By Mr. Will Wong

Based on the 1992 film of the same name. Director Calmatic‘s WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP adaptation is about to arrive on Disney+, ready for a new generation to embrace this Sports Comedy about unlikely friends and perseverance against our crippling obstacles.

We got to sit in a press junket with the stars of WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP and Calmatic. Joining us were:

L.A. native Calmatic believes there’s a version of Los Angeles which the world hasn’t yet, which he is ready to show in his adaptation of WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP.

Calmatic: “There’s a whole L.A. the world hasn’t seen yet. It’s the L.A. I grew-up in. It’s also a very influencial part of L.A. that hasn’t been seen. Just the way we walk, the way we talk, the way we play Basketball. Like I always say, James Harden went to Audubon Junior High. That’s a very specific junior high and if you see the way he played and he be doing this little weird step-backstep, you’d say ‘That’s some Audubon shit!’. I think the way Russell Westbrook played, he went to Henry Clay Middle School and it’s that crazy middle school where the kids are just running out of control. It’s really about showing the world my L.A. and hopefully we can keep it flowing.”.

Sinqua Walls actually had a college basketball background back in San Francisco. He talks about bringing this into Jamal.

Walls: “Honestly, I think this was the most important part. To make this authentic with Basketball and I think that is something that Chuck (Calmatic) truly cared about and he was very critical about. I always talk about how a lot of the Movie moved in a space where we had to do it in single takes and a lot of the movements don’t work unless someone authentically can play Basketball at a level – that makes the most sense. It was important to ensure that was infused naturally. It was fun to just step-in and use things I’d already done for many years. Chuck knows I’d been playing ball since I was six years old.”.

Teyana Taylor is having a career year following her retirement from Music, already having won lots of acclaim for her performance in “A Thousand And One“. She also happens to be married to NBA star Iman Shumpert. So if anything she would be a subject matter expert on Basketball.

Taylor: “I was like, ‘Alright! Iman‘s coming to set today! We gotta be on-point!’. To be able to sit back, watch it and bask in it was amazing. Sinqua is great. Jack is great. I’m impressed. The expert is impressed.”.

She also makes an analogy about being a team mate in life on the streets, but also in life.

Taylor: “No matter how much love is there, you have to hold each other accountable. That’s the best form of love. It’s one thing to be a team mate on the streets, but to be a team mate in life is the biggest sport. That’s how I look at it.”.

Walls compares what’s different from the 2023 version of WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP, from its 1992 predecessor.

Walls: “To go back to what Chuck was talking about, it’s the way we shot L.A. and the intricacies of that. ’92 did some great things with Venice and Street Ball, but one of the special things genuinely, is that this brother can shoot L.A. better than anybody else. He knew spaces for us to unpack. That’s what really updates it for now because you see parts of L.A. that weren’t in the original, but you see the people, the culture, the colours. If you grew-up in L.A., you’ve seen the way someone from Watts, Compton, Gardena, Crenshaw, how they really move. This time around, the City is its own character that lives in the story.”.

Hip-Hop star Jack Harlow talks about his first time starring in a movie as first movie role here as Jeremy.

Harlow: “I enjoy Grape Street a lot and Purple Town, I hear that’s what they call it. That was a cool learning experience. I’m thankful I joined a group of people that were so humble, willing to learn and be patient with me. They wanted to teach. I felt like I arrived into an egoless environment as the least-experienced person and everyone just let me shine, try things and gave me the room to give my opinion. If I felt strongly about something that didn’t mean it was gonna go that way, but Calmatic would hear me out, and vice-versa. I was honoured I could come into my first one and people cared what I thought. Shout out to everyone for making it such a seamless experience.”.

He also comments on the late Lance Reddick, who stars in the Film as Benji, Kamal’s father.

Harlow: “I had one or two days with Lance. I was really taken by his presence and the energy he had playing Benji. It just felt so real. In fact, it’s hard for me to separate in-between takes and what was going on on-camera. He just had a warmth the character he was portraying had. Kind as hell, it’s as simple as that.”.

