laura vandervoort
#TIFF16: DAY 1 SIGHTINGS – LAURA VANDERVOORT, JASON RITTER, AUNJANUE ELLIS, MARK BOONE JUNIOR + BARRY JENKINS
TIFF ’16 officially has begun and as the stars begin to make their way into the City, Team Mr. Will has begun spotting them! We’re off to a bit of a shaky start, but expect us back in top form again by the weekend! While the Opening Night Gala, The Magnificent Seven took place both at Princess of Wales Theatre and Roy Thomson Hall including the likes of Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke and Chris Pratt, recent Oscar winner Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley and more kicked-off the Midnight Madness Programme at Ryerson Theatre with the Premiere for Free Fire!
While these bigger marquee names graced the Red Carpets, Team Mr. Will spotted these names quietly rolling into town for the festivities on Day 1.
Laura Vandervoort
Jason Ritter, CARRIE PILBY
The delightful #JasonRitter, son of #JohnRitter, at #TIFF16 with #CarriePilby.
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Aunjanue Ellis, THE BIRTH OF A NATION
Mark Boone Junior, THE BIRTH OF A NATION
#TheBirthofANation star #MarkBoone arrives for #TIFF16. #SonsofAnarchy
A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on
Barry Jenkins, MOONLIGHT
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong & Team)
#CSA: JACOB TREMBLAY, EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI, EUGENE LEVY, CATHERINE O’HARA, LYRIQ BENT, ADAM BEACH + MORE STARS IN BEVERLY HILLS FOR “AN EVENING WITH CANADA’S STARS”
Now in its third thriving year, AN EVENING WITH CANADA’S STARS was held last night at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Leading into the Academy Awards and Canadian Screen Week, the Gala honours Canadian accomplishments in Cinema during Awards Season and if any year, this was the year to celebrate. The Gala is brought to us by Telefilm Canada, the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles.
Canada notched over 20 nominations at the Academy Awards this year and one Technical Achievement Award! This also marks the first time ever Canada has had two Films in the running for Best Picture, with Canadian Co-Productions ROOM and BROOKLYN both being nominated.
It was an at-capacity crowd as Canadian talent and notables filled the venue. Being honoured with the Academy‘s Legacy Award are two iconic Canadian screen veterans, Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy, whom after making us laugh many years on SCTV, still continue to do so on CBC Series, Schitt’s Creek. Both walked the Carpet tonight with their loved ones before taking the stage to accept their honours.
The fashion was bold and elegant on the Red Carpet with presenter Emmanuelle Chriqui in a gorgeous red and white floral print dress making a subtle Canadian statement. Amanda Brugel was a vision in wavy white, reminding us again what a triumph she was in ROOM as a quick thinking police officer who helps save the day. Laura Vandervoort simply never disappoints and chose a fashion-forward pink lace number. Katie Boland was a stunner in a magenta dress, looking classic and chic. Missy Peregrym continues to rock our world with her amazing choices including a dyed pixie cut and short black dress shirt-like number. Academy Award-nominated Shoreh Aghdashloo was effortlessly chic in simple, flattering red. Stealing the entire show though was dapper Jacob Tremblay, star of ROOM in a perfectly-tailored and patriotic red suit which had us both jealous and in “awww”. Did we mention his swoon-worthy police detective dad Jason was there too? Effortlessly cool in a non-stagedad way.
Why don’t you be the judge of that? Let’s gawk at some of that Canadian beauty which the World can’t seem to get enough of:
Presenters Lyriq Bent + Emmanuelle Chriqui
Emmanuelle Chriqui
Lyriq Bent
Legacy Award honourees Catherine O’Hara + Eugene Levy
Catherine O’Hara + Guest
Eugene Levy
Jacob Tremblay + Amanda Brugel
Adam Beach
Missy Peregrym
Amanda Brugel
Toronto Mayor John Tory + Guests
Sarah Blackwood of Walk Off the Earth
David Sutcliffe
Dustin Milligan
George Stroumboulopoulous with Air Canada‘s Bambina Marcello + Robert Trudeau
Katie Boland
Meaghan Rath
Olivia Cheng
Martin Katz, Academy Chair
Aaron Poole
Sophie Tweed-Simmons
Laura Vandervoort
Ben Mulroney
Dan Levy
Stephan Moccio (co-wrote “Earned It” by The Weeknd for Fifty Shades of Grey)
Shoreh Aghdashloo
Co-Presenter (and Canadian Screen Award Nominee) Lyriq Bent sums-up the spirit of An Evening with Canada’s Stars best by telling the room “We’ve got to show the world what we’re all about because that’s what it takes to be great. We need to understand ourselves before we need others to understand us.”. After he and Chriqui called to stage all Canadian Academy Award Nominees this year, last but not least was the brilliant young star of ROOM himself, Tremblay. “I need you all to understand – this is the future generation. This is why when we see talent, we need to embrace talent, not just tell him how great he is, but to show this young man what it is to be a good man. That’s our responsibility in this industry.”.
Suicide Squad star Adam Beach, who also presented, had a two or thing to say about Tremblay too!
See the Video:
So everybody was trying to crash this Party!
Canadian Screen Week runs Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13, 2016, the night of the Canadian Screen Awards.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: STARS IN TORONTO FOR CTV’S 2014 UPFRONT | AUTOGRAPH GIVEAWAYS
Bell Media rolled out the Red Carpet and took over Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in a big way, welcoming seventy eight Stars to preview their forthcoming 2014 Fall/2015 Mid-Season Lineup.
