Another Hot Docs has come and gone and we thank David Baldwin and Siobhán Rich who have given us some outstanding coverage of the Festival.  Even if you’ve missed a chance to screen some of the Films at Hot Docs, there still remains the hope you will get to see these at some point in the near future.  David and Siobhán give us some of their top picks from the Festival this year.

DAVID BALDWIN’S BEST-OF 2017 HOT DOCS:

Documentaries have always been a genre of interest, but never a primary go-to. In previous years, I would take in one or two Films at Hot Docs – but this year I upped the ante and caught 15. It may not seem like much to Hot Docs veterans or those terrifying individuals who bought All-Access passes, but it is a larger number than I ever imagined I could pull off. And after being steeped in Documentary Film for the past 11 days and a few weeks prior, all I keep thinking is how fascinating the Films were to watch – no matter if they were good or bad.

The complex variety of topics and interview subjects was simply staggering, and the amount of preparation that went into getting some of the footage shown was mindboggling. Where did these documentarians find the time to cull through all of this archived footage to put together their theses? How many sources did they need permission from to use it all? The journalist in me was delighted to watch such elaborately detailed pieces unfold on-screen and inspired me to think up some ideas for my own Documentaries.

While I was a big fan of 78/52, Becoming Bond and Gilbert pre-Festival, here are a few other Films you will want to remember and check out over the coming months:

Chasing Coral – alongside Bill Nye: Science Guy, there was a passionate push at this year’s Festival for people to combat climate change. The footage captured here of coral bleaching and death on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was heartbreaking and downright horrifying to watch. These images will be seared into the back of my mind for years to come, and will only get worse if nothing is done – or worse, if we keep letting climate change deniers continue to tell us nothing is wrong. The sheer amount of work that went into getting these images is just incredible, and the contrasting beauty of the coral that live is pure movie magic.

Elián – I remembered vague details about Elián González’s arrival in the United States in the fall of 1999, but not much more. Whether you are like me or remember so much more, Directors Tim Golden and Ross McDonnell have composed an exhausting portrait of the media firestorm this boy set off within the United States and Cuba. They interview many of the main players in the story – including a much older Elián – and do an incredible job depicting the historical significance Elián had on both countries. It is admittedly a slow-burn of a Film, but when all hell starts breaking loose, you will not be able to look away.

Mommy Dead and Dearest – in an age where I am literally shocked by so little, this Documentary kept me wide-eyed for nearly the entirety of its 82-minute running time. The story of a young woman involved in the death of her mother is morbid enough, but it takes a bizarre turn when we find out this able-bodied woman was previously confined to a wheelchair and had a laundry list of physical ailments that required constant supervision and medications. And it only gets stranger from there. Director Erin Lee Carr’s Film is a frustrating must-see, if only to watch how easy it is for the truth to be manipulated.

SIOBHÁN RICH’S BEST-OF 2017 HOT DOCS:

It seems like only yesterday we were encouraging you to visit the Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival during its eleven-day run. With over 200 Films to choose from, we were certain you’d find at least a few to love as much as we did. Hopefully our recommendations got you into the theatre and helped guide you toward some of the best Films programmed this year.

Since there wasn’t enough time to see everything even for doc lovers like ourselves, we thought we’d share a few more titles you should keep an eye out for over the coming months.

Last Men in Aleppo – is a title I am positive you will hear about come Oscar time. Director Feras Fayyad takes the audience on a harrowing journey into the lives of Syria’s White Helmet volunteers. The visceral images of their work are nothing less than haunting. From pulling children out of the rubble of bombed buildings to helping each other through personal dilemmas, the bravery and selflessness of these men will stay with you for weeks.

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World – will be playing at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema this summer and should be required viewing for all music fans. From Jimi Hendrix Guardians of the Galaxy the influence of First Nations musicians is everywhere and Catherine Bainbridge shines a long overdue light on these talented men and women.

You’re Soaking in It and Pre-Crime make excellent bookends on the subject of data-mining. The former looks at how big business manipulates us based on things we didn’t know we told them. Big Data uses everything from our web searches to our Facebook likes to create marketing campaigns mathematically incapable of failing. On the other side of the coin, Pre-Crime gives that same information to governments and the police to help them determine who may commit a crime based on their clicks. Both Films look at the same phenomenon in vastly different lights and will have you wiping your browser history and logging off your iPhones posthaste.

