TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2010….LIGHT FROM ABOVE
The party’s over, as this year’s annual Toronto International Film Festival recedes into memory, but oh what memories it produced! The focus, as usual, was on the plethora of films (over 300), that were on display throughout the numerous screens in this film loving city.
However, what was different at this year’s festival as compared to previous years was a smaller African-American presence, in terms of both press, actors, directors, and producers in attendance, as opposed to last year’s festival which had a large slate of urban themed films. Perhaps this was because of the proximity in dates to New York City’s 14 Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, or lack of contemporary African-American films. Whatever, your guess is as good as mine. I did come across some familiar faces, but most of these brothers and sisters were here to check out films that dealt with the Diaspora in a broader setting. They were here mainly to check out films from the continent of Africa, and on that point they weren’t disappointed, but the absence of new faces was somewhat disheartening to say the least.
Having said that, in my opinion, there was still plenty to get excited about with the bounty of flicks that we’re on display and the opening of TIFF’s dazzling new headquarters…the Bell Lightbox, a stunning five storey space which features five state-of-the-art cinemas, two galleries, three learning studios, retail space, TIFF offices and a three-story atrium. Also, cinemas in the Bell Lightbox are the first in North America to show 16mm, 35mm and 70mm in addition to digital movies. From casual conversations overheard at press screening there, the Bell Lightbox is being viewed by the international film community as an overwhelming success, and something that has changed the event’s landscape, and basically relocated the festival’s epicenter from Bloor St. down to King St West. Quite a difference!
SCENE & HERD….. What’s up with all of the so-called “celebrities” trying their hand at DJing these days? The two latest, Bob Geldorf’s daughter Peaches, and porn star Sasha Gray (who was here last year starring in Steven Soderbergh’s, THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE), were displaying their “skills” at The Drake Hotel and video game developer Ubisoft’s parties respectively, during the festival and produced similar results,….they quickly emptied the floor….Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas, who can definitely spin, was the DJ for the ET Canada party, while across town band mate Apl.de.ap manned the 1’s & 2’s at the Blackberry jam… Spotted former heavyweight world boxing champ Lennox Lewis kicking it with singers John Legend and Keisha Cole at a reception held for guests of The ONEXONE fund raiser…. actor/director Clint Eastwood in town for his latest film Hereafter, is going ahead with plans to shoot an autobiography of former FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, with Leonardo DiCaprio slated to portray Hoover. Wonder if DiCaprio has been fitted for any of the dresses that rumoured cross dresser Hoover, who was also known as “Betty” wore…. Toronto strip clubs, including the posh, FOR YOU EYES ONLY, had to hire extra staff as they geared up for what has traditionally been one of their busiest times of the year, as various film biz folks hit town for the fest and proceed to get their “lap” on. Stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and even Queen Latifah have been seen in past years enjoying the company of the club’s stunning ladies…. Festival opening night and Canadian film SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL, which has generally garnered some pretty awful reviews, was definitely not on Toronto writer/director Bruce LaBruce’s, (whose festival entry the controversial hardcore gay porn feature L.A. ZOMBIE, was banned from the Sydney Film Festival, thus guaranteeing it cult status), list of must see films. Rumour has it that he gave his opening night tickets to a homeless person….which were then probably sold, just sayin’… Young, black, and extremely talented Toronto director Charles Officer, NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY, was hoping to get his latest effort MIGHTY JEROME, a documentary about the troubled life of legendary black Canadian sprinter Harry Jerome (who back in the sixties held the world record for both the 100 meters & 100 yards), finished in time to be included in this year’s festival. Unfortunately it wasn’t, but it will be screened at The Vancouver Film Festival later this month…. I am also waiting to check out black Toronto director Clement Virgo’s (RUDE, POOR BOY”S GAME), interpretation of writer Lawrence Hill’s bestseller, THE BOOK OF NEGROES. A novel that follows the sweeping story of heroine Aminata Diallo, tracking her life as she goes from her African village to being a slave in the southern U.S. and continuing on to