Last September during TIFF I filmed a documentary called Behind the Red Carpet, directed by Michelle Daides. I was pretty hush about the whole thing but now I can let the cat outta the BAG. The film is finished and the trailer is now ONLINE! My role is the blogger and in the trailer you’ll catch a funny bit about some extensions.
I really can’t wait for the premiere to see what bits made the final cut. Nicholas Cage and Olivia Wilde are in it too btw.
Behind The Red Carpet – an uncensored view into the Toronto International Film Festival….
- In a world of smoke and mirrors, we expose the movers, shakers and key players who puppeteer the brightest talent and engineer the most exclusive events during one of the biggest film festivals in the world.
- BTRC features celebrity photographer George Pimentel, PR Maven Natasha Koifman (NKPR), Renowned Blogger Casie Stewart, Entertainment Editor of The Huffington Post (Canada) Chris Jancelewicz and Spoke Club President, Pierre Jutras as well as a slew of A-Listers from Maria Bello, Alan Cuming, Paul Haggis, Olivia Wilde, Nicholas Cage etc.
If you didn’t see the trailer for the other doc I was in last year ‘It’s All About Me‘, watch it on YouTube here. It was in few film festivals last year and even won an award!
Next month I’m speaking at CM1, Canada’s Community Manager Conference. I was a panelist at the last one and this round I’ll be speaking about ‘Influencing the Influencers’. I’ve travelled the world and worked with some of the worlds biggest brands and done heaps of work as an as ‘influencer’. It’s been really neat watching the roles of ‘influencer’ and ‘Community Manager’ evolve over the last five years. When I started at MuchMusic/MTV as a ‘Social Media Coordinator’, the role ‘Community Manager’ was almost unheard of. Now, it’s a job you’ll find at almost every agency and client-side brand.
I’ll be sharing my experience and tips for brands and bloggers when it comes to working together. I was recently on CBC in a segment about this very topic (scroll down to March 22, episode).
Follow the conversation for tickets and speaker up dates on Twitter here and take a peek at the other speakers here. I’ll see if I can contest some tickets for you guys to come!
.@casiestewart is among the first batch of speakers for #CM1TO http://t.co/oMuZuf1mKo
— FITC (@FITC) April 3, 2014
* Photos of me by Adrian Fiebig
Last night after dinner I stopped by the TIFF Bell Lightbox to visit the digiPlaySpace. For the first time, TIFF invited grown-ups to get down and geek out. The After Hours event inside digiPlaySpace introduced big kids like to me TIFF’s award-winning interactive exhibition.
The line was pretty long for PaperDude but I’ve tried it before. Look at this dork, haha!
I love playing with Green Screen. I should have done Sesame Street instead of the Ellen Selfie. That’s so overdone!
Big Bird was chillin’ by the DJ booth.
Not sure what was going on here but the people on the floor had a camera on them that was projecting on the wall.
Pong anyone? This was some kind of digital pong/fooseball thing. Looked like fun!
At the digiPlaySpace, kids (big or small!) can play with emerging creative media technologies and share innovative artistic experiences. On sale now to TIFF Members and school groups. Find out more about tickets and pricing here. Can’t wait to take EmBot here to play around!
I used waterlight painting to paint my name (of course). Don’t mind that the person beside me painted an ‘O’. DOH!
<3 CASIE
#waterlightgraffiti #digiplayspace https://t.co/hZmQ5OPV5K — CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) April 1, 2014
If you haven’t been to Come And Get It yet, you’ve gotta check it out. Sean’s friend Rob is an all star bartender there and the food is delicious. We went there for dinner again last night. You know I’m not much of a ‘foodie’ but let me tell ya, totally worth stopping by. It’s right beside Czehoski.
Two things I think are really awesome about Come And Get it
The taco flatbread is freaking delicious.
This is a jerk chicken poutine I had on my first visit. Last night I had the coconut shrimp poutine and the friend chicken poutine. They are small so you don’t feel huge after chowing them down. I never even considered throwing these flavours together but GAHHH THEY ARE AMAZING. It makes a great date spot because the poutine, flatbread, salad etc are great for sharing.
You know I love technology and innovation. I hope to see more and more places accept PayPal. It’s so easy and hassle free. You just tell your server you are paying with PayPal, they pull you up on the app, you add your tip, and before you know it a receipt is in your hand on your phone. None of the ‘wave your hand n the air to get the bill’ or ‘let me get the machine’ wait time.
