It absolutely is our favourite time of the year again and announced this morning is the official list of Talent coming to Toronto for TIFF ’14! We look forward to seeing plenty of returning names – some just here last year like the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet – and also plenty of Stars from years past making their way back here once more!
Among the names attending TIFF ’14 this year include:
Jon Stewart, Martin Scorcese, Richard Gere, Andrew Garfield, Viggo Mortensen, Gael Garcia Bernal, James Franco, Jane Fonda, Chloë Moretz, Brit Marling, Laura Dern, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vanessa Redgrave, Vera Farmiga, Al Pacino, Tina Fey, Haley Joel Osment, Robert Pattinson, Ansel Elgort, Alice Eve, Sam Rockwell, Amanda Seyfried, Michael Shannon, Dax Sheppard, Robert Duvall, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Hailee Steinfield, Justin Chatwin, Method Man, Jennifer Connelly, Bobby Cannavale, Kuoth Wiel, Cassie Williams, Danny Webb, Dominic West, Jung Woo-Sung, John Boylan, Sam Worthington, Tye Sheridan, Andrew Scott, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Connie Britton, Reese Witherspoon, Evan Bird, Zhao Wei, Han Ye-Ri, Melissa Benoist, Haley Bennett, Sonja Bennett, John Travolta, Julianne Moore, Isaach De Bankolé, Dan Stevens, Jason Bateman, Corey Stoll, Xavier Dolan, Peter Stormare, Ben Schnetzer, Abigail Spencer, Ellen Barkin, Bill Pullman, Charlotte Aubin, Kate Winslet, Ryan Reynolds, Rene Russo, Roger Waters, Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Loreto Aravena, Tobey Maguire, Aubrey Plaza, Tobey Maguire, Gemma Arterton, Juliette Binoche, Zhang Yimou, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kristen Wiig, Adam Sandler, Rose Byrne, Channing Tatum, Chris Evans, Jake Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Mark Ruffalo, Bill Murray, Daniel Barber, Liam Aiken, Mike Leigh, Olivier Assayas, Richard LaGravenese, Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Anna Kendrick, Morgan Freeman, Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Rosario Dawson, Chris Rock, John Cusack, Benedict Cumberbatch, Octavia Spencer, Keira Knightley, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Kevin Costner, Anthony Mackie, Patricia Clarkson, J.K. Simmons, Miles Teller, Priyanka Chopra, Daniel Bruhl, Michael Winterbottom, Justin Chon, Steve Carell, Gong Li, Hayden Christensen, Tory Kittles, Jordana Brewster, Holliday Grainger, Max Irons, Lone Scherfig, Sam Claflin, Douglas Booth, Paul Bettany, Daniel Barnz, Noah Baumbach, Barry Avrich, Jennifer Aniston, Akon, Nick Kroll, Holly Hunter, Catherine Keener, Greta Gerwig, Omar Sy Jennifer Garner, Salma Hayek, Kevin Smith, Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Faye Marsay, Bill Nighy, Justin Long, Christopher Plummer, Marton Csokas, David Cronenberg, Sarah Gadon, Tom Schilling, Tom Hardy and more!
TIFF also will be hosting a series of In-Conversations-With as part of their Mavericks Programme. Joining-in are the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, Juliette Binoche, Jon Stewart, Dan Savage, Julie Taymor and several more!
As is the case always, it’s sometimes not just who’s coming – it’s who they’re bringing. Don’t be surprised if Jennifer Garner brings Husband Ben Affleck along and be warned if Andrew Garfield brings Emma Stone along!
Who’s on our list of Must-Meets? Plenty! We hope finally to get a positive moment with Reese Witherspoon and Kate Winslet! Excited about Martin Scorcese, J.K. Simmons, Bobby Cannavale, Miles Teller, Corey Stoll, Tobey Maguire, Rose Byrne, Michael Douglas and newer names like Max Irons and Douglas Booth, that’s for sure. And did we read TINA FEY!?!? Finally! AND WHERE IS TOM HARDY?!?!
