Kristen sweetly waved to us, was very smiley if a little tired – after such an epic round of promotion, it’s hardly surprising – and chatted away with Regis and Kelly about shooting New Moon.

They asked how she’s dealing with attention and especially the committed fans, which I almost took as my cue to whoop… but refrained myself as she answered “it’s amazing to be a part of something that people want to see – I’ll never be able to do anything like this again - ever!”

When they went to commercial, she quickly took a TwitPic with Kelly, who asked her where her boots are from, to which she replied “Um - Barneys… I think?” - that girl doesn’t style herself  and I heart her for it. Trust.

Then  she came over to the audience, happily signing books, magazines and photos, getting to as many people before being directed back to her chair. Sadly, in my attempt to not OD on girl-crush overload, I’d not brought anything to have signed – the most epic of fails.

The funniest moment came when they showed the “birthday scene” clip from New Moon – I watched her as they played it in front of Kristen, jigging in her seat, pulling a somewhat serious and scrutinizing face as she tried to shrug it off to Kelly explaining “this is a really big moment in the movie” before jokingly clutching at her face (think Home Alone) and gasping a mock “oh no!” as Bella gets the paper cut. Regis exclaimed “it’s like ringing a dinner bell!” as Jasper goes to lunge.

As soon as she was finished, Kristen was whisked out the door, waving and shyly smiling as she went – and then… we were told Ashley Greene was going to be pre-recording today too!

Ashley peeked around the corner and squeals of excitement erupted before Regis and Kelly introduced her and she strode on out. In a hot pink floaty mini-dress and peep-toe platforms with her newly extended long locks in shiny loose curls – too beautiful!

She chatted away with Regis and Kelly about how she got the role of Alice – having originally auditioned for Bella and being called back five times because the director saw something she liked – before which she was waitressing… or, more accurately, “reading the Twilight Saga whilst at her waitressing job”.

I only wish Anna Kendrick had turned up to complete the girl crush Twi-fecta – I may not survive the Kristen-a-thon of movies that are being released this spring – from Welcome to the Rileys, The Yellow Handkerchief and the (slightly too badass) The Runaways - I’m going to have to subject myself to a viewing (or five) of Remember Me just to balance out *sigh* a girl’s gotta do…!

Next week(ish), a Remember Me special - including photos from my trip to the set! That is, of course, unless I happen to stumble across Bel Ami filming around the corner in London ;)

