PRIDE month is going strong in Toronto and the spirit reached feverish heights this weekend with the 38th annual Pride Parade.  The celebration of diversity is known as one of the biggest cultural festivals in North America, spanning 22 blocks and bringing-in an estimated 1 million people to the City.  Entertainment always is a highlight of Pride and providing that are several prominent community DJs and Drag Performers. RuPaul’s Drag Race stars like Bendelacreme also graced the stages and coming to town this year were a star-studded line-up including SWV, Kehlani and Brandy, the latter who headlined at Yonge & Dundas Square tonight.

GRAMMY-winning, 40 million album-selling superstar BRANDY is a star of TV, Film, Theatre and Music, dominating the airwaves in the ’90s through early 2000s with smash hits like The Boy is Mine (alongside Monica), Full Moon, I Wanna Be Down, Sittin’ Up in My Room and Top of the World. She has shown her love for the LGBT community, performing also at Twin Cities Pride in Minneapolis last night, prior to arriving in the City for her eagerly-awaited set.

We spotted Brandy earlier and while her handler tried intercepting, she was amazingly nice and came over for a Selfie and some autographs. We love her braids and glasses, and it’s as if she hasn’t aged a day!  Toronto is extremely lucky to have her this year and we can’t wait to see who’ll be here next year!

See our Snap:

R&B star #Brandy in #Toronto for #Pride! #torontopride #pridetoronto #loveislove

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 24, 2018 at 10:53am PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM has a ‘dino-mite’ opening this weekend at the Box Office with $150 million from 4,291 theatres for Universal Pictures. While shy of Jurassic World’s $208 million debut in 2015 (a Franchise best), this still places it well ahead of its competition. It gets 50% on the Tomatometer, but a much better A- CinemaScore from Audiences.

INCREDIBLES 2 in its second week finds itself in second with $80.9 million for Disney/Pixar from 4,410 theatres. In total it has earned $350 million in its domestic run.

OCEAN’S 8 is in third with $11.6 million in its third week, taking it just past the $100-million-mark for Warner Bros.

TAG is in fourth with $8.5 million in its second week out, bringing its total to $30.4 million for Warner Bros. also.

Mr. Rogers Documentary WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR rounds-out the Top Ten with $1.8 million after expanding to 348 theatres for Universal Pictures/Focus Features.

We’ve missed the enthralling OZARK ever since we binged season one in one night this past winter.  Are you ready for some big news about season two?

About Ozark S2:

In its much-anticipated second season, Ozark continues to follow Marty Bryde and his family as they navigate the murky waters of life within a dangerous drug cartel. With Del out, the crime syndicate sends their ruthless attorney Helen Pierce to town to shake things up just as The Byrdes are finally settling in. Marty and Wendy struggle to balance their family interests amid the escalating dangers presented by their partnerships with the power-hungry Snells, the cartel and their new deputy, Ruth Langmore, whose father Cade has been released from prison. The stakes are even higher than before and The Byrdes soon realize they have to go all in before they can get out.

Get a first look at new stills from Season Two:

OZARK SEASON 2 streams on Netflix Friday, August 31, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Acclaimed Actor Ezra Miller might be familiar to us from films like We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Trainwreck, but how many knew he is a musician?

Miller was in Toronto tonight with his Band Sons of an Illustrious Father for which he does vocals, keys and drums, in an intimate show at historic Horseshoe Tavern. The Trio consisting of Josh Aubin, Lilah Larson and Miller, played an ecclectic 45-minute set at the Queen Street West haunt capped-off with a poignant statement: “I’m afraid of Americans/I’m afraid of the world”.

The show saw him alternate through various roles and at one point the Trio sang together acapella. And if that weren’t awesome enough, they met with fans after the show right inside the venue with hugs from Miller!

See some Snaps. Hover cursor left and right to see more:

#EzraMiller and his Band #SonsofAnIllustriousFather play #Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern tonight! Swipe left for more.

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 20, 2018 at 9:39pm PDT

Miller next can be seen in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald this November. His standalone DC Comics adaptation The Flash now is said to surface in 2020.

