Happy Pride Month y’all! I haven’t had so much fun in a long time! You haven’t lived till you’ve experienced Drag Brunch at the gorgeous and scenic Harriet’s located on the rooftop of 1 Hotel on Wellington. The event was brought to us by Grey Goose!

A pure joy finally getting to see Queen of the North herself, and host of Award-winning Series Canada’s Drag Race and 1 Queen 5 Queers, Brooke Lynn Hytes. She killed it live including a rendition of Lana Del Rey‘s “Ultraviolence” which is too good not to post!

Amazing seeing local Queens Jada Shada Hudson and Miss Moço and Hostess Devine Darlin do an amazing job entertaining us! 🥂🌈

Devine Darlin told us as of August 18th, she will be a Registered Nurse!

In addition to a stunning skyling view, the food was superb at Harriet’s! Loved my Wagyu Taco, Salmon Ceviche, Spicy Crab Sushi, Short Rib and Desserts!

Some Snaps of the fun!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It should come as absolutely no surprise that TOP GUN: MAVERICK dominates again a second week, this weekend with a stellar $84.5 million from 4,751 theatres for Paramount Pictures. Over two weekends it grosses $290 million domestically.

Second is DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS with $8.8 million from 3,765 theatres. It has just been announced that this will arrive on Disney+ June 22, 2022. This brings its domestic total to $388 million for Disney.

In third is THE BOB’S BURGERS MOVIE with $4.7 million from 3,425 theatres for 20th Century Studios, a total over two weeks of $22.5 million.

THE BAD GUYS is have a great run, now in fourth with $3.3 million, taking it to a total $87.2 million.

DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA is at the bottom of the Top Five, with $3 million from 3,451 theatres for Universal Pictures/Focus Features. It has made $35.7 million to date in North America.

It was my first time ever at Niagara Falls Comic Con and it was an incredible time! The three-day event takes place at Niagara Falls Convention Centre, welcoming fans in from both sides of the Border. This the tenth edition of the Convention!

Last year, the event welcomed some 30,000 people, united fans of genre together all in one building in a celebration of Pop Culture and fandom. Among the celebrity guests in attendance this year were William Shatner, Brad Dourif, Ron Perlman, Kim Coates, Ryan Hurst, Laura Vandervoort, Joseph Marcell, Richard Karn, Erik Estrada, Larry Wilcox, Mick Foley and several more.

With tons of vendors selling hard-to-find items link Funko Pops!, Comics, Memorabilia and more, there truly was something for everoyne!

Some Photo Ops we were extremely happy to get, including Marcell who starred as Geoffrey Butler in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (this was his first time ever in Canada); Estrada whom we loved in “CHiPS” and never thought we’d get to meet in-person; and Dourif who voices Chucky, experiencing a huge resurgence in popularity with revival series “CHUCKY” winning raves. Though the latter Series is filmed in Toronto, Dourif does most of his work from home in L.A. hence we never get to see him.

Learn more about Niagara Falls Comic Con here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr Will Wong)

Walt Disney Studios Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win Advance Screening Passes to see Disney & Pixar‘s LIGHTYEAR! This is the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy.

Screenings take place as follows:

Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Montreal on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

Screening Details

Toronto

Wednesday, June 15

7:30pm @ Cineplex Cinemas Yonge-Dundas

Vancouver

Wednesday, June 15

7:30pm @ Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas

Calgary

Wednesday, June 15

7:00pm @ Cineplex Odeon Westhills Cinemas

Edmonton

Wednesday, June 15

7:00pm @ Cineplex Odeon Windermere Cinemas

Montreal

Wednesday, June 15

7:00pm @ Cineplex Cinemas Forum

SYNOPSIS:

A sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans), the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure alongside a group of ambitious recruits (voices of Keke Palmer, Dale Soules and Taika Waititi), and his robot companion Sox (voice of Peter Sohn). Also joining the cast are Uzo Aduba, James Brolin, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez and Isiah Whitlock Jr. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), “Lightyear” releases June 17, 2022. 

