September is a monumental month for autograph hounds in Canada. Its the start of the NHL pre-season, our most popular sport across the country, as well, the Toronto International Film Festival takes
place.

TIFF 2013, the 38th annual festival, takes place from Sept 5-15 & as usual, I'll be there taking in the opportunities to get autographs from some of the largest names of TV & movies. As always, there is a lengthy list of notable names with films there.  Academy Award winners like Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Jessica Lange, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Sandra Bullock, Nicolas Cage, William Hurt, Adrien Brody, Colin Firth, Kevin Kline, Robin Williams, Jim Broadbent, George Clooney, Juliet Binoche, Judi Dench, Marcia Gay Harden & Tilda Swinton are all in 1 or more films at this years festival. Popular stars of this generation like Daniel Radcliffe, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson, Emilia Clarke, Ralph Fiennes & Dakota Fanning also have films at the festival. Theres then an even longer list of "hey, I know them from something" names.

With so many names, so many shows going on over only 10 days, you need to prioritize if you are planning to catch celebs...and that means picking & chosing who is most important to you. Whether as a fan, or a seller, you need to generate a list of who you want to get the most, because you simply cant get everyone.
(please vote on the poll below for who you most want me to see at TIFF)

So here is my list of my top 20 for TIFF 13. Its a mixture of who I want to get for myself, or just want to get to say I got them or for financial benefits.
(note - not all names are guaranteed to be at the festival, so please dont take my list as a guarantee of their arrival... it is merely who I would like to get if they are there)

1- Melissa Rauch (The last 3 years in a row I have gotten my #1 on my list. Johnny Depp, Michael C. Hall & Chloe Moretz. This year, I am picking someone that was not on the initial guest list... so theres a good chance getting my #1 wont even be an option. )
2- Benedict Cumberbatch (If Ms. Rauch doesnt show,
Benedict, the man who brings Sherlock Holmes to life, will be my #1)
3- Michael C. Hall (Former #1 target of 2011 is still high on my list since the last season of Dexter is under way)
4- Emilia Clarke (Hot girl who walks around naked 1/3 of the time on Game Of Thrones? Yeah, like I wasnt going to have her on the list)
5- Chris Hemsworth (As Thor, hes become a household
name.)
6- Jessica Chastain (back-to-back Academy Award Nominations. Shes gonna win 1 sometime in the next 5 years)
7- Brad Pitt (If he comes, he will be sought after target for no other reason than to right the fact I haven't gotten him the 1st 2 times I saw him)
8- Hailee Steinfeld (Always some newcomers to my list every year, this year, Hailey has grabbed my attention as someone to nab, 2010 Academy Award nominated actress)
9- Meg Tilly (This Golden Globe winning recluse was most recently on the hit Bomb Girls. She is making a rare public appearance this festival for the 30th anniversary of The Big Chill)
10-  Magda Apanowicz (My crush of her character on Hellcats not withstanding, I've quite liked her work on everything I have seen her in, most recently the Canadian sci-fi hit Continuum)
11- Lorenzo Izzo (Saw her a couple years ago at TIFF & was so taken aback by how gorgeous she was, I had to find out who she was. Now that I know, time to get her autograph.)
12- Karen Gillan ( I may not watch Doctor Who, but I know enough to know I'd be a fool not to go for her)
13- Scarlett Johansson (A household name now adays.
ScarJo will be on most peoples list, regardless if they ae fans of her work or not.)
14- Kurt Russell (Grindhouse & Miracle. Thats all)
14- Julia Roberts (Academy Award Winner should be enough to make the list...but I just want to get her really because of Pretty Woman)
15- Joel Edgerton (I've met Tom Hardy, I've met Jennifer Morrison, I've met Nick Nolte. So obviously I need to meet the final piece of the "Warrior" main cast)
16- Brendan Gleeson (Huge In Bruges fan, so excited that 2 of the 3 are at the fest)
17- Ralph Fiennes (see Brendan Gleeson)
18- Meryl Streep (when a legend this big is at any event, even if you dont care for them...you go for them)
19- Jennifer Aniston (met her once many many years ago & had nothing of note to get signed, now I will.)
20- Hugo Weaving (V For Vendetta, that about says it
all)
21- Liam Neeson (even though hes a prick, still love most of his work)
22- Marcia Gay Harden (kind of an off the map 1. Really only want to meet her because of the amazing job shes done this year on The Newsroom)
23- Mke Myers (met him several times, but still always excited to meet him again)
24- Kate Winslet (Titanic is all I really know her from. But isn't that enough reason to go for her?)
25- Daniel Radcliffe (I loathe the Harry Potter franchise. But that said, I like money. So I will go for this stiff)

