#d.w. waterson

[moviemosaics]

Backspot

directed by D.W. Waterson, 2023

[cinemacentury]

Friday, May 31, 2024

"Welcome to the Thunder Hawks."

203. BACKSPOT (D.W. Waterson, 2024) - Canada - Theatrical (DCP) - Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Manhattan, Theater 1 - 93 minutes. New to me #185.

[oldfilmsflicker]

new-to-me #663 - Backspot

[screenzealots]

"Backspot"

While the story may not be particularly original, the film's strength lies in its authentic portrayal of teenage life and the complexities of relationships both on and off the mat.

“Backspot,��� offers a refreshing take on the world of cheerleading, presenting it not just as a flashy spectacle, but as a serious sport filled with dedicated athletes striving for perfection. Director D.W. Waterson captures the modern world of the sport with her story of a teenager who is defined by her drive, determination, ambition, and genuine love of competition. Riley (Devery Jacobs) is a…

[angryrdpanda]

TWEET

BACKSPOT WORLD PREMIERE @TIFF_NET Grateful that our truly indie feature has been cleared by SAG & we can finally share the film we’ve been working on for 5+ yrs!

TEXT

Actor, producer and activist Elliot Page has boarded Backspot — a queer cheerleading drama that stars Devery Jacobs and is directed by D.W. Waterson — as an executive producer. The indie film marks a debut feature for Page’s Page Boy Productions and Jacobs’ Night is Y banner, which she launched alongside D.W. Waterson as an LGBTQ+ and indigenous-owned production company based in Toronto. UTA will represent the sales rights to the project. Backspot will see Jacobs play Riley, who along with another character, Amanda, are members of a competitive cheerleading squad as they navigate athletic careers, their budding romance and a cheerleading coach’s antiquated ideas about what it means to be a queer woman in the spotlight.

via Hollywoodreporter

via TIFF

[tamsong]

GAY CHEER MOVIE PRODUCED BY ELLIOT PAGE. THIS MOVIE WAS MADE FOR ME SPECIFICALLY. I HOPE I CAN STREAM IT SOMEWHERE

[tomorrowedblog]

Friday Releases for May 31

Friday is the busiest day of the week for new releases, so we've decided to collect them all in one place. Friday Releases for May 31 include The Dead Don’t Hurt, Robot Dreams, Selaco, and more.

The Dead Don’t Hurt

The Dead Don’t Hurt, the new movie from Viggo Mortensen, is out today.

The Dead Don’t Hurt is a story of star-crossed lovers on the western U.S. frontier in the 1860s. Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps) is a fiercely independent woman who embarks on a relationship with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen (Viggo Mortensen). After meeting Olsen in San Francisco, she agrees to travel with him to his home near the quiet town of Elk Flats, Nevada, where they start a life together. The outbreak of the civil war separates them when Olsen makes a fateful decision to fight for the Union. This leaves Vivienne to fend for herself in a place controlled by corrupt Mayor Rudolph Schiller (Danny Huston) and his unscrupulous business partner, powerful rancher Alfred Jeffries (Garrett Dillahunt). Alfred’s violent, wayward son Weston (Solly McLeod) aggressively pursues Vivienne, who is determined to resist his unwanted advances. When Olsen returns from the war, he and Vivienne must confront and make peace with the person each has become.

Robot Dreams

Robot Dreams, the new movie from Pablo Berger, is out today.

Dog lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80’s NYC. One summer night, DOG, with great sadness, is forced to abandon ROBOT at the beach. Will they ever meet again?

Backspot

Backspot, the new movie from D.W. Waterson, is out today.

Riley (Devery Jacobs) is the formidable backspot on her mid-level cheerleading squad until professional coach Eileen McNamara (Evan Rachel Wood) gives her an opportunity to join the Thunderhawks, a high performance All Star team. Young, ambitious, and fiercely in love with her girlfriend Amanda (Kudakwashe Rutendo), Riley would be on top of the world if only she could get her crippling anxiety under control. Desperate to be heard and appreciated, two qualities her home life severely lacks, Riley will do anything to ingratiate herself to her new coach. Overwhelmed, obsessive and with a competition looming, this young, queer athlete must decipher her own voice from the women around her, and form a healthier relationship to the sport that she loves.

Ezra

Ezra, the new movie from Tony Goldwyn, is out today.

EZRA follows Max Bernal (Bobby Cannavale), a stand-up comedian living with his father (Robert De Niro), while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (introducing William Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Rose Byrne). When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives.

Handling The Undead

Handling The Undead, the new movie from Thea Hvistendahl, is out today.

