Magazine Scans: 2009-08-07 Entertainment Weekly

Entertainment Weekly gives 20 Greatest Vampires of All Time and guess who ranked amongst them.  Our Edward of course!  Thanks to My Robert Pattinson for the scans.

Magazine Scan: 2009-08-07 Star Systeme

Here’s the latest Star Systeme out of Quebec (Thanks to Isabelle) The headline this week:  He’s obsessed by her. Robert wants to win Kristen back. He regrets his affair with Emilie.

Magazine Scan: 2009-08-10 Who Magazine

Australian based Who Magazine gives us this Twilight Special on Rob, Kristen and the Secrets of New Moon.  Thanks to alykona at team_kbitch

Twilight Inspired Birthday Cards

Hallmark has begun it’s release of Twilight Merchandise with a few Edward, Bella and Jacob inspired Birthday Cards.  Thanks to E!Online we have these screencaps.

Hallmark has already begun unveiling its awesomely campy new line of Twilight-inspired cards. New birthday greeters, featuring the likenesses of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and friends, will continue to make their way into stores through September.

But wishing pals and loved ones another year of life (a “big deal” and “rite of passage” if you’re a human, as the cards say) isn’t all the trinket dealer is selling.

The holiday helpers are also releasing seasonal creations for Halloween and Valentine’s Day.

And better yet, many of the greetings don’t just come with a dreamy picture of Pattz. They also have detachable bookmarks, sheets of stickers and built-in music makers that play—what else?—clips from the Twilight soundtrack.

Because a glimpse of Edward beats flowers, chocolates and jewelry any day.

New Statement from Summit on Rachelle’s Release from Eclipse

Summit has issued the following statement in response to Rachelle Lefevre’s own response (Read here) to her release from the Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

We at Summit Entertainment are disappointed by Ms. Lefevre’s recent comments which attempt to make her career choices the fault of the Studio. Her decision to discuss her version of the scheduling challenges publicly has forced the Studio to set the record straight and correct the facts.

- Ms. Lafevre’s representatives were advised as early as April that THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE was expected to start shooting in early August.

- If Ms. Lefevre was, as she describes “passionate,” about being part of THE TWILIGHT SAGA, we feel that she and her representatives would have included us in her decision to work on another film that would conflict with the shooting schedule of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE .

- It was not until July 20th that we were first informed of her commitment to BARNEY’S VERSION, a commitment we have since been advised she accepted in early June. Summit had acted in good faith that she would be available to fulfill her obligations both in terms of rehearsals and shooting availability for THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE. We feel that her choice to withhold her scheduling conflict information from us can be viewed as a lack of cooperative spirit which affected the entire production.

- Furthermore Ms. Lefevre took a role in the other film that places her in Europe during the required rehearsal time, and at least ten days of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE’s principal photography. This period is essential for both rehearsal time with the cast, and for filming at key locations that are only available during the initial part of production.

- Contrary to Ms. Lefevre’s statement, it is simply untrue that the Studio dismissed her over a ten day overlap. It is not about a ten day overlap but instead about the fact that THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE is an ensemble production that has to accommodate the schedules of numerous actors while respecting the established creative vision of the filmmakers and most importantly the story.

The fact remains that Ms. Lefevre’s commitment to the other project – which she chose to withhold from Summit until the last possible moment – makes her unfortunately unavailable to perform the role of Victoria in THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE.

Thanks to Twilight Source

12 Minutes 49 Seconds with Chris Weitz, Director of New Moon

Time has posted an interview with Chris Weitz.  He talks on the post-production New Moon and the chemistry on set between the actors.

12 Minutes 49 Seconds with Chris Weitz, Director of New Moon
Posted by Lev Grossman

I grabbed a quick interview with Chris Weitz on Thursday afternoon at Comic-Con. It almost didn’t happen, because I had a signing right before it, which ran over (and which mostly consisted of me watching Jacqueline Carey and Patrick Rothfuss signing books for fangirls anyway. But you know, dedication to the craft and all). Then Weitz was staying at the Hard Rock, where the elevators require that you have a guest pass, which I didn’t have … so yeah, I was late.

But he was very mellow about it. We talked about Twilight fandom and the lessons of Golden Compass and Weitz’s natural estrogen levels. But we will begin in medias res with a chat about the Twilight panel from that morning…

Chris Weitz: It was this crazy thing, which everybody was kind of warning us about. 7,000 Twilight fans in a room screaming for Rob.

Me: It’s an uncanny sound. I think only teenage girls can make that sound.

That high, keening noise.

It’s like Beatlemania.

That’s the only thing I can think of, the Beatles. You see old footage of that type of thing. It happened in Montepulciano, when we were shooting there. It was like The Birds, but with young girls. You’d turn a corner and there would be one or two or three. And the next time you looked there would be 10, 20, 50, 100.

