A moment with Gus Van Sant...

Gus Vant Sant is a brilliant filmmaker startting with "My Private Idaho" and also including "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues," "To Die For," "Drugstore Cowboy," "Elephant," "Gerry," and the upcoming "Milk" starring Sean Penn, James Franco, and Josh Brolin among others.

I chatted with him for about a minute before he made his way into the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center Gala Saturday night where he was the night's big honoree. I wondered if "Milk" was more relevant than ever since we are so close to a historic election.

He said: "Because it's about a politician and he runs for office four times in the movie in the heat of an election, you have that feeling, yes. There's a feeling of it is the moment for the film. However, when the election ends November 4th, we might think otherwise. So right at the moment it does. Our film's not coming out right at the moment though. People might feel like it was ages ago."

"It's a portrait of a grassroots political action and election and that you can do it too," he added. "You can effect change."

Since his speech in accepting his award later that night was so brief (I think two sentences!) I'm so glad I got to ask him what being honored by the center meant to him: "It's great that a center that can help gay, lesbian and transgender youth exists and can operate. We have one in Portland called Outside Inn that I like a lot. It's an honor to be given kudos."