Pretty steamy!  Haagen-Dazs has enlisted to services of Academy Award Nominee Bradley Cooper in their latest Ad Campaign and the results will make you melt.  The TV Spot sees Cooper and Model Jana Perez exchanging glances, striking an instant connection. Just as they’re about to get to it, alas it is the unmistakable power of Ice Cream which prevails.  Women will love this, but not so sure it’ll be effective in gaining sales from their Male Demographic. LOL

Really well done, yes?

Watch the TV Spot below:

It’s been a while since I’ve had a good Chat with my Readers and Followers, so I reached-out to everyone on Facebook and Twitter for their most burning questions and replied with as much insight as possible.  Enjoy and thank you for your continued loyalty and support, Wongsters!

xMr. Will

‏@Cindyandtheboys asks, “What was your motivation to get you started on what you do?”.

Hey Cindy!   I’ve been a Stargazer for many years and my love for Film and Pop Music is unparalleled.  I used to be the Kid who rushed to MuchMusic after class waiting by the window  for Gwen Stefani to come out and sign an Autograph and I have been attending TIFF as long as my Bank Account permitted.

By 2009, I had amassed so many Photos of my Celebrity Adventures that I created my Blog as an Outlet to combine my passions for Photography, Film, Music and Writing together in one and kicked it off around TIFF.  It would’ve been a severe waste having them sit dormant on my Computer or just on Facebook.   From there, I developed a passion getting Photos with my personal Heroes and Heroines because it gives me something to immortalize the experience by and well, it’s fun!

Word-of-mouth spread locally fairly quickly about my Blog. Some loved the idea, calling it one of the few true Celebrity Blogs to come out of Canada and some thought it nothing special.  Before I knew it, I was booking time off work to interview Bradley Cooper and Channing Tatum, and was on TV talking about Stars and even profiled on the National Post.  Last year, CBC listed me as one of the three most key People in the City to follow during TIFF.  So that’s that.  I love what I do as tiring as it is juggling three or four things on-the-go constantly and have no plans to stop because most of the time it doesn’t feel like work.

@MRDISCO3 asks, “What do you top your burgers with?”.

Hey Paresh! Good question. I’ve been off meat for three months now. Pitching-in my part to reduce my own Carbon Footprint as a Citizen of the Earth. Meatless Mondays, People. Google it and do it!

But to answer your question, if I could create my own Veggie Burger it would have: Jalapeños, Lettuce, Tomato, Sriracha Hot Sauce, Honey Mustard, Avocado/Guacamole, Sautéed Mushrooms and some crumbled Blue Cheese. It would be like a foot tall, really.  Maybe I’d throw a fried Egg on for added Protein too.  Is that too decadent? Is it?!?  I also recently accidentally discovered Salsa on Fries and it is incredible!

@CTRice asks, “What was the first screening you ever saw?”.

Hi Tristan (Scene Creek, everybody!!!), I could never forget my first Screening. It was back in April 1996, Jane Eyre at Alliance-Atlantis Cumberland 4. My Cousin Nancy had won passes and we were going to trek Downtown from Scarborough for a Movie and some amazing Ice Cream at Mövenpick (Richtree Markets) after.

I remember getting into a huge misunderstanding with my Dad that day right in front of my Cousin who came over for Dinner about something terribly mundane.  My Dad offered to wash dishes so I could hurry to the Movie and I asked, “Really!?” maybe perhaps a little too excited, which he interpreted as sarcasm but really it wasn’t! I basically got a lashing verbally for no reason and remember sobbing all the way to the theatre because I was embarrassed and two, I was looking forward to my first Screening for days and felt my night was ruined.  By the time I got home, things were fine again.

It wasn’t a v. exciting Adaptation of Jane Eyre to be honest and obviously I’ve been to many more enjoyable Screenings ever since. It’s a miracle I wasn’t scarred from wanting to go to the Movies ever again!

@Typo_eh and Kathi on Facebook ask, “Who was your worst Celebrity experience?”.

