Star-studded Animated Series HUMAN RESOURCES arrives March on Netflix, with ten episodes at 30 minutes each. Here’s the brand-new Trailer!

Synopsis:

From the inventive minds that brought us the award winning adult animation favorite Big Mouth comes the even edgier and adult-ier Human Resources. The spin-off pulls back the curtain on the daily lives of the creatures – Hormone Monsters, Depression Kitties, Shame Wizards and many more – that help humans journey through every aspect of life from puberty to parenthood to the twilight years. It quickly becomes clear that though the protagonists are creatures, they have a lot of humanity themselves. Featuring an all-star voice cast— including Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph and David Thewlis reprising their Big Mouth roles as well as Aidy Bryant, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Keke Palmer, and Randall Park among others — Human Resources is not your normal day at the office. The series is co-created and executive produced by Kelly Galuska, Nick Kroll, Andrew Goldberg, Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin.

NEW CREATURES:
● Helen Mirren as renowned Shame Wizard Rita St. Swithens
● Hugh Jackman as Dante the seductiveAddiction Angel
● Lupita Nyong’o as Asha the Shame Wizard
● Chris O’Dowd as Flanny the Lovebug
● Harvey Guillen as Jose the Spider Receptionist

NEW HUMANS:
● Ali Wong as Becca
● Janelle Monáe as Claudia
● Mike Birbiglia as Barry
● Tim Robinson as Doug

Series Regulars: Nick Kroll, Maya Rudolph, Aidy Bryant, Randall Park, Keke Palmer, Brandon Kyle Goodman and David Thewlis

Previously Announced Guest Stars: Pamela Adlon, Rosie Perez, Henry Winkler, Thandiwe Newton, Jemaine Clement, Maria Bamford, Bobby Cannavale

HUMAN RESOURCES arrives March 18, 2022 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

By Mr. Will Wong

TURNING RED is about to become a major cultural moment for Toronto. The Toronto-set Disney Pixar Animated Feature is about to see a release on Disney+. We witness the world as a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian girl named Mei (Rosalie Chiang) and what it means to find her own voice when carrying the weight of expectations that her mother Ming (Sandra Oh) places upon her. Mei turns into a Red Panda when triggered and must learn to navigate this new identity. The high-energy coming-of-age story celebrating friendship, infuses elements of fantasy and fandemonium, making us recall a time in our life that would play a pivotal role in us becoming who we are. The City’s very own Domee Shi who won an Oscar for her Animated Short BAO, makes her feature directorial debut here and once again we get more of her “chunk-cute” aesthetic.

It was such a delight to sit-in on a Virtual Panel with the Cast and Creators of TURNING RED, including:

Sandra Oh… Ming

Rosalie Chiang… Mei 

Ava Morse… Miriam

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan… Priya

Hyein Park… Abby

Domee Shi… Director/Co-Writer

Lindsey Collins… Producer

 Julia Cho… Co-Writer

Director Domee Shi talks about the inspiration behind the Film which in many ways, is autobiographical.

Shi: “The inspiration behind TURNING RED came from my own life growing-up early on Chinese-Canadian. Dorky, sassy, nerdy. Girl who thought she had everything under control. Mom’s good little girl. But then boom! Puberty hit. And I was bigger, I was hairier, I was hungry all the time. I was a hormonal mess and fighting with my mom every other day. Making this Film was a chance to go back to that time.”.

Screen Veteran Sandra Oh is a national treasure and she stars in this very distinctively Canadian film. She talks about the great energy she feels with this Cast and experience with her character, Ming.

Oh: “I think launching the Film is extremely really exciting, to meet all these young women and finally feel the bodies that belong to the voices. I think we’re all excited to be here, excited to launch it. We’re all buzzing.”.

Rosalie Chiang is a star in the making and talks about her deep connecting to our central character, Mei.

Chiang: “My favourite animals are actually Red Pandas. Before the whole project even started. The main thing is that my mom called me “Mei Mei” even before the project. Because “Mei Mei” means “little sister” in Chinese. And so when it came to a point everyone called me “Mei Mei” – even those younger than me, which you’re not supposed to do – and my character was called ‘Perfect little Mei Mei‘. I thought, ‘Hey! I went through that too!'”.

