#FIRSTLOOK: PRIME VIDEO ORDER “OVERCOMPENSATING” TO SERIES

Today, Prime Video announced it has ordered Benito Skinner’s Overcompensating to series. Skinner (pictured above, left) will write, star, and executive produce with Jonah Hill, Matt Dines, and Ali Goodwin of Strong Baby. Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Charli XCX (pictured above, right) will produce original music for the series. Overcompensating is co-produced by A24 and Amazon MGM Studios and set to stream exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Overcompensating is a college-set ensemble comedy about the wild, chaotic journey of Benny (Skinner), a closeted former football player and homecoming king, as he becomes fast friends with Carmen, a high school outsider on a mission to fit in at all costs. With guidance from Benny’s older sister and her campus-legend boyfriend, Benny and Carmen juggle horrible hookups, flavored vodka, and fake IDs. Deeply funny and personal, the show explores the lengths to which we all overcompensate while on the path to finding out who we really are.

“The moment we heard this story from Benny, we knew it was an irresistible, bold story that would captivate and inspire our global Prime Video customers,” said Nick Pepper, head of U.S. SVOD wholly owned development, Amazon MGM Studios. “We look forward to Benito’s laugh-out-loud series coming to life with original music from Charli XCX and all the talented teams involved at A24 and Strong Baby who consistently deliver beautifully executed storytelling.”

“I am so honored and excited to be partnering with Prime Video, A24, and Strong Baby to bring you Overcompensating,” said Skinner. “I wrote this pilot four years ago in an attempt to make people laugh, feel a little less alone, and maybe to work through some residual college trauma. Since then, the project has found the perfect partners and we are all so excited for people to see this show we love so much. I also want to thank Charli XCX for not being freaked out when I asked her if she would do the music before even introducing myself. Highly recommend! Mom and Dad… I’m going back to college!”

Skinner can be recognized from his viral characters and sketches under the name Benny Drama, where he has collaborated with Jennifer Aniston, Kourtney Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, and others. One of Variety’s “Comics to Watch,” he will next be seen co-starring alongside Chelsea Peretti, Amy Poehler, Kate Berlant, and Meg Stalter in the feature film First Time Female Director. Skinner also recently completed a nationwide live-theater tour of his beloved podcast, Ride, alongside co-host Mary Beth Barone. Other television appearances include Queer as Folk and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Benito Skinner created the series, will write, and executive produce. Jonah Hill, Matt Dines, and Ali Goodwin will executive produce for Strong Baby, and Charli XCX will serve as executive music producer. The series is produced by A24 and Amazon MGM Studios.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “YOU PEOPLE”

Jonah Hill and Lauren London headline an all-star Cast in upcoming Feature, YOU PEOPLE, coming soon to Netflix!

Logline: A new couple and their families find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures, societal expectations and generational differences in this comedy from Kenya Barris.

Directed by Kenya Barris
Written by Jonah Hill and Kenya Barris
Produced by Kevin Misher, Jonah Hill, Kenya Barris
Executive Producers David Hyman, Matt Dines, Hale Rothstein, Alison Goodwin, Mychelle Deschamps, Andy Berman, Charisse Hewitt-Webster

Cast: Jonah Hill, Lauren London, David Duchovny, Nia Long, Sam Jay, Elliott Gould, Travis Bennett, Molly Gordon, Rhea Perlman, Deon Cole, Andrea Savage, Mike Epps, Emily Arlook, Alani La La Anthony, Bryan Greenberg with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eddie Murphy

YOU PEOPLE arrives January 27, 2023 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#INTERVIEW: “DON’T LOOK UP”

By Mr. Will Wong

The incredibly star-studded DON’T LOOK UP comes to us from acclaimed Director/Writer Adam McKay (Vice, The Big Short). The Dark Comedy centers on two Astronomers, Randy Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence) who embark on a Media Tour to warn the world that a comet is approaching, potentially destroying our planet.

We are incredibly-honoured to be among the group of Journalists selected to attend the global press conference for DON’T LOOK UP, and joining us were an impressive bunch

Leonardo DiCaprio tells us about working with McKay and also comments on the marred public perception of Scientists.

