#TIFF20: “THE WAY I SEE IT”

By Mr. Will Wong

Pete Souza is the former Chief Official White House Photographer and is the fascinating subject of Dawn Porter‘s Documentary, THE WAY I SEE IT. While serving as a portrait of a Photographer who has witnessed many momumental things in his career, this Laura Dern-produced piece ultimately is a love letter to President Obama‘s legacy on America in these uncertain times.

The Film follows Sousa‘s career from President Reagan’s days in the White House. While he admits he wasn’t a fan of Reagan, he did manage to capture many tender moments between him and First Lady Nancy Reagan and it was these candid moments that he believes are some of his best work, humanizing him to America and he was invited back to capture Reagan‘s funeral.

Souza then in 2005 was tasked with photographing Barrack Obama‘s first year as Senator not knowing much about him. From his eyes, candid footage and his work, we get an intimate look at the eventual President told through various components of his life as a father, a husband and the leader of a nation, giving the public unprecedented access to the President through his work being uploaded to flickr. Despite being in a political profession, he never became serious about politics and social justice until his time with Obama. In this time, he sees time and again Obama‘s traits as a leader shine-through whether it be his personable handling of the Sandy Hook shootings or how he navigated the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The Photographer garnered much notoriety firing back at President Donald Trump on Instagram, using his own body of work to refute erroneous claims becoming material for his book SHADE: A TALE OF TWO PRESIDENTS which has led him on many speaking engagements, helping him fulfill a late-realized passion in politics.

Sometimes being the only person permitted in the room with President Obama, we learn how difficult some decisions were for him and how taxing emotionally some aspects of his presidency were. Obama even attended Souza‘s wedding too and we get first-hand accounts what it was like for LGBTQ White House staff after Obama expressed his support for Same-Sex marriage. Porter asking these intimate questions brings us that much closer to the story.

While the Film touches briefly upon some of the hatred Souza has received online, a little more insight into the opposition and maybe even more about Souza‘s opinions and why they align with Obama‘s, might have painted an even more complete photo of Souza‘s resilience.

Focus Features release THE WAY I SEE it in select cities including Toronto, Friday, September 18, 2020. You also can see it at TIFF ’20 as follows:

Fri, Sep 11
Online at Bell Digital Cinema
Streaming in Canada Available from:
6:00pm

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE WAY I SEE IT” TRAILER

Produced by Laura Dern, Evan Hayes and Jayme Lemons, THE WAY I SEE IT is a candid look by Pete Souza, White House Photographer. It was scheduled to premiere at Telluride this year.

Synopsis:

Based on the New York Times #1 bestseller comes The Way I See It, an unprecedented look behind the scenes of two of the most iconic Presidents in American History, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, as seen through the eyes of renowned photographer Pete Souza. As Official White House Photographer, Souza was an eyewitness to the unique and tremendous responsibilities of being the most powerful person on Earth. The movie reveals how Souza transforms from a respected photojournalist to a searing commentator on the issues we face as a country and a people.

See the Trailer:

Focus Features release THE WAY I SEE IT September 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

#SUNDANCE: “CRIP CAMP”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Crip Camp is an endearing Documentary about a camp in the 1970s that was for disabled people.

It starts out as a film depicting a camp that made its attendees feel like they had a place to belong but it turns into a call for civil rights. This is thanks to Directors Nicole Newman and Jim LeBrencht who use footage from the 1971 camp and civil rights marshes and bills those campers have passed throughout the years. Through current interviews with the spirited campers, this documentary will make you laugh, cry and want to call for more equal rights.

Crip Camp screens at Sundance on Thurs. Jan. 23rd at 5:30 PM at The Ray Theatre and Eccles Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at 8:30 AM at The MARC Theatre, Fri. Jan. 24th at Grand Theatre, Sat. Jan. 25th at 9 PM at Sundance Resort, Wed. Jan. 29th at 6 PM at Library Centre Theatre, and Thurs. Jan. 30th at 9:30 PM at Redstone Cinema 1.

#SUNDANCE: DAY ONE RECAP – TAYLOR SWIFT AT THE “MISS AMERICANA” PREMIERE

It was an action-packed Day One at Sundance! Following on Amanda Gilmore‘s Preview of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, she was out in the thick of the action getting in on some of the excitement.  Taylor Swift made a huge splash in Park City, appearing in support of her Netflix Documentary MISS AMERICANA, the Trailer which just surfaced this week.

 

 

While it was never really confirmed that Swift would be appearing, there were some sightings of her earlier today on Main Street, which sealed the deal.  Fans lined the street and Amanda tells us there were about 200 fans waiting just for a chance to get a rush ticket to attend the Premiere of the Documentary. She walked right through the front entrance but not without talking lots of Selfies with Fans, insisting on grabbing their cell phones and doing it herself for them!

