The Countdown is on to Sunday’s $1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Racetrack! Canada’s Olympic Gold Medal Trampolinist Rosie MacLennan even came out to join-in on the fun, as Post-Positions were drawn for the Race’s nine Competitors. Meet all your Contenders here!
I spent the morning on the Backstretch with some equine Friends, including previous Woodbine Mile Winner and remarkable Champion, Rahy’s Attorney, who soon will begin a second career at Woodbine as a Track Pony. After spending much time at the Farm recovering from a career-ending injury, the eight-year-old looks superb still and I got to watch him do a quick jog before heading back into his stall.
Although they aren’t competing in the Race, I fell in-love with the lovely Ardara, who at three-years-old just began her Career with a decent fourth-place finish this Summer. Her Trainer Carolyn Costigan who is in no rush with her, has high hopes with her Champion’s Pedigree. As you can see above, we hit it off rather well after I gifted her with some Peppermint Candies, getting rewarded back with a big, minty kiss!
I also got to meet Costigan‘s diminutive Star two-year-old Filly, Nancy O (Ire), who after a workout this morning, was all focused on winding down, grazing on some grass. Sweetheart.
I also got to hang with Breeder’s Cup Runner-Up Excaper, who went from bored to excited after a few Peppermints, bobbing his head up and down approvingly. On the way out, I ran into Turf Veteran Musketier (Ger), playing with his giant Teddy Bear in his own little fenced-in VIP Area. If that doesn’t melt your heart, I don’t know what will.
Although all five $25 Gift Cards I had up for grabs in my Party with Mr. Will at Woodbine Contest are all accounted for, I do hope to see you at Woodbine on Sunday for some post-TIFF fun and maybe we can even win a little cash to replenish our wallets!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
As promised earlier, I would be giving away a signed Photo from Clary Fray herself, Lily Collins! The beautiful Actress who recently lit-up the Red Carpet at TIFF 2012 and is in-town filming the destined-to-be-huge The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones!
Instructions are simple. Follow Mr. Will Wong on Twitter and “like” this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook before October 12, 2012.
Although he isn’t here for TIFF 2012 per say, Canadian-born Actor Kevin Zegers flew-in from Los Angeles tonight after a quick break. He currently is at work on Sony Screen Gems’ The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, which films in the City over the next couple months. Wondering if he’ll be showing Co-Star Lily Collins some support Sunday night at her Premiere for The Writers? Hmm.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
As you might have heard from me on Twitter, Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven has now re-branded soon simply as Mr. Will Wong, right in-time for TIFF 2012. This change marks a return to myself as I look forward to taking my Friendship with my Readers to an even deeper level.
It was an awesome three years at Blogspot and I owe them everything for providing me the Foundation, Resources and Support to learn the ropes of Blogging. Their user-friendly Interface and loads of fun options have helped me be the best Blogger I could be. Together with your Support, we’ve transformed Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven from something born purely out of Passion into a locally-influencial Brand and Experience. In September 2009, I started my Blog solely to showcase my TIFF Celebrity Photos and now it has blossomed into something bigger and more beautiful. I cannot believe that I have found myself interviewing the likes of Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman, Channing Tatum, Malcolm McDowell and Daniel Radcliffe!
After months of hard work, my Team of Developers – Nadia, Nick and Anthony – and I are proud to launch our new Website and we look forward to showing you a fresh, exciting look. You as Readers will benefit most from some exciting interactive options such as now being able to show-off some of your own Celebrity Sightings to the World!
Don’t fret as all my old Posts are going nowhere and I’m around as always on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You’ll definitely want to be around for my exciting to-the-minute updates of who’s been spotted around town during the Festival and which Films are most Buzzworthy!
Lastly, I’m thrilled to be partnering together with CP24 – watched by over 3.1 million people every week around the City – to report live Hits from the Red Carpets and also I can be seen on LeDrew Live at noon throughout the Festival. Don’t forget to tune-in. Furthermore, if you spot me, come over for a quick Snap together!
As always, thank you for everything over these past three years and thank you for being there for many more years to come on this new Site!
With love,
xMr. Will
Canadian Director Michael Dowse (Fubar, It’s All Gone Pete Tong) premiered his latest Hockey-Comedy back in September at TIFF to rousing reception and now is ready to unleash a “rink of fire” to the masses. Alliance Films has shown its firm vote of confidence in the distinctly-Canadian Film, touring it over the past week with stop-offs in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal and tonight, Toronto.
Montreal’s Jay Baruchel not only co-wrote Goon together with Evan Goldberg, but also stars in it. He is said to have been moved to tears by a surprise visit from now-FiancĂ©e and then-Co-Star Alison Pill. The two developed a romance on-set and thus, the Film can be said to be a Labour of Love, in more ways than one. In addition to Dowse and Baruchel, talents David Paetkau, Liev Schreiber and Seann William Scott graced the Fan and Media-filled Red Carpet also at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre.
Goon centers upon Doug (Scott), a Jewish-Canadian Bouncer and trained Boxer whom after years of struggling to find his niche, gets hired aboard a floundering Halifax Hockey Team as someone whose purpose solely is to help his Team win fights on-the-ice, fully utilizing those Boxing chops. Doug turns out to be a much better at his job than anticipated and this causes some friction within his Team, especially with its Captain of many vices Xavier (Marc-AndrĂ© Grondin), and also a competing team’s soon-to-retire star, the tough-as-nails Ross (Schreiber). Along the way, Doug falls for Eva (Pill) whom at first appears emotionally unavailable, but nonetheless he is determined to win her affections. With the support of his Team and Buddy Pat (Jay Baruchel), he enjoys a celebrated, although stormy rise to the top – even if it should come at the expense of his overachieving Parents.
Certainly not lacking controversy, Goon has gained much Media attention of late for both its shocking Posters, showing Baruchel in what might be considered a lewd act, but more so its violent on-ice beatdowns. A Representative for the City of Toronto has denied that it ordered the removal of the offending Posters namely from bus shelters, according to a probe by The Globe & Mail.
Baruchel poked fun at the situation, performing quickly an encore of the said lewd act for the Cameras, shouting “Here you go, one more time!”. On a more delicate note, I asked Baruchel about how this Film might be misconstrued solely as a tough, violent Film when in fact much of it actually is a Love Story. “Yes, that’s exactly right. I was raised to believe that toughness has nothing to do with being a good person or not”, he comments.  “It’s also a reaction to a terrifying trend in movies where they’re always cynical and always come from a mean-spirited place. I just wanted to bring a happiness and heart back into Films.”.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com