Soda Pictures + Mr. Will want you to check out THE SECOND MOTHER! Screening takes place WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015 in Toronto at Varsity Cinemas.

Synopsis:
After leaving her daughter in a small town in Pernambuco to be raised by relatives, Val spends the next 13 years working as a nanny to Fabinho in São Paulo. She has financial stability but has to live with the guilt of having not raised Jessica herself. As Fabinho’s college entrance exams roll around though, her daughter calls and gives her what seems to be a second chance.

Jessica wants to come to São Paulo to take her college entrance exams as well. Filled with joy as well as apprehension, Val gets ready, with the wholehearted support of her employers, for the long-dreamed moment of being near her daughter again. But when Jessica arrives, cohabitation is not easy. She doesn’t behave in conformity to what is expected of her and starts to create tension inside the household. Everyone will be affected by the girl’s personality and candor. And Val finds herself right in the middle, split between the living room and the kitchen, where she will have to find a new way of facing life.

Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook!

Don’t forget to follow Soda Pictures on Facebook!

(Photo/video credit: Soda Pictures)

I don’t believe it’s been 11 years since Pop Powerhouse (and Actress) JoJo debuted and on that same note, I don’t believe it’s been so long since we’ve heard from her.  The 24 year-old Singer/Songwriter known for memorable hits like Too Little Too Late and Leave (Get Out), has released earlier today what she’s coined a Tringle. That’s three simultaneous singles!

Check them out on Soundcloud!

SAY LOVE

SAVE MY SOUL

WHEN LOVE HURTS

With the Tringle trending already, expect details of her debut album via Warner Music Canada to come soon!

(Photo/video credit: Warner Music)

You know them v. well from their massive hit, I LOVE IT! Swedish Pop Duo ICONA POP‘s crossover has been gradual and true to their brand of catch hits, their latest effort EMERGENCY now is impacting domestically. Members Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo already have toured with the greats including Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry and now they are opening for one of the largest Pop Acts in the World, One Direction, playing tonight at the Rogers Centre as part of their On the Road Again Tour.

Icona Pop visited City‘s Breakfast Television in the 7:00 AM hour, chatting with Dina Pugliese, before heading over later to Global’s The Morning Show (National Edition), opting for an underground entrance. Still though, they apologized for not being able to come out and posed for cutesy photos through the window with heart symbols. Adorbs.

Our Snap:

With the cuties of @IconaPop! Been waiting like two years for this!! The Swedish Duo are opening for #OneDirection. #IconaPop #1D

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 20, 2015 at 6:30am PDT

Check-out Emergency below:

See their The Morning Show (National Edition) interview below:

Download Emergency now on iTunes here!

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros./Mr. Will Wong)

Willionaire$ know one of my fave Songs of Summer 2015 is this visceral anthem!  Rachel Platten‘s FIGHT SONG has touched the hearts of many with its unflinching honesty and inspired heart and now I want you to give you guys a chance to win a “THIS IS MY FIGHT SONG” T-Shirt, an official promotional piece for the Track.

Even Queen Taylor knows…

For those who haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, Platten‘s FIGHT SONG EP is four tracks of pure, delicious pop perfection. What I like about it is that it feels genuine.  She’s independent, real, strong-willed and empowering and this comes across on her selection of tunes.  I’ll admit, I drove three hours straight looping FIGHT SONG and I hope the Track gives you the sense of motivation needed to continue on in your own personal battles.

If you still have no idea what I’m going on about, understand here:

Download the FIGHT SONGS EP on iTunes here.

To enter to win a “THIS IS MY FIGHT SONG” T-Shirt, I need you simply to click “like” on this Post over at Mr. Will on Facebook and tell me about your biggest battle.

G’luck, Willionaire$!

I’m obsessed. Really.

