Solotech is proud to announce that they continue to be among top leaders of the global audiovisual and live event production industry, having recently supported more than 350 festivals worldwide, a 46% increase since 2019, in addition to some major industry milestones that remain unapparelled. In a major milestone, Solotech has been the official video supplier for Adele’s highly anticipated residency in Munich, Germany in late August, achieving a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® for the Largest Continuous Outdoor LED Screen (temporary).

This includes iconic 2024 events from the UK, such as BST Hyde Park in London, to Canada’s VELD, Osheaga, Île Soniq, LASSO, and Boots and Hearts festivals, demonstrating Solotech’s unique expertise in delivering world-class experiences.

The arts and entertainment sectors are experiencing a robust post-pandemic resurgence – the global events and exhibitions market is projected to grow from $54.3 billion in 2024 to $70.26 billion by 2029, driven by increased demand for immersive, live experiences. Worldwide, Solotech delivers over 13,000 live production and system integration projects each year, including more than 5,000 corporate, immersive, music and other live events in Canada.

In North America, 85% of people expressed excitement about live concerts, with a similar percentage keen on attending music festivals. Live music alone is forecasted to generate $27 billion in revenue by 2026, signaling that the appetite for live experiences is only growing. Audiences now seek more interactive and immersive experiences at festivals and live shows, pushing organizers to raise the bar in creativity and technology. As a result, Solotech, with their expertise in audiovisual technology and solutions, are leading the charge to meet these market requirements while enhancing the overall audience experience.

“The demand for exceptional live experiences has never been greater,” says Martin Carrier, President – Live Productions Canada – Global Media and Entertainment Technologies, Solotech. “At Solotech, we prioritize combining state-of-the-art technology with creative ingenuity, ensuring every performance we support leaves a lasting impression to help clients exceed these new standards.”

Audience expectations and the ‘WOW’ effect

Stunning visual effects achieved via LED screens, lighting, and other technologies captivate viewers and heighten their immersion in performances, as do leveraging audio solutions that are equally detailed and powerful. “Artists are under increasing expectation to make their festival performances stand out visually and trend on social media,” says Robert Kennedy, Director of Business Development, Live Productions Canada, Solotech. “Performances need to look just as impressive on a 4-inch screen as they do live, which has changed how we approach production for festivals.”

“This requires close collaboration with artists and show designers to create unique, memorable experiences. Today, a festival’s overall experience and reputation are just as important as the lineup in driving ticket sales and engagement,” Kennedy adds.

Setting New Standards in Production

For any live performance client that Solotech works with, creating cutting-edge audio, lighting, video, staging, and rigging solutions requires constant innovation and close collaboration with various stakeholders.

One recent example of this is the collaboration between Adele, her production team, and Solotech, which highlights the importance of technological advancements in the entertainment industry. “This Munich residency is unlike anything that has ever been done before. There was no template, no comparison—only possibilities. What makes this show groundbreaking isn’t just the scale of the record-breaking LED screen, but the innovative thinking that made it possible. This production redefines how live entertainment can be experienced. Working alongside Adele’s visionary team and all the other top-tier suppliers, we were able to push beyond the limits of what anyone thought was possible. It’s this spirit of collaboration and innovation that made the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® for the Largest Outdoor LED Screen achievable.” – Ian “Woody” Woodall, Solotech’s Director of Global Touring and Special Projects.

Over the 2024 season, Solotech has provided many highly innovative offerings in Canada, notably a mesmerizing holographic effect for Eric Prydz at Toronto’s renowned Veld Festival. “A collaboration with Roe Creative Display that provided us access to pioneering technology like the Vanish V8T Transparent LED panels and enabled us to create captivating visual experiences that align with the evolving expectations of global audiences,” Carrier adds.

In Quebec City, Solotech provided a 360-degree AV solution for this year’s Festival d’été de Québec, which included the largest panoramic LED screen in the event’s history.

