Step behind the scenes of LAIKA’s latest stop-motion adventure, Wildwood, with Brad Schiff, Head of Animation at LAIKA Studios!

Brad joins us to discuss bringing the film’s fantastical world and unforgettable characters to life through the incredible artistry of stop-motion animation. We explore the creative process behind the film, the challenges of animating its characters and creatures, and how LAIKA continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with this unique filmmaking technique.

From the painstaking detail of stop-motion to creating authentic, emotionally driven performances, Brad shares insight into the craftsmanship, creativity, and collaboration behind one of LAIKA’s most ambitious projects yet.

Wildwood is a testament to the magic of handmade filmmaking and the artists who bring it to life, one frame at a time!

Brad Schiff is the Head of Animation at LAIKA Studios, where he oversees the animation team responsible for bringing the studio’s acclaimed stop-motion films to life. His credits include Wildwood, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link, as well as work on Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs, and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride.

Schiff received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects for Kubo and the Two Strings and has earned recognition from the Visual Effects Society for his work in animation. With a career spanning television and feature films, he continues to push the boundaries of stop-motion filmmaking, blending meticulous craftsmanship with expressive, lifelike character performances.

We’re stepping into the magical world of Wildwood! We sit down with actor Jacob Tremblay, who voices Curtis, and stop-motion animator Tom Carey to discuss their work on LAIKA’s epic animated fantasy. From bringing characters to life through voice acting to the incredible craftsmanship behind stop-motion animation, we explore the creativity, collaboration, and artistry that make Wildwood such a unique cinematic adventure.

Directed by Travis Knight and produced by LAIKA, Wildwood follows Prue McKeel, a determined teenager whose baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows and taken into the mysterious Impassable Wilderness near Portland, Oregon. Joined by her classmate Curtis, Prue ventures into an enchanted forest filled with talking animals, dangerous adversaries and ancient magic, discovering a hidden world caught in a struggle for its future.

Based on the book by Colin Meloy and illustrated by Carson Ellis, the film features the voices of Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali and Angela Bassett. It showcases LAIKA’s signature handcrafted stop-motion animation, bringing an extraordinary fantasy world to life frame by frame.

Jacob Tremblay is a Canadian actor who rose to prominence for his acclaimed performance in Room. His film credits include Wonder, Good Boys, Doctor Sleep, Luca and The Life of Chuck. He has also lent his voice to animated projects, including Harley Quinn and Invincible. In Wildwood, he voices Curtis, a loyal but awkward classmate who joins Prue on a dangerous journey into an enchanted wilderness.

Tom Carey is a stop-motion animator who joined LAIKA in 2021 as an intern and progressed through the studio’s animation department to become a stop-motion animator. A graduate of Arts University Bournemouth’s Animation Production program, Carey worked on multiple sequences of Wildwood, animating a variety of characters and performances. Inspired by Coraline and Wallace & Gromit, his work combines performance, artistic detail and painstaking frame-by-frame craftsmanship.

On this episode of 1st on Film, we sit down with Ethan Popp, the Grammy Award-nominated music producer, orchestrator, arranger, and music supervisor behind Broadway’s The Lost Boys!

Based on the iconic 1987 vampire film, The Lost Boys brings the dark, rock-filled world of Santa Carla to the stage with a cinematic sound and an original musical score. We chat with Ethan about his role in shaping the production’s musical identity, the creative process behind adapting a cult classic for Broadway, and the work that goes into bringing a show’s music to life.

With an impressive career spanning Broadway, film, and television, Ethan has also worked on productions including Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Motown the Musical, and Back to the Future: The Musical, as well as the hit film The Greatest Showman.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation about music, storytelling, and the creative work that helps make The Lost Boys a thrilling theatrical experience!

Ethan Popp is a Grammy-nominated music producer, orchestrator, arranger, and music supervisor whose work spans Broadway, film, and television. His credits include The Lost Boys, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Motown the Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical, and The Greatest Showman.

