Press has begun for many of the Films premiering at TIFF ’21 and since Red Carpets aren’t public this year, we have to use a bit more creativity getting that snap! No worries, we’re managing!

We spotted the Cast of DEAR EVAN HANSEN out and about today as they did the rounds and captured a few lovely moments among Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Danny Pino, Nik Dodani and Director Stephe n Chbosky!

We also were thrilled to attend the Premiere of Clint Bentley‘s JOCKEY which had won much acclaim at Sundance, winning Clifton Collins Jr. the award for Best Actor. Collins and Bentley were at TIFF ’21 today to premiere the Film at Scotiabank Theatre, giving the audience to understand an authentic story about the world of Horse Racing and what it’s like to be an aging athlete. Bentley tells the audience he is actually from a family involved very much with the industry. Don’t forget to check our running TIFF ’21 link here for the Review.

We also finally saw Pablo Larrain‘s SPENCER starring Kristen Stewart and were floored! So much detail and a super portrayal of Diana by Stewart. While our Review is coming shortly, here is a short thread on Twitter I Tweeted:

We are positively exhausted. Going to rest-up early for along day ahead including the TIFF Tribute Gala bright and early!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

TIFF ’21 is officially in full swing and while things are a little less hectic this year, we’re still keeping fully busy, Team Mr. Will catching as many Films as we can and fitting in as many sightings as we can!

We are thrilled to have gotten to see this year’s Opening Night Gala, the uplifting and heartfelt DEAR EVAN HANSEN. We absolutely loved it, and while we’ve never seen the original Musical it was based on, the Film by Stephen Chbosky stands on its own strongly. Floored by star Ben Platt‘s work in this and the Music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul is incredible.

See our thoughts below and Capsule Review here.

We were also lucky enough to find the After Party for the Film, which took place at hotspot Sofia in Yorkville, where we by chance saw Platt leaving, as well as Co-Stars Amandla Stenberg, Danny Pino and Colton Ryan. I cannot wait for you to discover this Film. Bawled my eyes out!

A huge “thank you” also to official TIFF ’21 sponsor RBC for gifting us with tickets which we gave to one lucky Reader to see DEAR EVAN HANSEN at the RBC Lakeside Drive In! Mark Greeno was so lucky to get to see Ben Platt and Amandla Stenberg also in-person as they introduced the Film!

It was quiet for most of the day, but so thrilled we saw Justin Bateman here to present her directorial Feature debut, VIOLET, which continues to get warm reception on the Festival circuit. We saw the Film at SXSW and were overjoyed to see THE MALLORY KEATON of Family Ties, here in-person. She was so sweet and even handed me some swag, official VIOLET pens to keep.

It will be another hectic couple days cramming-in as much as we can and we’re so excited to see SPENCER tomorrow morning – this is the Princess Diana film starring Kristen Stewart which has put her in the early lead for the Best Actress race.

Stay tuned for more. Continue bookmarking and checking this rolling link as we post our updates through out the day!

Our next scheduled CP24 appearance will be Saturday morning. Don’t forget to check it out!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

By Mr. Will Wong

While many Broadway plays have been given the Big Screen treatment, not all have succeeded. Fortunately, Stephen Chboksy‘s DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the real deal!

The deeply-heartfelt coming-of-age story centers on Evan (Ben Platt) who finds himself caught in a spiraling lie after a classmate’s family confuses him aa their son’s secret best friend. The problem is they were never actually friends.

The Musical explores the aftermath of a tragic loss, how we construct the truths we want and at what cost this comes. And ultimately what it means to find your own truth.

Headlined by an outstanding reprised performance by role-originating Platt, the Film is a visceral journey. The odd thing is while many read the humour as Comedy, I could feel his Evan‘s deep anxiety and pain, which was truly palpable.

Supporting turns from Amy Adams, Julianne Moore and Kaitlyn Dever are deeply-affecting. The glue that binds it all is that mesmerizing Soundtrack by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul.

Chbosky ambitiously covers a lot of ground but nails it! Fans are going to love this wonderful translation.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN screens at TIFF ’21:

Thu, Sep 09
IN-PERSON
Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Premium
5:30pm

Thu, Sep 09
IN-PERSON
Roy Thomson Hall
Premium
7:00pm

Thu, Sep 09
RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place
8:30pm

Thu, Sep 09
DIGITAL PREMIERE SCREENING
digital TIFF Bell Lightbox
Premium
Availability: Canada
9:00pm

We are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win Advance Passes to see DEAR EVAN HANSEN! The Film is the TIFF ’21 Opening Night Gala! Screenings take place on September 22, 2021 in the following cities:

Toronto: Cineplex Cinemas Varsity, 7:00 pm
Montreal: Scotiabank Theatre, 7:00 pm

Synopsis:

The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder), the film is written for the screen by the show’s Tony winner Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by the show’s Oscar®, Grammy and Tony-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman).