#FIGHTSONG! My jam!! #Caraoke #FordFocus #RachelPlatten #Karaoke #SamsungGalaxyS6

A video posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 17, 2015 at 2:05pm PDT

(Photo/video credit: Sony Music Canada)

In advance of its TIFF ’15 Premiere, Netflix‘s BEASTS OF NO NATION has some new character posters for our viewing enjoyment!

Synopsis:

Beasts of No Nation, the powerful new film written and directed by Emmy Award winner Cary Fukunaga (True Detective, Sin Nombre)  and starring Golden Globe® winner Idris Elba (Luther, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) will debut Friday, October 16, 2015, worldwide on Netflix in all territories where the world’s leading Internet TV network is available. Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation will be in competition at the Venice Film Festival and will be screening at the Toronto Film Festival in September. Beasts of No Nation is based on the highly acclaimed novel by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, bringing to life the gripping tale of Agu, a child soldier torn from his family to fight in the civil war of an African country. Newcomer Abraham Attah gives a stunning portrayal of Agu, while Elba dominates the screen in the role of Commandant, a warlord who takes in Agu and instructs him in the ways of war

Netflix Canada streams BEASTS OF NO NATION Friday, October 16, 2015.

(Photo credit: Netflix)

It’s that time of the year again and we couldn’t be more thrilled with this initial batch of Films announced as part of the TIFF ’15 (aka #TIFF40, now in its 40th year) Lineup. The annual unveiling took place at TIFF Bell Lightbox as Filmlovers and Industry types awaited eagerly as titles were announced at 10:00 AM.

Although the Celebrity and Filmmaker Guest List is still to come, thus far we can expect A-Listers like Johnny Depp, Matt Damon, Tom Hardy, Michael Caine, Helen Mirren, Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Sandra Bullock, Kristen Stewart, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Kate Winslet, Liam Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, Julianne Moore, Jessica Chastain and several, several, more.

In addition, there will be several exciting Documentaries including Davis Guggenheim‘s latest, He Called Me Malala and two about Horse Racing, Being Ap and Dark Horse.

DEMOLITION has been announced as the Opening Night Gala, from Canadian Director Jean–Marc Vallée, who has brought us delights WILD and DALLAS BUYERS CLUB in recent years.  And it would appear once again we have eclectic mix of Films from all around the World, ranging from The Danish Girl from Oscar-winning Director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) which sees Oscar Winner Eddie Redmayne in a transgender role, to gritty Dramas like BLACK MASS starring Johnny Depp as Gangster Whitey Bulger and highly-buzzed SICARIO from Canadian Director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners) about an FBI Agent caught in a dangerous Mexican cross-border sting.  Emily Blunt is getting tons of Oscar buzz for her performance in this and this will mark a pivotal moment in her campaign trail at the TIFF.

Closing Night Gala looks to end on a light-hearted note with Paco Gazeba‘s MR. RIGHT starring Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell.

London also has been chosen as the city of focus in this year’s City to City Programme with Films starring Nicholas Hoult and Tom Hardy being featured.

Also just announced is an opening night Charity Soirée with Academy Award Winner Natalie Portman where she talks about her successful career and upcoming work.  Tickets range from $350 to $650. Details here.

As part of TIFF‘s  new Primetime Programme, showcasing Television for the first time, we learned that NBC‘s Toronto-filmed HEROES: REBORN will be premiering its first episode in its two-hour entirety at the Festival.

Whether it be part of Documentaries, Special Presentations or Gala Presentations, here are some of the highlights to rock the City this September.

