In The Seats with...: Recent Episodes
David Voigt
Where we sit down with industry professionals and talk about their latest projects, influences, the state of the industry and all things under the sun...
When you can avoid that sophomore slump, boy oh boy the sky is the limit...
We're back at the Toronto International Film Festival which is running from the 7th through the 17th here in our fair city and it's time to talk about a gem of a piece of cinema that we've managed to uncover, It's time for 'Toll'.
Suellen, a Brazilian toll booth attendant and mother, falls in with a gang of thieves in an attempt to keep her family afloat. In doing so, she realizes she can use her job to raise some extra money illegally for a so-called noble cause: to send her son to an expensive gay conversion workshop run by a famous priest.
As you can imagine, things don't quite go to plan in spite of the best of intentions and Toll manages to be a truly complete effort as it blends a myriad of ideas an emotions into a very complex melting pot.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Carolina Markowicz to talk all that is 'Toll' and so very much more...
Expressing emotions can be complex....
On this episode we're back into the deep end of short films and short filmmaking with films playing at the Toronto International Film Festival this coming Sept 7th through the 17th. Playing as a part of Short Cuts Programme #1, let's look at 'Meteor'.
Combining a stunning visual aesthetic and acutely personal reflections, Atefeh Khademolreza delivers an expression of grief and defiance in the face of the repression suffered by women and the LGBTQ+ community in Iran.
We had the unique pleasure of talking with Atefeh about what she wanted to tell the story, the techniques she used and so very much more.....
Short Cuts Programme #1 has it's first screening this Thursday night, visit tiff.net for more details.
It takes a village to make something special....
On this episode we are diving behind the scenes once again as we look at some of the key artisans responsible for some of our favorite shows and movies. It's time to go back into the world of Ted Lasso.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Emmy nominated Production Designer Paul Cripps and Set Decorator Kate Goodman and their work on the show.
I asked them about the nature of the job, the challenges between making a modern show versus a period piece and the little touches they help add to a show like Ted Lasso which makes it so special.
World building is a vital skill....
On this episode we are back into the worlds of 'Schmigadoon' and a deep dive with some of the artisans who work behind the scenes to make a show like this work as well as it does.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Emmy nominated production designer Jamie Walker McCall to talk about the worlds of Schmigadoon, the nature of the job and so very much more....
The hair is the thing, in which we catch the conscience of the king....
On this episode we are back once more in the world of Ted Lasso and Apple TV+ for yet another behind the scenes look with some of the artisans that are so vital to film and TV production.
We had the unique please of sitting down with Emmy Nominated Nicky Austin to talk about her work on Ted Lasso Season 3, the nature of the job, if she has to have her stars in her chair every single day and a little insight into the family atmosphere that was infectious around everyone involved with the show.
All season of Ted Lasso are the Apple+ streaming service....now
It's time to start catching up on a myriad of programming that most of us didn't know existed....
On this episode we are diving into the worlds of manga and anime which are on full display in all of their glory down at the Toronto Convention Centre this weekend for our annual Fan Expo convention which is running until this Sunday the 27th.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with a host and social media producer over at the streaming service 'Crunchyroll" (formerly known as Funimation) to talk about their service, what it entails, the depth of Japanese Anime fandom, the fun going on at Fan Expo and so very much more....
Sometimes losing can be so much more informative then actually winning....
On this very special episode we're talking to more Emmy nominated artisans that work behind the scenes on some of our favorite shows and films. Today we get to dive into a lynch pin moment from one of the favorite shows on the planet right now, it's time to talk a little 'Ted Lasso'.
Sam Ryder is an English singer/songwriter and social media personality who began his career in the hard rock and metal circuits, fronting groups like the Morning After and Blessed by a Broken Heart before starting a solo career as a pop artist. Wielding his versatile and dynamic vocal range, he parlayed an unexpected bout of viral success into a major-label deal and debuted in early 2021 with powerful pop-driven singles like "Whirlwind" and "More." They were included on his first EP, The Sun's Gonna Rise, before the end of the year. 2022 was a landmark year in Ryder's career which brought him both a runner-up spot at the Eurovision Song Contest and a U.K. number two placing for his co-composition "Space Man." His latest work is now being submitted for 2023 Emmy FYC, as he did the vocals for "Fought & Lost" being featured on Ted Lasso.
For those who know, this song is such a lynch pin moment in Season 3 and it just fit so perfectly well that it was actually nominated for an Emmy.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down and talking with Sam about the origins of the song, how he got brought into the Ted Lasso family and so very much more....
The use of movement in telling stories is such a vital thing....
On this episode we are going behind the scenes on even more Emmy nominated work as we get some insight from more and more of the behind the scenes artisans that make this business tick. It's time to get lost once more in the world of 'Schmigaddon'.
In Season 2, Melissa and Josh (Cecily Strong & Keegan Michael-Key) how are now married find themselves on a detour as they had hoped to return to the quaint little village of Schmigadoon and end up in the bustling metropolitan of Schmicago which brings a whole new brand of musical theatre hijinx to encounter.
The style may have changed but the spirit of the show is the same as we had the unique pleasure of talking with the shows choreographer Christopher Gatelli to talk about the shift in style, how the work differs between the stage and the screen and so very much more....
When you are telling the story of such a distinct personality, music is such a vital and driving force....
On this episode we are diving into some Emmy nominated work on what just might be one of the best documentary films of the calendar year. It's time for 'Still: A Michael J Fox Movie'.
The improbable tale of a short kid from a Canadian army base who became the darling of 1980s Hollywood — only to find the course of his life altered by a stunning diagnosis. What happens when an incurable optimist confronts an incurable disease?
Director Davis Guggenheim tackled this story with grace, humor and the piss and vinegar that his subject demand of him, and part of this came down to the score for the film. A unique thing making the score, not only for a documentary but for a documentary on such a well known public figure as well, on paper it could feel daunting.
Which is why he came down to composer John Powell and his extensive composing history with over 70 film credits to his name....all be it no documentaries.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with John Powell to talk about how he got the job, the challenges of it all, what got him into the business and so very much more.
It's so important to start off on the right foot....
On this episode we're doing another dive into some of the Emmy nominated artisans who work behind the scenes on some of our favourite shows. On this episode it's time for 'Hello, Tomorrow".
Particularly about how a show like 'Hello, Tomorrow' says hello to us every time we watch an episode.
We had the great pleasure of sitting down with Emmy Nominated Main Title Designer Ronnie Koff who serves as a creative director on the show.
We talked about how he got the job, how the classics from the likes of Saul Bass can still inform title sequences today and why they add so much to any given show or film.
Sometimes a job just hits a little differently....
On this very special episode we dive behind the scenes on the one of the most popular variety TV shows of the modern era; 'The Daily Show With Trevor Noah'.
Nominated for multiple Emmy's this year, we had the unique pleasure of discovering what it takes to edit a show like this as we sat down with editor Storm Choi who (along with his team) are nominated for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Variety Program.
We got some insight about how he got the job, a day in production, navigating COVID, how close have they cut it when going to air and the creative payoffs of not only working with his team but some one like Trevor Noah.
This is one of those stories that they've told us....and I'm still not sure if I believe it...
On this episode we dive head first into the incredible world of cybercrime with a brand new documentary that shows how terrifying, insane and to be honest, ridiculous it can all get. It's time for 'Billion Dollar Heist'.
Global, dynamic, and eye-opening, 'Billion Dollar Heist' tells the story of the most daring cyber heist of all time, the Bangladeshi Central Bank theft. This feature documentary traces the origins of cyber-crime from basic credit card fraud to the wildly complex criminal organizations in existence today. A tale of epic proportions, Billion Dollar Heist shows how the key players on both sides of the law are embroiled in a global game of cat-and-mouse – with our money and security on the line.
This might be the first film that really clearly lays out many of the realities of cyber crime and why we need to be aware of them, it's truly a thrilling watch.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with one of the subjects of the film, journalist and noted cybersecurity expert Misha Glenny as we talked about his involvement in the project, the craziness of it all, how it all works and how an unsung 80's classic got it all right before we even knew what Cyberspace was.
Marriage is never easy....
On this episode, we dive head first into what just might be one of the best action rides of the year that you probably haven't heard of. It's to recite some vows because it's time for 'Til Death Do Us Part'.
After bailing on her wedding, a former bride-to-be must fight off her ex-groom and seven angry killer groomsmen in order to survive the night.
Embracing it's set piece gonzo premise, 'Til Death Do Us Part' isn't afraid to go for the gusto as it's great action on a budget with some scenery chewing performance that you can't help but have fun with.
We had the great pleasure of sitting down with director Timothy Woodward Jr to talk about the origins of the project, making something stylish and effective on a budget and really managing to bring us audiences some flashy gonzo action....
He had what so many of us needed....
On this very special episode we are celebrating one of the unsung heroes of rap music who was more influential on the art form that any of us every truly understood. In the wake of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Hip-Hop culture and rap music it's time to get 'All Up In The Biz'.
All Up In The Biz is the definitive story of late, great rapper Biz Markie, who is best known for his mega hit “Just a Friend.” Crowned “The Clown Prince of Hip Hop”, Markie was a beatbox wiz who was known for his comical rhymes and generally whimsical ways. A native of Long Island, Biz’s gift swiftly propelled him through Hip Hop history; he would inspire rap icons like Rakim and Big Daddy Kane in the process. The ride had a few bumps (like the groundbreaking sampling lawsuit he was wrapped up in) but in the end, Biz Markie was recognized as the actual personification of Hip Hop. A deity if you will.
The legacy of Biz Markie is so much more in-depth that even I as a fan was unaware of and after watching the film which is on Showtime and Paramount+ in the US, I had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Sacha Jenkins to talk about the making of the film, the importance of Biz in the legacy of Rap music, the importance of Long Island on the NY Rap scene and so very much more.
Relationships are complicated....
On this special episode we dive into the compelling and humanistic drama that is playing now in Toronto and Vancouver but rolling out to additional theatres in the coming weeks. It's time for Passages.
After completing his latest project, filmmaker Tomas (Franz Rogowski) impulsively begins a heated love affair with a young schoolteacher, Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos). For Tomas, the novelty of being with a woman is an exciting experience that he is eager to explore despite his marriage to Martin (Ben Whishaw). But when Martin begins his own affair, the mercurial Tomas refocuses his attentions on his husband.
Passages is admittedly a little bit of a throwback as it is a gorgeous and lush drama about the complexities of relationships and the emotional torment that we can put ourselves through.
It's easily one of the best films of the year and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-writer and director Ira Sachs to talk about the origins of the film, casting and wanting to tell a story on his terms....
There's something about a singular focus that you just can't help but appreciate...
On this very special episode we dive head first into a brand new indie thriller on VOD (and select theatres?) today in the US. It's time for 'Trader'.
A manipulative sociopath (Murray) armed with a dangerously ambitious spirit, her wits, and an affinity for snorting wasabi voyages into the high-intensity game of stock market trading and wages war against the financial world. When she stumbles upon news of a monumental pharmaceutical trade, she risks everything to complete her ultimate success story no matter the cost.
We do historically hate using hyperbole but this is a movie that is just truly hard to look away from as 'Trader' has a knack for gluing you to the edge of your seat and never letting go. Considering how unabashedly ballsy and brash this is it feels appropriate for this to be a female led thriller by its star Kimberly Sue-Murray.
We had the chance to sit down with her and talk about working with writer/director Corey Stanton, the need for her to branch out and take a risk and how she crafted this incredibly unique character.
Trader is on US VOD platforms now.
There's always more then meets the eye when it comes to movie making....
On this very special episode of "In The Seats With" we are diving into the headspace of one of the most prolific and successful Hollywood producers of recent memory. In celebration of the release of 'Transformers: Rise of the Beats" on all PVOD platforms, we're sitting down with producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.
Doing gangbusters business all across the world; Transformers: Rise of the Beasts brings fresh life to the franchise to keep it going for years to come. We had the chance to sit down with producer Lorenzo di Bonavetura to talk about the tone of the franchise, making action movies on budgets of varying sizes, not losing track of story and the emotional arc of characters and so very much more....
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is now available on PVOD platforms and still in select theatres across the globe.
It's time to embrace something new....and learn about the nuts and bolts of making cinema....
On this episode we are diving into a unique film event taking place tomorrow in our fair city. It's time for the "Art of Documentary" film festival.
The inaugural Art of Documentary Film Festival which takes place Saturday July 15, from 11am - 9pm, at Innis Town Hall Theatre.Featuring finalists’ films from the One Day Doc Contest (a 24-hour challenge to make a film by current students) alongside AOD Funded films, and films from past and present students, instructors, and the wider documentary community.
One of the seven selected films will be chosen as the winner, and will receive an AOD Film Distribution Deal including a film premiere on AOD Films YouTube Channel, festival submission and funding advice, promotional funding, and more. The One Day Doc Contest winner will be announced during the festival on July 15.
AOD Films, a new initiative launched this year, is funded by the Academy’s AOD Film Fund which helps members bring films to life through funding, producing, and licensing original films from AOD’s current and past students.
AOD will also be hosting Q&A sessions with award-winning filmmakers, Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson from Compy Films, (Scarborough, Take Light, Frame 394, Love Letters from Everest) discussing the changing landscape of documentary film, as well as with Oscar-winning short filmmaker Rayka Zehtabchi and her film, Period. End of Sentence, who will talk about the creative process behind their films.
This is a vital and educational event for all levels of film lovers, and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-founder of AOD Films and a filmmaker in his own right Michael del Monte. We talked about the origins of the school which evolved into a festival and the state of the business as successful filmmakers actually make an effort to pay it forward and keep the art of documentary filmmaking going.
True art transcends all cultural boundaries....
On this very special episode we are baring witness to a piece of vital pop culture history in a brand new documentary that shines a unique light on one of the more influential areas of pop culture in modern history. It's time for 'Squaring The Circle'.
In 1964 two young men meet for the first time during a drugs bust at a house in Cambridge and after everyone else runs for the hills to avoid the police they are the only two people left to face the music. As a result of fate bringing them together, Aubrey ('Po') Powell and Storm Thorgerson become life-long friends and creative partners. Syd Barrett was one of those who escaped the police that day and it was he who went on to form Pink Floyd - a piece of serendipity that was to have a profound affect on all of them for the rest of their lives. Syd, Po and Storm went on to share a flat in London during the hippie Summer of Love in 1967, and by '68 Po and Storm had formed the fledgling art house Hipgnosis (named incidentally by Barrett) - a photo-design company for album sleeves. By chance one of the first covers they create is Pink Floyd's 'A Saucerful of Secrets' and the rest - as they say - is history. Hipgnosis went on to design every Pink Floyd album sleeve (except The Wall and Final Cut) including arguably the most iconic album cover of all time 'Dark Side of The Moon'. Other rock n' roll bands who graced their studio during the next 15 years - the halcyon days of Vinyl - included Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, AC/DC, Paul McCartney, T.Rex, ELO, 10cc, Black Sabbath, Peter Frampton, The Rolling Stones, The Who, and many more, becoming London's most fashionable album design studio ever.
From director Anton Corbijn, Squaring The Circle is a vital piece of pop culture history and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with one of the men who was at the center of it all. Subject of the film; the one and only Aubrey Powell.
We talked about being approached for the film, being aware of the legacy of Hipgnosis, appreciating it all now years alter and so very much more....
It's tough to have those "difficult conversations" when the topic of one of them is in the room....
On this episode we dive into a unique little piece of Canadiana which is now available on VOD and confronts the hard issues about hard questions to your loved ones.. It's time for 'Bystanders'.
It's reunion time as a group of old friends (now in their 20's) reunite at the traditional spring getaway for the weekend. We have Kyle who is Justin's brother, Zeke who is Justin's roommate, Lily who is Justin's biggest fan, Sophia who is Justin's worst critic and Ayda who is Justin's first love. However there's an elephant in the room in confront, they've just heard something horrible about Justin....and he's just walked in the door.
Bystanders is really an interesting character study and slice of life from conversations that have and undoubtedly will continue to happen with groups of friends and loved ones out there as we become more and more aware of how we need to treat each other in this world has human beings.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Koumbie to talk about the origins of the story and so very much more....
Bystanders is available on VOD platforms now.
Life....finds a way....
On this very special episode we dive into a unique comedy that had it's premiere at TIFF last year but has been under wraps until it opens this coming Friday in select theatres across North America. It's time for 'Biosphere'.
In the not-too-distant future, the last two men on earth must adapt and evolve to save humanity.
This is really a fun character study that manages to straddle the line between some genuine social commentary and just being flat out hilarious. It's easily one of our favorite films of the year and it opens this Friday July 7th at select screens across North America.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the stars of the film; Mark Duplass (who also co-wrote the film) and Sterling K Brown to talk about the unique nature of the material, working together and so very much more.
Biosphere is in theatres Friday July 7th.
Even a full blown pandemic can't stop the music....
On this episode, we've got a song in our hearts as we track the story of a band that refused to let the global pandemic let them connect with their audiences. It's time for 'July Talk: Love Lives Here'.
The COVID pandemic of 2020 forced everyone to hit the pause button and take stock of their lives, even if they didn't want to. That meant that a band like July Talk who built their fan-base and reputation through their high-energy shows had to postpone an upcoming tour....but that wasn't going to stop them. This film chronicles the journey of band members Leah Fay and Peter Dreimanis as they plan a one-of-a-kind drive-in theatre show in August 2020.
This one isn't just for fans of the band, but it's a testament to the drive and the creative spirit to keep creating and keep developing revenue streams where ever and when ever you can. We talk with writer/director Brittany Farhat about how she got involved with the band, chronicling the show and so very much more....
July Talk: Loves Lives Here is available on all VOD platforms now,
Diving into the headspace of one of the masters will always be a different experience....
On this very special episode we're talking about one of the very best to have ever gotten behind the camera and told stories on the big screen. It's time for 'Kubrick By Kubrick'
A rare and transcendent journey into the life and films of the legendary Stanley Kubrick like we've never seen before, featuring a treasure trove of unearthed interview recordings from the master himself.
In his own words, we get a truly unique look at the canon of films by the one and only Stanley Kubrick. Available on all VOD platforms now, we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the writer/director of the film; Gregory Monro. We talked about the challenges of assembling a project like this, the legacy of the man and the myth of Kubrick and so very much more.
'Kubrick By Kubrick' is available on VOD platforms now.
There are somethings in life that we quite frankly never want to see end....
On this episode we dive head first into one of the more delightful and relatable comedies that had a great run in theatres and is now available on VOD platforms everywhere. It's time for 'The End of Sex'.
A couple feeling the pressures of parenting and adulthood, send their kids to winter camp for the first time and embark on a series of sexual adventures to reinvigorate their relationship.
From director Sean Garrity we get one of the most unexpectedly delightful comedies of recent memory and we had the unique pleasure of sitting with the star of the film Emily Hampshire (who you may know from the hit show 'Schitt's Creek' and her co-star who is also the co-writer of the film, Jonas Chernick.
We talked about the origins of the story, the grounded nature of the comedy and managing to be heartfelt and sincere while being drop dead funny all at the same time.
'The End of Sex' is available on VOD platforms now.
The unnecessary shame around mental health can take people to some very weird places....
On this episode we get into the pitfalls around the social media age and announcing personal successes before they actually happen. It's time for 'Millie Lies Low'.
Millie, an architecture student from Wellington, New Zealand, has landed a competitive internship with a prestigious firm in New York. After telling everyone she knows about the opportunity, she suddenly suffers a panic attack as her plane is about to take off, and misses her flight. In a desperate pivot, Millie decides to save face by hiding in plain sight around Wellington, suitcase in tow, using Instagram and the power of denial to depict a trip to New York City that never happened. Trapped in a spiral of hilariously uncomfortable self-inflected scenarios, Millie will have to dig deep to restore her mental health and her dignity.
This story owns the anxious missteps that we all make from time to time, and this hilarious and ultimately honest piece of cringe comedy is hard to look away from as 'Millie Lies Low' opens today in New York and in additional markets across the US.
We had the unique pleasure to sit down with writer/director Michelle Savill to talk about the origins of the story and so very much more....
You can now spell Adult Swim with a capital 'Eh'....
On this very special episode we are diving into the some home grown talent and the first ever Canadian produced show to end up on Adult Swim. It's time for 'Psi Cops'.
This new animated comedy series follows unjustifiably bold and unnecessarily creative coworker friends forever (CFFs) Kydd (Chris Nielsen) and Felixx (Bart Batchelor) who are top detectives at the paranormal agency Psi Cops. Crammed into a shady office complex and helmed by true believer, Chief Beef, this rag-tag group of "experts" head out in the field as they investigate alleged sightings of aliens, ghosts, demons, and other hocus-pocus nonsense. Their intention is to solve mysteries and supernatural crimes using their overly competent incompetence.
A hilarious slice of the absurd which is airing now on Adult Swim and is available on demand via STACK TV is more then worth your time. We had the unique pleasure to sit down with stars and creators Bart Batchelor and Chris Nielsen before the premiere to talk about the origins of the show, the absurdity of it all and now eventually releasing it into the universe.
'Psi Cops' is airing on Adult Swim Canada and is on demand via STACK TV now.
We can never quite know what it's like to walk a mile in someone else's shoes....
On this very special episode we are diving into a very personal and very beautiful piece of Canadiana from a filmmaker and friend of the show. It's time for 'So Much Tenderness'.
So Much Tenderness, is a story about a Colombian environmental lawyer who flees her native country after her husband is murdered. As a refugee forced to start over, Aurora (Noëlle Schönwald) rebuilds her life in Toronto with her daughter (Natalia Aranguren), only to risk losing everything when her traumatic past re-surfaces.
While we've seen stories about the immigrant experience before, what writer/director Lina Rodriguez does here is let us simmer and appreciate the quieter moments rather then hit us over the head with any kind of political statements and lets us appreciate the human experience.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Lina to talk about the origins of the story, the personal nature of it all and how it expands to how she shoots the film and so very much more...
It's pretty difficult to actually show and externalize trauma and PTSD, but that's why cinema is such a powerful thing.
On this episode we are talking about a mental health issue that is running rampant in our veteran communities today. It's time for Here.Is.Better which is on all VOD platforms now.
Here.Is.Better follows four of these Veterans, each with diverse backgrounds and service experience, as they undergo the most clinically effective, evidence-based trauma psychotherapies for PTSD. Individuals featured in the film include former presidential hopeful Jason Kander, who shocked many when he left the Kansas City mayoral race in 2018 to seek treatment; a Vietnam War Veteran still haunted by events that occurred over 50 years ago; and the voices of so often overlooked women Veterans, all seeking the keys to unlock their places of hurt and pain.
With unprecedented access to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Here.Is.Better. interweaves these inspiring stories of men and women Veterans overcoming the debilitating effects of PTSD with treatments that can work, bringing hope to millions.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Jack Youngelson, and producer Sian Edwards-Beal to discuss the issues that surround PTSD and the unique way they made 'Here.Is.Better'
If we don't learn about our history, we are doomed to repeat it....
On this very special episode we dive head first into a part of Canada's shameful past that we collectively just don't know enough about. It's time for 'Coming Home'.
Coming Home (Wanna Icipus Kupi)reveals the impacts of the Sixties Scoop and explores Indigenous resilience through narrative sovereignty; as lived by the Little Bird series’ Indigenous creatives, cast, crew & community members. The documentary delivers a hard-hitting reality check for viewers unfamiliar with the Sixties Scoop, providing insight into the policies that were created to separate Indigenous children from their heritage, and the systems that continue to dismantle Indigenous families today. Coming Home is the feature directorial debut from Cree/Ojibway filmmaker, Erica Daniels of Peguis First Nation.
Done in concert with the Little Bird; Coming Home is really a fascinating and vital glimpse that gives context to the stories of the Sixties Scoop and puts us as viewers into the difficult realities of the moment for our indigenous population but also allows us to celebrate the importance of indigenous creators and storytellers sharing these vital stories for us all.
We had the pleasure of talking with Erica about the making of the film, the challenges there in and so very much more.
Coming Home debuts tomorrow Jun 30th on APTN and Crave
Little Bird is on Crave now
It's rare that you actually get to confront yourself....
