Latest news with #Windsor-based
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ian McKellen stars in young director's film debut
A 14-year-old boy is due to make his directorial debut with a film starring Sir Ian McKellen. Jacob, from Windsor, Berkshire, explores 1,000 years of gay history in his film, as well as what it is like to be part of the LGBTQ+ community today. Dragged Through Time, which draws on his experiences as an openly gay young person, will be screened for the first time at Windsor and Eton Pride on 26 July. Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, Jacob said Sir Ian was "very easy to work with". Jacob said he had been working with Windsor-based youth-led film project Notice Productions for about a year when he suggested to one of the coordinators, Brad Day, that they should make a film about gay issues. "He [Mr Day], as a joke, tells me that I have to have a synopsis ready by the next day - and I take him seriously," said the young director. "So I write this whole two-page thing, hand it in, it gets approved and I'm in utter shock." Exploring LGBTG+ history was "really important" to him, said Jacob, adding: "While we have great films and TV shows now that focus on the present, I really think it's an important thing to focus on the past." Dragged Through Time goes as far back as ancient Greece, he said. "It was quite an accepting place back then. "Most of the Greek gods, while they may be fictional, had male lovers." He described the genre of the film as "drama, in a way", explaining: "We have these dream sequences... that are different forms of theatre with drag queens played by me, which we had to make costumes for." Sir Ian plays the role of Great Uncle Peter, a semi-closeted older relative of the film's main protagonist. Jacob said they managed to secure the Hollywood star's involvement via Eton College's main film director Scott Handy. The actor described the project as "a really inspiring thing to look at", said Jacob, adding that Sir Ian was very easy to work with". Looking ahead to Windsor and Eton Pride, he said it would feel like "my community is moving closer to home". You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Ian McKellen has 'no plans' to retire from acting Father's 'film letters' inspired director daughter London 'inaccessible' to Gen Z, says film director London's 'first dedicated LGBTQ+ cinema' approved Notice Productions Windsor and Eton Pride
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Young Windsor director's film debut to star Sir Ian McKellen
A 14-year-old boy is due to make his directorial debut with a film starring Sir Ian from Windsor, Berkshire, explores 1,000 years of gay history in his film, as well as what it is like to be part of the LGBTQ+ community Through Time, which draws on his experiences as an openly gay young person, will be screened for the first time at Windsor and Eton Pride on 26 to BBC Radio Berkshire, Jacob said Sir Ian was "very easy to work with". Jacob said he had been working with Windsor-based youth-led film project Notice Productions for about a year when he suggested to one of the coordinators, Brad Day, that they should make a film about gay issues."He [Mr Day], as a joke, tells me that I have to have a synopsis ready by the next day - and I take him seriously," said the young director."So I write this whole two-page thing, hand it in, it gets approved and I'm in utter shock."Exploring LGBTG+ history was "really important" to him, said Jacob, adding: "While we have great films and TV shows now that focus on the present, I really think it's an important thing to focus on the past."Dragged Through Time goes as far back as ancient Greece, he said. "It was quite an accepting place back then."Most of the Greek gods, while they may be fictional, had male lovers."He described the genre of the film as "drama, in a way", explaining: "We have these dream sequences... that are different forms of theatre with drag queens played by me, which we had to make costumes for."Sir Ian plays the role of Great Uncle Peter, a semi-closeted older relative of the film's main said they managed to secure the Hollywood star's involvement via Eton College's main film director Scott actor described the project as "a really inspiring thing to look at", said Jacob, adding that Sir Ian was very easy to work with".Looking ahead to Windsor and Eton Pride, he said it would feel like "my community is moving closer to home". You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
CBC
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Documentary on aftermath of Windsor, Ont.'s Creeper Hunter to premiere at Toronto's Hot Docs Festival
A Windsor, Ont.-made film that asks viewers if they can sympathize with people accused of being online predators will have its world premiere at the upcoming Hot Docs Festival in Toronto. Shamed, by award-winning documentary maker Matt Gallagher, will be featured at the annual festival, screening April 28 and May 2 during the 10-day event. The documentary explores the aftermath of Creeper Hunter TV — the controversial endeavour of Windsor-based online vigilante Jason Nassr. "This is, by far, the most difficult story I've ever worked on," Gallagher told CBC Windsor. "It's dealing with policing, vigilantism, and people who were accused of being pedophiles and predators." Between 2015 and 2020, Nassr ran a website and a YouTube channel that detailed his elaborate efforts to ensnare and publicly humiliate "creepers" — adults who believed they were communicating with a minor. To convince his targets, Nassr engaged them in sexually