Canada
Noel Ransome is a Toronto-based culture writer and critic. In addition to interviewing cultural icons like LeVar Burton, Barry Jenkins, and Danai Gurira, he served as the national entertainment reporter for the Canadian Press, Canada’s equivalent of the Associated Press, regularly covering major events such as the Toronto Film Festival, the Grammys, and the Emmys.
His words can also be found in VICE, VICE UK, VICE Australia, Documentary Magazine, Motherboard, Waypoint, The Toronto Star, Shondaland, Complex, Vanity Fair, The Globe and Mail, CBC, Slashfilm, and University of Toronto Magazine, among others.
The story of solitary confinement is impossibly cruel-a collection of enduring deprivations that add up to a horror that can never be fully captured by mere stats. To describe it is to consider a place ensnared by windowless brick, with scarred and rutted walls depicting agitation, unease, and in some cases, the mania of a previous occupant.
For so long, much about Russell Tyrone Jones, known to the world as Ol' Dirty Bastard and Ason Unique by others, earned both public awe and unfortunate judgment. From the 1990s until his untimely death in 2004, he was a symbol of-and a living allegory for-the self-destructive celebrity in America.
Street art has long been synonymous with Black culture. So, it's worth asking how its transition to art world staple has affected the genre itself
Atom Egoyan on shaping his most personal story yet
Members of Canadian and U.S. performers unions held an action blocks from the Toronto International Film Festival fighting for job protections, better compensation
In the opening scene of "Brother," two Black teens prepare for a climb, the elder instructing his younger sibling: "follow my every step."
Newly minted Oscar-winner Sarah Polley says the decade she spent away from the director's chair prepared her for this latest phase of her career.
Ongoing strikes by Hollywood actors and writers have kept discussions about fair compensation and job protection at the forefront of this year's Toronto International Film Festival, but Canadian film industry players who are Black, Indigenous and people of colour say that still doesn't address the larger barriers they face.
Toronto-raised actor Kiefer Sutherland does not spend time, as he puts it, “surfing the web.” He doesn’t browse online for news and still visitsa library for research. It’s his recipe, he says, for avoiding misinformation.
TORONTO - Wondering how some stars seemingly never age? A Toronto VFX company says the answer is in a growing post-production trend in which cosmetic touch-ups are routinely made on actors' skin and hairlines using technology. Matt Panousis, partner and chief operating officer of the visual effects and tech studio Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ), [...]
Sylvester Stallone accepts that despite his incredible star power, he may not be the automatic box-office draw he once was.
TORONTO - Award-winning actor, writer, and producer Eugene Levy has appeared in scores of film and TV projects to date,but what scares him the most is being himself in front of the camera. "It's frightening - I've done character work my entire life and the further the characters are from me, the more comfortable I [...]
Members of Canadian and U.S. performers unions held an action blocks from the Toronto International Film Festival fighting for job protections, better compensation
Fewer stars and less buzz are expected at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, which kicked off Thursday under the shadow of dual strikes by Hollywood writers and actors.
Lido Pimienta isn’t a fan of the word humble. There’s a kind of twisted history, she says, behind the term.
Samantha Bee is taking a pause from the world of politics.
Steven Spielberg's debut at the Toronto International Film Festival proved to be a hit with audiences, as his semi-autobiographical film "The Fabelmans" snagged the coveted People's Choice prize on Sunday.
TORONTO - Leading up to the opening of Disney's live-action "Aladdin" remake in 2019, Mena Massoud was at a pivotal moment in his career he felt would catapult him forward - he was the lead in the much-anticipated reboot alongside Will Smith and Naomi Scott.
Oakville, Ont., native Adam DiMarco is experiencing the sort of breakout opportunity that would make anyone consider meditation.
Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey is determined to prove that the annual fest is still valuable at its core, despite this year’s unwelcome changes and challenges.
