BLACK ADAM solidifies Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson‘s standing as a huge megastar on the big screen, debuting at #1 this weekend across North American theatres with $60 million from 4,402 theatres for Warner Bros. While Critics weren’t in love with this latest DC Comics adventure, giving it a 41% on the Tomatometer, this did not deter Moviegoers from helping launch what looks to be the beginning of a new Franchise.

Second spot goes to TICKET TO PARADISE, debuting with $16 million for Universal Pictures, from 3,543 theatres. Critics gave this Rom-Com headlined by A-List Co-Stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts, a mixed 55% on the Tomatometer.

Third is SMILE, still going strong with $8.5 million from 3,296 theatres for Paramount Pictures, now at a tally of $84.5 million over four weeks. Very impressive considering this was made for only $17 million.

In fourth we have HALLOWEEN ENDS with $8 million from 3,901 theatres. Over two weekends it has grossed $54.1 million for Universal Pictures.

LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE rounds this all out with $4.4 million for Sony Pictures, a total $28.9 million over three weekends.

This man cracks me right up! Nigel Ng is a stand-up Comedian from Malaysia, who has captured the world’s attention and now millions of followers thanks to his persona, Uncle Roger. The London-based Funnyman gained notoriety in a series of YouTube videos portraying the character, who critiques Celebrity Chefs and their takes on “Asian Cuisine” in a comical manner. Putting-on a thick Malaysian accent and taking on the spirit of a middle-aged divorcee, Ng‘s Comedy has captured the world’s attention including some of the Chefs he pokes fun at!

We’ve long suspected that Ng is so much more than the schtick of Uncle Roger and will get a chance to see him tomorrow night as he takes over Massey Hall in Toronto, playing a sold-out show. He was just in New York prior to this stop on his THE HAIYAA WORLD TOUR.

See some of Ng’s seering Commentaries and Critiques!

Uncle Roger‘s obsession with Jamie Oliver is something else.

Canada isn’t even safe. Our Matty Matheson even got destroyed!

That aside, Ng is just lovely! So cool have a chance encounter with him! This was so amazing! Cannot wait to see this Show!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Nigel Ng)

A new TV Spot has arrived for BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER! The Film’s only a few weeks away!

Synopsis:

In the film, Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. When Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, alerts them to a global threat and his disturbing plan to thwart it, the Wakandans band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in theatres November 11, 2022. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.blackpanthertickets.ca.

Walt Disney Studios Canada release BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER November 11, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

The 16th Toronto After Dark Festival kicked-off last night and ringing-in the occasion was upcoming Horror PREY FOR THE DEVIL from Director Daniel Stamm. The Horror centers on a young nun thrust onto the frontline to perform an Exorcism, when female Exorcists are unheard-of. She faces a demonic force with ties to her past. The Film is to be released directly by Cineplex Pictures in Canada as the theatrical giant begin their foray into film distribution domestically.

See the Trailer here.

Here for the Premiere were Toronto’s own Jacqueline Byers who stars in the leading role as Sister Ann, plus Stamm.

Some Snaps from the Premiere:

Cineplex Pictures release PREY FOR THE DEVIL October 28, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Mr. Will Wong

He’s already won two Academy Awards, and a Golden Globe! Composer Justin Hurwitz for the first time ever will play Toronto live as WHIPLASH IN CONCERT touches down at Danforth Music Hall later this month! This event gives fans of this acclaimed 2014 film directed and written by Hurwitz‘s longtime friend and collaborator Damien Chazelle, a chance not only to see the Movie, but also hear the Score performed in-person by a Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Hurwitz. Above this, the production will play one night only in Kitchener, giving fans a rare chance to experience something magical.

We had the joy of chatting with the brilliant Hurwitz, who walked us through his process scoring a film, what fans can expect when they attend WHIPLASH IN CONCERT, the challenges of presenting this live, his Halloween favourites, plus some teasers about his upcoming fifth collaboration with Chazelle, BABYLON. Trust us, we’ve been waiting.

We ask Hurwitz about his memories and impressions of Toronto.

Hurwitz: “I’ve never done a concert in Canada. I’ve been to the Toronto International Film Festival, but never performed there or worked the Musicians there, so I’m really very excited to come.”.

What can fans expect of WHIPLASH IN CONCERT?

Hurwitz: “We get to see the Movie and all the Music will be performed live with the Movie. It’s a Movie, and kinda like a Concert. You can watch the Movie, you can look at the Musicians. You can look either place and both are very exciting. The Music is very exciting for us to play for the audience to see because we have to keep it perfectly in-sync with the Movie, which is really hard to do. It’s kinda like a high-wire act. The Drummer has to stay in-sync. The Movie has these incredible Drum Solos. He’s gotta watch and we have these special tools that go in our ears, and our video screens help us stay in-sync. It’s really kinda a magic trick.”.

