TIFF: Musicals! The Movies That Moved Us – Singin’ In The Rain (1952)

When the musical made the leap from stage to screen, it opened everything up, not just in terms of accessibility for the viewing audience, but the scope of the storytelling canvas – things were no longer confined to a stage, the settings, the choreography, the characters could live in a whole new way. Cameras could…

TIFF Bell Lightbox – Trek Talks Physics!

The celebrations around the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek continues at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Not only are the screenings continuing, classic episodes and all the theatrical releases, but a number of Trek Talks have been scheduled between now and the beginning of December. This evening’s event may have edged out the previous two as…

TIFF Bell Lightbox Trek, Trek, Trek!!

Last night was a simply amazing night at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The first of the Trek Talks happened with Lt. Col. Jeremy Hansen sharing his thoughts, experiences, and how Star Trek has shaped the work we do in outer space, on the ISS, and may influence our future explorations with An Astronaut’s Voyage to…

TIFF Bell Lightbox, Trek and My Birthday

It’s October 12, my birthday, if you hadn’t circled it on your calendar, and TIFF Bell Lightbox will be my birthday starbase today apparently. First up, at 6:30 this evening is the first of the fantastic sounding Trek Talks programs, this evening’s topic, An Astronaut’s Voyage to the Final Frontier. Presented by Lt. Col. Jeremy…

TIFF Bell Lightbox Celebrates 50 Years of Star Trek

Space, the final frontier… Star Trek has been a part of my life for a long time, wait until you see the posts that are coming up next Wednesday if you don’t believe me! The iconic series has transcended geekdom and become a mainstream touchstone, even those who have never seen the show are aware…

Hot Docs 2016: Beware the Slenderman – Irene Taylor Brodsky

  Having its international premiere last night at the Lightbox,  Irene Taylor Brodsky’s film is a slick looking, unnerving and surprisingly emotional look at the blurring of fiction and reality in the modern age, as two young girls, Anissa and Morgan succumb to the terrors and stories of the internet created character of the Slenderman,…

The Mind Reels chats with A Dog’s Life Helene Choquette

  Hot Docs 2016 continues! The amazing thing about the festival is the variety of subject matter covered, and issues confronted, Helene Choquette turned her camera’s eye on the issue of homeless people, specifically, those with dogs. Examining the issue, and way they are treated and seen by the public at large, these people survive…

Hot Docs 2016: The Mind Reels chats with Cheer Up

  Sue and I were delighted to sit down with the director, Christy Garland, and the subjects of the truly enjoyable documentary, Cheer Up, a film that follows a cheer coach, Miia Norvapalo, and two of her squad, Patricia Fisk and Aino Selin through their personal lives, as well as their race to win the…

Hot Docs 2016: Cheer Up – Christy Garland

  Having its World Premiere this evening at Scotiabank at 7pm is this charming, emotional, little gem, that takes us to northern reaches of Finland’s Arctic Circle, and into the lives of some wonderful young women, cheerleaders, who have big hearts, and bigger dreams. Led by their coach Miia, this cheerleading team tries to win…

Hot Docs 2016: Fear Itself – Charlie Lyne

  Screening this evening at 10pm at the Lightbox, and again on May 3rd at 3:45pm, before moving to the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema for a final screening om May 4 at 9:45pm. An experiential film, a solo voice, that of Amy E. Watson,  guides the narrative as she recalls and experiences fear as brought…