Let’s be honest now. The Films being made in Toronto of late haven’t been all that enticing, but when we hear of something with substance being made we’re the first to give credit where it’s due.  SPOTLIGHT from acclaimed Director and Actor Thomas McCarthy has been under production here in our City and although we’ve met most of the Cast already, we actually were rather excited about meeting the Man helming the Project.  Although he was in-town during TIFF promoting The Cobbler, which stars Adam Sandler, McCarthy himself has been a bit illusive to us!  SPOTLIGHT stars Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Mark Ruffalo, Brian d’Arcy James, John Slattery, Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci and more.

We were so happy today that we saw him out and about heading off for a day of filming.  We recognized him right away Flags of our Fathers, The Wire, Law & Order, The Lovely Bones and Little Fockers. Surely at some point in your Television or Movie viewing, you’ve seen McCarthy!  Production wraps in Toronto shortly so we’re so happy we got a chance to meet him, although we had no luck spotting Tucci, who’s been busy in the U.S. promoting his Cookbook.

Official Synopsis for SPOTLIGHT – believe me, it’s highly intriguing:

In 2001, the Boston Globe began an investigation that would rock the city and shock the world. SPOTLIGHT tells the story of that investigation, the story of Marty Baron (Schreiber), Ben Bradlee Jr. (Slattery) and the four members of the Globe‘s investigative Spotlight team – Walter Robinson (Keaton), Mike Rezendes (Ruffalo), Sacha Pfeiffer (McAdams) and Matt Carroll (James) – who would sacrifice everything to expose the Boston Archdiocese‘s systemic cover up of sexual abuse of children by ordained priests. For years, whispers of scandal were ignored by society, the media, by police and by the legal system. Silenced by shame, victims of sexual abuse often became victims of suicide. For their commitment to truth, the Spotlight team received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

SPOTLIGHT sheds new light on the investigation and the men and women who were integral to uncovering the story. It points to the necessity of good, local journalism, the type of journalism that has been decimated over the past fifteen years by the decline of the newspaper industry. Spotlight explores the larger themes of complicity and deference, attempting to grapple with the question of how an evil so widespread could go undetected for so long.

Our Snap:

eOne Films release SPOTLIGHT, release date to be determined.

(Photo credit: Fox Searchlight/Mr. Will Wong)

After rocking the airwaves with Chandelier this Summer, brilliant Australian Songwriter/Singer SIA releases this brand new Video for Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile from the upcoming Remake of ANNIE. Although SIA doesn’t appear in the Video, be prepared to have your hearts warmed by this footage of the Cast of the Musical including Star Quvenzhané Wallis running about New York City, bringing smiles to the faces of New Yorkers abound.

Watch the Video below:

And did you know there’s now an ANNIE Karaoke App enabling you to sing along to some of the Classic Tunes from the Film? Download it here!

Sony Music release the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to ANNIE on Tuesday, November 17, 2014!

ANNIE hits theatres Friday, December 19, 2014!

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music/Sony Pictures)

NETFLIX is prepping the release of gorgeous new Series MARCO POLO. A new Teaser Trailer has just surfaced and you must witness the scandal!

Official Synopsis:

In a world replete with greed, betrayal, sexual intrigue and rivalry, Marco Polo, starring newcomer Lorenzo Richelmy, is based on the famed explorer’s adventures in Kublai Khan’s court in 13th century China.

The sweeping drama’s ten episodes were shot in Italy, Kazakhstan and Malaysia. The global Cast includes Olivia Cheng, Benedict Wong Claudia Kim, Mahesh Jadu and Rick Yune.

John Fusco, who wrote the Academy-Award nominated feature Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, created the series and is executive producer and showrunner along with Dan Minahan, whose previous work includes Homeland and Game of Thrones. Academy-Award nominated directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) directed the first two hours and serve as executive producers.

Netflix Canada stream MARCO POLO on Friday, December 12, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Netlfix Canada/The Weinstein Co.)

We’re all for supporting Canadian Talent and Air Canada‘s enROUTE Film Festival does just that! Toronto, this is your chance to see this year’s Finalists from the eighth edition of this Festival for up-and-coming Canadian Filmmakers! It’s a free screening and everyone’s welcome to attend Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 7:00 PM.

