Often when we think of fundraisers, we think of generating money towards research and cost of medical procedures. Sometimes however, we forget the peripheral costs involved for families and in the instance of children awaiting vital organ transplants, it is important to note the financial, in addition to emotional impacts involved.  The loss of salary for some parents taking time away from work to care for their child, plus the stresses of making mortgage payments, travel expenses, car payments, gas, groceries, etc. are an extra-challenging reality for those families impacted. 16-time Grammy winner David Foster is on a mission to aid financially those families requiring assistance in these cases.

Taking place at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, the David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala and Concert drew a star-studded line-up of guests to the purple carpet tonight, headlined by a performance from international megastar Stevie Wonder as he zipped through his greatest hits before a lucky, intimate audience.  Together with a line-up which included the likes of Michael Bolton, Kiesza, Howard Dell, Peter Cetera, Brian Williams, Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, an astonishing tally of $6.5 million was raised this evening. The foundation’s goal is to raise $30 million total by its 30th anniversary come 2017.

Also this evening, two Visionary Awards were handed-out.  Gregg Saretsky, President & CEO of WestJet (one of this evening’s major sponsors), received the award for National Business Leader of the Year. The National Humanitarian Leader of the Year went to  Simon Keith, who has the distinction of being both an organ donor advocate and the first professional athlete in the world to play a professional sport after undergoing a heart transplant.

Although being advised  with confidence David Foster and Stevie Wonder would walk the purple carpet to speak to media, alas only a few outlets had the chance to speak to the duo before they were ushered off.  We did however, have the pleasure of chatting with a few of the evening’s stars and this is what they had to say about the foundation.

Former Chicago frontman and acclaimed vocalist Peter Cetera: “Whenever I can help and it happens to coincide with my schedule, it’s a wonderful cause.  And when you can work music into it, that’s important”, says the Idaho resident who will be on tour this fall, with a stop soon in Niagara Falls.

Actor Howard Dell, who has starred on Young and the Restless: “I came to be involved three years ago in Victoria, BC when I met David and started to learn about foundation. Luckily, David and I got to perform at the gala – the start of a singing career in hibernation for 15 years!”. “Having gone through a transplant suffering financial burdens of it, etc. when you see the  foundation come in and alleviates the burdens, it’s a tremendous relief for the parents.”. Dell also is a huge fan of Steven Wonder and sang a couple lines of Overjoyed, expressing his excitement for the evening’s main attraction.

International hit-recording artist Kiesza: “I’ve always known about foundation since childhood. I’m a huge David Foster fan, so it’s surreal being involved with it.  It’s helping save children’s lives and acknowledges the families, the siblings.  It’s about all the people affected by the situation. It’s really a ‘miracle’ foundation like they say.”.  The singer tells us her next album will be an “evolution”, building on some elements of her debut disc, Sound of a Woman.

To learn more about the David Foster Foundation and how you can contribute, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

D Films + Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto and Vancouver to an advance screening of MEET THE PATELS.

Screenings are as follows:
MEET THE PATELS – Toronto
Wednesday, October 14th – 7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Toronto, ON

MEET THE PATELS – Vancouver
Wednesday, October 14th – 7:00 PM
Cineplex Odeon Strawberry Hill Cinemas
​Surrey, B.C.

Synopsis:
MEET THE PATELS is a laugh-out-loud real life romantic comedy about Ravi Patel, an almost-30-year-old Indian-American who enters a love triangle between the woman of his dreams … and his parents. Filmed by Ravi’s sister in what started as a family vacation video, this hilarious and heartbreaking film reveals how love is a family affair.

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK! State also your city!

D Films release MEET THE PATELS Friday, October 16, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: D Films)

In celebration of the greatest TV series on earth being in its second season, Jimmy Fallon and the gang have parodied EMPIRE. We present to you the amazing JIMPIRE with cameos from Taraji P. Henson and Terence Howard.

EMPIRE season two premieres tonight Wednesday, September 23, 2015 9 PM on FOX and CITY. Stream season one now on shomi.

Bale. Carell. Gosling. Pitt. Can this get any better? A new Trailer for THE BIG SHORT has just surfaced and it looks GOOD.

Synopsis:
When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball), and directed by Adam Mckay (Anchorman, Step Brothers). The Big Short stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.

See the Trailer:

Release dates:
December 11, 2015 (limited release)
December 23, 2015 (wide release)

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

This is all sorts of amazing. David Beckham + Kevin Hart? Unlikely, right? Well it’s totally happening. The two megastars will appear together this fall as part of the campaign for Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham Autumn 2015 Collection.

