, as unexpected stars coupled up, longtime friends took things to the next level, and one actor even got engaged to his dream woman. Some pairings, like Chris Martin and Jennifer Lawrence, Khloe Kardashian and French Montana, and Zac Efron and Michelle Rodriguez, burned bright and then fizzled out. But Gossip Cop thinks these 10 hot couples have a great shot of lasting well into the New Year.
1. Robert Pattinson and FKA Twigs turned heads when they were first spotted together over the summer. Were they friends? Something more? It was confirmed to be the latter, particularly when they were photographed holding hands in Venice in September. Since then, the two have embarked on a global romance, showing PDA throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. Unfortunately, the relationship has brought out the worst in some people, with haters taking to social media to trash Twigs, and even send her death threats. The British singer took to Twitter to slam the comments, saying, "I am genuinely shocked and disgusted at the amount of racism that has been infecting my account the past week. Racism is unacceptable in the real world and it's unacceptable online." In a November interview, she said Pattinson was "very worth it" despite the wrath of "14-year-old kids that should be in bed." Another adjustment she's had to make is ac cepting paparazzi attention that comes with, as she put it, "the man that I love."
2. Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello's Christmas Day engagement is a dream come true for the "True Blood" actor. After he gushed about his crush on Vergara during his Hottest Bachelor interview for People, they began dating in July, just weeks after she split from longtime fiancé Nick Loeb. "She's got the curves, she's got a beautiful face, beautiful hair, just gorgeous. Naturally beautiful. And she's feisty," Manganiello told the magazine, explaining why he thought the actress was "perfect." The feeling ended up being mutual, and the stars became practically inseparable over the next six months. Vergara posted a birthday tribute to the Magic Mike star last weekend, writing, "Happy happy bday to my love and best friend, to the one that makes me laugh like crazy! have a healthy wonderful year babe!" It was extremely sweet, but all the more meaningful once it was revealed the two were secretly engaged.
3. Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden pulled off a secret engagement as well. The stars began dating in the spring after being set up by the rocker's sister-in-law, Nicole Richie. They made their feelings quite apparent for each other by showing PDA on both coasts, but interestingly, have yet to actually comment on the relationship. Madden even called out the media in June, for falsely claiming he had spoken about Diaz in an interview. He tweeted, "When media take interviews & twist them into stories to get cheap web hits – don't let it get to U." Madden apparently took his own advice, and quietly became engaged to Diaz this fall. As they remain mum, the actress is letting a sparkler on her finger do all the talking for her.
4. Britney Spears found herself devastated by one relationship and rejuvenated by another this year. The pop star dumped David Lucado in late August after he cheated on her… and it was caught on video. While Spears was said to be privately crushed, she put on a happy face publicly, even declaring during a concert, "The best thing about your boyfriend cheating on you is that you get to go on another first date!" A first date with Charlie Ebersol came in the fall, and they went public with their blossoming romance in November. By December, the television and film producer, who is the son of legendary NBC executive Dick Ebersol, was spending time with Spears' kids. Naturally, a false tabloid engagement story followed, but the couple appears to be going strong, with Ebersol joining the singer's family for Christmas.
5. Ariana Grande and Big Sean began mixing business with pleasure over the summer. The collaborators, who worked together on Grande's songs "Right There," "Problem," and "Best Mistake," started heating up a few months after the rapper ended his engagement to Naya Rivera. The couple shared their relationship with fans through social media, exchanging adoring tweets, and, this fall, posting loved-up photos. In a September interview with Ryan Seacrest, Sean gushed, "Ariana's very very special, and she's very special to me." That specialness was on display when the two held hands while performing together on "A Very Grammy Christmas," after which Sean posted a backstage kissing photo on Instagram.
6. Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed hooked up several months after she separated from Paul McDonald, and one month after filing for divorce. The actors, who coincidentally both starred in vampire projects, first sparked romance rumors after they were seen getting affectionate in late July. By early August, Somerhalder had announced that he and Reed adopted a "baby boy." Of course, it was a horse, and not an actual human child, but the stars, who bonded over their love of animals and passion for environmental causes, went on to increasingly show off their relationship on social media. In October, Somerhalder posted a tribute to Reed on Instagram, telling her, in part, "You amaze me." She even spent the Christmas holiday skiing with his family.
7. Lea Michele and Matthew Paetz made for one of the year's most surprising matches, when it was reported in June that the "Glee" star was dating the former gigolo. Paetz's alleged past didn't seem to bother Michele much as she went into her first relationship since the death of longtime boyfriend, Cory Monteith. Still, the actress-singer didn't speak about the romance at all for quite some time, but then let her feelings be known in October, when she shared an Instagram picture of herself with Paetz, writing, "To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." The couple went on to make their formal debut later that month, when Michele brought her beau to the amfAR Inspiration Gala.
8. Charlize Theron and Sean Penn started off 2014 with their new romance, going on a New Year's vacation and engaging in PDA at the actor's Help Haiti Home gala in early January. The longtime friends have been hot and heavy ever since, and became something of a family unit, with Penn frequently spending time with Theron's son. He's called Theron a "keeper," and she sang his praises in Vogue, explaining how the relationship "just kind of naturally happened, and before I knew it, I was in something that was making my life better — the people who really love me can see the effect it has had on me." While the actress has spoken openly about her disinterest in marriage, engagement speculation has nonetheless swirled. Our favorite rumor, though, came about in early December, when the National Enquirer hilariously claimed Penn was caught was a "mystery blonde" at a hotel. The woman, as Gossip Cop correctly pointed out, was actually Theron.
9. Miley Cyrus and Patrick Schwarzenegger made no secret of their new relationship in November when they made out on the football field at a USC game. Schwarzenegger, the son Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, actually first admitted his crush on the star back in 2011, while she was with now ex-fiancé Liam Hemsworth. Schwarzenegger marks her first relationship since that breakup, and he helped celebrate her birthday at a sex toy-filled party last month. In just a short time, they've already taken their romance to Miami and Nashville, and were most recently seen post-Christmas in Idaho with his dad, the former governor. Cyrus even posted on Instagram this week, "have da best bf eva."
10. Kylie Jenner and Tyga haven't confirmed their relationship, and he even claimed that they're just friends, but that's likely because she's 17 and he's 25, making their romance technically illegal. Nevertheless, the stars have been seen getting quite close this fall, and took a trip to Europe together in October. And earlier this month, Jenner raised eyebrows after posting an Instagram photo in which she appears to be nuzzling Tyga in his bedroom, one day after they delivered Christmas presents to hospitalized kids. The reality star, however, was also recently forced to deny tabloid stories claiming she was pregnant and that they were eloping.
Real Love, left, pins her ears back as she races past Balmont Girl to win the WA St Leger. Picture: Simon Merritt/Western Racepix
In-form mare Real Love is expected to meet with further support after drawing ideally in barrier five for Thursday's $500,000 Golden River Developments Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot.
Real Love trimmed up from $4.20 into $2.50 favouritism with the TAB following her effortless Queen's Cup (2200m) win on December 6. Betting was suspended last night.
She drops 2kg to the minimum 54kg on her last-start win in the WA St Leger (2100m) last Saturday week and looks perfectly placed to give breeder-owners Bob and Sandra Peters another Perth Cup victory.
Peters' other cup runner Respondent will also carry 54kg, but came up with the more awkward gate of 12. Trainer Grant Williams has applied blinkers to the four-year-old.
"That is a great draw for her," Bob Peters said.
"I would have liked to have drawn closer with Respondent.
"He is going to have to go back from there and we were hopin g to have him more forward than usual. We have put the blinkers on now so I hope he doesn't race too strongly."
The Peters are chasing their fifth cup win in the past 22 years after breeding and owning Field Officer (1993), Crown Prosecutor (2005), Lords Ransom (2010) and Western Jewel (2011).
