Getting enlightened to history that you both knew and didn't know was there is more then eye opening....

We're in the thick of the madness at the Toronto International Film Festival and there 50th anniversary as we had the honor to take in a brand new documentary that enlightens us to the realties of the history of racism in Canada and beyond in the brilliant 'True North'.

Through the use of never before seen compelling historic archives and the voices of those who lived through the tumultuous period of 1960s Montreal, 'True North' uses a bold cinematic aesthetic that centers the power of memory and archive to expose the pivotal events of a moment that impacted the global movement for Black liberation.

'True North' is the kind of film that allows us to experience the realities of the time rather then get a didactic retelling of the history of it all and it makes for an immersive piece of cinema that transcends any kind of social politics and allows us to appreciate the genuine emotion of the time.

We had the pleasure of sitting and talking with filmmaker Michèle Stephenson about this and so very much more with the film making it's World Premiere at TIFF.

Keep your eyes open for 'True North' as it makes the festival rounds because it's an important piece of not only Canadian history but Canadian cinema as well.

Sometimes it's easy to forget to look up....

On this very special episode we dive into a movie on VOD platforms now that reminds us the need to look up.  It's time for 'Star People'.

On March 13, 1997, thousands of people in Arizona witnessed the largest mass UFO sighting in U.S. history—now famously known as The Phoenix Lights. Among them was 10-year-old Claire, who felt as if the lights called to her. Years later, Claire (Kat Cunning), now a photographer, is still chasing that moment, hoping to capture the lights on camera and finally make sense of what she saw.  When a mysterious tip leads her deep into the Arizona desert during a deadly heatwave with her UFO streamer boyfriend (Connor Paolo) and troubled brother (McCabe Slye)  in tow, they encounter a vulnerable immigrant family whose plight complicates her mission. As tensions rise, Claire searches for the answers she seeks on terra firma and among the stars.

We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Adam Finberg to discuss the origins of the story and so very much more.

'Star People' is on VOD platforms now,

Story always has to come first....

On this special episode we look a sweet little rom-com that also happens to be an indigenous story.  It's time for 'Sweet Summer Pow-Wow'.

'Sweet Summer Pow Wow' is the story of a young Indigenous couple get a break from their troubled lives when they find each other through a summer of love on the Pow-Wow circuit.

We've seen the story of young love finding each other in the middle of challenges in their youth before but seeing it through the prism of indigenous storytelling we are reminded that we're all pretty damn similar in the first place.

And that's the whole point as we talk with co-writer/director Darrell Dennis and his star Tatyana Rose Baptiste about the importance of leading with story first, the built in nature of storytelling and the myriad of franchises that could be out there if Hollywood wants to mine some indigenous culture in a money making kind of way.

'Sweet Summer Pow Wow' is in theatres now.

There's nothing wrong with embracing a little bit of the weird....

On this special episode we look at some indie DIY animation that embraces being a little out there.  It's time for 'Boys Of Jupiter'.

It's the day after Christmas in suburban Florida and Billy 5000 (Jack Corbett) and his friends pass the seemingly endless days by slacking, shoplifting, and beatboxing. In between lounging on the beach and sneaking into pools, Billy spends his time hustling on the food-on-demand app Grubster, desperate to make $5,000 before New Year's Eve. As he darts around the city delivering to a series of oddball characters, a routine stop at the mysterious Dolphin Groves Juice Company leads to a run-in with his former classmate—and crush—Rozebud (Miya Folick) and a surprise backpack stowaway in Donut, a bizarre creature from another world. But Dr. Dolphin (Janeane Garofalo), the powerful orange juice CEO, will do anything to get Donut back, and Billy is forced to make hard choices about love, friendship, and how far he'll go for financial security in a world ruled by capitalism.

It's indie animation with a Gen-Z slacker feel that borrows from anyone from Kevin Smith and even Richard Linklater and we had the pleas of sitting down with writer/director Julian Glander about doing animation on a shoestring budget, the rounded edges of this universe and so very much more....

'Boys of Jupiter' is at the TIFF Lightbox now.

It's so easy to forget sometimes that the most important thing you can do sometimes is just not give up...

On this episode we dive into the world of hand drawn animation being produced by a country for the very first time.  It's time for 'The Glassworker'.