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. You also can Re-Tweet the Contest Tweet below for another chance! Please remember to indicate your City.

Rules and regulations here.

NOTE: Do not accept their party messages and friend requests asking for your personal information. Winners will be contacted only by this official account.

Walt Disney Studios Canada release Disney & Pixar‘s LIGHTYEAR in theatres June 17, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Disney)

WALK OFF THE EARTH are back with new Single “BET ON ME” featuring Tyler Shaw! This is a catchy Summer Bop and I don’t even know how this escaped our radar where Lead Vocalist Sarah Blackwood is telling her love interest to “bet on her” like “Apple in the ’90s”. Hilar.

We love Horse Racing and the cover of the Single made us chuckle, and there’s even a few references to pedigree and stallions which is amaze. They need to film this Video at Woodbine Racetrack. I can’t see it being filmed anywhere else!

On the Single Cover, that’s a betting terminal, the type you see are racetracks and betting parlours. Fully-committed. YES!

The Track is produced by Gianni Luminati, Tokyo Speirs and The Futuristics.

This Indie Pop Outfit from Burlington knows how to have fun and we love that they’re still going strong! So awesome getting to chat quickly at the JUNOs last month!

(Photo/video credit: Golden Carrot Records)

LOOT is coming soon to Apple TV+ reuniting us with the amazing Maya Rudolph! Some new stills from the upcoming Series. Here’s a glimpse at the brand-new Trailer.

Synopsis:

In “Loot,” billionaire Molly Novak (Rudolph) has a dream life, complete with private jets, a sprawling mansion, and a gigayacht — anything her heart desires. But when her husband of 20 years betrays her, she spirals publicly, becoming fuel for tabloid fodder. She’s reaching rock bottom when she learns, to her surprise, that she has a charity foundation run by the no-nonsense Sofia Salinas (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez), who pleads with Molly to stop generating bad press. With her devoted assistant Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster) by her side, and with the help of Sofia and team — including mild-mannered accountant Arthur (Nat Faxon) and her optimistic, pop-culture-loving cousin Howard (Ron Funches) — Molly embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Giving back to others might be what she needs to get back to herself.

LOOT arrives Friday, June 24, 2022 on Apple TV+

(Photo/video credit: Apple TV+)

By David Baldwin

When we last left Sheila Rubin (Rose Byrne), she was on her way to the top of the Aerobics game. But success will not come easy with all of the new challenges standing in her way, including new management, new competition and a completely different home life now that her husband Danny (Rory Scovel) lost his election bid.

The first thing I noticed about Season Two of PHYSICAL was its scope. We are not confined to people’s homes and the mall anymore – we are out and about, being introduced to all of the returning characters in much larger, more populated settings. Covid-related or not, that increased scope speaks to how much more expansive Season Two feels versus Season One, and how much deeper Showrunner/Series Creator Annie Weisman wants us to travel on Sheila’s journey. The Show still has its bleak sense of humour and its streak of foreboding darkness (not to mention its central themes revolving around addiction, body dysmorphia and casual misogyny), yet it feels refreshing to have so much less focus on Danny and his political aspirations this go-round. Seeing him take a backseat to Sheila’s quest for greater success opens the world of PHYSICAL up to such greater possibilities and more interesting storylines for Weisman and Crew to explore.

And yes, the outfits, hairstyles and the inspired musical choices are still just as impeccable as they were the first time. If you love the ’80s even half as much as I do, you will be very pleased.

The Cast is rock solid all-around, settling into their characters with ease. Dierdre Friel’s expanded role as Greta is easily an early highlight, and Scovel’s interpretation of Danny after political defeat makes for an interesting antithesis to last season. Murray Bartlett (the Emmy-nominated MVP from last Summer’s deliciously devious The White Lotus), is the key new character in the Ensemble, playing Vinnie Green, a fellow self-made Aerobics Instructor and Infomercial personality. He straight-up steals the show anytime he pops on-screen. Byrne still stands high above everyone else though, with her vicious narration – which is often just as hilarious as it is harrowing – and her hunger for success and the power that comes with it. The Series continues to be her strongest work to date, practically soaring as she throws herself recklessly into every situation and tries to not overthink the consequences. Byrne was always the highlight of so many of her projects and seeing her continue to lead this cast in this bold, no-nonsense role is truly exhilarating.

