Michael Purchases London Mansion and Vows to only date British women

It was announced today in British newspaper The Daily Mail that Michael just bought a mansion in North London worth close to $4.7 million. The above pictures show the 10 bedroom home from both the outside and inside. The mansion contains an indoor and outdoor pool, game room, screening room with IMAX projection movie screen, 6 car garage, two massive kitchens, 5 living rooms, 8 and a half bathrooms, and an excercise gym. Wow. According to a brief statement from Michael to the paper, "I am selling one of my L.A. homes and keeping one home in L.A. and my other home will be in London. I have always had an affinity for England and British culture and recently filming Bond here helped make it so clear to me that this needs to be my second home. I'm moving in next month. In fact I will be in London for all or most of February filming a movie with Keira Knightley and Sam Worthington so it's perfect timing." The bigger shocker though is when he added "Oh I'm so done with American women. English women are where it's at. I had a life changing epiphany recently. For the rest of my life I'm only dating British girls. I mean it." Interesting. We will see if he holds true to that. So I guess that means he and Sasha are through for good then huh????

Quantum of Solace Teaser Trailer to Debut During Super Bowl

Looks like Look At Me Now isn't the only trailer of Michael's that will premiere during the Super Bowl. Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond adventure, will also debut it's teaser trailer on the night of the Super Bowl. In case you forgot, the Super Bowl will be on Sunday, February 6 at 6:30pm EST on FOX.

Photos and Quotes from Look At Me Now SXSW Screening

Yesterday the big hit of the night at Atlanta's first year hosting the South By Southwest Film Festival was the star studded screening of Michael's Look At Me Now, which by far had the biggest buzz, the biggest showing of stars, and the best reviews from those at the packed screening (over 300 people). "I'm completely overwhelmed" says a clearly excited Meyers. "I never expected this many people to show up. The whole cast is here, with I think the exception of John (Malkovich). He couldn't make it which is a shame. But it was such an honor to direct one of my acting idols. One of my heroes. But so far the reception to the film has been amazing. It feels good. It feels really good. This has been by far the best experience I've ever had at a premiere, more than any of the films I've starred in. Because when you direct and write something, it's just more personal you know? To see something go from an idea, to a script on your laptop to a reality and then to see people loving it...it's just a dream come true man. It's beyond awesome!"

Michael with his mother Sonia at the after party

Probably the biggest story of the night was Michael's date for the night: His Mother. Sonia Meyers wore a slim fitting red and orange leopard print one piece dress and was very chatty and cuddly with her son. The two, according to Michael, have had a rocky relationship in the past but it appears they have patched things up, at least for the night. "My mom's my date for tonight. How's she look?" said Meyers as the two posed for pictures at the after party, which was hosted by Atlanta rapper Ludacris. Surprisingly, Michael, seemingly a little drunk, at one point during the after party got up, grabbed the mic, and started free style rapping. Yea....

Other celebs showed up, including model/actor Tyson Beckford with his girlfriend, a former porn star herself, Jonaea Wheeler. "I can totally relate to what the girls in the film were going through" says Wheeler. "It was really really touching and well directed. Michael's a talented filmmaker. He nailed it."

Also there were Tristan Wilds and Jessica Stroup, stars of 90210. The pair were clearly there to support one of the stars of the film, Matt Lanter, one of their co-stars from 90210. "We're just here to support Matt (Lanter)" says Tristan. "He's our boy and when he's in a film we gotta come out and show love". Jessica added "This is a great venue for films like this. It's a very dark and emotional film and I think Matt was great in it. I really dug it".

Critics agree with Stroup. Many reviews have called the film "A visceral look into the world of adult films and sexuality in America today" as well as "a movie that rips the lid off pornography and shows what leads young women to that life". One review from The Star Tribune gives us finally a more accurate plot synopsis as well as character breakdowns. Apparently, as we already know, the film is telling us two seperate storylines. One is about Lily Baxter (Alley Vendetta) who is a Kansas City runaway with a passion for the rocker lifestyle trying to escape from her overly strict and religious parents (played by Neal McDonough and Katey Sagal). She finds herself in Los Angeles trying to find a job but instead is recruited by a shady adult film producer/agent played by John Malkovich who promises her fame and wealth. At first the money is great but soon she is forced to do many gruesome sex acts and activities on film that cause her to re-think her chosen profession. Malkovich doesn't allow her to quit (she signed a contract while under the influence of heavy drugs that binds her to him for 150 adults films). Lily, who adopts the porn star name of Nina Sky, decides to do whatever she must to get through these 150 films and then be free. This includes massive amounts of drugs (some of which are supplied to her by a skeevy male porn star played by Matt Lanter whom she ends up sleeping with as well), be-friending other female porn actresses (played by Taryn Manning, Tess Taylor, Erica Langston, Dominik Garcia-Lorido, and many other real life porn actresses) for companionship, and she even falls for a nice guy named Adam (Ramon Rodriguez) who interns at a doctor's office where she gets her monthly STD check up. The closer they get and the more Adam falls for her, the more she pulls away. Their love story is quite tragic as he helplessly watches her self destruct.

