I admit it! I’m totally behind on my TV viewing of late, but this weekend I discovered the highly-addictive new Sci-Fi Series from The CW, The 100! Starring a fresh-faced Cast including Eliza Taylor, Marie Avgeropoulos, Bobby Morley, Devon Bostick and Thomas McDonnell, the Series is set in a post-Apocalyptic Earth, where 100 young Men and Women are transported to, in order to determine whether or not Mankind finally can return and survive. The 100 were deemed Criminals and because they had not yet reached the age of 18, were not punished to death.
Based on the Series of Books by Kass Morgan, the Series premiered late March to 2.7 million Viewers, deemed a ratings Hit! If anyone knows what connects with young people, it’s certainly The CW, responsible for Arrow, Gossip Girl, America’s Next Top Model and Vampire Diaries and something tells me this is going to be around for a while. It is a cut from the same cloth which Fans of The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games would wear.
Australian Actress Taylor is front and center of it all, starring as Clarke, who is imprisoned for aiding her Father, who was sentenced to death for revealing crucial information about The Ark‘s (a collective of Survivors residing in space stations at the time of the Apocalypse) depleting life support systems. She carries the weight of the Show with a commanding presence to her, acting as the logic and reason to a hot-headed group of Teens, whom at any turn could be eliminated at one wrong misstep.
The gorgeous Avgeropoulos is an interesting Character, the dark to Clarke‘s light. Suppressed her entire life and free to explore at last, she appears read to get herself in all sorts of trouble, starring as Octavia Blake. Bobby Morley plays her Brother, Bellamy, keeping a watchful eye on her, at once having to watch his own back as he makes his way onto the shuttle to Earth among The 100 through his own illicit means.
Toronto is represented by our v. own Bostick, known best for his work on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Adoration and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He plays the adventurous Jasper, who has his heart set on Octavia. You won’t want to see what happens to him at the end of the first Episode. Ouch!
Genre Fans also will recognize the lovely Kelly Hu as Cece, who has starred in a litany of TV Series and Films like Hawaii Five-O, The Scorpion King, Warehouse 13, Arrow and The Vampire Diaries.
Canadians are extremely lucky to get the entire first Season of The 100 licensed exclusively to Netflix Canada! That’s right, Canada – you can stream new episodes within 24 hours after each episode airs in the U.S. Wednesday nights on The CW at 9 PM EST.
Watch the Trailer here:
(Photo credit: The CW/Netflix Canada)
Oh how we’ve missed you. Some brand new Stills from the second season of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK have just surfaced and without giving too much away here’s our official Synopsis:
The highly-anticipated second season of Netflix’s ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK gives us a closer look at our favorite, darkly funny prisoners; their shifting alliances within Litchfield and conflicts we never saw coming. The Series’ unforgettable Ensemble includes Taylor Schilling, Jason Biggs, Laura Prepon, Kate Mulgrew, Danielle Brooks, Uzo Aduba, Natasha Lyonne, Taryn Manning, Laverne Cox, Michael Harney, Samira Wiley, Yael Stone and more. Lorraine Toussaint joins the Cast in season two as Yvonne “Vee” Parker.
Check-out these brand-new Stills below from our beloved NETFLIX Series:
Awful intrigued by that Still of Schilling and Prepon all warm and friendly…
In case you missed it, here’s a Teaser for the second season!
The 13-episode second season of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK streams Friday, June 6, 2014 on Netflix Canada.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix Canada)
House of Cards + Cards Against Humanity. Could there be any better a fit? Netflix and the popular daring Card Game Maker have partenered together for limited-time-only HOUSE OF CARDS Pack. In fact, the Card Pack quickly sold out but never fret, Mr. Will has your Hookup!
Netflix Canada and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers a chance to win a Cards of Humanity – House of Cards Pack.
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. You are encouraged to share this Post via Social Media. Re-Tweet the below to double your chances:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/houseofcardsagainsthumanity @MRWILLW wants us to #win a limited edition #CARDSAGAINSTHUMANITY #HOUSEOFCARDS PACK! Series Season 2 out now!
Good luck. Contest open to Canadian Readers only.
See the Trailer for HOUSE OF CARDS Season 2 below:
HOUSE OF CARDS Season 2 is now available for streaming, only on Netflix.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
It’s out of control! If like me you live in the City and dream of a Fireplace, then Netflix has your solution this Holiday Season! Available for streaming, Fireplace for your Home gives you an hour of crackling Fireplace to provide that quiet backdrop to your conversations.
