June 3: Kristen Stewart has opted to issue an apology for her use of the word “rape” as a metaphor for having her personhood unrelentingly assaulted by paparazzi no matter where she goes.
That is an unfortunate – for Stewart, who didn’t ridicule or denigrate rape victims, or call anyone any names; for people’s right to express their feelings as they wish – though hardly unexpected turn of events. After all, David Slade’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, in which Stewart co-stars with Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, opens in a few weeks. There’s a lot at stake, Stewart’s “people” must have been telling her. (Admittedly, it could also be that Stewart truly felt sorry.)
Here’s what Stewart, who played a rape victim in Speak (2004) and who has done public service announcements for the advocacy group RAINN, told People.com. (It’s unclear whether Stewart’s quotes were said in the order posted below – or with nothing else in-between them):
“I really made an enormous mistake - clearly and obviously. And I’m really sorry about my choice of words.”
“I’ve made stupid remarks before, and I’ve always reasoned: ‘Whatever. They can think what they want.'”
“’Violated’ definitely would have been a better way of expressing the thought.”
“People thinking that I’m insensitive about this subject rips my guts out. I made a big mistake.”
The media – and as a result, much of the public – had lambasted Stewart in a manner they would never have dared to do had she dropped an A-Bomb in Teheran. Had the latter incident taken place, all sorts of excuses would have been found for the deed. But in our increasingly p.c.-obsessed, hypocritically goody-goody world, if you’re a celebrity you have to measure your words and deeds every step of the way.
Remember the foaming-at-the-mouth reaction following the leaking of Miley Cyrus’ photo showing the young actress-singer and friends doing a “slanted eye” joke among themselves (there was an East Asian guy in the picture as well) – in private, no one’s fucking business? Someone actually sued Cyrus for that. (The lawsuit was later dismissed.)
I find it surprising that no one has sued Stewart for using the rape analogy, claiming it has led to “severe emotional distress” or some such.
[Update: Paraphrasing my response to a commenter below, had Stewart said instead: “When I’m surrounded by paparazzi taunting and screaming at me, I feel like I’m in a war zone.” I wonder if anyone anywhere would have bothered to criticize her for her insensitivity. “How dare she use the word ‘war’ to apply to her own little personal problems?” But hey, it’s only war …]
Now, before anyone accuses me of being insensitive to rape, let me remind you that the matter at hand here isn’t women or men being brutally forced into sex. The issue here is an individual’s freedom to express his/her feelings using words s/he finds appropriate.
Additionally, unlike the p.c. crowd, whose focus tend to be on sex matters and “inappropriate” use of words, I’ve never been one to condone or ignore violence of any kind – whether it involves naked people or people wearing shining military uniforms.
So, it does piss me off that people would spend time berating a famous 20-year-old actress for using a (in my view perfectly appropriate) “rape” metaphor, when there are so many more pressing – really, urgent, life-threatening – issues taking place around the world. Issues that are and will go on affecting for the worse the lives of this planet’s inhabitants (human or no) in a manner that Stewart’s remark never, ever could.
The media, of course, is to blame for this circus-on-fire spectacle. I’ve read numerous articles about the Stewart “rape” to-do, and nearly every single one of them distorted her words, telling their readers she compared “being famous” or “being photographed by paparazzi” to rape. That’s not what she said.
But hey, you gotta give it to those guys. They can smell blood from a distance; and they know that nastiness, the ensuing self-righteous outrage and the public humiliation of the celebrity in question sell even more than The God Sex itself. I mean, Chace Crawford, arrested for allegedly having pot with him in Texas, is one of the hottest news of the day. (By Zeus, pot smoking? It’s the end of the world as we know it.)
Wrapping this up … It’s good to remember that no matter what you say or do, someone somewhere will get (quite possibly deeply) offended. But you can’t go through life apologizing for expressing your feelings. Only you can know how you feel. If others don’t like it, so be it. They also say (and/or think) stuff that would offend others – but no one cares about those people, so you don’t get to see their purported faux pas online or in print.
In the case of Kristen Stewart and her rape metaphor, that should have been a non-issue. But had that been the case, there wouldn’t have been a mega-story, right?
P.S. Chace Crawford shouldn’t despair. Robert Mitchum spent time in jail for smoking pot as well – back in the late ’40s. Even in those days, that didn’t affect Mitchum’s film career in any way. In fact, the scandal may have helped his on-screen “rebel” image.
“Rape metaphor” text above originally posted by André Soares.
Photo: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment)
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Kristen Stewart, torn between Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in David Slade’s upcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, graces the cover of the July issue of Elle UK, which came out on Wednesday, June 2.
While interviewed for the magazine, Stewart made the mistake of speaking her mind. Worse: she made the grievous faux pas of comparing fame to rape. The Internet – the gossip buzzards are ever ready – has been teeming with articles berating the actress for her “unfortunate,” un-p.c. analogy and “poor choice of words.” [Correction: Stewart was actually comparing the paparazzi assault, not fame, to rape.]
Here’s what she said, via The Huffington Post:
On the media:
“It really bothers me when people write nasty shit about me and the perception is that I don’t give a fuck. It could not be further from the truth. Your little persona is made up of all the places that people have seen you and what has been said about you, and usually the places that I am are so overwhelming in the moment and fleeting for me like one second where I’ve said something stupid, that’s me, forever.”
On the paparazzi:
“What you don’t see are the cameras shoved in my face and the bizarre intrusive questions being asked, or the people falling over themselves, screaming and taunting to get a reaction. The photos are so … I feel like I’m looking at someone being raped. A lot of the time I can’t handle it. It’s fucked. I never expected that this would be my life.”
I may be one of the few who found Stewart’s fame/rape analogy both intelligent and graphically to the point. I’ve seen the paparazzi at work. It’s both disturbing and repulsive. Those criticizing Stewart have been twisting her words, making the 20-year-old actress sound insensitive and immature. Actually, what she said is anything but.
Unfortunately, most people don’t have the mental capability (or the willingness) to understand either metaphors or the fact that one can be emotionally and psychologically raped, insisting that the word be used only when relating to vaginas or anuses. Those people are incapable of grasping that rape – painful intrusion, invasion, aggression, disrespect – can and do occur all the time in ways that have nothing to do with sex. Much like the most obscene forms of behavior occur when people are fully clothed. And I’m not referring to kinky sex here.
Bankers didn’t take their clothes off when they raped the world economy (and the livelihood of millions of people) not that long ago. The Gulf of Mexico is being raped by British Petroleum’s oil geyser. People can have their psyche raped by, say, religious dogma – just try growing up gay while attending a traditional, say, Christian or Muslim school.
Now, this is one section of the Elle interview in which Kristen Stewart doesn’t sound all that convincing:
On Robert Pattinson:
“People always ask me if I’m dating Robert. It’s beyond annoying. People say that if I just tell them everything they’ll leave me alone, but God, you think if I tell people they’ll leave me alone? They pick up every little scrap, and that’s much worse.”
Uh … no. I can’t help but think there’s some kind of coaching going on when it comes to the Stewart-Pattinson deal. I just don’t know what kind of coaching. Keep’em guessing and they’ll come watch The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn?
In the old days, people thought, e.g., Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell were two lovey-dovey lovebirds because they looked so real when they made love (kissing chastely) on screen in hits such as 7th Heaven and Street Angel.
Well, the so-delicate-she-could-break Gaynor, the very first Best Actress Oscar winner, was into women – Margaret Lindsay was her lover at one point, and Mary Martin was connected with her for decades. (Costume designer Adrian was Gaynor’s husband from the late ’30s to his death twenty years later.) Farrell, gay rumors notwithstanding (perhaps thanks to a squeaky, high-pitched voice?), married actress Virginia Valli.
In other words, the Gaynor-Farrell “affair” was something that only existed in the imagination of fans – fueled by smart studio publicists. If fans believed the on-screen couple were lovers in real-life, then the actors’ on-screen lovemaking would seem more real. Voyeurism would make more people want to pay to see Gaynor and Farrell in Sunny Side Up, Delicious, etc. That was the studio’s logic.
Regarding Stewart and Pattinson, I can’t figure out what or whose logic – or lack thereof – it is. But I’m willing to bet they’ll come clean once the last Breaking Dawn movie comes out. Not that I think they must. Stewart’s and Pattinson’s private lives are their own. It’s their business who, when and where they date, hate, mate, and so on.
P.S. I’ve just read that Stewart regrets having used the rape metaphor. I’m not sure if that’s true. (I couldn’t find a reliable source for it.) If it is, I find that regrettable.
P.P.S. In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting a couple of articles with my views on the Twilight Saga books and movies. Overall, I liked the first book very much; the three sequels I found highly readable but ultimately disappointing both in terms of plot and character development. In Eclipse, for instance, Bella nearly brought out the axe-murderer in me.
Now, I’m really not a gambler, but … I’m also willing to bet that were Twilight perceived as a male-oriented franchise instead of one geared to females (teen females to boot) there would have been nothing like the current backlash against the books, the movies, and the performers. It’s glaringly obvious that there are a lot of people eager to see Stewart, Pattinson, and Lautner fail – chiefly Pattinson, the early 21st century’s biggest “matinee idol” – merely because of their association with the Twilight movies. Had those three been blowing people up on screen, they’d have earned the respect of many (most?) of their detractors. And as a result, you can be sure that Pattinson would have received better reviews – or at least fewer nasty ones – for his performance in Remember Me.
Note: “Kristen Stewart (Unfortunately) Apologizes for Rape Metaphor” is an edited version of three Kristen Stewart posts first published in June 2010.
Photo: Matthias Vriens / Elle UK
Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse poster
“The ECLIPSE soundtrack – which includes Muse, Fanfarlo, and The Black Keys – is streaming on the official soundtrack website for the next 24 hours! http://eclipsesoundtrack.com/preorder/” announces a tweet on the Twilight Twitter page. There’s even one track belonging to the upcoming film’s Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore: “Jacob’s Theme.”
‘Eclipse’ cast
Based on Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novel, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was adapted by Melissa Rosenberg and directed by David Slade.
Besides Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner, the Eclipse cast features:
Bryce Dallas Howard (replacing Rachelle Lefevre as a vampire bent on destroying Bella).
Peter Facinelli. Elizabeth Reaser. Xavier Samuel. Dakota Fanning. Kellan Lutz. Ashley Greene.
Jackson Rathbone. Nikki Reed. Booboo Stewart. Billy Burke. Daniel Cudmore. Michael Welch. Jodelle Ferland.
Cameron Bright. Christian Serratos. Kirsten Prout. Sarah Clarke. Tyson Houseman. Charlie Bewley. Kiowa Gordon.
Leah Gibson. Julia Jones. Alex Meraz. Jack Huston. Chaske Spencer. Tinsel Korey. Bronson Pelletier. Iris Quinn.
Gil Birmingham. Paul Jarrett. Justin Rain. Justin Chon. Cainan Wiebe. Ben Geldreich. Alex Rice.
Best Actress Oscar nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno (Maria Full of Grace, 2004).
Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air, 2009).
Eclipse opens in the U.S., Canada, and about a dozen other countries on June 30, ’10. The world premiere will be held at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 24.
Tracklisting:
1. Metric - Eclipse (All Yours)
2. MUSE - Neutron Star Collision (Love Is Forever)
3. The Bravery - Ours
4. Florence + The Machine - Heavy In Your Arms
5. Sia - My Love
6. Fanfarlo - Atlas
7. The Black Keys - Chop And Change
8. The Dead Weather - Rolling In On A Burning Tire
9. Beck and Bat For Lashes - Let’s Get Lost
10. Vampire Weekend - Jonathan Low
11. UNKLE - With You In My Head (Feat. The Black Angels)
12. Eastern Conference Champions - A Million Miles An Hour
13. Band of Horses - Life On Earth
14. Cee Lo Green - What Part of Forever
15. Howard Shore - Jacob’s ThemeBonus Tracks:
16. Battles - The Line
17. Bombay Bicycle Club - How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep
18. Fanfarlo - “Atlas” (Remix) (Digital Bonus Only)
19. Cee Lo Green - “What Part Of Forever” (Remix) (Digital Bonus Only)
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner doing a press junket for The Twilight Saga: New Moon in Paris [the original video has been deleted]. I wonder how Pattinson’s absence from this year’s international press junket (he’s busy filming Water for Elephants in Los Angeles) will affect the popularity of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse overseas. Perhaps it’ll make no difference, as Stewart and Lautner seem to be getting lots of publicity – even if some of it unwelcome – in their tour.
Pattinson is his usual humorous self in this New Moon junket set in Paris. When asked about resisting temptation, he replies: “I’m pretty good at resisting almost any form of temptation, to be honest. I have very, very few interests, so… [laughs] There’s not much … I’m kind of a stoic.” Lautner’s biggest temptation on the set was food. Food he couldn’t eat so Jacob Black could look buff and beefy in New Moon.
“In my opinion, as much as they’re always trying to control themselves and as much as the relationship is strained,” says Kristen Stewart about Edward and Bella, “if they were really denying themselves something, they would take themselves out of the situation completely. They wouldn’t be with each other. They’re willing to do anything … anything no matter how badly it hurts to stay together. … It is definitely a sexualized movie, but in a different way.”
The clip ends with three very, very unstoic Twilight fans, who seem all too eager to give in to temptwition.
Directed by David Slade, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens in the United States and about a dozen other countries on June 30. Melissa Rosenberg adapted Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novel.
