#OSCARS: NOMINATIONS UNVEILED FOR 2017 ACADEMY AWARDS

As anticipated, LA LA LAND leads the 89th Academy Award nominations which were announced at 8:30 AM EST in Los Angeles.  The Musical, hot off seven Golden Globe wins garnered a whopping 14 nominations including Best Picture, Actress (Emma Stone), Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Directing (Chazelle), Writing (Chazelle) and more.  It also has two nods for Original Song with Audition and City of Stars. Chazelle in a statement today said, “I am thrilled that the Academy is celebrating the work of Emma and Ryan, who brought these characters to life with such humanity and depth, and also the work of my college roommate Justin who created the beautiful music.”.

Up for Best Picture are:

ARRIVAL

FENCES

HACKSAW RIDGE

HELL OR HIGH WATER

HIDDEN FIGURES

LA LA LAND

LION

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

MOONLIGHT

We had the pleasure of running promotions in 2016 for seven out of nine of these nominations and would like to congratulate our friends at these Canadian companies who distribute these Films: Elevation Pictures (Moonlight, Hacksaw Ridge), 20th Century Fox Canada (Hidden Figures), Paramount Pictures Canada (Arrival, Fences), VVS Films (Hell or High Water), Mongrel Media (Manchester by the Sea) and eOne Films (Lion, La La Land).

MOONLIGHT, seen widely as LA LA LAND‘s biggest threat for Best Picture, garners the second-most nods, tallying-in at a total of eight. The Film directed by up-and-comer and nominee Barry Jenkins has been a major force this Awards Season, a powerful response to an outcry of the prestigious awards lacking diversity.

This year, we see a total six black actors nominated including Viola Davis (Fences), Denzel Washington (Fences), Ruth Negga (Loving), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Naomie Harris (Moonlight) and Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures). We also see an Actor of English-Indian descent nominated for Supporting Actor, Dev Patel (Lion).  FENCES, starring an all-black cast, gets four nominations, while HIDDEN FIGURES, fronted by three black female principal actors, gets three nominations.

Davis, seen widely as the favourite in the Supporting Actress category stated, “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing this extraordinary, important film and my work in it. Thank you Denzel for being at the helm!”.

Although Canada’s submission for Foreign Language Film IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD missed the final shortlist, Canadians have plenty to be proud of with a total eight nominations, according to a congratulatory Press Release from Telefilm Canada:

Howard Barish, co-producer (13th), Documentary (Feature)
Sylvain Bellemare (Arrival), Sound Editing
Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Claude La Haye (Arrival), Sound Mixing
Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Actor in a Leading Role
Shawn Levy, co-producer (Arrival), Best Picture
Theodore Ushev (Blind Vaysha), Short Film (Animated), National Film Board of Canada
Patrice Vermette (Arrival), Production Design
Denis Villeneuve (Arrival), Directing

Some surprises from today’s announcements include a nod for three-time winner Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) in the Lead Actress category and Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) getting his second nomination today for Lead Actor. Many are surprised that despite getting recognized for Best Picture, ARRIVAL star Amy Adams did not garner a nod for Actress in a Leading Role with two strong performances this year – the other being NOCTURNAL ANIMALS – being a major force all Awards Season. Newcomer and a soon to be on Broadway Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) finds himself among great company for Supporting Actor.

Streep in a humorous visual statement, had this to say about her recognition:

 

Hilarious. Meryl Streep’s visual statement from @eOneFilms for her #FlorenceFosterJenkins nomination. pic.twitter.com/FANFWXG5kw

— MR. WILL WONG (@mrwillw) January 24, 2017

 

The 2017 Academy Awards air on ABC Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 7 PM EST.

(Photo credit: Oscars)

 

 

#TIFF13: THANK YOU TO ALL OFFICIAL MR. WILL TIFF ’13 PARTNERS!

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)

#TIFF13: eONE FILMS ANNOUNCES COMPLETE FESTIVAL ROSTER AND LAUNCH OF eONELIVE.COM!

As is the case every year, Alliance Films and eOne Films are a great presence at the Toronto International Film Festival, where we get a chance to see first some of their most prized Films which see a release throughout the year thereafter.  For the first time, together they are uniting as a giant force at the Festival, with an impeccable Line-up of Films headlined by the likes of Rush and August: Osage County, premiering here in just two weeks’ time!

