By Mr. Will Wong

Since its debut at Sundance earlier this year, anticipation has been high for Megan Park‘s MY OLD ASS. The Actress/Director/Writer who hails from Toronto, has built an impressive track record after Park‘s directorial debut THE FALLOUT swept awards at SXSW ’21, going on to universal praise.

This latest Feature, produced by Margot Robbie‘s Lucky Chap, centers on a teen named Elliott (Maisy Stella) who after getting high on mushrooms, meets her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza) who warns her not to fall in love. Until she meets exactly the boy who her older self tells her not to fall for.

Park returned to Toronto, along with Stella (also from Toronto), Kerrice Brooks and Carter Trozzolo, who a friend Ro and young brother, Spencer, of Elliott. Also walking the yellow carpet at Cineplex Varisty Cinemas was Park‘s partner Actor/Singer-Songwriter Tyler Hilton who composes the Score for the Film.

Some carpet highlights:

We were thrilled to chat with Park, Stella and Brooks about their experiences working on this Comedy.

Park tells us “I think it’s hard to go into a movie expecting an audience to take away one thing. I don’t want to force any message on anyone, but it is really cool hearing people come out of the movie and when they go home, they call their mom or their dad. That always is really moving to me. I hope that people really feel something and are reminded of how quickly time goes by”.

Stella, who you might remember from TV series NASHVILLE and part of sister singing duo Lennon & Stella, tell us about how she got involved with the project. She says, “I read Megan‘s script for The Fallout and I taped for that, I met her through that and I just really fell in love with her and wanted to work with her so bad. So when I got the MY OLD ASS script it had her name on it, I knew to take it very, very seriously. It was such a good Script. It was such a perfect Script and you actually have to try very hard not to love it.

Full chats here:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release MY OLD ASS in select theatres September 27, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Netflix and Shondaland announced today Bridgerton is back in production for Season 4. Bridgerton adds new cast Katie Leung (Lady Araminta Gun), Michelle Mao (Rosamund Li); Isabella Wei (Posy Li), and Emma Naomi (Alice Mondrich) and Hugh Sachs (Brimsley) will be part of the main cast this season. The new season will focus on the second Bridgerton son, Benedict (Luke Thompson) and his quest to find the mesmerizing Lady in Silver, Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).

New Cast Include:

Katie Leung (she/her) (The Peripheral) has been cast as Lady Araminta Gun. Twice married and twice widowed, Araminta has two girls debuting on the marriage mart this season and is feeling the pressure to get at least one of them married off. Fabulous, discerning, and blunt, Araminta does not respond well when anything — or anyone — threatens her standing in society.

Michelle Mao (she/her) (A Big Bold Beautiful Journey) has been cast as Rosamund Li. Beautiful, vain, and eager to please her mother, Rosamund is Araminta’s eldest daughter and most prized possession. Rosamund sets her sights on Benedict Bridgerton this season and is determined to get what she wants.

Isabella Wei (she/her) (1899) has been cast as Posy Li. Rosamund’s younger sister, the much kinder Posy is also debuting this year. But her mother rarely puts the spotlight on Posy, as her chatty, overly friendly demeanor often has her putting her foot in her mouth.

Previously Announced Cast: Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), Yerin Ha (Sophie Baek), Jonathan Bailey (Anthony Bridgerton), Victor Alli (Lord John Stirling), Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury), Julie Andrews (Lady Whistledown), Lorraine Ashbourne (Mrs. Varley), Masali Baduza (Michaela Stirling), Nicola Coughlan (Penelope Bridgerton), Hannah Dodd (Francesca Stirling), Daniel Francis (Lord Marcus Anderson), Ruth Gemmell (Violet Bridgerton), Florence Hunt (Hyacinth Bridgerton), Martins Imhangbe (Will Mondrich), Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton), Luke Newton (Colin Bridgerton), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), Will Tilston (Gregory Bridgerton), and Polly Walker (Portia Featherington)

Bridgerton Expands Filming Footprint:

This season, Bridgerton expands its filming locations on one of the newly constructed backlot of Shepperton Studios, showcasing exquisite replicas of Georgian and Regency architecture including homes, buildings, Mayfair Street and more. This milestone, 8 months in the making, promises to envelop the beloved show in an even more delightful and authentic atmosphere, transporting audiences to a world of Regency-era splendor. This regal undertaking was designed by Bridgerton Production Designer, Alison Gartshore along with Supervising Art Director Antony Cartlidge and Art Director Adam David Grant. The build spans approximately two acres of Netflix’s backlot at Shepperton, marking a new chapter in the series’ enchanting journey.

