I live wholeheartedly for TIFF but before it all begins, I must take a moment to acknowledge and thank you generous Supporters who make it possible for me. We’re doing it bigger and better than ever this year and can’t wait to have you along on one of the most fun Digital Journeys in the City between Wednesday, September 3, 2014 and Sunday, September 14, 2014! We’ll be spotting Stars, interviewing a couple big names and reviewing (with the help of our amazing Contributors Justin Waldman, Jonathan Godfrey and David Baldwin) first all those Films which comprise the Awards Season Trail before everybody else! We know how much you love those Giveaways too. We just might have a trick or two up our sleeves for you Willionaire$!
This year, we’d like to thank:
HOTEL NOVOTEL TORONTO CENTRE
Now that I’m in the ‘burbs temporarily, a downtown presence means so much to me TIFF ’14 and this wonderful Hotel places me right where I need to be. I am so grateful for Hotel Novotel Toronto Centre for their generosity once again this year in providing accommodations for part of the Festival. After a long day at it, the first thing I need most comfort and a desk on which to update my Site. After enjoying my stay so much last year, Billy and I cannot wait to crash on that amazingly soft bed once again! I also am awful excited about that Breakfast Buffet at Cafe Nicole. Hello, Bread Bar! More here.
SAMSUNG CANADA
I’ll admit that I have never used a Tablet in my life so I look forward to trying one for the first time in style, the Galaxy Tab S from Samsung Canada. With its spacious screen, Super Amoled Display and Ultra Power Saving Mode, I’ll be counting on this Beauty to be my Communication Hub and perhaps even be blogging directly from it TIFF ’14!
For the first time also, I’ll be trying-out the Samsung Galaxy S5 as my main means of communication during the Festival. I look forward to Tweeting, Facebooking and Instagramming with all of you from that 5.1″ screen and up to 13 hours of battery life, about all my exciting Star Spottings and which Films you should be seeing! More here.
NIKON CANADA
For the first time TIFF ’14, I’ll be operating fully with an SLR Camera thanks to Nikon Canada and their amazing Nikon D3300 HDSLR! I’ll be shooting in 24.2 megapixels and am rather excited about that wireless adapter for easy of uploading. Just think all those amazing Selfies and Red Carpet Snaps I’ll be posting with this! Can’t wait to see who we’ll spot and snap! More here.
FORD CANADA
I am a strong Believer in driving Hybrid Vehicles, not only for obvious environmental benefits, but also their fuel efficiency. I am so pumped – pardon the pun – to drive the 2015 Ford Fusion ENERGI SE this TIFF as I cruise along the Highway with my SiriusXM! Those heated front seats surely will come in handy on those chilly TIFF nights and its compact size is perfect for those tight spots downtown. More here.
H&M CANADA
Anyone who peeks into my wardrobe would know it’s basically all H&M. I adore H&M Canada and will be wearing them till the day I die. Once again this, I’m so honoured to be sporting pieces from the Powerhouse Retailer’s Fall 2014 Men’s Collection. My look has always been casual, fun, colourful and no-fuss, making H&M my perfect Companion. More here.
CP24
Anyone who lives in Southern Ontario knows exactly what to tune into any which time of the day. For the sixth consecutive year, I’ve been asked to contribute to CP24‘s TIFF ’14 coverage. Tune-in at any point throughout the Festival to see me either in-studio or on-the-street, in addition to the many Snaps I’ll be taking! Also at points during the Festival, I’ll be on Sister Station, CTV NEWS too! More here.
IT LOUNGE 2014
One of the most coveted Celebrity Gift Lounges won’t be that far away for my Willionaire$ this year! We are partnering with our friends at NKPR to give you a chance to win an exclusive IT Lounge Prize Pack/VIP Experience! Always been curious what Celebs get access to in those ultra-exclusive Lounges when they visit for TIFF? You’ll soon find out! More here.