More on Sons of an Illustrious Father here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Blackberry‘s back, alright! The beloved classic is set to make a comeback and we were thrilled to celebrate the launch of the Blackberry Key 2 at Drake-owned PICK 6IX.

Thematically-correct Blackberry Mojitos were pouring at the Yonge Street hotspot and guests, a who’s-who in influencers, nibbled on a sampling of delectables from the establishment including Beef Tartare, Sliders, Fried Chicken, Oysters, Fried Chicken Gyoza, Steak Skewers, Chicken Skewers and the ultimate, a Smores Bar! It was good vibes only who were in delight at being among good company, food and drink at the affair.

Launching July 6, 2018 in Canada at carriers Bell and Rogers, the Blackberry Key 2 reimagines a classic with sensibilities of now. It takes things that we all used to love about our Blackberry and enhances them to the needs and tastes of today.

Don’t tell me you don’t miss having a smaller, lighter phone and more importantly, KEYS!

Highlights include:

•Intelligent keyboard

•12 mp camera

•56% battery charged in 30 minutes

•battery life of up to two days

•Optical Superzoom

•new-improved larger keys

•elegant black diamond back

•Portrait mode photography

•Android-based

•4.5 inch display

Some Snaps. Hover cursor left and right to navigate.

(Swipe left!) #6ixGod bless! Friends, outstanding food, the friendliest service and #Blackberry Mojitos that kept coming! The most fun I’ve had in a long time at #Drake’s new It-Spot #Pick6ix, courtesy of the #Blackberry #Key2, reimagining an icon! Key features on this classic-looking beauty: •Intelligent keyboard •12 mp camera •56% battery charged in 30 minutes •battery life up to 2 days •Optical Superzoom •new-improved larger keys •elegant black diamond back •Portrait mode photography •Android-based •4.5 inch display•

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 20, 2018 at 5:46pm PDT

More on the Blackberry KEY 2 here!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Primed for Awards Season, WELCOME TO MARWEN is the latest from Robert Zemeckis. Check-out the Trailer for the Fantasy, starring Steve Carell.

Synopsis:
When a devastating attack shatters Mark Hogancamp (Carell) and wipes away all memories, no one expected recovery. Putting together pieces from his old and new life, Mark meticulously creates a wondrous town where he can heal and be heroic. As he builds an astonishing art installation—a testament to the most powerful women he knows—through his fantasy world, he draws strength to triumph in the real one.

In a bold, wondrous and timely film from this revolutionary pioneer of contemporary cinema, Welcome to Marwen shows that when your only weapon is your imagination…you’ll find courage in the most unexpected place.

See the Trailer:

Universal Pictures Canada release WELCOME TO MARWEN Friday, November 21, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

It’s destiny! Best known as one-third of 65-million-album-selling Trio Destiny’s Child, Michelle Williams is in Toronto for a limited run as Teen Angel in the Toronto production of Grease at Elgin Theatre. Attendees of the shows also will be treated to a special two-song performance afterwards by the Grammy winner who also has found success in theatre on Broadway and solo as a Pop and Gospel Artist. She even stays behind after to meet fans if you are lucky enough to score a ticket!

It was a joy meeting Williams at last and seeing how happy she made fans in this rare Toronto appearance. She is so stunning! One fan even burst into “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child for her, graciously listening to her. Fiancé Chad Johnson (seen below in white T-shirt) was there too, proud and supportive!

Earlier in the day she did the rounds on morning television staples The Morning Show and CP24 Breakfast!

See some Snaps:

More on GREASE TORONTO, which plays till early July, here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Following great success at Sundance earlier this year, Director Boots Riley brought his debut Feature SORRY TO BOTHER YOU to Toronto for a Canadian Premiere tonight.

Centering on a young man named Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) who is struggling to make ends meet. Decidedly, he takes on a Telemarketer job as a last ditch attempt before eviction from his uncle’s garage. Taking on a new persona or what he calls his “white voice”, Cassius finds himself excelling and climbing the corporate ranks much to the disagreement of his artist girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson) and friends at work who are plotting to bring on a union into the workplace. Things get increasingly complicated when he uncovers are horrific secret undertaking which one of his company’s biggest clients is plotting under influencial power player Steve Lift (Armie Hammer).