Walls: “He was super-generous, especially the hospital scenes. He had Jell-o or something and was supposed to be in his chair going through his illness. He accidentally hit the wrong Jell-o and I remember he’d break character and go ‘My bad, man!’. He’d laugh too and go right back into character. That’s a pro right there. That’s his legacy. He was really well-trained, really well-studied.”.

Laura Harrier talks about inhering the role of Tatiana, based on Rosie Perez’s unforgettable Gloria in the original film.

Harrier: “It was definitely very big shoes to walk into. She’s (Perez) a presence and an Actress I’ve always looked-up to. She had such an iconic role in the original, I wanted to try and not reference any of that. I didn’t want to do a re-creation of that. I wanted to give Tatiana her own character, her own person and my own interpretation of who she was. We’re drawing bits and pieces of the original film, but it’s definitely its own thing and its own retelling.”.

WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP arrives May 19, 2023, on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: 20th Century Studios)

Today, Disney+ released the trailer and key art for “Flamin’ Hot”, directed by award-winning actor, director and producer Eva Longoria, premiering exclusively on Disney+ in Canada on June 9, 2023.

“Flamin’ Hot” is the inspiring true story of Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia) who as a Frito-Lay janitor disrupted the food industry by channelling his Mexican-American heritage to turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos from a snack into an iconic global pop culture phenomenon.

Searchlight Pictures presents A Franklin Entertainment Production, “Flamin’ Hot”, the inspirational true story of Richard Montañez, screenplay by Lewis Colick (“October Sky”, “Charlie St. Cloud”) and Linda Yvette Chávez (creator/writer “Gentefied”). The film is produced by DeVon Franklin (“Miracles From Heaven”, “Breakthrough”) and is directed by award-winning actor/director/producer Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”). The film stars Jesse Garcia (“Quinceañera”) as Richard, Annie Gonzalez (“Gentefied”) as his wife, Judy, Emilio Rivera (“Son of Anarchy”, “High Crimes”, “Venom”) as Richard’s father Nacho, Dennis Haysbert (“Far from Heaven”, “24”) as Richard’s mentor, Clarence, and 4x Emmy® Award winner Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, “Monk”) as PepsiCo CEO Roger Enrico. Other cast members include Matt Walsh (“Veep”), Bobby Soto (“Narcos”) and Pepe Serna (“Scarface”). The filmmaking crew includes Director of Photography Federico Cantini, ADF (“Give or Take”, “Desire”), Film Editors Kayla M. Emter (“Hustlers”), Liza D. Espinas (“Vida”), Production Designers Brandon Mendez (“Black is King”) and Cabot McMullen (“Shrinking”, “Super Troopers 2”), and Costume Designer Elaine Montalvo (“A Better Life”).

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Kids Profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

Walt Disney Studios Canada x Mr. Will are delighted to offer Vancouver readers a chance to win tickets to the advance screening of THE LITTLE MERMAID.

Screening Date: May 24 at 7 p.m.

Screening Location: Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver

Synopsis:

“The Little Mermaid” visionary filmmaker Rob Marshall’s live-action reimagining of the studio’s Oscar@-winning animated musical classic, opens exclusively in theatres nationwide May 26, 2023. “The Little Mermaid” is the beloved story of Ariel, a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Another chance for you on Twitter:

Rules and regulations here.

The Little Mermaid opens in theatres on May 26, 2023.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

Streets of Toronto (Post City) is pleased to unveil its May cover which boasts the Best 12 New Restaurants as picked by Michelin Chefs. The ranking highlights the best places to eat from the people who know food best. The restaurants were selected for their delectable meals, unique cocktails and, of course, ambience. Michelin Chefs such as Don Alfonso’s Danielle Corona, R&D’s Eric Chong, Fat Pasha’s Anthony Rose, and Alma’s Anna Chen selected their favourite spots to eat. 