charged texting and even adopted a girlish voice in phone conversations. The catfishing would culminate in Nassr setting up an in-person meeting, where he would reveal the deception and record the reactions of the "creeper." The materials from Nassr's "hunts" were presented in video episodes that publicized the personal phone numbers and email information of the targets. At its height, Creeper Hunter TV had episodes on more than 90 targets, by Nassr's own estimation. "A lot of people will look at those stories and say, 'Well, he's going after predators. He's going after people he believes are pedophiles. And even if he gets it wrong once in a while, some of these guys were probably doing bad things,'" Gallagher said in the interview. "Crimes like pedophilia — it's one of those things that is very difficult for people to find empathy about or to understand." Gallagher's documentary incorporates never-before-seen interviews with Nassr, as well as Creeper Hunter TV content that has since been deleted from the internet. Exclusive interviews with law enforcement officials, legal system members and journalists are also in the documentary, along with previously unavailable court materials. There are also extensive interviews with the family and friends of five "John Does" — the anonymous name given to men who were featured on Creeper Hunter TV and later died by suicide or drug overdose. For Gallagher, their stories are the heart of the film. "That was the most difficult part in the entire documentary — reaching out to people," Gallagher said. "It's just the collateral damage [of Creeper Hunter TV] ... I wanted to tell that side of the story." Some of those grieving maintain their loved ones were innocent or mentally afflicted — such as one John Doe who was autistic. Others decry the lack of due process and the cruelty that their loved ones experienced. A John Doe who lived in Windsor had his home surrounded by an angry crowd threatening mob justice. Next month's premiere of Shamed is the culmination of two years of work by Gallagher and his production company, Border City Pictures. A veteran filmmaker, Gallagher has tackled sensitive subject matter in previous documentaries, including: imminent incarceration in How to Prepare for Prison (2016), historic sexual abuse by clergy in Prey (2019), and COVID-19 among loved ones in Dispatches From a Field Hospital (2021). Gallagher believes the investigative journalism and painstaking interviews that went into Shamed has made it the most challenging project of his career. For example, telling one of the "John Doe" stories involved Gallagher travelling to rural Iowa, speaking with the FBI, visiting the exact spot where the man died by suicide and following the chain of custody of a piece of phone evidence in the case. Nassr's Creeper Hunter TV activities eventually led to criminal charges against him. In February 2023, a jury found Nassr guilty of extortion and harassment by telecommunications. The Crown also successfully argued that Nassr's text messages while impersonating a minor constituted as production and distribution of child pornography. Nassr was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest and six months with a curfew. The conditional sentence ends this October. Shamed follows the court proceedings and captures reactions to the sentencing. "I don't think Jason has any remorse for his actions on Creeper Hunter TV," Gallagher said. "My relationship with Jason Nassr right now is non-existent." When Nassr spoke with CBC Windsor in November 2023, he disagreed with Gallagher's assessment — and the assessment of the Superior Court of Justice. "I don't think I'm remorseless," Nassr said. "I think I don't have to be public about how I feel about these cases and my own actions. Giving satisfaction to people who want to blame me for somebody's death... was never going to be in the cards for me." When pressed on the subject of remorse, Nassr replied: "I feel sorry for them because of the decisions that they made, I honestly do, because if they were to have made better choices, then they wouldn't have been in that position to be filmed — or to meet up with a child that they thought was going to be for a sexual purpose." Gallagher said he isn't necessarily asking viewers to sympathize with "creepers," but he's taking viewers on the same journey that he experienced while making the documentary. Gallagher said his own thoughts on Creeper Hunter TV changed through his conversations with Nassr and with those grieving the deaths of the five John Does. "What I want people to do is listen to the stories and come up with their own conclusions," Gallagher said. Windsor viewers will be especially struck by how local the documentary feels. Instantly recognizable locations in the city appear repeatedly on the screen: Devonshire Mall, Willistead Park, downtown Ouellette Avenue and more. Following the Hot Docs premiere, Gallagher intends to take Shamed on the film festival circuit, potentially including screenings at the 2025 Windsor International Film Festival. The documentary will eventually be available on TVOntario (TVO), which is financing production. As for any public backlash, or even retaliatory action by Nassr such as litigation, Gallagher said he's not worried. "We told a really true story about a court case and a man named Jason Nassr, and the collateral damage that came from his activities," Gallagher said. "We're presenting this as fairly and balanced as possible. I stand behind the documentary, 100 per cent." The 32nd edition of the annual Hot Docs Festival runs April 24 to May 4.
