Wildly-popular, err… should we say paw-pular, Animated Series PAW PATROL gets the big screen treatment and its young fans around the globe can’t seem to wait! The Red Carpet was rolled-out this morning at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre as the Canadian Cast, Creators and Crew of the Series, celebrated the upcoming release of PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE. The star-studded Feature directed by Toronto’s own Cal Brunker, sees the beloved pups band together to go head-to-head against Mayor Humdinger, who could well destroy Adventure City. The fact that several of the A-List names who voice the Film signed-on because their own families are fans of Paw Patrol, is a testament to its power.

We had the pawesome experience of chatting with Brunker about making the Film just earlier this week. Check it out here!

The Franchise is loved internationally, a true testament to this being a true Canadian success story with its foundations rooted deeply in our country, produced by Canada’s Spin Master.

Once could sense the great pride and joy among the Film’s Cast and Creators, getting to premiere the Film for the first time for the Toronto audience. In attendance today at the festive affair, complete with some of the canine characters to bring cheer, were:

See some Snaps from the event:

Elevation Pictures release PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE in theatres Friday, August 20, 2021.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Golden Globe-nominated Actress Mila Kunis is among several stars who have braved the Pandemic in Toronto. The star of successes like That ’70s Show, Black Swan, Bad Moms, Family Guy and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, has been in town with husband Ashton Kutcher and their two children the past month-plus filming upcoming Mystery LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD. Directed by Mike Barker (The Handmaid’s Tale) and adapted from Jessica Knoll‘s New York Times Bestseller, the Film centers on a woman who overcame dark past traumas to reinvent herself. The Film is set for a 2022, just having wrapped its Toronto portion. Production completes in New York City.

The star made headlines recently when it was revealed she and husband Kutcher only bathe their children when absolutely required. Okay, even I admit I thought that was unusual! This sparked Kutcher and Kunis to post this funny video in response to the talk.

We’ve always loved Kunis and the personable warmth she brings into her roles. No matter who she is playing, she somehow makes her characters feel lived-in and like people I know.

beanie and I were so fortunate to get a Selfie with Kunis wrapping in the City after having been spotted filming in the downtown core, all the way out to Cobourg. When we met her, she was filming a scene at Indigo Bookstore in Bloor, looking a vision. Author Knoll who adapted to Screenplay for the Film also was seen on-set where Crew were treated to Tiny Tom Doughnuts and a fancy Coffee Truck overnight!

Respecting social distancing, Kunis was more than kind to look back for a Selfie before heading off. We’re so happy!

Cannot wait to see LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE, which will stream on Netflix!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Two greats unite in Lizzo’s Comeback Track RUMORS, featuring Cardi B! Check-out this new Clip for the Single, directed by Tanu Muino. Goddesses only, please! Lizzo owns her outlandish reputation with accountability and we’re here for it!

You can stream/download RUMORS now here.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)

By Mr. Will Wong

Paw Patrol truly is a Canadian success story, winning fans all around the world since its debut in 2013. Upcoming Feature PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE proudly sports its Canadian colours on the international stage as it sees an upcoming release in theatres. The star-studded Film directed and co-written by Cal Brunker, showcases our own homegrown talent, while also featuring the voices of Hollywood A-Listers like Tyler Perry, Jimmy Kimmel, Kim Kardashian-West, Yara Shahidi, Dax Sheppard, Randall Park and more.

The Film sees the adored pups going head-to-head fighting for what’s right against their arch-enemy Mayor Humdinger, as he gains power in Adventure City, threatening to destroy the metropolis.

We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to chat with Toronto’s Brunker, whose work includes Despicable Me, Horton Hears a Who! Ice Age: Continental Drift, Minions and more. PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE sees him team-up with among others, his longtime partner Bob Barlen, whom he co-wrote the Script with.

Brunker tells us about the Film’s proud Canadian attachments.