Details:

Filmmakers featured this year include:
Yassmina Karajah for Light
Renaud Lessard for The Wild Kids
Russell Ratt-Brascoupe for The Hearing
Raquel Sancinetti for Cycle

Seating is first come, first serve.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award continues into December 31, 2014 and here‘s where you can learn more!

(Photo credit: enRoute)

Marvel certainly knows how to do it big and this morning at L.A.’s El Capitan Theatre we learned through President Kevin Feige not only that Breakout Star Chadwick Boseman (42, Get on Up) has confirmed what we’ve known all along – he’s a Megastar –  the brilliant Actor has been announced to star as BLACK PANTHER!

In addition, several release dates have been confirmed on their Blockbuster Marquee Slate including:

5/1/15 –     AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

7/17/15 –   ANT-MAN

5/6/16 –     CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

11/4/16 –   DOCTOR STRANGE

 5/5/17 –     GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 (previously dated 7/28/17)

7/28/17 –   THOR: RAGNAROK

11/3/17 –   BLACK PANTHER

5/4/18 –     AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART I

7/6/18 –     CAPTAIN MARVEL

11/2/18 –   INHUMANS

5/3/19 –     AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART II

Impressive, right?  We’re so waiting on DOCTOR STRANGE casting news, although we certainly aren’t alone in wanting Benedict Cumberbatch to get the assignment!  The thought of 2019 actually kinda scares us on some levels!

Dates of course are subject to change.  Are we excited?

(Photo credit: Marvel Canada)

GRAMMY-nominated Electronic Music Producer and internationally-known DJ, Steve Aoki, is in Toronto today promoting his two-Album Series, Neon Future. The California Native has built a huge following touring internationally and has worked with the likes of Lil Jon, Iggy Azalea, LMFAO and will.i.am, among others.

The Son of former Japanese Wrestler and Benihana Founder Rocky Aoki, appeared earlier today on the Morning Show circuit including visits to KISS 92.5, CITY‘s Breakfast Television and Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition). At the latter we caught-up with Aoki, along with another Fan named George, agreeing to get “caked”, a ritual he is famous for.

See Aoki cake us:

Aoki took Selfies with us before and after the “caking”! And it was epic and deluscious as the Entire Crew and Hosts watched on. The Team at The Morning Show were nice enough to have towels ready for a quick washdown! Basically, I now smell like Birthday Cake and the frosting left my hair shiny and supple. No complaints.

More “Caking” Photos:

Aoki is later to sign copies of Neon Future at The HMV Underground (333 Yonge Street), 4 PM.

Ultra and Dim Mak Records release Neon Future Part I, now in stores and on digital download.

(Photo credit: Shaw Media/Mr. Will Wong)

Right in-time for Halloween, Moviegoers are dictating what exactly they want most at this moment – gettin’ scared!  OUIJA exceeds the expectations of many to debut atop the Box Office for Universal Pictures with $20 million this weekend from 2,858 theatres. The Horror starring Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel) didn’t fare so well with Audiences, garnering a C CinemaScore and Critics were a bit harsh with a 10% on the Tomatometer.  Made for a paltry $5 million budget, the Studio surely won’t be taking the reception too  much to heart.

Debuting a bang-up second is Keanu Reeves’ Comeback Vehicle, JOHN WICK with $15 million from 2,589 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  The Action Flick sees Reeves back doing what he does best, with a superb 86% on the Tomatometer from Critics and a B CinemaScore from Audiences.

Last week’s Champ, FURY, slips to third spot this weekend for Sony Pictures, getting $13.5 million from 3,173 theatres. The acclaimed World War II Drama in two weeks has grossed over $46 million domestically, well on its way to recouping its reported $68 million budget which certainly could well be  achieved with its forthcoming expansion to other territories.

GONE GIRL still is resilient in fourth with $11 million for 20th Century Fox in its fourth week out, now having grossed $124 million across North America already.

