Wilson doesn’t mind it of course, used to as he was to working hard. Right after college, Wilson has engaged himself into business, their family business, and he has not stopped working since then. He is not only into the film business, mind you; he is also into other business entities, like food, clothes and shoes, appliances and other home products and fashion accessories. If you don’t know yet, Wilson’s family distributes Hugo Boss, Liz Claiborne and other top international brands in the Philippines. They have a high-end store at The Podium where one can buy top-of-the-line imported products, all reasonably priced.

Despite his health condition (Wilson had a kidney replacement operation two years ago but he has recuperated very well), he finds time to travel to shop for good products for their stores, and of course to buy films to distribute locally from the various films market events in the US and Europe.
But going back to the Solar-UIP tie-up. Just recently, a dinner event was held to launch the tie-up and to give advertisers and the media a peak into the exciting line-up of films they are going to release this year. The launch was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati.

After the blockbuster “Shrek 2,” Solar-UIP released “Mean Girls” and “Along Came Polly” last month. And today (Aug. 6), they are set to release locally the Tom Cruise starrer “Collateral,” to coincide with the release of the film in the US.

“Collateral,” an action-thriller, has Tom Cruise in an off-beat role: as a contract killer. With him in the cast are Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg and Bruce McGill, with Oscar nominee Javier Bardem in a cameo appearance.

This role will certainly put Cruise into a higher level as an actor since it’s the first time he plays a cold-blooded killer character. His various roles in the past has earned him three Academy Awards nominations (for “Magnolia,” “Jerry Maguire” and “Born on the Fourth of July” which was filmed in the Philippines) but he has this to say about his role in “Collateral:” “I’ve played heroes and anti-heroes and I thought Vincent was just a great character...very dynamic. I wanted to explore the character and get an understanding of him, particularly because he’s demonstrating some seriously anti-social behavior,” he laughs. “One of the first things I try to do is find the character’s moral code because, whether you agree with them or not, people have their own moral code not to do it. He’s an absolute professional. I looked at it from that point of view, getting into the character.”

Also this month, Solar-UIP will release “The Stepford Wives,” and in September, they are set to release three much-awaited films: “Connie & Carla,” “The Terminal” starring Tom Hanks, and “The Bourne Supremacy,” starring again Matt Damon.

Other Solar-UIP forthcoming releases “Without a Paddle” and  “Shark’s Tale” for October; “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Surviving Christmas” and “Alfie” in November; “Bridget Jones 2” and “Two Brothers” in December.

Watch out for these exciting releases from Solar-UIP.

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Lance Raymundo is making waves in the entertainment world once again. He seems to be everywhere lately. On billboards in various strategic areas in Metro Manila, as well as posters displayed all around town.

Lance’s reinforced interest and focus on his craft as an entertainer (inspired by his victory at The Aliw Awards as Most Promising Entertainer of the year) is doing his career wonders. His manager, Angie Magbanua is extremely pleased with Lance’s enthusiasm. She recently included Lance in Manila Hotel. The concert was a huge success and was also a testimonial of Lance’s incredible growth as an artist and entertainer. Lance also staged a series of one night only performances in various bars and concert halls. All these shows were standing-room only hits. And most importantly, Lance is currently under negotiations with a big name record label for the release of his much- awaited second album.

Lance’s fans are all rejoicing over the fact that they now have the chance to see their idol perform as much as they have always dreamed of. And this month will be a special month for Lance’s admirers because he will be staging a weekly performance at Red Door Bar (173 Pasig Blvd.). He will be performing with the Xsentric Band every Saturday at 9 p.m. The Great Entertainment office which handles all of Lance’s bookings would like to thank: La Salle Greenhills, Café Ysabel, Bravo Restaurant, Cibo Restaurant, Anabelle’s Restaurant and Tower Records for their artistic support.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Aug. 6 go to Ambassador Baby B. Puyat, Gary Valenciano, former Quezon City Mayor Adelina Rodriguez, Danny Javier of the Apo Hiking Society, Audie Gemora, Consul Evie Luz Costa, Francis Montinola, Noli Veridicio, Linda Bertol, Pepita Aquino and UK-based Sophia Celine Roxas who marks her 18th b-day with a debut party on Aug. 15.