Additional Info About Bridgerton Season 4:

Logline: The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson). Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.

Episode Count: 8

Filming Location: London, UK

Showrunner/ EP: Jess Brownell

Executive Producers: Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Tom Verica, and Chris Van Dusen

About The Bridgerton Universe:
Bridgerton captivated viewers around the world when Netflix and Shondaland debuted the iconic series in 2020. Each of its three seasons rank among Netflix’s Most Popular while the fan beloved prequel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, dominated the Global Top 10. The franchise has amassed a global fandom that caters to an underserved romance audience, piercing the cultural zeitgeist with unparalleled success and igniting trends as fans celebrate their love of the series through memes, music, books, fashion, decor and more. Live experiences like The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience and a growing collection of consumer products, have catapulted the Bridgerton name into an extraordinarily sought-after lifestyle brand, delighting fans by allowing them to enjoy their favorite story in-person. With Season 4 now in production, the franchise will continue to offer fresh ways for its passionate fan base to immerse themselves into the Bridgerton universe both on and off screen.

Netflix announced today it has renewed EMILY IN PARIS for a fifth season following the Part 2 debut of Season 4 on September 12. Lily Collins shared the news on Good Morning America.

Emily in Paris S4 made its debut on August 12, 2024 at #1 on the Netflix Global Top 10 with 19.9M views in its first four days, reaching the Top 10 in 93 countries. The fan-beloved series has remained on the list for four consecutive weeks since.

Emily in Paris has captivated fans around the world for four seasons, with each season appearing in the global Top 10 English TV List for multiple weeks. The series invites fans into Emily’s chic and fabulous life inspiring trends, memes, fashion, tourism and more. Emily even became the ultimate American in Paris for those unforgettable Olympics promos.

About Emily in Paris S4
Synopsis: After the dramatic events of Camille and Gabriel’s misbegotten wedding, Emily is reeling: She has strong feelings for two men, but now Gabriel’s expecting a baby with his ex, and Alfie’s worst fears about her and Gabriel have been confirmed. At work, Sylvie is forced to confront a thorny dilemma from her past for the sake of her marriage, and the Agence Grateau team navigates personnel shakeups. Mindy and the band prepare for Eurovision, but when funds run dry, they’re forced to get thrifty. Emily and Gabriel’s chemistry is undeniable as they work together towards a Michelin star, but two big secrets threaten to undo everything they’ve dreamed of. As old patterns clash with new complications, Emily feels drawn to a potential new love interest… and a new city.

• Creator / Executive Producer / Writer: Darren Star
• Executive Producers: Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns, Andrew Fleming, Alison Brown, Robin Schiff
• Co-Executive Producer: Stephen Brown, Grant Sloss, Joe Murphy
• Producers: Ryan McCormick, Raphaël Benoliel, Lily Collins, Jake Fuller
• Starring: Lily Collins (Emily Cooper), Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (Sylvie Grateau), Ashley Park (Mindy Chen), Lucas Bravo (Gabriel), Camille Razat (Camille), Samuel Arnold (Julien), Bruno Gouery (Luc), William Abadie (Antoine Lambert), Lucien Laviscount (Alfie)
• Produced by: MTV Entertainment Studios, Darren Star Productions, and Jax Media

A new Trailer for Zack Snyder’s TWILIGHT OF THE GODS series has arrived!

About Twilight of the Gods
Zack Snyder presents TWILIGHT OF THE GODS, an all-new daring and spectacular animated vision of Norse mythology. In a mythical world of great battles, great deeds and great despair, LEIF, a mortal King, is saved on the battlefield by SIGRID, an iron-willed warrior with whom he falls in love. On their wedding night, SIGRID and LEIF survive a wrath of terror from THOR, which sets them – and a crew of crusaders – on an against all odds and merciless mission for vengeance. This heroic story of love, loss and revenge, is a journey to Hell and beyond… across fantastical lands, battlefields fierce and bloody, and wars waged against Gods and demons.