45 YEARS (Andrew Haigh)

ABOUT RAY (Gaby Dellal)

BEASTS OF NO NATION (Cary Fukunaga)

BEEBA BOYS (Deepa Mehta)

BEING AP (Anthony Wonke)

BEING CHARLIE (Rob Reiner)

BLACK MASS (Scott Cooper)

BORN TO BE BLUE (Robert Budreau)

BOXING (Grayson Moore, Aidan Shipley)

BROOKLYN (John Crowley)

COLONIA (Florian Gallenberger)

THE DANISH GIRL (Tom Hooper)

DARK HORSE (Louise Osmond)

THE DAUGHTER (Simon Stone)

DISORDER (Alice Winocour)

DEMOLITION (Jean-Marc Vallée) 

THE DRESSMAKER (Jocelyn Moorhose)

EQUALS (Drake Doremus)

EYE IN THE SKY (Gavin Hood)

THE FINAL GIRLS (Todd Strauss-Schulson)

FREEHELD (Peter Sollett)

THE FAMILY FANG (Jason Bateman)

FORSAKEN (Jon Cassar)

THE GIRL IN PHOTOGRAPHS (Nick Simon)

GREEN ROOM (Nick Saulnier)

HE NAMED ME MALALA (Davis Guggenheim)

HIGH-RISE (Ben Wheatley)

HYENA ROAD (Paul Gross)

I SAW THE LIGHT (Marc Abraham)

I SMILE BACK (Adam Salky)

IT’S NOT YOU (Don McKellar)

JANIS: BLUE LITTLE GIRL (Amy Berg)

JE SUIS CHARLIE (Daniel Leconte, Emmanuel Leconte)

KILL YOUR FRIENDS (Owen Harris)

KILO TWO BRAVO (Paul Katis)

THE LADY IN THE VAN (Nicolas Hynter)

LEGEND (Brian Helgeland)

LEN AND COMPANY (Tim Godsall)

THE LOBSTER (Yorgos Lanthimos)

LOLO (Julie Delpy)

LONDON FIELDS (Matthew Cullen)

LONDON ROAD (Rufus Norris)

LOUDER THAN BOMBS (Joachim Trier)

MAGGIE’S PLAN (Rebecca Miller)

MAN DOWN (Dito Montiel)

THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY (Matthew Brown)

THE MARTIAN (Ridley Scott)

THE MEDDLER (Lorraine Scafaria)

MISS SHARON JONES! (Barbara Kopple)

MISSISSIPPI GRIND (Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden)

MISS YOU ALREADY (Catherine Hardwicke)

MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART (Jia Zhang-ke)

MR. RIGHT (Paco Gazeba)  – Closing Night Gala

OFFICE (Johnnie To)

THE ONES BELOW (David Farr)

OUR BRAND IS CRISIS (David Gordon Green)

THE PROGRAM (Stephen Frears)

THE REFLEKTOR TAPES (Kahlil Joseph)

REMEMBER (Atom Egoyan)

ROOM (Lenny Abrahamson)

SEPTEMBERS OF SHIRAZ (Wayne Blair)

SICARIO (Denis Villeneuve)

SPOTLIGHT (Tom McCarthy) – didn’t Rachel McAdams hint at us first it would be at TIFF?

STONEWALL (Roland Emmerich)

A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS (Natalie Portman)

A TALE OF THREE CITIES (Mabel Cheung)

TRUMBO (Jay Roach)

TRUTH (James Vanderbilt)

UN PLUS UNE (Claude Lelouch)

WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (Michael Moore)

THE WITCH (Robert Eggers)

WOMEN HE’S DRESSED (Gillian Armstrong)

YOUTH (Paolo Sorrentino) – NSFW Trailer

Complete list of Titles complete Synopses announced thus far here.

Just 14 more days to go! Final titles to be announced in a week.

(Photo credit: eOne Films/Warner Bros./Studio Canal/Majestic Filmproduktion/20th Century Fox)

Universal Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take Readers in select cities to see the gripping star-studded Thriller, EVEREST! Screenings take place in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton on Wednesday, September 16, 2015.

Synopsis:

Inspired by the incredible events surrounding an attempt to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest documents the awe-inspiring journey of two different expeditions challenged beyond their limits by one of the fiercest snowstorms ever encountered by mankind. Their mettle tested by the harshest elements found on the planet, the climbers will face nearly impossible obstacles as a lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival.

