greetings!

Oops… it has been a while! Let’s catch up, shall we?

According to Charlie McCarthy’s sister Candace Bergen’s memoir “Knock Wood,” her wooden sibling would regularly obtain more invites to social functions and soirees than the family. This may sound just as ridiculous as slipping on a banana peel, but I am here to tell you that there is truth to both. Tommy Udo has truly become a doll about town. I soon suspect our mailbox will be flooded with formal solicitations requesting his appearance at masquerade balls, galas, and social gatherings. Tommy is like a magnet, people are drawn to him. In fact! during our recent adventure to The Nitrate Picture Show he was asked for a selfie with renowned filmmaker, Rian Johnson. Sadly the evidence was not given to us by the photographer, fortunately for all of you, I am here to share the Tommy tea. Without a sliver of doubt I see more hob-knobbing with celebrities and starlets in Tommy’s future.

Tommy Travels

Much of the reason for my disappearance here has been due to my extensive travel. Tommy Udo and I have been venturing across this great land spreading the good word of MovieJawn, having cinematic chats, shaking hands, causing mischief, and scaring the pants off of all sorts of specimens. People have stopped in their tracks to greet Tommy, waved from atop of a motorcycle, and shrieked in horror at his presence. An older gentleman shared his disdain for Tommy while we were in a stairwell of a movie theater. He stopped us mid-step to regale us in his sordid tale. Apparently he once had a similar doll as a thirteen year old boy and, for the sake of his 8mm film (and because he was creeped out by the doll), he set it ablaze. In seeing Tommy, he felt that it exuded the former spirit of his “inanimate” friend.

No matter the reaction, Tommy loves (lives for) the attention. He is more than a seat filler or a cinematic companion, he’s an Adonis. As Tommy Udo’s comrade, chauffer, and valet I have never felt more appreciated. For without me Tommy would not exist and without him I would not be experiencing this thrilling adventure. Together in the past couple months we have traveled to the following scenic destinations:

• Salem, Massachusetts for Salem Horror Fest

• Paris, France (Tommy was here in spirit not in actual physical form)

• Rochester, New York for the Nitrate Picture Show

• Cranberry, Pennsylvania for Monster Bash

• Ambler Theater for MovieJawn’s Summer print zine release party

It has been quite the whirlwind, and it feels good to know that the majority of July will be sent in the comfort of our own dwelling. The travel has not been easy on either of us. It has left me absolutely exhausted and Tommy literally bursting at the seams. I have had to perform multiple surgeries on the poor fella due to all of our extensive globe trotting. We look forward to resting up and spending time in my laboratory, cooking up experiments.

this week i am proud of…

It’s always the right time for a trip to Paris

My trip to Paris feels like a dream. I had the absolute best time with Benjamin and our niece, Kylie. As mentioned in the previous edition of my newsletter, we took the trip there in celebration of Kylie’s graduation from college and Benjamin’s 49th! birthday. She had never travelled abroad before, which made the trip that much more special.

Benjamin and I had been to Paris once before (circa 2011) and, to be honest, that time I left not feeling too impressed. I had found the city to be rather filthy, the weather was not too great, and sadly a lot of the interactions left much to be desired. This time was completely different. I fell head over heels for the city of light. It was gorgeous, the folks were beyond hospitable, the food was excellent, and the pastries were an absolute delight. I got introduced to a Dubai latte and I shall never forget this encounter.

I already am looking forward to one day making my way back there and quite possibly making another visit to Disneyland Paris. Despite Disneyland Paris not being too up and up on the mobile ordering, I found the park to be quite charming. Here are my top three rides from the visit:

• Phantom Manor

  

  Kylie and me at Phantom Manor, photo by Benjamin

• It’s a Small World (this may quite be my favorite version of this ride)

  

  It’s a Small World facade

• Hollywood Tower Hotel (not as thrilling as Florida, but still good)

  

  Me and Benjamin at The Hollywood Tower Hotel, photo by Kylie

Other highlights included staying at the Disneyland Paris hotel, drinking champagne on Main Street (see below), and visiting a cafe that shared my name. As a child, I always sought out souvenirs with my name on it, whether it be keychains, pencils, pens, etc. and never had success. It was rather neat to see an entire place that shared my name.

In Paris, I experienced an awakening. It had been a while since I truly was completely offline, and I found the time spent without my phone to be utter magic.

Part of exposing new folks to MovieJawn is being on social media. I am not particularly fond of the medium itself, but it is a means to an end. Through social media, MovieJawn is able to reach people from all over the globe and spread the good word. It also keeps people informed of the cinemas we will be hustlin’ at, the latest online writing from our contributors, and most importantly lets folks know when the new print issue hits the streets. I have been slowly breaking up with my mobile device (you can read about that in a previous dispatch here). I feel that if I am going to utilize it, then it must be worthy of my time: whether it is advertising for MovieJawn, being creative (via video projects and photography), or utilizing it as a tool (to take payment at events for example).

July begins my path to becoming

This week I have entered a new chapter in this expedition of unplugging which I am referring to as: my landline era.

Before heading to bed on the night of June 30 I tucked my cellphone away in the laboratory and shut the door. On July 1, for the first time since maybe my late teenage years, I was awoken at 7:45am by an alarm clock and frankly, it was life changing. I immediately sprung out of bed and it felt so good to not wake up with my phone by side which only led to endless scrolls and bed rot.

