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#OSCARS: “THE SHAPE OF WATER” WINS TOP HONOURS AT 90TH ACADEMY AWARDS

The 90th Academy Awards took place at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. Sweeping top honours after gaining the most nominations (13) was Guillermo del Toro‘s Toronto-filmed Fantasy The Shape of Water winning four awards including Best Picture, Directing, Production Design and Original Score. The Film’s Toronto Crew celebrating tonight at Palais Royale, were credited for being a part of the Film’ success. del Toro, who has been vocal about his love for Toronto using the City regularly to base his productions, encouraged other Genre Filmmakers to continue breaking ground with the door he helped open.

See del Toro’s speech:

 

 

While many saw Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as the favourite to win Best Picture, it still took acting honours for Leading Actress with Frances McDormand and Supporting Actor with Sam Rockwell. McDormand gave a memorable speech which had her laughing nervously, devoting her time on-stage getting all her fellow female nominees to stand together in a call for inclusion and equality.  Both The Shape of Water and this premiered at TIFF ’17 with the latter winning the coveted People’s Choice Award and the two are released by Fox Searchlight.

See McDormand’s speech:

 

 

Dunkirk‘s win tally would come in at three with scores for Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing. Blade Runner 2049 by Canadian Director Denis Villeneuve, would win for Cinematography and Visual Effects. Disney’s Coco was awarded Animated Feature and also for Original Song with Remember Me, performed on the broadcast by Gael García Bernal, Miguel and Natalie Lafourcade. Call Me By Your Name earned one win for Adapted Screenplay. Allison Janney nabbed Supporting Actress for her work in I, Tonya, which presenter Jodie Foster who appeared on-stage in crutches, would joke that Meryl Streep was responsible for her injury, having “I, Tonya-ed” her.

The Evening was hosted by Funnyman Jimmy Kimmel who tackled head-on several issues of now including #MeToo and #TimesUp using case in point, the substantial pay gap between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams on re-shoots for nominated All the Money in the World. Despite both being represented by William Morris Endeavor, Wahlberg was paid eight-times Williams‘ salary, although the former made right by donating his earnings to #TimesUp.

Kimmel joked that the Oscar statue is the ideal man in that he “keeps his hands to himself, never says a rude word and doesn’t have a penis. He is a statue of limitations”.  A running joke for the evening was that the winner with the shortest speech would win a jet ski in the same vein as The Price is Right, which Leading Actor winner Gary Oldman was clear he wouldn’t be winning as he took his time thanking those responsible for his success. Oldman‘s Film Darkest Hour would win also for Makeup.

 

See Kimmel‘s running joke with the help of Helen Mirren:

 

Following an outcry that the Oscars lacked diversity, that certainly was addressed full force this year and repeatedly the theme of inclusion was brought-up throughout the night.  We would see female nominees in categories like Directing (Greta Gerwig, Lady Bird) and Cinematography (Rachel Morrison, Mudbound) and first-time Nominee Jordan Peele winning Original Screenplay for Get Out. A Fantastic Woman starring Chilean transgender Actress Daniela Vega, would win Foreign Language Film.  Basketball icon Kobe Bryant also would win his first Oscar for Animated Short Film, Dear Basketball.

 

Complete list of winners here.

 

(Photo/video credit: The Academy/Getty Images/ABC)

#GOLDENGLOBES: “BIG LITTLE LIES” + “THREE BILLBOARDS” DOMINATE 2018 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
  • January 07, 2018
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The 75th annual Golden Globes Awards took place tonight in Beverly Hills, California. With the #TimesUp initiative front and center of our attentions, we saw all talent uniformly wearing black to draw attention to the cause for equality and an end to sexual harassment in the workplace.

Seth Meyers hosted the affair boldly poking-fun at the likes of Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein. In the face of change, he calls 2018 “the year marijuana was allowed and sexual harassment wasn’t anymore.”.