On a hot summer day in Oslo, the dead mysteriously awaken, and three families are thrown into chaos when their deceased loved ones come back to them. Who are they, and what do they want? A family is faced with the mother’s reawakening before they have even mourned her death after a car accident; an elderly woman gets the love of her life back the same day she has buried her; a grandfather rescues his grandchild from the gravesite in a desperate attempt to get his daughter out of her depression. Handling the Undead is a drama with elements of horror about three families, a story about grief and loss, but also about hope and understanding of what we can’t comprehend or control.

In A Violent Nature

In A Violent Nature, the new movie from Chris Nash, is out today.

The enigmatic resurrection, rampage, and retribution of an undead monster in a remote wilderness unleashes an iconic new killer.

The Great Lillian Hall

The Great Lillian Hall, the new movie from Michael Cristofer, is out today.

The performance of a lifetime: Jessica Lange is The Great Lillian Hall.

What You Wish For

What You Wish For, the new movie from Nicholas Tomnay, is out today.

Ryan (Nick Stahl) is a talented, down-on-his-luck chef with crushing gambling problems. Circumstances being what they are, he leaves town in a hurry for the safe haven of an unnamed Latin American country where his friend Jack (Brian Groh), a more prestigious chef with his own unique troubles, welcomes him into his home. Ryan has no idea how Jack’s able to afford his extravagant lifestyle cooking for the elite in paradise; he doesn’t want to feel envious, yet he can’t help but want this life for himself as well. Soon, a grim twist of fate will give that to him. Ryan assumes his friend’s identity and soon discovers just what Jack’s been doing to maintain the lifestyle he so desperately craved.

Young Woman and the Sea

Young Woman and the Sea, the new movie from Joachim Rønning, is out today.

Daisy Ridley stars as the accomplished swimmer who was born to immigrant parents in New York City in 1905. Through the steadfast support of her older sister and supportive trainers, she overcame adversity and the animosity of a patriarchal society to rise through the ranks of the Olympic swimming team and complete the staggering achievement – a 21-mile trek from France to England.

Frog and Toad S2

The second season of Frog and Toad, the TV series from Rob Hoegee, is out today.

Frog is a frog. Toad is a toad. They have a lot in common… but they are also very different. Frog and Toad are best friends who know that the true secret to friendship is not only enjoying the things you have in common, but embracing the things that make you different. Since our differences are what makes us special, Frog and Toad celebrate what makes them unique!

The Outlaws S3

The third season of The Outlaws, the TV series from Elgin James and Stephen Merchant, is out today.

With crime boss The Dean, behind bars awaiting trial, the Outlaws are moving on with their lives—until one of their own returns with a deadly secret, hurling them back into mortal danger. As a murder manhunt closes in on the gang, can they prove their innocence before The Dean’s case collapses, and he comes looking for revenge?

Selaco

Selaco, the new game from Altered Orbit Studios, is out today.

Selaco is a brand new original shooter running on GZDoom, featuring thrilling action set pieces, destructibility, smart enemies and a fleshed out story taking place within an immersive game world.

[berkreviews]

Berkreviews BACKSPOT

The world of competitive sports is always ripe for the picking when it comes to storytelling. It could be the inherent conflict of competition that makes these stories so compelling, or the wonder of what drives these athletes in their pursuit of perfection that makes audiences hold these films so dear. Director D.W. Waterson’s film, Backspot, takes the audience into the world of competitive…

[filmsnobreviews]

Review: Backspot (SXSW 2024)

Title: Backspot MPA Rating: Not Yet Rated Director: D.W. Waterson Starring: Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Wood, Kudakwashe Rutendo Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins Continue reading Review: Backspot (SXSW 2024)

[cinemacentury]

TWELVE FAVORITE FIRST TIME WATCHES FOR MAY 2024

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (M. Powell & E. Pressburger, 1946)

I SAW THE TV GLOW (J. Schoenbrun, 2024)

TIME OF THE HEATHEN (P. Kass, 1961)

DIVA (J. Beineix, 1981)

THE KING OF COMEDY (M. Scorsese, 1982)

CHAN IS MISSING (W. Wang, 1982)

THE MASTER (P. Anderson, 2012)

THE THIN RED LINE (T. Malick, 1998)

FILM GEEK (R. Shepard, 2024)

MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE (N. Ōshima, 1983)

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA (G. Miller, 2024)

BACKSPOT (D.W. Waterson, 2024)

Bold indicates a film seen in the theater.

