#HORSERACING: “MIGHTY HEART” NAMED HORSE OF THE YEAR AT 2021 SOVEREIGN AWARDS

For a second consecutive year, MIGHTY HEART takes top honours at the Sovereign Awards, honouring the best in Canadian Horse Racing. For the first time ever, the event was held at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan. The one-eyed horse owned and bred by Larry Cordes, in 2020 went-on to beat the odds and win the Queen’s Plate. His success didn’t stop there and he also had a successful 2021 campaign which saw him notch two graded stake wins, the Autumn and Dominion Day Stakes, plus some big runs in the U.S. against open company including a win in the Blame Stakes.

Also honoured this evening with an E.P. Taylor Award was Owner/Breeder Ivan Dalos. Throughout his career, Dalos under his Tall Oaks Farm, has bred and raced some greats including the likes of Victorious Ami, Galloping Ami, Ami’s Flatter, Amis Gizmo, Ami’s Holiday, Johnny Bear, Gamble’s Ghost, Ami’s Mesa and multi-millionaire Channel Maker.

Other winners tonight included:

Mrs. Barbara – Champion 2-year-old filly
God of Love – Champion 2-year-old male
Munnyfor Ro – Champion 3-year-old filly
Frosted Over – Champion 3-year-old male
Amalfi Coast – Champion female sprinter
Pink Lloyd – Champion male sprinter
Jolie Olimpica – Champion turf female
Town Cruise – Champion turf male
Avie’s Empire – Outstanding broodmare
Sam-Son Farm – Outstanding breeder
Mark Casse – Outstanding trainer
Live Oak Plantation – Outstanding owner
Kazushi Kimura – Outstanding jockey
Denzil Fonseca – Outstanding groom
Woodbine Entertainment Group – The 2021 Queen’s Plate – Outstanding audio/visual broadcast
Hayley Morrison – Outstanding writing
Will Wong – Outstanding photograph

We are thrilled again to have won Outstanding Photograph and can’t believe this is real! So honoured to be among these legends and gamechangers. Cannot wait for the Woodbine ’22 season to begin at last this Saturday, April 16, 2022!

You can steam the entire Awards Ceremony here:

Some Snaps from the night:

(Photo/video credit: Woodbine Entertainment Group/Mr. Will Wong)

#NEWMUSIC: LIZZO – “ABOUT DAMN TIME”

It’s been way too long! Lizzo finally is back with a new Single, “ABOUT DAMN TIME“. The title says it all! The Track recalls the glory years of Disco where Chic and Nile Rodgers ruled. The Video is directed by Christian Breslauer, who directed The Weeknd’s “Die for You” Video.

The Track appears on Lizzo‘s upcoming Disc SPECIAL, out July 15, 2022 via Warner Music.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: “PRIME VIDEO PRESENTS CANADA” SHOWCASE

We were so thrilled to attend the Prime Video Presents Canada Showcase at historic Massey Hall. The event highlighted Prime Video‘s place as not only a streaming service, but an Entertainment Hub focusing on shining a spotlight on homegrown talent and voices, to the diverse audience that is Canadians. Partnerships with the likes of StackTV has allowed Prime Video to diversify its audience base which traditionally might’ve subscribed to certain networks and specialty channels only on cable.

Head of Prime Video Canada, Magda Grace tells us, “This has been many years in the making. We want to draw focus to local talent in-front of and behind the camera. shining spotlight on homegrown talent.”. “Our focus is customer obsession and curating the best entertainment for diverse local audiences.”.

To date, there have been 25 Prime Video productions based in Canada and they currently are developing ten Canadian productions to be enjoyed around the globe. The numbers speak for themselves. Prime Video subscribers thanks to hit series like The Wheel of Time, are streaming 70 more hours of programming per year, in over 240 countries around the world.

An exciting slate of programming was unveiled today at the event, focusing entirely on productions that were made here in Canada or have been green-lit to be made in Canada soon!

