Are biopics rewriting history?

FromCommotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

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Are biopics rewriting history?

FromCommotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

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Length:

25 minutes

Released:

Mar 5, 2024

Format:

Podcast episode

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Film and culture critics Bilge Ebiri, Rad Simonpillai and Niko Stratis join Elamin to discuss biopics and what it means when they are seen as more fact than fiction, and families and estates are involved in making them.

Released:

Mar 5, 2024

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (64)

Big laughs. Smart takes. Every day. Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts & entertainment stories of the day, in 30 minutes or less.

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Was Shane GIllis the right choice to host Saturday Night Live?: Controversial comedian Shane Gillis hosted SNL on Saturday. Critic Kathryn VanArendonk and comedian Cassie Cao react to Gillis’ hosting debut and the backlash both he and Saturday Night Live have received because of his past racist and homophobic comments. Plus, after wrapping up its 11-season run in 2021, The Walking Dead saga is back from the dead with the premiere of new spinoff series, The Ones Who Live. Walking Dead aficionados Matt Hart and Kaiya Shunyata tell us what we can expect from this new incarnation of the show — and whether it was really necessary. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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The JLo Cinematic Universe, and why influencers aren’t journalists: Culture critics Lainey Lui, Jackson Weaver and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd join Elamin to unpack the confusion and reaction to J-Lo’s latest multi-format project and weigh in on the tensions between influencers and entertainment journalists. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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Selena and Yolanda, and who is entitled to tell Selena's story?: Mexican-American music icon Selena was murdered in 1995. Now, a docuseries sheds new light on the beloved star, It also includes an interview with her convicted killer from prison. Culture writers Suzy Exposito and Alessa Dominguez unpack what the series adds to Selena’s legacy and whether the series goes too far. Plus, you'll hear from a gallery curator about selfie mishaps, but also the upside of capturing yourself with the art you like. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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Without corporate title sponsors, can Canada's cultural festivals survive?: Canadian arts organisations have relied heavily on big companies to be their title sponsors: the Toronto International Film Festival had Bell, Luminato had L'Oréal, and the CONTACT Photography Festival had Scotiabank. But now, more and more of these corporate sponsors are pulling out — and no one is stepping up to fill the gap. Darcy Killeen, the CEO of CONTACT, tells host Elamin Abdelmahmoud about what it was like to lose their lead sponsor, and arts reporter Josh O’Kane explains what’s at stake for the arts in this country amidst a shifting funding landscape. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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How gang violence has impacted local musicians in Haiti: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the situation in Haiti a “humanitarian and security catastrophe.” With gang violence on the rise, the country’s music industry has begun to feel the impacts in a big way. Miami Herald reporter Jacqueline Charles explains how local musicians are getting caught in the middle of this conflict. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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Live Nation's dominance of the music industry, and where's the Princess of Wales?: Live Nation recently announced record-breaking earnings of 22.7 billion for 2023, a 36% increase over the previous year. The concert promotion conglomerate is infiltrating all aspects of the live-music experience, from ticketing to merchandising to venue ownership. Guardian reporter Adrian Horton and Toronto club-owner Shaun Bowring discuss the impact that Live Nation’s dominance is having on the music industry, on consumers, and if their dramatic growth is sustainable. Plus, where’s the Princess of Wales? The internet has a million theories. The speculation – AND the silence – says a lot about the media’s relationship with certain royals and our expectation of celebrities. Elamin gets some perspective from reporter Ellie Hall. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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BONUS: What went into a dog actor's performance in Oscar nominated Anatomy of a Fall?: There is zero Oscars buzz about one of the best performances of the year, and that's because it's not by a human. Messi — a seven year old Border Collie — plays Snoop in Anatomy of a Fall. We’ll talk with a dog trainer about what went in to his incredible performance and why no matter how good AI gets, it will never be able to replace real animals on screen. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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Are biopics rewriting history?: Film and culture critics Bilge Ebiri, Rad Simonpillai and Niko Stratis join Elamin to discuss biopics and what it means when they are seen as more fact than fiction, and families and estates are involved in making them. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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The popularity of TikTok series "Who TF Did I Marry? and HBO's new political satire The Regime: Reesa Teesa recently blew up on TikTok with her fifty part "Who TF did I Marry?" series detailing her previous toxic marriage. CT Jones and Amanda Hess join Elamin to discuss what Teesa’s viral moment says about the platform’s growing popularity amongst 40+ audiences. Plus, TV critic Hanna Flint shares her thoughts on HBO’s new political satire, The Regime. Kate Winslet stars as an authoritarian leader in an unnamed central European country. But is the show strong enough to hold HBO’s coveted Sunday slot? by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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The uncertain future of Just for Laughs, and does the Love is Blind experiment actually work?: On Tuesday, the comedy world was rocked by the news that Montreal’s Just for Laughs festival was canceling its 2024 edition after financial hardships. Montreal Gazette writer T’Cha Dunlevy checks in with a local perspective on the impact JFL’s absence will have on the city, and whether the festival can bounce back. Plus, on the Netflix reality show Love is Blind, men and women get engaged before ever seeing each other in person. The show has earned Emmy nominations and more than a billion viewers – but has it proved its point? Amil Niazi and Kathryn VanArendonk join host Elamin to unpack the results of this so-called love experiment, six seasons in. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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What the Kate photo says about our current information dystopia, and Grey's Anatomy debuts its 20th season!: News agencies are refusing to run the most recent photo of Kate Middleton and her kids because they could see it had been doctored. Charlie Warzel says nothing showcases the choose-your-own reality information dystopia we’re living in better than this photo blunder. Plus, Grey's Anatomy's 20th season debuts this week without its titular character (sort of). Entertainment journalists Sarah Hunter Simanson and Emily Longeretta join Elamin to talk about how this show became such an iconic staple of network TV, how it navigated so much change over the last 20 years and where it's landed now. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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A look back at the history of Freaknik, and examining Israel's entries into Eurovision: With the release of the new doc Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told, Elamin is joined by veteran Atlanta hip-hop journalists Sonia Murray and David Dennis Jr., for a brief look at the history of one of Atlanta’s most iconic 90s Black street parties. Plus, one of the non-european countries participating in the Eurovision Song Contest this year is Israel, which has sparked debate on its place in the competition, espeically amidst the war in Gaza. Journalist and Eurovision expert Karen Fricker talks about the contest's goal of staying apolitical, and the songs submitted by Israel for the competition: October Rain and Hurricane. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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Why were The American Society of Magical Negroes and Ava Duvernay's Origin flops at the box office?: FIlm and culture critics Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Sarah-Tai Black and Jackson Weaver join Elamin to discuss the new film The American Society of Magical Negroes and whether the disappointing box office performance and lack of Oscar nominations for Ava Duvernay’s latest film Origin has anything to do with reported tensions between Duvernay and Neon, the film’s distributor. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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A startling look at parenting influencers, and Richard Serra's legacy on the art world: For the last couple of years, journalist Fortesa Latifi has been reporting on the stories of the grown up children of parenting influencers. Her latest documentary and article from Cosmopolitan offers a startling look behind the camera — and how some sharenters are addressing the criticism or making the decision to stop using their children in content creation. Plus, CBC producer Lise Hosein pays tribute to the late American sculptor Richard Serra — who died this past Tuesday at the age of 85 — by giving her first-person account of visiting one of his more obscure site-specific works, Shift, located on a private farm north of Toronto. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
24 min listen
Recapping the 2024 Junos — Canada's biggest night in music!: Elamin is joined by artists and culture critics Cadence Weapon, Tristan Grant and Haligonian music journalist Morgan Mullen to react to the 2024 Juno Awards. They'll also unpack Maestro Fresh Wes' induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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Civil War is at the top of the box office, but what is it trying to say?: Culture critics Rad Simonpillai and Omar El Akkad unpack Alex Garland’s new film "Civil War." by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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What Sydney Sweeney has come to represent: Sydney Sweeney has been everywhere since her breakout performance in Euphoria. Recently, she's starred in the hit rom-com Anyone But You, the terrible superhero movie Madame Web, and now she plays a nun in the horror film Immaculate. But lately, the discourse around Sydney Sweeney hasn’t been about her acting roles. But rather, it’s been about how she breaks the unwritten rules of celebrity when it comes to politics and class. Plus, film and tv critic Rachel Ho joins Elamin to talk about why the animated show Invincible is succeeding as a live action superhero show when so many blockbusters are struggling to captivate audiences. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
25 min listen
Quiet on Set: how Nickelodeon failed to protect its child actors: Some say the early 2000’s was a golden age for children’s television. But in the new docuseries Quiet on Set, audiences learn that behind the scenes at Nickelodeon, it was anything but. Culture writer Scaachi Koul and former child actor Michael Seater join host Elamin to discuss the revelations from the docuseries and what it’s really like to make children’s TV. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
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BONUS: Are the changes to the Griffin Poetry prize hurting Canadian poets?: With no Canadian contenders on this year’s Griffin Poetry Prize longlist, poet and academic Paul Vermeersch joins Elamin to react to the news and unpack how recent changes to the prize’s criteria might impact the future visibility of Canadian poets on the international stage. by Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
14 min listen

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Are biopics rewriting history?

Are biopics rewriting history?

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