#INTERVIEW: SEBASTIAN STAN, ANTHONY MACKIE, KEVIN FEIGE, KARI SKOGLAND + MALCOLM SPELLMAN ON “THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER”

By Mr. Will Wong

Taking place after the events of AVENGERS: ENDGAME, THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER reunites Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) over six episodes as the duo take on a ruthless anti-patriotism group, the Flag-Smashers. The new Series continues Marvel‘s foray into Television, hot off the success of WandaVision. These two Series are just the first of least ten in development right now for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the MCU.

The Series in the vein of Buddy Cop Comedies like Rush Hour/Lethal Weapon and 48 Hours, pairs Sam and Bucky together as they cope with PTSD, exploring its emotional repercussion on these characters.

We were fortunate to join the Global Press Conference for THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER today. Speaking today were:

Anthony Mackie – Sam Wilson
Sebastian Stan – Bucky Barnes
Kevin Feige – Producer
Malcolm Spellman – Writer/Producer
Kari Skogland – Director

Interesting Canadian connections, the Series stars Canada’s Emily VanCamp, reprising her role as Sharon Carter, and Director Skogland hails from Ottawa and has been behind the lens on acclaimed Series like The Handmaid’s Tale and The Loudest Voice.

Mackie and Stan are asked about getting an opportunity and more room to explore new sides to their characters on THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER.

Mackie: “It’s always a surprise when the minds get together and the information trickles down to you. When I first read the Script, I was really happy and acknowledged the fact that Sam was from Louisiana, the best state in the union and New Orleans is the best city in the world. I had one request that if he was from Louisiana that he got to eat crawfish on camera. I don’t know who said ‘no’, but somebody said ‘no’. I don’t know if it was because they were out of season, but it was too much to eat crawfish.”.

“The idea of Sam Wilson, he’s always evolved in the world of Marvel Comic Books and now he’s evolved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because if you remember when Sam Wilson first started out, he was a hustler from Harlem and as African-American culture evolved, Stan Lee evolved him in the Comic Book to different incarnations of himself. I’m excited for everyone to see the new and improved Sam Wilson.”.

Stan: “I always learn something about myself from this character. But ten years with this character, it’s impossible not to. You grow and you evolve with the character and I was pretty freaked out. Again, I felt like we had established the character a certain way and there were certain things I knew about him that I was comfortable with tonally in the movies and we had the contrast of going into this now and asking ‘What is he like now?’.”.

“Part of this was us really honing-in on his sense of humour so to speak, into the tone of the Series, particularly with is dynamic with Sam Wilson along with my own dynamic with Anthony – kinda just marrying the two. I think that was scary and exciting and Malcolm (Head Writer/Producer) really honed-in on that. I think we’re really finally zooming-in on his quest for identity in terms of really accepting his past and re-educating himself. The world that he’s in currently, the ideas and principles he might’ve lived by and been driven by at one point, no longer serve him the same way. He’s really an interesting trajectory when we start-out the Show and that’s always exciting for an Actor.”.

Mackie and Stan talk about their working dynamic together.

Mackie: “What I enjoy so much is that you can’t find two people further opposite from each other than Sebastian and I. But there’s a mutual respect, appreciation and understanding. We listen, learn and we teach each other. We’re friends and that’s a term I don’t think either of us would use lightly. I think because of that as Mr. T would say, ‘There’s no jibber-jabber‘. We allow ourselves to be our best selves and correct ourselves when we’re not our best selves. So you always look for that other person, that second hand. And I think that’s kind of our relationship. We allow ourselves to be ourselves.”.

Stan: “I think he said it best. I always believed you were always better because of the people you surround yourself with and I feel particularly in acting, the scenes and material, it’s always about the people that bring out things in you actually. I think in this particular situation it was important because I think about the tone and it was a fine line between making sure these characters were grounded real and deal with very serious issues. There’s sorta another piece to this about having fun, connecting and I always turn to Anthony for guidance in that and it works out.”.

The Series really focuses in on its characters in the aftermath of PTSD. Its stars elaborate on this.

Mackie: “To be able to go back and dive into his back story, his family and his surroundings only betters the character for the audience. We’re in a place now where we want the audience to know and learn these new characters especially since Kevin Feige killed Iron Man! (jokingly) We have to introduce these new characters to the audience and give them that relationship, that history that they’ve built over ten years. We have six episodes to play catch-up, post-Blip. It’s always great to learn more and give more from your character and have it not feel like heavy exposition and just like a good cinematic experience.”.

Stan: “The whole subject of PTSD and the experience they both share as soldiers and men who have served is one of the things that brings them together. There’s a bit of an honour code between and even though they come from different ideas and opinions of things, there’s a mutual respect. As everybody knows, PTSD isn’t something you’re just done with, it’s something that one has to continue to grow with to become better at dealing with. It’s a major part of our Show and grounds both of these characters in very realistic ways.”.