Midway through Sally El Hosaini's new film "The Swimmers" a decrepit motorboat on the Aegean Sea carrying sisters Yusra and Sara Mardini begins to stall. Their passage had up to that point been harrowing but optimistic - fleeing from a war-torn Syria to the Turkish coast, where they would cram into a packed [...]
TORONTO - Oakville, Ont., native Adam DiMarco is experiencing the sort of breakout opportunity that would make anyone consider meditation.
Heart and vulnerability weave through Steven Spielberg's late-career offering "The Fabelmans," loosely based on the filmmaker's childhood. But more than just being about the beginnings of one of Hollywood's most successful visionaries, this is a story about family, relationships and heartbreak. The opening scenes are dedicated toa young, inquisitive Sammy Fabelman, played by [...]
TORONTO - Diligent wordsmith, artist, author, and director Ian Keteku spares no effort to ensure that you understand the meaning behind his CBC Gem animated poetic anthology, "Dreams in Vantablack" - or more specifically, the word Vantablack.
Portraying Black male vulnerability on screen should not feel like a radical or difficult idea, but Canadian director Clement Virgo says that is how he felt when he embarked on his latest feature, “Brother,” screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In the new sports documentary “Black Ice,” viewers learn that in 1906 hockey player Eddie Martin became the first to use a technique known as the slapshot — a back swing of the stick known for its power as it makes contact with the puck.
Donald Shebib will see 'Nightalk' debut at this year's TIFF; his first feature film in a decade and written alongside Claude Harz
Toronto journalist Brandon Gonez spoke with Complex Canada about his pivot to independent journalism after leaving CP24 and his upcoming TED Talk.
Designer Eske Schiralli talks about designing a sneaker for Disney+ movie 'Sneakerella', Drake wearing his clothes, and making it in the industry.
Amanda Parris took the time to talk about the series that has been as much a reflection of Canada's media industry as it is a self-reflection for herself.
Ahead of the release of 'Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City,' Canadian actor Avan Jogia opens up about the industry and its odd relationship with race.
A U of T initiative aims to support the creation of Black-owned businesses in the university community
Since 2016, Bertrand has embraced the surprisingly nuanced antagonist turned protagonist Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz in the Karate Kid series, 'Cobra Kai.'
The artist curated a massive, year-long street art exhibition known as ALL CITY SHINE with Downsview Park as the hub, featuring 25 BIPOC artists.
The creators of CBC series 'Next Stop' talk breaking through the fences of a stifling Canadian media industry, Season 2, & how Toronto informs them as creators.
The late Sidney Poitier was a pioneering actor and director who smashed stereotypes and bridged racial divides. These are his best films.
Her distrust in government is an age-old story for Black and Indigenous people — one backed by a historical and everyday context, Noel Ransome writes.
Kickback founder Jamal Burger delves into his past as an underprivileged youth on the streets of Toronto and how he hustled his way to helping those same kids.
Spike Lee's best movies feature unique characters and sharp political statements. His worst are, at the very least, always interesting. Here are a few of both.
Haviah Mighty discusses her new mixtape Stock Exchange, growing closer to her truest self during the pandemic, and not seeking validation from anybody.
Wagner talks to Shondaland about working with stars like Viola Davis and Regina King, while also documenting everyday moments of Black life.
Set your feelings about the finale aside; Game of Thrones wasn't ever about the ending, but the journey. These shows will take you on similar adventures.
Denzel Washington almost never turns in a bad performance, but some movies need him more than he needs them. Here are 14 films he should've turned down.
Like The Sopranos before it, The Many Saints of Newark reimagines and dissects the gangster film. If you want to know more about that genre, start here.
The Oscar-nominated editor talks to Shondaland about working with Jenkins on “The Underground Railroad” and the importance of art as protest.
Black superheroes in comics and film are reaching a pivotal point, but like any medium, they're built on a history of highs and lows.
Ico, more than any other game at the time, modeled an entire design approach around this feeling.
"We're telling people to look at our experiences and view our lives for what they're truly like," says Korean American indie-filmmaker Julian Kim.