Watch the Trailer for FIREPLACE FOR YOUR HOME:
Making a Film this action-packed doesn’t come without attention to detail.
See some Behind-the-Scenes Footage below:
Fireplace for Your Home is now streaming on Netflix Canada.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
Awards Season officially is here with the 71st annual Golden Globe Award nominations being announced earlier this morning by Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde and Aziz Ansari out of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.
No real surprises this year as American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave each lead the way in the Film categories with seven nominations apiece, the former up for Best Comedy or Musical and the latter up for Best Drama. Although both Films are touted as Favourites to win in their respective categories, both likely will vie each other for Best Picture at the Oscars. The Stars of each Film, Christian Bale (American Hustle), Amy Adams (American Hustle) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) are all up for Best Actor and Best Actress for their respective Comedy and Drama categories. Nebraska starring Bruce Dern and Will Forte follows closely behind with five nominations, with the former up for Best Actor, and the Film itself also being up for Best Comedy.
HBO‘s Behind the Candelabra ties with with Netflix‘s House of Cards in the Television Categories, each garnering four nominations each, although they will not be in direct competition with one another with the former up for Best Mini-Series or TV Movie and the latter in the running for Best Television Series – Drama. Candelabra stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon however are both vying for Best Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie.
A now-concluded Breaking Bad received three nods for AMC and it will receive stiff competition from House of Cards in its Series and Best Actor categories especially – the latter soon to be in its second season through ground-breaking Internet-based service Netflix.
Surprising omissions this year from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, who determine the Nominees, are the lack of a Best Drama acknowledgement for Dallas Buyers Club despite its Stars Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto getting nods; it is thought to be in the Oscar race. Also, the excellent Saving Mr. Banks, shockingly only received one nomination for Emma Thompson as Mary Poppins Author P.L. Travers. Many also are scratching their heads at the classifying of August: Osage Country, an emotionally-heavy Film which deals with death, addiction and mental illness within a Family, as a Comedy or Musical. Its Stars Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts are up for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical and also Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
The 71st annual Golden Globe Awards will be televised on NBC Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 8:00 PM EST.
Complete List of Nominees here.
(Photo credit: eOne Films)
Forget about love this Valentine’s Day! House of Cards Season 2 finally has a release date and in the spirit of celebrating its upcoming release, Netflix released this chilling 30-second Teaser Trailer of Robin Wright smoking a cigarette pensively! The Season will feature 13 episodes.
Official Synopsis:
In the second season, Francis (Kevin Spacey) and Claire (Wright) Underwood continue their ruthless rise to power as threats mount on all fronts. Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) an up-and-coming Reporter and Francis’s former paramour, is inching closer to the truth about his crimes. President Walker’s (Michel Gill) Billionaire Confidante Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney) demands that Francis reciprocate political favours or face retribution. And Claire must confront the increasing glare of the spotlight as it eats away at her and Francis’s once private existence. The Underwood’s must overcome these dangers — past and present — to avoid losing everything, regardless of collateral damage they leave in their wake.
Watch:
Netflix releases House of Cards Season 2 on Friday, February 14, 2014.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
Hypothetical situation: someone you love deeply, whether it be a Partner, Grandparent, Sibling, Best Friend or even a Pet for that matter, unexpectedly passes on. Imagine being barred from being by their side in their final hour or even worse, you are denied the opportunity to mourn their death – forbidden from attending their their Wake, their Funeral, their Burial. What happens when the Law, which is supposed to protect you, also is part of the reason why the System has failed you?
Such is the case with Shane Bitney Crone, whom after six loving years together with his same-sex Partner Tom Bridegroom, cruelly was left ostracized without the legal protection of Marriage after the latter died in a tragic accident in 2011; he was only 29. This enabled members of Bridegroom‘s Family, who disapproved vehemently of their relationship, to prevent Crone from attending his Lover’s Funeral or be a part of their healing process amidst the misfortune. Crone‘s Story, originally a Short Film on Youtube titled It Could Happen to You, after two years of development now is a feature-length Documentary titled aptly, Bridegroom. The irony of course, being that the Deceased’s Family and the Legal System had denied him the right to fulfil the destiny of his own namesake with the Man he loved.
Crone takes a moment amidst his hectic promotional schedule for the deeply-affecting Documentary to call me from Los Angeles, where the Film would premiere later that night. “You sound really echoey and far away”, he comments as some technical glitches occur while we set-up the Conference Call. “I don’t want people to think I’m weird or anything”, he says thoughtfully, hoping to make the best of our ten minutes.
