Thursday, October 29, 2009

Swank Takes Off As "Amelia"...

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"Amelia" is the Toronto-lensed feature, based on the life of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, starring actors Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor and Virginia Madsen, directed by Mira Nair based on a script by Ronald Bass.

Bass wrote the script using several books on Earhart as sources including author Susan Butler's "East to the Dawn", Mary S. Lovell's "The Sound of the Wings" and Elgin Long's "Amelia Earhart: The Mystery Solved."

The new film chronicles Earhart's rise to fame and her relationship with husband 'George Putnam'.

Historically, Earhart was the first woman to receive the 'Distinguished Flying Cross' for flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean, authored best-selling novels about her flying experiences and was instrumental in the formation of 'The Ninety-Nines' organization for women pilots.

Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean near Howland Island during an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe in 1937.





CFC Debuts "Seth On Survival" Web Pilot...

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The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) has announced the premiere of its newest web series pilot, "Seth On Survival", offerings tips on surviving 'supernatural threats'.

Produced as five 5-minute episodes for online distribution, "Seth On Survival", offers to:

"...teach humanity how to survive the dangerous supernatural threats that surround us everyday: werewolves, zombies, vampires, aliens, leprechauns and cyborgs, to name just a few. With the help of little brother Sam and best friend Graham, Seth researches and tests survival myths and tips before passing them on from SOS HQ in Mom's suburban basement. Your survival is virtually guaranteed..."

Actor Ephraim "Falcon Beach" Ellis stars as 'Seth Greening', eclectic former physics major/professional supernatural survivalist alongside actor Jonathan "Charlie Bartlett" Malen as 'Graham Pochondriak', Seth’s high-strung best friend/right-hand man.

Created/written by CFC alumna Teri Armitage and co-creator Torin Stefanson, "Seth On Survival" is produced by Anneli Ekborn and Michael Gelfand, directed by Craig David Wallace and edited by Jonathan Eagan, Katie Chipperfield.

"Seth On Survival" is produced with donations from Urban Post Production, William F. White, Vapor Music Group, Eastern Script, Wallace Studios @ Centennial College, Technicolor Creative Services, Location Equipment Supply, Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond LLP, Able and the work of cast/crew.

The CFC TV Pilot Program expands training beyond the theoretical by allowing residents to produce/distribute their original series concepts using the web as a means of showcasing talent/projects to the largest possible audience, and in acquiring a license to produce further episodes of the series, for television/or online broadcast.

The program works with emerging creators to develop and produce up to six 5-minute episodes that represent the look, style, and tone of their shows.

The CFC Pilot Program is funded by The Government of Ontario and supported by ACTRA, WGC, DGC, NABET, and IATSE...

Sunday, October 25, 2009

"Star Wars: In Concert"- In Toronto November 26...

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"Star Wars: In Concert" will play Toronto's Air Canada Centre, November 26, 2009.

The Lucasfilm Ltd. live show features composer John Williams' music from all six "Star Wars" films in a multi-media setting with newly edited film sequences projected in tune to the music onto one of the largest LED screens ever taken on tour.

The show will be supported by a live symphony orchestra, a chorus and narrator (Anthony "C3PO" Daniels) to introduce each segment, accompanied by
a traveling exhibit of "Star Wars" film props, models and costumes.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek the trailer promoting "Star Wars Live In Concert"...

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Reitman Joins Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab...

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The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) has confirmed several filmmaking teams and mentors/guests for the 'Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab', a creative/business catalyst for new comedy projects destined for theatrical release, pairing experienced Canadian feature film producers, their writer/or director teams and their scripts, to further develop/package English-language theatrical feature comedies for 2010.

Chaired by actor/writer Eugene "Bobby Bittman" Levy, the Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab, a CFC Film program presented in collaboration with "Just For Laughs", is noted as Canada’s first advanced professional program designed to develop/package theatrical feature-length comedies.

Chosen projects and teams include:

Victory Man Productions’ "Servitude" from writer/producer Michael Sparaga, director Warren P. Sonoda, Resonance Films’ romantic comedy "That Burning Feeling" from writer Nicolas Citton, producer/director Jason James, "Ramington's: Men Of Steel" from writer Sacha Pavlovic, producer Mark Montefiore and the comedy western "Saddlebags" by writer Christine Lippa and producers Elizabeth Yake (True West Films), Angela Heck (Three Bags Full Film, Inc.).

"To me, the Features Comedy Lab is one of the most important building blocks to insure a vibrant future for Canadian film comedy,” said Levy.