Halifax, Nova Scotia and then to London, England. Early word is that it’s his best work to date…. What’s a film festival without at least one or two publicity stunts? This year it’s the unmasking of actor/”rapper” Joaquin Phoenix and actor/director Casey Affleck, whose documentary, actually a “mockumentary” I’M STILL HERE, was exposed as being a hoax. To further the hype there were even sightings of a man rumoured to be Phoenix, wearing an obviously fake beard and sunglasses at various locations in the city …. Of course there were the by now obligatory “swag salons”, known now as “gifting suites” (such as DPA, IT Lounge, and Tastemakers Lounge to name but a few), aplenty, with “free” everything and anything that today’s stars and hangers on don’t need, but starving reporters such as yours truly could use…. There were just too many parties to mention, and with the growth of this festival, too hard to get in. I did however manage to get a pair of tickets (thanks Genevieve), to TIFF’s opening night party at the immense Liberty Grand. The theme at this year’s party, like it is every year, was centered on the opening night film, which in this case was SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL. There were lots of good eats, great music, and interesting people in attendance and I also got to kick it with Canadian actor Stephen McHattie, a very down to earth guy… Robert Redford, in town for his film THE CONSPIRATOR, revealed at a press conference that he and old friend Paul Newman had planned on doing another movie together. Newman’s passing in 2008 put an end to that project which was going to be an adaptation of a Bill Bryson book called A WALK IN THE WOODS . It was about two older guys who hadn’t seen each other in thirty years reuniting and planning on walking the Appalachian Trail…. Actor Josh Brolin had to put a persistent radio reporter in check after the reporter went tabloid on him and asked Brolin about him having to talk his wife, actress Diane Lane, out of getting boob jobs. Brolin told the reporter, “Dude, you are weird, I’ll remember you forever”…. Eighty year-old Clint Eastwood was seen at Avenue Restaurant, bustin’ a move to Timbaland’s The Way I Are and Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind ….British singer and mash-up artist M.I.A. was seen at a French cinema party and had this to say about her presence there , “I’m here to support my friend Roman Gavras (Costa Gavras’ son), the director of OUR DAY WILL COME”. Gavras directed her controversial video, Born Free…. Matt Damon, who is set to portray Liberace in an upcoming biopic along with Michael Douglas, talked about Douglas’ recent health concerns, “Michael is obviously going through his health issues, but from what I understand that’s not going to be any problem at all. He’s a very healthy guy and the numbers are on his side. We’re hoping to be on track to shoot next summer”….Like social activists actors Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson who seem to get involved in local social justice issues whenever they’re in town, Martin Sheen was spotted walking the picket line with a group of hotel workers who were protesting their wages outside of a hotel where festival officials had set up a workshop… Speaking of walking, I’m calling it a day until this time next year. I’m gone! - VICTOR BAINS MARSHALL
However, what was different at this year’s festival as compared to previous years was a smaller African-American presence, in terms of both press, actors, directors, and producers in attendance, as opposed to last year’s festival which had a large slate of urban themed films. Perhaps this was because of the proximity in dates to New York City’s 14 Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, or lack of contemporary African-American films. Whatever, your guess is as good as mine. I did come across some familiar faces, but most of these brothers and sisters were here to check out films that dealt with the Diaspora in a broader setting. They were here mainly to check out films from the continent of Africa, and on that point they weren’t disappointed, but the absence of new faces was somewhat disheartening to say the least.
Having said that, in my opinion, there was still plenty to get excited about with the bounty of flicks that we’re on display and the opening of TIFF’s dazzling new headquarters…the Bell Lightbox, a stunning five storey space which features five state-of-the-art cinemas, two galleries, three learning studios, retail space, TIFF offices and a three-story atrium. Also, cinemas in the Bell Lightbox are the first in North America to show 16mm, 35mm and 70mm in addition to digital movies. From casual conversations overheard at press screening there, the Bell Lightbox is being viewed by the international film community as an overwhelming success, and something that has changed the event’s landscape, and basically relocated the festival’s epicenter from Bloor St. down to King St West. Quite a difference!