KIDS IN THE HALL

Iconic Canadian Comedy Outfit KIDS IN THE HALL are back and their hilarious brand of Sketch can be seen on Prime Video beginning May 13, 2022. All five original members reunite on the Series, which just premiered at SXSW ’22 and appearing today at the event were Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson. A two-part Documentary about KIDS IN THE HALL also will arrive on the service May 20, 2022.

On their long-awaited reunion, McCulloch summed it up, “Isn’t it funny to hear old people talk dirty??”.

GARY AND HIS DEMONS SEASON TWO

Toronto Funnyman Mark Little‘s Animated demon-slaying Series called CBC and CBC Gem its own for its first season. Its second season will be coming soon to Prime Video Canada! In 2019 it was awarded Best Web Series at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Little tells us he came up with the idea for the Show while he was in the hospital with a broken ankle, taking stock of life.

THE LAKE

Perhaps the most-buzzed title at the presentation this year was THE LAKE. The Series was filmed in North Bay starring Orphan Black‘s Jordan Gavaris, Madison Shamoun and Hollywood star Julia Stiles.

Showrunner Julian Doucet tells us the Series actually is quite autobiographical. He says, “After high school, me and my girlfriend gave-up our baby for adoption. We chose the parents and are very involved with our daughter’s life. The Show explores what if me and my daughter took a vacation together?”.

Stiles tells us, “The experience moving to North Bay was beautiful. I was not familiar with the society of the lake. It was very insular. The lake is the Lake. Their games nights were a ride or die charades. They know everything about each other. Their lake is the only lake on the planet.”.

On her character Maisy, she says, “She’s competitive, petty and selfish. She likes to see the competition fail. It’s so satisfying and now I feel like a horrible person.”.

THE LAKE arrives June 17, 2022 on Prime Video Canada.

THREE PINES

Filmed in Quebec, upcoming Series THREE PINES, based on the Novels by Louise Penny, stars Alfred Molina. Penny tells us how moved learning that Molina was cast in the role of Armand, whom is based loosely on her husband whom she says, “understood the gift of life”.

Molina who couldn’t make it to Toronto, tells us via video about his experience filming in Quebec. “My preparation involved reading the Novels. He is operating on different levels. Armand‘s strongest trait as a Detective is his empathy for both victims and perpetrators. I had the best experience working with the Crew, filming from August to late December and you’ll see us following the seasons through the episodes. It was beautiful and I’d work with them for the rest of my life.”.

THREE PINES arrives in 2023 on Prime Video Canada. Left Bank Pictures, which produces THE CROWN, also produces.

THE UNSOLVED MURDER OF BEVERLY LYNN SMITH

This upcoming Docu-Series recalls a 50+ year murder case which still remains unsolved. Smith at the age of 22 was murdered in Oshawa and the Series puts a human face to true crime, while revealing all twists and turns with empathy. Directed by Nathalie Bibeau, the Series arrives May 6, 2022 on Prime Video Canada.

SUGAR

Feature Film SUGAR stars The Shadowhunters’ Katherine McNamara, Jasmin Sky Sarin and Riverdale‘s Anthony Timpano. It is based on a true story of two girls from Montreal who went on a boat cruise, only to get way more than they bargained for. Sarin and Timpano were in-attendance at the presentation.

Sarin says, “These girls go on a beautiful cruise, going to amazing places, documenting everything online. They’re having fun till they aren’t. This is not what they signed-up for and they find themselves in a drug smuggling operation, fighting for their lives.”.

LOL: QUI RIRA LE DERNIER

If you loved LOL: Last One Laughing Canada, hosted by Jay Baruchel, a Quebec version of the Comedy Reality Series Competition putting Comedians against one another, is soon to be filmed! Actor Patrick Huard (Bon Cop, Bad Cop) will host.

JUSTE POUR RIRE

Nav Saini, Head of Content, Prime Video Canada announced today that the service will be collaborating for the first time ever with Just for Laughs on a French Comedy Special, to be filmed in Quebec. The Special is to be titled JUSTE POUR RIRE. More to come.

THE STICKY

Just green-lit this upcoming Series, from Executive Producer Jamie Lee Curtis, is based on a true story of Ruth Clarke and the Maple Syrup Heist. Filming for this Blumhouse production is to begin this Summer as Lee Curtis told us via video.