The epic adventure stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Artwork:

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. In the comments, indicate your City and tell me about your worst ever snowstorm. You may click “share” from there for an extra chance or Tweet the below:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/everest @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #EVERESTMovie. In theatres 9/18!

G’luck, Willionaire$!

Universal Pictures Canada release EVEREST on Friday, September 18, 2015 and everywhere in IMAX Friday, September 25, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Every once in a while I get the pleasure of test driving a true gem, and a true gem the 2015 Ford Focus Titanium is indeed.  This compact, high-performance vehicle drives as great as it looks, offering phenomenal value for its listed price.

What I appreciate most about the Titanium is its concern for safety. As a city driver, awareness of surroundings is both beneficial and preventative.  Its  audio/visual cues and rear-view camera make parallel parking or backing-out a breeze and I won’t deny how handy it is to receive visual alerts in my side mirrors that let me know when cars are about to enter my peripheral vision.

Let’s talk about the experience driving the Titanium, which I equate to pure luxury.  Activated by keyless ignition, operation is simple and straightforward. The deep leather seats had me feeling cradled and cozy and that heated option sure would come in handy in the winter, am I right? A sizy hatchback trunk is perfect for those big grocery runs and gratuitous shopping extravaganzas.  That spacious moonroof had me basking under the sun as I zipped down the 401, as that glorious Sony soundsystem with 10 speakers and subwoofer, blared my favourite tunes of the Summer.  Lean On by Major Lazer, anybody?

SYNC with MyFord Touch made navigation to and from my destination simple with the touch of a finger. It worked with my Samsung S6 via bluetooth to let me take and make phone calls safely as I drove.  

One minor irritant I will say is that SYNC wouldn’t play audio files I had purchased on iTunes via a USB connection due to protected content restrictions. In fact, connecting via USB to charge my phone even caused SYNC  to crash repeatedly with lengthy waits to reboot, although we’re sure this would be corrected with a software revision down the road.

In the week I test-drove the Titanium, I experienced both torrential downpour of rain and scorching heat.  The front and rear-view wipers kept my line of vision clear in the rain, with superb handling of the road.  And nothing beats the super-quick air conditioning which had me cool and calm in no time.

I adore the 2015 Ford Focus Titanium and without a question would own one. Learn more about it here.

Some Snaps:

Total pleasure driving the @fordcanada Focus Titanium this week. A gem. Read more at MRWILLWONG.COM. #FordFocus #TestDrive #Ford

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 17, 2015 at 6:54pm PDT

And can we talk about my experience learning to drive standard?  Ford Canada kindly gave me the opportunity to learn to conquer this longtime fear of mine.  Driving down the 403 to Oakville, my palms admittedly were sweaty. Upon arriving at Ford Canada‘s headquarters, where I was greeted by my friend Melissa and instructor Malcolm Strachan, I knew right away I was in good hands. Patiently I was  guided how and when to switch gears and to navigate that unknown variable – the ever-daunting clutch – giving my leg a bit of a workout.

Within two hours, I still was far from perfect a standard driver, but I had the foundation and basics to be able to handle the task if I ever were to drive a manual vehicle.  The feeling of control you have over the road driving a standard is unparalleled, not to mention fuel efficiency benefits and the undisputed fact you will be a better, more focused driver for it all. There is no room for distracted driving when driving a standard.

I am proud to say I learned to drive standard in an ultra-stylish 2015 Ford Fiesta ST with its gorgeous Recaro-styled seats, six-speed transmission, 1.6L Ti-VCT EcoBoost I-4 engine and power moonroof and definitely would experience it again!

Learn more here about the 2015 FORD FIESTA ST.