Producer Feige comments on the possibility of additional seasons to come.

Feige: “It’s one we get asked a lot more in Television because people expect it to be like things they’ve known before. We really did approach it like the Movies in that we better make this great or we won’t be able to make another one! If we were able to make another one, we’ve definitely got ideas. The slight difference is like in Wandavision, they will go back and forth between the Disney+ Series and Marvel Studios movies, so where characters show up and whether it be in Season Two or a Feature, we’re just not going to say who does what right this second.”.

At the end of Avengers: Endgame, we see Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) pass-on his shield to Falcon (Sam Wilson). Mackie is asked why it is so tough for his character to accept the shield.

Mackie: “Sam Wilson went on this Avengers journey over six movies with Steve Rogers (Captain America) because of his respect and admiration for Steve. He says in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, ‘When Captain America shows up at your door, you answer.'”.

“There’s still people out there who appreciate camaraderie and friendship. Sam is one of those people. He enjoys his friend. Just like everyone else, you don’t want to see Steve Rogers go away. Because just like Captain America was your captain, he was Sam Wilson‘s captain. That’s why at the end of Avengers: Endgame, he’s holding Steve‘s shield and says, ‘It feels like someone else’s, it feels like it’s yours’, because he was a fan just like everyone else.”.

“Sam Wilson is just a regular guy who won the lottery just because Black Widow knocked on his door and needed a place to hide. And he fell in love and was hoping to have a spinoff with Black Widow.“. (he jokes again)

The stars are asked about the difference between Stunt Work for TV and Film.

Stan: “It was pretty on-par with the films and actually even more evolved and intense. Definitely for Falcon it feels like the action really intensified, even for Bucky as well. We’re always finding new ways to have them evolve with their action sequences, but it’s totally the same as the movies.”.

Mackie: “The great thing about what we were able to do with this is that nothing was watered-down. The same stunt guys we work with on the films are the same guys who choreographed and did all of our stunts on the Show. Because of that, the stunts are really amazing. Kari (Director) had a great idea of taking weaponry away, so there’s a lot more hand-to-hand combat, it’s more assertive and more utilizing our strengths instead of something else. Because of that, the stunt guys had a field day. Some of the stuff you see is us, but we had amazing Stuntmen go in to kick ass for us.”.

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER is just one of many productions that was impacted by the Pandemic. Director Skogland explains how it worked out for the better even.

Skogland: “The story didn’t really change, though yes, we had to pivot reacting to everything that was happening in the world. What really was exciting was that once we were shut-down through COVID, we just didn’t skip a beat and went right into Post-Production. We were able to continue editing and sharpening the pencil. While the world was changing, we were really able to sharpen our focus. When we went back, we really knew what we were going for and shooting to finalize the Series.”.

This Series will contain many surprises and new characters. Mackie and Stan are asked which characters they are most excited for. Note, Stan fumbles a bit recalling the name of his favourite, which Mackie teases him about, only for Stan to snap-back and reveal that Mackie seen from waist-up only, isn’t even wearing pants.

Stan: “One character I think that sounds really, really cool is Oscar Isaac‘s Moon Knight. I heard that story and thought ‘That’s going to be amazing!’. That’s got my vote.”.

Mackie: “Okay, so you had to bring-up that I wasn’t wearing pants! I would have to say that She-Hulk is an interesting character. Kevin, I’d really like to spend some time in Blade world. I remember they were shooting Spider-Man 2 in Harlem on 25th Street and there was this restaurant where I was sitting outside having lunch with a friend, who was the manager of the restaurant. I was a huge Tobey Maguire fan and I saw Joy Bryant and she had one line and said “It’s Spider-Man!“. And I called my Agent and said, “Damn! I better have one line in one of these movies!”. So Kevin, I want to be the Joy Bryant of She-Hulk or Blade!”.

Head Writer and Producer Spellman is asked about the bigger message to take away from this Series.

Spellman: “I think what worked out really nicely was that where Endgame leaves-off, Thanos has really created a situation where the entire world is dealing with one single issue, which is very familiar to what’s going on today. Everything is born from that. The villains in the Series are responding to that. In fact, every villain in the Series would tell you he/she is a hero. The hero is always responding to that in their personal lives and a story plot is born from one single organic thing in this continuum from what happens after Endgame. That sorta galvanizes and affects everyone on the planet at the same time and creates a nice cohesion and direct lineage to the MCU.”.