See some of Amanda’s Snaps below, including some video footage if you swipe left on the Album:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

#SUNDANCE: Our Amanda Gilmore is in the thick of the action in Park City. #TaylorSwift surprised fans at the Premiere of her @netflixca Doc, #MissAmericana which saw about 200 in line just hoping to get a rush ticket to attend! Check back for her Reviews of the most buzzed Films to come out of the Fest and more sightings! Link on Bio!

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jan 23, 2020 at 8:39pm PST

While it was rumoured The Obamas would show up for CRIP CAMP, a Documentary the power couple produced, alas they didn’t make it out.

Stay tuned, Amanda’s got lots more to deliver us from Park City these next few days including her Reviews of some of the Festival’s most-buzzed Films and star sightings!

 

(Photo/video credit: Amanda Gilmore/Netflix)

#SPOTTED: DJ CASSIDY IN TORONTO FOR “PARADISE ROYALE”

He’s been hand-picked by the likes of Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Oprah, Naomi Campbell and Justin Timberlake. After four years in the making, DJ Cassidy is set to make an explosive debut with his first Album Paradise Royale, set tentatively for a release in May. The star-studded Affair features collaborations with 22 of the most influencial Musicians of the Disco Era and a roster of Guest Vocalists which will have you asking, “Like, how?!?”. Mary J. Blige, Estelle, R. Kelly, Cee-Lo, John Legend, Kelly Rowland, Passion Pit and so many more lend their talents in a way you’ve never quite heard them before!

DJ Cassidy dons a stylish fedora and a large brooch with the letter “C”, a signature look which matches his level of musical sophistication. We learn he is very hands-on with his approach, humbled by the opportunity to give musical direction to many of his Heroes on his upcoming Disc. He also incorporates a Live Band to his Act when performing live, as he currently opens on tour for Robin Thicke.

“The first step was I sat down and made a Playlist of my favourite 25 songs of that Era (1978-1982)”, says the eloquent New Yorker says to an intimate Audience of Tastemakers at Toronto’s Drake Hotel, “How do I make my songs feel like these Songs?”. He adds, “I made a list of every Musician who ever worked on these Songs – the Drummer, the Guitar Player, the Horn Player and so on. I made 25 lists and what I saw was the same names repeated over and over and over.”. “To achieve my mission, I had to go to the source – so for the past four years, I reunited 22 of the most legendary Musicians to recreate their sound”. He then went-on to premiere four unheard Tracks from his Album.

I was floored by the John Legend and Estelle Track When The Stars Come Out. I try convincing DJ Cassidy this needs to be his Followup Single as we exchange a hug, him telling me he saw me grooving from the stage as he measured reactions from the Crowd. Current Single, Calling All Hearts featuring the vocals of Robin Thicke and Jessie J. Disco Era heavyweights Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Larry Dunn of Earth, Wind & Fire. Mega-Producer Nile Rodgers even brings out the same guitar we hear on Chic‘s Good Times and Madonna‘s Material Girl. But back to When The Stars Come Out, the Track is like nectar to the ears. “I normally call my own shots, but ultimately I trust the Label to decide what’s best”, he says about whichever Track next will see a release.

DJ Cassidy‘s Soulful Funk revival (please do not use the word “Disco“) could well define the Sound of 2014, reconnecting his Generation of Hip-Hop-obsessed Music Listeners to what he calls “the most universal Dance Music of all time”. The Crowd in attendance is delighted by infectious Passion Pit Collabo So Long Baby, a true mark of his ability as a Producer, making them sound convincingly soulful; there is big potential there for a Crossover Hit.

Noticing an R. Kelly Collaboration sequenced late on his Playlist projected onto the screen, the Audience begged for him to play the Track, Make the World Go Round, and they certainly are not left disappointed, greeting it with loud cheers and claps. The Track is a result of multiple flights and sessions with the controversial Singer/Songwriter. It rates among his best work.

I ask DJ Cassidy whom he wishes to collaborate with still. “I submitted a list of 30 Vocalists and immediately got to work with 10 of my top picks”, he reveals. “Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Miguel I hope can be on the next Album.”. Well, at this rate, it sure doesn’t seem impossible – wouldn’t you agree?

See our Snap:

Listen to DJ Cassidy talk about his creative process and how he got to make the Album many might dream of, but only he could make:

Check-out Calling All Hearts ft. Jessie J and Robin Thicke below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Sony Music)

beyonce dj cassidy jay-z jessie j justin timberlake president obama robin thicke