[shahananasrin-blog]

[ad_1] While marking his Canadian film festival homecoming this weekend, Elliot Page wore two hats.The Oscar-nominee has a pair of movies playing at this year's Toronto International Film Festival. He plays the leading man in one Canadian drama — and is the executive producer of another.Page stars in Dominic Savage's Close To You as a trans man who encounters an old friend during a visit to his hometown in Cobourg, Ont., for a family reunion.Meanwhile, D.W. Waterson's Backspot, a queer sports drama about a cheerleading couple who are both selected to compete on an all-star team, was produced by Page and his company, Pageboy Productions.While on the red carpet for the Sunday premiere of Close To You, the 37-year-old actor said it was "an absolute thrill" to be sharing the film — an intense drama that marks his first lead film role as an openly trans man — with festival audiences in Canada."I just feel so grateful to be here in a city I love, at a festival I love, with a film that was set here and in Cobourg," he said. "It's been a dream experience of a project. So finally getting to share it with an audience is special."WATCH | CBC's interview with Page on the Close To You red carpet: Elliot Page says it’s ‘an absolute thrill’ to premiere new film in CanadaCanadian actor Elliot Page spoke with CBC News at the TIFF premiere of Close to You, in which he stars as a transgender man returning to his Ontario hometown for a family reunion.Page, who came out as trans in 2020, released the memoir Pageboy earlier this year. It partly recounted the challenges of publicly sharing his gender identity amid, as he described in a June interview with CBC News, a climate of "intense hostility" toward trans people.With the Oscar-nominated actor now representing two films at the festival featuring LGBTQ protagonists, his co-star Wendy Crewson — a Canadian actress who stars in both Close To You and Backspot — told CBC News that she was proud of him."I can't believe the courage that it takes to step up in the way that he has, to reveal himself in the way that he has," both in his memoir and in his films, Crewson said, and "to really sort of be his authentic self without apology and without backing down."Despite Page's high profile, he is quiet and reserved, Crewson said."There is a depth in that soul that is so deep, you look into those eyes, you just go back centuries."Close to You stars Canadian Oscar nominee Elliot Page as a transgender person heading home for a tense family reunion. (Courtesy of Me+You Productions)British film director Dominic Savage — who became close friends with Page while collaborating on Close To You and writing the script together — said he approached the filmmaking process differently because of Page's involvement.After all, Close To You echoes Page's own life, as his character Sam returns home for the first time after coming out as trans. It relies heavily on improvisation by the performers."Normally with actors, you cast for the part that you [have] in mind," Savage said. "But this was about always working with Elliot and making the film with him and for him."Hands-on approachWhile Page didn't give interviews during the Friday red carpet for Backspot, the actors, directors and producers he worked with described a collaborative, hands-on approach that is unusual for an executive producer.The sometimes-symbolic role often has more to do with elevating a film project's visibility than it is about working in a deep capacity with the production.Martin Katz, a prolific Canadian producer known for his collaborations with director David Cronenberg, said the Backspot team reached out to Pageboy Productions in hopes that Page would contribute his name to the project.Instead, the famous Canadian and his team were involved from day one, said Katz."I think that [Page] felt like it was a very true story," said Katz.He described the film's central conflict as being two cheerleaders who "underestimate how much mental anguish" it takes to be on a highly competitive squad.Elliot Page on the red carpet Friday before the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of the cheerleading drama Backspot at the TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)Like Close To You, the movie has queer protagonists — but that's just about where the resemblance ends."It's not a queer coming-of-age story, it's not a who-am-I story, it's [an actual] sports story that happens to have a queer couple in it and that's what's great about it," said Katz.Devery Jacobs, the Mohawk actor and writer who starred in Reservation Dogs, plays teen gymnast Riley in Backspot and also co-produced the film."I don't think we were anticipating for [Page and his production company] to be such close collaborators with us in the process," Jacobs said. "I honestly don't think we could've made this movie without [their] support." Devery Jacobs is shown in a still from Backspot, executive produced by Page and his company Pageboy productions. (TIFF)The sentiment was echoed by director Waterson, who noted that Page and Pageboy were entirely supportive of the project."They were on set every day, they were giving notes on the script, they were asking us, checking in and asking us how we were doing and how they could support us," Waterson said. "Ultimately we could all just make the best movie possible, which is the best form of collaboration." [ad_2]

[oots-digitalmedia]

Queer Webseries: That’s My DJ

Title: That’s My DJ

    Status: Complete, three seasons.

    Created and Directed by: D.W. Waterson

    Cast: Emily Piggford, Jade Hassouné, Nico Racicot, Kelly McCormack, Kristian Bruun

    Queer Creators: Yes

    Accessibility: No content warnings, captions available.

Summary: Each Season of That's My DJ follows a different character within the electronic music scene in Toronto. From heartbeat to heartbreak, chasing dreams and chasing highs, it's an unapologetic look at music, cliques and artists all trying to find their place within the new order of rave.

Tags: queer main character, queer woman, wlw relationship

Check out other queer webseries here.

Please feel free to offer suggestions and updates!

[dailyjadehassoune]

Jade Hassouné at the Canadian Screen Awards (March 11th, 2018)