Anggun Named As Global Judge For Picture This Festival For The Planet

Hi Huneybees,

Internationally renonwned musical artist - Anggun has been announced as global judge for the Picture This Festival for the Planet (www.sonypicturethis.com), a short-film competition for emerging filmmakers, everyday storytellers and changemakers worldwide to showcase the positive future they see for our planet. 

“I am very proud to be a global judge for the Picture This Festival. As an environmentally-conscious individual and artist, I believe delivering optimistic messages is the best path to creating public awareness. This festival emphasizes that creativity, imagination and visual talent can make an impact on how we can create a better and more sustainable future.” --- Anggun

Anggun, a World Music Award winning artist whose single What We Remember is currently on the Billboard Dance Charts in the US, is a judge on the hit-rated series, “Asia’s Got Talent,” and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador (2009-2017).

Also joining an esteemed list of judges announced in the past several weeks are YouTube Vloggers -Damon and Jo, who will serve as the first and only digital-native judges for the festival.

Damon and Jo, otherwise known as Damon Dominique and Jo Franco, are digital content creators, entrepreneurs, travel experts and authors who have over 1 million followers across YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. The duo are currently in production on their Facebook Watch series Damn Millennials and recently released their first e-book Woke all while running their YouTube channel and travel site, Shut Up and Go.

“In any given month, we may find ourselves in several different continents. Our passion for traveling, learning languages, documenting, and encouraging others to do the same is because we feel that the Earth's story can be told through every day perspectives. And more importantly, if people see the conditions of what's out there, and experience it either through our lens or that of their own eye, they'll be more empowered to take action and help what's important to them.” --- Damon and Jo

In addition to Anggun, Damon and Jo, the list of celebrity advocates and industry leaders who will judge film submissions includes: Megan Boone, environmental advocate and actress from the hit TV series “The Blacklist”; Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, United Nations Foundation; Mr. N.P. Singh, MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India; Marie Jacobson, EVP Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks; Tom Bernard & Michael Barker, Co-Presidents, Sony Pictures Classics; Glenn Gainor, President of Physical Production, Screen Gems; Debbie Levin, President & CEO, Environmental Media Association; and Damian Bradfield, President and Chief Marketing Officer, WeTransfer.

Partners in this year's festival also include: the United Nations Foundation, the United Nations Association of the United States of America, WeTransfer, Sony World Photography Awards, Sony Alpha Universe, the Environmental Media Association, Connect4Climate and leaders and environmental visionaries from around the globe. SPTN launched a similar contest in 2016 across its channel portfolio worldwide, including its flagship brands AXN, Sony Channel, Crackle and Animax and those same flagship channels will participate in this year’s festival. 

Entries have already opened in January, with people from over 70 countries submitting videos between one and eight minutes in length inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of global goals agreed upon by all 193 member states of the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet and promote prosperity for all.

This summer, eight (8) regional winners will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the Picture This Festival for the Planet for a day of networking and training alongside industry leaders and social impact partners at the Sony Pictures Studio lot, followed by a screening of the regional winners’ films. Regional winners will receive airfare and accommodations for two nights in Los Angeles, along with a Sony RX0 Camera and a one year WeTransfer Plus account, with the grand prize winner honored with a Sony A6500 camera and a SEL1670 lens. 

The Picture This Festival for the Planet is Sony Pictures Entertainment’s latest project to bring awareness to the SDGs. In 2016, the United Nations and SPE launched Angry Birds for a Happy Planet, a global youth outreach campaign that leveraged online and social media platforms to encourage action to protect the planet and fight climate change. Centered on the Sustainable Development Goal #13 – to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, the campaign featured Red and other characters of The Angry Birds Movie. In 2017, supported by the cast of the Smurfs: The Lost Village, audiences were encouraged to join “Team Smurfs” for the “Small Smurfs Big Goals” campaign that inspired everyone to learn about and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

Submissions for the Picture This Festival for the Planet opened January 30 and will close April 30. 

The contest will be open to entrants from select countries worldwide. 

For more information, visit sonypicturethis.com and to enter the contest for free. 