Featuring the voices of Sylvia Hoeks as SIGRID, Stuart Martin as LEIF, Rahul Kohli as EGILL, Paterson Joseph as LOKI, Jamie Clayton as SEID-KONA, Pilou Asbæk as THOR, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen as HERVOR, Kristofer Hivju as ANDVARI, Thea Sofie Loch Næss as THYRA, John Noble as ODIN, and Peter Stormare as ULFR, among others.

From Stone Quarry Animation, the animated series is co-created by Zack Snyder, Jay Oliva and Eric Carrasco and executive produced by Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Wesley Coller and Jay Oliva. The animation house is Xilam Animation. Zack Snyder directs the first and final episode, while additional directors include Jay Oliva and Andrew Tamandl with Tim Divar and Dave Hartman.

Series Credits

Release Date:September 19, 2024
Episodes: 8
Executive Producers: Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Jay Olivia, Wesley Coller
Directors: Zack Snyder (101, 108), Jay Oliva (102, 107), Eric Carrasco, Andrew Tamandl (103, 104, 105, 106), Tim Divar (103, 105), David Hartman (104, 106)

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

And that’s a wrap! What a wonderful TIFF this was! We’re quickly going to drop a line to say thank you to all of you for your amazing support, and also the generosity of our partners at the Festival who make it all possible for us! Also so grateful to our Team of Contributors: David Baldwin, Amanda Gilmore and Nicholas Porteous for their awesome reviews.

We’re crawling past the finish line and straight to the sauna for some overdue rest and relaxation. We were at it every single day of the Fest.

Our Official Partners

CP24 – For a 15th year in-a-row, we were a subject matter expert on films and star sightings at TIFF at the widely-watched news network, which also streams worldwide for free on their website CP24.com. In case you missed it, here’s a couple appearances we did:

HONDA CANADA – We were thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with our friends at HONDA CANADA, allowing us to travel in style this TIFF in the 2024 Passport Trail Sport. In addition to getting us there every day safe and efficiently, it also served as a quiet oasis for us to take a quick nap, collect our thoughts and do our posts privately. So grateful for this powerful machine.

STARBUCKS CANADA – Starbucks Canada has been there for us for several TIFFs. So grateful to be fuelled by their Fall Menu selections, keeping us awake! While our fave always will be the Pumpkin Spice Latte, their Apple Crisp Nondairy Chai, Iced Caramel Apple Cream Latte, Baked Apple Croissant and Raccoon Cake Pops also are must-tries! Thrilled to give away gift cards to our Readers and Followers this TIFF, who were following our journey.

NIKON CANADA – We were thrilled to use the Nikon Z-30, a superb compact mirrorless camera with a range of lens options. We shot with a 50-250mm lens, helping us reach that bit closer to the stars. While we shoot on the go a lot on our phone, nothing beats the clarity and precision of actual camera on the red carpet!

OEB BREAKFAST CO. – Hands down, one of our favourite Brunch spots in the City, with two locations in Toronto. Two of our lucky Readers and Followers got to win gift cards to enjoy for themselves their greatness! They also now are an offcial TIFF Hospitality Partner too.

MINAMI TORONTO – Minami are an official TIFF Hospitality partner and did you know our queen Cate Blanchett was spotted there having lunch? There is no higher endorsement for their elevated, sophisticated Japanese fare. One of our Readers and Followers won a $100 gift card to enjoy a meal here.

LITTLE SISTER – With two beautiful locations in Toronto, this marriage of Dutch and Indonesian cuisine, with a phenomenal drink list is pure innovation. One of our Readers and Followers also won a $100 gift card to enjoy a meal.

SANDBANKS WINERY – Hailling from Prince Edward County, Sandbanks Winery  were a perfect way to wind down after this feverish dream of a Festival. Their Sparkling Rosé is perfect for evenings and this time of year I find myself gravitating to a nice sweet Riesling!

ETIKET – The goal of this luxurious beauty and wellness boutique is to provide everyone with a personalized, educational and friendly experience offering results oriented skin care and treatment services, niche fragrances, and luxury beauty products. We got to enjoy a freshening right before the Festival and also near the end. While we’re a little sleepy on the inside, you cannot deny that we LOOK rejuvenated!

UNIQLO CANADA – We are a huge fan of Uniqlo‘s style, comfort and quality, so it made perfect sense to partner with them. For all our TV appearances, we sported Uniqlo and Uniqlo only. Clothing that makes our lives better.

Congratulations to Ashley Smart who won our TIFF ’24 Surival Pack, featuring goodies from our partners!

-$25 Starbucks Canada Gift Card
-$50 Gift Card to OEB Breakfast Co.
-$100 Gift Card to MINAMI Toronto
-$100 Gift Card to LITTLE SISTER Portland St.
-3 bottles of Sandbanks Winery wines
-1 Uniqlo Quilted Shoulder Bag

Be following us! We’re here year-round with reviews, star-sightings, giveaways and so much more!

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Till next TIFF!

Mr. Will

We’re so very excited about FINCH & MIDLAND, which currently is in production here in the greater Toronto area, wrapping soon. The Film from Writer/Director Timothy Yeung sheds a light on Hong Kong immigrants who came to Canada in the late ’90s and is told in Anthology form with four stories interconnected. It has just been announced the Drama will be arriving early 2025.

Synopsis:

FINCH & MIDLAND weaves together the stories of four immigrants from Hong Kong living in the Finch and Midland neighbourhood of Toronto. Despite their different circumstances – a failed singer trying to reconnect with his daughter; a directionless woman searching for love while caring for her elderly mother; a single mother working at a massage parlour while trying to obtain her real estate licence; a dedicated factory worker who finds his world upended when he loses his job – each character is trying to turn their life around and find a sense of belonging in the place they now call home.

So thrilled to sit-in on a Panel and Cocktail at The Berczy Tavern, with the Film’s stars including Hong Kong screen legends Anthony Wong and Nina Paw, plus veteran actors Theresa Lee and Harriet Yeung. Dmitry Chepovetsky also stars. The project is a true collaboration between Canadian and Hong Kong talent.

Some highlights from the Panel, moderated by Joseph Tsang:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Today, Disney+ revealed that FX’s “American Horror Stories” will premiere on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 on Disney+ in Canada, featuring five all-new scary tales. All five episodes will be available at premiere.

The spooky collection of new “American Horror Stories” episodes features an all-star cast, including Michael Imperioli, Henry Winkler, Dyllón Burnside, Debby Ryan, Jeff Hiller, Jessica Barden, Angel Bismark Curiel, Guy Burnet, Victor Garber, June Squibb and more!

“American Horror Stories” is a spin-off of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s award-winning hit anthology series “American Horror Story.” “American Horror Stories” is an anthology series that will feature a different horror story each episode.

Since 2011, the creators of “AHS” have redefined the horror genre with various installments featuring a creepy asylum, a coven of witches, a traveling freak show, a haunted hotel and the apocalypse itself. The television series sprouted a legion of dedicated fans who anticipate what terrors the next chapter will hold.

The series is executive produced by Ryan Murphy, Alexis Martin Woodall, Max Winkler, Jon Robin Baitz, Brad Falchuk and Manny Coto. The franchise is produced by 20th Television.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

Now through September 27, new and returning customers can stream the biggest movies and series of the fall with Disney+ Standard With Ads for only $1.99/month for three months. To learn more or sign-up visit www.disneyplus.com.

One final lap! This was an outstanding year for us! Rebel Wilson and the Cast of Closing Night Gala THE DEB (which she directs), made it so much sweeter! Others spotted from this very Australian Cast include Karis Oka, Amanda Kour, Sophea Pennington and the Film’s star Charlote MacInnes. Wilson did the rounds and his been here for a bit taking-in the Festival including attending the premieres and parties for EMILIA PEREZ and BETTER MAN.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Starring Liam Hemsworth and Laura Dern, new Romance LONELY PLANET releases Globally on Netflix October 11, 2024.

Written and Directed By: Susannah Grant
Produced By: Liza Chasin, p.g.a., Susannah Grant, p.g.a., Sarah Timberman
Executive Producers: Brendan Ferguson, Corinne Weber, Margaret Chernin
Cast: Laura Dern, Liam Hemsworth, Diana Silvers, Younès Boucif, Adriano Giannini, Rachida Brakni

Logline: A reclusive novelist arrives at a prestigious writer’s retreat in Morocco, hoping the remote setting will unlock her writer’s block. While there, she meets a young man — what starts as an acquaintanceship evolves into an intoxicating, life-altering love affair

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

After 11 days of cinematic magic, moments, and memories, TIFF officially concludes the 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, by celebrating the best of the fest with its annual awards slate. A total of 10 awards were handed out at the awards ceremony today, including jury-awarded prizes and the renowned People’s Choice Awards, also presented by Rogers, that signals the official start to awards season.

