Good afternoon from the Canadian Press entertainment department!
Advisories will typically hit the wire around 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. ET and will also be sent to editors by email. Questions can go to melita.kuburas@thecanadianpress.com.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT:
'Joker,' Fred Rogers drama among galas set for TIFF (Updated)
FILM-TIFF-Whats-Coming
TORONTO — A standalone Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix, a drama featuring Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers, and a concert-style film from Bruce Springsteen are among the projects bound for this year's Toronto International Film Festival.Organizers touted a "strong, eclectic and diverse" mix of big-studio features and smaller titles on Tuesday as they unveiled the first slate of galas and special presentations for this year's festival, which runs Sept. 5-15. By Victoria Ahearn. PHOTO.
___
Lee Maracle nominated for Neustadt Prize
BOOKS-Neustadt-Prize
Canadian Indigenous writer Lee Maracle is among nine finalists for the $50,000 Neustadt International Prize for Literature.The poet and author from Vancouver, a member of the Sto:Lo nation, has been nominated for "Celia's Song," published by Cormorant Books in 2014.
___'Art of Self-Defence' examines, satirizes toxic masculinity
US-Film-The-Art-of-Self-Defense
LOS ANGELES — Director Riley Stearns says he didn't realize he was making a perfect movie for 2019 when he started writing "The Art of Self-Defence " four years ago.But his darkly comedic riff on toxic masculinity starring Jesse Eisenberg as a timid and "weak" man who takes up karate just kept becoming more relevant. The Harvey Weinstein allegations broke during the shoot in 2017 and the #MeToo movement became a phenomenon. PHOTO.
___R. Kelly spokesman steps down for personal reasons
US-R-Kelly-Spokesman
CHICAGO — A spokesman for R. Kelly has stepped down after he went on national television to talk about the federal sex-crime charges against the singer and said he wouldn't allow his adult daughter to be alone with anyone "accused of being a pedophile."Kelly's attorney, Steve Greenberg, says in a statement that Darrell Johnson is taking time off for personal reasons. The statement doesn't mention the comments Johnson made Monday on "CBS This Morning." APNewsNow.
___Lifetime to follow up on 'Surviving R. Kelly' docu-series
US-TV-Surviving-R-Kelly
BEVERLY HILLS — Lifetime is still invested in the R. Kelly case.The network announced Tuesday that it has ordered "Surviving R. Kelly: The Aftermath," a four-part series that includes interviews with new survivors and experts on the case. PHOTO. APNewsNow.
___
Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift score 10 MTV VMA nominations
US-Music-MTV-VMA-Nominations
NEW YORK — Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift are the top contenders at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, each scoring 10 nominations.Grande and Swift will compete in eight of the same categories, including video of the year. Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" and Grande's "thank u, next" are nominated for the top prize alongside Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy," Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus' "Old Town Road," 21 Savage and J. Cole's "A Lot," and Jonas Brothers' "Sucker." PHOTO. APNewsNow.
___Shan Boodram on winning 'The Game of Desire'
BOOKS-Shan-Boodram
Toronto-raised sex educator Shan Boodram wants to bring a more "human approach" to pickup artistry.The 34-year-old clinical sexologist has penned her own player's handbook, "The Game of Desire," outlining a five-step strategy for romantic success. By Adina Bresge. PHOTO.
___
Stuntman injury halts 'Fast & Furious 9' production in UK
EU-Britain-Stuntman-Injury
LONDON — Production of "Fast & Furious 9" has been halted after a stuntman for the action movie was severely injured in England.Work on the latest installment of the long-running franchise was put on hold Monday following the accident at the Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden, 35 miles (53 kilometres) northwest of London.
___
B.B. King's 'Lucille' guitar going up for auction
US-BB-King-Auction
LOS ANGELES — Her name was "Lucille," and in B.B. King's hands she gave voice to the "King of the Blues."Julien's Auctions announced Tuesday that King's black Gibson ES-345 prototype guitar is among the items from his estate that will go up for bid on Sept. 21. PHOTO.
___
ICYMI YESTERDAY:
'The Beaverton' satire thrives in current political climate
TV-The-Beaverton
TORONTO — It's a few days before the season 3 premiere of Canadian satirical news series "The Beaverton," and co-hosts Emma Hunter and Miguel Rivas are mulling over which headlines to cover."Just hilarious stuff like children in cages and the Epstein case," Rivas jests in a phone interview, referring to stories about migrant children at U.S. border facilities and sex trafficking accusations against financier Jeffrey Epstein. By Victoria Ahearn. PHOTO.