Then before you know it gas stations are exploding.

Exactly. I think basically the panel today would have worked perfectly for the fans if it had just been us sitting there, and they could just look at Rob and Taylor. Maybe Rob and Taylor would move a little.

Taylor seems the most comfortable with this level of scrutiny. He doesn’t squirm as much.

It’s funny. In a way he’s the least prepared for the intense scrutiny, but he’s very balanced about it. Whereas I think Rob and Kristen are very sheepish about it. Not that they don’t appreciate it. But they’re thrown a bit by it.

They just seem very human about it. I mean, who would not be freaked out by that?

If you enjoyed it too much it would be weird. It would mean you were addicted to that kind of adulation. The thing is, there’s so much love coming towards you, but you can’t really tell whether it’s towards the characters or the actors themselves, or towards an image in the media. and that’s strange.

I guess I should ask you about the actual movie. How done is it?

It’s pretty done. It has to be done. It has to come out on November 20. Which means we sort of have to hand it over October 30. Which means the picture has to lock August 30. And so in a few weeks it’ll be locked, the visual effects are in good shape, all the R&D on the more complicated, more ephemeral effects is being completed.

How weird was it, stepping into somebody else’s franchise?

It was a bit odd at first. But then again it’s pretty amazing to have a huge fan base just dropped into your lap. And it was a pleasure to be able to deliver faithfully on a book. With Golden Compass I felt that by being faithful to the book I was working at odds with the studio. But Summit understands that it’s Stephenie Meyer’s world, and really it’s about recreating the experience the reader has, in some kind of faithful manner. Creating a picture that doesn’t violate too badly the picture they have in their minds.

Was there technical stuff that you learned on Golden Compass that was useful here?

There was, yeah. It was really CGI boot camp. That was over 2000 special effects, and each one went through 200 or more iterations of, you know, what the talking ferret was doing at that point. Now to do werewolves and so forth is frankly no biggie. I mean, you still have to get things right, and take care of the process, but the bizarre things that you do — like, now we’re going to go check the DPX files, and oh, we’re going to have a CineSync with Tippett, cause they just uploaded the files to the FTP server — that kind of stuff is now, yeah, OK, we’re going to do that. Whereas the first time around I was like, what? We’re doing what? What are you talking about?

The effects really did look good in Golden Compass.

That is the most successful element of it, I think. The effects were beautiful and elegant. I’m really keen on settling down the special effects into the world around them, rather than trying to blow anyone away. That’s something I’m a stickler about.

How closely did you follow the look-and-feel of the first movie in New Moon? Did you want to make it your own? Or do a seemless transition?

I think there’s a balance possible. I do want to make it my own, and I’m not really interesting in tweaking the world in the digital intermediate so that it gets this kind of blue gloss which the first movie had. I’m much more interested in having a fuller palate, and a richer palate. And we’re able to shoot some scenes in sunlight, eventually, which is really kind of nice. And to shoot interior scenes that have a kind of rounded glow to them, like the Volturi … bad-guy headquarters, for want of a better term.

The footage today looked great, and there wasn’t even any FX in it.

Not that you would notice. There’s little stuff like, everytime you see Edward as an apparition he’s been shot against a green screen and then taken out of the picture, and then treated and put back in. So you do a lot of work just to make it seem like he’s sort of there. And then there’s a lot of wire removal and stuff that you don’t notice.

I hope there’s sparkling in this one.

There will be lots of sparkling.

Is it weird to be a guy directing Twilight? Since it’s a franchise that’s considered more for … the ladies?

I think at first it was odd for the fans when I came on board. There was a question of whether I was going to kind of try to bring some amped up macho mentality … I wouldn’t even know how to do that. I think I’m pretty fem. I have a lot of estrogen.

At first Stephenie was a bit surprised that I had been brought out as a first choice. But we met and chatted and it all worked really well.

Is she going to have a cameo in this movie?

She’s not. But now I feel bad about it — as though I intended not to. But I had kind of forgotten that she had a cameo in the first one, and she never asked, she’s very quiet and gracious about it. I don’t know if she wanted to or not. I probably should have.

I liked the vibe between Bella and Jacob. It felt real, but also different from the way she interacts with Edward.

Taylor’s very much like the character, tremendously sunny and upbeat. And Kristen is very protective of Taylor, actually. He’s 17 now, and Kristen’s been working since Panic Room if not before that. She wanted to make sure Taylor was protected from the world, and that works perfectly with the dynamic of the book.

I have to say, his torso in the clip you showed today was unlike any human torso I have ever seen.

It’s pretty astonishing. He did work very very hard.

Was that CGI?

I swear to God, it was all his hard work.