Be sure to read our interview coverage with Rose Byrne,
Series Creator Annie Weisman and the rest of the Cast!

The first episode of Season Two of PHYSICAL premieres Friday, June 3, 2022 on Apple TV+,
with each new episode arriving every Friday throughout the Summer.

Opening in Toronto on the Danforth just before the Pandemic and pivoting quickly to sustainably-packaged takeaway, PAPYRUS – Eat Like an Egyptian quickly has won a loyal fanbase in its short time in-operation. The stellar Google Reviews time and again speak for themselves.

Finally, as we navigate our way through these challenging times, the compact establishment located at 337 Danforth Avenue, just west of Chester Station, is ready now to welcome patio dining and indoor dining inside its Pharaoh’s Den. Decorated thoughtfully with nods to history including Rosetta Stones, Chef Am Elimam’s pride and attention to detail and the history of Egyptian cuisine are palpable. If you’re lucky, some nights you even get live Music.

He tells us at a Private Tasting that his goal is to serve fresh-tasting Cuisine, introducing Egyptian food further into the mainstream. Even we admit, while our tastebuds are adventurous, we still don’t know much about it- other than having been delighted by Tut’s, which rightfully has earned its popularity with the Toronto set with its Egyptian Street Food, namely sandwiches and Dukka Fries. The Cuisine though still is uncharted territory for many of Toronto’s discerning palates.

Chef Amr actually only fully realized his passion for cooking late in life and he tells me this is actually his fourth career incarnation, after spending time in the corporate world. And you can sense it. He has a deep understanding of flavour and texture, working often with a Holy Trinity of Garlic, Olive Oil and Beans.

He didn’t start this restaurant simply to build a franchise and make money. He created a restaurant to make food for people who love food. The Menu isn’t extensive, but focuses on doing a few things very well. And believe it or not, very few of the items on the Menu contain meat. They are so flavourful and hearty that you forget that you’re missing the meat.

Some recommendations from the exquisite, unique Menu at PAPYRUS – Eat Like an Egyptian:

Certainly is worth a try, and you won’t leave hungry. With most items priced between $10-$20, this is an invitation for you to try more and share. A gem waiting to be discovered.

Learn more about PAPYRUS – Eat Like an Egyptian here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

CORUS have announced their upcoming slate of 2022/2023 programming with new and returning programming across their family of networks! With that, they are committing to 200 hours of Canadian content across their portfolio!

Highlights below of what’s to come.

GLOBAL 

Global’s acclaimed scripted slate includes Season 2 of last fall’s #1 new Canadian series Family Law*, starring Jewel Staite and Emmy^® nominee Victor Garber, which was recently greenlit for Season 3 with production currently underway in Vancouver. Also upcoming on Global is Season 2 of Canada/Ireland co-production Departure starring Emmy^® winner Archie Panjabi and Oscar^® winner Christopher Plummer. Then, from acclaimed filmmaker Director X and Boat Rocker is Robyn Hood, a modern reimagining of the classic Robin Hood story set to begin production this summer in the Toronto and Hamilton area with casting to be announced soon.  

Additionally, ET Canada is back on Global for Season 18, fresh from winning four Canadian Screen Awards including Best Talk Program or Series. In addition, ET Canada Weekend has been renewed for Season 2 bringing audiences all the latest entertainment news headlines of the week.. 
 
 

LIFESTYLE 

Food Network Canada 

A Top 10 specialty network** and the ultimate culinary destination, Food Network Canada satisfies appetites with the renewal of five standout original series as part of its lineup. 