A total of 20 acceptances were taken yesterday morning, with the Karen Kersley-trained Starlight Lady missing a spot in the final field of 16.
She is the first emergency.
Kersley's father Fred's Ask Me Nicely was the last horse into the field when handicappers elevated the grey stayer at the expense of out-of-form duo Strike The Stars and Cyber Crime.
Kersley also has Operational (Daniel Staeck) and Ihtsahymn (Steven Parnham) in the field.
Red Blast emerged as a genuine cup contender with his strong second behind Elite Belle in the CB Cox Stakes (2100m) and drew ideally in eight.
Apprentice Jerry Noske has retained the ride on the best- performed son of former Scenic Lodge stallion Universal Prince.
Noske has been the regular rider on the five-year-old since his second in the Coolgardie Cup and winning the Boulder Cup in August and September.
Balmont Girl fared poorly in barrier 15.
·Stewards suspended jockey Ben Kennedy for a fortnight for failing to fulfil his mounts at Pinjarra last Friday.
Stewards backdated his ban to Boxing Day, enabling him to return on January 10.
Recently, a piece in The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Christoph Waltz "commandeered" a press Q&A about Tim Burton's new film "Big Eyes," in which he stars as '60s artist (and con-artist) Walter Keane. Turning the tables on moderator David Itzkoff, Waltz responded to his first question by questioning the logic underpinning these sorts of film Q&As altogether: "Can I ask you a question? What's that obsession or that obsessive insistence on true stories? Why does it have to be true in what we call 'real life?' Your questions so far are all about how it relates to what you call truth and real characters," he said, before pointing to the screen above them. "That's real, that's our reality, that's where our stories are…It's just a question because I really think our work is not the work of biographers; we're not scientists, we're not academics. Talking for myself, I'm just an actor, but Tim is an artist. That's a reality. It's just not necessarily the 'reality' that is used in vernacular terms, or called in vernacular terms 'reality.' It's not unreal when we're doing it — but anyway, ask your question."
To the outside eye, this may seem like an interview gone off the rails (THR called it "awkward"). Yet once you've spoken to Waltz, as I did immediately prior to the contentious Q&A, you realize that this is just his way. Waltz is a rare breed of thespian, a sort of old-school philosopher-poet who doesn't believe in simple answer or saying things just for the sake of making chit-chat or avoiding conflict, who responds to every question with a thoughtful treatise on human nature and the state of his craft. Speaking to him in person is a delightful, if occasionally mystifying experience, and the two-time Oscar winner displays a sophistication and verbosity that reminds me of the characters he has become known for playing, albeit without the malevolent streak.
Here are some of Waltz's brief, deep thoughts on "Big Eyes" working with strong directors, and always playing the bad guy:
What drew you to this film? Was the opportunity to work with Tim Burton the major pull there? When it comes to Tim, first you jump and then you say, ooh, by the way: What is it? In that order, not the other way around. Sure, when I get something from someone I don't know, I don't go to the person. I think this personal thing should, in general, be a little reduced. We should condition ourselves slowly more to the thing, and to critical thinking, then the thing becomes more important and relevant and that's always a good thing. But in terms of artists that you know and that you like and admire, personally it is a little overwhelming.
You've worked with a lot of directors with very strong visions — Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, Tarantino. Is there something that draws you to these kinds of directors, or are they maybe drawn to you? I don't know, maybe there is some synchronicity in events after all. But people with similar interests are drawn to each other I suppose. For me of course it's interesting to maintain a balance. Because I'm trying not to repeat myself. Which is a lot of work. Because you set patterns and your mind works a specific way and you apply your talents to whatever degree in a specific way, and your experience shapes a personality, so your predilections and idiosyncrasies are pointed to a specific direction. But all that needs to be, I think, regarded with a decent grain of salt and some skepticism so that it doesn't become a repetition and a pattern.