Rachelle Responds to the Announcement of her Replacement

Rachelle has responded to Summits Announcement of her replacement in the Eclipse.

Here is Rachelle’s statement that was posted on Access Hollywood

Summit Entertainment announced the replacement of “Twilight Saga” star Rachelle Lefevre in the series’ third film, “Eclipse,” on Tuesday night – and fans weren’t the only ones surprised by the news — Rachelle was shocked as well!

“I was stunned by Summit’s decision to recast the role of Victoria for ‘Eclipse,’” Rachelle said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

On Tuesday, Summit announced that Bryce Dallas Howard would be taking on the role in “Eclipse,” due in May 2010.

“I was fully committed to the ‘Twilight’ saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria,” Rachelle continued, explaining the turn of events that led to the casting change. “I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules. My commitment to ‘Barney’s Version’ is only ten days. Summit picked up my option for ‘Eclipse.’ Although the production schedule for ‘Eclipse’ is over three months long, Summit said they had a conflict during those ten days and would not accommodate me. Given the length of filming for ‘Eclipse,’ never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10 day overlap. I was happy with my contract with Summit and was fully prepared to continue to honor it. Summit chose simply to recast the part.”

The star concluded her statement with a regretful tone.

“I am greatly saddened that I will not get to complete my portrayal of Victoria for the ‘Twilight’ audience. This is a story, a theatrical journey and a character that I truly love and about which I am very passionate. I will be forever grateful to the fan support and loyalty I’ve received since being cast for this role, and I am hurt deeply by Summit’s surprising decision to move on without me. I wish the cast and crew of ‘Eclipse’ only the very best,” she said.

Rachelle will appear in the series’ next film, “New Moon,” due Nov. 20.

If you’d like to show your support for Rachelle petitions on her behalf have been set up here and here.

“Unbound Captives” Casting News

Garret-Dillahunt.net is reporting that the actor Garret Dillahunt has been cast in the role of Jack Dearborn brother to Tom Dearborn being portrayed by Hugh Jackman.

The third film, still a few months away, is Unbound Captives, a western drama/romance/epic set in the 1860s, written by Madeleine Stowe, who is also attached to direct it. (Interesting story about that here.)

The film is expected to start shooting toward the end of the year on locations in New Zealand and New Mexico. The story follows a woman named May (Rachel Weisz), whose two children are kidnapped and husband killed by the Comanche. She is rescued by a frontiersman, Tom Dearborn (Hugh Jackman), who later helps her search for the kids. Garret will play Jackman’s brother Jack and Robert Pattinson (Little Ashes, Twilight) has been cast as May’s son Phineas. John Toll (Braveheart, The Thin Red Line) will be the cinematographer. Producer Ashok Amritraj recently told the Deccan Herald that they are targeting an early 2011 release date.

Thanks to RobPattzNews

There’s a new Victoria for Eclipse

Summit has released the following announcement that Victoria will no longer be portrayed by Rachelle Lefever but by Bryce Dallas Howard.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA ADDS ACTRESS BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD TO FILM FRANCHISE

Actress Rachelle Lefevre Will Be Replaced By Howard In The Role Of Victoria

Los Angeles — July 28, 2009 — Summit Entertainment announced today that Bryce Dallas Howard will take over the role of “Victoria” in the studio’s upcoming production of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE. Actress, Rachelle Lefevre, who portrayed the character in TWILIGHT as well as the upcoming release of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, will not continue in the role due to scheduling conflicts with another commitment the actor has made. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE will start filming in Vancouver this coming August.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, the third film in the studio’s TWILIGHT film franchise based on Stephenie Meyer’s blockbuster book series, will be directed by David Slade from a screenplay written by Melissa Rosenberg. The film will be released theatrically in North America on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.

“We are incredibly happy that Bryce has agreed to come into the franchise,” said Erik Feig, Summit’s President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions. “Rachelle brought “Victoria” to great screen life and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character. The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role.”

Howard most recently starred in TERMINATOR SALVATION as Kate Connor and has been seen in SPIDER-MAN 3, LADY IN THE WATER, and THE VILLAGE. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her leading performance as an actress in the HBO film AS YOU LIKE IT.

In THE TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob—knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella is confronted with the most important decision of her life.

Top Ten New Moon Facts Revealed at Comic-Con

Rotten Tomatoes has a Recap on the recent Comic-Con New Moon reveal.  Here’s their top 10 Revealed Facts.