“As we conclude this year’s Festival and present these 10 awards today, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated juries, our TIFF programmers, and all of the filmmakers who have shared their work with us,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF. “Most importantly, I want to thank our audience, who are truly the best in the world. Their passion and enthusiasm bring this festival to life every year, and we couldn’t do it without them. To The Life of Chuck, The Substance, and The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, this year’s winners of the People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, I can’t wait to see the future awards and accolades that await your incredible films.”
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD PRESENTED BY ROGERS
The 47th edition of TIFF’s People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, has been distinguished as the audience’s top title at the Festival as voted by the viewing public. All feature films and series in TIFF’s Official Selection are eligible.

People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award presented by Rogers is: The Substance, dir. Coralie Fargeat | United Kingdom/USA/France
The first runner-up is: Dead Talents Society, dir. John Hsu | Taiwan
The second runner-up is: Friendship, dir. Andrew DeYoung | USA

People’s Choice Documentary Award presented by Rogers is: The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, dir. Mike Downie | Canada
The first runner-up is: Will & Harper, dir. Josh Greenbaum | USA
The second runner-up is: Your Tomorrow, dir. Ali Weinstein | Canada

People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers is: The Life of Chuck, dir. Mike Flanagan | USA
The first runner-up is: Emilia Pérez, dir. Jacques Audiard | France/USA/Mexico
The second runner-up is: Anora, dir. Sean Baker | USA
SHORT CUTS AWARDS
Short Cuts Awards are for Best International Film and Best Canadian Film. Each of the two winning films will receive a bursary of $10,000 CAD. The 2024 jurors for the Short Cuts Awards were Luis De Filippis, Micah Kernan, and Shane Smith.

Short Cuts Award for Best International Film:
Deck 5B, dir. Malin Ingrid Johansson | Sweden

Short Cut Jury’s statement: “By subverting narrative expectations at every turn, while adding layers of insight and potent emotional truths that evocatively illustrate the tensions between motherhood and desire, this deeply moving film enthralled the jury, staying with us long after we’d watched it. Helmed by a gifted filmmaker, skillfully eliciting an exceptional performance from her lead actress, in service of a nuanced, heartbreaking story, the jury is thrilled to present the award for Best International Short Film to Deck 5B, directed by Malin Ingrid Johansson.”

Honourable Mention:
Quota, dir. Job Roggeveen, Joris Oprins, Marieke Blaauw | Netherlands

Short Cut Jury’s statement: “In its three-minute runtime, this inventive animation does exactly what the best shorts do: make us ask big questions in little timeframes. The work tackles the timely issue of the cost of human invention and innovation on our tired planet. In a world where going viral has become synonymous with success, it asks if perhaps the real virus is us and our unquenchable need for more. The jury is pleased to present an honourable mention to the filmmaking team of Job, Joris & Marieke for their short Quota. We also applaud the filmmakers for practicing what they preach by choosing not to attend the Festival this year as a way to limit their carbon footprint and stay within their ‘quota.’”

Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Film:
Are You Scared To Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail?, dir. Bec Pecaut | Canada

Short Cut Jury’s statement: “This filmmaker was able to capture a moment in life with such authenticity in an effortless way. The jury was inspired to join these characters on a heartful expedition through decisions that were scary, funny, challenging, and ultimately real. The exploration of familial bonds and how they shift during adulthood resulted in an emotional journey from start to finish. The jury is thrilled to award the Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film to director Bec Pecault for Are You Scared To Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail?”
FIPRESCI AWARD
The FIPRESCI jury is awarding the Prize of International Critics, dedicated to emerging filmmakers, to a debut feature film having its World Premiere in TIFF’s Discovery programme. The 2024 FIPRESCI jury members are Li Cheuk-to, Pierre-Simon Gutman, Azadeh Jafari, Saffron Maeve, and Wilfred Okiche.

FIPRESCI Award:
Mother Mother, dir. K’naan Warsame | Somalia