Demi Lovato’s Neon Lights tour ft. Fifth Harmony & Cher Lloyd

I apologize for the delay. This has been sitting in my drafts for a while…

On March 26, 2014 I had the opportunity to be a photographer at Demi Lovato’s concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Besides being an artist whose music I love, this was an incredible experience for me as a photographer. I’ve taken a cheap point-and-shoot camera to shows before where afterwards the low quality of the photos brings me to tears. The week earlier when I was in Columbus, Ohio for the same show I snuck in my Canon EOS 60D but was terrified of getting caught. For the first time I didn’t need to sneak in a camera and I left with beautiful pictures that I can be proud of. For the two openers, Fifth Harmony and Cher Lloyd I was able to shoot in the pit where the lighting is beyond gorgeous. When it came to Demi Lovato we were only allowed to shoot from the sound stage which was a little disappointing but thanks to the 80-400mm lens I had on me I really have no complaints. I am so thankful to Demi’s management for making this possible.

Photographs can be seen on in the “Celebrity” section under 2014.


Disney’s “Frozen”: Movie Review

Disney’s “Frozen” follows the story of not one but two princesses. Elsa (Idina Menzel) is born with the power to create both ice and snow. A beautiful but dangerous gift that she fights to keep hidden from the rest of the world. After nearly killing her sister Anna (Kristen Bell), Elsa isolates herself, spending all of her time trying to find a way to suppress her growing abilities. Her emotions however, find a way to get the best of her triggering the magic that accidentally sets off the Kingdom of Arendelle in an eternal winter. She flees the land in fear of becoming a monster and causing harm to everyone around her. Anna then sets off on a journey to bring her sister back and save the kingdom while teaming up with those she meets on the way –  Kristoff (Jonathan Groff), a rugged man who sells ice for a living (and is not currently working in the best market) alongside Sven his trusty Reindeer and a snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad). Together they battle the elements of the cold in an attempt to bring Arendelle back to it’s warm, summery demeanour.

Some songs on the soundtrack are definitely better than others. Partially because of the second-hand embarrassment, cheesy lines that are thrown in. But hey, it’s a Disney movie. What did you expect? My favourite song from the film is actually played in the credits. It’s Demi Lovato’s version of Let It Go however, you can hear Idina Menzel’s version in the actual movie.

I might be biased as someone who loves almost everything Disney related but I absolutely adored this movie. It’s a great family movie that the kids will enjoy (at any age cause here I am at 19). And go into it with that mindset, that it’s a movie for families and kids and I can guarantee that you’ll love it just as much as I did.

If you would like to know any spoilers from the film please feel free to contact me.

Frozen hits theatres American Thanksgiving Weekend on November 27th 2013.
The soundtrack is already available for pre-order on iTunes here and by purchasing it you can get Demi Lovato’s Let It Go right away.

You can watch the trailer here:

TIFF 2013 Day #7

Taking a break from movie premieres and celebrities I got to attend my third TIFF movie this festival, How I Live Now starring Saoirse Ronan and George MacKay. Knowing that I was only seeing a film I didn’t drag my slr camera with me, only a lousy point and shoot. Of course it would be the only non premiere where the actors show up for a Q&A. Besides be frustrated i’m just thankful I had some sort technology to capture them in front of me.

The Host: Movie Review with SPOILERS

The Host is based off of the novel of the same name written by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, the same author who wrote The Twilight Saga. An alien species known as souls have taken over humans by inhabiting their bodies to create peace among Earth. When Melanie Stryder (Saorise Ronan) is surrounded by a group of seekers in an old hotel she thought was abandoned, rather then getting caught she decides to jump out of the buildings window attempting to kill herself. As if some kind of miracle she survived, much to her dislike. A soul that goes by the name of Wanderer or Wanda is implanted into Melanie’s body but unlike many of the other occupied humans, some people refuse to be beat as they internally battle their host. Wanda’s job is to look into Melanie’s memories to find out where the resistance is, where the other surviving humans are. However, Melanie fights back by throwing memory after memory full of strong physical and emotional connections to the people she loves at Wanda hoping that she’ll understand how important it is for her to not say anything. As the soul begins to feel pity for Melanie and the humans they both set out on a journey to get back to Jared (Max Irons), the man she loves and her little brother Jamie (Chandler Canterbury). Nothing is means more to Melanie then her family.

