"TAMILU-Creative Writers- House of D It's been exactly a year to the day that I saw David in person for the first and only time, and I swear to you not a single day has passed in that whole year that I haven't thought of April 3, 2005. I was able to go to the Creative Writers showing of the House of D and see not only the movie (which I personally loved) but his interview and Q&A afterward. I hurried out to the lobby then in case he was there and, sure enough, he was. He was shaking hands with a man and there was a small crowd around them and I just walked up to him and said ""Can I shake your hand?"" He said sure and put out his hand. As I took his hand I got to look up into his face and was just absolutely stunned at how beautiful he is -- far more handsome than in any movie or on TV. I really didn't know I would be able to talk to him one-on-one and had nothing in my head to say so I said something like ""I'm your biggest fan"" (clever, no) and he said ""Thank you"". Then I told him I had really admired his work over the years and he said thank you again. I was so excited about the whole thing that to this day I can't remember what his hand felt like. I told him I loved his blog (which was just starting up then) and he said ""Oh, do you write on that?"" I said yes I did and he asked my name. I said Martha (tamilu is just for this board). I then asked about Bucky Dent and if he had written a part for himself in it and he said ""Yes, I'm the star"", to which I replied ""great"". I then asked someone in the crowd to take my picture with him and a lady in front volunteered right away. I then stepped to the back and continued to just watch. A little later I saw someone ask him for his autograph and so I went up to him again and got an autograph. He signed his name and it looked like he wrote something above that and when I looked I could see he had written ""Martha"". How sweet. He stayed about 15 minutes and then went out a back door. I walked around to the parking lot and when I got there I saw him standing with his back to the door looking out and as I walked by (about 15 feet away from him and Kevin Nealon, who was also at the showing) he saw me and said ""Goodnight, Martha"". He also waved at me as I left the parking lot. I learned several things that night-- that he is handsome beyond belief, that he is kind and thoughtful, and that he appreciates his fans. I was so rattled that I never even mentioned House of D, but I didn't want to gush or act stupid so I stopped talking. It was truly a thrilling experience and one I will certainly never forget. I know lots of you have had a chance to see and meet him and I would love to read your recollections and thoughts. Anyone want to post? Nice to hear about your experience with David. He has not disappointed any of us who have had the pleasure to meet and talk to him. He is truly (as my grandma use to say) a mench Not sure if i spelled that right. - Ithink it´s spelled mensch, Marlene as so many yiddish words have a German origin and I always thought about mensch meaning being ""ein guter Mensch"" - being a goodhearted guy. And DD must be a very kind and goodhearted man considering all those stories you guys told us about your encounters with him. You are so lucky, really! If I remember correctly, he remembered you last year, Marlene and called you ""Philadelphia"" or so, how sweet is that? Thank you, Martha for sharing your memories with us. And he remembered your name and waved good bye to you, so sweet... OK, now all you guys that have ever had an encounter with him, share your memories with us, who have never had a chance to meet him personally. Even if I read that before, it´s fun to dwell in those wonderful memories. Keep them coming Like tamilu, I remember the exact dates that I got to see David in person for the first time - April 8 (Philly Film Fest) and April 16 (NYC). I've been thinking about it a lot lately because the Philly Film Festival has come around again and I keep remembering how excited I was last year. I so wanted one of David's movies to be playing and to have him there again this year. I did go to the Festival yesterday to see GA's movie and I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Not because of the movie, but because none of the actors were there this year. Actually, the really silly part is that I wanted David to be there even though it wasn't his movie! As far as my experience seeing DD, I'll second everything that's been said about him already. He's such a sweet, charming, friendly guy. I kind of froze up when he looked at me and was barely able to say anything to him, but it seemed like he could tell I was nervous and was trying to make me more comfortable. -For me it would be one year April 28th at 4.15PM I'll never forget that day, I met him with my Haven friends Mulderist and Tempusfugit, to sweet, charming and friendly I add generous too, generous of his time, I've never had the impression that I bothered him, he was interested to what we said to him and what I liked the most, he looked right in your eyes when you talked to him. And he had a way to let you feel at ease, comfortable. May 7th, we saw him again at HOD's A&Q, that was a great moment too. But I'll always keep in my heart my first meeting with him met him on April 28th 2005 with Liz and tempusfugit on the set of one of The Secret (in a small town near Montreal). Actually, it was in the base camp. After seeing him shoot some scenes from afar, we waited for him outside his trailer and got to talk one on one (well, one on three) for around 10 wonderful minutes *happy sigh*. We talked about lots of things, mostly about his upcoming projects, House of D, Montreal, his french (or lack thereof )Then we talked to him briefly again 2 weeks later at the HoD Q&A in Montreal. And we spent several evenings and days on the set after that. We saw him there for a third time for about 2 seconds. Just lurking on the set was a blast. ETA: I'm sorry for those who already know about this. I'm not bragging. Newer members don't necessarily know about this, so here's David's autograph to you all! I asked him to sign it when we met the first time. I don't care about autographs much, so I don't mind if it's not addressed to me. It's mostly because I wouldn't have met him if it weren't for Haven. I remem- ber seeing DD for the first time---up close---at a cocktail party---and there was just a split-second that he stopped in this hallway entrance and looked like a deer blinded by headlights---very vulnerable and sensitive---and it was also his right-side profile---his best---and I think that I just sucked in my breath quietly at how gorgeous he was and thought---this is the real DD--- and I'm still sure of it to this day.Other than that---meeting and talking to him---discussing HOD---and then getting his autograph and a pic with him were like everyone else has said---a gracious man who appeals to a cross- section of men and women of all ages---and this I like very much---and it speak volumes to me about who he truly is as a mensch. My one year date has not come yet but I did not get to meet. Me and several havenites went to see HoD in Chicago. We were literally 5 ft or so away from him during the Q&A. I took my sister with me and she spoke to him during this and all I could remember was how when she was talking with him he gave her his full attention. I also remember being shocked at how he looked in real life. I do not mean shocked as in he looked bad but at how tv and movie screen change how they really look. He was shorter and skinnier than I expected but is much more handsome. I think the expression that the camera adds 10 pounds may actually be true. -Yes, we were so close, Renee! equinox42, OKayVal, AgentScullery and a few others can tell you the same story. He looked a little bit tired, but he's still one of the sexiest men on the planet I've ever seen. His people rushed him out of the theater after the Q&A, so our dreams of mucho pictures and autographs didn't materialize. So, we could say we met him, but didn't meet him in person. -"