Winnipeg provides cold set for "New In Town"

Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr.'s 2009 film, New In Town, is a cute romantic comedy filmed on location in good old Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I recall hearing that Renee and Harry were filming a movie in our city a couple of winters ago, and I had wondered how they were handling our frigid temperatures.

A classmate of mine at The University of Winnipeg had told me that a friend of hers met Renee in a line outside while waiting to get into the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The actress was wearing a warm North Face jacket, and wasn't afraid to strike up a conversation with a local Winnipegger. It seemed as though the Oscar winner was getting along just fine in our cold climate.

I must say that it was interesting to watch parts of my city in a mainstream film. New In Town was filmed in Winnipeg, Selkirk, and Los Angeles. The Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport posed as an airport in Minnesota (where the film is supposed to be set), my hair salon in the Exchange District posed as a small salon, a scene was shot in Portage Place, and I recognized Bishop Grandin during one of the driving scenes.

Not one to consistently watch a DVD's bonus feature, I knew I had to watch "Making New In Town in Winnipeg, Canada". This special feature included comments from the main characters - all of which included how bitterly freezing Winnipeg is, and how it must be the coldest place in the world.

All outdoor scenes were filmed outside, to which temperatures had at times dropped below 40 degrees Celsius. This allowed the actors to genuinely act cold while filming outdoor scenes, as well as a reason to re-shoot a scene as the camera had froze. I smirked hearing that both actors and crew named the frost that accumulates on a person's facial hair as "nostricles", and that Winnipeggers are pretty much insane to want to "ice fish in huts".

However, before I offend anyone, I must add that both actors and crew commenting on the special feature were anything but rude - they spoke very fondly of Winnipeggers and our kindness, and courage!

Below is the film's trailer. Rent the film, or buy it, make some hot chocolate, grab your Snuggie, and enjoy the film. It's a good one for the holiday season.

Premiere of the SATC2 trailer!

The Sex and the City 2 trailer has arrived!

With updates from the fabulous lives of both the ladies and gents from New York City, it's sure to be another few hours of fun escapism with loads of fashion since the first Sex and the City movie (2008).

I'm sure I'll be at one of the first showings when the film opens in Winnipeg. Are you looking forward to it?

Sex and the City 2 in HD

Trailer Park | MySpace Video

Hot New Movie Alert!

Robert Pattinson + Pierce Brosnan = "Remember Me"... a must-see :)

View the trailer on YouTube.

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show turns into Reality TV

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is all about sex, fun, and being flirty, oh, and maybe selling millions of bras and panties around the world. This year, however, the world’s biggest fashion show became a reality TV show. Airing this evening on CBS but filmed November 19 at The Armory in New York City, Victoria’s Secret was offering one girl the chance to become a VS Angel by walking down the v-shaped runway with the likes of Marisa Miller and Heidi Klum.

Ten women were chosen out of thousands that came out for auditions held in Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and New York City. Their first challenge was to get a great photo taken by world-renowned photographer Russell James within four minutes – while wearing lingerie in New York City’s Grand Central Station. Americans voted, and 10 women were cut down to five.

Eventually there were only two women left, Kylie and Jamie Lee. Americans have had the opportunity to vote for their favourite at vsallaccess.com. With five minutes left in the show, we find out that Kylie has won. The girl has a great walk – she’s cute and flirty – but I can’t stand her pouty, deer-caught-in-the-headlights look. Ugh. Either it will become her signature, or I’m hoping she’ll drop the act.

Now, back to the deets on the show: The Black Eyed Peas performed two songs. Their first performance had a space-age theme while they belted out their hit single, “Boom Boom Pow” and interacted with the Angels while they strutted their stuff on the runway. During their second performance, Fergie wore a gorgeous green dress that completely showed off her legs. The unfortunate part of this was that girl needed to wash her hair badly, and to have done several hundred sets on a thigh master. She didn’t have to wear such a revealing outfit, but perhaps she felt the need to compete with the world’s most beautiful women.

Heidi Klum hosted the reality show that was occurring behind the scenes, and walked the runway near the end of the show. What is so amazing about Klum’s performance in this year’s show is that she gave birth to her and Seal’s third child just six weeks prior. She still looked incredible.

Another runway highlight was the $3 million VS Fantasy bra Marisa Miller wore. Earlier today, Miller brought the bra to the Ellen DeGeneres Show. The bra is made up of 150 carats of stones, including a 16-carat heart-shaped stone. Unfortunately for Marisa, she doesn’t get to keep it. However, I hope the lucky woman who ends up with the bra deserves it – but she’ll probably be a spoiled brat.

Anyways, enough with the jealousy! The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is an exciting experience for not only the models and audience members, but also for the viewers at home. Each year, the show is broadcasted with the voices of the director and floor directors being aired so that us at home are able to hear what they’re saying. It makes the show interactive and as if we’re right there backstage with the models and crew.

So, because not everyone is lucky enough to be Jay-Z, who had a front row seat, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the latest collections and garments from Victoria’s Secret. I can’t wait to see what next year’s show will bring.

Now excuse me while I go do a thousand crunches and a two-hour ride on my bike.