Anthony N. Morgan, one of Canada's leading racial justice lawyers, on how to achieve social reform in the face of COVID-19.
Ever since a white cop pulled a gun on me, I have been questioning my safety around all white people. My therapist says I'm hardly the only Black person with this fear.
Jerome, who played one of the Central Park Five in Netflix's 'When They See Us,' talked to VICE earlier this summer about his Emmy-winning role.
We need to reckon with how closely Todd Phillips's villain mirrors real-life mass shooters, and the poisonous ideologies they subscribe to.
From 'Heathers' to 'Back to the Future,' here's what you should queue up on Netflix to watch after 'Stranger Things' season three.
We spoke to the film's director about how relationships can be a source for horror.
'The Daily Show' alum and Netflix host talks about why audiences are seeking out voices like his.
After the Raptors president guided his team to a championship, he was asked for his ID by a cop.
A 'rapper' move cost him a job on an HBO series, and Cliff 'Method Man' Smith says he learned a tough lesson about how to be a pro.
Netflix's excellent 'When They See Us' puts its wrongfully convicted victims first.
With the NBA finals starting tonight, we asked fans about the impact the team has had on Toronto.
We spoke to Stefon Bristol, the director of the sci-fi drama 'See You Yesterday', about how Spike Lee taught him to be more than a cliché.
Actor Topher Grace reflects on his career and how much of a godsend his new podcast 'Minor Adventures' is.
In 'The Iron Throne,' the final episode of 'Game of Thrones,' nearly every decision was the wrong one.
In 'The Bells,' the shocking penultimate episode of 'Game of Thrones,' nearly every character comes to the end of their journey in ways that make almost no sense.
The 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' director says he made it for his daughters' generation after learning they didn't know the infamous killer.
'The Last of the Starks' was a reminder that our favorites are growing dumber with each passing episode.
John Singleton, who died at age 51 yesterday, told the stories of Black Americans with honesty and humanity. He put characters on screen that I recognized from my own life.
The much anticipated 'The Long Night' was stunning, but not always in a good way.
As 'Avengers: Endgame' marks the end of some characters and the beginning of new franchises, we examined how the MCU impacted the careers of its beloved heroes.
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' gave all your favorite characters one nice moment, presumably before they die horribly next week.
While season seven of GoT brought disappointment for some viewers, season eight's 'Winterfell' reminded us of the show's roots.
A deep dive into the motivations and means of the HBO show's last remaining characters.
VICE had a chat with the actor about his DC movie and the state of fandom in 2019.
We spoke to the comedian about the relationship between fear and comedy.
It was a year when filmmakers sent out their last dispatches before the apocalypse-full of failing, dying, and learning.
Peele has managed to map an enemy that exists in all of us.
Following the Christchurch mosque shooting, I was filled with anger over what had happened-the latest attack by white supremacism. But society doesn't want people like me to express that rage.
After making his directorial debut, Ejiofor believes that all stories have Oscar relevance.
"The fear of the penis in the United States still shocks me," he said. "In many ways, the Western world is turning Victorian."
"I wanted him to reveal himself for what he was. He was a piece of shit."
Power walking will never kill this brand of racism because it's innate.
I spoke to comedian Mike Brown about what it means to be a black man in search of therapy.
From 'Killing Eve' to 'Billions' to 'Game of Thrones', there's lots to binge on to get you through winter.
"M.Night's my dealer who occasionally feeds me baking soda instead of the good stuff."
We need to shift the perception of presumed innocence and guilt.
M. Night Shyamalan's superhero story, getting a sequel 19 years later, featured a villain with a familiar obsession.
We spoke to Dominique Barrett aka King Vader about why be believes he'll be the greatest director of his generation.
Harper says Hollywood still doesn't cast dark-skinned actors like himself in leading romantic roles.
The new HBO season is trying hard to hang onto former glory at the risk of sacrificing substance.
The issues we value should be disconnected from cheap terminology.
Netflix's foray into 'choose your own adventure' television is very meta.