See eOne Films‘ Complete Roster of Films at TIFF ’13 below:
12/12/12
Afflicted
Amazonia
The Art of the Steal
August: Osage County
Blue Ruin
Le Démantèlement
Enemy
The F Word
Gabrielle
The Grand Seduction
The Green Inferno
How I Live Now
Kill Your Darlings
The Love Punch
Man of Tai Chi
Mandela Long Walk for Freedom
Metallica Through the Never
One chance
Our Man in Tehran
Philomena
Rhymes for Young Ghouls
The Right Kind of Wrong
Rush
Sarah Préfère La Course
Stay
Tom à la Ferme
Tryptyque
The Unknown Known

Also today, eOneLive.com has officially launched giving Fans a chance to interact with Celebrities and Media alike, with a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at the Distributor’s TIFF Headquarters are Intercontinental Toronto Centre!  There also are chances to win Passes to Movies and some awesome Prizes!

The Website will feature:

• Photos, videos and interviews capturing the entire eOne TIFF Experience.

• An opportunity to submit questions to eOne‘s visiting Actors and Filmmakers and a chance to receive a personalized Video answer through a partnership with Carlton Cards called ‘the envelope.’

• Details on where to spot the Smart fortwo x BlackBerry. eOne‘s Smart fortwo will travel through downtown Toronto entertaining film fans with festival trivia and offering chances to win BlackBerry® 10 Smartphones, Dell Tablets, Tim Hortons Gift Cards and Screening Tickets.

• Entertaining tips and recipes featuring the President’s Choice^® Black Label Collection and festival-inspired cocktail ideas from SKYY Vodka

Don’t forget to check it out!

See who’s coming to town and how you can start planning your schedule right here!

(Photo credit: eOne Films)

#TORONTOBOUND: TERESA PALMER, NICHOLAS HOULT, JOSH DUHAMEL & JULIANNE HOUGH HERE NEXT MONDAY

Toronto hasn’t seen this much action since TIFF!  Next Monday will be a day of epic proportions as the Stars descend upon the City for two of February’s most anticipated Films.  I’ve been super-excited about 50/50 Director Jonathan Levine‘s Warm Bodies for quite some time now and the Adaptation of the Isaac Marion Zombie Novel will see both Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy) and Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four) here Monday, January 21, 2013.  The Duo will be at MuchMusic‘s New.Music.Live to promote the February 1, 2013 release for eOne Films.  Frozen Yogurt Chain Yogurty’s is giving away Prize Packs and Passes to a Private Screening.  Details here.

If that weren’t exciting enough, equally-Hotties Josh Duhamel (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton) and Julianne Hough (Rock of Ages) will be promoting Safe Haven that same day and they are expected to walk the Red Carpet for the Canadian Premiere of the Romantic-Thriller later that night.  The Adaptation of the Bestselling Nicholas Sparks Novel also will see the two Actors doing a round of Press earlier in the day in support of the February 14, 2013 release for Entertainment One‘s Alliance Films.  Tickets for the Premiere will be made available via KISS 92.5 and also the Alliance Films Facebook Page.

I had the pleasure of meeting both Leading Ladies, Palmer and Hough, back in 2011 and they are both as gracious and lovely as they appear.  We are blessed to host them once again and without a doubt, both Films are expected to perform massively.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

ALLIANCE FILMS ACQUIRED BY ENTERTAINMENT ONE LTD.

As confirmed today, Alliance Films has been acquired by Entertainment One Ltd.,  having been formed in 1984. Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Investissement Quebec which formerly owned Alliance Films and approval was received for the Transaction by the Canadian Competition Bureau last week. The final purchase price reported is a figure of $225 million (CAN), expanding eOne‘s Film Library now to 35,000 Titles.

Although changes in Personnel would not be a surprise, Alliance Films have been a huge part of our success over the past three years and I have made many wonderful Friends there who have been nothing but supportive.  In fact, Alliance Films were the first Film Distributor to partner my then Blog, Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven for Giveaways.  I am forever indebted to them for all the kindness they have extended to my Readers and myself and I wish my Friends nothing but  success going forward in this next chapter ahead.

For more information on the Acquisition, click here.

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)