By David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Today might be Valentine’s Day, a day filled with love and passion. But today is also the day Fantasy Island hits theatres. Co-Writer/Director Jeff Wadlow takes the reins on the film adaptation of the classic television series where a group of people are brought to a beautiful tropical island to live out their wildest dreams – except they turn out to be closer to nightmares. Lucy Hale (from Pretty Little Liars and new series Katy Keene) stars as Melanie, who  realizes quickly that justice and revenge might not be exactly what she hoped for.

We had the chance earlier this week to speak to Hale and Wadlow in a conference call (the pair’s first ever!) with other journalists to discuss the challenges of bringing Fantasy Island to the screen and their love for the Horror genre.

What drew you to Fantasy Island and remaking this classic TV show into a film?

WADLOW: I had an idea for a story that was loosely inspired by Fantasy Island. [Producer] Jason Blum heard it, called up Sony, got the rights and then he called me and said “Why do something inspired by Fantasy Island – let’s just do Fantasy Island!”

HALE: We were on [a different project] and Jeff came up to me and said “I have this Script I want you to read. It’s a character that I think is different for you and I think you’d kill it.” And all he had to say after was “Fiji. Two months,” and I was in. But I read the Script and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it.

What do you look for in your actors?

WADLOW: I look for actors who bring themselves to the role. I always say I cast the actor, not the character. In the Script, there’s just a sort of sketch of a person and I’m looking for a real person who is going to bring something interesting that I could never have imagined to the part and really flesh it out and make it their own. Then I’m going to start rewriting for them and thinking of new ways to express the character on screen through wardrobe, dialogue and blocking. And a lot of that comes from the actor. I think it is really important that an actor takes ownership of the role. I don’t like actors who say “Oh yeah, just tell me what to do.” I don’t want to tell you what to do. I want to tell you what I’m trying to do and then I want you to play [this character] with me.

How do you challenge yourselves to continue to bring fresh and exciting elements to this genre?

WADLOW: There is never a moment where you’re not being challenged in some capacity. What I try to do is look for surprises on the set. I always show up every day with a plan so that if everything goes well, you have a plan to rely on. But I still want to be surprised. My favourite moments in every movie I’ve worked on were moments that I did not plan.

HALE: With this Film and Truth or Dare [which was also co-written/directed by Wadlow], we’re hustling the whole time and there’s so much to get done in a little amount of time. It’s always fresh and new and you just don’t know what’s going to happen and whether it’s good or bad. It just is what it is. But I think with Fantasy Island in particular, we were in a climate and a new place where most of us had never been before. We never spent time there. We’re trying to dodge rain storms, we’re hiking up mountains, there’s bugs and people are getting sick and…you just didn’t know what was going to happen. And that’s enough to keep it fresh.

From a character standpoint, Melanie is unlike any character I’ve played before. She’s very complex, layered, damaged and tormented. I loved stepping into her head but that was a challenge for me because our moral compass is so different…Never in a million years would I do the things Melanie does. My idea of revenge is much different.

What draws you to the horror genre?

WADLOW: I’m drawn to the genre the same way I’m drawn to Action movies I’m very interested in the dialogue between the film and the audience, how we are choosing the sequences, images and sounds to create an experience, and how we create tension and then release it. I love doing that with Action movies and I love doing it with Thrillers and Horror movies. It’s just a difference of scale and you have to be much more focused and smaller with a thriller to create that intensity.

Do you find that you ever borrow from your Pretty Little Liars character Aria, especially when acting in horror films?

HALE: I feel like if they brought that Show back, it should be made into a Horror film! It has all the makings of it! But there were so many suspense and Thriller elements from that Show that prepared me for Truth or Dare and then Fantasy Island. But all three characters are so different and I never try to play the same thing twice. But I do feel like after being chased and stalked by someone for eight seasons of a show, I definitely have my Horror Face down!

Sony Pictures Canada release FANTASY ISLAND on Friday, February 14, 2020.

Premiering at TIFF ’19 , here is the new Trailer and Poster for THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD starring Dev Patel.

Synopsis:
THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD re-imagines Charles Dickens’ classic ode to grit and perseverance through the comedic lens of its award-winning filmmakers— giving the Dickensian tale new life for a cosmopolitan age with a diverse ensemble cast of stage and screen actors from across the world. Emmy® winners and Oscar® nominees Armando Iannucci (IN THE LOOP, THE DEATH OF STALIN, HBO’S Veep) and Simon Blackwell (IN THE LOOP, HBO’S Succession) lend their wry, yet heart-filled storytelling style to revisiting Dickens’ iconic hero on his quirky journey from impoverished orphan to burgeoning writer in Victorian England.