Oprah Winfrey who next can be seen in Disney‘s A Wrinkle in Time, was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. Her Wrinkle Co-Star Reese Witherspoon introduced her as being all “a noun, a verb and an adjective”. And even Meyers joked DeMille should be honoured she was given the award. Winfrey recalls herself as a kid in Milwaukee back in 1964, watching Anne Bancroft speak a historic five words on television, “The winner is Sidney Poitier“. She hopes to inspire another black girl watching tonight seeing her be named the first ever black Cecil B. DeMille Award Winner. Winfrey states, “I wanted to express gratitude to all women who endured years of abuse and assault as they like my mother had mouths to feed, bills to pay and dreams to pursue.”. Recounting the story of rape (1944) victim Recy Taylor whose six attackers never were persecuted, she defiantly states that we are at the end of an era, “Their time us up!”.

 

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri scored huge in the Film categories including a win for Motion Picture Drama. Martin McDonagh was awarded Screenplay for the Film which he also directed. He jokes, “My mother really wanted Lady Bird to win.”. Oscar Winner Frances McDormand before tonight had been nominated seven times for a Globe, but finally received her first win for Actress in a Motion Picture Drama.  She declined to make political comments but expressed pride that the Film still is filling seats in brick and mortar theatres across the U.S. the “old-fashioned” way. Sam Rockwell, after a career spanning almost three decades, finally won a Golden Globe for his work in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. “It’s nice to be in a movie people saw”, he kids before thanking others involved with the TIFF ’17 People’s Choice Award-winning Film and also wife Leslie Bibb.

 

HBO’s Big Little Lies was a major force in the Television categories winning TV Miniseries or Movie. Nicole Kidman was awarded her fourth Golden Globe for her Actress work, thanking her Co-Star, Co-Producer and fellow Nominee Reese Witherspoon with whom together she brought the HBO release to Television. Kidman despite getting the cue to shorten her speech, thanked her husband Country Star Keith Urban last, telling him “When your cheek is pressed against mine, the whole world just melts away, I love you.”. Co-Stars Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgård also won for their work as Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress (Dern‘s fourth Globe too!) in the Miniseries.

Lady Bird, which premiered at TIFF ’17, won Comedy or Musical. The Film which loosely is based on Greta Gerwig‘s life, also is her directorial debut. Gerwig thanked her hometown Sacramento for giving her the wings and roots needed to succeed in life. 23-year-old Saoirse Ronan already has been nominated for three Globes but alas gets her first win tonight for her acclaimed work in Lady Bird. She kept pointing-out in her humble speech how her mom out of excitement was in the audience on FaceTime while she was on-stage.

 

Visionary Guillermo del Toro made a teary acceptance for Director with The Shape of Water while the Orchestra had tried drowning his speech out due to time restrictions. “Turn the music down, it’s taken me 25 years to get here” he said, drawing cheers from the audience. Moments before, Natalie Portman presenting his award alongside Ron Howard, pointed-out how all Nominees in the Category were male.

Gary Oldman was awarded Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in TIFF ’17 selection Darkest Hour. In his speech, he told us how his wife puts-up with his incredible dedication telling others “I go to bed with Winston Churchill and wake-up with Gary Oldman.”.

 

Jeered widely for having made the worst movie of all time, The Room, Filmmaker and Cult Icon Tommy Wiseau got the last laugh joining Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy Winner James Franco on-stage tonight. Franco stars in and directs The Disaster Artist which recounts Wiseau‘s process making that Cult Classic. Franco thanked his younger brother Dave in his speech saying “He always wanted his own Coen Brother” to make Films with and it looks like he too along with Wiseau saw his dream come true.

Allison Janney who delivers a chilling portrayal of Tonya Harding’s mother LaVona Golden in I, Tonya, was awarded a well-deserved Globe beating-out some stiff competition including Laurie Metcalf whom many also feel is deserving for her work in Lady Bird. Janney made a poignant statement about perception of truth in Media, an enlightenment after having worked on the Film which gives us a fresh perspective on the disgraced Figure Skater. It was a good night for both Tommy Wiseau and Tonya Harding.

