Toronto rolled out the Pink Carpet for a v. special Guest tonight as the talented and equally beautiful Matt Bomer made his way in to promote HBO‘s next sure-fire Awards Season Vehicle, a Film Adaptation of TONY-winning Play, The Normal Heart.

If the thought-provoking Storyline set in the early ’80s amidst the onset of the AIDS Epidemic doesn’t move you, then maybe its Cast will. A brilliant Ensemble of Mark Ruffalo, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Jonathan Groff and Julia Roberts light-up the screen, telling a heartbreaking Tale about a Disease which some  thirty-plus years a later is still at the forefront of debate despite several educational and medical advancements.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the piercingly blue-eyed Bomer – known best for his starring role in White Collar as Neal Caffrey and for a glimpse in Magic Mike – who plays Felix, opposite Ruffalo’s Ned Weeks.  The latter is seen at the center of the Story as an Activist struggling to bring HIV/AIDS  to the political forefront, while also facing crippling internal struggle within his group of Activists at once.  Seen arriving tonight quietly also was Simon Halls, Bomer‘s Husband of three years.

Bomer tells me that he got much of his education about AIDS as a 14-year-old reading the original Play on which this Film is based. “It infuriated me growing-up in suburban Texas that nobody was doing anything about it”, he remembers. “I would’ve been honoured to tell this Story on on any medium.  The fact that we’re doing it for HBO just compounds the experience.”.

On building a passionate chemistry with Co-Star Mark Ruffalo, he has some high praise for his on-screen Lover. “Mark is just a consummate Professional and an incredible Man. We knew we had an unlimited amount of time to spend together so we kinda tried to just stay in character”, he states. “Thanks to him – I couldn’t have done it without him. He brought so much into it every day that he inspired me to do better.”.

The 24th edition of one of the World’s top LGBT Film Festivals reached a high point this year with much attention shined on the Festival in its securing an exclusive Premiere billing for the Marquee Title, The Normal Heart. On its steady ascension from a grassroots Film Festival to its lucrative partnership with TIFF, Andrew Murphy and Scott Ferguson of Inside Out explain, “It was an evolution.  It evolved as Queer Film evolved.  We’re lucky to have passionate people involved who are willing to fight for Queer Film.”.  Expect the partnership to flourish this Summer as Toronto celebrates World Pride with several Installations, Artist Talks and Screenings planned.

Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer, Author and Philanthropist Mark Tewksbury we learned has actively been involved as the Spokesperson CANFAR, which in its 27 active years has raised more than $15 million for AIDS/HIV research. This of course isn’t the first time the Organization has attached its name to a cinematic partnership. Last fall, they had organized a Charity Screening of Dallas Buyers Club, which would go on to win multiple Academy Awards.  CANFAR‘s Chris Bunting stresses the importance of partnering with a high-profile Event such as this. “They think because people are living longer, the issue has gone away. This is an opportunity for a mass audience to see a very important Film and to re-engage in discussions”, states Bunting.

(Special thanks to Wongster Maria for helping Snap the above Pic!)

See Mr. Will‘s Chat with Bomer & Friends tonight:

The Normal Heart premieres on HBO this Sunday, May 25, 2014 at 9 PM EST.

Inside Out runs at TIFF Bell Lightbox from Thursday, May 22 – Sunday, June 1, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

The 24th annual INSIDE OUT Film Festival runs in Toronto from Thursday, May 22, 2014 through Sunday, June 1, 2014.  I was fortunate enough to preview some of this year’s Marquee Titles and want to tell you all about ’em!

THE NORMAL HEART

Many eyes will be on this exciting new HBO Film Adaptation of the TONY Award-winning Stageplay of the same name. Directed by American Horror Story and Glee Creator Ryan Murphy, the Drama is set in New York City, in the early ’80s at the onset of the AIDS epidemic – a time when many turned a blind eye to its seriousness.

