You know him from Glee as the Half-Brother to Puck (Mark Salling), but Jacob Artist is in Toronto today getting to know our City as he partakes in WE DAY Festivities.  The Actor/Singer was added recently along with Imagine Dragons to the Event, hosted by his Glee Co-Star Darren Criss.

Taking place at Air Canada Centre between 9 AM to 3 PM, WE DAY focuses on raising awareness for issues facing Youth.  Also appearing at the Event today are the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Austin Mahone and several more.

Artist, who hails from Buffalo was super-excited about going straight to a Tim Hortons and just may be trying Swiss Chalet for the first time also a bit later today!  He appeared earlier at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition), which can be viewed later today here.

Watch a Live Streaming of WE DAY on MTV Canada‘s Website here.

See a Snap below:

If you’re in the Toronto area and want a chance to attend the Advance Screening of JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA, here’s your chance, courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Mr. Will Wong!

The Screening takes place at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

Official Synopsis:

86-year-old Irving Zisman (Johnny Knoxville) and Billy (Jackson Nicoll) are on a road trip across the United States. Irving is tasked with taking his eight-year-old grandson to live with his father after his mother is jailed. Interspersed with the brief story segments are hidden camera pranks and stunts.

Let us play a little game, shall we?  Over the years, I’ve met several Celebrities, but can you guess which of the below isn’t or isn’t expected soon to be a Grandparent?

In exact order: Marion Ross, Mandy Patinkin, Bob Barker, Barbara Eden, Jane Fonda, Danny Glover, Gena Rowlands, Larry King, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Johnny Lydon (Sex Pistols), Dr. Oz, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Suzanne Somers, Alan Thicke, Paul Anka and Billy Crystal.

To enter to win, simply enter your answer under this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. After doing so, you can double your chances by sharing this Post with your Friends on Facebook, or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/badgrandpa @MRWILLW wants us to #win Double Passes to the Toronto Advance Screening of #JACKASS #BADGRANDPA! In theatres 10/25!

See the hilarious Trailer for JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA below:

Official Artwork below:

Good luck, Wongsters!

Paramount Pictures release JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA on Friday, October 25, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Not only is she the Sister of Kathy Hilton and the Niece of Nicky and Paris – Kyle Richards certainly is a Star in her own right.  The Actress who became a familiar face starring in the ’70s on Little House on the Prairie has shown Showbiz longevity and she currently can be seen on popular Reality Series, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills premiering in its fourth season this Fall.

The stunning Richards is currently in Toronto co-hosting Global Television‘s The Morning Show this week and both yesterday and today she appeared on its National Edition discussing her Fame and also her notoriously heated relationship with Co-Star Brandi Glanville.  “We’re getting along a lot better at this moment”, says Richards on Glanville.

Just yesterday it was announced that the new season of the Series would feature two new Stars in Carlton Gebbia and Joyce Giraud de Ohoven.

See our Snap:

We took you two of you Toronto Wongsters to the TIFF ’13 Red Carpet Premiere of DON JON, bringing you up-close and personal with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson, but don’t worry Canada – we’ve got your back!

Touchwood PR, Remstar Films and Mr. Will Wong want to give Readers across the Country a chance to attend Advance Screenings of Joseph Gordon-Levitt‘s directorial debut, DON JON!

We loved DON JON. Read our Review here.

All Screenings take place on Wednesday, September 25, 2013.

Vancouver (Scotiabank Theatre) – 7 PM
Calgary (Scotiabank Theatre) – 7 PM
Edmonton (Scotiabank Theatre) – 7 PM
Winnipeg (Cineplex Odeon McGillivray) – 7 PM
Ottawa (Silver City Gloucester) – 7:30 PM

For those of you in Toronto, Run-of-Engagement Passes will be available after the Film’s release. You can still enter to win these Passes.

Watch the Trailer here.

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook and state which of the above Cities you’d like Passes for. Share on Facebook with your Friends or Re-Tweet the below to double those chances:

http://mrwillwong.com/donjonpasses @MRWILLW wants us to #win Double Passes across Canada to see #DONJON! In theatres 9/27!