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A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong)

Awesome joining Press Conference for #FalconandtheWinterSoldier! Hilarious hearing #AnthonyMackie plead for a one-liner in a feature for #SheHulk. #SebastianStan also is excited about the unveiling of Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight in the #MCU. Series arrives Friday on @disneyplusca. pic.twitter.com/CIwUL28JtM

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 14, 2021

THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER arrives on Disney+ Friday, March 19, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Marvel Entertainment)

#SXSW: SXSW 2021 FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW

SXSW 2021 kicks-off March 16 and runs through March 20, 2021 this year. Team Mr. Will is thrilled to bring you coverage virtually this year, giving you the scoop on some of the hottest titles to premiere at the Festival. The Film Festival component of SXSW includes digital Premieres, Screenings, and Q&As, a total 75 films, 84 short films, 30 special events, 5 episode premieres, 6 episodic pilots and more.

Here are some of Team’s most anticipated titles of SXSW 2021 which should be on your radar:

MR. WILL (Twitter: @mrwillw)

POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA

Wes Hurley writes and directs this quirky autobiographical Dark Comedy details his journey from a child fleeing the USSR with his mail order bride mother, to the United States in search of a better life. In-competition as part of the Narrative Features program, the Film examines the pressures of a young man to conceal his sexuality and what it means for him and his mother to continue hiding it. Above this, the coming-of-age story navigates the new immigrant experience as a high schooler and what it’s like, adding a bit of inclusion and diversity to the programming slate at SXSW. It screens 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

WOMEN IS LOSERS

Lissette Feliciano directs and writes this Feature starring Lorenza Izzo (Once Upon a Time…. in Hollywood). The Dramedy centers on a young woman named Celina‘s (Izzo) world is turned upside down when she gets pregnant and the cycle of poverty that occurs when her family aren’t supportive and it is up to her to rewrite her destiny with an empowering message. And Canada’s Simu Liu (Kim’s Convenience) also stars! WOMEN IS LOSERS is in-competition in the Narrative Features program and streams Tuesday, March 16, 2021 10:55 AM.

DEMI LOVATO: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL

Global Superstar Demi Lovato made headlines after being rushed to the hospital following an opioid overdose. This Documentary goes deep as she speaks candidly about her ordeal and demons over the past decade, opening SXSW 2021. The four-part DocuSeries directed by Michael D. Ratner, arrives on YouTube Originals March 23, 2021, but we will have a chance to see it first at the Festival, followed by a Q&A. So stoked to hear about the star’s re-claiming back of her own life and lessons learned. The Film screens Tuesday, March 16, 2021 7:00 PM with Q&A to follow at Tuesday, March 16, 2021 9:00 PM.

INTRODUCING SELMA BLAIR

Selma Blair is the first star I ever took a Selfie with and I’ll never forget that moment and how kind she was to me! Blair has been very open about her battle with Multiple Sclerosis and this Documentary directed by Rachel Fleit, bravely recounts her journey dealing with mortality and self-acceptance. This is about empowering and inspiring in the face of crippling disability and we can’t wait to be uplifted and hear Blair speak openly. This Film just got picked-up by Discovery+ so there will by a chance for all to see soon. This screens Tuesday, March 16, 2021 beginning 3:00 PM.

THE LOST SONS

This Documentary from Ursula Macfarlane is a story so unbelievable you have to see it to believe. The story centers on a man named Paul Fronczak who was kidnapped at a young age only to be reunited with his parents by the FBI. Case closed. But then growing-up he always felt there was something different about him from his family and when he decides to delve deeper, a whole world unbeknownst to him is unravelled. We see at what cost truth comes at. Riveting storytelling which will rivet you. THE LOST SONS screens beginning Tuesday, March 16, 2021 5:00 PM.

AMANDA GILMORE (Twitter: @GilmoreAmanda)

VIOLET

This was my most anticipated of SXSW 2020 and thankfully they’ve included it in this year’s lineup. It follows a film development executive whose “guiding voice” has been lying to her about everything. It stars Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, Justin Theroux, and more.  This screens Thursday, March 18, 2021 5:00 PM.

HERE BEFORE

Writer-Director Stacey Gregg is making her feature-directorial debut with Here Before. It’s a psychological thriller, starring the ever-talented Andrea Riseborough, and follows a bereaved mother who begins to questions her reality. This screens Wednesday, March 17, 2021 1:00 PM.

LANGUAGE LESSONS

Natalie Morales is making her feature-directorial debut and starring in this drama about a Spanish teacher (Morales) and her student (Mark Duplass), who develop an unexpected friendship. Critics are already praising for its exploration of platonic love. This screens Wednesday, March 17, 2021 3:00 PM.

THE FALLOUT

Canadian actress and filmmaker Megan Park is making her feature-directorial debut at the fest. It follows student Vada as she navigates the emotional impacts of a school tragedy. It’s got a powerful cast consisting of Shailene Woodley, Jenna Ortega, John Ortiz, Julie Bowen, and more. This screens Wednesday, March 17, 2021 5:00 PM.