On this episode we are hip deep in a brilliant new thriller that just got extended over at the TIFF Bell Lightbox here in Toronto. It's time for Subtraction.
In downtown Tehran, Farzaneh, a young driving instructor, spots her husband, Jalal, walking into a woman’s apartment. When she confronts him, Jalal claims he was out of town for work. He decides to check out the building for himself. There, he meets a woman who is the spitting image of Farzaneh. Her name is Bita. Stunned, the two compare family photos: Bita’s husband also looks identical to Jalal.
This film is a rich and lush ride that isn't afraid to be as cinematic as it can be while making some truly interesting cultural statements.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Mani Haghighi to talk about the origins of the story, the visual language of the film, making cinema that makes a statement while in Iran and so very much more....
In reality we're never supposed to notice some of the more gifted artists that it takes to make our favorite TV shows and films...
On this episode we dive into one of the brand new offerings on Apple TV+; 'The Last Thing He Told Me' starring Jennifer Garner.
Hannah (Jennifer Garner) seeks to build a relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter (Angourie Rice) as they look into why her husband (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) disappeared mysteriously in this thriller based on Laura Dave's novel of the same name.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with two of the talented artisans who worked on the show and dive into the unsung art of editing; Connor Davis and Trevor Baker.
We talked about the complexities of the job, the unique nature of being an editor; particularly on a show with multiple editors and how the job has evolved over the years and so very much more....
'The Last Thing He Told Me' is on Apple TV+ now
Sometimes learning stuff can blow you away...
On this episode we are going back to school thanks to the new show on Apple+ called 'Prehistoric Planet 2"!
Experience the wonders of our world like never before in this epic docuseries from Jon Favreau and the producers of “Planet Earth.” “Prehistoric Planet” combines award-winning wildlife filmmaking, the latest paleontology learnings and state-of-the-art technology to unveil the spectacular habitats and inhabitants of ancient Earth for a one-of-a-kind immersive experience. The series is produced by the world-renowned team at BBC Studios Natural History Unit with support from the photorealistic visual effects of MPC (“The Lion King,” “The Jungle Book”) applied to concept art created by Jellyfish Pictures (“The Book of Boba Fett,” “Spirit: Untamed”). “Prehistoric Planet” presents little-known and surprising facts of dinosaur life set against the backdrop of the environments of Cretaceous times, including coasts, deserts, freshwater, ice worlds and forests. Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas and skies.
We've never seen these dinosaurs, quite like this before and a big part of that is the work of the VFX team which have made these creatures look photo realistic and so alive on the screen that we can almost reach out and touch them. The man who leads that team is VFX supervisor Elliot Newman and we had the pleasure of talking to him about the nature of the job, what kind of work went into make these dinosaurs feel so real and so very much more....
'Prehistoric Planet: Season 2' is available now on the Apple + streaming service.
If you program it....they will come....
Once in a blue moon we actually like to talk with our fellow movie podcasters and there's one on the scene that has caught our eye....and it's Canadian grown to boot. It's time for 'Movies & Chaos'
'Movies & Chaos' is a podcast looking at the impact and legacy of cult films. It’s hosted by Mark Palermo (former critic, screenwriter of Detention) and Serena Whitney (former critic, programmer of The Revue Cinema in Toronto). The movies discussed tie into screenings happening at The Revue and Thrillema, a cult series Palermo helps run in Halifax. Why do these movies endure? Is some stuff too much for modern audiences?
As you audience members well know; retrospective cinema and cult offerings are a passion of this host so this felt like the perfect opportunity to sit down and talk about the ever grow art of programming and curation for smaller independent cinemas. Serena and Mark gave us some insight into the ups and downs of it all, the origins of the show, the enduring nature of what makes a film cult and so very much more....
The course of human history has sad patterns that tend to repeat themselves...
On this episode we are diving into a film that really address the ever growing income gap between the rich and the poor, not only in America but all around the world. It's time for 'Americonned'.
It's is a film about income inequality in the US and the tragic destabilizing effects to Americans. Radical inequality has led to radicalization at every level of society, and this powerful documentary depicts what happens when America hits its tipping point by looking back through our history at similar critical moments of instability. The labor movement of the past was born in times like these. We must restore the path to the once great middle class that now suffers in silence.
It's certainly a film that speaks to our times and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Sean Claffey to see what made him want to tackle this subject, the need and importance to get into some 'good trouble" and so very much more....
'Americonned' is available on all VOD Platforms now
Sometimes you've got that chill that you just can't shake....
On this episode we dive head first into an indie thriller that you just won't be able to shake. It's time to embrace 'Bone Cold'
After bad intel from headquarters results in a tragic civilian death, an elite sniper duo attempts to evacuate the target area and go home. However, they are stuck there as they can't seem to shake a mysterious, inhuman creature that is stalking them from the shadows. Time is running out for both of these men and the creature is closing in.
'Bone Cold' was an effectively creepy little piece indie cinema that will sink under your skin, it's now available on Blu-Ray and on VOD platforms. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the writer/director of the film Billy Hanson. We talked with Billy about the origins of the story, the quick turn from concept to picture, the origin of the title and so very much more....
Sometimes you've just got to do things a little differently....
On this episode we're looking at a rather unexpected kung fu movie that comes from the shores of Chile (yeah we were surprised to). It's time for 'The Fist of the Condor'.
Upon the empire’s fall to invading conquistadors, the 16th-century Incas quickly concealed a sacred manual containing the secrets behind their deadly fighting technique. But after centuries of careful safeguarding, the manual is again at risk of falling into the wrong hands, leaving its rightful guardian to battle the world’s greatest assassins to protect the ancient secrets within.
With stuntman/actor Marko Zaror in the lead; to say that 'The Fist of the Condor' is a kung fu movie like you've never seen before is likely the understatement of the year. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Marko to talk about the origins of the production and so very much more....
'The Fist of the Condor' is on Blu-Ray and VOD platforms now.
Things get intense when you raise the stacks...
On this episode we dive into the inner workings of a pop culture phenomenon and a movie franchise that just won't quit. It's time to look at 'Scream VI'.
In this latest chapter, and in the wake of the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter in city that never sleeps; New York. However, these new surroundings bring familiar problems with the intensity of it all dialed up even further then we could possibly imagine.
Available now on VOD platforms (and streaming exclusively on Paramount +) and coming on 4K, Blu-Ray and DVD via all major retailers on July 11th; Scream VI is easily one of the biggest thrill rides of the year.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the screenwriters James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick about the setting of the story, the quick turn around time to get it all done, the legacy of the franchise and so very much more.
The music is the thing that helps us capture the conscience of a king....
On this very special episode we are diving into one of those shows that is on the breath of people all across North America and dare we say the world at large. We're talking Yellowstone.
Now currently in the throws of it's 5th and final season, the power struggles of the Dutton family, lead by John Dutton (Kevin Costner) has been must see TV no matter how you watch it.
A big part of the success of the show is the use of music, and we had the unique pleasure of talking with the Music Supervisor on creator Taylor Sheridan's crack team, the one and only Andrea von Foerster.
We talked about the nature of the job, how she got started in it all and so very much more....
Sometimes it's the simplest ideas that tend to work out the best....
A gunslinging Texas ranger (Thomas Jane) tracks a bank robber (Dean Jagger) across the desert — only to discover he’s an international terrorist set on detonating a bomb in the heart of London. When the lawman’s partner is killed, he is drawn into partnership with a British intelligence agent (Dominique Tipper) and her boss (John Malkovich) to bring the outlaw to justice — dead or alive.
'One Ranger' which is available on VOD platforms now and coming to Blu-Ray this coming June 13th is a no-nonsense cowboy affair that may take the fish out of the water that he used to but it never once skimps on the action.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Jesse V Johnson to talk about the origins of the story, the magic of the western in the cinema lore and so very much more....
'One Ranger' is available on VOD platforms now and comes to Blu-Ray this June 13th.
Let's face it....romance in the digital age is as complicated as all hell....
On this episode we look at that need for connection that we all ultimately crave but all have a hard time finding and even holding on it. It's time for 'Stay The Night'.
At a time when dating apps and casual hook-ups are the “new romance standard,” reserved and very single Grace (Andrea Bang) feels like an outcast. But when she meets Carter (Joe Scarpellino), a professional NHL player who has his own decision to make, she wonders if maybe Carter is the solution to her problem. After their first attempt at a one-night stand goes awry, they end up spending the evening walking and talking through the streets of downtown Toronto, leading them to a connection neither of them expected.
What writer/director Renuka Jeyapalan manages to do here with Stay The Night is pretty remarkable as she takes the awkwardness of human interaction and boils into down to something genuine, something necessary and something honest that you can't look away from.
We talk with Renuka about the inspiration for the film, casting and telling a truly Toronto story without being too overt about it.
Stay The Night is available on VOD platforms for rent or purchase now.
Even with Christmas...sometimes we need to have a laugh at its expense....
On this episode we are having a well deserved laugh at the expense of one of the most celebrated holidays of the year and it's now prolific cinematic sub-genre which is Christmas and the Christmas Movie. It's time for 'Cup of Cheer"
Cup Of Cheer gives the Christmas Movie of the Week format a good comedic skewering as we follow the adventures of a big city journalist goes to a small town for the holidays and finds herself in an unlikely romance with the owner of a struggling hot cocoa shop.
The Christmas movie genre has long been over due for a comedic spoofing and Cup of Cheer gives us that in spades as we get the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Jake Horowitz to ask about his inspiration for the film and so very much more....
You can find Cup of Cheer available for streaming over on the CBC Gem service.
When technology gets creative...things get a little strange....
The Computer Accent is the first AI rock doc, following the independent pop group YACHT as they use cutting-edge data analysis tools, machine learning, neural networks, sci-fi instruments, and generative composition strategies to create a new kind of human-machine album, melodies, lyrics, artwork, videos, and all.
The band initially struggles with complex new concepts as they attempt to forge their own path through the brave new world of machine intelligence. By putting AI to the testing the name of art, YACHT ask probing questions—what does Artificial Intelligence mean for the future of music? Can artists subvert obsolescence, making vital networks even as automation threatens their livelihoods? Can a machine learning model truly be “authentic”? Will convenience destroy creativity?
Lo-fi meets high-tech in this entertaining and thought-provoking journey into the wilderness of art and technology. The band sits back as research scientist’s whiteboard their way through explanations of neural networks. They struggle to make themselves legible to the machine by translating their entire back catalogue of music into data. They wade through thousands of pages of machine-generated song lyrics and tear their hair out trying to play strange, AI-generated riffs on guitar. Ultimately, they question their own roles in a future where software anticipates generates, and synthesizes human work.
This doc answers a lot of questions but also brings up a lot of new ones as we look at the relationship between art and technology. We had the opportunity to sit down with directors Sebastian Pardo, Riel Roch Decter to talk about this and so very much more....
Back for a whole new generation....they are still robots in disguise....
On this episode we're running it back (sort of) with some classic IP that has gotten a fresh reboot via a new animated series that is dropping new episodes weekly over at Paramount Plus. It's time for Transformers: Earthspark.Based on the iconic Transformers property, the brand-new animated action-comedy series Transformers: EarthSpark introduces a new generation of Transformers robots--the first Transformers robots to be born on Earth—and together with the human family who welcomes them in and cares for them, they'll redefine what it means to be a family.
Bringing together a perfect blend of the old and the new; Transformers: EarthSpark is unquestionably fun for any age.
With new episodes dropping every week on Paramount Plus it's easy to get caught up, but first enjoy our talk with Alan Tudyk (who does the voice of Optimus Prime), Danny Pudi (Bumblebee) and Sydney Mikayla (as Rooby Malto) as we talk about all the fun of reentering this universal of Transformers, it's place in the pop culture landscape and it being way more chill then working on any of the live action ones....
The wrong kind of smile being flashed your way can be deadly....
On this episode we're diving into what just maybe the surprise theatrical hit of 2022. Brace yourselves because it's time to Smile.
After witnessing a bizarre, traumatic incident involving a patient, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) starts experiencing frightening occurrences that she can't explain. As an overwhelming terror begins taking over her life, Rose must confront her troubling past in order to survive and escape her horrifying new reality.
Available on VOD platforms (as well as Paramount Plus) now and coming to 4K/Blu-Ray this coming December, Smile is just a creepy and we mean CREEPY piece of cinema. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Parker Finn to talk about the origins of the story, the films surprising success and so very much more.
It's easy to forget how much beautifully strange Canadian cinema is out there in the universe.
On this episode we are diving into the origins of the godfather of Canadian outsider cinema as we take a look at Guy Maddin's "Tales From The Gimili Hospital: Redux' which just had a 4K restoration, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival , played at the Lightbox and is now available on demand with our friends over at Hollywood Suite.
In Maddin's surrealist, Manitoban-set feature debut Tales from the Gimli Hospital, a lonely fisherman stricken with smallpox (Kyle McCulloch) embarks on a fierce competition with a fellow patient (Michael Gottli) to vie for the affections of Gimli Hospital's angelic young nurses. As part of Telefilm’s Canadian Cinema – Reignited initiative to restore and re-release Canadian films of historic and cultural importance, the Toronto International Film Festival hand-picked the restoration of Tales from the Gimli Hospital to premiere at this year’s festival..
If you haven't already signed up for Hollywood Suite, what's stopping you? They are stalwart champions of Canadiana which this film unquestionably is. We had the pleasure of talking with Guy a little after the festival about the origins of the film the restoration process and so very much more.
Icons aren't made, they're just formed out of the granite of life....
On this episode we are diving deep back into the well that was the Toronto International Film Festival and looking at a fantastic music documentary 'Louis Armstrong: Black & Blues'.
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues offers an intimate and revealing look at the world-changing musician, presented through a lens of archival footage and never-before-heard home recordings and personal conversations. This definitive documentary, directed by Sacha Jenkins, honors Armstrong's legacy as a founding father of jazz, one of the first internationally known and beloved stars, and a cultural ambassador of the United States. The film shows how Armstrong’s own life spans the shift from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement, and how he became a lightning rod figure in that turbulent era.
If you love music or are even a student of popular culture this documentary which is now streaming on Apple TV+ is an absolute must see. Back at the festival we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the director, the one and only Sacha Jenkins to talk about what made him want to make the film, the legacy of Louis Armstrong and so very much more....
Genius comes in all kinds of forms....
On this episode we are dialing it back to the Toronto International Film Festival and celebrating something that came out on Blu-Ray today; it's time for some Bowie and *Moonage Daydream.
Moonage Daydream* illuminates the life and genius of David Bowie, one of the most influential artists of our time. Told through sublime, kaleidoscopic, never before seen footage and performances. this experiential cinematic odyssey explores Bowie's creative, musical and spiritual journey. Guided by the icon's own narration, this is the first officially sanctioned film on the man that simply was Bowie.
With it playing the Toronto International Film Festival we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the director of the film for a few minutes, the one and only Brett Morgan to talk about the challenges as well as the importance of making this film....
Genius comes in all forms....
On this episode we dive into a rock doc which just had it's world premiere down at DOC NYC; it's time for Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill.It's an is an intimate documentary portrait of a one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter from 1970s LA – Judee Sill. It charts her life from a troubled adolescence of addiction, armed robbery and prison through her meteoric rise in the music world and early tragic death.
In two years, Judee went from living in a car to a deal with Asylum Records and the cover of Rolling Stone. As told by David Geffen, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and Graham Nash -- along with Judee herself -- the film explores Judee’s unique musical style and the inspiring recent rediscovery of her singular music fostered by Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes, Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek of Big Thief, and Weyes Blood. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the directors of this documentary; .Andy Brown and Brian Lindstrom to talk about why they want to tell this story, the legacy of Judee in pop culture circles and so very much more....
Grief can push us to some pretty intense places....
On this episode we are diving into the madness of grief and the insanity that can be born from it in the new film hitting VOD platforms this Friday; Missing.Depressed and in debt following the death of his wife, Santoshi (Jiro Sato) tells his young daughter he has found a way out. Pointing to a reward note, he vows to find the infamous serial killer “No Name” (Hiroya Shimizu) and cash in, claiming to have seen the man in the flesh a few days earlier. Kaeda (Aoi Ito) cannot take her aloof father serious. But when he goes missing without a trace, she starts to fear the worst—and must begin looking for him.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Co-Writer/Director Shinzô Katayama to talk about the origins of the story, the visual language of the story and so very much more....
Missing is on all VOD platforms this coming Friday Nov. 18th
A good noir needs a great femme fatale....On this episode we're back in the world of Shantaram, streaming now on Apple TV+
It's the story of a fugitive from the law, Lin Ford (Charlie Hunnam) who must choose between freedom or love with a woman he meets in 1980s Bombay in this series based on the novel of the same name by Gregory David Roberts.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the two female leads of the show Elektra Kilbey and Antonia Desplat as they both command the screen in their own unique ways both buying into and subverting the genre of the show. It's some incredibly unique performances from both ladies as we talk about how they got the job, embracing the world that these characters are playing and so very much more....
The joys of long form story telling just allow for things to be way more interesting....
On this episode we are diving into the Apple TV+ series 'Shantaram' which is streaming on the service now.
A fugitive from the law, Lin Ford (Charlie Hunnam) must choose between freedom or love with a woman he meets in 1980s Bombay in this series based on the novel of the same name by Gregory David Roberts.
On an extensive press tour for the show we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Charlie Hunnam & Shubham Saraf to talk about the material, working together and so very much more.
Re-entering the world is never quite as easy as it looks...
On this episode we are once again diving into the Apple TV+ streaming service and the new film that fresh off its festival run debuted on the service today. It's time for Causeway.A US soldier (Jennifer Lawrence) suffers a traumatic brain injury while fighting in Afghanistan and struggles to adjust to life back home.
This is stark, honest yet hopeful drama that we can't wait for people to see and in advance of today's release of the film we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the director of the film Lila Neugebauer to talk about her reaction to the story, shooting it, working with Jennifer Lawrence and so very much more....
When you are running away from something, you run the risk of finding things you'd never expect....
On this episode we dive straight into the heart of darkness that is 'The Mosquito Coast' which is having it's season 2 debut today on the Apple+ streaming service.
Even in their new home, danger still lurks at every turn for the Fox family.
Allie, Margot, Dina and Charlie continue their adventure on the lam, as they make their way through the Mexican rainforest and ultimately land in a seemingly idyllic community called Casa Rojas, led by the resolute Isela. While each person grapples with their own journey and acclimate to their new lives “off the grid,” they soon discover that Casa Rojas breeds its own dark secrets and agenda.
In advance of the launch of the show we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with one of the stars of the show Melissa George. We asked about getting to continue the story, the desire for an actor to get time with a character, if she avoided any previous iterations of the story, the influences that got her into this business and so very much more....
'The Mosquito Coast' will be releasing new episodes of Season 2 every Friday.
A movie so nice....we actually decided to talk about it twice....
Once more into the breach we go as we sit down with the star of the very honest and heartful 'The Swearing jar' which is in theatres in Toronto (and likely across the country) tomorrow.
During the hustle and bustle that is the Toronto International Film Festival we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Adelaide to talk about how she got the movie, working with the likes of Kathleen Turner, finding the joy the work, singing on screen for the first time and so very much more....
The Swearing Jar is in theatres tomorrow, November 4th.
Being in love is even more complex when it happens twice....
On this episode we are diving head first into that very complicated emotional state know as love and the problems that arise when there's more then two people in the mix. It's time for The Swearing Jar.
It is a rare and miraculous thing to find your one true soul mate. Carey (Adelaide Clemens) soon learns that finding two of them can pose an even greater problem.
Part comedy, part drama, all honest. The Swearing Jar is a unique and special film that is hard to look away from. In advance of it dropping in theatres tomorrow we had the pleasure of sitting down with one of it's stars; Patrick J Adams to talk about the work, the love of the job and so very much more....
The Swearing Jar is in theatres on Nov. 4th.
Even the creepiest holiday of the year needs an adorable moment....
On this episode we get to dial it back for a slice of underrated Halloween fun that audiences really haven't seen since 2004 and has built up a cult following of it's own finally finding it's way back to the universe now on Blu-Ray for the very first time. Get ready for 'Satan's Little Helper'.
Nine Year Old Douglas Whooly is obsessed with the handheld video game "Satan's Little Helper" and annoyed that the attention of his big sister Jenna (Katheryn Winnick) whose just returned home from college is more on her new boyfriend Alex then him. These two concerns collide on Halloween, when Douglas witnesses a serial killer in a devil mask posing his victims like outdoor Halloween displays. Now understanding how this is some real carnage going on in this small town, Douglas gladly becomes this Satan's Little Helper; and that not only bad news for Douglas, but for Alex and for Jenna's mom Merill (Amanda Plummer) because now the whole town is in danger from this mad man on the one evening a year we let all inhibitions and logic fly out the window,
Ultimately a different breed of Halloween film, Satan's Little Helper is appropriately grizzly in all the right spots but it has a sinister sense of humor that gets wrapped up in some genuinely human moments with some amazing performance from top to bottom.
Now out on Blu-Ray from our friends at Synapse Films, we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the one and only writer/director Jeff Lieberman to talk about the origins of the film, the caliber of the ensemble it's distinct sense of humor that isn't subservient to the BS of life and so very much more.....
Even the creepiest holiday of the year needs an adorable moment....
On this episode we get to dial it back for a slice of underrated Halloween fun that audiences really haven't seen since 2004 and has built up a cult following of it's own finally finding it's way back to the universe now on Blu-Ray for the very first time. Get ready for 'Satan's Little Helper'.
Nine Year Old Douglas Whooly is obsessed with the handheld video game "Satan's Little Helper" and annoyed that the attention of his big sister Jenna (Katheryn Winnick) whose just returned home from college is more on her new boyfriend Alex then him. These two concerns collide on Halloween, when Douglas witnesses a serial killer in a devil mask posing his victims like outdoor Halloween displays. Now understanding how this is some real carnage going on in this small town, Douglas gladly becomes this Satan's Little Helper; and that not only bad news for Douglas, but for Alex and for Jenna's mom Merill (Amanda Plummer) because now the whole town is in danger from this mad man on the one evening a year we let all inhibitions and logic fly out the window,
Ultimately a different breed of Halloween film, Satan's Little Helper is appropriately grizzly in all the right spots but it has a sinister sense of humor that gets wrapped up in some genuinely human moments with some amazing performance from top to bottom.
Now out on Blu-Ray from our friends at Synapse Films, we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the one and only writer/director Jeff Lieberman to talk about the origins of the film, the caliber of the ensemble it's distinct sense of humor that isn't subservient to the BS of life and so very much more.....
There's nothing like a good old fashioned ghost story to get the blood pumping....
On this episode we are getting into the Halloween spirit as we dive into a new two part docuseries which is kicking off TONIGHT on the T&E network at 9PM EST. It's time to go on a 'Haunted Gold Rush'
Haunted Gold Rush explores the ghostly mysteries along British Columbia's historic Gold Rush Trail, told through the eyes of a strong female force of paranormal investigators, Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland. British Columbia’s Gold Rush trail was a bustling, wild and often violent place in the 1800s. Today, the 350 km stretch of land is considered a hotspot for paranormal activity and has hundreds of stories of hauntings from more than a dozen locations. Ghost sightings along this trail are nothing new, but recently there have been numerous intense and dramatic reports. Now, three best friends and paranormal detectives have been called in to take an unprecedented road-trip and retrace British Columbia’s historic Gold Rush Trail. The documentary follows them as they solve mysteries and witness hauntings along the way.
This unique road trip is a hard one to look away from and with it all kicking off tonight we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Corine, Leanne & Kelly to talk about the work, the making of the 2 part docuseries and so very much more....
There's nothing like a good old fashioned ghost story to get the blood pumping....
On this episode we are getting into the Halloween spirit as we dive into a new two part docuseries which is kicking off TONIGHT on the T&E network at 9PM EST. It's time to go on a 'Haunted Gold Rush'
Haunted Gold Rush explores the ghostly mysteries along British Columbia's historic Gold Rush Trail, told through the eyes of a strong female force of paranormal investigators, Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland. British Columbia’s Gold Rush trail was a bustling, wild and often violent place in the 1800s. Today, the 350 km stretch of land is considered a hotspot for paranormal activity and has hundreds of stories of hauntings from more than a dozen locations. Ghost sightings along this trail are nothing new, but recently there have been numerous intense and dramatic reports. Now, three best friends and paranormal detectives have been called in to take an unprecedented road-trip and retrace British Columbia’s historic Gold Rush Trail. The documentary follows them as they solve mysteries and witness hauntings along the way.