 

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was this year’s Dark Horse, winning Comedy Series and also Rachel Brosnahan (House of Cards) winning Actress in a Comedy Series. The Amazon Series centers on a Jewish housewife in the ’50s who becomes a Stand-up Comedian.

Elisabeth Moss shone a light on Canada dedicating her Actress in a Drama Series win to Margaret Atwood who wrote the source material on which Toronto-made The Handsmaid’s Tale is based. The Series also took home a Globe for Drama Series. This is her second Golden Globe win, her first for Miniseries Top of the Lake.

After four nominations, Ewan McGregor finally gets his first Globe win for Actor in a TV Miniseries or Movie with Fargo.  Another Canadian connection, the Series was filmed in Calgary.

Sterling K. Brown was awarded his first Globe for his work on Series This is Us.  The rising star next can be seen in Marvel’s Black Panther and reminded his kids in his speech he’d be there to take them to school tomorrow morning, in addition to expressing his awe of Oprah Winfrey being seated before him on the podium.

 

After getting a nod last year and seeing MASTER OF NONE, for which he has directing and writing credits, Funnyman Aziz Ansari gets a Globe for Actor in a Comedy Series. He becomes the first ever South Asian Actor to win a Globe.

In addition to having grossed almost $600 million worldwide, Disney•Pixar‘s Coco goes on to Globe success, winning Animated Feature.

Hot off its #1 success on the Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart, The Greatest Showman also wins a Globe for Original Song, This is Me, sung by Keala Settle and also Kesha.

Fatih Akin‘s In the Fade won Foreign Language Film. The German Film starring Diane Kruger as a woman dealing with the aftermath of a terrorist attack, received a TIFF ’17 Premiere.

Awards Season culminates in the Academy Awards which air Sunday, March 4, 2018 on ABC, 7 PM ET.

 

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

#BOXOFFICE: “THE LAST JEDI” IS FIRST IN HUGE OPENING WEEKEND

Surprise! Or not. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI opens with a huge bang for Disney, raking-in a superb $220 million from 4,232 theatres. Critics are loving this follow-up to 2015’s The Force Awakens with 93% on the Tomatometer and a resounding A CinemaScore from Audiences. It still however is unable to best the $247 million opening its Predecessor had.

Animated Feature FERDINAND is a distant second with $12.3 million from 3,621 theatres for 20th Century Fox. Starring John Cena, it gets 75% in the Tomatometer and an A CinemaScore.

In third is COCO with $9.2 million now in its fourth week out, surpassing the $150 million-mark domestically for Disney.

WONDER is in fourth with $5 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films. It has made a successful $108 million already over five weeks in North America.

DADDY’S HOME 2 is showing incredible longevity into the Holidays in sixth with $3.3 million for Paramount Pictures in its sixth week. It is just shy of $100 million.

In eighth is THE DISASTER ARTIST expanding to 1,010 theatres with $2.4 million for Elevation Pictures/A24 Films. It has made $12.7 million over three weeks.

LADY BIRD continues to capitalize off its Oscar buzz in tenth with $1.9 million from 947 theatres for Elevation Pictures/A24 Films.  It has made $25 million thus far.

#BOXOFFICE: “COCO” PICKS AT HEARTS OF MOVIEGOERS A THIRD WEEK

COCO remains atop the Box Office a third consecutive week for Disney with $19 million from 3,748 theatres. Thus far in its domestic run it has grossed a healthy $136 million over three weeks. Expect though for that reign to end next weekend with fellow Disney release STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI with its eyes on the prize.

JUSTICE LEAGUE once again finds itself in second with $9.4 million, a total $211 million thus far over four weeks for Warner Bros.

