Canadian filmmakers excited to mingle with Hollywood elite at TIFF, tell them about the hors d'oeuvres
TORONTO, ON—For most Canadians, TIFF is about glitz and glamour. For Canadians in the entertainment industry, TIFF is an annual opportunity to network with their colleagues south of the border.
"I've had an awesome time running from party to party all weekend," says Ottawa screenwriter-server Jason Stootz. "Initiating firm handshakes, maintaining eye contact, repeating my name; as long as you're making sure trays are refilled and everyone has napkins it's legally too complicated to be fired for slipping anyone my script. It's an unbelievable opportunity."
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Stootz is no stranger to Hollywood. "I visited in 2012 for a very expensive screenwriter's conference in an old man's shed," he says. "Even though I'd never heard of any of the movies the old man had worked on, it was thrilling to be getting advice so close to the Hollywood sign."
With big-budget blockbusters looking to save money wherever they can, one prominent exec thinks studios will head north when it comes time to shoot. "It's a very exciting time in Canadian show business," extols Canadian media icon Dough McLoughan. "Not for young Canadian talent – they should probably move if they want to make a career – but sometimes stuff is filmed here and it's pleasant to point out familiar buildings and streets to your friends."
With a record 500 films playing at this year's festival, it's easy to see why Toronto has been dubbed Hollywood North. Toronto actor-director-bartender Patrick Dornst admits to getting starstruck on more than once occasion.
"Kurt Russell hit me. Oscar Isaac hit me. Matt Damon hit me. Michael Shannon screamed at me. It's crazy to be recognized by the kinds of actors you grew up watching."
Despite the Hollywood hoopla, Dornst knows he needs to keep focused: "Last year I spent most of my nights at this little coffee shop called House Brew looking for inspiration. I ended up just sitting, observing real people doing real everyday things, it added a whole new dynamic to my writing process."
While Dornst's short film Exist Strategy premieres tonight on the sidewalk outside The Princess of Wales Theatre on his cousin's laptop, he's looking forward to catching TIFF's most buzzworthy film Lame Weird Loser @ the Coffee Shop written and directed by local barista and House Brew employee Samantha Yukie.
"On the record? No, it's not about anyone specific," says Yukie.
TIFF runs until September 18.
Seeing a movie at TIFF? Don't commit these theatre faux-pas:
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