#FIRSTLOOK: “BLACK BEAUTY” COMING SOON TO DISNEY+

Amazing news! Disney+ has just announced that we will be seeing a new adaptation of the classic BLACK BEAUTY on the service later this year!

Synopsis:

Black Beauty is a wild mustang born free in the American west. When she is captured and taken away from family, her story intertwines with that of 17-year old Jo Green, similarly grieving over the loss of her parents. The two slowly develop a bond that is built on love, respect and mutual healing. “Black Beauty” features Oscar® winner Kate Winslet (“The Reader”) as the voice of “Black Beauty” and stars Mackenzie Foy (“Interstellar”) as Jo Green; Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”) as John Manly; and Claire Forlani (“Meet Joe Black”) as Mrs. Winthorp.

First look:

(Photo credit: Disney)

#FIRSTLOOK: 2020 PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Nominations for the 72nd annual Primetime EMMY Awards were announced today, with SUCCESSION, WATCHMEN, SCHITT’S CREEK and MRS. AMERICA leading the way. This is a first for Canada and the Cast of SCHITT’S CREEK with all four of its stars being nominated. It hasn’t yet been confirmed how the show will be presented in terms of a virtual or in-person format.
Nominees in major TV Series, Movies and Mini-Series are below:

Drama Series

“Better Call Saul” (AMC)
“The Crown” (Netflix)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Hulu)
“Killing Eve” (BBC America/AMC)
“The Mandalorian” (Disney Plus)
“Ozark” (Netflix)
“Stranger Things” (Netflix)
“Succession” (HBO)

Comedy Series

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
“Dead to Me” (Netflix)
“The Good Place” (NBC)
“Insecure” (HBO)
“The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Schitt’s Creek” (Pop TV)
“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Limited Series

“Little Fires Everywhere” (Hulu)
“Mrs. America” (Hulu)
“Unbelievable” (Netflix)
“Unorthodox” (Netflix)
“Watchmen” (HBO)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Steve Carell (“The Morning Show”)
Brian Cox (“Succession”)
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Jeremy Strong (“Succession”)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”)
Laura Linney (“Ozark”)
Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)
Zendaya (“Euphoria”)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”)
Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)
Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)
Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)
Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”)
Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Linda Cardellini (“Dead to Me”)
Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”)
Issa Rae (“Insecure”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”)
Hugh Jackman (“Bad Education”)
Paul Mescal (“Normal People”)
Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”)
Mark Ruffalo (“I Know This Much Is True”)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”)
Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”)
Regina King (“Watchmen”)
Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”)
Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere”)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”)
Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”)
Nicholas Braun (“Succession”)
Kieran Culkin (“Succession”)
Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”)
Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”)
Meryl Streep (“Big Little Lies”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”)
Julia Garner (“Ozark”)
Sarah Snook (“Succession”)
Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)
William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place”)
Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)
Sterling K. Brown (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Mahershala Ali (“Ramy”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Dan Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)
D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place”)
Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”)
Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Dylan McDermott (“Hollywood”)
Jim Parsons (“Hollywood”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend”)
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”)
Jovan Adepo (“Watchmen”)
Louis Gossett Jr. (“Watchmen”)

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Holland Taylor (“Hollywood”)
Uzo Aduba (“Mrs. America”)
Margo Martindale (“Mrs. America”)
Tracey Ullman (“Mrs. America”)
Toni Collette (“Unbelievable”)
Jean Smart (“Watchmen”)

Reality Competition

“The Masked Singer” (FOX)
“Nailed It” (Netflix)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
“Top Chef” (Bravo)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Variety Sketch Series

“A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Variety Talk Series

“Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)
“Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

The 2020 Primetime Emmys air on ABC Sunday, September 20, 2020, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

(Photo credit: ABC)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE KILLING OF PHILLIP BOUDREAU” TRAILER

In 2013, a man was killed for a fisherman for poaching lobster, sending shockwaves through an entire community in Nova Scotia.