This unique road trip is a hard one to look away from and with it all kicking off tonight we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Corine, Leanne & Kelly to talk about the work, the making of the 2 part docuseries and so very much more....
Having discussions about mental health and keeping it in the forefront of all of our minds has never been more important....and these organization has been doing it for 30 years.
On this episode we get back into the streets for a multi platform festival that has consistently put a focus on the need for discourse when it comes to mental health and focusing that through the prism of art in al of it's forms. Celebrating 30 Years; Rendezvous With Madness starts tonight at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and continues through Nov. 6th.
With in person screenings, events as well as a myriad of virtual online options, this festival always puts it's best foot forward and with its theme of #MoreTheRebellion leading the way, it feels fitting that at a time when audiences is really open to the themes and message that the Rendezvous With Madness festival has been putting forward all these years.
In advance of tonight's launch we had the supremely unique pleasure of sitting down with Managing Director Scott Miller Berry to talk about the enduring mission of the festival the unique challenges they face every year and so very much more.
Rendezvous With Madness is running until Nov. 6th online and at various venues all across the city of Toronto. Please check them out right here for more details on screenings, tickets and various events.
Having discussions about mental health and keeping it in the forefront of all of our minds has never been more important....and these organization has been doing it for 30 years.
On this episode we get back into the streets for a multi platform festival that has consistently put a focus on the need for discourse when it comes to mental health and focusing that through the prism of art in al of it's forms. Celebrating 30 Years; Rendezvous With Madness starts tonight at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and continues through Nov. 6th.
With in person screenings, events as well as a myriad of virtual online options, this festival always puts it's best foot forward and with its theme of #MoreTheRebellion leading the way, it feels fitting that at a time when audiences is really open to the themes and message that the Rendezvous With Madness festival has been putting forward all these years.
In advance of tonight's launch we had the supremely unique pleasure of sitting down with Managing Director Scott Miller Berry to talk about the enduring mission of the festival the unique challenges they face every year and so very much more.
Rendezvous With Madness is running until Nov. 6th online and at various venues all across the city of Toronto. Please check them out right here for more details on screenings, tickets and various events.
The best trick a visual effects supervisor ever pulled was convincing audiences they were never there in the first place....
On this episode we dive into one of the best pieces of television that we've seen in recent memory. Currently available on the Apple TV+ streaming service; it's Five Days At Memorial.
The miniseries adaptation of Sheri Fink's non-fiction book of the same name centers on the five days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the decisions medical staff had to make at Memorial Medical Center.
This is such a gripping depiction of the hell that these people had to go through during Hurricane Katrina and one of the reasons it's so effective is that it all looks real. No fake effects take us out of the genuine human drama these people went through and the VFX played a HUGE part in that.
We had the pleasure of talking with the VFX Supervisors Eric Durst & Matt Whelan about their work on the show, the detail they went into to make sure that everything felt as naturalistic as possible and so very much more....
The best trick a visual effects supervisor ever pulled was convincing audiences they were never there in the first place....
On this episode we dive into one of the best pieces of television that we've seen in recent memory. Currently available on the Apple TV+ streaming service; it's Five Days At Memorial.
The miniseries adaptation of Sheri Fink's non-fiction book of the same name centers on the five days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the decisions medical staff had to make at Memorial Medical Center.
This is such a gripping depiction of the hell that these people had to go through during Hurricane Katrina and one of the reasons it's so effective is that it all looks real. No fake effects take us out of the genuine human drama these people went through and the VFX played a HUGE part in that.
We had the pleasure of talking with the VFX Supervisors Eric Durst & Matt Whelan about their work on the show, the detail they went into to make sure that everything felt as naturalistic as possible and so very much more....
Scares are one thing....but when there's an idea behind them it makes it all that much more potent and believable.
On this episode we are getting into the Halloween swing of things with a new movie that is hitting Cineplex theatres this coming Friday. It's time to 'Prey For The Devil'.
Sister Ann (Jacqueline Byers) believes she is answering a calling to be the first female exorcist… but who, or what, called her? In response to a global rise in demonic possessions, Ann seeks out a place at an exorcism school reopened by the Catholic Church. Until now these schools have only trained priests in the Rite of Exorcism – but a professor (Colin Salmon) recognizes Sister Ann’s gifts and agrees to train her. Thrust onto the spiritual frontline with fellow student Father Dante (Christian Navarro), Sister Ann finds herself in a battle for the soul of a young girl, who Sister Ann believes is possessed by the same demon that tormented her own mother years ago. Determined to root out the evil, Ann soon realizes the Devil has her right where he wants her.
It's a fresh take on the subgenre of the exorcism movie and it takes a compassionate and logical angle on the issue as well, but don't worry there's still plenty of creepy moments to have you on the edge of your seat.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Daniel Stamm and (Toronto's own) Jacqueline Byers to talk about the origins of the story, the importance of the idea behind it all and so very much more....
Scares are one thing....but when there's an idea behind them it makes it all that much more potent and believable.
On this episode we are getting into the Halloween swing of things with a new movie that is hitting Cineplex theatres this coming Friday. It's time to 'Prey For The Devil'.
Sister Ann (Jacqueline Byers) believes she is answering a calling to be the first female exorcist… but who, or what, called her? In response to a global rise in demonic possessions, Ann seeks out a place at an exorcism school reopened by the Catholic Church. Until now these schools have only trained priests in the Rite of Exorcism – but a professor (Colin Salmon) recognizes Sister Ann’s gifts and agrees to train her. Thrust onto the spiritual frontline with fellow student Father Dante (Christian Navarro), Sister Ann finds herself in a battle for the soul of a young girl, who Sister Ann believes is possessed by the same demon that tormented her own mother years ago. Determined to root out the evil, Ann soon realizes the Devil has her right where he wants her.
It's a fresh take on the subgenre of the exorcism movie and it takes a compassionate and logical angle on the issue as well, but don't worry there's still plenty of creepy moments to have you on the edge of your seat.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Daniel Stamm and (Toronto's own) Jacqueline Byers to talk about the origins of the story, the importance of the idea behind it all and so very much more....
Sometimes certain projects just have the will to succeed.
On this episode we are diving head long into a piece of cinema that recounts a little know piece of storytelling history in the modern age as we look at 'Voodoo MacBeth' which is in theatres in NY and LA now before rolling out across the USA.
Before Citizen Kane and The War of the Worlds, leading Broadway actress Rose McClendon (Inger Tudor, “Goliath,” “On Time”) and producer John Houseman convince a gifted but untested 20-year-old Orson Welles (Jewell Wilson Bridges, the national tours of “My Fair Lady” and “La Cage Aux Folles” in his feature film debut), to direct Shakespeare’s Macbeth with an all-Black cast in Harlem. Reimagined in a Haitian setting, this production, which came to be known as “Voodoo Macbeth,” would change the world forever, but the road to opening night proves to be a difficult one. Orson and Rose – who is to play Lady Macbeth – clash over everything from scene blocking to crew hires, while Houseman contends with a congressman hell-bent on shutting down what he deems “communist propaganda.” Welles and McClendon must overcome political pressure, personal demons, and protests to realize their groundbreaking vision.
This production kicked off a creative relationship that would be more influential then any of us could have ever realized. In advance of the film's release we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with stars Inger Tudor and Jewell Wilson Bridges to talk about the nature of the production, the legacy there in, working with 11 directors and 8 writers?!? And so very much more....
Sometimes certain projects just have the will to succeed.
On this episode we are diving head long into a piece of cinema that recounts a little know piece of storytelling history in the modern age as we look at 'Voodoo MacBeth' which is in theatres in NY and LA now before rolling out across the USA.
Before Citizen Kane and The War of the Worlds, leading Broadway actress Rose McClendon (Inger Tudor, “Goliath,” “On Time”) and producer John Houseman convince a gifted but untested 20-year-old Orson Welles (Jewell Wilson Bridges, the national tours of “My Fair Lady” and “La Cage Aux Folles” in his feature film debut), to direct Shakespeare’s Macbeth with an all-Black cast in Harlem. Reimagined in a Haitian setting, this production, which came to be known as “Voodoo Macbeth,” would change the world forever, but the road to opening night proves to be a difficult one. Orson and Rose – who is to play Lady Macbeth – clash over everything from scene blocking to crew hires, while Houseman contends with a congressman hell-bent on shutting down what he deems “communist propaganda.” Welles and McClendon must overcome political pressure, personal demons, and protests to realize their groundbreaking vision.
This production kicked off a creative relationship that would be more influential then any of us could have ever realized. In advance of the film's release we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with stars Inger Tudor and Jewell Wilson Bridges to talk about the nature of the production, the legacy there in, working with 11 directors and 8 writers?!? And so very much more....
Even on the best of days....family can be difficult.
On this episode we are diving head first into a brand new movie coming off of a fantastic festival run and debuting today on the Apple TV+ streaming service. It's time for 'Raymond & Ray'.
Half-brothers Raymond (Ewan McGregor) and Ray (Ethan Hawke) have always lived in the shadow of their terrible father. Somehow, they still each have a sense of humor, and his funeral is a chance for them to reinvent themselves. There’s anger, there’s pain, there’s folly, there might be love, and there’s definitely gravedigging.
It's tender, it's honest and it's pretty damn funny. Raymond & Ray is a reminder to all of us that there are no rules when it comes to dying and there are especially no rules when it comes to living as we see these two men come to terms with who they are what they've become in the wake of their whirlwind of a father.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with write/director Rodrigo Garcia to talk about the origins of the story, the complications of family, the ugly humanity of being a person and so very much more.
Even on the best of days....family can be difficult.
On this episode we are diving head first into a brand new movie coming off of a fantastic festival run and debuting today on the Apple TV+ streaming service. It's time for 'Raymond & Ray'.
Half-brothers Raymond (Ewan McGregor) and Ray (Ethan Hawke) have always lived in the shadow of their terrible father. Somehow, they still each have a sense of humor, and his funeral is a chance for them to reinvent themselves. There’s anger, there’s pain, there’s folly, there might be love, and there’s definitely gravedigging.
It's tender, it's honest and it's pretty damn funny. Raymond & Ray is a reminder to all of us that there are no rules when it comes to dying and there are especially no rules when it comes to living as we see these two men come to terms with who they are what they've become in the wake of their whirlwind of a father.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with write/director Rodrigo Garcia to talk about the origins of the story, the complications of family, the ugly humanity of being a person and so very much more.
Cinema has gotta make you think....
On this episode we're diving into a thick cut of indie cinema that is in theatres now and coming imminently to VOD platforms everywhere. It's time for 'Silent River'.
Elliot is desperate to reconcile with his estranged wife, Julie. Determined, he drives across a barren desert road to reach her, hoping he can convince her to give him a second chance.
Stopping at a roadside motel, he reaches out to a surprised Julie, who informs him she has moved on. At a loss for his next move, Elliot falls into a downward spiral and, when he encounters the sultry Greta —an uncanny woman on the run from a mysterious past—strange and mysterious occurrences begin to haunt him.
As the shadowy line between reality and dark fantasy becomes increasingly blurred, Elliot questions his own sanity and seeks the truth ... But will he regret finding the answer?
It's a thrilling little piece of cinema that certainly gets the thought process rolling and we had the pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Chris Chan Lee to talk about the origin of the story, creating style and mood on a budget and so very much more.
Cinema has gotta make you think....
On this episode we're diving into a thick cut of indie cinema that is in theatres now and coming imminently to VOD platforms everywhere. It's time for 'Silent River'.
Elliot is desperate to reconcile with his estranged wife, Julie. Determined, he drives across a barren desert road to reach her, hoping he can convince her to give him a second chance.
Stopping at a roadside motel, he reaches out to a surprised Julie, who informs him she has moved on. At a loss for his next move, Elliot falls into a downward spiral and, when he encounters the sultry Greta —an uncanny woman on the run from a mysterious past—strange and mysterious occurrences begin to haunt him.
As the shadowy line between reality and dark fantasy becomes increasingly blurred, Elliot questions his own sanity and seeks the truth ... But will he regret finding the answer?
It's a thrilling little piece of cinema that certainly gets the thought process rolling and we had the pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Chris Chan Lee to talk about the origin of the story, creating style and mood on a budget and so very much more.
When it comes to family, truer words have never been spoken....
On this very special episode we dive into some glorious Canadian content which is in theatres now as 'We're All In This Together' is ultimately ready for the masses.
It's heartfelt, it's often hilarious and most importantly it's an honest piece of storytelling the reminds us how we occasionally need to be reminded of how to treat one another. In advance of the films release we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director and star Katie Boland about making her first feature, playing a dual role while doing and so very much more....
When it comes to family, truer words have never been spoken....
On this very special episode we dive into some glorious Canadian content which is in theatres now as 'We're All In This Together' is ultimately ready for the masses.
It's heartfelt, it's often hilarious and most importantly it's an honest piece of storytelling the reminds us how we occasionally need to be reminded of how to treat one another. In advance of the films release we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director and star Katie Boland about making her first feature, playing a dual role while doing and so very much more....
Music quite simply makes the worlds we build on screen go round....
On this episode we are getting behind the scenes on one of the more insidiously creepy films of the entire calendar year. We re-enter the world of 'X' and finally meet 'Pearl'.
Trapped on her family’s isolated farm, Pearl (Mia Goth) must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she’s seen in the movies, Pearl’s ambitions, temptations, and repressions all collide.
If you haven't already, get yourself to the theatre to see 'Pearl' ASAP as it is one of the more psychologically engaging films of the entire year. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the film composers Tyler Bates and Timothy Williams about getting the job, the nature of composing for film, and knowing what you need for the right moment....
Music quite simply makes the worlds we build on screen go round....
On this episode we are getting behind the scenes on one of the more insidiously creepy films of the entire calendar year. We re-enter the world of 'X' and finally meet 'Pearl'.
Trapped on her family’s isolated farm, Pearl (Mia Goth) must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she’s seen in the movies, Pearl’s ambitions, temptations, and repressions all collide.
If you haven't already, get yourself to the theatre to see 'Pearl' ASAP as it is one of the more psychologically engaging films of the entire year. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the film composers Tyler Bates and Timothy Williams about getting the job, the nature of composing for film, and knowing what you need for the right moment....
Even when you are shooting very little, crafting a visual style is so epically important to a piece....
On this episode we getting deep into the visual style of one of our favourite films of the year in 'Sidney'...
From producer Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin, this revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the center of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring candid interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee and many more, the film is also produced by Derik Murray, in close collaboration with the Poitier family.
Apple Original Films has unequivocally brought us another gem their streaming service that will undoubtedly be in the conversation during awards season for Best Feature Documentary.
We had the unique please of sitting down with cinematographer Matthew Chavez about how he got involved with the film, what the art of cinematography can bring to documentary cinema that uses a lot of archival footage, sitting down and shooting interviews with some icons of cinema, trying to bring Sidney's iconic pop culture status to life, influences and so very much more...
Even when you are shooting very little, crafting a visual style is so epically important to a piece....
On this episode we getting deep into the visual style of one of our favourite films of the year in 'Sidney'...
From producer Oprah Winfrey and directed by Reginald Hudlin, this revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist at the center of Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring candid interviews with Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee and many more, the film is also produced by Derik Murray, in close collaboration with the Poitier family.
Apple Original Films has unequivocally brought us another gem their streaming service that will undoubtedly be in the conversation during awards season for Best Feature Documentary.
We had the unique please of sitting down with cinematographer Matthew Chavez about how he got involved with the film, what the art of cinematography can bring to documentary cinema that uses a lot of archival footage, sitting down and shooting interviews with some icons of cinema, trying to bring Sidney's iconic pop culture status to life, influences and so very much more...
Even small things are worth have long conversations about....
On this episode in now it's third season we dive into the series of shorts other wise known as 'Bite-Sized Halloween' which is now streaming on Hulu for our friends to the south of us.
It's a series of 21 short films from burgeoning filmmakers that get into the demented and the twisted things that we all tend to love during the month of Halloween. We had the unique pleasure of talking with 4 of these filmmakers.
Nian is the tale of a Chinese American girl faces her racist bully with the help of the Nian, a mythological creature said to eat bad children. from writer/director Michelle Krusiec.
Live Bait from director Andrew Laurich is a genius little affair in which the roles of angler and bait appear to be eerily reversed.
Mr. Crocket from writer/director Brandon Espy takes us back to our collective childhoods as a hyperactive young boy pushes his mom over the edge by continuously playing an old VHS tape of children's television host Mr. Crocket.
Finally; from the warped mind of co-writer/co-director and co-star Rebekka Johnson we get the hilariously demented world of Bad Rabbit where a timid woman finally stands up to her cruel, elderly mother with encouragement from a deranged new friend, Bad Rabbit.
All are unique, all fun and all are worthy entries into this series. As we sat down with each director we talked about getting pitched to be a part of the series, inspiration for their stories, the freedom allowed inside genre film to tell a myriad of different stories and everything else in between....
Even small things are worth have long conversations about....
On this episode in now it's third season we dive into the series of shorts other wise known as 'Bite-Sized Halloween' which is now streaming on Hulu for our friends to the south of us.
It's a series of 21 short films from burgeoning filmmakers that get into the demented and the twisted things that we all tend to love during the month of Halloween. We had the unique pleasure of talking with 4 of these filmmakers.
Nian is the tale of a Chinese American girl faces her racist bully with the help of the Nian, a mythological creature said to eat bad children. from writer/director Michelle Krusiec.
Live Bait from director Andrew Laurich is a genius little affair in which the roles of angler and bait appear to be eerily reversed.
Mr. Crocket from writer/director Brandon Espy takes us back to our collective childhoods as a hyperactive young boy pushes his mom over the edge by continuously playing an old VHS tape of children's television host Mr. Crocket.
Finally; from the warped mind of co-writer/co-director and co-star Rebekka Johnson we get the hilariously demented world of Bad Rabbit where a timid woman finally stands up to her cruel, elderly mother with encouragement from a deranged new friend, Bad Rabbit.
All are unique, all fun and all are worthy entries into this series. As we sat down with each director we talked about getting pitched to be a part of the series, inspiration for their stories, the freedom allowed inside genre film to tell a myriad of different stories and everything else in between....
The only thing that can truly out last the rock and roll dream is the power of friendship...
On this episode we are diving into a little bit of Can-Con rock and roll history with the new documentary; 'Doug and the Slugs and Me'.
Doug and the Slugs and Me follows filmmaker Teresa Alfeld as she uncovers the story of Doug Bennett, leader of the legendary 1980s Canadian party band Doug and the Slugs — and the dad of her childhood best friend. The documentary features a who’s who of international and Canadian musicians and industry insiders — including Bob Geldof, Bif Naked, Steven Page, Ron Sexsmith, Michael Williams, Denise Donlon and Terry David Mulligan — who provide insight into what made the Slugs’ music, videos and stage shows so special and why the cards were ultimately stacked against them.
Doug and the Slugs were undoubtedly one of a kind and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Teresa Alfeld before the special one off screening TONIGHT at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema in advance of it's premiere on the CBC doc channel and all other CBC platforms this coming Sunday about what kicked off her wanting to tell this story, the difficulties of it getting a little more personal then expected and the one of a kind joy that was this iconic Canadian band.
You can visit the Hot Docs website right here if you'd like to hit the show.
The only thing that can truly out last the rock and roll dream is the power of friendship...
On this episode we are diving into a little bit of Can-Con rock and roll history with the new documentary; 'Doug and the Slugs and Me'.
Doug and the Slugs and Me follows filmmaker Teresa Alfeld as she uncovers the story of Doug Bennett, leader of the legendary 1980s Canadian party band Doug and the Slugs — and the dad of her childhood best friend. The documentary features a who’s who of international and Canadian musicians and industry insiders — including Bob Geldof, Bif Naked, Steven Page, Ron Sexsmith, Michael Williams, Denise Donlon and Terry David Mulligan — who provide insight into what made the Slugs’ music, videos and stage shows so special and why the cards were ultimately stacked against them.
Doug and the Slugs were undoubtedly one of a kind and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Teresa Alfeld before the special one off screening TONIGHT at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema in advance of it's premiere on the CBC doc channel and all other CBC platforms this coming Sunday about what kicked off her wanting to tell this story, the difficulties of it getting a little more personal then expected and the one of a kind joy that was this iconic Canadian band.
You can visit the Hot Docs website right here if you'd like to hit the show.
Love comes when you least expect it....
On this episode we're heading to the theatre to find love and quite possibly a good book in 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" which is in theatres now....
Bookstore owner A.J. Fikry's (Kunal Nayyar) life is not turning out as he expected as he struggles both emotionally and financially. After his wife's tragic death, he feels lost and left behind in the rapidly evolving world of today. As he tries to keep his store afloat, he begins to drink his sorrows away ultimately hitting rock bottom when his most prized possession, a series of Edgar Allen Poe poems, are stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, the unexpected arrival gives Fikry a new lease on life, and love, that are greater than he ever imagined. Based on the New York Times best-selling novel.
This was a delightful little film that serves as an ever constant reminder to keep yourself open to love and advance of the film's release we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the stars of the film Kunal Nayyar and Lucy Hale to talk about their experiences on the film and the importance of the tactile in the digital age.
Love comes when you least expect it....
On this episode we're heading to the theatre to find love and quite possibly a good book in 'The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" which is in theatres now....
Bookstore owner A.J. Fikry's (Kunal Nayyar) life is not turning out as he expected as he struggles both emotionally and financially. After his wife's tragic death, he feels lost and left behind in the rapidly evolving world of today. As he tries to keep his store afloat, he begins to drink his sorrows away ultimately hitting rock bottom when his most prized possession, a series of Edgar Allen Poe poems, are stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, the unexpected arrival gives Fikry a new lease on life, and love, that are greater than he ever imagined. Based on the New York Times best-selling novel.
This was a delightful little film that serves as an ever constant reminder to keep yourself open to love and advance of the film's release we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the stars of the film Kunal Nayyar and Lucy Hale to talk about their experiences on the film and the importance of the tactile in the digital age.
The proving ground of short film can often give way to some truly genuine talent....
On this episode we do something that is more important then you know, we give some digital ink and love to the short film. At this past edition of the Toronto International Film Festival we had the pleasure of talking with writer/director Asia Youngman about her short film n’x̌ax̌aitkʷ: Sacred Spirit of the LakeAfter moving to a new town, a teenager must navigate peer pressure when her next-door neighbour convinces her to explore a nearby island in search of a legendary lake monster. However, she quickly learns that her new friends might be harbouring some secrets and ulterior motives of their own.
We talked with Asia about the origins of the story, doing creature effects on a short film budget, the stress (both good and bad of being accepted at a festival) and so very much more....
The proving ground of short film can often give way to some truly genuine talent....
On this episode we do something that is more important then you know, we give some digital ink and love to the short film. At this past edition of the Toronto International Film Festival we had the pleasure of talking with writer/director Asia Youngman about her short film n’x̌ax̌aitkʷ: Sacred Spirit of the LakeAfter moving to a new town, a teenager must navigate peer pressure when her next-door neighbour convinces her to explore a nearby island in search of a legendary lake monster. However, she quickly learns that her new friends might be harbouring some secrets and ulterior motives of their own.
We talked with Asia about the origins of the story, doing creature effects on a short film budget, the stress (both good and bad of being accepted at a festival) and so very much more....
The modern landscape of TV is really allowing for some excellent character work....
On this episode we dive into the heart of darkness that is the modern North American prison system and the effective it has on people well outside those prison walls in 'Mayor of Kingstown'.
A gripping drama that you'll be hard pressed to look away; the first season of 'Mayor of Kingstown' is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray as well as being available to stream over at Paramount+.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with actor Dianne Wiest; one of the co-stars of the show about how the material came across her desk, how TV is allowing for great character work and so very much more....
Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 is available now from all major retailers on DVD and Blu-Ray. and is available for streaming via Paramount+.
The modern landscape of TV is really allowing for some excellent character work....
On this episode we dive into the heart of darkness that is the modern North American prison system and the effective it has on people well outside those prison walls in 'Mayor of Kingstown'.
A gripping drama that you'll be hard pressed to look away; the first season of 'Mayor of Kingstown' is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray as well as being available to stream over at Paramount+.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with actor Dianne Wiest; one of the co-stars of the show about how the material came across her desk, how TV is allowing for great character work and so very much more....
Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 is available now from all major retailers on DVD and Blu-Ray. and is available for streaming via Paramount+.
Sometimes the simplest things are just the creepiest....
On this episode we are diving into a brand new show which is now streaming on Paramount+. It's time to discover the terrifying realities of 'From'.
The sci-fi horror series created by John Griffin centers on a town where everyone who ends up there is trapped and while trying to find a way out, they also must try to avoid creatures that come out at night from the surrounding forests.
It's a simple premise but a HIGHLY effective one and the proof is in the pudding because we are getting a Season 2. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Star Harold Perrineau to talk about how he got the show, the similarities (and differences) between this and Lost along with much much more....
From is available now in Canada on the Paramount + streaming service.
Sometimes the simplest things are just the creepiest....
On this episode we are diving into a brand new show which is now streaming on Paramount+. It's time to discover the terrifying realities of 'From'.
The sci-fi horror series created by John Griffin centers on a town where everyone who ends up there is trapped and while trying to find a way out, they also must try to avoid creatures that come out at night from the surrounding forests.
It's a simple premise but a HIGHLY effective one and the proof is in the pudding because we are getting a Season 2. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Star Harold Perrineau to talk about how he got the show, the similarities (and differences) between this and Lost along with much much more....
From is available now in Canada on the Paramount + streaming service.
Batter up!
Ok, we're a little late on this one but as we sit on the brink of the MLB playoffs it only felt appropriate to step up to the plate and take a look at this new iteration of a beloved classic. It's time for 'A League of Their Own'
The comedy series from Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham about the 1940s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is a reimagining of Penny Marshall's 1992 film of the same name.
While the energy is familiar the content truly has room to breathe in this iteration and it's just an unequivocal delight. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with one of the stars of the show; Canada's own Kelly McCormack about lacing up her shoes and finding just the right glove to get on the field for this show that has the potential to have some serious legs for years to come.
Batter up!
Ok, we're a little late on this one but as we sit on the brink of the MLB playoffs it only felt appropriate to step up to the plate and take a look at this new iteration of a beloved classic. It's time for 'A League of Their Own'
The comedy series from Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham about the 1940s All-American Girls Professional Baseball League is a reimagining of Penny Marshall's 1992 film of the same name.
While the energy is familiar the content truly has room to breathe in this iteration and it's just an unequivocal delight. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with one of the stars of the show; Canada's own Kelly McCormack about lacing up her shoes and finding just the right glove to get on the field for this show that has the potential to have some serious legs for years to come.
To be able to affect real change in ones life, it often takes a radical change in perspective...
On this episode we take a look at a beautiful new film that reminds us that it's never too late to look at life from a different perspective. Coming to VOD platforms this Friday September 30th, this is 'Carmen'
In a small Mediterranean village, Carmen (Natascha McElhone) has looked after her brother, the local priest, for her entire life. When the Church abandons Carmen, she is mistaken for the new priest. Carmen begins to see the world, and herself, in a new light.
This is a film that isn't afraid to revel in the simply pleasantries of self-discovery and we had the unique pleasure of talking with writer/director Valerie Buhgiar AND star Natascha McElhone about the origin of the story, the unique yet totally relatable nature of the character and so very much more....
To be able to affect real change in ones life, it often takes a radical change in perspective...
On this episode we take a look at a beautiful new film that reminds us that it's never too late to look at life from a different perspective. Coming to VOD platforms this Friday September 30th, this is 'Carmen'
In a small Mediterranean village, Carmen (Natascha McElhone) has looked after her brother, the local priest, for her entire life. When the Church abandons Carmen, she is mistaken for the new priest. Carmen begins to see the world, and herself, in a new light.
This is a film that isn't afraid to revel in the simply pleasantries of self-discovery and we had the unique pleasure of talking with writer/director Valerie Buhgiar AND star Natascha McElhone about the origin of the story, the unique yet totally relatable nature of the character and so very much more....
When you need to make a story stick....it's important to think outside the box....
On this episode we are diving head first into a real and important story which has been presented in an incredibly vibrant way. The film is 'Eternal Spring'.
In March 2002, a state TV station in China was hijacked by members of outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal was to counter the government narrative about their practice. In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee. He arrives in North America, blaming the hijacking for worsening a violent repression. But his views are challenged when he meets the lone surviving participant to have escaped China, now living in Seoul, South Korea. Combining present-day footage with 3D animation inspired by Daxiong’s art, Eternal Spring retraces the event on its 20th anniversary, and brings to life an unprecedented story of defiance, harrowing eyewitness accounts of persecution, and an exhilarating tale of determination to speak up for political and religious freedoms, no matter the cost.
It's an incredibly vital story which just happens to be Canada's official submission for the upcoming Academy Awards. By having it's subject be an active participant in the telling of the story through testimonials and the art of the man himself via animation; Eternal Spring has an immediacy to it that is hard to look away from.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with director Jason Loftus to discuss the importance of the story and so very much more....
Eternal Spring is in theatres now.
When you need to make a story stick....it's important to think outside the box....
On this episode we are diving head first into a real and important story which has been presented in an incredibly vibrant way. The film is 'Eternal Spring'.
In March 2002, a state TV station in China was hijacked by members of outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong. Their goal was to counter the government narrative about their practice. In the aftermath, police raids sweep Changchun City, and comic book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, is forced to flee. He arrives in North America, blaming the hijacking for worsening a violent repression. But his views are challenged when he meets the lone surviving participant to have escaped China, now living in Seoul, South Korea. Combining present-day footage with 3D animation inspired by Daxiong’s art, Eternal Spring retraces the event on its 20th anniversary, and brings to life an unprecedented story of defiance, harrowing eyewitness accounts of persecution, and an exhilarating tale of determination to speak up for political and religious freedoms, no matter the cost.
It's an incredibly vital story which just happens to be Canada's official submission for the upcoming Academy Awards. By having it's subject be an active participant in the telling of the story through testimonials and the art of the man himself via animation; Eternal Spring has an immediacy to it that is hard to look away from.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with director Jason Loftus to discuss the importance of the story and so very much more....
Eternal Spring is in theatres now.
To boldly go...where the fans having been dying to go for quite some time....
On this very special episode we are letting our nerd flag fly as we glory in some classic Star Trek films which are now available for the first time in 4K!
We go to the start of it all as we dive into The Complete Adventure of Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Director's Edition which has all three cuts of the film together in the same place simply never having looked better.
In celebration of this release which is at retailers now, we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with producer David C Fein who has been with this film since it's original theatrical release. We talked about the work involved with this new cut, if it's ultimately the cut Robert Wise wanted and so very much more....
To boldly go...where the fans having been dying to go for quite some time....
On this very special episode we are letting our nerd flag fly as we glory in some classic Star Trek films which are now available for the first time in 4K!
We go to the start of it all as we dive into The Complete Adventure of Star Trek: The Motion Picture: The Director's Edition which has all three cuts of the film together in the same place simply never having looked better.
In celebration of this release which is at retailers now, we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with producer David C Fein who has been with this film since it's original theatrical release. We talked about the work involved with this new cut, if it's ultimately the cut Robert Wise wanted and so very much more....
Sometimes the music just has to move you in many different ways....
On this episode we're still playing catch up from TIFF as we dive into the joyous brilliant adventures of 'The Umbrella Men'.
Reluctantly returning to Cape Town to bury his estranged father, Jerome (Jaques De Silva) learns he’s been bequeathed the Goema Club, home to his father’s beloved minstrel troupe. The Umbrella Men are a mainstay band in the historic Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, celebrated every year since the early 19th century on January 2, marking the only day off Dutch colonists gave their enslaved captives from across the Indian Ocean (including South and Southeast Asia, Madagascar and Mozambique).
Along with the club, though, Jerome inherits his father’s enemies — chief among them rival troupe leader Tariq Cupido (Abduragman Adams) — as well as a million-ZAR debt to the bank. With the threat of the club’s foreclosure only weeks away, a desperate Jerome decides a bank heist, using the annual carnival as cover, is the only way to save the club — and his father’s legacy.
The Umbrella Men is one of those films that perfectly encapsulates why we go to film festivals in the first place. It was just fun and we got to have some more fun talking with writer/director John Barker and stars Jaques De Silva and Shamilla Miller about the origins of the film and so very much more
Sometimes the music just has to move you in many different ways....
On this episode we're still playing catch up from TIFF as we dive into the joyous brilliant adventures of 'The Umbrella Men'.
Reluctantly returning to Cape Town to bury his estranged father, Jerome (Jaques De Silva) learns he’s been bequeathed the Goema Club, home to his father’s beloved minstrel troupe. The Umbrella Men are a mainstay band in the historic Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, celebrated every year since the early 19th century on January 2, marking the only day off Dutch colonists gave their enslaved captives from across the Indian Ocean (including South and Southeast Asia, Madagascar and Mozambique).
Along with the club, though, Jerome inherits his father’s enemies — chief among them rival troupe leader Tariq Cupido (Abduragman Adams) — as well as a million-ZAR debt to the bank. With the threat of the club’s foreclosure only weeks away, a desperate Jerome decides a bank heist, using the annual carnival as cover, is the only way to save the club — and his father’s legacy.
The Umbrella Men is one of those films that perfectly encapsulates why we go to film festivals in the first place. It was just fun and we got to have some more fun talking with writer/director John Barker and stars Jaques De Silva and Shamilla Miller about the origins of the film and so very much more
The festival might be over but the work never ends....
While COVID may have taken us out for a good chunk of this years edition of the Toronto International Film Festival that doesn't mean we didn't catch some cinematic goodness while we were there. On this episode we look at 'Charcoal'.
Set in the Brazilian countryside, a family straining to care for their bedridden patriarch have their lives changed when a private nurse with a shady background offers a deal that's impossible to say no to.: put their elder to rest and host an Argentinian drug kingpin who urgently needs a place to hide.
The film had it's World Premiere at this last edition of TIFF and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Carolina Markowicz about the origins of the film and so very much more....
The festival might be over but the work never ends....
While COVID may have taken us out for a good chunk of this years edition of the Toronto International Film Festival that doesn't mean we didn't catch some cinematic goodness while we were there. On this episode we look at 'Charcoal'.
Set in the Brazilian countryside, a family straining to care for their bedridden patriarch have their lives changed when a private nurse with a shady background offers a deal that's impossible to say no to.: put their elder to rest and host an Argentinian drug kingpin who urgently needs a place to hide.
The film had it's World Premiere at this last edition of TIFF and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Carolina Markowicz about the origins of the film and so very much more....
There are some stories of 'true crime' out there that just can't shake their Canadianess....
On this episode of 'In The Seats With' we dive into some of the realities behind the most infamous string of bank and jewelry heists in Canadian history that have been put to the screen in the new film 'Bandit'
In 1985, Gilbert Galvan Jr (Josh Duhamel), a charming career criminal, escapes from a US prison in Michigan and crosses the border into Canada where he assumes the identity Robert Whiteman. After falling in love with Andrea (Elisha Cuthbert), a caring social worker he can’t provide for, he turns to robbing banks and discovers that he’s exceptionally good at it. Under the guise of a security analyst, Robert begins flying around the country robbing multiple cities in a day, eventually catching the attention of national news outlets that dub him The Flying Bandit. Addicted to the rush and money that provides his double life, Robert eventually turns to loan shark and reputed gangster Tommy Kay (Mel Gibson) for bigger opportunities. But with Robert’s notoriety growing in record time, he is put into the direct sights of a ruthless detective (Nestor Carbonell) who will stop at nothing to bring him down.
It's true crime; Canadian style and we had the pleasure of sitting down with the director of Bandit before it hits theatres this coming Friday. We talked about discovering the story, honouring all the real people involved and still keeping it's Canadian edge....even though it wasn't shot here...
Bandit is in theatres and on demand from Quiver Distribution this coming Friday September 23rd.
There are some stories of 'true crime' out there that just can't shake their Canadianess....
On this episode of 'In The Seats With' we dive into some of the realities behind the most infamous string of bank and jewelry heists in Canadian history that have been put to the screen in the new film 'Bandit'
In 1985, Gilbert Galvan Jr (Josh Duhamel), a charming career criminal, escapes from a US prison in Michigan and crosses the border into Canada where he assumes the identity Robert Whiteman. After falling in love with Andrea (Elisha Cuthbert), a caring social worker he can’t provide for, he turns to robbing banks and discovers that he’s exceptionally good at it. Under the guise of a security analyst, Robert begins flying around the country robbing multiple cities in a day, eventually catching the attention of national news outlets that dub him The Flying Bandit. Addicted to the rush and money that provides his double life, Robert eventually turns to loan shark and reputed gangster Tommy Kay (Mel Gibson) for bigger opportunities. But with Robert’s notoriety growing in record time, he is put into the direct sights of a ruthless detective (Nestor Carbonell) who will stop at nothing to bring him down.
It's true crime; Canadian style and we had the pleasure of sitting down with the director of Bandit before it hits theatres this coming Friday. We talked about discovering the story, honouring all the real people involved and still keeping it's Canadian edge....even though it wasn't shot here...
Bandit is in theatres and on demand from Quiver Distribution this coming Friday September 23rd.
It's hard to believe that things could get creepier....but there is it is....
On this episode we pull something out of our work at this year's installment of the Toronto International Film Festival as we dive into the warped world of 'Pearl' which is playing in theatres now.
Before 'X' we travel to the early days of this saga as we join our heroine trapped on her family’s isolated farm, asPearl (Mia Goth) must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she’s seen in the movies, Pearl’s ambitions, temptations, and repressions all collide.
This new chapter takes terror and bends it to some brand new places as Writer/Director Ti West takes us on a ride we'll wish we never quite got on in the first place as it's downright unsettling and one audiences aren't soon to forget.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with actor David Corenswet who played 'The Projectionist' in the film and we talked about how he got the job and building a character in this truly unique and warped world.
'Pearl' is playing in theatres now.
It's hard to believe that things could get creepier....but there is it is....
On this episode we pull something out of our work at this year's installment of the Toronto International Film Festival as we dive into the warped world of 'Pearl' which is playing in theatres now.
Before 'X' we travel to the early days of this saga as we join our heroine trapped on her family’s isolated farm, asPearl (Mia Goth) must tend to her ailing father under the bitter and overbearing watch of her devout mother. Lusting for a glamorous life like she’s seen in the movies, Pearl’s ambitions, temptations, and repressions all collide.
This new chapter takes terror and bends it to some brand new places as Writer/Director Ti West takes us on a ride we'll wish we never quite got on in the first place as it's downright unsettling and one audiences aren't soon to forget.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with actor David Corenswet who played 'The Projectionist' in the film and we talked about how he got the job and building a character in this truly unique and warped world.
'Pearl' is playing in theatres now.
There are so many ways to follow ones passions in this day and age....
We're in the thick of it as the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today and runs until September 18th in what is marking a genuine return to film culture as the cinematic world is flocking to our streets as we speak.
That's what makes this episode a special one as we've had a friend and a colleague who recently rediscovered his mojo for cinema as he's taken on a new job with the Toronto International Film Festival as Programmer of Digital Releasing as the festival has very deftly kept a little bit of the digital platform idea that we all got used to in the "pandemic" years and curated a selection of 24 films which will be available digitally all across Canada.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Norm to talk about what's going on, his new job the joys of finding diamonds in the rough of a festival lineup to share with the masses and the guarded optimism that the magic of the movies just might be back.
There are so many ways to follow ones passions in this day and age....
We're in the thick of it as the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today and runs until September 18th in what is marking a genuine return to film culture as the cinematic world is flocking to our streets as we speak.
That's what makes this episode a special one as we've had a friend and a colleague who recently rediscovered his mojo for cinema as he's taken on a new job with the Toronto International Film Festival as Programmer of Digital Releasing as the festival has very deftly kept a little bit of the digital platform idea that we all got used to in the "pandemic" years and curated a selection of 24 films which will be available digitally all across Canada.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Norm to talk about what's going on, his new job the joys of finding diamonds in the rough of a festival lineup to share with the masses and the guarded optimism that the magic of the movies just might be back.
We're in the thick of it now as the Toronto International Film Festival which is running from September 8th through to the 18th and as the cinematic world descends on our fair city, we decided to embrace our dark sides just a little bit.
One of the longest running (and most popular) programs in the festival is the Midnight Madness series that ranges from the macabre, the gory and the flat out weird.
In advance of the festival we had the chance to sit down with lead programmer for the Midnight Madness block; Mr. Peter Kuplowsky to not only talk about what's in store for the festival but the monthly does of Midnight Madness that have been and will continue to be happening down at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
We're in the thick of it now as the Toronto International Film Festival which is running from September 8th through to the 18th and as the cinematic world descends on our fair city, we decided to embrace our dark sides just a little bit.
One of the longest running (and most popular) programs in the festival is the Midnight Madness series that ranges from the macabre, the gory and the flat out weird.
In advance of the festival we had the chance to sit down with lead programmer for the Midnight Madness block; Mr. Peter Kuplowsky to not only talk about what's in store for the festival but the monthly does of Midnight Madness that have been and will continue to be happening down at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Styles of storytelling can collide in some pretty fascinating ways...
On this episode we're heading overseas for a little slice of weird with 'Squeal' which is on VOD platforms now.
It's the story of Samuel (Kevin Janssens) who is lost in remotest Eastern Europe, searching for his father. On the edges of a mythical forest, a minor road accident leads to a chance meeting with a pig-farmer’s daughter, Kirke (Laura Siliņa). Sam soon learns that his priorities must change if he wants to survive. Her initial hospitality is a smoke screen to capture him and make him a forced laborer on the farm. Alone, unable to speak the language, and chained up 24/7 with the pigs, he learns to adapt. Fortunately, a seemingly magical piglet gains Sam’s confidence and shows him the way to freedom and true love.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Aik Karapetian to talk about the origins of the story and so very much more....
Squeal is available on all VOD platforms now
Styles of storytelling can collide in some pretty fascinating ways...
On this episode we're heading overseas for a little slice of weird with 'Squeal' which is on VOD platforms now.
It's the story of Samuel (Kevin Janssens) who is lost in remotest Eastern Europe, searching for his father. On the edges of a mythical forest, a minor road accident leads to a chance meeting with a pig-farmer’s daughter, Kirke (Laura Siliņa). Sam soon learns that his priorities must change if he wants to survive. Her initial hospitality is a smoke screen to capture him and make him a forced laborer on the farm. Alone, unable to speak the language, and chained up 24/7 with the pigs, he learns to adapt. Fortunately, a seemingly magical piglet gains Sam’s confidence and shows him the way to freedom and true love.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Aik Karapetian to talk about the origins of the story and so very much more....
Squeal is available on all VOD platforms now
It's getting real...
We're on the brink of the Toronto International Film Festival which runs from September 8 to the 18th at theatres here in downtown Toronto and we needed to dive into the upcoming offerings with two of the best that our business has to offer.
In what would qualify as a micro episode of the "Untitled Movie Podcast" but is an extra long one for us, we sit down on the run (much like we would mid fest) on the patio space of our friends over at Elevation Pictures who served as an unofficially sponsor of the show to talk about all things TIFF.
Good times were had....many films (including ones from Elevation Pictures) were mentioned in a celebration of a return to film culture not only in downtown Toronto but all across the world...
It's getting real...
We're on the brink of the Toronto International Film Festival which runs from September 8 to the 18th at theatres here in downtown Toronto and we needed to dive into the upcoming offerings with two of the best that our business has to offer.
In what would qualify as a micro episode of the "Untitled Movie Podcast" but is an extra long one for us, we sit down on the run (much like we would mid fest) on the patio space of our friends over at Elevation Pictures who served as an unofficially sponsor of the show to talk about all things TIFF.
Good times were had....many films (including ones from Elevation Pictures) were mentioned in a celebration of a return to film culture not only in downtown Toronto but all across the world...
We can be reverent of and half a laugh along side nostalgia all at the same time.
On this episode we're going back to 1987 with a movie that takes it back to the 1960's and reminds us that no matter the era, good times are quite simply good times. On this episode we go 'Back To The Beach'
Acknowledging the years that have separated these two icons from their hey day, Frankie and Annette, have grown up and put aside their beach-partying lifestyle that is until they visit their daughter in Southern California and discover there's still some wild times left in them as the magic of the surf, the sun, the sand and the beach come back into their hearts.
Full disclosure, these beach movies from the 1960's were cheesy back then and even now with this revisiting in Back To The Beach...it's still pretty damn cheesy, but I can't lie that I was taken aback by the genuine charm of it all. It's a collision of the 60's and the 80's with acts like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Fishbone adding some musical flair and fun cameos from people like OJ Simpson all the way to Pee Wee Herman who gives us a hell of a musical number.
We got the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Lyndall Hobbs about getting the job, working with icons like Frankie and Annette, the humor of it all, it's lasting charm and so very much more....
Voices Carry....but they also entertain....
On this episode we're getting a little family friendly as we dive into the world of 'Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon' which is in select theatres now.
Borrowing from the spirit of films like Frozen & Moana; Ainbo: Spirit of the Amazon is the epic journey of a young hero and her Spirit Guides, "Dillo" a cute and humorous armadillo and "Vaca" a goofy oversized tapir, who embark on a quest to save their home in the spectacular Amazon Rainforest.
Fun for the whole family; Ainbo understands the importance of representation, enviromentalism and most of all, the importance of family.
In advance of its release in theatres we got the pleasure of sitting down with voice actor Joe Hernandez about his role as 'Vaca', the delicate nuances involved in being a voice actor, how it got into the business and bonding over a shared love of the professional wrestling business....
There are times in our lives where the questions are just as important as the answers....
On this episode we dive into a Finnish coming of age drama that just got held over in Toronto and is expanding to cities like Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton in the coming weeks. It's time for 'Girl Picture'.
Best friends Mimmi and Rönkkö have each other’s backs, always. They want to live adventurous lives, loaded with experiences and passion. Emma, on the contrary, has given her whole life to figure skating. Nothing gets between her and success. But when the girls meet, life opens new paths, and they all rocket in new directions. While Mimmi and Emma experience the earth moving effects of first love, Rönkkö is on a quest to find pleasure.
There's a simple and genuinely magnetic charm to this film that is hard to look away from and it makes it something that translates in any language for any gender.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the director of the film Alli Haapasalo to talk about the origins of the story, the craft of telling a personal yet still very visual story and so very much more....
Wading in the wiles of crippling debt can be a scary thing....
On this episode we're tackling an excellent little piece of indie cinema that is in select theatres now. We're looking at 'Emily The Criminal'.
Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a “dummy shopper,” buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring their business to the next level in Los Angeles.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with first time writer/director John Patton Ford about the origins of this story, getting someone like Aubrey Plaza on board as she works against type and so very much more....
People need people....
We can't lie, we dropped the ball on this one but that doesn't make it any less lovely a film. On this episode we dive into 'Ali & Ava; which is in select theatres across Canada and coming to VOD soon.
Ali and Ava, both lonely for different reasons, meet and sparks fly. Over a lunar month a deep connection begins to grow, despite the legacy of Ava's past relationship, and Ali's emotional turmoil at the breakdown of his marriage.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with star Adeel Akhtar about how he got to work on the film, the nature of the material and so very much more....
It takes a village to make some of our favourite TV shows and films and they deserve awards too.
On this episode we're going behind the scenes as it's Emmy season and all of our favourite TV shows are up for awards. One such award is 'Severance' with it's loaded ensemble cast which just had it's first season on Apple TV+ and it got that way thanks to the work put in by a very talented casting director; one Rachel Tenner.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Rachel to discuss the in's and outs of the casting business, the importance of personal relationships and so very much more....
