'Twilight' fans mingle with stars at film screening

SALT LAKE CITY — The third installment of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" saga hits theaters June 30, and to prepare, eager fans gathered at Fairmont Park on Saturday for an outdoor screening of the first two movies in the series.

It wasn't the inflatable movie screens, however, that "Twilight" lovers went crazy for — it was the special appearances by Volturi vampire Demetri (Charlie Bewley) and sole female werewolf Leah Clearwater (Julia Jones).

Among the cheering fans was Payton Raynor, 13, who said she's had tickets to "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" since last November.

"I'm excited to see more of the cast," Raynor said, "and I think it's fun to meet people that liked the movie."

Also at Fairmont Park was TwilightMOMS member Kirsten Wright, who said it was the romance of the books that first intrigued her but the friendships that keep her involved with "Twilight" events.

"The appeal was the romance. I like the way Stephenie Meyer moved away from traditional vampires," Wright said. "It started with the books and has moved on to the movies because they're fun, and a lot of us are still here because we are all friends now."

Bewley and Jones, who were on a "premiere comedown" after the Los Angeles opening of the "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" on Thursday, said it's been a whirlwind, but one they are glad to be part of.

"It's all very fun and exciting," Jones said. "It takes a lot out of you, because sometimes it seems like you can never give them enough. It seems insatiable sometimes, but being part of this is awesome, and it's a gift, and it's an incredible life experience."

Devoted fans have become synonymous with the "Twilight" franchise, and no matter how big the star, it's almost a guarantee there will be a massive crowd surrounding anyone involved.

Bewley said his first brush with the crazed world of "Twilight" fans was while filming "Twilight Saga: New Moon" in a rustic Tuscan village, where 5,000 girls lined the narrow streets.

"There were girls climbing over each other to get one yard closer to Rob (Pattinson) or Kristin's (Stewart) car, and it's like, what would you do if you actually got closer to them?" Bewley said.

He got the answer to his question shortly after.

"When I first got revealed, essentially, because I walked around fairly anonymous for most the time, I was just, like, engulfed," Bewley said. "They were ripping the clothes off my body. It was insane."

Since then, Bewley said the instant-access social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook provide for fans of the series has given him a firsthand look at the insanity surrounding the cast.