Hot off its Premiere at TIFF ’22, Lena Dunham‘s CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY now has a release date.

Synopsis:

The year? 1290. In the Medieval English village of Stonebridge, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy) is the youngest child of Lord Rollo and the Lady Aislinn. Her playground is Stonebridge Manor, a house that, like the family, has seen better days. Financially destitute and utterly greedy, Rollo sees his daughter as his path out of financial ruin by marrying her off to a wealthy man for money and land. But Birdy, like all the great teen heroines, is spirited, clever, and adventurous, and ready to put off any suitor that comes calling in increasingly ingenious ways. Her imagination, defiance, and deep belief in her own right to independence put her on a collision course with her parents. When the vilest suitor of all arrives, they are presented with the ultimate test of love for their daughter.

CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY arrives October 7, 2022 on Prime Video.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video)

It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Lena Dunham, but how exciting is it that her latest effort, CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY is set to premiere at TIFF ’22? The Film adapted from Karen Cushman‘s Novel, arrives later this year on Prime Video.

Synopsis:

The year? 1290. In the Medieval English village of Stonebridge, Lady Catherine (known as Birdy) is the youngest child of Lord Rollo and Lady Aislinn. Her playground is Stonebridge Manor, a house that, like the family, has seen better days. Financially destitute and utterly greedy, Rollo sees his daughter as his path out of financial ruin by marrying her off to a wealthy man for money and land. But Birdy, like all the great teen heroines, is spirited, clever, and adventurous–and ready to put off any suitor that comes in increasingly ingenious ways. Her imagination, defiance and deep belief in her own right to independence put her on a collision course with her parents. When the most vile suitor of all arrives, they are presented with the ultimate test of love for their daughter.

From Prime Video, Catherine Called Birdy stars Bella Ramsey, Lesley Sharp, Sophie Okonedo, Joe Alwyn, Isis Hainsworth, Dean-Charles Chapman, Paul Kaye, with Billie Piper and Andrew Scott. It is directed by and screenplay written by Lena Dunham, based on the book by Karen Cushman. Producers are Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, Dunham, and Jo Wallett. 

CATHERINE CALLED BIRDY arrives September 23, 2022 on Prime Video Canada.

(Photo credit: Prime Video)

By David Baldwin

Sarah Jo (Kristine Froseth) is a naïve 26-year-old caregiver with shockingly little knowledge about sex, likely due to a trauma she suffered nearly ten years prior. She begins a sexual relationship with the father of one of her clients, which ends even quicker than it began, but wants to continue learning more about her sexuality and desires. So Sarah Jo makes an alphabetical list of positions and scenarios she wants to experience – and she is dedicated to checking them all off.

In only her second Feature film, Writer/Director/Actor Lena Dunham has crafted another project that is sex-positive and holds nothing back. The dialogue and storyline are exactly what you would expect from the award-winning Artist behind HBO’s Girls, and is just as divisive as you expect too. She is not trying to gain new fans here or change any opinions you might have of her. After so many years in the business, the honesty and frank depiction of sexuality in her work speaks for itself, and she continues to be a true “love it or hate it” icon. I admire that she does not let any of that controversial baggage get the best of her in Sharp Stick, and that she continues to speak for a generation with her graphic and humorous innuendos and flourishes (and really appreciated how natural the Covid integrations were throughout the Film). Yet I feel like she does not fully know what she wants to say here, despite how personal the project obviously is to her. By the time the Film concludes, it feels more like two very different storylines smashed together as opposed to one cohesive picture, and the all-too short runtime does not allow Dunham any time to examine what is really going on with Sarah Jo.

All of that said, Dunham has put together an eclectic ensemble to tell this story, with standout turns from Jon Bernthal, Zola’s Taylour Paige, Jennifer Jason Leigh and an absolutely uninhibited Scott Speedman. They all help prop-up Froseth’s great performance that straddles the line between innocence and maturity. She goes all in here, accurately capturing Dunham’s voice. I wish the Film were as strong as she is.

SHARP STICK screens at Sundance as follows:

PREMIERE Jan 22 8:30PM EST Available Until Jan 22 11:30PM EST

SECOND SCREENING Jan 24 10:00AM EST Available Until Jan 25 10:00AM EST

Lena Dunham serves as Executive Producer on upcoming HBO Max series GENERA+ION.