Epic shout out to the awesome TwiSoup who photo-tagged my pics (Fooooooorks!) Edward <3s you! ]]> KStew, NYC, Morning TV & Me - Pics & Report (Fan-Girling Ensues) http://www.t5m.com/lorabell/kstew-nyc-morning-tv-me-pics-report-fan-girling-ensues.html/feed http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/twilight-in-2009-a-year-never-to-forget.html http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/twilight-in-2009-a-year-never-to-forget.html#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:48:09 +0000 http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/twilight-in-2009-a-year-never-to-forget.html part one and part two Daniel Cudmore Gil Birmingham Oliver Irving, director, How to Be Ok GO (New Moon soundtrack) Hurricane Bells (New Moon soundtrack) Blue Foundation (Twilight soundtrack) The makers of Bella's cake (shame for the deleted scene that showcases this gorgeous cake) This year has had me spun up, but as we enter a new decade, I find myself in a new place. My top isn't spinning as voraciously; instead, as a seasoned Twilighter, I can navigate my worlds much more clearly. The anticipation of New Moon had me combing, scouring every bit of information on the net about what was to come. Spoilers meant nothing to me; they only provided an added tinge of excitement before I took the plunge and immersed myself into any new tidbits Summit had to offer. I'm considering a New Year's resolution-- staying spoiler-free until the release of Eclipse. Is it possible to blog for four Twilight outlets, including the information overload of Twitter and remain an Eclipse virgin? My brain was on Twilight overload 2 weeks before the release of New Moon, and I had to take a break. Will I find the opposite effect occur should I abstain for a six month duration? Only one picture has been released of Eclipse thus far, and aside from Edward's drooping bouffant, it could be an image from any of the three movies; it hardly counts as a spoiler. So this is the time to make a resolution... a pinky swear, of sorts. Anyone else willing to take the plunge?]]> Twilight in 2009- A year never to forget http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/twilight-in-2009-a-year-never-to-forget.html/feed http://www.t5m.com/eyes-of-amber/two-years-of-twilight.html http://www.t5m.com/eyes-of-amber/two-years-of-twilight.html#comments Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:27:28 +0000 http://www.t5m.com/eyes-of-amber/two-years-of-twilight.html Twilight books as an early Christmas gift in 2007. She'd read them, was completely in love and wanted me to read them so that we could discuss them. I'll admit that I wasn't all that thrilled with the idea at first. Vampires had never been my thing. But I appreciated the gift and looked forward to reading them, just didn't expect to like them. Fact is I didn't, I feel irrevocably in love with them and never looked back. Two years later here I am! It's been just over a year since Twilight hit theaters November 21, 2008. When I read the first three books, we weren't even sure that we were going to ever see it on the big screen. That was before Summit had even acquired the rights. My sister and I would send emails back and forth all day long with links for new Twilight articles. Twilight Lexicon very quickly became my first stop each time I logged on to the computer. Breaking Dawn came out the day of my baby shower and it nearly killed me not to open it until after. After seeing the movie last November, I found that my family blog was quickly being overtaken by all things Twilight. I realized it was probably time to devote a blog just to Twilight and because my family blog was private, I was hungry to share my love and excitement with a larger audience. After spending some time finding the perfect name, Eyes of Amber was born. Up until August, it was a solo endeavor, but I decided that I needed some help. I was looking for a news poster, but I ended up finding a totally awesome blogging partner who quickly became a dear friend. We just celebrated the one year anniversary of the blog on December 13. That simply blows my mind! Over the last two years I have met some of the most amazing people because of Twilight. These people have become my friends, my mentors and my support system. While Eyes of Amber is still a small blog, we're growing, and thankful to everyone who is making that possible. There is so much to celebrate this Christmas, and a lot of it is because of Twilight. We've seen New Moon in theaters now, Eclipse is already filmed and we're waiting for news on Breaking Dawn any day! What a year it's been! So now I want to know, how has Twilight changed your life over the last year? I hope you all have an absolutely wonderful Christmas. As a gift from Kerry and I, this week's Twi-Theories Tuesday was all about meeting a Cullen under the mistletoe. Be sure to check it out! As a side note, I can never pass up an opportunity to make a plug for Sam Bradley. He has recorded Silent Night and is offering it as a free download on his website. I listened to it on a continuous loop while I made out my Christmas cards this year! While you're there, you can always pick up his EP as well. I highly recommend it. Happy Christmas!]]> Two years of Twilight http://www.t5m.com/eyes-of-amber/two-years-of-twilight.html/feed http://www.t5m.com/eyes-of-amber/eclipse-chapter-by-chapter.html http://www.t5m.com/eyes-of-amber/eclipse-chapter-by-chapter.html#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:10:59 +0000 http://www.t5m.com/eyes-of-amber/eclipse-chapter-by-chapter.html New Moon hit theaters and just over six months until Eclipse does the same. A few weeks ago Kerry, my wonderful blogging partner, noticed that the number of weeks and chapters in Eclipse matched up just right. So she came up with the idea to do an Eclipse book discussion, chapter by chapter. But we didn't want this to be just your average book discussion. We decided to do it as a panel. So once a week, the panel gets together online to chat. We post what we come up with and hope that our readers will throw their thoughts into the mix as well. Our panel consists of three Twilight fans with different views on the series. Kerry is our resident Team Edward girl. While she doesn't hate Jacob, she'd never consider him as a real option. I consider myself Team Total Bella. I love Edward dearly and believe he's the right choice for Bella. But, I also love Jacob. In a world without Edward, he is the absolute perfect choice for her. Just like Bella, I love them both, but I know who I couldn't live without. To round out the group, we have brought in a guest blogger to represent the Team Jacob point of view. Sabrina is wolf girl through and through. It will be interesting to see just how these three points of view collide as we move through the book. The first week we tackled the preface, including the Robert Frost poem referencing fire and ice. Here is an excerpt from that post...

Amber: and Edward is ice...but also, you have the fire linked to desire and the ice linked to hate. With Edward...Bella is all fire, all desire. With Jake...she feels them both Sabrina: True. And the idea of destruction is pervasive in this poem. Although it might make you think about the love triangle, that's not what the poem itself is actually about. Amber: well obviously sweetie...I didn't think Robert Frost wrote poems about Twilight Kerry: Really?? Amber: okay, give me your take, Miss English Major Kerry: ooh! An English Major! Sabrina: this poem gives a foreshadowing of the problems that the Cullens as a clan face. Amber: if you're looking at it that way could the fire be the wolves and the ice the newborns/Victoria

We really do get into some serious literary discussion, just with our own little banter thrown in. This week we did chapter one and spent a lot of time talking about the note from Jacob.

Amber: the note kills me Sabrina: I'm sorry Team Bella! Amber: the crossed out lines and the eventual statement of the truth Sabrina: Yeah, me too. He can't even be mean to her in a note. He just can't. Amber: that they do miss each other, but it just doesn't change anything Kerry: the notes are very telling. I love that he just crosses out the thoughts, but not enough to actually obscure the previous thoughts Sabrina: That is particularly odd. It's like, he wants her to know what he's thinking, but he also wants her to know that he doesn't want to say it. Amber: I think this was more a case of he wanted to get it over with... he just wanted to get an answer written out and send it back to her Kerry: but why not simply use a different piece of paper, or tearing off the other parts? Amber: like he said, the more he thinks about her, the more it hurts Sabrina: I just think he didn't have it in him to ignore such a desperate plea.

Of course there is still plenty more to talk about. Hop over to my main blog and join in the discussion. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Eclipse is my favorite book in the series and I am so eager to look at it from all different points of view!

As the record-breaking box office numbers began to pour in for New Moon, there was a question heard across the fandom: What about Breaking Dawn? I’ll admit, I was one of those who predicted we’d get an announcement over opening weekend. I based that prediction on the fact that New Moon had been given the green light during opening weekend of Twilight last year. But as you know, no such announcement was made.

