In The Seats with...

When kicking ass, having a singular focus can be a distinct advantage....On this very special episode we are diving head first into one of our favorite genres with some pedal to the medal action.  It's time for 'Sisu'.During the last desperate days of WWII, a solitary prospector (Jorma Tommila) crosses paths with Nazis on a scorched-earth retreat in northern Finland. When the Nazis steal his gold, they quickly discover that they have just tangled with no ordinary miner. While there is no direct translation for the Finnish word “sisu”, this legendary ex-commando will embody what sisu means: a white-knuckled form of courage and unimaginable determination in the face of overwhelming odds. And no matter what the Nazis throw at him, the one-man death squad will go to outrageous lengths to get his gold back – even if it means killing every last Nazi in his path.This is a 90+ minute intense ride that you won't soon forget.  It's in theatres now but we had the distinct pleasure of sitting down and talking with writer/director Jalmari Helander to talk about the origins of the story and so very much more....'Sisu' is in theatres now....

Someone once told me that 90% of the job in TV and film is in the casting....On this episode we dive back into the world of streaming with our friends over at Apple+ and one of their new shows which is delighting audiences every where.  It's time for 'Shrinking'.Still suffering from his own loss, a therapist (Jason Segel), disregards rules and ethics by telling his patients what he actually thinks in this comedy series created by Segel, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein.It makes all kinds of sense that showrunners with this high a pedigree would have some behind the scenes talent who can live up to the high bar that they set.  We had the unique pleasure of talking with the casting directors on the show, Brett Benner and Debby Romano to talk about the in's and out's of the casting business, how important relationships are and who came up with the idea to pitch TV to Harrison Ford.

The wild west can occasionally be an understatement....On this episode we are back in the wiles of VOD country as we dive into a brand new offering available on all major platforms today.  It's time for 'Organ Trail'.Abigale and her family fall victim to a ruthless gang while making their way across the Oregon Trail. As the only survivor, she will do whatever it takes to retrieve her one earthly possession, her family's horse, from the clutches of the bloodthirsty bandits.It's a thrilling and intense ride and we had the unique pleasure of spending a few minutes with one of the stars of the film, Olivia Applegate.  We asked her about getting the job, the challenges of working outdoors and so very much more....

The eternal fight against evil has to be happening on many fronts....On this episode we dive into the heart of darkness and how evil has to be combatted on a myriad of different fronts.  In theatres and on Premium VOD now, it's time for 'The Pope's Exorcist'.Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe), Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, The Pope’s Exorcist follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.From director Julius Avery we get a really entertaining glimpse into the mechanics of actual cases of possession and why the Vatican always has to keep an eye on such things.  We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Canada's own Alex Essoe who stars in the film as the mother of a possessed young boy desperate for help.  We talked about the horror genre, the unique nature of working with someone like Russell Crowe and so very much more.'The Pope's Exorcist' is in theatres and available on PVOD platforms now.

Sometimes to reach those new summits you've got to climb down....On this episode we are still cleaning up some fun stuff from the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival which just wrapped up in our fair city of Toronto but still has one more day of online streaming for those inclined.  The one we're talking about today is one of them, it's time for 'Subterranean'.Directed and shot by Francois-Xavier “Fix” De Ruydts – one of the few professional caving filmmakers and photographers in Canada — this film offers an extraordinary glimpse into the oddly fascinating world of cavers and uncovers a gripping story of adventure and (if they’re lucky) record-setting discovery.  Calgary-based Katie Graham is a financial analyst in pursuit of breaking the country's depth record at the Bisaro Anima cave in the Rockies. Despite her small stature, Katie's sense of humour, courage and tenacity help her team push past their physical limits as they crawl, climb and ultimately scuba dive kilometres underground towards their goal. Meanwhile, a passionate Vancouver Island team is attempting to link two tunnel systems to create the longest known cave in the country. Leading the crew is Franck Tuot, a French-born amateur caver who is struggling to balance a full-time job and young family with his passion for exploring British Columbia’s seemingly endless network of caves. Ultimately this film is an exploration of the human spirit and it's willingness to get muddy on occasion in order to accomplish something amazing.  We had the pleasure of sitting down with Francois-Xavier to discover the origins of why he wanted to tell this story and so very much more....