And here’s a tease:

The commercial surfaces on September 28, 2015 and appears at cinemas and on TV two days after.

(Photo/video credit: H&M)

Toronto was blessed to have an opportunity to see up-close one of the UK’s greatest acts in recent memory. Jess Glynne brought her Ain’t Got Far to Go Tour to Adelaide Hall for a late show last night and although locally she is growing more familiar thanks to several Bench billboards featuring her distinct face and red locks, the support certainly was there for her at the packed club.

The 26-year-old Singer/Songwriter’s 45-minute-long set had the crowd dancing start to finish and when she slowed things down mid-set with a pair of ballads, the audience stopped and listened. Believe me, this isn’t an easy feat when people wanna dance and get liquored-up.

The success is undisputable. Many new artists are happy to chart even. Glynne after winning a Grammy last year for her collaboration with Clean Bandit, Rather Be, has had a whopping five number one singles in the UK. And her album just came out a few weeks ago there, also debuting on-top. True, there isn’t anything cutting edge in her debut offering I Cry When I Laugh, but the tunes all are solid and there is an authenticity and focus to what Glynne does, which is refreshing. Her songs have singable melodies and the hooks are infinite and we miss that in an age of digital vocal trickery. The comparisons to Adele and Amy Winehouse are inevitable with her jazzy alto, but there is an  Mariah/Whitney-esque relatability which is uplifting, not brooding.

The thing about Glynne‘s set is that she performed tracks omitted inexplicably on the North American pressing of her disc, but the crowd got going with the spirited disco of Real Love, Ain’t Got Far to Go (for which her tour is named after), You Can Find Me, a cover of Winehouse’s Tears Dry on their Own, before witnessing magic on ballads Take Me Home and My Love. She capped it off encouraging fans to turn their cell phones off for the finale, Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself and encored with her current single, Hold My Hand which for some odd reason simply doesn’t translate as well live. Perhaps it’s the missing horns or the rhythm over-powering the keyboards, this is the only track which wasn’t as great as the recording.

Check-out Glynne‘s performance of Take Me Home:

Some Snaps:

The disarming #JessGlynne, live at Adelaide Hall. #Toronto #ICryWhenILaugh #AintGotFarToGoTour #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 21, 2015 at 8:24pm PDT

#JessGlynne sounded phenomenal last night. She got the crowd to silence through two back to back ballads in her mostly uptempo set, a sign of her command. Lots of dancing. #AintGotFarToGoTour #ICryWhenILaugh #AdelaideHall #Toronto #NikonD3300

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 22, 2015 at 6:00am PDT

Download Glynne‘s debut album I Cry When I Laugh here.

Read about our meeting her here!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Elevation Pictures + Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Halifax, Winnipeg, Victoria to an advance screening of TIFF ’15 Selection, HYENA ROAD starring Paul Gross, Rossif Sutherland and Allan Hawco. Screenings take place Wednesday, October 7, 2015.

Synopsis:

Three men, three different paths, caught in conflict but brought together to save lives: a highly skilled sniper who can’t think of his targets as human; an intelligence officer who has never killed while on duty; and a legendary Afghan warrior who left war behind but gets pulled back to battle.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. Please also indicate your city.

G’luck Willionaire$!

Elevation Pictures release HYENA ROAD on Friday, October 9, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

There is no new artist I adore more than Jess Glynne.  It’s undeniable that the landscape of pop music has changed so much over the past few years and while there are many faceless singers featured on tracks by red-hot producers or dance acts, something about the vivacious 25-year-old redhead that is different.

Rather Be by Clean Bandit infiltrated North American airwaves last summer to much success, going-on to win them and Glynne, who provided vocals, a coveted Grammy.  It’s time for Glynne‘s close-up now and she’s looking to take that five-number-one-hit success she’s established in the UK stateside.

Glynne currently is on-tour playing clubs mostly as part of her Ain’t Got Far to Go Tour in North America (she can fill arenas in the UK) and just this weekend she was in Montreal. In addition to a show tonight at Adelaide Hall, Glynne is out promoting her debut disc, I Cry When I Laugh and despite almost not getting to meet her as she went to an appearance at The Morning Show (National Edition) via an alternate entrance.  After catching her attention, she promised to come out after her appearance. And she did.

See her Interview here:

The truth is since finding a way to stream I Cry When I Laugh back in August, I haven’t stopped listening to it. Every single track on it is pure gold.  True, there isn’t anything particularly new or innovative about the collection of tunes, but that is what’s refreshing about it. It’s not trying to be trendy necessarily. Just good, solid tunes and superb vocals. Real emotions.