I know in the past you've said it bothers you when people say "Why do you always play the villain?" To my mind it's less that you're the villain than these very charming characters who have a dark streak. Do you have some idea why people keep casting you in these roles? Maybe because I'm interested in that aspect of humankind. And I really am. I think we call people with one character trait boring. I think as people we're interested in people that have diversity, and that can come from different angles, in various ways. So these one-sided personalities, unless you're after a specific exploit, they're not very interesting are they? I couldn't care less. Or maybe if you need that kind of specific quality for some purpose, let's say you're researching something for a piece that you write, then that might be interesting, that's really the topic. But in a very personal and unspecified relationship the multifaceted personalities are alway s nicer.
I know that for this role you didn't take inspiration from the real-life Walter Keane as much as Amy did from Margaret Keane. Why did you choose to invent your own version of Walter? Well, first of all I think I'm always obligated to the script and the project and the story being told. Then I always say I'm not a biographer, I'm not an anthropologist of any kind, I'm just an actor. I have my toolbox and I'm happy to learn using new tools, but they still have to be actor's tools.
But there's another thing: I don't want to bear the responsibility. I think it's a responsibility to play a so-called real person. I personally think that the person I play, that then when I'm done playing it exists on the screen, it's still a real person. It's just different. I bear the responsibility for that. And I always get between a rock and a hard place, saying can I really bear two responsibilities that are so different from each other. And then I just made the conscious decision that I can't, or I don't want to, or whatever. So I chose the screen responsibility.
Walter is not a very good guy, but the movie also gave the sense that he was this kind of genius and visionary, in the sense that this "Big Eyes" phenomenon couldn't have existed without him. Yeah. Well that really refers back to your first question. You couldn't possibly tell this story by depicting this man as a complete asshole, because then you don't have a story. It's very clear that you have a situation, you have the status quo. But for a movie, by definition with movies you need the development, and what is it that draws Margaret to Walter in the first place —it's not that he's an asshole.
Also, events overtake personalities sometimes, or people with a limited scope of understanding rise to the limit and then from then on it becomes a tragedy because they can't cope anymore. They can't deal with the spirits that they evoked because they don't really know what they are doing in the first place, but it goes well for so-and-so long. Well that makes for fabulous stories. You know, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," who can't get the brooms back that do the job for him.
Do you think that Walter really loved Margaret? That is a very, very touchy discussion because now we really should clarify first what that would be.
What do you mean? "Real love." That he "really" loves her. But that's all part of the story. So much of what is really interdependence between two people is even by the people involved perceived as love. It is certainly an emotional involvement. Whether you end up with the definition of love becomes a point of speculation or perspective.
And a little tangential but I have to ask — you've stirred up quite a lot of discussion over your role in the next Bond film. I didn't stir up, anything, they did!
Right, about whether you're going to play a certain iconic villain. No, no. I do my thing and then I see whether it becomes an icon or not.
But will that be Ernst Stavro Blofeld? Publicist: He's playing Oberhauser! Waltz: No [He grins]. Blofeld's been played.
Anna Silman is Salon's deputy entertainment editor. Follow her on Twitter: @annaesilman.
Their undeniable chemistry made them the hottest love team in the Philippines and GMA Network's Primetime King and Queen.
But Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera have a very real love story that is full of surprises and unexpected twists and turns that brought them to where they are now-- the country's most celebrated couple set to tie the knot in the most awaited wedding of the year.
Dingdong Dantes began his showbiz career as a commercial model at the very young age of 2. Years later, he became a part of the all-male dance group Abztract Dancers with Dino Guevarra and Arthur Solinap before he got his shot at acting.
At age 17, Dingdong appeared in a movie for the first time in the "Shake, Rattle and Roll V" episode "Anino", and starred in GMA Network's youth-oriented series "T.G.I.S. (Thank God It's Sabado)" under the name Raphael Dantes. Dingdong also appeared in "Honey My Love So Sweet" and "I'm Sorry My Love", as well as in television programs such as "Anna Karenina" and "F.L.A.M.E.S."