Top 12 new restaurants in Toronto:

• Alder
• Sunny’s Chinese
• Casa Madera
• Chantecler
• Dotty’s
• Miznon
• Casa Paco
• Kachiguda Junction
• Sampo
• New Century
• Hawker
• Ramen Buta-Nibo

The criteria was a delectable and unique menu, superb cocktails and ambiance. “Great cocktails, a focused wine list and a great selection of shareable plates makes Alder a must-try in Toronto,” said Chef Kyle Rindinella of Enoteca Sociale, about the top new restaurant on the list.

Honourable Mentions, as chosen by Streets of Toronto (Post City):
● Prime Seafood Palace
● Golden Peacock
● Bitter Melon
● Miss Likklemore’s
● Henry’s Restaurant and Wine Bar
● Lao Lao Bar
● Danny’s Pizza Tavern
● AP
● Adrak

The feature can be accessed here (page 46). Find out more in the May issue of Streets of Toronto (Post City), available on newsstands throughout the GTA and online at https://streetsoftoronto.com.

Principal photography has begun for Adam MacDonald’s feral feature OUT COME THE WOLVES. The film will shoot through May on location in Dundas, Ontario, with second unit having already been completed in Red Deer, Alberta.

OUT COME THE WOLVES follows a woman (Peregrym) who brings her fiancé (Runyan) to her secluded cabin deep in the wilderness to meet her male best friend (Jarsky). While there, tensions between the two men rise, prior to them setting off on a deer hunt that descends into the darkest side of nature, leaving a truly terrifying trail of horror.

The feature will reunite filmmaker Adam MacDonald with Missy Peregrym who starred in MacDonald’s successful debut feature BACKCOUNTRY. Alongside Peregrym, Joris Jarsky (GOD’S COUNTRY) and Damon Runyan (STAR TREK: DISCOVERY) will star in the thriller. The screenplay was written by Enuka Okuma with the story by Joris Jarsky, Adam MacDonald and Enuka Okuma.

“OUT COME THE WOLVES had a long gestation period. We’ve been dreaming of this project for nearly a decade and it was beginning to feel like our own FURY ROAD”, says director Adam MacDonald. “Now we’re finally on the ground running with the support of High Park Entertainment and others. With the incredible creative team assembled, we have the recipe for something truly groundbreaking. Having Missy sign on to play Sophie is such a boon to the film, allowing us to take it to another level. My goal is to bring everyone to the very edge of their seats til the very last frame, to push the limits as far as possible.”

Adam MacDonald is a writer/director, born in Montreal, now residing in Toronto. His directorial feature-length debut, BACKCOUNTRY had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it was represented by Cinetic Media and bought by IFC Films. At TIFF, The Globe and Mail and NOW Magazine named MacDonald to their top Canadian talents to watch lists. His second feature Pyewacket (2017) also had its world premiere at TIFF, where it was represented by Seville International and released by IFC Films.

His first television credit was successfully helming the entire third season of Aaron Martin’s SLASHER (SOLSTICE) for Netflix. Adam went on to direct season four of SLASHER starring David Cronenberg and the upcoming season five for AMC’s SHUDDER. MacDonald recently completed directing the first virtual reality horror movie experience for Meta entitled BE MINE which was written and produced by Eli Roth and starring Peyton List.

OUT COME THE WOLVES is produced by High Park Entertainment in association with December Films. The film’s producers are Eric Birnberg (OCTOBER FACTION), Thomas Walden (V-WARS), Todd Berger (REGINALD THE VAMPIRE) and Thomas Vencelides (TRIGGER POINT). As the film’s Director, MacDonald reunites with his Director of Photography Christian Bielz (BACKCOUNTRY, PYEWACKET). World-renowned wolf wrangler Andrew Simpson (GAME OF THRONES, JOHN WICK) and his wolves serve a key role in the film. Lee Malia of the acclaimed rock band BRING ME THE HORIZON serves as the film’s composer.

OUT COME THE WOLVES will be distributed by IFC Films and Shudder in the US with levelFILM releasing in Canada. The film is represented for international by Altitude Film Sales, who will be discussing the film with buyers in Cannes next week. The film is slated for a late 2024 release.

Janelle Monáe, music’s foremost freeassmuthafucka, has shared her scintillating new single, “Lipstick Lover,” available now via Wondaland Arts Society/Atlantic Records. An official emotion picture, directed by Janelle Monáe and Alan Ferguson, premieres today on YouTube.