Critics have marvelled at the first time actress Vendetta's (real name Allison VanDette) performance, one review calling it "a revelation of raw talent and reckless abandon". Vendetta almost did not make it to the screening in order to soak up all the praise. "I wasn't gonna come" Alley says matter of factly. "First off I am NOT little miss Hollywood. This isn't me. This dress (I'm wearing) isn't me. None of this is me. And on top of that I'm going through a really bad break up right now and up until yesterday I was telling Mike (Reese Meyers), 'I'm not going, I'm not going'. But he put a gun to my head. He was like, THIS IS YOUR MOVIE! YOU HAVE TO BE HERE WITH ME OR WE'RE NOT GONNA BE FRIENDS ANYMORE! So I sucked it up and here I am". Vendetta came with her Secrets and Sunsets bandmates and her father.

Meyers with David Morse and Katey Sagal.

Michael with former porn star Shelley Lubban, who is also one of the film's executive producers. Half of the film's profits will go to the charity she founded, Pink Cross, which helps aid young women trying to escape the porn industry.

Actress Taryn Manning with her brother Brandon

Dominik Garcia-Lorido, with her father, actor Andy Garcia. "I'm excited but more than anything I'm nervous" said Dominik. "It's incredibly awkward and uncomfortable to have your dad watching scenes of you having sex and acting like a porn star. It's just not right, haha. But he took it like a champ". Dominik also brought her husband/agent Luis Lorido. "He didn't want me to do the film at first but when I saw Michael was writing and directing it nothing was going to change my mind."

R&B superstar Chris Brown who contributed the movie's main title song.

Sisters Tess Taylor and Alexis Neiers (of Burglar Bunch fame) arriving at the after party
"I honestly never saw myself in acting but I got the call from Michael's people that he loved my look and wanted me in the film. How could I say no?" said Tess.

90210's Matt Lanter. "My favorite thing about this film is it doesn't hold any punches" says Matt. "It's raw, it's real. It has a story to tell and Mike wasn't afraid to be controversial at all, which I loved. I mean, the adult film industry is a dirty dirty shady world and he wanted to capture that and I think he really did."

Actress Jessica Szohr with one of the film's producers Freddy Forbez and his wife

R&B singer Omarion. "I'm just here to show love for my cousin Chris Breezy and just be apart of all this beautiful-ness. It's a beautiful thing" said Omarion.

One of the film's stars Neal McDonough with his wife

Erica Langston, one of the stars of the film, arrives with her boyfriend

House star Amber Tamblyn arrives

Reality TV couple Hank Baskett and Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett

Rapper Too Short

Michael at the after party with Jayde Rose and Ginger Sparks, two of the real life porn stars who appear in the film...

One thing people may be talking about more than how great the film was, might be Michael's...."unusual" behavior throughout the night. He appreared very wired and hyper and excited at times, which is to be expected, but then seemed somewhat subdued, sleepy, and even drunk at other moments. He slurred his speech at times while answering questions, seemingly unable to keep his attention at times. He did mention at one point to a reporter that he had been "living off coffee and editing the film nonstop every night for the past three weeks and at the same time preparing to shoot a film in London next month" so that may explain his erratic appearance and mannerisms. It's just odd since he mentioned in a recent interview he quit caffeine since it gives him night terrors. Hmm....Anyways, that London film he is referring to is "If I Had You", a Cameron Crowe directed romance drama/comedy co-starring Keira Knightley (who is recently single). Look At Me Now opens in select theaters March 4.

Stills from SXSW Press Conference

SXSW Photo Shoot and Interview

The silence of Atlanta's famed Rose Garden bothered him. He wasn't sure why. He asked "Is it always this quiet here?" "Yes" we replied. But Michael, like most "troubled souls" as many who know him will describe him, is not very comfortable with silence. They say the last thing someone with demons wants to deal with is their own thoughts. Maybe this is why Michael hates to sleep. "Three or four hours at most" he answers when asked how much sleep he usually gets at night. Although lately his lack of rest may be more due to his hectic schedule than any sort of emotional suffering. "I been working non stop lately" he says. "Editing this film (Look At Me Now, which debuts Friday here at South by Southwest), working on my British accent for my next film, learning Swedish for the film after that, I'm working on a book, I'm shooting a web series for this anti-suicide charity where I meet with real kids and give them advice, it's just been alot".

