bretz
Member
George Clooney has two movies at the festival. He will obviously show up at Roy Thomson Hall for the premiere of "The Men Who Stare At Goats." However, do you think he will show up at Ryerson for the premiere of "Up In The Air"? (Sat 12 @ 6pm). It seems like a less likely venue for celebrities to show up than Roy Thomson Hall or Elgin Theatre.
From past experience, does anyone know if the top celebrities show up at Ryerson?
numnums
Member
the ryerson has an area for a red carpet and there's a stage so it has seen it's share of directors and stars attend.
a few i've experienced:
- borat arriving by women drawn carriage! then later when the projector didn't work and he went on stage to keep people entertained.
- the main cast of fay grim including parker posey, jeff goldblum and saffron burrows
plus there's a bunch of directors i've seen. admittedly, not an a-list group, but those are the ones i've seen personally.
i'd say it's the first saturday of the festival there's a good shot since he's already in town.
therealphilb
Member
I have seen numerous screenings at Ryerson with star-studded casts and directors. The best example was the first screening of Juno two years, which had the whole cast present. There were so many celebrities that I was sitting across the aisle from Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, with Allison Janney one row behind.
I even got to ask Alan Ball a question during a Q&A, which was pretty awesome.
abreede
Member
Over the last two years the Ryerson has boomed, it is now what the Visa used to be, small red carpet with everyone coming to first screenings.
Last year I saw the Brother's Bloom and not only where Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rachael Wiesse sitting two rows behind me but Ethan Hawke and Joseph Gordon-Levitt where right behind me just taking in the screening.
Hurt Locker was the same deal with Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty directly behind me.
In both cases all stayed for a 15 minute Q & A.
To View Hurt Locker Q&A - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-kh8PmKHPg
TO View Brother's Bloom Q&A - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCcC0Efy7Ns
Also just for those still leery about giving up a Gala for the Ryerson, as far back as four years ago, Sean Penn, Robert Downey Jr. & Rachel McAdams have all gone to their Ryerson Screenings.
Also Isabelle Badder also brings out the names, if it is world or international premiers.
Plenty of stars show up at the Ryerson, however the early morning repeat screenings following an evening gala the night before usually will not have the stars (and sometimes even the director is too wasted from the after-party to show up).
Generally, fewer fans and autograph hounds show up at the Ryerson so you may actually get a better chance for pictures/autographs on the red carpet.
Jamie
Member
They absolutely show up! Last year, I was waiting for the line for It Might Get Loud to form so I'd be near the front, and I watched the entire red carpet for Me and Orson Welles up close: director Richard Linklater, Claire Danes and Zac Efron, in all of his assless glory. Seriously, the boy had no bum. He spent every red carpet interview pulling his pants up non-stop.
It's my favourite venue at the festival. It's a great place, and with consistently great films. The red carpet being two feet away from the front of the line is an amazing bonus.
I was at that Orson Welles screening at the Ryerson, too. Didn't notice Zac's lack of rear. Will make mental note.
As I recall Danny Boyle, Dev Patel and Freida Pinto were at the Slumdog Millionaire screening. Kevin Smith and cast (minus Seth Rogan) of Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Was disappointed that Michael Cera didn't show for the morning screening of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Just director Peter Sollett.
Few years ago I saw Yoko Ono at the Ryerson (for The U.S. vs. John Lenon. I think Michael Moore was in the audience for that screening).
Jamie
Member
Oh, wow, I attended that showing of 'Nick and Norah' with my sister! What a small world. I had to run before the Q&A started to make a showing of "Wendy and Lucy', though. How was it?
How cool that you got to see Yoko... or, maybe not? I guess it depends on how you'd answer the question of why The Beatles broke up ;)
The 'premium' tickets to the galas at Roy Thomson Hall only allow you to sit in the upper balcony, so don't expect to see anybody up close. If you want to see George Clooney up close, you should go early and stake out a good spot near the red carpet. The stars will usually arrive 30 minutes before the start of the screening (but you should be there much earlier). They'll do interviews (E-talk, Entertainment Tonight, etc.), pose for photos, and usually sign some autographs. Some stars spend more time with the fans than others. Their publicist will keep dragging them away to do interviews with the press.
They're changing the red carpet at RTH this year, supposedly making the walk longer. This could be good for the fans, as you may have a better chance to see. I happened to be near RTH last year when Brad Pitt arrived and you could hear the screams a block away (literally, I heard the screams from Adelaide and Simcoe). It was a mob scene outside RTH.
smacberry
Member
I saw "Lars and the Real Girl" at Ryerson a couple years ago, which Ryan Gosling and Patricia Clarkson and all the other actors attended. Sat across from Ryan in the theatre and got a picture and everything. Very cool! :)
As for how long it takes waiting at the red carpets for the big stars, some people are lined up along the gate all day. If you only go 2 hours beforehand to a Brad Pitt premiere, you'll probably be way in the back and won't get close to him at all. At the Burn After Reading at Roy Thompson, people were starting to wait at like 11 or 12! So if you actually want an autograph, you'd have to go more than a couple hours early probably. But other people in line and also the security can help to pass the time quickly.. lots of entertaining people. ;)
jj
Member
I've always liked the Ryerson and I think every first performance I've seen there has had the cast and director. And...unlike the 'visa screening room' at the Elgin, there has always, always, always been a Q and A and for some movies, I think I remember the Q and A more!
Also, you never know what can happen on a second showing. My mom went to the second showing of Rock n Rolla last year and Guy Ritchie just showed up, prepared to introduce the film and answer some questions.
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