It absolutely is our favourite time of the year again and announced this morning is the official list of Talent coming to Toronto for TIFF ’14! We look forward to seeing plenty of returning names – some just here last year like the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet – and also plenty of Stars from years past making their way back here once more!

Among the names attending TIFF ’14 this year include:

Jon Stewart, Martin Scorcese, Richard Gere, Andrew Garfield, Viggo Mortensen, Gael Garcia Bernal, James Franco, Jane Fonda, Chloë Moretz, Brit Marling, Laura Dern, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vanessa Redgrave, Vera Farmiga, Al Pacino, Tina Fey, Haley Joel Osment, Robert Pattinson, Ansel Elgort, Alice Eve, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Seyfried, Michael Shannon, Dax Sheppard, Robert Duvall, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Hailee Steinfield, Justin Chatwin, Method Man, Jennifer Connelly, Bobby Cannavale, Kuoth Wiel, Cassie Williams, Danny Webb, Dominic West, Jung Woo-Sung, John Boylan, Sam Worthington, Tye Sheridan, Andrew Scott, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Connie Britton, Reese Witherspoon, Evan Bird, Zhao Wei, Han Ye-Ri, Melissa Benoist, Haley Bennett, Sonja Bennett, John Travolta, Julianne Moore, Isaach De Bankolé, Dan Stevens, Jason Bateman, Corey Stoll, Xavier Dolan, Peter Stormare, Ben Schnetzer, Abigail Spencer, Ellen Barkin, Bill Pullman, Charlotte Aubin, Kate Winslet, Ryan Reynolds, Rene Russo, Roger Waters, Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Loreto Aravena, Tobey Maguire, Aubrey Plaza, Tobey Maguire, Gemma Arterton,  Juliette Binoche, Zhang Yimou, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Rose Byrne, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Mark Ruffalo, Bill Murray, Daniel Barber, Liam Aiken, Mike Leigh, Olivier Assayas, Richard LaGravenese, Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Anna Kendrick, Morgan Freeman, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Rosario Dawson, Chris Rock, John Cusack, Benedict Cumberbatch, Octavia Spencer, Keira Knightley, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kevin Costner, Anthony Mackie, Patricia Clarkson, J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller, Priyanka Chopra, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Winterbottom, Justin Chon, Steve Carell, Gong Li, Hayden Christensen, Tory Kittles, Jordana Brewster, Holliday Grainger, Max Irons, Lone Scherfig, Sam Claflin, Douglas Booth, Paul Bettany, Daniel Barnz, Noah Baumbach, Barry Avrich, Jennifer Aniston, Akon, Nick Kroll, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Greta Gerwig, Omar Sy Jennifer Garner, Salma Hayek, Kevin Smith, Eddie Redmayne,  Felicity Jones, Faye Marsay, Bill Nighy, Justin Long, Christopher Plummer, Marton Csokas, David Cronenberg, Sarah Gadon, Tom Schilling, Tom Hardy and more!

TIFF also will be hosting a series of In-Conversations-With as part of their Mavericks Programme. Joining-in are the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche, Jon Stewart, Dan Savage, Julie Taymor and several more!

As is the case always, it’s sometimes not just who’s coming – it’s who they’re bringing.  Don’t be surprised if Jennifer Garner brings Husband Ben Affleck along and be warned if Andrew Garfield brings Emma Stone along!

Who’s on our list of Must-Meets?  Plenty!  We hope finally to get a positive moment with Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet!  Excited about Martin Scorcese, J.K. Simmons, Bobby Cannavale, Miles Teller, Corey Stoll, Tobey Maguire, Rose Byrne, Michael Douglas and newer names like Max Irons and Douglas Booth, that’s for sure.  And did we read TINA FEY!?!?  Finally!  AND WHERE IS TOM HARDY?!?!

The list is always subject to surprise and no-shows as we know all too well!

Visit the official TIFF Website for more.