Brunker: Oftentime, these bigger movies get outsourced and made in America. For us it felt like something we could really be proud of. Not only is the Movie made here, it’s a Show and a Brand that’s loved around the world that really is a Canadian success story. For us it’s a really exciting moment premiering this Movie here in Toronto this Saturday.

We ask him why he thinks this Franchise has connected so much with this next generation.

Brunker: It’s familiar and it’s got these great characters that they love. I’ve got a three-year-old and a six-year-old and we’re constantly watching this stuff at home. I always watch them watching it and see they’ve each got their favourite pups and I think that’s why people keep going back to it over and over.

The Film features a roster of A-List Voice Talent. Brunker tells about getting names like Tyler Perry, Jimmy Kimmel and Kim Kardashian West involved.

Brunker: One of the things that made it a wonderful casting experience is a lot of them have kids that watch Paw Patrol, and they wanted to be superstars to their kids. I know Tyler’s son is huge fan and Jimmy‘s little one he jokes about on his show. We’re aware of those people who already are in the Paw Patrol world in their own lives with their families. We reached out and the response was wonderful.

In terms of working with them, most of it was done over Zoom ,which is a first for me. Normally you’re with the Actors and it’s easier to play around with them when they’re in the same room. They were all absolutely wonderful. We just took as much time as it needed over Zoom, improvised and tried to different things and built the characters like that.

He tells us about what he hopes the audience will take away from PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE.

Brunker: The Movie is about overcoming one’s fears. That’s the main emotional story in the Film. It seems like the type of theme that will really resonate as we have been dealing with fear the past year and a half. The Film is really coming out at the right time. And hope it will connect to kids and families alike.

See our Chat with Brunker below. Including beanie‘s pitch to star in the next Paw Patrol movie!

Elevation Pictures release PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE Friday, August 20, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures/Mr. Will Wong)

Six-episode Series COLIN IN BLACK & WHITE is coming this Fall to Netflix, the collaboration of Colin Kaepernick and Ava DuVernay, based on his own life!

Synopsis:

From co-creators Ava DuVernay and Colin Kaepernick comes Colin in Black & White, a bold new limited series that chronicles Kaepernick’s coming of age story, tackling the obstacles of race, class and culture as the Black adopted child of a white family. Colin in Black & White stars Jaden Michael as Young Colin before reaching the highest levels of American football as an NFL quarterback and becoming a cultural icon and activist; Nick Offerman and Mary-Louise Parker as his well-meaning parents Rick and Teresa; and Colin Kaepernick himself, who appears as the present-day narrator of his own story, guiding viewers through a robust and colorfully presented array of historical and contemporary contextual moments. You don’t know Kaepernick until you know Colin.

Some new Stills:

COLIN IN BLACK & WHITE arrives on Netflix October 29, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Entertainment One’s animated adventure film “My Little Pony: A New Generation” gallops to debut on Netflix September 24, 2021.

The Mane 5 voice cast for the equestrian themed feature stars Vanessa Hudgens (SUNNY), Kimiko Glenn (IZZY), James Marsden (HITCH), Sofia Carson (PIPP) and Liza Koshy (ZIPP). Additional voice cast members include Ken Jeong (SPROUT), Elizabeth Perkins (PHYLLIS), Jane Krakowski (QUEEN HAVEN), Phil LaMarr (ALPHABITTLE) and Michael McKean (ARGYLE).

The film is directed by Robert Cullen, José L. Ucha, and co-directed by Mark Fattibene. The story was created by Robert Cullen & José L. Ucha, and Tim Sullivan. The screenplay was written by Tim Sullivan and Gillian Berrow. Cecil Kramer and Peter Lewis produced.

Synopsis:

The unimaginable has happened…Equestria has lost its magic! Earth Ponies, Unicorns, and Pegasi are no longer friends and now live separated by species. But idealistic Earth Pony Sunny (Vanessa Hudgens) is determined to find a way to bring enchantment and unity back to their world. Teaming up with open-hearted Unicorn Izzy (Kimiko Glenn), the pair travel to faraway lands where they encounter the likes of charismatic and brave Pegasi Pipp (Sofia Carson) and Zipp (Liza Koshy) and the ever-responsible fellow Earth Pony Hitch (James Marsden). Their mission is full of misadventures, but these new best friends each possess their own unique and special gifts that may be just what this ponyverse needs to restore magic and prove that even little ponies can make a big difference.