While he remains pretty tight lipped about his upcoming films (He says "I don't want to spoil anything and knowing myself if I start talking about them I won't be able to stop myself") he is more than willing to open up about his book and his effort to help young people deal with their issues. "In interviews when asked what I'd do if I wasn't acting, I've always said I'd be some sort of counselor for troubled kids and teens, and this is sort of in a way me being able to finally get to do that and I can't tell you how fulfilling it is, to make a difference in kids' lives." Meyers is referring to his web series he is filming where he meets with real male teens around the country and gives them tips on how to interact with girls and gain self confidence. He posts these sessions on TWLOHA.com (the official website for To Write Love On Her Arms, a suicide prevention foundation) as well as YouTube. He became involved in the charity in 2009 when he saw one of the shirts in a Hot Topic at a mall and accidentally thought they were a rock band he hadn't heard of. When he found out who they were and what their cause was, he found himself compelled to become personally involved in his first ever charity. "I didn't just want to throw money at it like most celebs do. I wanted to do something. What motivated me to do THIS (web series) was letters guys sent me and emails about wanting to kill themselves over a girl. I can't tell you how hard that hit me. Because I can relate to that. I teach these kids the tools to approach girls and find self esteem. It's important. I hear haters and critics calling me a Pick Up Artist. No. I'm not trying to get them laid. I'm trying to get them to find self worth and part of that is respecting and loving yourself and learning how to socialize. It could be, more than anything I ever do, the most important thing I do with my fame." On his upcoming book, which he says will be "part autobiography, part memoir of experiences he's been through, part inspirational advice book about relationships, love, addiction, depression, love and life".. "I sat for weeks trying to brainstorm some catchy clever title for the book until I realized, look let me just be simple and call it what it is. It's a book about changing your life, your outlook on the problems and demons we all face. So let me just call it "How Do I Change My Life".

This isn't the first time Michael has directed. He shot a short film while he was filming The Best Tears (a show he refuses to talk about anymore. "It feels like a lifetime ago, like I had the worst college freshman year ever and it was caught on TV" he confesses) and has shot several music videos for bands he loves such as Linkin Park, True Hollywood Story, and Secrets and Sunsets. The lead singer of Secrets and Sunsets is Alley Vendetta. She is the star of Look At Me Now. "I met her at the Galleria mall in L.A." recalls Meyers. "She was this little firecracker of energy and she just had something special about her. We hit it off right away and I saw her as perfect for the role. I thought she'd say no but I asked her anyway and she was totally down to do it. They were recording the album at night and we'd shoot during the day. All the while her parents still made her go to school. She worked herself silly but we got it done." Meyers calls her performance "meta acting" since he felt the non experienced actress used her own raw emotions and instincts for the scenes. Her story is of a teen runaway who falls into the porn industry and cannot escape. Meyers got the idea for the film (which he also wrote himself) while he was in Paris in the Spring of 2009 shooting Taken. "I met alot of girls in the sex industry with that story and then I came back to the states and did some research and found out about porn stars such as Shelley Lubban and Jersey Jaxin who all had the same story. I became obsessed and realized, I NEED to tell this story".

The other half of the story is about a bisexual male college tennis star who chooses to take an experimental drug that supresses the sex drive in order to not deal with his inner demons. Michael casted Days of Our Lives actor Chandler Massey for the role for one simple reason: "He IS that character, whether he wants to admit it or not" says Michael with a sly smile. The film has been saddled with an NC-17 rating due to "graphic violence, graphic sex and rape scenes, profanity, drug use, and perverse sexual scenes and tones" and will be released in select theaters on March 4. Meyers refused to edit the film to an R since "what they wanted me to cut would've totally taken the punch out of the film thus making it all pointless. It would've been like taking the crucifiction scene out of The Passion of the Christ. The film is what it is and I wouldn't be proud of it if I released it any other way". The buzz has been extremely positive but Meyers isn't nervous OR overly confident, just..."concerned". "I hope they recognize it's not controversial for the sake of being controversial. I hope they see the message and what we're trying to say about the porn industry, sexuality, and how this country, as far as we've come, can force people to hide who they truly are because it's not acceptable". He also says the film's other main theme is how a lack of love in the home can distort a child's perception of intimacy and sex and admits he knows this from personal experience. "Look, I'm not trying to sit here and say I had the worst childhood. I didn't. We lived in a mansion in Beverly Hills. We went on trips around the world. Spent time at country clubs. Led a very privileged life. But at the same time, all the money in the world can't erase the memories of arguing, violence, abuse, dysfunction, lies, and all the drama that comes with growing up in a home where people were just playing roles but not really wanting to be there. I was more of a tax writeoff than a child. My grandmother and my older brother raised me more than my parents did. They worked alot. And when they weren't working they took trips. They tried their best but their main focus was making money, which is more a commentary on our society than them. I remember being 9 or 10 and sneaking into my parents' bedroom because that was the only TV in the house that had cable and the dirty channels and my dad caught me watching porn and he acted like it was no big deal. He told my mom, 'He has to learn sometime'. I mean, if that's not fucked up, I don't know what is?"

