Toronto Entertainment, Film, Photography and Music Blog

September, and then on to fall

September 19, 2017

After the film festival has rolled up all the red carpets, I feel like I can usually breathe a sigh of relief and get down to the serious business of enjoying September and fall. It takes a little time after TIFF to really settle down, because there is a lot of content to deal with after the festival, but then I really feel like I can get into my favorite season.

TIFF 2017 blog: Puppies, interviews, movies and The GATE’s Interview Lounge

W. Andrew Powell

September 13, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

Have you snuggled a puppy recently? The first five days of TIFF were hectic, fun, and challenging--which is exactly what you expect from TIFF--but on the bright side we also got to snuggle puppies thanks to the fine folks at Save Our Scruff, who brought their adorable dogs to #GATELounge17.

Toronto International Film Festival - Bell Lightbox

Here we go! Thank-you TIFF friends & partners

W. Andrew Powell

September 5, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

One moment it’s January and you start planning to do something big for TIFF, and the next it’s September and you’re a few days away from the festival. The last eight months have been a blur, but it’s been nothing less than a thrill ride all along the way, with challenges, and rewards, at every turn.

Chicago for Windy City Smokeout, country music & BBQ

W. Andrew Powell

July 15, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

My family raised me on country music. When I was a kid, my mother and grandmother listened to nothing but old school country, and that certainly rubbed off on me. My tastes are all over the place, but country still speaks to kid in me that grew up on it, so when I got an invite to come down to Chicago to cover the Windy City Smokeout country music festival, I was excited for a whole bunch of reasons.

Ford Flex in Parry Sound, Ontario | Canada 150

Nearly summer: On the road for Canada 150 with Ford, TV Upfronts, Raise the Caliber & ‘Orphan Black’

W. Andrew Powell

June 14, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

Summer is around the corner, I just got back from a Canada 150 road trip with Ford, and there are only 85 days until the Toronto International Film Festival. There is a lot going on, but the festival is front of mind since I'm prepping The GATE's Interview Lounge at TIFF, and my accreditation application came in Monday too.

Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy S8: #UnboxYourPhone

W. Andrew Powell

April 5, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

Samsung gave me an early look at the Galaxy S8 last week, two days after their Samsung Unpacked event in New York City. Demoing the new devices to media last Friday, Samsung showed off some of the big changes, including one of the big new ways you can use the S8.

March with Sonos, ‘Killjoys’, ‘Anne’ and ‘Rogue One’

W. Andrew Powell

March 31, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

March is almost over and it's been a fun month, and just a tad more relaxed than I expect in April. A little down time is welcome, and it's certainly easy to hibernate when the weather is not so hot out. There has still been a lot to do though, and this weekend would have been a lot busier if I'd been able to make the Juno Awards, but I'll be watching the festivities from Toronto.

Tatiana Maslany and her two Canadian Screen Awards

From the press room at the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards

W. Andrew Powell

March 12, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

Welcome backstage to the press room at the 2017 Candys, or as they're also called, the Canadian Screen Awards. The afternoon started with the red carpet arrivals, and now we've moved on to the live telecast where the stars are coming back to chat.

Yannick Bisson, the new ‘Power Rangers’, and the ‘Goon’ sequel

W. Andrew Powell

March 7, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

It's not every day that you get invited to a Canadian icon's home. Last Saturday, before he went to the ACTRA Awards, I dropped by Yannick Bisson's house to talk about his career, Murdoch Mysteries, and a special new project that he's working on with his wife. It was really a relaxed chat with one of Canada's most recognized stars.

AutoShow with Lincoln & Ford, ‘Moana’ director interview, and ‘Orphan Black’ set visit

W. Andrew Powell

February 18, 2017

GATEKeeper's Blog

This week's excitement started with the media preview for the Canadian International AutoShow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The AutoShow opened for the public yesterday, and it's bound to be another big year for the event--there's a lot to see and do: classic cars, concepts, prototypes, and new vehicles that are either coming out, or making their way to market late this year.