In The Seats with...

In this racket, everyone is always working on multiple fronts....

On this special episode we get time with a fellow creative who is a filmmaker, a journalist, an author, a comedian and everything else in between.  It's time we sit down with Louis Palanker.

Louise Palanker is a writer, director, producer, filmmaker, author, photographer, comedian, podcaster, musician/songwriter, teacher, and co-founder of Premiere Radio Networks as well as the current host of the Media Path Podcast where along with co-host Fritz Coleman where they go along on a scenic tour through books, movies, TV, podcasts and music related to a given topic of captivation, as they explore entertainment, politics, history, true crime, world events and all of their intriguing intersections. beyond the simple act of binging.

We had the pleasure to talk with Louise about her career leading up to the podcast and the nuances of really exploring the layers that are going on in popular media as we all navigate this incredible business of show....

It's important to get a little eccentric once in a while....

On this episode we are diving into something that is on VOD now which certainly has some eccentricities to it, is still a hell of a lot of fun to watch.  It's time to enjoy some 'Marmalade'.

Recently incarcerated Baron (Joe Keery) strikes up a friendship with cellmate Otis (Aldis Hodge), a man with a well-versed history of prison breaks. As the pair hatch an escape plan together, Baron recalls the story of how he met Marmalade (Camila Morrone), the love of his life, and their “Bonnie and Clyde” style scheme to rob a bank in order to care for his sick mother and give the couple the life they’ve always dreamed of. 

This was an unexpectedly fun ride that pulls from a myriad of different genres to make this incredibly compelling film.  We had the pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Keir O'Donnell to talk about the origins of it all and so very much more....

The idea of actually opening yourself up to another human being....can be terrifying....

On this episode we get ourselves into the head space of a movie that is in limited theatres now across the country.  It's time to embrace that 'Sometimes I Think About Dying'.

Lost on the dreary Oregon coast, Fran (Daisy Ridley) finds solace in her cubicle, listening to the constant hum of officemates and occasionally daydreaming to pass the time. She is ghosting through life, unable to pop her bubble of isolation, when a friendly new coworker, Robert (Dave Merheje), persistently tries to connect with her. Though it goes against every fiber of her being, she may have to give this guy a chance.

With it's unique and genuine tone, 'Sometimes I Think About Dying' is a hard movie to forget about.  We had the unique pleasure talking with it's writer/director Rachel Lambert and co-star Dave Merheje about the film and so very much more....

When it comes to family...you gotta do what you gotta do...

On this very special episode we dive into a thrilling piece of Canadian cinema that is in theatres tomorrow.  It's time for 'Orah'.

Orah is the story of a Nigerian immigrant taxi driver in Toronto, agrees to launder dirty money for her boss in exchange for bringing her son over from Nigeria. When the plan goes horribly wrong, Orah takes matters into her own hands to settle the score.

This tightly wide thriller is not only a compelling ride, but also makes real commentary on the immigrant experience and how ugly it can get,

We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with the writer/director of the film Lonzo Nzewke to talk about the origins of the story, the challenges in making it and so very much more.

Orah is in select theatres in Canada tomorrow.

Sometimes movies hit you just a little differently....

On this special episode we go head long into a fantastic new movie that is in theatres now.  It's time for 'The Settlers'.

At the turn of the 20th century, three horsemen embark on an expedition across the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, tasked with securing a wealthy landowner's vast property. Accompanying a reckless British lieutenant and an American mercenary is mestizo marksman Segundo, who comes to realize, amidst rising tensions within the group, their true mission is to murderously “remove” the indigenous population.

It's a stunningly beautiful and brutal commentary on how we have (and still do) treat our indigenous people and an absolute must see.

I had the unique pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Felipe Galvez (with the assistance of a translator) to discuss the origins of the story, it's unique visual style and so very much more.

'The Settlers' is select theatres across Canada now.

The immigrant experience is always unique and incredibly complex....

On this episode we dive head first into a vibrant piece of French Canadian that perfectly encapsulates the experience of moving to another country.  It's time for 'RU'

Based on the Governor General's Award-winning novel by Kim Thúy, Ru is the story of the arduous journey of a wealthy family fleeing from Vietnam, before landing in Quebec.