Arriving on the heels of her showstopping Met Gala appearance, “Lipstick Lover” heralds the arrival of Monáe’s hugely anticipated new album, THE AGE OF PLEASURE, due out June 9th. Pre-orders/pre-saves – including limited edition vinyl – are available now HERE.

THE AGE OF PLEASURE also includes the acclaimed new single, “Float (Feat. Seun Kuti + Egypt 80).” Hailed by Pitchfork as “swaggering, brass-heavy…the sound of a top-tier talent doing a little victory dance,” the track is joined by an official dance video streaming on YouTube HERE.

To celebrate the launch of this new era, Monáe graced the March cover of EBONY Magazine, which stated, “the singer-songwriter returns to music as their fullest self…we’re perhaps witnessing the queerest, and by association, the Blackest, of Monáe’s eras yet…”

“Float” – which Monáe initially teased on her hugely popular Instagram – was first heard late last year as the official anthem of ABC/ESPN’s NBA Saturday Primetime campaign, with Janelle contributing voiceover narration to promo spots highlighting the biggest matchups and stars in the league. The track was used extensively throughout all NBA coverage through mid-March, spanning promos, Primetime matchups, in-game placement, social media, and more. In addition, “Float” was featured in an animated piece marking Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the #1 spot on the NBA’s all-time regular-season scoring list, shared across ESPN’s socials and James’ Instagram to reach more than 275M combined followers.

Helen du Toit, Festival & Artistic Director for Blue Mountain Film Festival (BMFF) today announced six compelling sessions for the festival’s Creative Forum, June 1 and 2, 2023. Over two days, the Forum will break down the art of comedy and creative financing, as well as offer in-depth conversations with acclaimed Canadian creators. All sessions will feature industry-leading panelists and focus on maximizing creative potential across genres and platforms. There will be multiple opportunities to network with senior filmmakers and key decision makers through the sessions and intimate sidebar events – all set against the natural backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment.

“This year’s Creative Forum captures the reach and prestige of Canadian creative talent” said Helen du Toit, Festival & Artistic Director. “We are delighted to host some of the great successes of our industry as they share essential insights about their craft. These sessions are perfect opportunities for industry insiders and film enthusiasts to share knowledge and engage in meaningful conversations.”

Beloved comedic actors Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim’s Convenience, Avatar: The Last Airbender), and Meredith MacNeill (Baroness Von Sketch Show, Pretty Hard Cases) join the Forum to break down the art of comedy in Crack Me Up: The Art of the Belly Laugh.

In Case Study: Navalny. Behind-the-scenes on the way to the Oscars, Academy-Award winning director Daniel Roher in conversation with Barry Hertz, Deputy Arts Editor and Film Editor at The Globe and Mail, will share how his documentary Nalvany came to life and how life changed on the heels of its stunning success.

In Quintessentially Canadian: The Making of Blackberry, director Matt Johnson and key crew join film journalist Jason Gorber (That Shelf, CBC), to discuss their acclaimed new feature Blackberry, and how they transformed a tragic national loss into an at turns hilarious, chaotic, and ultimately wild cinematic ride for the masses.

Creative Financing will feature top producers Dan Bekerman (The Witch, Falling), Paula Devonshire (Indian Horse), and Paul Barkin (Night Raiders) discussing their bold and creative approach to international film financing.

In Forum’s Next Gen Creators Predict the Future, some of Canada’s most talented voices including director Chandler Levack (I Like Movies) share their vision for the future of cinema.

Last festival beloved writer-director Patricia Rozema led Forum attendees on a magical hike Into the Forest and up the mountain, stopping periodically to share great behind the scenes stories and insider tips. This year a special guest will lead Filmmaker Hike and reveal their top tips and tricks gleaned from a distinguished career in cinema.

