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)
Mongrel Media and Lionsgate are partnering for a special four week initiative where some of Lionsgate‘s biggest blockbusters will stream free starting tonight for four consecutive weeks. Lionsgate Live! A Night at the Movies will give Moviegoers a chance to stream the likes of LA LA LAND, THE HUNGER GAMES, DIRTY DANCING and JOHN WICK on Mongrel Media‘s YouTube Channel here. Even better, KNIVES OUT star Jamie Lee Curtis will be hosting.
The free movies that will livestream on Fridays at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET are:
April 17 â âThe Hunger Gamesâ
April 24 â âDirty Dancingâ
May 1 â âLa La Landâ
May 8 â âJohn Wickâ (age registration required)
You also may donate, with proceeds going to the CANADIAN PICTURE PIONEERS, who will be donating funds to theatre employees for relief during these challenging times. There is a Donate button on their mainpage.
Happy streaming!
(Photo/video credit: Lionsgate Films)
Last September we fell hopelessly in love. The story of Sebastian and Mia ripped our heart right out and we never have been the same since. We still are very much in-love with LA LA LAND and we want you to have the opportunity to enjoy it now at home! eOne Films x Mr. Will want to give Readers in Canada a chance to win a LA LA LAND Prize Pack including a copy of the six-time Academy Award-winning Film on Blu-ray and also a mini lightbox! The Blu-ray contains unparalleled access to the Film, which won also a record-setting seven Golden Globe Awards including fascinating Featurettes that give us insight into the anatomy of the Movie and also its music.
Synopsis:
Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress who works in a coffee shop in a busy Hollywood studio lot in between auditions, keeps bumping into the disgruntled Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a dedicated yet stubborn jazz musician who dreams of opening his own jazz club one day.
The two finally get together and Mia even begins to love jazz, but she also begins to lose faith in herself when yet another audition goes wrong. Sebastian believes in her and convinces her to give it one last shot, but she feels he’s selling out when he joins a popular band as a keyboard player in an effort to make money for the two of them. Their struggles and differences drive a wedge between them.
See the Trailer:
Our heartfelt Review of LA LA LAND right here.
Features of the LA LA LAND Blu-ray:
Another Day of Sun: They Closed Down a Freeway (10:36)
La La Land’s Great Party (5:08)
Ryan Gosling: Piano Student (5:03)
Before Whiplash: Damien Chazelle’s Passion Project (10:12)
La La Land’s Love Letter to Los Angeles (6:56)
John Legend’s Acting Debut (4:40)
The Look of Love: Designing La La Land (8:48)
Ryan and Emma: Third Time’s the Charm (5:51)
Epilogue: The Romance of the Dream (7:54)
Damien & Justin Sing: The Demos
Enter to win by clicking “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Share this Post from there for an extra chance on “favourite” this Post on Twitter: @mrwillw.
eOne Films release LA LA LAND Tuesday, April 25, 2017 on Blu-ray and DVD!
(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)
LOGANÂ shreds its competition to take the top of the Box Office with a monstrous $81 million opening for 20th Century Fox. Â Playing it 4,071 theatres across North America, the final Wolverine Film starring Hugh Jackman receives an outstanding 93% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore. Despite an outstanding performance in its debut, it still is behind 2009’s X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, which opened with $85 million, although it should be noted that was a PG-13 release and this latest installment is R-rated, setting a record for highest-ever opening for a Film of that rating in March, a record held previously by 300.
In second this weekend is GET OUT from Universal Pictures, which last weekend debuted on-top. Â It earns a stellar $26.5 million in its second week out, a two-week tally of $76.3 million.
Faith-based Film THE SHACK opens in third with $15.3 million from 2,888 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. It gets 16% on the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE is in fourth with $11.1 million for Warner Bros. Over four weeks it has made $148 million domestically.
BEFORE I FALL debuts in sixth for Open Road Films/Elevation Pictures with $4.6 million from 2,346 theatres. The Sundance selection gets a respectable 68% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.
LA LA LAND rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.1 million after last weekend’s Oscars mis-announcement debacle where it was named Best Picture, only or it to be clarified the award actually went to MOONLIGHT. Â LA LA LAND over 13 weeks has earned $145 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. Â MOONLIGHT also gets a boost from last weekend’s Oscars exposure placing eleventh, expanding back to 1,564 theatres and earning $2.2 million. Â It has grossed $25 million over 20 weeks of release for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures.