Food Network Canada’s new greenlights include the most prestigious culinary competition series in the country and a Top 20 overall specialty entertainment program in spring ‘21*** Top Chef Canada,which is making its return for a milestone 10^th season. In the serialized series, a new roster of talented professional chefs will compete in high-octane challenges for the sought-after title of Canada’s Top Chef. The competitions continue with Season 3 of the larger-than-life themed baking series The Big Bake (7×60 Halloween and 7×60 holiday-theme) from Corus Studios. Celebrated YouTube personality and cookbook author Danni Rose joins the panel of resident judges alongside host Brad Smith, chef and author Eddie Jackson and acclaimed pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel. A Top 10 program on Food Network Canada this spring****, Corus Studios’ Great Chocolate Showdown (8×60) returns with more delectable ooey-gooey creations in its fourth season.  

More from Corus Studios includes previously announced new episodes of sizzling competition series Fire Masters (10×60) with host Dylan Benoit, and the always charismatic John Catucci takes viewers on mouthwatering food travelogue adventures with new episodes of Big Food Bucket List (9×30). 
 
The HISTORY Channel 

The HISTORY Channel comes to life this year with more new original content than ever before. The network’s slate is set to offer a slew of factual and unscripted content including the renewal of five Corus Studios hit series and two groundbreaking documentaries that are sure to educate and entertain audiences.  

In honour of Canada’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, a new two-hour documentary sheds light on the history of the relationship between Indigenous people and settlers. True Story (2×60) offers a critical lens to the past, revealing some shameful and heartbreaking truths, as well as uplifting and inspiring hope.  

For Remembrance Day, Our War (2×60) uncovers stories about extraordinary individuals who made heroic contributions to WWI and WWII. From the descendent of one of Canada’s first Black servicemen, to the great-grand-nephew of a female intelligence officer stationed at Bletchley Park, the documentary follows these descendant’s investigations into their families’ historic pasts. 

New from Corus Studios this fall is previously announced series Deadman’s Curse (8×60), following a diverse team of explorers on a quest to find a legendary cursed gold mine in B.C. Fan-favourite Corus Studios series Backroad Truckers (Season 2, 8×60), Big Timber (Season 3, 8×60), Lost Car Rescue (Season 2, 6×60), and Rust Valley Restorers (Season 5, 8×60) all return this year, along with Salvage Kings (Season 3, 8×60), which sees Ted taking the ultimate risk of opening his own salvage business with a team of familiar and new faces. 

HGTV Canada 

HGTV Canada is the nation’s destination for all things home. With 12 Corus Studios series upcoming, including seven returning favourites, HGTV Canada continues to be the go-to network for inspiring and heart-warming programming that fits any style.  

The #1 Canadian Specialty series*****, Island of Bryan (8×60) continues with new episodes this fall, with even more Baeumler adventures upcoming. Corus is prepping a new Untitled Baeumler Project (working title) (10×60) in development and slated for 2023, plus Bryan will team up with co-host Scott McGillivray in the new previously announced competition series Renovation Resort (7×60). The frenemies oversee four talented contractor/design duos as they each transform a waterfront cabin into a one-of-a-kind vacation rental for a chance to win a $100,000 prize. Viewers will see Scott reunited with Debra Salmoni in Season 4 Scott’s Vacation House Rules (14×60), which is newly greenlit. 

Sarah Richardson takes on her own vacation rental challenge this fall in the previously announced Sarah’s Mountain Escape (10×60). The series follows Sarah and her husband, Alexander Younger, as they transform a run-down B&B in Whistler, B.C. into a four-season luxury vacation rental property. Another West coast-based design and renovation series is Pamela Anderson in Pamela’s Garden of Eden (8×60). The previously announced series, coming this fall, follows Pamela as she revitalizes her grandmother’s six-acre legacy property on Vancouver Island into a stunning retreat. Another new personality to the network is no-nonsense luxury home designer Ali Budd, who leads a creative team to renovate and build incredible million-dollar renovations in Ali Budd (working title) (8×60).  