WONDER is in third this weekend with $9.3 million for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films, just surpassing the $100 million-mark over four weeks.

TIFF ’17 selection THE DISASTER ARTIST expands beautifully to fourth this weekend at 840 theatres across North America for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures. It earns $6.4 million and a total $8 million over two weeks. It comes with strong word of mouth and a 94% on the Tomatometer.

LADY BIRD is in ninth with $3.5 million from 1,557 theatres for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures. It is up to $22 million now in its sixth week out.

JUST GETTING STARTED starring Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones, rounds-out the Top Ten with $3.5 million from 2,161 theatres for Broad Green Pictures. It hasn’t yet opened in Canada. It gets a 10% on the Tomatometer and a C CinemaScore.

#BOXOFFICE: “COCO” IS ALIVE A SECOND WEEK

COCO is set to top the Box office a second consecutive week in a row with $27 million from 3,987 theatres for Disney. Domestically it has made $119 million. In fact we see no changes from last week in our top four Movies, this due partly to the lack of new challengers released this weekend.

JUSTICE LEAGUE settles for second again this weekend with $15.8 million for Warner Bros. Over three weeks it has grossed $196.5 million over three weeks.

WONDER remains in third spot with $3.2 million for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films, grossing $88 million thus far in its North American run.

THOR: RAGNAROK is in fourth with $9.3 million, a total $291 million earned to date for Disney over five weeks.

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI expands to 1,430 theatres with $4.5 million for Fox Searchlight, good enough for seventh spot this weekend.

LADY BIRD continues to gain Oscar momentum in eighth with $4 million from 11,194 theatres for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures. It gets a boost with some hardware won this week including Saoirse Ronan‘s Gotham Awards victory for Best Actress.

THE STAR rounds the Top Ten with $3.8 million, a total $28 million over three weeks for Sony Pictures.

#BOXOFFICE: MOVIEGOERS FEAST ON “COCO” U.S. THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

After a record-breaking opening in Mexico, Disney•Pixar‘s COCO is the choice of Moviegoers this U.S. Thanksgiving weekend with a $49 million opening from 3,987 theatres across North America. It earns a sensational A+ CinemaScore and a 96% on the Tomatometer. Can we call it an Oscar Contender?

Despite a smashing debut, Warner Bros.’ JUSTICE LEAGUE is unable to hang-on a second time. Still though it earns a great $40 million this weekend, a total $171 million grossed already over to weeks.
WONDER is in third with $22 million in its second week for Lionsgate Films/eOne Films. Thus far it has grossed $69 million domesticallly.
In fourth is THOR: RAGNAROK with $16.5 million in its fourth week out. In total it has made $277 million in these parts for Disney.
ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ. expands to 1,648 theatres for Sony Pictures, landing it in ninth with $4.5 million. It gets 55% on the Tomatometer.
Oscar Contender THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI is in tenth spot with $4.3 million playing in 590 theatres for Fox Searchlight.

#SPOTTED: ANTHONY GONZALEZ IN TORONTO FOR “COCO”

Already breaking Box Office records in Mexico, Disney•Pixar’s COCO is set to hit theatres for U.S. Thanksgiving. After a rigorous audition process spanning a year alas the perfect lead was found in 12-year-old Anthony Gonzalez who won the role of Miguel in the Adrian Molina/Lee Unkrich co-directed Film. The young Actor is in Toronto today to promote the Animated Feature in which he stars alongside Gael García Bernal and Benjamin Bratt.

COCO gives us an interesting take on death, centering around Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), in which death versus grieving, is viewed as a celebration of things which the dead had loved while they were alive.

After an extended spirited appearance on Breakfast Television which saw Gonzalez singing and joking with Dina Pugliese, he braved the freeze to complete a second day of Canadian Press today.

 

See our Snap! What a charmer!

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release COCO Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES CANADA HOLIDAY 2018 PREVIEW

By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong

The year that was 2017 is almost over and that means we have an entire slate of 2018 Movies to look forward to. Whether you’re a fan of animation, superheroes, or space cowboys one studio has the answer to all your dreams: Walt Disney Motion Pictures Canada. As the home of Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Disney Animation and Disney Live Action among others, they are host to the Must-See Movies of 2018 than you can shake a lightsaber at.

Before you start trying to figure out how Coco fits into the greater Pixar universe or prepare to jump to lightspeed in anticipation of December’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the team here at Mr. Will Wong has your inside scoop to everything Disney in 2018.

Kicking things off in February, Chadwick Boseman returns as the eponymous hero in Marvel’s Black Panther. The action moves to the kingdom of Wakanda where T’Challa’s enemies are conspiring to take down the new king. Director Ryan Coogler has assembled a star-studded cast featuring a villainous Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, and Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira members of Wakanda’s elite all-female special forces.

Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 book A Wrinkle in Time can be found on the shelves of countless children and movie critics around the world. In March, Oscar-nominated Director Ava DuVernay will tackle this timeless Novel with a Cast featuring Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine, Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon. Frozen’s Jennifer Lee adapted this story of a girl who learns her father is being held captive on a distant planet decides to save him the help of her brother, a classmate, and a little interdimensional travel.

There is no end of excitement for May’s Avengers: Infinity War. This Movie will bring together heroes from all corners of the Marvel universe as they battle Josh Brolin’s Thanos.

One word has the ability to make all animation fans thrill: Pixar. In June Brad Bird returns to direct of one of the most highly anticipated animated, superhero Sequels in decades: The Incredibles 2. Joining Bob, Helen, Violet and Dash is baby Jack Jack whose powers manifested at the end of last Movie. Pixar is keenly-aware of never messing with a good thing and have reunited not only the Director and Cast but also many of the behind-the-scenes people including the Composer and Producers. Prepare to be dazzled but remember: no capes!

November marks the return of Vanellope and Ralph (Sarah Silverman and John C. Reilly) in Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. Details of this Disney Animated Sequel were first shared in July at D23 and although we can’t tell you much we assure you Ralph Breaks the Internet is even better than the first.

As the holiday season approaches, Disney hopes to enchant audiences with their take on a Tchaikovsky classic in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Most people will be thrilled to see Keira Knightley in the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy to Mackenzie Foy’s Clara. Devoted ballet enthusiasts will no doubt be more focused on the addition of Misty Copeland in this ballet inspired Movie. Morgan Freeman is along for the ride as the mysterious Drosselmeyer.

But wait, that’s not all! In May, head back to a galaxy far, far away when Solo: A Star Wars Movie hits the big screen. A third Marvel Movie is headed for theatres in July with Ant-Man and the Wasp. Finally, 2018 will definitely end on a high note when Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda sing their way to the big screen in December’s Mary Poppins Returns.

That’s just a small taste of the wonders Walt Disney Pictures Canada has in store for fans next year. Small kids and big kids alike are sure to find something to love in 2018.

#FIRSTLOOK: “COCO”

By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong

On November 22nd, audiences will be introduced to Miguel, Hector, Danté, and all their friends when Coco opens in theatres across the country. Last week we were fortunate enough to hear Co-Director Adrian Molina and Producer Darla K. Anderson discuss  and share some behind the scenes secrets of Disney-Pixar’s latest original Movie.

When Miguel’s great-great-grandmother was abandoned by her musician husband, she responded by starting a successful business and banning all music from her life – an edict which continues to this day. This rule is tough on 12-year-old Miguel who worships the famous musician Ernesto de la Cruz and has even taught himself how to play guitar by watching old de la Cruz movies in secret. When Miguel tries to borrow his hero’s guitar on Día de los Muertos, he ends up in the Land of the Dead and learns he has only 24 hours to get back to the land of the living or risk becoming a skeleton himself. Joining him on his adventure are his Sholo dog Danté and Hector, a skeleton he meets in the Land of the Dead.

Coco takes place on Día de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead and explores the universal ideas of “what it means to be part of a family” and “remembering where you come from.” The Pixar team describe on Día de los Muertos as a “celebration of joy and remembrance” and sought to imbue the Film with sense of positivity that children and adults can all connect with.

From local folk art to the beautiful alebrije animals which populate the Land of the Dead, audiences will see evidence of the team’s multiple trips to Mexico and their Pixar believe that “research is incredibly important.” From the varying types of traditional Mexican music heard throughout the movie to the accuracy of the characters’ guitar fingering and playing no detail was too small.

The voice cast, led by newcomer Anthony Gonzalez, is nothing short of stellar. When not searching for traditional Pixar Easter eggs, audiences should keep an ear out for Renee Victor, Gael García Bernal and even a singing Benjamin Bratt.

Molina and Anderson referred to animation as a “collaborative sport” and this extended from the lighting palate to storyboards. During the four-plus years it took for Co-Director Lee Unkrich’s idea of honouring Día de los Muertos to turn into the completed “love letter to Mexico,” an army of people will have contributed to creation of Coco. Based solely on the brief clips Molina and Anderson shared with us, you have the Mr. Will Wong Guarantee™ that you will NOT be disappointed by Pixar’s beautiful new Movie, Coco.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release COCO Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

#FIRSTLOOK: WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES CANADA 2017 PREVIEW

By Siobhán Rich for Mr. Will Wong

And one studio to rule them all. Disney-Pixar, Disney Animation Studios, Disney Live-Action, Marvel and Lucasfilms all call the ‘House of Mouse’ home and that means bigger and better Movies for fans. Whether you’re a fan of Sci-Fi or Comic Book Movies or good old animation, Disney has you covered in 2017.

First out of the gate before the New Year is the hotly anticipated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Opening on December 18th, the first stand-alone Star Wars Movie ells the story of how the Rebellion obtained the plans to the Death Star.

This tale as old as time is based on an Animated Movie as old as 1991. On March 17th prepare to be transported to an enchanted castle where the furniture sings and dishes dance. The brand new trailer that just dropped today will have fans counting down the day until the new live-action Beauty and the Beast finally opens. The Beast’s voice sounds so much like the original animated one you’ll need to watch the Trailer multiple times to make sure it’s really Dan Stevens talking to Emma Watson’s Belle.

Our next Movie features an all-star cast, an awesome soundtrack, and an adorable sapling named Groot. This May 5th strap in as Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 finds our heroes trying to track down the truth behind Star Lord’s mysterious father and getting up to plenty of trouble along the way.

Nobody does Disney adventure like Captain Jack Sparrow. On May 26 visit with the Captain and his crew as they take on professional villain Javier Bardem in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Since we’re talking sequels you’d better fasten your seat belts for Pixar’s Cars 3 which will open on June 16th. Lightning McQueen is back in an all new adventure that children are sure to enjoy.

If you missed the long-haired Norse god when his friends were busy having an all-out civil war, then you will definitely be excited for Thor: Ragnarök when it opens on November 3rd. Featuring Thor, Hulk, Loki and even Doctor Strange the latest addition to the MCU is a must-see movie for Marvel fans everywhere.

On November 22nd Pixar returns to the multiplex with an original story called Coco. Not much is known about this Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina-directed Feature except for this single drawing. That said, it’s Pixar on the American Thanksgiving long weekend so it’s bound to be amazing.

The year wraps up with a Movie that doesn’t even have an official title yet: Star Wars VIII. The Rian Johnson-directed Film is still filming but is due in theatres on December 15th. Details about the plot are a closely held secret but we here at MrWillWong.com can exclusively tell you that…

In the meantime, enjoy this brand new Trailer for Beauty and the Beast!

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)

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