On March 12, 2008 Twilight Lexicon, the unofficial internet authority on all things Twilight, came up with a seemingly simple proposal.

Now on to something fun, frivolous, and...well...just plain goofy. In our recent interview with Mike Welch, the actor who will be playing Mike Newton in Twilight, he mentions packing and not being able to find any socks. Now, for those of you who read the interview, pretty much one of the first things you notice is the off-beat sense of humor Mike has. So, we had an idea. Why not have the fans send him socks so hes never without?

So, if you would like to participate, drop Mike a note and pair of socks. You can order socks through our Amazon shop.. OK, things I never anticipated, Ive been asked his sock size. YIKES! I have no idea. Hes 5 10 so Im thinking he probably doesnt have small feet.

I love you guys. "Ha ha ha!" Did you really send me socks? That's incredible. For those of you who dont know what Im talking about, let me briefly explain. A little while ago, before I began my road trip up to Portland, I mentioned that I was low on socks. I picked up a 12 pack in Berkeley and figured that that would be the end of it. Then Twilight Lexicon tells its readers: "Hey! Lets send Mike socks! Itll be funny!" And they did!!! Not only did the twi-hards dig the idea, they followed through with it. One complete joke from idea to conception, THATS fan commitment. I have so many socks now its ridiculous. You guys are beautiful. I appreciate the gesture very much.

Thanks again for the socks you crazy beautiful people!

When we read Mike Welchs blog today and he spoke about receiving the socks spurred on by this post, of course we wanted to know how many socks he got. So we contacted his management who told us 25 or 30 pairs of socks. Which we thought was pretty cool, but somehow we thought more fans than that had responded.

Well the next thing you know we get a phone call from Mikes mom...yes, his mom( *waves to Mike's mom!*). It seems that they had the number only partially right. They have received 25 BOXES of socks such as:

* baby booties (Mikes mom is saving those for when Mike has kids of his own.)
* tube socks
* dress socks
* Twilight themed socks
* hand-knit socks
* socks with individual toe holders.

Mike hasn't seen them yet since hes been filming, he's only been told about them and the notes attached to them.

So, naturally, when I headed out to cover the Opening Night of Michael's play Speech & Debate at The Blank Theatre in West Hollywood a couple of months ago, I felt it my journalistic duty to examine and verify the receipt of said socks. After the performance, I shot some pictures backstage and at the afterparty. Then I proceeded to a secret location where I would rendezvous with Michael.

What I discovered when I arrived was quite a spectacle. There was Michael, visible only from the neck up, literally buried in a mountain of socks, stockings, and booties of all shapes, colors, and sizes. I whipped out my camera and went to work, documenting the moment for posterity.

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I don't write about politics on this blog but there is another forum on the PROnetworks website where I do. I've also been a volunteer in presidential elections going back (ahem) years and have been making phone calls and knocking on doors this fall as well. It will all be over after tomorrow, of course, and it won't be long before we'll be perusing the Sundance and Santa Barbara lineups for January. Film Independent's Spirit awards are approaching as well, and I'm looking forward to getting my ballot in the mail and screening the films I haven't had the chance to see.

But tomorrow we have the chance to change the direction of this country, and I urge all my fellow film fans to get out and vote. Find your polling place, bring a friend, and, most of all, bring a good book. Maybe even a portable DVD player and watch a good movie. Because, as we've heard, there is a chance the lines will be long and the wait interminable. The law states that anyone in line at the time the polls close must still be allowed to vote. But get there early. Participate. Be a part of what our ancestors fought for. Have a voice in our government. Nothing is more important for a citizen of our great country to do than vote. So do it.

You can also download the clip in mp4 or wmv format at michaelwelchmedia.com.

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Michael Welch has seven other films just released or coming out shortly, as well as a number of television projects. He will soon be seen in All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (scheduled to be released within a few months) and Lost Dream (in post-production). He has also completed An American Crime, Remember the Daze, and Day of the Dead (all recently released on DVD), The Thacker Case (currently playing the festival circuit), American Son (soon to debut on Starz), and four episodes of the FX series The Riches. He is currently appearing onstage in Speech and Debate at The Blank Theater in West Hollywood.

He has both an official site at michaelwelchonline.com/ as well as an official MySpace at myspace.com/officialmichaelwelch.