Hi Siobhán!!  Hi Kathi!!  Are you guys psychically-linked or something?!   Well, other than being shouted at by Ashley Judd after asking her nice and civil for a Photo, which then spilled over into a debacle on Twitter, I’d say the worst experience ever was Lady Gaga. A couple years ago I was being harassed daily by someone over E-mail and on my Blog.  I had Tracking Reports pulled and he would view the same page over and over 20-30 times some nights in the wee hours of the morning.  This Reader thought he’d do himself a favour and entertain himself by emailing Lady Gaga‘s Management a slanderous E-mail with my Photo, claiming that I was violent and dangerous, essentially getting me blacklisted when she visited Toronto.

Not realizing this, being the huge Fan I was, I asked her for a Photo upon exiting her Hotel amidst the hoards of Fans and Autograph Seekers. I cannot say that  I enjoyed being shoved against a Topiary by her Security Guard Ed and once I recovered, he forcefully shoved me a second time as several eye witnesses watched. Of course, nobody genuinely cared as they were there to see Lady Gaga, admiring their Photos with her and their Autographs.  It was particularly heart-breaking because I love her Music so much and at that point I had gone to every single Toronto Show she ever had, owning all her Singles and CDs. I had T-Shirts and Posters.  I was gaga for Gaga.

This Jerk who has been chasing Celebrities for years, tried the same tactic multiple times, including a Jessica & Ashlee Simpson appearance at The Bay, which I actually was invited to in order to snap Photos in the Pit for my Blog.  I was escorted out by Security once they matched a sent Photo with my face.  Of course, another Blogger who absolutely despises me, caught wind of this and went to town, spreading word quickly that I was ejected from the Venue.  Hmm. 

I knew this was really getting serious when the Head of Security at a major American Network in New York City called me to clue me onto an E-mail he received from him regarding two Actors from the Network who were filming a TV Movie in Toronto.  Of course, he knew right away that this Person’s intentions were malicious from the E-mail and just wanted to give me a heads-up out of the goodness of his heart. Multiple Publicists also reached out to me around that time regarding similar type E-mails, which thankfully they knew better than to believe.

Eventually, I got one step ahead of the game when a certain British Boy Band came to town.  Their Security Guard noticed me, pulling me aside to show me one of these slanderous E-mails on his Phone. Low and behold, the Jerk showed-up  also, hoping to get a Photo  and like an episode of Cheaters, I outed him in front of everybody including the Band, who chimed-in, giving me hi-fives and encouragement.  He was a mess and left in tears.

The messed-up thing is that after that occurrence, I’d receive messages from this Jerk threatening to inflict harm on himself because of my actions and he’d gone about posting my Home Address on Twitter.  Essentially, I was being stalked and didn’t even know it.  I and others know well that this Person is not mentally stable, so I feel bad even writing about this and bringing it up, but at this point I really don’t care anymore.  And such a Drama needs to be heard because I get so many Tweets and messages from others who wish they were me because apparently my life is so perfect!

He’s left me alone ever since, but the damage has been done and I’m sure someone who didn’t know me better might have a skewed perception of me from what they’ve heard. Looking back though, I don’t know why I didn’t do more about it.  I’ve moved on and hopefully he has found some sense of balance.

@CTRice asks, “Has a Celebrity ever denied to take a photo with you?”.

Impossible!  LOL Just kidding, of course! I’ve been turned down before and it’s inevitable it will happen and I respect that, but I’d say one of the harsher Declines came from Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  Once I was one-on-one with him and he chuckled at me and walked off after I asked nicely for a Photo. Hence, when I hear stories from those who have had positive experiences with him and what a great Guy he is, my eyes just roll.

Or how about running into Claire Danes at the Grocery Store only for her to react as if I had SARS or something when asking her for a Snap?  She quite literally jumped three feet back. I saw her in the neighbourhood a few times after that and didn’t bother her again. That was fun.  Some are nice when the Cameras are on, some value their Privacy more than others.

Of course, it’s the few who got away that I remember most when in reality a vast majority of Celebrities I’ve met have been more than nice and accommodating.  Once, Nicole Kidman came over to take a Snap with me during TIFF and then some super-annoying Girl got in the way, getting her Photo  and then Nicole was pulled away by her Handler. That hurt.  And do you believe the Girl eventually found my Blog and had the audacity to ask me to remove the Photo I snapped of her and Nicole?  Go away.