Balancing Canadian content with some major renewals – like a third season of Saving Hope and second seasons of Bitten and Spun Out – a focus also is placed on several of its new and proven American titles, CTV (and CTV 2!) – Canada’s number one Network for 13 consecutive years – looks to take a chance on some high-profile new releases.
New major Titles seeing a release in the forthcoming Fall and Mid-Season include:
GOTHAM
THE MILLERS
THE MCCARTHYS
SECRETS AND LIES
THE ODD COUPLE
MARVEL’S AGENT CARTER
AMERICAN CRIME
CSI: CYBER
HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER
RESURRECTION
SUNDAY NFL
THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA
FOREVER
BUZZYS
THE FLASH
Among the several Stars walking the Red Carpet today were Beau Bridges (The Millers), Judd Hirsch (Forever), Alana De La Garza (Forever), Ben McKenzie (Gotham), Donal Logue (Gotham), Robin Taylor (Gotham), Anthony Lemke (19-2), Tyler Ritter (The McCarthys), Kelen Coleman (The McCarthys), Jimmy Dunn (The McCarthys), Michael Emerson (Person of Interest), Alfie Enoch (How to Get Away with Murder), Matt McGorry (How to Get Away with Murder), Caitlin Gerard (American Crime), Elvis Nolasco (American Crime), Jack Falahee (How to Get Away with Murder), Aja Naomi King (How to Get Away with Murder), Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds), William Moseley (The Royals – he came with Actress Girlfriend Kelsey Chow!), Alexandra Park (The Royals), Chloe Bennet (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), George Wendt (Buzzys), Elizabeth Henstridge (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Stephen Amell (Arrow), David Ramsey (Arrow), Candice Patton (The Flash), Danielle Panabaker (The Flash), Jared Keeso (19-2), Laura Vandervoort (Bitten), Steven Lund (Bitten), Michael Xavier (Bitten), Greg Bryk (Bitten), Greyston Holt (Bitten), Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs), Kristin Lehman (Motive), Brendan Penney (Motive), Louis Ferreira (Motive), Erica Durance (Saving Hope), Daniel Gillies (Saving Hope) and several more. Newcomer Grant Gustin, formerly of Glee, drew the most anticipation on the Fan-filled Red Carpet, many predicting that new CW Series The Flash will propel his Career to the stratosphere.
For more on CTV‘s upcoming Lineup, click here.
And now for the fun stuff! We snagged a few Autographs from some of today’s CTV Upfront Stars including Laura Vandervoort, Ben McKenzie, Matt McGorry, Elizabeth Henstridge and Chloe Bennet! To enter to win, specify at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook under this Post whose Autograph you’d like to win and click “like” also. You may enter for multiple Autographs!
Good luck, Wongsters!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#INTERVIEW: JESSE EISENBERG ON “NOW YOU SEE ME” | STEVE LUND & PAUL GREENE ON “BITTEN”
Centering on a group of Illusionists who are wanted after successfully pulling-off multiple Bank Heists, rewarding eventually their Audiences with the money, the latest from Director Louis Leterrier (The Transporter) looks to be one of this Summer’s biggest Thrill Rides. If you haven’t seen the first four minutes of the Film, I dare you not to bite your nails. Intensity at its finest.
Featured in the Thriller’s Ensemble Cast are Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Mélanie Laurent and the outstanding Jesse Eisenberg, who garnered his first ever Oscar nomination in 2011 for an unforgettable portrayal of Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. The latter arrived in Toronto yesterday to promote Now You See Me, in which he stars as the charismatic J. Daniel Atlas. Tonight he walked the Red Carpet at Scotiabank Theatre, meeting with a mix of Television, Radio and Online Personalities.
Looking clean and casual in a V-Neck and Blazer, the Actor in speedy cadence zipped through the Media Line, managing at once to deliver genuine, thoughtful answers. Having the pleasure of speaking with him, I pointed-out how some of his most recognizable roles to date see him actively pursued, whether it be the Winklevoss Twins hot on his trail in The Social Network or him voicing a Macaw Bird avoiding capture in Animated-Feature Rio. This time around, both the FBI and an Interpol Detective are out to get him.
Eisenberg tells me with a smile, “Thank you for your generous assessment. I like playing characters I can bring something in myself to. In this Movie, my Character is the greatest Stage Performer in the World. It allowed me to exercise the part of me that wants to be good at something and does a lot of work to be an Expert.”.
Although being a self-admitted Skeptic as a Child when it came to Magic, working on the visually-spectacular Now You See Me changed that. “Right when I started learning the discipline it takes to be really good at Magic, I realized how great these guys are”, says the New York Native. “Magic is about discipline, work and putting-in the the time to perfect something.”.
Also walking the Red Carpet tonight were handsome Canadian Actors Paul Greene and Steve Lund, who star alongside the beautiful Laura Vandervoort in 2014 Werewolf Series Bitten, set to air on Space.
See what they had to say about their new Series and Co-Star, as well as Eisenberg’s Chat with us below:
Many thanks to Christina Miguel for sending these Photos in of our Chat with Eisenberg. Lovely Guy and everything I’d imagined!
eOne Films releases Now You See Me on Friday, May 31, 2013.
(Photo/video 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)
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