TIFF ’14 runs September 3 – 14, 2014.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

While we’re still waiting on a final list of Films and Celebrities to grace our City for TIFF ’14, Mr. Will‘s Dream Team had the chance to catch-up over Dinner tonight to share our excitement about our favourite Festival!  Running Wednesday, September 4 – Sunday, September 14, 2014, you can expect us to be front-row and center with unparalleled access to the Films and Stars which make TIFF basically, the greatest Festival on Earth!

We must take a moment to thank our Friends Jonathan Godfrey, Justin Waldman and David Baldwin who have played an instrumental role this past year delivering Fan-friendly Reviews of the latest Movies to hit theatres.  Without them, how else would we know what to take a chance on at the Box Office?  Together, we give you a snapshot of what’s worth your time, whether it be Indie Films to 3-D Blockbusters.

For the past five years, Mr. Will Wong has developed from a humble Blogspot Page to a real online experience for our Readers.  We love engaging you Willionaire$, taking you  to the hottest Advance Screenings throughout the Country and taking you along for a ride through our journeys spotting Stars around the City.  Earlier this year we even took you to Los Angeles and New York City!  This TIFF, we want to be your #1 Go-To in helping you pick-out the Award-worthy Films and give you unparalleled intimate access to the Stars with our Snaps!  These past five years have been an amazing ride and we look forward to another amazing ride this TIFF!

Whether it be Jon’s obsession with Kristen Stewart, Dave‘s quest to be Miles Teller‘s BFF or Justin‘s Michael Shannon meltdown, we’re all truly Fans of Cinema and the Stars underneath it all and we hope you’re just as thrilled as we are!

Without further a do, here are our Picks for TIFF ’14:

eOne Films and Mr. Will want to take Readers to the Red Carpet Premiere of THE CAPTIVEon Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at Scotiabank Theatre.  Director Atom Egoyan will be in-attendance for a special Q&A!

Official Synopsis

Matthew (Ryan Reynolds) and Tina (Mireille Enos) live in Niagara Falls, Ontario with their nine-year-old daughter Cassandra. When Matthew goes to a store to pick up some food, he leaves Cassandra in the truck. She vanishes without a trace.

Some years later, police officers Nicole (Rosario Dawson) and Jeffrey (Scott Speedman) uncover a lead in the case. After hours spent scanning the internet for photos and video circulated by pedophiles, they come across images of Cassandra, alive in captivity.

See the Trailer:

Enter to win by simply clicking “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Share with your Friends on Facebook and increase your chances. Re-Tweet the below to increase your odds also:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/thecaptive @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to the Red Carpet Premiere of #THECAPTIVE with #AtomEgoyan in attendance!

eOne Films release THE CAPTIVE on Friday, September 5, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

Chloë Grace Moretz certainly is no stranger to Toronto having filmed and promoted her on multiple occasions. More recently, she filmed back-to-back the Carrie Remake and Kick-Ass 2 here – the latter which had per reprising the role which won the hearts of Fanboys abound, Hit-Girl. The brilliant 17-year-old Actress in nine years has built-up an impressive Résumé working from just about everyone from Martin Scorcese to Denzel Washington.  Moretz recently made a visit to the City in tandem with the 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards and we had the pleasure of chatting with the Star in Yorkville about her latest effort, If I Stay.

Based on Gayle Forman‘s popular Young Adult Novel, the Vancouver-made Film directed by R.J. Cutler (The September Issue, Nashville) certainly tugs at the heartstrings.  Moretz plays a talented young Cellist named Mia whose world is torn apart after her and her Family are impacted by deep tragedy.  She spends much of the Story in a Coma, caught between life and death and must ultimately decide her own future and fate. The Male Lead Adam is played by promising young Actor Jamie Blackley.  Aspirations and devastation separate them, but is their bond strong enough to keep them together?

Moretz, giddy after meeting Hilary Clinton at an Autograph Signing earlier in the day,  enters the room casual-chic. An Urban Outfitters Tee, J Brand Jeans and Kurt Geiger Shoes are appropriate for the low-key chat.  “I tend to dress down in every day life.  As I’m growing-up I’m trying to figure out what I like most and Fashion is an outlet.”.  She reflects on her meeting Clinton beforehand, feeling incredibly validated, “She knew If I Stay, had seen it in a newspaper and was excited it was coming out.”.  “So yeah, she knows me”, the Georgia-born Star jokes.