See some Photos of my experience:

So I learned how to drive Standard on the gorgeous #FordFiesta today thanks to Coach Malcolm and @fordcanada. Was terrified but rewarding! #Ford #Driving #Oakville

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 15, 2015 at 12:32pm PDT

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Although I fall a little bit outside the demographic that listens to EDM and attends Digital Music festivals, its influence on the mainstream these past few years is undeniable, birthing the very current sound dominating our airwaves. Our expectations admittedly were neither here nor there for upcoming Max Joseph (Catfish) Feature WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS, a Musical Drama which centers on a young man named Cole‘s (Zac Efron) rise in the world of EDM as a DJ and Producer.  This is set against a love triangle involving him and and his own mentor, James (Wes Bentley) and girlfriend Sophie (Emily Ratajkowski). What results actually is an engaging music-driven piece about life, creation and decisions.

First-time Feature Director Joseph and stars Efron and Ratajkowki all were in Toronto recently as part of the Film’s promotional tour. Only on day four of their campaign, the Trio slipped into Toronto quietly on a night flight from Paris, doing much of their press out fittingly out of a parked tour bus.  After being held in the VIP area of an intimate  club  filled with fans eager for a glimpse of Efron, the room bumping with rhythms of Australian DJ Will Sparks, I was wrangled in with a select group of journalists onto the said bus, lit dimly with  blue lights for added club-like ambiance.  I see the three seated at the bus’ kitchen table.  All eyes migrate immediately to a stunning Ratajkowski in a revealing but certainly flattering purple dress, sipping from a water bottle, and a piercingly blue-eyed Efron all in black, preferring plenty of lemon with his water –  unphased from the aggressive work schedule which had them doing interviews well past 11:00 PM.

Efron tells us first about the process of becoming a DJ in We Are Your Friends, by no means considering himself an expert. “I had a crash course with DJ Them Jeans (Jason Stewart)  and learned to use decks to the best of my ability.  Over course of Movie, I learned about the style to making it look cool.”.  “It’s not just twisting knobs, it’s BOOM! Really twisting knobs!”, he adds. “I’m proficient at it and good at acting it.”.

At the heart and soul of the Movie undeniably is Music.  It becomes almost impossible to ignore the hypnotic synths and respect paid to the creative process here which so many other Films skip over.  Just wait till you witness the epic finale of the Film where Cole‘s masterpiece is unveiled. Joseph speaks about the processing of pairing with music scenes perfectly.

“It was a big undertaking. We got to work with Music Supervisor Randy Poster (Spring Breakers), who is a legend and a great Filmmaker beyond having great ear for music, helping me choose songs that were emotionally correct.”.  Joseph reveals, “Songs were written into script and the biggest challenge was the song at end of Film.  We went out to a few DJs and Producers, finding Pyramid discovered on Spotify.  Of all the people we reached-out to, he was first to respond – hungriest – like the French version of Cole.”. “He’s an introverted, up-and-coming young DJ. He wanted this and I flew him to L.A. and we worked for two weeks, going back and forth a year on the song.  We made the song from all the sounds in the Movie. It was hard to do and we pulled it off.”.

One of the elements of We Are Your Friends we find most fascinating is the complicated dynamic between mentor James and his protégé Cole in that despite their share of troubles in the Film, they in many ways are co-dependent.  The Film leads up to a Summer Bash which is the venue chosen for Cole to make his eagerly-awaited debut opening for James. Joseph explains, “James needs a reason to invite Cole to that party. I’d hope in that exchange people will see that  James sees something in Cole as a reflection of himself before he was jaded.”.

Ratajkowski chimes in on her character, “Sophie is the peg that holds them both up, and people can relate to that experience. Cole has a reason for being there and adds something to their relationship.”.

In many ways, the Trio already consider We Are Your Friends a great success story, even prior to its theatrical release.  Efron feels that success isn’t just based on numbers. “I would like our generation to identify with the Film in a way I did. I knew that while making the Movie, we were telling a story I felt was current and what I was going through at a certain time in my life.  It’s well-written and I hope it’s taken that way and means something to others.”.

