Here’s the first entry of our guest VABN blogger, Grace. She attended the premiere screening of Zac Efron’s “Me and Orson Welles” at the TIFF.
I watched the premiere Premiere of Me and Orson Welles last night and I can vouch first hand that this is a well-crafted film with sold plot lines and character development. The people who watched the film is not your typical teenage girls screaming their hearts out, though there were a couple of them outside the theatre before and after the show, wanting to have an autograph. The crowd who were inside the theatre came from a wide demographic but typically professionals ranging from late 20s to 50s. The theatre was packed as people were lining up hours outside the theatre to get good seats.
Before the start of the movie, the director, Richard Linklater and the two casts, Claire Danes and Zac Efron spoke briefly to the audience. During the short introduction, Claire and Zac admitted that this is their first time to see the entire movie; thus they will also be watching it with us (they did).
The movie took almost 2 hours and can I say – it was a cinematic delight. The movie relied on the sheer acting talents of all its stars, principally the acting of Christian McKay who played the colossal sized ego of Orson Welles. Zac played the role of young Richard who saw and experienced up close the production of Welles’ Julius Caesar in Mercury Theatre. Claire plays the role of charming and ambitious Sonja with wit and confidence. All the other supporting casts in the theatre group gave memorable performances as well.
During the movie, the audience laughed and cheered at the light moments of the film, which provided contrasts to the high drama of the character of Orson Welles. Christian McKay played the role of Orson Welles with so much energy and passion; it was his acting that electrified the audience. The movie is a visual delight with the 1937 costumes and setting; the 1940’s music provided the feel of the time.
At the end of the movie, the director and principal casts, Claire Danes, Zac Efron and Christian McKay went up to the stage to the cheers and applause of the audience. During the question and answer portion, Zac said that he was happy to finally have a serious role in MAOW. He said that this was different for him; and educational to be acting along side Claire Danes and Christian McKay. He was also asked how he felt seeing this face in the big screen and he said it was weird but he is getting used to it by now (this is his second film).
Having seen Zac in HSM 1 and 2, I was pleasantly surprise to see Zac portray a young sensitive soul experiencing life in the theatre and coming to grips with the realities of life. I saw charm and innocence as well as emotions of pain, anger and disappointment in his portrayal of young Richard. I thought it was a good choice of role for him to break out from musical films into the direction of serious acting. An avid HSM teen moviegoer can still relate to him as he plays a romantic and idealist teen experiencing life’s adventures. His character sings a bit in the play too.
Also, this kind of role exposes Zac to an older and more matured crowd. A middle-aged woman who sat beside me asked what other movie Zac is in. I suppose a lot of these people have not watched HSM or Hairspray. With a warm reception after this night, these people will see Zac more than just his Adonis like features. They will see and appreciate Zac, the actor.
On the lighter note, in the big screen, seeing Zac’s handsome face was surreal. His eyes are so expressive. He looks gorgeous too in real life.
ZanessaSupporter 
Malia 
Magie 
at the film not being narrated by Richard, I was really kinda hoping to hear Zac’s voice for a good hour-ish 
Ahh, the second thing I was gonna say could ruin it, damn! Oh well I am just hoping they stay as true to the book as possible, again thanks for your review! 
irene 
Lolly 
Haley 
Grace 
christine
maybe is random write this here..but hey, is about zac
some people is saying that he seems ackward in the red carpet pics…and some other people is saying that he appears like he appears when he is with vanessa. well, my opinion, and i’d said it before, is that he didn’t show the same smile that he “wears” when he appears with vanessa. you only have to see the tca’s pics and these pics…i think vanessa is the clue here: she calms him and with her he is more himself cause it seems that they are in a private bubble…
zac looks more handsome (and no, i am not talking about if he is hot or not), i am talking about his features, smile, look…when he is with vanessa. his smile talks by itself…
well, at least this is my opinion