The 2018 Toronto International Film Festival has ended, and here is my reports on the festival.

This is part 2, day 3 to day 5.
For part 1, day 0 to day 2, go HERE
For part 3, day 6 to day 8 go HERE

Day 3 started for me later than I had hoped as exhaustion was setting in already. I wanted to do a late morning premiere, but didn't get there in time to have a chance at it, so I started my day instead at an afternoon premiere for Can You Ever Forgive Me, starring Melissa McCarthy, Richard E Grant & Christian Navarro. Pleased to say, a rare occurrence at the fest, all of the cast I was there for were quite accommodating. Richard and Christian signed everything asked of them, while the big star, Melissa, signed a pretty notable amount. I managed to get everything done by Richard & Christian, and 1 from Melissa.

I left that premiere feeling like I had a solid start. I went then to the premiere for "Everybody Knows" with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz. Unfortunately, this premiere killed my early high. I got 1 Cruz, and 0 Bardems, despite having a really good spot. After such a good start, this was a bit of a gut punch.

My next choice was an easy one for me. My top want of the fest, Mandy Patinkin, was going to have a premiere at the same venue I was already at next. The premiere for Life Itself had a pretty large cast, but it was Dead Like Me star Mandy Patinkin that had me choosing it over others going on at that time which included the likes of Hugh Jackman and Julia Roberts at other venues. I managed to get 1 autograph from Patinkin, keeping my streak of getting my top want of every fest together. I also managed autographs from This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, Annette Bening and Olivia Cooke, while Olivia Wilde snubbed our area entirely, and seemingly only really interacted with young girls, and Oscar Isaacs no showed. Still, getting Patinkin was worth it for me.

I took a very short break from that venue, to go across the street from it to see if there was any action at the Julia Roberts premiere for Ben Is Back. I was mostly hoping to track down Kathryn Newton, but it was becoming quickly obvious the stars for the film weren't going to leave early, which is something that happens more often than not. I knew I couldn't wait this one out for its end, AND get a good spot in line for the next one I was going to do, so I abandoned my spot at that one to go line up for my next event.

For my 3rd time that day, I found myself at a premiere at the Roy Thompson Hall, this time for Widows. Another movie with a major cast of notable names. I should have done great at this as I had a really great spot. But instead, the unwillingness of the cast to sign soured that. While many DID sign, Viola Davis, and Liam Neeson did NOTHING, and Daniel Kaluuya did little to nothing. I did manage an autograph from the legendary Robert Duvall, as well as some autographs from Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez and Elizabeth Debicki. But even with all those successes, the amount of outright non-signers at the premiere really dampened the excitement for it. At least Liam came over to the crowd to explain he wasn't going to sign because of a wrist injury (whether true or not, at least he made SOME effort to explain himself)

I then headed to the last event of the night, the premiere of Halloween. If you were a fan of Danny McBride, this was a good night for you. If you were a fan of any of the main cast, you went away disappointed, and perhaps, even disgusted. The shows two main leads, Jamie Lee Curtis and Judy Greer both refused to come and meet fans. With JLC going as far as to give the fans the finger when they booed her for walking away from them.  Ms. Greer at least didn't flip everyone off, but she did beeline right into the theatre, but in her defense, I believe she was told to do this by the staff at the theatre, as they did stand around her car talking to her inside it for well over a minute before she got out. Disappointing end to a day that started pretty well, and featured me getting my top want of the festival. Andi Matichak also came over to sign, but seemed at first she was not going to either, and got a smaller chorus of boos than JLC did, and in turn came over after a quick photo shoot, whether for PR or a legitimate sense of feeling bad that she didnt first, at least she came over. While producer Danny McBride was good and signed for everyone, I hate to say it, I hope his film flops because of JLC. This former TV actress really thinks more of herself than she actually is.