The 89th annual Academy Awards took place tonight at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and in a shock of a finale, MOONLIGHT would win coveted Best Picture. Presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway would make a not-soon-to-be-forgotten gaffe of announcing LA LA LAND and Best Picture, which eventually was corrected. Beatty clarified on-stage he had in fact received the envelope for Emma Stone, Best Actress. The acclaimed Barry Jenkins coming of age Film also would win for Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali).Â
In an era where inclusion and diversity are at the forefront of discussion, Ali becomes known as the first ever Muslim Actor to win an Oscar. Noted this year was an increased presence of talent whether it be Presenters or Nominees, of various ethnicities.
After dominating Awards Season, Damien Chazelle‘s LA LA LAND would sweep in several categories including Production Design, Cinematography, Original Score, Original Song, Directing and Actress (Emma Stone). Chazelle has the distinction of at age 32 being the youngest to ever win Best Directing.
Jimmy Kimmel filled hosting duties this year, delivering his signature brand of biting humour (much directed to a running friendly feud with Matt Damon) which drew big laughs and at once awkward silence when he joked about O.J. Simpson deserving an extra piece of bologna tonight after OJ: MADE IN AMERICA won Best Documentary.
The night reached a comedic high point where Kimmel told the audience that he had planned for a bus full of random tourists to visit Kodak Theatre without their knowing. Much to their surprise, they were greeted  by a front row of Hollywood Who’s-Who which included the likes of Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, Ryan Gosling, Denzel Washington, Mahershala Ali and several more!
.@jimmykimmel bringing tourists into the #oscars was pretty Fresh. pic.twitter.com/xetZUSL0pd
â Rotten Tomatoes (@RottenTomatoes) February 27, 2017
Accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award just earlier this year, three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep stole the show tonight right from the get-go without even speaking with Kimmel poking fun about Donald Trump‘s statement that she was over-rated getting the audience to giver her a standing ovation as the “highly-overrated Meryl Streep“.
âHighly overratedâ Meryl Streep gets standing ovation at #Oscars after being slammed by Trump https://t.co/K3lOQiFiE5 pic.twitter.com/FTI72LIq5u
â People Magazine (@people) February 27, 2017
The iconic Actress has appeared much in the news of late after Fashion Designer Karl Lagerfeld claimed to Women’s Wear Daily that Streep refused a dress from Chanel after she was denied monetary compensation for donning the label’s creation.  Streep vehemently has denied the accusation, issuing a statement: “I do not take this lightly, and Mr. Lagerfeldâs generic âstatementâ of regret for this âcontroversyâ was not an apology. He lied, they printed the lie, and I am still waiting.”.
The other acting categories went to heavy favourites. Casey Affleck won Best Actor for MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her work in stage-to-film Adaptation FENCES.
Canada was represented well, with Montreal’s Sylvain Bellemare winning Best Sound Editing for ARRIVAL. The Best Picture-nominated Film also saw our Denis Villeneuve receive a nomination for Directing.
As always the evening’s fashion is a huge part of the spectacle and here are some of the evening’s winning looks!
(Photo/video credit: Oscars/Getty Images)
It’s been a great year for Universal Pictures who take the top of the Box Office with the Jordan Peele horror, GET OUT. Just earlier this year they topped the Box Office for three weeks with SPLIT. Â Exceeding all expectations, GET OUT debuts at number one with $28 million from 2,701 theatres across North America. Â It gets an ultra-rare 100% on the Tomatometer and an A- CinemaScore from Audiences.
Slipping to second after two weeks on-top is THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE with $18 million from 4,057 theatres for Warner Bros. in its third week. It has made $132 million thus far domestically.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 continues to go strong in third with $8.2 million in its third week out, a tally of $74 million thus far for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films.
THE GREAT WALL is in fourth this weekend with $8 million, a two-week total of $33 million for Universal Pictures.
FIFTY SHADES DARKER is in fifth with $7.3 million for Universal Pictures, just surpassing the $100-million-mark in its third week.
Oscar Frontrunner LA LA LAND continues to perform well in eighth with $4.7 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, a total $140 million over 12 weeks.
Rounding-out the Top Ten is Chinese Graphic Novel Adaptation ROCK DOG, with $3,5 million for Lionsgate Films from 2,077 theatres. It gets 44% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.
For a second straight week, THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE takes the top of the Box Office with $41.9 million from 4,088 theatres for Warner Bros. In two weeks it has made $106 million domestically.
FIFTY SHADES DARKER is in second again in its second week out with $20.8 million for Universal Pictures. Thus far it has made $92.6 million in North America.