ST. VINCENT opens in sixth for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, earning $7.8 million from 2,282 theatres. Audiences gave it a sparkling A- CinemaScore, while Critics were on-par with a 76% rating on the Tomatometer. Critics already are touting the Comedy as an Oscar Contender for its Star Bill Murray  after a strong debut here at TIFF ’14.

DRACULA UNTOLD rounds-out the Top Ten in its fourth week out with $4.2 million for Universal Pictures, edging its way closer to that $50-million mark.

The  buzz certainly is there for proudly-Canadian Streaming Service shomi.  A collaboration of efforts between Multimedia Giants SHAW and ROGERS, the Service will be rolled-out to the Set-Top Boxes and Streaming Devices (Apple and Android Tablets and Smartphones) this Fall, with their eyes set on the success which Key Player Netflix has achieved across homes in North America.

We and a select Group of Key Influencers in the Canadian Market, had the opportunity to hear directly from shomi‘s Marni Shulman and Marc Dinsdale who play a pivotal role in its launch at an exclusive Event at Toronto’s only five-star Hotel, The Hazelton.  We learned about the virtues of the Service, which is being touted as being “created for Entertainment Lovers, by Entertainment Lovers”.  It is the product of two things we learned: Algorithms based on Viewer habits and also the Human Touch.

The Service capitalizes on the phenomenon of Bingewatching, currently taking the World by storm, focusing on multi-season, “bingeworthy“-based Content.  Shulman says, “shomi is focusing on edgy, immersive content with deep character”.  “80% of our content is Series, 19% is Movies and the other 1% will be Concerts and original produced content.”.

That being said, shomi will be the first to stream hotly-tipped programming like NBA Star Lebron James’ BECOMING Series, a response to the lack of Sports-based programming for Kids, and also STARZ Series POWER, produced by Hip-Hop Star Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.  It also has exclusivity on FX Original Programming like Sons of Anarchy and American Horror Story, not available on other Streaming Services.

A deal also has been reached with Warner Bros., meaning that acclaimed Series like FALLING SKIES, 2 BROKE GIRLS and SHAMELESS also are not far behind.  shomi Users also will be the first to see Producer Rob Thomas’ eagerly-awaited iZOMBIE Series, described as a cross between The Walking Dead and Veronica Mars.

The biggest selling point of shomi is its ease of use.  Instead of focusing on word-based searches, Kids in particular will find simplicity  with its image and experience-based layout, while its Bookmarking Feature makes it easy to pick-up or proceed in watching programs at a later date.

The $8.99 monthly subscription rate with its first month being free should appeal to Customers who want to add and remove the feature at their own discretion and many will find relief in being able to view programming directly on their Set-Top Boxes, meaning less worries about exceeding Internet Plan Data Caps.

shomi launches this November.  Click here to learn more.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We eagerly are counting down the days to Christmas and among the Films we’re thrilled about are INTO THE WOODS!  Entertainment Weekly just got a new Sneak Peak at the upcoming Musical with Johnny Depp (Big Bad Wolf) and Lilla Crawford (Little Red Riding Hood) gracing the Cover on just one of multiple versions of their Holiday Preview Issue!

Official Synopsis:

Into the Woods is a modern twist on several of the beloved Brothers Grimm fairy tales, intertwining the plots of a few choice stories and exploring the consequences of the characters’ wishes and quests. This humourous and heartfelt musical follows the classic tales of Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), Jack and the Beanstalk (Daniel Huttlestone), and Rapunzel (MacKenzie Mauzy), all tied together by an original story involving a Baker and his Wife (James Corden and Emily Blunt), their wish to begin a family and their interaction with the Witch (Meryl Streep), who has put a curse on them.

Read more about this latest Masterpiece from Director Rob Marshall here at Entertainment Weekly!

See a brand new Featurette here!

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release INTO THE WOODS on Christmas Day.

(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)

It’s a Party! Marvel Fans will be thrilled to know that a brand new Teaser from AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, has just been released! We’ve got a glimpse!

Official Synopsis:
When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders with James Spader and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Watch the Teaser below:

Marvel release AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON on Friday, May 1, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel)