Aaron Abrams
#FIRSTLOOK: JORDANA BREWSTER IN TORONTO FOR “RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE”, RICKY WHITTLE, AARON ASHMORE, PABLO SCHREIBER, BRUCE LANGLEY + MORE
Summer’s over and not only is it back-to-school, it’s back-to-work for grown-ups! Starring in Jay Barcuhel-written and directed Feature RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE, Jordana Brewster has been working away this summer in Toronto. After a short break back in L.A. and time with her family, she head back to town to complete work on the Elevation Pictures release. The Film centers on two Comic Book Artists who notice their characters are eerily-similar to horrific real-life events.
Brewster known best for her work in the The Fast and the Furious Franchise is a veteran at her craft, getting her start as a Soap Opera star, seen most recently in TV Series, Lethal Weapon.
See our Snap with beautiful and gracious Brewster, plus others returning back to Toronto this weekend for work, including the men of American Gods Season Two (Demore Barnes, Pablo Schneider, Bruce Langley, Ricky Whittle) some who were in Atlanta for Dragon Con this weekend! We also spotted out v. own Aaron Ashmore back from Dragon Con too to continue work on Killjoys.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#TIFF13: MR. WILL’S HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2013 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
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
#TIFF13: MAISON BIRKS & TELEFILM CANADA’S DIAMOND TRIBUTE TO THE YEAR’S WOMEN IN FILM
Honouring some of the most significant Females in Canadian Film, Telefilm Canada and Maison Birks honoured ten Women Actors and Directors at their Flagship Toronto Store today at the first ever Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film. The Event was timed while all eyes are on Toronto during the Toronto International Film Festival.
Selected by a Panel of Journalists who cover the Arts, Cultural and Entertainment fields, an immensely-talented group of Canadian Women were awarded for their achievement and talent, recognition from peers and visibility they have brought Canada. Drawing a huge crowd to Bay x Bloor despite the threat of rain, Fans were ready in a designated FanZone allowing them an opportunity to connect with the Who’s Who of Film and Television in Canada.
This year’s Honourees include:
Directors: Louise Archambault, Deepa Mehta, Alanis Obomsawin, Sarah Polley and Chloé Robichaud
Actresses: Évelyne Brochu, Geneviève Bujold, Sarah Gadon, Jessica Paré and Alison Pill
The Event being fully at capacity, Archambault, Mehta, Obomsawin, Robinchaud and Brochu were all in attendance today. Gadon‘s Mother accepted her Award in her absence.
Among those in attendance this year were several familiar Canadian faces including the likes of Kelly Rowan, Anthony Lemke, Katie Boland, Aaron Abrams, Kristin Booth, Rob Stewart, Cynthia Preston, Atom Egoyan, Paul Haggis, Liane Balaban, Michael Seater and several more. TIFF Rising Stars, Cara Gee and Johnathan Sousa also came out to celebrate.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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