20 movie sequels you probably don't know about

Movie sequels occasionally work if the script is a thoughtful continuation of the first film, but if they're done badly, they end up recycling old storylines with a D-list cast for a quick buck. Then there are those sequels that are so bad, the movie studio tucks them into a deep, dark abyss of an alleyway to prevent you from seeing them. These are their stories. 

Mean Girls 2



Despite multiple offers by Paramount to write the sequel, Tina Fey distanced herself from the monstrosity that is Mean Girls 2. The only actor who returned to the franchise was Tim Meadows, who played Principal Duvall. Coincidentally (or not?), he's also starring in another upcoming sequel — Grown Ups 2. No surprise, the first 25 seconds of the trailer is swallowed by our favourite moments from the original film, because the new script doesn't have two legs to stand on. The plot is essentially the same as the first, except Cady is replaced by Jo, a 17-year-old tomboy who lives with her father, and the lead Plastic is brunette instead of blonde. WOAH, slow down Mean Girls 2, you're blowing my mind.

 Legally Blondes



I was OBSESSED with Reese Witherspoon's Legally Blonde when it came out in 2001 and watched it every year before school started. It was a tradition, so don't JUDGE me thank you. That's why it hurts my fragile soul to hear the Oscar-winning actress and blonde bombshell thought producing Legally Blondes (notice the plurality) would be a smart idea even after the failure of Legally Blonde 2 — the whole thing reeks of irony. In this stand alone triquel, the youngest cousins of Elle Woods must defend themselves when their school's reigning forces frame them for a crime. The randomly British twins find strength in their Chihuahuas and use the school code to defend their pink-dominated wardrobe. Amurca's about freedom of choice y'all.

Titanic II 

10 MINUTE PHONER WITH OLLY MURS: AMERICAN TOUR, DROPPED CALLS AND ONE DIRECTION

MAR 05, 2013

BY BRITTANY MAHANEY

BRITTANY MAHANEY, INTERVIEW, MUSIC, NIALL HORAN, OLLY MURS, ONE DIRECTION, POP MUSIC, RIGHT TIME RIGHT PLACE, TROUBLEMAKER, X FACTOR

I’m crouched in an office, mid-morning, with my cellphone cradled between my arm and shoulder talking to Olly Murs about the CIA-drama Homeland. The UK singer and X-Factor runner-up, who’s making his North American debut this April, says he often throws the show on to help him relax before gigs — tonight he’s taking Nottingham.

“I’ve never seen Homeland,” I tell him.

“It’s soo good, you should watch it!” he raves.

I ask him what he loves about it but I’m met with an awkward lapse of silence. Before I mistake it for apathy on his part I realize the call was dropped.

I silently curse the Canadian blizzard raging outside my window (with no regard for my cell service) and wait for him to call back. FOR THE SECOND TIME. So far, our 10-minute call has been interrupted twice by poor weather, and he’s been nothing but kind about it.

“It’s okay, I completely understand!” he keeps saying.

Olly’s got a soft spot for Canada because Toronto was his first pit stop when he opened for One Direction during their “Up All Night Tour.” The guys were pretty busy most of the time so pranking was kept to a minimum, though there was that time Niall surprised him by doing his soundcheck.

“It was quite funny to hear him singing my songs,” he says. “I pretty much lost my job for the day.”

When he returns to the Great White North, it will be solo, to promote his third studio album Right Time Right Place, dropping April 9.

“Your fans will be so excited!” I say. “Their number two question on Twitter was when are you returning to Canada? Their number ONE question was if I could ask you to follow them online.” [Shoutout to lovely super fan @ollymurs_amazin]

He starts laughing. “I get a lot of that on my Twitter! It’s just like, “follow me, follow me, follow me! I’ve never had any strange interactions, just loads of random stuff. Some are really lovely and some very funny.”

Livestream with Lawson

I feel short. Photographer John Delaney, Andy Brown, Joel Peat, Adam Pitts, Rob Ostfield, Simon Mohos, Ryan Fletcher, Brittany Mahaney, Vanessa Marciano

Lawson is one of the UK's biggest new exports and although they're boys in a band, they swear they're not a boy band. The difference between them and other boy bands like The Wanted and One Direction is that they each play instruments.