THE SPINE OF THE NIGHT

This Midnighter animated film has a killer Cast consisting of Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, Joe Manganiello, and more. It’s being described as an ultra-violent, fantasy epic about dark magic falling into sinister hands. This screens Thursday, March 18, 2021 9:00 PM.

DAVE BALDWIN (Twitter: @davemabaldwin)

BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION

Harry Shum Jr. (who you will remember from Crazy Rich Asians, the Shadowhunters TV series and last fall’s romantic drama All My Life) leads this Midnighter as a ’90s Video Archivist who gets involved a conspiracy around pirated broadcasts. Sight unseen, that sounds like a film that plays in the same sandbox as David Cronenberg’s legendary horror film Videodrome. I am not expecting a film that is nearly as grotesquely gnarly as that, but I cannot help but be intrigued by whatever Director Jacob Gentry has cooked-up here. Since it is screening on Day 1 of the Film Festival, I will not have to wait long to find out. Premieres Tuesday, March 16, 2021, 9:00 PM.

CLERK

When I was in High School, I worshipped at the altar of Kevin Smith. The man had a gift for writing hilariously-profane dialogue and had the means of injecting the kind of quiet poignancy you would never expect from stoner comedies. Clerks remains one of the biggest influences on my writing career, so having the opportunity to be among the first to see a Documentary on the life and times of Smith has me breathlessly anticipating Director Malcolm Ingram’s film. This was one of the films that was supposed to be at last year’s Festival, so here is hoping there is a great reason why they waited for this year’s Festival to premiere. Premieres Wednesday March 17, 2021, 1:00 PM.

LANGUAGE LESSONS

I am weary of getting excited about films that receive praise and buzz after premiering in Berlin, but I am willing to make an exception for Mark Duplass. The multi-hyphenated Actor and Filmmaker stars here with Natalie Morales as a student who develops a friendship with his Spanish teacher over Zoom classes. Duplass’ independent work tends to stumble into the personal and the natural, and I expect Language Lessons to fall along the same lines. There is an inventiveness that comes with telling a story over Zoom (just ask last summer’s super effective Horror chiller Host), so I may be setting my expectations a bit too high – but I have faith that I will really enjoy this one. Premieres Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 3:00 PM.

THE FEAST

I am a fan of Midnight movies, can you tell? This one concerns a wealthy family, their guests, a fancy dinner and the mysterious server tending to their every need. It certainly sounds like something creepy is amiss just from the logline, and the mysterious still accompanying it of a woman staring at a broken shard of glass has my curiosity piqued. And did I mention it is spoken entirely in Welsh? Sounds like the only thing missing is the screaming crowd I won’t possibly be able to replicate around me. Premieres Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 9:00 PM.

HOW IT ENDS

I was not able to watch HOW IT ENDS at Sundance in January, so I was very excited to see it pop up in the “Festival Favourites” section on the SXSW schedule. The story revolves around the personal journey Liza (Zoe Lister-Jones, who Co-Wrote/Co-Produced/Co-Directed with her husband Daryl Wein) takes on her way to an end of the world party and everyone she runs into along the way. I have been a longtime fan of Lister-Jones’ work in Film and Television (her character Fawn Moscato on New Girl still cracks me up), so I am intrigued to see how funny a film about an asteroid hurtling towards Earth can be. With a Supporting Cast featuring Nick Kroll, Lamorne Morris, Charlie Day, Whitney Cummings and Olivia Wilde, this one feels bound to be something special. Premieres Thursday, March 18, 2021 3:00 PM.

More on the Festival here.

Bookmark this link and visit daily during the Festival for our most updated Reviews!

(Photo/video credit: SXSW)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF DISNEY AND PIXAR’S “SOUL”

Hot off its Golden Globe win, Disney and Pixar’s “SOUL” soon will be available digitally and on-demand! We want to give you a chance to win a Digital copy!

Synopsis:

What is it that makes you…YOU? Pixar Animation Studios’ all-new feature film “Soul” introduces Joe Gardner (voice of Jamie Foxx) – a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before – a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth. Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul, 22 (voice of Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 what’s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of life’s most important questions.

Directed by Academy Award® winner Pete Docter (“Inside Out,” “Up”), co-directed by Kemp Powers (“One Night in Miami”) and produced by Academy Award nominee Dana Murray, p.g.a. (Pixar short “Lou”), Disney and Pixar’s “Soul” will be available digitally and on-demand March 23, 2021.

Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for a chance as well.

Enter for a chance to #win a Digital Download of Disney and Pixar’s SOUL.