So the question remains and is rarely far from the forefront of Twilight news. While it’s often hard to know the rumors from the truth, there are some things out there we can take hope in. First of all, Rob mentioned during the press tour that he believed they were looking toward fall of 2010 for filming Breaking Dawn. There is a video circulating of producer Wyck Godfrey saying that the intention is definitely there to make Breaking Dawn, but as you can imagine, most of their current focus has been getting New Moon and Eclipse out.

Yesterday it was reported that Rob, Kristen and Taylor are negotiating their contracts for Breaking Dawn as a team. I think that’s certainly a smart move, as losing any of them at this point could be detrimental. While Rob cemented himself as Edward in our hearts during Twilight, Taylor absolutely embodied Jacob in New Moon. It’s undeniable that while Kristen was certainly Bella in Twilight, New Moon allowed us all to watch her grow into the character even more. These are now the faces of Twilight to us, and any casting changes at this point would not be acceptable to the fans.

Didn’t mean to break into a review of New Moon there, which I will certainly be posting soon, I’m just waiting until next week when I see it for the fifth time before I do. Yes, I’ve already seen it four times. Actually, that was within the first week. I may now be in withdrawals after a full week without seeing it. But I digress, this post is supposed to be about Breaking Dawn.

So why haven’t we gotten any official word yet? My guess would be that they’re waiting until the filming dates can be set and trying to secure a release date. We know that Rob has at least two other projects on the table right now, Unbound Captives and Bel Ami, which may not have firm filming dates right now. Kristen and Taylor could very well be in the same situation. I would think that Summit is trying to avoid any scheduling conflicts after the debacle that ensued over the replacing of Rachelle Lefevre in Eclipse.

So now you know what I think, I want to know what you think! What are your theories on Breaking Dawn?

If you’re tuning in to read the interview with my hubby, I promise it is coming. For two people who live in the same house, you wouldn’t think finding the time to sit down and go over a few questions would be so difficult, but it really is. Of course, the four tiny males running around the house could be a large part of that. And the fact that I’ve been to see New Moon three times without him…

Of course there were other finalists for the role. Rob was the last actor to audition. Catherine Hardwicke recently revealed the other top candidates were Jackson Rathbone, Ben Barnes and Shiloh Fernandez. I have to say, Jackson’s name was the one that most surprised me on that list. What if Jackson had been cast as Edward? How would Twilight have been different? What would the chemistry have been like?

(Side Note - What would Edward’s hair have been like? I think we must offer our thanks to Rob for refusing to wear the extensions that he spent eight hours having put in so that Edward would have the “long, timeless hair,” that Catherine had pictured. Wow, we seriously dodged a bullet there.)

Again, I went to my twitter followers, this time asking only if they could see Jackson as Edward. For a second time, I was surprised by the reaction. Jackson has a lot of fans in the Twilight world, one even referred to him as “the most beautiful thing on Earth.” While his acting abilities were not at all brought into question, only one person felt he could be Edward. It’s impossible to know if that’s because we’re all so used to Rob in the role, or we just don’t think Jackson was right for it. If the role had originally gone to Jackson, and for some reason he was now being replaced, would we welcome Rob to the role, or would pandemonium break out in the Twilight universe? Is it merely because we have seen Rob play Edward that the thought of anyone else being him is ridiculous?

I feel it’s safe to say that Twilight would not have been the same with different actors. We have come to love these characters even more through the people who have brought them to life for us on the big screen. Could Jackson have been Edward? I certainly would have enjoyed an Edward with those lovely dimples. But having said that, I think Catherine and Kristen made the right choice. Rob is my perfect Edward and Jackson is my perfect Jasper. I look forward to seeing more of Jackson as his role is fleshed out in the coming movies.

So now it’s your turn. Which actors do you think are cast perfectly? What is it about them that makes them just right? Who would you have cast differently? I cannot wait to hear your thoughts!

A portion of the interview reads:

MTV: Jackson, what are you most looking forward to shooting in the next film? Jackson Rathbone: I'm really excited to start filming "Eclipse." I got a chance to read the script, and we get to go back into Jasper's back story. They actually had to ask me about my equestrian experience. I told them I can gallop and trot and all that. I used to ride. It's been two or three years since I've been on a horse, but I'm excited to get back up on the saddle. MTV: So we're going to get to Jasper's Civil War back story? Rathbone: Yes, I get to shoot some Civil War stuff, and I'm also going to shoot a lot of fighting scenes. Which is great, because I just came off [M. Night Shyamalan's] "The Last Airbender," and I've been doing fighting for the last six months. So I'm ready to keep it on. MTV: Are there training scenes in "Eclipse" along these lines? Rathbone: It's interesting; there's a lot of cool scenes where Jasper trains the Cullen family on how to fight the newborns. He gets to train Emmett — and Emmett is a born fighter — so he's telling Emmett all these techniques, and Emmett thinks he could just best Jasper [during their sparring]. Jasper ends up getting the best of him, because it's a war mentality, not just a street brawl. It's about thinking ahead; it's a chess game. MTV: Cool. Will we see the scene where Jasper gets bitten? Rathbone: Oh yeah, we have to see that. It's going to be great. I've been studying up a lot on the Civil War and that era. It really was a crazy time. It was all-out war on our own turf and between countrymen. That's terrible. It's an interesting time to see when Jasper was actually human and what his human form was and, when he gets turned, how intense and how dark he is. Then [we'll see] his realization of what he's become, him finding Alice and being redeemed by love.

