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.

JAY BARUCHEL: A DRAGON'S GREETING

Jay Baruchel & Hiccup

What more fitting than to receive a Year of the Dragon greeting (below) than from our favourite Viking/Dragon Trainer himself, Jay Baruchel? The Montreal-born Actor known best for voicing Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon currently is in Niagara Falls filming Jonathan Sobol's Comedy The Black Marks alongside Kurt Russell and Matt Dillon. Canadian Cast Mates Chris Diamantopoulos and Katheryn Winnick have confirmed to me directly via Twitter that the shoots will at some point be coming to Toronto. How exciting!

Baruchel will have a busy Year of the Dragon indeed, with multiple Films on-the-go.  Hockey Comedy Goon will be out February 24, 2012 via Alliance Films in Canada, before David Cronenberg's Cosmpolis hits theatres later this year. He soon will begin work also on Comedy The Apocalypse alongside James Franco and Seth Rogen, and also he will be reprising the role of Hiccup once again in How to Train Your Dragon 2.

(Photo credit: DreamWorks)

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)

TORONTO PRODUCTIONS RETURN FROM THE HOLIDAYS

Anastasia Griffith in NBC's Trauma

Things are beginning to pick-up again in Toronto from a Production standpoint with Cast and Crew returning from the Holidays for major titles once again like Pacific Rim, Nikita, Rookie Blue, The Firm and Lost Girl.

In addition to Stephen Gyllenhaal's new Pilot Sworn to Silence starring Neve Campbell beginning here later this month, some other noteworthy Productions also will be surfacing soon too. Toronto's Jonathan Sobol made his directorial debut with A Beginner's Guide to Endings, managing to attract major Hollywood talent including Harvey Keitel, J.K. Simmons, Scott Caan and Tricia Helfer.  Premiering at TIFF 2010, that Film is about three Brothers set-out to reverse their wrongs after learning they have only a few days left to live.  Sobol's next effort titled The Black Marks, is a Heist Comedy which is slated to film mid-January through late February.  This one centers around three Men looking to steal one of the World's rarest books.  The Principal Cast for The Black Marks will include Montreal's Jay Baruchel, Kurt Russell and Matt Dillon.

Another interesting TV Series to film in Toronto is Copper from BBC America (its first scripted series) and Cineflix, about a young Irish Police Officer at-work in an area of 19th-century New York City, populated by Immigrants.  Thus far, British Thespian Anastasia Griffith has been cast as the Wife of the Lead Character and she will be juggling this project with ABC's successful Fairy Tale-Drama Once Upon a Time in which she stars in the dual role of Abigail/Kathryn Nolan.  Griffith previously was seen on Damages and Trauma also.  Production is expected to take place later this month through May.