Will "Green Lantern" Power Up In Toronto...?

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Reports suggest that Pinewood Toronto (formerly Filmport), the largest (and newest) indoor film studio facility in North America, may host Warners upcoming adaptation of DC Comics "Green Lantern".

The film's scheduled shoot in Australia (where the poorly-performing "Superman Returns" was lensed), could push ballooning production costs north of $150 million.

At issue is that the film would no longer qualify for certain tax credits, making an Australian start more expensive than filming in Toronto, where the Ontario government is offering generous tax breaks for 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 "Devil" .

The fact that Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds has already been cast as 'Hal Jordan', aka 'Green Lantern' will also go a long way towards sweetening up a Canadian film tax credit package.

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

Spielberg Invades Burlington, Ontario...

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Executive producer Steven Spielberg’s untitled DreamWorks/TNT alien-invasion drama pilot will shoot for two weeks in Ontario.

Premise of the pilot focuses on a group of people battling an 'occupying' alien force.

The Ontario location shoot is scheduled for the Hamilton, Ontario area, where provincial tax breaks are even more generous than shooting in Toronto.

The pilot stars actor Noah "ER" Wyle, with Spielberg on location last week at Burlington's Royal Botanical Gardens, along with Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey and writer Bob Rodat.

Carl "Devil In A Blue Dress" Franklin is directing the pilot...

Shyamalan's "Devil" Gets The Hell Out Of Philadelphia...

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The upcoming feature "Devil" from producer M. Night "The Sixth Sense" Shyamalan is reportedly moving production out of Philadelphia to tax-friendly Toronto.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, officials with the state film office say the director's planned move is due to uncertainty over whether Pennsylvania's film tax credit will be approved in the state's budget.

Shyamalan lives near the Philly suburb of Malvern, filming eight of his nine features in the region.

"Devil", due for a 2011 release will be directed by brothers Drew and John Erick Dowdle, noted for horror thriller "The Poughkeepsie Tapes".

The film is to be the first property in the "Night Chronicles" series of films, in which Shyamalan will create the central premise, then pass the idea to suitable writers/directors to develop into a feature.

Screenplay for "Devil" is by writer Brian "30 Days Of Night" Nelson.

Sneak Peek the original trailer for "The Poughkeepsie Tapes"...

Syfy Renews Toronto-Lensed "Warehouse 13"...

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According to reports, Syfy has greenlit a second season of the Toronto-lensed TV series "Warehouse 13", ordering a 13-episode pick-up.

Since its July 7 premiere, "Warehouse 13" has been a ratings winner for Syfy, with the recent August 18 episode pulling in 3.3 million viewers.

"Warehouse 13" stars actors Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly and Saul Rubinek, following US Secret Service agents 'Myka Bering' (Kelly) and 'Peter Lattimer' (McClintock) as they are reassigned to the government's secret 'Warehouse 13', which houses 'supernatural' artifacts.

Sneak Peek a clip from "Warehouse 13"...

The "Avatar" Sneak Preview...

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On August 21, the world was treated to a 16-minute 3D theatrical sneak peek of Ontario-born director James Cameron's new sc-fi feature "Avatar", described as "Dances With Wolves" meets "Jurassic Park".

In Toronto, 20th Century Fox showcased the free preview @ the downtown Scotiabank Theatre.

"Avatar" opens worldwide December 18, 2009...

TIFF 2009: The New Additions...

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Director Lars von Trier's "Antichrist" and Michael Haneke's Palme d'Or-winning "The White Ribbon" have now been added to this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) lineup, running September 10-19 in Toronto.

Both features will make their North American premieres as part of TIFF's 'Masters' program.

Over 300 films will screen @ TIFF this year, singling out Australia, the Middle East and Israel.

Film-makers set to attend this year's Fest include Werner Herzog, Steven Soderbergh, Jane Campion, Joel and Ethan Coen, Jean-Marc Vallée, Michael Moore, George A. Romero, Johnnie To and Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

Actors attending will include George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Michael Douglas, Viggo Mortensen, Demi Moore, Michael Sheen, Mads Mikkelsen, Liam Neeson, Chris Rock and Naomi Watts.