How: https://t.co/GzyajeMfOK pic.twitter.com/vcLbIMOyn3

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 13, 2021

SOUL is available digitally and on-demand Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Disney/Pixar)

#FIRSTLOOK: EE BAFTA AWARD-NOMINATED “LIMBO” GETS NORTH AMERICAN RELEASE

As you might recall, the EE BAFTA Awards nominees were announced earlier this week and nominated twice was refugee Drama, LIMBO. The Film now will be making its way to North America next month.

Synopsis:

LIMBO is a wry and poignant observation of the refugee experience, set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centres on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland. 

Reflecting the complexity of the movement of people across borders has been a long-held passion for director and writer Ben Sharrock, who spent time working for an NGO in refugee camps in southern Algeria and living in Damascus in 2009 shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. There, he formed a network of friends whose personal stories inspired the film. 

Written and directed by Sharrock, LIMBO stars Amir El Masry (The Night Manager), along with Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Kais Nashif (Tel Aviv on Fire). Producers are Irune Gurtubai and Angus Lamont.

Focus Features release LIMBO in select theatres Friday, April 30, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “SPIRIT UNTAMED”

Check-out the new Trailer for SPIRIT UNTAMED!

Synopsis:

An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild horse, Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in the beloved story from DreamWorks Animation. 

Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced, Dora and the Lost City of Gold) never really knew her late mother, Milagro Navarro (Eiza González, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), a fearless horse-riding stunt performer from Miradero, a small town on the edge of the wide-open frontier. 

Like her mother, Lucky isn’t exactly a fan of rules and restrictions, which has caused her Aunt Cora (Academy Award® winner Julianne Moore) no small amount of worry. Lucky has grown up in an East Coast city under Cora’s watchful eye, but when Lucky presses her own luck with one too many risky escapades, Cora picks up stakes and moves them both back with Lucky’s father, Jim (Oscar® nominee Jake Gyllenhaal), in Miradero.

Lucky is decidedly unimpressed with the sleepy little town. She has a change of heart when she meets Spirit, a wild Mustang who shares her independent streak, and befriends two local horseback riders, Abigail Stone (Mckenna Grace, Captain Marvel) and Pru Granger (Marsai Martin, Little). Pru’s father, stable owner Al Granger (Emmy winner Andre Braugher, Fox’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine), is the best friend of Lucky’s father. 

When a heartless horse wrangler (Emmy nominee Walton Goggins, FX’s Justified) and his team plan to capture Spirit and his herd and auction them off to a life of captivity and hard labor, Lucky enlists her new friends and bravely embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to rescue the horse who has given her freedom and a sense of purpose, and has helped Lucky discover a connection to her mother’s legacy and to her Mexican heritage that she never expected. 

Spirit Untamed is the next chapter in DreamWorks Animation’s beloved franchise that began with the 2002 Oscar-nominated film Spirit: Stallion of Cimarron and includes an Emmy-winning TV series. The film is directed by Elaine Bogan (Netflix and DreamWorks Animation Television’s Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia) and is produced by Karen Foster (co-producer, How to Train Your Dragon). The film’s co-director is Ennio Torresan (head of story, The Boss Baby), and the film’s score is by composer Amie Doherty (Amazon’s Undone, DreamWorks Animation’s Marooned).

See the Trailer:

SPIRIT UNTAMED arrives in theatres June 4, 2021 via Universal Pictures Canada.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF “CRISIS”

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of CRISIS!

Synopsis:

Three stories about the world of opioids collide: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S., an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics, and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.

Cast: Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans, Lily-Rose Depp, Scott Mescudi.

Trailer:

To enter for a chance to win a Digital Download, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below as well for an extra chance!

GARY OLDMAN headlines an all-star Cast in CRISIS.

Your chance to #win a Digital Download right here: https://t.co/qpwoFMeBGe. pic.twitter.com/Yj1w6z1SQJ

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) March 12, 2021

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release CRISIS on Digital and On-Demand Tuesday, March 16, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

#COOKING: OXTAIL WITH RICE & PEAS RECIPE

Oxtail with Rice & Peas. One of the greatest things about growing-up in Toronto is the vast array of diverse cuisines we have at our convenience. I am a huge fan of Caribbean cuisine, and while I’ve been a Chicken Roti and Jerk Chicken connoisseur my whole life, Oxtail of late has surged to the front as my new favourite. I thought I’d give it a go and while it takes a while to prepare, that little bit of extra love is worth it. Time to break-out the Slow Cooker! Gravy on rice makes everything nice!

Oxtail

2 lbs Oxtail, rinsed and pat dry
1 can Butter/Lima Beans, drained
1 cup (or more) beef stock
1 white onion, chopped
3 stalks green onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Scotch Bonnet Peppers, seeded and minced
1 cup mini carrots
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsps garlic powder
2 tbsps Maggi Sauce
1 tsp celery salt
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp Allspice
3-4 sprigs of thyme
4 tbsps tapioca/corn starch

Sea Salt and Pepper, to taste
Olive oil

Instructions:

1. Marinate oxtail pieces in soy sauce, Maggi, Worcestershire, garlic powder, allspice, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
2. With Slow Cooker on high, sautee garlic and onions in olive oil.
3. In skillet or Air Fryer, brown oxtail on medium-high heat or 390°F on Air Fryer. Do not overcook. Once seared on both sides for a few minutes, remove from heat.
4. Add oxtail to Slow Cooker and pour-in remaining marinade. Add thyme, stock, carrots and pepper. You want liquid almost covering oxtail.
5. Slow cook covered 7 hours on low heat.
6. Remove oxtail pieces from Slow Cooker, fishing-out thyme. Add-in Butter Beans.
7. In small bowl, take equal parts tapioca/corn starch and water and form a slurry. Beat till smooth with a fork. Pour into Slow Cooker mixture and stir till sauce thickens.
8. Add back Oxtail and stir gently. Cover and cook for one more hour on low heat before serving. Start preparing Rice & Peas.

Rice & Peas

2 cups long-rain white rice, rinsed
1 cup red kidney beans, drained
1/2 white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup beef stock
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup water
2 sprigs of thyme
1 Scotch Bonnet Pepper, seeded and minced

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in rice cooker.
2. Once cooked fully, fluff with fork and serve with Oxtail.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: “YES DAY” IS MARCH 12, 2021

In celebration of upcoming Netflix release YES DAY, we want to encourage our readers to say “yes” to something they’ve been putting off for a while! In a world of “no”, we give you permission to say “yes” on March 12, 2021 as part of what will be known as the #YESDAYCHALLENGE.

Synopsis:

Always feeling like they have to say NO to their kids and co-workers, Allison and Carlos decide to give their three kids a YES DAY — where for 24 hours the kids make the rules. Little did they know that they’d be going on a whirlwind adventure around Los Angeles, that would bring the family closer to each other than ever before.

See the Trailer:

WHAT: International Yes Day is Friday, March 12th and, similar to the premise of the movie and book, families and individuals are encouraged to craft their OWN Yes Day!  

WHERE: Wherever it is safe to do so!  

WHEN: Starting Friday, March 12^th (and beyond!)  

WHY:  Do you always feel like you have to say NO to your kids, your colleagues, your friends or your family? Are you turning down opportunities that you would have liked to take but were too busy? Taking a Yes Day can be liberating. It’s an excuse to explore fun ideas, to spend time together, to discover something new, laugh and maybe even relax. It’s giving yourself AND your family or friends permission to say yes to the things you have put off. This past year has been a huge challenge for us all, taking a YES DAY may be just what the doctor ordered. So – say YES to doing something fun with your family, your loved ones, your friends – it may turn out to be the best day ever. Be sure to share your photos, videos, and stories from your personal Yes Day using #YesDayChallenge! Everyone deserves a Yes Day! 

Remember to use the Hashtag #YesDayChallenge!

YES DAY arrives on Netflix Friday, March 12, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#TFCA: “NOMADLAND” AND “ANNE AT 13,000 FT” AWARDED TOP PRIZES BY THE TORONTO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION

NOMADLAND continues its early Awards Season dominance, being named Best Picture today by the Toronto Film Critics Association. In addition to being named People’s Choice Award winner at TIFF ’20, the Film by Chloé Zhao has been a winner among Critic Circles around the continent, scoring in San Diego, Chicago, Boston, New York, Los Angeles and more. It also won the Golden Lion in Venice, and was named Best Feature at the Gotham Awards.

The TFCA Gala took place this evening virtually with a livestream on YouTube, hosted by Elaine “Lainey” Lui and Kathleen Newman-Bremang and winners giving their speeches on video.

The evening’s biggest prize, the $100k Rogers Best Canadian Film Award was awarded to ANNE AT 13,000 FT directed by Kazik Radwanski. Radwanski stated “It’s meant so much for the Film to still have a life, to connect, and be written about. It’s a huge honour coming from the TFCA.”.

Other winners include:

Best Picture: NOMADLAND

Best Director: Chloé Zhao, NOMADLAND
Runners-up, Best Director: Kelly Reichardt – FIRST COW; Lee Isaac Chung – MINARI

Best Screenplay: MINARI
Runners-up, Best Screenplay: NOMADLAND, SOUND OF METAL

Best Actor: Riz Ahmed, SOUND OF METAL
Runners-up for Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM; Mads Mikkelsen, ANOTHER ROUND

Best Actress: Frances McDormand, NOMADLAND
Runners-up, Best Actress: Viola Davis, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM; Sidney Flanigan, NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS

Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
Runners-up, Best Actor: Paul Raci, Sound of Metal; Leslie Odom, Jr. One Night in Miami

Best Supporting Actress: Maria Bakalova – Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Runners-up, Best Supporting Actress: Yuh-jung Youn, Minari; Olivia Colman, The Father

Best First Feature: THE FORTY-YEAR-OLD VERSION
Runners-up, Best First Feature: THE FATHER, PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN

Best Animated Feature: WOLFWALKERS
Runners-up, Best Animated Feature: SOUL and THE WILLOUGHBYS

Allan King Documentary Award: COLLECTIVE
Runners-up: CRIP CAMP, DAVID BYRNE’S AMERICAN UTOPIA and TIME

Best Foreign Language Film: BACURAU
Runners-up, Best Foreign Language Film: ANOTHER ROUND, BEANPOLE

Cineplex Emerging Critic Award: Mark Hanson (In the Seats) and Rose-Coloured Ray-Bans

Clyde Gilmour Award: Jason Ryle

Jay Scott Prize for Emerging Artist: Kelly Fyffe-Marshall

$100k Rogers Best Canadian Film Award Finalists: AND THE BIRDS RAINED DOWN, ANNE AT 13,000 FT and WHITE LIE

Visit the TFCA website for more details.

(Photo credit: Searchlight Pictures)

#FIRSTLOOK: HOLLYWOOD SUITE TO AIR THE 74th EE BAFTA AWARDS

Hollywood Suite once again is the Canadian home of the EE BAFTA Awards! The Awards are set to take place at London’s spectacular Royal Albert Hall on April 11, 2021, honouring the best in Hollywood and British Film this past year.

Nominees include:

BEST FILM

THE FATHER Philippe Carcassonne, Jean-Louis Livi, David Parfitt
THE MAURITANIAN Nominees TBC
NOMADLAND Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey, Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Chloé Zhao
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Ben Browning, Emerald Fennell, Ashley Fox, Josey McNamara
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Stuart Besser, Marc Platt

OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM

CALM WITH HORSES Nick Rowland, Daniel Emmerson, Joe Murtagh
THE DIG Simon Stone, Gabrielle Tana, Moira Buffini
THE FATHER Florian Zeller, Philippe Carcassone, Jean-Louis Livi, David Parfitt, Christopher Hampton
HIS HOUSE Remi Weekes, Martin Gentles, Edward Kings, Roy Lee
LIMBO Ben Sharrock, Irune Gurtubai, Angus Lamont
THE MAURITANIAN Kevin Macdonald, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani, M.B. Traven
MOGUL MOWGLI Bassam Tariq, Riz Ahmed, Thomas Benski, Bennett McGhee
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Emerald Fennell, Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Josey McNamara
ROCKS Sarah Gavron, Ameenah Ayub Allen, Faye Ward, Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson
SAINT MAUD Rose Glass, Andrea Cornwell, Oliver Kassman

OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER

HIS HOUSE Remi Weekes (Writer/Director)
LIMBO Ben Sharrock (Writer/Director), Irune Gurtubai (Producer) [also produced by Angus Lamont]
MOFFIE Jack Sidey (Writer/Producer) [also written by Oliver Hermanus and produced by Eric Abraham]
ROCKS Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson (Writers)
SAINT MAUD Rose Glass (Writer/Director), Oliver Kassman (Producer) [also produced by Andrea Cornwell]

FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

ANOTHER ROUND Thomas Vinterberg, Sisse Graum Jørgensen
DEAR COMRADES! Andrei Konchalovsky, Alisher Usmanov
LES MISÉRABLES Ladj Ly
MINARI Lee Isaac Chung, Christina Oh
QUO VADIS, AIDA? Jasmila Žbanić, Damir Ibrahimovich

DOCUMENTARY

COLLECTIVE Alexander Nanau
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A LIFE ON OUR PLANET Alastair Fothergill, Jonnie Hughes, Keith Scholey
THE DISSIDENT Bryan Fogel, Thor Halvorssen
MY OCTOPUS TEACHER Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed, Craig Foster
THE SOCIAL DILEMMA Jeff Orlowski, Larissa Rhodes

ANIMATED FILM

ONWARD Dan Scanlon, Kori Rae
SOUL Pete Docter, Dana Murray
WOLFWALKERS Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young

DIRECTOR

ANOTHER ROUND Thomas Vinterberg
BABYTEETH Shannon Murphy
MINARI Lee Isaac Chung
NOMADLAND Chloé Zhao
QUO VADIS, AIDA? Jasmila Žbanić
ROCKS Sarah Gavron

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

ANOTHER ROUND Tobias Lindholm, Thomas Vinterberg
MANK Jack Fincher
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Emerald Fennell
ROCKS Theresa Ikoko, Claire Wilson
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Aaron Sorkin

