Twilight zone: Crowds turn out for vampire saga stars
Never underestimate the love the Beehive State has for the Twilight phenomenon. In fact, there's evidence to suggest that Utah's passion for LDS author Stephenie Meyer's best-selling, gothic romance tales may rival that shared between the two lead characters, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen.
How else could you explain so many "Twi-hards" braving a cold, snowy fall storm just to get a glimpse of two of the stars from the newest movie spawned by Meyer's Twilight saga, "New Moon."
Stranger still, the stars who were at Fashion Place mall in Murray for a signing appearance weren't Robert Pattinson (Edward), Kristen Stewart (Bella) or even Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black). They were actually — gasp! — two of the villains in the new movie.
Actors Jamie Campbell Bower and Edi Gathegi, who play villainous vampires Caius and Laurent, respectively, were in town to sign memorabilia and greet their adoring fans.
As Bower observed, "people keep thinking that eventually this Twilight madness will die down, but it just keeps going and going and getting bigger and bigger."
He also says that interacting with the fans, "definitely makes it all worthwhile. That, and the paycheck."
Hi co-star, Gathegi, agreed, and noted that the supposed Twi-hard fan base is getting more and more diverse.
"At first, all you'd see were younger girls, but now there are just as many guys and older women at these things. It's universal," he said.
Those in attendance for the events Saturday afternoon and evening included 500 fans with wristbands that allowed them to get autographs from the two actors at Fashion Place's Hot Topic store location.
(Another 75 VIPs got to have their pictures taken earlier in the day.)
Among the autograph seekers was Tina Powell of West Jordan, who camped out overnight with her daughter to get a good position in the signing line.
"I'm not crazy and I'm not in therapy," Powell laughed. "I'm just a very enthusiastic fan of the books."
And as far as any disappointment about which stars showed up in Utah, Payson resident Cecilia Gonzalez said, "It doesn't matter.
"We're just here to get our hands on them," she joked.
Still, Bower seemed a little taken aback by the enthusiasm. After all, his character wasn't even in the first "Twilight" movie.
"I certainly hope I don't disappoint anyone," he said.
But Bower did appear in Tim Burton's adaptation of "Sweeney Todd," which happens to be Tooele resident Victoria Morgas' favorite film.
"And now he's in 'New Moon.' He's my new favorite," Morgas said. (Bower will also be seen in another fantasy movie series, as Gellert Grindewald in the next two Harry Potter films.)
Recent comments
Just because some list someplace says a book is a "Best Seller" does...
What is a "Best Seller"? | Nov. 15, 2009 at 2:05 p.m.
Hopefully, more and more people from big movies will come and visit...
rdha | Nov. 15, 2009 at 8:11 a.m.
If I dressed like these "stars" did, Id have to kick my own butt
Steveo | Nov. 14, 2009 at 7:47 p.m.
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...