Derick Martini's Lymelife was one of my Top Picks from this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Earlier I posted pictures I shot at the Q&A following the screening. The film won the prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Discovery.

I'll be sure to post release news here as it is announced, and will continue to follow the progress of the other gems from this year's festival.

This wasn't the first time I'd met a Presidential candidate. I actually had breakfast with Bill Clinton at the Mayfair Diner the morning before he became President in 1992. His campaign was bookended here. He began his campaign in Philly and started his last day before the election here. It was a crucial battleground state then also and he was counting on Philadelphia to deliver the state to him (which it did).

It was not announced until about an hour beforehand, and only about 20 people were to be chosen to sit with him inside. Thousands gathered in the parking lot. It's a long story but I ended up being one of the lucky ones. Everyone had been chosen and I was initially passed up. I began to walk away when they suddenly realized they needed one more young white male and they grabbed me and threw me in. It was really more like a movie or TV set inside. It had been closed to the public and was filled with TV lights and cameras and press. The people were carefully selected to represent a cross-section of ages, races, and colors and placed in specific areas inside the diner.

When I got to meet Clinton, I was struck by how large and imposing he was. He looked me in the eye and shook my hand firmly. I said, "can I call you Mr. President?" And he chuckled, in that patented gravelly voice, and said "not yet, Larry, not yet." Hillary was there as well. I didn't have a camera at the time. I did get his autograph on a paper plate, though.

The Obama rally this past Saturday turned out to be another "right place right time" event. There were thousands of people waiting to get in but only about 15 people were allowed to stand against the railing facing the stage and I was fortunate to be one of them. I was the third person through the security line, so I had a spot directly in front of the podium. Behind us was an aisle of police, then a yellow tape behind which was the rest of the crowd. I was about 20 feet from Obama. It was a very small stage, relatively low to the ground, with only about 10 feet in the pit area between the barricade and the stage. When it was over he made his way around the inside of the barricade and shook hands with the people leaning against it. There were no more than about 50 people who were able to gather around the barricade to meet him.

I was very surprised at how much attention he paid to each person he met. I was expecting the typical rope line -- grab hand, slap hand, move on, no eye contact, touch as many people as possible. But I reached up to grasp his hand and he just held it as he talked to people next to and behind me. It was a little odd -- I was expecting him to let go and he didn't. He gripped my hand and wouldn't let go. It was almost like I was falling out of a boat and he was grabbing on to pull me in. Not at all like your typical polite but distant handshake. I said, "good luck Mr. President." He looked down (he's a big guy), looked me straight in the eye and smiled, and said, "thanks -- thank you very very much." I thanked him for coming to my little neighborhood and he smiled back. He was in no hurry to leave. Then again, he wasn't going to meet 100 people -- there were really only a few dozen of us, so he gave us each a bit of time. He even signed autographs for anyone who wanted, although he would only sign copies of his book (which almost everyone had anyway) and only if the people gave them to the Secret Service ahead of time, to be returned later. They didn't want any pens sticking out.

It was oddly exciting. I've met, literally, hundreds of rock stars and movie stars and am never starstruck by celebrities -- many of my best friends are "famous" -- but there is something different about meeting someone who may become President. It transcends everything else and makes the entertainment industry look trivial in comparison. After all, our President is arguably the most powerful individual in the world. That's heady.

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) setting up metal detectors for security screenings in the morning. Yes, these are the same people who do airports. Cameras and phones had to be turned on so they could see they're real, all metal out of pockets, wands, patdowns when necessary, etc. Everyone had to go through this.

Philadelphia Police SWAT teams on the roofs. They were on all the buildings surrounding the area, with binoculars and high-powered rifles.

(L) For some perspective -- this was about three hours before the event. That is the barricade I was leaning on. Those two women came in with me and we grabbed spots dead center. To the left you can see the pit which surrounded the stage, which is out of site on the left. A total of about 15 people stood along that barricade where we were. That big stage with "Change" on it is not the stage. That's a set of bleachers for VIPs.
(R) This is to give you an idea of where we were. I am leaning on the barricade. Between the barricade and the stage is a narrow pit for press -- that woman is a photographer. There were about 10 feet between me and the stage. Pretty close. Pretty exciting.

(L) Here he is one person to my right. It's my turn to meet him next.
(R) And this is one person to my left, right after he'd met me.