What is it exactly that makes Moretz stand-out from the remarkable  pool of talent in Young Hollywood, we wonder.  “I wanted to take on a Female Empowerment Character” she says, “Mia at the of the day knows her first love is the Cello which she found when she was five years old. And that’s how I am with acting. I want to portray that to young girls as someone to look up to.”.   Despite being attracted to Mia‘s innocence, she reveals “I’m not one to be a Damsel – the Woman calling on a Man to save her.”.

The Actress admits that getting into Mia‘s psyche certainly was no breeze. “Every day was a tough acting day. It was worth it. Mia was worth going the emotion for” she recalls. “Music helps me a lot to stay in-character and shoot it out.  We were shooting in an old Asylum, so the atmosphere was really heavy and that helped.”.

One of the things most remarkable about If I Stay is how completely believable Moretz is as a Cellist. An audition scene late in the Film is rather compelling and a mark of her true commitment to her craft.  She describes the musical preparation for her role explaining, “I did five months of intensive training with a Cello Coach and she was amazing. We’d Skype three hours a day. It was difficult, but I did the most I could and did the best I could”.  “At the end of the day though, you have amazing Doubles who make you look good.”.  In her estimation she thinks that one would need at least 15 years of training to play at the level which her Character Mia performed.

I ask Moretz about her experiences filming in Canada, having seen the Country from two coasts.   “In Canada, my favourite City is Toronto because the food is amazing first of all”.  She names Little Italy‘s Vivoli and also Duff’s Wings among her favourite spots.  Not to be outdone though she admits, “Vancouver was great with a really large Music scene.  It’s very Seattle, very Portland. It’s very epic. I tend to enjoy the East Coast a bit more for the City vibe.”.

Make no mistake  – despite her youthful effervescence, Moretz is a bit of an Old Soul.  Dare I say she’s actually an Introvert?  She answers each question with a wisdom beyond her years and in a nutshell understands exactly what she’s here to sell. She is asked what it is that draws people to “sappy” Movies.  She explains, “I think that nowadays people really want to feel something when they go into Movies. I think it’s because we have less interaction because we’re all living our lives, so we’re not feeling as much.”.  “Movies are becoming more and more sappy and tear-jerky.”. “Movies like this and The Fault in our Stars you walk-in and know you will get hit in the chest with a couple heavy-hitters”, says Moretz. “It’s worth it because they’re really good Movies.”.

Moretz gets candid with me when I ask her about her experience filming with some of her talented Co-Stars including the likes of Mireille Enos, Liana Liberato, Stacey Keach and of course her romantic interest in the Film, Blackley.  She has the highest praise for the latter, stating  “Jamie was such a  great guy.  It’s easy to fake a love relationship when you like someone was a Friend.”.    Liberato plays Mia‘s Best Friend Kim and says, “Liana is a good friend of mine. We had sleepovers like every weekend!”.  Enos, who has seen a significant boost in profile of late with Films like World War Z, we learn is a Nurturer.  “She is like the ultimate Mother”, says Moretz.  Jakob Davies plays her little Brother Teddy.  ” He was like a little Munchkin you can’t help but fall in love with. He is his Character.”.   “It wasn’t hard to get along with them. There wasn’t a person I didn’t like on this Movie which was weird… and great. I got lucky!”.

Our Snap:

Moretz even shared her prized Clinton Autograph with us:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release IF I STAY on Friday, August 22, 2014.

You’ve been warned to bring some a box of Tissue.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros./Mr. Will Wong)

And it’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles once again atop the Box Office in its second week out! The Action-Fantasy Flick starring Will Arnett and Megan Fox pulls-in $27 million this weekend for Paramount Pictures from 3,980 theatres across North America. In just two weeks, it grosses $116 million.

