Memories of TIFF and 7 September

With a day to go before the end of what has been a fabulous year, today I'm remembering 7 September 2007, which was not only one of the best days I've ever experienced, it was also important and so memorable for more than one member of the community here. This post is dedicated to each of you.


The Toronto International Film Festival couldn't have come at a better time for me. Nothing helps you get over these little trials better than a Jake Gyllenhaal adventure and the company of some fellow Jakers. This flying visit was spectacular from the very beginning - although arriving at Toronto's airport probably no more than 10 minutes after Jake walked through it was a little... vexing. I saw the luggage carousel from his plane (as I later discovered) and it was just about empty. But that evening, while walking off the jetlag and enjoying the heat, I came across what turned out to be Jake's hotel - the Hazeldene - and I couldn't believe my luck that, just as I was about to head back to my hotel, I saw Jake leave his hotel and be driven out of the back in one of the festival's infamous SUVs.




Staying at the hotel where the press conferences were taking place was a bonus and, thanks to a kind Australian journalist, we found out when the Rendition press conference was and we were able to watch Jake and the others enter the side door. Even better, when they came out, we were close enough to speak to Jake and Peter, get an autograph or two, whilst almost being smothered by the paps behind.



I was papped too! Here is me (far right) talking to Peter, Jake having been driven off just a moment before.


That night we went down to the Roy Thomson Hall and waited inside the foyer for Jake to walk through to the lift. The attendants were great, by the way. They seemed to realise what all this meant to us. Jake's friend Chris came through first and then Jake turned the corner (the cries of 'Jake! Jake!' were a clue he was on the way) and he walked smiling past us, being rushed and pulled along by the lady we saw at the Baftas and in Cannes. We then ran to get our seats in the balcony - in the rush I noticed Reese walking past me to the right and managed to get a photograph of the back of her head - this goes nicely with the other picture I took of the back of Reese's head in Rome. She doesn't half walk quickly.


Watching Gavin Hood, Kelley Sane and the actors come on stage one at a time, was a wonderful moment. It did mean though that I didn't get to see too much of the film. It was overwhelming and I was grateful to the friends on either side. The film received a standing ovation. We went back to Yorkville to enjoy the party atmosphere. Later that night, I saw Peter and Chris again in the street and heard that Jake and Reese were at George Clooney's party round the corner. An amazing day and I have to thank Bobbyanna, her lovely daughter, Becky and Felicia for their wonderful company. In the picture below, the other ticket is from the Rome gala.


As we were having our amazing experience, so too were another trio, Em, Missy and Thomas from EnnisJack. I am so grateful to Em for her account of their adventure, which she sent me to share here. I also know how much their account of the whole encounter meant to everyone at EJ; both Christie and Rosie have said that to me. Em, Missy and Tomas' Jake encounter made the frontpages of the Toronto papers and, it's hardly surprising because they got Jake to sign one of his Brokeback shirts, which he did, above the heart. Here are Em's words and, as many of us know, Em is a fine, fine writer and she just took me write back with this. The video follows.


'My favourite Jake moment of 2007 is at the Rendition World Premiere at the TIFF. No surprise, because I can be heard screaming Jake's name in a manner that would make even a banshee cringe in horror in the vid I shot of the event. I remember standing there amidst a crowd of people, what must have been a sea of nameless faces to Jake, and feeling like, for a brief moment, he knew me. Such a fanciful notion, I know, but it seemed like all around me was chaos and the only time everything became quiet and still was when Jake was standing in front of me.'



'I went with two EJ friends, MississaugaRed and Thomas. We also had one of the shirts Jake wore for the confrontation scene in BBM, a piece of clothing Thomas had purchased at an auction. We had no idea what we were doing because this was our first time at the TIFF. But, somehow, we stumbled upon the perfect spot to catch a glimpse of Jake because we were surrounded by TIFF veterans who knew some of the senior volunteers and officials. When those around us realized we had Jake's BBM shirt they were determined to help us in getting it signed. When Jake showed up, the TIFF veterans around us called out to one of the officials, Cheryl, and told her we had one of Jake's shirts from BBM and could he come over and sign it?'

[I love this 'wow' moment from Jake - WDW]



'I could feel my dear Thomas trembling beside me when Jake came within sight of us. Thomas asked Jake to sign the shirt and Jake immediately said, "Yeah, sure." Jake looked down at the shirt and he mouthed "Wow" and carefully signed the shirt on the left side, above where his heart would have been if he wore it. Thomas said "Thank you" and Jake kind of nodded and gave a little smile but his eyes were very soft and solemn. And, you know, he didn't say "You're welcome" but, standing there, I felt welcomed. I felt like Jake had invited us in, just for a few intimate seconds, into his world.'


'As soon as Jake was whisked away we ran across the street to get in line for the screening with only fifteen minutes to spare. While we were in line I showed both Thomas and Missy the vid I just took and we still couldn't quite believe what we had experienced just minutes before. We couldn't wait to tell our friends that Jake had signed the shirt. Little did we know that while we were watching Rendition, Associated Press released a picture of Jake getting his picture taken with one of the TIFF veterans beside us and in that picture both Thomas and Missy are beaming at Jake in adoration!'


'So that's my favourite Jake moment of 2007. In fact, one of my favourite moments EVER in 2007. Thomas said it best when he said there are so many things to love about Jake. But the best thing is...Jake brought us all together. At the TIFF. At EJ. At WDW. Whether he's doing Snakes On a Plane, calling himself Jake Gooberballs, or simply signing an autograph...there's a very real sense of hospitality within him that seems to invite us into parts of his world. Through that, he becomes ours... and we become his. And being in Jake's world is a good place to be.'



This picture of mine below is another of my famous nearmiss photographs. Except for showing Jake's feet, this could well be just before the event described by Em.


I discovered afterwards that two others were there that night - Chillinwitgyllen and Get Real. CWG can have been no more than a few feet away from me in the theatre foyer and it's such a pleasant feeling thinking both CWG and Get Real were also in the auditorium. Here are a couple of pictures that CWG sent me from that incredible time. Next time, I trust we can all do it together!



Includes pictures from IHJ, WDW and Em.