The cinematic experience just got that much more intense....
On this episode we dive into something that is simple....and absolutely terrifying. In theatres now, lets look at 'Fall'.
Best friends Becky and Hunter find themselves at the top of a 2,000-foot radio tower.
We'll be the first to admit that on paper....this premise feels overly simplistic and a little silly....but once you get it on to the big screen it's a ride you'll never forget. In advance of the films release today we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the stars of the film Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner and co-writer director Scott Mann in two different conversations to talk about the origins of the story, roughing it in the desert with practical effects, the importance of making something truly immersive and so very much more...
Yeah it's true....the movie of the summer is actually streaming....
On this episode we had the unique pleasure of diving into a long storied action franchise that now has new breathe of life... Here we dive into 'Prey'.
Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, this prequel to the Predator franchise tells the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.
Prey gives new life to the genre with this new final girl spin and it's a hell of a ride. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Dan Trachtenberg and producer Jhane Myers to talk about the carving out unique space in this universe, crafting a strong female character and having a laugh about the pronunciation of some Canadian cities...
There are so many jobs in the realms of TV and Filmmaking that just don't get the appreciation that they deserve.
On this episode we are diving behind the scenes on the hot new fantasy show that just hot Netflix this past Friday. We're talking with composer David Buckley and 'The Sandman'.
From the warped mind of Neil Gaiman himself 'The Sandman' is pushing all kinds of genre boundaries making for something that many thought was unadaptable into the TV experience of the summer.
As a composer we talked with David about when he tends to get involved in the creative process, how hands on he gets to be with the likes of Neil Gaiman some of the challenges of composing for film and TV along with so very much more....
Sometimes when you stare into the heart of darkness that can be the filmmaking process, it can on occasion stare back at you....
On this very special episode we have a treat as look into the completion of story that has been decades in the making as 'He Dreams of Giants' is coming to VOD platforms tomorrow.
15 years after Lost in La Mancha (2002), Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe come back to follow Terry Gilliam's new (successful) attempt at filming 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote' (2018)..
For anyone who is an honest to goodness cinephile these deep dives into the process with a self professed madman like Terry Gilliam have been equals parts joyous and sad to watch as we truly understand what the creative process can take out of people.
In now the 3rd film that these filmmakers have followed Terry Gilliam down the rabbit hole we get something truly unique and special as we see the culmination of quite literally a life's work come to fruition.
We had the pleasure of sitting with co-director Louis Pepe to talk about the journey of it all and so very much more....
There are too few places out there in the world to celebrate the magic of music...
On this very special episode we look at the legacy of a place the celebrate the art of the music but the art of the instrument as well. On VOD Platforms tomorrow, we're talking 'Songbirds'.
The Songbirds Guitar Museum in Chattanooga Tennessee hosted the world's largest collection of vintage guitars. Covid-19's devastating blow to the music industry forced the museum to close. This documentary film explores the final hours and cultural impact of this special collection.
It wasn't a place that was just about the guitars but it was a place that showed you how to be a musician and appreciate the art behind it all.
We had the pleasure of talking with director Dagan Beckett (a professional guitarist in his own right) who started out as a fan of the place and was compelled to document the closing of the place as a capsule of what the place was and will be in so many people's hearts.
He talked about what compelled him to make the story, working under the gun like he did for it all, subsequently winning an Emmy for the film and so very much more....
It's not as far of a leap as we think from the page, to the screen and ultimately to our hearts....
On this episode we are diving into a little something for the whole family as 'The Bad Guys' is now available on VOD, 4K, Blu-Ray or DVD to watch in the comfort of your own home.
Never have there been five friends as infamous as The Bad Guys—dashing pickpocket Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), seen-it-all safecracker Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), chill master-of-disguise Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), short-fused “muscle” Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos) and sharp-tongued expert hacker Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina), aka “Webs.” But when, after years of countless heists and being the world’s most-wanted villains, the gang is finally caught, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal (that he has no intention of keeping) to save them all from prison: The Bad Guys will go good. Under the tutelage of their mentor Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade), an arrogant (but adorable!) guinea pig, The Bad Guys set out to fool the world that they’ve been transformed. Along the way, though, Mr. Wolf begins to suspect that doing good for real may give him what he’s always secretly longed for: acceptance. So when a new villain threatens the city, can Mr. Wolf persuade the rest of the gang to become … The Good Guys?
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the original author of these characters; Aaron Blabey to talk about the origins of these characters, how involved he gets to be in the creative process of a movie like this and so very much more....
It's so important to encourage the up and coming talent...
We pride ourselves on supporting Canadian talent on the rise here at "In The Seats With..." and today is no different as we get a few minutes to sit down with fast rising star Mercedes Morris to talk about her hot new show; 'SkyMed'.
SkyMed which is on Paramount Plus for our neighbors to the south and CBC and CBC Gem up here in the Great White North is a saga of high stakes medical rescues for the doctors, nurses and pilots in fly air ambulances and the relationship drama that filters out in-between it all.
Shot in Winnipeg, this is an intense ride that isn't take us to a random sound stage but to adventure in the great unknown. We had the unique please of sitting down with one of the stars, Mercedes Morris to find out how she got involved with the show, how it gave her the bug to want to learn how to fly, her love of basketball, the importance of giving back and so very much more....
Grief and depression can be a tricky thing....
On this episode we dive into a movie that tackles some pretty complicated subjects. On VOD platforms now it's 'All My Puny Sorrows'
Based on the international best-selling novel by Miriam Toews, All My Puny Sorrows is the poignant story of two sisters-one a concert pianist obsessed with ending her life, the other, a writer, who in wrestling with this decision, makes profound discoveries about her herself.
Full disclosure we were a TINY bit late bringing this one out of the box, but we had a real interesting talk with director Michael McGowan who has never been afraid to let the material he works on to go to some pretty heavy places.
We talk about what made him want to adapt this novel for the big screen and so very much more...
Good science fiction storytelling will leave you with more questions then it will answers....
On this episode we report in from the Fantasia International Film Festival which runs until August 3rd in Montreal. It's arguably the premiere genre (Horror, Sci-Fi, World) film festival in the entire world and today we have the unique pleasure of diving into something that just had it's World Premiere screening last night. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you 'The Artifice Girl'.
When an internet vigilante develops a revolutionary new computer program to combat online predators, its rapid advancement leads to serious questions of autonomy, oppression, and what it really means to be human.
This is a genuinely thought provoking and genius piece of low-fi science fiction that will have audiences talking long after they see the film. It's our favorite kind of science-fiction as a matter of fact because it gets the grey matter firing on some real world issues that are happening out there today and it shows the filmmaking world that Franklin Ritch just might be a force to be reckoned with the in the worlds of storytelling
In advance of the premiere we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director and star Franklin Ritch to discuss the origins of the film, the themes behind it, how he got his cast together and so very much more....
It can be a bit much at times....
On this very special episode we are diving into a piece of cinema that is available now on select virtual and VOD platforms that deals with some of the emotions so many of us out there are struggling with. It's time for 'The Enormity of Life'.
After his life hits rock bottom, emotionally despondent Casey (Breckin Meyer,) decides to end it all. But when a timely phone call with some unexpected news about a substantial inheritance forestalls his suicide, it sets off a chain of events that just may save his life including meeting a quirky single mother (Emily Kinney) and her precocious, yet troubled, young daughter (Giselle Eisenberg,), who happens to have an unhealthy obsession with mass shootings. When his bipolar mother goes missing, Casey enlists their help, along with his selfish, estranged sister, Missy (Debra Herzog). And together, through numerous jarring twists and emotional turns, they embark on a journey of hope and healing in The Enormity of Life is a tender, poignant dramedy about life, love and the pursuit of lost innocence.
There's a lot of poignant moments and genuine emotional honest in the film and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Eric Swinderman and star Breckin Meyer about the origins of the story and so very much more....
Icons almost transcend time itself....
On this episode we're looking at a new doc series that launches tomorrow on Fandor called 'Boston George: Famous Without The Fortune'.
Following its premiere, the company plans to drop one episode per week each Friday. In addition, Cinedigm will make each episode available on TVOD the day after it premieres and it's the story of Boston George (George Jung; who passed away May 5, 2021) was portrayed by Johnny Depp in the 2001 hit feature film Blow and appeared on The New York Times bestseller list in Bruce Porter’s Blow: How a Small Town Boy Made $100 Million With the Medellín Cocaine Cartel and Lost It All. Hitting the peak of his drug smuggling career in the 1970s and ‘80s, Jung was an associate of the Medellín Cartel and one of the world’s most notorious and wealthiest criminal leaders, Pablo Escobar.
The old saying that truth is stranger then fiction couldn't be more apt her as we get the chance to talk with the producers of the series; Georgette Angelos and Jordan Chesson about how they got the ball rolling on this series and so very much more when it came to keep a real life outlaw in line....
Sometimes you just get what you need....
On what could only be described as a micro-episode we get the pleasure of getting some time with writer/director Dean Fleischer-Camp to talk about 'Marcel The Shell With Shoes On' which is in theatres now....
Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family.
There is an emotional depth that works on so many different levels for this piece of cinema which is why it is resonating so well with audiences all of the world. We took part in a round table with the young director and he had this to say about the seemingly sage and philosophical bent that the character has as we join the round table....
Marcel The Shell With Shoes On is in theatres everywhere....now.
There are parts of our modern pop culture that transcend any kind of expected meaning....
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song is a definitive exploration of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen as seen through the prism of his internationally renowned hymn, Hallelujah. This feature-length documentary weaves together three creative strands: The songwriter and his times. The song’s dramatic journey from record label reject to chart-topping hit. And moving testimonies from major recording artists for whom Hallelujah has become a personal touchstone. Approved for production by Leonard Cohen just before his 80th birthday in 2014, the film accesses a wealth of never-before-seen archival materials from the Cohen Trust including Cohen’s personal notebooks, journals and photographs, performance footage and extremely rare audio recordings and interviews.
Over the years 'Hallelujah' has become much more then just a song and this film beautiful explores that as we got to sit down with directors Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine to talk about the origins of the film, how the very nature of documentary filmmaking is almost like working with out a net, the power and legacy of the song among many other things....
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song is in theatres in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver this Friday July 15th. It expands across Canada through out the summer.
We can't lie, we're a sucker for some thought provoking science fiction....
On this episode we are traveling to the burgeoning film scene over in Cambodia to dive into the first ever science-fiction film to ever come out of the country. It's time to talk about 'Karmalink'.
In near-future Phnom Penh, the rich and privileged are augmented with nanotech, and new skyscrapers crowd the skyline. In Tralop Bek, a tight-knit community threatened with forced eviction, 13-year-old Leng Heng is having vivid dreams of his past lives. He and his friends are convinced they are meant to find a buried Buddhist statue to save their homes, and they seek out help from a street-smart girl in the neighborhood, Srey Leak. Together they follow clues across town and into the past, uncovering a link with a genius neuroscientist on a quest for digital nirvana. As Leng Heng’s dreams converge on the present, his very sense of identity begins to unravel. When it becomes clear that the stakes are higher than they imagined, the two friends must decide how far they are willing to go to find their treasure and the truth.
Conceived as a way to interrogate processes of neo-colonialism, and highlighting the alienating effects of technological progress, this film is a mind-bending tale of reincarnation, artificial consciousness, and the search for enlightenment. We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Jake to discuss the origins of the story, the challenges of making a science fiction film as his first feature (in a foreign country) and so very much more....
Karmalink comes to theatres in select US cities and on VOD in the US & Canada on Friday July 15th
The right of artistic expression is one that we tend to take for granted....
On this episode we dive into a very important and poignant documentary that reminds us of something we often taken for granted in a country like Canada. On VOD now, it's 'The Story Won't Die'
This film is an inspiring, timely look at a young generation of Syrian artists who use their work to protest and process what is currently the world’s largest and longest ongoing displacement of people since World War II. The film is produced by Sundance Award-winning producer Odessa Rae (Navalny).
Rapper Abu Hajar, together with other celebrated creative personalities of the Syrian uprising, a post-Rock musician (Anas Maghrebi), members of the first all-female Syrian rock band (Bahila Hijazi and Lynn Mayya), break-dancer (Bboy Shadow), choreographer (Medhat Aldaabal), and visual artists (Tammam Azzam, Omar Imam and Diala Brisly), use their art to rise in revolution and endure in exile in this new documentary reflecting on a battle for peace, justice and freedom of expression. It is an uplifting and humanizing look at what it means to be a refugee in today’s world and offers inspiring and hopeful vantages on a creative response to the chaos of war.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director David Henry Gerson to talk about what caused him to make this film, how he found such a diverse array of subjects and so very much more....
The Story Won't Die is on all VOD platforms now....
It's important to support the Can-Con....
On this episode and in celebration of episode #400 (We Can't Believe It Either) we're diving into some cinema from a Canadian talent who is making good in Hollywood and we dive into that 'Culture Shock'.
This thriller follows a young Mexican woman in pursuit of the American Dream, who crosses illegally into the United States, only to find herself in an American nightmare.
As a part of the 'Into The Dark' anthology series from Blumhouse Television, this is the feature debut of our very own Gigi Saul Guerrero who has gone on to make other films like 'Bingo Hell' which is now on Prime Video with tons of other projects in development.
While this has been available via Hulu with our friends to the south of us for quite some time, it's actually debuting on Hollywood Suite here in Canada, TODAY.
We got to sit down with Gigi and talk about how she got the job, the importance of the story to her how she connected to it as a Mexican-Canadian,, navigating the business in LA and so very much more....
It's those variations on a theme that can end up making something special...
On this episode we dive into the lore of Peter Pan with a some slight variations in 'The Lost Girls'.
It's the story of four generations of Darling women struggle with returning to reality following their adventures with Peter Pan in Neverland. Like her grandmother and her mother Jane before her, Wendy must break Pan's spell and uncover what’s real in a world full of fantasy.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Livia De Paolis about the origins of the film, the themes in it all, how she got started and so very much more....
'The Lost Girls' is on VOD platforms and in select theatres now.
It's a special thing when you manage to get genuinely surprised....
On this episode we dive into a truly joyful piece of cinema that is in theatres this coming Friday July 1st. It's time to scroll through 'Mr. Malcolm's List'.
When Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) is jilted by London’s most eligible bachelor, Mr. Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) because she fails to meet an item on his list of requirements for a bride, she's humiliated and determined to exact revenge. She convinces her friend Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) to play the role of his ideal match. Soon, Mr. Malcolm wonders whether he’s found the perfect woman...or the perfect hoax.
While you could call this 'Jane Austen Fan Fiction' (or guest today does) this is so more as it has a genuinely sharp sense of humor to it while still respect the romance angle of it all. It's exceptionally smart and is a love story that won't bore the guys who get dragged to the theatre by the girlfriend to see it.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Emma Holly Jones to talk about the origins of the story, making something that is true to the genre but still very self aware at the same time and so very much more...
You always have to marvel at the strength and resolve of the human spirit...
On this episode we dive into a story that we can barely wrap our heads around, and we witnessed it happen. We're talking about 'The Long Rider'.
When Filipe Masetti Leite leaves his adoptive home of Canada, he sets out on an epic quest to ride
from Calgary to his family's home in Brazil - and later beyond - entirely on horseback.
Inspired by Aimé Tschiffely's 1925 equestrian journey from Argentina to New York, Filipe's 8-year odyssey of over 25,000 kms across twelve international borders, sees the young immigrant battle intense heat, drought, speeding transport trucks, nature's wrath and corrupt border guards on his history-making long ride home.
Culled from over 500 hours of never-before-seen footage, The Long Rider deals with the issue of chronic loneliness, and the insensitive and restrictive nature of international borders, but is above all an inspirational and emotional story of the most daring and epic proportions.
It's an amazingly inspirational story that comes to us at a time when we desperately need them. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Sean Cisterna to find out how he discovered this story, how you can direct something that was mostly shot by his actual subject and so very much more...
Diverse voices tell diverse stories....
On this episode we are headed up to Nunavut on the brink of an alien invasion in 'Slash/Back' which is in select theatres and available on all VOD platforms now.
When Maika and her ragtag friends discover an alien invasion in their tiny arctic hamlet, it's up to them to save the day. Utilizing their makeshift weapons and horror movie knowledge, the aliens realize you don't mess with girls from Pang.
It's an alien invasion through the eyes of a rag tag group of young Indigenous girls and it couldn't be more fun
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Nyla Innuksuk about the origins of the story and so very much more....
You can't regulate human nature....
On this episode we're diving into the very unique new piece of science-fiction that is available on VOD platforms now; this is 'Guidance'.
During a trip to the country, a young couple use 'Guidance', a device made to create enlightened people. But, as time passes, they subvert Guidance to manipulate and lie-- hoping to save what they are afraid of losing the most: each other.
This is a thoughtful piece of science-fiction that will have you talking long after the credits roll. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Neysan Sobhani to talk about the origins of the film, working in Chinese and so very much more...
It's hard to walk a mile in someone else's shoes until you get a sense of what they've had to go through...
Fresh off it's world premiere, we get the chance to dive into the brand new documentary 'An Act Of Worship'.
An Act of Worship is a polyphonic portrait of the last 30 years of Muslim life in America. Told through the lens of Muslims living in the United States, the film offers a counter-narrative of pivotal moments in U.S. history and explores the impact of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policy on young Muslims who came of age after 9/11. Due to their first-hand knowledge and intimate access to the Muslim community, the filmmaking team is able to take charge of the account, which has previously been shaped by outsiders. This film opens a window into the world of Muslim Americans through collective memory.
To say that this film is a poignant and important watch to even get the sense of what it means to be a Muslim in America is an understatement. It's shocking, it's painful and it makes sure that you can't look away.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Nausheen Dadabhoy about her inspiration for the film and so very much more...
Love is rarely pretty but it is always honest...
On this episode we have the unique pleasure of sitting down with the writer/director/star of Cha Cha Real Smooth; Cooper Raiff.
Fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old Andrew (Cooper Raiff) is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. But if there’s one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it’s how to get a party started, which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino (Dakota Johnson), and her daughter, Lola (Vanessa Burghardt), he finally discovers a future he wants — even if it might not be his own.
This film is simply a fantastic representation of family, love and the things we we're willing to do for it all no matter how long it lasts.
After winning the dramatic audience award at this past Sundance Film Festival it is now the perfect film to curl up with and watch on Apple TV+. No matter who you are and where you come from this movie will hit you right in the sweet spot which is what good story telling is just supposed to do.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Cooper to ask about the origins of the film, giving honest representations on screen, what got him into this business and so very much more...
Cha Cha Real Smooth is streaming now on Apple+.
It's memories of those beloved family vacations that always bring out the strongest emotions....
On this episode we are diving into the very first original scripted show to be shot in Canada for Prime Video; it's 'The Lake'
This cottage country comedy follows Justin (Jordon Gavaris) as he returns from living abroad after a break-up with his long-term partner, in the hope of reconnecting with the biological daughter that he gave up for adoption in his teens. His plans to create new memories with his city-loving daughter Billie at the idyllic lake from his childhood go awry when he finds out his father left the family cottage to his "picture-perfect" stepsister, Maisy-May. In addition, the series was shot in Northern Ontario.
We had the distinct pleasure of talking with star and Ontario's own Jordan Gavaris on how he got the show, shooting in lockdown in Northern Ontario as home grown talent, the unique nature of the material which manages to be equal parts hilarious and heartfelt and so very much more....
It's the music that helps to keep stories turning....
On this episode we dive into a genius piece of television currently streaming on Apple+; today we look into 'Pachinko'.
Based on the New York Times bestseller, 'Pachinko' is the sweeping saga that chronicles the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations as they leave their homeland in an indomitable quest to survive and thrive.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with composer Nico Mulhy to talk about his work on this show and so very much more...
If you haven't already...what are you waiting for?
On this episode we'll admit we're a little behind on this one BUT as the genius of Everything, Everywhere Always At Once' is now available for rent and purchase on VOD Platforms now we have a unique conversation to share with you.
We got the pleasure of talking with the one and only Ke Huy Quan; the one and only Short Round from 'Temple of Doom' and Data from 'The Goonies has come out of retirement in a genius way with this role from the directing team of the Daniels.
We asked him about what brought him back to acting, still being active in the film business for all these years and so very much more.
The coming of age story is familiar, but when we're presented with a twist it can make for one of the best movies of the year.
On this episode we talk with the team behind the brilliant 'Tahara' that opened last week in NYC and is rolling out across the country.
Carrie Lowstein (Madeline Grey DeFreece) and Hannah Rosen (Rachel Sennott, Shiva Baby) have been inseparable for as long as they can remember. When their former Hebrew school classmate, Samantha Goldstein, commits suicide, the two girls go to her funeral as well as the "Teen Talk-back" session designed to be an opportunity for them to understand grief through their faith. But, after an innocent kissing exercise turns Carrie's world inside out, the best friends find themselves distracted by the teenage complications of lust, social status, and wavering faith.
To put it simply, 'Tahara' is indie cinema at its finest. We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with director Olivia Peace (who came in late as she was driving someone to the airport) writer Jess Zeidman and star Madeline Grey Defreece about the origins of the story and so very much more....
Finding your place in a new home, in a new country no less is never easy...
Quickening is the story of a young Pakisnati-born young woman navigates her coming-of-age story while being a new comer to Canada.
After a successful festival and theatrical run; Quickening is available on all VOD platforms now. We had the pleasure of talking with writer/director Haya Waseem about the origins of the story, the making of the film and so very much more...
It's always terrible important to support future generations...
On this episode we're looking ahead at the state of the Canadian film industry in a very special way as we dive into the Future of Film Showcase which is running both at the Scotiabank Theatres and online from June 17th-25th.
Future of Film Showcase (FOFS)returns for its ninth year this June 17-25, 2022. The hybrid festival will showcase 14 short films in-person at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto on June 19, 2022 from the next generation of great Canadian filmmakers, all of whom are 40 and younger. After nine years of exclusively screening short films, FOFS will introduce an opening night feature film to its programming this year. The opening night feature will screen alongside two additional shorts. Those eager to participate in-person can attend panels, workshops, screenings and a special keynote presentation at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto. FOFS’s short film programming will also be streaming on CBC Gem beginning on June 20, 2022 and available for free to audiences across Canada.
FOFS supports emerging Canadian filmmakers by providing them with a platform that celebrates their art alongside an audience as unique as they are, and allows filmmakers to network, cultivate, and share their talent through an annual film festival and professional development events throughout the year.
This is a fantastic event and we had the pleasure of sitting down with co-founder and CEO Eric Bizzari to talk about the origins of the festival, how it's growth had been step by step and so very much more....
To learn more visit fofs.ca
It's the lifeblood of all major metropolitan centers...
On this episode we're diving into something that gets used everyday all across the world in the startling new documentary 'End of the Line'.
Establishing the vital economic importance and grandeur of New York City’s historic subway system, the film dives into its dire modern-day troubles picking up in the late 2010s when flooding, overcrowding, power failures, and derailments have become commonplace. After a particularly bad spate of disasters in the summer of 2017, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proclaims a state of emergency and hires a new international wunderkind executive named Andy Byford to save the subways. Byford, an earnest Briton with an impressive resume, enters as a charismatic would-be hero.
As the political turmoil behind the subway’s decline comes into sharp focus, scenes in barbershops, bodegas, and bakeries show the frustration and devastation among business owners and residents who are caught in the middle.
Ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic furthers this, and brings to light America’s need to shore up its infrastructure in cities across the country and the inequality struggles that are central to this debate. A heartfelt and scrupulous exploration, this film poses the question: what happens when the lifeline of a city goes flat?
Emmett Adler is an award winning filmmaker and when we had the chance to talk with him about the issues in this movie we jumped at it and honestly anyone who lives in a major metropolitan city would to. 'End Of The Line' is an important look at the infrastructure that mass transit provides, how people need it and who those who work on it, genuinely love which is amazing considering how neglected we see it can all get.
End of the Line is available on all VOD platforms now.
It's important to work with some fresh talent...
On this episode we go behind the scenes of one of the hotter streaming shows on the planet in 'Marvel's Moon Knight'.
