SUPPORT KIDS' HEALTH: SICKKIDS HOSPITAL'S "DO THE HAPPY" CAMPAIGN

Toronto SickKids Hospital's Do The Happy Campaign

Toronto's SickKids Hospital is raising awareness towards Children's Health Issues this May. Problems at the forefront include Childhood Obesity which has tripled in the last 25 years, and Traumatic Brain Injuries - the leading cause of Death and Acquired Disability in Children under 14. You can help by pitching-in to raise awareness and funds simply by attending one of their Do The Happy Events or by making a Donation!

See some Stars in Toronto show their support for the Do The Happy Campaign - a few connections which Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven might have played a small part in making happen!

Lear more about the Do The Happy Campaign here.

(Photo/video credit: SickKids Hospital)

JAY BARUCHEL, TERENCE STAMP, KATHERYN WINNICK & MATT DILLON FILMING "THE BLACK MARKS"

Top to Bottom - L to R: Terence Stamp, Jonathan Sobol, Katheryn Winnick, Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel & Mr. Will-W.

I had the absolute pleasuring of meeting some of the Cast and Director of forthcoming Feature, The Black Marks finally after pondering it at great lengths. The second Film from Toronto's Jonathan Sobol looks to be highly entertaining, being about a retired Motorcycle Daredevil/Art Thief named Crunch Calhoun (Kurt Russell) who gathers his old Crew - including his Brother Nicky (Matt Dillon) - to perform one last Heist on a priceless book. Think Ocean's Eleven, a wittier plot and a real expensive Book. The outstanding Cast includes also Montreal's Jay Baruchel, both Toronto's Katheryn Winnick and Chris Diamantopoulos, Hamilton's Jason Jones, plus British Thespian Terence Stamp.

Filming for the Dimension Films release has shifted between Niagara Falls, Hamilton and Toronto and I learned through Baruchel that he actually has a deep attachment to Hamilton, having filmed in Steel City multiple times in the past.  "What?  You saw it??", he asked with his jaw dropped after telling him how hard I laughed at his upcoming Hockey Comedy Goon, in theatres February 24, 2012 via Alliance Films.  Genuinely touched, he said "You don't know how much that actually means to me!".  Of course, Baruchel is deeply-attached to the Film as he not only stars in it, but also co-wrote its Screenplay along with Evan Goldberg. Although it premiered last September at TIFF, we just may be seeing him again on the Red Carpet here in Toronto soon to ring-in its official release.

TATYANA ALI TO FILM "HOME AGAIN" IN TORONTO | "THE BLACK MARKS" BEGINS PRODUCTION IN HAMILTON

Tatyana Ali

Any The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Fans? Some of you might be excited to know that Ashley Banks (Tatyana Ali) herself will be in Toronto soon to film her latest project, Home Again. The Film is a Drama which centers around three individuals who are deported from U.S., Canada and England to a place neither are familiar with.  Home Again, directed by Scarborough-born Sudz Sutherland, is set to film until March.

Furthermore, as previously announced, Jonathan Sobol's Book Heist Comedy The Black Marks starring Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel, is set to being production in Hamilton, Ontario right away.  Crossing fingers we see this one come our way in Toronto soon!

(Photo credit: Robert John Kley)

LINDA LOVELACE BIOPIC "INFERNO" TO BEGIN PRODUCTION NEXT WEEK

Malin Åkerman at TIFF 2010

Even with Lindsay Lohan no longer tied to the project, Inferno still looks intriguing enough, having been on my radar for the past year. Screen Daily reports that the Biopic based upon now-deceased Adult Film Star Linda Lovelace's Autobiography Ordeal, will begin production on Monday.  The Book recounts Lovelace's years of abuse and coercion into Prostitution at the hands of her then-Husband Chuck Traynor.

There's a possibility that this one will be completed in time for the Sundance Film Festival in January 2012 and maybe even be considered for TIFF 2012 - although hopefully sooner than later we will see its release.

Toronto's v. own Malin Åkerman stars as Lovelace alongside Matt Dillon who will play Traynor, her sadistic then-Husband.  Sasha Grey, also a former Adult Film Star, will be appearing in Inferno, produced by Muse Productions.  Cannot wait!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

KATE WINSLET AND JODI FOSTER HEADLINE POLANSKI'S GOD OF CARNAGE MOVIE

Jodie Foster at TIFF 2007 for The Brave One

Roman Polanski has been tapped to direct a screen adaption of Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage starring an all-star cast of Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Matt Dillon and Christoph Waltz.  Can somebody just hand them the Oscars in all the acting and directing categories now?  Unbeatable.  Perhaps with a bit of CGI and a wig, I too can play one of the children in the film?

The play which is set in Brooklyn but to be filmed in Paris due to Polanski's never-ending legal problems in the U.S., is about two couples whose children get into a fight at a park.  They decide to meet-up to discuss the matter like adults but soon find themselves engaging in a heated battle, not unlike their children.  God of Carnage garnered three Tony Awards based on its brief Broadway run mid-2009 and originally starred James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay-Harden, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels.  Filming begins for Polanski's adaption early 2011.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)