So here is another exclusive video of actor Michael Welch showing kids some ways they can play a part in helping to save the world around them.

This year's Woodstock Film Festival runs from this coming Wednesday through Sunday, October 1-5, in Woodstock, New York. The lineup includes four films which I highly recommend. Explicit Ills was one of my Top Picks from this year's SXSW Film Festival. Explicit Ills also won that festival's awards for Best Cinematography and Best Narrative Feature. Let The Right One In was one of my Top Picks from the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won Best Narrative Feature. I also saw Secret of the Grain at Tribeca, and Zack and Miri Make a Porno brought down the house at Toronto last month. Both are certainly worth seeing.

The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival takes place from October 13-November 12 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This year's lineup includes Newcastle, another one of my Top Picks from this year's Tribeca Film Festival. This Australian film is winning raves at every festival it plays and will be opening in theaters downunder shortly.

Always bringing out the New York area film lovers community, the Hamptons International Film Festival takes place from October 15-19 on Long Island, New York.

The New Hampshire Film Festival also occupies the weekend of October 16-19 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Finally, the quaint Williamstown Film Festival takes place from October 17-26 in Williamstown, Massachusetts. This year's lineup includes Bart Got A Room, another audience-pleaser which I saw at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.

If you're a film lover and are looking for a sure thing this fall, try to take in any of the above festivals. And bring a camera. Nothing beats the breathtaking colors of autumn as the leaves turn in the Northeast.

The play has been very well-received. "The performances are uniformly strong (all three actors have extensive television and film resumes), but the standout is Michael Welch as Howie (an openly gay student). His expressions and tone are pitch perfect and underplayed. As a result, his character comes off as genuine and engaging rather than stereotypical," said Ariana Mufson on CurtainUp.com. "Mae Whitman is a powerful presence as Diwata, especially when she blogs online through her video cam with musical musings...Aaron Himelstein rounds out the cast as Solomon, and some of the best scenes are between him and Welch, with overlapping dialogue and an easy rapport that makes them fun to watch."

I highly recommend taking advantage of this rare opportunity while you can. Fortunately, for those unable to make the trip (or for those who have and enjoyed it as much as I did), all of America will have the chance to see this play soon, albeit in a slightly different form. I was told after the Opening Night show that Overture Films has picked up the rights to turn Speech & Debate into a movie. Here are some pictures I shot at the Opening Night afterparty.

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Michael Welch and friend Ryanne

Aaron Himelstein & Mae Whitman

The gritty setting of Brooklyn, New York is another character in itself. Since Zegers plays a photographer, and a lot of the movie focuses on that, it has a great look. There are some exciting visuals such as the use of black & white stills, freeze-frame, and fast motion. The highlight is the third act, filled with twists and turns that are totally unexpected, and some stunning reveals that made the audience gasp.

The screening was followed by a lengthy, in-depth Q&A with cast members Sophia Bush (Kathy Popovich) and Kevin Zegers (Mike Manadoro). Star Vincent D'Onofrio could not attend, but director François Velle read a text message he sent to the audience.

Earlier we posted some pictures. Here, in two parts, is the entire Q&A.

"Kids With A Cause was founded by in September 1999 to teach the principles and practices of philanthropy to today's youth," according to the organization's website. "Through unique and interactive programs, Kids With A Cause inspires children and teens to become caring and compassionate individuals and encourages them to continue their philanthropic efforts into their adult years."

Here, in his own unique, funny way, actor Michael Welch shows kids some ways they can chip in to help save the environment.

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(L to R) Rory Culkin, Kieran Culkin, Steven Martini, and Derick Martini

To add to that, the sound mix on the film itself left a lot to be desired. I love music and great soundtracks as much if not more than most people, but it was so loud at times that the audience couldn't hear much dialogue at all. I don't know if it was just because of the venue acoustics or the film's sound mix itself or both, but there were entire segments of the film where the dialogue was completely drowned out by the soundtrack.

Finally, when one could hear the dialogue, the accents were so thick and heavy that it was extremely difficult to understand. Between the acoustics, the sound mix, the dialects, and the slang I could barely make out about a third of the dialogue. For approximately the first hour I couldn't follow one complete conversation, combining the three elements I just mentioned. Now, I attend many films and have seen plenty of movies with thick Irish accents but this one went far beyond any I've seen. Subtitles are definitely needed.