When I first heard Melanie’s voice after Wanda had taken over her body I found it really annoying. I don’t know if I just got so used to it by the end of the film that it no longer bugged me or it just wasn’t as obnoxious as when it first started so that it no longer bugged me. As someone who actually read the novel I know there is no other way they could’ve accomplished this successfully. And I did warm up to it. Some of the back and forth comments between Wanda and Melanie may have come out funnier then planned but they were well received getting laughs from the audience.

This storyline line doesn’t include a love triangle, but a love square. Well it’s just really awkward. Jared and Melanie are in love with each other so that’s simple but because Melanie is trapped inside her own body she can’t be with him. Then there’s Ian (Jake Abel) who falls in love with Wanda which is the soul in Melanie’s body. So technically you have two boys in love with the same person and it’s questionable on how this could end well for everyone involved. Now, me explaining the rest of the story would be summarizing the book and I don’t care to do so. You should just pick up a copy.

One thing that bothered me was how the souls looked. I can’t really explain it but it just made me want to laugh. Specifically when Ian is looking at one at some point in the movie and just looks so in love with this little white sort of light that moves. It made me uncomfortable. Also, many of the other characters acted unnatural and zombie-like when they shouldn’t have since they were human. I understand from reading the book that they were scared of Wanda because they didn’t trust her intentions but that’s not how it came across from watching it. On top of that some of the dialogue seemed awkward and forced but those are my only complaints.

I wouldn’t call this my favourite movie but it stuck fairly close to the book. Obviously cutting out the mediocre things to leave place for those scenes of importance. But i’m also judging this as a fan who loved the books so you need to keep that in mind. I’m not sure you’d like the movie at all if you were a middle-aged man who just loves to complain about everything. This sci-fi teen romance wasn’t aimed towards their demographic so I don’t blame them, but it was aimed at mine so maybe i’m really the more trustworthy one. Anyone who loved the book will love this movie regardless of what critics have to say.

The Host hit theatres today, Friday March 29th 2012


Springbreakers: Movie Review with SPOILERS

I’d say Springbreakers was a hot mess from beginning to end but really it was just a mess. 13 people walked out of the advance screening I was at tonight in Toronto. And then others took some really long… bathroom breaks? The movie’s just one long music video for Skrillex. I do think it says something when this movie’s been promoted via film festivals since early 2012.

Let me start off by saying that Selena Gomez plays herself in this movie. Her character Faith, is a church girl who prays and is an overall goody two shoes. There is no nudity on her part and a small dosage of smoking, drinking and getting high. After getting arrested with her friends she simply cries and complains that this isn’t what their trip was supposed to be like and she wants to go home, so she does. End Selena Gomez’s part in the movie. Now, I’d like to mention that Faith does not partake in the crime committed in order to fund their spring break trip. While Candy, Brit and Cotty are robbing a restaurant with fake guns threatening to kill everyone inside Faith is nowhere to be found. Nor does she snort the cocaine they end up being arrested for. I’m actually so confused on why she was even a part of the film.

Rachel Korine plays Cotty who doesn’t have a backstory or character development like everyone else in the movie. Rachel just so happens to be married to Harmony Korine, the writer and director of Springbreakers. That has to be the only reason why she’s in this movie. That, and the fact that she was willing to show some skin. Like Selena Gomez’s character, Cotty doesn’t make it to the end of the film. After getting shot in the left arm she decides it’s time to go back to school and for some stupid reason the other two girls decide to remain.

