Where has the time gone? It was a chilly day in February when we first met Princess and now we’re literally living in the Tropics! Would you believe that Princess (A PIC BY MRWILL) already is nearing her debut? More on that in a bit.

I have been making my weekly (sometimes more…) visits to see her and it is amazing seeing Princess come into her own not just as an athlete, but also an amazing young lady. Her demeanour has made her popular at the John Ross barn and I make a conscious effort to spoil her with her favourite organic rainbow carrots, peppermints and tons of playtime.  She has to know by now she’s special, right? Although all credit is due to John and his amazing Team, I am humbled to be a part of this even if in a tiny capacity.

A few weeks back, Princess did her first ever interview with Media Sovereign Award winner Alex Campbell (@AXCampbell1) for the Daily Racing Form and she handled herself like such a pro! Holding myself back from being jealous, I may have caught her cuddling-up to Alex after the interview.  Princess sure knows the power of good press and media manipulation. What a Celeb!

The piece has gone live and is here!

John hasn’t been his best of late, but is doing the right thing getting well and we all send him lots of love and positivity for a speedy recovery. The barn is extremely thrilled riding a high after a huge win on the weekend! Princess’ workmate and sis RAGLAN ROAD  (Victor’s Cry x Glaslyn, by Forestry) crushed it in her debut Saturday at Woodbine against open company! Although Raglan is the bigger of the two, Princess has matched strides with her in the morning and people on the backstretch have been paying attention.  Good things often come in pairs or threes, right?  Britney and Christina.  Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Wando and Mobil. With Approval and Izvestia. Dance Smartly and Wilderness Song. I’m just saying…

We also want to congratulate one of our favourites, Horse of the Year and recent Grade II Nassau Stakes victress LEXIE LOU who began her path to stardom in the John Ross barn. We are in awe how she managed to escape at 12-1 odds (!), topped only by her victory at  an even bigger 17-1 odds in the 2013 Muskoka Stakes. We’re excited to see her step it up in a couple weeks as she’s likely to run in the Grade I Just a Game Stakes Belmont Stakes weekend. This is a true testament to the quality of Ontario’s breeding program with progeny of our stallions competing at a world-class level.

Fun fact: Did you know Princess was handed-down the same stall that housed both Lexie Lou and Brooklysway?

Alex, Princess + John

Raglan Road + Team Ross waving to John, watching from home

Lexie Lou

Working out the gate with her pal Sheena Ryan, Princess has been posting some real solid workouts in company.

Some of her recent works. A furlong is about 201 metres…

A photo posted by Princess (@apicbymrwill) on Apr 30, 2016 at 10:47am PDT

A photo posted by Princess (@apicbymrwill) on May 27, 2016 at 9:11am PDT

Some more Princessnaps:

Princess with my Parents (left) and my Aunts visiting from overseas. Their first time around a horse!

Princess training with Sheena and her sis Raglan Road, under Gary Boulanger

Special thanks to our friend, the lovely Ericka Rusnack (@ErickaRusnak) who captured this stunning shot of Princess and Sheena training with her other sis Saturday Dancer (under Steven Bahen) a few days ago!

Karl Lagerborg (@StallOfficeKarl) aka Racing’s “Uncle Karl” of the Woodbine Stall Office, brought the entire Scheduling Department to meet Princess, which she appreciated so much!

Princess being Princess

Also, Princess’ signature bangs are developing a Fan Club of their own, making her a bit of a fashion icon!! See some of her PICsies’  sweet Tweets! Thanks Bailey, Lynn and Maureen for your ‘bang-on’ support!

VIDEO: And now for a MAJOR announcement!

Princess Diaries: June 2016

Hay You! Be a PICsie too!

Follow Princess on Twitter and Instagram!

See you Saturday.  Race 3. Number 6. Let’s take a PIC!

(Photo [captured on the Nikon D3300] /video [captured on the Samsung S7] credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Pacific Northwest Pictures + Mr. Will want to take you to see Julie Delpy‘s latest, LOLO, in Toronto.

Screening is Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Canada Square, 7 PM. The filmed premiered at TIFF ’15 to much acclaim!

Synopsis:

LOLO is a hilarious romantic comedy starring, written and directed by Julie Delpy and starring France’s best comic actors including Dany Boon (Welcome to the Sticks, Supercondriaque), Vincent Lacoste (The French Kissers) and Karin Viard (Delicatessen, Polisse).

See the Trailer:

Delpy + Mr. Will:

The formidable #JulieDelpy, at #TIFF15 with #Lolo. #TIFF40 #TIFF #TorontoFilmFestival #LoloMovie #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 18, 2015 at 12:04pm PDT

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK!.

