Hypothetical situation: someone you love deeply, whether it be a Partner, Grandparent, Sibling, Best Friend or even a Pet for that matter, unexpectedly passes on. Imagine being barred from being by their side in their final hour or even worse,  you are denied the opportunity to mourn their death –  forbidden from attending their their Wake, their Funeral, their Burial. What happens when the Law, which is supposed to protect you, also is part of the reason why the System has failed you?

Such is the case with Shane Bitney Crone, whom after six loving years together with his same-sex Partner Tom Bridegroom, cruelly was left ostracized without the legal protection of Marriage  after the latter died in a  tragic accident in 2011; he was only 29. This enabled members of Bridegroom‘s Family, who disapproved vehemently of their relationship, to prevent Crone from attending his Lover’s Funeral or be a part of their healing process amidst the misfortune. Crone‘s Story, originally a Short Film on Youtube titled It Could Happen to You, after two years of development now is a feature-length Documentary titled aptly, Bridegroom.  The irony of course, being that the Deceased’s Family and the Legal System had denied him the right to fulfil the destiny of his own namesake with the Man he loved.

Crone takes a moment amidst his hectic promotional schedule for the deeply-affecting Documentary to call me from Los Angeles, where the Film would premiere later that night. “You sound really echoey and far away”, he comments as some technical glitches occur while we set-up the Conference Call. “I don’t want people to think I’m weird or anything”, he says thoughtfully, hoping to make the best of our ten minutes.

From humble beginnings online, the 27-year-old Los Angeles Native now  finally is seeing the rewards of his pure passion, persistence and determination. Bridegroom, after winning emphatic accolades this year at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and the Inside Out Festival in Toronto, now will be seen and heard on a wide scale with Oprah Winfrey‘s OWN and Netflix both giving it their vote of confidence. Make no mistake though, the Film isn’t simply a tragic Tale about two Gay Men –  or as Crone‘s Grandmother would call it Romeo & Romeo.  It is a Portrait of Injustice and a look at just how deeply-institutionalized Homophobia is in a Country which at once has embraced the likes of Will & Grace, Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, Anderson Cooper and Rosie O’Donnell.

I ask Crone about his greatest hope for Bridegroom and he says, “The main goal is to open people’s minds. Director Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and I believed there isn’t an other way of opening people’s minds than by sharing personal stories.”. Clearly having struck an emotional chord with Audiences already, one might wonder what he would deem a success for the Film. He ponders the question and declares, “Just the fact that we made the Film. At the end of the day it’s a Film that I’m proud of, the Director is proud of, and I think Tom would be proud of.  Now with the help of Oprah Winfrey and Netflix, I think it will spread the message in a very big way.”.

One can only imagine how difficult it must be to screen repeatedly a Film about something so deeply-painful and personal as what he still is going through.  He admits, “It is hard revisiting the most difficult period of my life, but at the same time I see how it’s helping people and it makes me feel good –  that I did the right thing by sharing my Story”.  “When you put yourself out there, you open yourself to a lot of criticism, but also support. At the end of the day I had to trust my instincts and do what I felt was right to me. “.

Making Bridegroom truly was a labour of love and as Crone now calls it proudly,  “The People’s Film”.  From YouTube to the Big Screen and Television Sets, it wasn’t long before his Supporters were uniting their voices towards a call for change, contributing generously via  Kickstarter – the World’s largest funding Platform for Creative Projects.   “I was fortunate to have so many people believe in the Story and its message to the point that we have become the most funded Project in the history of Kickstarter“, he explains. “One thing which has been eye-opening in my experience is that I’d  realize how many others have gone through similar and even more tragic stories. My Story is a lot of people’s stories and I think that’s one of the main reasons why we were so successful in people supporting us.”.

One unfortunate reality about this Documentary is that Tom Bridegroom‘s Family had refused any involvement in its making.  His disputably-sympathetic Mother is seen briefly, but only in archived video footage sharing tender moments with him after his and Crone‘s dramatic ‘coming-out’ to her. “I still haven’t heard from any of them. I was told they wouldn’t participate. There are Family members of Tom whom  are supportive. Some didn’t want to risk ruining their relationships with their Family”, he says as a matter of fact. “I see this as an opportunity to help a lot of people. It’s not too late for Tom‘s Parents to honour their Son for being who he was”.  He adds, “I think for them to come out and share their voices and acknowledge that maybe they made a mistake and do what’s right – that would be so powerful”. “Maybe they’ll come around.”.

With the World eager to learn Crone‘s Story now, he is uncertain just what his next steps are and what the future will hold for him. “‘I don’t know what will happen next and I’d like to think it’ll all work-out the way it was supposed to. As long as I’m sharing a Story about people, I feel that’s my responsibility”.  He pauses. “And that’s what I’m gonna do”.