June 6
Robert Pattinson confronts Taylor Lautner in this brief clip from The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, released by MTV. Pattinson, Lautner, and Kristen Stewart will join forces on Sunday, June 6, to present a longer version of this exclusive Eclipse clip.
I should add that all three performers are up for several MTV Movie Awards, most of those for The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Stewart is also in the running for her kissing scene with Dakota Fanning in The Runaways and Lautner for his kissing scene with Taylor Swift in Valentine’s Day. All three are up for the Global Superstar Award.
In the clip above, Jacob Black (Lautner) approaches Edward Cullen (Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Stewart), telling Edward in a none-too-friendly manner, “Look, I’m here to warn you. If your kind come on our land again…” Edward then tells Jacob to “just leave … Now.”
What follows (I think) is the news that the vindictive vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard) is back and out to get Bella.
Hosted by Aziz Ansari, and featuring Katy Perry, Zac Efron, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba, and others, the 2010 MTV Movie Awards will be aired live on MTV beginning at 9 p.m. ET. (Those along the Pacific Coast will have to wait until 9 p.m. PT to catch the show.)
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Eclipse poster
David Slade explains why he took on The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in an audio interview at Earth’s Mightiest Fansites.
“It was just that I’d done two very intense films,” the director of Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night says over the phone. “One was an outright horror film, one was a thriller. … There were a lot of films around that I could’ve done … but no one was offering me something different.”
Slade added that Summit wasn’t scared he might make Eclipse “too scary,” and that he focused on exploring the core of the fantasy aspects of the Twilight Saga so as to make them look real on screen. That way, audiences would be able to accept both the characters’ emotional entanglements and the fantastical elements found in the story.
“There was a certain degree of mythology that was really interesting to me and that I really liked … that I could bring a sense of … awareness I think hadn’t been addressed before. How do these things work when it comes to vampires? Why do they sparkle? What is it about them that does that and how does that work? Those kinds of things were really interesting to me. Those things were explored a little. There aren’t as many sparkly shots, but I think you get a sense of the physics of the whole thing … On the one hand, you have this intensely naturalistic romantic drama … so when it comes to the kinds of fantastic elements, to me it was important that they didn’t rise above the level of magic realism. You had to accept them as natural, as the next thing.”
Note: The David Slade interview was found thanks to a tweet by “The Twilight Examiner.”
Photo: Summit Entertainment
The latest Twilight Saga: Eclipse TV spot, “Something New” (as in: “there’s something new to fear”) emphasizes the action segments found in the film, much like another previous TV spot. The romance between Robert Pattinson’s and Kristen Stewart’s characters take a back seat to the violent scenes, whether featuring Riley (Xavier Samuel) being turned into a vampire or the war between good vampires and werewolves vs. the thirsty newborn vampire army.
One curiosity is that in this one you get to see a close-up of Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale. Peter Facinelli can also be spotted, though if I remember correctly we’ve already seen him in previous Eclipse trailers/promos.
Jodelle Ferland explains in the recently released clip “Introducing Bree Tanner” that “Bree is a newborn vampire, which means a newly turned vampire.”
In Stephenie Meyer’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Bree is the young vampire who has a tough time resisting the human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart). Bella’s beating heart and the scent of her blood drives Bree crazy, but she must behave if she’s to be pardoned and taken in by Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli).
Bree had taken part in the fight pitting Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), his family, and the local werewolves (led by Taylor Lautner’s Jacob) against the newborn vampire army. In the movie, they’re led by Riley (Xavier Samuel), who himself was a creation of the vindictive Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard).
Ferland (pronounced Fer-LAND) goes on to explain that Bree “wants to be good, but nobody gives her a chance. She doesn’t know the rules, so how can you follow rules that you don’t know?” That means Bree will play a larger role in the movie version than in Meyer’s novel, as Bree is only very briefly seen near the end of Eclipse.
Not abiding by the rules of the vampire world, of course, ends up being a major problem for Bree. “So, it’s not her fault,” Ferland adds, “but she gets punished anyway.”
Not too long ago, Stephenie Meyer, who’s seen in the clip near the end, announced that she was going to publish a short piece on Bree, entitled “The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner.” Pure speculation: Perhaps some of what’s seen in the movie version of Eclipse will be found in Meyer’s new book as well?
The novella comes out on June 5. It’ll also be available a couple of days later at Meyer’s website.
Via: Twilightsource.com.
June 8
Kristen Stewart: Bella Swan in ‘Eclipse.’Kristen Stewart Bella Swan look: Hair and jacket in ‘Eclipse’
New Eclipse photos have been released by Summit Entertainment. Directed by David Slade, Eclipse stars Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, the teenage human sandwiched between the lovestruck vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and the cocky werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Eclipse opens on June 30. (Image: Kristen Stewart donning Bella Swan hair and jacket in Eclipse. Scroll down to check out the “larger” version of Stewart’s Bella.)
Kristen Stewart was recently mired in some pointless controversy following a comment in which she used the word “rape” (or rather, “raped”) to describe her experiences with rabid paparazzi. On the brighter side, for her severely depressed, adrenaline junkie Bella Swan in Chris Weitz’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Stewart was the Best Actress winner at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. Additionally, Stewart shared the Best Kiss Award with fellow New Moon player Robert Pattinson, whose life she saves in dramatic fashion. (And for her efforts, almost becomes Volturi meal.)
Eclipse is the third installment in the Twilight movie franchise, following New Moon (2009) and Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight (2008). Next in line is Breaking Dawn, the final chapter in the immensely popular franchise.
Kristen Stewart: Bella Swan hair and jacket in Eclipse
Kristen Stewart with Bella Swan hair and jacket in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse photo: Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment.
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Unbound Captives, which is supposed to star Robert Pattinson, Hugh Jackman, and Rachel Weisz, and to be directed by Madeleine Stowe, was announced about a year ago. Pattinson has since signed on to do Francis Lawrence’s Water for Elephants, which is currently being filmed in Southern California (Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz co-star), and should start filming Bill Condon’s The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn in the fall.
Nicola Peltz, who has a role in M. Night Shyamalan’s upcoming The Last Airbender, has reportedly been cast in Unbound Captives, a drama set in the old American West. Peltz will play Pattinson’s sister, with whom she grows up among the Comanches after they were kidnapped as children.
As quoted at EW.com, Peltz says that “our mom [probably Weisz] looks for us forever until we’re about fifteen. We don’t even know her when she comes by. And one—well, I can’t give you the whole thing—but one of us stays in our tribe and one of us goes back with her.”
Peltz added that filming of Unbound Captives should start “soon,” but no dates were provided.
Photo: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment)
June 10
Directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon, and starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn will be two movies, Summit Entertainment has officially announced on Thursday, June 10. Considering that Breaking Dawn is a long book, not to mention all the contractual negotiations, especially what went on between Summit and Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen) and Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen), this bit of “breaking news” should come as no surprise to anyone.