UNTITLED THE TRAGICALLY HIP DOCUMENTARY

Mike Downie, brother of late The Tragically Hip Frontman Gord Downie, helms an upcoming Documentary due in 2024 about his brother and the Band’s success and legacy. The surviving Bandmembers attended the event. Fun fact, we learned that the Band actually got signed to a record deal after playing at the Toronto Music Awards, which took place as Massey Hall – a full circle moment.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video Canada/George Pimentel)

#FOOD: “SHU KINGDOM GENERAL HOT POT” | 巴蜀大将

In just over six years, SHU KINGDOM HOTPOT have experienced exponential success, opening 150 locations in 60+ cities across China. Just earlier this year, they opened their first ever North American branch right here in Scarborough, and are ready to win the hearts of Hotpot-loving Canadians. And there are many, believe me!

Hotpot is one of my favourite things. I love the communal experience of gathering around the pot with family and friends, having casual conversations and getting a full belly. If you’ve never had it before, think Korean BBQ… sorta. But Hotpot is soup-based instead of grilled. You take a variety of ingredients like meats, vegetables and a variety of accoutrements, which you cook them in a fondue-like manner. Typically, the soup base is numbingly-spicy, but there are mild options for those who can’t take the heat. Hotpot is a favourite in cooler months, but loved year-round.

SHU KINGDOM GENERAL HOTPOT boasts a high-grade selection of meats, including Sliced Ribeye and Chuck Eye. What makes them stand-out is their opulent, romantic presentation. Their Ribeye alone tops more than 1 million orders a year in China alone! And we get it. Their beef is so succulent and tender. Skewered delicacies are bundled into special Bashu Combo platters, which are part of the order including shrimp, aorta, tripe, gizzards and kidneys.

As the menu is A la Carte, you get a higher-grade of meats than you would an an All You Can Eat-type Hotpot establishment. We love that for those who want to try different soup types and we chose a Regular Spicy Soup which was just right, plus a mild Pork Bone Soup. As the food here is inspired by the flavours of Sichuan province (Chengdu specifically), it is only fitting the that they bring the fire Sichuan cuisine is known for!

The decor even at this space is stunning. The bright, red lantern-lit space pays homage to Bashu Culture, just like its menu. The culture has a long history of over 3000 years, claimed to be one of the cradles of modern Chinese. The restaurant uses the legendary tale “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” as a point of reference in its aesthetic. This truly is an experience!

The venue is spacious and seating is comfortable with many private booths and VIP Rooms. The Menus is mindful even, giving cooking time recommendations for each ingredient. Overcooking your meats can drastically alter your enjoyment and experience, showing their attention to detail. Above all this, we’ve never seen this level of presentation in food at a Hotpot ever. Simply dynamic, and never to be forgotten!

See some highlights from our experience at SHU KINGDOM GENERAL HOTPOT:

What an amazing, ambient and satisfying time!

SHU KINGDOM HOTPOT is located at 390 Silver Star Blvd in Scarborough, and are open 12 PM-11 PM daily. Menu is available for Pickup and Dine-In. If you’re dining in groups, they have promotions on right now!

Can you high-kick? Look for this sign at the door to kick for a free add-on and up to 30% off!

Visit https://shukingdomgeneral.ca for more.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ADVANCE PASSES TO SEE “THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT”

Mongrel Media x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT. This is a must-see for Nicolas Cage fans!

Screenings are as follows on Wednesday, April 20, 2022:

• Toronto: Scotiabank Toronto at 7:00 PM
• Montreal (English Version): Cineplex Forum at 7:00 PM 
• Ottawa: Cineplex Cinemas Lansdowne at 7:00 PM 
• Vancouver: Scotiabank Vancouver at 7:00 PM
• Calgary: Scotiabank Chinook at 7:00 PM
• Edmonton: Scotiabank Edmonton at 7:00 PM
• Winnipeg: SilverCity St. Vital at 7:00 PM
• Halifax: Scotiabank Halifax at 7:00 PM

Synopsis:

Nicolas Cage stars as… Nick Cage in the action-comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Creatively unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, the fictionalized version of Cage must accept a $1 million offer to attend the birthday of a dangerous superfan (Pedro Pascal). Things take a wildly unexpected turn when Cage is recruited by a CIA operative (Tiffany Haddish) and forced to live up to his own legend, channeling his most iconic and beloved on-screen characters in order to save himself and his loved ones. With a career built for this very moment, the seminal award-winning actor must take on the role of a lifetime: Nick Cage.

