You know how much we love RuPaul’s Drag Race! We’re a little bummed that we’re out of town while this is taking place over three nights in the GTA in Hamilton (FirstOntario Centre) and Toronto (Meridian Hall), but how lucky are we to have spotted RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Season 14 First Runner-Up, LADY CAMDEN in-town? This actually is her second time back to the City this Summer after having headlined before a packed house at Starry Night as part of this year’s Pride celebrations.

Lady Camden hails from Camden Town, a district in Northwest London, but now is based in the U.S. where she’s found major success on the Drag Circuit really making a huge splash with her classically-trained dance skills and amazing theatrical ability. We will never forget her rendition of Queen‘s “I Want to Break Free“. Epic! Legendary!

It was a total fluke running into Lady Camden out-of-drag but we got so excited and had to profess our love! She was so sweet and pleasantly-surprised to be spotted!

This really made our day as we were really sad about not being able to attend Werq the World! It’s still not too late to check-out Werq the World with limited tickets still available. Click here for more!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/World of Wonder)

Check-out this brand-new Trailer for BANDIT, starring Josh Duhamel, Elisha Cuthbert and Mel Gibson!

Synopsis:

In 1985, Gilbert Galvan Jr (Josh Duhamel), a charming career criminal, escapes from a US prison in Michigan and crosses the border into Canada where he assumes the identity Robert Whiteman. After falling in love with Andrea (Elisha Cuthbert), a caring social worker he can’t provide for, he turns to robbing banks and discovers that he’s exceptionally good at it. Under the guise of a security analyst, Robert begins flying around the country robbing multiple cities in a day, eventually catching the attention of national news outlets that dub him The Flying Bandit. Addicted to the rush and money that provides his double life, Robert eventually turns to loanshark and reputed gangster Tommy Kay (Mel Gibson) for bigger opportunities. But with Robert’s notoriety growing in record time, he is put into the direct sights of a ruthless detective (Nestor Carbonell) who will stop at nothing to bring him down.

Vortex Media release BANDIT digitally and on-demand September 23, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Vortex Media)

Have we ever missed Charlie Hunnam! Though he’s back in Toronto later this month for Fan Expo, you next can see him in SHANTARAM, coming to Apple TV+ later this year. The Series is based on the internationally best-selling novel by Gregory David Roberts. The highly anticipated Apple Original series is a hopeful cinematic love story coupled with a thrilling epic adventure that follows one man’s journey to redemption through a country that changes his life. “Shantaram” will make its global debut with the first three episodes of its 12-episode first season on Friday, October 14, 2022, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday through December 16, 2022, on Apple TV+.

“Shantaram” follows a fugitive named Lin Ford (Hunnam) looking to get lost in vibrant and chaotic 1980s Bombay. Alone in an unfamiliar city, Lin struggles to avoid the trouble he’s running from in this new place. After falling for an enigmatic and intriguing woman named Karla, Lin must choose between freedom or love and the complications that come with it.

In addition to Hunnam, the series also stars Shubham Saraf, Elektra Kilbey, Fayssal Bazzi, Luke Pasqualino, Antonia Desplat, Alyy Khan, Sujaya Dasgupta, Vincent Perez, David Field, Alexander Siddig, Gabrielle Scharnitzky, Elham Ehsas, Rachel Kamath, Matthew Joseph, and Shiv Palekar.

The series is co-created, written and executive produced by Steve Lightfoot, who also serves as showrunner. Bharat Nalluri directs and executive produces. Andrea Barron, Nicole Clemens, Steve Golin, Justin Kurzel, and Eric Warren Singer who co-created the series with Lightfoot, also executive produce. The series is produced for Apple by Paramount Television Studios and Anonymous Content’s AC Studios.

(Photo credit: Apple TV+)

Based on the best-selling, debut novel from Author, Science Editor and Copywriter Bonnie Garmus, “Lessons in Chemistry” will make its global debut on Apple TV+ in 2023. The Series stars Oscar winner Brie Larson, who also produces.

