Finally, we’re seeing things pick-up again in Toronto! Exciting times! With the conclusion of Awards Season, we were so lucky to ran into legendary Academy Award-winning Actress Michelle Yeoh out and about. She just presented at the Oscars and throughout her stay in Toronto filming upcoming feature STAR TREK: SECTION 31, where she is reprising the role of Emperor Philippa Georgiou. Among the hotspots Yeoh‘s been seen at are Lao Lao Bar, Kiss My Pans and more, paying tribute to the flavours of her native Southeast Asia. We were wondering if we were ever going to be graced by her presence, and so glad we did. She is just absolutely gracious and stunning, a perfect human being!
Academy Award and five-time GRAMMY-winning Singer-Songwriter JON BATISTE resumed his UNEASY TOUR in Toronto at Massey Hall, to a sold-out crowd, fresh off his performance of “It Never Went Away” at the Oscars this past weekend. The song had garnered a nomination, heard in the Netflix Documentary AMERICAN SYMPHONY. Playing a sold-out show, Batiste wowed the audience, even doing an impromptu performance up in the balcony! He is so amazing and kind!
You all know how much I love Colman Domingo. The Academy Award-nominated Actor had a phenomenal 2024 starring in THE COLOR PURPLE and RUSTIN, which garnered him the nod. But perhaps his crowning achievement is SING SING which premiered at TIFF ’23 and will be released this year via A24 and Elevation Pictures. He also can be seen currently in DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS. He is absolutely lovely and always giving to fans. He’s working on TV Series THE MADNESS, filming locally which has him starring as a powerful media figure who is accused of murder. Another meaty role!
I adore SNL and one of the recent additions to the Cast is Sarah Sherman aka Sarah Squirm, who is absolutely quirkly and brilliant. She’s here for an undisclosed project, which we have an inkling what it might be. She joined the Cast in SNL and is getting lots of screen time, which we are here for! She filmed Adam Sandler‘s You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah in the City a couple years back!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
By George Kozera
SING SING opens with Colman Domingo performing a Shakesperean soliloquy directly to the camera with force and magnitude. It is a stunning achievement. We then see the actors leave to theatre to return to the notorious Sing Sing Penitentiary where we learn they are all part of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) programme whose mandate is to put on plays as a part of their rehab. After choosing a prison yard bully (Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, playing himself) on a hunch to join troupe, their director Brent (Oscar nominee Paul Raci) gathers the prisoners to decide what show they will put on next. Deciding not to go the dramatic route once again, they all choose to write a comedy that incorporates time travel, a son looking for his mother, Ancient Egypt, a western, pirates and Freddy Krueger! Let the auditions and fun begin.
Director and Co-Writer Greg Kwedar (whose last movie “Jockey” I adored) had the unenviable task of maintaining the audience’s attention in mostly tight, contained quarters scenarios and relies heavily on extreme close-ups. I found these cinematic choices rewarding, if maybe a tad too redundant.
Other than Domingo and Raci, everyone in SING SING were formerly incarcerated prisoners many of them alumni of RTA and they all bring gravitas to their scenes. The chemistry between Domingo and Maclin is off-the-charts phenomenal. Whereas this movie may appear to come across as light entertainment, Kwedar does not shy away from the realities of prison life and one scene with the lead character in front of the clemency board was truly heartbreaking.
It is impossible to stress the impact SING SING has made on me. Despite some minor flaws, the performances resonated with me, hours after leaving the rapturously received world premiere that I attended.
SING SING screens at TIFF ’23:
Monday, September 11, 2:45PM – Scotiabank
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, is delighted to announce that award-winning actor Colman Domingo will receive the TIFF Tribute Performer Award. This Award recognizes an overall body of exceptional work, and is one of seven awards being handed out at the fifth annual TIFF Tribute Awards gala, presented by Bulgari on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
A prolific actor of the screen and the stage, Domingo’s career spans over 30 years. Domingo will next be seen in Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing premiering at the Festival. Past recipients honoured in the prestigious acting category were Brendan Fraser and the ensemble cast of My Policeman in 2022; Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch in 2021; Kate Winslet and Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2020; and Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix in 2019.