At the center of it all is AIDS Activist Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo) in one of his most compelling performances to date.  His passionate relationship with Lover Felix Turner (played beautifully by Matt Bomer) is the heart and soul of the Story,  succumbing tragically too to the Disease. Julia Roberts as a wheelchair-bound Doctor Emma Brookner, is phenomenal  in her plea to raise awareness of the far-reaching effects of the Disease not just as a “Gay Cancer”.  Particularly memorable too is a poignant performance by  Joe Mantello as Mickey Marcus in one pivotal moment in the Film.

We witness the internal struggles of this Activist Group, hindered by the pressures of having to deal with the spotlight in times when AIDS stigma was epidemic as the Disease itself. At moments its Screenplay restricted by the confines of the Small Screen, the Film manages to leave a lasting impression based on the strength of its performances.  A definite major player this forthcoming Awards Season.

Friday, May 23, 2014 at TIFF BELL LIGHT BOX, 9:00 PM

THE DOG

Perhaps my favourite Film of the Festival, this Documentary centers around infamous gay New York Bank Robber John Wojtowicz, on whom the 1975 Film starring Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon was based.  The unlikeliest of Heroes, Wojtowicz had robbed a bank brazenly in hopes of funding his Lover’s Sex Change.

Directors Alison Berg and Frank Keraudren takes ten years’ worth of footage and interviews with the Subject himself, his endearing Mother, Ex-Wife and multiple Lovers, painting a Portrait of a Man whose wrong choices would go on to change his life forever.  We learn all about his ordeal in prison, what life was like leading-up to his 2006 death after a battle with Cancer.  Although unconventional, Wojtowicz was ahead of his time in his unwavering stance on Gay Rights, inspiring others who felt marginalized and powerless.

And you’ll never believe what happened after his Lover’s Sex Change…

Saturday, May 31, 2014 at TIFF BELL LIGHT BOX, 4:00 PM

I ALWAYS SAID YES: THE MANY LIVES OF WAKEFIELD POOLE

How does a sweet, young Jacksonville Boy with the voice of an Angel and on the verge of Broadway Stardom,  wind-up going-on to create some of the most iconic Gay Porn Films of all time?  This Documentary, directed by Jim Tushinski, gives us an in-depth look at the rise of a fascinating Man of many talents, his struggles, disappointments and a behind-the-scenes look at how with little budget – even using his own apartment as a studio space, he would helm acclaimed and pioneering Films like Boys in the Sand and Bijou.  Through candid interviews from others close to affected by his work, we learn about Poole and his bittersweet road to finding contentment.

Anyone  who’s ever struggled  in making their dream a reality will identify with some of the sentiments explored here in this well-made exploration of a Man who would go on to leave an indelible mark on the face of Gay Culture.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at TIFF Lightbox Cinema, 5:15 PM

MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE

Beyond the news reports and 2002 Biographical Film (The Laramie Project) made about Matthew Shepard, but what really do we know about one of the most talked about Gay Public Figures of all time, whose impact posthumously would change the conversation about Gay Rights forever?

This Documentary made by Shepard‘s Friend Michele Josue and narrated by her also, hits home with touching, candid interviews with his Family and Friends.  We learn about Shepard‘s own fears in coming to terms with his own sexuality – a revelation tragically which led eventually to his torture and murder.   Josue gives us a deeply humanistic perspective to  Shepard which ultimately makes us feel as though we knew him too.

Why would she revisit something so painful?  “Guilt. Confusion for not being there.  If the World knows our Matt – the real Matt – I know it wouldn’t be able to let him go either”, Josue says in her narration. A beautiful Piece which answers several questions many of us have long wanted to know.

Saturday, May 24, 2014 at TIFF Lightbox Cinema, 1:30 PM

 It’s still not too late to order Tickets for this year’s Festival!

Click here to #SEEFORYOURSELF ticket availabilities and to order online!