It was a season that was bold in the way it chose to be the inside joke for black audiences everywhere.
What to watch when you're dreading the holidays, and you need a reminder that your family could be worse.
What both Marvel and DC could learn from this incredible new Spider-Man movie.
This year I had the blessings of catching some movies that changed the way I viewed things.
In celebration of his new book, 'Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me,' we spoke to the radio host about his fears, fame, and therapy.
We spoke to actor Melvin Gregg about how his unique story added a layer of believability to the beloved character.
In season three, Issa reminds us we don't always have to strive for excellence.
We spoke to the face behind 'Luke Cage' on what season two, out Friday, reveals about America.
If you can't join the party, you can watch one.
Earn learns about black sacrifice and I learned a lot about my own life.
Another crash course for the person that knows just about nothing.
This was a comedy that had the guts to be a horror.
The show doesn't pander to its viewers, and I love that.
They are multi-dimensional and have agency, which is more groundbreaking than it should be in 2018.
Here's how I changed my mind on the new 'Black Mirror' ep, and why I challenge anyone to watch a second time.
I found out. All it took was a 64-bracket tournament.
We talked to Lawther about why the show's oddness is so appealing.
The inner debate on the sharing of black death. It's complicated.
And it isn't Justin or Kelly's fault.
'I'm sorry for hurting people with those racist comments,' its creator tells VICE.
Our northern neighbors admit that they have no right to moral superiority.
Turns out a lot of "medicinal drugs" were needed to help create the legendary theme song from 'Arthur.'
Like the Eye of Sauron in 'Lord of the Rings,' the Night King lacks a relatable motive.
'The Deuce' creators David Simon and George Pelecanos tell us about the challenges of getting porn and sex work right.
We spoke to Steve Lightfoot about putting The Punisher out during a time when mass shooting are commonplace.
Take it from me, your black friend, I know the signs.
The most inspirational quotes from the film, ranked.
Actor Brinsley Forde on the UK classic that gave black London a voice.
Children are the most unsuspecting of us all and can challenge our ideas of good and evil.
We find out if PETA and vegans are any smarter than the folks in 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom'.
We sat with the writer and director of 'Sorry to Bother You' about the change he can bring.
Here are the best stunts from Tom Cruise's midlife crisis franchise.
Christopher Nolan's superhero epic nailed how society deals with anxiety, and I know that from personal experience.
Why let Permit Patty and Coupon Carl have all the fun?
We sat down with the 'Mission: Impossible-Fallout' star to talk about his new movie, career, and the toxic geek culture surrounding Star Wars.
Simon Pegg is back in action as Benji Dunn in the new Mission: Impossible - Fallout. We met the actor to talk about his secret agent role and to find out who he'd want to play in other big film franchises, including three hobbits that were never in Lord o
Yes, you can choose what to watch based purely on the volume of reactions.
Hip hop artist and activist Boots Riley bends reality in his absurdist directorial debut, Sorry To Bother You. We met the filmmaker and found out why his movie is too real for Hollywood.
A new month, a new batch of movies both coming and going in Canada.
We spoke with Trayvon Martin's parents about Trump and their docuseries 'Rest in Power.'
Many stories around the black experience aren't being told for black people.
I'm a huge Spike Lee fan and this movie was such a disappointment to me.
There's so much fun to be had in Rockstar's latest game, but it takes going off the beaten path to find the best of it.
Stylistically aware with a vocal tablet that flows with unapologetic truths, King Reign is on a trajectory of growth. His presence within the hip-hop scene came in bits and pieces, through praised ...
Putting yourself out there daily comes with great cost to your mental health.
"After 'Batman & Robin,' I was scum. It was like I had murdered a baby," Schumacher tells VICE.
What frontin' celebrities teach us about ourselves.
How an obscure 80s cartoon called 'C.O.P.S' showed me the lies in law enforcement.
Screenwriters are using science and cunning to spill your tears.
At first I thought I could adjust, but in reality, my year was a nightmare.
A look into how the 1997 animated cartoon did diversity the right way.