Meanwhile, in the UK, Solotech’s team is serving a growing number of festivals. “In 2024, Solotech is providing advanced AV solutions for over 60 UK festivals, including London’s Finsbury Park,” says Dan Bennett, UK Head of Audio – Live Productions, Solotech. “We redesigned systems to boost sound levels onsite while significantly reducing off-site noise. By partnering with manufacturers and investing in cutting-edge products, we ensure that the audio and visuals are detailed and impactful, even for events with over 100,000 attendees.”

Future of Live Experiences

The future of live experiences will increasingly hinge on the integration of advanced audiovisual technologies. To stand out and captivate audiences, events will need to go beyond traditional setups and embrace innovative AV solutions that offer immersive, multi-sensory experiences. It is becoming essential for creating memorable moments that resonate long after the event concludes.

“As always, our focus is on expanding our capabilities across diverse sectors, from traditional live productions to e-sports and virtual events,” Carrier concludes.

“The future of live entertainment will blend the physical and digital, and we are positioning ourselves to lead this evolution by investing in the best technology, the best people, and the best partnerships.”

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will would love to give Readers a chance to win a copy of DESCPICABLE ME 4 on 4k UHD!

Synopsis: The world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain-League-agent returns for a bold new era of Minions mayhem in Illumination’s DESPICABLE ME 4, now with 2 mini-movies. Gru, Lucy and their girls welcome a new member to the family – Gru Jr. – who is intent on tormenting his dad, as a new nemesis shows up and forces the family to go on the run. This latest blockbuster chapter in the biggest global animated franchise in history is packed with nonstop action and filled with Illumination’s signature subversive humor.

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK or X. Share the Post for an extra chance!

Rules and regulations here.

DESPICABLE ME 4 is available to own on Digital now and 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD September 24, 2024.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)

After the Worldwide Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Disney+ released the trailer for Searchlight Pictures’ “Hold Your Breath”.  The film launches October 3, 2024 only on Disney+ in Canada.

In 1930s Oklahoma, the Bellum family house sits in a valley of dirt while the clouds of dust block out the sun. Margaret (Sarah Paulson) and her two daughters, Rose (Amiah Miller) and Ollie (Alona Jane Robbins), tend to their sparse farm while Margaret’s husband has left in pursuit of work. As they struggle to survive the punishing environment of the Dust Bowl, a mysterious stranger (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) seeps in, threatening her family.

Searchlight Pictures presents “Hold Your Breath”, a psychological horror-thriller written co-directed by Karrie Crouse (“Westworld”) and co-directed by Will Joines (“Com Truise: Propagation,” “The Push,” “Be Still”). Starring Emmy® and Tony Award winner Sarah Paulson (“American Horror Story,” “12 Years a Slave”), Amiah Miller (“War for the Planet of the Apes,” “Anastasia”), Alona Robbins (“New Amsterdam”), Annaleigh Ashford (“Welcome to Chippendales”), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear,” “No Hard Feelings”), Arron Shiver (“Kidnap”), and Bill Heck (“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”), the film is produced by Alix Madigan (“Winter’s Bone”, “1982”, “The Lie”) and Lucas Joaquin (“House of Spoils,” “Resurrection,” “Mayday”), along with Paulson as an executive producer. 

Crouse and Joines’ team behind the camera includes Emmy® and ASC Award-nominated cinematographer Zoë White (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Westworld”), two-time Emmy® Award–winning film editor Brian A. Kates (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Fire Island”); production designer Tim Grimes (“Antlers,” “You Were Never Really Here”); costume designer Colin Wilkes (“Palm Springs,” “Little Woods”); and Emmy®-winning VFX supervisor Dale Fay (“I, Robot,” “Once Upon a Time”).

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.

Following its TIFF ’24 Premiere, we get a new trailer and release date for Netflix’s REZ BALL!