It's the story of Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac) who is hearing voices and having vivid dreams that he soon discovers is related to sharing a body with a mercenary named Marc Spector in this series created by Jeremy Slater and based on the Marvel character.
With some fresh talent behind the camera it's no surprise that Moon Knight is one of the hottest streaming properties going and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with an iconic and powerful force behind the look at the style of some of the best pieces of genre entertainment in recent years....and as an added bonus, he's Canadian.
Donald Mowat is an industry veteran who has won multiple awards in the field of hair and makeup and as the head of the team behind the style of 'Moon Knight' we asked him about the work that goes in to something like this that is already based on another IP, where the room for creativity comes in, working in TV again after years in film and so very much more...
To put it simply, the power of music can save lives...
On this episode we're taking a trip over to the Toronto Jewish Film Festival which is on now in our fair city until June 26th either online or at various venues across the GTA.
Having it's world premiere this June 15th at the Hot Docs Cinema it's the fantastic story of 'The Rhapsody'.
Composer and Holocaust survivor Leo Spellman always dreamed of telling the world what happened and at 98, he begins that journey. His musical masterpiece, lost for more than fifty years, and his secret wartime diary, revealed for the first time in this film, are the framework for his remarkable tale of survival. Fueled by fear, heroic resistance and raw guts, Spellman’s story is brought to life through stunning animation narrated by award-winning actor Stephen Fry. The documentary features powerful concert performances, rare archival footage, riveting interviews and an uplifting finale as Spellman's legacy is finally recognized in the Polish town where he so narrowly escaped death.
In advance of the world premiere we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director David Hoffert about how this story came into his orbit, crafting the narrative and so very much in this special and unique story of a man's survival through atrocity and how his art played a big part in getting him through it all.
'The Rhapsody' has it's premiere this June 15th at the Hot Cinema here in downtown Toronto as a part of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. You can visit tjff.com for more info and ticket details on this and many other films.
Just admit it....we've all watched it....
On this very special episode we are putting our ideals of film preservation to the test and owning it as we dive into the history of an important piece of cinema that changed the pop culture landscape in ways that are difficult to imagine. It's the 50th Anniversary of 'Deep Throat'...yeah THAT 'Deep Throat'.
Unsatisfied and unfulfilled, a young woman (Linda Lovelace), derives little pleasure from sex. She feels a lot of “little tingles”, but wants “Bells Ringing! Dams Bursting! and Bombs going off!” Her roommate (Dolly Sharp ) sends her to an unconventional therapist (Harry Reems), who discovers the root of her problem. Her clitoris is deep down in her throat! The solution: a technique known as “Deep Throat.” Once cured, she devotes herself to helping others to find the sexual satisfaction that she so desired.
With a new 4K remastering, 'Deep Throat' is kicking off the first leg of a multi city world tour as audiences are reminded of how a singular piece of cinema changed how the masses think and deserves to be preserved.
We had an extra long conversation with the son of the original filmmaker Gerard Damiano Jr (a filmmaker in his own right).,his sister Christar Damiano, and Damiano Films principal Robin Leonardi (daughter of legendary Porn Star and Activist Gloria Leonard) to talk about the restoration process, the legacy of the film, Linda Lovelace and so very much more.
To learn more about the impending world tour of the film or to find out how to #VoteThroat and make this film apart of the Library of Congress National Film Registry, visit damianofilms.com
The city has so many stories that we just never know about...
On this episode we get to talk a little bit about some Quebecois cinema (which we don't get to see much of on this side of Canada with Très belle journée(Very Nice Day).It tells the story of Jérémie, a bike courier who delivers anonymous packages and leads a marginal, solitary existence in downtown Montreal. When a new neighbour moves in, his life is turned upside-down and the fallout is drastic. In addition to being a unique and fascinating work, this film presents itself as a daring and successful creative exercise. It questions loneliness, the duality between personal identity and digital identity, as well as our ability to build meaningful relationships in the digital age.
Emerging from the Telefilm Talent Fund and the very first Quebecois movie to be shot on a cell phone, this one is a marvel to see and a great example of the kind of films being made by our friends in Quebec.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down co-writer/director Patrice Laliberté and star Guillaume Laurin to talk about the origins of the film and so very much more...
NOTE: The audio on their end for this wasn't perfect but we bumped it up the best we could.
In this business, its nice to still be surprised once in a while.
On this episode we are deep in the lands of Video On Demand as we look at the new teen horror/comedy 'Unhuman'.
The dead will have this club for breakfast. Blumhouse Television and EPIX bring you the story of a high school field trip gone bloody awry. Seven misfit students must band together against a growing gang of unhuman savages. The group’s trust in each other is tested to the limit in a brutal, horrifying fight to survive and they must take down the murderous zombie-creatures… before they kill each other first.
While 'Unhuman' brings a lot of familiar elements from the genre it also has its fair share of twists that make the whole experience one hell of an entertaining ride.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with star Drew Scheid and co-writer/director Marcus Dunston to talk about the origins of the story, how they all got involved, the importance of the horror genre, why its even more important to try and have some fun with it and so very much more....
Grief and guilt can externalize itself in some powerful and shocking ways...
On this episode we dive into a real gem of Canadian cinema which is in theatres now; we're looking at 'The Righteous'.
'The Righteous' tells the story of Frederic (Henry Czerny) a grieving man struggling with his faith, who helps an injured young man, Aaron Smith (Mark O’Brien) who stumbles onto his property one night, claiming to be lost in the woods. Frederic and his wife (Mimi Kuzyk) invite the man to stay for the night, but Frederic soon begins to have doubts about this enigmatic stranger’s story - and his motives for being there. When Aaron asks Frederic to commit an unspeakable deed, it becomes clear that the man is not who he seems, and has been sent to test the very limits of Frederic’s existence.
This is a thrilling psychological piece of horror that is told with real beauty and precision from career character actor and first time feature director Mark O'Brien.
We talked about the origins of the story, getting it made, directing himself, getting accepted by one of the major genre labels in the world so that the entire world will see what quality Canadian filmmaking is all about and so very much more...
It's the one place you never want to be stuck...
On this episode we dive into 'The Middle Man' which is in theatres now as we sitdown and talk with writer/director Bent Hamer and Pal Sverre Hagen.
Frank Farrelli takes on the job as a middle man in the God-forsaken town of Karmack, USA, a community in a depression so deep that they need a middle man to professionally communicate more of the bad news.
'The Middle Man' is a delightfully deadpan affair that feels pulled from the minds of people like Terry Gilliam and Richard Ayoade. We had the pleasure of sitting down with both Bent and Pal to talk about the origins of the story, shooting in Canada and so very much more.
Sometimes you just have to speak the truth, no matter the personal cost.
On this episode we dive into 'Benediction' from writer/director Terence Davies as we get the unique pleasure of sitting down with star 'Jack Lowden'.
Benediction explores the turbulent life of WWI poet Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden). The writer and soldier was a complex man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War and was decorated for his bravery but who became a vocal critic of the government’s continuation of the war when he returned from service. His poetry was inspired by his experiences on the Western Front, and he became one of the leading war poets of the era. Adored by members of the aristocracy as well as stars of London’s literary and stage world, he embarked on affairs with several men as he attempted to come to terms with his homosexuality. At the same time, broken by the horror of war, he made his life’s journey a quest for salvation, trying to find it within the conformity of marriage and religion.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Jack to talk about how it got the job, the importance of telling this story and so very much more...
There are moments in our collective history that will forever be a mystery...
On this episode we wonder just what was on those tapes from the White House during the Watergate scandal in '18 1/2'.
In 1974, a White House transcriber is thrust into the Watergate scandal when she obtains the only copy of the infamous 18½ minute gap in Nixon's tapes.
Sure it's a 'what if' fictionalized story, but seeing this story intertwined with hippies, radicals, swingers and an awkward love story is actually what makes this pretty fun.
From the mind of writer/director Dan Mirvish we get the unique chance to not only see what makes this story tick but him tick as well as this film is a quirky mix of comedy and drama with some surprising faces that make this all work MUCH better then it actually should.
This films fast success will likely translate to the streaming world...
On this episode it's time to look at the smash hit which is now streaming exclusively on the Paramount Plus streaming service; 'Sonic The Hedgehog 2'
After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
The team behind the first film runs it back for a confident and very self-assured sequel. We got the unique pleasure of sitting down with Canada's own Lee Majdoub who plays Agent Stone along side the iconic Jim Carrey in the film.
We asked him about running it back, reflecting on this entire experience which happened almost entire in the bubble of the pandemic and so very much more....
When you run something back...it's gotta be a classic.
On this episode we are embracing the reboot of one of our favourite shows as a kid which is now dropping week to week with new episodes on the Paramount Plus Streaming Service; 'Yo! MTV Raps' is back.
Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios, 'Yo! MTV Raps' will be a comprehensive deep dive into the current state of hip hop, with hosted segments from renowned battle rapper Conceited and celebrated deejay DJ Diamond Kuts, live performances, cyphers and lifestyle content.
To put it simply this show is a fantastic blend of the old and the new and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with hosts Conceited and DJ Diamond Kutts about the early days of bringing it back and so very much more...
What is it about kids that just allows them to be so creepy?
On this episode we dive head first into the creepy undertones of 'The Innocents' which is in theatres now...
Four children become friends during the bright Nordic summer. Out of sight of the adults, they discover they have hidden powers. While exploring their newfound abilities in the nearby forests and playgrounds, their innocent play takes a dark turn and strange things begin to happen.
Think like Ingmar Bergman made 'Children of the Corn' and you've got this insidiously creepy piece of cinema. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Eskil Vogt to talk about the origins of the film and so very much more...
Grief can be more horrific then we give it credit for...
On this episode we get the pleasure of diving into a very unique one woman project in 'Faye' which is on VOD platforms now...
Still grieving the loss of her husband, self-help author, Faye, retreats to a cabin in Louisiana to gather her thoughts and work on her book. But her trip becomes harrowing when she is haunted by something far more sinister than her past.
A truly ambitious and terrifying character study that dives into the ideas of grief which may also be the first ever one woman film produced in the USA, we had the pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Kd Amond and co-writer/star Sarah Zanotti about the origins of the story and so very much more...
Sex isn't just a dirty business, it can be a pretty ugly one too...
This debut feature film from writer/director Ninja Thyberg is a journey into the Los Angeles porn industry through the lens of newcomer Bella Cherry (Sofia Kappel). Strong, self-confident and determined, Bella embarks on a mission to become the best at any cost.
Quite simply a fantastic piece of cinema and a powerful debut feature from both the director AND the star, we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with star Sofia Kappel and asked her about getting the job, having her first film be such a uniquely difficult yet also empowering one and so very much more...
'Pleasure' opens at the TIFF Bell Lightbox this Friday May 20th.
We all know the music business can be a killer...
On this episode we dive into 'Torn Hearts' which hits VOD platforms this coming Friday May 20th.
It's the story of two friends, rising artists on the brink of a big break, will do just about anything to realize their dream – including a pilgrimage to the legendary and reclusive Harper Dutch's (Golden Globe winner Katey Sagal) mansion in the hopes she’ll record a song with them. While their life-long idol seems intent to help, the visit devolves into a twisted series of mental and physical torment as the pair discover Harper - and each other - may have other motives. With no other choice and desperate to record a song, the duo must go to dangerous lengths to prove their dedication to their dream of becoming Nashville's next country music stars.
This is a lean and mean take on a familiar story that actually breathes some life into the story making the music business TRULY "cut-throat".
We had the pleasure of talking with Brea Grant about the making of the film and so very much more...
Just when you think the wheel can't be reinvented....
On this episode we're looking at a movie that turns the zombie genre on it's head. On this episode we embrace 'The Sadness'.
A young couple trying to reunite amid a city ravaged by a plague that turns its victims into deranged, bloodthirsty sadists.
Now on Shudder and available on Blu-Ray from our friends at Raven Banner Home Entertainment, 'The Sadness' is a gore filled ride that you won't soon forget.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Rob Jabbaz for a lengthy talk about the origins of the story, the zombie genre in general, continuity in film with A LOT of blood in it and so very much more...
Terror comes in all sizes and styles...
On this episode we are diving into the new thriller 'Escape The Field' which is on all VOD platforms now and is coming to DVD this coming June.
This movie takes us to a mysterious corn field that is seemingly endless with six strangers who seemingly have no idea of how they've gotten there. Stripped of all possessions, they only have six objects between them that could be the difference in unlocking this nefarious cat and mouse game that they find themselves caught up in at the whim of an unknown force.
It's a fun, self contained little thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from minute one. We had the pleasure of sitting down with the co-writer/director; Emerson Moore to talk about the origins of the story, shooting during COVID (in Ontario no less) and the importance of atmosphere in a story like this one.
There's nothing quite like revenge...
On this episode we've got a double does as we dive into 'The Last Victim' which is on VOD now, not only with its co-writer and director Naveen A. Chathapuram but also with one of its stars Tahmoh Penikett.
'The Last Victim' is a Neo Western thriller set in the American southwest, following Sheriff Hickey trying to solve the worst case he has seen in his small town, likely caused by a violent local gang led by a fearsome criminal.
Shot in Vancouver this is a gritty little piece of cinema that fans of any one from Terence Malick to Quentin Tarantino themselves will get a kick out of. We talked with Naveen about the origins of the story, working with a dream cast like this in the cold of the mountains and so very much more.
We also sat down with Tahmoh about his role in the film, the joys of working in the entertainment business and the legacy of 'Battlestar Galactica' which was a huge hit for him when just starting out and the pros and cons of carrying that kind of legacy into other jobs.
When true stories get adapted for the big screen...things get intense...
On this episode we dive into 'Nitram' which is on VOD now with director/writer Justin Kurzel.
In this film we meet Nitram (Caleb Landry Jones) who lives with his mother (Judy Davis) and father (Anthony LaPaglia) in suburban Australia in the Mid 1990s. He lives a life of isolation and frustration at never being able to fit in. That is until he unexpectedly finds a close friend in a reclusive heiress, Helen (Essie Davis). However, when that relationship meets a tragic end, and Nitram’s loneliness and anger grow, he begins a slow descent that leads to disaster.
Inspired by actual events that brought sweeping change to Australia's gun laws, this film is an intense watch and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Justin to talk about why he wanted to tell this story and so very much more...
The things that were have the same if not more value in our lives then the things that are coming up...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with writer, journalist and TCM host Alicia Malone to discuss her brand new book 'Girls On Film: Lessons From A Life Watching Women In Movies'.
As a champion and advocate for classic cinema we got to talk with Alicia about her inspirations for the book, talk about why classic cinema is so important in our lives, the importance of the film nerd and the pressure of actually getting to go inside the Criterion closet.
The truth will always be stranger then fiction...
On this episode we're jumping into some Apple+ streaming and the new 4 part docu-series The Big Conn“The Big Conn” is a four-part documentary series that tells the unbelievable true story of Eric C. Conn and his brand of corrupt government officials who conspired together to steal over half a billion dollars in the largest US government fraud in history. "The Big Conn" unfolds through two different lenses: Conn’s rose colored perspective of himself as a self-made James Bond versus the reality described by his family, peers, closest confidants, co-conspirators, government officials, federal agents, and a multitude of wives from around the world.
To say that this one is a wild story would be an understatement but given how popular these doc series are becoming these days it was fascinating to get a chance to dive into the making of something like this.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the writers, directors and executive producers of the series Brian Lazarte and James Lee Hernandez to discuss exactly that and so very much more...
Sometimes we've got to embrace the absurd...
On this episode we're taking a trip to 'Stanleyville' and talking with co-writer and director Maxwell McCabe-Lokos.
Stanleyville is the story of a dissatisfied woman who abandons her career and her family when she gets the chance to compete in a bizarre and dangerously flawed contest. The prize: a brand new habanero-orange compact SUV.
Think of the cinema of Luis Bunuel mixed with the Stanford Prison Experiment and a dash of Squid Game and you've got 'Stanleyville' which is a fine piece of Canadian filmmaking which we got to see at Fantasia last year and is now coming soon to audiences everywhere including a screening at the Revue Cinema here in downtown Toronto tomorrow night with a special Q&A hosted by yours truly.
We got the unique pleasure of sitting down with Maxwell to talk about the origins of the story, the challenges of filmmaking (especially during the pandemic) and the question on all of our minds....why was the SUV habenero-orange....
Sometimes we're a little late to the party....
On this episode we look at a movie which just had successful theatrical runs in NY and LA, with possibly more the come in the spring. We look at 'Wood and Water'
Newly retired from her church job, Anke dreams of spending time with her grown children—including her uncommunicative and elusive son, Max, who has been living for years in Hong Kong, and who is unable to join his mother and sister back in Germany due to the ongoing pro-democracy protests. In a daring decision, Anke, though suffering from loneliness and loss, travels to Hong Kong to find Max and perhaps also herself. The people she encounters, and her experience of the city help her to break down the inner walls she constructed years ago, and make way for a new chapter in her life.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Jonas Bak about his inspirations for this very personal film, the choice of shooting on 16mm and working with his Mum as his leading lady in this story.
Our stuff has a life long after we let it go...
On this episode we are still in the thick of it at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival we sift through the beauty of 'Scrap' which is having it's world premiere at the festival.
'Scrap' is a visual examination and meditation on the vast haunting spaces where our airplanes, cars, farm equipment and even cell phones go to rust. We get some insight on the beauty, the purpose and the inherent sadness that lies in those things that we leave behind and how putting a little effort into repurposing and restoration might just provide more new life then we can possibly imagine.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with filmmaker Stacey Tenenbaum about the ideas in the film, why it was presented so beautifully and so very much more.
You can check out 'Scrap' at the festival (or later this summer and fall when it plays theatres and eventually airs on TV) or you can check it out as a part of the Online Hot Docs package anywhere in Canada as of May 2nd for 5 days.
The discussion around art of all kinds will always be a subjective one, but this argument actually takes it too far...
We're back at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival as we dive into the film 'Images of a Nordic Drama' which is having it's international premiere today.
It's the story of a an art collector who champions an unknown Norwegian artist of whom he found a cache of his paintings which hadn't been seen for years. The problem however is that the works' depictions of poverty and prostitution go against the aesthetics of the art establishment in Norway and they push back on this collector and his struggle to get this artist known harder then you'd ever expect.
We had the unique pleasure of talking with director Nils Gaup about this unbelievable story that simple has to be seen to be believed.
You can check out 'Images of a Nordic Drama' at the festival or online starting May 1st for 5 days as a part of the Hot Docs online package.
Building a home for yourself in a foreign land is never an easy thing...
On this episode we're still in the thick of it at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with filmmaker Lina Rodiguez as we discuss her new film 'My Two Voices'
It's a quiet and intense experience as three Latin American women share their experiences of immigrating to Canada while reflecting on the lives they left behind them.
It's a film that is a reminder for the need for grace and tolerance as its vital for everyone to have an open mind and an open heart to everyone else's experiences in life.
We had to pleasure of sitting down with Lina to talk about her inspiration to make the film and so very much more.
Spring is in the air, and non-fiction is on the screens....
On this episode we're highlighting some of the films playing this year at the Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival. First up we're looking at the opening night affair' 'Into The Weeds'
It's the powerful story of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a former Bay Area groundskeeper who takes on a
multinational agrochemical corporation after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Adding to her award-winning body of work centered on our strained relationship with the natural world, Baichwal follows Johnson through his battle, setting his personal journey against a global environmental crisis.
This is truly a film that dissects and breaks down how we treat the land that we grow our food on not to mention the food itself and looks at the lack of responsibility we've had towards the natural world and the things we need to do to protect it.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Jennifer Baichwal to talk about the issues in the film and so very much more.
Check it out at Hot Docs or watch it when it opens theatrically on May 20th.
Just because we're not the target demographic, it doesn't mean we can't appreciate quality.
On this very special episode we look at the brand new animated show on the viewer support public broadcaster the 'Knowledge Network'
'Luna, Chip and Inkie: Adventure Rangers Go' launched on the network and on knowledgekids.ca this past April 4th and takes us to the fictional town of Eagle Creek.
The music-filled series will include great songs and lovable characters based on the well-known animated characters, Luna the owl, Chip the beaver, and Inkie the octopus, who have appeared in Knowledge Kids branding, books and video games since 2008. Parents can look forward to seeing age appropriate themes, humour that helps drive home early learning lessons, deep breathing strategies for when things go sideways and fun shareable stories to talk about as a family.
Set in the forests, mountains, lakes and ocean near the fictional town of Eagle Creek, the series is inspired by the rugged, natural beauty of the Pacific West Coast. In each episode, the trio of enthusiastic helpers tackle problems in their town, but not before they experience some hilarious flops that require them to look for different ways of unlocking a solution. Our heroes remind young viewers that even though they might feel overwhelmed as they face challenges, looking at the problem in a different way and having the resilience to try again are the keys to unlocking solutions.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Michele Paris who is the Senior Manager of
Children’s Programming at Knowledge Kids and Executive Producer on the series.
We talked about the origins of the characters, the development and structure of the show along with so much more....
'Luna, Chip and Inkie: Adventure Rangers Go' is on the Knowledge Network and on knowledgekids.ca
It's for more then just kids...
On this episode we dive into a multi national co-production that puts a unique spin on a story that hasn't often (or at all) been told. In theatres now, we talk 'Charlotte'.
'Charlotte' is an animated drama that tells the true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish painter who comes of age in Berlin on the eve of the Second World War. Fiercely imaginative and deeply gifted, she dreams of becoming an artist. Her first love applauds her talent, which emboldens her resolve. But the world around her is changing quickly and dangerously, limiting her options and derailing her dream. When anti-Semitic policies inspire violent mobs, she leaves Berlin for the safety of the South of France. There she begins to paint again, and finds new love. But her work is interrupted, this time by a family tragedy that reveals an even darker secret. Believing that only the extraordinary will save her, she embarks on the monumental adventure of painting her life story.
We've got a good old fashioned double episode here on this one as we had the unique pleasure to see this movie back at TIFF 2021 as we talked with director Tahir Rana and Eric Warin about making the film and more recently producer Julia Rosenberg about the complex nature of working in animation and how the form can be used for all kinds of stories.
'Charlotte' is playing in select theatres all across the country, now.
Laughter comes in any size...
On this episode we are getting our much needed laugh on as we dive into the 'New Wave of Standup' that is streaming now on CBC Gem.
Filmed during the 2022 Just For Laughs VANCOUVER festival, aims to showcase an entirely new group of Canadian comedians on the cusp of breaking out.
It's a nice and digestible little format (roughly ten minutes per episode) and we got the pleasure of talking with comic Nick Nemeroff who you may recognize from appearance on Conan and was even nominated for a Juno.
We talked about how he got involved in the series, life as a comic, developing material and so very much more...
Sometimes you've just got to laugh...
On this episode we're tickling our funny bone as we dive into the world of 'Jackass Forever' which can be streamed on Paramount Plus and is available on DVD and Blu-Ray today.
In this fourth installment the gang is going stronger then ever and we had the unique pleasure of talking to some of the newest members of the crew; Sean "Poopies" Mcinerney & Rachel Wolfson.
We talked about getting the call from Johnny Knoxville, how they embraced this world, why it's all still funny and so very much more...
We often forget how much a single image can actually tell us...
On this episode we're diving into a painful chapter in our world's history in the film 'Minamata'.
Celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) goes against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan in 1971. With the glory days of World War II far behind him, Smith has become a recluse. Between an impassioned Japanese translator called Aileen (Minami) urging him to go and a much needed commission from "Life" Magazine editor Ralph Graves (Bill Nighy), Smith is finally convinced to journey back to Japan to expose the devastating annihilation of a coastal community, victims of corporate greed and complicit local police and government. Armed with only his trusted Nikon camera, Smith must find the images that will bring this story to the World.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-writer and director Andrew Levitas to talk about the origins of making the film, the unique nature of diving into history, working with Johnny Depp, the importance of reminding the world that this story is still unfolding and so very much more.
It's important to celebrate our own....
On this very special episode we have the pleasure of sitting down with Jack Blum and Sharon Corder who are respectively the executive director and artistic director over at REEL Canada to talk about their work, the origins of 'National Canadian Film Day' how our home grown cinema has evolved in recent years, what makes a film Canadian and so very much more.