Celebrities accompanying films will include Oprah Winfrey, Sacheen Littlefeather and rap star Snoop Dogg.

TIFF has increased the total number of films featured this year to 335, to screen in 18 different programs.

The final addition of film titles will include Margarethe von Trotta's "Vision", Jaco Van Dormael's "Mr. Nobody", Rachel Perkins "Bran Nue Dae", Sarah Watt's "My Year Without Sex" and Pema Tseden's "The Search"...

Brightlight Bails Out Of BC...

BC-based Brightlight Pictures, noted for producing a series of Uwe Boll-directed feature films, has decided to bail out of British Columbia, setting up shop in Ontario because of the province's new tax credits that offer a 25 per cent credit on the total cost of production.

BC offers tax incentives on labour costs alone, traditionally only half the budget of a feature.

"We've lost three independent feature films between $9.5 and $15 million that have all shifted out east," said Brightlight's Shawn Williamson.

Brightlight has now set up production offices in Toronto, reportedly moving half of its staff out of BC...

TIFF 2009: Galas And Special Presentations...

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"Love And Other Impossible Pursuits", starring actress Natalie Portman, directed by Don Roos, will have its world premiere at this year's Toronto International Film festival.

Premise of "Love," adapting author Ayelet Waldman's novel, follows a newlywed Harvard Law School grad's attempt to connect with her new stepson.

Other Galas include writer/director Rodrigo Garcia's "Mother and Child," starring Annette Bening, Naomi Watts and Kerry Washington, Carlos Saura's "I, Don Giovanni," Matthias Emcke's "Phantom Pain", Grant Hezlov's "Men Who Stare at Goats", Jan Kounen's "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky" and Alejandro Amenabar's "Agora".

"The Joneses," starring Demi Moore, directed by Derrick Borte screens in Special Presentations, as well as Christian Carion's "L'Affaire Farewell," Dev Benegal's "Road, Movie", Claire McCarthy's "The Waiting City", Giuseppe Tornatore's "Baaria" and He Ping's "Wheat".

Special Presentations will also include the North American premieres of John Hillcoat's "The Road", starring Viggo Mortensen, Miguel Ateta's "A Single Man", Ahmed Maher's "The Traveler", starring Omar Sharif and Werner Herzog's "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done"...

Swank Takes Off As "Amelia"...

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As Sneak Peek first reported October 2007, "Amelia" is the Canadian-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.

TIFF 2009: Romero @ Free Screening Of "Night Of The Living Dead"...

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Genre director George A. Romero, will host a free screening of his classic feature film "Night Of The Living Dead" @ this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

TIFF will also be launching a series of free films, with director Jonathan "Silence Of The Lambs" Demme, @ Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square.

Romero will appear at the screening of his 1968 feature "Night of the Living Dead', Sept 12, Demme will host the screening of his concert film "The Neil Young Trunk Show", Sept. 14 and Baez will perform Sept. 18 at the screening of her new doc "American Masters - Joan Baez".

Other screenings include concert/musical films "Stop Making Sense", "Rattle and Hum", "The Last Waltz" and "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man".

Actress Isabella Rossellini has adapted her shorts, "Green Porno", about how insects mate, into a special installation including video/sculptures of sea creatures, offering a free talk/screening, Sept. 10.

The 34th Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 10 to 19.

Sneak Peek the 1968 trailer of Romero's "Night Of The Living Dead" and a trailer for Rossellini's "Green Porno"...

LG FilmFest Offering $100,000 Prize...

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LG Electronics have announced their inaugural LG Life’s Good FilmFest , an HD short film festival, enlisting the support of Oscar-winning actor Jamie "Ray" Foxx at a launch event August 11 @ Toronto's Manulife Centre, Panorama Room.

Foxx discussed his own experiences breaking into show business and helped to preview the festival for prospective filmmakers/news media.

“There really is no other film festival like the LG Life’s Good FilmFest,” said Tim Barnes, marketing director, LG Electronics Canada.

“The concept is simple: an engaging HD short film festival with no entry fee and the chance to win incredible cash prizes. We’re absolutely thrilled that Jamie could join us to help launch the festival, as his amazing work in film, comedy and music really exemplifies the spirit and talent the FilmFest will no doubt attract.”

Aspiring film makers from around the world can submit their LG Life’s Good FilmFest HD films into one of four categories: Animation, Fashion & Music, Sports and Narrative.

Each HD entry must be no longer than five minutes in length and express a positive, uplifting message that conveys the notion that “Life’s Good.”

There will be four prizes awarded. Three of the four category winners will receive $10,000 Canadian in prize money. The fourth category winner, who is chosen as the overall winner, will receive the grand prize of $100,000 Canadian in prize money.

The entry deadline is 5 pm Eastern Standard Time, Oct. 16, 2009. Each submission will be judged and winners announced January 2010.

The LG Life’s Good FilmFest was inspired, in part, by LG’s new series of HDTVs...

John Hughes: "Don't You Forget About Me"...

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According to reports, a new 75-minute, low-budget feature doc, "Don't You Forget About Me", focusing on late writer/director John "Ferris Bueller" Hughes, has been snapped up by distributor Alliance Films of Montreal.

Toronto film-maker Matt Austin-Sadowski says the feature looks at the life and work of Hughes, creator of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles", lensed during a road trip in which Austin-Sadowski and producers Kari Hollend, Mike Facciolo and Lenny Panzer drove to Illinois to track down the reclusive director.

Actors interviewed in the doc include Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Mia Sara, Kelly LeBrock and Andrew McCarthy.

Hughes' 'muse', actress Molly Ringwald, who shares a February 18 birthday with the director (as well as yours truly), reportedly refused to participate in the project.

Sneak Peek the trailer from John Hughes' "The Breakfast Club"...

"Suck" @ TIFF- September 11...

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As Sneak Peek first reported December 2008 , the Toronto-lensed comedy horror feature "Suck" from Capri Vision Inc., a division of Capri Films, is written/directed by Canadian musician/actor Rob Stefaniuk - featuring acting turns from rockers Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Henry Rollins and Moby, following a group of rock ‘n’ roll wannabes in search of immortality and a record deal.

"...Seemingly doomed to roadtrip doldrums and dives, the band 'The Winners' break their slump when their female bass player disappears one night with a studly, stylin’ vampire. She returns charged with sexual charisma that creates audience frenzy and eventually ensnares the rest of the band. Their “hook” launches them to fame. But fame turns out to be a different kind of Hell than AC/DC promised.

Following an 'incident' on a national radio show with 'Rockn’ Roger', The Winners hit mega-stardom beyond their wildest dreams. But 'Joey' is haunted by an eerie bartender with a dark secret. And legendary vampire hunter, 'Eddie Van Helsing' (Malcolm "A Clockwork Orange" McDowell) , is on their tail tracking them down despite his fear of the dark..."

"Suck" is produced by Robin Crumley and Jeff Rogers, co-producer is Victoria Hirst, executive producers Gabriella Martinelli, Jeff Sackman, Brad Peyton and Terry Markus.

"Suck" will have its World Premiere as part of the Toronto International Film Festival's 'Contemporary World Cinema' programme, Friday September 11, 2009...

Mandeville Has The Perfect "Alibi"...

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Mandeville Films and comic book publisher Top Cow are developing a feature version of the Top Cow comic book "Alibi".

Mandeville's David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman will produce.

"Alibi" follows a 'socialite' whose public presence establishes the perfect alibi for the covert activity of a secret twin brother.

"Wanted", an adaptation of another Top Cow title, earned $340 million worldwide theatrically, while Top Cow's "Witchblade" was developed into a Toronto-lensed TV series by TNT.

"Alibi" was created by Top Cow president Matt Hawkins/Michael Renegar, written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Jeremy Haun.

Top Cow CEO/founder Marc Silvestri will exec produce "Alibi" with Hawkins and Mandeville VP David Manpearl...

Sneak Peek trailers for "Wanted" and the "Witchblade" TV series compilation...

August Highlights @ Toronto's NFB Mediatheque...

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The National Film Board of Canada Mediatheque wraps up its 70th anniversary summer program with the feature docs "Nollywood Babylon" and "Waterlife", a night of short films, animation workshops, day camps and free access to 5,000 NFB titles through digital viewing stations.

The NFB Mediatheque is located at 150 John Street in Toronto.

"Nollywood Babylon" will have its Toronto theatrical premiere, August 11, 12 & 13 at 7 pm, with co-director Samir "Discordia" Mallal in attendance for a Q&A, August 11.

"...Nigeria’s film industry “Nollywood” is the third largest in the world – an unstoppable force that is now bursting beyond the borders of Africa. Unfazed by low budgets, enterprising filmmakers create a brash, inventive and wildly popular form of 'B-movie'. An official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, 'Nollywood Babylon' delivers an electric vision of Lagos, Africa’s leading metropolis, and a revealing look at the powerhouse that is Nigerian cinema..."

A World of Shorts, in partnership with the Canadian Film Centre, offers screenings August 19 at 7 pm.

"...The Mediatheque’s popular monthly short-film program spotlights comedy titles including the hilarious 'Walk the Dog', starring 'Being Erica’s Erin Karpluk as a woman who learns the simple – and simply outrageous – truth about cats and dogs while on a park stroll with her boyfriend.

"Waterlife", screening August 25, 26 & 27 at 7 pm, offers director Kevin McMahon in attendance for a Q&A, August 27.

"...Winner of the 'Hot Docs 2009 Special Jury Prize' for Canadian Feature, this beautifully shot documentary screened in 35mm follows the epic cascade of the Great Lakes from Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean, telling the story of the last huge supply of fresh water on Earth. Filled with fascinating characters and stunning imagery, 'Waterlife' is a cinematic poem about the beauty of water and the dangers of taking it for granted. Narrated by Gord Downie, lead vocalist of 'The Tragically Hip' and Waterkeeper Trustee of Lake Ontario. Featuring music by Sam Roberts, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Rós, Robbie Robertson and Brian Eno..."

Digital viewing stations access over 5,000 NFB docs and animation titles in English and French, including new releases "Capturing Reality: The Art of Documentary", award winners "The Danish Poet" and "Ryan", festival hit "Manufactured Landscapes" and "The Log Driver’s Waltz", "The Sweater" and "The Cat Came Back"...

Cronenberg Directing "Cosmopolis"...

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According to reports from TorontoFilm.Net, Canadian filmmaker David "Scanners" Cronenberg will adapt/direct author Don DeLillo's 2003 novel "Cosmopolis", for producer Paulo Branco's Paris-based Alfama Films and Cronenberg's Toronto-based Antenna Ltd.

Premise of the book focuses on 28-year-old billionaire 'Eric Packer', a 'financial wizard', who attempts to cross Manhattan in a luxuriously equipped stretch limo, encountering a presidential visit, public protest and celebrity funeral, forcing him to conduct his business and personal affairs from the vehicle.

Cronenberg will shoot the feature in New York and Toronto in 2010...

Lionsgate Cuts A Deal For "Saw VII"...

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According to reports from TorontoFilm.Net, Lionsgate has greenlit "Saw VII" for a January 2010, Toronto production start.

David Hackl, production designer of "Saw 2", "3" and "4" is attached to direct for "Saw" producers Mark Burg/Oren Koules, from a screenplay by regular "Saw" writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton.

The five Toronto-lensed "Saw" features have grossed more than $700 million worldwide.

Lionsgate controls "Saw" rights in North America and the United Kingdom.

The first feature, based on a 2003 short film by James Wan and Leigh Whannel, was shot in 2004, written/directed by Wan, after an 18 day shoot.

Premise of that film revolved around two kidnapped men, locked in an industrial bathroom with a dead body, then given instructions related to escaping, while police detectives attempt to apprehend the "Jigsaw Killer" criminal responsible for the abduction...

Sneak Peek James Wan's original "Saw" short film and the official trailer from the first feature...