The list is always subject to surprise and no-shows as we know all too well!
Visit the official TIFF Website for more.
TIFF ’14 runs September 3 – 14, 2014.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Chloë Grace Moretz certainly is no stranger to Toronto having filmed and promoted her on multiple occasions. More recently, she filmed back-to-back the Carrie Remake and Kick-Ass 2 here – the latter which had per reprising the role which won the hearts of Fanboys abound, Hit-Girl. The brilliant 17-year-old Actress in nine years has built-up an impressive Résumé working from just about everyone from Martin Scorcese to Denzel Washington. Moretz recently made a visit to the City in tandem with the 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards and we had the pleasure of chatting with the Star in Yorkville about her latest effort, If I Stay.
Based on Gayle Forman‘s popular Young Adult Novel, the Vancouver-made Film directed by R.J. Cutler (The September Issue, Nashville) certainly tugs at the heartstrings. Moretz plays a talented young Cellist named Mia whose world is torn apart after her and her Family are impacted by deep tragedy. She spends much of the Story in a Coma, caught between life and death and must ultimately decide her own future and fate. The Male Lead Adam is played by promising young Actor Jamie Blackley. Aspirations and devastation separate them, but is their bond strong enough to keep them together?
Moretz, giddy after meeting Hilary Clinton at an Autograph Signing earlier in the day, enters the room casual-chic. An Urban Outfitters Tee, J Brand Jeans and Kurt Geiger Shoes are appropriate for the low-key chat. “I tend to dress down in every day life. As I’m growing-up I’m trying to figure out what I like most and Fashion is an outlet.”. She reflects on her meeting Clinton beforehand, feeling incredibly validated, “She knew If I Stay, had seen it in a newspaper and was excited it was coming out.”. “So yeah, she knows me”, the Georgia-born Star jokes.
What is it exactly that makes Moretz stand-out from the remarkable pool of talent in Young Hollywood, we wonder. “I wanted to take on a Female Empowerment Character” she says, “Mia at the of the day knows her first love is the Cello which she found when she was five years old. And that’s how I am with acting. I want to portray that to young girls as someone to look up to.”. Despite being attracted to Mia‘s innocence, she reveals “I’m not one to be a Damsel – the Woman calling on a Man to save her.”.
The Actress admits that getting into Mia‘s psyche certainly was no breeze. “Every day was a tough acting day. It was worth it. Mia was worth going the emotion for” she recalls. “Music helps me a lot to stay in-character and shoot it out. We were shooting in an old Asylum, so the atmosphere was really heavy and that helped.”.
One of the things most remarkable about If I Stay is how completely believable Moretz is as a Cellist. An audition scene late in the Film is rather compelling and a mark of her true commitment to her craft. She describes the musical preparation for her role explaining, “I did five months of intensive training with a Cello Coach and she was amazing. We’d Skype three hours a day. It was difficult, but I did the most I could and did the best I could”. “At the end of the day though, you have amazing Doubles who make you look good.”. In her estimation she thinks that one would need at least 15 years of training to play at the level which her Character Mia performed.
I ask Moretz about her experiences filming in Canada, having seen the Country from two coasts. “In Canada, my favourite City is Toronto because the food is amazing first of all”. She names Little Italy‘s Vivoli and also Duff’s Wings among her favourite spots. Not to be outdone though she admits, “Vancouver was great with a really large Music scene. It’s very Seattle, very Portland. It’s very epic. I tend to enjoy the East Coast a bit more for the City vibe.”.