Good luck, Wongsters!

Remstar Films release DON JON on Friday, September 27, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Remstar Films)

TIFF ’13 certainly was one of our most star-filled Festivals yet and we wouldn’t have made it through without the generosity of our Partners.  A warm-hearted thank you goes to Hotel Novotel Toronto Centre, Honda Canada, Out There with Melissa DiMarco, Grosch Film Works Open House, eOne Live, Mongrel Media, Touchwood PR, Remstar Films, CP24, George Stroumboulopoulos’ Made in Canada Lounge, Olympus, Samsung Canada, Nella Bella and H&M Canada for their amazing generosity.

HOTEL NOVOTEL TORONTO CENTRE – with a classic European charm and situated right in the heart of Downtown Toronto (close to the action of the Film Festival!), I enjoyed my stay immensely in my Executive Suite.  The Staff were amazingly-attentive and friendly and the biggest plus of all is that they are Dog-friendly, alleviating a lot of my stresses as it enabled me  to check-in on Billy throughout the day.  Billy and I already miss our spacious suite, extremely-cozy bed, large-screen Television at our desk. We  hope certainly to visit again soon!  And did I mention the amazing Breakfast Buffet?  They understood fully my need for Caffeine, giving me my own Coffee Carafe! I soon discovered for myself why it is that  Café Nicole is known for having the “best bread in the City” and once you see for yourself their  Bread Counter, you too will know why!

HONDA CANADA – this was my first opportunity driving the 2013 Honda Accord Touring and it was amazing. I made full use of its Econ button and made it through the Festival on less than $30 in gas. Comfy leather seats, a USB port to charge my phone and listen to my MP3s through the superb sound system, plus lightning quick response places this Vehicle at the top of its class. The customizable temperature for Driver and Passenger also came in ultra-handy. And did I mention it’s quite a Looker too?  Stunning.

OLYMPUS – although I struggled with the Selfies on this slippery and fast, state-of-the art Camera, several were happy to help me snap my Photos with the Stars.  Of the Photos I did take on it, the resolution (16 MP) and clarity were astounding.  It was remarkably quick to get the Shot under every varied degree of lighting in which it was tested. I am proud of the Photos the Olympus PEN E-PL5 took for me during TIFF ’13 and it is a great median for those of us who demand more than the quality of a Point-and-Shoot, yet are turned off from the lack of discreteness of a full-on SLR.  Review some of my awesome Snaps here.

H&M CANADA – it definitely was chilly this TIFF on the whole, but I managed to be dressed for the weather in my Cardigans from H&M’s Fall 2013 Collection. I am proud to say that in one of my appearances on CP 24, super-popular Television Personality Stephen LeDrew took a moment to praise my style on- air and I definitely couldn’t have earned that without H&M!

MONGREL MEDIA – for the first time, my Readers were given a chance to get the VIP Experience including Passes to their Premieres and annual TIFF Party, thanks to one of Canada’s most important Film Distributors. John Curran‘s Tracks easily was one of my fave TIFF ’13 Films and I look forward to supporting some of their exciting new releases!

SPOKE AGENCY & eONE LIVE – having just launched in time for TIFF, eOne Live takes Film Fans on a digital experience behind the scenes at TIFF unlike any other. Where else can you snoop what Celebs took in their Tim Hortons’ Coffee? Thanks to eOne Live, Mr. Will Readers got into the Red Carpet Premiere of Enemy seeing Jake Gyllenhaal up-close and personal and also the well-received Documentary One Chance! We love eOne Films and are mega-excited about eOne Live!

TOUCHWOOD PR & REMSTAR FILMS – Mr. Will Readers went berserk for the chance to attend the Red Carpet Premiere of Don Jon with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson and we owe them a huge thanks for the opportunity! We are thrilled to partner and spread the word about their exciting slate of Films including TIFF-premiered Oscar Contender Dallas Buyers Club!