MY LITTLE PONY: THE NEW GENERATION arrives on Netflix September 24, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Taking place now over a 50,000 sq ft space in the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is the long awaited BEYOND MONET Art Event.

The immersive space is comprised of three parts that showcase and celebrate Monet‘s groundbreaking innovation. Through dreamy audio and visual, the experience is crafted to take the guest right into every brushstroke of his masterpieces, very centric on water.

We’ve been to many of these immersive experiences in Toronto, and how this one stands-out is that visually it is compelling, ground-up 360° and truly you feel at one with the art with the way it all is configured. A lot of the first part of the exhibit Monet’s philosophy, but wait till you see its latter parts! Spellbinding!

Health and safety are a priority at Beyond Monet, with social distancing protocols in place with marked pods keeping guests apart.

And you must check-out some of the amazing Monet merchandise before leaving including dolls, clothing, cups, prints, masks and more!

Gallery below. Click right to navigate.

Additional titles have been announced at TIFF ’21 today in the Platform, Special Events and Short Cuts Programmes, with Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) being named President of the Jury for the Platform Competition this year! The Competition seeks to reward films of high artistic merit that also demonstrate a strong directorial vision. Ahmed also will be at TIFF ’21 with the film ENCOUNTER, about two brothers embarking on a journey with their father to protect the world from an alien threat.

Pablo Larrain‘s SPENCER which stars Kristen Stewart as Diana also will be coming to the Festival in the Special Events Programme.

The Festival is set to take place September 9-18, 2021.

PLATFORM PROGRAMME

Arthur Rambo Laurent Cantet | France
World Premiere

Drunken Birds (Les oiseaux ivres) Ivan Grbovic | Canada
World Premiere

Earwig Lucile Hadžihalilović | United Kingdom/France/Belgium
World Premiere

Huda’s Salon Hany Abu-Assad | Palestine/Egypt/Netherlands/Qatar
World Premiere

Mlungu Wam(Good Madam)(Mlungu Wam) Jenna Cato Bass | South Africa
World Premiere

Montana Story Scott McGehee, David Siegel | USA
World Premiere

Silent Land(Cicha Ziemia) Aga Woszczyńska | Poland/Italy/Czech Republic
World Premiere

Yuni Kamila Andini | Singapore/France/Indonesia/Australia
World Premiere

TIFF SHORT CUTS PROGRAMME

A Few Miles South Ben Pearce | United Kingdom
World Premiere

Angakusajaujuq – The Shaman’s Apprentice(Angakusajaujuq) Zacharias Kunuk | Canada
North American Premiere

Anxious Body Yoriko Mizushiri | France/Japan
North American Premiere

ASTEL Ramata-Toulaye Sy | France/Senegal
World Premiere  

Beity Isabelle Mecattaf | Lebanon/United States of America
International Premiere

Bhai Hamza Bangash | United Kingdom/Canada/Pakistan
World Premiere

Boobs Marie Valade | Canada
North American Premiere

Charlotte Zach Dorn | United States of America 
World Premiere 

DEFUND Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah, Araya Mengesha | Canada 
World Premiere

Displaced (Pa Vend) Samir Karahoda | Kosovo
North American Premiere

DUST BATH Seth A Smith | Canada 
World Premiere 

Egúngún(Masquerade) Olive Nwosu | United Kingdom/Nigeria
World Premiere

Fanmi Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers, Carmine Pierre-Dufour | Canada
World Premiere

Hanging On Alfie Barker | United Kingdom
International Premiere

I Gotta Look Good for the Apocalypse Ayçe Kartal | France
North American Premiere