OUT THERE TIFF HOSPITALITY SUITE AND LOUNGE
We love Melissa DiMarco and once again this year we’re thrilled to give Readers a chance to enjoy her Oasis situated out of Intercontinental Hotel. Don’t be surprised if you see a Star or four milling about! A great opportunity to relax, grab a bite/drink and mingle with Industry types.
Stay tuned, we’ll certainly have some surprises here throughout TIFF ’14 and were happy to bring some of our Readers to Red Carpet Premieres up-close and personal with the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson and Jake Gyllenhaal. Some even got to attend some glam Parties!
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Happy TIFF ’14, Willionaire$!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
TIFF ’13 certainly was one of our most star-filled Festivals yet and we wouldn’t have made it through without the generosity of our Partners. A warm-hearted thank you goes to Hotel Novotel Toronto Centre, Honda Canada, Out There with Melissa DiMarco, Grosch Film Works Open House, eOne Live, Mongrel Media, Touchwood PR, Remstar Films, CP24, George Stroumboulopoulos’ Made in Canada Lounge, Olympus, Samsung Canada, Nella Bella and H&M Canada for their amazing generosity.
HOTEL NOVOTEL TORONTO CENTRE – with a classic European charm and situated right in the heart of Downtown Toronto (close to the action of the Film Festival!), I enjoyed my stay immensely in my Executive Suite. The Staff were amazingly-attentive and friendly and the biggest plus of all is that they are Dog-friendly, alleviating a lot of my stresses as it enabled me to check-in on Billy throughout the day. Billy and I already miss our spacious suite, extremely-cozy bed, large-screen Television at our desk. We hope certainly to visit again soon! And did I mention the amazing Breakfast Buffet? They understood fully my need for Caffeine, giving me my own Coffee Carafe! I soon discovered for myself why it is that Café Nicole is known for having the “best bread in the City” and once you see for yourself their Bread Counter, you too will know why!
HONDA CANADA – this was my first opportunity driving the 2013 Honda Accord Touring and it was amazing. I made full use of its Econ button and made it through the Festival on less than $30 in gas. Comfy leather seats, a USB port to charge my phone and listen to my MP3s through the superb sound system, plus lightning quick response places this Vehicle at the top of its class. The customizable temperature for Driver and Passenger also came in ultra-handy. And did I mention it’s quite a Looker too? Stunning.
OLYMPUS – although I struggled with the Selfies on this slippery and fast, state-of-the art Camera, several were happy to help me snap my Photos with the Stars. Of the Photos I did take on it, the resolution (16 MP) and clarity were astounding. It was remarkably quick to get the Shot under every varied degree of lighting in which it was tested. I am proud of the Photos the Olympus PEN E-PL5 took for me during TIFF ’13 and it is a great median for those of us who demand more than the quality of a Point-and-Shoot, yet are turned off from the lack of discreteness of a full-on SLR. Review some of my awesome Snaps here.
H&M CANADA – it definitely was chilly this TIFF on the whole, but I managed to be dressed for the weather in my Cardigans from H&M’s Fall 2013 Collection. I am proud to say that in one of my appearances on CP 24, super-popular Television Personality Stephen LeDrew took a moment to praise my style on- air and I definitely couldn’t have earned that without H&M!
MONGREL MEDIA – for the first time, my Readers were given a chance to get the VIP Experience including Passes to their Premieres and annual TIFF Party, thanks to one of Canada’s most important Film Distributors. John Curran‘s Tracks easily was one of my fave TIFF ’13 Films and I look forward to supporting some of their exciting new releases!
SPOKE AGENCY & eONE LIVE – having just launched in time for TIFF, eOne Live takes Film Fans on a digital experience behind the scenes at TIFF unlike any other. Where else can you snoop what Celebs took in their Tim Hortons’ Coffee? Thanks to eOne Live, Mr. Will Readers got into the Red Carpet Premiere of Enemy seeing Jake Gyllenhaal up-close and personal and also the well-received Documentary One Chance! We love eOne Films and are mega-excited about eOne Live!