Melissa Rosenberg and David Slade are introducing more flagrant pieces of the novel in order to appeal to a broader audience and turn the road away a bit from the sticky, culminating, ever-apparent love triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob.

Jackson is simply talking about his piece of the puzzle, which may, in fact, be a rather small part of the big picture. Because Twilighters are rabid for any new snippets of information, especially when spoken by one of the larger players, the news spreads like wildfire.

Then, wham-o. Fans across the globe were hit with exciting New Moon news in a single day.

Summit began sprinkling official Volturi images around the net Thursday morning. Red eyed vamps Alec, Marcus, Jane, Aro and Caius shed the actor within, emerging in costume and character, thus adding to the well-calculated hype and frenzy of the impending New Moon.

Minutes within the spread of the images came news of the first single on the New Moon soundtrack, “Meet Me on the Equinox,” a song produced specifically for the movie by Seattle, Washington based indie band, Death Cab for Cutie.

Summit’s official word:

After months of speculation, Atlantic and Chop Shop Records have announced that the first single from the upcoming New Moon Soundtrack will be Death Cab for Cutie’s ‘Meet Me On the Equinox’. Fans will be able to hear the song, which was written exclusively for the soundtrack, in its entirety for the first time September 13^th on www.mtv.com during the MTV VMAs. THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be in stores October 20^th, stay tuned for more information and artist confirmations!

Then, if things couldn’t get any better, raw images of Robert Pattinson arriving on set of Eclipse and later pictures of him in character as desirable Edward Cullen rounded out a full evening of New Moon satiation and Eclipse delight.

What’s next to come our way? What would you like to see Summit tantalize us with next?

The EP will be available for download at sambradley.com or through the dropcards sold at some of his recent shows. It consists of 6 songs, a music video and other exclusive content. While it will eventually be available on vinyl as well, Sam explained that he is not going the traditional cd route with this release.

“I think it’s an interesting idea of having no physical form of cd. Also, I’d like to wait until a full length album comes out to release a cd.”

So just what might we expect from a full album then? Of course we can only speculate, but Sam is already hard at work. He’s added four new demos to his MySpace page this month. From the hauntingly introspective Wide Open to the exquisite professions of She Moves Me, Sam’s lyrics always amaze me. His songs pull no punches, make no excuses and take you along on a palpable emotional journey. Another favorite of mine is Scared, an absolutely beautifully honest song you can find on Sam’s YouTube channel. I highly recommend that you check it out as well.

This past Monday was another major step for Sam as an artist, the release of his first official music video. Within the first hour, it had over 300 plays and as I’m writing this, that number has grown to nearly 6,000. The video for Sea Blue is the collaborative effort of Sam and Zack Spiger and was accomplished with “no budget and few materials,” but is absolutely amazing. The video is raw, compelling, and very simply a reflection of Sam. It’s the next best thing to seeing him live.

Sam currently has two shows scheduled for next month in Canada. While no other specific dates have been announced, he does plan to tour this fall. The schedule will be updated on MySpace as more information becomes available. That’s a great place to be anyway so that you can listen to the new demos and some old favorites while you’re waiting for the EP to drop tomorrow.

Don’t forget that you can send Sam birthday wishes via twitter. If you aren’t following him, you could be missing all kinds of things. Just last week he used twitter to announce a secret show and send out picture clues to his followers. He shares ticket information, pictures, videos and sometimes just random thoughts. While you may not always know what to expect next from Sam Bradley, you can definitely count on being entertained.

Last month I had the privilege of seeing Sam along with his band, The Men. This was definitely a special treat. You can tell that performing is an absolute joy for these guys and they love what they do. They connect with their audience and play off each other effortlessly. It was fun just to watch them interact and of course, the music was awesome.

So what, you might wonder, could be the icing on that cake? The chance to sit down with Sam for an interview! I got to meet with Sam and the guys before they went on stage. I had no idea what to expect, but I was quickly pulled in by Sam’s charm. He is incredibly easy to talk to, humble and considerate. This is truly not surprising when you listen to the lyrics of his songs.

The first topic of conversation was the EP release, but I’ll be talking about that more tomorrow. I asked Sam what it is about the southern U.S. that he enjoys so much. The first two things on his list were the hospitality and the accent. The irony of someone with his beautiful accent saying that he liked the southern accent was certainly not lost on me. While he said he loved the lusciousness of the landscape and the general feel of the south, he has a certain soft spot for the food of the region. If you follow his twitter, you may have seen pictures of some southern cuisine. I’ve always heard it said that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach.

One thing I really wanted to ask Sam about was the story behind Soho Whores.

“Well, the actual story is not as good as the one I’m about to make up right now (laughs) ah, no. Okay, so basically the story is, of that song, I love the area of Soho in London and that is kind of the uh, there’s a lot of prostitution that goes on there and there’s a lot of disgusting men that walk around. We were on our way back from Soho from a pub, me and my friend Marcus, and we had a sort of a see who could write a song quickest kind of a thing happening on the back of the bus. That was what I wrote and what he wrote was something else. I can’t remember what it was. Yeah, so that’s really the story.”