We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Charles-Olivier Michaud to talk about getting involved with the project and bringing this sublime story to audiences everywhere.

'RU" is in theatres across Canada now.

Getting invested in revenge takes real character work....

On this episode we're going back to the new film 'Sunrise' starring Guy Pearce and Alex Pettyfer which is on all VOD platforms now.

A man, Fallon (Alex Pettyfer) roams the land as a creature of the night as he comes to terms with tragic loss of his family at the hands of a brutal demagogue, Reynolds (Guy Pearce).

While it's playing in a genre space with vampires, at the end of the day 'Sunrise' is a brutal and compelling revenge thriller thanks to some great character work from its two leads.

We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with one of those leads, the one and only Alex Pettyfer as we talked about working on the project, his relationship with Guy Pearce and so very much more....

Sometimes the scary bits come out of pure human brutality...

On this episode, we dive into a fascinating little piece of genre cinema that is available now on VOD Platforms (and playing in some select US cinemas).  It's time for 'Sunrise'.

A man, Fallon (Alex Pettyfer) roams the land as a creature of the night as he comes to terms with tragic loss of his family at the hands of a brutal demagogue, Reynolds (Guy Pearce).

This is an underrated little piece of genre cinema that takes the shine off the vampire genre and makes it more a very relatable story of bloodlust and revenge.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with director Andrew Baird to talk about the origins of the project, taking the shine off the idea of a vampire and working with two actors who get to chew the screen in a very entertaining duel.

Sunrise is on all major VOD platforms now

We are so much more then what we are assumed to be on the surface....

On this very special episode we dive into the realm that is short film and take a look at a piece that was shortlisted for the BAFTA's and the Academy Awards.  It's time for 'The One Note Man'.

A musical man lives a careful life. Each day is like the next, just how he likes it. One day, however, misfortune and fate collide, breaking his routine and rocking his world forever.

In our increasingly dour, serious and stressful world; 'The One Note Man' is a simply but glorious experience of individuality and humanity that will staple a smile on your face so fast you may never shake it off.  It's a beautiful piece of cinema and a testament to the importance of the short form of filmmaking.

We had the unique please of sitting down with Writer/Director George Siougas and Executive Producer Josh Friedman to talk about the origins of it all, the importance of short form cinema and ultimately always trying to live our dreams.

You heard me right....we are In The Seats once more....

First off I have to thank my loyal listeners who have been missing us these past few weeks.  

My mother recently lost her battle with Lung Cancer at the age of 76 and as you'd expect it threw me for a loop as I have and am still processing a myriad of things going on in my life.  That being said she was also my most ardent supporter and reminded me every day of what a joy it is to be able to talk with people and support the arts in all of it's forms so it's in her honor that we are back and doing what we love.

We had the unique please of sitting down with costume designer Ane Crabtree to talk about her work on the show 'The Changeling' which is streaming now on Apple TV+.

We talked about the job, and getting to be a part of a fascinating piece of TV from the early stages as well as some of the creative influences, flourishes and moments in her life that got her to where she is today.

The Changeling is on Apple TV+ now.

Thanks Mum....

Sometimes you just need to let moments sit....

On this very special episode we dive head first into a new and incredibly thoughtful piece of Canadiana which is in theatres now at various Cineplex locations and having a one night only screening on Nov 6th at select Landmark cinema locations.  It's time for Verona.

Verona is the story of a young girl struggling to find her way in the world and even in her own family when she is confronted with the death of her grandfather.

A unique tale about coming of age and making peace with various traumas and events in your life, Verona is a fascinating slice of Canadiana and we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Sebastian Back to talk about the origins of it all and so very much more....

Trying to quantify, the unquantifiable can cause complications....

On this episode we find ourselves back in the saddle with films that bowed at TIFF as this entry looks at a film that tries to simply that ever complicated emotion of love.  It's time for 'Fingernails'.

Anna (Jessie Buckley) increasingly suspects that her relationship with her longtime partner may not actually be the real thing. In an attempt to improve things, she secretly embarks on a new assignment working at a mysterious institute designed to incite and test the presence of romantic love in increasingly desperate couples.