Pacific Northwest Pictures release LOLO in Toronto + Vancouver, Friday, June 3, 2016.

(Photo/video credit: Pacific Northwest Pictures)

After debuting at Sundance, check out this Trailer from Nicolas Winding Refn, who brought us the daring DRIVE.

Synopsis:
Jesse (Elle Fanning), an aspiring model, moves to Los Angeles, where she’s accepted into an agency and begins a promising career. However, when the pressure from the beauty-obsessed women around her becomes too much, the demons from her past catch up with her.

Trailer:

D Films release THE NEON DEMON  Friday, June 24, 2016 in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Victoria, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Regina and Saskatoon.

(Photo/video credit: D Films)

Elevation Pictures + Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto + Vancouver on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 to see Colin Firth + Jude Law in GENIUS, the story behind the relationship between Thomas Wolfe and Max Perkins.

Synopsis:
Genius centers on the real-life relationship between literary giant Thomas Wolfe and renowned editor Max Perkins. Finding fame and critical success at a young age, Wolfe is a blazing talent with a larger-than-life personality to match. Perkins is one of the most respected and well-known literary editors of all time, discovering such iconic novelists as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Wolfe and Perkins develop a tender, complex friendship. Transformative and irrepressible, this friendship will change the lives of these brilliant, but very different men forever.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and indicate your city. Click “share” from there for an extra chance!  Tweet out the below for an extra chance:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/genius @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Passes to see #GENIUSMovie. Out 6.17.

Elevation Pictures release GENIUS Friday, June 17, 2016 in Toronto + Vancouver, additional cities to follow.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

It’s Memorial Day in the U.S., which means tons of Box Office activity as some blockbuster new releases hit theatres this weekend. X-MEN: APOCALYPSE prevails over the North American Box Office with $66 million in its debut from 4,150 theatres for 20th Century Fox. Critics gave this installment mixed reviews with a 49% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences thought much better of it with an A CinemaScore.

Disney‘s ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS debuts in second with $29 million from 3,763 theatres. Critics gave it a 29% on the Tomatometer, while Audiences loved it with an A- CinemaScore.

Last week’s champ THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE slips to third with $20 million still for Sony Pictures, from 3,932 theatres.  Thus far it has made $74 million in North America.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR is in fourth with $16.5 million for Disney, from 3,395 theatres. It has made $378 million thus far in its domestic run.

NEIGHBORS 2: SORORITY RISING earns $9.4 million in it second week out for Universal Pictures, bringing its run so far to $40 million.

THE NICE GUYS in its second week out makes $6.8 million for Warner Bros., a cumulative $24 million thus far made.

Rounding-out the Top Ten is ZOOTOPIA earning $866k in its thirteenth week out for Disney!

To celebrate the release of the new film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Mega Bloks has created construction toys for Turtles‘ fans of all ages! Now you can build your favorite characters, vehicles and locations from the movie.  Build the Turtles Lair and Battle Truck or recreate one of the amazing chase scenes with Bebop and Rocksteady on their motorcycles.  Even Casey Jones is ready to help take the bad guys down.  Mini-figures, buildable vehicles and construction play sets based on the movie are available now from Mega Bloks at your favorite retail and online stores.

Watch the Trailer:

Artwork:

Mr. Will + The Stars of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows:

To all my Willionaire$ at the advance screening of #TMNT2 with #StephenAmell, have fun!!! 🐢

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on May 24, 2016 at 3:45pm PDT

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Click “share” from there for an extra chance! Canadian Readers only please.

G’luck, Willionaire$!

 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS is in theatres Friday, June 3, 2016.

TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMovie.com

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

After first surfacing in the late 90s, New York-born Electronic Music icon Moby has gone on to sell over 20 million albums en route to a litany of GRAMMY nominations. In addition to being a musical trailblazer, he has been vocal about animal rights and veganism.

Moby, born Richard Melville Hall, has had a career of longevity and now is in Toronto promoting latest memoir PORCERLAIN: A MEMOIR. After holding a book signing last night at Harbourfront Centre, Moby was out early doing the TV rounds including Breakfast Television and The Morning Show.

We caught-up with the amazingly-nice Moby following an appearance where a fan had multiple CDs and vinyls, to which he signed every single one with an animation. Thoughtful!  His day was made spending time with some model dogs who were promoting Woofstock this weekend. We hear he was in love with a gray Sharpei!

To learn more about Moby‘s Memoir, click here.

See our Snap:

So cool meeting #MOBY. He is in town promoting memoir, #Porcelain.