Last year Penélope Cruz said “yes” to the Photo but then suddenly changed her mind when her Publicist said she had to go.  That hurt equally bad on a Nicolean level.   I also met Julia Roberts once candidly and although she said “no” to the Photo she was still nice to chat and be kind, offering to sign an Autograph instead which still was gracious. She wrote “TO WILL, PEACE, JULIA“. That was “pretty” epic.

@apluswagvantage asks, “You despised the Celebrity’s Album/Movie/TV Show/Persona. How are you gracious when interviewing him/her?”.

Hi Charles! I generally don’t approach a Celebrity for a Photo unless I have some admiration for their Work, so that takes care of the forced graciousness thing, I guess!  🙂  Autographs are something I used to love collecting, but now I do it more for my Readers and help them experience  a part of the magic when they can’t physically be there with me.  The Photo-with means much more to me.

I have however been a part of Press Tours where the Talent promoting the Film literally are in the Movie for like one scene and it’s like pulling teeth to concoct something profound and throught-provoking to ask. That horrific feeling that you’re going to say something foolish… your palms get sweaty and your throat gets dry. At that point, you just have to take the reins and broaden the scope and somehow find something to connect and relate to about the Film.  That’s happened more than a couple times!

Sari on Facebook asks, “Who was the nicest Celeb that you have met?”.

So many, Sari! Adele, Katy Perry, Linda Hamilton, Hugh Jackman, Jessica Chastain, Nia Vardalos, Colin Farrell, Colin Firth,  Michael Fassbender, Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, Michael Bublé, Abbie Cornish all go beyond and above the Call of Duty and consistently do it time and again! I even brought a tear to Adele’s eye letting her know how much her Music meant to me once. So personable!

I understand that the scale of Celebrity “niceness” often depends on how their day’s going, but these named individuals consistently wow me every time and I’m sure there are several more I’m neglecting.

Terri on Facebook asks, “Seems to me that in recent months you have achieved some of your childhood dreams….What dreams of Celebs or Events have still eluded you and what bigger dreams Mr. Will are you hoping to reach for?”.

Hey Terri! There is so much to accomplish still.  The end goal is to continue building a groundbreaking Fan-centric Website and go-to source for Celebrities and Entertainment in Toronto. I am continually trying to expand my scope further and build new Partnerships for my Readers, getting them a taste of all that good stuff first! I aspire to do this full-time and slowly am getting there. One day we’ll perhaps have a more national presence even!

I’d love to attend the Oscars and Grammys one day as basically I live for those two, and I am kinda obsessed with the Golden Globes too!  I’ve still never visited L.A.  One day.  My dream Interviews would be Natalie Portman, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway or Kate Winslet.  I’ve met Mariah Carey before, but would really want to reflect on her Career with her over some Champagne. That would be perfect.

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The Avengers won top honours tonight at 2013 MTV Movie Awards held at Los Angeles’ Sony Pictures Studios, nabbing coveted Movie of the Year, in addition to Best Fight and Best Villain with British Actor Tom Hiddleston.  The Blockbuster uniting various Marvel Superheroes, grossing over $1.5 billion worldwide has a Sequel on the way, scheduled for May 1, 2015.

Silver Linings Playbook not only won Jennifer Lawrence her first Oscar,  but she always was awarded Best Actress as was her Co-Star Bradley Cooper, who earned Best Actor. Both currently are reuniting with Director David O. Russell on his latest as-yet-untitled Film, along with Christian Bale and Jeremy Renner with production taking place in Boston.

Although a Sequel is still in the works, the Cast of Sleeper Hit Pitch Perfect reunited on-stage at the beginning of the Show tonight, eventually going on to win Best Musical Moment.  Star Rebel Wilson filled hosting duties tonight and dared to shock with some controversially over-the-top outfits including a double-nipple number.

In an odd turn of events, Funnywoman Aubrey Plaza crashed Will Ferrell‘s Acceptance Speech, wrestling his Comedic Genius Award out of his hand.  It was learned that she later was ejected from the Venue for her behaviour, although it is said she purely behaved so as a Publicity Stunt for her upcoming Film The To-Do List. Point taken.

Fan Favourite The Twilight Saga of course didn’t walk away empty despite the Franchise having ended.  Its Star Taylor Lautner was awarded Best Shirtless Scene.

For a complete list of Winners which also included Emma Watson and Jamie Foxx, click here.