Off the heels of their series premieres, Sebastian Clovis will offer more empathy and experience to overwhelmed homeowners in Season 2 of Gut Job (8×60), while the cross-Canada renovators from Hoarder House Flippers (8×60) will return to tackle a new batch of disaster houses in a brand new season. Renewals continue with a new season of Top 20 Specialty series Rock Solid Builds (8×60)*****, as well as fellow Corus Studios series’ Farmhouse Facelift (8×60) and Making it Home with Kortney and Kenny (10×60). New episodes of Property Brothers: Forever Home (20×60) staring HGTV Canada’s beloved brothers are also confirmed.   

W NETWORK 

W Network spotlights the prolific career of sex educator Sue Johanson in Sex with Sue (1×90), directed by Lisa Rideout.Viewers will be reintroduced to the former W Network personality and see the unexpected and exciting ways her legacy lives on today.  

Corus Studios dives deeper into scripted content with the previously announced set of romantic movies The Love Club (4x120min). The movies follow four women, each dealing with their own dating debacle, who take a vow to call on one another if they are ever in romantic trouble again – a vow that has them resurrecting their “Love Club” ten years later as each of them search for their unique happily-ever-after. The first movie is set to premiere on W Network Winter 2023. The movies will be distributed through Corus Studios. 

ADULT SWIM 

 Corus is pleased to announce its second Canadian original series for Adult Swim, the popular network that offers an unexpected blend of authenticity, originality, and cleverness. The animated Red Ketchup (20×30), commissioned and greenlit by Corus’ French channel Télétoon la nuit, is based on the cult Quebec comic book series from the ‘80s of the same name. Featuring FBI’s crazed rogue agent, Steve “Red” Ketchup, the series will premiere in Canada on both Télétoon la nuit and in English on Adult Swim in 2023. Plus, the previously announced first Canadian original series for Adult Swim, Psi Cops (24×11), is set to premiere on Adult Swim Winter 2023. “Top” detectives Agent Kydd and Agent Felixx, of the secret agency Psi Cops, investigate spiritual phenomena, extraterrestrial life, and paranormal activity using their overly competent incompetence.

KIDS 

NELVANA  
Nelvana continues to deliver premium entertainment for kids with compelling storylines and characters, by nurturing creator-driven projects and best-in-class partnerships.  

The previously announced Best & Bester (52×11) is set to premiere this fall on YTV. A co-production between Nelvana, Eye Present and Gigglebug Entertainment, the series follows two siblings and best friends obsessed with comparing the best things of all time while enjoying the power to transform themselves into anything they want, once a day – if only they can figure out what the best thing to be actually is! 

More fresh content from Nelvana landing on Corus’ kids networks this fall includes new episodes of Super Wish (52×11) on YTV, produced by Nelvana and Discovery’s joint venture, redknot, and created by Nelvana’s own Vanessa Esteves and Daytime Emmy® Award winning art director, Adrian Thatcher. Plus, new episodes of Bakugan: Evolutions (26×22) will bring epic action to TELETOON. Then, everyone’s favourite P.U.R.S.T. agents continue the adventure with new episodes of the second season of Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe (52×11). Produced by redknot, the series is based on the best-selling books by Ashley Spires, published by Corus Entertainment’s Kids Can Press. Also returning to the network is a new season of Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! (52×11), accompanied by a brand new special with the beloved engines Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! Mystery at Lookout Mountain (1×60). 

YTV 

YTV is the place to be for non-stop Fam Fun! Reaching more kids in its afterschool time block than any other kids station****** The Zone is delivering another year of cool contests, celeb interviews, games and sketches alongside The Zone Weekend and Big Fun Movies.Beloved hosts Spencer, Alex and Duhin return, plus new host Melony will make her on-air debut on June 6 on The Zone.  

