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2014 Toronto International Film Festival is this month - Here is my Top 25 list of who I hope to get at TIFF this year

9/1/2014

Sam Worthington on the red carpet in 2010 for "The Debt" at TIFF will be back this year for "Cake"

The 2014 Toronto International Film Festival is almost upon us, and I am putting the final touches on my trip there as we speak (or in this case, as you read... or if you are reading this after I have completed it.... a while ago).

Although this years roster is widely regarded as the worst in a long time, perhaps ever, there are still names to be found this year, and as usual, I have compiled my list of MY Top 25 (not always the top 25 names...but the top 25 I am hopeful to get).

This years list consists of a bit of everything. From comedy icons like Bill Murray & Adam Sandler, to super hero action stars like Chris Evans, Andrew Garfield & Robert Downey Jr. There is even some true legends like Denzel Washington, Al Pacino & Morgan Freeman. Of course, a bunch of up & comers like Hailee Steinfeld, Chloe Grace Moretz & Ansel Elgort will be there as well. As well fan favorites like Robert Pattinson, musical icon Roger Waters, TV stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jon Stewart and almost every variation in between. There is also a tonne of names you likely have never even heard of yet, and even I haven't...but in 2 or 3 or 5 years, you will know them.

Here is MY top 25 list.
You can tell me in the poll below, or in my comments who you hope I will find there.

THE TOP 25

1 JON STEWART - I have a 4 year streak of getting my top choice in tact. So there will be a lot of pressure on me to track down the host of The Daily Show for me. I have got Stephen Colbert & Conon O'Brien in the past few years. They are my 2nd & 3rd favorite active talk show hosts. Jon Stewart is my 1st, so this was a really exciting addition to the fest for me.

2 BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH - Although I got Sherlock last year, after the original joy of getting him wore off some, and I looked at the "autograph" he gave me, I realized, it was not a very good one. So I am going back this year hoping to upgrade on the dreadful "B.C. 2013" he handed out to me last year.

3 PETER SARSGAARD - Plain & simple. He was AMAZING in The Killing season 3 (if you have never watched it, do it), and the fact he didn't win, or was even nominated for the Emmy this year is still 1 of the largest crimes the Emmy Awards have had in the last few years.

4 JANE FONDA - Went to a premiere for the 2X Oscar Winner a couple years ago, but she didn't show. Since then, I have become a big fan of her work on The Newsroom. So eager to get her this time... please don't no show again Jane.

5 DENZEL WASHINGTON - His resume speaks for its self. If you don't consider him in your top 10, your doing it wrong.

6 ADAM SANDLER - I have not seen Mr. Sandler since we were in a movie together almost 20 years ago. Cant wait to see my Happy Gilmore co-star again (I was in it for less than 2 seconds.. don't blink or you'll miss me both times)

7 ANDREW SCOTT - Cant pass on a chance to get probably the best Sherlock nemesis there's been, Jim Moriarty.

8 LAURA HARRIS - She would be in m6y top 2 if I knew for sure she was coming. One of 2 people on my list who is not confirmed yet. Fingers crossed on this one. Have still only ever managed 1 of the main 5 cast from Dead Like Me.

9 KATE WINSLET - One of the very few female audience heavy movies I really liked was Titanic. An Oscar, 3 Golden Globes and even a Primetime Emmy for good measure. She is more than just Rose Dewitt Bukater.

10 ANDREW GARFIELD - Spider Man, Spider Man hopefully will sign my stuff better than a spider can. Like his version of the character far more than Tobey Maguires.

11 AMANDA SEYFRIED - This will be a redemption get if I get her. Missed her while she was in Vancouver for several weeks filming.
12 CHLOE GRACE MORETZ - Only celeb I can think of that I have gotten in 3 different cities, and in 3 different situations. Too bad I already crossed off Toronto as a place.
13 ROSARIO DAWSON - It saddens me that I somehow still only have autographs from 3 people from Grindhouse. Gotta nab a 4th hopefully.
14 SAM WORTHINGTON - The nicest celeb I have ever met (if you are familiar with my Best & Worst Celebs list you know this). Haven't seen him in 4 years. Hoping to see he still holds that honour.
15 CHRIS EVANS - Captain America has to be on a top 20 list for everyone. Met him briefly in Vancouver last year. As well in Toronto for TIFF a couple years ago. Will be happy to get him again though.
16 ROBERT DOWNEY JR. - Iron Man. Sort of all I should have to say really.
17 MORGAN FREEMAN - Pretty hard to imagine making a top 25 list for this year and it doesn't have Morgan Freeman on it.
18 JOHN TRAVOLTA - Got his autograph about 20 years ago in a random encounter. Sadly it was on the back of a hockey poster because I had nothing of his. This time, I'll be prepared to see him.
19 TOM HARDY - Since I got him while he was here shooting This Means War, his star has risen sharply. Excited to finally get a chance to get him again.
20 ANTHONY MICHAEL HALL - All his 80s movies roles aside, its his work in 3 episodes of Psych last season that really put him on my list.
21 VIGGO MORTENSEN - Got him at my 1st ever TIFF. At the time I didn't really know him from a lot of things. Now, I do and am actually looking forward to getting him now.
22 HAILEE STEINFELD - A redemption get hopefully for not getting her last TIFF when she no showed.
23 JENNIFER ANISTON - I opted to not go to her premiere last year. Hopefully I will get a 2nd chance this year.
24 ROBERT DUVALL - I got him a couple years ago for a friend at a TIFF premiere. This time around, I will have my own stuff to get done.
25 ROGER WATERS - Despite getting him multiple times in the past few years here in Vancouver, and no joke, passing on him the last time he was in Toronto while I was there, its hard to not put him on my top 25 list.