Hurwitz is accustomed to making Music in a large school, including working with 90-piece Orchestras in-studio. He will be working with a much smaller Jazz Ensemble on WHIPLASH IN CONCERT. We ask about some of the toughest challenges of doing this live.

Hurwitz: “When you do these live shows, you have to adapt the Music. Something like LA LA LAND took a lot of work to create Music. When you record in the studio, you record everything separately. A lot of times you just record just the sections of the Cue separately. When you do it live, you have to adapt it so all the Music flows together to be performed all the way straight through. WHIPLASH actually had new challenges – there’s the underscore of WHIPLASH. The tense mood music, the Movie’s almost a Thriller and Horror, so these’s a lot of Tension Music, and a lot of Score Cues doing that. Eight or nine years ago when I did that Movie, I did a lot of manipulation of instruments – slowing down, detuning and pitch-shifting – a lot of electronic things with Production. But how do you create a live version of that with 18 Musicians on a stage? And how do you stay faithful to what the original intention was, but also make it work and concert pieces that work in and amongst the Jazz?”.

We ask Hurwitz to walk us through his process of scoring a Film.

Hurwitz: “It depends on the Movie. For a Movie like WHIPLASH, we have bands on-screen who are performing, so we had to ‘pre-record’. But then later there’s a process where I have to watch the scenes of the Movie to add the Score or the Underscore. You watch the Movie and respond to it. What is the Movie telling us? Do we want music in this scene? Is it tense? Joyous?”.

We wonder what sounds we can expect with upcoming release BABYLON, marking Hurwitz‘s fifth film together with Chazelle. We learned he in fact was off to go work on the Film following our interview.

Hurwitz: “There’s so much Music. There’s over two hours of original music in the Movie. I’ve never done this much Music in a Movie. I think LA LA LAND had an hour of Music, WHIPLASH maybe less than that. It’s gonna srurprise people because they’re thinking 1920s Jazz – it’s not 1920s Jazz. We made a real point of being more contemporary and modern. Not so modern that it’s an Anachronism that takes people out of the Movie. I was more inspired by Rock ‘n’ Roll, modern Dance Music, modern EDM – stuff that gets people moving and dancing. The Movie’s full of drugs, people partying hard. There’s this fun, aggressive, four-on-the-floor Music throughout most of the Movie.”.

Since Hurwitz actually will be in-town for Halloween, we ask him about his favourite Horrors, Scores, and Halloween Candy.

Hurwitz: “That’s a good question. For Halloween Score, John Carpenter‘s Theme is pretty iconic and so are those Movies. It’s hard not to say that’s not my favourite. For Halloween Candy, Butterfinger. That’s what got me most excited as a kid going door-to-door. You’d get boring stuff. And then you get a Butterfinger. Hopefully a big Butterfinger, and those are the houses you didn’t want to miss next year.”.

We learned that Hurwitz originally aspired to be a Pianist through high school, which led him eventually on his path to becoming a Composer after some realizations. On a parting note, we ask Hurwitz to give one piece of advice to aspiring Musicians.

Hurwitz: “Keep learning, keep trying to get better, never think that you’re good enough. I spend so much time learning new things. That doesn’t mean school. That could mean YouTube. There’s just so much to learn and get better at in anything in life. Just always try to keep growing and expanding.”.

WHIPLASH IN CONCERT takes place at Danforth Music Hall October 30, 2022, and will be at Centre in the Square in Kitchener November 1, 2022.

More on tickets to WHIPLASH IN CONCERT here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

With a growing presence locally, Netflix Canada have announced today they will be providing a grant to Nu-Media Program to help foster and develop indigenous youth talent.

More details:

-Netflix is providing a $25,000 grant to Winnipeg-based Nu-Media Program.

-The grant will provide critical financial support towards the development of a fiction or nonfiction pitch from 2022 Nu-Media Education Program Alumni.

-The Nu-Media program was co-founded by Jordan C. Molaro in 2012 and provides an 11-week long intensive filmmaking and professional development program for Indigenous youth from reserves across Manitoba.

-Netflix created this one-time grant to mark the occasion of more than 1000 creators participating in Netflix-supported training and development programs and to honour the contributions of an alumnus who is using the skills they have learned to give back to their community.

-The recipient of the grant, Jaime Wescoup, is an Anishinaabe storyteller from Long Plain First Nation who completed the Nu-Media Program earlier this year.

-Jaime will use the funding in support of his first documentary film Restoring Natural Balance, which will follow newly elected female Indigenous Chiefs and document what it is like being a female leader in a male dominated society.