Additionally, the Twilight Saga is Summit’s fat cash cow. The more mi$k they can get out of that cow, the better. (Think Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part II.) And of course, fans will be thrilled to have more Edward, more Bella, more Jacob, more - ugh - Renesmee.
Breaking Dawn Part I will hit US theaters on November 18, 2011. According to some early reports – rumors, if you will – Part II should be released in summer 2012.
Melissa Rosenberg is currently working on the screenplay. Breaking Dawn parts I and II should begin production in the fall; the films will be shot back-to-back – or perhaps “simultaneously” might be a better description of the shooting schedule, as one assumes scenes will be shot according to locations, logistics, costs, etc.
Author Stephenie Meyer will be one of the film’s – or rather, films’ – producers.
The real announcement I’m waiting to hear has to do with Renesmee’s casting. Will they get a weird baby to play the fast-growing, mind-writing half-human, half-vampire hybrid? Or will Renesmee be a cgi creation like the werewolves? I’m hoping for the latter option. That should be really creepy.
Photo: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment)
Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen squares off against Taylor Lautner’s Jacob Black in Twilight Saga: Eclipse. This looks like a follow-up to a previously released photo featuring Pattinson, Lautner, and Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan. ()
I’m not really sure which scene this is supposed to be. The Edward vs. Jacob confrontation set in the school parking lot, which was recently seen in a clip shown at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, is totally different in terms of ambiance, lighting, and clothing.
In the novels, of course, Jacob is much bigger than Edward. He’s 6’5” or something like that. Perhaps even taller by the time Breaking Dawn comes to a close. Obviously, that’s not the case in the movie adaptations. But I think that makes Jacob a more believable match for Bella – and thus more of a threat to Edward.
Robert Pattinson was interviewed on Access Hollywood around the time Twilight came out in late 2008. Though nearly a couple of years old, the Pattinson interview is illuminating in that you can see where he was then – in terms of fame; his approach to the character of Edward Cullen – and where he’s now.
The interview has some very funny moments (“bite me!”), but I found that the most interesting things about it were the “revealing” details. For example, when Pattinson admitted to having written an “ass-kissing” e-mail to Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke, explaining how much he’d like to do the part of Edward Cullen and how he’d play it.
And that it was his audition with Kristen Stewart that opened his eyes to the way Edward should be played. Stewart remained with the franchise, but I wonder how Pattinson felt when he found out Hardwicke had been replaced in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.
Check it out, if you haven’t already.
June 14
Robert Pattinson on keeping ‘real romance alive’
June 14 update: This past weekend, Robert Pattinson, sitting next to Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, took part in a panel “discussion” at the official The Twilight Saga: Eclipse convention held in Century City, in Los Angeles’ Westside. Pattinson, Stewart, and Lautner were there on Saturday.
In the clip above, Pattinson explains that something like the Twilight Saga‘s popularity “gives you hope to think that – this is so lame – that there are still a lot of people in the world who really want to … desperately want to keep real romance alive.”
Pattinson’s remarks are followed by loud, wild, uncontrollable screaming. Perhaps that’s some people’s idea of keeping “real romance alive.” Perhaps that’s their way of agreeing with what he said: instead of applauding, they scream. Or perhaps those fans just needed any excuse they could get to vent their excitement at being in the same room with their idol.
Kristen Stewart, for her part, didn’t scream. It’s unclear whether or not she wants real romance dead, but she just fidgeted with her hair and looked very intensely at her hands. Taylor Lautner looked amused. Once again, it’s unclear whether Lautner’s amusement was a result of what Pattinson said or the loud reaction that followed.
Robert Pattinson means serious business
“I’m serious!” Pattinson exclaimed. “We live in an age where everything looks kinda lame and everybody is cynical and you see what Twilight fans [?] … You know, everybody loves this stuff because of the relationship between people that are completely in love with each other.”
Someone then hollers: “WE LOVE YOU ROB!!” More loud, wild, uncontrollable screaming follows.
Stewart says something to Pattinson at that point (“Damn, I forgot my earplugs”??), but her remark is inaudible thanks to all the screaming.
Scream fest
Lautner then says that what he has learned from this Twitastic experience is to “stay true to yourself and not let anything change who you are,” adding that Stewart and Pattinson haven’t changed a bit since the first movie. Pattinson retorts that neither has Lautner, who then exclaims, “This is a love fest in this room!”
More like a scream fest, as more loud shrieking followed that remark. Even though, one assumes, Lautner’s words were not to have been taken literally.
Whether you love, hate, or is indifferent to Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, or the Twilight books and movies, the video above is a hilarious must.
And believe it or not, this is history in the making. Two, four, ten, twenty centuries from now, if clips such as these (and human beings) are still around – not likely, but stranger things have happened… – they’ll serve as samples of popular culture and modes of behavior in the early 21st century. I’m not kidding.
‘Drive to succeed’
In the generally excellent interview seen in the clip above, Robert Pattinson explains, among other things, that he spent a lot of time on a “giant treadmill” learning how to run more “solidly” for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. (The full transcript of the Robert Pattinson interview can be found at Collider.)
The questions are hard to understand sometimes – only Pattinson has a microphone, but his answers are loud and (mostly) clear.
Pattinson laughingly says that his “drive to succeed” is his “fear of failure and an inadequacy complex,” explains he’d never find himself in Jacob’s position (as someone eager to wreck another couple’s relationship), and discusses at length the vampire Edward Cullen’s character development – his perceived “flaws” – in the Twilight Saga stories.
He also says that unlike Edward he does believe in the existence of the soul. “’A soul and a heaven must exist,’” he quotes (I don’t know who, he can’t remember who), “’because good people aren’t rewarded enough on Earth.’ [laughs] I always liked that idea.”
Edward in ‘Eclipse’: ‘A completely different character’
About working with David Slade:
“After doing the first [Catherine Hardwicke-directed] Twilight … everyone had very specific ideas and everyone was butting heads the entire time, and you can kind of feel that in the movie; it’s a different energy, with everyone – ‘This is what it’s all about.’
“And when Chris Weitz came in for New Moon, he basically came up with the opinion that he liked the first one, he liked what the actors were doing, so [he] just followed along that road.”
“And then when David came in he said, ‘I want to do everything completely different. Not like the first two.’
“We talked about the character development and the consistency from the first two. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ [David said.] ‘Let’s just do something completely different,’ which is good because then it’s challenging. It’s easy to get stagnant if you think you’re just playing the same character … On Eclipse I felt like I was doing a completely different movie and a completely different character in a lot of ways.”
Robert Pattinson drives rental cars
June 12: Robert Pattinson was the last The Twilight Saga: Eclipse star interviewee at the official Twilight Saga: Eclipse convention in Century City on Saturday morning. Daniel Fienberg live-blogged the momentous occasion at hitfix.com.
