#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)

#TIFF13: MAISON BIRKS & TELEFILM CANADA’S DIAMOND TRIBUTE TO THE YEAR’S WOMEN IN FILM

Honouring some of the most significant Females in Canadian Film, Telefilm Canada and Maison Birks honoured ten Women Actors and Directors at their Flagship Toronto Store today at the first ever Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film.  The Event was timed while all eyes are on Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Selected by a Panel of Journalists who cover the Arts, Cultural and Entertainment fields, an immensely-talented group of Canadian Women were awarded for their achievement and talent, recognition from peers and visibility they have brought Canada.  Drawing a huge crowd to Bay x Bloor despite the threat of rain, Fans were ready in a designated FanZone allowing them an opportunity to connect with the Who’s Who of Film and Television in Canada.

This year’s Honourees include:

Directors: Louise Archambault, Deepa Mehta, Alanis Obomsawin, Sarah Polley and Chloé Robichaud

Actresses: Évelyne Brochu, Geneviève Bujold, Sarah Gadon, Jessica Paré and Alison Pill

The Event being fully at capacity, Archambault, Mehta, Obomsawin, Robinchaud and Brochu were all in attendance today. Gadon‘s Mother accepted her Award in her absence.

Among those in attendance this year were several familiar Canadian faces including the likes of Kelly Rowan, Anthony Lemke, Katie Boland, Aaron Abrams, Kristin Booth, Rob Stewart, Cynthia Preston, Atom Egoyan, Paul Haggis, Liane Balaban, Michael Seater and several more.  TIFF Rising Stars, Cara Gee and Johnathan Sousa also came out to celebrate.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#TIFF13: ENTER TO WIN ACCESS TO THE BIRKS DIAMOND TRIBUTE TO THE YEAR’S WOMEN IN FILM

Mr. Will Wong, Telefilm Canada and Touchwood PR want to give Readers a taste of the Red Carpet Experience at one of the most important Events to fall during TIFF ’13, the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film. The ultra-exclusive Event honours Ten Women in Canadian Film including Actors and Directors. Among those being honoured are the likes of Sarah Polley, Sarah Gadon, Deepa Mehta, Jessica Paré, Allison Pill, Geneviève Bujold and more!

When: September 11, 2013 at 4:00 PM
Where: Toronto Birks Store (55 Bloor Street W. – Manulife Centre)
There  will be a FanZone set-up for Fans to get up close and person with the Stars!  There will be several in attendance in addition to this year’s Honourees.

To enter to win Tickets, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Share this Post on Facebook and double your chances or Re-Tweet the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/birks @MRWILLW wants us to #win access to the @MAISONBIRKS Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film on 9/11/13!

Good luck.

(Photo credit: Maison Birks)

HELLO! CANADA LISTS “50 MOST BEAUTIFUL CANADIANS” INCLUDING AVRIL LAVIGNE, STEPHEN AMELL, RYAN GOSLING & MORE

Avril Lavigne covers this week’s issue of Hello! Canada, featuring their 50 Most Beautiful Canadians.  Set to return with her current single Here’s to Never Growing Up, Editor-in-Chief Alison Eastwood released a statement saying, “Unveiling our annual Most Beautiful issue is as thrilling as giving a close friend a big, beautiful birthday present.  And this year is especially exciting. Avril and her Fiancé Chad Kroeger have been great friends to HELLO! Canada, their Wedding is just around the corner, and our exclusive (and rare) Photo Shoot, on the eve of Avril’s return to the pop charts, was nothing short of magical.”.

The List ranges from Media, Ballerinas, Singers to Movie Stars with some surprises and some names you have to do a quick Google Image search for.   Selected this year by the Magazine are:

Stephen Amell
Actor: Arrow, CTV
Hometown: Toronto

Will Arnett
Actor: Arrested Development, Netflix
Hometown: Toronto

Justin Bieber
Singer, Universal
Hometown: Stratford, Ont.