We talked about Sam’s move to Vancouver and our mutual love for Johnny Cash. I was surprised when I asked about favorite songs, that Sam was much more interested in talking about his dislikes. Apparently, You Think You’re Free, while a fan favorite, is Sam’s current least favorite. Many of us were disappointed when it was pulled from his MySpace earlier this month, but I am very happy to report that it is now back.

I was incredibly impressed with Sam’s charm, his humor and even more so, his humility. When I told him that I loved certain songs, he seemed genuinely surprised and flattered. When we were done with the interview, he actually asked if I was staying to see the show. Of course the answer to that was a definite yes! Sam Bradley is a man just doing what he loves and seeing it as an incredible blessing that people enjoy it and keep showing up. I look forward to watching his career grow and hearing all the wonderful music he has yet to write. While you’re waiting for more, be sure to check out Sam’s MySpace where you can listen to a selection of his songs, find tour dates and more. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to read part two of the feature.

http://www.myspace.com/sambradley

Kristen dished about her views on Joan Jett:

She’s the ultimate badass. She was the first woman to start her own record label.  Everybody threw her out after the Runaways and was like, ‘Sorry girl, your shticks over,’ she was like ‘No, the message stays the same people still want to hear it.' Who the f*&k did that before her?

Kristen also got in a dig or two about invasive Twilight fans/paparazzi, who camped outside her interview, using Twitter to discover her 24/7 whereabouts:

Yeah, but you can’t think about it too much because if you think about it too much it is this weird and dreamy fantasy land – you think – ‘ what the h*&l absurd thing are we doing at 3 o’clock in the morning, with 300 people- pretending to be other people, what the f&*k are we doing? … Yeah since Twilight.  That’s the only reason they’re out there. They find out where I am from the Internet - from Twitter, man! Anyone who wants to know where I am at any given time just has to go on Twitter, it’s so ridiculous!

But the real reason for the interview, despite 300 lingering fans, was to discuss Kristen’s role in the upcoming flick, Welcome to the Rileys.

A character quite the antithesis of innocent teen Bella, the teen prostitute/stripper role that Kristen tackled was both her favorite and the one with which she has most identified. With Jake Scott (son of Ridley Scott) as the director, Kristen says that it was the greatest filming experience she’s ever had.

About the bones of her salacious character, Kristen says:

I play such a child, like she has the emotional stability of a 5 year old; she’s in her own little world that she had to close off at a certain point. She’s at that point where she’s not quite over the edge like a lot of those people, and I met a lot of them in New Orleans, talking to people who had done the job for so long.

They’re gone. Like I hate to say that, there is a part of them that is dead inside and it is so sad they can still live a happy life or whatever, but that part is. So she’s not dead, she’s still whole. She’s just really broken and she needs to be put back together, and she needs this guy. James Gandolfini plays this plumber who is grieving the loss of his daughter and is dead inside as well, so she is sort of the catalyst of his awakening and subsequent reuniting with his wife, like she comes out of the house after 8 years. Like this vulgar really fully kid who has her own problems greater than theirs ends up helping to get them to a place where they can continue their lives.

Photographer David Benjamin Sherry saw inside Kristen a young Jodie Foster or Winona Ryder, two Hollywood starlets known for brisk pasts and rough edges. In this Dazed interview, Kristen certainly does not disappoint in her equally engaging style, with a jagged edge described as only a strict 180 degree turn from plain homey Bella Swan.

Maybe it’s the mama bear in me, but I just want to wash Miss Stewart’s mouth out with soap, then hand her a lollipop.

Twilight Proms

September 18-20, 2009

Hailing in London on the 18^th and 19^th of September, and Birmingham the 19^th and 20^th of December, this brand new venue comes with guest stars Kellan Lutz (Emmett), Chaske Spencer (Sam Uley) and Jose Zuniga (Mr. Molina) in attendance. Each guest will receive one free autograph from each of the guest stars; separate photo and autograph sessions will also be available.

The event will feature a prom, disco party, Q&A session with the guest stars, and more. Attendees are encouraged to utilize the online form to place questions in advance.

Novel Journeys- Tuscany Twilight Tour

October 10-15, 2009

Mature Twilighters Lisa and Vanessa have recreated the authenticity of Bella’s journey into Italy through their new venture, Novel Journeys. The 6 day tour whisks Twilight uber-fans through the cobblestone streets of Tuscany where New Moon filming commenced.

Details of the tour include:

• Meet and greet Cocktail Reception
• Tour of New Moon filming locations lead by two of the movie's extras
• Retrace Bella's journey through mystical Volterra as she races to save Edward from his imminent death
• Wine tasting in the Volturi's "underground lair"
• Guided tours of Montipulciano, Monte Oliveto, and Siena
• Spend a day discovering Florence, jewel of the Renaissance
• Twilight dinner on an organic Tuscan farm

Says Vanessa about the tour:

We were attracted to the filming locations in Tuscany because we found it more "exotic" that Vancouver or Oregon, and also because we have both extensively traveled through Italy and have great knowledge of the Tuscany region. And we also thought people would enjoy not only the Twilight aspect of the trip, but also the idea of visiting one of the most gorgeous areas in the world, someplace they may not go to on their own, but would be more likely to try along with a group of other like-minded fans.