Synopsis:

The Max Original dramedy GENERA+ION debuts on HBO Max with three episodes on THURSDAY, MARCH 11. The series continues with two new episodes on March 18, two episodes on March 25 and one episode on April 1. An additional eight episodes comprising the second half of the season will debut later this year. GENERA+ION is a dark yet playful half-hour series following a diverse group of high school students whose exploration of modern sexuality (devices and all) tests deeply entrenched beliefs about life, love and the nature of family in their conservative community.

The ensemble cast includes Nathanya Alexander, Chloe East, Nava Mau, Lukita Maxwell, Haley Sanchez, Uly Schlesinger, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Chase Sui Wonders with Justice Smith and Martha Plimpton. Recurring guest stars include J. August Richards, Mary Birdsong, Alicia Coppola, Patricia De Leon, Diego Josef, Anthony Kevyan, Sydney Mae Diaz, John Ross Bowie, Marwan Salama, Marisela Zumbado and Sam Trammell.

See the Trailer:

GENERA+TION debuts on Crave in Canada with the HBO add-on Thursday, March 11, 2021. The series continues with two new episodes on March 18, two episodes on March 25, and one episode on April 1.  The second-half of the season arrives late 2021.

(Photo/video credit: HBO Max)

Holy frack! T-Swift delivers her A-Game in the eagerly-awaited Music Video for Bad Blood! She brings out her BFFs in a star-studded Girlfight Action Fest which premiered tonight during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards!  Thought originally to be inspired by some tension between Swift and Katy Perry, it’s clear who has the former’s back on the matter.

Selena Gomez! Zendaya! Lena Dunham! Cara Delevingne! Hayley Williams! Hailee Steinfeld! Gigi Hadid! The hotness won’t quit. Director Joseph Kahn known best for Britney Spears’ Toxic Music Video achieves a new career best.

Watch and witness it yourself:

It is no mystery how much I adore HBO Series GIRLS and after being down about missing Creator and Star Lena Dunham‘s Just for Laughs Festival appearance in September last month, fate would give me a second shot at meeting her.  In Toronto promoting her new Book NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, the 28-year-old Screenwriter, Director, Actress, Producer and now Author, had a busy day of Press which concluded with her speaking at the Toronto Reference Library‘s Bram & Bluma Appel Salon.

Reading excerpts form the Book of Essays, Dunham connected with close to a thousand Fans tonight, followed by an Autograph Signing which saw Fans gushing in delight as they left just how sweet she is.  Her Father, Painter Carroll Dunham even accompanied the Golden Globe-winning Star on this trip.

Although promising to stop for Photos upon arrival, a newly-green-haired Dunham quickly was rushed out of the Venue after her appearance. We caught up with her later in the night and she was an absolute delight, stopping for Photos, while signing copies of her Book with personalizations.

After a bit of a cliffhanger of a third Season, we greatly anticipate the upcoming fourth season of GIRLS, to premiere early 2015!

Doubleday Canada release NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL, now in stores.  More here.

Lena Dunham + Mr. Will:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Vogue’s Nathan Heller this month interviews Lena Dunham, Star and Creator of HBO‘s Girls, which now is in full promotional swing! The Golden Globe-nominated Actress and Writer gets revealing in the Piece which is accompanied by dazzling Photos of her by famed Photographer Annie Leibovitz.

Dunham reveals how in High School she really felt like an Outsider and some of that still trickles to her being in Hollywood. She says, “I went early on to a party at a really famous person’s house. They had a private chef there making pizza, and I remember the dog was wearing a bow tie. Every time I looked around, it would be like, Is that someone I know from camp? No, that’s Ashton Kutcher. It was such a weird scene. I remember thinking, I don’t feel at home here, and no matter how long this is my job, I will never feel at home here. And if I do start to feel at home here.”. “Someone should really worry about me.”.

This actually isn’t the first time Dunham has appeared in the Magazine however. She was featured back in her youth as a trendy Teen, we learn.

She looks sensation if I might say so in some of these Photos. Whomever styled her should definitely be collaborating with her for her Red Carpet looks!

See the Cover:

Read the Interview in full here.

(Photo credit: Vogue)

A brand new Teaser Trailer has just been released for the upcoming third season of HBO‘s Girls.    Told through a series of Instagram Photos and Robert ToTeras’ Track Break Out The Boom Boom, we see lots of smiles and happy times on the Beach among the Cast. Is that Hannah‘s (Lena Dunham) scorned Ex-Roommate Elijah (Andrew Rannells) we see making a return? Love that.