Make no mistake – despite her youthful effervescence, Moretz is a bit of an Old Soul. Dare I say she’s actually an Introvert? She answers each question with a wisdom beyond her years and in a nutshell understands exactly what she’s here to sell. She is asked what it is that draws people to “sappy” Movies. She explains, “I think that nowadays people really want to feel something when they go into Movies. I think it’s because we have less interaction because we’re all living our lives, so we’re not feeling as much.”. “Movies are becoming more and more sappy and tear-jerky.”. “Movies like this and The Fault in our Stars you walk-in and know you will get hit in the chest with a couple heavy-hitters”, says Moretz. “It’s worth it because they’re really good Movies.”.
Moretz gets candid with me when I ask her about her experience filming with some of her talented Co-Stars including the likes of Mireille Enos, Liana Liberato, Stacey Keach and of course her romantic interest in the Film, Blackley. She has the highest praise for the latter, stating “Jamie was such a great guy. It’s easy to fake a love relationship when you like someone was a Friend.”. Liberato plays Mia‘s Best Friend Kim and says, “Liana is a good friend of mine. We had sleepovers like every weekend!”. Enos, who has seen a significant boost in profile of late with Films like World War Z, we learn is a Nurturer. “She is like the ultimate Mother”, says Moretz. Jakob Davies plays her little Brother Teddy. ” He was like a little Munchkin you can’t help but fall in love with. He is his Character.”. “It wasn’t hard to get along with them. There wasn’t a person I didn’t like on this Movie which was weird… and great. I got lucky!”.
Our Snap:
Moretz even shared her prized Clinton Autograph with us:
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release IF I STAY on Friday, August 22, 2014.
You’ve been warned to bring some a box of Tissue.
(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros./Mr. Will Wong)
In support of upcoming Young Adult Novel Adaptation If I Stay, the Film’s Male Lead Jamie Blackley and Author Gayle Forman have made their way to Toronto as part of a whirlwind Press Tour which have seen them and Star Chloë Moretz make numerous promotional stops across North America everywhere from Shopping Malls to Cupcake Shops.
The touching Vancouver-filmed Drama centers on a young girl named Mia (Moretz) whose world crumbles one day after tragedy strikes. She is an aspiring Cellist on the verge of admission to prestigious Juilliard and her beloved Soulmate Adam (Blackley) also is the Frontman in an up-and-coming Rock Band. Stuck between life and death, ultimately she must make the most difficult decision of choosing her own destiny.
Blackley and Forman surprised Fans at a special Promo Screening of If I Stay last night. Although tearful, Fan reactions still were joyous that the Adaptation is just as resonant emotionally as the Bestseller it is based upon.
Then Duo are slated for multiple interviewstoday and one of their scheduled Stopoffs was at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) where they were greeted outside the Studio by Fans. Although rushed, the British Star still made time for everybody, signing Autographs generously and snapping Selfies. Multi-talented (he has quite the musical ability) Blackley’s star certainly is on the rise appearing more recently in Box Office Smash Snow White and The Huntsman and he has caught the meticulous eye of Woody Allen, starring in the Visionary’s next as-yet-untitled release.
In cased you missed them, Forman and Blackley both appear tonight at Indigo Yonge & Eglinton, 7 PM.
More Snaps:
Check back next week for our lovely Chat with Moretz!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
“You can be anything you want to be to change the World.”.
Based on the popular ’80s TV Series, we’re all excited to see THE EQUALIZER! In this new Trailer we see Denzel Washington at his icy bad-ass best and Chloë Moretz unlike anything we’ve ever seen her in before!
Official Synopsis:
In The Equalizer, Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by — he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.
Well then!
Watch the Trailer:
Sony Pictures Canada release THE EQUALIZER on Friday, September 26, 2014.
(Photo/video credit: Sony Pictures)
We had the pleasure of chatting with the amazing Chloë Moretz today, following her appearance at the 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards. Although the talented 17-year-old Actress known best for her work in KICK-ASS, Hugo and Carrie has been in Toronto many a time before to film, she actually got to go out and enjoy the City this time in addition to her Press Day.