DiCaprio: “Adam created this Film, which was about the Climate Crisis, but made it with a sense of urgency by making it about a comet that is about to hit earth within eight months. And it’s about how Science has become politicized and there’s alternative facts. I was just thinking to play a character who’s solely based on so many people I’ve met from the scientific community, in particular Climate Scientists who have been trying to communicate the urgency of this issue and feeling like they’re subjected to the last page on the newspaper. There’s too many other things we’re inundated with. I love the way he portrayed these two different characters, one that is incredibly-outspoken, this Greta Thunberg-type of character in Jen‘s and mine who is trying to play within the system.”.

“I also love the way he was incredibly truthful about how we’re so immensely distracted from the whole truth nowadays and of course Covid hit and there was a whole new scientific argument going on there. It’s such an important Film to be a part of at this particular time.”.

Lawrence: “It’s just so sad and frustrating to watch people who’ve dedicated their lives to learning the truth and be turned away because people don’t like what the truth has to say.”.

Adam McKay talks about his use of Comedy in delivering this very serious real-life message.

McKay: “We were talking about the idea of dealing with Climate Crisis which is so overwhelming and arguably the greatest threat to life in the history of mankind. It almost can feel like an animal attacking you, but if you’re able to laugh, that means you have some distance. I actually think that’s really important and you can feel urgency and sadness, and feel lost, while also having a sense of humour. And that was the intention of the Movie after the crazy last five, ten years we’ve all had. Wouldn’t it be funny to just laugh at this? So that was kinda the approach.”.

DiCaprio talks about the necessity of some of the blockbuster names in the Film to get the message out about Climate Change.

DiCaprio: “I’ve been looking for a movie about the subject for decades now. This is an issue where everyone feels ultimately like, ‘What kind of difference can we make?’ and what can we contribute to this cause. Adam really cracked the code with so many comparisons that we can make to the Climate Change crisis with this story line. As a whole, it’s the most important topic we all can be talking about on a regular basis. It takes Artists like this to change the narrative, to create conversation.”.

In DON’T LOOK UP, the central comet is named after Lawrence‘s character. She is asked about how her character feels about this.

Lawrence: “I think at first it’s very exciting until it becomes a catastrophe, and you’re named something people are not happy about. There was an evolution where at first she was very proud of this and then resentment built.”.

Kid Cudi talks about his experience on this Film as DJ Chello, while also contributing to the Film’s theme song “Just Look Up” with Ariana Grande, who plays Riley Bina.

Cudi: “It was nerve-wrecking. It felt like even though I was there for three days, it felt like a family setting and everybody embraced me. It was my first time meeting Tyler Perry, and he’s so cool and I didn’t realize he was so tall! I learned sometimes you’ve just gotta relax and go with the flow and be within your space and comfortable. I talk to Kathryn Hahn, whom I’m friends with, and she told me about Adam. She said, ‘Just be ready for him to throw anything!’ and that made me even more scared.”.

“When Nicholas Britell (Song Producer) played the song for me, I said, ‘Holy shit! Where do I fit? How do I approach this?’. He had something written for me and we tried that, but it just wasn’t working. Maybe it would be better if I approach it with my own flavour and take that approach. This is not me writing a song from a Kid Cudi perspective, this is from DJ‘s perspective and they’ve (DJ and Riley) just linked back up, and he’s pretty much confessing and expressing his love to her, and he’s just kinda forgetting about the importance of the song. I’m just happy to be with my baby. I took this approach. You’re on-stage with this girl making this song with the love of your life. You just had a huge fallout and everyone around the world knew about it. So it was this reunion moment. It was intense at first because Ariana is such an incredible Artist. Her vocal performance is just stellar. I’m just really happy we were happy to figure it out and it worked.”.

“Just Look Up” can be heard here:

Lawrence also talks about her experience working with Grande, being a huge fan of hers.

Lawrence: “It was shocking, she’s so tiny. I’m a huge fan of her music. It was overwhelming. Our worlds don’t normally collide. I felt like a radio contest winner. I didn’t know how to talk to her. I just did my best.”.

Jonah Hill and DiCaprio each talk about their mutual admiration for one another, working together this a third time. Hill plays the President’s son Jason Orlean.

Hill: “Honestly, I’ve always been a fan of Leo and have had mad respect for how much he puts his money and time where his mouth is in regards to this issue, so not only as a friend, but someone who is out there talking a big game, and actually walks the walk.”.

