David Cronenberg. Orphan Black. Gabrielle. Enemy. Call Me Fitz. These five names might not strike a connection other than that they are distinctly Canadian, but they were fêted tonight as big Winners at the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards. The week-long Celebrations known as Canadian Screen Week culminated in a star-studded Red Carpet Bash at Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, seeing several of our Country’s Heroes and Heroines of the Screen convening proudly in the name of our artistic accomplishments.
Over the course of the week, Toronto-filmed Sci-Fi Series Orphan Black amassed a whopping ten wins including TV Drama tonight. Its Star Tatiana Maslany certainly has shined a light on Canadian Talent over the past year, garnering a Critics’ Choice Award south of the Border last June for her performance(s) as several identical Women revealed to be Clones. The 28-year-old Regina-born Actress won for Actress, TV Drama, which is seen on BBC America and the Space Channel in Canada. A Belle of the Ball, indeed.
Making a splash in the TV categories was Call Me Fitz, winning for TV Comedy. Starring former Beverly Hills, 90210 Hunk Jason Priestley and Tracy Dawson, both won Actor and Actress, TV Comedy respectively. Priestley also directed Maslany in the Feature Film Cas & Dylan, for which she received also a nomination for Actress, Motion Picture.
Warming hearts this evening was Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, who lit-up the Press Room with her big smile, tightly clasping onto her Trophy. The first-time Actress stars in Gabrielle, which won her coveted Actress, Motion Picture. The Coming-of-Age Tale centering on a musically-gifted Teen suffering from Williams Syndrome (a condition with which Marion-Rivard actually has been diagnosed), went-on to win in the category of Motion Picture for eOne Films. The Canadian Distributor also saw more accolades with its new release Enemy, filmed in Toronto and directed by Denis Villeneuve, going-on to win for Director, Motion Picture and Supporting Actress, Motion Picture with Sarah Gadon.
Iconic Filmmaker David Cronenberg was honoured this Evening with the Lifetime Achievement Award and to ring-in the occasion were long-time Collaborator Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello. Although both Actors were careful not to take away his spotlight, Mortensen did say in the Press Room introducing Cronenberg rather succinctly, “I don’t think he’s gotten the universal recognition he deserves”, proudly flaunting some Montreal Canadiens Merchandise. The ground-breaking Director indicated his focuses right now are his debut Novel, Consumed, which potentially will be made into a Film, and also his next release Maps to the Stars, which has its sights set on the Cannes Film Festival this Spring.
Curious to see what Executive Producer of Maps to the Stars, Martin Katz has to say about the eagerly-awaited Film starring Robert Pattinson, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack and Julianne Moore? Interested to see where Anna Silk and Fan’s Choice Screen Star – Zoie Palmer – might be headed next on Lost Girl? Will Mr. D Star Gerry Dee be returning to Woodbine Racetrack to call a few more races? What does Mia Kirshner say about the second Season of Defiance? What were George Stroumboulopoulos‘ 2014 Canadian Screen Award Predictions?
Watch this Video of Mr. Will‘s Red Carpet Chats with all the above here:
Above all the celebrations, we had a blast admiring up-close the Red Carpet Fashions whether it be Pretty Little Liars Star Shay Mitchell in a daring plunging neckline, Jessica Paré stunning in Stella McCartney, Maria Bello beautiful in Nicholas Oakwell or Katheryn Winnick ravishing in red by Romona Keveza. Even Dina Pugliese of CITY‘s Breakfast Television was a Goddess in Jovani! Swoon.
For a complete list of Winners, click here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
I’ll be the first to admit that 2013 has been a lackluster year for Productions in Toronto and it pains me to see the Films which our Friends in Vancouver and Montreal have been seeing, with an explosive amount of Star Power. That being said, I was thrilled to hear that the brilliant Mia Wasikowska would be among the Talent in the City filming this Summer. After seeing her at TIFF 2011, I was disappointed I never got my moment to meet her and the scheduling just didn’t align.
I will be the first to say I legitimately am an ardent Fan of the Australian-born Actress, whom we’ve come to know from her work in critical successes like Tim Burton‘s Alice in Wonderland, The Kids are All Right, Lawless, Jane Eyre, Albert Nobbs and more recently Park Chan- Wook‘s amazing Stoker. Wasikowska firmly has stamped her place among Hollywood’s next batch of A-Listers and she easily is one of my favourite young Actresses.
I spotted the Actress out and about tonight getting Take-out Italian after a long day on-set and she was absolutely gracious and lovely, despite surely wanting to head home in this ridiculous heat and humidity we’ve been facing. The Actress was spotted last week by Paparazzi with her Boyfriend Jesse Eisenberg in town and it melts my heart knowing how happy she is right now in love! We chatted with Eisenberg recently on a Press Day in Toronto and he was just awesome!
Wasikowska currently is filming David Cronenberg‘s Drama, Maps to the Stars in the City up till mid-August. It is said that she has a fair amount of scenes with Co-Star Robert Pattinson who is believed already to be in Toronto.
See our Snap:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Acclaimed British Actress Olivia Williams is among the Talent currently in Toronto filming David Cronenberg‘s latest Drama, Maps to the Stars. Tonight we spotted her returning back from a weekend Getaway at Lake Muskoka, impressively driving herself in her rented car, two hours outside the City. She was extremely lovely and humble, excusing her appearance not having any make-up on, before snapping a Photo graciously. Surely you will agree the Star of Films like Hanna, An Education, The Sixth Sense and upcoming Seventh Son, is absolutely stunning even without being made-up?
The Film, which just began production recently, already has seen several Members of its Principal Cast in town including John Cusack, Julianne Moore and Mia Wasikowska, who had the Tabloids and Entertainment Shows busy after she was spotted kissing Boyfriend Jesse Eisenberg last week here in the City. Robert Pattinson Fans have been awaiting updates anxiously about his arrival and the Twilight Star still has yet to be seen in Toronto.
Maps to the Stars, is said to be a scathing look at Hollywood’s relationship with Western Culture, filming in Toronto till mid-August.
See our Snap below:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Mongrel Media)
With a lack of Marquee Features to film in Toronto this Summer, David Cronenberg‘s long-gestating project, Maps to the Stars is confirmed to film in Toronto between Monday, July 8 through Monday, August 12, 2013. Co-produced by Entertainment One and Prospero Pictures, the Film as of last week had inked multiple distribution deals in Cannes and is said to be on the verge of closing even more deals in several other markets soon including Mexico, Hong Kong, India and Brazil.
The dark Drama based upon the Novel Dead Stars by Bruce Wagner, who also helms the Script, is said to be a scathing attack on Hollywood Celebrity Culture and the pursuit of Fame. Its most recognizable face, Robert Pattinson stars as Jerome and as announced prior, Julianne Moore and John Cusack star also as Havana and Sanford respectively. Moore was in the City just last Summer filming the Carrie Remake and we look forward to seeing her around again!
Recent additions to the Cast include Mia Wasikowska, Olivia Williams and Newcomer Evan Bird in the shocking role of a drug-addicted Child Actor. Toronto’s own Sarah Gadon, who has starred in Cronenberg‘s last two Films A Dangerous Method and Cosmopolis (opposite Pattinson), reunites with him a third time here.
More to come…
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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