-In addition to the financial support, Jaime will have access to mentoring from Nu-Media President, Jordan C. Molaro, over the course of his work on the script and pitch documents. Jordan will also act as Executive Producer on the film.

-Since 2017, Netflix has provided over $25 million to support training and development programs across Canada with more than 20 partners including the BANFF World Media Festival, Fabienne Colas Foundation and imagineNATIVE.

-In addition to helping creators further hone the skills needed to succeed in the film and TV industry, these programs have inspired many participants to give back to their communities by sharing the skills they have learned.

See more about Jordan’s experiences as a participant in the Banff Diversity of Voices Program and how he is giving back to his community through the Nu-Media Program in a spotlight video here:

-Jordan C. Molaro, filmmaker and President of Nu-Media Films: “I’ve always felt that growth through education does not begin and end with the individual. I feel fortunate that I’m able to share what I’ve learned with the students of the Nu-Media Program and provide them with the tools and access to draw upon the many centuries of storytelling from within their communities. Jaime Wescoup is a representation of the exciting next generation of Indigenous creatives and visionaries; I’m thrilled to extend this grant to help ensure his voice is heard.”

-Jaime Wescoup, filmmaker and student of the Nu-Media Program: “My hope with this project is to give back to women in my life who have supported and inspired me. Through film, we’re able to share our story and culture with people from all different walks of life. With Jordan’s continued support in addition to the development grant, I look forward to pursuing my dream of sharing my documentary with audiences.”

-Stéphane Cardin, Director of Public Policy, Netflix Canada: “Jordan exemplifies giving back to his community through his tireless commitment to providing Indigenous youth with new training opportunities through the Nu-Media Program. Jaime has an important story to tell through the film he is developing and we’re thrilled this grant will help support him on that journey.”

ABOUT NU-MEDIA PROGRAM

Nu Media Films is a video production company proudly Indigenous owned and operated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with a vision to work on community-driven projects on all media platforms.

The Nu-Media Education Program was created in 2012 to increase the capacity of Indigenous youth residing on First Nation reserves across Canada to develop job-ready, career-driven individuals. This program draws upon the many centuries of storytelling within the Indigenous communities while creating a new, modern-age storyteller. Our team hopes and dreams that one day, every Indigenous community will have individuals who can utilize modern video, film, and Internet mediums to tell their stories, the stories that need to be said, all from an Indigenous perspective.

The Nu-Media Education Program integrates a comfortable, respectful, healthy environment with practical, hands-on learning that can expand into a lifelong career with endless potential. The highly experienced professional speakers provide continuous support to youth involved in the Nu-Media Education family through our social media sites, website, and ongoing personal communication with education partners.

ABOUT NETFLIX
Netflix is the world’s leading streaming entertainment service with 223 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume to watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

Though EASTER SUNDAY takes elements we’ve seen before in Dysfunctional Family Comedies, it still does it in an impactful way speaking in a voice that is long overdue to be seen and heard.

Comedian Jo Koy is featured front and center here in this latest effort from fellow Funnyman/Director Jay Chandrasekhar.  Koy places a fictionalized version of himself, Joe Valencia, who is struggling to get that next big gig, auditioning for an upcoming TV Series. He must balance his artistic integrity and opportunity, being asked to read in a Filipino accent.  Which is fine if he had one, but he doesn’t and he isn’t about to be typecast. At once, his mother (Lydia Gaston) is hounding him to come home for Easter Sunday, and at once he’s trying to spend some quality time with his son Junior (Brandon Wardell).  He fronts his cousin Eugene (Eugene Cordero) a large sum of money, thinking he’s about to start a Taco Food Truck with it – which he doesn’t – and soon they find themselves on-the-run from gangster Dev Deluxe (Asif Ali) who’s out to collect from them.

There’s a lot going on in EASTER SUNDAY. On one level, it’s a Family Comedy that explores Filipino culture in America and its nuances, like petty family feuds, and also meeting parental expectations of us. It’s also about a father reconnecting with his son, who he rarely gets to see as he’s out hustling.  Then it’s a love story between son and a girl from the neighbourhood, Ruth (Eva Noblezada). Then it’s also a bit of an Action-Comedy as Dev Deluxe is in hot pursuit of Eugene and Joe. But then also, Joe is really trying to make it still and wonders if he ever will lang that gig that makes him a star. It’s as though they’ve tossed all the Pancit on the wall and were trying to see which noodles would stick, when reining-in some of the focus back to Joe and him finding himself in this journey, would’ve tightened this up as with all the concurring storylines all running at once, the tonal shifts reduce the Film’s cohesion.