Beyond entertainment, Ethan founded Ethan Runs for Good, a charitable running initiative that turns his passion for running into fundraising for meaningful causes, including Make-A-Wish and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Through races and fundraising campaigns, he uses every mile to support organizations making a difference in people’s lives.

More information at https://www.ethanpopp.com/runsforgood

FIGHT! Stefano and James are stepping into the arena to break down the new Street Fighter movie! Does this live-action adaptation deliver the action, humour, and video game nostalgia fans have been waiting for, or does it miss the mark?

In this spoiler-filled review, we discuss the biggest pros and cons of the film, from its action sequences and iconic characters to its story, performances, and overall execution. We get into what worked, what didn’t, our favourite moments, and whether this latest adaptation does justice to one of gaming’s most legendary franchises.

Directed by Kitao Sakurai, Street Fighter brings Capcom’s legendary fighting game franchise back to the big screen in a high-energy live-action adventure.

Set in 1993, the film follows estranged fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo), who are reunited when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament. What begins as a battle between the world’s greatest fighters soon becomes something much more dangerous, as a deadly conspiracy forces Ryu and Ken to confront their pasts, their rivalry, and the darkness surrounding them.

Featuring a star-studded cast that includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, David Dastmalchian as M. Bison, Cody Rhodes as Guile, and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, Street Fighter brings familiar faces, legendary rivalries, and iconic video game characters into a new cinematic showdown.

Welcome back to the 1st on Film Podcast! Today, we’re joined by actor and comedian Jermaine Fowler to discuss his latest film, Terrestrial.

Directed by Steve Pink, this sci-fi thriller follows Allen, a struggling writer whose newfound success brings his college friends together for a reunion that quickly takes an unsettling turn. As suspicions grow and Allen’s behaviour becomes increasingly unpredictable, the film explores paranoia, ambition and the question of what is really happening.

Jermaine joins us to talk about stepping into the role of Allen, balancing dark comedy with psychological suspense, working alongside the talented ensemble cast, and bringing this unpredictable story to life.

Jermaine Fowler is an American actor, comedian, writer and producer known for his work across television, film and stand-up comedy. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Hyattsville, Maryland, Fowler began performing stand-up while still in high school before moving to New York City to pursue a career in entertainment.

He gained early recognition through MTV2’s Guy Code and co-created and starred in the sketch-comedy series Friends of the People. He later starred as Franco Wicks in the CBS sitcom Superior Donuts.

Fowler’s film credits include Boots Riley’s acclaimed satirical film Sorry to Bother You, the Oscar-nominated drama Judas and the Black Messiah, and the comedy sequel Coming 2 America, in which he played Prince Lavelle Junson alongside Eddie Murphy. His other credits include The Blackening and The Drop. He also voiced James Jr. in Marvel’s animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.

Alongside his screen work, Fowler continues to draw on his stand-up background and experience as a writer and producer. In Terrestrial, he takes on the role of Allen in a story that blends science fiction, dark comedy and psychological tension.

Premiering October 16, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET on Super Channel Fuse and available On Demand the same day, Dolph: Unbreakable takes viewers inside the life and career of DolphLundgren, revealing the man behind decades of global stardom and the personal challenges he faced along the way.

Best known for his iconic roles as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV and He-Man in the original Masters of the Universe, Lundgren has spent more than four decades in the spotlight, appearing in more than 80 films since his motion picture debut in A View to a Kill. Through rare home videos, archival photographs, career footage and intimate interviews, the documentary explores the experiences that shaped him, including childhood trauma, chronic injuries and a battle with cancer, while following his determination to overcome adversity.

Reflecting candidly on the highs and lows of his life and career, Lundgren is joined by friends, family and longtime collaborators including Hollywood icons Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme. Their personal stories and his own memories offer a fuller picture of the man, the career and the challenges that shaped both.

“Dolph: Unbreakable takes audiences beyond the action hero we think we know to reveal the extraordinary person behind the icon,” says Kim Ball, EVP, Content & Communications, Super Channel. “Dolph Lundgren’s story is one of resilience, strength and the determination to keep moving forward in the face of extraordinary challenges. We’re thrilled to bring this deeply personal film to Canadian audiences.”

