Yahoo Movies Director Gia Milani wins film award for Cory Monteith movie ‘All the Wrong Reasons’
One of late actor Cory Monteith's final films won the Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday night, winning $10,000 to put towards her next film. But the movie came very close to not being made at all -- it was only saved thanks to the Canadian "Glee" star, claim's the film's director.
During the Sunday night premiere of "All the Wrong Reasons," New Brunswick filmmaker Gia Milani reportedly admitted that her film was "24 hours from being pulled" when Monteith came on board to play the lead role, a store manager named James whose wife is struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to the Globe and Mail, the actor who was originally playing James dropped out last summer, right after another lead cast member had left. “My producer said we’re going to have to shut down,” Milani told the Scotiabank Theatre audience.
So she sent the script to Monteith's agent and the 31-year-old actor accepted the role the day after he read it. “He was on a plane four hours later, and we starting shooting two days after that,” Milani said, adding, "He was a fabulous guy to work with."
The Canadian director watched the film on Sunday for the first time since Monteith's death in July because she wanted support from an audience. She dedicated the screening to him.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as we remember one of the film’s actors, who left us far, far too soon,” said Toronto International Film Festival programmer Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo ahead of the premiere.
Milani is reportedly putting her $10,000 prize towards her next film, which follows an 18-year-old woman whose foster family decides not to adopt her.
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