Back in January 2012, I had the opportunity to do a bit of work on $180-million mega-opus from Director Guillermo del Toro, Pacific Rim.  I was incredibly honoured to do work days on the Production as a Background Performer. I was unemployed at the time, having lost a job I had for many years and always dreamed of being in a Movie, so, why not?  Because we had signed Confidentiality Agreements, details we weren’t permitted to be disclose any details until filming had completely fully.  After holding on this post for over 22 months, finally I can talk about my experience!

Cast in the role of an Engineer, I learned first-hand how much work can go into filming just one scene, let alone an entire Film.  Some days began as early as 5:30 AM, while ending as late as 10:30 PM.  Now if you think that’s a long day, know that some of the Crew are required to arrive even earlier and to stay later to set-up and pack-up.  Having  worked a 9 to 5 job with a cushy seat, I appreciate just how spoiled I was. A non-unionized Background Performer makes a v. minimal amount of money and endures gruelingly long days.

The futuristic Sci-Fi/Action Flick, taking-up a majority of the eight stages at Toronto’s Pinewood Studios, pits Humans and Robots up against Apocalyptic Monsters, rising from beneath the Pacific Ocean.  A majority of the Film appears is shot against a Green Screen and is F/X-heavy. Set Design is fascinating and intricate – “mechanical” and “martial” are words I would choose to describe it all.   Much of the Film is set on a Compound off the Pacific Ocean shores, with hoards of Labourers working at a feverish pace to build Robots, which ultimately will be piloted by Soldiers to fight-off the destructive Enemies.  Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) leads the Charge, declaring a War to cancel the Apocalypse.  Working under him in the fight are Right-hand Man Herc Hansen (Max Martini), Australians Raleigh Antrobus (Charlie Hunnam), Yancy Antrobus (Robert Kazinsky) and Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi).  There even is an adorable and talented English Bulldog named Max joining the fight too!

There was pleasure to be had.  With just over two weeks left before Yorkville says farewell to the Magnum Pleasure Store, I was thrilled to be invited to a  Media Preview of the Shop this morning. In attendance today was none other than amazing Celebrity Chef, Mark McEwan, Head Judge of Top Chef Canada and the Man behind two of Toronto’s finest Restaurants, ONE and North 44.  And have you visited his super-upscale McEwan Fine Foods at Shops at Don Mills?  It is Culinary Heaven.

“I wasn’t sure what I was walking into when I was told I’d be coming to the Magnum Pleasure Store“, he jokes about the Pop-Up Shop which bears the same name as a popular Prophylactic.   Although McEwan was a bit heavy-handed with the Chili Flakes the first time around – just one of 21 toppings available for customizable Ice Cream Bars – he seemed to have found his balance upon attempt number two, opting for Vanilla Ice Cream dipped in Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Chili Flakes and Sea Salt, dressed in a light White Chocolate Drizzle.  “I chose from a classic standpoint with some Italian and French flavours”, he says.

Although I spot the Scotsman, his lovely Wife Roxanne and their adorable Dog Ruthie often in Yorkville (she and Billy having exchanged greetings many a time)  it was nice having a proper chat with him today  discussing Dogs and Ice Cream.  Last time I spoke to McEwan, he was strict on not feeding Ruthie Human food, but  it appears he’s budged a bit on the matter, occasionally giving her meat as a treat.  I didn’t even go into Billy‘s all-human-grade food diet!

What’s in a Mr. Will Ice Cream Bar, you ask? I devoured my Vanilla Ice Cream Bar dipped in Dark Chocolate and coated with crushed Parisian Macarons, Dried Strawberries, Coconut and Rose Petals, with a light White Chocolate Drizzle. It was beautiful to both the eye and palate!

Actor Joe Manganiello was in Toronto just last week to launch the Shop. More on that here.  Word is, he opted for Maple and Bacon toppings on his Ice Cream Bar, paying homage to our national flavours!  Hockey Star Joffrey Lupul is expected to visit the Shop soon, as are Fashion Designers Greta Constantine.

See more Snaps:

See the handsome Reid prepare our own customized Magnum Ice Cream Bar below:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Trends may come and go, but one thing is for sure, orange is the new black! Netflix Canada and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers the chance to win an iPod Touch, a six-month Netflix Canada Membership and even more, an Orange is the New Black Prize Pack including a signed copy of the Novel by Piper Kerman, on which the Series is based. If it’s any indication just how good the Series is, a second Season of already has been green-lit. Even more, Regina Spektor has been confirmed to pen its Theme Song, out on iTunes tomorrow!

