GUILLERMO DEL TORO AT TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX FOR HITCHCOCK MASTER CLASSES

Guillermo del Toro in Toronto - May 2012

Acclaimed Mexican-born Director/Screenwriter Guillermo del Toro has been enjoying his stay in Toronto since last Fall, working on upcoming Warner Bros. Epic, Pacific Rim which wrapped earlier this month.  The Monsters versus Robots Action/Sci-Fi Flick stars Charlie Hunnam, Charlie Day, Idris Elba, Robert Kazinsky, Rinko Kikuchi and Clifton Collins Jr. Earlier this year, I had the honour of doing a week's worth of scenes on the $350-million Film which will see a July 2013 release.

The Director of well-known Titles as Hellboy and Pan's Labrynth, just completed a Series of Masterclasses at TIFF Bell Lightbox in honour of Alfred Hitchcock, last week doing two appearances and this week doing a final two.  Spending almost four hours last night watching and discussing North by Northeast with his Fans and Film Lovers, Del Toro had one thing on his mind afterwards: LUMA.  Although the Kitchen was ready to close, Staff were more than willing to cater to their Star Guest and his Entourage, offering them a Private Booth.  He has been known to frequent the Restaurant often during his stay here.

Del Toro was gracious, inviting me inside for a Snap and we bonded, thrilled to hear how much fun I had working on his Film.  Also present was his Wife, Lorenza Newton.

As always, I love sharing the fun. Click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook to enter to win a Signed Photo from del Toro!  You should also be following on Twitter here.  

In the near future I'll be posting about my experience on-set. Stay tuned!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

CHARLIE HUNNAM CELEBRATES HIS 32ND BIRTHDAY IN TORONTO

Charlie Hunnam in Toronto - April 2012

Happy Birthday, Charlie Hunnam!  The handsome Brit might be a bit late celebrating his Birthday as he turned 32-years-old this past Tuesday, but it certainly was not forgotten as he hit the town tonight at Rich Nightclub on Richmond Street for a much-Tweeted-about Party. Although he was in a hurry to head into his Taxi, generously he made time for Fans stopping to pose for Photos, signing a few Autographs.  Apologetically, he flagged his Driver to hold for a bit.

Hunnam stated that he has wrapped Production on Pacific Rim, although Director Guillermo del Toro will appear to be in Toronto until at least May with four upcoming scheduled appearances at TIFF Bell Lightbox.  My Sources tell me del Toro loves Luma which is situated within that Venue, often seen dining there.

A couple months back, I completed a week's worth of scenes on Pacific Rim as a Background Performer and some time in the future I will post about my experience on-set!  Stay tuned.

Watch a Clip of Hunnam as he heads to his 32nd Birthday Party:

GUILLERMO DEL TORO TO APPEAR AT TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX IN MAY

Guillermo del Toro on the set of Pan's Labrynth

Do not say he doesn't love Toronto.  Acclaimed Director Guillermo del Toro will be doing not one - but four - appearances in May at TIFF Bell Lightbox as part of their Hitchcock Master Classes with Guillermo del Toro Series. Screenings of Frenzy, Shadow of a Doubt, North by Northwast and Notorious will be taking place from May 7, 8, 15 and 16, 2012 respectively.

Each Screening will be preceded by an hour-long Introduction, followed by an hour-long Lecture from del Toro himself.  Click here for details.

Although the Director's Pacific Rim, which has been filming here since last Fall will have wrapped by then he likely will be around for a bit thereafter doing Post-Production on it, in a race to get it in theatres for July 13, 2013!  Click here to meet some of Stars who have been Toronto over the past while.

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)

CLIFTON COLLINS JR. & CHARLIE HUNNAM SPOTTED IN TORONTO

Clifton Collins Jr. & Charlie Hunnam with Fans and Mr. Will-W.

It's always nice to see Buddies together! Pacific Rim Co-stars Charlie Hunnam and Clifton Collins Jr. were spotted out and about in Toronto tonight on their way to a Sunday night Dinner. The two Actors have been in Toronto since last Fall working on the $350-million Guillermo Del Toro Action-Fantasy to be released in 2013 via Warner Bros. 

Although we spotted Hunnam only a couple weeks ago together with his Mum, we had yet to spot Collins and they were both nice enough to stop and pose for some Photos together with Fans. Some getting a Hunnam-Collins Sandwich, some opting Photos with Hunnam and Collins alone.  You Charlie Hunnam Fans have been absolutely amaze with your feedback, so enjoy this surprise!

Collins is no Stranger to Toronto.  Back in 2009, the acclaimed Actor spent a bit of time here filming Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day and also a Cameo in popular Cult-Hit Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, their hunky Co-Star Max Martini flew in from Los Angeles after doing a bit of work on super-hot TV Series Revenge, to complete his final scene in Toronto on Pacific Rim.

Pacific Rim is slated to film here till April 24, 2012.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

MAX MARTINI SPOTTED IN TORONTO

Max Martini & Mr. Will-W.

The Celebrities were out in full force today in Yorkville and after looking for some Marshmallows at Pusateri's, I bumped into Max Martini picking-up a little Dinner along with his Pacific Rim Co-star Robert Kazinsky.  The two apparently both flew in from Los Angeles after celebrating the New Year there, to return back to work here on the big-budget Guillermo del Toro Robot-Action Film.  Just earlier today I also ran into another of his Co-stars, Burn Gorman.