Moretz made sure to stop-by at Hillary Clinton‘s Book Signing today at Indigo Manulife Centre. One of the perks of being a Celebrity is bypassing queues and the Actress and her Brother Trevor were lucky enough to be able to meet the former First Lady, Secretary of State and Senator as she signed copies of her Book, Hard Choices.
See her Autograph below:
Although that piece won’t be up till August, we will tell you to watch the Trailer below for the Vancouver-filmed Romantic Drama:
“There will be a judgement, Carrie.”
After multiple delays, finally the Toronto-filmed Carrie Remake will see a release in less than a month and if there ever was such a brilliant thing as Viral Marketing, here it is! The Team at Sony Pictures did a bit of a Social Experiment involving Telekinesis at a Coffee Shop, terrifying the living daylights out of Patrons. You must watch the believe it!
See it below:
LOL!
Watch the Trailer below:
Sony Pictures releases Carrie on Friday, October 18, 2013.
“Like” CARRIE on Facebook and use the Hashtag on Twitter, #WHATHAPPENEDTOCARRIE!
Mr. Will and the Cast of Carrie (past and present):
(Photo credit: Sony Pictures)
UNIVERSAL PICTURES CANADA and MR. WILL WONG are thrilled for the first time to give you the chance to win one of 5 Admit Two Passes to the Advance Promo Screening of KICK-ASS 2 on Wednesday, August 14th 7:00PM at SilverCity Yonge & Eglinton.
We were there on-set last Fall as Kick-Ass 2 filmed in our City and we couldn’t be happier to take you to see the Action-Comedy first! Read about it all here.
Official Synopsis below:
Kick-Ass, Hit Girl and Red Mist return for the follow-up to 2010’s irreverent global hit: Kick-Ass 2. After Kick-Ass’ (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, led by the badass Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey), our Hero joins them on patrol. When these amateur Superheroes are hunted down by Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) — reborn as The Mother F %&*^r—only the blade-wielding Hit Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) can prevent their annihilation.
When we last saw junior Assassin Hit Girl and young Vigilante Kick-Ass, they were trying to live as normal Teenagers Mindy and Dave. With graduation looming and uncertain what to do, Dave decides to start the world’s first Superhero Team with Mindy. Unfortunately, when Mindy is busted for sneaking out as Hit Girl, she’s forced to retire — leaving her to navigate the terrifying world of high-school Mean Girls on her own. With no one left to turn to, Dave joins forces with Justice Forever, run by a born-again ex-Mobster named Colonel Stars and Stripes.
Just as they start to make a real difference on the streets, the world’s first super villain, The Mother F%&*^r, assembles his own evil League and puts a plan in motion to make Kick-Ass and Hit Girl pay for what they did to his Dad. But there’s only one problem with his scheme: If you mess with one member of Justice Forever, you mess with them all.
Kick-Ass 2 stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Morris Chestnut,
John Leguizamo, Donald Faison and Jim Carrey.
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Double your chances by sharing this Post or Re-Tweeting the below:
http://www.mrwillwong.com/kickass2 @MRWILLW wants us to #win a Double Pass to the #Toronto Advance Screening of #KICKASS2. In theatres 8/16!
See for yourself the Red-Band Trailer (NSFW) which is dropping jaws everywhere:
For the Safe-for-Work Trailer, look below:
Official Artwork below:
Universal Pictures Canada releases the amazing Kick-Ass 2 on Friday, August 16, 2013.
“Like” Universal Pictures Canada on Facebook here!
(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)
Six-time Oscar Nominee and one-time Winner Sissy Spacek landed on Canadian soil last night, but was in Montreal first where several excited Jennifer Lawrence Fans got a huge surprise as she came through the Arrivals gate. Like Spacek, Lawrence also an Oscar Winner, had arrived in Montreal to film X-Men: Days of Future Past, while the former was connecting to Toronto tonight to speak at the Unique Lives & Experiences Lecture Series at Roy Thomson Hall.