SCENE & HERD….. What’s up with all of the so-called “celebrities” trying their hand at DJing these days? The two latest, Bob Geldorf’s daughter Peaches, and porn star Sasha Gray (who was here last year starring in Steven Soderbergh’s, THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE), were displaying their “skills” at The Drake Hotel and video game developer Ubisoft’s parties respectively, during the festival and produced similar results,….they quickly emptied the floor….Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas, who can definitely spin, was the DJ for the ET Canada party, while across town band mate Apl.de.ap manned the 1’s & 2’s at the Blackberry jam… Spotted former heavyweight world boxing champ Lennox Lewis kicking it with singers John Legend and Keisha Cole at a reception held for guests of The ONEXONE fund raiser…. actor/director Clint Eastwood in town for his latest film Hereafter, is going ahead with plans to shoot an autobiography of former FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, with Leonardo DiCaprio slated to portray Hoover. Wonder if DiCaprio has been fitted for any of the dresses that rumoured cross dresser Hoover, who was also known as “Betty” wore…. Toronto strip clubs, including the posh, FOR YOU EYES ONLY, had to hire extra staff as they geared up for what has traditionally been one of their busiest times of the year, as various film biz folks hit town for the fest and proceed to get their “lap” on. Stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and even Queen Latifah have been seen in past years enjoying the company of the club’s stunning ladies…. Festival opening night and Canadian film SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL, which has generally garnered some pretty awful reviews, was definitely not on Toronto writer/director Bruce LaBruce’s, (whose festival entry the controversial hardcore gay porn feature L.A. ZOMBIE, was banned from the Sydney Film Festival, thus guaranteeing it cult status), list of must see films. Rumour has it that he gave his opening night tickets to a homeless person….which were then probably sold, just sayin’… Young, black, and extremely talented Toronto director Charles Officer, NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY, was hoping to get his latest effort MIGHTY JEROME, a documentary about the troubled life of legendary black Canadian sprinter Harry Jerome (who back in the sixties held the world record for both the 100 meters & 100 yards), finished in time to be included in this year’s festival. Unfortunately it wasn’t, but it will be screened at The Vancouver Film Festival later this month…. I am also waiting to check out black Toronto director Clement Virgo’s (RUDE, POOR BOY”S GAME), interpretation of writer Lawrence Hill’s bestseller, THE BOOK OF NEGROES. A novel that follows the sweeping story of heroine Aminata Diallo, tracking her life as she goes from her African village to being a slave in the southern U.S. and continuing on to Halifax, Nova Scotia and then to London, England. Early word is that it’s his best work to date…. What’s a film festival without at least one or two publicity stunts? This year it’s the unmasking of actor/”rapper” Joaquin Phoenix and actor/director Casey Affleck, whose documentary, actually a “mockumentary” I’M STILL HERE, was exposed as being a hoax. To further the hype there were even sightings of a man rumoured to be Phoenix, wearing an obviously fake beard and sunglasses at various locations in the city …. Of course there were the by now obligatory “swag salons”, known now as “gifting suites” (such as DPA, IT Lounge, and Tastemakers Lounge to name but a few), aplenty, with “free” everything and anything that today’s stars and hangers on don’t need, but starving reporters such as yours truly could use…. There were just too many parties to mention, and with the growth of this festival, too hard to get in. I did however manage to get a pair of tickets (thanks Genevieve), to TIFF’s opening night party at the immense Liberty Grand. The theme at this year’s party, like it is every year, was centered on the opening night film, which in this case was SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL. There were lots of good eats, great music, and interesting people in attendance and I also got to kick it with Canadian actor Stephen McHattie, a very down to earth guy… Robert Redford, in town for his film THE CONSPIRATOR, revealed at a press conference that he and old friend Paul Newman had planned on doing another movie together. Newman’s passing in 2008 put an end to that project which was going to be an adaptation of a Bill Bryson book called A WALK IN THE WOODS . It was about two older guys who hadn’t seen each other in thirty years reuniting and planning on walking the Appalachian Trail…. Actor Josh Brolin had to put a persistent radio reporter in check after the reporter went tabloid on him and asked Brolin about him having to talk his wife, actress Diane Lane, out of getting boob jobs. Brolin told the reporter, “Dude, you are weird, I’ll remember you forever”…. Eighty year-old Clint Eastwood was seen at Avenue Restaurant, bustin’ a move to Timbaland’s The Way I Are and Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind ….British singer and mash-up artist M.I.A. was seen at a French cinema party and had this to say about her presence there , “I’m here to support my friend Roman Gavras (Costa Gavras’ son), the director of OUR DAY WILL COME”. Gavras directed her controversial video, Born Free…. Matt Damon, who is set to portray Liberace in an upcoming biopic along with Michael Douglas, talked about Douglas’ recent health concerns, “Michael is obviously going through his health issues, but from what I understand that’s not going to be any problem at all. He’s a very healthy guy and the numbers are on his side. We’re hoping to be on track to shoot next summer”….Like social activists actors Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson who seem to get involved in local social justice issues whenever they’re in town, Martin Sheen was spotted walking the picket line with a group of hotel workers who were protesting their wages outside of a hotel where festival officials had set up a workshop… Speaking of walking, I’m calling it a day until this time next year. I’m gone! - VICTOR BAINS MARSHALL
posted by Bill Vaughan at
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