In the transcript, Pattinson talks about working with Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart, explains that David Slade “was really fighting to make it not so… what’s the word… solemn, I guess?” and that most of the fighting scenes with Bryce Dallas Howard (actually, a “stunt blonde” in Howard’s place) consisted of “rolling around and grabbing on to each other.”
Ah, most important of all: Pattinson drives “rental cars.”
Why should people go see ‘Eclipse’?
Here’s a snippet from the Robert Pattinson press conference:
12:14 p.m. Why should people go see this movie? “Why not?” He thinks for a bit. “It’s grown so big that it’s become part of the cultural environment, unless I’m just imagining it,” he thinks. He pauses, “I guess if you don’t know what the story’s about by now, you’ve probably never been to the cinema, so why not just go to the cinema for once?” On a more serious level, he praises the movie for its accessibility. He admits that after rewatching Twilight the other day, he realizes that that movie might have been a little bit less accessible.
Robert Pattinson ‘Eclipse’ wallpaper: White-faced vampire Edward Cullen.‘Eclipse’ kinkiness: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart kiss, hot Taylor Lautner gets bothered
“Doesn’t he own a shirt?” Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen asks Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan.
Edward is referring to Taylor Lautner’s Jacob Black, leaning against his car in a manner that makes him look as if he’s got a six-pack not only on his stomach, but also on his chest, arms, legs, etc.
Edward then approaches Bella and gives her a long, long, soundly wet kiss. Jacob, shirtless because of his high body temperature, attempts to avert his eyes, but…
Once the smooching is over, Bella – like a toy (or a ping pong ball) – goes from the arms of one man to those of another. More specifically, from the arms of a male vampire to those of a male werewolf.
Gothic XXX flick?
If it weren’t for the presence of Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, readers might understandably think this article is about a Gothic-themed XXX-rated movie.
Far from it. What’s described above is a PG-13-rated scene from David Slade’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third installment in the Twilight movie franchise. Check it out in the clip below.
I should add that Kristen Stewart, who has received considerable praise for her performances in films such as Adventureland and The Runaways, deserves better than the way she has been directed to play Bella. The Bella seen in the Eclipse clips desperately needs a big, deep, and painful vampire bite to bring her to life.
Melissa Rosenberg on ‘Breaking Dawn’
Melissa Rosenberg, the screenwriter on Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight, Chris Weitz’s New Moon, and the upcoming Eclipse, talked about the currently-in-the-works project Breaking Dawn – to be split in two parts, both directed by Academy Award winner Bill Condon (Best Adapted Screenplay for Gods and Monsters, 1998, which he also directed along with Kinsey, Dreamgirls).
For the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s fourth and final installment in the phenomenally popular Twilight Saga franchise, Robert Pattinson will return as Edward, Kristen Stewart as Bella (who undergoes a radical transformation about halfway into the book); and Taylor Lautner as Jacob – who becomes deeply “attached” to Edward and Bella’s child, Renesmee.
‘Different kind of story’
Melissa Rosenberg is quoted as saying at Screen Crave:
I believe it is filmable, and I believe there is a great story to be told in that. It was a very bold move, what Stephenie did and where she took her characters. … I think it lost some of the audience who wanted to continue the other things, the fantasies and the desire. Now she’s got it all, and what do you do with it? So it’s a very different kind of movie, I think, and a different kind of story. I think there’s definitely material enough for two movies in these books, but there’s also, for the first time, a little breathing room. There’s room to explore a little bit and to expand. I’m excited about that.
Twilight Saga directors have come and gone, but Rosenberg has stayed on despite the fact that the Twilight movies haven’t reaped all that much critical praise. In addition, a number of fans have complained that her first two screenplays failed to capture the spirit of Stephenie Meyer’s novels.
Robert Pattinson Eclipse image: Summit Entertainment.
Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart Eclipse clip: Summit Entertainment.
June 15
Eclipse cast members, among them Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Xavier Samuel, Dakota Fanning, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley Greene, Julia Jones, and Elizabeth Reaser, were at The Jimmy Kimmel Show on Monday, June 14. (The [bottom] clip above just shows the Eclipse stars at the taping; there’s no sound.)
“Your fans are very enthusiastic,” says host Jimmy Kimmel to Kristen Stewart, when she appeared on his show at the time Mary Stuart Masterson’s The Cake Eaters opened in March 2009. (Adventureland opened the following month.)
Talk about understating the facts. In this old (but very interesting) clip, Stewart was greeted with wild applause and (female-sounding) screams. That’s one thing that’s curious about Kristen Stewart: she seems to be much bigger among women than among men. That must be (I think…) because the Twilight Saga movies are perceived as “girl flicks.” Since Stewart is the one who has brought Bella Swan to life, girls and young women can relate to her. Those are my two bits…
In this interview, Stewart, who clearly looks uncomfortable being in the spotlight, gets to talk about her passion for the Twilight books, working with Masterson (“a role model”), the plot of The Cake Eaters, and Adventureland (“it’s kind of funny … it’s very funny, hopefully. It’s really funny. [laughs]”)
The Adventureland clip is good. Stewart is quite good in it.
Addendum: Twilight and Stewart fans, you gotta check out those movies – in addition to The Runaways, the upcoming Welcome to the Rileys, and other indies in which Stewart has been featured. You’re so numerous. You could turn those small movies into major hits. No kidding.
This The Twilight Saga: Eclipse behind-the-scenes clip was released a few days ago. The clip offers a brief but fascinating glimpse into the creation of the several sequences in Eclipse.
Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Reaser (telling the crew to stop), and Kellan Lutz are the four runners. Bryce Dallas Howard briefly runs in front of the camera.
There’s also (from different angles) the parking lot scene with Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner (notice they step on a mat of some kind); director David Slade organizing his crew; and Julia Jones’ Leah meeting with Stewart’s Bella.
It’s interesting that the wolfpack scene in the clip isn’t the same that made the final cut. The wolfpack actors had one less line, while Jacob’s line was changed as well. The one with Xavier Samuel and Jodelle Ferland’s newborn vampire sounds different, too.
Eclipse opens in the United States and about a dozen other countries on June 30. The world premiere will be held at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 24.
Jackson Rathbone is the star of this “Fight Training” clip from David Slade’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Rathbone’s cool vampire Jasper Hale takes on Kellan Lutz’s Emmett Cullen, who ends up biting the dust despite his brawn and determination.
Then Jasper observes Robert Pattinson’s Edward Cullen and Peter Facinelli’s Dr. Carlisle Cullen tackle one another while Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan and a werewolf get a close-up.
The background song is UNKLE’s “With You in My Head.”
Rathbone has had two major box office hits this summer. In addition to Eclipse, which has grossed close to $240 million in North America, Rathbone also has an important role in M. Night Shyamalan’s fantasy/adventure The Last Airbender.
Despite being massacred by critics, The Last Airbender has earned more than $100 million domestically.
Bryce Dallas Howard and Xavier Samuel are featured in this The Twilight Saga: Eclipse clip.