Created and Executive-Produced by Jenji Kohan (Weeds) and based on the U.S. best-selling Memoir of the same name by Piper Kerman, the Comedic-Drama starring Taylor Schilling follows engaged-Brooklynite, Piper Chapman (Schilling), whose decade-old relationship with drug-runner Alex (Laura Prepon) results in her arrest and year-long detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper must trade her comfortable New York life with Fiancé Larry (Jason Biggs) for an orange jumpsuit and a baffling prison culture where she is forced to question everything she believes and form unexpected new alliances with a group of eccentric and outspoken inmates. The Series also stars Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Pablo Schreiber, Danielle Brooks, Matt McGorry, Laverne Cox and Taryn Manning.

See the Trailer below:

To enter to win all the above, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before Sunday, July 14, 2013. Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook with your Friends or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/orangeisthenewblack @MRWILLW wants us to #win an #OrangeisthenewBlack Prize Pack, an iPod Touch and a six-month #Netflix membership!

Canadian Readers only, please. Good luck, Wongsters!

Neflix releases Orange is the New Black Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 12:01 PAC.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Before You Exit may be a fresh new name on the Pop Scene, but the Trio have for the past seven years been honing their craft in Orlando. Consisting of Brothers Connor, Riley and Toby McDonough, they currently are on tour with Australian Heartthrob Cody Simpson, with a show at Massey Hall tonight.  Think One Direction, but even brighter vocals and equally infectious Dance/Pop/Rock.

Earlier this morning, Before You Exit made a visit to Global Television‘s The Morning Show (Toronto Edition) doing a bit of promotion.  They were awesome to stop for a quick Photo, extending a handshake and a thank for support! Watch their Interview here.

Check-out their Video for latest Single I Like That:

This Queen’s Plate weekend, I had the pleasure of Test-Driving the 2013 Acura ILX.  My Parents having driven an Acura Integra growing-up, I knew fully the caliber of Automobile to expect and I definitely couldn’t have made it through this weekend without it.

Stylish, sleek and spacious, with super-quick acceleration and response are words which best describe this fine Car.  Sophisticated  features like Keyless Ignition, one-touch Moonroof, rear-view Camera to assist in reversing and a USB Port makes this the perfect choice for City Drivers whom demand easy navigation and technology.  I love that both Driver and Passenger  have customizable temperature settings, while front and side Airbags mean optimal safety, in addition to it being equipped with a built-in Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System.  The six-speaker Sound System was superb, allowing me to enjoy MP3s from my Phone.  My most prized Passenger, Billy, comfortably as we zipped through the City, him resting cozily in his seat!

See some Snaps of the Acura ILX below:

Learn more about the Acura ILX right here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

How cute is this?  Our Friends at Just-Eat.ca sent over this tray of Candy Sushi over the weekend and needless to say, they got devoured.  Think: Rice Krispie Treats but rolled like Sushi (sans Nori) and filled with an array of cuteness like Licorice and Gummies, with a side of Butter Cream and Chocolate Frosting. Amazing.

Just-Eat.ca is Canada’s largest online Food Delivery Service, connecting  local Restaurants with Consumers online.  They accept payment through Credit, Debit or Cash and you can use your Computer or Smartphone to order.  The Website, founded in Denmark  by Todd Masse in 2000, has over 3,000 restaurants, meaning lots of variety and over two million orders to date have been processed.

Check-out Just-Eat.ca!

See those amazing Candy Sushi below:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Fashion and fine Horses have come to define North America’s most historic Horse Race, the Queen’s Plate and Woodbine‘s Hats & Horseshoes Party was where it was at today as a large turnout came to support one of our greatest National Treasures.    The 154th Queen’s Plate was run and in attendance was the Governor General of Canada, David Lloyd Johnston, honouring this year’s Winner Midnight Aria under a daring ride from Jockey Jesse Campbell.  Owned by Tucci Stables and trained by Nicholas Gonzalez, the three-year-old Colt led wire-to-wire in what turned out to be perhaps one of the rainiest editions of the Queen’s Plate in recent memory.   Despite the rain-filled afternoon, the Track was listed as being in Fast condition.

Completing the ten-furlong race in 2:04.72, Midnight Aria defeated a talented group of Male and Female Competitors including the Favourite Up With the Birds, who despite a furious late kick, still managed to be defeated by only half a length.  In third was Dynamic Sky who just last month won the Plate Trial Stakes, while that one’s Stablemate and Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2012 Spring in the Air, placed fourth.  Overlooked in the betting, the Winner paid $35.20 to a $2.00 bet.

Originally from Chicago, Campbell relocated to Woodbine, where he now is based, gaining recognition for his aggressive on-the-pace riding style.  He quickly has become a Leader on the Circuit and earlier on the Card he won another major race, the Dance Smartly Stakes, aboard Filly Solid Appeal.   Meanwhile, top U.S. Jockey Joel Rosario, who just visited Toronto last month, won on the Undercard aboard favoured seven-year-old Gelding Forte Dei Marmi in the Singspiel Stakes.

I had a fantastic day mingling with some of the Beautiful People at the Grey Goose Lounge, while fitting in time to enjoy the races.  Gotta love the official Queen’s Plate Cocktail, the Blue Diamond!

