#INTERVIEW: “ORPHAN BLACK”, “GABRIELLE”, “ENEMY”, “CALL ME FITZ” CELEBRATED AT 2014 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS

David Cronenberg. Orphan Black. Gabrielle. Enemy. Call Me Fitz. These five names might not strike a connection other than that they are distinctly Canadian, but they were fêted tonight as big Winners at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards. The week-long Celebrations known as Canadian Screen Week culminated in a star-studded Red Carpet Bash at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, seeing several of our Country’s Heroes and Heroines of the Screen convening proudly in the name of our artistic accomplishments.

Over the course of the week, Toronto-filmed Sci-Fi Series Orphan Black amassed a whopping ten wins including TV Drama tonight. Its Star Tatiana Maslany certainly has shined a light on Canadian Talent over the past year, garnering a Critics’ Choice Award south of the Border last June for her performance(s) as several identical Women revealed to be Clones. The 28-year-old Regina-born Actress won for Actress, TV Drama, which is seen on BBC America and the Space Channel in Canada.  A Belle of the Ball, indeed.

Making a splash in the TV categories was Call Me Fitz, winning for TV Comedy. Starring former Beverly Hills, 90210 Hunk Jason Priestley and Tracy Dawson, both won Actor and Actress, TV Comedy respectively. Priestley also directed Maslany in the Feature Film Cas & Dylan, for which she received also a nomination for Actress, Motion Picture.

Warming hearts this evening was Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, who lit-up the Press Room with her big smile, tightly clasping onto her Trophy. The first-time Actress stars in Gabrielle, which won her coveted Actress, Motion Picture. The Coming-of-Age Tale centering on a musically-gifted Teen suffering from Williams Syndrome (a condition with which Marion-Rivard actually has been diagnosed), went-on to win in the category of Motion Picture for eOne Films. The Canadian Distributor also saw more accolades with its new release Enemy, filmed in Toronto and directed by Denis Villeneuve, going-on to win for Director, Motion Picture and Supporting Actress, Motion Picture with Sarah Gadon.

Iconic Filmmaker David Cronenberg was honoured this Evening with the Lifetime Achievement Award and to ring-in the occasion were long-time Collaborator Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello. Although both Actors were careful not to take away his spotlight, Mortensen did say in the Press Room introducing Cronenberg rather succinctly, “I don’t think he’s gotten the universal recognition he deserves”, proudly flaunting some Montreal Canadiens Merchandise. The ground-breaking Director indicated his focuses right now are his debut Novel, Consumed, which potentially will be made into a Film, and also his  next release Maps to the Stars, which has its sights set on the Cannes Film Festival this Spring.

Curious to see what Executive Producer of Maps to the Stars, Martin Katz has to say about the eagerly-awaited Film starring Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack and Julianne Moore? Interested to see where Anna Silk and Fan’s Choice Screen Star –  Zoie Palmer –  might be headed next on Lost Girl? Will Mr. D Star Gerry Dee be returning to Woodbine Racetrack to call a few more races? What does Mia Kirshner say about the second Season of Defiance? What were George Stroumboulopoulos‘ 2014 Canadian Screen Award Predictions?

Watch this Video of Mr. Will‘s Red Carpet Chats with all the above here:

Above all the celebrations, we had a blast admiring up-close the Red Carpet Fashions whether it be Pretty Little Liars Star Shay Mitchell in a daring plunging neckline, Jessica Paré stunning in Stella McCartney, Maria Bello beautiful in Nicholas Oakwell or Katheryn Winnick ravishing in red by Romona Keveza. Even Dina Pugliese of CITY‘s Breakfast Television was a Goddess in Jovani!   Swoon.

For a complete list of Winners, click here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: VOTE FOR “FAN’S CHOICE AWARD” AT THE 2014 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS | TICKET INFO & FANZONE

Great news, Toronto!  The 2014 Canadian Screen Awards are soon set to take place and this is your chance to be involved and  meet some Stars!

In celebration of the Awards, Fans will have the chance to vote in the Category of Fan’s Choice Award for their favourite Canadian Screen Star  and they can do so here!  The Winner will be unveiled Awards Night.