Friendship is such a central theme in TURNING RED. Ava Morse who plays Mei‘s friend Miriam, talks about what this meant to her.

Morse: “I’m still in high school and obviously it can be very stressful and dark at times, because everyone is going through a lot and changing together. Not everyone knows how to handle that. At the same time, they’re living life the best they can. And all my friends means so much to me and they’re all very supportive no matter what. I was inspired by my own friends, putting some of my own friends into Miriam as she’s such a wonderful, supportive friend to Mei and the other girls. My friends are so supportive and always there for me no matter what so it was really cool to give back.”.

The Music plays a very central theme in TURNING RED and here we meet Pixar‘s first ever Boy Band, 4*Town, voiced by among others, Finneas and Jordan Fisher. Mississauga’s Maitreyi Ramakrishnan who voices Mei‘s friend Priya, talks about her own first concert experience.

Ramakrishnan: “I remember when – and this is gonna be very Canadian of me – I remember going into grade nine and going into high school, I went to my first concert to see Mariana’s Trench. And I lost my mind! I was always like ‘Why do people cry at concerts? Shouldn’t you be happy? Shouldn’t you be excited to be there?’. But then as soon as they came out.. bawling! I understand. I understand why I’m crying. I was so emotional and I didn’t know why. Music is important growing-up. It totally shapes who you are. But also enjoying that with your friends – shout-out to specifically to female friendship – which is so key. I love that we show the importance of four young girls being supportive of each other.”.

Often we see story lines with feuding female tropes, but TURNING RED steers from that. Hyein Park who plays another one of Mei‘s friends Abby, talks to this.

Park: “Because I’m a Story Artist at Pixar too, it is very important. So when we finally got to create this female friendship, it was very important that it was authentic. So Domee talked a lot about her own experience with friendship and she would hate to add onto those tropes and just make it real. We actually shared a lot of different stories and moments we love in terms of female friendship. She actually asked a lot of different people in the Studio to get a lot of authentic insight into what girlfriends are really like and how they are there for each other.”.

Producer Lindsey Collins tells us how Grammy-winning brother/sister duo Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell came to be involved with the project.

Collins: “4*Town was in the first draft of the Script. It was a very early fake scene written between Ming and Mei that helped illustrate what their dynamic was, and part of that was this joke that has Ming saying, ‘I don’t understand your obsession with this Boy Band and if they’re called 4*Town, why are there five of them?’. It all started as a way to colour Mei‘s character. By the third draft of the Script, we came to this moment. What are the stakes of the Film? What feels right? And certainly all of us remember our 13-year-old selves and what going to our first concert was like. Your first concert felt like the most important thing in the world. It became this great way to ground this fantastical movie with real world 13-year-old stakes. There also was a selfish desire. An animated Pixar Boy Band? Yes, please. Then the question, who was gonna write the music. I have three teens at home and they are listening to music constantly. And Billie and Finneas‘ music was being played all the time in my house. They clearly are people who spoke to this generation in a way that those songs they’re writing, were written for them. And I think, ‘Let’s ask!’. It was such a weird ask. They’re super-popular people and I don’t’ think they’re gonna take anything… but because it was such weird ask, they were kinda intrigued. We pitched in-person and before the meeting, they were like ‘We’re in!’. It’s huge!”.

“The minute you start talking about the music that speaks to that age group and also what it feels to be that age – that is the message of the Film and again, if it was something that felt less in-line with the approach they take in their own music, their answer would’ve been different.”.

TURNING RED arrives March 11, 2022 on Disney+.

The 2022 JUNO Awards are set to return to Toronto this May at Budweiser Stage! Announced today are the first round of performers including Arkells, pop punk icon Avril Lavigne, Montreal music maven Charlotte Cardin and acclaimed singer, songwriter and poet Mustafa. The open-air event will be hosted by none other than Toronto’s own Simu Liu, star of SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS!