Opening exclusively at the Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas and VIP in Toronto on September 20, 2024

ON NETFLIX SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Synopsis:
In the heart of Chuska, New Mexico, the Chuska Warriors, a high school basketball team rich in Native American heritage, face their greatest challenge. After the loss of their star player, the team must unite like never before to keep their dreams of a state championship alive. This is more than just a game; it’s a journey of resilience and unity, a true underdog story deeply rooted in Native American culture.

Director: Sydney Freeland
Writers: Sydney Freeland and Sterlin Harjo
Producers: Katie Elmore and Maurício Mota, Spencer Beighley, Jamal Henderson and LeBron James, and Nancy Utley
Executive Producers: Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping, D. Scott Lumpkin, Maverick Carter, Jodi Archambault
Production Companies: Springhill Company Production, Wise Entertainment Production, Chernin Entertainment and Lake Ellyn Entertainment Production

Cast: Jessica Matten, Kauchani Bratt, Cody Lightning, Dallas Goldtooth, Ernest David Tsosie, Kusem Goodwind, Zoey Reyes with Amber Midthunder and Julia Jones.

Premiering globally on September 24, 2024, Netflix present Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, the legendary Comedian, Actor and TV Personality’s final special!

Details:
Produced By:
Ben Winston and Fulwell 73 Productions, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Directed By:
Joel Gallen

Logline: For the first time in 6 years, Ellen DeGeneres returns to the stage in her new comedy special Ellen Degeneres: For Your Approval. The final comedy special of her historic career, Ellen gets personal and reveals what she’s been doing since being “kicked out of show business.” From the mundane world of raising chickens and parallel parking to the harsh reality of becoming a brand name celebrity, she goes deep into her stand-up roots and brings the laughs through life’s most real and absurd realities.

The special will be Ellen’s last comedy special of her career.

Ellen previously said “To answer the questions everyone is asking me- Yes, I’m going to talk about it. Yes this is my last special. Yes, Portia really is that pretty in real life.”

About Fulwell 73 Productions:

Fulwell 73 Productions is the London and Los Angeles-based entertainment company making top-quality, event-level, television programs, including “The Grammy Awards,” Emmy Award-winning music specials “Adele: One Night Only,” and “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium,” acclaimed live-to-film production “Disney’s Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl,” and most recently, the Olympics closing ceremony handover from host city Paris to Los Angeles, starring Tom Cruise, Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dog and H.E.R. Additional credits include the award-winning “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” AppleTV+ hit series “Carpool Karaoke: The Series” and Disney+ music documentary series “Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All.”

MUBI, the global film distributor, streaming service and production company is pleased to announce that artist William Kentridge’s extraordinary, expansive Self- Portrait As A Coffee-Pot will be available to watch worldwide exclusively on MUBI from October 18, 2024, following special previews at Toronto International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival and its presentation at the Arsenale Institute for the Politics of Representation, curated by Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, during the Venice Biennale of Art 2024.

Laying bare the creative process, Self-Portrait As A Coffee- Pot is a dazzling, nine-episode film series by South African artist William Kentridge, renowned for his animated drawings for projection, as well as his sculpture, theatre and opera productions over the last forty years.

Shot in his Johannesburg studio during and in the aftermath of the 2020–2022 COVID-19 pandemic and inspired in part by Charlie Chaplin, Dziga Vertov and the innovative wit of early cinema, this lively series of distinct but interconnected vignettes, at turns humorous, philosophical, political and probing, is a hymn to artistic freedom and the power of imagination, even when confronted with the challenge of isolation in enclosed spaces.

Bringing together hand-drawn animations, collage, performance and music, as well as dialogues with collaborators and doppelgängers, the series invites us to step inside the intimacy of the studio, where shared discoveries about culture, history and politics, and profound truths about the ways we live and think today are uncovered through the making of works of art.

Marking the launch of the release in October 2024, the films will screen for three days in an immersive intervention at Hauser & Wirth 18th Street in New York.