NELLA BELLA – my one trusty Sidekick this TIFF was my amazing and spacious Stockholm Bag by Nella Bella. The Canadian-made, Vegan-material Bag endured super-long days, gruelling wear-and-tear, plus torrential rainfall, protecting my all my important gear.  It also saw its share of  Stars along the way! Stockholm, you’ve been promoted to my permanent Bag of Choice!

OUT THERE WITH MELISSA DiMARCO – we were extremely well-cared for by the Team behind this wonderful Entertainment Staple (now seen on FOX in the U.S.!) during TIFF ’13, an Oasys amidst the chaos. Thank you Team Out There for your hospitality and thanks for giving Mr. Will Readers a chance to be on the inside at your amazing Hospitality Suite!

SAMSUNG CANADA – A big part of the Mr. Will TIFF Experience is the Social Media aspect and if you spotted me at some point during the Festival, I probably was buried in my Smartphone Instagramming and Tweeting away. I wouldn’t have been able to survive the long 20-hour days with any less a Smartphone than the Samsung Galaxy S4.  When I didn’t have enough time to grab for my Camera, the S4 was there to get the Snap in amazing 13 MP-resolution! Its remarkable style, large touchscreen and super-fast processing speed make it the only possible go-to for days as draining as TIFF.  It certainly has the goods to back-up its self-proclamation as a “Life Companion”!

GROLSCH FILM WORKS OPEN HOUSE – Although I’m not a huge Beer Drinker, there is only one thing and one thing only htat I wanted after standing on-foot for hours on-end in the sun… some ice-cold Grolsch Lager – the official Beer of TIFF. Thank you Grolsch Film Works Open House for the refreshment and some relaxation away from the bustle!

GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS’ MADE IN CANADA LOUNGE – It’s always been a dream of ours to visit a TIFF Gifting Lounge and this year we went straight to the top, getting an exclusive invite into Canadian Icon George Stroumboulopoulos’ highly-coveted Made in Canada Lounge where we got to enjoy some of the amazing homegrown products which several A-Listers like Joseph Gordon-Levitt took home.  We will never forget.  Thank you Best PR Boutique for the hospitality.

CP24 – Last but not least, thank you to the Team at CP24 for having me again this year, providing me an Outlet to share my TIFF Excitement with all of Southern Ontario!  I look forward to TIFF ’14 already!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all official Mr. Will Partners.

…until next TIFF!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Just one week after I met her at TIFF ’13, comes this delicious surprise – a Teaser Trailer for Grace of Monaco starring Nicole Kidman!  I cannot handle how gorgeous she looks!  My Queen!

  Check-out this 1:13 minutes of pure elegance.  Stunning.

Watch below:

The Weinstein Co. releases Grace of Monaco on Friday, November 27, 2013 in select cities.

(Photo credit: The Weinstein Co.)

Right after making a splash at TIFF ’13, ENOUGH SAID gets a theatrical release later this month. FOX SEARCHLIGHT CANADA and Mr. Will Wong are thrilled to give Readers a chance to see it first! The Romantic-Comedy also features one of the late James Gandolfini‘s final performances.

Official Synopsis:

A divorced and single parent, Eva (Julia Louis Dreyfus) spends her days enjoying work as a masseuse but dreading her daughter’s impending departure for college. She meets Albert (James Gandolfini) – a sweet, funny and like-minded man also facing an empty nest. As their romance quickly blossoms, Eva befriends Marianne (Catherine Keener), her new massage client. Marianne is a beautiful poet who seems “almost perfect” except for one prominent quality: she rags on her ex-husband way too much. Suddenly, Eva finds herself doubting her own relationship with Albert as she learns the truth about Marianne‘s Ex. ENOUGH SAID is a sharp, insightful comedy that humorously explores the mess that often comes with getting involved again.

Directed and written by Nicole Holofcener (Friends with Money, Please Give), ENOUGH SAID also stars Toni Collette, Ben Falcone, Eve Hewson and Tavi Gevinson.