Synopsis:

The Killing of Phillip Boudreau, a new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Megan Wennberg, Tell Tale Productions, and CBC Docs POV, tells the story of a death that tore apart the Nova Scotia community of Isle Madame. On June 1, 2013, halfway through the spring lobster season, the crew of the lobster fishing vessel the ‘Twin Maggies’ killed notorious local poacher Phillip Boudreau. The gruesome crime shook the close-knit community to its core, with repercussions that are still felt today. The homicide underscored the glaring and complex social issues within a remote Maritime community wrought with hardened ideals of masculinity, pride, and history. The crime was dubbed ‘Murder for Lobster,’ and while this made a clickable headline, it ignored the larger problems at play, causing harm that is still felt throughout the community seven years later.

See the Trailer:

THE KILLING OF PHILLIP BOUDREAU airs on CBC DOCS POV. Coming soon.

(Photo/video credit: CBC)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “AFTER WE COLLIDED”

The new Trailer for AFTER WE COLLIDED has surfaced. This second installment adapted from Anna Todd‘s wildly-popular Young Adult Fiction series is in theatres soon!

Synopsis:

Hardin will always be… Hardin. But is he really the deep, thoughtful guy Tessa fell madly in love with— or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could walk away. It’s just not that easy. Not with the memory of the passionate nights they spent together. Still, Tessa’s not sure she can endure one more broken promise. She’s focused on her studies and just starting an exciting new internship at Vance Publishing. She’s also being pursued by Trevor, a handsome new co-worker who is exactly the kind of guy she should be with. Hardin knows he made a mistake, possibly the biggest one of his life. He wants to right his wrongs and overcome his demons. He’s not going to lose Tessa without a fight. But can he change? Will he change… for love? AFTER WE COLLIDED… Life will never be the same.

See the Trailer:

VVS Films release AFTER WE COLLIDED Friday, September 11, 2020.

We loved chatting with stars Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Josephine Langford and Author Anna Todd. Our interview here.

(Photo/video credit: VVS Films)

#FIRSTLOOK: CHLOE ZHAO’S “NOMADLAND” TO PREMIERE AT TIFF ’20

Chinese-born and L.A.-based Filmmaker Chloé Zhao won accolades with 2017’s The Rider and since then has signed-on to direct Marvel’s The Eternals. Coming next is her Film, NOMADLAND starring and produced by Frances McDormand which will be doing the Festival rounds at at the New York, Venice and Toronto International Film Festival. The latter two will premiere on September 11, 2020. Telluride also will be hosting a special Drive-In Screening in lieu of their Festival being cancelled this year.

Synopsis:

NOMADLAND marks the first project between Zhao and Searchlight and the fifth between McDormand and Searchlight. McDormand won an Oscar for her performance in Martin McDonagh’s film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which Searchlight released globally in 2017. Zhao adapted NOMADLAND from journalist Jessica Bruder’s 2017 non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century following McDormand and producer Peter Spears’ acquisition of the literary adaptation rights shortly after publication. The film follows Fern (McDormand), a woman who, after the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The film features real nomads Linda May, Swankie, and Bob Wells as Fern’s mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.

Searchlight Pictures release NOMADLAND this Fall.

(Photo credit: Searchlight Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: TAAFI VIRTUAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES PANEL WITH THE WRITER/DIRECTOR OF “THE WILLOUGHBYS”, KRIS PEARN

Fans of the acclaimed Animated Feature THE WILLOUGHBYS are in for a real treat! The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International present a Behind-the-Scenes Panel with the Film’s Writer/Director and Sheridan College graduate, Kris Pearn.

The Willoughbys is available now for streaming only on Netflix. Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family. Starring Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Alessia Cara, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski and Ricky Gervais.