Directed by: Tom Gormican 

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Sharon Horgan, Ike Barinholtz, Alessandra Mastronardi, Jacob Scipio, Lily Sheen, with Neil Patrick Harris, and Tiffany Haddish 

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City of choice. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance!

#Giveaway: Enter for a chance to win Advance Passes to see Nicolas Cage as Nicolas Cage in THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT!https://t.co/Dt9JxKqoyw pic.twitter.com/DL2baoO5Nq

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) April 12, 2022

Rules and regulations here.

Mongrel Media release THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT April 22, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media) 

#FIRSTLOOK: “STRANGER THINGS” SEASON 4

A new Trailer has arrived for STRANGER THINGS Season 4, set to arrive in two parts! A war is coming.

Synopsis:

It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.

Stranger Things 4 Vol. 1 premieres May 27, 2022, only on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE PRINCESS”

Joey King stars in 20th Century Studios’ THE PRINCESS and here’s your first look at the upcoming Feature coming to Disney+!

Synopsis:

When a beautiful, strong-willed princess refuses to wed the cruel sociopath to whom she is betrothed, she is kidnapped and locked in a remote tower of her father’s castle. With her scorned, vindictive suitor intent on taking her father’s throne, the princess must protect her family and save the kingdom. The film stars Joey King, Dominic Cooper (“Preacher”), Olga Kurylenko (“Black Widow”) and Veronica Ngo (“The Old Guard”). “The Princess” is directed by Le-Van Kiet, written by Ben Lustig (“The Thirst”) & Jake Thornton (“Final Fantasy”) and produced by Neal H. Moritz (the “Fast and Furious” franchise), Toby Jaffe (“Total Recall”) and Derek Kolstad (“John Wick”), with Joey King and Guy Riedel serving as executive producers.

THE PRINCESS arrives July 1, 2022 on Disney+.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

#FIRSTLOOK: 2022 NATIONAL CANADA FILM DAY

April 20, 2022 is NATIONAL CANADA FILM DAY and in celebration of this, Hollywood Suite in collaboration with imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, is honouring Indigenous Filmmakers with a day of acclaimed programming on their 2000s channel.

On the line-up for the day are:

9:15 AM      Stream Me

10:40 AM    The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw

12:20 PM    Empire of Dirt

2:05 PM      The Snow Walker

4:00 PM      Indian Horse

5:45 PM      Falls Around Her

7:25 PM      After The Last River

9:00 PM      The Corruption of Divine Providence

10:40 PM    Rhymes for Young Ghouls

12:10 AM    Bearwalker

hollywoodsuite.ca for more information. You also can subscribe to Hollywood Suite via Prime Video Canada.

#INTERVIEW: “WHY DIDN’T THEY ASK EVANS?”

By Mr. Will Wong

Based on the popular Mystery Novel of the same name by Agatha Christie, BritBox series WHY DIDN’T THEY ASK EVANS? is set for release tomorrow on the popular streaming service. The Series centers on Bobby Jones (Will Poulter), whom after hearing a dying man’s last words, “Why didn’t they ask Evans?”, is left to solve the crime and brings in his childhood socialite friend Frankie (Lucy Boynton) to help. Starring, directed and written by SAG and Golden Globe Award winner Hugh Laurie, the Series takes us along Bobby and Frankie‘s journey in finding themselves, while they find answers to the mystery.

We had the opportunity to sit-in on a junket with Poulter, Boynton and Laurie as they discussed their characters and involvement with the Series.

Hugh Laurie talks about adapting Agatha Christie and his recollection of the source material.

