NOW What EP179 - David Simon on The Wire, We Own This City and Defund The Police

The Wire creator David Simon joins to discuss his new series We Own This City, the dystopia created by the war on drugs and why defunding the police may be the right thing to do in some cases. Culture writer Stephanie Hinds joins to discuss Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde; Vin Diesel and Fast & Furious director Justin Lin; Elon Musk and Twitter; Freshii and Nicaragua; Toronto and Carnival. And we introduce you to Quebec filmmaker Miryam Charles, who is showing her haunting and beautiful debut feature This House at the Hot Docs Film Festival.

CHAPTERS

(1:20) Elon Musk and Twitter

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is tired of being owned on Twitter, so instead he’s about to own Twitter.

(7:50) Freshii and Nicaragua

Canadian salad chain Freshii introduces “Percy,” a digital cashier at its restaurants connecting customers to an employee in Nicaragua who makes about $3.75 an hour.

(13:05) Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis

Actor and director Olivia Wilde was served custody papers from her ex, Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, while on stage in front of movie exhibitors and press. Wilde was previewing her new movie Don’t Worry Darling, which stars current boyfriend Harry Styles, when a woman appeared on stage and handed her a mysterious manila envelope holding what sources say were the custody papers.

(19:15) Justin Lin hits the brakes on Fast X and Vin Diesel

From custody battles to breakups. Director Justin Lin who has directed more than half the Fast and Furious movies (the best ones really) has quit his duties on Fast X after 10 days in production.

(27:52) From social bubbles to bubble wine at Toronto Carnival

Steph picked her costume and, like so many others who are done with coronavirus, is ready to play mas. But many of those yet to catch COVID-19 aren’t ready to jab jab, even if they got their jab jab.

(39:50) Spotlight Interview

The Wire creator David Simon discusses his new series We Own This City, what changed since #BlackLivesMatters, where he stands on defund the police and how crime stats are manipulated to push political agendas.

(1:05:45) Hot Docs Interview

Quebec filmmaker Miryam Charles tells us how she found her voice and works through pain, loss and tenuous relationship to home in her stunning debut feature This House.