Visit the website here for more details on the many in-person or online events that are taking place for 'National Canadian Film Day' this coming Wednesday April 20th.
When life confronts you with change, don't fight it, embrace it.
On this episode we are getting into the nuts and bolts of film festival life and how it is ever evolving as we look at the Canadian Film Festival which is playing on the Super Channel up here in Canada nightly until April 2nd.
It is a fantastic platform for the wide array of truly diverse and unique Canadian cinema that is being produced in our country.
While the festival used to exist primarily in theatres, in 2020 they obviously had to "pivot" (that word will come up a lot today) and go to the Super Channel. While they do obviously hope to return to theatres one day, the benefits of being in a more virtual space are simply to hard to ignore.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down and talking with Bern Euler; the founder and executive director along with Festival Director Ashleigh Reins about the nature of evolving during these unique times, how Canadian cinema has evolved over the years, the necessity for growth and how the necessity of building a better mousetrap and not just going back to the way it was, just might be how the festival experience survives.
To learn more about the Canadian Film Festival, you can visit their website right here.
When you get to talk with someone who has witnessed film history....you just shut up and listen.
On this episode we have the unique pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Johnny Martino who came from pop music and off-Broadway to have his big breakthrough here with The Godfather as he won the role of Paulie Gatto.
We talked about his journey to the role, how most if not all of young Hollywood was going out for this movie, getting the pleasure to work with Brando and so very much more.
Don't forget to pickup The Godfather Trilogy on 4K Blu-Ray today!
Restoring a classic takes time...
On this episode we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of what is quite frankly one of the best films that has ever been put to screen; The Godfather.
With the new release of 'The Godfather Trilogy' on 4K Blu-Ray these classic pieces of cinema (yes even Pt. 3) have never looked better.
We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Andrea Kalas; the director of Paramount Archives and James Mockoski; Film Archivist and Restoration Supervisor about the pain staking, long and arduous process that was making these films look as good as they possibly could and truly celebrating their iconic legacy.
The best stories out there tend to come from honest places...
On this episode we're changing our lives one step at a time as we dive into the new film 'Run Woman Run' which is in select Canadian theatres now.
It's the story of Beck, a single mom who learns how to reclaim her dreams, family and honour her life, all thanks to an unlikely coach.
In more ways then one, Run Woman Run is a truly relatable and humanistic story no matter what back ground you come from. We Had the distinct pleasure of sitting down and talking with writer/director Zoe Leigh Hopkins about the origins of the story, why running can be so transformative and the inspiration that can pulled from the anxiety of meeting some professional peers along the journey...
Sometimes it's just gotta be about the ride...
On this episode we go down an empowering road of revenge with 'Alice'
Alice (Keke Palmer) spends her days enslaved on a rural Georgia plantation restlessly yearning for freedom. After a violent clash with plantation owner Paul (Jonny Lee Miller), Alice flees through the neighboring woods and stumbles onto the unfamiliar sight of a highway, soon discovering that the year is actually 1973. Rescued on the roadside by a disillusioned Black activist named Frank (Common), Alice uncovers the lies that have kept her enslaved and the promise of Black liberation.
We'll be the first to admit that this one...is a bit out there, but if you embrace the ride you get some perspective on the bad ass journey of this character. As we talked with writer/director Krystin Ver Linden I could sense a very empowered story that is trying to say something but also embracing the style of cinema at the time as we not only talk about civil rights, racial equality, but throw in a little revenge and Sam Peckinpah to remind us all that female driven storytelling can be anything it damn well wants to be.
It's so important to give Canadian cinema some love...
On this episode we dive into one of Canada's Top Ten films of the year at TIFF and a Canadian Screen Award Nominee that is hitting the Virtual Cinema side of TIFF this coming Friday; The White FortressLife, post war can be complex and when a chance encounter brings together two teens from opposite sides of life in post-war Sarajevo, a blossoming romance conceals their desperate and disturbing motives.
We talked with writer/director Igor Drljaca about the origins of the story, working with non-actors, the evolving nature of Canadian cinema and so very much more
Even on the best of days, family is complex....
On this episode we take a long hard look at the new film 'Donkeyhead' from writer/director Agam Darshi which is in theatres in Toronto, Regina and Saskatoon now before rolling out across the country.
It's the story of Mona (Darshi), a failed writer, carves out a life of isolation while caring for her ailing Sikh father but when he has a debilitating stroke her three successful siblings show up on her doorstep determined to take control of the situation.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Agam to talk about the origins of the film, making sure it was as representative as possible but also embracing the Canadian side of it all and so very much more.
It's important to tell difficult stories...
On this episode we look at 'Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor' which is in select Cineplex locations now and will be available on Crave as of March 25th.
Dawn, Her Dad & the Tractor is a the story of a transgender woman who returns to her childhood home (a dairy farm) in Nova Scotia to attend her mother’s funeral. There, family, friends and community members are compelled to confront their feelings about Dawn and we're reminded of the importance of connection, home and acceptance that we all crave in all our lives.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the writer/director Shelley Thompson and star Maya V Henry about the origins of the story, the importance of telling in this fashion and so very much more...
It must be a Monday because it's time for yet another installment of some 'Celluloid Management Oversight'
On this episode we are sitting down with actor, acting teacher and host of 'Robert Belissimo At The Movies' which you can find on YouTube and on various podcast platforms to talk about the Charlie Chaplin film 'City Lights' which is available to stream on the Criterion Channel streaming service.
'City Lights' is yet another chapter in the story of the Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) who struggles to help a blind flower girl he has fallen in love with.
We dive head first into the film and dissect all the obvious questions but also really get into the complexities of who Chaplin was as an artist and a storyteller as well.
There's nothing that translates on screen quite like action...
On this episode we dive head first into the new thriller 'Indemnity' which is on all VOD platforms now.
An ex-Cape Town fireman (Jarrid Geduld) wakes up next to his wife's dead body with no recollection of what transpired and all evidence pointing to him as the killer. Labeled the prime suspect, Theo quickly finds himself hunted by sinister forces and a notoriously ruthless deputy chief of police and embarks on a breakneck mission to uncover the truth behind his wife’s death before a terrifying conspiracy changes the course of a nation forever.
From top to bottom, 'Indemnity' is one hell of a thriller and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Travis Taute to talk about the film during it's festival run. We talked about the origins of the story, independent cinema in South Africa, shooting during COVID and so very much more.
Being a working musician is an achievement unto itself...
On this episode we are diving into the new documentary 'Peter Case: A Million Miles Away' that just had its World Premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
From his beginnings as a street musician, through his bands The Nerves and The Plimsouls, and into his Grammy-nominated solo career, we walk a million miles with the brilliant, elusive, sometimes infuriating, and always fascinating Peter Case. A gifted musician who had never found the widespread acclaim they deserved, but who had still managed to find a place in the unforgiving landscape of the music business. Peter Case is a unique and compelling artist with a fascinating life story both heartbreaking and hopeful, who had spent the past four decades steadfastly answering his artistic calling. A dynamic performer, a gifted raconteur with a master storyteller’s flair, a passion for social justice, and a ripping sense of humor.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Fred Parnes in advance of the premiere on the origins of the story, why Peter makes such a compelling subject and why musicians and particularly song writers like Peter have stories that end up being so damn cinematic.
When does the 'why' of collecting lose all meaning...
On this episode we dive into the world of collecting, geek culture and the love versus the 'why' of it all in 'Batman and Me'.
Darren Maxwell became addicted to collecting Batman merchandise in late 1980s Australia as a way to be a part of nascent geek culture. Decades later, Darren’s stuck with a room full of collectables and an identity he no longer recognizes. Yet a supportive partner, a fanboy best friend and a persistent need to belong make him unable to let go.
As collectors ourselves the film really gives an interesting glimpse at how the obsession of collecting and needing to be first to something can override the love of the content that you are collecting.
We had the unique pleasure of talking to director Michael Wayne about the origins of the film, diving into the particularities of the art of collecting and so very much more....
It's so important to be able to co-exist with the creatures around us...
On this episode we dive into the new film; 'The Wolf and the Lion' which is in theatres tomorrow.
After her grandfather's death, 20-year-old Alma decides to go back to her childhood home - a little island in the heart of a majestic forest. While there, she rescues two helpless cubs: a wolf and a lion. They forge an inseparable bond, but their world soon collapses as the forest ranger discovers the animals and takes them away. The two cub brothers must now embark on a treacherous journey across the wilderness to be reunited with one another and Alma once more.
It's a delightful family friendly affair that reminds us of the importance of co-existing with the creatures we share this planet with. We got to talk with star Molly Kunz about how she got the job, the unique casting process that she went though, along with the rewards and challenges of working with live animals.
When cool things happen....you've just got to go with it...
On this episode we have the pleasure of sitting down with one of the coolest working actors today, who just happens to be Canadian as we talk about his new film 'Donkeyhead' from writer/director Agam Darshi which is in theatres tomorrow.
It's the story of Mona (Darshi), a failed writer, carves out a life of isolation while caring for her ailing Sikh father but when he has a debilitating stroke her three successful siblings show up on her doorstep determined to take control of the situation.
Donkeyhead is a fantastic and truly humanistic story that we can all relate to which just exudes what modern Canadian storytelling is all about.
We had the pleasure of talking with the one and only Kim Coates about being involved with this film, some of the more iconic moments from his career and the joys of being able to share and be an genuine ambassador for all the rich talent that our country contributes to the movie business...
Anniversaries tend to sneak up on you...especially big ones like this...
On this episode we have the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Patricia Rozema as her film 'I've Heard The Mermaids Singing' has just had a brand new 4K restoration as is having a theatrical run at the Metrograph in New York starting on March 11th and the Alamo Drafthouse in LA on March 18th before expanding out across North America during the spring.
I've Heard The Mermaids Singing is a charming and whimsical story about a daydreamer with artistic aspirations, Patricia Rozema’s fanciful character study follows an amateur photographer Polly (Sheila McCarthy) as she lands a temp job at a Toronto art gallery run by elegant and sophisticated Gabrielle (Paule Baillargeon), who is also a painter. Polly is impressed with Gabrielle’s paintings, but as Polly gets to know Gabrielle’s lover, Mary (Ann-Marie MacDonald), and becomes entangled in their lives, she realizes that Gabrielle isn’t exactly who she appears to be.
Winner of the Prix de la Jeunesse at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, it's hard to believe that this charming Queer character study is celebrating it's 35th anniversary.
I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Patricia to talk about how a restoration like this gets kicked off, the legacy of the film, the brilliance of Shelia McCarthy, how the film has aged and the evolution of Canadian cinema on the world stage.
Monsters ARE real...
In this episode we dive head first into the terrifying realties that are in play in 'Take Back The Night'
Finding herself the victim of a violent monster attack, Jane launches a vigilante campaign to hunt the beast that tried to kill her. Jane’s efforts intensify, but her troubling history of drug use and mental illness bubbles to the surface causing her family, community, and authorities to question the authenticity of her account. Suddenly alone in her fight, Jane starts to doubt her own memory of the attack…to doubt if Monster exists at all.
Take Back The Night is a genuine powerhouse of genre cinema made on a shoestring budget and we had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Gia Elliott to talk about the origins of the story, the challenges and advantages of being a first time filmmaker as well as delivering a genuinely relatable story that is just creepy as all hell.
It's about so much more then just going fast...
On this episode we dive into the world of racing in a totally unique way with 'Rookie Season'.
Rookie Seasonforgoes traditional interviews and straps the viewer firmly into the driver’s seat, as it follows the highs and lows of Rebel Rock Racing during their inaugural IMSA season. A deeply moving and introspective account of what it takes to compete, this is a story of struggle and strife; of victories along the way; of defeat. It is a universal underdog tale that attempts to uncover the truth and the meaning behind the pursuit of one’s dream.
To say that this was an intense documentary would pretty well be an understatement.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Adrian Bonvento to talk about the origins of the film, how he pulled off some of the amazing shots we see inside of it and so very much more.
Rookie Season is in limited theatres now and on VOD/Digital on April 4th.
Good things come to those who wait...
On this very special episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Oliver Stone.
Shout! Studios, in collaboration with Altitude Film Entertainment and Ixtlan, will release JFK: DESTINY BETRAYED, Oscar®-winning writer and director Oliver Stone’s four-part deep dive into the ultimate American true crime murder mystery. Thirty years after his renowned film JFK, Stone takes viewers on a thought-provoking and eye-opening journey through recently declassified evidence in the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Subjects covered in the series include the early formation of President Kennedy’s foreign policy overview and his anti-colonial convictions, which put him in opposition to the Eisenhower administration, the CIA, and the Pentagon.
It's hard to believe that a story like this could get even more intense, but it does and then some as this four-part limited docu-series expands even more upon the story that we saw in Stone's recent doc JFK REVISITED: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.
We sat down with Mr. Stone to talk about what prompted him revisiting this story, it's historical significance, how many aspects of it are still playing out on the world stage today and so very much more...
Horror and Rock and Roll simply go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly...
On this episode we're throwing up the devil horns and getting a little narly as we take a look inside the new movie 'Studio 666' which is in theatres tomorrow.
It's the story of legendary rock band Foo Fighters move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album. However things go a little sideways when the afore mentioned history is a little more grisly then Dave an the boys anticipated.
Based on an idea from Dave Grohl himself, 'Studio 666' is really a fun romp that goes for it in the truest sense of the genre as it pays homage to the films that have come before it.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director BJ McDonnell to talk about how he got involved with the project, how a film presented by a rock band shouldn't strike fear in the hearts of filmgoers and how this whole project was very much a love letter to the horror genre itself in more ways then one...
Even on the best of days....legacy is complicated...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Producers Erik Nelson and Jewel Palovak who over saw the 'Diary of the Grizzly Man' from director Timothy Treadwell who's story was well documented in Werner Herzog's 'Grizzly Man'
We talk with Erik and Jewel about assembling this labour of love, the challenges of going through the archives, making sure these episodes stood apart from Herzog's film and so very much more...
The art of dedicating yourself to the 'bit'....never gets the respect it deserves...
On this episode we dive into the brilliant 'I Blame Society' from writer/director Gillian Wallace Horvat which is now streaming on Shudder in the US.
It's the story of a struggling filmmaker who realizes that the skill set to make a movie is the same to commit the perfect murder.
Blending reality and fantasy this is some stone cold satire that will send more then a few chills down your spine. We had the distinct pleasure of talking with Gillian about the origins of the story, why she had to play the lead and how some of her other work doing historical documentaries about other films (Her "Johnny Guitar" docs are fantastic) informed her very first feature here.
Confronting the past is never easy...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Jefferson Moneo to talk about his new film 'Cosmic Dawn' which is available on VOD platforms now.
After witnessing the alien abduction of her mother as a child, Aurora joins the UFO cult "The Cosmic Dawn". Now moved on from the cult, Aurora is forced to confront her past and pursue the ultimate truth about The Cosmic Dawn.
As with any good science fiction, this film isn't afraid to get a little weird. We sit down with Jefferson to discuss exactly that, including the origins of the story, some of the stellar casting in the film and how the story isn't afraid to embrace some of the weirder sides of what cult life would entail.
For all you science-fiction junkies out there who enjoy a little bit of a bent to your narrative this one is for you.
You can find characters from all over our great land...
On this episode we had the pleasure of talking with Director Jason Arsenault and co-producer Jenna MacMillian about their new film 'Wharf Rats' which is available on VOD platforms today.
It's the story of Hughie Hackett; who has spent his life doing as little as possible without actually doing nothing at all, squandering his potential. Frustrated that his Uncle Angus, known as the best Hackett fisherman in town, a reputation secured by sabotaging his competition, is about to sell off the family fishing company, Hughie forms a misguided plan to pretend that a simple-minded man is his long-lost brother, the key to his father's will.
This is a real reminder of the evolution that projects can take coming out of the Telefilm Talent Fund Program as 'Wharf Rats' was many things before it became a feature and we talk with Jason and Jenna about the origins of this story and so very much more...
In the business of hilarity...experience helps.
On this episode we had the unique pleasure to talk with one of the most hilarious individuals to ever come out of our country of Canada. We sit down with the one and only Colin Mochrie about his time on the new show 'LOL: Last One Laughing Canada'.
We talk with Colin about how he got involved in this contest show, if it was easy hat going in based on his previous experiences and the challenges of keeping a straight face while taking in some of the best mirth making that our country has to offer.
There are new episodes of 'LOL: Last One Laughing Canada' every Friday on Prime Video
Laughter at a professional level...can still be serious business....
On this episode we are diving into the brand new show on Prime Video that is bringing the laughter to the next level; 'LOL: Last One Laughing Canada'.
With new episodes every Friday, the premise is simple, 10 of Canada's premiere comedians are locked into the same room with one simple task. Make everyone else laugh...but keep a straight face yourself to win the prize the charity of your choice. Problem is that it isn't as simple as it sounds and it's all out war to make some funny with some of the best that have ever done it Canada.
In advance of the debut of the show we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with comedian and contestant Andrew Phung who you may know from shows like 'Run The Burbs" and 'Kim's Convenience' and we asked him about getting involved with the show, if you can even take notes from contemporaries in a show like this where you HAVE to keep a straight face, the intersection of comedy with professional wrestling and the complexities of running the triangle offense... ;)
The fight game and the game of life hold some striking similarities because it's not about how we are getting hit, it's about how we get up...
On this episode we have the pleasure of sitting down with director Josef Kubota Wladyka, his star Kali Reis (they both co-wrote the script) about their new film 'Catch The Fair One' which is on VOD platforms now.
This films tracks a Native American boxer embarks on the fight of her life when she goes in search of her missing sister.
This is an exceptionally well told story and we talk with Josef and Kali about the origins of the film, how they stayed true to the fight game and how a fight and a story have so very much in common.
Parenting a teenage girl can be it's own kind of 'elevated horror'...
On this episode we dive into a stylish piece of psychological horror which is now available on VOD platforms everywhere called 'A Banquet'
In this film widowed mother Holly (Sienna Guillory) is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. In an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs.
We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with director Ruth Paxton to talk about the origins of the film, the style of the film, working with her actors to craft something truly psychological and so very much more...
It must be a Monday because it's time for yet another installment of some 'Celluloid Management Oversight'...
This week we are sitting down with friend of the show, contributor at 'In The Seats' and editor-in-chief over at Screenfish.net.
On this episode we dive into 'King of Comedy' from director Martin Scorsese in the year 1983. It's the story of aspiring comic Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) as he attempts to achieve success in show business by stalking his idol, a late night talk-show host who craves his own privacy.
We talk with Steve about why he chose this particular Scorsese, it's relation to 'Joker', it's commentary before it's time on the state of popular media and so very much more.
'King Of Comedy' is streaming now on Prime Video.
Even on it's best days, the popular media landscape is kind of like the wild west...
On this episode we dive into the wild west that was popular radio and look into the rise of one of the biggest radio stations, not only in New York but in the entire world.
We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with director Mitchell Stuart who chronicled this massive rise as we discussed the challenges of digging through a treasure trove of visual archives, needing to upgrade the quality on them all, the gonzo nature of the radio business and how Z100 was ahead of the curve on being a content creator...
Variations on a theme are important...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of talking with actor Ben Miliken who is the star of the new action/thriller Run & Gunwhich hits digital platforms today and on DVD on March 15th.
After leaving a life of crime and violence, Ray (Ben) is a reformed good guy, enjoying a quiet family life in the 'burbs. But when his past is discovered, Ray is blackmailed into one last job to collect a mysterious package. After a deadly double-cross, he finds himself wounded and on the run from ruthless assassins who will stop at nothing to get what he has. Now, with the lives of his loved ones hanging in the balance and danger at every turn, Ray's only hope is to draw upon his violent past to survive.
While it's got elements we've all seen before, it's also a film with a surprising amount of heart which is where it really thrives and we talked with Ben about reading the script, what he wanted to bring to the part and the role of research and watching in doing the work of an actor.
The edict to 'Party On' will never die...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with director Penelope Spheeris to talk about the 30th Anniversary of 'Wayne's World' which has been re-released in a brand new Blu-Ray Steelbook Edition.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Penelope to talk about how she got the job, her connection to and the bridge between filmmaking on rock and roll that has defined her career and so very much more...
We're all looking for that 'juice' to help us get ahead....
It's been 30 years since Juicehit theatres and the game changed forever...
'Juice' is the story of four Harlem friends—Bishop (Tupac Shakur), Q (Omar Epps), Steel (Jermaine Hopkins) and Raheem (Khalil Kain)—dabble in petty crime, but they decide to go big by knocking off a convenience store. Bishop, the magnetic leader of the group, has the gun. But Q has different aspirations. He wants to be a DJ and happens to have a gig the night of the robbery. Unfortunately for him, Bishop isn't willing to take no for answer.
It was an iconic piece of cinema that gave the world Tupac Shakur and marked a genuine pivot point for so many African-American Artists in the film world. We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Ernest Dickerson about this new transfer, the legacy of the film and the performers involved with it and so very much more...
It's time for a little more 'Celluloid Management Oversight' up in here today as we've got even more movies to dissect and classics to determine.
We sit down with John Allison; the founder and lead programmer of not only the Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival but also the Dark Bridges Film Festival which is relaunching this summer.
On this episode we take it back to 1982 and dive into Eating Raoulfrom writer/director Paul Bartel which is streaming now on the Criterion Channel.
It's the story of a relatively boring Los Angeles couple who are sick of the amorality and filth that surrounds them as they find a way that's only just a "little" murderous to get out of the city and fund the restaurant of their dreams.
It's a gonzo and occasionally bawdy commentary on the decade of excess that preceded it and to say that the film needs to be seen in order to be believed is possibly the understatement of the week.
We sit down with John, dissect what this film had to say and why if at all it deserves to be called a classic
Family ideals are so universal.
On this episode we dive into something we were fortunate enough to see at this years edition of the Sundance Film Festival; 'Maika: The Girl From Another Galaxy' and talk with writer/director Ham Tran and his producer Jenni Trang Le.
Ham Tran’s Maika follows 8-year-old Hung, who is still coping with the death of his mother and having difficulty connecting to his father, when his best friend moves away, along with others in his apartment as a greedy landlord conspires to push everyone out so he can sell the place. One night, as Hung retreats to the roof to be alone and watch the night sky he witnesses an errant falling star hitting the ground by a lake near his town. Hung hops on his bike in search of adventure. He arrives at the crash site, and instead of a meteor, discovers an alien girl from the planet Maika, who came in search of her lost friend. As Hung helps Maika find her friend and get back to her home, she inadvertently helps Hung make new friends and mend his broken heart. But danger lurks everywhere, as Hung is not the only one who knows of his new alien friend…
We talked with Ham and Jenni about the origins of the story, working with kids, how universal some stories truly are and the importance of playtime and bubble tea in a production budget among other things...
Evolution is a part of life...
We're trying something a little different around here...
Every Monday we're engaging in a little 'Celluloid Management Oversight'...
What it basically means is that if you are any where from a film professional to simply a film fan, there's always going to be movies that are deemed classics....that you've just never seen....until now of course.
Every Monday we're going to be talking with a wide array of industry professionals and look at the 'classic' films that they haven't seen....and determine what not only makes a classic, but if what we just watched actually is one.
On this first episode we talk with radio host extraordinare and host of the Rockman Power Hour Podcast Mr. Jason Lee Rockman.
We go to the 1980's and look at Alan Parker's 'Angel Heart' starring Mickey Rourke, Lisa Bonet and Robert De Niro which is streaming on Starz in Canada and break it all down.
When navigating this crazy business of show, there's no better to have your back then family...
On this episode we dive into the hilarity that is family and the new movie 'The Fabulous Filipino Brothers' which is on VOD platforms tomorrow as we talk with writer/director and star Dante Basco.
Broken up into vignettes, it's the story of four brothers in a close knit family as they prepare for the ultimate Filipino family event - a wedding.
It's a film that is filled with fun and with honesty as it speaks to the importance of storytellers to tell what you know. We had the pleasure of sitting with Dante to talk about the inspiration for the film, working with family in show business and the ride the film has taken since it's debut last year at SXSW...
You've gotta represent for the home grown talent...