With Location Tips, Tour & Cider Sampling, top location manager John Rakich and Blue Mountain production liaison Marni Moreau will take guests on a special 90 min tour through the Blue Mountain region and reveal a staggering array of locations including chalet mansions, a century old countryside church, a converted barn straight out of The Dukes of Hazzard, private beach on South Georgian Bay, Clarksburg with Hindle’s, and more culminating with refreshing local cider samples at Spy Cider House.

BMFF’s Creative Forum will run during the first two of the festival, taking place June 1-4. Passes and special hotel rates for the Creative Forum are available for purchase. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to book accommodations at Blue Mountain Resort early. Passes are available at Bluemtnfilmfest.ca.

The Pendance Film Festival kicks-off in Toronto May 12-14, 2023 in an in-person format! The Festival is now in its sixth edition and takes place at the Imagine Cinema Carlton, located at 20 Carlton St.  After two years of virtual screenings, they are very excited to welcome back live audiences to our temporary home in the heart of downtown. Pendance’s sixth edition will feature 20 film selections from 2023, and 8 films from our 2022 lineup which are being given a live screening for the first time.

The opening night selection “Northern Lights” – a collection of seven shorts – is completely sold-out based on a strong line-up selections this year, but for Mother’s Day they are recommending Geman film “Everybody Wants to be Loved”.

The Festival also features its re-vamped Pendance Library, giving the public a chance to screen films online for free! The library adds one film new per week, supporting films that screened at the Festival.

Check-out their Feature Films this year here on their website!

(Photo/video credit: Pendance Film Festival)

Canadian country music fans are one step closer to learning who will be the next big country music star as SiriusXM Canada and the Canadian Country Music Association ® (CCMA) reveal the three finalists in the 2023 SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. The announcement follows the voting phase where a panel of industry experts and the Canadian public narrowed down the contenders, who will now participate in priceless mentorship opportunities and performances at some of Canada’s most notable country music events. With a grand prize of $25,000 and the coveted title of SiriusXM Top of the Country Champion on the line, the competition is about to get even more fierce.

The three finalists are:

· Hailey Benedict – St. Albert, Alberta

· Noah Derksen – Winnipeg, Manitoba

· Teigen Gayse – Kelowna, B.C.

“Every year we are blown away by the talent discovered in the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition, and this year’s semi-finalists have raised the bar even higher,” says Michelle Mearns, Vice President of Programming and Operations at SiriusXM Canada. “The team at SiriusXM is excited to announce this year’s finalists and although we’re looking forward to seeing who will be crowned the winner, the best part of the competition is being able to champion Canadian talent and propel careers in the country music industry. We’re wishing our finalists the best of luck!”

The finalists have a busy summer ahead, starting with a trip to Nashville this June where they will perform at CMA Fest and make new, valuable industry connections. This will be followed by stage performances at Montreal’s Lasso country music festival in August and then they will head to Hamilton, ON for CCMA’s Country Music Week.

The competition culminates in a thrilling finale at County Music Week in September, broadcast live on SiriusXM’s Top of the Country Radio (Ch. 171), which plays the best new and established Canadian country artists and is available to subscribers across North America in their car and on the SXM App. Following an epic yet-to-be-announced headlining act, the three finalists will give performances of a lifetime, hoping to be named Canada’s best new country artist, and to win the $25,000 grand prize. The two runners-up will be awarded $10,000 each and all winners will attend a SOCAN songwriting camp in Nashville.

“The incredible talent of this year’s finalists is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of the Canadian country music scene,” says Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA. “It is an honour for us to spotlight and elevate Canadian country music artists in partnership with SiriusXM, and watch their craft evolve during the final stage of the competition.”

SiriusXM’s Top of the Country in partnership with the CCMA is part of SiriusXM’s ongoing tradition of promoting and elevating the best emerging Canadian music talent. SiriusXM continues to offer a leading platform for Canadian artists through its significant financial contributions and North American-wide reach.

We love her in Succession, but Sarah Snook has plenty more tricks up her sleeve in RUN RABBIT RUN, coming soon to Netflix.

Logline:

Sarah Snook plays a single mother frightened by her young daughter’s inexplicable memories of a past identity.

RUN RABBIT RUN arrives June 28, 2023 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)