Jean-Luc Bilodeau
Actor: Baby Daddy, ABC Spark
Hometown: Vancouver

Dean Brody
Singer, Universal
Hometown: Jaffray, B.C.

Michael Bublé
Singer, Warner
Hometown: Burnaby, B.C.

Sidney Crosby
Professional hockey player, Pittsburgh Penguins
Hometown: Cole Harbour, N.S.

Antonio Cupo
Actor: Bomb Girls, Global TV
Hometown: Vancouver

Victoria Duffield
Singer, Warner
Hometown: Abbotsford, B.C.

Matt Dusk
Singer, eOne Music
Hometown: Toronto

Nathan Fillion
Actor: Castle, CTV
Hometown: Edmonton

Mitsou Gélinas
Radio host: Rythme FM
Hometown: Montreal

Ryan Gosling
Actor
Hometown: Cornwall, Ont.

Pascale Hutton
Actor: Arctic Air, CBC
Hometown: Creston, B.C.

Carly Rae Jepsen
Singer, Universal
Hometown: Mission, B.C.

Sean Jones
Singer
Hometown: Toronto

Tanya Kim
Anchor: etalk, CTV
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Adam Korson
Actor: Seed, City
Hometown: Thornhill, Ont.

Kristin Kreuk
Actor: Beauty and the Beast, Showcase
Hometown: Vancouver

Amanda Lang
Anchor: The Lang and O’Leary Exchange, CBC
Hometown: Ottawa

Avril Lavigne
Singer, Sony
Hometown: Napanee, Ont.

Dan Levy
Actor: TV/film
Hometown: Toronto

Raine Maida
Singer, Warner
Hometown: Toronto

Rachel McAdams
Actor
Hometown: St. Thomas, Ont.

Kandyse McClure
Actor: Hemlock Grove, Netflix
Hometown: Vancouver

Tracy Moore
Host: Cityline, City
Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ont.

Ashley Diana Morris
Guess! model
Hometown: Toronto

Alanis Morissette
Singer, Collective Sounds
Hometown: Ottawa

Enuka Okuma
Actor: Rookie Blue, Global TV
Hometown: Vancouver

Ellen Page
Actor
Hometown: Halifax

Jessica Paré
Actor: Mad Men, AMC
Hometown: Montreal

Jason Priestley
Actor
Hometown: Vancouver

Milos Raonic
Professional tennis player
Thornhill, Ont.

Lisa Ray
Host: Top Chef Canada, Food Network Canada
Hometown: Toronto

Ryan Reynolds
Actor
Hometown: Vancouver

Ed Robertson
Singer, Warner
Hometown: Toronto

Sonia Rodriguez
Principal dancer, National Ballet of Canada
Hometown: Toronto

Anna Silk
Actor: Lost Girl, Showcase
Hometown: Fredericton

Hannah Simone
Actor: New Girl, City
Hometown: Calgary

Cobie Smulders
Actor: How I Met Your Mother, City
Hometown: Vancouver

Scott Speedman
Actor
Hometown: Toronto

Jessica Stam
Model
Hometown: Kincardine, Ont.

George Stroumboulopoulos
Host: George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, CBC
Hometown: Toronto

David Sutcliffe
Actor: Cracked, CBC
Hometown: Saskatoon

Shania Twain
Singer, Universal
Hometown: Timmins, Ont.

Emily VanCamp
Actor: Revenge, City
Hometown: Port Perry, Ont.

Cory Vitiello
Executive chef: The Harbord Room
Hometown: Brantford, Ont.

Roz Weston
Senior entertainment reporter, ET Canada, Global TV
Hometown: Acton, Ont.

Ellen Wong
Actor: The Carrie Diaries, City
Hometown: Toronto

Kevin Zegers
Actor
Hometown: Woodstock, Ont.

 

See the Cover below:

The 124-page Double Issue is now on Newsstands.

See Lavigne‘s new Video for Here’s to Never Growing Up below:

(Photo/ credit: Hello! Canada/Sony Music)