Mentors/guests confirmed to date include producer Jimmy "Elf" Miller, Mosaic Media Group, producer/director Ivan "Stripes" Reitman, The Montecito Picture Company, producer Tai "Epic Movie" Duncan, Paul Schiff Productions and producer Alan "Walk The Line" Blomquist, Parallel Entertainment Pictures.


More mentors/guests TBA.

"These developments are a huge vote of confidence in the Comedy Lab concept from the English Canadian feature film community, a response that goes way beyond what we expected," said Sheila de La Varende, Director of National & International Business Development, Telefilm Canada.

"...The Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab seeks to advance the comedy genre in Canada and generate comedies that achieve commercial and critical success. Starting in November 2009, the three-month program will see filmmaking teams and their feature comedy scripts engage in workshops, master classes and intimate one-on-one sessions with leading industry professionals to strengthen their scripts and increase their packaging appeal for investment..."

Toronto Film Production Update- October 2009...

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TV SERIES:

Being Erica (Season 2
Jun 01/09 - Nov 16/09

Copper
Jun 13/09 - Dec 01/09

Crash and Burn

Dan for Mayor
Sep 14/09- Nov 20/09

Happy Town
Mar 11/09 - Apr 04/10

Murdoch Mysteries (Season 3)
Jul 08/09 - Nov 17/09

Overruled! Season III
Oct 19/09 - Dec 01/09

Features, Films, Movies of the Week, TV Miniseries,
New Media:

A Kiss and a Promise
Nov 10/09- Dec 05/09

American Wife
Oct 31/09 - Oct 01/09

Beat the World
Sep 28/09- Nov 02/09

Clark Rockefeller
Oct 19/09 - Nov 13/09

Devil
Oct 24/09 -Dec 12/09

Do I Come On Too Strong
Nov 01/09 - Nov 02/09

Every Emotion Costs
Nov 01/09 - Nov 21/09

Hangnail
Nov 07/09 - Nov 08/09

Knock, Knock
Oct 02/09 - Dec 11/09

Lois Wilson Story
Nov 5- Dec 8/09

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas
Oct 13/09 - Nov 02/09

Oliver Sherman
Oct 13/09 - Nov 11/09

Resident Evil IV: Afterlife
Sep 26/09 - Dec 19/09

Small Town Murder Scenes
Oct 13/09 - Nov 14/09

Summer Strikes Back
Sep 28/09 - Oct 31/09

Textuality
Nov 30/09 - Dec 30/09

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

John Woo's "Red Cliff"- December 11, 2009...

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"Red Cliff" is the Chinese-produced feature film, based on the 'Battle of Red Cliffs' and events during the end of the 'Han Dynasty', prior to the period of the 'Three Kingdoms' in ancient China.

The film was directed by John "Face/Off" Woo, starring actors Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling and Zhao Wei.

With an estimated budget of $80 million, "Red Cliff" is considered the most expensive Asian-financed film to date.

The film opens with power hungry Prime Minister-turned-General 'Cao Cao' (Zhang Fengyi) seeking permission from the Han dynasty Emperor to organize a southward-bound mission designed to crush troublesome warlords 'Liu Bei' (You Yong) and 'Sun Quan' (Chang Chen).

"...As the expedition gets under way, Cao Cao's troops rain destruction on Liu Bei's army, forcing the latter to retreat. Liu Bei's military strategist 'Zhuge Liang' (Takeshi Kaneshiro) knows that their only hope for survival is to form an alliance with rival warlord Sun Quan, and reaches out to Sun Quan’s trusted advisor, war hero 'Zhou Yu' (Tony Leung). Vastly outnumbered by Cao Cao’s fast approaching, brutal army, the rebel warlords band together to mount a heroic campaign unrivalled in history, that will change the face of China forever..."

"Red Cliff" was first glorified in the classic Chinese novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

Although written over seven hundred years ago, the novel is still widely read all over Asia and has spawned video games and comic books.

"Red Cliff" will open in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, December 11, 2009.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek the trailer for "Red Cliff"...



"U2" Concert Free On YouTube- October 25...

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Irish rockers "U2" have teamed up with YouTube to stream the band's Los Angeles concert FREE of charge, Sunday Oct. 25.

The show starts @ 8:30 PM from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, to be broadcast live and available in the US, England, France, Canada, Italy, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Mexico, India, Israel, South Korea and the Netherlands.

After the live stream, the concert will also be made available on U2's own YouTube channel, following replays on YouTube.


Sneak Peek the official HD clip, promoting the upcoming concert...


Saturday, October 17, 2009

"Deathlands- Homeward Bound"...