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on May 27, 2016 at 6:44am PDT

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Woofstock is an annual festival  – the largest of its kind in North America – celebrating dogs and their adoring owners! Filled with vendors offering some innovative doggy creations, fashion shows and more, it offers dog owners and their beloved companions a chance to make some new friends!

In town and headlining this year’s edition is internet sensation DOUG THE PUG (@ItsDougThePug). The adorable dog did the rounds earlier today including a stopoff at The Morning Show with some of his model friends, including a Sharpei and two French Bulldogs.

We were thrilled to get to meet the adorable little guy after following his adventures on Instagram for a while now!

See our Video:

So cool meeting celebrity dog #DougThePug (@itsdougthepug)! He appears this weekend at #Woofstock!

A video posted by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on May 27, 2016 at 6:27am PDT

Woofstock runs Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 at Woodbine Park. Learn more here!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Taking place between Thursday, May 26 and June 5, 2016, the 26th edition of INSIDE OUT Toronto LGBT Film Festival kicked off tonight at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Brought to us in part by RBC and CTV, the Festival shines a light on Feature and Short Films with issues impacting the LGBT community.

Toronto Mayor John Tory came out to express his full support at the party and gala!

The #Toronto Mayor @JohnTory visited us tonight at @InsideOutTO ! #InsideOut #InsideOut16 #LGBT #FilmFest pic.twitter.com/0m9gXOUi70

— TouchwoodPR (@TouchwoodPR) May 27, 2016

Films from both emerging and established heroes locally and internationally are front and center at this year’s Festival, with highlights including opening night gala OTHER PEOPLE, THE INTERVENTION, STRIKE A POSE featuring Madonna‘s backup dancers, LITTLE MEN, DEPARTURE, CLOSET MONSTER, ALMOST ADULTS, ESTEROS and more.

We had the pleasure of attending one of the year’s best bashes at TIFF Lightbox Malaparte with amazing tunes spun by DJs Nino Brown, Sammy Royale of Yes Yes Y’all and Business Woman’s Special Infamy.

Some sights from the Bash:

A complete list of Guests attending this year’s INSIDE OUT Festival.

GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE – FEATURES:
•    ALMOST ADULTS: Sarah Rotella (director), Elise Bauman (actor), Winny Clark (actor), Justin Friesan (actor), Mark Matechuk (actor), Pujaa Pandey (actor), Adrianna DiLonardo (writer) Rebecca Swift (producer)
•    AND STILL WE RISE: Nancy Nicol (co-director), Sizwe Alexandre Inkingi (community member)
•    CLOSET MONSTER: Stephen Dunn (director/writer), Kevin Krikst (producer)
•    ESTEROS: Papu Curotto (director)
•    FIRST GIRL I LOVED: Dylan Gelula (actor), Kerem Sanga (writer/director)
•    FRONT COVER: Raymond Yeung (director), Stan Guingon (co-producer)
•    HEARTLAND:  Maura Anderson (director), Velinda Godfrey (writer/producer)
•    HURRICANE BIANCA: Ray Haylock as Bianca Del Rio  (actor), Matt Kugelman (director), Ash Christian (producer)
•    I LOVE YOU BOTH: Kristin Archibald (actor/writer), Lucas Neff (actor)
•    KIKI: Gia Love (subject), Christopher Waldorf (subject)
•    LAST MEN STANDING: Tim Hussin (co-director,) Erin Brethauer (co-director)
•    LIEBMANN: Jules Herrmann (director/producer)
•    LITTLE MEN: Ira Sachs (director)
•    MAJOR!: Major Griffin-Gracy (subject), Annalise Ophelian (director/producer)
•    MEMORIES OF A PENITENT HEART: Cecilia Aldarondo (director)
•    MILES: Nathan Adolff (director/co-writer), Ash Christian (producer)
•    NORTH MOUNTAIN: Bretten Hannam (director)
•    OUT RUN: S. Leo Chiang (co-director/co-producer), Johnny Symons (co-director/co-producer)
•    PARIS 05:59: THEO & HUGO: Olivier Ducastel (co-director), Geoffrey Couët (actor)
•    RE:ORIENTATIONS: Richard Fung (director)
•    SAME DIFFERENCE: Kyle Wentzel (co-director)
•    SPA NIGHT: Andrew Ahn (writer/director)
•    SUICIDE KALE: Brittani Nichols (producer/writer)
•    THE SAME DIFFERENCE: Nneka Onuorah (director)
•    THE SLIPPERS: Morgan White (director/producer)
•    TWO SOFT THINGS, TWO HARD THINGS: Mark Woods (co-director/producer), Michael Yerxa (co-director/producer)
•    WHERE ARE YOU GOING, HABIBI?: Susanna Duellmann (producer)

GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE – SHORTS:
•    AIDOS: Robert Gray (director)
•    AN EVENING: Søren Green (director)
•    AT HOME: Dinaly Tran (director)
•    BEATERS: Ian McAndrew (director)
•    BENJAMIN: Sherren Lee (director)
•    BETWEEN YOU AND ME: Chase Joynt (director)
•    BOOTWMN: Sam McWilliams (co-director/producer), Paige Gratland (co-director/producer),
•    BREAKING FAST: Mike Mosallam (director/writer), Sarah Bazzi (producer)
•    BUDDY: Niels Bourgonje (director)
•    CECIL & CARL: Andrew Peek (producer)
•    CLOSING: Chase Casanova (director), Tracy Brown (executive producer)
•    CRAZY HOUSE: Aaron Mirkin (director)
•    DINNER WITH JEFFREY: Sam Greisman (director/writer)
•    ECSTASY: Kyle Reaume (director)
•    FAMOUS DIAMONDS: Daniel McIntyre (director),
•    FIRST NIGHT OUT: Julianne Saltalamacchia (actor), Will Mayo (director)
•    GAYSIANS: Vicky Du (co-director),
•    GUIDANCE: Josh Wolff (director/writer), Bryn Packard (actor)
•    HAZE: James Resendes (writer/director)
•    HELLO TITTY: Skyler Braeden Fox (co-director)
•    JACKIE: James Fanizza (director)
•    JIMMY DOES DATING: Sunny Drake (actor, writer)
•    JOHNNY: Micah Stuart (director), Brandon Crowder (actor/writer)
•    LAST VESTIGES: Seth Poulin (director)
•    LEFT HOOK: Sue Johnson (producer)
•    MAPOU: Giovana Olmos (director)
•    OCCUPY ME: Adam Fitzgerald (director)
•    OLD DOGS, NEW TRICKS: Michael Agnew (director)
•    PAINT IT WHITE: Bessie Cheng (director)
•    PYOTR495: Blake Mawson (director/writer)
•    RIBBONS: Brandon Cordeiro (director)
•    SCENES FROM ANOTHER MARRIAGE: Erik Anderson (director)
•    SHEBANG: Jon Simon (director), Brenna Coates (actor)
•    SPUNKLE: Lisa Donato (director)
•    STAKE: Alyssa Pankiw (director/writer)
•    SUMMER HAZE: Alex Peace (writer/producer)
•    THE FIRST SESSION: Fawzia Mirza (actor/producer)
•    THE FUTURE PERFECT: Nick Citton (director)
•    ULTRA BLEU: Nick Neon (director/writer)
•    UNTITLED (ELEVEN YEARS): Scott Miller Berry (director)
•    WEDLOCKED: Puppett (director/editor)

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

Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

At around the ¾ mark of FOREVER PLAID, they do a three minute and 11 second homage to the Ed Sullivan Show. The first time I saw this Musical (oh so many years ago) and that particular piece of theatrical brilliance, I laughed so hard I literally fell off my seat and landed in the aisle. Not wishing to repeat that rather embarrassing moment and firmly ensconced in my aisle seat for the long awaited return of this show to Toronto, playing for a limited engagement at the same venue where it first triumphed, the Panasonic Theatre, I had forgotten just how good and entertaining and joyous and wholesome this show is before and after that still hysterically funny bit.

Whereas Elvis may have been King in the late 50s, music on the radio and television variety shows were still dominated by four-part guy groups, harmonizing songs that every mom and grandma would sing along too. FOREVER PLAID is a musical about Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie: four lads who meet up in high school, form a group, and perform regularly at supermarket openings and proms. On the night they finally get their big break to perform at the Airport Hilton cocktail bar, the 4 are tragically killed in a car accident. This musical is all about the show they would have given had they survived.

Vocally, the actors on the stage are above reproach. The harmonies are text book perfection. As Jinx, Dora award-winning actor for playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, Jeff Madden’s hypnotic soprano soars. Jonathan Cullen (Frankie) and Matt Cassidy (Smudge) encompass their roles with joie de vivre, finesse and gusto. I was completely mesmerized by Scott Beaudin’s portrayal of Sparky. From the snapping of his fingers or stomping his foot to the beat of a song to his vocal chops and swaying dance movements, it’s a transformative, deceptively natural and a beautifully modulated performance.

FOREVER PLAID will melt the heart of even the most hardened audience member and put a silly grin on their face to boot. For those of us of a certain age who actually remember watching the Perry Como show with the family or the lyrics to Catch a Falling Star or Topo Gigio, it’s a MUST SEE!!!

FOREVER PLAID runs through June 12, 2016 at Panasonic Theatre. Click here to learn more.