He continued to star in films and telenovelas like "Encantadia", "Twin Hearts", and "Moments of Love". Dingdong also hosted shows such as GMA's reality artista search "Starstruck" and the game show "Family Feud".
While Dingdong was making a name for himself in the entertainment industry with starring roles and top bills, Marian Rivera was discovered after modeling for commercials for years. It was 2005 when Marian was commissioned for roles in GMA Network soap operas "Kung Mamahalin Mo Lang Ako", "Agawin Mo Man Ang Lahat", and "Pinakamamahal".
The following year, she signed a contract with Regal Entertainment and starred in the horror film "Pamahiin" with Dennis Trillo.
'First touch'
The year 2007 marked the first meeting of the year's hottest reeltime and real life love team. Marian auditioned for the role in GMA Network's remake of the Mexican series "Marimar" and won over Nadine Samonte, Katrina Halili, Jennylyn Mercado, and Karylle.
Dingdong, who was then Cosmopolitan's No. 1 Bachelor of 2007 and USTV Students' Choice Award's Most Popular Actor in a Drama/Mini-series, was meanwhile cast to play the lead role Sergio.
"Marimar" became the highest-rated primetime show on Philippine television, and at the same time, launched Marian and Dingdong's career as GMA's Primetime King and Queen.
The success of the Marian-Dingdong team-up led to more soap operas such as "Dyesebel" in 2008, "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang" in 2009, "Endless Love" in 2010, and "My Beloved" in 2012.
In 2008, they starred in their first movie as a love team in "One True Love". This was followed by "You to Me Are Everything" in 2010.
Although their chemistry was undeniable, Marian revealed that she found Dingdong 'suplado' or snobbish and remote. She said in a magazine interview, "Hindi kami magkasundo. At all!",
It was, according to Marian, a little bit disappointing to find a leading man who was a little remote and kind of snobbish. She added in an interview with PEP.ph, "Tahimik siyang tao. At tsaka nung una ko siyang nakita nung audition ng Marimar, sobrang haba ng bigote niya. Hindi kita yung lips niya so mata lang nakikita mo. Naka-bubblegum pa. Kaya feeling ko parang suplado."
But for Dingdong, their chemistry was something 'special,' and this he found out after holding Marian for the first time for a scene in Marimar. "When I held her, she was like clay that molded itself into my hand. It was like... my hand had its own place on her skin," he said.
The "feeling" was a first for Dingdong, as his previous leading ladies had felt "rough". He could not explain why. He surmised that it was his touch that wasn't the right fit.
But with Marian, her skin just seemed to fit perfectly in his hand, and from there grew a relationship that would change the both of them.
Rumors and declaration
Despite their on-screen chemistry, Marian and Dingdong had, at first, a "strictly professional relationship" as both were with other people; Dingdong with singer Karylle, and Marian with basketball player Eric Vijandre.
In a 2010 magazine interview, Dingdong revealed, "We would connect on the most important scene, and then after that, wala na. Siguro, wala lang sa tipo namin ang magpa-cute sa set."
After working together in numerous projects, rumors of an off-screen romance began to surface.
From June 2009, after their team-up in "Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang", Dingdong and Marian grew closer despite the non-to-stellar first impressions. From working out together to travelling abroad together, the actors started to behave as if there was something more between them.
Then came Marian's 25th birthday in August 2009 where they openly held hands all evening and looked very much like a couple.
Dingdong explained in a later interview, "We're happy together. Open kaming nakakalabas na dalawa, nagdi-dinner, nakakapanood ng sine... Sinusuportahan ko siya sa pagte-training niya ng Darna. Kung may time siya, sumasama siya sa workout ko sa gym at itinuturo ko kung ano ang makakatutulong sa kanya."
