With attentions turned to her Ginger & Rosa Co-Stars Christina Hendricks and Elle Fanning, this Actress went under the radar of many at TIFF 2012, but I had my eyes peeled! Make no mistake, she is going to be a major Star this time next year. Alice Englert is the Daughter of brilliant Director Jane Campion and Filmmaker Colin Englert, hailing from New Zealand. She will be starring as Lena in the upcoming Film Adaptation of Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl‘s Beautiful Creatures.
The Story centers around Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich) who meets the mysterious Lena, both of them uncovering v. dark secrets about their Families. Beautiful Creatures stars also Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Emily Rossum and Kyle Gallner. Thrilled also to see Thomas Mann (Project X) advance to this next step of his Career – was amazing getting to chat with him last year as he was in-town!
Warner Bros. releases Beautiful Creatures right in-time for Valentine’s Day on February 13, 2013.
Watch the Trailer below:
I don’t think I’ve posted it yet, but here’s my Snap with Englert from TIFF 2012:
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Warner Bros.)
After a few weak weekends in a row, Moviegoers finally showed their Box Office support this weekend with a big debut for Sony Pictures’ Hotel Transylvania. The Animated Feature starring Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez and Kevin James debuts with $43 million from 3,349 theatres across North America. The Film debuted at TIFF just a few weeks back. See my Snaps with the Cast here!
Sony Pictures/Alliance Films earned big numbers from Action-Thriller, Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the Film also receiving a Premiere here at TIFF a couple weeks back as the Opening Night Gala. It earns $21.2 million from 2,992 theatres, making it a Sony Pictures Top Two in the U.S., opening with resoundingly strong reviews at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Last week’s number one Film End of Watch continues to perform well in third with $8 million, tallying at a two-week total of $25.9 million, exceeding all expectations for Open Road and VVS Films with a $7 million budget. Trouble with the Curve and Thriller The House at the End of the Street follow closely behind in fourth and fifth with $7.5 million and $7.1 million respectively.
Musical-Comedy Pitch Perfect, debuts in sixth impressively with $5.2 million from only 335 theatres for Universal Pictures. The Film is Anna Kendrick‘s second film in the Top Ten along with End of Watch this weekend, and it likely will expand to bigger numbers in coming weeks.
Best Picture Candidate The Master showing in 856 theatres only, continues to perform fairly well with $2.71 million in ninth spot for The Weinstein Co./eOne Films, while Won’t Back Down starring Maggie Gyllenhaal (two Gyllenhaals in the Top Ten) and Viola Davis, rounds out the Top Ten for 20th Century Fox with $2.7 million from 2,515 theatres.
Exciting star-studded week ahead for Toronto as Megastar, Politician and Author Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to Toronto once again to promote this Memoir, Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story – out on Monday. More recently returning to the Big Screen with a smaller role as Trench in The Expendables Series, Schwarzenegger and his Autobiography have been gaining a lot of Publicity as he touches upon his shocking one-night affair, ending his 25-year marriage to Maria Shriver.
To get your chance to meet The Terminator himself, simply arrive early at Indigo Manulife Centre (55 Bloor Street West) on the morning of Thursday, October 4, 2012. Wristbands will be distributed at 8:00 AM to those who buy the Book at the location and the Signing begins at noon. No posed Photography nor Memorabilia will be permitted, although Fans are welcome to watch and take Candids. More details here. Somebody get me his Autograph!!
Read about his last visit here in January 2011 – he even threw over a wave my way!
As if that wasn’t exciting enough, English Model and Actress Elizabeth Hurley (Austin Powers, Gossip Girl) makes a rare appearance in Toronto on Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at The Bay – Queen Street for Estée Lauder’s Breast Cancer Awareness Program. Hurley as per Twitter, will be lighting Landmark Buildings the colour pink in both New York and Toronto (hmm, I wonder which one!), while also meeting Fans in-store noon-ish that day and doing a few Interviews too. Follow The Bay on Twitter for more.
Continuing the theme of British invasion, The Bay – Queen Street will be launching Topshop the day after (Thursday, October 4, 2012) with prizes to be won. Details on that here.
On Friday, October 5, 2012, three-time GRAMMY Winner Kenny Rogers will be in-town promoting his latest Memoir, Luck or Something Like It. Appearances include visits to The Marilyn Denis Show and also CBC‘s Q Radio.
Sharpen those Sharpies!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
As a reminder, the seventh annual Scotiabank Nuit Blanche takes place in Toronto tonight from 7:03 PM to Sunrise. The free Contemporary Art Event divides the City into three zones with 150 Exhibits. As usual, to accommodate Commuters, there will be all-night Subway Service. Details here.
I loved these Vertical Constructions named Dancer #1 and Dancer #2, dangling at Eaton Centre. Artist Max Streicher made these Sculptures out of Vinyl from old Billboards – quite a few Disney ones I might add. “Before I cut them up and reassembled them, this printed material was telling us how to look, what to wear and so on. Now they are just part of the dance”, he explains on Scotiabank Nuit Blanche‘s Website.
Start planning your night here. Have fun!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
At last he’s arrived in Toronto, but just as soon as he arrives, he leaves! Taiwanese-Canadian Supermodel and Actor Godfrey Gao is long overdue for his break Stateside and just may finally get it as Magnus Bane in upcoming Toronto-filmed Adaptation of Cassandra Clare‘s The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
By total coincidence, I spotted Gao packing his luggage into his Van just as he was about to leave his Hotel, headed to the Airport. He had arrived in Toronto only a few days ago, burning the Midnight Oil as the Cast and Crew had filmed scenes overnight. The statuesque Gao, who was Urban-Casual today in sunglasses, was easily identifiable from a distance. “Short and sweet”, he tells me about his stay here, which included him fulfilling a lifetime dream of seeing the MuchMusic Building on Queen Street in-person after having watched the Station often when he was younger. He genuinely is thoughtful – surely his Malaysian Mother instilling good values into him – as he called-upon his Driver to walk over and help snap a Pic.