From humble beginnings online, the 27-year-old Los Angeles Native now finally is seeing the rewards of his pure passion, persistence and determination. Bridegroom, after winning emphatic accolades this year at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and the Inside Out Festival in Toronto, now will be seen and heard on a wide scale with Oprah Winfrey‘s OWN and Netflix both giving it their vote of confidence. Make no mistake though, the Film isn’t simply a tragic Tale about two Gay Men – or as Crone‘s Grandmother would call it Romeo & Romeo. It is a Portrait of Injustice and a look at just how deeply-institutionalized Homophobia is in a Country which at once has embraced the likes of Will & Grace, Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, Anderson Cooper and Rosie O’Donnell.
I ask Crone about his greatest hope for Bridegroom and he says, “The main goal is to open people’s minds. Director Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and I believed there isn’t an other way of opening people’s minds than by sharing personal stories.”. Clearly having struck an emotional chord with Audiences already, one might wonder what he would deem a success for the Film. He ponders the question and declares, “Just the fact that we made the Film. At the end of the day it’s a Film that I’m proud of, the Director is proud of, and I think Tom would be proud of. Now with the help of Oprah Winfrey and Netflix, I think it will spread the message in a very big way.”.
One can only imagine how difficult it must be to screen repeatedly a Film about something so deeply-painful and personal as what he still is going through. He admits, “It is hard revisiting the most difficult period of my life, but at the same time I see how it’s helping people and it makes me feel good – that I did the right thing by sharing my Story”. “When you put yourself out there, you open yourself to a lot of criticism, but also support. At the end of the day I had to trust my instincts and do what I felt was right to me. “.
Making Bridegroom truly was a labour of love and as Crone now calls it proudly, “The People’s Film”. From YouTube to the Big Screen and Television Sets, it wasn’t long before his Supporters were uniting their voices towards a call for change, contributing generously via Kickstarter – the World’s largest funding Platform for Creative Projects. “I was fortunate to have so many people believe in the Story and its message to the point that we have become the most funded Project in the history of Kickstarter“, he explains. “One thing which has been eye-opening in my experience is that I’d realize how many others have gone through similar and even more tragic stories. My Story is a lot of people’s stories and I think that’s one of the main reasons why we were so successful in people supporting us.”.
One unfortunate reality about this Documentary is that Tom Bridegroom‘s Family had refused any involvement in its making. His disputably-sympathetic Mother is seen briefly, but only in archived video footage sharing tender moments with him after his and Crone‘s dramatic ‘coming-out’ to her. “I still haven’t heard from any of them. I was told they wouldn’t participate. There are Family members of Tom whom are supportive. Some didn’t want to risk ruining their relationships with their Family”, he says as a matter of fact. “I see this as an opportunity to help a lot of people. It’s not too late for Tom‘s Parents to honour their Son for being who he was”. He adds, “I think for them to come out and share their voices and acknowledge that maybe they made a mistake and do what’s right – that would be so powerful”. “Maybe they’ll come around.”.
With the World eager to learn Crone‘s Story now, he is uncertain just what his next steps are and what the future will hold for him. “‘I don’t know what will happen next and I’d like to think it’ll all work-out the way it was supposed to. As long as I’m sharing a Story about people, I feel that’s my responsibility”. He pauses. “And that’s what I’m gonna do”.
Bridegroom is available for streaming via Netflix on Sunday, October 27, 2013. It premieres also on OWN that night at 10:00 PM EST.
After making a big splash at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and garnering multiple awards, Documentary BRIDEGROOM soon will see a release via Netflix!
The heartbreaking Documentary tells the Story of two Men in a committed and loving six-year relationship, torn apart after one of them dies tragically. The Film examines the how two People without the legal protection of Marriage can completely be torn apart. The is an important Must-See!
See the compelling Trailer below:
BRIDEGROOM is available for streaming starting Sunday, October 27, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Netflix)
Finally, some House of Cards news! Live from the Set of the acclaimed Netflix Original Series, which happens to be up for nine Emmy Awards, the New York Times will be hosting a Chat tonight with Executive Producer and Star Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Writer Beau Willimon and New York Times Magazine‘s Chief National Correspondent Mark Leibovich.
The Chat takes place live from the Set of the Series, which currently is filming its second season, and runs from 7:30 – 8: 30 PM EST. Remember to follow and Tweet your questions @TIMESTALKS. Video will be made available on their YouTube Channel also here.
Season Two of House of Cards will see a release early 2014 and we cannot wait! As an aside, did you do know that Bill Clinton like the rest of us, binge-watched Season 1 of the Series?
(Photo credit: Netflix)
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com