Remember back when Vanessa Hudgens’ naked photos leaked online? Maybe they should’ve used those pictures to promote this movie. I mean, the entire world’s already seen her naked. I was kind of shocked that her boobs wasn’t one of the many pairs seen. This movie is definitely no highschool musical and Candy is not afraid to live her life. Snorting coke, drinking and threesomes Vanessa’s definitely taking a risk to no longer be known for her Disney Channel days. Except for her ugly brown roots I actually thought she did a really good job in this film. Although she hasn’t been in much else, I found that her acting felt real in this, believable.

Ashley Benson didn’t seem to talk much in the movie. Or I just can’t remember anymore. Like Candy, Brit made it to the end of the movie. Together they shot about 20 men without taking one bullet. I’m confused on how that would’ve been possible and why they wore neon yellow bathing suits to complete the task. Ashley’s character seemed to do everything that Vanessa’s did so I don’t feel the need to repeat myself.

James Franco. What is there to say about James Franco? He looks absolutely terrifying in this entire movie. His character Alien bails for the 4 girls out of jail when they’re arrested. And like Selena I would’ve fled the scene in a second because he is so goddamn creepy. At one point he starts singing Everytime by Britney Spears and it’s so awkward. When that happens, Faith is already gone but the three girls who remain have matching pink ski masks with a unicorn on the forehead, coloured bathing suits and DTF sweatpants. They show clips of them dancing, and resting their heads on one and another and it’s so unnecessary. There’s also a scene where Candy and Brit put their guns in Alien’s mouth and he starts sucking on them like dicks. He gets really into it. I just don’t even understand why that was in the film. It’s seriously so uncomfortable to watch as an audience member. On top of that, there’s some other scenes at the piano where Alien speaks lines of a poem about 4 chicks aka the 4 girls. Last but not least when he brings the girls to his home he just keeps saying “look at my shit” over and over. It’s almost as bad as hearing “spring break forever” a million times.

I’m actually curious on if the cast of Springbreakers is actually proud of this movie cause I thought the best part was when it ended. The entire time I felt secondhand embarrassment for the actors involved. Awkward situation after awkward situation can do that to a person. I understand this film is a satire but it’s just a piece of crap. I do not recommend this to anyone. Maybe someone I hate but not even then. No one should have to endure the pain caused by this movie.

If you don’t listen to my warning and go see it anyway, be prepared for a lot of boobs. And when I say a lot I mean A LOT.

To see pictures from when I attended the Springbreakers premiere at TIFF back in September 2012 you can here.

Springbreakers hits theatres this Friday, March 29th in Canada


Admission: Movie Review with SPOILERS

I went into Admission tonight without knowing a thing about the movie except for the fact that Paul Rudd and Tina Fey starred in it. I absolutely loved it and maybe that’s because I never saw a trailer beforehand. If that’s the case, i’m never watching a movie trailer ever again because it ruins the magic of seeing a film for the very first time.

Tina Fey plays Portia, a Princeton University admissions officer who’s asked by an old college acquaintance John (Paul Rudd) to visit his alternative high school. John wants Portia to meet Jeremiah (Nat Wolff) whom he believes is the son she gave up for adoption back in college. With this knowledge Portia goes out of her way, making a huge professional risk to try and help Jeremiah get into Princeton.

I hardly recognized Michael Sheen without the long hair and creepy accent he has when he plays Aro in the Twilight Saga. Actually, that’s the only way i’ve ever seen him except for in this movie. However best supporting actor in this film has to go to Lilly Tomlin who plays Susannah, Portia’s feminist mother. When you meet her it’s no surprise that Portia became the boring, uptight, closed-off person that she is when compared to her psychopathic mom. The kid who plays John’s adoptive son Nelson (Travaris Spears) is both adorable and funny. His sarcastic attitude throughout the movie makes him loveable and understanding because he’s tired of moving from place to place like John always does to help others.