See the Trailer:

Release date to come.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Known best as the frontman of Irish Punk-Rock outfit The Boomtown Rats, since his days with the band has gone on to create a legacy of philanthropy which earned him the honour of having been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.  The man responsible for iconic hits Do They Know It’s Christmas Time and I Don’t Like Mondays, also is responsible for African famine relief concerts Live 8, Live Aid and he served as an Advisor to the ONE Campaign.

Geldof has reunited with The Boomtown Rats for CITIZENS OF BOOMTOWN, their first Album since 1984, to be released via BMG.  Geldof was in Toronto to promote the Disc due in March and his upcoming Memoir, Tales of Boomtown Glory and a Documentary about the Band.  Donning Starbucks in-hand for an early morning, we caught-up with Geldof who was more than gracious about the Selfie, putting his hand on my shoulder!  What an honour. 

Our Snap:

Geldof visited CP24 Breakfast, Breakfast Television and also The Morning Show. Click on links to see his interviews.

Expect a big year ahead for this legend!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/BMG)

From the genius mind of visionary Wes Anderson comes the new Trailer for THE FRENCH DISPATCH!

Synopsis:
THE FRENCH DISPATCH brings to life a collection of stories from the final issue of an American magazine published in a fictional 20th-century French city. It stars Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric, Stephen Park, Bill Murray and Owen Wilson.

See the Trailer:

Searchlight Pictures release THE FRENCH DISPATCH Friday, July 24, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Searchlight Pictures)

After stunning us with 2013’s Say Something, the winning combo of A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera are back with the gorgeous power ballad FALL ON ME. A Great Big World’s debut disc on S-Curve Records (Universal Music) is out later this year.

Check-out the Video below:

Stream/download it here.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

Attention, aspiring Country singers and bands!  SiriusXM Canada is kicking-off their third annual SiriusXM Top of the Country in partnership with the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA). The talent search of the next big thing in Country Music gives the winner a chance to win $25k in cash, plus mentorship opportunities and a dream come true performing on one of Country’s biggest stages!

A grand prize winner will be selected during Country Music Week 2020 in Hamilton, ON from September 10-13, 2020.

Details how you can enter are here: topcountry.siriusxm.ca. The deadline is 12 PM ET February 28, 2020.

Awards Season concludes with a huge bang! Bong Joon Ho‘s PARASITE becomes the first non-English Film ever to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Above this, it also becomes the first Korean Film ever to win Best International Feature Film, the inaugural edition of the Award which has been re-branded from Best Foreign Language Film with The Academy‘s focus on inclusion. Parasite also scored for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, tallying-in at four wins. Bong joked with the audience “I’m ready to drink tonight till tomorrow morning”, also thanking his idol and fellow nominee Martin Scorsese, whose Films he studied.  

Parasite’s scores come as a mild surprise as 1917 which had gained a lot of momentum since its Holiday release, was seen as the favourite to win Best Picture.

Continuing with a pattern seen much of this Awards Season, the acting categories were taken by Joaquin Phoenix (Best Actor for Joker), Renée Zellweger (Best Actress for Judy), Brad Pitt (Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood) and Laura Dern (Best Supporting Actress for Marriage Story).

Phoenix drew much reaction with an impassioned speech touching upon concern for the environment and animal consumption, while stressing the importance of humanity and giving people “second chances”, just as he had been given after having made regrettable decisions in the past.

Fashion as always was front and center on the Red Carpet, with black and/or muted pink very commonly seen on stars like Gal Gadot, Margot Robbie, Penélope Cruz, Charlize Theron and Laura Dern. Natalie Portman made a statement wearing an outfit which listed the names of female Filmmakers who didn’t get recognized at the Oscars this year.

While there was no host for the Oscars this year, various Presenters took to the stage at points throughout the night including Janelle Monáe, Billy Porter, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Brie Larson, Sigourney Weaver, Gal Gadot and more.

Complete list of winners here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

While the 2020 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS didn’t see a clean sweep for any particular Film, what made it most unique was the split of awards among deserving titles which may have been overseen on other circuits. Taking home top honours at this year’s Awards, held once again at Santa Monica Pier, was Lulu Wang‘s THE FAREWELL. The Film won Best Feature and Best Supporting Actress with Zhao Shuzhen, who sadly was unable to celebrate due to the Coronavirus situation in China. Wang‘s partner Barry Jenkins was with her to support her, showing his pride backstage.