Finally, in February 2010, Dingdong and Marian revealed in an exclusive magazine interview that they had a special relationship. They came to the relationship slowly, shared Dingdong. He was in New York with friends and Marian was in Los Angeles when they realized they had feelings for one another.
It turned out that the initial impressions they made on each other was the first step of their journey as a couple, as it helped them realize how, as opposites, they complemented each other.
Dingdong and Marian had started out by getting to know the worst of each other first, after which they made the worst work for them. "Aminin man namin o hindi, kung anong kahinaan ko, meron siya. At kung ano ang kulang sa akin, napupunan niya. Swak kami. Kaya balance kami. Hindi kami parehas," Marian said.
Proposal #1: Macau with the family
After three years, Dingdong was sure that Marian was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
It was August 2012 when Dingdong gathered his immediate family and arranged for an elaborate wedding proposal that would take place in Macau. The proposal involved a huge dome filled with butterflies, the song "Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko", a speech on "forever," and, of course, the ring.
They arrived in Macau, the butterflies flew around them in a big dome, but the song came out from earphones connected to a cell phone, and the "forever" speech delivery was marred by jitters.
Despite the quick compromises that circumstances called for, Dingdong got a slightly delayed but resounding "Yes!" from Marian, who was overwhelmed by the unexpectedness of it all.
The proposal also proved to Marian that Dingdong paid attention to the little things about her. Marian shared that she had a fondness for butterflies. She used to collect stuff with butterfly designs, and she also used to draw butterflies a lot. But she had to set her hobby aside because of work.
"Na-touch ako noong naalala niya na ang pinakahilig ko talaga ay 'yung mga bagay na may butterfly," she said. "Sa haba ng panahon, naalala pa niya."
Marian added, "Hindi ko inexpect na doon mangyayari 'yun. Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na ito [si Dingdong] na talaga ang gusto kong makasama habang-buhay."
After the engagement, Dingdong and Marian went back to their hectic work schedules. They both agreed that they would announce their engagement to the public at the right time. After all, they partly owed their partnership, and all of their fame and fortune, to their fans.
Two years passed, and Marian was set to get more than just the announcement that was originally planned.
Proposal #2: 'Marian' with the rest of the Philippines
As it neared the time for the engagement's announcement during Marian's birthday celebration in her dance show "Marian", Dingdong felt he needed to do more than what he did during his marriage proposal two years earlier. So for the second time, he planned to surprise Marian with a second proposal.
Dingdong managed to have the show aired live, and on August 9, he declared, "I want to do it right this time."
What was supposed to be an engagement announcement became a second marrige proposal for Marian and Dingdong. And this time, the fans were there to witness it, together with both their families, friends, and everyone they loved and who loved them.
Another speech, another ring, and another "Yes!" from the bride-to-be, the DongYan love story became much celebrated. Their wedding is set to be the Wedding of the Year, with guests such as the President of the Philippines himself and the entertainment industry's biggest stars.
Love Lessons from DongYan
Their relationship transformed both Dingdong and Marian into better versions of themselves.
Fun-loving Marian made the quiet and reserved Dingdong more expressive and made him adapt to her humor and positivity. One of the things Dingdong learned from his fiancee was, "Huwag masyadong seryosohin ang lahat ng bagay. Sense of humor sa mga bagay."
The couple also never fails to surprise each other and show their appreciation for each other with simple gestures. Their first date was a simple road trip to Tagaytay on a motorcycle. Simple as it was, the date was one of their most memorable moments.
"Nakakatuwa at nakakakilig isipin. Imagine mo, ilang oras akong nakayakap sa kanya. Nagkwentuhan kami at kumain. Favorite namin 'yung Sonia's Garden," Marian shared in an interview with Jessica Soho in GMA Network's "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho".
Though they are both working actors who are always the focus of the public's attention, they are at their best with each other during private moments. That's why they often like to travel and be alone together. According to Dingdong, his favorite travel moments are the airplane flighs during which they do nothing more than sit next to each other and just talk.