(Photo credit: Reuters)

A brand new Trailer for The Hangover Part III has just premiered and here we see the Wolf Pack get into all sorts of antics yet again in Las Vegas, with  more of a focus here on the destructive friendship between Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis).  Basically there are Roosters, Gunshots and somehow Bradley Cooper winds-up dangling on a rope made of sheets from his Hotel window.  Just your average Boys’ Night Out.

Watch the Trailer below:

The Movie which brought Ryan & Eva together. After premiering at TIFF last September to positive Reviews, finally The Place Beyond the Pines sees a release later this month. Reuniting Director/Writer Derek Cianfrance together with Ryan Gosling after their fantastic Collaboration, Blue Valentine, the Drama is about a Stunt Driver (Gosling) who provides for his unborn Child and Lover (Eva Mendes) by robbing banks. A Rookie Cop (Bradley Cooper) however is onto him, he himself dealing with internal issues in reporting to a corrupt Detective (Ray Liotta). Think Drive, but with a Motorbike, a Baby and Corruption!  LOL

Regardless, the Film looks amazing and despite it being early still, the Critics of Rotten Tomatoes have pegged it at 92% on their Tomatometer.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

Of course, I’ve met some of the amazing Cast of The Place Beyond the Pines over the years and it’s always seeing a Film blossom after it premieres at TIFF!

Rolling Stone Magazine got the exclusive Behind-the-Scenes with some amazing Photos during filming in Schenectady. Click here for more!

eOne Films releases The Place Beyond the Pines on April 12, 2013.

(Photo/video credit: eOne Films)

In a rare move, Warner Bros. is premiered the first official Trailer for The Hangover Part III earlier today live via Satellite only for Media. The Digital Trailer now is finally available for the rest of us!

The Comedy is the final installment in Todd Phillips’ record-breaking Comedy Trilogy, reuniting Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Justin Bartha together again and this time around there is no Bachelor Party nor a Wedding. So what could go wrong, right?

Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, Jamie Chung and Mike Tyson also will be returning in this final Installment.

Watch the full Trailer below:

Warner Bros. releases The Hangover Part III on May 24, 2013.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

Approximately 160 Nominees gathered  to attend the annual Luncheon in advance of the 85th Academy Awards, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel today in Los Angeles. The Event, considered a Rite of Passage for Hollywood’s Elite, is highlighted by a Nominees Group Portrait.  Attending this year included the likes of Ben Affleck, Jessica Chastain, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Watts and several more.

According the Oscars Producer Craig Zadan, a focus this year will be placed on eliminating small time-consuming lags, which consistently drive the Ceremony into Overtime and just generally everyone watching into Panic Mode.  He says, “You start adding up those 30 seconds, and you have an accumulation of time that you can use for Entertainment. So that’s what we’re doing. We’re learning a lot about the things that we don’t need in the show.  The main goal is to honor the Nominees and the Winners.”. 

This remains to be seen as hopefully we won’t have to deal with the embarassing sight of the Orchestra playing as Hathaway forcefully zips her way through that one Speech she’s waited her whole life to make!

The Oscars air on ABC Sunday February 24, 2013 at 7:00 PM EST.

(Photo credit: @TheAcademy)

This frickin‘ killed me!  Right in-time for its release today, Jennifer Lawrence visited The Ellen DeGeneres Show and admitted that her Mom recently stole her Oscars Ballot, voted and mailed it in.  Fortunately enough, Lawrence‘s Mom mailed it to the wrong address and it got returned to Sender.  On whether or not she agreed with her Mom’s choices, Lawrence replied, “Uh.. no.”. Lawrence who despite being nominated for an Oscar for her work in 2010 Drama Winter’s Bone, only recently was inducted into the Academy.

Of course there is tons of Oscar buzz already for 22-year-old Lawrence who portrays a young Woman with Bipolar Tendencies in the hilarious new Comedy from David O. Russell (The Fighter), alongside Bradley Cooper.  Currently still working on The Hunger Games Sequel Catching Fire in Atlanta, Lawrence was just in Toronto this past September for TIFF, where Silver Linings Playbook premiered to warm reception, winning the People’s Choice Award.

See a couple Snaps I got of the current Brunette here and here.