On this episode we sit down with writer/director Laura Adamo to talk about her debut feature 'The Wishing Tree' which is hitting VOD platforms tomorrow.
It's a story of disappointment and pain, Julia (Adamo) leaves behind her crumbling marriage and sets off alone on an arduous hiking expedition in a quest for answers, healing and peace—searching for the fabled Wishing Tree, believed to bring good fortune to those who come to ask. On the trail, Julia encounters Caleb (Roberts) and Ryan (Vincent) lost in the woods, both struggling with their own demons of denied sexuality and addiction. Thrown together unexpectedly, they embark on a soul-searching journey of transformation, discovering that hope is sometimes found in the most unlikely ways.
It's a deeply personal story as Adamo pours herself into this story and we have the distinct pleasure to sit with her to talk about the origins of the story, the challenges of being a first time director, the shared joy of the cinema of Jean Marc Vallee and so very much more...
It's important to be open to new ideas...
On this episode we are diving back into the wiles that is this year's edition of the Slamdance Film Festival and taking a look at 'The Severing' from writer/director Mark Pellington.
To put it simply; 'The Severing' is a dance film that is a personal and cathartic expression of loss and grieving set to dance from choreographer Nina McNeely.
It won't be for everyone this is for sure, but it is a fascination pieces of art that has been thrust on to the screen and we had the distinct pleasure to sit down with Mark and talk about his inspiration for the film, why an established Hollywood vet like himself is at Slamdance and the importance of making pieces like this one....quite simply because you can.
Grief and family are always complex...
On this episode of "In The Seats With..." we are sliding over to the National Geographic section over on the Disney Plus service to look at the new documentary 'Torn'.
Widely hailed as the greatest mountaineer of his generation, Alex Lowe was a towering figure in the world of outdoor sports. But he loomed even larger for his oldest son, Max, who was only 11 in 1999 when Alex was buried by an avalanche along with cameraman David Bridges while attempting to ski the north face of Mount Shishapangma in the Tibetan Himalaya. Sixteen years after their deaths, Lowe’s and Bridges’ bodies were found by two climbers attempting the same route, and in the following months, Lowe’s family journeyed to the remote mountain to recover them.
Grief can loom large over a family, especially when its patriarch casts such a big shadow. On this episode we got the distinct pleasure of sitting down with subject and director of the film Max Lowe. We talked about his process, diving back into such a painful event from his past, any catharsis he pulled from it and so very much more...
Icons don't fit into molds...then tend to break them
On this episode we're diving into the life of someone who broke the mold and was a unique and powerful force in the music and pop culture ethos in 'Poly Strene: I Am A Cliche'.
The death of punk icon and X-Ray Spex front-woman Poly Styrene sends her daughter on a journey through her mother's archives in this intimate documentary.
We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with first time director and one of the subjects of the film, Celeste Bell.
We talked about the pressure of diving into her mothers legacy, shining the focus on herself and how Poly lived her life in defiance of convention in her art and in her life.
It's so imperative to support new talent...
That's a them on today's episode as we talk with writer/director Avalon Fast whose film 'Honeycomb' just had it's world premiere at Slamdance which is running entirely online until this Sunday Feb 6th.
'Honeycomb' tells the tale of five small-town girls abandon their mundane lives and move into an abandoned cabin. Growing increasingly isolated, their world becomes filled with imagined rituals and rules but the events of one summer night threaten to abruptly end their age of innocence forever.
You can't teach talent and even watching this no budget feature we see skill that far surpasses her years and we talk with Avalon about the origins of the story, the challenges of no-budget filmmaking, her influences and so very much more....
Icons are people too...
On this very special episode of 'In The Seats With...' the boss gets a mic drop kind of a moment.
In celebration of the release of 'Clerk' which is available on all VOD platforms now we got to talk with the man himself and subject of the film...the one and only Kevin Smith.
We talked about the origins of the film, why director Michael Ingram was the right guy to take the reigns on this, the highs and lows of his life, how filmmaking turned into something attainable for him, why 'Jay & Silent Bob Strikes Back' keeps surprising him and so very much more...
You can never really judge a book by its cover, same goes for relationships and especially family...
On this episode we look at a film that tackles the ever evolving nature of family in the new film in select US theatres tomorrow and on VOD on Feb 1st 'They/Them/Us'.
Charlie and Lisa, two divorced parents in their 40’s, find themselves at a midlife crossroads. Both are single parents and they have four complicated teenagers between them: one non-binary gender kid, one who orders his weed through the mail, one very outspoken one, and last but not least, the “good” child. Lisa and Charlie meet on a dating site, fall madly in love and move in together way too soon. They/Them/Us is the story of how they manage the challenges of parenting some very demanding teenagers while trying to juggle an adult sexual relationship.
Starring Joey Slotnick and Amy Hargreaves, this is a unique story of family, relationships and how what we show to the world isn't necessarily what's going on inside of us all.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Jon Sherman and his co-screenwriter Melissa Vogley Woods to get into the thick of this story and how it was born very much from a place of honesty...
Genius comes when you least expect it.
On this episode we talk with the indomitable Joanna Hogg about her latest film 'The Souvenir Part II"
This film takes us to the aftermath of her tumultuous relationship with a charismatic and manipulative older man, Julie begins to untangle her fraught love for him in making her graduation film, sorting fact from his elaborately constructed fiction.
We had the pleasure of talking with Joanna about this marvelous conclusion to her incredibly engrossing saga, why it had to be two parts, the importance of discovering new talent and so very much more....
Unexpected laughter is always the best medicine...
On this episode we dive into some family friendly sitcom worlds with 'Overlord and the Underwoods'.
In "Overlord and the Underwoods" an evil overlord, fleeing from his home planet, takes refuge with a distant earth cousin and her suburban family. Comic adventures ensue.
Sometimes in life you find something that just has genius in its simplicity, it's rare to get a piece of television that is genuinely family friendly but also drop dead hilarious at the same time, and there are 20 episodes of it all streaming now on CBC Gem.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer and showrunner Anthony Q Farrell and we talked about the origins of the story, the challenges of being a show runner, what he learned in writing rooms like 'The Office' and so very much more...
When you are working outside the system....it's important to mix it up...
On this episode we're diving into 'I Challenger' which is available on VOD Platforms now...
Sid, a perennial kid who spends his days playing video games and selling weed, is about to be evicted. Desperate to change his life, he enlists his gaming buddy Logan in a dangerous scheme involving the livestream of a self-burial video.
It's a stoner-buddy-rom-com...with a bit of a twist. We had the pleasure of talking with writer/director Paul Boyd and star James Duval about the origins of the story, doing something with a little bit of a bent and forcing audiences to stay on their heels with your story...
Icons are funny too...
On this very special episode we have the distinct pleasure to talk with the iconic Malcolm McDowell about his new show 'Son of a Critch' which is on CBC Gem now.
This is a coming of age story set in St John's Newfoundland of 11 Year Old Mark, who is much older on the inside than his 11 years and uses comedy to win friends and connect with people in his limited world.
Inspired by the life of creator/writer and star Mark Critch, this show is just deadpan hilarity from beginning to end and when we talked with Malcolm (who plays the loveable yet sardonic grandpa in the show) we talked about what drew him to the material, how his career has leaned heavily on comedy, his work with the likes of Lindsay Anderson and so very much more...
In all walks of life, it's important to represent...
On this episode we are diving into the new thriller 'See For Me' which is on VOD platforms now.
In this film, a group of thieves break into the luxurious, secluded mansion Sophie is house-sitting. Sophie, a visually impaired former skier, must rely on Kelly, an army veteran living across the country, to help her fight back.
We've got a soft spot for thrillers like this that are minimal but still incredibly scary all at the same time. We got the pleasure of talking with director Randall Okita about the film, including casting a visually impared actor, creating tension and waxing a little nostalgic for the days of the video store.
Sometimes the old ways are the best...
On this episode we talk with writer/director Potsy Ponciroli about his film "Old Henry" which is available on Blu-Ray, Digital and VOD Platforms now.
Old Henry is an action western about a widowed farmer and his son who warily take in a mysterious, injured man with a satchel of cash. When a posse of men claiming to be the law come for the money, the farmer must decide who to trust. Defending a siege of his homestead, the farmer reveals a talent for gun-slinging that surprises everyone calling his true identity into question.
We talked with Potsy about the inspiration for the story, capturing that old school Western vibe, shooting in the muck and mire in the country and so very much more...
There can be genius in simplicity...
On this episode we get into 'Jack In The Box: Awakening' which is on VOD platforms now,
It's another installment in the 'Jack In The Box' universe where terminally ill heiress Olga Marsdale acquires a mysterious gothic box containing a captured demon - Jack. The powerful entity within makes a deadly deal with Olga and her devoted son Edgar - deliver six victims to Jack and Olga will live. They trap several unsuspecting victims for him within the vast crumbling mansion - but can they deliver all six before it's too late? Or will Amy, the young and innocent woman recently hired to look after the estate turn out to be more than a match for both the family and the Jack?
We got to talk with writer/director Lawrence Fowler about this film which isn't a sequel, the inspiration for using a "Jack In The Box" as a horror totem, what else we could see out of a Jack In The Box Cinematic Universe and so very much more...
We're back from somewhat of an unintentional (yet also intentional) hiatus as we dealt with life stuff and took an extra second or two to re-charge the batteries but we're back with a special one.
In theatres in NY and LA today and on VOD this coming January 25th; 'Salt In My Soul' is a very special documentary about the importance of living life to the utmost.
'Salt In My Soul' is based on the posthumously published memoirs of the same name that chronicles the life of one Mallory Smith. At the age of three Mallory was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and through her 25 year battle with the disease she lived a life that most normal people couldn't dream to achieve.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Will Battersby and Diane Shader Smith (subject and Mallory's mother) and we talked about the origins of the film, the legacy that Mallory left and the importance of living life to the absolute fullest, something that seems even more relevant in these turbulent times....
You don't have to look much further then the news these days to find something that will terrify you...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down and talking with writer/director Dasha Nekrasova and her new film 'The Scary of Sixty-First'.
It's the story of two roommates whose lives are sent into a tail spin when then learn that their new Manhattan abode has a dark and insidious secret.
Without giving too much away, this story draws from anxieties that are being felt in the present day and it has a 'classic' New York horror feel to it. We talked with Dasha about all this and so very much more...
Sometimes you've got to go back to the source...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Todd McFarlane to talk a little about the character of 'Venon' and the film 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' which is on DVD, Digital, Blu-Ray, 4K and VOD platforms now.
We talked about the origins of the character, how he got started in the business, the evolution of the comic book business into the MCU and so very much more...
Kicking ass is an underrated an artform...
On this episode we sit down with programmer extraordinaire Grady Hendrix to talk about the 9th Old School Kung Fu Fest: Joseph Kuo Edition which is being presented by Museum of the Moving Image and Subway Cinema in downtown New York.
Joseph Kuo is an unsung hero of 70's action cinema and we got to talk with great about not only programming these films, but getting them restored and in front audiences as well as the magic of action cinema from the pacific rim that goes widely unappreciated by North American Audiences.
Gotta go back to where it all began...
On this episode we're dialing it back prequel style as we're talking with Robbie Amell and his new film Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City.
Robbie steps into the skin of Chris Redfield on this one and we see that first domino fall in how the Umbrella Corporation destroyed the world.
We talked with Robbie about stepping into an iconic franchise like this one, the legacy of the series, I give a little love to his back catalog and so very much more...
It's film preservation that helps keeps the gems we never expected (or even knew about) still as vibrant and lively as ever...
On this episode we look into the oeuvre of Dennis Hopper himself and his often forgotten classic 'Out Of The Blue' from 1980 which has just been remastered and is playing a run at the Metrograph in New York before it begins touring across North America.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the 4K Restoration Producers John Alan Simon & Elizabeth Karr of Discovery Productions to get some insight into how this process starts on a film that isn't controlled by a major studio, the legacy of Dennis Hopper behind the camera and so very much more...
Filmmaking and real estate have two very important things in common...location, location, location...
On this episode we go behind the scenes in the movie making process as we talk with verteran location manager Bruce Brownstein about his work on 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'.
In addition to some of the work he did on this film, we hear some war stories from other shoots, learn about what the job entails and so very much more...
Anniversaries are important...
On this episode we are dialing back 35 years as we're celebrating all things 'RAD' by talking to its star and Olympic Gold Medalist Bart Conner!
'RAD' is the eternal story of one young man, Cru Jones, who has the intensity and desire to win a BMX race called Helltrack..
In a one off screening last month, 'RAD' was only second to 'No Time To Die' in Box Office numbers in theatres all across the USA...and now it's coming to Canada.
We got to talk with Bart Connor about his unlikely journey from the Olympics to the big screen, some fun stories from the making of the film and a few surprise fans of RAD he's encountered along the way not to mention so very much more...
On Thursday 11/18, RAD is playing in select theatres all across Canada (with repeat screenings on 11/19 and 11/21). Check with Cineplex for details and how to buy tickets...
https://www.cineplex.com/Movie/rad-35th-anniversary
Passion can get you into trouble...
On this episode we talk with writer/director Kaveh Nabatian about his new film 'Sin La Habana'.
This film is a story of pride and passion that collide in a unique love triangle as three people try to change their lives for the better.
We talked with Kaveh about his inspiration for the story, crafting the film in a way that made it feel ethereal and otherworldly along with so very much more...
Never discount the power of a good song....
On this episode we're talking with Writer/Director Justin Corsbie about his new film 'Hard Luck Love Song' which is on VOD platforms now.
In 'Hard Luck Love Song'; Jesse (Michael Dorman) is a charismatic but down on his luck troubadour who finds himself at an existential crossroads as bad choices catch up with him during an unexpected reunion with Carla (Sophia Bush), an old flame.
This movie is inspired by a based on a song and it's a unique piece of cinema that actively tries to take us somewhere else and it's a hell of an interesting watch. We got to talk with Justin about the origins of the film, the importance of music and it's relationship to storytelling and so very much more...
To find out the origins of something...you have to go to the source...
On this special episode we're diving into some of our absolutely favourtie things as we talk will William (Bill) Lustig; the director of films like Maniac Cop 2, Vigilanteand the founder and president of the Blue Underground Home Entertainment Label.
We talked about the brand new 4K restorations of Maniac Cop 2 & 3which are now on display in the new 4K Combo Pack editions now at retail, the making of the films, stories from behind the scenes,, why Maniac Cop is essentially lost for a 4K upgrade, why he founded Blue Underground, the importance of maintaining classic cinema and so very much more....
Certain intellectual properties can stand the test of time...
On this episode we've got a quick one as we had the distinct pleasure of getting a few minutes with director Barry Sonnenfeld to talk about the 30th Anniversary of 'The Addams Family' which is being celebrated in a brand new 4K release from our friends at Paramount Home Entertainment.
We talked about how he got the job, the longevity of the franchise, what he got to add with this release, the ultimate legacy of the film and so very much more...
We can't stress enough how important the restoration and preservation of classic cinema truly is...
On this episode we talk to the Senior Vice President of Paramount Studios Archives Andrea Kalas about the brand new release of Rudolph Valentino's 'The Sheik' on Blu-Ray.
We talked about the criteria for a restoration, the importance of preservation inside the Hollywood studio business and so very much more...
The big blue ball called Earth and the people who live on it are actually more adaptable then you might think...
On this episode we sit down and talk with Writer/Director Christine Nielsen about her new film 'Nature's Big Year' which debuts TONIGHT Nov. 12th on CBC and CBC GEM.
Nature's Big Yeartakes place across multiple locations, all across the world and is a fascinating look at how nature and the creatures who exist as a part of it all changed and adapted their habits during the strict COVID Lockdown last year. Lockdown helped turtles nest more successfully on Juno Beach, Florida. When humans changed their habits, wolves and their prey shifted theirs. Sea lions basked on the streets in an Argentinian port, and wild goats romped through the streets of a Welsh seaside town and geese got fatter and laid more eggs because they weren't being hunted. Even the birds were talking louder and prouder.
We talked with Christine about the origins of the piece, working during COVID and the importance of listening to the world around us and paying attention to things that we tend to take for granted.
See Nature's Big Yeartonight Nov. 12th at 9PM on CBC and stream it on CBC Gem.
The chance to get a unique perspective on the art of filmmaking is hard to turn down...
On this episode we got the unique pleasure to sit down with Picture Editor Úna Ní Dhonghaíle and talk about 'Belfast' which is in theatres now.
Belfast is a poignant story of love, laughter and loss in one boy’s childhood, amid the music and social tumult of the late 1960s.
From Writer/Director Kenneth Branagh, Belfastis a very personal story and it can only help to have an existing working relationship with someone like your editor who you have worked with before.
We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Úna about the process, how the challenges of COVID may have change the creative process, what got her into the business and so very much more...
Sometimes expectations get blown out of the water...
On this episode we have the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Jim Cummings and Pj McCabe; the writers, directors and stars of 'The Beta Test'
It's the story of a married Hollywood agent (Cummings) receives a mysterious letter for an anonymous sexual encounter and becomes ensnared in a sinister world of lying, murder, and infidelity.
From the guys that brought us 'Thunder Road' and 'Wolf of Snow Hollow' this movie gets bent in some fresh and innovative ways We had the distinct pleasure if sitting down with both Jim and PJ to talk about the origins of the film, existing in an indie landscape in Hollywood and so very much more...
It's nice to see people tear into the material...
On this episode we talk with the one and only Daniel Bernhardt about his new film 'Hell Hath No Fury' in which he plays a German SS officer torn between duty, passion and the necessity of cruelty.
You may know Daniel from anything like the 'Bloodsport' franchise, the 'Matrix' movies or even 'John Wick' playing a general badass but here we see a different side as Daniel really tears into the character elements of this story.
We had the distinct pleasure to sit down with Daniel to talk about the film, how he got involved, the evolution of his career over the years and so very much more...
"Hell Hath No Fury" is in theatres now...
When you see someone really throwing themselves into their work, you have to stand up and take notice....
On this episode we dive deeper into the film 'Hell Hath No Fury' which is in theatres now from our friends at Well GO USA.
It's the story of French national Marie DuJardin (played by Bergman) who is rescued by American soldiers on one condition: to survive, she must lead them to a cache of gold hunted by the Nazis, the French resistance, and the Americans alike.
It's a fascinating character set piece that ramps up the tension to places we wouldn't necessarily expect and we had the unique please of sitting down with star Nina Bergman to talk about how she got the role, the unique nature of the character and the camraderie that all the actors found in the work on this film.
Sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do...
On this episode, it's the first of several this week as we get to do a real extensive deep dive into the brand new film; 'Hell Hath No Fury' which is the story of French Resistance fighter Marie DuJardin (Nina Bergman). Branded a traitor be her own country, she is rescued by American soldiers (Louis Mandylor & Timothy V Murphy) and promised a chance for survival on one condition; she must lead them to a cache of gold hunted by the Nazis (Daniel Bernhardt), the French resistance, and the Americans alike.
This movie is out in theatres this coming Friday November 5th and it's a fascinating character set piece directed by Jesse V Johnson who we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with. We talked with Jesse about the origins of the script, getting the movie made in the middle of a pandemic and so vert much more...
It's hard to believe that those bright neon lights almost went out...
On this episode we talk with director Oren Jacoby and his film 'On Broadway' which is available on VOD platforms and DVD now.
We looked into the history of that storied business of show and the ever delicate balance between art and commerce as we look into it's history of how that stretch of road in NYC almost died and eventually became the economic titan that it is.
There are so many perils for the creatures that live in the oceans, it's genuinely hard to keep up...
On this episode we sit down with director Nadine Pequeneza and her heartbreaking new film 'Last Of The Right Whales' which follows a group of activists who have come together in their hopes of perserving this species of whale that is on the brink of extinction due to fishing and other concerns along the Atlantic seaboard.
We sit down with Nadine to talk about the plight of these creatures , what the initial inspiration was to document it and so very much more...
Last Of The Right Whales" in theatres Jan 21st across Canada
The bigger the film is...the more you need people around you that you can trust...
On this episode we are celebrating the movie that we've all been waiting for back in the theatres; 'Dune' from Canada's own cinematic visionary Denis Villeneuve.
To say that the world building we see in a film like this is a massive undertaking...is probably a disservice to massive undertakings. On a film like this, filmmakers need collaborators they can trust and have worked with before; enter Donald Mowat.
As a veteran of the makeup, hair and prosthetic worlds who has worked with Denis Villeneuve on multiple projects, he was just the man to tackle the expansive worlds on Dune. We talked about how he got involved, the challenges in the desert for so many months, the evolution of the business since the 'Captain Power' days and so very much more...
Some stories just have to be seen to be believed...
On this episode we're admittedly a little tardy to the party but that's OK sometimes because the releases always come at us on these streaming services pretty hot and heavy.
Now playing on CBC Gem; 'Nike's Big Bet' is a fascinating look at the story of legendary track and field coach (as well as Nike Spokesperson) Alberto Salazar who played a little fast and loose with the rules of his sport on occasion to try and get an edge.
We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Paul Kemp to talk about his inspiration for the story, the politics behind it all and some of the incredible grey areas that have existed and still exist in some amateur sports.
It's so important to know our history...
On this episode we are in for a real treat as we have to pleasure to sit down with one of the most noted and prolific music documentarians of the modern age; Robert Mugge.
With his iconic trip down to the crossroads and inside the Mississippi Juke Joints in the film 'Deep Blues' which just under went a gorgeous 4K restoration and is playing a limited run at the Metrograph in New York before it bows on DVD & Blu-Ray in November from our friends at Film Movement. We got the distinct pleasure to sit down and talk with Robert not only about this film but his work on some very intimate music profiles of the likes of Gil Scott Heron and Al Green and so very much more...
Sometimes you've just got to do something different...
On this episode we sit down and talk with writer/director Daniel Farrands who is continuing to pull from reality and scare the crap out of us with 'Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman' which is on VOD platforms and DVD now.
This film chronicles an often untold chapter of this infamous serial killer's life, and we get the chance to sit with Daniel and talk about how they needed to pivot this story away from the film 'Monster' as well as his previous 'Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman' picture, making sure that this was something that managed to stand on its own.
Some movies just stick with you...
On this episode we had the distinct pleasure to tackle a personal favorite movie from back in 1997. The movie is 'Breakdown' and it just came out on Blu-Ray from our friends at Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment. We had the pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Jonathan Mostow to discuss the genesis of the film, it's enduring legacy and so very much more....
You can't ignore a winning pair...
On this episode we dive into a surprise piece of comedy that's hitting theatres and VOD this Friday September 17th; 'Best Sellers'.
In a last-ditch effort to save the boutique publishing house her father has left her, an ambitious young editor (Aubrey Plaza) goes on a book tour with a bitter, booze-addled author (Michael Caine) who put the publishing house on the map decades ago.
We got the unique pleasure of sitting down with Canada's own Lina Roessler who makes her feature directorial debut with this film and really does a stellar job with as the film straddles the line between drop dead hilarity and genuine character driven human moments.
We asked Lina about working with an icon like Michael Caine, the great pairing between him and Aubrey Plaza, the challenges of walking the line between comedy and drama and so very much more...
It's no surprise that the village it takes to make a film often resembles a family...
On this episode we sit down with Canada's own Katheryn Winnick to talk about her new film 'Flag Day' which hits theatres tomorrow...
Jennifer Vogel’s father John was larger than life. As a child, Jennifer marveled at his magnetizing energy and ability to make life feel like a grand adventure. He taught her so much about love and joy, but he also happened to be the most notorious counterfeiter in US history. Based on a true story and directed by Sean Penn, Flag Day stars Penn and his real-life daughter Dylan Penn in an intimate family portrait about a young woman who struggles to rise above the wreckage of her past while reconciling the inescapable bond between a daughter and her father.
An interesting film brought to life by the real world dynamic from the father/daughter pairing of Sean and Dylan Penn. Sean who also directs brings a real interesting take on the fractured family inside the American landscape combining sadness and beauty to bring this true story to life.
We had the unique please of sitting down with Katheryn to discuss her involvement in the film, details about working with Sean Penn, her own directorial asperations and the magic of being able to bring the story of this flawed but incredibly dynamic family to life.