Bridegroom is available for streaming via Netflix on Sunday, October 27, 2013.  It premieres also on OWN  that night at 10:00 PM EST.

After making a big splash at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and garnering multiple awards, Documentary BRIDEGROOM soon will see a release via Netflix!

The heartbreaking Documentary tells the Story of two Men in a committed and loving six-year relationship, torn apart after one of them dies tragically. The Film examines the how two People without the legal protection of Marriage can completely be torn apart.  The is an important Must-See!

See the compelling Trailer below:

BRIDEGROOM is available for streaming starting Sunday, October 27, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Finally, some House of Cards news!  Live from the Set of the acclaimed Netflix Original Series, which happens to be up for nine Emmy Awards, the New York Times will be hosting a Chat tonight with Executive Producer and Star Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Writer Beau Willimon  and New York Times Magazine‘s Chief National Correspondent Mark Leibovich.

The Chat takes place live from the Set of the Series, which currently is filming its second season, and runs from 7:30 – 8: 30 PM EST.  Remember to follow and Tweet your questions @TIMESTALKS.  Video will be made available on their YouTube Channel also here.

Season Two of House of Cards will see a release early 2014 and we cannot wait!  As an aside, did you do know that Bill Clinton like the rest of us, binge-watched Season 1 of the Series?

(Photo credit: Netflix)

Nominees for the 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced earlier this morning in Los Angeles and leading the pack is F/X‘s American Horror Story: Asylum earning and impressive 17 nominations including Miniseries or Movie.  Following closely behind is HBO‘s Game of Thrones with 16 nominations including  Drama Series, with its Supporting Cast Members Peter Dinklage and Emilia Clarke also getting recognized for Supporting Actor and Actress in a Drama Series.

Also front and center is Liberace Biopic Behind the Candelabra nominated for Miniseries or Movie, while both of its Stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon up against one another for Actor in a Miniseries or Movie.  The HBO Movie is up for awards in 15 categories as is long-running NBC Series Saturday Night Live.

Setting precedence is Netflix‘s brilliant Series House of Cards, becoming the first ever Internet-aired Series to be up for a Primetime Emmy, a Finalist in nine categories.  The Series is up for Drama Series, while both Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright are up for Actor and Actress in a Drama Series also.  In addition, original Netflix Series Hemlock Grove and Arrested Development both also received nods, giving the Service a total 14 nominations.

View all Nominees here.

The 65th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards air on CBS Sunday, September 22, 2013.

(Photo credit: F/X)

Hot off the success of their Original Series House of Cards, Netflix is placing its hopes in Prison-set Series, Orange is the New Black, based on the Memoir of the same name by Piper Kerman. Starring Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman, a Brooklynite who is sent to jail for possession of a suitcase filled with drug money for her Ex-Girlfriend/international Drug Smuggler, Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). Piper must endure her 15-month sentence, dealing with a mix of personalities at the minimum-security Facility, taken away from her comfortable life and beloved Fiancé, Larry (Jason Biggs).

In Toronto today (at one of the City’s poshest Hotels) to promote Orange is the New Black were Kerman, Biggs, Prepon and Newcomer Danielle Brooks who plays the outrageous Inmate Taystee, while Schilling unfortunately fell ill, unable to be present physically for this round of Press.

PIPER KERMAN

A lovely and well-spoken Kerman addresses a room of Journalists first and if any Onlooker were to guess who in the room had served time in Prison, she likely would be last on the list. She gives us a jaw-dropping statistic, “In the U.S., Women are the fastest growing percentage of those in Prison over past 20 years; their number has grown 800%. More and more, that Person wearing that orange jumpsuit is a Woman.”

I ask her to take us back in time to 1998 when she was indicted.  We learned that it took six grueling years before finally she entered Prison in 2004. “I always knew I was going to jail. There was no doubt about it”, she recalls. “Much of the first year, I spent lying on my back thinking I’d ruined my life. After a certain point you just pick-up your head and decide it’s just best to get on with it. When finally I had to serve time, I was ready to get this over with.”.

Does Series Creator Jenji Kohan (Weeds) however, succeed at transforming her powerful Story to Television, we wonder? “Even though Piper Chapman‘s Storylines aren’t the same as my own, I think a lot of the conflict still is depicted on the Show and that is realistic.”. Make no mistake, this Series is more than just a Dramedy – it is an observation of the injustices within the U.S. Justice System.  “Different Americans are treated very differently by the Criminal Justice System”.  She adds, “Life in Prison is very intentionally hidden. I thought by telling my own Story, people would walk way with a very different sense of what goes on in Prison. The Show however, absolutely does that. I couldn’t be more thrilled.”.