Others to speak at the Panel include:

Rob Lodermeir – Co-Director

Sebastian Brodin – Director of Cinematography (TBC)

Fiona Toth – Lead Editor

Kyle McQueen – Production Designer

Helén Ahlberg – Head of FX

Aniket Natekar – Animation Lead

Mark Stanleigh – Co-writer and Storyboard Artist

The Panel takes place virtually Thursday, August 6th at 7:00 PM. Click here to register for a spot.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

#COOKING: PULLED JACKFRUIT SANDWICHES & KOREAN CUCUMBER SALAD RECIPE

Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches & Korean Cucumber Salad. Summer’s here and this is a fun way to celebrate flavours of the season and we are doing it clean and meatless here. You’ve got crunch, chew, heat and cool all-in-one. If you’ve never had the pleasure of trying Jackfruit, you’re in for a treat. This beloved fleshy fruit of both South and Southeast Asia looks a bit like a Durian (without the stench), but is closer to the taste and texture of Pineapple. If you visit your Asian grocer now, you should be able to find it as it’s in peak season right now. Instead of pork, we’re doing this with Jackfruit but if you like you can even do this with Tofu.

Pulled Jackfruit:

2 1/2 cups of Jackfruit flesh, minced
1 Avocado, pitted and cut into 1″ slices
1/4 cup Barbecque Sauce
1/4 cup cashews, unsalted
2 tbsps Ketchup
1 tbsp Gochujang
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Maple Syrup
1 tbsp Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp Paprika
Sea salt and pepper

Water
Olive oil
Juice of one lime wedge
Hamburger Buns
Havarti or Cheddar Cheese Slices

Korean Cucumber Salad:

10-12 mini cucumbers or 1 large cucumber, cut into 3 mm-thick slices
3 tbsps rice vinegar
3 tbsps sesame oil
1 1/2 tbsps organic raw sugar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp Fish Sauce (optional)
1 tbsp black or white sesame seeds, toasted
1 stalk green onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper/Korean Red Pepper Powder
Sea salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. On medium-high heat, heat oil in skillet.
2. In bowl, season Jackfruit in salt, peppers, paprika, garlic and onion powders, brown sugar.
3. Place Jackfruit in skillet and brown for 4-5 minutes.
4. In small bowl, mix Barbecque Sauce, Ketchup, Gochujang, syrup and soy sauce.
5. Pour sauce and water (about 1/2 cup or more) into skillet and coat Jackfruit. Bring to boil.
6. Reduce heat to a simmer on medium-low heat, covered for about 20-30 minutes.
7. Remove lid and increase heat to medium-high. Allow mixture to thicken (4-5 minutes), stirring occasionally and scraping bits at bottom. Once thick, turn-off heat and remove from heat.
8. In large bowl, prepare Korean Cucumber Salad. Whisk rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, fish sauce, peppers and salt. Toss-in cucumber slices, garlic, sesame and green onion. Refrigerate sealed for up to 2 days.
9. Toast cashews, cradling in foil in toaster oven. Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper over top and toast for a few minutes till slightly darkened.
10. Season avocado with lime juice, salt and pepper.
11. Toast hamburger buns slightly with cheese till melted.
12. Spoon Jackfruit mixture on top of bun with cheese. Place 2-3 avocado slices on-top. Sprinkle cashews as well. Plate with side of Korean Cucumber Salad. Serves 4.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 26, 2020 at 12:03pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#COOKING: STEAK WITH GARLIC BUTTER & TATERS RECIPE

Steak with Garlic Butter & Taters. Simple is best sometimes and we’re serving you literal meat ‘n’ potatoes. Our Ninja Air Fryer takes something this basic and elevates it! These Taters are crisp and light, while the Steak is impossibly tender and juicy if you follow these steps.

Taters:
3 medium white potatoes, scrubbed and chopped into 1″-thick wedges
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon five spice powder
2 tablespoons baking powder
Sea salt and coarsely-ground black pepper

Drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:
1. Soak potatoes in salt water for 10 minutes.
2. Pat extremely-well with paper towels.
3. Toss wedges in drizzle of olive oil, spices, garlic and onion powders, salt, pepper and baking powder.
4. Heat Air Fryer at 400°F on Air Fryer mode. Pre-heat 3 minutes.
5. Fry for about 11-12 minutes, turning with tongs at the 8-minute mark. Fry in batches of 10 at a time.