From Co-Writer and Director Christos Nikou; Fingernails is a fascinating sci-fi allegory about how love can't every really be boxed in by any set of rules.  Starring Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed, this film really manages to be gently subversive and twisted while talking about the idea of love.  Playing in realms that criss cross between science fiction, philosophy and your favourite Jane Austen novel, Fingernails might not be for everyone but it's got some really fascinating layers for those willing to look.

We talked with Christos about the origins of the film, shooting in Toronto and so very much more....

Fingernails is on Apple TV+ now.

Sometimes funny just hits a little differently....

On this episode we harken back to some cinema that made it's bow at the last edition of the Toronto International Film Festival and drops on Disney+ here in Canada today(Hulu in the States).  It's time for Quiz Lady.

Anne (Awkwafina), a brilliant but tightly wound, gameshow-obsessed young woman, and her estranged, train-wreck of a sister Jenny (Sandra Oh), must work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. When Anne’s beloved dog is kidnapped, they set out on a wild, cross-country trek to get the cash the only way they know how: by turning Anne into a bona-fide gameshow champion.

It's broad, slapsticky and borderline offensive at times, but it owns it with great performances and comedic beats that aren't afraid to get its audience feeling a tiny bit uncomfortable for laughing while simultaneously being invested in the characters emotional arc.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with director Jessica Yu to talking about getting the job, working with a duo like Sandra Oh and Awkwafina and making a female driven film that isn't afraid to lean into a joke that pushes the boundaries of our politically correct universe.

'Quiz Lady' is on Disney+ (and Hulu in the US) now.

The sheer joy of an anecdote can be downright cinematic....

On this very special episode we dive into a fascinating documentary that gives us a glimpse into the mind of one of the 20th Centuries great storytellers, by one of the greatest documentarians of our time.  On Apple TV+ now, it's 'The Pigeon Tunnel'.

Errol Morris pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell — better known as John le Carré, author of such classic espionage novels as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Constant Gardener. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Cold War leading into present day, the film spans six decades as le Carré delivers his final and most candid interview, punctuated with rare archival footage and dramatized vignettes.

This film takes us down the complex rabbit hole of personality giving us a glimpse at what made one of the best storytellers of the modern age tick.

It's a fascinating watch and we had the pleasure of sitting down with producers Stephen and Simon Cornwell (who also happen to be the sons of le Carré to talk about the genesis of the project and the legacy of the man himself across a myriad of mediums.

The Pigeon Tunnel is on Apple TV+ now.

Time is even more of an abstract construct then we give it credit for,,,,

On this very special episode we're hip deep in even more quirky Can-Con which is in theatres everywhere now.  It's time to 'Relax, I'm From The Future'.

Casper (Rhys Darby) is a charming, but embarrassingly underprepared time traveler, now trapped in the past. When he befriends Holly (Gabrielle Graham), a jaded drifter, she helps him exploit his trivial knowledge of the future for a series of quick payouts, oblivious to the consequences they have set in motion. When tracked down by a more competent time traveler, Casper and Holly are forced to figure out what they mean to each other and whether the future they’ve threatened is even worth saving. Will they embrace their fate, or do they have the courage to change it?

Filled to the brim with gonzo charm, 'Relax, I'm From The Future' is a sci-fi comedy that will delight all audiences looking to get their weird on.  We had the unique pleasure of sitting down with writer/director Luke Higginson to talk about the origins of the story, casting the likes of Rhys Darby in an indie Canadian film and so very much more.....

When you're a vampire, those moral complications we all face can get a little...complicated.

On this special episode we go back to this last edition of the Toronto International Film Festival to talk about a surprisingly charming film that just might have the best title ever.  It's time for 'Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person'.

Sasha is a young vampire with a serious problem: she's too sensitive to kill. When her exasperated parents cut off her blood supply, Sasha's life is in jeopardy. Luckily, she meets Paul, a lonely teenager with suicidal tendencies who is willing to give his life to save hers. But their friendly agreement soon becomes a nocturnal quest to fulfill Paul's last wishes before day breaks.