TOUCHWOOD PR & REMSTAR FILMS – Mr. Will Readers went berserk for the chance to attend the Red Carpet Premiere of Don Jon with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson and we owe them a huge thanks for the opportunity! We are thrilled to partner and spread the word about their exciting slate of Films including TIFF-premiered Oscar Contender Dallas Buyers Club!
NELLA BELLA – my one trusty Sidekick this TIFF was my amazing and spacious Stockholm Bag by Nella Bella. The Canadian-made, Vegan-material Bag endured super-long days, gruelling wear-and-tear, plus torrential rainfall, protecting my all my important gear. It also saw its share of Stars along the way! Stockholm, you’ve been promoted to my permanent Bag of Choice!
OUT THERE WITH MELISSA DiMARCO – we were extremely well-cared for by the Team behind this wonderful Entertainment Staple (now seen on FOX in the U.S.!) during TIFF ’13, an Oasys amidst the chaos. Thank you Team Out There for your hospitality and thanks for giving Mr. Will Readers a chance to be on the inside at your amazing Hospitality Suite!
SAMSUNG CANADA – A big part of the Mr. Will TIFF Experience is the Social Media aspect and if you spotted me at some point during the Festival, I probably was buried in my Smartphone Instagramming and Tweeting away. I wouldn’t have been able to survive the long 20-hour days with any less a Smartphone than the Samsung Galaxy S4. When I didn’t have enough time to grab for my Camera, the S4 was there to get the Snap in amazing 13 MP-resolution! Its remarkable style, large touchscreen and super-fast processing speed make it the only possible go-to for days as draining as TIFF. It certainly has the goods to back-up its self-proclamation as a “Life Companion”!
GROLSCH FILM WORKS OPEN HOUSE – Although I’m not a huge Beer Drinker, there is only one thing and one thing only htat I wanted after standing on-foot for hours on-end in the sun… some ice-cold Grolsch Lager – the official Beer of TIFF. Thank you Grolsch Film Works Open House for the refreshment and some relaxation away from the bustle!
GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS’ MADE IN CANADA LOUNGE – It’s always been a dream of ours to visit a TIFF Gifting Lounge and this year we went straight to the top, getting an exclusive invite into Canadian Icon George Stroumboulopoulos’ highly-coveted Made in Canada Lounge where we got to enjoy some of the amazing homegrown products which several A-Listers like Joseph Gordon-Levitt took home. We will never forget. Thank you Best PR Boutique for the hospitality.
CP24 – Last but not least, thank you to the Team at CP24 for having me again this year, providing me an Outlet to share my TIFF Excitement with all of Southern Ontario! I look forward to TIFF ’14 already!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all official Mr. Will Partners.
…until next TIFF!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
And they’ve arrived – safe and sound. Mega-Hotties Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough arrived quietly into Toronto last night, up and at ’em early for a hectic Press Day for their Romantic Thriller, Safe Haven. The Adaption of the best-selling Novel by Nicholas Sparks is set to open this Valentine’s Day via Entertainment One‘s Alliance Films in Canada. The Film centers on Katie (Hough), a Woman who arrives in Southport, North Carolina, falling in love with Widower (Duhamel), which forces her to confront her dark, mysterious past.
Duhamel and Hough who looked a picture-perfect Duo together, appeared at KISS 92.5‘s Roz & Mocha Show (listen here) earlier today, before stopping-off at City‘s Breakfast Television (watch here), before completing a morning Trifecta capped-off at CP24 Breakfast (watch here). The Actors will be doing an afternoon of Press out of their Hotel, before appearing on an action-packed New.Music.Live at MuchMusic, which also will see Warm Bodies Stars Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. A Star-filled Day in the City indeed.
I caught-up with the Stars as they arrived for their Breakfast Television appearance this morning and they both were gracious to Fans stopping to sign Autographs and snap Photos despite being in a crazy rush to their next destination. The Festivities continue at Scotiabank Theatre tonight where the Canadian Premiere of Safe Haven takes place, as Duhamel and Hough walk the Red Carpet. We’ll be there, so stay tuned for our Interview!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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