Steak with Garlic Butter:
10 oz Rib Steak
Sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper
4 tbsps unsalted butter
1 tsp parsley, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 dashes Worcestershire Sauce

Drizzle of olive oil

Instructions:

1. In small bowl, whip garlic, parsley, Worcestershire Sauce and 1/8 tsp salt. Take parchment paper and roll into a log and refrigerate till firm.
2. Season steak in sea salt, paprika and pepper for at least an hour. Keep chilled and leave out at room temperature 30 minutes before cooking
3. Set Air Fryer at 400°F on Air Fryer mode.
4. Drizzle steak with a bit of olive oil and fry for no more than 8-9 minutes, no need to turn.
5. When ready to serve, slice garlic butter and garnish with a bit of parsley and accompany with Taters.

Gallery:

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jul 24, 2020 at 1:33pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#NEWMUSIC: TAYLOR SWIFT – “folklore”

Let’s face it, it’s been a shitty year. But it can only go up and Taylor Swift does exactly that with a surprise drop of her eighth studio Disc, folklore. The 16-track collection written at home during lockdown, is available for purchase now on her website with various different editions on CD and vinyl is a departure from her gorgeous foray to Pop over her last few Albums beginning with 1989. We get an understated Swift this time around choosing Folk and Indie-Pop leanings and an earthy, lo-fi aesthetic. Hence, a surprise release was the best way to go as a traditional release with a lead-up might have been a bit more divisive with a new sound.

folklore‘s purpose isn’t to churn-out “Summer Bangers”. Instead, Swift is further giving us the talent that made her a multi-Grammy-winning Singer/Songwriter, with a focus on clearing some of the thoughts in her busy mind and delivering us the mood that many of us are feeling right now being at home.

Swift enlists winning writing and producing collaborator Jack Antonoff once again and also entrusts heavily, The National guitarist Aaron Dessner as well. She goes full Folk–Indie-Pop featuring Bon Iver on track exile. The trend-bucking collection is cohesive, breaking new ground for sonically, while maintaining melodic and lyrical familiarity. Always a great storyteller, Swift explores a Love Triagle on the Disc with three songs told from each perspective on tracks cardigan, august and betty.

Check-out some of the Disc’s highlights below:

august

betty

cardigan

this is me trying

invisible string

folklore is available here now.

order below:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Music Group)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “UTOPIA”

Author and Screenwriter Gillian Flynn has blown our mind with Gone Girl and Sharp Objects. She’s back with UTOPIA, unveiled today at COMIC-CON@HOME.

Synopsis:

Utopia centers on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called, “Utopia.” Together, Ian (Dan Byrd), Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), Samantha (Jessica Rothe), Wilson Wilson (Desmin Borges) and Grant (Javon “Wanna” Walton) unearth hidden meanings cloaked within the pages of “Utopia,” predicting threats to humanity. They realize these are not just the makings of a conspiracy; they are very real dangers coming alive right now in their world. The high-stakes adventure brings the group face-to-face with the comic’s famed central character, Jessica Hyde (Sasha Lane), who joins them on their mission to save the world while harboring secrets of her own. The series also stars John Cusack as Dr. Kevin Christie, Rainn Wilson as Dr. Michael Stearns, Farrah Mackenzie as Alice, Christopher Denham as Arby, and Cory Michael Smith as Thomas Christie.

See the Teaser Trailer:

All eight episodes of UTOPIA arrive on Amazon Prime Video this Fall.

(Photo/video credit: Amazon Prime Video)

Ashleigh LaThrop Comic-con Desmin Borges Gillian Flynn Javon Walton JESSICA Rothe john cusack Rainn Wilson Utopia