Lisa says:

My visions of Twilight took on a whole new level when I traveled to Tuscany and walked onto the movie set of New Moon. Now I was able to not only use my own imagination in addition to the movie, I was able to incorporate all my senses into the story-- the smell of the set, the warmth of the air, the look of the bumpy cobble stone streets, the intensity of the actors and the director. To actually be there allows you to discover emotions and views that you never could by simply watching the movie or reading the book.

 

One of the most interesting things I learned on the set was how much effort and time (hours) goes into creating mere minutes in a movie. I have gained a new appreciation for movie making and everyone involved.

Either or both of these venues are sure to whet appetites for the New Moon release and envelop fans into a truly authentic feel of Bella’s plight and budding romance with Edward Cullen.

“I don’t want to be famous. That doesn’t drive me at all. I just want to be doing this all the time. Everyday.” (Bobby Long to ITN Music)

When I set out to write this article I was already a fan of Bobby Long. After reading, watching and listening to anything Bobby related I could get my hands on over the last few days, I may just be in love. I hope this feature, combined with listening to his wonderful music, leaves you feeling the same way. A self-proclaimed folksinger with a guitar, Bobby Long is obviously so much more.

Despite growing up surrounded by music, even playing the cello for a short while, Bobby was 16 before he picked up a guitar and started writing. He didn’t take lessons, but taught himself, learning a lot from old records. He loved performing and trying out new songs, so he started playing open mic nights in London. The first few times, he arrived too late to even get his name on the list. We should all be very glad he didn’t let that stop him.

Bobby is incredibly motivated, independently releasing his first music collection, Dirty Pond Songs, which he recorded in his bedroom. He says you can even hear the sounds of the traffic through the window on some of the tracks and calls it his “bootleg album.” He is always looking forward to the next thing whether it’s releasing an album or more touring.

The “Dangerous Summer Tour” has now expanded to include stops in France, Italy and Germany and a fall leg in the U.S. running from mid-October through late December. Just in case that doesn’t sound like he’s busy enough, you should know that Bobby’s move to London allowed him to attend London Metropolitan University. He recently wrote what he calls 12,000 words on the “social impact of folk music and the protest song in the ‘60’s,” to receive his degree just before starting his summer tour.

I think one of the things that surprised me most was Bobby’s wonderful sense of humor. That is, unless he’s seriously considering adding fireworks and dogs on stilts to his shows. And although he says anything and everything inspires him, he considers the pressure he puts on himself and dogs, big dogs, as some of the challenges of songwriting. And what’s the biggest difference he sees in playing shows in the U.S.? That everyone has an American accent and the places are open later.

He says sometimes the lyrics just flow and he’s not sure what they mean at the time. I think that’s very interesting. No matter what the meaning behind them when he is writing, his lyrics are certainly one of his strongest points. Bobby is definitely what you would call an old soul. I am so amazed that at 22, he can write the way he does. I could tell you all about his raw, soulful voice, but you can hear that for yourself.

Being from the Appalachian region, I found it fascinating that one of the artists Bobby would love to perform with is Emmylou Harris. She’s been a favorite of mine since I was a young girl and that is definitely a collaboration I would love to see. There are just so many wonderful facets to Bobby Long. I believe it is safe to say we have only begun to see what a bright future he has ahead of him.

Bobby's next show in London will be at the Gibson Lounge on October 15. To hear more... check out his MySpace page and follow him on twitter. Photo courtesy of Martelli Photography.

I’m sure that most of you know there were two songs on the Twilight soundtrack performed by Robert Pattinson. What you may or may not know is where these songs came from. Never Think, the song playing during the restaurant scene, was the product of a Robert and Sam writing session that also produced Sam’s fan favorite, Too Far Gone. The haunting Let Me Sign, which plays as Edward sucks the venom from Bella’s body, was written by Marcus Foster and Bobby Long. The impact these guys made on us in the movie caused fans to seek them out and learn more about them. We may have found them because of Twilight, but we became fans of them because of what we discovered.

If you are not familiar with these guys and their music, you are in for a real treat. How popular are they? The last weekend of July they were all at the inaugural TwiCon in Dallas, Texas, and the meet and greet with them was easily one of the major highlights. That is saying a lot considering that some Twilight cast members were present as well. But of course, since these guys are musicians, meeting them is wonderful, but what do you really want from them? You want to hear them play!

Titled “Female Force: Stephenie Meyer,” the 22 page comic book will discuss Stephenie’s rise in popularity, the Twilight Saga novels and subsequent explosion of the Twilight franchise, and Stephenie’s future plans, which have remained under wraps.

The larger, 40 page collector’s edition will include a profile and history of Forks, Washington, the hub of the Twilight story, and exclusive bonus material.

“It's an equally strange and great feeling to write about an author of this magnitude, especially in a format that's near and dear to my heart. I think it's brilliant that Stephenie Meyer's story will be read by both fans of her work, and fans of the comic book medium,” said Ryan Burton, the comic book’s author.

The “Female Force” comic book series has featured biographies of other female icons including Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Palin and Princess Diana, but Stephenie Meyer is the first female fiction writer to be featured.

“We get to turn the tables on Meyers and she becomes the featured protagonist,” said Bluewater’s president Darren G. Davis of the project. “And we are going to tell her story in a very fun, respectful and unique way. Stephenie Meyer has captured the imagination of millions. She has parlayed her stories into a cottage industry and that’s why we felt she was indeed a “Female Force’,’” Davis added. “Also, I’m hooked on the books like everyone else!”