THE GREAT WALL debuts in third with $17.1 million from 3,325 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Matt Damon-starring epic gets a 36% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 continues to perform v. well in fourth with $15 million in its second week out for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, just shy of the $60-million-mark.
FIST FIGHT opens in fifth with $10.7 million for Warner Bros. from 3,185 theatres. Starring Charlie Day and Ice Cube, the Comedy gets a B CinemaScore and 36% on the Tomatometer.
LA LA LAND is in ninth with $4.7 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, a total $134 million since its domestic release.
LION rounds-out the Top Ten with $4 million for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. It has made $37 million thus far.
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE gets the love of Moviegoers taking the top of the Box Office in its debut Valentine’s Day weekend with $54.5 million from 4,088 theatres for Warner Bros. Pictures. Its 2014 predecessor made $69 million in its opening, while Critics love it equally as much with 91% on the Tomatometer and Audiences gave it a great A- CinemaScore.
Debuting right behind in second with $48.3 million from 3,710 theatres  is FIFTY SHADES DARKER, also a second series installment like LEGO. It gets 10% on the Tomatometer and a much better B+ CinemaScore from Audiences. By contrast, its predecessor made $85 million it its 2015 debut.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 opens in third with $29.6 million from 3,113 theatres for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. This bests the series’ first installment which opened in 2014 with $14.4 million domestically. It gets a fantastic 91% on the Tomatometer from Critics and also an A- CinemaScore.
SPLIT still is going strong in fourth after three weeks on-top, with $9.1 million from 2,961 theatres for Universal Pictures. It has made $112 million thus far.
A DOG’S PURPOSE is in sixth with $7.7 million for Universal Pictures, a tally of $42.9 million over three weeks.
LA LA LAND is in eighth with $5 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, tallying-in at $126 million over ten weeks.
THE SPACE BETWEEN US rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.7 million for STX Entertainment/VVS Films, a total $6.5 million over two weeks.
For a third straight week, SPLIT takes the top of the Box Office for Universal Pictures with $14.3 million from 3,373 theatres. Â It nears the $100-million-mark, with a tally of $98.3 million domestically thus far.
RINGS debuts in second spot with $13.3 million for Paramount Pictures, from 2,931 theatres. The third Film in the Japanese-adapted Horror franchise, it also ranks third in highest opening after 2005’s THE RING 2 ($35 million) and 2002’s THE RING ($15 million) respectively. It gets a C- CinemaScore from Audiences and a paltry 6% on the Tomatometer.
HIDDEN FIGURES still is going strong in third with $10.2 million for 20th Century Fox. In seven weeks it is just shy of $120 million in North America.
A DOG’S PURPOSE is in fourth with $10.1 million for Universal Pictures, a total $32 million in two weeks.
LA LA LAND is in fifth with $7.4 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, a total $118 million over nine weeks.
RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER is in sixth with $4.1 million for Sony Pictures, a two-week total of $21.5 million.
THE SPACE BETWEEN US opens in ninth with $3.5 million from 2,812 theatres for STX Entertainment/VVS Films. It gets 16% on the Tomatometer from Critics, while Audiences loved it with an A- CinemaScore.
xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.4 million, a total $39 million over three weeks earned for Paramount Pictures.
For a second straight week, SPLIT takes the top of the Box Office with $25.3 million for Universal Pictures, from 3,199 theatres. In two weeks, the Thriller has tallied $77 million across North America.
Despite a bit of controversy of late, Universal Pictures’ A DOG’S PURPOSE still performs a respectable second with $18.3 million from 3,059 theatres. It earns 35% on the Tomatometer from Critics, but Audiences responded well with an A CinemaScore, which just might help with word of mouth. The Film was made for $22 million.
In third is former champion HIDDEN FIGURES with $13.9 million from 3,351 theatres for 20th Century Fox. It has just surpassed the $100 million-mark domestically.
RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER debuts in fourth for Sony Pictures, with $12.4 million from 3,104 theatres. Â It gets 39% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.
LA LA LAND is in fifth with $11.8 million, playing wide at 3,136 theatres for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films. It has earned $106 million over eight weeks.
xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE is in sixth its second week out with $7.6 million. It has earned $32 million for Paramount Pictures.
GOLD debuts in tenth  with $3.5 million for Elevation Pictures/The Weinstein Co. from 2,166 theatres. It gets 38% on the Tomatometer and a B CinemaScore.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com