To put it simply, death and grief have no rules....On this episode we are once again in the middle of it all at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival as we look at the grieving process and the right for a person to decide when they've had enough.   It's time for 'Jackie The Wolf'.According to author and end-of-life activist Jackie Jencquel, aging is an incurable illness. When she announces her intention to die, shock and debate quickly follow because she simply refuses to live beyond a certain age, no matter her individual health at the time. She announces all this in the hopes that her decision will prompt changes in French law and give others the choice to die, based on a personal decision versus a diagnosis. This film is truly an unconventional conversation that goes beyond the issue and allows us a glimpse at the why of it all, Jackie and her filmmaker son record her last words on a myriad of topics that allow us to get into the genuine psychology of wanting to die, and the grief from loved ones that need to ultimately accept it all..With one last screening this on the today at the last day of the festival (you can still stream it online until the 9th) this film beautifully asks some hard questions and shows how life and death need to be treated with respect and with dignity.  We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Tuki Jencquel to talk about all this and so very much more....

Having a roof over one's head is more of a confidence builder then people can truly ever know....On this episode we're still knee deep in the Hot Docs Canadian Documentary Film Festival (it's almost over but select films are available to stream online) and we're talking about a film that is pulled from the news columns here in Toronto showing a tragic failure of government almost in real time.  It's time for 'Someone Lives Here'.Throughout the COVID pandemic, Toronto has seen a catastrophic increase in homelessness. Sick of seeing his city unable to care for its unhoused people, Khaleel Seivwright quit his job as a full-time carpenter and dedicated himself to building insulated shelters—called “tiny shelters.” Innovatively using body temperature for heating, Khaleel’s efforts garnered international media attention, leading Toronto to propose a possible partnership—only to reverse its decision a week later.A very poignant and very real piece of cinema that so many of us in Toronto got to live through on the news on a daily basis.  We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Zack Russell to find out what led him to pick up his camera, document Khaleel's story and so very much more....

Everyone has to have something to fight for....On this episode and in theatres and on VOD today we get ourselves a little slice of fantasy with a health sprinkling of realism.  It's time for 'Freaks vs The Reich'.Looking to flee the Nazi menace for the shores of America are four super-powered circus performers: there’s beautiful, young, electrically-charged Matilde, Cencio, an albino with the ability to control insects, Mario, a dwarf graced with magnetic powers, and Fulvio, a strongman covered from head to toe with hair. On their heels is the psychotic Franz, an ether-addicted, six-fingered Nazi who runs the nearby circus and believes that the supernaturally gifted quartet will help him turn the tide of the war, delivering the ultimate victory for Hitler and the Reich. Will the “freaks” be able to escape the grasp of the brutal Nazis or will their incredible powers be harnessed in a way that could change both their destinies and the entire course of history forever?'Freaks vs The Reich' is really a unique mashup of various kinds of cinema and it makes for an experience that you just won't want to look away from.  We sat down with co-writer and director Gabrielle Mainetti about the origins of the story and so very much more....

Very often, it's half the battle....On this very special episode we're jumping head first into the work of one of our favourite filmmakers working today.  It's time for Showing Up.A sculptor preparing to open a new show must balance her creative life with the daily dramas of family and friends, in Kelly Reichardt's vibrant and captivatingly funny portrait of art and craft.Starring Michelle Williams and Hong Chau this is an awkward yet charming piece of cinema that highlights the struggle of those working class creative people who still need to hold down a day job in between projects.We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Kelly Reichardt to discuss the origins of the story and so very, very much more

Artificial Intelligence is here....and it's making things weird....On this very special episode we dive head first into some web series content that pulls from the headlines with some upsetting hilarity.  It's time for Content Farm .Content Farm follows two halves of a neural network who learn to be human on the internet, where nothing is original and people’s lives are ruined for fun and views. Clashing together cringe comedy and social commentary, this show is one of the first of its kind to use fully AI deepfake to create their main characters who take over the internet in reality dating shows, influencer marketing and AI-generated melting dog faces. As scary as the real internet, but slightly more charming.It's weird and accurate to the point that it'll make you a little uncomfortable but it's also funny as all hell.  We had the chance to sit down with the creators Lauren Gillis and Alaine Hutton to discuss the origins of it all and so very much more....