Spacek, who spends much of her time now with Hubsand Jack Fisk caring for their Ranch in Virginia, is best known for her consistently outstanding Work in a Career which has seen several important performances such as her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter and her work in In the Bedroom, Missing and more recently, The Help. Her iconic performance in Brian De Palma Horror Carrie, soon will be revived with the release of Kimberly Peirce‘s Carrie this October, starring Chloë Moretz who also was just in Toronto last week, spotted in Yorkville.
I met Spacek as she was on her way out to her appearance tonight and she was just as delightful as imagined, inviting a few Fans also up the steps at her Hotel to pose for Photos, signing Autographs. She looked beautiful, hair in a ponytail and dressed in a simple black blazer. She seemed to have an opinion about certain Photos of her and made it vocal she didn’t want to sign Photos of herself “looking tired”. Love this Woman!
Several of today’s younger Actresses need to take note that this is how you have a long, prosperous and lasting Career – through grace, humility, hard work, being genuine and appreciative of Fans.
See our Snap:
No word on what Spacek will be working on next, but whatever it is, guaranteed it’ll be important.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada)
Finally, some life is breathed into Toronto’s Film Industry with a few exciting updates! Sam Claflin, whose star quickly is on the rise starring in upcoming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, arrives in Toronto for a few days of shooting next month for Romantic-Comedy, Love, Rosie, based on the Novel by Ceceila Ahern. The Film centers around Best Friends Rosie and Alex who are separated after the latter’s Family relocates to America. Lily Collins, who has been in Toronto much of late for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and recent Re-shoots, also stars. Love, Rosie sees a 2014 release.
Pompeii from Paul W.S. Anderson (The Three Musketeers, Resident Evil: Retribution) just began Production and will continue to film till July in the City. Several Game of Thrones Fans around Toronto have had to do a double-take after spotting Kit Harington. The Actor has been sporting lighter-coloured locks for the Film and confirmed to some Fans recently that he has met the entire Cast which includes Jared Harris (Mad Men), Kiefer Sutherland (24) and Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) already, who are scattered in separate parts of the City. Paz Vega (Spanglish) was recently added to the Cast along with Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix).
Those of you who like me are looking forward to Sony Pictures’ Carrie Remake will be excited to know that some of the Cast will be back in Toronto early May for a couple days to do Re-shoots for the Horror. In the meantime, several of the Cast Members have gone-on to do some great things. For one, Julianne Moore of course was just cast in David Cronenberg‘s Map to the Stars, set to film in L.A. reuniting that Director with Robert Pattinson. Gabriella Wilde filmed Squatters with Thomas Dekker (just in Toronto this week). Ansel Elgort who calls Carrie his first Movie ever, was cast in what sure is to be a Hit in Divergent alongside Shailene Woodley. Of course, its Star, Chloë Moretz filmed Kick-Ass 2 here in Toronto last Fall right after Carrie.
The Big Bang Theory Star Kunal Nayyar also just arrived in the City to film Dr. Cabbie’s Meter’s Running starring Vinay Virmani (Breakaway) and Adrianne Palicki (G.I. JOE). The Cast have been in and around the City and last week were spotted in-and-around Bay x Wellesley filming and are expected here till late May.
In another bit of casting news, British Actor Max Beesley (Glitter, Hotel Babylon) has just been cast in USA Network‘s Hit Legal Series Suits and is expected to arrive in the City shortly to begin filming. Filming continues throughout the Summer into October.
(Photo credit: Lionsgate Films)
So basically I need to see this. Right now. The first full Trailer for the Carrie Remake, by Director Kimberly Peirce has surfaced and it is everything we could hope for. The fact that it was filmed in Toronto holds a dear place to me and it was amazing seeing the Cast out and about in my neighbourhood last Summer while filming. Chloë Moretz truly delivers her A-Game here and the ending looks terrifying.
Watch the Trailer below:
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