#SPOTTED: YARA SHAHIDI + CHARLES MELTON IN TORONTO FOR “THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR”

Love is in the air! Cineplex Yonge & Dundas was extra festive tonight as it hosted a special Advance Screening of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR with its two leads, Yara Shahidi (Blackish, Grownish) and Charles Melton (Riverdale). The Film is directed by Ry Russo-Young (Before I Fall) and based on the Novel of the same name by best-selling Author Nicola Yoon, whose Everything, Everything too got the big screen treatment in 2017. The house was packed for the promo screening followed by a Q&A moderated by The Social’s Melissa Grelo.

The Film centers on Daniel Bae (Melton), a young Korean-American man on the verge of entering college with aspirations of becoming a doctor at his parents’ wishes but a personal dream of becoming a poet. He crosses paths with Natasha (Shahidi), who with her family are facing deportation to Jamaica, making one last attempt to get her family permanent residence in the U.S.. The two meet one day before she and her family are to leave and one day before a crucial interview which could secure his future forever in his educational endeavours. They fall in love but are in a race against time.

 

See the Trailer:

 

Melton reflected on his path to success, moving to L.A. when he was 21 with a handful of money, canned soup and tuna. The Actor who took over the role of Reggie Mantle on The CW‘s Riverdale, imparted some advice to the audience, telling them “lay low, stay focused and keep your hopes high.” .

Shahidi who has gained much recognition starring in Golden Globe-winning and Primetime Emmy-nominated Blackish and subsequent spinoff Grownish, is balancing her work with studies at Harvard. Grelo asks her if she believes in love at first sight like the characters we see in THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR and she says “I have to, because my parents did.”. She reveals the Film almost got made in Toronto but alas, it was filmed in New York City where it actually is set and she feels this made a huge difference helping hers and Milton‘s characters understand the communities they grew-up in.

Following the Q&A, the audience got to witness a young man ask his girlfriend to Prom, complete with confetti and their friends in the audience holding signs spelling “PROM?”. The Actors even posed for a Photo Op with them, before taking Selfies with the rest of the audience. Shahidi who came with her mom, could only stay for a bit, while Melton stayed behind generously meeting everyone.

 

See some Snaps!

 

Warner Bros. Canada release THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR Friday, May 17, 2019.

 

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