DiCaprio: “He is an absolute genius, this friend of mine. He has this ability to improvise, take control of a scene and have the narrative be shifted in amazing, colourful ways. It is a sight to witness and truly remarkable to experience. He’s absolutely a genius. I would love to work on a hundred more films.”.

Lawrence: “Amen, really fun.”.

Hill: “I agree with what he said (laughs). Real talk, I’ve worked with now pretty much all the best Actors in the world, a lot who are up here right now, and there’s been no more loyal friend in show business. Aside from that, put all those feelings aside. What you see when they yell “action!’ and what he does, no disrespect, is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Hands down. Just kidding! Duh! (looking at Meryl Streep) I’ll text you how I feel!”.

Tyler Perry talks about playing TV Host Jack Bremner, opposite Cate Blanchett who plays Brie Evantee.

Perry: “I actually made a couple phone calls to people who are on morning shows right now that I admire, I sent them part of the Script. I said, ‘Why don’t you read this and send it back to me on your iPhone?’. And they did, so I got some bits here and there. Those guys are professional Journalists. They were very helpful helping me pull that off.”.

McKay: “Tyler is being very humble, by the way. The big trick between him and Cate Blanchett is that they really had to have a chemistry. It was so remarkable within five minutes, it was as if they’d been on a show together for ten years!”.

Perry: “That happens when there’s sexual chemistry! That was obvious. I said, ‘Okay, I just have to flirt, I get it!’. She’s gonna kill me!”.

Meryl Streep talks about her character President Orlean and where she pulled inspiration and the sacrifices of being a public servant.

Streep: “There were so many places to take things from because there’s so many preposterous people who put themselves in public places shamelessly. It was kinda fun to put together this character who was about amassing power and money, more power and more money. And nice hair and nails to top it all off. And unfortunately, that’s what the cost of what being a public servant is. You really have to make a big sacrifice. Your family makes a sacrifice and you have to be willing to do that. It’s amazing we ever get good people to do it. We need them right now. It’s a high cost in public service, that’s for sure.”.

DiCaprio talks about a compelling moment in DON’T LOOK UP where he delivers an impassioned speech.

DiCaprio: “Adam and I worked on that speech probably 50 times together. What I really wanted to do was try to articulate the frustration of the scientific community, how one is sitting on a pulpit trying to tell the truth and all these other noises are drowning out the main message. So we worked a lot together trying to understand the frustration of the scientific community and how one would be in a situation like that. How do you put on this professional jacket to cut through straight to the truth of the situation?”.

The Cast is asked about moments in the Film they found chilling.

Streep: “There is a scene in a bar with Tyler and Cate and everything’s going to shit outside. She says, ‘I just wanna get drunk and talk shit about people’. I know a lot of people like that. It’s not an unusual reaction but it chilled my bones.”.

“I don’t want to give any spoilers, but there’s also when they’re in the car with Timothée Chalamet and he proposes an idea to Jen and she goes ‘Yeah’. And it’s so clear it’s no way it’s ever gonna happen. The human dream is you hope something good will happen even though we know something bad is. That’s the kernel of truth, that we push this information away because it’s too painful.”.

DON’T LOOK UP is in select theatres December 10, 2021 and on Netflix December 24, 2021.

Our Review will be up shortly.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER AND POSTER FOR “THE BEACH BUM”

A new Trailer and Poster have surfaced for THE BEACH BUM, starring Matthew McConaughey! This is by the same Director as Spring Breakers, Harmony Korine! Check them out!

 

Synopsis:
The hilarious misadventures of Moondog (Matthew McConaughey), a rebellious rogue who always lives life by his own rules.

Zac Efron, Martin Lawrence, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher and Jonah Hill also star!

 

See the Trailer:

 

Artwork:

 

VVS Films release THE BEACH BUM Friday, March 29, 2019.

 

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “MID90s”

A critical hit at TIFF ’18, Jonah Hill‘s directorial debut MID90s now has Canadian distribution.  He also wrote the Film. Check-out this new Trailer!

Synopsis:
Follows Stevie, a thirteen-year-old in 90s-era LA who spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life and a group of new friends that he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop.

 

See the Trailer:

 

VVS Films release MID90s Friday, October 26, 2018.