Honourable mention
- Nicole Kidman, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael Fassbender, Mila Kunis, Olivia Wilde, Judi Dench, Tom Welling, Keanu Reeves, Tobey Maguire, Pierce Brosnan, Jude Law, Katheryn Winnick, Peter Sarsgaard, Alia Shawkat, James Van Der Beek, Metallica, Alice Cooper, Hugh Jackman, Sandra Bullock

Notables not on my list
- Reese Witherspoon ( she isnt going to sign more
than 2 or 3 autographs anyways...just long enough for the cameras to get pictures of her interacting with the "common folk" so why waste my time. Shes a bitch, thats the nicest thing anyone who has ever met her can say about her)
- Glenn Close (got her 2 years ago. I really am not impressed enough by her work to care to chase this fairly elusive signer)
- Jake Gyllenhaal (the lesser talented of the Gyllenhaal siblings, hes a douchebag. I'd rather ask homeless people for their autograph than giving him the satisfaction of ignoring me)
- Zack Galifinakis (outside of the Hangover, has he done ANYTHING to warrant such a big ego? No? Thats what I thought. When he comes back down to reality, maybe I'll care. Till then, his self importance of himself makes him irrelevant to me)
- Owen Wilson (really untalented, terribly unfunny, and a
bit of a prick. Cant be bothered)
- Keira Knightley (I got her last year & was really underwhelmed by her. Maybe once her ego comes down to reality I'll place more value on her. For now, shes a mediocre actress with too much of an ego & an abysmal autograph.)

My 2012 TIFF saw me go 10/25 (got my #1 Johnny Depp)
My 2011 TIFF saw me go 9/30 (got my #1 Chloe Moretz though)
My 2010 TIFF saw me go 8/20 (got my #1 Michael C. Hall)

How will TIFF 2013 go? Who will I get? Who will I miss? Will Ms. Rauch show up? Will my 3 year streak of getting my #1 continue to 4 years?

I will update this blog as the festival goes on. I will TRY to do it everyday, but as those of you who read my previous years blogs know, it will probably be more of every 2-3 days.

The 2nd day of TIFF started off great.

Within 15 minutes of getting into Toronto I had 3 autographs. Granted they were all from Ezra Miller, but I was feeling like it was going to be a good day. As it turned out...it wasnt going to be THAT great, Ezra was walking out of a press conference for his film "Perks Of Being A Wallflower" & I had hopes Emma Watson would also be there....but never saw her.

After that I ventured over to my next target, Jude Law & Keira Knightley. Their film "Anna Karenina" was showing at the Elgin Theatre, a place that has not been great for autographs the last couple of years as the volunteers keep trying to make it an non-fan friendly environment there. Luckily, my patience paid off as Keira Knightley signed 1 for me. Shortly after Jude Law arrived & I managed to get 1 from him too, despite having a camera chord wrapped around my neck choking me for about 15 seconds from from a photographer. Shockingly, Aaron Taylor Johnson also arrived & signed nothing. What a change from a couple days earlier.

I made a serious effort to go get over to the "Argo" premiere, as I still wanted to get Cranston, but was too late. For whatever reason, they were there over an hour before the film...something I cant recall happening before.

I went back to Ryerson. When I got there, I was welcomed by a massive tidal wave of people outside the back door (like nothing I had seen at that venue before). They were all there for the cast of Spring Breakers. Ashley Benson was the 1st one out & willingly signed for the few people who knew who she was, easily the sweetest of the girls in the cast. Selena Gomez & Vanessa Hudgens came out at the same time  & signed some autographs, but very few. They were only slightly better than they were when they arrived at the airport the day previous.