___
5 Things about upcoming Marvel star Simu Liu
FILM-Marvel-Liu-5-Things
TORONTO — Once upon a time, Simu Liu was a Toronto accountant.But he secretly dreamt of being an actor, and just a few years after leaving Bay Street, Liu is on the brink of movie stardom thanks to being cast as the first Asian superhero to lead a Marvel film. By Cassandra Szklarski. PHOTO.
___
Montreal World Film Festival cancels 2019 edition
FILM-Montreal-Festival
MONTREAL — The Montreal World Film Festival will not be held this year.Serge Losique, the chairman and founder of the event, says in a brief statement the festival is taking a year off to prepare for the 2020 edition. PHOTO.
___
Lil Nas X ties Billboard record set by Mariah, 'Despacito'
US-Music-Lil-Nas-X
NEW YORK — Lil Nas X has taken his horse to the old town road and ridden it to the top of the Billboard charts for 16 weeks, tying a record set by Mariah Carey and Luis Fonsi."Old Town Road" logs its 16th week at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart this week, matching the success that Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" achieved in 1995-1996. Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber's "Despacito" accomplished the feat in 2017. PHOTO.
___
Quebec dubbing industry works to stay afloat
Que-Film-Dubbing
MONTREAL — Few people will recognize his face, but Tristan Harvey has starred in some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters in recent years, including the "Wolf of Wall Street," "Avengers: Infinity War" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."As a voice actor, the 42-year-old Montreal-area resident makes a living dubbing famous film performances into French, often taking the part of actors such Leonardo DiCaprio, Seth Rogen or Benedict Cumberbatch. PHOTO.
___
TODAY FROM AP:
TV-SUMMER PRESS TOUR _ Coverage of the Television Critics Association's Summer Press Tour, including events by TNT, TBS and HBO. Stories will move on merits. By Lindsey Bahr. With photos, video
MUSIC-MTV VMA NOMINATIONS _ Nominees for the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards are announced. By Music Writer Mesfin Fekadu. UPCOMING at noon: 400 words, photos.
BB KING-AUCTION _ Her name is “Lucille,” and Julien’s Auctions says B.B. King’s black Gibson ES-345 prototype guitar will go up for bid on September 21. SENT: 115 words, photo.
BRITAIN-STUNTMAN INJURY _ Production of "Fast & Furious 9," starring regulars Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez, was halted after a stuntman for the action movie was severely injured at a Warner Bros. studio in England. SENT: 120 words.
NIELSENS _ Coverage of the top prime-time programs from the week of July 15-21. By Media Writer David Bauder. UPCOMING: 400 words, photo. With NIELSENS-LIST.
NBA 2K LEAGUE-CHINA DEAL _ The NBA 2K League has partnered with internet giant Tencent to stream games in China for the first time.
__
REVIEWS
FILM REVIEW-ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD _ By Film Writer Jake Coyle. SENT Monday: 985 words, photos.
FILM REVIEW-MIKE WALLACE IS HERE _ By National Writer Jocelyn Noveck. SENT Monday: 730 words, photos.
FILM REVIEW-THE GREAT HACK _ By Film Writer Lindsey Bahr. UPCOMING: 700 words by Wednesday at 6 p.m. Film stills.
BOOK REVIEW-ELVIS IN VEGAS BY RICHARD ZOGLIN. Reviewed by Douglas K. Daniel. SENT Monday: 500 words, photo.
BOOK REVIEW-LADY IN THE LAKE BY LAURA LIPPMAN. Reviewed by Oline H. Cogdill. SENT Monday: 435 words, photo.
BOOK REVIEW-ONE GOOD DEED BY DAVID BALDACCI. Reviewed by Jeff Ayers. SENT Monday: 260 words, photos.
BOOK REVIEW-THE HELPLINE BY KATHERINE COLLETTE. Reviewed by Lincee Ray. UPCOMING Tuesday: 350 words, photos.
BOOK REVIEW-THE HELPLINE BY KATHERINE COLLETTE. Reviewed by Lincee Ray. UPCOMING Tuesday: 350 words, photos.
BOOK REVIEW-REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL BY NINA STIBBE. Reviewed by Lincee Ray. UPCOMING Tuesday: 350 words, photos.
The Canadian Press