I Would Never Kiran Deol | United States of America
World Premiere 

Little Bird Tim Myles | Canada 
World Premiere

Love, Dad (Milý tati) Diana Cam Van Nguyen | Czech Republic/Slovakia
Canadian Premiere

Meneath: The Hidden Island of Ethics Terril Calder | Canada
World Premiere

Motorcyclist’s Happiness Won’t Fit Into His Suit (Al motociclista no le cabe la felicidad en el traje) Gabriel Herrera | Mexico
Canadian Premiere 

NuisanceBear Jack Weisman, Gabriela Osio Vanden | Canada 
World Premiere

Ousmane Jorge Camarotti | Canada
World Premiere

Saturday Night Rosana Matecki | Canada
World Premiere

Shark Nash Edgerton | Australia
World Premiere

Soft Animals Renee Zhan | United Kingdom 
North American Premiere

Some Still Search (Algunos Siguen Buscando) Nesaru Tchaas | United States of America
World Premiere

Srikandi Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto | Indonesia/Canada
World Premiere

Successful Thawing of Mr. Moro (Lyckad upptining av herr Moro) Jerry Carlsson | Sweden 
International Premiere

Sycorax (Sycorax)Lois Patiño, Matías Piñeiro | Portugal/Spain
North American Premiere

The Future Isn’t What It Used To Be Adeyemi Michael | United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere

The Infantas (Las Infantas) Andrea Herrera Catalá | Spain
World Premiere

The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night Fawzia Mirza | United States of America/Canada
World Premiere

Together (Ham-Gye) Albert Shin | Canada/South Korea
World Premiere

Trumpets in the Sky Rakan Mayasi | Palestine/Lebanon/France/Belgium
World Premiere

Twelve Hours Paul Shkordoff | Canada 
World Premiere

White Devil Mariama Diallo, Benjamin Dickinson | United States of America
World Premiere

You and Me, Before and After Madeleine Gottlieb | Australia
International Premiere

Zero (Nula) Lee Filipovski | Canada/Serbia
World Premiere

SPECIAL EVENTS

Special IMAX Screenings of Dune

The film, based on Frank Herbert’s classic novel, will screen at the Cinesphere in Toronto on the following dates:

·  Saturday, September 11 – World Exclusive IMAX Special Event
·  Sunday, September 12 – Repeat IMAX Screening  
·  Saturday, September 18 – Public IMAX Screening

TIFF is also delighted to announce an additional Special IMAX screening of Dune in Montreal presented by Bell at Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal on Sunday, September 12. 

This screening is made possible in venue partnership with Cineplex as part of TIFF’s Canadian Satellite Screening programme. An additional screening of Dune will take place in Toronto at Scotiabank Theatre on September 13.

NBA Films For Fans created with OLG

On November 1, 1946, the NBA’s first-ever game was held at Maple Leaf Gardens, where the hometown Toronto Huskies played the New York Knickerbockers. Seventy-five years later, as part of the league’s anniversary celebrations, the NBA honours its Canadian roots at TIFF 2021. 

TIFF is proud to announce the launch of NBA Films For Fans created with OLG. This can’t-miss Special Event will feature five short films from Canadian filmmakers and basketball fans: Thyrone Tommy — also at this year’s Festival with his debut feature, Learn to Swim — and fellow Torontonians and TIFF talent development alumni Romeo Candido, Shawn Gerrard, and S.M. Turrell, as well as Vancouverite Kat Jayme, also a Talent Alumni as the 2019 Pitch This winner. Learn more about the Special Event and register for updates at NBAFilmsForFans.com.

Special Event Films

A Hero (Ghahreman) Asghar Farhadi | Iran

Memoria Apichatpong Weerasethakul | Colombia/Thailand/United Kingdom/France/Germany/Mexico 

Spencer Pablo Larraín  | United Kingdom/Germany

More at tiff.net.

(Photo/video credit: Amazon Prime Video)

We’ve been really rusty on the starspotting front, but we’ve always been of the opinion that health comes first. And we weren’t about to get Covid-19 for a Selfie!