I then went to the front of Ryerson to get Greta Gerwig & Mickey Sumner. Finally, an easy premiere. I will certaily get all 5 of my photos that I had for the pair signed there.... 0 autographs.
The publicist for them said they would come right back out....but of course they didnt. Despite Gerwig promising to sign for people along the rail, MOST got nothing, as Gerwig only signed maybe 3-5 autographs before her publicist ruined her image by hurrying her away to do a few interviews for stations that all are going to ask the same fucking questions. Key point for ALL publicists - fans, with the power of the internet now at their finger tips on twitter, facebook & tumblr, can ruin a celeb far easier than TV stations. Remember that when you gamble with their careers.
I heard several people going away calling Gerwig a "bitch" & a "fucking liar", which frankly, doesnt shock me. I understand that Greta was being coerced to avoid people by her publicist, a person who does not care what is best for Greta or her career, but is only concerned with her own agenda...usually involving getting celebs somewhere b a pre-determined time. I see it all the time. But most fans dont get this. To THEM, it was Greta Gerwig, and ONLY Greta Gerwig that lied to them. They arent wrong, Greta did lie to them....she just didnt know she was going to be lying. Her rep took a beating in the eyes of the 20-40 people that waited patiently for her only to get snubbed. If Greta ever reads this, FIRE your incompetent publicist before she really does damage to your PR.

The horrible start I had at Ryerson was trumped by the disaster that Seven Psychopaths Midnight premiere entailed. The crowd was considerably large for a midnight madness screening, something I had never encountered before. The stupidity of the crowd with chairs, bags & more cluttering up space that could be more efficiently used led to the predictable crashing in by some people, making a small condensed space, even more condensed. When people learn to not leave their bags, stools, chairs, milk cartons & more laying on the ground, the overly aggressive actions of those who crash these premieres might minimize a little. There was literally people in ROW FUCKING ONE this year using stools & chairs. Thats not needed. In fact, you are making the problem worse....because all that does is make people MORE aggressive. I got snubbed by Olga Kurylenko & Abbie Cornish there more than once, as the crush of fans & pros overwhelmed most of the stars. Colin Farrell did sign for me, but again, for the effort I put in, getting only 1 autograph total from this premiere was a massive epic failure. I actually went away from there feeling sick to my stomach. It was day 2, and I was sick of the festival. Of the fans. Of the other pros. Of the people working for the festival. Everything. If it had been JUST my $ invested in it, and not some of my buddies who partially bankrolled my trip, I might have just cut my losses there & quit. Probably for the best I didnt....or else I wouldnt have got some of the names I got later on. Also seen there were Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken. Woody obviously signed nothing & pretty much ignored the crowd. Sam & Christopher were sparingly signing for those asking. I am frankly shocked no one at the premiere got hurt. The chair problem that has overwhelmed Ryerson for the last 2 or more years was at close to epidemic levels this year, and Seven Psychopaths was 1 of the worst examples.

Day 2 - total autographs 6 (festival total 16)

A+ Ezra Miller
A  Colin Farrell
A- Ashley Benson
B   Jude Law
B- Olga Kurylenko
C+ Keira Knightley
C+ Abbie Cornish
C  Selena Gomez
C-  Vanessa Hudgens
D+ Greta Gerwig
D+ Christopher Walken
D  Sam Rockwell
D- Mickey Sumner
F  Aaron Taylor Johnson
F- Woody Harrelson

Day 3 started with the biggest name at the fest, and my #1 target for the festival. Johnny Depp.  The iconic star was at the festival to show support for a project called "West Of Memphis" that followed the fight of 3 men convicted of brutal murders who were eventually freed. Depp was nothing sort of amazing in signing autographs, however, didnt do many photos with fans because of the sheer mass of people there to see him. At times, the crowd was 10 people deep along the rail. I actually managed 2 autographs from the Pirates Of The Caribbean star, but it was not easy, nor fun trying to get them. Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks also attended the premiere to show support for the project. Below I have a couple photos of the Johnny & Natalie 1st noticing each other at the premiere. A couple great pics of the stars hugging from Johnny's side, something the media didnt get.

I tried to go for "Cloud Atlas" premiere, but the crowd was so absurdly thick. With Tom Hanks, Hugo Weaving & Halle Berry expected, the chance for autographs from where I was seemed bleak. Tom arrived & signed a few autographs on the opposite side of where I was, shortly after Halle Berry did the same, finally, it wasnt Hugo Weaving who arrived, but Hugh Grant, he also signed a handful before going in. As I expected, 0 autographs total.