Besting its predecessor, Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 follows in the leading footsteps of the franchise’s 2014 debut with a $145 million opening from 4,347 theatres across North America. The previous Film opened with $94.3 million. Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 84% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences gave it an A CinemaScore.

In second is three-week champion THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS with $9.3 million for Universal Pictures, just surpassing $200 million domestically this week.

THE BOSS BABY is in third with $5.9 million for 20th Century Fox, a six week total of $156 million.

HOW TO BE A LATIN LOVER, which has yet to open in Canada, lands in fourth with $4.8 million in its second week out. It stars Eugenio Derbez, Salma Hayek, Rob Lowe and Kristen Bell and has made a total $20.2 million thus far for Lionsgate Films.

THE CIRCLE is in sixth with $3.5 million for STX Entertainment, a two week total of $15.2 million.

BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION earns $4.2 million for Great India Films, good enough for seventh in its second week.

Rounding-out the Top Ten is SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE with $1.7 million. It has grossed $40 million over five weeks.

21-year-old Singer/Songwriter Scott Helman has given us a taste of what he’s capable of with a refreshing brand of airwave-friendly Indie Pop-Rock. His hits Bungalow and Machine have been unavoidable on Canadian radio and some of that buzz spread stateside even with the likes of Teen Vogue stamping him one to look out for last year. Helman is priming the release of his debut full-length album Hôtel de Ville through Warner Music Canada, who were quick to spot his talent and sign him to a development deal at the age of 15. Hence while he is rather young, he has long been an artist in the making and you sense that when you hear him speak.

We had the pleasure of sitting-in on Helman‘s intimate open rehearsal held at Coalition Music today, getting a chance to preview some of the material off his new album. In attendance were a few select journalists and also students from Coalition Music‘s The Music Business High School Credit Course. Warner Music Canada President Steven Kane also was on-hand to present Helman with a platinum plaque for Bungalow.

We got a quick minute to chat with Helman post-rehearsal, asking him a few questions about what’s changed since we last heard from him and what’s next for the emerging talent.

1. Three years have passed since you released your debut EP Augusta and now you have your debut album coming. What different can we expect this time around?

Helman: “I think the difference is I really know who I am now and that makes it easier when you want to make a record that dives deep.”. “I’d say sonically, I am a bit older now so I wanted to experiment more with sounds and sonics. My Alternative and Rock and Roll bone is definitely in this record. And a lot more poetry I think.”.

2. How has the creative process changed?

Helman: “Nothing’s really changed. Just like on Augusta, I am still collecting thoughts. The only thing that’s changed is my maturity and being able to access more things that are relevant to myself.”.

3. What is shaping your sound right now?

Helman: “I really like The 1975. I really like the epic-ness of it.”. “I like that Amy Winehouse did what she really wanted to do and wasn’t influenced by anybody but herself.  I kinda try to take that with me.”. “I’m creating a show and not writing so I’m not really listening to music like that right now, but I really like how Tom Waits builds his sets because it really takes you into his world. It’s kinda a weird place that he built for you and I really want to create something like that.”.

4. You spent much time touring, especially in 2015.  What are some of the crazier fan experiences you’ve encountered?

Helman: “Most of them are people just pouring their hearts out and telling me things – just having one-on-ones with fans and getting to talk about stuff that matters.”. “In terms of the crazier things, it’s usually the moms. The moms don’t have that shyness or this is someone older than me. They have that ‘you could be my son’ type of thing going on.”.

5. What’s next?

Helman: “Touring. I’m really excited to get out of the cave. There’s a whole world out there. I’m gonna collect some postcards I think.”.

Watch our Chat:

Check-out the brand new Video for Helman‘s latest single, Kinda Complicated below:

See our Snaps:

Loved sitting-in on Scott Helman’s open rehearsal today where he received a platinum plaque for his single “Bungalow”. We previewed new music from his debut album Hôtel de Ville, out next week. He tells us his best fans are the moms! Chat coming soon.

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Warner Music Canada release HÔTEL DE VILLE by Scott Helman Friday, May 12, 2017. Download it here.

For tour dates and VIP packages, click here.