"[Ang gusto lang namin] Makaupo, makakain, makapag-usap ng maayos. Regardless kung saan," Dingdong said.
Despite this, Dingdong and Marian never neglect the grand gesture. On Dingdong's birthday last August, Marian surprised Dingdong with a concert from his favorite band, Wolfgang. Marian gathered his fiance's four best friends, his family, and friends to celebrate with them.
Marian shared, "Lahat na ng pakiusap, lahat ng pagmamakaawa ginawa ko masorpresa ko lang siya... Ang hindi matatawaran, yung nakita kong masaya siya."
The Kapuso Royal Couple also made an effort to know the people who matter to each other.
Dingdong proved his intentions were honorable when he arranged a trip to Spain with Marian in 2010 so he could meet her father.
According to Marian, it was very special because it was the first Valentine's day that she got to spend with the two most important men in her life. For Dingdong, it was the perfect opportunity to "share a date."
"That was a Valentine's day and proud ako na may kahati ako sa kanya sa date na 'yun," he said.
Not surprisingly, Marian's father gave Dingdong his blessing.
Marian, meanwhile, is very close to Dingdong's mother, Angeline Dantes. She confides with her when she and Dingdong go through rough patches. One of the things she learned from her soon-to-be mother-in-law was "Kapag may away, hindi dapat sumasabog. Kumbaga kung 'yung isa mainit, magpapalamig 'yung isa. Hindi dapat sumasabay."
Marian also liked that Dingdong was close to his family. She saw it as an indication of what kind of a father he would be someday.
"Sabi nga ng iba, kung paano i-trato ng boyfriend mo 'yung nanay niya, ganoon niya ita-trato 'yung [sariling] pamilya niya," Marian said. "Nakikita ko kung ga'no niya kamahal ang mommy niya. Lahat ng pagmamahal, nakikita ko sa kanya sa mommy niya."
And domestic bliss really seems to in the cards as Dingdong likes Marian's cooking. Marian's version of sinigang na hipon is Dingdong's favorite. "Proven na talaga kapag masayang-masaya ako kapag nagluluto ako, nagiging masarap," Marian said.
'Wedding of the Year'
After eight bridal showers, a few despedida de solteras, a bachelor's party, and wedding preparations in between-- Marian and Dingdong are set to say their "I dos" on December 30, 2014 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cuabo, Quezon City, the parish where the groom-to-be was born and raised.
The entourage includes the entertainment industry's biggest names, and President Benigno Aquino III.
Among the principal sponsors are Ogie Alcasid, Mac Alejandre, Ben Chan, GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, Perry Lansigan, German Moreno, Randy Ortiz, Marciano Reyes V, Vic Sotto, Regine Velasquez, Joyce Bernal, Lolit Solis, Sharon Cuneta, Wilma Galvante, Vicki Belo, Lily Moteverde, GMA Entertainment TV SVP Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Vilma Santos, Celia Rodriguez and Kris Aquino.
The maids of honor include Ana Feleo and Roxanne Barcelo, while the groomsmen include Paolo Contis and Arthur Solinap. The bridesmaids include Luane Dy, Liz Uy, Rochelle Pangilinan and Bettina Carlos, among others.,
Other members of the entourage are Lucy Torres-Gomez, Richard Gomez, Ai-ai delas Alas, Gabby Eigenmann, Ryzza Mae Dizon, and many more. — Bianca Rose Dabu/DVM, GMA News
Morgan Rodriguez on "The Short Game," a series on Esquire Network.Credit Walter Iooss/Esquire Network
Proposed New Year's resolution: Enough already with young children on reality television shows. Oops; too late. "Friday Night Tykes" has already sent out its Season 2 premiere for review.
Urchins have been turning up on reality TV practically since it was invented, but it feels as if there are more with each passing year. Sometimes they're cute but often, it seems, they're just being exploited to make a point that doesn't need making. Football-playing kids, dancing kids, cheerleading kids, kids who just happen to be part of a particularly garish family.
