Star Cinema

Background

Star Cinema is a Filipino movie studio and is also one of the major film imprints by Philippine media conglomerate ABS-CBN, with the second being Black Sheep Films, a secondary subsidiary of the latter television company. It was established in 1993 as a successor to Vision Films and later became a division of ABS-CBN Corporation. The company specializes in production and distribution of films and television series and has released some of the highest-grossing Filipino films. In early April 2022, ABS-CBN signed a contract with rival GMA Network to air some of Star Cinema's films on the latter's network.

Star Cinema Productions

1st Logo (1993-2000)

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Nicknames: "Filipino Spiked Star", "The Half-Star"

Logo:

• 1993-1994: On a blinking starfield background, a icy blue stellar dodecahedron flies in from the left and revolves around the center as the words "STAR CINEMA", in a dark blue serif font, fly in from the right and become illuminated by the spiked star, becoming a crystal white color. As the words pan from left to right, the camera rotates around them and, when it gets to the end, they zoom out and position themselves into a straight position as the star rests as a 6-pointed star. It then glows a white aura, morphing into an flat sunburst-like shape, as a ball of light flies in, revealing "PRODUCTIONS INC." below, also in white.
• 1994-2000: On a black/blue gradient background (similar to the Viva Films and the V. Rich Film International logos of the time), a spiked crystal ball flies in, looking much like the 1987 DiC logo's star, as the camera follows it to see the words "STAR CINEMA", in the same font as before but in white, panning from left to right. The camera then zooms out to reveal the full text as the star goes above it, transforming into the same shape from before but with a more crystal-like "3D" look to it. A ball of light then appears and brings up "PRODUCTIONS INC." below, this time in a Helvetica font.

Variants:

• A short version exists.
• A warped version can be found on Puso ng Pasko.
• On Hey Babe!, the logo has a sky blue tint.
• On Wanted: Perfect Father, a black background is used. This might be because of film quality, however.
• At the end of some films such as Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara, Notoryus and Amanos: Patas na ang Laban, the print logo of Star Cinema is seen as part of the closing credits.

FX/SFX: All CGI.

Music/Sounds: There are two themes:

• 1993-1994: An orchestral fanfare with pluck sounds.
• 1994-2000: A dark synth tune with violins, ending more triumphant.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• On Eskapo and Basta't Kasama Kita, a majestic theme with some beeps is heard. On the latter film, a whoosh is added to the music.
• On Adan Ronquillo: Tubong Cavite and Laking Tondo (the company’s first film), a "triumphant" version of the fanfare was used.
• On Wanted: Perfect Father, whooshes and zaps are added to the music.
• On Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, it is silent.
• On Bata, Bata, Paano Ka Ginawa, the opening theme is used.
• On Puso ng Pasko, a Christmas fanfare is heard.
• On Batang PX, the logo is high-pitched.

Availability: Rare.

• The early variant is more harder to find due to its short life-span, but it can be found on Home Along Da Riles and pre-1994 films.
• The later version is more common, and examples including it are April, May, June, Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita and ’Di Pwedeng, Hindi Pwede! Most films from the period are distributed by Star Records Video (Star Home Video), Regal Home Video on VHS/VCD/DVD, and/or digitally restored using ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project.

Editor's Note: It's a bit choppy on the camera movement, but it still holds up well for a 1990s Filipino logo.

2nd Logo (2000–2003)

Nicknames: "Curved Star I", "Filipino Star I", "Pre ABS-CBN Star", "Curved Star In Space"

Logo: On a space background, a blue comet appears and forms a yellow curve. It shines and a star emerges from it, which emits light rays that move from left to right. Then, text reading "Star Cinema" in blue flies in from the bottom and centers itself and shines. The logo fades out.

Variant: A short version was seen on Bagong Buwan.

FX/SFX: The comet, shining, glowing, zooming out and rotation.

Music/Sounds: A majestic fanfare, including a stock flute warbling with whoosh sounds.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• On Pera o Bayong: Not Da TV, the opening theme is used.
• On Dekada '70, the logo is silent.

Availability: Uncommon, mostly on early 2000s films, including Mila, Jologs, and Got 2 Believe.

Editor's Note: None.

Star Cinema/ABS-CBN Film Productions

1st Logo (2004)

Nicknames: "Curved Star II", "Filipino Star II", "ABS-CBN Star I"

Logo: On a black/blue gradient background, we see a yellow making the yellow curve from before while the camera follows it. Lights are seen surrounding it after two seconds. When it finishes, the spark flashes to form the star from before, while the words "STAR CINEMA" in yellow, "ABS" and "CBN", which are in glass zoom out and place themselves while emitting light rays. The ABS and CBN are moving to their normal positions to form the familiar name and then turn blue. The star glows, and "FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC" fades in below "ABS-CBN". A light appears on the star for a second.