Guardians of the Galaxy continues to perform well in second spot with $23.7 million for Marvel, now in its third week out.  To date it has earned $221 million.

Comedy Let’s Be Cops debuts in third spot for 20th Century Fox with $17 million from 3,094 theatres.  Earning just 11% on the Tomatometer, the Film starring Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. earns a much better B CinemaScore from Audiences.

The Expendables 3 opens in fourth spot for eOne Films/Lionsgate Films with $16 million from 3,221 theatres.  The star-studded Action Flick penned by and starring Sylvester Stallone gets 35% on the Tomatometer and also a good A- CinemaScore from Audiences, which will help its word of mouth hopefully as this Installment has the lowest opening of its Franchise.  The first Film in 2010 earned $34 million in its debut, by comparison.

Adaptation of popular Novel, The Giver debuts in fifth spot for eOne Films/The Weinstein Co. with $13 million from 3,003 theatres.  Starring Jeff Bridges, Odeya Rush and Brenton Thwaites, the Film receives 30% from Critics on the Tomaometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

Lucy slips to eighth in its fourth week out with $5.2 million, just surpassing the $100 million-mark in North America for Universal Pictures.

Well-reviewed Boyhood expands to 771 theatres for Mongrel Media/IFC Films, rounding-out the Top Ten with $1.9 million. In six weeks it has grossed $13.6 million.

Mongrel Media and Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win on Blu-Ray, official TIFF ’13 Selection, FADING GIGOLO  directed by and starring John Turturro!

Official Synopsis:

Pragmatic Murray (Woody Allen), during a casual conversation with his friend Fioravante (John Turturro), mentions a visit to his dermatologist Dr. Parker (Sharon Stone), who confided her fantasy of having ménage-a-trois with a close female friend (Sofia Vergara) and a man who wasn’t her husband.

Murray volunteered Fioravante for the job. He meets Dr. Parker alone first, attending to her in a way that has less to do with sex than simply paying attention to her.

Just as Fioravante gets comfortable with this new sideline, Murray finds him another client, Avigal (Vanessa Paradis), the widow of a recently deceased Hassidic rabbi and probably the most uptight and suppressed woman in Brooklyn.

Watch the Trailer:

Official Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook!

  Good luck, Willionaire$!

Mongrel Media release FADING GIGOLO on Video-on-Demand, Digital Download, DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday, August 19, 2014.

Mr. Will & John Turturro (it was a long day!):

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

In support of upcoming Young Adult Novel Adaptation If I Stay, the Film’s Male Lead Jamie Blackley and Author Gayle Forman have made their way to Toronto as part of a whirlwind Press Tour which have seen them and Star Chloë Moretz make numerous promotional stops across North America everywhere from Shopping Malls to Cupcake Shops.

The touching Vancouver-filmed Drama centers on a young girl named Mia (Moretz) whose world crumbles one day after tragedy strikes. She is an aspiring Cellist on the verge of admission to prestigious Juilliard and her beloved Soulmate Adam (Blackley) also is the Frontman in an up-and-coming Rock Band. Stuck between life and death, ultimately she must make the most difficult decision of choosing her own destiny.

Blackley and Forman surprised Fans at a special Promo Screening of If I Stay last night. Although tearful, Fan reactions still were joyous that the Adaptation is just as resonant emotionally as the Bestseller it is based upon.

Then Duo are slated for multiple interviewstoday and one of their scheduled Stopoffs was at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) where they were greeted outside the Studio by Fans. Although rushed, the British Star still made time for everybody, signing Autographs generously and snapping Selfies. Multi-talented (he has quite the musical ability) Blackley’s star certainly is on the rise appearing more recently in Box Office Smash Snow White and The Huntsman and he has caught the meticulous eye of Woody Allen, starring in the Visionary’s next as-yet-untitled release.

In cased you missed them, Forman and Blackley both appear tonight at Indigo Yonge & Eglinton, 7 PM.

More Snaps: 

Check back next week for our lovely Chat with Moretz!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

British Teen Pop Sensations, The Vamps, rolled into Toronto last minute yesterday for their TD Echo Beach Show in support of wildly-popular Austin Mahone, but they certainly are making the most of their time in Toronto today. 