Additionally, a series of conversations, hosted by William Kentridge with special guests, will also take place each of the three nights, from October 22-24. Further details to be announced.

William Kentridge says: “Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot is a series made to offer viewers a sense and spirit of possibility, from an artist’s perspective. It is intended as a polemic experience about a way of working, a confidence in giving an image the benefit of the doubt, and seeing what emerges… At its heart this is really a series about the optimism and agency of making, itself. There’s an inherent optimism in the activity of taking the blank piece of paper at the beginning and having something at the end. If there’s a central argument I have to offer and engage audiences, it would be the defense of an optimism of making.”

An exciting innovation for both the filmed entertainment and art worlds, the release represents an unprecedented combination of fine art acquisition and streaming rights. It marks the first time that MUBI has acquired exclusive global rights to a series edition of a work of art – the first of a limited number of editions of Self-Portrait As A Coffee-Pot sold by the artist’s galleries.

The nine-episode series, created and directed by William Kentridge, is executive produced by Rachel Chanoff and Noah Bashevkin of THE OFFICE PERFORMING ARTS + FILM, Joslyn Barnes of LOUVERTURE FILMS and the WILLIAM KENTRIDGE STUDIO, and edited by Walter Murch, Janus Fouché and Žana Marović.

ALL NINE EPISODES OF SELF-PORTRAIT AS A COFFEE-POT ARE AVAILABLE ON MUBI FROM OCTOBER 18, 2024

Episode 1: A Natural History of the Studio (22 min 03 sec)
Episode 2: Self Portrait as a Coffee-Pot (33 min 15 sec)
Episode 3: Vanishing Points (34 min 19 sec)
Episode 4: Finding One’s Fate (31 min 02 sec)
Episode 5: AS IF (27 min 29 sec)
Episode 6: A Harvest of Devotion (31 min 24 sec)
Episode 7: Metamorphosis (25 min 31 sec)
Episode 8: Oh To Believe in Another World (31 min 23 sec)
Episode 9: In Defence of Optimism (26 min 53 sec)

Available in stores tomorrow, Starbucks Canada unveil the aroma of pecan pie, plus brown, buttery notes in their new collection of pecan-inspired beverages!

The Pecan Crunch Oat Latte also stirs up the age-old debate – how is the word pecan pronounced? According to Canadians – there may not be one right answer. A new survey commissioned by Starbucks Canada reveals that while nearly three quarters of Canadians (72 per cent) pronounce the nut as “Pee-Can,” one fifth of Canadians (17 per cent) are contrarians, pronouncing it as “Pee-Kahn.” Notably, a handful of Albertans, approximately eight per cent, indicate that “Puh-Can” is their preferred pronunciation.

Here is the lineup of Pecan Crunch beverages at stores in Canada starting September 19, 2024, for a limited time while supplies last:

Pecan Crunch Oat Latte – Made with Starbucks® Blonde Espresso and oat beverage, this fall beverage has layers of flavour including notes of nutty pecan, rich brown butter and holiday baking spices, and is finished off with a pecan crunch topping.

Iced Pecan Crunch Oat Latte – Nutty flavours of pecan, rich brown buttery notes and holiday baking spices come together with Starbucks® Blonde Espresso, ice and oat beverage for a smooth, flavourful treat, topped with nondairy vanilla cold foam and pecan crunch topping.

Salted Pecan Cream Cold Foam – Salted Pecan Cream Cold Foam offers customers another way to customize their favourite beverage with a sweet and salty fall twist! This cold foam is made with pecan syrup and salt. Also available as nondairy.

From the Academy Award-winning writer/director of “Parasite,” Bong Joon Ho, comes his next groundbreaking cinematic experience, “Mickey 17.” The unlikely hero, Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson) has found himself in the extraordinary circumstance of working for an employer who demands the ultimate commitment to the job… to die, for a living.