Certainly I'm not alone in my opinions. Variety's review is only 475 words and almost half is about the plot itself -- a bit too much, in my opinion. Only about 250 words make up the actual review of the film. I'm not used to reviewing reviews, but I generally dislike Variety's because they usually reveal too much. That said, although this one has a few spoilers, as usual, it may help in this case since the film is so confusing at first. Some audience members near me went through most of the film not knowing who was on which side, and the review does point that out. They also do acknowledge the language challenges.

The ScreenDaily review devotes even less time to talking about the film and more about the plot. But they also comment on the heavy use of music. I do agree with both reviews, though, for the most part.

I don't know how many people walked out but in my section there were dozens. I've also been told that a reporter for Entertainment Weekly left the hall (for the reasons I mentioned). Fifty Dead Men Walking Out seems more appropriate. I've never walked out on a film, ever. I've seen over 500 films just since the start of 2006 at about 30 festivals, and have seen some pretty bad ones, but this was the first time I wanted to leave. I resisted the urge, though, and am glad I did because the exciting second hour of the film was definitely worth waiting for, and the action becomes more important than the dialogue at that point anyway.

I'm fairly certain Fifty Dead Men Walking will find a US distributor if it hasn't already. Sources close to the film told me that a deal may be announced soon. It definitely deserves a wide release but only if it's subtitled. Otherwise I cannot recommend seeing it except for diehard fans of the cast members, those who know the story well, or those who have the ability to understand the thickest Irish accents.

I just wish I could have understood more of it. Between the physical setup of the venue, the mix on the film itself, and the dialect, it was quite hard to understand most of the dialogue. Hopefully I'll be able to see it again and give it a positive review but, for now, I simply cannot write about this film properly because I just missed too much to judge it fairly. As much as I love the body of work of these actors, unfortunately, I could not select it as one of my Top Picks from the festival. I might have if I could hear what they were saying.

The screening was followed by a lengthy, in-depth Q&A with writer/director/co-producer Atom Egoyan. I caught up with star Devon Bostick later that evening.

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Writer/director/co-producer Atom Egoyan

Lead actor Devon Bostick

After losing his parents under questionable circumstances, Simon (Devon Bostick) is reluctantly being raised by his Uncle Tom (Scott Speedman). Simon's memories of his mother Rachel (Rachel Blanchard), an accomplished violinist, and father Sami (Noam Jenkins) are shrouded in mystery. Enter Simon's teacher Sabine (Arsinée Khanjian), who might be able to help Simon unlock the secrets that are the key to his youthful confusion. What follows is a brain teaser which takes great concentration. The wheels are always turning, and the viewer is constantly challenged to figure out exactly what is real or perceived, and by whom.

The look of the film enhances the mystery inherent in the story. The use of single-point lighting allows shadows to fall upon already-obscure settings. Music is essential to the plot and, as such, Rachel's violin virtuosity is extended to a string soundtrack that is as haunting as the film itself. Paul Sarossy's cinematography is cleverly integrated with composer Mychael Danna's soundtrack, with tracking shots set to music as a visual ballet. Editor Susan Shipton had a tall order working with Egoyan to craft a virtual puzzle in which nothing is at it seems.

Speedman ably plays the father figure who isn't quite ready to take on the task of raising a teen but does so out of loyalty to his late sister. Khanjian's Sabine is simply chilling and central to the power of the film. Blanchard is a joy to watch -- simply an angel onscreen (and shot that way, to boot) -- and Jenkins successfully remains an enigmatic personality throughout. But, most of all, this is Bostick's film to carry on his young shoulders. Appearing in almost every scene, it's his curiosity and angst which drive Adoration, and it's our empathy for him (weren't we all Simon once?) that gives the film its heart and soul. Bostick is one of Canada's most prolific young actors (he co-starred in Citizen Duane, one of my Top Picks from the 2006 festival) and will hopefully be introduced to a wider audience if this film gets the distribution it deserves.

The moment the credits began to roll I wanted to see Adoration again. If there were back-to-back screenings I would have remained in my seat. This is the first film in recent memory which has had that effect on me. There's nothing more exciting and intriguing than a film that plays with space and time, where perception matters more than anything else. What we see onscreen vs. what is in our heads -- the spaces we fill with our own thoughts -- are artfully juggled by Egoyan and the result is simply a masterpiece.