I went over to the premiere of "Silver Linings Playbook". With "The Hangover" star Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence from the "Hunger Games" & the iconic Robert De Niro all in attendance, the crowds were large. Cooper showed up 1st, and after a couple failed attempts to get in near him, I managed to finally find a spot and seemed poised to get 1, until I noticed Jennifer Lawrence show up. She was a higher priority obviously, so I abandoned my probable Cooper autograph for a chance at Lawrence. It took a couple tries, but I managed to finally get 1 from her, and after she did another bunch later down the line, I nabbed 2 more from the hottie. Finally, Robert showed up. two years in a row I had gotten right up to him, had my item right in front of him and had him sign above me and beside me and skip my item. This year, I didnt have that problem...as I simply was unable to get close enough to even try.

I then waited on the next Roy Thompson Hall premiere of "The reluctant fundamentalist" with Keifer Sutherland from "24", Liev Schreiber & Kate Hudson. As it turned out, Liev didnt show. this left me with just Sutherland and Hudson. Of course, the often miserable Hudson didnt even spend a minute meeting fans, while Sutherland signed quite a few. I managed 1 from the star. I went away from there clearly feeling like my Depp & Lawrence highs had faded right out.

I took a different path for the evening from there. For the 1st time in the fest I tried doing some restaurant/hotel hounding. I chose to camp out at the "new" SoHo House. it had changed locations, right beside the Shang ri-La Hotel in Toronto now. I saw several stars go in, Andy Samberg, who took a few seconds to greet fans was 1st. Then Jennifer Lawrence showed up & avoided any interactions with people. Shortly after Adrian Grenier arrived. A plethora of others showed up on the other sides of the 3 entrance venue. Kristen Stewart & Emma Watson were also seen there & both hurried inside without so much as a wave for the fans that were there. The only autograph I managed there was right as I was leaving, from "21" star Jim Sturgess. I was tipped off by an observant celeb watcher he was in the vehicle, and so I put my photo up for him to see. He acknowledged thru the window that he saw it & sure enough, when he got out, he made the effort to make sure he signed it. Full marks to him for recognizing who asked him while he was still in the vehicle.

While I was there, I saw the swarm of hounds rush to the Shang once, and I followed to see who they saw. It turned otu to be Tom Hanks. Unfortunately, not being prepared for him, I didnt even manage to get an item out to TRY and get done before the Forrest Gump star was inside the hotel.

Day 3 - 7 autographs (23 total)

A+ Johnny Depp
A  Jim Sturgess
B+ Tom Hanks
B+ Bradley Cooper
B  Keifer Sutherland
B  Jennifer Lawrence (at the premiere)
C+ Halle Berry (yes, I am as shocked typing this as you are reading it...she actually signed some)
C  Hugh Grant
C  Robert De Niro
C  Andy Samberg
F Jennifer Lawrence (at the restaurant)
F  Kate Hudson
F  Emma Watson
F- Kristen Stewart

"Kick Ass" star Chloe Moretz stops on the red carpet of her 2011 Toronto International Film Festival Premiere for "Hick"

It is time for the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival!!

The 37th TIFF is rolling out another star studded line up for its event.

With legitimate A Listers like Johnny Depp, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro & Will Smith coming, as well as up & comers like Jennifer Lawrence, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Emma Watson & Marion Cotillard, as well as notable TV stars like Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, John Goodman & Keifer Sutherland, this festival will be full of star sightings around Toronto for the next week & 1/2.

The festival is starting off with a roar as "Looper" starring The Dark Knight Rises star Joseph Gordon Levitt & Die Hard legend Bruce Willis opens the festival.
Other notable titles are
-"Spring Breakers" featuring a trio of the next generations "in" names James Franco, Selena Gomez & Vanessa Hudgens.
-"Anna Karenina" with Keira Knightley & Kick Ass star Aaron Taylor Johnson.
-"Argo" The Ben Affleck directed & starred in thriller featuring John Goodman & Bryan Cranston.
- "Cloud Atlas" featuring Tom Hanks, Hugo Weaving & Halle Berry.
-"Silver Linings Playbook" featuring Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence.
&
-"The Company You Keep" directed by Robert Redford & starring Shia LaBeouf & Mr. Redford himself.
Thats only a 1/2 dozen of the 100s of films featured at the festival.