Starring alongside Larson and rounding out the cast for the highly anticipated drama are:
-Lewis Pullman (“Top Gun: Maverick,” “Outer Range”) as ‘Calvin’
-NAACP Image Award-winner Aja Naomi King (“How to Get Away with Murder,” “Sylvie’s Love,” “The Upside,” The Birth of a Nation”) as ‘Harriet Slone’
-Stephanie Koenig (“The Flight Attendant,” “The Offer”) as ‘Fran Frask’
-Patrick Walker (“Gaslit,” “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”) as ‘Wakely’
-Thomas Mann (“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty,” “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl”) as ‘Boryweitz’
-Kevin Sussman (“The Big Bang Theory,” “The Dropout,” “Better Call Saul”) as ‘Walter’
-Multi Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Beau Bridges (“Acting: The First Six Lessons,” “Homeland,” “Goliath,” “Bloodline,” “Masters of Sex,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys”) as ‘Wilson’

Synopsis:

Set in the early 1950s, “Lessons in Chemistry” follows Elizabeth Zott (played by Larson), whose dream of being a scientist is put on hold in a society deeming that women belong in the domestic sphere, not the professional one. When Elizabeth finds herself pregnant, alone and fired from her lab, she musters the ingenuity only a single mother has. She accepts a job as a host on a TV cooking show, and sets out to teach a nation of overlooked housewives – and the men who are suddenly listening – a lot more than recipes… all the while craving a return to her true love: science.

Hailing from Apple Studios, “Lessons in Chemistry” is produced by Aggregate Films. Six-time Emmy Award-nominee Lee Eisenberg (“WeCrashed,” “Little America”) serves as showrunner. The series is executive produced by Academy Award-winner Brie Larson and co-executive producer Elijah Allan-Blitz of their The Great Unknown Productions; Emmy Award-winner Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan (“Ozark,” “A Teacher”) executive produce for Aggregate Films; and, Academy Award-nominee Susannah Grant (“Unbelievable,” “Erin Brockovich”). Natalie Sandy executive produces through Piece of Work Entertainment alongside Eisenberg. Louise Shore also serves as executive producer and Bonnie Garmus serves as co-EP.

(Photo credit: Apple TV+)

Is it a coincidence that so many of our recent favourites on TV and the Big Screen were inspired by Books? Canada’s favourite Book Store INDIGO is celebrating PAGE-TO-SCREEN right now. This Summer alone, THE SUMMER IN TURNED PRETTY (Jenny Han) and HEARTSTOPPER (Alice Oseman) had audiences falling in-love!

And coming this Fall are the likes of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER (J.R.R. Tolkien) and HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (George R.R. Martin) are poised to break streaming records! You’ve got some time to get caught-up in anticipation of these arrivals!

TIFF ’22 also is just around the corner did you know that Festival selections like My Policeman, Black Ice, Butcher’s Crossing, The Greatest Beer Run Ever and The Hummingbird all were based on Books! MY POLICEMAN already has won an Ensemble Performance Award which Emma Corrin and Harry Styles will be in-town to accept, if this is any indication of Awards Season success!

See some titles here featured as part of Indigo‘s PAGE-TO-SCREEN celebrations.

Some additional Canadian titles screening at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival were announced earlier this week.

ROSIE

A film about family, love and misfits, ROSIE tells the story of a young, orphaned, Indigenous girl who is forced to live with her reluctant, street-smart Aunty Fred (Frédérique). Rosie is thrust into the fringes of 1980’s Montréal into the care of Fred, who just lost her job, is on the verge of eviction, and who looks and sounds nothing like her. Fred, an artist who creates art from found and discarded objects or other peoples’ trash, introduces Rosie to her two best friends Flo and Mo, glamorous, gender-bending street workers. In the end, Rosie transforms the lives of these colourful characters and finds love, acceptance, and a true HOME with her new chosen family of glittering outsiders.

Cast: Mélanie Bray, Keris Hope Hill, Constant Bernard, Alex Trahan, Josée Young, Brandon Oakes, Jocelyne Zucco, Arlen Aguayo Stewart

UNTIL BRANCHES BEND

Grace Glowicki (TIFF Rising Star 2016) plays Robin, a cannery worker who struggles to get an abortion. When she finds an invasive bug in a peach at work, she turns her focus towards proving to her community that the danger it poses is real. As her obsession alienates her from friends and family, she sinks deeper into her task. “Until Branches Bend” is a psychological drama about how trouble beneath the surface will always come to light.

Cast: Grace Glowicki, Alexandra Roberts, Quelemia Sparrow, Lochlyn Munro, Antoine DesRochers

LIDO TV

LIDO TV is a variety show with a mission: to help people cope in a world that feels like it’s falling apart. Created and hosted by Lido Pimienta, the award-winning Colombian-Canadian artist and musician, the series tackles themes ranging from feminism and colonialism to privilege and success, with unhinged sketches, inspiring interviews, immersive documentaries, original songs, and surreal puppets.

Dates and times still to be confirmed shortly by TIFF.