The movie starts with Portia finding out that her boss (Wallace Shawn) is going to retirement meaning that she has the possibility of getting his job. But she has some competition, there’s also Corinne (Gloria Reuben) who wants the job just as much as Portia does. Then you get to meet Mark (Michael Sheen) the man with whom Portia lives with but they’re not married and have no children. Portia spends her next driving from school to school telling teenagers the secret to getting into Princeton. Shocker, there is none. She ends up going to John’s school where the students question why they should apply there when they just want to help change the world. Of course for a lot of things like becoming a lawyer, or doctor you’d need a degree. Before she can leave John introduces her to Jeremiah and thinks that they should get to know each other which she doesn’t care to do.

Portia goes home to find out that Mark’s leaving her for a Virginia Woolf scholar who is currently pregnant with his twins. The film is full of quirky moments where Portia will run into Mark and his new girlfriend is shooting daggers at him and they run off. Portia begins to get to know John more and at the same time starts to believe that Jeremiah is her son. There’s a lot of stuff that happens in between (for movie purpose) but even though he has no chance of getting in Portia goes out of her way to get him accepted. She completes her goal by the end of the movie but ends up being fired for her actions. When she goes to tell Jeremiah that she’s really his birth mother she finds out that the name on the birth certificate was for 11pm and not 1pm meaning that it’s not her child.

After it all Portia realizes that she really wants to know the child that she gave up for adoption all those years ago but she gets a letter saying that he’s not ready to meet her at the current time. As for your happily ever after, Portia and John end up together of course.

I didn’t want to ruin absolutely everything for you just the main things you may have been wondering. I ain’t gonna write a transcript haha – but I do really think that this movie was great and I hope to see more comedies like this from Tina Fey in particular (since 30 Rock’s now done).

Sidenote: I decided to watch the trailer for Admission and unlike Identity Thief where they showed everything funny in the promo this movie did not.

Admission hits theatres today, Friday March 22, 2013


Demi Lovato’s Concert: Mardi Gras at Universal Studios

Call me crazy but I’d rather call it dedicated. I decided that it had been way too long since I last saw Demi Lovato. So myself along with two of my best friends flew all the way from our igloos in Canada to see her perform at Universal Studios in Florida. We literally only went for her, arriving Friday morning and departing Sunday morning.

Saturday morning we arrived at Universal Studios around 9:15am (the park opened at 9am). By that time there was already one line/barricaded area and we were in the second one with pink tickets. My friends and I were the ones playing Demi’s music. I was shocked at how cold it was. Camping out was not fun until I went and bought myself a Harry Potter blanket to cuddle up with on the hard ground. It was great talking to and meeting various other fans all day long.

At around 3pm when we had to go to the Hard Rock Cafe for our meet and greet. Unfortunately it meant missing soundcheck and getting spots for the concert. The VIP I purchased did not come with entry into the park so they didn’t have a special area for all of us meeting Demi to go to afterwards. The meet and greet was done through Golden Tickets who have renamed themselves Adventures in Wonderland. They have terrible customer service and sent and email telling us to show up at 2:45pm and they weren’t there until about 4:15pm. The package came with a Heart Attack poster (which I had stolen) lament and t-shirt. For those unaware meet and greets are very short and rushed. Sometimes security won’t even allow you to hug Demi but I went for it anyway. I mean, I just travelled all the way from Toronto, there was no way I wasn’t! Demi smells like rainbows and butterflies. I swear! I am so so so thankful for having the opportunity to hug her again. I would like to note that it took over 72 hours to receive my photograph from Golden Tickets.

General admission/free concerts are a mess. There was shoving, pushing and fighting from a ton of people, clearly not the fans. It was close to becoming a full on mob scene but once Demi came on stage everyone seemed to chill out. Her vocals impress me more and more every f*cking time I see her. She’s absolutely phenomenal and i’m so lucky to have been apart of the first crowd to ever hear her new single Heart Attack sung live.