Laurie: “I first read it when I was quite young…and I remembered very particularly the meaning of the question, ‘Why didn’t they ask Evans?’. And when the meaning is revealed, it’s a stroke of absolute genius. I think she was unique in the way she constructed this and the way she has a perfect sense of timing so that at that exact moment you could just flip-over the card and go, “Oh my God! That’s been in front of me all this time and I never saw it!’. And I remember that so clearly. I feel like I knew it well enough not to be thrown by anything.”.

“The Actors were very intuitive. All of them had done their homework. They all came to the set knowing what it was, what the scene required and the rhythm of it, how to play it essentially. I feel very lucky that a lot of my work was done for me. They did it. it wasn’t me playing all the parts. Not me.”.

We ask Boynton and Poulter about the chemistry that Frankie and Bobby share. While we don’t see a lot of their history on-screen, the way they interact gives us lots of insight into their past. They tell us about their preparation.

Boynton: “It was pretty much all on-screen as we didn’t get to meet before.”.

Laurie: “Explain that you didn’t refuse to meet.”.

Boynton: “But we did. (jokingly) COVID obviously prevented us from having an in-person read-through and I was out of the country and such, so I was late to filming. I think we both individually fell in love with our characters and you can’t fall in love with Frankie without falling in love with them together as a duo. And it’s really beautiful seeing them as childhood friends and now they’re reunited for the first time as adults, and seeing how both of them really want to short-cut back to that initial repartee and dynamic they had. They still have to go through this process of re-learning each other and seeing these two characters try to wrangle that with such beautiful intentions and that foundation of knowing each other in such a formative part of their lives. And as you can see, the colloquial dynamic they have, was just incredibly endearing. And the wit they share, the sense of humour, it offers that short-cut. But yeah, trying to wrangle that was a really beautiful experience.”.

Poulter: “Hugh would often remind us of that. I can recall a note Hugh gave that this was that occasion when you were kids that was really, really funny and you were trying not to laugh, and then you look at each other and you were gonna laugh. So channel that kind of energy and it was cool two see these two adults who are kinda falling in love, but there are moments that are punctuated by them kinda being silly kids. Like when he’s in front of the house in uniform and Lucy makes a funny remark. And what rehearsal time we didn’t have, we were able to compensate with some kind of proverbial table time. On Zoom, Hugh, Lucy and I had a lot of discussions. It was really informative understanding the kind of journeys our characters have been on individually and together that we have as young people – how friendly we had been, and the amount of time that had passed between the last time they met and the time you meet them. All of that was really helpful revealing the history.”.

Emma Thompson and Jim Broadbent even make a spirited appearance in the Series. They talk about the experience of working with these greats.

Boynton: “Just getting a front row seat to their dynamic, they all go way back and Patrick Barlow on-set as well. So their comedic timing is so in-sync and allows them a greater freedom to really bounce off each other. This is my external opinion. I think it allows them to bounce off each other much more succinctly, be really free with the text but within the realms of that scene. And it was just really beautiful to watch. I tried to exit that scene as soon as possible and everyone was six inches from the monitors just grinning.”.

Poulter: “Such a cool to see such experienced Actors you’re such a fan of, have so much fun and watching them enjoy it as much as I feel they did. It was so cool and inspiring to see.”.

Laurie: “May I add that it’s incredibly impressive? Because Jim and Emma showed-up with their clanking Oscars – they actually bring them to the set – so everyone knows what’s what. Lesser Actors might easily have been intimidated or thrown by this sort of history and status. But for me, it was absolutely joyous to see all five of you in that scene immediately dispensing of that. It’s just sorta relaxed, fearless and easy-going way. Lots of people would not do that in that position.”.

WHY DID’T THEY ASK EVANS? streams April 12, 2022 on BritBox.

(Photo/video credit: BritBox)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “SENIOR YEAR”

Rebel Wilson is back SENIOR YEAR, coming soon to Netflix! See the hilarious new Trailer!

Synopsis:

After a cheerleader (Rebel Wilson) falls off a pyramid and into a 20 year coma, she wakes up as a 37-year-old woman, ready to return to high school, regain her status and claim the prom queen crown that eluded her.

SENIOR YEAR arrives on Netflix  May 13, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)