You might think that golfing kids, who turned up Monday on the Esquire Network's on-demand outlet, would be different, golf being a relatively high-toned game. But no. It's just more make-'em-cry, only a little quieter.
The year started off badly for children on reality shows. Before January was over "Friday Night Tykes," a series on Esquire that follows pint-size football teams in Texas, had managed to get two coaches suspended. One was shown urging his players to injure opponents and the other was shown using profanity in front of his lads, ages 8 and 9. (Season 2, which begins Jan. 20, moves up to the 10- and 11-year-old division.)
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"Friday Night Tykes," a reality show on the Esquire Network.Credit Esquire Network
The bad parental and coaching skills displayed on "Friday Night Tykes" are particularly egregious, but the dynamics are so familiar at this point that the show is one long cliché. We've seen overpressured kids and unpalatable adults countless times, on "Cheer Perfection" (TLC), "Dance Moms" (Lifetime), "Toddlers & Tiaras" (TLC) and more. Bravo gave the genre a twist this year with "Extreme Guide to Parenting," showcasing families in which the grown-ups had some decidedly different ideas about how to raise children. Whether the parental gimmick was aromatherapy or an obsessive quest for perfection, each episode left you glad you weren't raised that way.
The wheels really came off the cart in October with reports that June Shannon, the mother on the much-parodied (and much-watched) TLC show "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo," was dating a convicted child molester. The network canceled the show instantly. If you want to know where this ugly saga has gone since, see the supermarket tabloids.
Anyway, back to the golf course. The new Esquire series, wittily titled "The Short Game," follows 10 golfers, ages 7 and 8, as they compete in a tournament circuit, their "daddy caddies" by their side. These are serious players, or at least their fathers (and sometimes their mothers) want them to be. Their putting can have the random quality of a casual game of miniature golf, but they can hit drives straight and long, and they can debate club selection with their caddies — that is, their fathers — like professionals.
"The weakest part of my game is my attitude," one earnest 7-year-old girl says, "and it's just really hard to control."
But, as in all of these types of shows, the game is secondary. The hectoring parents are the real attraction — their overinvestment, their apparent cluelessness about how they sound or the effect they're having on their children.
Continue reading the main story
Continue reading the main story
"Why do you hit it so hard?" one father says to his daughter after a bad shot. "Baby, relax." This after he has been badgering her relentlessly. Relax? Sure; as soon as you shut up.
"His biggest problem is focus," another father says of his son. "He just wants to have fun constantly." A young child who wants to have fun? What's wrong with kids today?
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Parental behavior often upstages children's exploits on youth-centered programs like "The Short Game."Credit Esquire Network
Another father, of a boy named Bryce who seems a reluctant recruit to the role of golf prodigy, is downright petulant when the kid has a mediocre round.
"When I'm giving 100 percent and Bryce isn't giving me 100 percent, it affects me," he whines. "It affects us as a team. It hurts." Because, of course, in the world of intense child sports, it's really all about the parent.
Another player is on the verge of tears after her father has spoken sharply to her.
"How come nobody gets to yell at him?" she says.
The parents of a girl named Chloe are among the few who seem to have the balance right.
"Chloe has a tremendous amount of talent on the golf course," says her father, who (unlike the other dads) actually seems to enjoy his role, shagging her practice drives with a baseball mitt. "We know what it is mentally and physically. But if she's not having fun, game over; we don't want her to do it."
The youngsters on "The Short Game," unlike the ones on "Friday Night Tykes," aren't writhing in pain after a collision, but they seem to end up crying just about as often. Is anything served by sticking camera s in their faces? The version of bad child-rearing that features intense parents competing through their kids is so overworked at this point that it's not even train-wreck entertaining anymore.
It's also not particularly believable. The parents and coaches in these shows just seem to be playing to assigned stereotypes. Sure, there are still plenty of parents like this in real life, but the ones filling the role on reality TV seem too made-to-order to be genuine.