See the Trailer:

To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below for an extra chance. You must be following.

Rules and regulations here.

Univeraal Pictures Canada release DEAR EVAN HANSEN September 24, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

We don’t believe #TIFF21 finally is here! While things are indeed a bit different this year, any bit of in-person events is dearly welcomed! While TIFF ’21 starts today, we did spot a few arrivals already gearing-up for their big premieres on TIFF Day One.

So thrilled to chat with The Toronto Sun‘s Jane Stevenson about starspotting etiquette this TIFF with our current climate. Click here more the article.

Also in case you missed our appearance on CP24 previewing what the Festival might look like for stargazers, watch here.

We can confirm Ben Platt, star of Opening Night Gala, DEAR EVAN HANSEN already is in the City, set to walk alongside Director Stephen Chbosky on the Red Carpet at Roy Thomson Hall tomorrow.

It is however, Josh O’Connor whom we are most excited about at the Festival and how amazing is it he was our first star sighting? The British star of Netflix’s THE CROWN and acclaimed Drama GOD’S OWN COUNTRY recently moved to New York and is a star on the rise, just having won a Golden Globe Award this past Awards Season for his work as Prince Charles in The Crown. Donning a pizza shirt, he was amazingly-kind to stop for autographs and selfies with fans, despite a bit of a hold-up after landing due to updated COVID-19 protocols. He premieres WWI Romance MOTHERING SUNDAY at Princess of Wales Theatre tonight. The Film also stars Odessa Young and an Oscar-winning duo in Olivia Colman and Colin Firth.

We got the scoop that Vancouver’s own Joshua Jackson is back at TIFF once again, but he’s here to promote his new Series DR. DEATH, premiering on Showcase in Canada on September 12, 2021. Based on the true story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch‘s who left several patients maimed or dead. Jackson positively is sinister in the titular role and we really want to see how the rest of the Series delves into Duntsch‘s psyche to why he destroyed so many lives. Jackson arrived low-key and was so kind to stop for a Snap. He should be here through next week celebrating the new Series.

It was super-cool seeing Justine Bateman, who we idolized on Family Ties as Mallory Keaton. She makes her Feature directorial debut in VIOLET, starring Olivia Munn (who just announced she’s pregnant with Funnyman John Mulaney), premiering at TIFF Bell Lightbox this afternoon. She seemed preoccupied and wanted privacy, but we’ll be at the Premiere and hope to get a snap there!

This is only the beginning, but unlike other years, we are expecting a busy few days ahead, with the star sightings to tail off likely around Monday with fewer talent making their way to the City this TIFF.

More to come! Check back daily! Bookmark this link for updates as we bring you star sightings and the Reviews from the hottest Films to come out of the Festival!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

TIFF ’21 Opening Night Gala DEAR EVAN HANSEN is a highlight for many and here is a new Featurette which asks its stars about its theme of being found.

Synopsis:

The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age.  

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder), the film is written for the screen by the show’s Tony winner Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by the show’s Oscar®, Grammy and Tony-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman).

Universal Pictures Canada release DEAR EVAN HANSEN in theatres September 24, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Coming this September, this is your first look at the Trailer for the screen adaptation of DEAR EVAN HANSEN!

Synopsis:

The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age.   Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Wonder), the film is written for the screen by the show’s Tony winner Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by the show’s Oscar®, Grammy and Tony-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman). Featuring Grammy winning songs, including the iconic anthem “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through a Window,” “For Forever” and “Words Fail,” Dear Evan Hansen stars six-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams, Oscar® winner Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give), Colton Ryan (Apple TV+’s Little Voice), Nik Dodani (Netflix’s Atypical), DeMarius Copes (Broadway’s Mean Girls) and Danny Pino (NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit).

DEAR EVAN HANSEN arrives in theatres September 24, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

We’re sure many of you are excited for this! Dear Evan Hansen and Run This Town star Ben Platt has his very own Netflix Concert Special coming later this month!

Synopsis:
Captured before a live audience at Radio City Music Hall, this feature-length special documents Tony, Grammy and Emmy-Award winning performer Ben Platt at the final stop on tour for his hit debut album, Sing to Me Instead.