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CLICK HERE FOR MORE "DEATHLANDS: HOMEWARD BOUND"...

Friday, October 16, 2009

"Green Lantern" Powering Up In Canada ?...

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Warner Bros Pictures has confirmed they have pulled the upcoming big budget, DC comic book film "Green Lantern" out of Australia.

The decision was made due to "the current global economic situation, including fluctuations in currency valuation and overall costs."

"After working closely with our partners at the NSW Film and Television Office (Screen NSW) and examining every scenario, we have decided to move the production of 'Green Lantern.' We are extremely grateful for the assistance we have received from the NSW Government, Fox Studios and the NSW filmmaking community," said the studio.

Industry sources now confirm that "Green Lantern" will likely shift production to Canada.

Lead actor Ryan Reynolds is Canadian (good for tax credits), Ontario has a generous tax program, (better for tax credits) and Pinewood Toronto Studios took over Toronto's Filmport, with the largest studio sound stage in North America, now ready to take on a bigger comic book project after booking Universal's "Scott Pilgrim" last summer.

Vancouver has been a favourite production centre for Warners, ever since the success of 'Superman'-themed "Smallville", but since last year's lacklustre box office performance of "Watchmen" the studio is now seriously considering Toronto.

To be directed by Martin "Casino Royale" Campbell, "Green Lantern", based on the DC Comics character is set for a summer 2011 release.

In Toronto, the Ontario government has offered generous tax breaks to the new "Resident Evil: Afterlife" feature, Steven Spielberg's untitled alien invasion series for TNT, Universal's "Scott Pilgrim" and producer M. Knight Shyamalan's upcoming feature "Devil".

Meanwhile Sneak Peek the HD trailer for "Green Lantern: First Flight", the fifth entry in the DVD series of Warners' DC Universe animated movies...


Molly Parker In "Oliver Sherman"...

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Canadian actress Molly "Deadwood" Parker and actor Garret "The Road" Dillahunt will star in the Canadian indie feature "Oliver Sherman" from producers, Film Works.

Parker and Dillahunt worked together on HBO's "Deadwood" and on the feature adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," due for release November 25.

Premise of "Oliver Sherman," follows a 'disconnected' war vet who searches for the soldier who saved his life in combat, now living quietly in a rural town with his wife and two children.

The film will shoot in northern Ontario from writer/director Ryan Redford.

Canadian distribution has been guaranteed by Mongrel Media...

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Superhero Costumes: Suit Yourself...

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Click on any of the costumes to order:

The official "Batgirl" costume, from a licensed line of stage quality wardrobes, includes jumpsuit, bustier, cape, gauntlets, boot covers, collar, belt and eye mask.

There have been many incarnations of "Batgirl" since the 1960's including 'Barbara Gordon', the Gotham police commissioner's daughter and 'Barbara Wilson', the niece of 'Alfred', butler to 'Bruce Wayne'.

Authentic Batgirl Costume - Ultra Supreme Batgirl Costume

Adult Batgirl Secret Wishes Costume - Authentic Batman Costumes

The officially licensed 'Gotham Girls' "Poison Ivy" costume includes lime and vine green velvet leotard with vine sleevelets, lime green tights, vine boot tops and red wig.

Adult Poison Ivy Costume - Gotham Girls Batman Costumes

The official "Catwoman" costume includes a vinyl suit, mask and gloves.

Sexy Catwoman Costume - Catwoman Costumes

The official "Supergirl" costume includes red and blue polyester pull-over dress with velvet bodice and embroidered Superman emblem, metallic lamae skirt, attached red lamae cape, adjustable gold belt and metallic red boots with gold accents.

Sexy Supergirl Costume - Sexy Halloween Costumes

The official "Harley Quinn" costume includes the jumpsuit with attached boot tops, collar, eye mask, gloves and headpiece.

"Harley Quinn" is a super-villain in the animated "Batman" TV series as well as DC's "Batman" comics. She has an unhealthy obsession with the "Joker" and revels in her relationship with "Poison Ivy"...

Adult Gotham Girls Harley Quinn Costume - Authentic Batman Costumes

Thursday, October 8, 2009

OMNI's "Once Upon A Time In Toronto"- October 17...

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OMNI Television (Rogers Media) presented a launch event October 8 @ Toronto's downtown Metropolitan Hotel in support of OMNI's new Chinese/Canadian dramatic TV series "Once Upon a Time in Toronto".

The 20-part Mandarin-language series will debut across OMNI stations in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, Saturday October 17th at 8pm, noted as the first mutually supported television production between a Canadian company (Goldspin) and China (Western Movie Group).