To say that this gem of French-Canadian cinema is one of the smartest and sweetest films that we've seen this year would be a colossal understatement.  It's a love letter to horror cinema of the 80's and so very much more and we had the perfect opportunity to sit down with co-writer/director Ariane Louis-Seize and star Félix-Antoine Bénard to talk about the making of the film and so very much more....

Getting the keys to a movie theatre is pretty much the dream....

On this very special episode we dive headfirst into a love of our hosts with a long time friend of the show.  It's time talk about 'The Disreputables".

Kicking off tonight and running through the month; The Disreputables is an 8 film series that dives into the social commentary that many of the pulp B-Movies of the 80's had and still rings true to this day. 

Programmed by friend of the show, Norm Wilner we get the opportunity to sit down with him to discuss all things "The Disreputables", the reasoning behind some of the choices, the cultural relevancy of films like this and so very much more.

To learn more about this and all the programming happening at TIFF, visit them right here.

Getting to have a full understanding of those who lived here before us is just so very vital....

On this very special episode we dive into a vital docu-series which is now on CBC Gem.  It's time for 'Telling Our Story'.

From page one of the history books, the notion that the First Nations were “discovered.” is a little ridiculous.  In a sardonic look back, we’re told that the Europeans were the ones who were discovered, starving on their boats, with Jacques Cartier losing 11 men to scurvy before being given a vitamin-laden conifer tea by Iroquois Chief Donnacona.
 
With this starting point, turning history right-side up, Telling Our Story connects beautiful natural scenery with tales and traditions and eloquent and charismatic protagonists from 11 First Peoples – 11 cultures speaking 11 different languages – who inhabited what’s now Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. They are: Abenaki, Anishinaabe, Atikamekw, Cree of Eeyou Istchee, Innu, Inuit, Kanien'kehá:ka, Mi'kmaq, Naskapi, Huron-Wendat and Wolastoqiyik.
 
Their stories are, in turn, heart-warming, heartbreaking, hopeful and absolutely vital..

After it's premiere at TIFF we had the unique pleasure of sitting down with director Kim O'Bomswain about the origins of the project, the multi-platform nature of it all, being able to experience mass audience reactions at a festival like TIFF and so very much more.

Telling Our Story is streaming on CBC Gem now.

There's something special about seeing some unknown talent, knock it out of the park...

On this special episode we are diving into a little slice of indie cinema gold that is in theatres (in the US) and on VOD across North America.  It's time for 'Head Count'.

In the style of Blood Simple meets Memento, the upcoming feature film pits an escaped convict against a set of improbable scenarios and a cast of wild characters on his journey of violence, love, and redemption. 

While it does borrow from a lot of its influences there is something special when you get to see a movie that is so self-assured and that's what 'Head Count' is, from it's writing and directing team of Ben and Jacob Burghart all the way down to it's leading man; Aaron Jakubenko.

We had the unique pleasure of talking with Aaron about how he got the job, being with several other Aussie actors shooting an independent film in Kansas and so very much more....

'Head Count' is in limited theatrical release in the US and on VOD platforms everywhere now.

Music can be such a positive influence....

It's with a song in our heart that we get ready to talk about this movie which played the Toronto International Film Festival and is now in limited theatrical release as well as available to watch on the Apple+ streaming service..  It's time for 'Flora & Son'.

Single mom Flora (Eve Hewson) is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max (Orén Kinlan). Encouraged by the police to find Max a hobby, Flora tries to occupy him with a beat-up acoustic guitar. With the help of a washed-up LA musician (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Flora and Max discover the transformative power of music. From the musical mind of John Carney, "Flora and Son" explores the bond between a mother and son on a journey toward a new harmony.

It's yet another fine entry in the canon from writer/director John Carney but on this interview we get a chance to spend some time with his musical collaborator who John has worked with since 'Sing Street'.  Gary Clark used to be in a band and is a composer in his own right as he has developed a great rapport with John over the years and it shows with some of the catchy and truly memorable songs that are in 'Flora & Son'.

We had the unique pleasure of sitting down at TIFF with Gary to talk about how he and John came together, their working relationship and the magic that is the moving image with that right piece of music.

'Flora & Son' is in select theatres and on the Apple+ streaming service now.