http://blogs.pro-networks.org/ PROnetwork's Technology blog. Where the world has its say... en 2008-11-12T18:42:03-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000895 As readers of this blog know, I've been following the exploding career of young actor Michael Welch for several years here. In February, PROnetworks was the first online to announce that he had been cast in the role of Mike Newton in Twilight, the highly anticipated Summit Pictures release of the film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel. Twilight is due in theaters on November 21.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-11-12T18:42:03-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000894 There haven't been very many awe-inspiring movies opening this fall and certainly not much news to report in the independent film world lately. Perhaps it's because, in contrast, last year's fall festival season was so rich with creativity, I decided to pass up on many of the events I'd normally attend at this time of year, focusing instead on keeping track of the progress (or not) of the films I saw at this year's festivals which have not yet been picked up or are awaiting release. Unfortunately, there have been very few of those either.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-11-03T18:11:50-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000893 Long before he was cast as Mike Newton in Twilight, the highly anticipated Summit Pictures release of the film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel (out November 21), Michael Welch was enjoying the spotlight. "When I was nine years old I did this routine in our fourth grade talent show," Welch told me. "I guess you could say this is when I caught the acting bug!"

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-10-28T16:10:15-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000892 I've been following the exploding career of young actor Michael Welch for several years on this blog. In February, PROnetworks was the first online to announce that he had been cast in the role of Mike Newton in Twilight, the highly anticipated Summit Pictures release of the film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel. Twilight is due in theaters on November 21.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-10-16T22:47:58-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000891 Following each film festival I attend, after posting my pictures, reviews, and list of Top Picks, I keep a watch on acquisition news. Some of the films that play festivals have distribution deals already in place but the overwhelming majority are screened specifically for this purpose, to get noticed by distributors and acquired for theatrical release.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-10-14T13:50:48-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000890 Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama made his first appearance within the city limits of Philadelphia this past Saturday. In fact, he held four rallies on the same day in the same city -- an unprecedented occurrence. Pennsylvania is a battleground state and, historically, voter turnout in the Philadelphia area determines the vote in the rest of the state. The region has over five million people, which is 40% of the total population of the state. Pennsylvania has 12.5 million people. The Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States, ranking behind New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-10-13T13:24:36-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000889 Two weeks ago, we posted a video featuring actor Michael Welch (Twilight) on ways to save the environment. He has been involved with the charitable organization Kids With A Cause since 1999 and created a public service announcement to help show kids how they can help better their world. That video became an overnight sensation so he has sent us a followup.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-10-06T17:34:47-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000888 With Toronto wrapped up, fall film festival season is underway with some of the biggest and best releasing their lineups this past week. Most include films which are among the ones I saw at festivals earlier this year, including some of my Top Picks.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-09-28T01:23:39-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000887 Three of America's most talented young indie film actors, Michael Welch (Twilight), Aaron Himelstein (Fast Food Nation), and Mae Whitman (Hope Floats), are appearing onstage in Stephen Karam's controversial play Speech & Debate. Under the direction of Daniel Henning, the actors perform Thursdays through Sundays at The Blank Theatre in West Hollywood. I was present at Opening Night, Thursday, September 18, and returned the following evening for an encore.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-09-26T15:42:11-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/#000886 On Monday, September 8, I attended the World Premiere of The Narrows at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. The event took place at the brand new AMC Theatre at Yonge and Dundas.

]]> phileysmiley 2008-09-23T17:45:54-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000885 Actor Michael Welch (Twilight) has been involved with the charitable organization Kids With A Cause since 1999.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-09-21T15:09:03-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000884 On Tuesday, September 9, I attended the World Premiere of Lymelife at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. I chose the film as one of my Top Picks from this year's festival. Lymelife also won the prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Discovery.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-09-16T20:51:12-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000883 The Toronto International Film Festival hosted the World Premiere of Fifty Dead Men Walking on Wednesday, September 10 in a glitzy gala screening at the glamorous Roy Thomson Hall. Directed by Kari Skogland, with an all-star cast featuring Ben Kingsley, Jim Sturgess, Kevin Zegers, Nathalie Press, and Rose McGowan, the highly anticipated and very controversial film is based on the true story of IRA infiltrator Martin McGartland during "the Troubles" which plagued Northern Ireland in the 1980s. Unfortunately, it was not as pleasant an experience as I'd hoped. There were three major problems, all involving the sound in the hall and on the screen.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-09-16T12:40:38-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000882 On Tuesday, September 9, I attended the North American Premiere of Adoration at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. This is classic filmmaking at its best. 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. The moment the credits began to roll I wanted to see the film again.

]]> phileysmiley phileysmiley 2008-09-16T00:38:44-05:00 http://blogs.pro-networks.org/phileysmiley/#000881 Adoration is, at its heart, a coming-of-age story. It's about that time of self-discovery when the question "who am I?" becomes an obsession. But what makes this film so startlingly refreshing is that it also has a classic structure rarely seen in contemporary cinema. The viewer is never quite sure whether or not the images onscreen are real or imagined. Think of a chess game where each move prompts you to replay the entire game in your head. Such is the experience of watching Adoration, brilliantly conceived and executed by writer/director/co-producer Atom Egoyan.

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