"Resident Evil: Afterlife" Beats "Porky's"

According to the Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC), Toronto producer Don Carmody's "Resident Evil: Afterlife", has so far earned worldwide box office receipts exceeding $280 million, making it the most successful production in Canadian feature film history, surpassing Carmody's 1980's sex comedy "Porky's".
The Toronto-lensed "Resident Evil: Afterlife", a Canadian-German-France co-production produced by Constantin Film (Germany) and Davis Films/Impact Pictures (France), released in the United States by Sony Screen Gems, internationally by Summit Pictures and by Alliance Films in Canada, was completed, shot and posted in stereoscopic 3D in Ontario, where both government and private sector investment has helped the jurisdiction emerge as a 'cutting-edge' centre of 3D production and technology.

"The Ontario Media Development Corporation is proud to have supported 'Resident Evil: Afterlife' and is pleased to watch it take its place in Canadian feature film history," said Karen Thorne-Stone, President, CEO, Ontario Media Development Corporation.

"Its remarkable worldwide success is a testimonial to the talent, skill and professionalism of the province's film production industry and continues to prove that the Canadian feature film industry is thriving."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Resident Evil: Afterlife"...

Joker Sells "Daydream Nation" To Anchor Bay

Following the Canadian film "Daydream Nation", opening September's TIFF 'Canada First! Program', Tim Brown's Joker Films has now sold director Michael Goldbach’s first feature to Anchor Bay Films, who acquired distribution rights for the US, UK and Australia/New Zealand territories.

"...'Caroline Wexler' (Kat Dennings) is a witty, sexy 17 year old who quickly realizes she has little in common with the 'hicks' that populate her new high school. So she has an affair with the one person she connects with – her handsome young teacher, 'Mr. Anderson'. Caroline’s extracurricular affair takes a turn for the worse when she realizes Andreson is not only deeply dysfunctional, but also tormented by a mysterious past. When she breaks off the affair in favor of a classmate, Anderson does everything to sabotage the budding high school romance. Caroline’s chaotic life begins to mirror the hysteria of the small town as rumors of a killer start to swirl. In the middle of a high school party-turned full blown riot, Caroline’s life changes forever..."

The film also stars Reece Thompson, Andie McDowell, Rachel Blanchard and Josh Lucas.

"Daydream Nation" was produced by Trish Dolman and Christine Haebler of Screen Siren Pictures and The Film Farm, in association with Lila 9th Productions.

The film will be released theatrically by Anchor Bay in 2011.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Daydream Nation"...

"Zombie Rock" @ The "Toronto Zombie Walk"

Saturday October 23rd, thousands of 'zombies' took over the streets of downtown Toronto for the 8th annual "Toronto Zombie Walk".

Creatively made up performers shambled their way out of Trinity Bellwood's Park, along Dundas Street East, though Kensington Market, and along Bloor Street West before congregating in hordes @ Christie Pits Park, to hear a special outdoor concert by 'The Von Drats'.

Due to over 6,000 zombie participants at last year's Walk, organizers this year initiated a registration process, presenting all zombies with a collectible 'TZW' toe tag.

Singer 'Oderus Urungus' of Canadian metal band 'GWAR' was awarded the title of 'First Honorary Grand Marshall' by event organizers before the start of the Walk.

Most participants in the 'Walk' were 'dead-serious' about their zombie portrayals, featuring startling make-ups and prosthetics.

The evening was topped off with an Official After Party @ Queen Street West's "Bovine Sex Club", free for all zombies, featuring the band "Delinquints".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek our exclusive video of the"Toronto Zombie Walk" featuring the song "Zombie Rock" by Stevens & Puzzella...

IMAX Increases Network Growth

Toronto-based IMAX Corporation reports that 100 theatre system signings in 2010 has led to the company's increased network growth outlook.

"Today, our Company is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the entertainment industry, innovation, and the digital age, which have come together to reinvent the IMAX business in many important ways," said IMAX Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Gelfond.

"We believe the combination of continued consumer enthusiasm for the IMAX brand worldwide, increasing demand from our exhibitor partners and film commitments from studios as far out as 2013 is setting the stage for long-term growth."

During the third quarter of 2010, the Company signed contracts for 100 theatre systems, compared to 13 theatre systems in the third quarter of 2009. Through the first nine months, the Company has signed contracts for 198 theatre systems, compared to 23 theatre systems for the same period in 2009.