Allan Reid of CARAS spoke to Media earlier today about the decision to bring the JUNOs outdoors. “The whole idea behind it was let’s make the JUNOs the kick-off to summer concert season. Let’s get everyone back and gathered. This is the first time since 2019 we’ve been in-person”, says Reid. “We can’t change mother nature or weather. I went to Budweiser Stage on May 15 last year to see what it felt like and it was 22°c, the sun was setting at 8 pm. This is our first ever outdoor JUNOs!”.

The Broadcast Gala airs  8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally at CBCMusic.ca/junos and CBC Music’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.

Nominations also were unveiled as well today and leading the way with six nominations is Cardin with six nods. Following closely behind are international icons The Weeknd and Justin Bieber with five nods each. Shawn Mendes and Jessia received four nominations.

The Awards will have an interactive component with fans being invited to vote for the TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Fans are encouraged to vote on TikTok and at junofanchoice.ca

Winners will be revealed during the closing weekend of JUNO Week, at The JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Ontario Creates on Saturday May 14, 2022 and The JUNO Awards Broadcast on Sunday, May 15, 2022. 

Tickets are available here now.

(Photo credit: JUNOs)

We are so delighted to have the opportunity finally to visit CHOTTO MATTE! Let’s say it together once, “chot-toe mat-tay”, The Japanese phrase translates to “Please wait a moment”, and this proved exactly well worth the wait. Situated at Bay x Wellington at Toronto’s Brookfield Place (161 Bay St), the brainchild of founder Kurt Zdesar is so much more than just a restaurant. It is a sensual feast bursting with colour, energetic music, fabulous Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) cuisine and inspired cocktails. Its space is open, full of height, an experience heightened further by friendly staff who are happy to offer informed recommendations. We definitely won’t forget this.

The Dinner Menu offers Sharing Options at fixed prices, or A La Carte, divided by Sashimi Dishes, Tempura, Robata Grill, Sides, Sushi and A Little Something (Appetizers).

Some of the exciting things I got to try on their Menu:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A slice of the atmosphere at this very Instagram-able spot:

Definitely somewhere to celebrate a milestone if you want to make it memorable. Chotto Matte possesses both a a festive electricity, but also a quiet intimacy to it that gives it versatility. And don’t forget, they have a patio as well!

More about Chotto Matte here, including reservations.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE is the latest in the Wizarding World, from J.K. Rowling. Check-out this brand-new Canadian Trailer!

Synopsis:

Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world.  Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.  But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?

The film features an ensemble cast led by Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”), two-time Oscar nominee Jude Law (“Cold Mountain,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley”), Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, and Mads Mikkelsen.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE in theatres April 15, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

Based on the best-selling Novel, BETTER NATE THAN NEVER is set to arrive soon on Disney+!

Synopsis:

In “Better Nate Than Ever,” 13-year-old Nate Foster has big Broadway dreams. There’s only one problem — he can’t even land a part in the school play. But when his parents leave town, Nate and his best friend Libby sneak off to the Big Apple for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove everyone wrong. A chance encounter with Nate’s long-lost Aunt Heidi turns his journey upside-down, and together they must learn that life’s greatest adventures are only as big as your dreams. Based on the award-winning novel.

“Better Nate Than Ever” stars Aria Brooks, Joshua Bassett, Michelle Federer and introducing Rueby Wood as Nate, with Norbert Leo Butz and Lisa Kudrow. Based upon the book by Tim Federle, the film was written for the screen and directed by Tim Federle. Marc Platt and Adam Siegel served as the film’s producers, with Tim Federle and Pamela Thur as its executive producers.

BETTER NATE THAN NEVER arrives April 1, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

By Mr. Will Wong

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about 2022, it’s that we can’t get enough of fraudsters. Following the release Inventing Anna and The Tinder Swindler, Director Michael Showalter (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) tackles the scandal surrounding convict Elizabeth Holmes. The eight-episode Series chronicles her rise from a Stanford dropout to her hustle bringing her health technology company Theranos, up to a valuation of $10 billion at its peak. And then there’s her eventual downfall, now facing up to 20 years (sentencing to take place this fall) in jail after being found guilty of defrauding investors. The Series explores the peak of greed in Silicon Valley and its consequences.

