Eliot Kennedy

The search for the best female talents in Asia will begin very soon. For this, dubbed as Project Lotus, Grammy Award winning producers Eliot Kennedy and Brian Grant has teamed up with FarWest Entertainment, Asia’s new global media company founded by former Electronic Arts executive Jon Niermann (host of “Asia Uncut”).

Kennedy visited the Philippines recently to lay the groundwork for Project Lotus. He explained: “In principle, it’s a talent search across all Asia. What we’re doing is a very simple idea but it’s never been done before. We want to take five girls from five different Asian countries – the Philippines, Japan, China, India, and Korea. And we’re going to take all those 25 girls and put them in a place called the Lotus Academy in Hong Kong which is a huge facility with dance studios, recording studios, vocal studios, etc.”

Lotus Academy, according to Kennedy, will not only house these state-of-the-art facilities to aid in the training of the 25 girls. There would be an award-winning choreographer, a vocal coach, a nutritionist, a health advisor, and gym instructor.

On his part, Kennedy’s partner, Grammy award-winning video director, TV and film producer Brian Grant, explained that there is also another component to this talent search – that is, they are making a documentary of the whole process.

Auditions in the five cities involved will begin on Aug. 15, 2010, after which Kennedy and Grant would narrow the numbers to five girls each from Japan, Korea, China, India and the Philippines. The 25 finalists will undergo intensive training at the Lotus Academy running from Sept. 15 to Oct. 30 this year.

For more information on Project Lotus, visit www.projectlotus.tv.

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‘Belo Beauty 101’ airs fourth season on TFC

“Belo Beauty 101,” the 30-minute beauty and medical tele-magazine program hosted by Dr. Vicki Belo, now airs its fourth season on The Filipino Channel (TFC).

The weekly episodes give viewers a peek into the world of cosmetic surgery, which Dr. Belo revolutionized for the past 20 years. The show is loaded with more celebrity make-overs as Dr. Belo, also known as “Doctor to the Stars,” introduces to viewers the Belo clinic’s wide range of latest treatments and procedures.

For this season, “Belo Beauty 101” highlights unique locations in the country, like the scenic sites of Bohol and the historical venues in Intramuros or the Walled City.

Find out what are the favorite Belo treatments of the clinic’s celebrity endorsers that include showbiz couple Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong, actors Derek Ramsay, Gabby Concepcion and Richard Gomez, plus heartthrobs Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Dingdong Dantes and Matteo Guidicelli.

Actress Maritoni Fernandez shares her victorious battle with breast cancer. Anne Curtis swears by the wonders of laser hair removal. TV host and radio DJ Mo Twister talks about Belo diet injections.

Singers Rachelle Ann Go, Kyla, Jaya, Christian Bautista, Richard Poon and “Pinoy Dream Academy” scholars Bugoy Drilon, Liezel Garcia and Hansen Nichols share how they take care of their looks.

Cristalle Belo Henares hosts a regular segment for every episode and introduces the products being offered by the Belo clinic.

“Belo Beauty 101” is seen in North America, Canada, the Middle East, Australia and Japan through TFC. The third season of the popular program is presently being seen on local cable via the Lifestyle Network.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on July 7 go to Dingdong Avanzado, Imelda Ylanan, Bong Chavez, Marie Christine Ledesma, former UAE Ambassador Roy V. Señeres, Marivic Martinez, Jack Teotico, Tristan Albert Flores-Wenceslao, Grace Figues, Bert Pasquin, Rosalinda Tongos, Al B. Blanco, Maridel Vonggonthong, Dr. Ben Dorado, Dr. Candy Noche-Apacible, Justine Angela Michelle B. Recio, Charles Owen of SMC, and John “Sweet” Lapus. Happy wedding anniversary to Allan and Libby Lavarro.