In the role of the vindictive vampire Victoria, who wants Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan very, very dead, Howard seduces/warns newborn vampire Riley.
The seduction takes place so Riley will do exactly what she tells him to. In that regard, Victoria is no different than femme fatales found in old film noirs.
The warning has to do with the Cullen family – that’s Robert Pattinson, and fellow Cullen Clan members Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, and Jackson Rathbone.
Several Cullen family members have “special powers” that go beyond the ability to suck people dry. Pattinson’s Edward, for instance, can read minds, while Greene’s Alice can predict the future once a decision has been made.
Directed by David Slade, and starring Pattinson, Stewart, and Taylor Lautner, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, has grossed more than $235 million domestically. It’ll cross the $250 million milestone at the North American box office within the next couple of days.
Adapted by Melissa Rosenberg from Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novel, Eclipse also features Dakota Fanning, Billy Burke, Daniel Cudmore, Anna Kendrick, Jodelle Ferland, Charlie Bewley, Gil Birmingham, Kirsten Prout, Sarah Clarke, Christian Serratos, Chaske Spencer, Booboo Stewart, Julia Jones, Michael Welch, Kiowa Gordon, Bronson Pelletier, Alex Meraz, Tyson Houseman, Cameron Bright, and Catalina Sandino Moreno.
June 16
Kristen StewartKristen Stewart Bella Swan: Breaking Dawn Split Point
Kristen Stewart, Bella Swan-Cullen in the upcoming two-part The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, told AP Television that “it’s so obvious where you break it up. It’s as soon as [Bella Swan] turns. … [Y]ou open your eyes to this different world, right? That would be amazing.”
Kristen Stewart came up with the Breaking Dawn split while she, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner were publicizing the upcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse last weekend. The cliffhanger would take place when the human Bella is transformed into a full-fledged vampire after giving birth to hybrid baby Renesmee. Pattinson’s Edward Cullen is the troublesome baby’s vampire father.
About the Twilight Saga movies, Stewart added, “This story is constantly weighing on me because it’s not done. So I can’t wait to finish it.”
Next for Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan: Eclipse
Written by Melissa Rosenberg and based on Stephenie Meyer’s fourth and last Twilight novel, both Breaking Dawn movies will be directed by Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters / Kinsey / Dreamgirls). Breaking Dawn - Part 1 is scheduled to open Nov. 18, ’11.
Other recent Kristen Stewart movies include Sean Penn’s Into the Wild, with Emile Hirsch and Hal Holbrook; Floria Sigismondi’s The Runaways, with The Twilight Saga‘s Dakota Fanning; and Jake Scott’s Welcome to the Rileys, with James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse / Bella Swan Kristen Stewart picture: Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment.
In the Los Angeles Times, Melissa Rosenberg talks with Matt Donnelly about the difficult, painful, bloody birth of Renesmee (will she be a cgi creation?) – the interspecies daughter of human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), and the object of werewolf Jacob Black’s imprinting (Taylor Lautner). in Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn.
“On the fan site, on Facebook, all the comments are, ‘It has to be R rated! You have to show the childbirth! Gore and guts and sex!’ For me it’s actually more interesting to not see it. You know, you can do childbirth without seeing childbirth. … It doesn’t mean it’s any less evocative of an experience.”
Twilight and The Twilight Saga: New Moon screenwriter Rosenberg is adapting Breaking Dawn for the screen – Oscar winner Bill Condon will direct the movie version, to be split into two parts – but the ultimate decision will eventually lie with Summit Entertainment, one assumes.
Do you believe they would want Breaking Dawn to be an R-rated movie that will potentially keep the Twilight Saga‘s millions of under-17 fans away from theaters?
Also, about Kristen Stewart, Rosenberg says: “Kristen Stewart is really, I think, tremendous. And one of the reasons why we got Bill Condon. And [New Moon‘s] Chris Weitz, for that matter; they all want to work with her.”
Robert Pattinson talks to MTV interviewer Josh Horowitz in the clip above [sorry, it’s been deleted]. Pattinson goes on to explain his various ideas for the onstage kissing performance with Kristen Stewart at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.
Pattinson and Stewart were the expected winners for the Best Kiss Award for their lip-locking in Chris Weitz’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon. When they got onstage, they did a “clumsy kissing” bit that ended with an apparently real smooch somewhere on Stewart’s face. (Pattinson had his back to the audience.)
“The idea of doing this big romantic kiss,” Pattinson says, “… like, what’s his name – Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams did. I couldn’t do that. I’d be so embarrassed. So, I was thinking I’d better do something dumb. And then … huh … Kristen didn’t want to do something dumb.”
In case Pattinson and Stewart win again next year (for this year’s The Twilight Saga: Eclipse), Pattinson worries “there are only so many variations” of what you can do onstage. Next year, if they win he apparently plans to just roll his eyes and flail his hands.
Directed by David Slade, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens in the United States and about a dozen other countries on June 30. Melissa Rosenberg adapted Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novel.
Also in the Eclipse cast: Taylor Lautner, Bryce Dallas Howard, Kellan Lutz, Xavier Samuel, Dakota Fanning, Peter Facinelli, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Ashley Greene, Elizabeth Reaser, Billy Burke, Daniel Cudmore, Anna Kendrick, and Jodelle Ferland.
Update: The original source for the video featuring Robert Pattinson promoting Eclipse has been deleted. Above [sorry, the original has also been deleted] is another Pattinson appearance on the The Tonight Show, from July 2011.
On Tuesday night, Robert Pattinson was a guest at Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show. He chatted with Leno about this and that while promoting David Slade’s upcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third installment of the Twilight franchise in which Pattinson co-stars with Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner.
The clip above doesn’t offer much movie information. Pattinson talks about his father (sitting in the audience with Pattinson’s mother) and replicates a hand-grabbing-wrist gesture that French show business icon Yves Montand made at the Oscars. (Montand sang and danced at the 1960 Academy Awards ceremony; that year, his wife, Simone Signoret, won the Best Actress Oscar for Room at the Top.)
On The Tonight Show, Pattinson also talked briefly about appearing naked in Bel Ami, in which he co-stars with Uma Thurman and Christina Ricci, and about working on Eclipse. Of late, Pattinson has been working on Francis Lawrence’s Water for Elephants, opposite Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz.
Also on The Tonight Show, Emma Roberts (Valentine’s Day) remarked that she preferred Taylor Lautner’s Jacob to Pattinson’s Edward, to which Pattinson replied, “You’ve just revealed yourself to have absolutely no taste.”
Kristen Stewart in Chris Weitz’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon
At TheWrap, Brent Lang explains how tracking Twitter users may be more reliable than more old-fashioned tracking systems such as the Hollywood Stock Exchange.