While in Sellers Bookshop in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, I picked up the book Ikigai and flipped to a page that spoke about the detriment that comes from waking up having the first thing you look at being a screen. No one should have this type of information overload when their eyes first open. Sometimes I have found that the first things I would read on my phone would set the tone for the entire day and almost deter me from not wanting to be vertical.

After a couple days of my latest experiment, I find that I am more productive… I won’t go as far to say that I am a morning person (at least not yet) but I can sense a change in me. I come downstairs, I make my coffee with my monin syrups (the best!), and I journal.

I headed up to the laboratory for my phone when I needed it, which was not for couple hours until after I woke up. I am now for all intent and purposes treating it as a landline. The next step will be to start tucking it away on non-MovieJawn event nights at around 6pm and enacting the DO NOT DISTURB function. The goal is to be more present: in conversation with Ben (and Tommy, of corpse), when I am watching movies at home, and to utilize my time more effectively and in ways that are more beneficial to me. I no longer want to be under the phone’s control. My therapist informed me that for a new habit to be successful it must be put into practice for at least six weeks. I will be sure to keep you posted on my journey.

this week i am proud of…

LOTS OF THINGS!

There have been many accomplishments over the past couple of months, so I have decided to make a list of all the sweet stuff:

• The Summer 2026 MovieJawn release party in which I convinced my Scarface (1983) pal, Selena to transform into a mermaid in honor of our screening of the 1948 motion picture, Mr. Peabody and The Mermaid at Ambler Theater. Shout out to: Selena for showing up and being a marvelous mermaid and to Ambler Theater’s Shannon Quinty for always being open to my zany ideas (she has already approved our next venture: The Cinematic Vaudeville Act: starring Tommy Udo and I. We shall be adorned with pipes, pointers, top hats and tails ready to point you in the right direction of your motion picture journey). Find where we will be slingin’ next here

  

  Selena the Mermaid, Captain of the Cinema Tommy Udo, and me at MovieJawn’s release party, photo by Sergio

• The release of MovieJawn’s Summer 2026 print issue featuring Cinematic Hotels, now available for purchase here and for the first time ever, at Barnes & Noble (!), find a retailer near you here. Shout out to: Erik Kreffel for helping design the door hanger of my dreams

  

  The latest edition of MovieJawn comes with a merit badge and door hanger!

• Conducting a Q&A for the film, Withdrawal at PhilaMoca, learn more about the film here 

  

  Me with director, Aaron Strand and actor, Millie Rose Evans, photo by Sergio

• Despite my disdain for trivia, I keep successfully hosting them in the name of MovieJawn and not fainting from my nervousness. Shout out to: Selena for being by my side and showing me that I can indeed pursue a life as a game show host if I so desired.

  

  Me and my pal, Selena hosting trivia, photo by Sergio

• My recent interview with writer/director Natalie Erika James which you can read on MovieJawn here

  Interview: Natalie Erika James gets personal about her latest film SACCHARINE — MovieJawn

  by Rosalie Kicks, Editor in Chief and Old Sport In her latest picture, Saccharine, Natalie sheds light on a deeply personal subject.

  Moviejawn

  

   

• Serving as the 2026 Social Media Correspondent for The Nitrate Picture Show with Tommy Udo, and being immortalized in the program book. Find some of the coverage here on Instagram… so much more to come too! And shout-out to: Benjamin, Sergio, Shayna, and Selena for having my back all weekend. I could not have successfully pulled off the weekend without you folks. And I would be remiss if I did not include Abby Forkell and her family here - thank you for housing us. Can’t wait for the next Nitrate camping trip.

• Co-hosting the video show, Beyond The Bite with my film pal, Kate Beach that covers the best show on television right now, The Vampire Lestat. Shout out to: My lovely co-host Kate for putting up with me and traveling to off the map places like Cranberry, PA for a monster movie convention, Shayna Davis for editing and producing the show, and to Ashley Jane Davis for knocking it out of the park with the killer theme music. Watch all the episodes here. Our newest episode is below.

this week i recommend…

When Tomorrow Comes (1939)

I watched so many wonderful motion pictures at this year’s Nitrate Picture Show, but the one that followed me home (literally - as I procured a blu-ray copy from their merchandise table) was When Tomorrow Comes (1939) directed by John M. Stahl (also made Leave Her To Heaven - another favorite of mine) and starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. With cinematography from Milton Carruth, the man behind the camera of Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and 1934’s The Black Cat.

What’s it about? When Tomorrow Comes is summarized as being a story about a waitress (Dunne) who falls head over heels for a stranger (Boyer) without knowing that he is already married. This film is so much more than that. It is the type of movie that takes the viewer on an incredible journey.

It took me a while to come down from this one after viewing it, especially due to the stunning nitrate print. I love the way that Nitrate sparkles - another stunner from the weekend was the Greta Garbo flick, Camille (1936); the dresses looked magnificent. When Tomorrow Comes has several stories happening simultaneously and somehow manages to tie them all together. In the swift ninety-two minute runtime, the yarn unravels tales of: labor unions, secret love affairs during a storm, and a mentally unwell/controlling spouse. It is W-I-L-D in the best way possible. I can’t wait to revisit.

As for my favorites from May and June…

Here’s what I loved watching:

If you made this far… tell me what you have been watching. Regardless if they are new or old, Tommy and I are all ears.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy you are here. xx.
goodbye.