ANDPOP hosted a livestream event with the band in partnership with YouTube. They performed a four-song acoustic set and stuck around for an interview with host Simon Mohos. I was a social media hound that night, manning our Twitter and Facebook feeds while making sure the live audience was organized.

Fans started lining up at 7 am in the frigid February cold to see the guys. It was serious business but all worth it in the end. The guys were super sweet through the whole process. They introduced themselves to the entire ANDPOP team when they came into Gibson Guitar and took a photo with us after.

Watch it here

Talking Sh*t: Celeb couples and shameless selfies

New episodes of Talking Sh*t!

ANDPOP interviews The Wanted

I walked to the Toronto hotel where The Wanted was staying with fear and trepidation. Not only because the TWfanmily (what their fans call themselves) were yelling questions at me outside about the band's schedule, but also because I was about to meet the guys.

Their candid attitude makes for great interviews and ANDPOP was beyond excited to chat with them for the third time. The guys performed two acoustic covers and talked to our host Jordan Bortolotti about sex dreams and fangirls (because of course).

With these guys, what you see is exactly what you get. They had the exact same attitude during and after the interview — they even went to the window and gyrated against it for screaming fans. They're totally crazy, but in the best way possible.

I was feverishly social networking with a colleague on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube and we eventually got the interview to trend WORLDWIDE!! Scooter Braun (manager of the band AND Justin Bieber) called during the chat and told our host he should join the band.

I managed to snap some photos below of the guys. You can watch the interview on ANDPOP.com.

Check out the photos below:

I describe what I was like in high school

In the newest episode of Staff Members Talking Sh*t, ANDPOP talked about why high school sucks. We describe how we were as teens and even share a few embarrassing photos!

Milo Greene on pre-stage jitters, guilty pleasures and that time they almost drove off the Grand Canyon

Originally published on ANDPOP.com

It’s the night of Hurricane Sandy in Toronto and I have to repeat my question for Milo Greene’s Robbie Arnett a few times because the wireless service over the phone keeps cutting out. I hear music in the background — it sounds like a piano — as he tells me what he ordered at the restaurant. Pad Thai, mildly spicy, with lemon and water. Delicious. The indie folk band drove straight from Montreal in their van, and is now relaxing before their show at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern in a couple hours.

Robbie is one of four vocalists, none of whom are actually named Milo, in the Los Angeles quintet. Milo Greene was the fictional identity of their British booking agent who “represented” them through their college years. They don’t need his services anymore and are currently playing shows across North America. They recently released a self-titled debut album that includes the track “1957″ and completed a short film namedModdison, which is the name of a track on their album. Over the phone, Robbie tells me all about pre-show jitters, guilty music pleasures and nearly driving off a cliff at the Grand Canyon.

First, some mood music. Listen to “1957.” 

What are you up to right now? 

I’m over at Rivoli’s, which is a bar right next to Horseshoe Tavern. We’re just getting some food and enjoying Monday night football before the show.

Do you get nervous before performing?

It’s more of a nervous energy. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing in front of five people or 500, I just get a little anxious. Once I get up there settle into it I get a little more relaxed.

You just played The Bowery Ballroom a few days ago. Looks like you narrowly missed Hurricane Sandy in New York. 

It’s kind of scary. Our manager is in Boston with his girlfriend and they were supposed to fly back to LA this morning but he’s not able to fly back for a few days. Everything’s locked down but we kind of escaped some madness.

Any plans for tomorrow in Toronto? 

X-Factor interviews: CeCe Frey, Willie Jones Emblem3, Diamond White

Over the next two days ANDPOP will be rolling out Q&As with some of our fave contestants on The X-Factor. Yesterday, we talked with CeCe Frey, a small town mail clerk who says she wants to sing as badly as she wants to breathe. CeCe is currently in the judges' homes stage with mentor Demi Lovato, do you think she has what it takes? 