Read my Review of Silver Linings Playbook here.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

After being institutionalized, Pat (Bradley Cooper) transitions back to his normal life again, staying with his Parents Dolores (Jackie Weaver) and Pat Sr. (Robert DeNiro).  His ultimate goal is to reconcile with his Wife, proving to her that they can pick-up where things left off, but along the way he meets an equally troubled Woman named Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence).  Matters become complicated as they both get to know one another, confusing what it is that Pat really wants, as they prepare  themselves with a challenge of an upcoming local Dance Competition.

David O. Russell (The Fighter) helms and writes  a beautiful Piece here with rich, complex and flawed Characters, maintaining our interest and support throughout.  Make no mistake though, Silver Linings Playbook is a Comedy and it is chalk full of biting humour  and you will leave feeling uplifted. Its message is central and universal – with love you achieve and endure anything, no matter what you’re working against.

Oscar-nominated Lawrence‘s performance here is a true revelation, commanding our attention at all times with Tiffany‘s presence. Just wait till you see her school the Boys on Football in one scene and surely, a great deal of discipline was required to learn some of the Choreography in the Film. Cooper is endearing as a lovesick Man who at moments is unable to contain his emotions or bite his tongue – at once grating and incredibly charming.

Whether or not Silver Linings Playbook has the meatiness to win Best Picture at the Oscars remains to be seen, but on its own it surely is a Movie I’d love to see again! Alliance Films releases on November 21, 2012.

TIFF 2012 was another great Festival.  The fact that Toronto plays Host to such a prestigious and glamorous event is a true testament to the level of respect the Film Industry has for our City. I am so proud to be a Torontonian and proud of my fellow Torontonians who made it all happen, from the Hot Dog Vendors who fed those of us with no time for a sit-down meal, to the Celebrity Drivers and Security Guards for keeping everyone out of harm’s way.

This year I met many Stars and my only regret is not being able to be at two places at once with the opening weekend crammed with Stars. Although this is nothing new for the Festival, let’s just say I never want to be faced with having to decide between Johnny Depp versus Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence versus Emma Watson, Tom Hanks versus Jackie Chan versus Will Smith ever again!  Whomever schedules the times and locations of these Premieres certainly wasn’t a Star Spotter, that much I can say. Nightmare.

Ask Hanks, who called-out the Festival Organizers at the Press Conference for Cloud Atlas, asking: “Why do you run your celebrities through a pin like we’re bulls on the way to slaughter? It’s the narrowest  kind of like entrance to a theater I’ve ever had.”.  So believe me, it’s not just the Fans who are complaining – the Celebrities also have thoughts on the matter.

Thank you for being there along the way with me, tuning-in on CP24 and CTV News and reading my Posts as I dozed off on my keyboard fighting to finish that one more Blog Post at 5:00 AM.  I can now look forward to catching-up on sleep once again, spotting Stars in the City at a far more reasonable pace and being Billy‘s Dad again.  Oh, how I’ve missed that little Guy.  And oh, how I know come January (when the Stars are sparse in the City) that I’ll be wishing it was September again!

  Until next year…

xMr. Will

List of Celebrities: Vanessa Hudgens, John Krasinski, Flava Flav, Ashley Benson, Kevin Zegers, Karl Urban, Alice Englert, Derek Cianfrance, Stephen Fung, Ben Mendelsohn, Dane DeHaan, Lana Wachowski, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, Glen Powell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Liana Liberato, Jessica Mauboy, June Diane Raphael, Trudie Styler, Mickey Sumner, Kristen Wiig, Sam Taylor-Wood, Aaron Johnson, Eva Mendes, Elle Fanning, Christina Hendricks, Kevin James, Adam Sandler, Fran Drescher, Molly Shannon, Tate Donovan, Ben Affleck, Coco, Ice-T, Amy Adams, Gina Torres, Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano, Frank Grillo, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Shannon, Viggo Mortensen, Gael Garcia Bernal, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jason Bateman, Paula Patton, Marisa Tomei, Julie Benz, Lorenza Izzo, Jacqueline MacInnes-Wood, Patrick J. Adams & Tatyana Ali, Gregory Smith, Penelope Mitchell, Abbie Cornish, Logan Lerman, Toby Irvine, Jeremy Irvine, Emile Hirsch, Chris O’Dowd, Lee Daniels, Kiowa Gordon, Alessandro Nivola, Zac Efron, Octavia Spencer and Shannon Leto.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)