If that wasn’t awesome enough, Fans also will get a chance to meet some Stars at Toronto’s Eaton Centre on Saturday, March 8, 2014 where a FANZONE will be set-up. Get some Autographs, ask for a Photo Mr. Will-Style! Although the time is still yet to be confirmed, you can follow The Academy  here on Twitter.  Complete List of Names to appear are here.

Lastly, you can register now to attend the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards. It’s absolutely free and you can sign-up here.  Don’t be shy.  What more exciting could you be doing that night?

Official Artwork:

 

 

The 2014 Canadian Screen Awards, hosted by Martin Short, take place Sunday, March 9, 2014, airing 8:00 PM EST on CBC.

(Photo credit: Touchwood PR/Mr. Will Wong)

#CDNSCREEN14: “ORPHAN BLACK” AND “TOM AT THE FARM” LEAD NOMINEES AT 2014 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS

A Who’s-Who in Canadian Film, Television and Digital Media gathered today at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Toronto as Nominees were unveiled for the 2014  Canadian Screen Awards. Selected by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, a bevy of Talent and Media were on-hand to hear Nominations announced by our v. own David Sutcliffe (Cracked) and Katheryn Winnick (Vikings).

Leading the way this year in Television with a whopping 14 Nominations is breakout Hit Orphan Black including Best Dramatic Series, with its Star Tatiana Maslany at the Golden Globes last night in Los Angeles.  Maslany received a Nomination for her work on the Series in the Category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role.

After premiering at TIFF ’13, Xavier Dolan‘s Tom at the Farm leads the Film Category with an impressive eight Nominations.  The young acclaimed Filmmaker in addition to Best Motion Picture, is up for Best Direction and Screeplay also.  eOne Films distributes the French-Canadian Title.

eOne Films’ The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, filmed in Toronto, will be honoured with Cineplex‘s Golden Reel Award for the highest-grossing Canadian Film at the Box Office.  The Distributor last year won with Resident Evil: Retribution.

For a complete list of Nominees, click here.

The 2014 Canadian Screen Awards take place on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, airing live on CBC at 8:00 PM EST; Martin Short will be hosting.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#SPOTTED: STARS DESCEND UPON TORONTO FOR 2013 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS

Canadian Television and Film Royalty have united in Toronto this past week for three separate Galas honouring the v. best we have to offer in Entertainment.  Combining what formerly were known as the Genies and Geminis together, the Awards are given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.  Drawing some of the Country’s most familiar faces, the final Broadcast Gala took place, airing nationally on CBC, hosted by beloved Funnyman Martin Short.

Winning top honours this year was War Witch (Rebelle), a Drama about a 14-year-old Girl in  Sub-Saharan Africa who tells her unborn Child the story of her life since she has experienced the War, which swept ten categories including Best Motion Picture and Director for Kim Nguyen.  American Actor James Cromwell won for Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Still Mine, while War Witch‘s Rachel Mwanza won Actress in a Leading Role.

In the Television categories, CTV‘s now concluded Flashpoint won Dramatic Series, with Enrico Colantoni winning Lead Actor in a Dramatic Role.  Meanwhile, Meg Tilly, who stars in Global Television Series Bomb Girls won Lead Actress in a  Dramatic Role. HBO Canada‘s Less Than Kind  won Comedy Series with its Wendel Meldrum winning Lead Actress in a Comedic Role.  Gerry Dee won Lead Actor in a  Comedic Role for CBC‘s Mr. D.

Many Stars braved the cold to greet Fans who lined hours at the Red Carpet including Laura Vandervoort, Catherine O’Hara, Geneviève Bujold, James Cromwell, Jay Baruchel, Stephen Amell, Xavier Dolan, Kristin Kreuk,  Sandra Oh and several more.  Even Vandervoort spotted me and even came over to say a quick “hi” recognizing me instantly!   The Party continued at a Reception post-Gala at the venue, before making its way over to Rosewater Supper Club.

See some Photos I snapped below:

Click here for a complete list of Winners.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)