My day 3 autograph total - 16
My TIFF 2018 total - 54

A+ Richard E Grant
A+ Christian Navarro
A+ Dan Fogelman
A+ Elizabeth Debicki
A+ Danny McBride
A  Andi Matichak
A  Melissa McCarthy
A  Olivia Cooke
A  Colin Farrell
A- Robert Duvall
B+ Michelle Rodriguez
B+ Annette Bening
B  Penelope Cruz
B- Mandy Patinkin
C- Javier Bardem
D+ Olivia Wilde
D- Daniel Kaluuya
F+ Liam Neeson
F  Judy Greer
F  Viola Davis
F- Jamie Lee Curtis

Day 4 saw me start with the premiere for The Public. This was one I was eager to get a good spot for, as I had a couple items for one of my friends to try and get done. Thankfully, for the person I needed.... it paid off.  Things started off with Christian Slater and Alec Baldwin showing up at almost the same time, which is pretty rare at this venue. While I managed a couple autographs from Mr. Slater, I was shut out on the sporadically signing Baldwin who skipped large chunks of the carpet to hasten his arrival time at the media pit, despite the fact they were both 20 minutes before any other cast. I got 1 autograph from the person I went there for, former Breakfast Club and Mighty Ducks star Emilio Estevez. I also managed 1 from Jena Malone, which was rare there as she ignored most requests, and got two autographs from The Wire star Michael Kenneth Williams. Sadly Mr. Baldwin was not the only denial I received there, as Taylor Schilling, Gabrielle Union and Jeffrey Wright also didn't sign in the area I was.

From there, I headed to another premiere, but once I got there I was told of a different event that was going on soon at a venue close to it, so I headed there instead and that turned out to be a pretty great decision.

Before the event happened. They obviously had to let out the movie prior, which to my luck was for Burning starring former The Walking Dead star Steven Yeun. Luckily I got a couple autographs from him as he left. I also helped one other grapher get autographs from another person with the movie, Lee Chang-dong. Its always nice stumbling into bonus autographs, something I would have a bigger one of a bit later.

A live reading of The Breakfast Club took place at the Ryerson Theatre. Every year they do a live reading of some older movie, and they bring in a variety of actors in town for the festival to do the roles, but they don't announce who till the day of. This year, they had Aaron Paul, Christina Hendricks, Jesse Eisenberg, Bel Powley, and a couple others. I managed a couple autographs each from Aaron and Christina. But was of course denied from the always unfriendly Jesse & Bel. If you had told me I'd get 4 autographs there, and still not get two of the people I had stuff for, I would have nodded my head in understanding & known exactly which two I would & wouldn't get.

After that little bonus event, I went back to the theatre I was originally going to to try and get the cast of Her Smell. When I got there, I was a bit surprised how large of a crowd was waiting, as I assumed it was just 1 cast member there, but was told not only were 4 of them there, but the 2nd screening for A Star Is Born had already started showing up.

Like I said a few paragraphs earlier, a bigger unexpected autograph would fall into my lap. When the cast for ASIB came in, I managed to get a few, Dave Chappelle signed 1 for me, Sam Elliott signed two for me, and the biggest "I wasn't expecting to get them at all" one Lady Gaga I got 1 from. Nice extra bonus. Also seen at the showing for ASIB were Salma Hayek and Michelle Rodriguez, BOTH actresses ignored all requests from fans.

A bit later, the cast of Her Smell finally started leaving. I managed a couple Elisabeth Moss autographs, but the rest of the cast Amber Heard, Ashley Benson and the always miserable Cara Delavigne just speed walked out into their awaiting vehicles and left.

After the ASIB cast left, I went around front, just in time to get 1 autograph from Abbie Cornish on the red carpet of her premiere for Where Hands Touch. Unfortunately the movies other star that came Amandla Stenberg ignored all requests and went straight to the carpet.

I ended the night with Sofia Boutella at the premiere of Climax. She was terrific, knocking out all the items I had within just a couple minutes.

My day 4 autograph total - 24
My TIFF 2018 total - 78

A+ Sam Elliott
A+ Aaron Paul
A+ Christina Hendricks
A+ Christian Slater
A+ Dave Chappelle
A+ Sofia Boutella
A  Elisabeth Moss
A  Lee Chang-dong
A  Robert Wuhl
A  Richard E Grant
A  Lady Gaga
A- Steven Yeun
A- Emilio Estevez
A- Michael Kenneth Williams
C+ Abbie Cornish
C  Jena Malone
C- Alec Baldwin
C- Taylor Schilling
C- Gabrielle Union
C- Jeffrey Wright
D+ Bradley Cooper
F+ Jesse Eisenberg
F  Bel Powley
F  Michelle Rodriguez
F  Salma Hayek
F  Amber Heard
F  Cara Delavinge
F  Ashley Benson
F  Amandla Stenberg

Day 5 was a far too short of a day. While lots was going on, remnants of a hurricane made their way through the Toronto area, pouring lots of rain down on the area for most of the day. So I started my day off late.