According to Bernardo Huberman, who co-authored a study about the Twitter box office effect, “If you looked at what happened with New Moon and The Blind Side, you might see the same trend. There was a lot of activity on Twitter leading up to New Moon, but the amount of negative feedback increased after the opening weekend when people saw the film. The opposite was the case with Blind Side, which saw its second-weekend numbers increase.”
In another piece, David Frankel tracks box office tracking – which has been way off lately.
Addendum: Toy Story 3 is currently “trending” – thanks to a promotional plug by Disney-Pixar. Proof of Twitter Power…
June 18
Twilight Saga screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg has assured her Facebook followers that Breaking Dawn, to be directed by Bill Condon and to be released in two parts, will indeed have the birth scene, sex scenes, feathers, and blood. Just not BUCKETS of blood (or feathers?).
“Hi y’all! Not sure where some of you got the impression I intended to leave birth scene out of Breaking Dawn, but it’s inaccurate. Of course the birth scene will be in there! And the sex scenes! And the feathers! And the blood! Perhaps you misinterpreted what I said about not needing to see BUCKETS of blood in order to convey the terror of the birth scene. But rest easy all!”
In the eLos Angeles Times, Rosenberg had been quoted as saying:
“On the fan site, on Facebook, all the comments are, ‘It has to be R rated! You have to show the childbirth! Gore and guts and sex!’ For me it’s actually more interesting to not see it. You know, you can do childbirth without seeing childbirth. … It doesn’t mean it’s any less evocative of an experience.”
Via: The Twi-Examiner.
Photo: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (Kimberley French / Summit Entertainment)
The focus of those new The Twilight Saga: Eclipse mini-clips – bits from scenes joined together for E! News – are the newborn vampire army led by the menacing Xavier Samuel and the fight scenes between good vampires and bad vampires, and between bad vampires and good werewolves.
As Jasper, the well-trained fighting vampire of the Cullen clan, Jackson Rathbone gets quite a bit of footage in this one. The clip’s last line is his: “Never lose focus.” Kellan Lutz can also be seen doing a little fighting/training, along with Peter Facinelli and even Robert Pattinson.
Kristen Stewart’s Bella is the newborn vampire’s target.
“Bella [Kristen Stewart] had been getting close to Jacob [Taylor Lautner] throughout New Moon,” Robert Pattinson explains in his introduction to this new The Twilight Saga: Eclipse clip, “Blood Is Thicker Than Water,” featuring Bella and the Cullen family (Peter Facinelli, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, and Elizabeth Reaser).
“And now they have a very strong bond,” Pattinson continues, “and Edward is still relatively resentful of that and becomes increasingly – openly resentful throughout Eclipse. But eventually he’s called upon to accept [Jacob’s] help and the rest of the wolfpack’s help to defeat Victoria’s army of newborns.”
Victoria is the vindictive vampire who wants to kill Bella Swan because Edward had killed her lover (played by Cam Gigandet in Twilight), who himself wanted to kill Bella – who is always getting herself in a jam. The powerful and deadly newborn vampire army is led by Riley (Xavier Samuel), who, at least in Stephenie Meyer’s novel, becomes Victoria’s surrogate companion. (Though both appear very briefly – albeit in crucial roles – in the novel.)
In “Blood Is Thicker Than Water,” the Cullens and Bella discuss who was the vampire sniffing about Bella’s house. A newborn? Victoria? The Volturi? When Bella says she’ll have protection at the end, guess who she means… (Clue: Edward won’t be very happy.)
Unfortunately, although I still have high hopes for the movie itself, the Twilight Saga: Eclipse clips I’ve seen so far haven’t been the greatest. Considering that David Slade is the film’s director, I’m expecting thrilling action sequences, but the human drama keeps falling flat.
As in his two previous clips – the two confrontation scenes between Edward and Jacob – Robert Pattinson delivers the most believable performance in “Blood Is Thicker Than Water,” though Peter Facinelli is fine as well. (Admittedly, most of the other performers get to say half a line.)
Kristen Stewart’s Bella, however, seems quite stilted. In fact, I much prefer Stewart’s performance showing her middle finger to paparazzi – and I still think she’d be really good in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
I’ve mentioned before that it’d be great if her Bella in Eclipse had a little Joan Jett in her. After all, in Stephenie Meyer’s book Bella can be quite decisive when it comes to danger, among other things. But clearly the powers-that-be have opted to have Stewart play Bella as your usual soap-opera teen.
Hopefully things will be different in Breaking Dawn. Bill Condon will be handling the actors, and Stewart’s Bella will become a powerful vampire. Maybe then we’ll get to see some of the actress’ underused edgy side.
Robert Pattinson is the focus of this Twilight Saga: Eclipse poster. Pattinson’s Edward Cullen is at the center, surrounded by his fellow vampires: Nikki Reed’s Rosalie and Ashley Greene’s Alice to the left; Kellan Lutz’s Emmett to his right.
Further back, between Pattinson and Lutz, are, from left to right, Peter Facinelli’s Carlisle, Elizabeth Reaser’s Esme, and Jackson Rathbone’s Jasper. Every vampire on the poster belongs to the Cullen family.
Among the other “undead” in Eclipse is Xavier Samuel’s Riley, a newborn vampire created by Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), a nasty, redheaded vampire out to kill and torture the human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart).
Riley and Victoria make very brief appearances in Stephenie Meyer’s novel, but it seems like their roles in the movie will be considerably larger.
Co-starring Taylor Lautner and directed by David Slade, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens in the United States and about a dozen other countries on June 30. Melissa Rosenberg adapted Meyer’s novel.
Also in the Eclipse cast: Dakota Fanning, Billy Burke, Daniel Cudmore, Anna Kendrick, and Jodelle Ferland.
Image: Summit Entertainment
June 19
The most amazing thing about this video clip showing Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner being interviewed in Italy as part of their international Twilight Saga: Eclipse promotional tour is that the hostess/interviewer actually feels the need to tell the screaming crowd: “A little more enthusiasm!”
Kristen Stewart, as usual, looks like she’d rather be somewhere else. Anywhere else. Taylor Lautner, as usual, is all smiles and seems to be enjoying himself tremendously.
“Buona sera, benvenuta. Come va?” Translation delay. “We’re really great!” says Stewart. Quick translation: “Benissimo!” [Screams. AAAAAAaaaaaaaah.]
Lautner then says “I’m doing fantastic.” [More screams. AAAAAAaaaaaaaah.]
(I find it fascinating that no matter where you go, the screams are always the same. You never hear an EEEEEeeeeeeehhhhhh or a WEEEeeeeeeeehhhhh. I’d say that proves human beings’ primeval nature fully transcends language and cultural barriers on certain occasions.)
My favorite remark:
Answering the interviewer’s question about what she remembers about her visit to the Rome Film Festival to promote Twilight two years ago (and the difference between then and now), Stewart says: “I have to say that out of everywhere we’ve gone, you guys have been – huh, and this I mean in the most positive way – the loudest.”
The Italian audience answers with a “più rumorose” AAAAAaaaaaahhhhh.