Harlem Shake

The Harlem Shake if you haven’t heard of it, is the newest craze and internet sensation. Thousands of videos have been uploaded online (mostly from universities and colleges) in the past week! I guess you could call it the next Gangnam Style if you’d like but i’d prefer it if you didn’t. This doesn’t actually make you want to rip off your ears every time the song comes on. The general idea is that one person dances for about 15 seconds while everyone around them is clueless to what’s going on and then in the last 15 seconds everyone goes CRAZY! Literally! I attend Ryerson University and yesterday in my Art History class all of the Image Arts Students decided we would do one just for fun. Our prof Iain was such a good sport and we love him a hundred times more for being a part of it!!

The video is currently at 7,000 views and was shown on Breakfast Television this morning!

Warm Bodies: Movie Review with SPOILERS

Warm Bodies

Warm Bodies is based off of  Isaac Marion’s popular novel of the same name. The author originally wrote a short story called, I Am a Zombie Filled with Love which became an internet sensation nearly three years ago before Atria Books acquired the publishing rights for the full novel back in 2010. The full length story known as Warm Bodies was published in 2011.

The book jacket says, “’R’ is a zombie. He has no name, no memories, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.” In a post apocalyptic America destroyed by war, disease and the loss of humans hunger from the growing number of the undead R (Nicholas Hoult) falls for a girl named Julie (Teresa Palmer). For an unknown reason he chooses to spare her life rather then making her a meal. He craves something more then just blood. Well actually there is a reason, to ensure that a killed human doesn’t come back to life as a corpse you have to eat their brain. By doing so it allows you to see their memories and have their feelings. Causing R to make an unexpected choice to save the victim’s girlfriend which breaks all the rules. Their strange relationship begins to change R. He’s becoming more human every day that passes and it’s beginning to catch on to the other corpses as well as they remember how to feel. R wants to live. And Julie wants to help him but it isn’t going to be easy to convince the humans. In the rotting world they’re stuck living; Julie, R and the other zombies won’t go down without a fight. This comedic love story is tale about the power of human connection and one you don’t want to miss.

Like the various trailers for this film the movie opens with a witty and clever introduction to the zombie apocalypse and R’s world. The hilarious commentary pulls the audience in from the very beginning and keeps your eyes attached to the screen until the very end. The humans spend their time killing zombies and trying to save their family members from becoming one of them. The cure is to live. That was unknown to everyone until Julie and R helped them realize. As the minutes on the clock rolled by they were running out of time to convince the humans as the bonies (zombies that have worn away to become only skeletons) were also getting closer to killing them themselves. The bonies were not happy about R saving Julie and wanted them both dead as well as the rest of the zombies who weren’t on their side. R makes the final choice to save Julie when they fall many feet into a pool of water. Miraculously they both live. After Julie kisses R you see his pupils get bigger and his eyes become blue, the final transformation. When they pull away Julie’s father shoots R only for Julie to notice that he’s bleeding and corpses do not bleed. He actually became human from living.

Fun fact: The film and book make various references to the famous tragic love story Romeo and Juliet. The most obvious being the main characters names; ‘R’ and ‘Julie’ for ‘Romeo’ and ‘Juliet.’ There’s also a scene in the movie where Julie’s outside on her friend Nora’s balcony and R is standing at the bottom. He can’t get caught by any humans because they’d shoot him dead within seconds. RomeoRomeowherefore art thou Romeo?

Nicholas Hoult is an amazing actor. Watching him on screen, you can’t help but fall for his character. It’s the same way I  felt when I first saw him in X Men: First Class. I don’t know if there’s anyone who could’ve played this part better then him, specifically when it came to those subtle expressions. Spot on. I really enjoyed Rob Corddry who played M, another Zombie and R’s best friend. He was the lucky actor who got to swear the most and make some really great comments. Teresa Palmer was someone i’ve never heard of before this film. I thought she did a really great job even if I think it should’ve been me making out with Nick instead. Yeah, i’m just a little bitter…

Make sure to check out Warm Bodies next week when it hits theatres on Friday February 1, 2013.