Text and audio by Hannah Yakobi

Photography by Tara West

Cover graphic design by Kalynn Friesen

Video and film backgrounders courtesy of the Toronto International Film Festival

Press conferences, interviews, VIP lounges, photo calls and, of course, Red Carpets – the Toronto International Film Festival always keeps us busy.

But what is the most interesting part aside from the films? The people behind them. Amidst jokes by Clive Owen, humbleness of Gattlin Griffith and thumbs up from Hugh Jackman, every passionate talk of an actor had a hypnotizing effect: suddenly, you were transformed to the set, walking amongst characters, touching props, feeling the emotion.

This year, we saw some impressive outfit choices and talked to Hollywood’s best about their favourite moments and experiences on and off-set. Here is what they told us.

Kate Winslet

The cover of our October issue 2013, themed as The Personality Issue.

Labor Day, film background: The latest film from Jason Reitman (Up in the Air, Juno) centres on 13-year-old Henry (newcomer Gattlin Griffith) as he confronts the pangs of adolescence while struggling to care for his reclusive mother, Adele (Kate Winslet). On a back-to-school shopping trip, Henry and Adele encounter Frank (Josh Brolin), a man both intimidating and clearly in need of help, who convinces them to take him into their home. The events of this long weekend will shape each of them for the rest of their lives.

Interview

Get Kate’s look

Getting Kate Winslet’s Red Carpet look with Lancôme.

Jason Reitman and Josh Brolin

Interview

HANNAH YAKOBI: What did you enjoy the most about working together?

JASON REITMAN: Josh’s pies. He made one every single day and they were delicious.

HANNAH YAKOBI (to Josh Brolin): It’s a very serious film. Apart from baking pies, what else did you do to keep the humour up off-set?

JOSH BROLIN: I try not to talk about it too much, just because, you know, I’m way sillier than I come across. I have to keep things light for me. So I had fun on the set. They [in reference to cast] have to talk about it. I can’t. I’ll get in trouble if I talk about it!

Jason Reitman (left) and Josh Brolin on the Red Carpet, heading into the Labor Day premiere.

Gattlin Griffith

Gattlin Griffith poses for FAJO.

Interview

Ralph Fiennes and Felicity Jones

The Invisible Woman, film background: Ralph Fiennes directs and stars as Charles Dickens in this opulent period drama about the great novelist’s passionate, years-long secret affair with the young actress Nelly Ternan (Felicity Jones; Like Crazy).

Felicity Jones and Ralph Fiennes pose for FAJO at TIFF 2013.

Interview

Clive Owen

Words and Pictures, film background: Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche star in this playful comic drama about an English teacher who challenges the school’s art teacher to a “war” between words and pictures — and, in the process, sparks an unlikely romance.

Interview

Juliette Binoche

Juliette Binoche looking radiant on the Red Carpet during her interview with FAJO. Photo: FAJO’s editorial team.

Interview