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

THE DIG Moira Buffini
THE FATHER Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller
THE MAURITANIAN Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani, M.B. Traven
NOMADLAND Chloé Zhao
THE WHITE TIGER Ramin Bahrani

LEADING ACTRESS

BUKKY BAKRAY Rocks
RADHA BLANK The Forty-Year-Old Version
VANESSA KIRBY Pieces of a Woman
FRANCES McDORMAND Nomadland
WUNMI MOSAKU His House
ALFRE WOODARD Clemency

LEADING ACTOR

RIZ AHMED Sound of Metal
CHADWICK BOSEMAN Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
ADARSH GOURAV The White Tiger
ANTHONY HOPKINS The Father
MADS MIKKELSEN Another Round
TAHAR RAHIM The Mauritanian

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

NIAMH ALGAR Calm With Horses
KOSAR ALI Rocks
MARIA BAKALOVA Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
DOMINIQUE FISHBACK Judas and the Black Messiah
ASHLEY MADEKWE County Lines
YUH-JUNG YOUN Minari

SUPPORTING ACTOR

DANIEL KALUUYA Judas and the Black Messiah
BARRY KEOGHAN Calm With Horses
ALAN KIM Minari
LESLIE ODOM JR. One Night in Miami…
CLARKE PETERS Da 5 Bloods
PAUL RACI Sound of Metal

ORIGINAL SCORE

MANK Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
MINARI Emile Mosseri
NEWS OF THE WORLD James Newton Howard
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Anthony Willis
SOUL Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

CASTING

CALM WITH HORSES Shaheen Baig
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH Alexa L. Fogel
MINARI Julia Kim
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Lindsay Graham Ahanonu, Mary Vernieu
ROCKS Lucy Pardee

CINEMATOGRAPHY

JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH Sean Bobbitt
MANK Erik Messerschmidt
THE MAURITANIAN Alwin H. Küchler
NEWS OF THE WORLD Dariusz Wolski
NOMADLAND Joshua James Richards

EDITING

THE FATHER Yorgos Lamprinos
NOMADLAND Chloé Zhao
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN Frédéric Thoraval
SOUND OF METAL Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 Alan Baumgarten

PRODUCTION DESIGN

THE DIG Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana Macdonald
THE FATHER Peter Francis, Cathy Featherstone
MANK Donald Graham Burt, Jan Pascale
NEWS OF THE WORLD David Crank, Elizabeth Keenan
REBECCA Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer

COSTUME DESIGN

AMMONITE Michael O’Connor
THE DIG Alice Babidge
EMMA Alexandra Byrne
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM Ann Roth
MANK Trish Summerville

MAKE UP & HAIR

THE DIG Jenny Shircore
HILLBILLY ELEGY Patricia Dehaney, Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle
MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM Matiki Anoff, Larry M. Cherry, Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal
MANK Kimberley Spiteri, Gigi Williams
PINOCCHIO Mark Coulier

SOUND

GREYHOUND TBC
NEWS OF THE WORLD Michael Fentum, William Miller, Mike Prestwood Smith, John Pritchett, Oliver Tarney
NOMADLAND Sergio Diaz, Zach Seivers, M. Wolf Snyder
SOUL Coya Elliott, Ren Klyce, David Parker
SOUND OF METAL Jaime Baksht, Nicolas Becker, Phillip Bladh, Carlos Cortés, Michelle Couttolenc

SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS

GREYHOUND Pete Bebb, Nathan McGuinness, Sebastian von Overheidt
THE MIDNIGHT SKY Matt Kasmir, Chris Lawrence, David Watkins
MULAN Sean Faden, Steve Ingram, Anders Langlands, Seth Maury
THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN Santiago Colomo Martinez, Nick Davis, Greg Fisher
TENET Scott Fisher, Andrew Jackson, Andrew Lockley

BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION

THE FIRE NEXT TIME Renaldho Pelle, Yanling Wang, Kerry Jade Kolbe
THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT Mole Hill, Laura Duncalf
THE SONG OF A LOST BOY Daniel Quirke, Jamie MacDonald, Brid Arnstein

BRITISH SHORT FILM

EYELASH Jesse Lewis Reece, Ike Newman
LIZARD Akinola Davies, Rachel Dargavel, Wale Davies
LUCKY BREAK John Addis, Rami Sarras Pantoja
MISS CURVY Ghada Eldemellawy
THE PRESENT Farah Nabulsi

EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)

BUKKY BAKRAY
KINGSLEY BEN-ADIR
MORFYDD CLARK
ṢỌPẸ DÌRÍSÙ
CONRAD KHAN

Broadcast time and date to be confirmed.

(Photo credit: BAFTA)