The Series is based on the Podcast of the same name by Rebecca Jarvis and we must admit, is an entertaining watch. We meet Holmes‘ (Amanda Seyfried), witnessing her transformation from her youth including her time in China showing-off her Chinese-Mandarin, meeting businessman Sunny Balwani (Naveen Andrews). The two would begin an affair spanning several years, which saw Balwani sign-on as Chief Operating Officer at Theranos, with Holmes the Chief Executive Officer. From there we see a toxic relationship, which propelled the wildfire that was Theranos, the company claiming to revolutionize blood testing with small volumes of blood – later proven false – and had prepared to launch itself into popular drug store chains across America.

The Dropout succeeds in keeping us in engaged, uncovering the juicy details that led to Holmes‘ downfall, brought to light by Wall Street Journal journalist John Carreyrou (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) in his 2015 exposé. This, as we see Holmes focus on leading her company and garnering accolades, become an inspiration for aspiring female entrepreneurs. As her company begins to crumble beneath her and once-loyal personnel begin to exit, Theranos‘ scientific credibility is challenged, with real people suffering the consequences of inaccurate blood testing.

Seyfried rises to the tough challenge of taking us on this wild ride through the darkly comedic aspects of “rah-rah” start-up company culture, going against the grain of the older male-dominated corporate culture. It is a marvel seeing her transformation as she embraces her CEO role, lowering her voice, embodying Holmes‘ denial and desperation as she is constantly dangling on a thread with the truth always dangerously close to being exposed. Andrews also is captivating and scary, emotionally dependent and vulnerable with Holmes in their most intimate moments, but also a raging tyrant. This, and a phenomenal and diverse Supporting Cast including the likes of Stephen Fry, Laurie Metcalf, William H. Macy, Sam Waterston, Alan Ruck, Dylan Minnette, LisaGay Hamilton and several more, make this an easy watch.

Disney+ subscribers are in for a treat as the first three episodes of THE DROPOUT arrive March 3, 2022, with new episodes to arrive weekly.

UNCHARTED takes the top spot once again at the Box Office with $23 million from 4,275 theatres in its second week out for Sony Pictures. This accounts for a total $83 million grossed domestically.

In second again this weekend is Channing Tatum’s directorial debut DOG, with $8.5 million from 3,677 theatres for United Artists Releasing/Elevation Pictures. This makes for a total $29.3 million over two weeks.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME hangs onto third spot with $6.1 million from 2,900 theatres for Sony Pictures, a total $780 million to date.

DEATH ON THE NILE is in fourth with $4.2 million from 3,100 theatres, a total $32.5 million for 20th Century Studios.

JACKASS FOREVER rounds things out with $3.2 million from 3,000 theatres for Paramount Pictures, a tally of $52.2 million thus far.

Jordan Fisher and Finneas team-up on “Nobody Like U” from Disney and Pixar’s TURNING RED. The song appears in the upcoming early 2000s Toronto-set Animated Feature.

The voices behind Pixar’s first-ever boy band include Jordan Fisher as Robaire, Finneas O’Connell as Jesse, Topher Ngo as Aaron T., Grayson Villanueva as Tae Young, and Josh Levi as Aaron Z. 

The Soundtrack for Disney and Pixar’s “Turning Red” is Set for Release on March 11, 2022, timed to the Film’s Premiere on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

MOON MANOR puts the “fun” in funeral. The Dark Comedy pondering mortality comes from female directing duo KnifeRock. See the Trailer below.

Synopsis: 

Today is Jimmy’s last day alive. His Alzheimer’s is worsening, so he’s decided to die like he has lived – with intention, humor, and zest. In his last day on Earth, Jimmy will show an obituary writer, his death doula, his estranged brother, his caretaker, a surreal being, and the guests at his fabulous FUN-eral, that perhaps the art of living is the art of dying. **Inspired By A True-ish Story**

levelFILM release MOON MANOR March 15, 2022 on-demand and digitally.

(Photo/video credit: levelFILM)