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

Paramount Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to take Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa Readers to an Advance Screening of BAYWATCH!  The Screening takes place Monday, May 22, 2017.

Synopsis:
BAYWATCH follows devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) as he butts heads with a brash new recruit (Zac Efron). Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay.

BAYWATCH also stars Alexandra Daddario, Priyanka Chopra, Kelly Rohrbach, Ilfenesh Hadera and Jon Bass.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City. “Favourite” this Tweet at @mrwillw for an extra chance!

Paramount Pictures Canada release BAYWATCH Thursday, May 25, 2017.

(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

Hot off his appearance at the Met Gala Monday night where he dazzled us with a custom dress for Katie Holmes, fashion icon Zac Posen is officially in Toronto! He is in town to present Sandy Chronopoulos’ House of Z at the 2017 Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival, which is a portrait of him as an artist, centering on his rise, fall and rise again in the world of fashion. This marks an ambitious feature debut for Chronopoulous, a producer at CITY (Rogers Media).

The Film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival recently to rousing reception and debuts here in Toronto with a special Q&A by another fashion force, Jeanne Beker.

As he was headed to his Q&A, we were lucky to get a snap with Posen who along with Chronopoulos, was in great spirits!

See our Snap:

With the handsome and brilliant fashion icon, #ZacPosen. He is in town for #HotDocs to present Sandy Chronopoulous’ #HouseofZ tonight.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on May 3, 2017 at 8:08pm PDT

You still have opportunities to see HOUSE OF Z, more on this and showtimes at Hot Docs here.

(Photo credit: Hot Docs/Mr. Will Wong)

Just call it the summer of Stephen! With two big hits about to come to theatres later this year, the world is about to fall in love again with the mind of Stephen King! See this new Trailer for the upcoming adaptation of The Dark Tower.

Synopsis:
There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the world’s most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen.  The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.

See the Trailer:

Sony Pictures Canada release THE DARK TOWER Friday, August 4, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures Canada)

It’s here! While we’re waiting for the August release of Marvel’s The Defenders, here’s a new Trailer to whet your appetites.

Synopsis:
Marvel’s The Defenders follows Daredevil (Charlie Cox), Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Iron Fist (Finn Jones). A quartet of singular heroes with one common goal – to save New York City. This is the story of four solitary figures, burdened with their own personal challenges, who realize they just might be stronger when teamed together.

See the Trailer:

Netflix Canada stream MARVEL’S THE DEFENDERS Friday, August 18, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

It was a star-studded night in the City and the Red Carpet was rolled out for the Canadian Premiere of the hotly-anticipated second installment of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. Its 2014 predecessor has seen outstanding reception critically and commercially, grossing a stellar $773 million worldwide.

In town for the occasion was none other than veteran actor Michael Rooker whose star in recent years has continued to rise with prominent roles in AMC‘s wildly-popular The Walking Dead as Merle Dixon and now his recurring role as original member of the Guardians of the Galaxy team, Yondu.  The blue-skinned character with a protruding red fin from the back of his head is the last of his species and has the unique power of controlling his arrows with the cue of a whistle.

Taking place at Varsity Cinemas, Rooker along with characters Rocket, Groot and Star Lord, graced the jampacked Red Carpet in fedora and sunglasses, speaking to Canadian outlets about the reprisal of his role. We had the pleasure of speaking with him and asked him about his experiences with two of the internet’s most ardent fandoms to how to perfect a whistle.

Your relationship with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) changes in this second installment as there is a bomb-drop.  How do you think fans will react?

Rooker: “I really don’t know. I have no expectations. I throw out the dice and let them fall as they may. I’ll see what happens.”.  He adds, “From what’s going on in Europe and other places in the world, they are responding in a very positive way. It’s gonna be a fun, crazy moment.”.

How do you perfect a whistle?

Rooker: “Do you whistle at all?”, he asks. ” There are so many people who can’t whistle and I can’t believe that. I knew how to whistle when I was a kid.” . “The first thing you’ve gotta do is wet your whistle and then just blow air through your lips and tongue and that works. Some people are just hummers.”.

You’ve had the pleasure of starring in two massively popular franchises. What are some of the crazier fan experiences you’ve encountered?