Do you remember Uh Oh, Fun House, and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? as fondly as we do?
Netflix's reboot of a classic anime series makes timely pop culture commentary by recasting an Asian role.
If you can think up the activity, this guy can make sure there's naked people there.
"I was just driving to get to a stop to get on the phone with you and was actually pulled over in the car and the cop was actually racist," says singer/songwriter E.B. Wright, daughter of the cultu...
"We hear gunshots quite often in our neighbourhood," says Tony Thornton, almost casually. "If we freaked out every time we heard them, we'd never get anything done." The 61-year-old, long-time Engl...
The film that features an almost all-black cast, a black director, and is set in a world that portrays people of color in a superior light is something black people have never seen before.
There's more to helping the world beyond putting on a suit.
A gory death scene clearly isn’t as straightforward as it looks.
"I really don't care whether anyone thinks I'm delusional."
We talked to the people behind the latest comic and asked important questions like, if Captain Canuck could kick Captain America's ass.
And it has very little to do with dragons.
"Yoda. He was always so cryptic."
"Maybe I should've just walked away when I couldn't get the cast that I wanted," director Kenneth Johnson tells VICE.
The legendary director turned the B-movie into a powerful vehicle for societal criticism.
A mean mug can say a lot.
'Brawl in Cell Block 99' has the makings of an exploitation film, but beyond the crushed skulls and broken arms, there's feeling.
And it's deeper than just skin color. It's also the systems that make that an issue.
We spoke to director Cory Bowles about why he felt the need to be so direct with his message.
We sat down with Spurlock to talk about how building his own fast food restaurant helped expose the chicken industry's grimy underbelly.
I couldn't be happier for Riz Ahmed's Emmy win, but it comes with a caveat.
'Star Trek: Discovery' remains optimistic, even if its new alien villains talk like the alt-right.
Critics of his national anthem protests don't understand the harsh reality of white supremacy that black people like me face every day.
We spoke with the actor who played Donald Malarkey, who died late last month at 96.
In Spike Lee's 'Crooklyn,' I finally saw a functional family that didn't rely on a middle class ideal.
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh sheds light on the real-life harassment that inspires much of her work.
We had a convo with Eisner Award winner Sheena Howard about the industry from the POV of a POC.
DC has a host of issues within its movies, but its old ideas about "the superhero" might be its worst.
If Hollywood can be respectful about 9/11 and the Holocaust, it should be able to intelligently portray mass shootings.
There's a way to watch a 'Black Mirror' season, and it isn't in order.
Tom Holland thinks if you want to Netflix and chill, classic horror is the way to go.
'I now have this sense of empathy that I never would have had if not for that experience.'
TIFF's artistic director Cameron Bailey on the importance of looking to the past.
A report card for the film industry giants.
A look into why Thor's embrace of quirkiness gives me hope for cosmic superhero movies.
Errol Morris is back, and he's using actors to bring a familiar style into a fresh new direction.
We spoke to the real-life Molly Bloom to talk about moving on from the underground world of high-stakes poker.
There's nothing "punk" about today's cyberpunk.
I spoke to Black Lightning star Cress Williams and series creator Salim Akil about the dopeness of their show, 'Black Panther' and being optimistic about Hollywood.
Diversity in film is apparently a thing people want to see more of and its showing.
Here's how to spend a few hours before the Oscars this weekend.
A crash course for the person who knows almost nothing.
A look into what today's shows are doing (or not doing) to normalize natural hair.
"These are African people who haven't had their identity tarnished by colonization. This is a movie that we need."
A talk with showrunner Melissa Rosenberg, and actress Rachel Taylor on the timeliness of the new season.
Some black folks have had to deal with self-hatred for way too long.
Don't be one of these people.
Showrunner Graham Yost and Giovanni Ribisi told us about the biggest deceptions they ever got away with.
Relax, no one got hurt.
We spoke with showrunner Veena Sud about portraying racism and police brutality on TV.
Because you never know how your visit to Starbucks will end.