Oh my God! This was everything! Anyone and everyone who loves FRIENDS™ needs to know about this wonderful limited-run activation taking place right now at Yorkdale Shopping Centre! From now through January 2, 2023 you can pop by and get immersed into the world of FRIENDS™!

We finally had a chance to go check it out and it posseses that same wonderful, fun energy the Series has. There are photo ops inspired by the Series’ set including Central Perk; Monica and Rachel’s Kitchen; Joey and Chandler‘s Living Room; the Fountain and Couch seen in the Opening Credits; a Stairwell with a Couch inspired by the iconic “Pivot!” episode. There’s even outfits and wigs from the Series, plus fun facts and more. Did I mention an awesome Gift Shop loaded with amazing merch?

Above this the event takes place in a wide-open space, encouraging safety protocols for the times we’re living in and we appreciate that.

Watch a Reel of our experience here:

And an Album of some of my favourite moments:

Learn more about the experienece here, including how to get tickets!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Such a pleasure getting the celebrate what’s poised to be a home run for Prime Video in their latest Series A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN! Based on the beloved 1992 Sports Dramedy of the same name, the Series gets eight episodes to delve deeper and more authentically into the stories of the women who comprise groundbreaking All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Team, the Rockford Peaches.

Taking place at Soho House, Toronto’s Kelly McCormack who stars as Jess McCready, spoke at a fireside chat about her experiences filming in isolation with her Castmates during the pandemic. Her character heads south, hailing from Moosejaw, Saskatchewan. And unlike the original Film, this Series co-created by starring Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), same-sex relationships and women of colour in the league are themes that properly are explored.

Some Snaps of McCormack and at the end of the Carousel, hear her speak about her role with TSN’s Kayla Grey:

Such a wonderful bash for a wonderful Series. There was even a Rockford Peach-inspired Cocktail!

Review here.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN is streaming now on Prime Video Canada!

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video/Mr. Will Wong)

BULLET TRAIN takes the top spot at the Box Office a second straight week with $12.6 million from 4,357 theatres for Sony Pictures, taking it to $53.6 million domestically. No new entries in the Top Five this weekend.

In second is DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS with $8.6 million, a total run of $59 million for Warner Bros.

TOP GUN: MAVERICK still is hanging tough with $6.8 million in third, edging ever closer to the $700 million mark domestically for Paramount Pictures.

NOPE is in fourth with $6.2 million for Universal Pictures, a total run of $108 million to date.

THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER rounds-out this five with $5.7 million for Disney, a total $326 million in its domestic run.

Shant Joshi and Lindsay Blair Goeldner of Fae Pictures are beyond thrilled to announce that two shorts, Diaspora from Director Tyler Mckenzie Evans and Scaring Women at Night, from Director Karimah Zakia Issa, will have their world premieres at TIFF22 in the Short Cuts programme.

Diaspora
Writer/Director: Tyler Mckenzie Evans
Starring: Cara Ricketts, Rainbow Sun Francks
Synopsis: In a black suburb, a couple begins to notice that their neighbours are disappearing and white people are moving in. They soon discover something much more unpalatable.
Producers: Malachi Ellis, Lindsay Blair Goeldner
Executive Producers: Shant Joshi, Cara Ricketts

Scaring Women at Night
Director: Karimah Zakia Issa
Story by: Ace Clamber
Starring: Izaiah Dockery, Kavita Musty, Dashawn Blackwood
Synopsis: Two strangers are scared on a late walk home. As they try to escape one another, their worlds collide at an intersection forcing them to question who they’re afraid of and why.
Producers: Lindsay Blair Goeldner, Rosalind Goodwin
Executive Producer: Shant Joshi

From Diaspora Director, Tyler Mckenzie Evans: “Many low-income neighbourhoods in Toronto have slowly been changing – over-priced grocery stores, coffee shops and condos are popping up. People of colour that live in these areas eventually disappear along with the area they once knew. Melina, the protagonist, is our watcher; she notices little changes in her neighbourhood. As an audience member we start to question if what she’s noticing is really happening or if it’s just her own paranoia. Diaspora is dark and twisted in so many ways and I’m extremely excited to showcase this at TIFF to a city that’s been so close to my heart throughout my life.”

From Scaring Women at Night Director, Karimah Zakia Issa: “We’ve set up a world where everyone feels like they know what’s about to happen simply by aligning a couple social cues. Woman. Alone. Night. From there we shift into Ash’s perspective, having lived experiences on both ends, he’s our key to seeing this familiar scene differently and begin questioning our complacency. I’m proud to have made this film alongside talented trans folks and people from a plethora of social intersections and I’m thrilled to share our film with TIFF’s audience!”