Now that our numbers have been under control again, it’s empowered me with the sense of security that I can go out and have a little fun again, while being super-careful. And as luck would have it, the stars came to me this time. We haven’t been on a Red Carpet or out spotting stars literally since the Pandemic hit us in Ontario, so it was a little gift from above that new Syfy/USA Network series CHUCKY came to film in my neck of the woods in the east end, or what star Jennifer Tilly would call “a small town just outside of Toronto”!

For many of us who grew-up in the ’80s, it was impossible to avoid the scary legacy of CHILD’S PLAY. That creepy sinister doll who took on the soul of a serial killer escaping death, going on to terrorize the world in what has become an iconic Horror franchise. While there were high hopes for the 2019 reboot starring Aubrey Plaza, fans still turn back to the nostalgia of the earlier films in the Series.

CHUCKY The TV Series is set to debut this October, created, written and directed in part by Don Mancini who has written all films in the Child’s Play franchise. Production began back in March amidst lockdown setbacks and just wrapped in the east end, with a stint all the way out in Hamilton.

This new Series continues on the events of 2017’s Cult of Chucky and Brad Dourif once again reprises his role as the voice of the titular character. Academy Award nominee and Poker player extraordinaire Jennifer Tilly also reprises her role as Tiffany Valentine, Chucky‘s love interest and murderous counterpart. It focuses on a new generation led by Zackary Arthur, Teo Briones (son of stage star Jon Jon Briones), Emmy Award nominee Alyvia Alyn Lind and Björgvin Arnarson. Devon Sawa also stars in the Series and wrapped a couple weeks back.

The Trailer for CHUCKY just premiered at Comic-Con@Home. Check it out!

The Series looks to maintain the elements its Franchise known for, while being darkly-comedic and bloody whimsical.

We are so delighted to have met most of the Cast, including Arthur who plays the lead role of Jake, plus his best friend in the Series Devon, played by Arnarson, and also Briones who plays his brother Junior. Emmy-nominated Actress Lind (Young & The Restless) and her real-life mother Barbara Alyn Woods (One Tree Hill) also were on-set. All of them were lovely!

Our greatest thrill was meeting Tilly, who secured a time for us to come back and say “hi” after rushing off to set, and she wowed us by how beautiful she looked in a shimmery red dress, always looking exquisite on and off camera. She was seen filming a Red Carpet scene earlier in the day. Tilly was incredibly personable, taking the time to chat about her plans to head home right after her wrap, to see boyfriend Phil Laak, also a Poker star. She tells me her sister, Academy Award-nominated Actress and Author Meg Tilly, has a dog named Anna which our beanie reminded her of. And she even complimented me on my style. High-praise! Love her. Seeing her thrive as an Actress, earning a spot in The Academy as someone of part-Chinese descent, is a feat. Tilly is a trailblazer and whether or not she knows it, she paved the way for Lesbian characters on Film through her work in BOUND, and also Asian-American Artists being included in the conversation today. She exudes class and is everything a Movie Star should be. It is little wonder why her career has spanned decades, including her latest in new Disney+ series MONSTERS AT WORK, reprising the role of Celia Mae. She is someone people are drawn to and she also embraces her celebrity, which is refreshing. And she has Canadian citizenship too to boot! She truly is one of us.

We also got to meet the very striking Mancini who also was gracious to make time to chat. Like us, he’s stoked to see House of Gucci and while this isn’t his first time filming in Toronto, we appreciate him coming back here with this production as we needed this!

See our Snaps, scroll right to navigate the carousel.

Here’s a blast from the past. Getting intimate with Chucky!

It’s been a tough run, and it was so nice to have this treat. We don’t anticipate going out much for Selfies till this Covid thing is on its way out for good, but this reminded us how much fun we used to have doing this!

CHUCKY arrives October 12, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/SyFy)

By Justin Waldman

Marvel has created a cinematic universe that has dazzled audiences since 2008, and with fans clamouring for more content they’ve branched out into Television that also extends to the Cinematic Universe. With such hits as Wandavision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Loki, What If…? is their newest entry into TV and with them tackling the animation forefront there is so much to be explored.