'The Office' actor tells us how frightening it was to make his directing debut.
In "Champagne Papi," we learn we are all a simulation.
We spoke to the face behind Paper Boi about the trajectory of his career and sacrifices of fame.
Because on a day like today, it's all we really want to know.
A boy and his robot? Netflix's 'Lost in Space' re-imagines a classic friendship.
Because you're too tough for 'Coco.'
A student of kung fu, Florence Kasumba is bad all on her own.
This wasn't a show just about spies. It was a story about friendship and the incredible power of needing someone to be there for you.
Harlem's queen rises and confronts new menace in Marvel's Luke Cage.
How a single program at Folsom State Prison changed lives.
We had convo with Khris Davis about why the scene-stealing Tracy is so near and dear to his heart.
The new music video from Childish Gambino is the perfect litmus test for a viewer's empathy.
"It's our world and we're literally giving you a reflection of it. So if you got an issue, turn it outward."
Troubled by racism, the NFL and police brutality, Terence Blanchard plays on.
What l learned from a flashback episode of 'Atlanta' where a young Earn encounters the power of a FUBU shirt.
Because it's Star Wars, so who wouldn't?
The famed music video director told us why his 2018 version is more 'Fast and Furious' than 'Sicario.'
Alex Wolff, who plays a rebel teen in the movie, says it left him in a raw and volatile state.
On that Canada Netflix and CraveTV high? We got some selections for the assist.
Films like 'Hereditary,' 'Get Out,' and 'A Quiet Place' are using terror as a Trojan horse for indie drama.
Ten years later, here's why 'Wall-E' was so special.
We spoke to Pearce about his new role in 'The Innocents' and why he tries so hard to suppress his ego.
Because school's in, the vacation's over, and it's time to be unhappy again.
From the movies to the comic books, no 'Spider-Man' adaptation has ever made me cry like this game has. That means something.
People of color need to stop sanctioning the bullshit white folks do and say.
Simply copying and pasting black skin on a white character would trivialize the whole point of a black Bond.
A recent series of comments forced me to confront the issues of writing like everyone else as a person of color.
Midnight Madness curator Peter Kuplowsky tells us how to survive the festival's notorious late night gorefest.
We talked to the 'Stranger Things' actress about the importance of representation for all and her new role.
Why this HBO show is the most daring thing on TV right now.
With the Marvel show's return, we had a chance to speak with the legendary actor about returning to the suit of the Kingpin.
Love as an antidote to black struggle is the most real thing that I can imagine.
Tom Hardy's big Marvel movie would make more sense if it was released back when 'Batman and Robin' was in theaters.
Amid rumours that Michael B. Jordan may take on the role next, VICE's Noel Ransome argues that it's about time Superman reflected his immigrant origin story.
In trying to appeal to every audience, the show's quality has suffered greatly.
The legendary director once known for leading 'New Hollywood' can't seem to see how old he's beginning to look.
We spoke with Erik Oleson about the political themes that inspired the best season of 'Daredevil' to date.
We talked to the famed 'Star Trek' actor about his past, present, and future.
Because we'd like to feel scared without having to sit through 'The Exorcist' or 'Hereditary' again.
TV and film have lost a sense of how to kill properly in 2018 and it has as much to do with viewers as it does with franchises.
The Canadian YouTube personality says she's burned out.
Because you're probably too sad to look for them.
We've seen this same story time and again, and by now, it's frankly offensive.
Beyond the art, comic books, and heroes, Stan Lee chose to support diversity and the civil rights movement in a way few people did.
We talk with Patrisse Cullors-Bignac and Damon Davis about black art becoming more than trauma and struggle.
Although the trailer is thin on dialogue, it evokes themes of poverty, class, and race.
The film delivers because of-not in spite of-the well-worn formula.
There's a special formula that 'Overlord' manages to tap into that most video game movies don't often get.
Disney is making the hurt even more real.
Ten years later, as a straight dude, I'm making a confession I should have made way earlier.