Watch the official Trailer here.

Screenings take place the week of September 23rd in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Double your chances by sharing this Post with your Facebook Friends or Re-Tweeting the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/enoughsaid @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes in #Calgary, #Vancouver and #Toronto to see #ENOUGHSAID.  In theatres 9/27!

Good luck.

FOX SEARCHLIGHT CANADA releases ENOUGH SAID on Friday, September 27, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: Fox Searclight)

It’s Britney again, B*tch. One of favourite Pop Princesses, Britney Spears has just released her Dancefloor-geared new Single Work Bitch. Heavy on the speaking and sparse on the Melody, she has one mandate here and that is for you to Work, Bitch!  The Production on the will.i.am co-written Track certainly is epic and it is a grand affair but we’re curious to see how the mainstream responds to this, perhaps Spears’ least commercial-sounding Single ever.  You?

Listen below:

Download Work Bitch on iTunes!

(Photo/audio credit: Sony Music)

He’s Dantastic!  Reigning Horse of the Year, Wise Dan, made a triumphant return to Woodbine Racetrack yesterday for the $1-million Woodbine Mile.  Despite deterring the Competition from a shot at the lucrative purse, the Race still drew five other brave Entrants and once again the six-year-old Gelding owned/bred by Morton Fink and trained by Charles LoPresti would not disappoint, going off as the prohibitive 1-5 (only a $.50 proft from a $2 bet) Favourite.   And not only did the handsome Chestnut win rather effortlessly by three-and-half lengths, he broke the Course Record for the distance/surface, clocking-in a blistering time of 1:31.7!

Fans cheered with delight as he paraded before them before entering the Winner’s Circle for some Photos with his Connections.  Jockey John Velazquez, who appeared earlier in the day at the Venue drawing a huge Line-up for Autographs, once again guided Wise Dan to victory.  This latest success pushes his earnings past the $5-million mark and tallies-in as his ninth consecutive score.  He is being pointed towards the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile on November 2nd at Santa Anita Park on Horse Racing’s Championship Day.

Za Approval coming-in off a second-place finish at Hollywood Park late June certainly was not shamed in second, and British Invader Trade Storm finished third with a now out-of-retirement Hall of Famer, Gary Stevens aboard.

On the Undercard, French Filly Minakshi  under local Rider Luis Contreras won the Canadian Stakes, seen as a stepping stone to next month’s prestigious E.P. Taylor Stakes.  Sam-Son Farms’ three-year-old Colt His Race to Win may have been outshone by his Stablemate Up with the Birds this year, but yesterday was his moment, winning the Ontario Derby under Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Missed the action?  Woodbine Racetrack hosts the $1-million Pattison Canadian International on Sunday, October 27, 2013 where some of the World’s top Racehorses and Jockeys are set to do battle.  Mark your calendars!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/M. Paler)

With great sadness, we must say farewell to another TIFF.  And with fatigue, a limp in my right foot and great pain in my neck today after a gruelling run these past 11 days, I look back at the happy times, the regrets and what TIFF ’14 might hold.  Despite all these mixed emotions, I know it won’t be long before I’m begging for more!  I live for the Toronto International Film Festival – the greatest in Film Festival the World – and wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.

Here’s a look back at some of the Highlights for me of the Festival in Compiled Lists:

MR. WILL’S MOST GRACIOUS 10

Anyone who encountered these Stars up-close and personal during TIFF ’13 can vouch that they deserve a warm round of applause for the respect, appreciation and courtesy they’ve shown our City. Whether it be Jessica Chastain‘s consistent grace and humility towards her Fans, Brad Pitt‘s surprise Red Carpet appearance in which he took several Photos with Fans at the 12 Years a Slave Premiere, Hugh Jackman stopping in the rain outside the Press Conference for Prisoners to meet and great all his Supporters individually – these Stars understand exactly what the Festival is all about for us Fans!