Having read the books, visited the set, and devoured everything the internet already contained regarding The Twilight Saga: New Moon, you’d think there’d be little left for a Twilight fan to learn. Thankfully, you’d be wrong. As we found while tracking New Moon’s cast and director through last weekend’s Comic-Con appearances, the New Moon publicity machine is chugging as smoothly as Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner’s bare chests — two things which made our list of the Top Ten New Moon Facts Revealed at Comic-Con

1. Summit Entertainment knows its audience, evidenced by the two scenes they brought to Comic-Con. Whether you’re Team Edward or Team Jacob, there was a shirtless scene for you. Who wanted to see the birthday party scene or the cliff diving scene, when they could get their first peek at Jacob Black hopping valiantly off a bike to strip naked to tend to an almost-drooling Bella? Or watch as Bella raced across Volterra in vain as Edward opened his shirt, stepping into the sunlight? It was such an amazing sight, Bella started running in slow motion.

2. Director Chris Weitz will use a lot of dialogue straight from the book. This was one of the biggest points of contention with the first Twilight, into which screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg had written quotes directly from Meyer’s text — with varying results. (”And so the lion fell in love with the lamb,” to which non-fans groaned inwardly.) In both scenes shown at Comic-Con, the majority of dialogue was taken from the pages of New Moon and filmed quite closely to what we imagined.

3. Taylor Lautner is the press-friendly celebrity star that New Moon needed. Compared to his co-stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, Lautner has just the right youthful vigor and enthusiasm (read: he’s not jaded yet) to turn Twilight press events into, well, downright energetic press events. Deposited between Stewart and Pattinson in Thursday’s early morning press conference, Lautner picked up the slack whenever his co-stars trailed off; the kid’s been well prepared. I mean, have you seen that Sharkboy-era dancing video?

4. Kristen Stewart knows that Bella is a head case in New Moon. Critics who thought Bella was unhealthily dependent on Edward in the first Twilight film, or even that his behavior was borderline stalker-ish, will likely seize on her obvious psychological issues in the sequel. When those criticisms come, Stewart’s fully prepared. “This is a severely emotional movie,” she told journalists. “That’s the one big difference. This movie is not about discovery or falling in love, which is sort of just an intense emotion, but this is low and there high points for her, too. She’s a manic depressive, basically.”

5. A year later, Kristen Stewart’s life is just as crazy and her answers just as wry as they were during Twilight. The build-up to the first Twilight film transformed its stars’ lives into a constant media circus, with fans even stampeding a mall just to see Pattinson. Asked if life was any different with the sequel on the horizon, Lautner said now he was “really, really busy” and Pattinson noted that he walks down the street hoping not to be noticed. Stewart deadpanned that her only life change was the stylistic kind: “I cut my hair off.”

6. The New Moon kids like it when their characters suffer. Asked which scene in New Moon was their favorite, each star picked one in which their characters broke up with each other. “I walk her up to her door and say goodbye to her and I’m going off to fight in the woods and she’s worried,” Lautner answered. “She’s scared for me. I thought that it was kind of cute, but I also like the breakup scene.”

“That’s my favorite scene in the movie,” Stewart said, her face lighting up. “We call it a breakup scene because he basically tells her that they can’t be friends anymore and he’s transforming. If you ever, ever treated me like that you would kill me.”

And Pattinson’s favorite scene? “I think my breakup scene was my favorite scene,” he said. “I mean, hopefully it’ll come off as having quite a few more levels than the relationship in Twilight. It was interesting. It was like a five page long dialogue scene. That didn’t happen at all in the first one and it’s quite an interesting little moment. It completely bypasses all the supernatural elements of the story as well, which I found quite interesting.”

7. Kristen Stewart can’t wait to have Rob Pattinson’s baby! (Just kidding.) When asked what scene she’s most looking forward to filming over the course of Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, Stewart let out a spoiler of sorts. “I can’t wait to get pregnant!” Stewart joked, referring to her character’s storyline. Pattinson’s response: “I can’t wait to perform the Cesarian.” Taylor’s most anticipated scene? The one where he gets to strip naked and cuddle with Bella in a sleeping bag, naturally

8. If you post a New Moon reaction video to YouTube, Chris Weitz is probably watching it right now. During the panel discussion, Weitz revealed that he and the editing crew have watched many of your screaming, breathless fan reaction videos. He’s even thinking of making a reaction video to the reaction videos!

9. Twilight fanaticism was as strong as ever this year. While nothing could top the ear-piercing and unexpected sounds of thousands of girls at the Twilight panel last year — where fan boy culture’s hold on the Con was hijacked by a vampire romance, of all things — 2009 sure came close. And Twilighters were better prepared for the challenge of getting a coveted seat in Hall H for Thursday’s panel; a few fans camped out a full two days ahead, and by Wednesday morning, Twihards were Twittering from the line.

10. The anti-Twilight backlash finally has a name! You know your favorite fantasy property has really made it when entire Comic-Con costumes are created just to complain about it (i.e. the mostly-male Con attendees sporting “Twilight Ruined Comic-Con” signs).

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