In The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Gao‘s 800-year-old Magnus Bane is hired by Clary Fray‘s (Lily Collins) Mother to erase her memories, eventually admitting that he’s watched her grow-up from afar. There may even be a bit of an attraction also to the Character of Alec Lightwood (Kevin Zegers).
We’ll soon see next Summer when the Movie gets an August 23, 2012 release via eOne Films in Canada.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Although she was late getting to work today, lovely French-British Talent Jemima West went the extra mile for a couple Fans. West currently is in Toronto filming The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, starring as the fierce and dangerous Shadowhunter, Isabelle Lightwood. The Actress who is rather popular in France, more recently gained widespread exposure as Vittoria in The Borgias. Expect that popularity to spread like wildfire with the release of this first Film Adaptation of Cassandra Clare‘s top-selling Novel Series.
Even with little make-up, West looked radiant and although posing for a Snap, I had promised not to post it online at her request. You should see her beautiful smile! She was however, amazing enough to sign a Photo which I will offer to one lucky Reader following on Twitter. Simply, Re-Tweet the below before October 7, 2012. All are welcome to enter!
RT: Enter to win a signed Photo from JEMIMA WEST, Star of #THEMORTALINSTRUMENTS. http://tinyurl.com/8e7ary2
eOne Films releases The Mortal Instruments in Canada on August 23, 2012.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Exciting news, Tributes! Casting has completed for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and you’ll be thrilled to know who will be in the upcoming Sequel to the one Film which single-handedly has revived the sport of Archery’s popularity. The following additions have been confirmed:
Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee
Jena Malone as Johanna Mason
Amanda Plummer as Wiress
Alan Ritchson as Gloss
Jeffrey Wright as Beetee
Bruno Gunn as Brutus
Meta Golding as Enobaria
Maria Howell as Seeder
E. Roger Mitchell as Chaff
Lynn Cohen as Mags
In Catching Fire, we can expect Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) to join forces with Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason as President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is none too pleased of the Rebellion Katniss is responsible for sparking in District 12 with her Victory in the last Hunger Games.
Currently filming in Georgia, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has been penciled-in for a November 22, 2013 release.
(Photo credit: Lionsgate Films)
I honestly don’t believe my luck! Anyone who knows me well will know about my v. public J-Hud Obsession phase, which had me seeing Dreamgirls at the theatre seven times, not to mention the giant Poster on my wall, Fridge Magnets, Postcards, Deluxe Edition Soundtrack, Three-Disc Limited Edition DVD. The Mania went even further as I went on a mission to snatch-up every Magazine Cover featuring her during her Oscar Campaign. You name it, I had it. Things got so bad for a while that I stopped supporting Beyoncé (we’re okay again), her on-screen Nemesis. Jennifer Hudson for a good 18 months was my Female Alter-ego.
And you can just imagine how devastated I was last year when she couldn’t make her Premiere at TIFF 2011 for WINNIE, which has her portraying Winnie Mandela! It still was v. cool however, meeting her Co-Star Terrence Howard!
Today was my lucky day as I took Billy on a stroll through Yorkville at Lunchtime to notice an Escalade parked uncharacteristically right in-front of Nervosa Trattoria. Noticing the window was rolled a third-down, right before my eyes I saw the Oscar and GRAMMY Winner. Within moments, she came out of the Car with her Handler, amazingly nice to come over to stop for a Photo. Even in casual mode, she looked stunning – proudly sporting that amazing improved physique!
Hudson is in-town for two reasons: she appears tomorrow at Air Canada Centre, performing at We Day – celebrating inspiration and global change among Youth – and on Saturday, she makes her way to historic Fort York to perform at Bliss Ball, in support of SickKids‘ Patient Amenities Fund. A big Heart to match that big Voice.
Make no mistake though, the Chicago Native actually knows Toronto real well. She Tweeted yesterday, “On my way to Canada !! Toronto is my old stomping ground. It’s like home. I’m excited.”.
And while we’re on the topic, WINNIE also happens to open in theatres on Friday, October 5, 2012. I am hosting a Giveaway for Tickets along with D Films and District PR for Passes across Canada. Enter here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
She’s been writing songs since she was 13 and was inspired to sing by her Grandpa Bill. Incredibly-talented 16-year-old Ella Henderson, a Contestant on The X Factor UK, has wowed Judges repeatedly on back-to-back appearances on the Reality Series – recently with an original Tune she wrote and now this mind-blowing Ballad Version of Cher‘s Believe.
Judge Nicole Scherzinger absolutely cannot stop crying and bit-o-grump Gary Barlow admits he’d pay lots of money to see her perform the Song live again. There is something remarkably Adele-esque about Henderson. Definitely one to keep an eye on; Scouts over at 19 Management/Syco/Sony Music would be throwing away a huge opportunity not consider developing her regardless of her future on the Series.
Although we know how Scherzinger and Barlow feel, no other Critique matters as much as that of Cher herself. See what the Legend herself had to say about Henderson:
Watch Henderson‘s Performance:
(Photo/video credit: ITV)