Previously selected as part of TIFF 50’s Industry Selects,Dolph: Unbreakable was among 10 standout, audience-ready titles presented to accredited industry professionals during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

The documentary arrives as Lundgren continues to share his story in new ways. On September 22, 2026, Harper Horizon will publish Fights Worth Fighting: Finding Strength in Struggle, Lundgren’s new memoir, in which he reflects on the ambition, hardship, reinvention and endurance that have shaped his life and career, both on and off screen.

Written and directed by Andrew Holmes, Dolph: Unbreakable is produced Adam Scorgie and Shane Fennessey of Canada’s Score G Productions. The film is distributed in Canada by Upstream Flix, which also serves as its U.S. and international sales agent.

We’re taking a trip to a galaxy far, far away — and into the terrifying depths of space!

Recorded live at Vaughan Con in Vaughan, Ontario, this special episode of the 1st on Film Podcast features an unforgettable Q&A with legendary filmmaker and production designer Roger Christian. Best known for his Oscar-winning set decoration on Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and his work on Ridley Scott’s Alien, Christian helped shape the look and feel of two of the most influential science-fiction films in cinema history.

During this live conversation, we explore his experiences working on Star Wars and Alien, the creative process behind bringing extraordinary cinematic worlds to life, and the behind-the-scenes stories that helped make these films timeless classics.

From the lived-in aesthetic of the Star Wars galaxy to the haunting atmosphere of the Nostromo, discover insights from one of the creative talents who helped redefine science-fiction filmmaking.

Join us for a special conversation celebrating movie history, practical creativity, and the lasting legacy of two iconic franchises.

Roger Christian is an acclaimed British filmmaker whose creative contributions helped define the visual identity of modern science-fiction cinema. He won an Academy Award for his set decoration work on Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) and earned another Oscar nomination for his work on Alien (1979).

Vaughan Con is a pop culture convention that brings fans, collectors, artists, vendors, cosplayers, and special guests together to celebrate their favourite fandoms. Its programming and attractions include comics, collectibles, toys, gaming, cosplay, celebrity appearances, and opportunities to connect with fellow fans.

Held at Bellvue Manor in Vaughan, Ontario, Vaughan Con offers an accessible, community-focused gathering for fans of movies, television, comics, anime, gaming, and geek culture. The event combines the excitement of a convention floor with opportunities to meet notable guests and participate in special programming.

At the August 2026 edition, 1st on Film had the opportunity to host a live Q&A with Roger Christian, giving attendees a chance to hear firsthand stories from the career of a filmmaker whose work helped shape two landmark science-fiction franchises

We sit down with filmmaker Sean Menard and Darrell Fox, the younger brother of Canadian icon Terry Fox, to discuss the powerful new documentary Run Terry Run.

Directed by Menard, the film offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at Terry Fox’s legendary 1980 Marathon of Hope, bringing audiences closer than ever to the person behind the Canadian icon. We talk about the discovery of 96 reels of previously unseen footage, the process of bringing Terry’s story back to life, and what it was like for Darrell to revisit these deeply personal memories of his brother more than 45 years later.

Together, Sean and Darrell share insight into Terry’s personality, determination and humility, while reflecting on the enduring impact of his Marathon of Hope and the importance of keeping his story alive for new generations.

Run Terry Run is a feature-length documentary directed by Toronto filmmaker Sean Menard, offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at Terry Fox’s legendary 1980 Marathon of Hope.

Drawing on 96 reels of never-before-seen footage and previously unheard audio interviews, much of which remained untouched for 45 years, the film takes audiences inside Terry’s journey across Canada, capturing the physical and emotional realities behind one of the most inspiring chapters in Canadian history.

Rather than simply revisiting the familiar story of Terry Fox, Run Terry Run aims to reveal the young man behind the icon — his personality, humour, vulnerability, determination and relationships with the people who accompanied him on his journey.

The documentary features Terry through archival footage alongside appearances from his younger brother Darrell Fox and close friend Doug Alward.

Run Terry run is in theatres October 9