After leaving a strong impression on us in last year’s critical and Box Office success Gone Girl, Ratajkowski still is carving her place in Hollywood as a Actress, adept equally as a Model. She admits, “I hope this is a step for my career. Sophie is a dynamic young female.  She is a love interest, but has a lot of her story to tell. I’m happy with reaction from the people who’ve seen it.”.

Joseph concludes, “I’m psyched I got paid to write a script, let alone that it went into production, got these amazing stars, get picked-up by Warner Bros. and that we’re here. That is success.”.  “If it resonates with one or two people and they came out of the theatre feeling chills or walk-out with a different bounce in step or feeling catharsis, that to me is success.”.

See the Trailer for WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release WE ARE YOUR FRIENDS on Friday, August 28, 2015.

Join the community by “liking” #WAYF on Facebook here.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros.)

Although there wasn’t a Triple Crown winner north of the Border this year, we still had plenty to cheer for at Woodbine Racetrack yesterday. The $500k Breeders’ Stakes, the final leg of the Crown was contested over 1 1/2 miles on the Toronto oval’s internationally- renowned turf course and few could argue that the winner was deserving.

DANISH DYNAFORMER has been a warrior throughout his three-year-old campaign this year and once he got to the lead at the top of the stretch, there was no turning back as he blasted home almost eight horse lengths ahead of the field.  Reigning champion jockey Patrick Husbands who quickly has turned his season around these past few weeks, steered the colt trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, to the eye-popping victory.  Fans were rewarded with a return of $4.80 on a $2 investment as the race favourite, and the final time for the race was 2:29.2, about four seconds off the course record.   Conquest Boogaloo who also has been a trooper through the Triple Crown trail, rallied late to finish second and a rapidly-improving Lucky Lindy finished a game third.

Despite blistering heat, fans still came out to show their support, crowding the grandstand. Post-victory, Team Attfield were armed with ice buckets and the hose water cooled to a perfect temperature to cool down their star, DANISH DYNAFORMER. The Ontario-bred colt earlier this season won the Plate Trial, stamping him the favourite for the country’s most prestigious race, Queen’s Plate in which he finished second narrowly. A trip to Fort Erie in late July for the Prince of Wales Stakes was a rare blemish on his record and his performance in the Breeders’ Stakes would be an accurate indication of his great ability.  Keep a tab on this one – if not next season – he will be one look out for in the Pattison International, another marquee race at Woodbine, held traditionally mid-October.

Earlier on the card we saw longshot INTERPOL upset the $200k Sky Classic Stakes, defeating a talented field including division leader ARE YOU KIDDING ME (also trained by Roger Attfield), GOLDEN SABRE, ALDOUS SNOW and last year’s Belmont Derby winner, MR. SPEAKER.  Emma-Jayne Wilson piloted the win, a second stake win this weekend for the jockey who just led the Ladies’ Team to a valiant, first-of-its-kind win at Ascot in England a week prior in the Shergar Cup. Just Saturday, Wilson piloted New Zealand-bred HABIBI to win the Flaming Page Stakes, also on the lush turf course.

Some Snaps of DANISH DYNAFORMER:

Such a joyous day #OfftotheRaces celebrating the $500k #BreedersStakes, won by a deserving #DANISHDYNAFORMER, #PatrickHusbands and our friends at Team #RogerAttfield. They had ice buckets and tons of cool water ready for him in this scorching heat! #BetWoodbine #GetintheGame #HorseRacing

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 16, 2015 at 9:23pm PDT

Lunch at @woodbineracing with one of my fave Willionaire$ @cupcakedawnie #BreedersStakes day! She made me yummy Cupcakes!! #OfftotheRaces #BetWoodbine A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 16, 2015 at 11:34am PDT

We’re majorly excited for two-time North American Horse of the Year WISE DAN‘s return to Woodbine next month in the $1-million Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Sunday, September 13, 2015.  We hope to see you there!

For more, including how to plan your visit, click here.

This Post was created in partnership with Woodbine Racetrack.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Woodbine Racetrack)