If you haven’t ever heard of Glynne, please check-out Hold My Hand, Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself or Take Me Home for a snapshot of her talent.

Meeting Glynne was a dream and Billy being my sidekick made that moment extra special as he brought a big smile to her face, even trying to go in for a kiss.  She is everything I could have wished for.

Hold My Hand

Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself

Take Me Home

See our Snap:

So deeply overjoyed getting to meet my favourite new artist, #JessGlynne. Billy loves her as much as I do! Five #1 singles from her debut #ICryWhenILaugh! She’s at Adelaide Hall tonight

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 21, 2015 at 6:56am PDT

Download I Cry When I Laugh here.

(Photo credit: Wonderland/Mr. Will Wong)

One of 2016’s biggest emerging stars hails right here from Toronto. Francesco Yates already has infiltrated our airwaves with a soulful, ambient sound mature beyond his youth.  Chances are you’re already a fan and don’t even realize it. Writing since the age of 11 when he first learned to play instruments, and signed at age 16 by Atlantic Records (Warner Music), Yates has released two singles, Call and Better to be Loved.  Each has gained popularity successively and with his debut album in the works, we wait with great anticipation for the rest of the world to discover one of our own.

We chat with Yates today at Yonge-Dundas Square, setting a quick block of time prior to a surprise acoustic set which was delayed as an intoxicated man was being disruptive in the area early on an early Sunday afternoon.  His performance, sponsored by Telus and MTV Canada, was to raise awareness for the #CallForChange initiative in support of the forthcoming We Day – coming October 1, 2015. He’s dressed in black, even more youthful than I’d imagined and calm despite the bustle and a late-night trek to Toronto from Montreal where he opened for UK chart-topper Jess Glynne.

A request for collaboration was made to fans to come to one-day-only kiosks at the venue, to record submissions towards a Remix for  Yates’ track Call. “You can make a video jamming to Call. For each video made, $10 goes to Feed the Children“, he says about the initiative.  “We’re inspiring change with technology. I mean, we’re always on our phones.”.

On his greatest current influences, Yates reveals, “I love OVOXO and PartyNextDoor colour palettes.”. “As well I like the classical pop of Bruno Mars. I like mixing new and old.”.

I ask the free-haired Singer/Songwriter to tell me his strangest quirk and it actually is mundanely surprising. “I’ve never eaten a hamburger. Something hasn’t drawn me to it”, he tells me. “I’ll be the only human not to eat a burger in the entire world.”.

Yates’ debut disc is due early 2016 and he’s been working with the likes of Pharrell, among others to craft a sound that the public will respond to in solidarity. For now, you can purchase his eclectic EP here.

Learn more about the #CALLFORCHANGE initiative right here.

Watch our Chat here:

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

What a way to wrap-up TIFF ’15 a high note!  Despite almost not making it across the border in time for her Mr. Right Premiere, Anna Kendrick would not disappoint fans tonight after missing her Press Conference completely. Premiering twice – at Princess of Wales Theatre and Roy Thomson Hall – fans had a chance to connect with the stars of the Comedy!

Max Landis. This funnyman arrived at the Roy Thomson Hall Red Carpet for Mr. Right with a red nose!

#MaxLandis at #TIFF15 for Closing Night Gala, #MrRightMovie. #TIFF #Tiff40 #TorontoFilmFestival

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 19, 2015 at 4:38pm PDT

Michael Eklund. This Canadian-born Actor also stars in Mr. Right and arrived with former Miss Universe Canada, Elena Semikina.

#MichaelEklund, at #TIFF15 for Closing Night Gala, #MrRightMovie. #TIFF #Tiff40 #TorontoFilmFestival

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 19, 2015 at 4:47pm PDT

Sam Rockwell. This brilliant Actor was amazingly-generous with fans, more so than normal.  Definitely not a stranger to the City.  Commend him for stepping-up while Anna Kendrick had border woes.

#SamRockwell at #TIFF15 for Closing Night Gala, #MrRightMovie. #TIFF #Tiff40 #TorontoFilmFestival

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 19, 2015 at 4:44pm PDT

Anna Kendrick always draws a crowd.  After many issues crossing the border, she kept her promise on Twitter she’d see her fans at her Premiere.

The loveable #AnnaKendrick makes it right in time for #TIFF15 Closing Night Gala, #MrRightMovie. #TIFF #Tiff40 #TorontoFilmFestival

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Sep 19, 2015 at 4:40pm PDT

Until, next year!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)