When you roll through, say ‘HI’ ask for Chandler or Rob who might be behind the bar. Great spot, good food! There is a stellar drink menu that I really need to plan a night for soon. Find them on Twitter/Instagram at comeandgetit416.
<3 CASIE
Just watched this and I loved Worlf of Wall Street so much. You’ll love it. Tells the story of BuzzFeed, founded in 2006 in New York as a viral lab by Jonah Peretti.
“The name of the game, take a little bit off of every other website, put it on to your website.”
“It’s simple, we target the easiest demographic in the world, Facebook users.”
This mix is pretty rad too. Thinking I might watch this again at home tonight.
The real Wolf of Wall Street Jordan Belfort is coming to Toronto in May and I’m hoping to get tickets for Sean and I to go.
Ok that’s all for now!
<3 CASIE
One week ago I had the great pleasure of dining with a bunch of friends/media darlings at Bosk, the restaurant in Toronto’s Shangri-La Hotel. The food was fantastic, I had a bit too much wine, and heaps of laughs. Major thanks to Shangri-La and Daniel from dothedaniel.com for organizing this special event. We also ran a contest for our followers to win a high tea experience. The winner was Victoria Ess who had over 200 retweets.
A few days before dinner I received this darling little delivery with a written note, macaroons, and paper crane. I love when brands, media, bloggers take that little extra step to make you feel special.
We had set seats and red paper cranes displayed our names along with the customized menu for the night. Each menu item was paired with wine to accentuate the flavour. We tried several new items added for spring and a few Bosk classics.
Before sitting down to eat we got a tour of the magical Garden Suite and took in the high tea experience. I could have stayed there for the night! It was so fabulous and huge. The bed, I can’t even.
Dear Diary, I’m at the @shangrilaTO in the Garden Suite, having tea. #iheartbosk https://t.co/4mtyTYT3Q1
— CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) March 25, 2014
Two menu items I loved were the Marinated Fluke and Nova Scotia Lobster ravioli.
Halibut roll, WHAT?
We finished the dinner with a Cherry Blossom Cotton Candy tree that had a USB key for each of us. The cherry cotton candy was NOT like that cheap stuff from the CNE, it was delicious.
Red chocolate lipstick, yummm! Thanks @ShangriLaTO @boskTO for an amazing dinner experience tonight! #iheartbosk pic.twitter.com/oFhYc6je6E
— CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) March 26, 2014
I wish I had a longer arm! #iheartbosk dinner crew. Thanks @dothedaniel! #selie! #imaboskpic.twitter.com/A2nmX1bMfh
— CASIE STEWART (@casiestewart) March 26, 2014
Huge thanks again to Daniel for organizing the dinner and bringing us together. I’m looking forward to taking Sean there for a dinner date soon! I want that lobster ravioli again!
<3 CASIE
Oooh that sunshine is NICE! I took one look outside today and knew it was the day to bust out these Ted Baker flower pants. I’m wearing my fav shoes from last summer, cutout brogues from Browns. They killed my feet last summer but I’m hoping they’ll be a-ok today!
Weekend seemed to whiz by. We filmed for 10 hours on Saturday in Ajax for Cooking with Cuisinart. The next three episodes are done and you’re gonna like them. Totally different that that first pilot episode. Much better!
Spent more of yesterday relaxing and then watched Saving Mr. Banks, GREAT MOVIE. Brought back so many memories of our Disney Vacay to California last summer. Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth!
Today I’ve got a lunch date with Ainsley Kerr then the Lacoste Spring/Summer preview after work. Hope your day is off to a great start. Make sure you soak up some of the sunshine out there!
♥ CASIE
OMG yay It’s Friday. This week felt so long. I’m sure the everlasting winter and a sick day in the middle did NOT help.
You know what did? The AMAZING facial I had at Hammam Spa. God I love that place. It was my first facial there and WHAT an experience. It in included a much needed cleanse and scrub on my dry winter face, massage on arms, neck, head, legs, warm towel on the feet, and recommendations on how to stay hydrated. After lounging in the steam room I picked up a new Dermalogica medium-weight moisturizer and headed to dinner. I’ve learned that taking time and spending some of your hard earned money to TREAT YO SELF really makes a difference. My face feels fresh and soft like a little baby bum.