In the Comics, What If…? explored Spider-Man joining the Fantastic Four, Planet Hulk, Jane Foster finding the Mjolnir, what if certain characters didn’t die, the show has endless possibilities of what can be explored, and the first three episodes touch on some of the craziest, wildest stories. With this new show being produced as an Animated Series, the possibilities are endless, and the entertainment is boundless, join us as we dive into the world of What If…?.

Each episode of What If…? starts with The Watcher (Jeffery Wright) talking about the universe and how a small, miniscule change can change everything. What if Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) never left the experiment room where Steve Rogers first got the serum? The world would have a different superhero, instead of Captain America the world would have Captain Carter. Captain Carter would lead America to win the war, to take down Red Skull and Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) from using the tesseract to destroy the world.

The first episode of What If…? is great in that it gives us the stories that audiences have always wanted to see, but never got to see cinematically. Peggy Carter always deserved to be the hero, in the cinematic world she lead S.H.I.E.L.D to victory after Steve froze himself, and this episodes let audiences explore the world that we never got to see. What truly brings back the fond memories of The First Avenger is the cheesy dialogue, ’50s- inspired jokes and corny one liners truly bring together the fun action packed Captain Carter vibes to this first episode of What If…? With such a strong, world changing launch to a new series, there is surely so much more excitement and intensity we can expect from What If…?

WHAT IF…? debuts on Disney+ Canada Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 3 AM ET. New episodes arrive weekly on Wednesday.

EPISODE TWO PREVIEW

Welcome to the world of What If…? What if the Guardians of the Galaxy weren’t lead by a bumbling lovable buffoon who put love over the entire universe? What if it was a new team of misfits that were a better fit, what if the wrong person was taken away from their family?

What happens when the whistle-blowing, Yondu (Michael Rooker) known for his line “I’m Mary Poppins y’all!”, takes the wrong child? Or T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) becomes legendary outlaw Star-Lord with his new team of bandits, still after the Infinity Stone? This time around, instead of having to fight-off Thanos and his minions, he must defend himself and his team against The Collector who is the most powerful being in the galaxy. He still possesses all the rarities throughout the galaxy, but is less quirky and more menacing than we’ve originally seen. Will the new Guardians of the Galaxy be able to stop The Collector or will he be too much for the new guardians? Lastly, the overwhelming tribute to Chadwick Boseman in his final Marvel performance is heartbreaking and beautiful.

When you change the dynamics of the Guardians of the Galaxy, you lose some of that lovableness that Chris Pratt provided the team, which makes the Guardians a little less silly, and more plausible as a threat to defeat their nemeses, but their antics still are top notch and filled with entertainment.

EPISODE THREE

What If… the Avengers never assembled? What would the world come to if the world’s mightiest heroes were broken up before they could even become a team? What if Nick Fury trusted an unlikely ally, where would the world be? Welcome to What If…? episode three, the most daring, ambitious and shocking episode we’ve seen thus far.

The world’s mightiest heroes, prior to being assembled by Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) are being targeted so they can never assemble and take down the worlds strongest threats. With marks on their backs, Fury must find out who is behind the pursuing of such Avengers such as Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, Iron Man, and Black Widow. With a threat this large against Fury’s initiative, he goes to extensive measures that no one would’ve thought plausible in the sacred timeline. Chaos ensues, all madness breaks out, and leaves the audience salivating for more, hopefully there is more to this storyline sooner than later.

What If…? has provided lots of joy, laughter, and even a tear or two in its first couple episodes, with more and more possibilities yet to be explored. There is an endless amount of adventure to be afoot, and the excitement cannot be contained. With the Avengers not being assembled, it provides a darkness that lures over the timelines, What If…? brings all the theories, timelines, and complete madness to the forefront and lets audiences explore the world beyond their greatest imaginations!

(Photo credit: Marvel)