The timing of the comic book release is closely tied with the release of New Moon; the books will be available shortly before the movie debuts.

Twilight fans have long identified themselves by their team, be it Edward, Jacob or Switzerland. This team mentality has often flowed over into other saga issues such as directing changes and the possible recasting of the role of Jacob Black for New Moon. But what we’re seeing in the fandom now genuinely surprises me. While Summit and Rachelle may be holding back, the gloves have certainly come off among the fans.

It seems to me that the casting change for Victoria has produced the same thing she created in Eclipse, an army of ruthless newborns. Newborn vampires are driven by their emotions and desires. They are difficult to control and frequently fight amongst themselves. Some of the well-intentioned supporters on both sides of this issue have become nearly rabid in their responses. I’ve seen site owners verbally attacked, vicious rumors posted anonymously, and some downright nasty personal insults slung. It’s disheartening.

When all is said and done, we are Team Twilight. Summit is making business decisions. Whether we agree with them or not, we have a lot to be thankful to Summit for. They went out on a limb when they were a struggling studio to bring our beloved characters to life. We owe all the actors an incredible debt of gratitude as well. They have proven over and over again that they “get” these characters and love them as much as we do. And where would we be without the fan sites?

The thing that sets the Cullen clan apart from most vampires is their self control. We are all entitled to express our own opinions, but let’s try to do so with class and decorum. Let’s show each other some respect, and as I said yesterday, play nice. If the vampires and the werewolves can call a truce, why can’t we?

Melissa, owner of Adult Twilight Fans, chose to bypass the insane lines of Twilight fans waiting to snag the coveted front row seats. “We got in line at 7:45am and the panel came on at 1:45 - it worked out just fine.  No camping on concrete needed,” she said.

“The place went insane when the 'New Moon' panel came out to the stage. Taylor and Ashley handled the questions like old pros. Robert did just as well as he could, but of course had the place laughing at his humor.  Kristen on the other hand...well, sometimes her answers were intelligent, but most the time she looked either intoxicated or extremely nervous.  I choose to think it was the latter.”

“The guy barely looked at the crowd and was probably nervous as all get up!  They were allowing a few questions to be asked from the audience, so of course the young'uns got to go up.  Which was fine, it was an experience they would probably never forget.  But, after this one girl who had to be about 17 asked Robert, ‘Why are you so shy?’...the questions were cut short.  She decided to jump on him for a hug and was trying with all her might to get a kiss out of him.  Bodyguards pulled her off and next thing you know, a bunch of girls were storming him.”

“The cast never got a chance to speak and were swiftly escorted out of the theatre.  As Rob walked by, girls were practically falling over the banister trying to grab at him.  Poor guy.

A friend of mine was in another theatre and Rob wasn't in that one, instead it was Taylor.  The crowd was rudely chanting, "We want Rob!  We want Rob!"”

While the Twilight Saga was originally written for a young adult audience, controversy swirls around the preferred age group of those who attend world-renowned events such as Comic-Con. Some teens have reached the maturity level to fit in perfectly well, while some adults have yet to do so. The Twilight Saga continues to bring out both the best and worst in fans worldwide.

Amber, owner of the Twi-blog Eyes of Amber, recently sat down for a chat with Sam before his performance. In her own words, here’s Amber’s report:

The first time I heard Sam Bradley sing, I was intrigued. As I dug deeper into his music, I became a fan. When I had the opportunity to see him perform live with his band, I jumped at the chance. (His band is made up of Mark Kerrey, Jeff Riedlinger, and Dave Meszaros.) Sam Bradley and The Men kicked off a U.S. tour along with Pilot Speed supporting Thriving Ivory. On July 6, I caught up with them at a show at Capone’s in Johnson City.

The first question of course was about the most pressing matter in the mind of all Sam fans: The upcoming album. While he didn’t have a definite date, Sam said it will be coming out this summer. It’s going to be an EP with five recorded songs and possibly some live songs as well. At first, it’s going to be released solely in download form, but he plans to make a vinyl of it as well. When asked why he’s forgoing the traditional cd route for the moment, Sam says, “I think it’s an interesting idea of having no physical form of cd. Also, I’d like to wait until a full length album comes out to release a cd.”

If you follow Sam’s MySpace or Twitter, you’ll know that he has a special place in his heart for not only Nashville, but the entire south. When I asked him what it was about the area that he loved so much, I couldn’t help but laugh when the first two things he listed were the hospitality and the accent- two things that the south is famous for. The irony of someone with his beautiful accent saying that he liked the southern accent was certainly not lost on me. “You know, it’s a musical city. I obviously have an affiliation with music,” said Sam. “…the landscape, I like the lusciousness of it. I love the food as well.” Sam has been known to take a picture of his lovely southern meal and send it out on his Twitter account. He continues, “Yeah, yeah, I love the food. I like lots of things about the south. I just like the general feel of it really.” It’s always interesting to find out what someone else finds intriguing about your home.