Sing Sing is about a theatre troupe that finds escape from the realities of incarceration through the creativity of putting on a play. Based on the real-life arts rehabilitation program founded at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, the film is being distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures.
“Colman Domingo’s performances are a masterclass in the art of storytelling,” said Bailey. “Domingo’s presence, on stage and on screen, is a gift to audiences, and his work continues to resonate, leaving an indelible impact. He is a true visionary in the world of performance, and we’re excited to honour him this year.”
Domingo joins the recently announced 2023 TIFF Tribute Award honourees Andy Lau, recipient of the Special Tribute Award; Carolina Markowicz, recipient of the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM Studios; Łukasz Żal, recipient of the TIFF Variety Artisan Award; Shawn Levy, recipient of the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award presented by The Budman Family; Pedro Almodóvar, recipient of the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant; and Spike Lee, recipient of the TIFF Ebert Director Award. Once again, the TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator.
The Tribute Awards gala is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser, having raised $1.3 million in 2022, and is presented by Bulgari, sharing their commitment to arts and culture along with TIFF. This year, the Tribute Awards gala will support the Viola Desmond Cinema campaign, which was launched through the Every Story Fund in 2022. For more information, visit tiff.net/tribute.
Colman Domingo bio
Colman Domingo is an Emmy Award–winning actor, and has been nominated for a Tony®, Independent Spirit, Gotham, Lawrence Olivier, Drama Desk, Drama League, NAACP Image, and Black Reel Award as an actor, playwright, and producer. He stars in and executive produced Greg Kwedar’s Sing Sing, which will make its World Premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is based on the real-life arts rehabilitation program founded at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. In June 2023, he appeared in and produced the unscripted AMC travel show You Are Here and was a producer on the Tony-nominated Fat Ham. He is well known for his Spirit Award–nominated role in Janicza Bravo’s Zola as well as his work on stage in The Scottsboro Boys and Broadway’s Passing Strange. Domingo and his husband Raúl Domingo have produced a myriad of work under their Edith Productions banner, including four seasons of the award-winning variety talk show Bottomless Brunch at Colman’s. Domingo co-wrote, produced, and starred in the Academy Award–shortlisted animated short film New Moon, based on his play A Boy and His Soul. He also starred in and executive produced the award-winning short North Star.
Today we get a brand-new Trailer for RUSTIN starring Colman Domingo. The Film by George C. Wolfe premieres at TIFF ’23 and arrives November 17, 2023 on Netflix.
Synopsis:
The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organizers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologized for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten. Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe and starring Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo, Rustin shines a long overdue spotlight on the extraordinary man who, alongside giants like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker, dared to imagine a different world, and inspired a movement in a march toward freedom. Produced by Academy Award winner Bruce Cohen, Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis and George C. Wolfe, the film features an all-star cast including Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, with Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald.
Director: George C. Wolfe
Screenplay By: Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black
Story By: Julian Breece
Produced By: Bruce Cohen, Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis, George C. Wolfe
Executive Producers: Higher Ground’s Barack & Michelle Obama, Mark R. Wright, Alex G. Scott, David Permut, Daniel Sladek, Chris Taaffe
Cast: Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell, Grantham Coleman, Jamilah Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts, Kevin Mambo, Carra Patterson, Bill Irwin, Cotter Smith, Adrienne Warren, with Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
Barack and Michelle Obama produce RUSTIN, coming soon to Netflix! The Film centers on Bayard Rustin, the first openly gay Black civil rights leader.
Synopsis:
The architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Bayard Rustin was one of the greatest activists and organisers the world has ever known. He challenged authority, never apologised for who he was, what he believed, or who he desired. And he did not back down. He made history, and in turn, he was forgotten. Directed by DGA Award and five-time Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe and starring Emmy Award winner Colman Domingo, Rustin shines a long overdue spotlight on the extraordinary man who, alongside giants like the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and Ella Baker, dared to imagine a different world, and inspired a movement in a march toward freedom. Produced by Academy Award winner Bruce Cohen, Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis and George C. Wolfe, the film features an all-star cast including Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, with Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald.