OMNI Television will launch "Once Upon A Time In Toronto" October 17th in Vancouver/Victoria on OMNI BC (CHNM-TV), in Calgary on OMNI Calgary (CJCO-TV), in Edmonton on OMNI Edmonton (CJEO-TV) and in Ontario on OMNI.2 (CJMT-TV).

Two back-to-back 1-hour episodes will also be aired in Toronto each week, with Mandarin language dialogue subtitled in Chinese/English.

"This is a proud achievement for Rogers," said Leslie Sole, CEO, Television at Rogers Media.

"'Once Upon a Time in Toronto' reflects the immigrant experience in a tale that relates to people beyond borders, a landmark in multilingual/multicultural television production around the world.”

Director Yang Ya-Zhou and son

Premise of the series follows the intertwining lives of a group of people from different linguistic/cultural backgrounds, forced to deal with emotions and each other, following a tragic accident.

Irene Chu of Toronto's Goldspin Productions Inc. is the Canadian executive producer of the series, directed by China's Yang Ya-Zhou, starring actress Ni Ping as 'Duan Ling', Vancouver's Lora Sun as her daughter 'Zhuang Xiaodie', Elder Vern Harper, a leading member of the Cree First Nation and St. Catherines' Sydney Shugan, discovered during production.

"Once Upon a Time in Toronto" was made possible by OMNI's Independent Producers Initiative, a $32.5 million independent production fund that has so far supported over 400 hours of documentary programming....

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

"The Boondock Saints II : All Saints Day"...

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Writer/director Troy Duffy's, Ontario-lensed sequel "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day" was filmed in various locations throughout the province including the city of Hamilton, McVeigh's Irish Pub in Toronto, Metropolitan United Church at 56 Queen Street East, Toronto and at the downtown campus of the University of Toronto.

"..."All Saints Day" is the continuation of writer/director Troy Duffy's tough, stylized cutting edge saga of the 'MacManus' brothers played by Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery.

While in hiding with their father, 'Il Duce' (Billy Connolly), the brothers learn that a beloved priest has been killed by sinister forces from deep within the mob and return to Boston to mount a violent and bloody crusade to bring justice to those responsible..."

Click the poster image to enlarge and Sneak Peek the official HD trailer of "All Saints Day".

Monday, October 5, 2009

CBS Sparks To More "Flashpoint"...

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CBS has confirmed picking up another 13-episode cycle of the Toronto-lensed TV series "Flashpoint," the 'procedural crime drama' starring actors Hugh Dillon and Enrico Colantoni as crisis response officers.

"...Inspired by Toronto ’s real life Emergency Task Force, FLASHPOINT is an emotional journey following the lives of an elite police tactical team, the Strategic Response Unit (SRU). The SRU is a team of cops like no other – they’re the elite, the blueblood of the force. High risk is their business, and life-and-death stakes are their world. The action-packed series highlights both the tactical and the psychological aspects of police work and examines the emotional toll of bearing constant witness to the extremes of human distress..."

Phase 4 Films will release Season One of "Flashpoint" on DVD/Blu-ray on October 13.

"Flashpoint" is a co-production between Pink Sky, Avamar Entertainment, CBS TV Studios and CTV.

Sneak Peek a clip from "Flashpoint"...


Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Must Be The Season Of The "Witchblade"...

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"Witchblade", published by Top Cow Productions an imprint of Image Comics, was created by Top Cow editors Marc Silvestri and David Wohl, writers Brian Haberlin, Christina Z, and artist Michael Turner.

The series follows the lives of two women in New York City, 'Sara Pezzini' and 'Danielle Baptiste'.

Sara is an NYPD homicide detective who comes into possession of the 'Witchblade', a supernatural, sentient artifact with immense destructive and protective powers. The weapon has bonded with various women throughout history, Danielle being the most recent. Others who have come into contact with the Witchblade include Cleopatra and Joan of Arc.

Sara struggles to hone the powers of the Witchblade and fend off those with a nefarious interest in it, including entrepreneur 'Kenneth Irons'.

"Witchblade" was adapted into a 2-season Toronto-lensed TV series in 2001-2002, starring actress Yancy Butler as Sara.

A new live-action feature, based on the comic book series continues in active development, to be directed by Michael "Queen Of The Damned" Rymer, from a screenplay by Everett De Roche.

Top Cow's Silvestri and Matt Hawkins will executive produce with Platinum Studios' Rich Marincic and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg...

Sneak Peek an intro from the "Witchblade TV series...