You can follow the Picture This Festival on social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Good luck to you and I can't wait to see the submissions!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Secret's Out : Jay Park & Traveloka To Join AXN's "Asia's Got Talent" Family

Hi Huneybees,

The record-breaking series - Asia’s Got Talent - returns to AXN in October this year with 10 episodes comprising five judges’ auditions, three semi-finals, the finale and the results show where the winner will be revealed, and awarded a cash prize of USD 100,000 from Traveloka. 

Yup, Traveloka - Southeast Asia’s leading app for all hotel and flight needs, has joined in as the new presenting sponsor of the program. With this sponsor on board, one winner with the most vote from audience will receive a major prize from the sponsor - the Traveloka Awards!

Mr Christian Suwarna, Traveloka Senior Vice President of Business Development with Asia's Got Talent Season 2 Judges - David Foster, Anggun and Jay Park

The selection criteria for the Traveloka award will be based on the uniqueness of the participant’s talent and their connection story with family and friends. For each week, during the first five episodes, two acts will be highlighted and their stories will be published online. At the end of episode five, the audience will cast their vote for the most inspiring act.

“Traveloka is excited to partner with ‘Asia’s Got Talent’ where we see a mutual partnership value between Traveloka and the show. Every day, millions of people would open the Traveloka App as the first step of making their travel dreams come true. It offers a user-friendly booking experience and a wide range of flight and accommodation options at great prices, all to assist travelers in reaching any destination they want seamlessly. As the leading app for all hotel and flight needs in Southeast Asia, we are excited to empower the region’s talent as well as their journey to success with the support of their families and friends” --- Christian Suwarna, Traveloka Senior Vice President Business Development.

On top of the new sponsorship by Traveloka, there are a few surprises just like the addition of Tyra Banks as the host on America's Got Talent.

As a starter, the hosts this season are Alan Wong (Actor/Model/Host) and Justin Bratton (TV Host/Actor/Film-maker). They are both great personalities, embodying charisma and being best buddies, I bet this duo will bring fun to the stage hosting.

Another change to this season show is that we will be seeing just 3 judges instead for 4.
While this may sound like we are gonna see less judges drama with the exit of Melanie C and Vanness Wu, leaving David Foster and Anggun as the 2 remaining judges from the first season, I bet the new judge addition of Jay Park will more than fill up that void and bring in more Hallyu flavour to the show.

Jay, an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and savvy entrepreneur, CEO and founder of two successful record labels, will take the coveted hot seat alongside the show’s returning judges, the 16-time Grammy Award-winning music producer David Foster and internationally acclaimed singer and World Music Award winner Anggun. Together, they will be judging hundreds of acts from 17 countries across the region.

At the press con, we were also treated to an act by The Cazaubon Sisters (duet by young Singaporean sisters Ariane, aged 12, and Anne-Sophie Cazaubon, aged 10). They are one of the impressive acts during the recent auditions in Singapore and were invited to sing at the media conference, as a sneak peep into what we could expect on the reality show.

Both of them are currently singing with the Singapore Children's Choir and had started singing at the tender age of two, aspiring to be world-class singers since then. I can't wait to see what the the girls will bring on stage soon!

Apart from Traveloka, Great Eastern Life, the market leader in the conventional life insurance business and the largest life insurer in Malaysia by asset size will be the partner sponsor together with Marina Bay Sands, Asia’s leading business, leisure and entertainment destination, as the official venue partner of Asia’s Got Talent.

“The first season of Asia’s Got Talent was one of the biggest productions in the world. The series unveiled a host of talent from across the region and fast became a fan favourite with AXN viewers. Season Two is set to be even bigger and better.” --- Ganesh Rajaram, General Manager, EVP Sales Asia, FremantleMedia International

So be sure to tune in this October and support your favourite act! 

I can't wait for the show to be aired!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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A Recap When Asia's Got Talent Was Brought To Singapore For Meet & Greet

Hi Huneybees,

Ever since I got back to writing after the month hiatus, it's been a ride on the rainbow with great stories to share with you all. Last week, I had an amazing opportunity to meet and greet with the Judges from Asia's Got Talent TWICE!

All thanks to Pantene for the invitation, I got to see ANGGUN and VAN NESS WU at VivoCity upclose and personal, I even got a photo op with the both of them!