1. Jessica Chastain
2. Sandra Bullock
3. Tom Hiddleston
4. Daniel Radcliffe
5.. Brad Pitt
6. Josh Brolin
7. Hugh Jackman
8. Jennifer Aniston
9. Nicolas Cage
10. Emma Thompson

MR. WILL’S  SUCCESSFUL 6

These six Films gained a great amount of buzz and momentum coming out of TIFF ’13 in advance of their forthcoming Awards Season Best Picture Campaigns.  Sadly, August: Osage Country didn’t wind up getting critical love universally (I enjoyed it much!) hoped for, but it still remains a major Contender in the Acting categories – especially for a heartbreakingly-absent Queen Meryl Streep.

1. 12 Years a Slave
2. Labor Day
3. Dallas Buyers Club
4. Prisoners
5. Gravity
6. Rush

MR. WILL’S EMERGING 5

These five up-and coming Stars caused quite a stir wherever they spotted around TIFF ’13.  This time next year, expect to know them pretty much on a first name-basis.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Emilia Clarke
3. Daniel Brühl
4. Jai Courtney
5. Taylor Schilling

MR. WILL’S NAUGHTY LIST

Although we try to keep things positive here, we remain hopeful that next time these Stars visit our City, they show us a bit more Fan Appreciation – not just only when the Cameras are on – than they showed this year.  Little things like picking-up a  Sharpie or taking time to pose for Photos with Fans, or maybe not distancing themselves a 15 feet from the Barricades where their Fans had queued for hours to see them, would be a first step.  In all fairness, some had hyper-assertive Handlers or lateness to blame.

1. Benedict Cumberbatch
2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
3. Scarlett Johansson
4. Mila Kunis
5. Emilia Clarke

MR. WILL’S FASHIONABLE 5

These Stars certainly made a Statement whether it be out and about in our City or on the Red Carpet. I still cannot get over Kitsch‘s gray-on-gray Suit he wore at the Premiere of The Grand Seduction and certainly was a bit obsessed with Toni Collette‘s new Bangs. Julia Roberts was a Vision in her Dolce & Gabbana Dress at the Premiere of August: Osage County too, but my favourite look was Sandra Bullock at the Gravity Premiere in Narciso Rodriguez!

1. Sandra Bullock
2. Julia Roberts
3. Taylor Kitsch
4. Toni Collette
5. Jessica Chastain

And who exactly did Mr. Will got a Photo-with at TIFF ’13?

Ben Cotton, Dane Cook, Jason Reitman, Josh Brolin, Nicole Kidman, Anika Noni Rose, Bill Condon, Donnie Wahlberg, Paul Wahlberg, Jack Huston, Tom Arnold, John Torturro, Lauren Lee Smith, Sami Gayle, Mary Walsh, Saoirse Ronan, Michael C. Hall, Tye Sheridan, Katie Boland, Aaron Abrams, Kelly Rowan, Daniel Radcliffe, Taylor Schilling, Effie Exarchopoulos, Dan Stevens, Daniel Brühl, Alicia Vikander, Tom Hiddleston, deadmau5, Carice Van Houten, Tom Welling, Vanessa Paradis, Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Taylor Kitsch, Toni Collette, Dakota Fanning, Jai Courtney, Ciaran Hinds, Jessica Chastain, Emilia Clarke, Jared Harris, Adelaide Kane, James Lafferty, Jennifer Morrison, David Arquette, Alfre Woodard, Ryan Kwanten, Catherine O’Hara, Mark Boone Junior, Will Forte, Emma Thompson, Cara Gee, Demian Bichir, Jude Law, Tom Wilkinson, Alfonso Cuaron, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Thompson (again!), Lea Seydoux, Robert Baker, Amanda Walsh, Adam Driver, Keanu Reeves and Nicolas Cage.

To re-visit some of the amazing names that I snapped in the City over the Festival, click here.

To read some of my Reviews of the Films that premiered at TIFF ’13, click here.  More Reviews to come over the next day or two as I play catch-up after all the madness.

…until next year, Wongsters!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

*Photos taken on Samsung Galaxy S4 and Olympus E-PL5