LAURA PREPON

The vivacious Laura Prepon has become a household name for her work on massively popular Sitcom, That ’70s Show, as Donna Pinciotti.  After a brief stint starring on NBC‘s Are You There, Chelsea?, the Actress actually was in Germany when she received her 14 hours notice that she landed her Role in Orange is the New Black and that she was soon to begin filming in New York.  Almost completely unrecognizable as what  she calls a “manipulative, international drug-smuggling Lesbian”, I ask her about her dramatic transformation and how her look was achieved.

“I actually wanted to be more tatted, but Jenji had a specific thing she wanted. There was this one tattoo of a Woman on my arm and I was like, ‘Really, Jenji??’. Every time I had to put it on, it wouldn’t stick and it’s because she (the Woman in the tattoo) knows we hated her!”, she kids. “The Rockabilly look took a while to figure out, but once we did, we were good”. But how does one stand out and define themselves among an immensely-talented Cast all wearing that same thing? “I rolled-up my sleeves, had my black eyeliner which Alex got through the bartering system and my glasses”, Prepon divulges about her customized look.

Torontonians certainly haven’t forgotten about Prepon‘s portrayal of Serial Killer Karla Homolka in 2006’s Karla. Once again playing a Criminal in this new Series, she distinguishes between the two. “Karla was an evil Individual and so was her Husband. Alex on the other hand is a good person. She’s wily, smart and does what she does to survive. She runs an international Drug Ring, but she’s good at what she does”, she explains. “I never want to get complacent in a role. I always want to push myself as an Actress. I’m  proud of my work in Karla.“.

Although she long has been against the idea of Nudity, she always told herself she’d make an exception if it were done as tastefully as in  Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liaisons. Opportunity came knocking in last year’s Comedy, Lay the Favourite, helmed by that one and she agreed for the first time ever to appear nude on-screen.  Once again in Orange is the New Black, she learned that disrobing would be required telling us, “Jenji and I had a conversation and she assured me it wouldn’t be gratuitous. It actually would  have looked weird if I were hiding. So as long as it’s not gratuitous, I’m okay with it.”.

DANIELLE BROOKS

Danielle Brooks might be a Newcomer, but she has been hard at work honing her talents as a Graduate of The Juilliard School.  And if her recently being cast in the third season of HBO‘s Girls is any indication, the disarming young Actress is onto something huge. On her experience working with this brilliant Ensemble she says, “A lot of the time we didn’t stay in our Trailers, we stood around watching each other on-set learning.”. She admits to being a huge Fan of Co-Star Natasha Lyonne (like Biggs, known best for American Pie) who stars as fiery Inmate Nicky Nichols.  “Natasha is my Homegirl. She can be really chill and a ball of fire. I’ve got mad love for her and I’ve been following her Career long before this.”.

On her outrageous Character Taystee she explains, “She is a Child of the System who found comfort being in Prison. There are people whose lives outside are actually harder than being on the inside. She winds up becoming the Leader of the Black Whack and in her mind runs this place.”.

Many will be surprised that Academy Award Winner Jodie Foster and former Teen Heartthrob Andrew McCarthy each directed episodes of Orange is the New Black in its first Season. On that experience, Brooks admits  “They know the lingo which Actors like. They’ve been been doing it for years and have an eye for the Craft. Jodie was quiet and soft-spoken, while Andrew knew exactly what he wanted and we had to do it! Michael Trim was just awesome.”.

JASON BIGGS

Perhaps the liveliest of the four Talents today, American Pie Star Biggs‘ arrival at the Junket drew the most smiles. “Hi, F*ckers!”, he greets us, before poking fun at his own Masturbation scenes in Orange is the new Black, drawing laughter from the Journalists. “Would anyone like me to demonstrate it for you?”.

His role in the Series is perhaps a bit more subdued that what we are accustomed to from him as Schilling‘s likeable Fiancé, Larry. On prepping to create a sweet and believable chemistry between him and his Co-Star, he says in a deadpan voice, “Well, we had to have sex a couple times…”.  He was joking of course, adding “Taylor is just so easy to be around and an amazing Scene Partner. She is gonna win every Award and deserves all the recognition she is getting.”.

He recalls the first scene they shot together, “It was me dropping her off at Prison, hugging her and saying goodbye. I don’t do emotional, serious stuff. I was nervous. And with anyone else I would’ve been less confident – way more nervous.”.  Biggs continues, “She couldn’t have been more supportive for me as an Actor. I only knew this Girl for two weeks and felt really sad dropping her off at this fake Prison.”.

With a Cast filled with female Criminals, there is somewhat of a gender reversal in Orange is the New Black.  “Larry’s the Good Guy, the more conservative of the two. He’s aware of her Crazy Girl past… he’s attracted to that, but realizes she’s ostensibly changed.”. On Larry‘s biggest challenge in being apart from Piper, he believes “We knew over the course of a Season, one of the things in play would be the strain on their relationship. A consequence of her being away is that obviously there’s something to play with. How much of a Rock can he be to her over this 15 month period? Introducing Alex to the mix, what does that do? He’s definitely tested.”.