Written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, “Mickey 17” stars Robert Pattinson (“The Batman,” “Tenet”), Naomi Ackie (“Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker”), Steven Yeun (“Nope”), with Academy Award nominees Toni Collette (“Hereditary”), and Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”).

The film is produced by Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner (Oscar winners for “Moonlight” and “12 Years a Slave”), Bong Joon Ho and Dooho Choi (“Okja,” “Snowpiercer”). It is based on the novel Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton. The executive producers are Brad Pitt, Jesse Ehrman, Peter Dodd and Marianne Jenkins. The director of photography is Darius Khondji (Oscar nomination for “Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths,” “Okja”). The production designer is Fiona Crombie (Oscar nomination for “The Favourite,” “Cruella”). It is edited by Yang Jinmo (Oscar nomination for “Parasite,” “Okja”). The visual effects supervisor is Dan Glass (“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore,” “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”). The costume designer is Catherine George (“Okja,” Snowpiercer”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents A Plan B Entertainment Production, An Offscreen Production / A Kate Street Picture Company Production, A Film By Bong Joon Ho: “Mickey 17.” The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, in theatres only nationwide on January 31, 2025, and internationally beginning on 28 January 2025

Incompetency has a brand-new name and it’s Hannah Howard. Meet the charming, yet pretty inept, and definitely not self-aware new female boss in the official trailer for The Office, which Prime Video released today. Comedian and actor Felicity Ward is the first woman to play the iconic lead role, 23 years after The Office first debuted. All eight episodes of The Office premiere October 18, 2024 on Prime Video so block out your calendar or, even better, chuck a sickie and binge the series. The Australian Amazon Original comedy series will be available on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide (excluding the U.S.) as part of the Prime membership. Prime members across the globe enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership.

The highly-anticipated Australian version of The Office is the thirteenth adaptation of the global hit franchise and follows the employees at a packaging company, Flinley Craddick in Sydney. The series stars Felicity Ward as Hannah Howard, managing director, Flinley Craddick, Sydney; Edith Poor as Lizze Moyle, receptionist, front desk executive and productivity manager; Steen Raskopoulos as Nick Fletcher, sales representative; Shari Sebbens as Greta King, sales representative; Josh Thomson as Martin Katavake, head of human resources; Jonny Brugh as Lloyd Kneath, head of IT; Susan Ling Young as Tina Kwong, sales representative; Raj Labade as Sebastian Roy, intern; Lucy Schmidt as Deborah Leonard, head of finance; Zoe Terakes as Stevie Jones, head of the warehouse; Pallavi Sharda as Alisha Khanna, regional director, Flinley Craddick Australia; Claude Jabbour as Mason, Greta’s boyfriend and Jason Perini as Johnny, warehouse staff. Guest stars include Susie Youssef, Justin Rosniiak, Carlo Ritchie, Rick Donald, and Chris Bunton.

When Hannah gets news from the Head Office that they will be shutting down her branch and making everyone work from home, she goes into survival mode, making promises she can’t keep in order to keep her “work family” together. The staff of Flinley Craddick indulge her and must endure Hannah’s outlandish plots as they work toward the impossible targets that have been set for them.

“We are so excited for you to meet Hannah Howard, brought to life by the exceptionally talented Felicity Ward,” said Sarah Christie, head of Australian Originals, Amazon MGM Studios. “Office life has changed a lot in the last few years, and we can’t wait to share our very own Aussie spin on a beloved franchise with Prime Video customers around the world. We’re so proud of the series, the phenomenal cast and creative collaborators Julie De Fina, Jackie van Beek, Kylie Washington, Sophia Zachariou, BBC Studios Australia & New Zealand and Bunya Entertainment.”

“I’ve never been so excited to play an optimist incompetent trapped in her own delulu,” said Felicity Ward. “Hannah Howard is every bit the disappointment of a boss we’d all hope she’d be.”

Executive producers and writers, Julie De Fina and Jackie van Beek said: “We hope that audiences love watching the thirteenth version of The Office as much as we loved making the thirteenth version of The Office. Great cast, superb crew, excellent catering.”