Netflix Release Date: November 17
Director: George C. Wolfe
Screenplay By: Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black
Story By: Julian Breece
Produced By: Bruce Cohen, Higher Ground’s Tonia Davis, George C. Wolfe
Executive Producers: Higher Ground’s Barack & Michelle Obama, Mark R. Wright, Alex G. Scott, David Permut, Daniel Sladek, Chris Taaffe
Cast:
Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Lilli Kay, Jordan-Amanda Hall, Jakeem Powell, Grantham Coleman, Jamilah Rosemond, Jules Latimer, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper, Frank Harts, Kevin Mambo, Carra Patterson, Bill Irwin, Cotter Smith, Adrienne Warren, with Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald
(Photo credit: Netflix)
Warner Bros. Pictures invites you to experience the extraordinary sisterhood of three women who share one unbreakable bond in “The Color Purple.” This bold new take on the beloved classic is directed by Blitz Bazawule (“Black Is King,” “The Burial of Kojo”) and produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Scott Sanders and Quincy Jones.
“The Color Purple” stars Taraji P. Henson (“What Men Want,” “Hidden Figures”), Danielle Brooks (“Peacemaker,” “Orange Is the New Black”), Colman Domingo (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Fear the Walking Dead”), Corey Hawkins (“In the Heights,” “BlacKkKlansman”), H.E.R. (“Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration”), Halle Bailey (“The Little Mermaid,” “Grown-ish”), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard,” “If Beale Street Could Talk”), and Fantasia Barrino (in her major motion picture debut).
The screenplay is by Marcus Gardley (“Maid,” “The Chi”), based on the novel by Alice Walker and based on the musical stage play, book (of the musical stage play) by Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. The executive producers Alice Walker, Rebecca Walker, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Carla Gardini, Mara Jacobs, Adam Fell, Courtenay Valenti, Sheila Walcott and Michael Beugg.
Joining director Bazawule behind the camera are director of photography Dan Laustsen (“John Wick: Chapter 4,” “The Shape of Water”), production designer Paul Denham Austerberry (“The Flash,” “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”) and editor Jon Poll (“Bombshell,” “The Greatest Showman”). The choreographer is Fatima Robinson (“Coming 2 America,” “Dreamgirls”) and the costumes are designed by Francine Jamison-Tanchuck (“Emancipation,” “One Night in Miami…”). The music supervisors are Jordan Carroll (“The Greatest Showman,” “Godfather of Harlem”) and Morgan Rhodes (“Space Jam: A New Legacy,” “Selma”); the music is by Kris Bowers (“King Richard,” “Green Book”); and the executive music producers are Nick Baxter (“Babylon,” “CODA”), Stephen Bray (“Respect,” “Juanita”) and Blitz Bazawule.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Harpo Films Production, an Amblin Entertainment Production, a Scott Sanders Production/a QJP Production, “The Color Purple.” It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in theatres in North America on December 25, 2023 and internationally beginning 18 January 2024.
Universal Pictures Canada x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to see Jordan Peele‘s CANDYMAN!
Synopsis:
For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy (Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II; Watchmen, Us) and his partner, gallery director Brianna Cartwright (Teyonah Parris; If Beale Street Could Talk, WandaVision), move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials.
With Anthony’s painting career on the brink of stalling, a chance encounter with a Cabrini-Green old-timer (COLMAN DOMINGO; Zola, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) exposes Anthony to the horrific true story behind Candyman. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, and spurred on by his white art dealer, Anthony begins to explore these macabre details in his studio as fresh inspiration for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny.
Cast: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet for an extra chance!
Enter for a chance to #win Advance Passes to see #CANDYMAN in Toronto!
— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) August 18, 2021
How: https://t.co/P0zvZL7Xe1 pic.twitter.com/N8bPpiqMw6
Rules and regulations here.
Universal Pictures Canada release CANDYMAN August 27, 2021.
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
Fox Searchlight + Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see TIFF ’16 selection, THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Screenings take place Vancouver and Toronto on Thursday, October 6, 2016.
Synopsis:
Set against the antebellum South and based on a true story, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher whose financially strained owner Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer) accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself, his wife Cherry (Aja Naomi King), and fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.
See the Trailer:
Artwork:
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and indicate your City!
Parker + Mr. Will
Fox Searchlight release THE BIRTH OF A NATION Friday, October 7, 2016.
(Photo/video credit: Fox Searchlight)
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