“Twilight” actor Michael Welch is taking a break from bloodsucking vampires to help quench a more urgent kind of thirst.

Welch, who plays Bella’s high school bud Mike Newton, in the “Twilight” films, recently contributed a PSA in support of The Thirst Project, a non-profit organization seeking to answer the urgent need for clean drinking water and proper sanitation in Africa – and one charitable Twi-hard may help him provide hands-on help.

“I will be taking a trip to Africa, preferably Swaziland, but we have to raise enough funds in order to do that,” Welch tells PopcornBiz. “If enough people donate, we made a deal with the fans that I’m going to bring one of them with me and they’ll get to see firsthand as well.”

Welch recently had his own awareness raised on the issue. “When I take a particularly delicious sip of cold water or take a shower that feels really good, I have said to myself, ‘It’s unbelievable to me that not everybody has access to this.’ So when [Thirst Project founder] Seth Maxwell introduced this cause to me it immediately struck me as something that I wanted to be a part of. It turns out that this crisis is drastically severe: one out of every six people who don’t have clean water in the world. I just thought about myself and five people that I care about, thinking that one of them doesn’t have water. It’s inconceivable. And the effectiveness of the organization as well has been astonishing. In two and a half years they’ve been able to provide clean drinking water to 35,000 people.”

The actor appreciates the opportunity to use the fame and following he’s amassed via “Twilight” to make a difference. “This is one of the things that I really do like about being in this position – what some might call a celebrity, at least within the ‘Twilight’ world: the fact that I can reach people and I have the opportunity to make an impact.”

Meanwhile, he’ll back for the next film, “Breaking Dawn.”

“I will be in at least the first of the last two films, and I’m not sure about the second film yet,” he says. “It’s going to be a little strange when it’s finally over, when we take the last shot or when we have the last premiere and then that’s going to be it and there’s going to be no more ‘Twilight.’ This has been going on for I guess a little over two and a half years now, and shoot, it’s going to be really interesting to see where we all go from here.”

I really really love this guy. Mike, you are a class act.

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Via The Lex

I don’t know if you all know this but I love Mike Welch. No really. I fan girl over him more than anyone else. When I saw this on the Lex I just had to share!

Mike Welch entertained Twilight fans on the first ever Twilight Cruise. At the crowd’s request he reenacted the infamous “butt shake dance”. It’s a good thing that he didn’t reenact the volleyball at the head sequence…ouch.

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Mike went on his first USO tour on July 9, visiting 10 youth and teen centers in Germany over 6 days, where he saw more than 600 military kids. As part of his USO experience, Mike posed for photos, signed autographs, answered questions and participated in workshop activities and skits. You can see more photos from his tour on USO.org.

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Here are Checkmate’s comments and photos from Friday, June 11, at the LA Twilight Convention.  The one of Tinsel is beautiful:

Friday was a FUN day! We started the afternoon with Tinsel Korey and then Kiowa Gordon. Michael Welch and Justin Chon shared the stage, and then we ended the Q&A session for Friday with our first showing of Booboo Stewart.
Unfortunately, I was unable to get pictures during their Q&A sessions, but I did track them down during the first of two Volturi Balls and snapped Michael, Justin, Kiowa, and Tinsel.

And we ended Friday night with Karaoke with Michael Welch. He is HILARIOUS!!!

Kiowa and his bandmates from “Touche” even made a guest appearance and gave karaoke a try…

Charlie Bewley, Michael Welch, Alex Meraz and Kiowa Gordon give their opinions of the funniest, smartest, most chill, most talented, biggest social butterfly, and most beautiful members of the Twilight cast.

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Charlie Bewley, Michael Welch, Alex Meraz and Kiowa Gordon!

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Yesterday, Summit (Via @Twilight Twitter) announced “Tomorrow make sure check @Twilight often as we make some exciting #NewMoonDVD announcements!”

Today, they declared “The cast and crew of New Moon are going to some #NewMoonDVD midnight release parties this Friday! Check back often as we let you know who is going where for the #NewMoonDVD Midnight release parties!”

It appears they have been announcing them on the hour, but here is what we know so far:

Peter Facinelli is going to New York for New Moon DVD Party.

Edi Gathegi will be in Pittsburgh.

Chaske Spencer and Tyson Houseman will be in Atlanta.

Melissa Rosenberg (Screenwriter) will be in Seattle.

Justin Chon, Christian Serratos, and Michael Welch will be in Salt Lake City.

Charlie Bewley will be in Denver.

Elizabeth Reaser will be in Phoenix.

Kiowa Gordon and Tinsel Korey will be in Cincinnati.

Daniel Cudmore will be in Houston.

Last, but not least. Nikki Reed and Chris Weitz in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, they have not announced which location the cast members will attend, only the city.  So, if you happen to be attending a party in one of these cities, cross your fingers you choose the right one.

We will update this post as Summit continues to announce more cast appearances.

Xavier Samuel’s Road Train

Jackson Rathbone’s Dread (Both Sources have better trailers, but I couldn’t find the embedded code for either. Sorry)

Michael Welch’s Unrequited

Nikki Reed’s Last Day of Summer

Kellan Lutz’s A Nightmare On Elm Street

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Okay, this movie looks really good to me. And, Michael Welch seems super creepy in this. Way to go, Mike!

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My daughter and I attended the Twi/Tour in Phoenix this weekend and it was a blast. While some of the big names couldn’t make it, the stars who did come were funny and enthusiastic. I could not tape the question and answer session, but I’ll give you some of the flavor. Actors speaking include Michael Welsh, Edi Gathegi, Gil Birmingham, Alex Meraz, and Chaske Spencer.