CBC
06-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Rocket Mortgage to wind down Canadian operations to focus on the American market
Social Sharing Rocket Mortgage, the U.S.-based lending company, is leaving Canada as the company focuses on growing in the United States. But, the company's other Windsor-based business will continue to operate and maintain its downtown Windsor footprint. The company said in a statement it has started to wind down operations and expect the process to be complete June 27. "We want to assure our clients that all loans in process will proceed without issue, and we remain committed to supporting them through this transition," the company said. "While this means stepping away from our lending business in Canada, we thank our team members who have helped us expand over the last five years." Ward 3 Coun. and Downtown BIA board member Renaldo Agostino said while Rocket Mortgage Canada is ceasing its operations, the Rocket Innovation Studio in downtown Windsor isn't going anywhere. "My thoughts are with the employees from the Rocket Mortgage side of things that are being displaced and [I] certainly want to see those people get jobs right away," he said. "But mostly it's just getting rid of the myth where people think that Rocket is leaving downtown, and it's certainly not." Agostino said businesses closing is not "the end of the world" but the biggest impact will be losing relationships with a lot of members who he says have done a lot for downtown, from community clean ups to volunteering for events. "When one door closes, another door opens … There's just some jobs being lost and my focus is trying to help those people that have lost their jobs to find new employment," he said. "We have a lot of companies that are working very hard to bring new businesses into Windsor and it's the downtown core…Our job is to give businesses the environment to make money. And if they're in an environment where they make money, they're going to stay." Rocket declined to comment on how many employees will be affected by the closure. While there will be roles for some team members at its other Canadian businesses, the Vancouver-based Lendesk and Rocket Innovation Studio, the company said the majority of Rocket Mortgage Canada team members will receive severance packages including health coverage and career transition services.
CBS News
04-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Canadian-based dive bar tour through Detroit, WindsorEats, pauses due to looming tariffs
(CBS DETROIT) — A Windsor, Ontario-based tour and event company is pausing its popular Detroit dive bar tour in response to President Trump's potential tariffs. Organizers said it was a hard decision to pause the tours as they were making the Windsor-based company money and, at the same time, putting money into local Detroit bars. "There's no way we can be giving to another community when our community is going to need as much support as it can possibly get," Adriano Ciotoli, co-owner and founder of WindsorEats, said. For the past ten years, the " D-Tour: Detroit Dive Bar Tour" has been one of WindsorEats' most popular tours, selling out almost every week. The bus tour takes 50 people from Windsor to Detroit to visit lesser-known, and sometimes struggling, dive bars. "(You) really get, in my opinion, a true feel of kind of the heart and soul of Detroit," Ciotoli said. "A lot of these establishments are kind of dying and falling by the wayside. And we really wanted to showcase the ones that are off the beaten path, that not many people know about." Ciotoli said the tours have been great for his business and a lifeline to the Detroit bars they consistently bring patrons to. "Some have messaged us saying how thankful they are that it's been able to help them keep their lights on, and pay their bills, and be able to stay open. While others actually take that money and give it back into the community," Ciotoli said. But he said with the looming tariffs, he had to make the hard choice to pause the Detroit tours, saying at this point they have to stop crossing the border and focus on putting their spending back into their own community. "If we can redistribute the spending of all those guests that are coming on our tours back into our community, and the small businesses here, we're going to focus on that," he said. "Having a great neighbor is amazing, but when your family needs you, and we look at the small business community here as our family, we kind of have to focus on that." He said the response to their decision has been overwhelmingly positive, and not just from the locals. "We're getting a lot of messages from Detroiters and Michiganders that are extremely positive and supporting what we're doing. They're saying it's unfortunate that it has to be done, but they completely understand," Ciotoli said. Ciotoli said he hopes the pause on the tours won't last long, and invites any Michiganders that may want to support them over for a visit. "The border is still open. We still love our American friends and neighbors, so they can absolutely come over," he said.