'The Glassworker' is the story of a young glassblower in training and his relationships over the years, as his land goes through war and strife.

Evoking memories of Studio Ghibli and Cartoon Saloon this is a personal and inspirational story on so many levels we had the pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Usman Riaz about not only the origins of the story but the origins of him mounting his own animation studio which is a first for Pakistan and a reminder in the power of simply not quitting as this film is easily over 10 years in the making.

'The Glassworker' is playing at the TIFF Lightbox now.

When you can survive the meat grinder of the news cycle AND late night comedy for over 1600 episodes....you must be pretty good at your job.

On this episode we go into the writers room of one of the most successful late night TV shows of the modern age, welcome to 'The Daily Show'.

It's never 'old hat' for head writer Dan Amira who has been nominated (and won) at the Emmys on multiple occasions.  We talk about the evolution of show over the years, the stress of having to throw out something you've already written based on some news that just came down the wire, the importance of research and working on his dream job.

'The Daily Show' airs on Comedy Central in the States, CTV here in Canada and shows up the next day on Paramount Plus everywhere.

Small town life can come with its complications....

On this very special episode we engage in one of our favourite past times by taking in some high quality Canadiana.  It's time for 'Sweet Angel Baby'.

It takes us to a small seaside fishing town, where a young woman has her life upended after her online presence and persona strains relationships inside the community.

If you've ever lived in a small town, you know where this one is going, but kudos to writer/director Melanie Oates for really bringing some nuance and genuine humanity to this story.

We talked with Melanie about where it all began, shooting the film, the art of storytelling and so very much more....

'Sweet Angel Baby' is in the theatres this Friday Aug 15th.

Discussions are important, but actually educating ourselves on the things we're going to have discussions about is that much more important.

On this very special episode we get a little heavy and a little serious as a film that has been doing it's festival tour to much protest and objection is now available for the masses to see for themselves.

Without authorization, filmmaker Anastasia Trofimova embeds in a Russian Army battalion fighting in Ukraine. Gaining rare access, she captures a conflict that shatters families, history, and identity. Her raw, frontline footage reveals disillusioned soldiers questioning their purpose.

It's a stark and stunning piece of cinema that reiterates the simple truth that no on ever really wins at war.

After it's various protests and obstacles placed in front of the release of the film, it's finally being made available to masses to rent directly from the filmmakers at their new website; www.russiansatwar.com

Along with the film, behind the scenes footages and stories surrounding the controversy of the film, this website is really is the complete package to get a sense of the entire story of this film, which has evolved beyond what Anastasia put on the screen.

We got to talk with Anastasia as well as producer Cornelia Principe about the journey of the film and so very much more....

Visit www.russiansatwar.com to learn more....

When you are looking into the soul of a rock star things can get a little heavy...

On this episode we dive into even more Emmy nominated goodness as we go on stage to get a little insight into what makes a rock star with 'Bono: Stories of Surrender'.

Bono shares life stories and U2 songs in an intimate show, exploring relationships with family, friends, and faith. Features unseen footage from his Beacon Theatre performances of "Stories of Surrender."

Capturing a show like this for the screen can always be a unique challenge which is why director Andrew Dominik and award winning (and Emmy nominated) DP Erik Messerschmidt were up for the challenge.

We talked with Erik about coming onto a show like this, the unique way in way they shot it, working with icons and how he stays focused on the job.

'Bono: Stories of Surrender' is on Apple + now.

You can do more then you can imagine in a short amount of time....

On this episode we are looking at even more Emmy nominated stuff as we go behind the scenes on one of the bigger and bolder episodes of a sitcom that this critic has ever seen.  It's time for 'The Righteous Gemstones'.

In Season 4, Episode 1, "Prelude" takes us to the height of the civil war where Elijah Gemstone (Bradley Cooper) receives a divine wake up call.

It's only 39 minutes long, but it's as busy and loaded as a feature film and a big part of that is cinematographer Paul Daley as this is a big and loud (and Emmy Nominated) episode.

We got to talk to Paul about coming on to the job, the freedom he had to give this a big and bold feel while shooting mostly out in the wilderness and so very much more....

Catch up on 'The Righteous Gemstones; on Crave up here in Canada.