UNCUT GEMS which surprisingly for many failed to garner an Academy Award nomination, performed very well at the Spirit Awards, rewarding Best Director to Co-Directors The Safdie Brothers and also Best Male Lead (Adam Sandler). Sandler gave a spirited speech delivered completely as a different character, before thanking his family, while the Safdie Brothers both delivered a comical speech which saw them talking over one another.

Much like the rest of Awards Season, Renée Zellweger took home Best Female Lead for her work in JUDY, marking her first Spirit Award win after three nominations. Returning Host Aubrey Plaza delivered an opening number, a version of Judy Garland‘s Get Happy with hilarious lyrics, delivering the chuckles once again.

Watch it here:

MARRIAGE STORY also saw recognition with the Film’s team being awarded the Robert Altman Award, along with its Director/Writer Noah Baumbach who was also awarded Best Screenplay. Baumbach gave thanks to his partner Greta Gerwig, telling the audience “Even though she made a Movie (Little Women) too expensive to be here, she is just as independent as any of us.”. This was Baumbach‘s first Spirit Award.

Watch Film Independent’s YouTube Channel for more clips and speeches here.

We were thrilled once again to partner with Hollywood Suite, exclusive Canadian Broadcaster of the Awards!

See some of our star-studded Snaps. Navigate Albums by selecting the right arrow.

While Awards Season is about to conclude with the Academy Awards taking place tomorrow, we’ll look back at this year’s Spirit Awards as an unforgettable one!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Film Independent)

While our trip to Los Angeles started off with some hitches – namely an extremely slow Customs check making us miss our flights – we cannot be stopped!  Our first day in L.A. true to form has been amazing and in addition to taking-in some of the awesome bites, we saw tons of stars last night!

We interviewed Chef Giada De Laurentiis a few years back and she kept telling us it was mandatory to try Chef Roy Choi‘s Korean-inspired Tacos at KOGI TAQUERIA and while we’ve been back a few times, we never got around to it till now. Forget hotel check-in, we had Beef Short Rib Tacos and Carnitas Kimchi Fries on our mind! A joy finally getting to try this.

When viewing these albums, hover right on the arrow to navigate further!

Several pre-Oscars parties are taking place around town and among the top bashes to be at, were the William Morris Endeavor bash at a private residence in Beverly Hills and also the Tom Ford Fashion Show! Being an acclaimed Filmmaker himself, the timing was brilliant merging his worlds together at once Oscars weekend.

Tom Ford Fashion Show – this was attended by several A-Listers like Renée Zellweger, J-Lo, Jason Momoa, Kate Hudson, Lil Nas X and more.  See who we got snaps with!

WME Bash – this party is situation at a private mansion and it seems everyone in town went to it. As it got a bit chaotic I only got to get a few snaps, including several Presenters and Nominees at Sunday’s Academy Awards.

Amidst the bustle we still managed to get a few Snaps. We’re so thrilled we got to meet rising star Julia Fox who rocked our world in UNCUT GEMS! While The Academy got it wrong, we’re glad to see it up for multiple FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS! Stream it now on Netflix.

A trip to L.A. is never complete without IN-N-OUT and it was a delight making it in just before they closed at 2 AM to get my burger and fries, Animal Style! The Police literally had to kick me and my friends out!

We need our coffee as we are up and it early, but don’t forget to follow us at @HollywoodSuite on Twitter and Instagram for our coverage of the FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS! The Awards air live 5 PM ET and then on-repeat on Hollywood Suite in Canada! We’re thrilled to be in attendance at the Awards and bringing you a bit of BTS (not the Boy Band)!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

BIRDS OF PREY AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN in its debut with $33 million from 4,236 theatres for Warner Bros. It gets 82% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore. Despite all its success, it is said that this Film made for $84.5 million is falling short of expectations, with projections ranging from $50 million+ opening weekend.

In second is three-week champ BAD BOYS FOR LIFE with $10.3 million, tallying at $154.3 million domestically for Sony Pictures.

1917 lands third with $8 million still riding off the high of its Oscars buzz, a total $123.5 grossed in North America for Universal Pictures.

DOLITTLE gets $5.9 million in fourth, a run of $57 million for Universal Pictures.

LITTLE WOMEN rounds things out with $1.8 million for Sony Pictures.