Twenty-year-old CeCe Frey already has a trademark look to inspire her fans. The leopard print she wears on her face and legs is akin to warrior paint, inspiring an alter ego on stage. Her confident attitude rubbed some viewers the wrong way during her audition in Kansas City, but after talking with mentor Demi Lovato during the judges' homes phase, she had a change of heart. “When Demi told me I was coming across unlikeable it broke my heart” she said. “I tried to come off as a strong unbreakable person and while that is me in a sense, it was also pushing people away from me.” 

CeCe sang Christina Aguilera's "Ain't No Other Man" during her first audition and the judges were impressed with her star attitude — Demi even admitted she had a girl crush. Whether or not you're a fan, CeCe has a strong drive and deep connection with her fans, who admire her survivor attitude. 

Where are you right now? I’m driving my old beat up pickup through my hometown. It’s nice to see my family and the leaves are changing colour here. It’s beautiful! 

Describe a normal day before The X-Factor I got up really early and I’d do CrossFit before work. I’d work all day, then I’d go to class at night, at a local college. It was a busy day, but not very exciting. 

Where did the leopard print idea come from? I can’t even remember the day I started doing it. I went through different things in my life that really affected my emotional strength — things that really tried to take the dream away from me. I was doing these shows and just said: “You know what? I’m going to paint my face." When I paint my face or legs it’s like an alter ego that comes out. It’s an empowering thing and I feel like nobody can mess with me. 

Do you think you’ve been represented fairly? You definitely see how imperfect I am. I’m not your typical Southern Bell. I’ve gone through things that made me very hard and try to keep people at an arm’s length. I think there are some things that were taken out of context and I think people don’t know how to receive me at first. I’m not here to make friends, I got in it for one specific reason but it doesn’t mean I haven’t made some incredible friendships on the way! 

Musical inspiration? I grew up singing Whitney Houston. My mom would sit me in front of the fire and put on her album and say: “learn to sing like her!” I also love singing classic rock and Italian Opera. 

Toughest judge I can’t single anyone out. They’re all pretty tough in their own rights! 

Fandemonium A bunch of CeCe's fans are inspired by her leopard warrior print. 

Full article: ANDPOP

Diamond White

     

It’s charming to chat with a young singer like Diamond White, who's insanely talented but still has all the quirks and refreshing positivity of a 13-year-old. Although she’s young, she can still devour mature songs like “It’s a Man’s World,” which she sang at her San Francisco audition. It helps that Diamond starred in a production of "The Color Purple" when she was eight and appeared on an episode of Maury Povich celebrating talented children. 

Luckily, she can still hold up a solid conversation about Justin Bieber and Glee, two of her current obsessions (not to mention, mine too). Diamond just performed for her mentor Britney Spears, who's deciding if she'll make it to the finals. 

Where are you right now? I’m in LA, just sitting down and talking to you! 

If you didn't audition for The X-Factor, what would you be doing today? I’m home schooled so I’d just be crafting a lot, making jewelry and living the regular life. I wouldn’t be busy but X Factor fills your days up with rehearsing.

 What do you want your album to sound like? I would like to make hip hop with a twist — to make my own unique sound in pop and mix it with my Detroit background. 

If we went in your room, who would we see posters of? I make my own posters of celebrities! But if I bought them then probably Justin Bieber or Glee. 

The Wanted or One Direction? One Direction!! 

Song you can perform 100 times “And I’m telling you” by Jennifer Holiday. 

Toughest judge Britney Spears 

Guilty Pleasure Ice cream and Lays chips. 

Full article: ANDPOP 

Willie Jones

Elsa Schiaparelli Made Fashion For Air Raids

Originally published in Worn Journal

Nothing suggested Elsa Schiaparelli would ever have a career in fashion. She was born in Rome to strict aristocratic parents who never failed to be displeased with their daughter’s rebellion. Let me count the ways: by twenty-two, Schiaparelli, or “Schiap”, had run away from her Catholic school to bohemian London, married a rich Polish count and was abandoned in Greenwich Village, New York with a daughter and little support. It was hard work and necessity that propelled the young mother. She supported herself by working at a boutique specializing in French fashions owned by Gaby Picabia. Through Picabia, Schiaparelli met Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. When they decided to move to Paris, Schiaparelli joined them. It was during this time that her protégé Yves Saint Laurent said she “bewitched” the city. And her subtle blend of classicism and outrageousness evolved with women as their haircuts and hemlines got shorter.