We spoke to Jenkins and composer Nicholas Britell about turning the classic novel into a classic film.
In our efforts to further the "diversity question," journalists are overlooking the very things transforming Hollywood.
We sat with the former host of BuzzFeed's 'Another Round' about her new 'Strong Black Lead' podcast.
Because this day is different for everyone, so why make it worse on yourself?
Let's not deny the importance of the Academy Awards, even if they continue to do a disservice to us.
Here's what else to watch on Crave and Netflix in March.
The actress has gone on the offensive against sexism in Hollywood-and the trolls-and the movie is better off for it.
Maya Angelou, whose words over the years have casted a much needed light on the injustices and paralleled beauty of the world, has died at the age of 86. A statement issued by Wake Forest Universit...
"I got shit from fans for working with [Lil] Wayne and everything," says Aaron Dontez Yates, more commonly referred to as Tech N9ne. His posture is composed, hunched forward free of the eccentric g...
There's a scene in Straight Outta Compton when an officer brashly utters the words; 'rap is not an art,' to the face of Jerry Heller, former manager of N.W.A. Meanwhile, a young Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, ...
Whether members of the profession like it or not, authors and novelists carry along with them a certain stereotype depending on one's perspective: that introverted figure that spends countless hour...
A lanky kid with the goofy grin on his face, the Levi's branding matched with skintight jean shorts - a clear victim of '90s nerd fashion - my former self. A lot of poor decisions were made during ...
The lead up to a system's launch has always attracted the hysterics. It's a tradition that embodies a gaming industry that rests comfortably on dollar signs that reach in the billions.
It's still easy to hear the chants for Joey Bada$$ between the head-banger filler music that separate the sets. As is common with any crowd that comes for its main course, the hunger for the main a...
"Do you identify yourself as a visible minority?" It's a given that you've probably come across this question if applying for a job this century. You'll be scrolling through some routine, run-of-th...
"Where are you heading sir?" I remember the words masked in an innocent tone that still stung like an insult. "I live on this street, just over there," I said, pointing. I stood wondering just how ...
Whether you love him for his ideas or hate him for his character flaws, the former Apple CEO Steve Jobs was undoubtedly a visionary. He was known as that stubborn idealist who would push employees ...
Straight Outta Compton has a magnifying glass in its view. After all it features the portrayal of one of the most iconic hip-hop groups of all time, N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude) - no pressure. You...
Sitting in a sleek office at the Tangerine café in Toronto, Lloyd Klarke, director of product management for Roku, casually browses through a clean, and simple looking TV interface, remote in hand....
For a long time now I've been struggling with the tedium of writing about technology. It was never for a lack of available news, but for its ironic sense of sameness. This industry has always been ...
"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see." - Martin Luther King It's 2015, the Oscar nominations have been thrown out to the wild, and in retort to an irritated social m...
Despite it being 25 years since the birth of the MP3, the conversation over music distribution remains just as convoluted as when it started. "We think it's good for artists and labels to be on Spo...
His dress, speech, and manner of decency always seem to spawn the same questions, ones that probe into his personal style. It's inescapable for Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, the self-proclaimed 'class...
David Ramsey showed very few leanings towards becoming an actor back in 1987. "Don't believe everything you see on IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base), that first credit is not even me," he quips in re...
With a grin that invites, a hairstyle that empowers and a verbiage that radiates experience, Frances-Anne Solomon has a peaceful air about her that's hard to ignore. There's a sense of pride that e...
As bold as the statement 'experience the impossible' is, Sony has earned the right to brandish the phrase. It's been a company synonymous with the word 'progress' within the industry; the Walkman a...
"Videogames can never be art." I remember those words back in 2010 stinging with their suggestion that gaming lacked any possibility. Here I was, this optimist who had these grand ideas about how g...
What's Carnival time like? "It's taking a vacation, but you're doing it home and at a festival rather than taking a plane and going somewhere," says Destra Garcia, with an air of calm that's usuall...