Michael is a notorious Hollywood ladies man (He's dated or hooked up with several big names including Kristen Bell, Megan Fox, the late Julia Fonda, American Idol contestant Mandi Sutton, porn star Sasha Grey, Twilight star and his Best Tears/Inception co-star Mel Morley, Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, MTV The Hills reality star Audrina Patridge, Naomi De La Fuente, and most recently Mila Kunis) who has been very forthcoming with his love for (and addiction to) sex. He is not shy about the fact that he was exposed to it at a very young age and that those experiences have shaped the man he has become today in a huge way. "It always seemed like no big deal to me. Sex, nudity. To me it was just like shaking someone's hand. It took me a long time, far too long, to learn that sex was something between two people in a committed serious relationship and that it wasn't okay to just touch a girl on the butt if she is a stranger or just a friend. Common sense things. It really screwed me up. A normal guy understands that when a girl doesn't want to sleep with you it's nothing personal, you just aren't her type. I didn't get that. I got extremely upset and depressed (when I got rejected). I had watched so much porn by the time I was 12 or 13 I became so warped that I thought it was normal for people to just meet and fuck, like it was nothing. I was messed up inside". Michael hopes Look At Me Now (a title he says he chose since it symbolizes the reaction he thinks the characters would have if they looked in the mirror at who they've become after the choices they've made) can help wash away his sexual demons. "I just want to be normal and happy and in a loving relationship. There's a saying: Most men want to make love to a million women. A real man makes love to one woman a million ways. I want to find that one special girl and treat her like a queen, but it's hard these days finding someone worthy of that love. I been through alot but I know I got alot of love to give. The type of love I feel I've never been given by so many girls." He doesn't expect the film to be a huge box office hit, and by this summer, he will be known as the new James Bond, but for now, he is content with the job of re-inventing his Hollywood image. "Your actions define who you are in this industry. I just have this feeling that the time has come for me to make a change and become an example for others that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I want to be the one they look at and say 'He made it through, he fought his demons, I can too'."

New Still from Quantum of Solace

Two New Still Photos from Look At Me Now

ArtHouse Magazine, a magazine that promotes independent films, just released their February issue which lists several films to look out for this spring, and one of them was Look At Me Now. They only mention the film in a small paragraph but they did provide our first look at the movie, at least in these two still photos of Alley in character from the film. According to Michael we can expect a trailer during the Super Bowl and the screening is being held this Fridat in Atlanta at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

Keira Knightley's father wants her to date Michael???

Keira Knightley just recently broke up with her boyfriend of 5 years Rupert Friend, and apparently her father, Will Knightley (a former actor himself), is already trying to play matchmaker with his daughter to find her next beau. According to comments he recently made talking about the breakup to The British Sun, he said "She's a strong girl. She'll be fine. In fact her focus right now is her acting. In three weeks she'll be back to work on a film with an actor she's quite fond of, Michael (Reese) Meyers. So knowing her she won't be single for long. They could hit it off, you never know. Timing is a crazy bloody thing." Interesting. They did get along well in 2002 on Bend It Like Beckham, but that was ages ago and both are completely different people now. There are so many variables. Meyers is supposedly "seeing" Sasha Grey now. Would Keira come between that (or even want to)? Would she be willing to move on so quickly after a breakup? Especially with a guy who dated her cousin Mel Morley, slapped her, tattooed her name on his neck, and generally went through hell with the girl??? It's all just too much I think. Would they make a Freakin' EPIC couple? Hell yea! Will it happen....? My guess...is no. I have no doubts Michael would be down for it (he's mentioned finding her attractive many times in past interviews) but I think the Mel connection would keep Keira from taking it there, despite past comments from her that state she also finds him attractive as well. It's just too weird I think. But we will see. Stranger things have happened in Hollywood....