Although in a rush to enjoy to enjoy his Dinner, Martini was amazing to stop and pose for a quick Snap!  Many of you might remember Martini from his work in five-time Academy Award-winning Saving Private Ryan, alongside Tom Hanks and Matt Damon.  More recently he seems to be popping-up on every hotly-buzzed TV Series including Revenge, Hawaii Five-O, 24, Flashpoint, Castle and so many more!

Pacific Rim continues to film in Toronto and is scheduled to wrap in April.

ROBERT KAZINSKY IN TORONTO FOR "PACIFIC RIM"

Robert Kazinsky & Mr. Will-W.

Although he's known mostly for his work on BBC's Soap Opera Series EastEnders and ABC's Brothers & Sisters, Robert Kazinsky is well on his way to becoming a familiar face in North America. 

The Thespian has been in-town filming Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim alongside Idris Elba, Charlie Day and Charlie Hunnam.  After running into the handsome Brit this evening in Yorkville, he tells me that he is one of the few Cast members who will be here in the City til April 2012, assuring me that for sure there are many chances to spot his Co-stars.  "It's looking quite amazing", he assures me.  "You can't f*ck with del Toro!".  Kazinsky will be playing the role of Yancy Antrobus  in the Robots vs. Aliens Spectacle.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

JESSICA CHASTAIN TO FILM "MAMA" IN TORONTO

Jessica Chastain

Things like this make me giddy like a School Girl. Tree of Life, The Debt, The Help, Take Shelter, Coriolanus, Texas Killing Fields, Wilde Salome and The Wettest Country in the World are among some of Jessica Chastain's recent projects to receive much critical buzz.  Count 'em - that's eight high-profile releases slated for release within the span of a year. In addition to there being much talk of her being a Front-runner in the Oscars Best Supporting Actress race for her work in The Help, Chastain just won the Gucci Award for Women in Cinema earlier this weekend in Venice.

But get this - the new Queen of Cinema will be filming in Toronto from October to December, in addition to attending the TIFF 2011 Premieres of Take Shelter and Coriolanus. She is set to star in Guillermo del Toro-produced Mama, a Thriller about two Girls who escape a cruel Woman they believe to be there Mother. Mama, which is one of two del Toro Films being produced in Toronto simultaneously (the other is Pacific Rim), will be directed by Andre Muschietti. OMG. Dying here.

(Photo credit: Alliance Films)

DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Don't be Afraid of the Dark

Guillermo del Toro rarely places his name on anything sub-par and Don't be Afraid of the Dark is no exception to the rule. The acclaimed Writer/Director produces and writes this Remake of the 1973 TV Movie of the same title, with Troy Nixey directing and surprisingly it exceeds expectations. 

Centering around a young Girl named Sally (Bailee Madison) who is forced to move into her Father Alex's (Guy Pearce) new Home along with his new Girlfriend Kim (Katie Holmes), her childlike curiosity drives her to uncover a secret Basement which he prior did not know about. From there, the Story veers a little more towards the mythological, with age-old foreign Creatures lurking about the House eager to prey on Sally in this twisted, yet oddly at-times comical take on the Tooth Fairy.  After physically encountering these Creatures, Sally's Father writes off her fears simply as being irrational and imagined, but will it be too late by the time he sees the truth?

One of the biggest revelations in Don't be Afraid of the Dark, in addition to its crafty Storytelling, is a breakthrough performance from young talent Madison who actually bears a striking resemblance to Holmes.  This Horror Flick although at points a little bloody, rarely relies on the grotesque to get a scream from of its audience. Instead, it keeps us on-edge just enough with creepy vocalizations and use of light, unveiling the Creatures only late.  Alliance Films releases the entertaining Don't be Afraid of the Dark nationwide on August 26, 2011.  Grade: A-

WHO WANTS PASSES FOR TORONTO ADVANCE SCREENINGS OF "THE DEBT" & "DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK"?

 Alliance Films & Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven are giving away 15 30 pairs of passes for both THE DEBT (Sam Worthington, Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain) & DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (Katie Holmes, Guy Pearce) both screening next week in Toronto. 

Visit my Fan Page to qualify! All you’ve gotta do is click “LIKE”. See you there, Mavenati!

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter too!

IDRIS ELBA, CHARLIE DAY & CHARLIE HUNNAM CONFIRMED FOR "PACIFIC RIM"

Charlie Day

At long last, Toronto has scored another new Production!  Director Guillermo del Toro who in 2007 was nominated for an Oscar with Pan's Labrynth, will be filming his new Sci-Fi/Action flick Pacific Rim (Working Title: Still Seas) in the City beginning Halloween through April 2012. 

Pacific Rim will see Humans boarding giant Robots to fight-off gargantuan Monsters and confirmed so far are Idris Elba, star of 2009's campy Obsessed and also Horrible Bosses star Charlie Day, who for a change will be taking on a more serious role.  British Actor Charlie Hunnam also will be starring and is known best for his work on Sons of Anarchy.

Although Tom Cruise originally was considered for Elba's role, alas that fell-through.  Will be exciting to see the Cast list expand in the near future.  Perhaps newly-upgraded Pinewood Studios will play host to filming?

(Photo credit: Warner Bros.)