"This quarter not only reflected the strong demand for 'The IMAX Experience' from moviegoers, but also from exhibitors around the globe," said Gelfond. "We experienced another strong quarter of box office growth, lead by Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. Pictures' 2D sci-fi actioner, 'Inception', which grossed over $50 million in IMAX theatres, making it our fourth highest grossing DMR title of all time. The performance of 'Inception' demonstrated how our fans seek out IMAX because it is the best way to experience a movie, whether in 2D or 3D.

"As we look ahead to the fourth quarter, we are excited about our coming line-up of titles, which includes DreamWorks Animation's 'Megamind', part one of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' from Warner Bros. and Disney's 'TRON: Legacy'."

Click the images to enlarge...

"Flashpoint": Season 2- November 16

Phase 4 Films reports that the DVD release of the complete second season of the Toronto-lensed TV series "Flashpoint", will be November 16, 2010.

Concurrently with the release of the complete second season, Phase 4 Films will release 'Season 2, Volume 2' of the series.

"Flashpoint" stars Hugh Dillon, Enrico Colantoni, Amy Jo Johnson and David Paetkau.

"...'Flashpoint' is a dramatic action series that depicts the risk-filled lives of members of the 'Strategic Response Unit' (SRU) - an elite team of tactical police officers who specialize in high-risk critical incidents. Highly trained in both tactics and psychology, this team thrives under pressure, making split-second decisions while lives hang in the balance..."

The series airs on CTV in Canada and CBC in the US, produced by Pink Sky Entertainment Inc. and Avamar Entertainment Inc., in association with CTV and CBS Television Studios, Inc., executive produced by Anne Marie La Traverse and Bill Mustos. The show was co-created by Mark Ellis and Stephanie Morgenstern.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Flashpoint"...

Congratulations: Rob Ford Is Toronto's New Mayor !

Rob Ford, the 10-year Toronto city councillor who campaigned against waste at City Hall, is the new mayor of Toronto, despite months of bad press by local newspapers The Toronto Star and Globe & Mail.

With 80 per cent of polls reporting, Mr. Ford took almost 50 per cent of the vote, compared to 33 per cent for former Ontario deputy premier George Smitherman and 11 per cent for third-place finisher Joe Pantalone, the current deputy mayor.

Early results also indicated major shakeups on council, with numerous incumbents under threat.

Polls closed just after 8 p.m. ET Monday in a series of contested municipal races in Toronto, Ottawa, London, Hamilton, Windsor and other major Ontario cities.

Many experts had predicted that a Ford victory could herald a conservative sweep in next fall's Ontario election.

Throughout the Toronto mayoral campaign, Ford stuck to his now-famous four-word slogan: 'Stop the Gravy Train'...

CRTC Approves Canwest Broadcast Plan

Canwest Global Communications Corp. ('Canwest') reports that the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the 'CRTC') has issued a favourable decision in the matter of the purchase and sale transaction contemplated by the amended and restated consolidated plan of compromise, arrangement and reorganization (the 'Plan') of Canwest, Canwest Media Inc. ('CMI') and certain of CMI’s subsidiaries (collectively, the 'CMI Entities').

"...The CRTC’s approval of the change of control of Canwest’s broadcasting undertakings satisfies a key closing condition of the Plan and paves the way for implementation of the transactions contemplated by the Plan. Assuming satisfaction or waiver of any remaining conditions under the Plan, the CMI Entities, Shaw Communications Inc (“Shaw”) and the members of the ad hoc committee of holders of CMI’s 8% senior subordinated notes will move expeditiously to close the purchase and sale transaction and implement the Plan pursuant to the terms of previously announced agreements..."

Universal Unleashes The Next Big "Thing"

Sneak Peek new images from director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.'s, Toronto-lensed "The Thing", a Universal, sci fi horror prequel to director John Carpenter's 1982 feature, following a 4 month shoot @ Toronto's Pinewood Studios.

According to Universal, "The Thing" will be released April 29, 2011.

"...Antarctica. An extraordinary continent of awesome beauty. It is also home to an isolated outpost where a discovery full of scientific possibility becomes a mission of survival when an alien is unearthed by a crew of international scientists.

"The shape-shifting creature, accidentally unleashed at this marooned colony, has the ability to turn itself into a perfect replica of any living being. It can look just like you or me, but inside, it remains inhuman.

"In the thriller 'The Thing', paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers as they’re infected, one by one, by a mystery from another planet.

"Paleontologist 'Kate Lloyd' (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has traveled to the desolate region for the expedition of her lifetime. Joining a Norwegian scientific team that has stumbled across an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice, she discovers an organism that seems to have died in the crash eons ago. But it is about to wake up.

"When a simple experiment frees the alien from its frozen prison, Kate must join the crew’s pilot, 'Carter' (Joel Edgerton), to keep it from killing them off one at a time. And in this vast, intense land, a parasite that can mimic anything it touches will pit human against human as it tries to survive and flourish..."

Carpenter's "The Thing" originally adapted the 1938 "Astounding Magazine" 'novella' "Who Goes There", by author John W. Campbell Jr.

The short story was also the basis of the 1951 feature "The Thing From Another World" from producer Howard Hawks and director Christan Nyby.

Premise of Campbell's original story focused on a group of scientific researchers, isolated in Antarctica, that discover an alien spaceship buried in the ice. The men unwittingly recover the alien pilot that can assume the shape, memories and personality of any living creature.

Strike Entertainment's Eric Newman and Marc Abraham produced "The Thing" prequel, with David Foster executive producing, from a screenplay by Eric Heisserer.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Carpenter's "The Thing", "The Thing" video game and Nyby's "The Thing"...

Syfy Renews Toronto-Lensed "Warehouse 13"

Buoyed by strong ratings, Syfy reports a 13-episode, third season pickup for the Toronto-lensed, genre 'dramedy' "Warehouse 13", returning in 2011, with showrunner Jack Kenny signing a new development deal that will also return him for a third season as Executive Producer.

During its second season, viewership of "Warehouse 13" averaged 1.48 million Adults 18-49 and 1.78 million Adults 25-54.

"Jack Kenny’s superlative leadership and the incredible talent of his cast and crew delivered an outstanding second season of 'Warehouse 13'," said Mark Stern, Executive Vice President, Programming, Syfy, and Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions.

Airing Tuesday nights, "Warehouse 13" follows two government 'Secret Service' agents who find themselves transferred to a top-secret storage facility in South Dakota, housing every strange artifact, mysterious relic, and fantastical object ever collected by the US government.

The Warehouse’s caretaker 'Artie Nielsen' (Saul Rubinek) charges Agents 'Pete Lattimer' (Eddie McClintock) and 'Myka Bering' (Joanne Kelly) with chasing down reports of supernatural and paranormal activity in search of new objects to cache at the facility. Also starring is Allison Scagliotti as 'Claudia', Artie’s apprentice.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Warehouse 13"...

"Red- New Edition"- October 6

Sneak Peek the cover and interior art to DC Comics' "Red- New Edition", written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Cully Hamner, supporting the upcoming Summit Entertainment Toronto-lensed feature :

"...Warren Ellis's fast-paced tale of intrigue and revenge is back in a new edition collecting the 3-issue miniseries under a new cover by Cully Hamner that also includes the script to issue #1 and never-before-seen developmental art by Hamner!

"As a C.I.A. operative, the 'talent' that 'Paul Moses' has, took him around the world from one hotspot to another, carrying out the deadly orders of his superiors. When he retired, he wanted to put his bloody past behind him. But when a new administration takes over the White House, the powers that be decide that Moses knows too much, forcing him back into the game against the agency that trained him..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Red"...

'Corus Key' Makes Waves Along Toronto's Waterfront

Toronto-based Corus Entertainment reports on their official opening of 'Corus Quay' - the Company's new Canadian headquarters built along Toronto's waterfront.

"...Corus Quay integrates advanced digital technologies and automated systems that transform Corus' broadcast and content businesses making Corus Quay North America's most advanced broadcast facility and Toronto's smartest building..."

"Corus Quay gave us the opportunity to transform the operational and technological processes that underpin our business," said John Cassaday, President, CEO, Corus Entertainment. "Our fully integrated digital infrastructure provides Corus with the agility to respond to our customers needs in a changing marketplace. Corus Quay will also allow us to efficiently leverage all future growth opportunities."

"With a fully integrated and 100% digital infrastructure, Corus is more prepared than anyone for a digital world because it can deliver content to distributors in any format for any platform with equal speed and efficiency," said Marcos Gonzalez-Flower, Global Head, Media Consulting, Siemens IT Solutions and Services, Inc.

Corus has consolidated its Toronto-based operations from 11 distinct locations, including 24 television services, three Toronto radio stations and over 1,100 employees into one facility, with a configuration allowing up to three times as many services to be delivered from the facility.

The open concept office space creates a collaborative and innovative work environment, including environmentally advances of a five-storey bio wall for air filtration, a green roof and energy efficient lighting. Corus Quay also uses low-flow water fixtures and re-used rainwater to reduce water consumption.

The building is the anchor project in the revitalization of 'East Bayfront', "...bringing life, energy and business opportunities to Toronto's waterfront..."

Click the images to enlarge...