This is not to say the Film isn’t lots of fun, because it is!  When it comes time for this family to confront their pain points, the Film says what it really wants to say. Koy is a charismatic and engaging presence on-screen and really gives it his all here and  we can’t believe Tita Theresa was Tia Carrere! And who knew Lou Diamond Phillips was part-Filipino? That cameo in itself is worth the price of admission.  Comedy Queen Tiffany Haddish steals the show as an old flame of Joe‘s, Vanessa, reuniting in the most unlikely and comical circumstances.

A proud moment for the Filipino community. But make no mistake, this is as much a Filipino story as it is an American story.

 Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release EASTER SUNDAY on BLU-RAY^TM AND DVD OCTOBER 18, 2022.

EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY^TM, DVD & DIGITAL:

• GAG REEL
• DELETED SCENES
• MAKING EASTER SUNDAY – This film has been a passion project for Jo Koy, and it’s been quite a journey to see it all the way from ideation to production.
• FAMILY MATTERS – If there’s one take-away from the film, it’s that family is the most important thing. In this fun piece meant to get to know our cast and some of our key crew, we talk to them about the roles they play, how similar they are to their real selves and their own family members, as well as ask them questions about their own family to try and get to know our cast a little better.
• A DAY IN THE LIFE… – What does a day in the life of our talent look like, told from their own POV? Using footage shot by our talent themselves on iPhones handed out to them during production, they give us personal, in-depth looks into their days and what it’s like to be on set filming a movie like Easter Sunday.
• TAGLISH – In this short piece, we have Jo and some of our Filipino talent give us a brief description of what Taglish (a hybrid between English and Tagalog) is and let us know some of their favorite words or phrases.
• FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR JAY CHANDRASEKHAR AND ACTOR JO KOY

EASTER SUNDAY will be available on Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital.

• Blu-ray^™ Combo Pack includes Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital copy.
• Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can buy or rent instantly.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of BULLET TRAIN.

SYNOPSIS:

In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe—all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives—on the world’s fastest train. The end of the line is just the beginning in this non-stop thrill-ride through modern-day Japan from David Leitch, the director of Deadpool 2.

BONUS MATERIALS

4K ULTRA HD™, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL

• Outtakes & Bloopers
• Catch What You Missed: Easter Eggs
• All Aboard the Pain Train: Stunts
• Mission Accomplished: Making of Bullet Train
• Trained Professionals: The Cast
• Select Stunt Previs
• Audio Commentary with David Leitch, Kelly McCormick & Zak Olkewicz

DVD

• Mission Accomplished: Making of Bullet Train
• Trained Professionals: The Cast

CAST AND CREW

Directed By: David Leitch

Produced By: Kelly McCormick, David Leitch, Antoine Fuqua

Executive Producers: Brent O’Connor, Ryosuke Saegusa, Yuma Terada, Kat Samick

Cast: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A Martínez Ocasio, and Sandra Bullock

Based on the Book By: Kotaro Isaka

Screenplay By: Zak Olkewicz

SPECS

Run Time: Approx. 126 Mins.

Rating: R: Strong and bloody violence, pervasive language, and brief sexuality

4K UHD: 2160p Ultra High Definition / 2.39:1 • Audio: English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish 5.1 DTS-HD MA, English – Audio Description Track 5.1 Dolby Digital • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color

Blu-ray™: 1080p High Definition / 2.39:1 • Audio: English, French (Doublé au Québec) 5.1 DTS-HD MA, Spanish, English – Audio Description Track 5.1 Dolby Digital • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Mastered in High Definition • Color

DVD: 2.39:1 Anamorphic Widescreen • Audio: English, French (Doublé au Québec), Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English – Audio Description Track Dolby Surround • Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish • Color

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. You also can Re-Tweet the below:

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BULLET TRAIN AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL SEPTEMBER 27, 2022.

AND ON 4K ULTRA HD™, BLU-RAY™ and DVD OCTOBER 18, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada)

Christmas is coming to Netflix and here’s a new Trailer for CHRISTMAS WITH YOU starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Aimee Garcia.

Synopsis:

Feeling career burn out, pop star Angelina escapes to grant a young fan’s wish in small town New York, where she not only finds the inspiration to revitalize her career but also a shot at true love.

Director: Gabriela Tagliavini
Writers: Paco Farias & Jennifer C. Stetson and Michael Varrati
Producers: German Michael Torres, Lucas Jarach
Executive Producers: Eric Brenner, Kerri Hundley
Cast: Aimee Garcia, Freddie Prinze Jr., Deja Monique Cruz, Zenzi Williams, Lawrence J. Hughes

CHRISTMAS WITH YOU arrives November 17, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)