A Filipino was one of the people who made Pixar’s latest movie “Up” a blockbuster hit.
Ricky Nierva was placed in charge of the movie’s entire visual look. “Up” is a box office hit already earning $250 million in the US. “Up” builds on Pixar’s reputation for making the world’s best animated features.
Nierva said Pixar stays on top because the company stresses the importance of ideas.
“They create an environment here that everybody can pitch their ideas…whether he be somebody that’s not even from the art department that has an idea. Staying open, staying positive, that’s the culture,” said Nierva.
Nierva is a native of San Diego. A young animator who, in 1997, was invited to join Pixar and his first work was for “Monster’s Inc.”
“Back then it was a lot easier to get in. I honestly don’t think I would be able to get in to Pixar right now if I try,” he said.
“Up” is Nierva’s first movie as production designer. The movie introduces Pixar’s first major Asian-American character: Russell, the wilderness explorer.
Nierva said it was important to him as a Filipino to represent Russel in a positive way. Pixar even cast an Asian kid to give Russell his voice.
Pixar is a dream job for Nierva and he’s also happy that he’s not the only Filipino in the company.
With “Up” now in the can, Nierva is working on Pixar’s next, top secret project. However, he does not want to sit in the director’s chair just yet.
“It depends if I have a really good story I want to tell,” he said.
It may still be up in the clouds, but Nierva could one day be Pixar’s first Filipino director. Reports from Jericho Saria ABS-CBN North America News Bureau correspondent, California and ANC’s Dateline Philippines
ABS-CBN’s three top comedians will bring laughter to Filipino Australian communities when they perform this month in South and Western Australia.
Balitang Australia reported that popular impersonator Manny Poohquiao, Marissa Sanchez and Radah will be performing in the comedy musical “Poohmaradha” in Adelaide and Perth this month.
“It’s my first time kaya medyo masakit kapag first time di ba? Masakit na eventually mae-enjoy ko,” Sanchez said.
“I’d like to invite all Filipinos in Adelaide on July 3rd and on July 4th we’ll be at Perth naman kita-kits po tayo doon,” Radah said.
The three Filipino comedians are sure to get a warm welcome from fans who have long been waiting for Filipino comedy.
“Excited kasi first time na may pumutang Filipino comedian dito sa Perth,” a woman said.
A Filipino meanwhile is excited to watch the comedy musical.
“Masaya kasi first time kong makakapanood ng comedy. Sa Pilipinas di ko magagawa pero dito magagawa ko na,” he said.
Another said “Kasi dito sa Australia masyadong seryoso ang buhay dito so maganda yung may konting distraction.”
Fans say the comedy is exactly what they need these days.
“Tamang-tama yan ngayon kumbaga ngayong may financial crisis para naman sumaya-saya tayo dito sa Adelaide,” a Pinay said.
“Si Pooh is a very natural and a very good comedian. Radah naman is a beautiful and sobrang magaling na singer kaya lang yung katawan parang medyo pareho sa akin. So ako naman I impersonate, I sing, I dance, I act, I host, I swallow. I do everything,” Sanchez said. Report from Balitang Australia
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that a Filipino woman was among those who died in a Yemeni airline that crashed into the Indian Ocean last Tuesday.
The DFA identified the Filipina as Camille Lou Castillo Lidron, a native of Cebu province.
“The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh was informed that Jana Khalid, the Yemeni husband of Camille Lou Castillo Lidron, has confirmed that his Filipina wife was on board the Yemeni passenger plane that crashed off the Comoros islands last June 30,” the DFA said.
The embassy in Riyadh has jurisdiction over Filipino nationals in Yemen.
“Mr. Khalid and his wife both work for Yemenia Airways,” said the DFA.
“The airline has yet to formally confirm with the Embassy the inclusion of Ms. Lidron among the casualties,” it added.
A radio dzMM report, meanwhile, said Lou was a fine arts graduate from the University of Cebu.
The report said that according to the Filipina’s uncle, Greg Lidron, Lou was not supposed to be on board the ill-fated Yemenia Airways flight. The uncle said Lou was assigned to take the spot of an on-leave Malaysian stewardess, the radio report added.
The uncle said Lou’s mother has flown to Manila to wait for her remains. The Filipina’s father is a seafarer, the report said.
Agence France Presse reported that only a 14-year-old girl survived the crash and is now recovering.
The Yemeni Airbus had 153 passengers.
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