(Photo credit: HBO)

Mr. Will Wong and Mongrel Media want you to win a copy of the Comedy THANKS FOR SHARING, which premiered at TIFF ’12!  The Film boasts a phenomenal Ensemble Cast which includes Mark Ruffalo, P!nk, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins and Josh Gad.

Official Synopsis:

Three unlikely friends — Adam (Ruffalo), Mike (Robbins) and Neil (Gad) — all come from very different backgrounds. Adam is a young Man desperate to win the heart of a beautiful Woman (Gwyneth Paltrow); Mike is a Sponsor for Addicts, but he’s debilitated by his own need to be needed by others and Neil is a young Doctor whose career suffers because of his repeated lying.

Despite their differences, the three men share one big commonality: they’re all undergoing treatment to recover from their Sex Addiction so that for the first time in their lives, they can begin to form real, meaningful relationships.

Watch the Trailer below:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Share this Post on Facebook or Re-Tweet the below to double your chances:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/thanksforsharing @MRWILLW wants us to #win #THANKSFORSHARING on DVD. In stores now!

Good luck. This Giveaway is open to Canadian Readers only.

Mongrel Media releases THANKS FOR SHARING, now out on Video-on-Demand, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download.

Order it on Blu-ray here.

(Photo/video credit: Mongrel Media)

At long last the TIFF ’13 Guest List has been announced and among the Marquee names we can expect to see in Toronto in two weeks are phenomenal!  Although speak of Brad Pitt and George Clooney making appearances here didn’t amount to much more than rumour, this year the Female Contingent shines brightest with several of Hollywood’s A-List set to present their latest Oscar Vehicles here.

Among the Celebrities expected this year are:

Emilia Clarke, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Tom Felton, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scarlett Johansson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew McConaughey, Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Sarah Gadon,  Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, James Franco, Marion Cotillard, Mike Myers, Emma Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Poehler, Keanu Reeves, Kate Winslet, Adam Driver, Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Owen Wilson, Ralph Fiennes, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Gyllenhaal, JudeLaw, Jessica Chastain, Jai Courtney, Mila Kunis, Pierce Brosnan, Sandra Bullock, Jason Bateman, Zac Efron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Colin Firth, Idris Elba, Ed Harris, Michael C. Hall, Annette Benning, James McAvoy, Liam Neeson, Steven Soderbergh, Ben Foster, Anton Yelchin, Maria Bello, Jennifer Garner, Nicolas Cage, Daniel Brühl, Tom Hiddleston, Jack Huston, Hugh Jackman, Jessica Lange, Melissa Leo, Adam Levine, Catherine O’Hara, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Berenger, Tom Wilkinson, Julia Louis Dreyfuss, Clive Owen, Zach Galifianakis, Emily Watson, John Hawkes, Alan Rickman, Toni Collette, Josh Brolin, Alice Cooper, Tiger Chen, Rebecca Hall, Will Forte, Kevin Zegers, Taylor Kitsch, Juliette Binoche, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, Thandie Newton,  Terrence Howard, James Hetfield, Thomas Haden Church, Tim Robbins,  Glenn Close, Dakota Fanning, Philip Glass and several more!

Keep checking back here as the Toronto International Film Festival makes additions as we get closer to Thursday, September 5, 2013 when TIFF ’13 kicks-off!  The Festival runs till Sunday, September 15, 2013.

The official Schedule has been announced and you can now start planning your Festival right here. Download the Official Schedule right here!

Single Tickets go on sale on Sunday, September 1, 2013 on TIFF‘s Website here.

Things are about to get real exciting around here!  Happy TIFF, indeed!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Who doesn’t love Mark Ruffalo? The always-giving Actor draw a warm reception from Fans at Ryerson Theatre earlier this evening alongside Co-Stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim Robbins and Patrick Fugit at the Premiere of Thank You for Sharing, a Comedy about Sex Addicts in recovery.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)