At that point, the interviewer didn’t feel the need to ask for more enthusiasm, explaining instead that the sage Madonna (the singer, not the saint) once said, “Italians do it better, even the loud.”
Later on, Kristen Stewart starts to answer a question but is prevented from going on by more loud screaming. By then, the hostess has clearly decided the crowd has displayed more than enough enthusiasm. “She hasn’t even said anything!” she tells them.
Those clips should be preserved for all posterity. They’re wonderful anthropological studies. And I mean that in the most positive way.
Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner at the Twilight Saga: Eclipse international promo tour in Italy, part II. (Robert Pattinson is nowhere in sight because he’s apparently still busy with Water for Elephants back in California.)
The same hostess/interviewer who had asked her audience to sound more enthusiastic at the beginning of the previous Lautner-Stewart Italian foray clip is now telling them to shut up. “Girls, let him talk!” as wild screaming preceded Lautner’s answer.
Lautner starts laughing, before telling everyone that “I’d love for someone to say that I’m like Jacob.”
Stewart, for her part, says: “I don’t know how dark Breaking Dawn can go, it gets pretty undeniably magical at that point, which is what we fight so hard for it to get and the fight definitely happens in Eclipse.”
As for Stephenie Meyer, Stewart explains that the Twilight Saga author used to feel uncomfortable being around the set, but now “she’s gotten much more involved,” adding that Meyer’s approval “is the ultimate validation.”
One interesting bit of information: Meyer changed the blocking of the Jacob-Bella kiss (“she taught us to kiss,” says Lautner) to match what she had imagined while writing Eclipse.
Answering a question from an audience member about what he’d do in real life if he were in Jacob’s shoes, Taylor Lautner replies: “There’s only so much you can do, sadly. And I think Jacob does about that. So, I wouldn’t change a thing. I love Jacob’s persistence. And I love how much he goes after what he wants. And I love … how hard he fights for Bella. So, if I were in that position, I’d do the same exact thing as Jacob.”
Robert Pattinson, busy with Water for Elephants in California, couldn’t provide an answer regarding life without Edward Cullen. But Kristen Stewart offered a lengthy explanation on life with and without Bella Swan:
“It’s gonna be weird to not be able to play her anymore. I mean, I’ve [played Bella] for the last … [three years]. I was 17 – since I was 17; I’m 20 now. The story has been hanging over me for, like, so long. There’re so many points in every one of the books, but I guess now I’m facing Breaking Dawn and I set and fantasize about it. It’s taking way too long to get it out. So on one hand I’m very excited to be able to tell the story and have it not stress me out anymore – in the best way – but at the same time it’s going to be weird to just be done. It’s gonna take a long time for me to know that I’m never gonna get the chance to make it better and keep working to make it [sigh] good for you guys.” [Lautner laughs]
Stewart shakes her head after she’s done talking. It’s as if she’s not too happy with how she expressed herself. While talking, she hardly ever looked up, maintaining her eyes focused on the floor.
“Taylor, your life without Jacob, how will it be?”
“Huh, weird. And sad, definitely. That’ll be a very sad day. But luckily – let’s think of the positive here. We’ve two more movies to film and I’m definitely looking forward to reuniting with all our friends and filming those two. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Director “friends” keep missing out on those reunions. Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) was replaced by Chris Weitz (New Moon) who was replaced by David Slade (Eclipse) who’s being replaced by Bill Condon (Breaking Dawn parts I and II).
In part IV of this Twilight Saga: Eclipse Italian q&a, a young fan asks Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner what is their favorite scene in Eclipse. (Robert Pattinson was in California working on Francis Lawrence’s Water for Elephants.)
The young woman, in tears because “to talk to you two is an honor,” also asks if it’d be possible for her to get an autograph. The interviewer/hostess says that she’s sorry, but that would not be possible because there are too many in the audience who would like an autograph.
Kristen Stewart is the first to answer:
“My favorite scene, just because it’s so different to any moment that ever happens in the whole series is when Bella finally kisses Jacob. [Screams] Just as much, my other favorite scene is the one that comes right after that, which is talking to Edward. You know, it’s a little awkward. He just saw me kiss [dramatic pause] Jacob and I love how they – it’s weird. But I love how it changes their relationship. Suddenly they’re not just blindly in love with each other. She’s actually seen something else and she’s choosing him. [To Lautner] Sorry.
“But it makes so she chooses Edward. She doesn’t need him. I think that’s so important. In the first one, I love it that’s it’s so “fantasy love,” crazy, like, ideal perfection, but at some point she has to actually know him and choose him and feel like, you know, it’s her choice. It’s not like she’s bound by something greater than her. She’s taking the control, which I like.”
The interviewer then tells the audience that Taylor Lautner will answer the last question of the q&a: his favorite scene – “and who knows, he may say it includes the one in which he kisses Bella.”
Lautner then says that his favorite scene is the tent scene in which Jacob, Edward, and Bella are together “just because it’s so tense and yet so funny because of the situation.”
The loud screaming during the Italian translation comes right when the translator says that Lautner’s favorite moment in Eclipse is the “tent scene.”
Why do I think they’re screaming not because of the “tension” or the “hilariousness” found in that sequence?
Then Lautner kindly announces that the girl who asked that question should get an autograph. Clearly, they’d been told about her request.
And thus we get a happy ending just like in the movies.
June 21
Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart pose for the cameras in Berlin, where they’ve been promoting The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. For obvious reasons, the clip above offers no information about the making of Eclipse or New Moon or Twilight or Breaking Dawn, but it’s fascinating nonetheless.
You get to see the pressure – the absurd madness – major movie stars have to endure while plugging their films. I’ve seen guys herding cattle treating their cows and oxen with more respect.
Robert Pattinson missed out on all the fun because he has been working on Water for Elephants in California. As everyone should know by now, Francis Lawrence is the director of this period drama co-starring Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz.
What Robert Pattinson is missing
This is what Robert Pattinson is missing. Pattinson, currently busy in the Los Angeles area filming Water for Elephants with Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, was unable to accompany Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner in their tour of several key movie markets to promote their upcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Lautner and Stewart were recently in Australia, where Stewart caused a sensation by smoking and by flipping off the paparazzi. In the clip above, Lautner looks happy and smiley as the fans scream when they get to see Jacob Black. Stewart looks like she’d rather be somewhere else. Anywhereelse.
Well, Stewart will be somewhere quiet and low-key this coming weekend: the 2010 MTV Movie Awards in Universal City (that’s just north of downtown Los Angeles), where she’ll be accompanied by both Lautner and Pattinson to present a New Eclipse Clip. (Say that three times really fast.)
Correction: The Twilight Convention in Century City (on Los Angeles’ Westside) will be held Jun 11–13, the weekend following the MTV Awards.
Directed by David Slade, Eclipse opens in the US and a number of other countries on June 30.