Despite it being Father’s Day, Sorry to Bother You brought-out a packed house at Cineplex Yonge & Dundas to see the buzzed Film first and hear Riley speak. Some of you may know the former Rapper from his work as Frontman of Hip-Hop act The Coup. Despite having filmmaking aspirations, Riley dropped-out Film School to pursue music only now to come full circle, better late than never. He also once worked as a Telemarketer too like the Film’s flawed hero, Cassius.

Riley tells the audience about the characters in this quirky, out-there journey of self-discovery, shot over 28 days at 61 locations, exploring at what costs one is willing to go against what they believe in truly. “I wrote things from a human place, writing every single character as if they were me. They all represent conflict going on in my head”. “I had to trust my views of the world and let them come out.”.

The Film’s breakout star is Lakeith Stanfield who plays Cassius. Riley tells us about his casting choice. “His manager was really persistent”, he says, met with laughter by the audience. “When I cast him, there had only been one episode of Atlanta and I only knew him from Short Term 12.”. “I went and met with him he had a full beard. I realized he was a much older soul than his years would let on. He also had the right element of crazy.”.

One key scene however was cut from the Film, reveals Riley. “There was a full frontal (non-sexual) nudity scene and I needed him to be the most vulnerable he can be. It was a deal breaker and he cut me off and said ‘I’ve been waiitng for a role like this!’.”. He adds, “I was able to cut it out. He (Stanfield) achieved what few great actors can achieve, this vulnerability – letting him experiece the feelings, never worrying what he looks like.”.

See the Trailer:

See some Snaps. Hover cursor left and right to navigate.

An honour attending the Canadian Premiere of Sundance hit #SorryToBotherYou with Director #BootsRiley. Totally out there, outlandish and thought-provoking, a credible feature debut for a promising Rapper-turned-Director. Out 7.13.18. Lead photo: @ellederush

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Jun 17, 2018 at 5:49pm PDT

eOne Films release SORRY TO BOTHER YOU Friday, July 13, 2018.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films/Mr. Will Wong)

Nothing short of ‘incredible’!  INCREDIBLES 2 debuts atop the Box Office in its bow this weekend taking $175.3 million from 4,410 theatres for Disney/Pixar. Not only does it get a rare A+ CinemaScore from Audiences, it gets also a 94% on the Tomatometer. By comparison to its 2014 Predecessor, it more than doubles the intake of that one’s $70 million debut.

In second is last week’s champ OCEAN’S 8, with $20.5 million for Warner Bros. from 4,145 theatres, a two-week tally of $80 million domestically.

TAG opens in third with $13.7 million from 3,382 theatres for Warner Bros. The star-studded Comedy starring Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms and more, is based on a true story, and gets 57% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

HEREDITARY in its second week out makes $6.5 million for A24 Films/Elevation Pictures, a total $26.6 million.

SUPERFLY debuts in seventh spot for Sony Pictures with $5.6 million from 2,220 theatres. The Cult Classic Reboot gets 54% on the Tomatometer and a B+ CinemaScore.

BOOK CLUB rounds-out the Top Ten with $2.2 million for Paramount Pictures. It has made $62.2 million in its domestic run.

The Open Roof Festival is about to take over Toronto’s Lower Junction beginning June 20 though August 22, 2018, steps away from the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA). Every Wednesday for 10 consecutive weeks, movie screenings will be paired with emerging local artists for an ultimate summer!

Films confirmed so far at the Festival include LOVE, SIMON, GAME NIGHT, THOROUGHBREDS, THE DEATH OF STALIN, THE GREEN FOG, GRACE JONES: BLOODLIGHT AND BAMI, BOOST and RUSHMORE.  Musicians confirmed thus far include Tomi Swick, The Heavyweights Brass Band, Delta Will, Chelsey Bennett and more!

Tickets are on sale now at $15 each and you can purchase  them at http://www.openrooffestival.com. The Festival takes place at 158 Sterling Road in Toronto.

(Photo credit: Open Roof Festival)