Mike Welsh was the first star on stage. Asked which vampire he would like to be, he answered James. Was it scripted to pull his chair out from under him in the cafeteria? No, Catherine threw that in. Of the cast and their friendship? Summit made the choice to pick unknown actors and so we’re all going on this crazy journey together. Oh and by the way, they are going to make Breaking Dawn. (Says Mr. Welsh.) They’d be stupid not to… as long as you guys keep showing up. By November, you are not going to be going, “I’m over it.” Mike then very graciously thank us fans for taking him on this ride that is Twilight.

Edi Gathegi was up next. His favorite scene in Twilight is the ballet room fight. In New Moon, the meadow, of course and the Volturi scene is very good. “You are going to like that!”, says Edi. As to if he was PO’d about dying in New Moon, he says that no, he is blessed to have been in the first two movies. “My glass is half full. I miss them playing in Vamp Camp!” (Edi watched New Moon with Stephenie Meyer while in Phoenix) Thoughts on New Moon? “I don’t think anyone is not going to love it. I predict a whole new onslaught of Twilight guys!

The Quileutes were next, and they were a riot! First question up? Alex, boxers or briefs? His answer? I switch it up, it depends what I am doing. What do you have on now? Right now? Briefs. Then, Gil grabs his pant top and looks and yells out “baby blue.” (This is what started the crazed twittering from CBA. I scribled down what they were saying, my daughter texted it to Kim and Kim tweeted! If only the wifi had worked in the ballroom!) Alex and Chaske get him back for that by bringing up a Dianna Ross music video on u-tube called “Muscles”, in which Gil does cartwheels and shows some muscle. (Here’s the link to Muscles!)
How does Alex like the crazy world of Twilight? This is a great world right here. he says of the audience. I love you. I like the bond with the audience. In New Moon we were in a bubble (and didn’t see all the frenzy.) Was Alex always interested in acting? “No, I went to the New School for Arts in Scottsdale, AZ to paint, then worked at Whole Foods. I still paint and dance.”
Does Gil get a long with Taylor? “I met him at 16. He was such a sweet kid. One year later, who the hell are you? He is HOT. That is not something a father should not say about his son.”
Chaske and Alex had to keep their parts secret for a month. When the photo of the wolf pack leaving together from a restaurant was leaked, Summit had to tell about them being cast. Chaske and Gil were old friends and Chaske revealed to Gil he was cast in an “untitled sports movie” in Vancouver. Gil simply told him “Good! See you there.”
Chaske then told a story about Alex’s improvisational acting skills in which, in the scene where Paul almost attacks Bella, Alex decided to grab her neck when she screams. Apparently everyone gasped when he grabbed Kristen. Chris Weitz just said, “Let’s try to keep the intensity inside!”
Gil’s thoughts on Billy Black? He is the gate keeper –the Keeper of the Stories. Of Taylor’s fame now? Gil-”I don’t know I would want the celebrity of Taylor. He can’t walk the streets.”
Do the musicians in the cast jam together? Alex-”Jackson invited me to Kristen’s room with Rob and some others all jamming out. I couldn’t understand what Rob was singing but it sounded good.” Alex proceeded to imitate Rob’s singing style.
What is Alex’s workout routine? “Howl at the moon and run on all fours.”
Chaske– Leah or Emily? “Emily. There will be all kinds of rumors now.”

Great fun, you should have been there!

Twifans has transcripts of  Edi’s talk.

Buzznet caught up with Michael Welch for an interview where they ask him some members questions.

Ah-nell-ee: If you met Bella in real life, what would you say to her? What would you say to Edward?

Michael Welch: I would tell Bella, “Listen girl. I know you’re caught up in this supernatural love triangle, but why don’t you give Mike Newton a shot? If the werewolf represents the stable option in your life, and the vampire is constantly fighting the urge to drain you of your precious blood, maybe you need broaden your horizons a bit and consider dating a HUMAN BEING! Just a thought.

“Oh! By the way, did you know that Kristen Stewart is playing you in the 4-part bio-pic of your life? Pretty cool huh?… What do you mean you’ve never heard of her? You haven’t seen that terrible movie Panic Room?… Well, what about Into the Wild, In the Land of Women, or The Messengers?… Wow, you need to get out more, Arizona. I’m gonna make you a list of films. You ever seen The Usual Suspects?… No?? Oh boy! You’re in for a treat! Come on, I’ll buy you a soda, then we’re renting some movies!!”

I would tell Edward, “Thanks a lot buddy! You’ve raised the bar to such unreasonable heights, the rest of us guys don’t stand a chance. We can’t sparkle you jerk! Not even Efron can sparkle. How do you think that makes him feel, huh??… Oh great, now you’re making Zac Efron cry Edward! You proud of yourself, huh, you feel like a big man?… Shhh, it’s ok Zac. I’m here for you pumpkin. Great, now I have to give him his juice box… And for goodness sake, would you take Bella out to see some movies? Rent Casablanca or something, or at least take her out to see The Hangover. Jeeze- louise Ed!”

Jolene Tangerine: What do you think would be your vampire power if you had one?

Michael Welch: Well that depends. Can I create a new power or do I have to choose one that already exists? If I could make my own, I would either want to fly or shoot lasers out of my eyes! Oh yeah. If I had to pick one that already exists, I would either want to see into the future like Alice or be a BA tracker like James. I know I’m not supposed to, but I love James.

SydneyAlex: How much like Mike are you? Hopeless romantic?

Michael Welch: Oh yeah, very much so. Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies if that’s any indication. The fulfillment of love is more important than the excitement of fling.

You can read the entire interview here.

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