Chris Brown To Do Theme Song for Look At Me Now Soundtrack

This just in from MTV News. According to THIS article, singer Chris Brown has recorded a song titled Look At Me Now which will be featured during the opening credits of the film. The song also features rappers Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes. HERE is a link to the song. Post in the comments section what you think of it....

Look At Me Now Poster and Cast/Premiere/Trailer/Release Date News

Finally some news on Michael's long awaited and much buzzed about major motion picture directorial debut (not counting his music videos, the Best Tears episode he directed, and the short film The Pill). As you may have heard (and the new poster above explains), the film is a gritty and dark drama that takes place in Los Angeles, California about two young people who take extreme steps to deal with their intimacy issues. Rock singer Alley Vendetta of Secrets & Sunsets (and her new crunkcore outfit I Bit A Vampire) stars as a young runaway from Kansas City who enters the world of porn and cannot escape. Michael has mentioned in past interviews her character and overall story is loosely based on the real life story of former porn star Jersey Jaxin. Chandler Massey plays the other lead character. A college aged boy from Denver, Colorado struggling with his sexuality and decides to take a radical new drug that kills the sex drive altogether.

The poster reveals the rest of the cast, which is rather large and eclectic. It includes respected veteran actors such as David Morse (The Rock, Disturbia) and John Malkovich (In The Line of Fire, Burn After Reading, The Man in the Iron Mask), longtime TV actress Katey Sagal (Married With Children, 8 Simple Rules, Sons of Anarchy), well known character actor Neal McDonough (NYPD Blue, 2007's The Hitcher), 8 Mile's Taryn Manning, 90210's Matt Lanter, Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr, newcomer Dominik Garcia-Lorido (daughter of Andy Garcia), two of Michael's Taking of Pelham 123 co-stars (Ramon Rodriguez and Alex Kaluzhsky), and even two former reality TV stars (Erica Langston from last season's Bad Girls Club and Tess Taylor from Pretty Wild). Michael also mentioned in the past that real life current porn stars would have small supporting roles as well (no indication that current squeeze Sasha Grey will be one of them) and that former porn stars will serve as consultants. One former porn star, Shelley Lubben, served as not only consultant on the film but also Executive Producer as well. She started the Pink Cross charity which helps porn actresses leave the industry. According to Michael, 50% of the film's gross earnings will go toward this charity.

Some controversy has arised in the fact that the film was given an NC-17 rating by the MPAA. Meyers plans to screen the film on Friday, January 21 in Atlanta at the South By Southwest film festival (normally held in Austin, Texas but this year in Atlanta for the first time ever). Michael along with all the cast is scheduled to be there. He hopes a new cut of the film will change the MPAA's mind. He said he is still prepared to release the film even if they don't change the rating. The poster also reveals the film will be released in select theaters March 4. According to Michael's Twitter, a trailer for the film will play during the Super Bowl (Sunday February 6).

The First of Michael's "Change Your Life" YouTube Web Series

Ok so with all the dating drama that's been going on with Michael the past few weeks it's good to have something more positive to report. As well all know he has been very involved with the suicide prevention charity To Write Love On Her Arms and he recently directed a commercial in L.A. starring brief ex-girlfriend Mila Kunis. Well that promo can now been seen at www.twloha.com . That's the official site of the charity. But Michael hasn't stopped there. He is HIMSELF meeting with young boys, from ages 15 to 21, who have written letters to both him and TWLOHA about their issues with talking to and meeting girls. He is doing a web series on YouTube called "Change Your Life" where he shows them tips on dealing with girls, how to approach them, what types to avoid, how to develop self confidence, and other advice on relationships. The first episode is up on YouTube now (Michael linked to it via his twitter page www.twitter.com/michaelreesefeels). You can also watch it at the TWLOHA site. HERE is the YouTube link.

P.S. I think it is super great of him to help these kids, many of whom have considered suicide over a girl (or girls), something Michael can certainly relate to (Today is her 20th birthday, hint hint). He also says part of the advice he gives them is going into his upcoming book he is writing.

New Tears of the Sun trailer and photos

Terence Malick's sci-fi space horror thriller Tears of the Sun now has a trailer and we have some photos of Michael as the old man astronaut as well. Above are the pictures thanks to Collider.com and below is a link to the trailer in HD at Apple.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8BSlqHAhuY

Michael Spotted with Sasha Grey in Miami Nightclub

So it looks like it's true. In this photo Sasha tweeted yesterday, her and Michael are apparently together and spent New Year's together in Miami at PURE Nightclub. Not sure why he is getting back with her. Only he knows. Wish them the best of luck...again...

P.S. At the end of this month Michael is scheduled to fly back to London, England to begin shooting the romantic comedy/drama 'If I Had You' with Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, and Rosie Huntington.