Watch the Trailer below:

Season Three of Girls is set to air January 2014.

(Photo/video credit: HBO)

Such a complete delight partaking in the festivities of the 2013 Costume Institute Gala (Met Gala) this year in New York City.  The Gala celebrates the Metropolitan Museum‘s annual opening of the Fashion Exhibit at the Costume Institute, bringing together the Worlds of Film, Music and Fashion. Although it’s 6:00 AM and I have yet to sleep a wink, I’ve had a blast chasing the Stars and enjoying the Fashions, celebrating the theme of Punk!  Although some were faithful to it, there were also several diversions, resulting in a large variety to the eye.

Yes, it was surreal being an arm’s length from Madonna who looked fun and edgy in her Cleopatra Hair and seeing Natalie Portman clash at once with her on the  Red Carpet with her, only for her to acquiesce and let the reigning Queen of Pop shine in her metallic Givenchy Haute Couture Dress.  I am still in awe of Beyoncé‘s marvelous Givenchy Gown, which drew the most applause from Onlookers who lined the streets for a glimpse outside the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).  Or how about getting an air kiss from this year’s Host Rooney Mara after telling her how much I admire her work?  And I cannot deny how surreal it was seeing Sofia Coppola walk arm-in-arm with Marc Jacobs – two of my favourite People!  Or how about witnessing a warm embrace between Girls Star/Writer/Producer Lena Dunham and equally brilliant Mindy Kaling?  And did I mention I accidentally stepped-on Jessica Alba‘s dress?

The Parties continued well into the morning, with the main event taking place at The Standard Hotel, where the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Rita Ora, Cara Delevingne, Madonna, Katy Perry, Carey Mulligan and a newly-blonde Anne Hathaway, stirred-up some madness.  Lawrence in particular raised a frenzy among Fans and Paparazzi alike, zipping along with tactical speed into her SUV.

See a Montage below of Clips I took from the Evening.  You won’t believe how crazy things got for Jennifer Lawrence!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

“Of the  Cast, I think she’s most likely to have a long, lasting Film Career”, The National Post‘s Shinan Govani whispers into my ear.  The “she” whom he is referring to of course is Allison Williams, Star of HBO‘s hotly-buzzed Series Girls, which sees a DVD/Blu-ray release next week – getting a bit of Promo here in Toronto.  Govani hosted an intimate In-Conversation-With in the east-end of the City tonight with the stunning Actress, who  happens  to be the Daughter of NBC Anchor Brian Williams and also a Graduate of Yale herself.

Williams who arrived fashionably late understandably after a jam-packed  day of Press which had her visit CBC, Corus and also MuchMusic for an appearance on New.Music.Live, looked nothing short of breathtaking.  Every eye in the room was glued to the Beauty, who plays the role of Marnie on the Emmy-nominated Series, penned/produced/acted by It-Girl Lena Dunham.

Fame had to wait for Williams, whose Parents insisted that she completed her Studies before entering Show Business, telling us “College delayed my attempts at the Industry. I’m  lucky and grateful.”.  On her new-found Fame, she admits that she is still grappling with that.  “No matter what age you are, it’s really tough”, says Williams. “What happens is this twist where people refer to me by my Character name – which is weird, but really isn’t considering the nature of my work”. As well, she is flattered by the Sex and the City comparisons which Girls receives much criticism for – a matter which Govani pointed-out right away as being the “Elephant in the Room”.

She reveals that she feels an instant connection to Fans who tell her they too are a “Marnie“, because she understands truly what that means.  Williams however, wouldn’t give-away too many details about whether or not Marnie and Dunham‘s Hannah will reconcile their Friendship in the forthcoming second season of the Series.  “I will say though that love is never lost”, she hints with tact as HBO Executives watched carefully.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Williams quickly, answering the one single question on everyone’s mind.  And yes, she confirms to me that her  stunning Red Dress is in fact by Oscar de la Renta.  Truly down-to-earth and well-spoken, we chatted about the amazing selection of Music heard on Girls and she tells me, “Oh, Lena normally has say over that, but I might have  helped get songs by Robyn and Ellie Goulding in”.

Season One of HBO‘s Girls is in-stores on DVD/Blu-ray on Tuesday, December 11, 2012.  Season Two of the Series premieres on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 9:00 PM.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)