EU Opens Travel To 15 Nations But Not U.S., In A Setback For Film, TV Production

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe much-awaited release of “Peninsula” in South Korea lived up to the hype, despite capacity limitations and other social distancing measures imposed across the nation’s cinemas.The “Train to Busan” sequel earned a thumping $9.20 million over the weekend from 2,575 screens, giving it an unapproachable 93% market share.

Katy Perry could become a mother for the first time any day now! The singer opened up about her experience being pregnant while on the Kyle and Jackie O Australian radio show. Since social distancing is still mostly in place, the pregnant singer was featured on the show via video chat and got candid about how she’s been while getting ready to give birth to her and Orlando Bloom’s baby daughter.

Maggie Lee Chief Asia Film CriticImagine a Japanese version of “Pygmalion” in which the sculptor continues to caress slabs of marble even after Galatea has come to life. That is the unusual premise of “Romance Doll,” a marital drama in which a sex doll maker’s rapt obssession with his new prototype, leads to rejection of his human muse.

China's largest cinema chain operator Wanda Film said it expects to lose $214 to $228 million (RMB 1.5 to 1.6 billion) in the first half of 2020 thanks to over five months on continual cinema shutdowns in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The decline represents a stark reversal of fortunes from the $75 million profit the Chinese exhibition giant reported during the same period in 2019.

The Voice Australia, saying she often felt like she was compared to Beyoncé.While talking to contestant Chris Sebastian about how he feels overshadowed at times by his big brother, Kelly said “I know this feeling. Can you imagine what it’s like being in a group with Beyoncé? I would just torture myself in my head.

While fans await to see Song Hye-kyo on the screen again, the actress has been doing her share of activities to make an impact on society. The actress has reportedly joined a South Korean professor to donate books.

Rebecca Davis editorChina’s largest cinema chain operator Wanda Film said Tuesday that it anticipates reporting a net loss of between $214 and $228 million (RMB 1.5 to 1.6 billion) in the first half of the year, after cinemas were shut for almost that entire time due to COVID-19. In contrast, the firm saw a net profit of $75 million (RMB 524 million) during the same period last year.

Hong Kong’s controversial new national security law taking force on July 1, scenes once unimaginable in the financial hub have nightmarishly come true: a 15-year-old girl arrested for waving an independence flag; books potentially offensive to China’s Communist Party removed from public libraries; protesters, fearing life imprisonment for wielding slogans, holding up blank sheets of paper — but getting detained anyway.By imposing the law, Beijing is forcibly and abruptly moving its Great

The Walt Disney Co. on Monday announced it would again close Hong Kong Disneyland due to a rise in coronavirus cases in China.

Yuzu became the first act to perform onstage at Japanese ticketing and publishing company Pia's new arena in Yokohama, Pia Arena MM, live streaming their hit "Eikou No Kakehashi" ("Bridge of Glory," in English) on Friday (July 10).Pia Arena MM was originally slated to kick off April 25-26 with two concerts by the super duo, but the shows had to be cancelled and the arena's opening postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic, like most other events and concerts in Japan around that time.Fast

Studio operator William F. White International has opened the doors on its third Toronto facility, Century Studio.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefHong Kong’s new National Security Law gives the city’s police enhanced powers and greater reach into cyberspace.The Special Administrative Region’s government put into effect Article 43 of the new law on Monday night when it gazetted a range of new measures.

After surviving battle with COVID-19 alongside wife Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks is sharing details about his fight with the deadly virus. In a new interview, the 63-year-old actor spoke in detail about what it was like to catch the virus so early on.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefMassively popular video sharing app TikTok may pull out of Hong Kong within a matter of days.“In light of recent events, we’ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong,” a company spokesman told the Reuters news agency.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterIn response to a spike of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne, authorities in Australia have closed the borders between the country’s two most populous states – Victoria and New South Wales. The move effectively stops travel between its two major film hubs of Melbourne and Sydney.Melbourne, in Victoria, confirmed a record 127 new cases of the virus and two deaths overnight; local health officials have begun shutting down some neighbourhoods in response.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefAustralia is to formally close the state border between New South Wales and Victoria in response to a growing resurgence of the coronavirus. The move shuts down all travel between Sydney and Melbourne, the two largest hubs of the Australian film and TV industry.The move was announced Monday afternoon and will take effect from 23.59 local time on Tuesday.

Kanji Yamanouchi, the Consul General of Japan in New York, rang in July 4th with a Jimi Hendrix-inspired rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”The 62-year-old, bow-tied clad diplomat crushed a version of the American national anthem on an electric guitar in a video posted to the consulate’s official Facebook page this week.“This year marks the 160th anniversary of the arrival of the very first Japanese delegation to the United States and New York City,” he said.

here.It comes as the Department for Transport (DfT) published a list of countries and territories where English tourists can visit without self-isolating on their return.It features popular short-haul destinations such as Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, as well as long-haul locations including Australia, Barbados, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and Vietnam.A separate list of 67 countries and territories that will be exempt from the advisory against all non-essential travel from