Of course, most of Hollywoods star power will be on hand promoting their projects.
Every year I have a top list of who I want to get. Here is my 2012 crop (list was made before some late additions to the list of attendees was known)

My top 25 list

1- Johnny Depp - Its Johnny freaking depp. You know, Officer Hanson. How could I NOT put him 1st?
2- Will Smith - The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, Men In Black 1 & 2, Independence Day. MOST years, he probably would have been #1 with a resume like that.
3- Colin Farrell - In Bruges is 1 of my favorite movies ever. The main 3 from the film are all apparently coming...but he was the only confirmed 1 when I made the list.
4- Tom Hanks - You heard of that film Toy Story? No? How about Toy Story 2? Toy Story 3? A League Of Their Own? Forrest Gump? I knew you woulda heard of something hes done if I named enough. 2 Academy Awards. Nuff said.
5- Robert De Niro - My hope to get him is waning. 2 years in a row I have been within inches of getting him, only to go away shut put. Is 3rd time the charm?
6- Bryan Cranston - Walter Fucking White. Do I need to say more?
7- Aaron Paul - Cant get 1 member of Breaking Bad without getting the other, right?
8- Hugh Laurie - Gregory House is 1 of my favorite TV characters ever. Got snubbed by him last year. Trying to right that wrong this year.
9- Jason Bateman - In the last year or so I became an Arrested development fan. I got Jason in 2007, but didnt care much as I had not seen a second of AD yet. Now, different story.
10- Aaron Taylor Johnson - I got Hit Girl Llast year, this year, gotta get KICK ASS.
11- Hugo Weaving - Loved V For Vendetta. 
12- Saoirse Ronan - Although I got her last year, this year, I wanna get 1 that isnt sign in a gawdawful dying silver marker.
13- Brendan Gleeson - In Bruges star.
14- Eli Roth - Loved Grindhouse & Inglourious Basterds. Dont love ALL his work, but the ones I do, are pretty awesome.
15- Ralph Fiennes - In Bruges star. That is all.
16- Mary Elizabeth Winsted - As the actress playing a cheerleader in a movie in Death Proof she was automatically on my list. Her role in Live Free Or Die Hard solidified it)
17- Jennifer Lawrence - The Hunger Games. Enuff said.
18- Saskia Rosendahl - Every TIFF I find 1 "dont know much about her" name that intrigues me. This year, Saskia caught my attention.
19- Selena Gomez - Even though I got her several times in the past, I havent got her in awhile.
20- Pierce Brosnan - James Bond should always make any list.
21- Helen Hunt - got her before. But would like to get again.
22- Christina Hendricks - just too hot not to want to get.
23- Viggo Mortensen - got him before...but now, theres even MORE films of his I like. So I want him again.
24- Ray Liotta - Wild Hogs, Goodfellas...and he has his own honey.
25- Keira Knightley - Hmmm'ed & hawwed about who gets 25tyh. In the end, decided the POTC star trumped Marisa Tomei being in My Cousin Vinny.

Honourable mention -  Gwynyth Paltrow, Bruce Willis, Olga Kurylenko Marion Cotillard,  Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Christopher Walken, Kate Hudson, Javier Bardem, Marisa Tomei, Jude Law, Lena Headey,

In 2010 I managed only 8/20 (but managed my #1 Michael C. Hall) http://canadagraphs.weebly.com/1/post/2010/09/my-top-20-wants-at-tiff-2010.html

In 2011 I managed only 9/30 (but managed my #1 Chloe Moretz & 4 of my top 5 INCLUDING Madonna) http://canadagraphs.weebly.com/1/post/2011/09/the-2011-toronto-international-film-festival-starts-this-week-here-is-my-top-30-want-list-for-tiff-11.html

How will I do in 2012? Who will I get? Who will I miss? Will Mr. Depp keep the #1 streak alive?

TODAY TIFF KICKS OFF!! I will try to update my blog with reports of my daily ventures when time permits. I will certainly cover every day...eventually, just might be a couple days late sometimes.