See the Trailer:

BEN PLATT: LIVE FROM RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL streams on Netflix Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a digital download of RUN THIS TOWN!

Synopsis:

Naive, young Toronto newspaper reporter Bram (Ben Platt) finds himself doing desk work instead of breaking hard-hitting stories, until he accidentally finds scandalous information about the city’s controversial mayor, Rob Ford (Damian Lewis). Bram attempts to pry information from Ford‘s aides, Ashley (Nina Dobrev) and Kamal (Mena Massoud), who are trying to cover Ford‘s tracks and spin the story.

Director: Ricky Tollman

Starring: Ben Platt, Mena Massoud, Nina Dobrev, Jennifer Ehle, Scott Speedman

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release RUN THIS TOWN on-demand and digitally Tuesday, April 21, 2020 and on DVD Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

We’ve been following closely the progress of RUN THIS TOWN, the directorial debut from Writer/Director Ricky Tollman, since the Film was announced in March 2018. While the Film has been much-talked-about, finally its release is near some two years after it began production here in Toronto.

Set against a backdrop of a Rob Ford-run Toronto, Tollman‘s Film explores what it means for millennials to survive in this day and age. It centers on a young Journalist (Ben Platt) eager to break his first story at his publication where he has been relegated to compiling Top Ten lists. With the possibility of Ford‘s crack tape being exposed, his Political Aides (Mena Massoud, Nina Dobrev) fight to keep the news under wraps, while also saving their own jobs.

See the Trailer:

The Film premiered tonight in Toronto at Scotiabank Theatre and in attendance were Director/Writer Tollman, plus Toronto stars Massoud, best known for his starring role in Disney’s Aladdin and People’s Choice Award-winning The Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev. The Screening was followed by a Q&A and an After Party at Northern Maverick Brewing Company, where family and friends of Cast and Crew got a chance to kick-back with some libations and apps. Sanitizer also was seen circulating the room with wellness and prevention on everyone’s mind of late.

Our Justin Waldman had the opportunity to chat at the After Party with Tollman, Massoud and Dobrev.

Justin: What inspired you to choose this story about Rob Ford as your first Feature?

Ricky Tollman: “I didn’t see it as a Rob Ford story. I saw as a story about my friends and peers who I grew-up with and we all grew-up in 2010 watching Rob Ford escapades and they were taken as a joke at the time. And looking back at it in 2016 I kinda wish it wasn’t a joke as I was writing this Script when Donald Trump announced his candidacy. I thought we’ve seen this story before and maybe we shouldn’t have taken it as a joke because my friends in the United States and effectively around the world, are going to be affected by policy enacted by politicians like Donald Trump.”. He adds, “I wanted to do a story not about the politicians but maybe the people we haven’t heard from.”.

On his next endeavours, Tollman reveals, “I’m writing two things and will see which one makes it out alive. One is a Political Thriller which takes place in 1963 and the other is the FBI‘s investigation into an underworld that people may not know exists.”.

Justin: Tell us what attracted you to this Script.

Mena Massoud: “It’s like being the behind-the-scenes guy that never gets seen. It was an interesting role to play and I got an insight into the my Publicist’s day to day. A lot of stuff shoots here in Toronto that isn’t Canadian and this was, and that was special to me give back to the community I came from. I grew up here so it’s important to come back and tell Canadian stories.”.

Justin:  What’s it like making a Film that’s so rich in Toronto history?

Nina Dobrev: “That was one of the main reasons I wanted to do this Film. Not only getting to come home and see my family and friends, but also to celebrate this beautiful city that we live in. There’s so much Toronto has to offer. For the first time in a long time we got to feature CN Tower and all the other landmarks we know so well instead of coming to Toronto to shoot for New York or some other big city and hide the great place that we live in. It’s such a melting pot. Most of the people in this country are immigrants and we really got to showcase that and also the struggle, the ups-and-downs in the workplace and how difficult it is to find work.”.

Justin: What was the most challenging part of the Movie for you?

Nina Dobrev: “The only scene I shot with Damian Lewis, but not because of Damian Lewis –  he’s an amazing, talented actor. The scene was kinda difficult, creepy and cringe-worthy and let’s just say there wasn’t a lot of acting required. It was really uncomfortable.”.

See our Chat:

Elevation Pictures release RUN THIS TOWN Friday, March 6, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/George Kozera/Elevation Pictures)