 

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

#TIFF18: “MID90s” REVIEW

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

With Mid90s, Oscar-nominee Jonah Hill makes the leap from acting to writing/directing. The Film revolves around 13-year-old Stevie (Sunny Suljic), trying to fit in and find his place in the world. His Mom Dabney (Katherine Waterston) is not the best parent and his older brother Ian (Lucas Hedges) is constantly beating and abusing him. With no friends to turn to, Stevie starts hanging out at a local skate shop and makes friends with a crew of older skateboarders – who may be inspiring a few wrong impressions.

Hill’s directorial debut is far from perfect, but is admirable and notable. The look and nostalgic feel of the Film is spot-on, and the loud Sondtrack (complete with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score) is magnificent. And while the casting is great overall, Suljic’s performance is absolutely brilliant as the precocious, impressionable and quietly hilarious Stevie. My main gripe is that outside of one deeply emotional scene involving Stevie and older skateboarder Ray (Na-kel Smith), there are too few genuine coming-of-age moments. Hill hints at them (and some deeper, darker closeted demons), but he never elaborates or goes into any sort of depth. It all just feels like a big lead up to nothing much at all. I wanted to learn more about these kids and Stevie’s family life. And with a running time of 84-minutes, there was definitely some time that could have been spent on it.

Also, does it horrify anyone else that a film set in the 1990s is now considered a period piece?

Mid90s screens on Sunday, September 9 at 9:15 PM at Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere], Monday, September 10 at 2:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Friday, September 14 at 6:00 PM at Ryerson Theatre.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW STILLS FROM NETFLIX’S “MANIAC” STARRING EMMA STONE + JONAH HILL

MANIAC is all sorts of yassss. Above is a brand-new still from the eagerly-awaited new Netflix Original Movie. Reuniting Superbad Co-Stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, and directed by Cary Fukunaga, Maniac is the story of two strangers who find themselves caught up in a mind-bending pharmaceutical trial gone awry.

 

See more Stills below:

 

 

 

 

 

Release date to be confirmed.

 

(Photo credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW RED-BAND TRAILER FOR “SAUSAGE PARTY”

Well that’ll make your day! Did you know about this R-rated, innuendo-filled Animated Feature, SAUSAGE PARTY? The name just says it all. Just released today is a new Trailer which will drop your bleeping jaws.

Synopsis:

Sausage Party, the first R-rated CG animated movie, is about one sausage leading a group of supermarket products on a quest to discover the truth about their existence and what really happens when they become chosen to leave the grocery store. The film features the vocal talents of a who’s who of today’s comedy stars – Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Bill Hader, Michael Cera, James Franco, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Nick Kroll, David Krumholtz, Edward Norton and Salma Hayek.

See the Trailer:

Sony Pictures Canada release  SAUSAGE PARTY Friday, August 12, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “HAIL, CAESAR!”

Universal Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take you to see the latest from brilliant brother duo, The Coen Brothers!  HAIL, CAESAR! has had us talking since its star-studded Trailer first surfaced and now you’ll have a chance to see it first on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton!

Synopsis:
Follows a single day in the life of a 1950s studio “fixer” Eddie (Josh Brolin) who is presented with plenty of problems to fix — including a missing movie star (George Clooney) and a pregnant actress (Scarlet Johansson).

HAIL, CAESAR! stars Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Channing Tatum. Yes, you read that right. All of ’em in ONE Movie!!

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

 

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. State your City and tell me what your biggest problem to fix in 2016 is.

For an extra chance, click “share” on this Post from there or Tweet the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/hailcaesar @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Passes to see #HAILCAESAR! Out 2/5.

Universal Pictures Canada release HAIL, CAESAR! on Friday, February 5, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: FIRST TRAILER FOR “HAIL, CAESAR!”

The Coen Brothers are back and you absolutely must check-out this snappy Trailer for their latest opus, HAIL, CAESAR! The Comedy stars a brilliant and eclectic cast including Josh Brolin, Channing Tatum, George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Alden Ehrenreich, Jonah Hill, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand and Ralph Fiennes.

Synopsis:
Follows a single day in the life of a studio fixer (Josh Brolin) who is presented with plenty of problems to fix.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release HAIL, CAESAR! on Friday, February 5, 2016, something to take us out of the winder doldrums!

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)