Premiering on YTV in 2023, Popularity Papers(26×30) is the first scripted series to be announced since Corus became a majority stakeholder in the Academy Award® and Emmy Award®-nominated production company Aircraft Pictures. From Aircraft Pictures and WexWorks Media, the live-action comedy series, developed for television by Amanda Brooke Perrin and showrunner Vivian Lin, is based on the award-winning middle-grade book series by Amy Ignatow. The series tells the story of two best friends, Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang, who are on a mission to crack the popularity code and dismantle this crazy social construct for middle-schoolers everywhere. Using the scientific method, the girls conduct social experiments on their peers with hilarious results. 

(Photo credit: Corus)

By Mr. Will Wong

St. John’s-born star Mark O’Brien has built a lasting career as a Working Actor with an acclaimed catalog of work to his name. In addition to winning a Canadian Screen Award for his performance in 2016’s “Goalie“, his recent body of work includes Oscar-caliber films like “Marriage Story” and “Arrival”, plus under-appreciated gems like “Ready or Not” and “Blue Bayou”.

O’Brien tries his hand at directing a Feature for the first time in “The Righteous”, a film he not only stars in, but wrote and served as Executive Producer on as well. The dark Psychogical Horror centers on a man named Frederic (Henry Czerny) and his wife Ethel (Mimi Kuzyk). Frederic and Mimi lose their daughter and while grieving their loss, a young man named Aaron (O’Brien) shows up. Being a former priest and looking to repair his relationship with God, Frederic finds his world unravelling and troubles growing, as he tries to understand Aaron‘s motives in showing-up.

We had the pleasure of chatting with O’Brien on the Toronto leg of his Press Tour, which included a Toronto Premiere of the Film, just before he heads to St. John’s to present it to his hometown. We met a couple nights back quickly at the North American Premiere of David Cronenberg‘s “Crimes of the Future“, which he says he still can’t stop thinking about, which means he liked it.

We ask O’Brien about the inspiration behind “The Righteous”.

O’Brien: “I’ve only recently gotten into genre-type movies only because it’s such a conduit to big, grand themes. I love big, grand operatic themes and notions in a De Palma or Bergman kinda way, where you have something big and grand, that’s interesting enough for an audience. When you’re writing it, it gives you a license to be big and intimate.”

“It’s funny how something comes out of you, because you don’t know why something comes out of you. It’s kinda like writing a song – and I’m not a Songwriter – but when something comes from within you, it’s something that needs to be expressed.”

“For me it’s about getting older and having children, and I’ve really gotta confront things in my life. Rather than making it a straightforward present-day Drama, I felt it would be more impactful if it was in another world. There’s no time and no place and that drives more participation from the Viewer. As opposed to it saying ‘New York, 1988’, where you already know some of the answers.”

“So that’s where it came from and then it kinda morphs. A draft becomes a rehearsal and it changes. I really loved the draft and where it ended up going.”.

We ask about the choice to shoot in Black & White, but also in his native Newfoundland.

O’Brien: “It was always Black & White since Day One. As soon as I thought about it, it just is and has to be. And then you lean-into the aesthetics, so now that it is Black & White, how do I lean-into that so that it’s more impactful? It would be a journey through Frederic‘s subconscious was so it would be black and murky, and you just don’t know what’s around the corner.”

“And in regards to Newfoundland, I wanted to give it the textural feeling of Newfoundland that I felt when I grew-up there, which is cold and it gets into your bones. Above that I wanted to work in the place I love, that I never get to go to, work with friends, work with people I really respect, and have a really good time.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have shot there if I lived in Newfoundland, but I live in L.A., I work in the States almost exclusively, I want to go back home and I have a lot of passion for that. I grew-up there making Short Films with my buddies using Camcorders and now to be making a Feature there, that was really crazy! Those are locations that are really close to me in different ways. The church I went to school there down the road.”.

“The Righteous” spans multiple genres. In ways it taps into Frederic’s mind, his paranoia and fear of God. We find ourselves wondering if what we’re seeing really happened? Also, it is a Family Drama about coping with grief. We ask O’Brien how he might define his Film.