“The Office is one of the most iconic formats in the world and one of the crown jewels in the BBC format safe,” said Kylie Washington, general manager and creative director, production, BBC Studios ANZ. “Office environments have changed so much, so we felt like it was perfect timing to investigate what the office means to us and how our work families – good or bad – affect our lives. Having our first female boss wasn’t just about a gender flip, it’s about looking at the whole workplace through the lens of a female boss. It’s certainly time!”

Sophia Zachariou, producer and former co-managing director, Bunya Entertainment, said “The mockumentary format is such a brilliant genre to investigate the human psyche, and the original UK version of The Office with Ricky Gervais blew my mind when I first watched it over 20 years ago. When Kylie and I started talking about doing an Australian version of The Office but with a (world first) female in the lead and with such a pure comedic premise, we thought what could possibly go wrong!?”

It was over 20 years ago that the world was introduced to the wonderfully bleak mockumentary world of The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. While many aspects of the workplace have changed since then, especially post 2020, the physical office is a timeless precinct for comedy, and one that will never tire an audience as long as the characters are authentic, familiar, faced with relatable dilemmas, and, most importantly, entertaining and hilarious. This universal appeal has seen the BAFTA- and Golden Globe-winning cult comedy remade for audiences around the world, including France, Canada, Chile, Israel, India, the Middle East, Poland, and South Africa, which was recently announced.

The eight-part Australian Amazon Original series The Office is co-produced by BBC Studios Australia & New Zealand, Bunya Entertainment, and Amazon MGM Studios, and is based on a BBC Studios format. The Office was developed for Australia by writers Julie De Fina (Aftertaste) and Jackie van Beek (The Breaker Upperers, Nude Tuesday) with the pair also serving as executive producers. Kylie Washington (Return to Paradise) is executive producer with lead producer Sophia Zachariou (Ladies in Black, The Moth Effect) and producer Linda Micsko (The Letdown, Laid). Van Beek also serves as set-up director (Time Bandits, What We Do in the Shadows, Wellington Paranormal) alongside directors Christiaan Van Vuuren (Bondi Hipsters, A Sunburnt Christmas) and Jesse Griffin (Educators) who is also a writer on the series.

Since 2019, Prime Video has commissioned 30 Australian Original series and features in Australia—The Test Season One-Three, Making Their Mark, LOL: Last One Laughing Australia with Rebel Wilson, Back to the Rafters, Luxe Listings Sydney Season One-Three, award-winning feature-length documentary Burning, The Moth Effect, Head Above Water, Kick Like Tayla, Warriors On The Field, Class of ’07, Deadloch Season One & Two, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Dance Life, the lifestyle special Hugh van Cuylenburg: G.E.M, a series of ten stand-up comedy specials, Neighbours, Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles, Five Blind Dates, The Office and the upcoming The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Top End Bub.

Netflix today released the official trailer for Heartstopper S3.

Synopsis:

Charlie and Nick are ready to take things to the next level. As they get closer in every way, they face their relationship’s biggest challenge yet.

Charlie would like to tell Nick that he loves him. Nick also has something important to say to Charlie. As the summer holiday ends and the months race on, the friends begin to realize that the school year will come with both its joys and its challenges. As they learn more about each other and their relationships, plan social events and parties, and start thinking about university choices, everyone must learn to lean on those they love when life doesn’t go to plan.

The trailer features the song ‘Vertigo’ by artist Griff

Please see all Heartstopper S3 information at: Tudum.com

About Heartstopper S3

Launch Date: October 2024

Episodes: 8

Creator/Writer: Alice Oseman

Director: Andy Newbery

Based On The Book Series: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

Executive Producers: Patrick Walters, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Alice Oseman, Euros Lyn

Key Cast: Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, Jenny Walser, Rhea Norwood, Leila Khan

Production Company: See-Saw Films