And tested these complex Characters are indeed in the juicy and addictive Orange is the New Black. The complete first Season is now available on Netflix in its 13-episode entirety.

Listen to the complete Toronto Junket in full below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Trends may come and go, but one thing is for sure, orange is the new black! Netflix Canada and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers the chance to win an iPod Touch, a six-month Netflix Canada Membership and even more, an Orange is the New Black Prize Pack including a signed copy of the Novel by Piper Kerman, on which the Series is based. If it’s any indication just how good the Series is, a second Season of already has been green-lit. Even more, Regina Spektor has been confirmed to pen its Theme Song, out on iTunes tomorrow!

Created and Executive-Produced by Jenji Kohan (Weeds) and based on the U.S. best-selling Memoir of the same name by Piper Kerman, the Comedic-Drama starring Taylor Schilling follows engaged-Brooklynite, Piper Chapman (Schilling), whose decade-old relationship with drug-runner Alex (Laura Prepon) results in her arrest and year-long detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper must trade her comfortable New York life with Fiancé Larry (Jason Biggs) for an orange jumpsuit and a baffling prison culture where she is forced to question everything she believes and form unexpected new alliances with a group of eccentric and outspoken inmates. The Series also stars Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Pablo Schreiber, Danielle Brooks, Matt McGorry, Laverne Cox and Taryn Manning.

See the Trailer below:

To enter to win all the above, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before Sunday, July 14, 2013. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook with your Friends or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/orangeisthenewblack @MRWILLW wants us to #win an #OrangeisthenewBlack Prize Pack, an iPod Touch and a six-month #Netflix membership!

Canadian Readers only, please. Good luck, Wongsters!

Neflix releases Orange is the New Black Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 12:01 PAC.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

He’s been laying low since last year’s Golden Globes Kerfuffle, but we now have word that he’s back and badder than ever.  Funnyman Ricky Gervais, Creator of The Office, has partnered with Netflix to release his brand new Series DEREK this Fall!

The official Synopsis is below:

A bittersweet Comedy-Drama about a group of outsiders living on society’s margins, DEREK centers around Derek Noakes (Gervais), a tender, innocent Man whose love for his job at a retirement home shines through.  Derek cares deeply for the Home’s Residents, because they are kind and funny and tell him stories of what life used to be like.  Working alongside Derek is Dougie (Karl Pilkington), his Landlord who is one of life’s unlucky individuals; Kev (Earl), a loveable train wreck; and Hannah (Kerry Godliman), a Care Worker in the Home and Derek’s Best Friend. She is smart, witty and hard-working, but unlucky in love, and, like Derek, always puts other people first.

Gervais not only stars in the Series, but also produces, directs and writes.

Netflix releases all seven episodes of DEREK on Thursday, September 12, 2013, just as we’ll be recovering from TIFF 2013 on our couches!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It’s the final Countdown!

I cannot count the number of funny One-Liners in this brand new Trailer for Arrested Development Season Four.  Here we see some the Bluth Family up to their old antics and if anything this season looks to take it one more notch over-the-top!  Kitty Sanchez (Judy Greer) returning and flipping-out (yet again!) just makes this for me!  Must watch.

See the Trailer in full below:

Netflix releases the fourth season of Arrested Development on Sunday, May 26, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

We were teased with these super-cute Character Posters a few weeks back, but here are the official Posters for the long-awaited fourth season of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, poking fun at its extended Hiatus:  “Now a Story of  Family that could not be contained”.

See the Posters below:

Netflix releases Arrested Development Season Four in its entirety on Sunday, May 26, 2013.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

Consider me intrigued. Netflix is just bringing it in 2013 and we’re only into the early second quarter.  Not only will they be “arresting” us this Spring with the eagerly-awaited fourth season of Arrested Development, but they’re throwing us right in jail now!

Orange is the New Black is a brand-new Drama Series based on a Memoir by Piper Kerman. Comprised of 13 episodes and directed by Jenji Kohan (Weeds), Rising Star Taylor Schilling (The Lucky One, Argo) plays the Lead Role of Piper who is arrested after a 10-year relationship with a Drug Runner Alex (Laura Prepon). Engaged to Fiance Larry (Jason Biggs!!!). She must grapple with Prison Life for her orange Jumpsuit, serving a year-long sentence at a Federal penitentiary.

Also in this stellar Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Kate Mulgrew, Pablo Schreiber, Danielle Brooks, Laverne Cox and Taryn Manning.

See some brand new Stills below:

Netflix Canada releases all 13 episodes of Orange is the New Black on Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 3:01 EST.

(Photo credit: Netflix)