Honourable mention - Ansel Elgort, Tobey Maguire, Robert Pattinson, Bill Nighy, Dustin Hoffman, Faye Marsay, Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger, Simon Pegg, Christopher Plummer, Rosamund Pike, Tina Fey, Rose Byrne, John Cusack, Anna Kendrick., Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell, Gael Garcia Bernal, Keira Knightley, Hayden Christiansen & Alan Rickman

Of course there are even more that I HOPE will go that are so far, unconfirmed besides Mr. Hardy & Ms. Harris from my top 25 list.
Stanley Tucci, Josh Hutcherson, Steve Buscemi, Martin Scorsese, Natalie Dormer, Seth Rogen, Cary Elwes, Neil Young, Ray Liotta, Gillian Jacobs, Carrie Fisher, Zoe Saldana, Tuppence Middleton, Marion Cotillard, Moly Ringwald, Dolph Lundrgren, Kate Beckinsale, Thomas Sadoski, Bo Derek, Sienna Miller, Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy, Adam Driver, Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Naomi Watts, James Caan, Danny Trejo, Kathy Bates, James Marsden, Will Ferrell, Linda Cardellini, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Tudyk.

The Toronto International Film Festival will take place from September 4-14, 2014 this year & includes films like
THE EQUALIZER (Antoine Fuqua) Denzel Washington, Chloe Moretz, Marton Csokas
THE JUDGE (director - David Dubkin) starring Al Pacino & Robert Downey Jr.
A LITTLE CHAOS (Alan Rickman) Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci
MAPS TO THE STARS (David Cronenberg) Robert Pattinson, Julianne Moore, John Cusack, Sarah Gadon
THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU (Shawn Levy) Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, jane Fonda
FOXCATCHER (Bennett Miller) Anthony Michael Hall, Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carell, Channing Tatum
ROSEWATER (Jon Stewart) Gael Garcia Bernal, Jason Jones

Plus 100s more. I will try to have blogs on each days adventures like I did past years. But due to the intense schedule of the event, they likely will not go up every day.

My 2013 TIFF saw me go 14/25 (got my technical #1 Benedict Cumberbatch... my original #1 Melissa Rauch did not come)
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)

Who do YOU hope I will get at TIFF? Vote here, leave comments below if your choice is not there.

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2013 Toronto International Film Festival is days away - and here is who I hope to track down at this years TIFF

9/1/2013

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Johnny Depp on the red carpet at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

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.

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The Killing films scenes last week with Rowan Longworth (Adrian the "Picasso drawing" kid)

6/14/2013

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Last week I caught The Killing filming a few scenes in a neighbourhood in southwest Vancouver.

For the second time in a row, no sign of the shows 2 main leads Mireille Enos or Joel Kinnaman for the scenes I saw being filmed. Instead, I was treated to a "wow, I didnt recognize him" moment when the I saw the actor who plays "picasso kid" Adrian Seward, the son of the death row inmate Ray Seward (played by Peter Sarsgaard) & did not recognize it was Rowan Longworth, who I know from "Fringe" where he was bald.

I saw Rowan film a couple scenes. The first saw himw alking up a street, bouncing his soccer ball like a basketball. He stops a couple times, looking behind him, clearly feeling uneased about something. Then, he sees something right infront of him that freezes him in terror as he drops his ball & just stares blankly. What, or who, is it?

Later they filmed a scene of a car coming down the street towards Adria (obviously what he sees), but who is driving it? What importance is it to the story? Did he see the killer? Or someone else?

Later they moved on to a school, where they filmed him leaving the school ground, as I left, they were prepping the car to put a camera in the back seat.

Since this wasnt filming for the finale (I think.. theres a 0.01% chance they shot scenes out of episode order) I doubt Adrian saw the killer (or he did, and they will draw us away from, then back to this person?) , and the driver didnt look like his dad Ray, so who did he see? and what will their relevance be to the story arc?