In The Seats with...

It's time for a perfect combination....

On this episode we go head first into the making of "Creepy Bits: Season 2" which just happens to available on demand with our friends over at Hollywood Suite; who just happen to be having their Annual free preview from Dec 1 through Jan 5th so if you haven't already signed up....go for it.

'Creepy Bits' is an excellent anthology series that supports burgeoning Canadian talent and is yet another example of what we are capable of as storytellers.  

We had the pleasure of talking with creator David J Fernandes, and one of his directors on the series Ashlea Wessel who is beginning to carve out her own space in the genre storytelling world with a debut feature on the way.  David jumped in a little late because of his new born but we really had a great conversation with both of these unique talents. 

Topics ranged from funding, genre films and everything else in-between.  Enjoy our talk with David and Ashlea and check out on 'Creepy Bits: Season 2' on Hollywood suite which is running their annual free preview right now

Even in the face of the horrors of war, art and beauty must prevail...

On this very special episode, we're diving into a look at some very people who are sticking to their principles of creating beauty while defending their country from invasion.  It's time for 'Porcelain War'

Under roaring fighter jets and missile strikes, Ukrainian artists Slava, Anya, and Andrey choose to stay behind and fight, contending with the soldiers they have become. Defiantly finding beauty amid destruction, they show that although it’s easy to make people afraid, it’s hard to destroy their passion for living.

This film is undeniable testament to the human spirit and the importance of art in the face of human tragedies like the war in Ukraine. 

We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-director Brendan Bellomo and producer Paula DuPre Pesman about how 'Porcelain War' came to be.

Porcleain War hits the TIFF Lightbox this Friday.

I won't lie....this business can kick your ass sixteen different ways....which is why it's always important to have help.

On this episode I sit down with noted producer and and founder or Sugar Studios Jijo Reed to discuss the in's and out's of the film and television industry along with his legacy in it and how a place like Sugar Studios is unique in what it provides and so very much more as we go somewhat 'inside baseball' on so many of the moving pieces that come into the art of production on so many levels in Hollywood.

There's an art to doing sci-fi and action on an indie budget...

On this special episode we're diving into two of our favourite things, Science Fiction and Canadian cinema with the new film 'Levels' that opens in theatres tomorrow!

Levels is the story of a young man (Peter Mooney) who after witnessing his girlfriend (Cara Gee) get murdered in front of his eyes goes on a journey where he has to risk it all; including his grasp on reality in order to discover the truth.

It's a great entry into a very thoughtful off shoot of the genre as we get roped into it all via some excellent execution in storytelling and some great performances.

In advance of the films release we had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the stars of the film David Hewlitt about how he got the job, the joys of science-fiction and so very much more.

What was once old and reviled is now fresh and genius....it only took 25 years for it to happen....

On this special episode we are looking at a critically reviled piece of cinema back in 1999 that now on rewatch was underappreciated and ahead of its time.  Ladies and Gentleman; it's time for your 'Breakfast of Champions".

Based on the novel by Kurt Vonnegut, this is the story of Dwayne Hoover (Willis), the most respected business man in Midland City, who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. When Hoover meets Kilgore Trout (Finney), a misunderstood and impoverished writer, their two worlds collide, setting forth a ripple of events that will alter both men's lives -- along with Midland City forever.

Panned and reviled to the point that it almost sent writer/director Alan Rudolph out of Hollywood on a rail, Breakfast of Champions at the time was a misunderstood effort and generally labeled a disaster that the critics hate and the audiences didn't understand.

By nature we critics tend to be a cranky breed but it's important to admit when we're wrong too.

25 years later, we as movie going audiences have evolved quite a bit and are now able to see the unhinged hilarity in this observational underbelly of American life that has been projected through the fun house mirror.  Right now; "Breakfast of Champions" is relevant as ever because back then this story was over the top and gonzo, but now it actually feels like a slice of Americana that many desperate and misunderstood people can relate too.

We had the pleasure of sitting down and talking about the roller coaster ride that has been 'Breakfast of Champions' with writer/director Alan Rudolph as he gives us insight into it all and shines a light on a Canadian film icon who helped bring this film back to life.

'Breakfast of Champions' is in theatres as of Nov 1st in the US and Canada but comes to the Revue Cinema here in Toronto on Nov 5th.   Go rediscover a misunderstood gem of a film.

Beautiful things happen in this world when you get to turn your action up to 11....

On this very special episode we get the pleasure to sit down with one of the modern masters of action as his new film debuted at TIFF a couple of months back and it's on Netflix right now.  It's time for 'The Shadow Strays'

After nearly botching a mission, Codename 13, a prodigal assassin found herself suspended from further duties. The killer teen meets Monji, a young boy who lost his mother to a crime syndicate. When Monji disappeared, 13 turned on setting a path of destruction to find her only friend... even at the cost of defying her mentor and the organization she belongs to; The Shadows.

This is a straight up master class in action cinema and we had the pleasure of sitting down with Writer/Director Timo Tjahjanto about the origins of it all, his loaded female driven ensemble cast and the freedoms of working with Netflix along with very much more....

Romance and Revenge rarely mix....

On this special episode we're going into the way back machine for an interview from a couple of Fantasia Film Fests ago but is now getting it's touring theatrical and VOD run this Nov. 12th. It's time for Compulsus.

Driven by rage, empathy, and something she can’t yet name, Wally (Lesley Smith) secretly patrols the streets at night, taking physical revenge on abusive hipster men on behalf of the survivors who can’t. When law-abiding Lou (Kathleen Dorian) enters her world, love and revenge clash, threatening to infiltrate their relationship.

Compulsus is ultimately less about the gratuitous revenge but more about that these types of assaults are still happening to this day and is really about the horror's of what we AREN'T seeing, which makes it a much more compelling ride.

We had the pleasure of talking with Writer/Director Tara Thorne and Star Lesley Smith about the origins and the experience of it all.

You know there's magic in not quite knowing....

On this very special episode we go down the rabbit hole that lies somewhere between truth and fiction and could easily be adjacent to the Twilight Zone somewhere outside of Winnipeg as we dive head first into the new film 'Don't F**k With Ghosts' which is in select theatres now but coming to VOD platforms by the end of the month.

Filmmaking duo, Adam and Stu (who you may remember from 2020's Faking A Murderer are convinced they need to capitalize on the next paranormal phenomenon, attempting to prove that ghosts are real.

With ease and charm, Stuart Stone and Adam Rodness blur the lines between truth and fiction by gleefully throwing it all in the blender and seeing what comes out.  Don't F**k With Ghosts is that and then some as it has charm for days and gets you invested not only in the quest to prove that ghosts are real but also in the insane journey that is independent filmmaking.

I had the pleasure of talking with Stuart and Adam about the origins of it all and so very much more....

It's always a good time to let your freak flag fly...

On this episode we embrace the world of the one and only Steven Kostanski head on as we look at his new film 'Frankie Freako" which is hitting theatres tomorrow.

Workaholic yuppie Conor is in an existential rut until one night he catches a bizarre ad for a party hotline hosted by a strange dancing goblin: Frankie Freako. Could this be just the recipe to spice up his boring life?

We talked with Steven about the evolution of the project, how he's evolved as a storyteller, the influence of the 1980's video store wave had on him and ultimately what made him want to tell this incredibly silly but ultimately entertaining story.

'Frankie Freako' opens in select theatres tomorrow

Some intellectual properties transcend platforms, formats and anything else we can think of....

On this episode we dive into the deep end over at Prime Video with the second season of 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' coming to a close to be able to get some insight into the epic look and feel of the show which has been delighting audiences all across the globe.

I had the unique opportunity to sit down with director Charlotte Brandstrom & cinematographer Alex Disenhof who worked on the last 2 episodes of Season 1, but also the first AND the last two episodes of Season 2 so their style is unquestionably all over this run.

We talked about the uniqueness of being paired together like they have been, particularly during a TV run but also working with the showrunners and the entire team about crafting this vision of middle earth.

'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' is streaming on Prime Video now.