The Quartet already have built a huge following in the UK having been active for two years. Consisting of members Connor Ball, Tristan Evans, Brad Simpson and James McVey, the Band already have spawned hits like Can We Dance and Somebody to You (ft. Demi Lovato).

The Vamps visited CP24 Breakfast and Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) to talk about their rise in popularity. They did their Interview for the latter live outside the Bloor Street Studio where support was ardent for the British imports. Despite warmly inviting Fans over Twitter at their Show to come meet them outside the Studio, they were rushed in quickly and stopped for a quick minute post-interviews for a limited number Photos and Autographs before rushing out via a hidden exit.  Fans earlier at CP24 Breakfast were invited into the Parking Lot by Security to take Photos with their Idols. They are scheduled for appearances also on YTV and some time with popular online publication Andpop.

We had the pleasure of getting an awesome Snap with Ball, who plays Bass and Vocals.

See the Interview on The Morning Show right here.

See our Snaps:

See their Video with Lovato for Somebody to You:

After the release of Meet The Vamps overseas earlier this Spring, Universal Music Canada will release The Vamps’ Debut stateside later this year.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong | Audio content: Universal  Music)

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada and Mr. Will want to give you Willioaire$ to take home the complete first season of hilarious Sitcom, THE GOLDBERGS!

SYNOPSIS:
Before there were parenting blogs, trophies for just showing up, and peanut allergies, there was a simpler time called the ’80s. For geeky 11-year old Adam these were his wonder years, and he faced them armed with a video camera, ready to capture all the crazy. THE GOLDBERGS is produced by Happy Madison Productions, Adam F. Goldberg Productions and Exhibit A Productions in conjunction with Sony Pictures Television. It was created by Adam F. Goldberg (Fanboys) and executive produced by Adam F. Goldberg, Seth Gordon (“Marry Me”) and Doug Robinson (“Rules of Engagement”).

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Re-Tweet or share this Post on Facebook to double your chances!

http://www.mrwillwong.com/thegoldbergs @MRWILLW wants us to #win the complete first season of #THEGOLDBERGS! Out 9/9!

Official Artwork:

Mr. Will and the Cast of The Goldbergs:

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada release the complete first season of THE GOLDBERGS on Tuesday, September 9, 2014!

Pre-order here!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Canada)

In what seems like an overnight success, 16-year-old Pop Sensation Shawn Mendes of Pickering, has taken the World by storm. After first surfacing on the Application Vine where he uploaded cover versions of others’ Hits, Fans around the World began taking notice quickly. His Single Life of the Party made him the first Artist ever under the age 25 to debut in the Top 25 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Currently on-tour with Teen Pop Sensation Austin Mahone, the two along with Supporting Acts like The Vamps, perform tonight at TD Echo Beach. Mendes has spent his time back home wisely, including an Interview on KISS 92.5 yesterday afternoon and today a live Performance/Q&A at Universal Music Canada‘s Headquarters Parking Lot in Scarborough courtesy of Nokia and Microsoft. He also will be meeting Fans at an HMV location downtown for those lucky enough to nab themselves a Wristband.

Hosted by MuchMusic‘s Liz Trinnear, we got to witness Mendes up-close as her performed his two Singles Life of the Party and Show You as his hoards of young female Fans shouted his name amidst a sea of “I Love You”. The self-professed Tim Hortons Fan admits that the Fast Food/Coffee Chain is what he misses most about Canada, now that he is signed to Universal Music/Island Records and based in the U.S. He says also that he wouldn’t mind dating a Fan which drove his Fans crazy. One Admirer perhaps took that a bit too literally, jumping on-stage and hugging him. Although a little started, Security had things in order rather quickly! Hope it was worth it.  YOLO!

You can download Top Five-charting The Shawn Mendes EP now digitally here!

See a Clip of Mendes performing Life of the Party below:

In the meantime, enjoy some snaps we got below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong | Audio content: Universal Music Canada)