Matthew Reilly brings his thrill-a-minute style of writing back to the 16th century as he populates his novel with historical figures caught up in intrigue, lust and a legendary chess tournament in the heart of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople. A young English princess, Elizabeth Tudor, Bess, all of thirteen years old, accompanies her teacher Roger…
Tag: teacher
Toronto Screenwriting Conference 2016 Day 2
The creativity and writing began early as day 2 of the Toronto Screenwriting Conference got underway this morning with showrunner Stephen Falk (Orange is the New Black, Weeds, and You’re the Worst) took to the stage to talks about how to break a season, or specifically how he and his writer’s room, break a…
Lost Girls (1999) – Andrew Pyper
Every one has been suggesting that if I liked all the other Andrew Pyper books I’ve read to date (and I have) that I desperately need to read his first novel, Lost Girls. Well I finally did! And like his other novels, I enjoyed this one as well. I love how he balances the…
Niagara Filmalicious – Little Big Master (2015) – Adrian Kwan
My Filmalicious screening at the Niagara Integrated Film Festival, which took place at the gorgeous Peller Estates Winery (and allowed me to sample their smooth and delicious 2013 Baco Noir (which may in fact be my new favorite red)), was this entertaining film from Hong Kong. Based on a true story, the movie follows…
The Greatest American Hero (1982) – Plague and Train of Thought
Bill (Robert Culp) and Ralph (William Katt) are exposed to danger this week in the episode Plague, which aired 6 January, 1982, and was penned by Rudolph Borchert. Picking up an assignment from Carlisle (William Bogert) that none of his fellow agents want, Bill gets a number of inoculations before going into the field…
Parents Night and The Bigger Issue
We came to this stage production late in its run, as life just seems to keep happening, but we were lucky enough to get into the Theatre Passe Muraille last night to have a look at this dynamic, fun, and driven production of two of playwright George F. Walker’s pieces, Parents Night and The…
Toronto Screenwriting Conference 2015: Day One
Sue and I have been very fortunate in our dealings with those folks involved in film and television here in Toronto. One of these have been the wonderful folk who are involved with the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, now going into its fifth year, and we’ve been lucky enough to cover the past two, and…
Trailer Tracks: Dead Poets Society (1989) – Peter Weir
Robin Williams. I so would have loved to have had a teacher like him in my life. I mean I did, in my own way, through his films, television and stand-up, but to have had a teacher like him through my schooling…
Possession (1981) – Andrzej Zulawski
A bizarre, and troubling tale was recommended to me by this odd list I came across listing horror movies, the majority of which I’d seen, but this one I’d never heard of… After his turn as Damien Thorn in the Omen III, Sam Neill took on the role of Mark in this haunting and…
An Astronaut’s Guide To Life On Earth – Chris Hadfield
Usually when I read a book, I am transported to some faraway land and introduced to characters and situations which ignite my imagination and leave me breathless in anticipation of what might come next. The really good ones have had me scrambling for more from the moment I read the final few lines. I…
The Mind Reels 