Watch Midnight Aria‘s stellar win below:

See some of my Snaps at Woodbine’s Official Facebook Page here.

If you haven’t ever attended a day of races at Woodbine Racetrack, several who attended for the first time today had nothing but raves.  Check-out what People are saying on Twitter about the Queen’s Plate here and here!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Nothing despicable at all here!  Despicable Me 2 is far and clear the Winner at the Box Office this weekend with a massive  $81 million debut for Universal Pictures from 3,957 theatres.  The Sequel to the Hit Animated Feature starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Ken Jeong and Russell Brand, far out-performs its Predecessor which opened in $56 million in 2010.  Celebrating a July 4th weekend in the U.S., a Box Office Record also was set for the Holiday with over $220 million made in ticket sales.  Audiences and Critics responded well, the former giving it an A CinemaScore and Critics giving it an average of 75% on the Tomatometer.

Debuting below expectations is The Lone Ranger at number two with $28.9 million from 3,904 theatres.  The Gore Verbinski Action/Adventure starring Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp was made for an expensive $250 million.  The Film has yet to expand fully overseas and hopefully will recoup some of those costs internationally. Audiences responded with a B CinemaScore and Critics weren’t wowed with 25% on the Tomatometer.

The Heat continues to wow with $24.8 million this weekend in its second week of release, at number three.  The hilarious Comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy  already has made over $86 million, stamping the latter as a bona fide force to be reckoned with as a Hollywood Leading Lady – her second Smash this year following the success of Identity Thief.

Disney‘s Monsters University, last week at number one, slips to number four with $19.1 million mostly due to the sharp competition from Despicable Me 2 in the Family demographic, landing ahead of World War Z in fifth with $17.8 million for Paramount Pictures.

Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain opens with a bang in 876 theatres across the U.S., earning $10 million for Lionsgate/Summit Entertainment at number eight.  Critics gave it a decent 71% on the Tomatometer. The Film is not yet released north of the Border.  The resilient Now You See Me rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.8 million in its sixth week of release.

There’s only three days left till the 154th running of the Queen’s Plate and we’re so excited we can hardly sleep!  The Post Positions for North America’s most historic Horse Race were drawn earlier today at Woodbine Race Track and named the Favourite  at 2-1 ($6 return on a $2 bet) is Sam-Son Farm’s Up with the Birds, Winner of the Marine Stakes.  Nipissing, a Finalist in the voting as Champion two-year-old Filly in Canada last year and Winner of the Woodbine Oaks recently is the second choice at 7-2 ($9 return on a $2 bet).  Third choice is John C. Oxley‘s Dynamic Sky at 4-1 ($10 return on a $2 bet) who won the recent Plate Trial Stakes.

Odds are as follows with corresponding Post Positions:

Post Position 7: Up With the Birds  2-1

Post Position 9: Nipissing 7-2

Post Position 2: Dynamic Sky 4-1

Post Position 10: Pyrite Mountain 6-1

Post Position 4: Spring in the Air 10-1

Post Position 11: His Race to Win  10-1

Post Position 1: Midnight Aria 15-1

Post Position 6: Kaigun 20-1

Post Position 3: Jagger M 20-1

Post Position 12: River Seven 20-1

Post Position 5:  County Lineman 30-1

Post Position 8: Rackman 50-1

Please join us for the Hats & Horseshoes Party which takes place Sunday at the Walking Ring at Woodbine Racetrack between 12 – 6 PM. Everyone’s invited!  Come with your best Hat!

Thanks to Jamie-Lynn Smith for my extra-special Queen’s Plate Hat!  Can you guess who I’m supporting based on the colours?

CBC will present the Race  live in HD  this Sunday, July 7, 2013 between 4:30 – 6:00 PM EST.

See you there, Wongsters!

For more information on the Queen’s Plate, click here.  See a complete list of Entries for the amazing Race Card on Sunday at Woodbine, right here!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Mr. Will Wong and eOne Films are thrilled to give Readers a chance to see controversial new Comedy, The To Do List across Canada!  The  Toronto Screening takes place  on Thursday, July 18, 2013, and additional Screenings are on Monday, July 22, 2013 in Ottawa, Halifax and Winnipeg.

Starring Aubrey Plaza, this latest Film from Writer/Director Maggie Carey, centers around a Girl named Brandy Clark who feels pressured to become sexually experience before entering College in the Fall. She creates a list of items to accomplish before entering this next stage in her life. The talented Supporting Cast includes: Clark Gregg, Connie Britton, Johnny Simmons, Alia Shawkat, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Donald Glover and Rachel Bilson!

Watch the Red-Band Trailer (NSFW) in full below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook.  Double your chances by sharing this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/thetodolist @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes across Canada to see #THETODOLIST starring #AubreyPlaza. Out 7/26!

eOne Films releases The To Do List on July 26, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)