Tales of TIFF 2009: Pre-party dreams come in twos

It’s that time of the year again when Toronto is abuzz with Hollywood and Hollywood North golden girls and boys: the annual Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 10 to 19) has officially kicked off and already the celeb sightings and shoulder rubbing has begun.

At the Drake Hotel last Wednesday, the British Columbia-born Ashmore twins (also known as Shawn, ahem, “Iceman” from the movie “X-Men” and Aaron the hopelessly devoted “Jimmy” from TV series “Smallville”) weaved through crowds of giggling and whispering fans too shy to ask for autographs or Twitters.

Now, “shy” isn’t really in the  FashionTKTK handbook (publishing date: TBA). I like to save that bon mot to help describe aloof and sardonic fashion types and starlets I usually bump into (which are habitually introverted, as a rule).

So, while I was a bit nervous (only a little) when I snaked through the gaggle pre-TIFF-ers, worried for a moment that when we shook hands I’d suddenly–and dramatically–crystallize into an icy pillar (haha … not funny),  my celebrity curious heart was pleasantly warmed by a boyishly handsome and refreshingly nice Shawn Ashmore (the only twin I could really sidle up to). He was thoughtfully dressed in soft plaid cotton twill and a naturally washed denim (which has been a foolproof Canuck uniform for the stylish set recently, I must say).

During my quick chat with Shawn, I learned about his his newest on-camera gig still in production: an eponymous TV mini-series based on Canadian author Vincent Lam‘s 2006 Giller prize-winning book, Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures and after some encouragement by yours truly, he also harped about (again, only a little) the pros and cons of being the youngest twin Ashmore in Hollywood because “sometimes they don’t want to cast the same person.”

Understood. The Ashmore twins are incredibly–and gloriously–alike. Twin flick anyone?

In the meantime (thank-you, research) Aaron Ashmore is working on “The Shrine” and plays a young journalist who digs for information on a cult rumored to be privy to human sacrifice.  Thrilling.

These guys seem to have Hollywood cornered: it’s talent²
 
There’s a slew of events coming up and my eyes are peeled for more celeb fawning.
Head to TIFF and its online hub for the best and brightest in Canadian and international film: www.tiff.net

##TKTK##

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