Tomorrow I’m heading to the BURBS to shoot our last episodes w/ Garret and Sash. I used this photo of Jourdan Dunn and Cara Delevingne in my storyboard haha.
The single shots of me talking were represented by the Stewart cooking queen herself, Ms. Martha!
My fav tattoo artist Angelique Houtkamp is now on GelaSkins and I have my gadgets a makeover. Ok, how sexy are these!? Helloooooo! Now the match my tattoos.
One thing I love about my blog job almost more than the clothes, makeup, jewellery, and trips around the world is GETTING NEW GADGETS! My friends at Telus emailed me on Tuesday to offer me the brand new HTC One M8. I was ecstatic! The device comes out from Telus on April 10th so I’m super stoked to have one before then. I used to have the old HTC One before I spilled water on it. RIP old buddy.
I’ve done lots of work with HTC over the last few years and been featured in two HTC campaigns with SayMedia. Last year they had a big one to be the next HTC Influencer and the winner won consulting from me. The winner was Vanessa Grillone and we had a blast working together.
A WHAT? A CAMERA THAT TAKES A SELFIE AND PHOTO AT THE SAME DAMN TIME.
YEAH BUDDY.
THIS IS SOME NEXT LEVEL *ISH I TELL YA.
You can even move the little selfie box around and change the size. I’m like, mind blown. There are a heap more cool features that I don’t even know about. Things I loved on the last edition of the HTC One were Kid Zone (Zoodles kid mode w/ games for EmBot) and Zoe (auto movie making assistant). I’m really stoked to get up close and personal with this baby over the weekend.
CLEAR MY CALENDAR, MAMA’S GOT A NEW PHONE!
In other news, this was my fortune today in a package from essence! Will have those goodies later!
Ok here’s a MASSIVE TBT on the month of March from 2009 – 2013. I love looking back on things I’ve done. It’s so easy to forget! The main reason I started this blog in 2005 was so I could remember more. It totally worked!
On this day last year Sean sent me flowers to the office .What a darling. Love you!
I also blogged about Andy Warhol on this day last year. Sean and I were getting ready to go on a trip to Boston too. See posts tagged March 2013 here.
Two years ago on this day I was at The Gladstone for an event. Loved those boots so much. And RIP that leather jacket.
Took part in a round table w/ Russ Martin from Marketing Magazine about Rdio & music streaming in Canada.
It was MUCH nicer outside and I visited the Toronto Music Garden. Took this using 360 Panoramic app in iPhone from hTO Park (Urban Beach) which is right beside the lake.
Around this time two years ago I filmed ‘It’s All About Me’ documentary that last year won several film festival awards. I’m in another documentary that will be on the festival circuit soon. Pretty neat if you ask me!
In March 2011 I was a Personal Branding expert with Levi’s. I love looking back on this stuff, I forget how many things I’ve done!
Here are some tips on building your personal brand to help establish yourself online:
In March 2010 I was working at MuchMusic. Our office was in the Much Store before we moved into 299 Queen Street next door.
At this time I helped MTV Canada name & launch FORA, a magazine at first and now a full on beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog. I was the Features Editor in charge of managing contributors. That was fun, I always wanted to work on a magazine.
I hardly had any tattoos back then and just got this anchor with two stars and a heart. I was so happy with it! That little arm is covered in tattoos now.
I was posting desk photos back then too.
In 2009, my sister Jenie was a dancer for the Raptors on the Raptors Dance Pak.
I ran into this performance artist on the street. It was pretty nice out that day and he made up a song on the spot for me. Do you like it? 😛
I was doing heaps of drawing back then too. Anyone remember this?
Ok, that’s all for now! Hope you have a wonderful day. Take a second to look back and remember some of the awesome thing you’ve done too.
Yesterday I got a lovely surprise from Daniel (DotheDaniel.com) and the Shangri-La hotel in advance of tonight’s much anticipated dinner. Daniel has been planning a special evening for a bunch of us to take in the fine dinging experience at Bosk, inside one of Toronto’s finest hotels. I’ve never actually been there fro dinner and I’m not sure who the other 11 people are so I’m quite looking forward to it!
Ok this contest is SUPER EASY. Tonight at 6pm I’ll post a few tweets about with the #iheartbosk hashtag.
*Contest runs from 6-10pm.
Make sure you are following me on Twitter @CASIESTEWART and for all the dinner excitement follow #iheartbosk