Rooker: “There’s always crazy stuff that you do experience especially if you go to fan events and stuff like that. The fandom is wild.”.  He tells me, “I’ve had guys following me around all day long and I’ll maybe sign a few things for them tonight if I can. But they have been and they’ve been driving their cars trying to track me down. It’s very cool. I’m very impressed with all the fandom.”

See our Chat below:

See some Snaps of from the Red Carpet below! Hover mouse over left and right of the post below to navigate slideshow:

(Swipe left!) Amazing seeing Michael Rooker who plays Yondu in the #GuardiansoftheGalaxy franchise, at the Film’s Canadian Premiere. #Yondu #TWD #MichaelRooker #TheWalkingDead #GOTG2 #GOTGVol2 #GuardiansoftheGalaxy2

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Official Synopsis:
Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is written and directed by James Gunn and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, featuring Vin Diesel as Baby Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Tommy Flanagan, Laura Haddock with Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell. Kevin Feige is producing, and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Nikolas Korda and Stan Lee are the executive producers.

See the Trailer:

Our Review, written by Justin Waldman is coming shortly, stay tuned.

Marvel Canada release GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 Friday, May 5, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Marvel Canada)

One of this spring’s most eagerly-awaited blockbusters is King Arthur:Legend of the Sword and stars someone the City loves and welcomes back once again, Charlie Hunnam.  The Sons of Anarchy star who has built a legion of loyal fans worldwide, returns to the very place he filmed both Crimson Peak and Pacific Rim. Tonight we rolled out the red carpet for him and the acclaimed Director Guy Ritchie at the Toronto Premiere of the historical action-drama, held at Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto.

Ritchie‘s eagerly-awaited take on the legend of King Arthur promises to be gritty, with a modern edge. Skirting around historical facts, the Film plays-up its fantastical element. The accessible Hunnam tells the story of the “prince among thieves” to a new generation of fans. The Film also features an exciting supporting cast including Jude Law, Poppy Delevingne, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen and Eric Bana.  There also may be a surprise or two.

Official Synopsis

When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Arthur’s uncle, Vortigern (Jude Law), seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy.

See the epic Trailer:

Despite the threat of continuous rains which have been dampening the City, fans came out in full force tonight for the indoor Red Carpet to get a glimpse of their beloved Hunnam and Ritchie.  It is said that some queued as early as 6:00 AM outside the theatre. Despite a whirlwind day which earlier saw the duo in New York, jetting into Toronto in time for the Red Carpet this evening, they remained gracious and energetic, feeding off the electric energy of their Toronto admirers. Ritchie and even moreso Hunnam, were more than giving signing autographs (memorabilia including figurines of himself and arms even!) and taking selfies with fans who were separated into organized sections.

We’ve had the pleasure of meeting Hunnam multiple times in the past and it was amazing seeing him shine bright tonight!

See our Snaps of all the excitement. Hover mouse over left and right of each post below  to navigate slideshow:

(Swipe left!) Charlie Hunnam + Guy Ritchie draw pure fandemonium to Scotiabank Theatre for the Canadian Premiere of #KingArthur. #CharlieHunnam #GuyRitchie #SoA #NikonD3300 #wu1a

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(Swipe left!) Charlie Hunnam + Guy Ritchie arrive for Canadian #KingArthur Premiere! #CharlieHunnam #GuyRitchie #SOA (@wbpicturescan)

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on May 2, 2017 at 5:34pm PDT

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD Friday, May 12, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada/Mr. Will Wong)

Television personality and science educator Bill Nye is in town for the 2017 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. Appearing for his Documentary Bill Nye: Science Guy (premiering Wednesday, May 3, 2017) and also as part of the Scotiabank Big Ideas program, in which he spoke at tonight at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. Just released last week was his new 13-episode Netflix series, Bill Nye Saves the World.

Our David Baldwin attended the talk which saw Nye really make a call to action for climate change. “We have to fight this for the betterment of human kind”, he says. “We can power Canada renewably right now if we just do it.”.

See a Snap:

Our Dave Baldwin had the pleasure of seeing #BillNye tonight at #HotDocs as part of their Scotiabank Big Ideas program. He really made a plea for climate change and believes Canada could be powered renewably if we just did it! #BillNyeTheScienceGuy

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More here.

(Photo credit: David Baldwin)