"Great to be here in Toronto," says the comedian with a brief eye scan of the crowd; he has a puzzled 'I'm thinking' brand of expression on his face that anyone with a familiarity to his trademarke...
"Games is this thing that's pretty much dominated by white guys," says former Rockstar Games employee, Shawn Allen at a North By Northeast (NXNE) panel discussion. "I had been really ignorant of th...
The highly successful Converse shoe brand is taking the same hip-hop essence that started with everything from signatures and tags coating the monumental bricks of New York to the assorted blending...
The creators behind the industry's most cash driven consumer electronics seem to always be in a constant state of change. The common television, robust in its transformative history is definitely n...
"I've been really, really busy, my phone has never rung so much," says actor Neil Brown Jr. post Straight Outta Compton. Between the exchanges of exhales and laughs, the quip about the state of his...
Major William Cage, played by Tom Cruise, could never be mistaken for an archetypal hero. Cage is arguably likable for the same reasons people love his actor counterpart. He's flawed, makes mistake...
B.o.B's presence has long since been absent from the label of 'that new shit'. But his songs instill a nostalgia that excites a crowd. He proves this as he douses Vaughan, Ontario's Luxy Club with ...
For "Underground" actor Alano Miller, the words "slave drama" nearly put him off from the project completely. "You know, when it was first pitched to me, I kinda was like uh, I don't think I want t...
"If some of us don't take a stand as professionals, we're kind of enabling him."
Tinashe Kachingwe appears relaxed and casual as she settles on her high stool, phone rested. "I never met her still," she goes on to say with a grin, when the topic of Nicki Minaj arises. The answe...
"I remember sitting in the staff meeting where the principal told Michael what was going to happen and I started to cry," says Robin Phillips, a teacher of eight years at Toronto's Lawrence Heights...
Despite being a launch event about what some would consider a pretty standard product in the Surface 2, you couldn't ignore the sheer cluster of lights that wanted to convince guests otherwise. It ...
You've heard the recycled sayings every year. "I'm going to join a gym." "This is the time I lose weight." "I'm getting out of debt." These are the promised proverbs that make up the New Year's res...
He only lived to the age of 27, first placed his fingers on a guitar at the age of 15 and has remained a musical legend to this day. The reasons for his success were as varied as his transformation...
I remember uttering the words, "I want to be a Hacker when I grow up." While I can feel eyebrows collectively rise, rest assured, there was nothing too abnormal about me saying this as a '90s kid. ...
"Failure, I'm not going to lie, it hurts," says 25-year-old entrepreneur Ariana Pierce. Her words are tangible and frank. "I'm not going to be that person that says I love it or that it's nothing."...
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) always brings with it the promise of a grand spectacle. The red carpets, flashing lights and readied grins from those imprinted upon the pop culture l...
The parables that often come from an inordinate young talent getting mixed up in street life have often been told in some form or another. The death of Ben Wilson to this day serves as a mantel for...
Much of technologies, unlike the folks who benefit from them, are boring and sterile by nature; they're built to do a job and do that job well. It's a sameness that comes from the designing of a pi...
When the Toronto native speaks, it's hard to overlook the mint gold watch that projects shine on his left wrist, the silver chain that adds to that jewelry sheen, the flat rimmed, Montreal branded ...
Under Pressure - with Logic's introspective style and lyrical word play on life, his album title is ironically simple and to the point. He's had the fortunate or unfortunate (depending on how you l...
For the 25th anniversary of 'Above the Rim', it's time we recognize that few characters measure up to Tupac's Birdie.
We asked the experts who will be sitting on the Iron Throne at the end of the HBO series.
At the 2015 Emmy Awards, actress Viola Davis verbalized a message that was pointedly honest and equal parts poetic. It was a veracity that invoked claps and praise from every African American actress that could do nothing but react to needed words directed at a predominantly white audience.
"This whole stuff is not new," says American director Spike Lee, whose body of work has often been a potent exploration around issues of race. "People have cameras, we saw with Rodney King, everybo...