Anggun's lovely tresses was pampered by Pantene and as you can see from Asia's Got Talent, the participants as well were well taken care too. Just seeing how smooth and straight Anggun's hair was, you know you are getting star treatment with Pantene too! :X

And when hearthrob VAN NESS appeared, the female fans went mad with screams. Okay, okay, I was having a heart racing moment too when he smiled right into the camera and when he stood next to me.  >o<

And then 2 days later, we got to see the rest of the judges together with the Asia's Got Talent finalists at Marina Bay Sands. At the integrated resort's skating rink, the finalists got a chance to meet and greet the audiences whilst trying to garner more votes.

The judges - Anggun, David Foster, Van Ness Wu and Melanie C, mingled and got the fans all riled up for those social-media-spamming-selfies, whilst playing games with the lucky few to join them on stage. Cool eh?!

Though the results have already been announced, the Asia's Got Talent wave is still not over!

Remember that performance by the judges at the grand finale of Asia's Got Talent on 14 May 2015? Well, the charity single "Let's Groove" is now made available for download on iTunes and proceeds from the sale of this single will be donated to charitable organizations committed to aiding victims of the earthquake in Nepal.

This track was originally released by the legendary American band Earth, Wind & Fire, it has been re-recorded with a fresh new version, produced by David Foster himself. 

Let's all do our part and I can't wait for the next season of Asia's Got Talent!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Are you ready for Asia's Got Talent Meet & Greet Tonight?

Hi Huneybees,

It's Friday and it's a great day to have some fun and check out celebrities! Who's in town? Come on down to Marina Bay Sands for the judges of Asia's Got Talent is in this evening for the show’s first and only public appearance!

The Skating Rink at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will be transformed into a star-studded venue for fans of all ages of the popular show “Asia’s Got Talent” for their fans to meet and greet the celebrity judges and finalists at 6:30pm this evening.

You will have the exclusive opportunity to meet and interact with the renowned panelof judges (16-time Grammy-winning Canadian musician David Foster, UK pop sensation and former Spice Girl Melanie C., Indonesian rock icon Anggun, and Taiwanese-American pop idol and actor Van Ness Wu), participate in an interactive challenge with exciting goodie bags and catch a glimpse of the judges’ camaraderie. 

The remaining 9 finalists, who are still battling it out for public votes for the chance to be the winner of the first ever pan-regional edition of the “Got Talent” format) will also be present to meet their fans.

Tne winner of the competition will be awarded US$100,000 in cash and perform on the stage at Marina Bay Sands, Asia’s leading entertainment destination.

This exclusive public appearance is held after the Grand Finals at 8:05pm on 7 May 2015 and ahead of the Grand Final Results on 14 May 2015 at MasterCard Theatres.

The show features 199 incredibly talented acts from 15 countries competing for the coveted grand prize of USD$100,000, along with the chance to return and perform at Marina Bay Sands.

Home viewers can catch “Asia’s Got Talent” first on AXN this Thursday at 8.05pm (SG/HK/ MY) and on the local broadcasters in India – VH1, Indonesia – ANTV, Thailand – Channel 3 and Vietnam – VTV through the week.

So, be sure to knock off early & see ya guys there!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Wana Meet Van Ness Wu and Anggun?

Hi Huneybees,

Heard the news? You can win an opportunity to meet and greet Asia's Got Talent judges - former F4 member, Van Ness and award-winning singer/songwriter & Pantene Brand Ambassador, Anggun!

YES! It's happening at VivoCity Central Court B at 5 -7 pm on 6th May 2015!

Pantene, the Official Haircare Sponsor of Asia’s Got Talent are here to treat the Asia's Got Talent fans, a first ever Fan Meet & Greet session with these 2 judges, as a gratitude for your support as well as to encourage you ladies to have the confidence to shine -  focusing on looking and feeling beautiful, both inside and out and be your own version of the region’s number 1 talent. It's your “Time to Shine’! #timetoshine

All you need to do is simply

• Purchase any participating product (Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Gillette, or Olay products) from Guardian (receipt must be kept)
• Send a message to 91765490 with this format:AGTGUARDIAN<space>NAME<space>NRIC<space>receipt number<space>email

Event Details

• Location: Vivocity Atrium
• Date: May 6, 2015 (Wednesday)
• Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Good luck to you guys and see you there!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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