Fashion Memoir: Elsa Schiaparelli examines the Italian designer’s contribution to fashion during the ’30s. Author Baudot is a writer and critic at French Elle, and has written his share of designer profiles for the Fashion Memoir series, including Chanel and Yohji Yamamoto. This biography and photo anthology is worth reviewing for a better understanding of Schiaparelli’s place in history and her lasting impact after retiring in 1954, and is full of images of the designer, her store windows, snapshots of celebrity fans like Marlene Dietrich, and illustrations of her designs.

Our new show "Staff Members Talking Sh*t"

ANDPOP has a brand new show called "Staff Members Talking Sh*t." Every week we choose a topic and take turns doing TMI-style confessionals. The show comes out every Friday on our YouTube page and ANDPOP.com.

Enjoy!!

How to tell if a guy likes you:



Celebrities on Instagram



First date dealbreakers

Spring Breakers review and exclusive TIFF photos

Originally published on ANDPOP.com

Selena Gomez provided my favourite insight during the Q&A portion of TIFF’s Spring Breakers premiere. She said: “It’s really hard to find a teen movie that tells the truth and shows what’s raw and real.”

I can’t say I personally know anyone my age that funds their hedonist exploits by robbing and threatening to blow the f*cking heads off customers at fast food joints with booze-filled water guns. But director Harmony Korine is painting a broader portrait of a selfish, Jersey Shore-loving generation that becomes young, wild and free completely disillusioned during their “break from reality.” And we sure as hell all know college kids like that.

Plot

Faith (Selena Gomez) is a Jesus-thumping undergrad who is disillusioned by the banality of her life. She eagerly follows her childhood friends, played by Hudgens, Pretty Little Liars’ Ashley Benson and Korines’ wife Rachel, on their illegally funded spring break vacation to Florida.

While Faith is encouraged by her “spiritual retreat” — even wishing to make her pause from reality infinite — her fun is over when the ladies land in jail and meet a cornrowed hustler named Alien (James Franco). Just as Faith’s spring break vacation ends, it just gets started for her thrill-seeking friends.

Three things I loved

The cast

The film isn’t for the faint of heart, nor is it necessarily for Gomez and Hudgens’ fans. The Disney stars smoke bongs and dance alongside breast-baring partiers during their violent and sexual retreat. Teen idol haters might be pleasantly surprised by all the actresses’ adaptability, particularly during some raunchy scenes with Benson, Hudgens and Franco, that couldn’t have been comfortable to shoot… for the girls anyway.

Direction (and see photos from the premiere below)

Meeting Cody Simpson and Karmin with ANDPOP

Left to right: Brittany Mahaney (Writer/Host/Me), Jordan Bortolotti (Producer/Host), Cody Simpson (duh), Casey
Jones (Editor), Mike Levine (Tech), Vanessa Marciano (Social Media), Robert Ostfield (CEO)

Over the past couple months, ANDPOP hosted a few exciting live stream interviews in partnership with YouTube. The first was with Aussie heartthrob Cody Simpson back on June 16 and the second was with music duo Karmin on August 17. In between, we also did a live interview with girl group Cherri Bomb, though unfortunately we didn't get a staff photo (sad trombone).

The most exciting part about working for a small company is that I get to try jobs I'd never get to do anywhere else. Since we're such a small team, I act as floor director at live interviews. I keep pace to make sure the performance and subsequent interview aren't running long or short. I also make sure we're following the topics we planned on and I find audience members prior to the show, who want to ask questions.

All in all, it's a pretty fun job. Plus, it doesn't hurt that we get to hear private sound checks and chat with the artists after.