I first attempted to work the 6 PM premiere of The Death And Life Of John F Donovan. This was such a failure, that I left before the cast had even finished leaving. All I saw of the cast was Kit Harington, who signed a couple autographs, but not a lot, and Susan Sarandon who didn't sign at all... but I couldn't really blame people, as it was still raining pretty hard.

There was ONE event that SHOULD have been a slam dunk, and at a dry place. SO I went there. Every year CBC hosts 3 or 4 talks with individuals. This year, they started with Mahershala Ali, the Academy Award winner from Moonlight, and as I know him, Cottonmouth from Luke Cage. Unfortunately, this was NOT a slam dunk, as other hounds that arrived, got pushy (which isn't rare) but when the entertainer tells you to stop... you are supposed to stop. They didn't, and he handed the pen back after just a couple autographs and went inside.

While his event went on, I had decided the rain had lightened up enough to risk trying for autographs outside, and went to do the premiere for Driven. WHAT A SHIT SHOW! There was LITERALLY 11 fans on the red carpet, so this should have been the easiest thing ever. But between the fact they would have had to cross an active street (although it was closed down when vehicles arrived for a few moments), in light rain none of the cast bothered. Eventually a clunker of a Delorean showed up at the premiere, and two guys who looked like failing film students got out, and they were filming the car, and had Jason Sudeikis pose with it, and a few of the production people took photos and videos of the car.... fine, now get the clunker out of here. NOPE... lets leave it sitting there, doors open on an ACTIVE STREET for OVER TEN MINUTES! The fucking imbeciles that pulled off this moron riddled idea left their car there for 10+ minutes, while City Of Toronto Cops had to hold up traffic at both ends to accommodate this idiocy. In the traffic being held, were two cars for the premiere, including that which had Lee Pace in it. At some point Judy Greer and Cory Stoll both arrived, but not from the front, did quick photo shoots, and went back inside without coming over on the closed street to the whole 11 people there. When Lee finally showed up, he hurried across the street, signed for my buddy and me, then went right back across the street, leaving the other 9 people there with nothing for their time at possibly the most scarcely attended red carpet in this theatres history. Like I said, shit show. AFTER everyone was in, the fucktards who drove their shitmobile to the front of the theatre attempted to get it out of there.... and to top off the worst red carpet of the year.... the pile of shit would not start.... so they had to literally push it down the road. Fucking losers. If these idiots were not fired for this shitshow, the producers of Driven should never be allowed to make another film again just for guilt by association.

After that debacle, I went back to the CBC event, and thankfully, it was a much smaller, and calmer crowd on his departure, and I managed to get 2 autographs there.

I then hurried back to the venue with the terrible red carpet to see if I could get any of the cast leaving. I managed to snag two more Lee Pace autographs (in a dying/dead pen), and 1 Judy Greer, but was still snubbed by Cory Stoll and Erin Moriarty for some reason.

My day 5 autograph total - 6
My TIFF 2018  total - 84

(Grades only based on events AFTER 8 PM due to rain.. because honestly, cant blame them for not wanting to stand in the downpour.)

A  Mahershala Ali
A- Jason Sudeikis
B- Lee Pace
D+ Judy Greer
F  Isabel Arraiza
F  Corey Stoll
F  Erin Moriarty

Day 5 of TIFF started for me later than I wanted it to, but when I did get started, boy did it pay off.

I first made my way over for the premiere of Jim & Andy featuring Jim Carrey. In recent years, Carrey has become a major name that you just dont see around much, so this was a big one to go for. Thanks to some good position scouting from another Vancouver hound, I ended up with a great spot, and managed to get 2 autographs from the comedic legend.

From there, I momentarily went to the Ryerson Theatre before I realized I had something far bigger I wanted to go for than a premiere with notoriously fan unfriendly brie Larson at it. So I went right back to the venue I just left to try for the next premiere there.

I managed 1 autograph each from Travis Fimmel, Charlie Plummer & Steve Buscemi on the way in for Lean On Pete premiere. Shockingly Chloe Sevigny refused to even acknowledge the people waiting before she headed in.

Afterwards I went around back to try and get Mr. Carrey again, and I would have, if the autograph hound he told "no blue pens, just black" had actually handed him a black pen. Instead he handed him a blue, when Jim saw that, he signed 1 item & annoyingly tossed the pen back and left. Those on the far side were luckier, as he signed for everyone on that side.

The next premiere at that venue, Downsizing, unfortunately downsized their red carpet names. Only Christoph Waltz showed up out of the several people attached to it. I managed two autographs from the 2X Academy Award winner, but the no shows of Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig definitely left a bit of a disappointed feeling at that premiere.

Next up for me was a Javier Bardem sighting at his 1 on 1 conversation event. I managed two autographs from the Skyfall & most recent Pirates Of The Caribbean star. 

I then hurried over to the Princess Of Wales theatre to get a spot for the Hostiles premiere. While I managed 3 Christian Bale autographs there, the disappointment that Rosamund Pike avoided signing autographs for anyone with an item for her was a tad displeasing. I helped someone there get an autograph from Wes Studi, but I never brought anything for him myself.

I hurried back to the venue I spent most of my day at to get Alicia Vikander leaving the premiere of Euphoria. The new Tomb Raider star was nice enough to do two autographs for me as she left there.

I ended my evening going for what I assumed would be the easiest event of the day, and instead was the hardest. The Midnight Madness premiere for The Disaster Artist. It had a massive cast list, but only four names were on the confirmed list, and unfortunately only 3 of them showed. The massive 4-7 rows deep crowd that went all the way to the back door made it hard to get any of them, and I only managed 1 autograph from Alison Brie at almost the last possible moment, while the Franco brothers eluded me due to the density of the crowd.

GRADES
A+ Javier Bardem
A+ Christian Bale
A  Jim Carrey
A Alicia Vikander
B+ Christoph Waltz
B- Wes Studi
B- Alison Brie
C+ James Franco
C+ Dave Franco
C+ Travis Fimmel
D+ Rosamund Pike
F+ Brie Larson
F Chloe Sevigny

Day 5 Total Autographs - 16
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 80

​Day 6 got off to a late start for me, and I didnt do anything till the press conference for the new TV program Alias Grace, based on a Margaret Atwood novel. While I managed to get Canadian actress & director Sarah Polley on the way in to the event, much of the cast however, either didnt come, or didnt have to sign going in. On the way out, I managed an autograph from the surprisingly hard Edward Holcroft, as well, I got 1 from Margaret Atwood. Had I done my homework more efficiently, I would have made more for her, unfortunately I didnt know she was also attached to multiple Emmy Award winner, The Handmaids Tale.

After the presser, I made the foolish decision to go to the premiere of Racer & The Jailbird. While Matthias Schoenaerts was nice, and the director Michael Roskam was nice too, the actress in the movie, two time TIFF worst interaction list finalist Adele Exarchopoulos soured most that were there on ever giving this film a chance. Even with 1 of the other autograph hounds & myself being given tickets for free, we had little ot no interest in seeing it, and much of that decision was based off Exarchopoulos terrible attitude the last two years at TIFF.

I did the arrivals of In The Fade to get my 1 Diane Kruger photo I had with me signed. I got it, turned around and headed off to do the next premiere.

Midnight Madness premiere for Brawl In Cell Block 99 unfortunately only brought 3 cast. One was Udo Kier, who was nice enough. Unfortunately, longtime unhappy to see fans actor, Vince Vaughn was 1 of them, although to his credit he did put in a few minutes meeting fans...even if he did put "W"s on items he signed. The worst however, was former 1980s star Don Johnson. The mostly unknown in the last generation TV actor strutted the carpet like he was still in the 80s and treated requests for his autographs or photos with like he was handing out his own blood. Definitely one of the least classy examples shown in all of TIFF.

I salvaged the evening by making it back to Loving Pablo departures where I got two autographs from Javier Bardem before he walked on foot to his movies after party near by.

GRADES
A+ Margaret Atwood
A+ Javier Bardem
A  Matthias Schoenaerts
A- Sarah Polley
B+ Udo Kier
C+ Edward Holcroft
C+ Sarah Gadon
C  Diane Kruger
C  Vince Vaughn
F  Adele Exarchopoulos
F  Don Johnson

Day 6 Total autographs - 12
​TIFF 2017 total autographs - 92

Day 7 was unusually light compared to the final days. With only 5 potential events on the day, I chose to work 3 that were all close together.

First up was a 1 on 1 conversation with Glenn Close. I had gone for Ms. Close in the past and found her to be pretty unaccommodating, so this was an important one for me. This time, Glenn was quite good. Despite being late for the start of her event, she found the time to squeeze out about 4 autographs on the way in, and in that were my two items. I heard from many others, she was also quite good leaving as well.

Next for me was the premiere of Kings with Halle Berry, and another of the major TIFF no shows this year, Daniel Craig. Luckily I managed to get 1 autograph from Halle, which doesnt even come close to making up for the FIVE previous times I have seen her and never managed to get her...but at least this time she signed one for me.

Last event of the evening for me was The Tragically Hip documentary Long Time Running. With the absence of their lead singer Gord Downie, who is battling terminal brain cancer right now, the rest of the band showed up, and all four members Johnny Fay, Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair & Rob Baker signed some items­. Thankfully the two I needed the most signed near me and helped finished an item I started ten years ago. I managed three autographs from that premiere, which was a few less than I anticipated, but since I got the two I needed the most, I consider it a major win. Also seen at the premiere was Canadian TV personality Mike Holmes, who came across as a bit unfriendly and full of himself as he just zipped by most people asking him to stop for an autograph or a selfie.

GRADES
A- The Tragically Hip
B+ Glenn Close
B  Halle Berry
C- Mike Holmes

Day 7 Total autographs - 6
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 98

Day 8 was a bit busier, but only slightly. I started by going for the premiere of The Wife. Just getting Glenn Close the day earlier, I was really there for Christian Slater.... who surprise surprise, NO SHOWED. Luckily I had a photo for Annie Starke, or else I would have went away from that premiere shut out. Ms. Close was again terrific, signing anything she could physically get near.

Next was the premiere of Three Christs. Everyone had hopes of Peter Dinklage from Game Of Thrones there, and of course, like many others from this fest, no showed. Richard Gere arrived and signed a fair amount, but stopped literally 1 person short of me, and Walton Goggins signed but missed me by maybe 3 people. So I left that theatre with a whole zero autographs. 

I then dragged my mostly defeated self over to the back end of the Alias Grace premiere. I still had hopes there of 4 or 5 autographs, but with Zachary Levi no showing, it severely reduced my hopes to two. Rebecca Lilliard signed both items I had thankfully, minimizing the terrible day that I had. Both Sarahs, Polley & Gadon signed for most everyone there, but newcomer Edward Holcroft, like he did at his press conference, signed sparingly & missed many.

GRADES
A+ Glenn Close
A- Richard Gere
A  Annie Starke
B+ Sarah Polley
B- Walton Goggins

Day 8 Total Autographs - 3
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 101 (yay, finally limped over the 100 mark)

Day 9 of TIFF turned out to not be too bad for me. It actually outdid the last two days before it combined & then some.

I started with the premiere of 55 Steps. Helena Bonham Carter bucked the recent trend for TIFF and actually showed up...thankfully. I managed two autographs from the actress before getting ready for the next event.

The premiere of My Days Of Mercy was next, and I managed autographs from all 3 actresses that arrived. I got former The Killing actress Amy Seimetz to sign the 3 photos I had for her while the rest of the carpet was busy desperately trying to get Kate Mara and Ellen Page to come to them. Eventually Ms. page made her way to me and I got 1 on a photo I had previously signed by Drew Barrymore. Then Kate Mara came by and put a `K -`on my photo. Then I managed to salvage 1 more Page autograph after she did an interview on the stage they set up on the carpet. 

From there, I went to the departure of the premiere for Plonger. There I managed to get 4 autographs from Melanie Laurent, which really helped turn an òk`day into a `good day`.

My final event of TIFF would be the Midnight Madness showing of Downrange. With a cast full of people I didnt previously know, it was interesting to meet people still early in their careers. I managed to get all 3 photos I had for that premiere signed. First, getting Stephanie Pearson, then her cast mate, and my final autograph of TIFF 2017, Kelly Connaire, who was telling me and the other person asking her how she created the costume she was wearing in our photos herself. I then hung around a few minutes to see the other autograph hound there get autographs from Alexa Yeames, Jason Tobias & the director Ryuhei Kitamura. All in all, probably the nicest cast of TIFF was where my 2017 Toronto International Film Festival ended.

GRADES
A+ Melanie Laurent
A  Kelly Connaire
A Stephanie Pearson
A  Alexa Yeames
A  Jason Tobias
A  Ryuhei Kitamura
A  Helena Bonham Carter
A- Ellen Page
B+ Kate Mara
B+ Amy Seimetz
C+ Rebecca Lilliard
C- Edward Holcroft
C- Sarah Gadon

Day 9 total Autographs - 15
TIFF 2017 Total Autographs - 116 (3rd highest total for me ever)

​For Days 0 thru 4 go HERE