O’Brien: “My go-to definition is ‘Psychological Horror/Thriller’, but really I like that it’s anything. It’s how one views it and their interpretation of it because it is a Drama, it’s a Mystery, it’s this and it’s that. And I like that.”

“I don’t like something to be too much of one genre. I like the audience to know what could happen. Not that it ruins anything for the audience telling them beforehand, but I don’t like in my own head to do that.”.

We ask about the casting of Henry Czerny and Mimi Kuzyk.

O’Brien: “They are so wonderful. I knew them from before and they bring a lot to it. You don’t want to hire Actors who are just going to do what’s on the page. I thought about it enough. I need someone else to bring ideas for it to soar. Mimi lived upstairs and Henry lived across the street, so we had lots of hangouts!”

“The whole experience was really smooth. Henry just adds so much and brings so much presence on-set. He just really cares. The first sentence in the Movie he actually wrote. He said ‘I just wanted some extra preamble’.”

“I was editing every day while we were filming. The Editor is Canadian, came from L.A. to St. John’s, and at night every day I was seeing edited scenes. So I was living in the world completely. I don’t get Directors who wrap and go on vacation for three weeks, beacuse all I’d be thinking about during the vacation was the Movie. I’m obsessed thinking about it non-stop.”.

O’Brien tells us about his greatest challenge, and it might not be what you’d think it is being a first-time Feature Director, wearing multiple caps.

O‘Brien: “I was filming Blue Bayou in New Orleans and we were on a four-day gap because there’s no direct flights from New Orleans to St. John’s. I was exhausted and after we prepped, I flew back to New Orleans which in itself is a day of travel. So three weeks later I wrapped Blue Bayou, and I had three days off to prep and then we started filming the next day.”

“But that wasn’t the challenge. I knew the Movie we wanted to make. I’ve been on so many sets where the Director doesn’t know what they’re doing. 90% of Directors aren’t always amazing. Just because a Director’ Credits are great, doesn’t always mean they are great on-set. So you learn more as an Actor because you see what doesn’t really work after a certain point for you. I think that helped a lot. Working with wonderful people who were helpful and supportive, aware and present made me better too so that really helped.”

“The thing I struggle with most still is trying to put a Movie together. And to get to Day One of prep is tough. Any time someone is making a Movie, I’m like ‘You win! Here’s an award! You are making the Film!’. I find that incredible. That’s an artistic skill. I don’t know if that’s salesmanship or just pure will and determination. I have no skill in that area. That’s the challenge.”.

We wonder how becoming a father has changed the way O’Brien approaches his Art.

O‘Brien: “In every way. It’s gotta be worth my while to leave my daughter. I’m not a millionaire. If I don’t connect with it, it’s gotta be worth it to leave my wife and my daughter. ‘Cause I’ve already left my family in Newfoundland and that was not easy.”

“But I love it so much what I get to do. I don’t give a shit about the money. I just want to do it, for it to last and matter. I want to look back and be proud of it. And I’ve gotta say most of the things I’ve done in my career, I’m very proud of. Whether or not people watch it, that’s not up to me. That’s not up to anybody. That just happens or it doesn’t happen. My daughter’s illuminated that for me and made me appreciate what I do even more. It’s crazy I get to do this job.”

O’Brien‘s latest Series “61st Street” recently premiered at SXSW, with its Season Finale just having aired. We learned Season Two of the Limited Series already has wrapped. What’s next?

O’Brien: “Right now I’m filming Season Two of Perry Mason for HBO. I’m on all Season Two and I’m the Prosecuting Attorney to Perry‘s Defense Attorney, so we’re kinda enemies which is really fun doing a Court Room Drama and I love that Show. I’m having a blast doing it. I’m still finding the right next thing and certainly writing a lot. Three or four projects I’m just trying to get made. Right now that’s not the most fun trying to figure out who’s in. Whatever it takes to make a Movie is what I wanna do.”.

Vortex Media release THE RIGHTEOUS in theatres Friday, June 3, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Arrow Films/Vortex Media/Mr. Will Wong)