When I met Cody Simpson (above) I swooned. I know, I'm way older than him but I had a total teen girl moment. We had a meet and greet and one awesome fan brought a marriage certificate for him to sign (smart cookie).

When ANDPOP interviewed Karmin, I laughed with lead singer Amy Heidemann about trying deep fried butter balls at the Ex. She was so... normal! We didn't have a meet and greet scheduled but she stayed after to take photos with all the fans.

Photo: 

Left to right: Vanessa Marciano (Social Media), Robert Ostfield (CEO), Nick Noonan and Amy Heidemann (Karmin), Brittany Mahaney (Writer/Host/Me), Nicole Lawr (Editor), Jordan Bortolotti (Producer/Host), Mike Levine (Tech)

DIY: How to read Fifty Shades of Grey covertly

Originally published on ANDPOP.com

I understand the awkwardness of reading an erotic novel like Fifty Shades of Grey on the subway. That's why I've come up with this craftacular DIY manual, to guide you through reading it without anyone knowing the better. 

Operation: Wrap Around

Level: Easy 

Reader: This is the ideal solution for someone with few resources and little time. 

Tactic: If you’re not concerned about damaging the spine of the novel, wrap the front cover around the back to block the sultry title from the wide-eyed grandmother sitting in priority seating. If cracking the binding is a concern, consider the following: if you’re standing, face a wall so the title of the novel is blocked from other passengers and if you’re sitting down, balance the book on the top of your thighs. 

Disclaimer: If you choose the latter, it might be slightly uncomfortable to read the text at this jarring angle but your objective will be fulfilled and judgemental riders won't know you're reading about The Red Room of Pain.



Operation: Genius

The iPad education: Should schools be encouraging kids to bring devices to the classroom?

Originally published in Post City Magazine, May 2012 

History textbooks, pads of paper and pencils could all be relics of the past at Holy Trinity School in Richmond Hill. Over the course of the year, the school has been integrating technology into its required curriculum, and by 2012, some students will be required to bring in an iPad or Macbook Pro to class, depending on their grade.

“There’s no substitute for a paper and pencil in certain areas, but the problem is you can’t share or collaborate with another student,” says Vince Delisi, the school’s director of innovation and technology. “With technology, you can accomplish the same objectives but in a more applicable and certainly more fun way that allows individual learning.”

Holy Trinity isn’t the only school that’s experimenting with technology as a learning tool. Next September, the Peel District School Board will encourage students at 234 schools to “bring your own device” (BYOD), whether it’s a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

Currently, the Toronto District School Board allows electronic devices in classrooms at the teacher’s discretion. Although many private and independent schools are already making the digital transition, some are sticking to a traditional approach.

Artist of the Week: Imagine Dragons

Originally published on andPOP.com

Imagine Dragon’s new single “It’s Time went viral after being used in the trailer for the coming of age film The Perks of Being a Wallflower, starring Emma Watson. Their EPContinued Silence was released on Valentine’s Day and they’re currently recording their debut album Night Visions with Alex Da Kid (Nicki Minaj, Rihanna).

In a phone interview with andPOP, lead vocalist Dan Reynold’s said that while things are moving flash-fast, they’re ready. “I think it’s important for a band to have time to prepare or else they go viral overnight and are forgotten,” he said. “We’ve been a band for three years and are building something from the ground up.”

Here are a few things you may not know about them:

Imagine Dragons are pranksters: The guys don’t have access to the Internet on the road so they usually watch shows like Dexter and Game of Thrones. “Suddenly it’s taken a turn for the worse and has become a prank van,” Reynolds laughs. Pranks range from them slipping their clinical insomniac guitarist a five-hour energy drink (he stayed up for a week straight) or sneakily putting stickers in hair (ouch) so the victim has to yank it out later. Reynold’s best prank was an act of revenge, after a crew member pretended to delete every file on his computer. Upon discovering the prankster has major arachnophobia, he hid a hairy tarantula in a donut box. “He reached in and grabbed a donut. When he realized there was a spider in there he freaked out,” Reynolds said. “So we’re even now.”

His sister’s book club read The Perks of Being a Wallflower: