In case you missed it, here is the Big Game TV Spot for Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS!
Synopsis:
Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending anddangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysteriousnew adversary.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, with Michael Stühlbarg, and Rachel McAdams.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases in theatres on May 6, 2022.
(Photo/video credit: Disney)
By Mr. Will Wong
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON is the latest Feature Film from Walt Disney Animation Studios and this astonishing-looking Fantasy Adventure is set in the world of Kumandra, a place where dragons and humans once co-existed together. After monsters known as the Druun surfaced, dragons sacrificed their lives almost becoming extinct. A young warrior named Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) is tasked with locating the last dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina) to stop the Druun from destroying humanity. However, zany Sisu alone might not be enough and Raya and her enemies, including Namaari (Gemma Chan), must learn to overcome their differences and trust one another to accomplish this.
With production taking place over the Pandemic, its Cast and Crew of 450 people – many who worked from home – RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON is a mystical journey that explores division and the importance of trust and community. Featuring a predominantly Asian Principal Voice Cast, the Film arrives at a time where some of its sentiments echo what the Asian community is be experiencing as we heal from a divide in the aftermath of the Pandemic.
See the Trailer:
We were thrilled to join the Global Press Conference for RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON and joining us were:
Moderating was Television Personality Jeannie Mai.
The symbology of dragons are very present in the Film and we learn that the Eastern Dragon is very different from common perception.
Lim: “It was so exciting to celebrate the Eastern Dragon and we realized this was something most of the world was not familiar with. In East Asia they are referred to as Nāgas , they’re water deities who bring auspiciousness, so it’s very different from the Western Dragon who’s winged and fire-breathing, something you have to destroy and take-down. We love this symbology in our Movie because Raya thinks she’s bringing forth this Water Dragon thinking she can just snap her fingers and solve all the problems in the world. Instead, what she finds is this crazy, zany creature voiced by Awkwafina, and she’s vulnerable and needs to be protected. She’s just quirky and always sees the good in people and Raya as a warrior, thinks this is nuts. It’s so rare we get a Hollywood movie with a special female friendship at the heart of it. The humour here comes from seeing the best in people, people who Raya thought were her enemies, people who’ve let you down. It was the Dragon who could see that potential and it inspires everyone to come together and get past it.”.
The younger Cast members Isaac Wang and Thalia Tran talk about the Film’s Southeast Asian family values.
Wang: “It’s pretty crazy to think 450 people working on this Movie and they just stuffed a bunch of cultures into this Movie. It’s amazing to see all the things that are included from the food to the weapons that you see. I’ve been centered around only a couple cultures my whole life, so to see all these cultures is really amazing to me.”.
Tran (Thalia): “Playing Noi is like nothing I’ve ever done before. She doesn’t use English words, she speaks in her own language but that connection she has with her gang of Ongis (like catfish-monkeys), Tong, Raya and the whole gang, that sense of camaraderie and the sense of family, that is something I related to. Growing up in a Vietnamese family, I learned that family always comes first, from traditions to every day life, especially now in quarantine where I’m with my family all the time. It’s something that definitely clicked with me as I know what it feels like. For her to be so young and have her family be turned to stone by the Druun, and her to have to raise herself with the Ongis, that sense of strength I feel is something very common in Southeast Asian families, especially because it’s something very valued in terms of independence. There’s a lot about Noi even though she can’t speak words, people still can connect with.”.
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON explores a central theme of female friendship. Gemma Chan and Kelly Marie Tran comment on their characters’ rivalry and love-hate relationship.
Chan: “I love that they have this love-hate dynamic, but at the core they have so much in common. I love that Namaari has this aggressive exterior but underneath it all, she’s got this huge heart. She has this love for dragons that’s really been there since childhood and I really love that first scene where she locks eyes with Sisu. It’s as if she’s become a child again. I love that and that was my way into her really. We’ve all got people in our lives we’ve got a love-hate relationship with and I think it’s such a fine line. I love that Namaari and Raya have had that connection since childhood.”.
“It shows as children when we’re young we don’t inherently hate each other. It’s learned whether it comes through as something that’s parental, a family influence or a particular tribe. Those things are learned, but they can be unlearned. Kids get on and that’s something to take away from the Movie.”.
Tran (Kelly Marie): “Setting-up these characters as kids and seeing how authentically they can connect at a young age, and then cutting-forward and seeing the way they’ve been divided, it’s really incredible. We have this idea that the two characters switch places at one point. When I really think about it in my life when things like that have happened to me, I think about just how difficult it is to get out of your own biases from someone you see as an enemy. Incredibly by the end of the story, Raya and Namaari are willing to step outside of themselves and risk everything for this idea of community and what their relationship could have been all this time. It’s really inspiring and something I want to do in my own life. Their relationship in this Movie is one of my favourites because of how complicated it is.”.
Awkwafina comments on her comedic influences for the scene-stealing role of Sisu.
Awkwafina: “Genie was one of my favourite characters from my childhood so maybe there was a subconscious thing. The real beauty here is when I was approached to play Sisu and hear what her vibe was, I think I was given a chance to add my own voice to it and simultaneously build her up with the Directors who were always willing to explore and play. I think she was really born out of that process. The really cool thing about Sisu is that she was part my voice.”.
The Film also explores the father-daughter relationship between Chief Benja and Raya. The former is the Chief of Kumandra‘s heartland and Raya in line to be a ruler next.
Tran (Kelly Marie): “Benja and Raya are so reminiscent of the relationship between me and my own father – that reverence for your elders, how important family is and the way he bestows upon Raya all these incredible ideas at such a young age. Gosh, I cried in so many scenes with Benja.”.
Kim: “I really give a lot of credit to Don, Carlos and the Producing Team because the pitfall of the character is that he can be a Centurion Oratour, the kind of King who’s going to dictate the way everything is. But they kept pushing me to say ‘No, you have a really intimate, loving relationship with your daughter. Take it down, make it more intimate’, and it triggered something different in me and led me to finding that relationship. The second thing is Kelly, I was following you in the news and knew all the things you were about and these were characteristics I could relate to and connect to. It wasn’t just about our roles as characters, but knowing who you were as a person and that I could connect to that. When I watched the Film, I felt that we had that connection even though we weren’t in that booth together. It’s a real testament to your performance.”.
Aside from stunning lifelike animation, the Martial Arts in RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON is phenomenal. The Film’s two Directors Don Hall and Carlos López Estrada speak to this.
Hall: “We were fortunate the Martial Arts Coordinator also happened to be one of the Writers. We leaned on Qui quite a bit. There was one day he brought into the studio – how he got it past Security I don’t know – he brought a giant bag of weapons in to show us he was a legit Martial Arts Choreographer, which we didn’t doubt. But I think after seeing that bag of weapons, we probably treated him a little better after that too!
Estrada: “Just so that this doesn’t become a headline, I will back you up and say that they were stage weapons. The entire Crew, it was really special for them to have Qui down the hall. The Story Artists, the Animators, the vista of people, could just knock on his door and just say ‘Hey, check this move out, does this make sense?’ and Qui would give them links and bring them movies, do some in-office demonstrations. To have that direct access to someone who’s so knowledgeable in that region is invaluable and you really see that in the fights, they feel so different and so unique.”.
Nguyen: “A lot of credit goes to Maggie Macdonald who choreographed a lot of our reference fights and it was important for me to bring on a female Fight Choreographer. She brought on a female team of fighters to do the references because of our two leads are Raya and Namaari. The way a female body moves is just different and we had something that was really utilizing speed, strength and agility. You often see in movies like this Kung-Fu or Karate. It’s nice to see Southeast Asian Martial Arts shown in this way.”.
A point this Film is making is one about representation. The Cast is asked about the importance of this.
Oh: “It’s difficult because this was made in COVID times and the way Animation is made, you don’t get to meet everyone all the Directors do. I think it’s really seeing how Animation has moved on for someone like myself growing-up in the ’70s and ’80s and we didn’t really see anything. I feel like that has been the same way representation wise for a really long time. I actually am glad I’m still alive to be a part of this type of screen (she refers to the grid of predominantly Asian faces on the Zoom call grid) where you get to see the type of people who have made it. In that way it’s very exciting. It’s exciting to hear what Isaac and Thalia have to say and give them an opportunity to have their voices heard. Especially for the much younger generation for them to have a space to be heard. It’s an exhilarating change for someone like me to be a part of and witness.
Tran (Thalia): “We owe it all to people like you”.
We are faced with news of some horrific treatment the Asian community has faced subsequent to the Pandemic. The Cast talks about RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON‘s place in the world today.
Oh: “I was moved by the theme and ending of the story, which ultimately is about trust and how I myself am struggling with that. Art is here to pose questions and to potentially suggest possibility. And I think even if we start with that question in one’s self, ‘Who do I trust? How can I trust? Can I trust that other side? Can I trust that other side when it seems it’s very proof-positive that this is what has been done to me?’. As the theme of the story goes, we cannot continue without this open-heartedness. And the truth I think Raya learns is that you just have to keep having your heart broken again and again just to keep it open. Hate is not finished by hate, it is only won over by love. We have to each individually and as a large community – societally – move towards this because all of us are on the same boat. 2020 in all its destructiveness, if one can see opportunity to somehow it also has broken all our hearts open. So what can we do with all of that?”.
Hall: There were certainly moments during the making of the Film where we were very aware of how this Film which was meant to be timeless was unbelievably timely. I think it emboldened us to continue forward as I felt we had something to say. If this Film can just teach one person to be brave enough to trust someone, then we’ve done what we set-out to do.
Benedict Wong, who came dressed like his fumbling giant character, Tong, tells us about his experience watching the Film with his son.
Wong: “It was the first time we actually sat down and watched the Film entirely all the way through. Afterwards, he turned, gave me a hug and said ‘I trust you, Daddy’. We need this to unite. We are living through remnants of hate that have permeated through the world and again it’s very timely with our beautiful Film that shows that love can lead the way.”.
RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON arrives on Disney+ with Premier Access and in theatres Friday, March 5, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Disney)
A new Trailer for RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON has surfaced. The Animated Feature arrives next month, with a fantastic Voice Cast including Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong, Sandra Oh, Awkwafina and Kelly Marie Tran.
Synopsis:
“Raya and the Last Dragon” takes us on an exciting, epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.
See the new Trailer:
Raya and the Last Dragon arrives on Disney+ with Premiere Access on March 5, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Disney)
We weren’t planning to visit New York City for a bit but temptation got to us. We really should be resting after a draining TIFF and what seemed like an endless series of weddings. Rest can always wait as NYC was the place to be this weekend with New York Comic Con, Paley Fest, New York Film Fest, Taylor Swift on Saturday Night Live and more going on in tandem. We don’t know how New Yorkers even function with all that excitement going on!
We came with no real agenda but came out exceedingly-pleased about our weekend! It was beyond amazing. We keep doting on it, but 2019 will go down as our best year yet.
Wait till you see our sightings!
We, like the rest of Toronto, cannot wait for the arrival of EATALY, an upscale Italian grocer/eatery and all-around Foodie Heaven. New Yorkers are blessed with two locations and it was a joy having our morning coffee and pastries there.
This was our first visit ever to New York Comic Con, held at Jacob Javits Center, which was endless energy… it was amazing seeing how precise some of the Cosplay was! We are overjoyed finally to meet Marvel Cinematic Universe stars and acting veterans, Paul Rudd and Benedict Wong! They were beyond nice and we love seeing Rudd back with his signature hair again.
This year marks the 57th edition of the New York Film Festival and while many of the films screening there had done the rounds at TIFF ’19, it was so cool see New Yorkers get excited about them too. Films like Marriage Story and Parasite came out with raves just like in Toronto and they were lucky to see some Cast we didn’t get to see last month. Our highlight was getting to see ScarJo and having her throw you guys a wave! 👋 So cool Greta Gerwig came too to support Baumbach! We have a feeling this power couple will have competing Oscar contenders this Award season, she with Little Women. Just a reminder, these embedded albums can be scrolled-through by hovering right them and tapping on the arrow.
#NYFF: Hi! 👋 From #ScarlettJohansson and me. #MarriageStory pic.twitter.com/Tdh4VZx1bQ
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) October 5, 2019
We adore Mary-Louise Parker and she is getting lots of acclaim for her work on Broadway in The Sound Inside. Loved getting to meet her finally!
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Paley Fest celebrates Television, giving fans a chance to attend some intimate panels. We were lucky enough to catch the stars of AMC‘s The Walking Dead attending their panel.
It isn’t a New York visit without Saturday Night Live and this weekend’s taping was extra special with a star-studded list of guests seeing Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge host with musical guest, Taylor Swift! You won’t believe who came out to watch!
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About as close as I could get to #TaylorSwift x #JoeAlwyn, #Lovers! #NYC #SNL #SaturdayNightLive
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We couldn’t resist a visit to scenic Belmont Park! We are so happy to have found a gap in our day to see their star-studded card of racing including the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and Champagne Stakes too!
Guess where I am?? @TheNYRA pic.twitter.com/zNRpjxjVIE
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) October 5, 2019
We love always trying new things and BIBBLE AND SIP stamped itself a new favourite and we cannot wait to go back for their Hong Kong-inspired pastries and superb coffee.
…and Shake Shack, you need to come to Canada, already!
Never a letdown. pic.twitter.com/vNGgGzDD5v
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) October 4, 2019
Ang Lee‘s latest, GEMINI MAN stars Will Smith up against himself and here’s a first look at its Trailer!
Synopsis:
Gemini Man is an innovative action-thriller starring Will Smith as Henry Brogan, an elite assassin, who is suddenly targeted and pursued by a mysterious young operative that seemingly can predict his every move. The film is directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Ang Lee and produced by renown producers Jerry Bruckheimer, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger. Also starring are Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong.
See the Trailer:
Paramount Pictures Canada release GEMINI MAN Friday, October 11, 2019.
(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)
A power, diverse Cast highlight AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR! Check out the complete set of character Posters from this spring’s most-awaited Motion Picture event!
Synopsis:
The Avengers, including Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), along with their super hero allies, must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the evil and powerful Thanos (Josh Brolin), who’s on a mission to collect all six Infinity Stones in order to use them to bring devastation to the world and an end to the universe.
See all the Posters!
Don’t forget, votes are on for Canada’s favourite Superhero. #MarvelMadness is on! Vote at http://facebook.com/marvelcanada!
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Friday, April 27, 2018.
(Photo credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
We’ve all heard of MARCO POLO, but believe me, you’ve never seen it like this. Netflix‘s latest Original Series is being touted as its most expensive to-date and is a collaboration between The Weinstein Co. and the leading Internet Streaming Service. The Adventure follows the famous titular Explorer as he travels the exotic Silk Road to the court of the great Kublai Khan. Through the ten-episode Series, Marco Polo (Lorenzo Richelmy) befriends the Khan (Benedict Wong) who violently makes his bid to be Emperor of the World. Along the way we become a part of many complex Characters’ lives and their web of sex, betrayal and power.
Co-Executive Producer Patrick MacManus and Star Olivia Cheng came to Toronto recently to promote the exciting MARCO POLO, poised to debut this December to Netflix Subscribers exclusively. The Duo reflected upon their experience being a part of the visually-stunning Series which not only streams, but surely “steams” this Winter.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Cheng formerly was a Broadcast Journalist and even at one point a Correspondent on Entertainment Tonight Canada before deciding to pursue a career on the opposite side of the Red Carpet. New Jersey-raised and Washington, D.C.-educated Patrick MacManus has a sizeable list of Television Credits to his name as Actor, considering himself more now a Writer.
In an Entertainment Industry where Asian Faces are few and far between in North America, MacManus is proud of what the Series will accomplish, transcending the confines of race and culture. “I’m proud of fact that we held true to the Story and time period and hopefully people will look at Series and forget what they are seeing and just relate to Characters and Story”, he says. ” We created the most compelling, sometimes sadistic Characters we could. Nationality went out the window in favour of Story.”.
Cheng is asked what her greatest challenge was filming MARCO POLO, in which she stars as the commanding Beauty Mei Lin, a Woman separated from her young Daughter at the hands of her Brother Jia Sidao (Chin Han), and forced to a life as a Concubine to the Khan. She must use her guile to survive and ensure the same for her Child. “Any time you recognize you have a really good opportunity, you feel a degree of fear with the responsibility that comes with it”, says Cheng. ” Am I gonna be able to rise to the occasion and do this well? I feel this is such an important Character to do well”. “I’m very proud of our work. 27 nations around the World – Oscar Winners and Nominees – talent spanning 40 year careers, all converging in Malaysia to put it all together.”.
She speaks further on Mei Lin stating, “She is demonized for her strength, intellect and ability to maneouver things sometimes – equally as her Brother, a Man – whom holds so much power in Society. Going over to the Mongolian side, it is disconcerting for her to see Wife of the Khan, Empress Chabi (Joan Chen) so revered.”. “It’s frightening for her to see strength and power mirrored in her face.”. Cheng reveals that she read multiple Social Science papers in preparation for her Role to understand power relations for Concubines and how this hinged much on the Men around them.
I ask about some of the drastic physical transformations we see from some of the Talent in MARCO POLO, whether it be in how they speak or look physically. Case in point, the Series’ Central Character, the Khan is played by an unrecognizable Wong, who normally is lithe and known to others as “Skinny Benny“, MacManus reveals. “Physicality is something huge here and we all threw ourselves into it. Benedict gained at least 10 stone (140 lbs). The nickname for his stomach was “Meat Baby“, adds Cheng. “It’s not easy to keep gaining that much weight and maintaining it.”. She explains, “We were in Stunt Tent Training with World-Class Teams from around the World transforming and sculpting muscles to tell our stories as Warriors.”.
In terms of the distinct accent which the Characters speak in this Series, Cheng states ” Producers found Talent from allover the World. We needed a realm to stay within with the help of Dialect Coaches. Emotionally, everyone did own brand of research to know the appropriate emotional places their Characters were working with.’.
Several jaws also are bound to drop with some of the racier scenes in the earlier part of the Series. While MacManus feels there are some other Series currently which perhaps exploit sex and nudity a bit much, he is adamant, “I challenge people to watch any moment with nudity in MARCO POLO, stop to think because that is what scene is all about.”. “It’s not just about the nudity – there always is a reason”, he says, joking that his Series would be essentially “Naked Kung-Fu”. “There will come a point in time when you’ll never see another naked body or sex because the Story doesn’t support it. We desperately went out of our way to see that sex and nudity were not just being used for sex and nudity.”.
Netflix Canada stream MARCO POLO on Friday, December 12, 2014.
Click here for your chance to win a year’s Netflix Canada Subscription so that you too can witness that MARCO POLO magic!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Netflix)
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