FX/SFX: Decent CGI animation for its time.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Was only used as a placeholder logo for the film Milan.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (March 17, 2004–November 24, 2010)

Nicknames: "Curved Star III", "Filipino Star III", "ABS-CBN Star II"

Logo: On a black background with stars, an orange comet appears and starts to go faster, making a flash, which writes in the "STAR CINEMA" text in yellow. "ABS-CBN" in blue also writes in with the help of lights. The comet appears again and forms the curve, and makes the star when it finishes. It glows yellow for a few seconds, while "FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC" fades in below "ABS-CBN", just like before.

FX/SFX: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as before, the opening theme of the film.

Availability: Uncommon. It began appearing on most Star Cinema produced films starting with Otso-otso Pamela-mela Wan. Also often seen on collaborations with Viva Films, including Ang Cute ng Ina Mo, A Very Special Love, and You Changed My Life. Restored prints have the ABS-CBN logo and extra credits preceding it.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (December 25, 2010–May 2013)

Nicknames: "Curved Star IV", "Filipino Star IV", "ABS-CBN Star III"

Logo: It begins with the first second from the previous logo, but it looks different and the star starts to move around. It moves close to the center to become the star in the curve, while the curve starts drawing. The "STAR CINEMA" and "ABS-CBN" texts fade in and glow, and later "FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC.". The curve shines and the background becomes into a field of stars.

FX/SFX: All in CGI.

Music/Sounds: A piano theme which transforms into a beautiful fanfare. It is the only 21st century Star Cinema logo to use a different theme (not a rearrangement/re-orchestration of the 2000 fanfare).

Availability: Common on recent Filipino films, including Bulong. It also appears on Viva Films collaborations, like Catch Me... I'm in Love.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (June 26, 2013–November 26, 2014)

Nicknames: "Filmstrip Star", "20 Years Of Star Cinema", "Happy 20th Birthday, Star!"

Logo: On a starfield, we see a star, leaving a yellow trail, zooming to us. It then zooms out while spinning to the left, and a filmstrip moves around to stop it. The filmstrip appears again and the letters of "STAR CINEMA", appear scrolling to the left while spinning. The filmstrip moves to the center and dissapears again, then appears again when the letters are gone. The filmstrip starts forming a "0" on the star while another filmstrip comes and forms a "2", making the "20". "STAR CINEMA" fades in below the logo and rotates to face us, and "ABS-CBN FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC.", with "ABS-CBN" in it's corporate font, also fades in below.

FX/SFX: Quality CGI, but choppy in a few places.

Music/Sounds: The fanfare from the 2000 logo.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• Sometimes it uses the music of the 3rd logo.
• On Momzillas, whooshes and sparkles were added to the fanfare.

Availability: Common. It can be found on films by the company of this time period before the revamped logo was introduced, including Four Sisters and a Wedding and She's Dating the Gangster.

Editor's Note: This was generally used as a 20th anniversary logo before the company's name change.

Star Cinema (2014- )

1st Logo (December 25, 2014–May 2018)

Nicknames: "The New Curved Star", "The Golden Spinning Star", "Plain Curved Star"

Logo: On a space background with clouds, we see a gold star rotating and moving towards the left. A sun can be seen on the right of the screen. The star leaves sparks during the spinning. When it stops, a golden curve forms and flashes a red light. The silver words "STAR CINEMA" zoom out, tilted over the finished product. The star sparkles red. The white byline "AN ABS CBN COMPANY", with the emblem between, fades in.

Trivia: The font used in this logo is Akzidenz-Grotesk, whereas print logos use Gotham for the name instead.

FX/SFX: Decent CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 2013-2014 Star Cinema logo.

Availability: Common. Seen on films starting with The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin and Feng Shui 2. Other films including these are Always be My Maybe (2016), A Second Chance (2015 film sequel to the 2007 film One More Chance), Crazy Beautiful You, Just the Way You Are (2015), My Ex and Whys and Sin Island.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (July 2018- )

Nicknames: "The New ABS-CBN Star", "The Interlocked Star"

Logo: TBA.

FX/SFX: TBA.

Music/Sounds: A rearranged, shorter version of the familiar Star Cinema fanfare.

Music/Sounds Variant: The 2000 fanfare can be heard on Unbreakable (2019).

Availability: Brand new. Found on newer productions including First Love (2018), The Girl in the Orange Dress, Hello, Love, Goodbye and Four Sisters Before the Wedding. It's usually preceded by the ABS-CBN Films logo.

Editor's Note: None.