And speaking of home, Sam explained how he came to live in Vancouver:

“Well, okay so, I was supported by my mum at the time and I was 16, 17 and my mum was in a little bit of a financial difficulty in London and London’s a very expensive place so basically we came on holiday. We went on holiday to Vancouver, we have family there. My mum is Canadian. And we went to a country music festival and we got back from the country music festival and went to the city of Vancouver and she said well how ‘bout for fun let’s go look at some houses. And so, for fun we went and looked at houses and we found an amazing house and she said shall we do it? And I was pretty unhappy with my, not unhappy, just frustrated and I think I just needed an excuse to do less because it was about that time where I started to have to do something in my life and I wasn’t really quite prepared for that yet so I thought if I moved that bought me some more time so I said yeah, let’s move. And my sister said yeah let’s move. So we moved, that’s why.”

There were so many things I would have loved to discuss with Sam from his musical influences to our mutual love Johnny Cash, but of course he had a show to do so our time was limited. I let my curiosity get the best of me and decided instead to ask for the story behind his song Soho Whores.

“Well, the actual story is not as good as the one I’m about to make up right now (laughs) ah, no. Okay, so basically the story is, of that song, I love the area of Soho in London and that is kind of the uh, there’s a lot of prostitution that goes on there and there’s a lot of disgusting men that walk around . We were on our way back from Soho from a pub, me and my friend Marcus, and we had a sort of a see who could write a song quickest kind of a thing happening on the back of the bus. That was what I wrote and what he wrote was something else. I can’t remember what it was. Yeah, so that’s really the story.”

This particular song seemed lyrically different from most of his other songs. When asked about this, Sam responded, “Yeah, there’s a little bit of, yeah. Just wait for the rest of the songs. No, I’m joking.” He laughed when I told him that was the song I always skip when my children are in the room and I have his MySpace streaming in the background. In an earlier interview Sam had mentioned that Sea Blue was one of his favorite songs. With all the new music that he’s written and performed, is that still the case?

“Um, my favorite song currently, we’ve just learned together, it’s called Even Thought of Leaving and I’m really happy with the way it’s sounding and yeah, because it’s fresh we really like playing it as a group. So that is my current favorite. But I don’t really have any favorites. I have some definite dislikes, if you’d like to write that down.” Leaning over so that his mouth is only a couple inches from the microphone, Sam very loudly says, “You Think You’re Free.”

Of course the room broke out in laughter. I told him I liked the song, and asked if he really disliked it that much. He assured me that he really disliked it and thanked me, saying that a lot of people do like the song, “I wish I, I wish I had of picked a different song to write, I think. But, saying that, I did it, I was really happy with it at the time. It’s four years old now, it’s one of the first songs I had written so maybe I’ve just moved on and maybe it’s not a dislike for the song but maybe I’m just detached from it.” Is it possible that he’s simply matured beyond it? “Perhaps, or maybe I’m getting more immature and,” stomping his foot, “I Don’t Like It

Finding out that Don’t You Dare is one of my absolute favorites seemed to genuinely surprise Sam. “You like that song?” he queried. “That’s great! Not many people do. I get a lot of, a lot more negative feedback than I do positive on that one. I don’t know why. Why, well, I do know why. It’s not the happiest of songs, but yeah, thank you. That’s cool, that’s good to hear.” A song doesn’t have to be happy to be beautiful.

Sam Bradley and The Men are certainly an impressive bunch. This is a group of extremely talented guys who love what they do. They are down to earth, very funny, and seem to be laying back and enjoying the ride. Sam actually asked if we were going to stay for the show. The answer to that was a resounding “Yes!”

Their performance was phenomenal. They played some of Sam’s fan favorites such as Too Far Gone, Whiskey, Derek and Soho Whores, but they also treated the audience to some music written by other members of The Men, which was incredible.

http://www.facebook.com/sambradleymusic?ref=nf

http://www.myspace.com/sambradley

http://twitter.com/samueltwitt1

http://www.youtube.com/user/samueltube1

I had a chance to talk to Jessica and find out what qualifies her as the ideal representative of all Twilight bloggers/fans/fanatics. Aside from her Edward Cullen shrine at work, which doubles as a desk, her bubbly personality shines both in the written word and on-screen, making her the obvious correspondent choice:

What do you hope to achieve by becoming a correspondent?

I really hope to do it for all the fans of Twilight. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm totally all about going to TwiCon and speaking to the cast and other people, but I really hope to provide the best information and entertainment to all of the fans! I'd LOVE to share the experience with all of you!!!

Tell me about you in real life- what's your job?

My full-time job is working as a Project Manager/Producer for a web-based creative agency. We build REALLY awesome interactive websites for amazing clients. I also am the buyer for a shop in SF called Fatlace. At the same time, I manage and contribute to several other blogs: Fatlace.com/yoshi, Fatlace.com/LadyLike, HeartyMagazine.com, itsDesignRelated.com.

Why do you go by Yoshi?

Yoshi is a nickname from high school that just stuck. I changed my hair VERY often and once I had a crazy hairstyle that made me look like a Japanese anime character. My friends started calling me Yoshi since then...

If you have kids, can you tell me how Twilight has affected your family life?

I actually don't have kids, but I have two wonderful kittens! My family thinks I'm nuts, but they don't expect anything less of my enthusiasm for things I love. They all know I'm more than willing to go far and beyond the norm - so this is really nothing new... My previous obsession was Brandon Boyd from Incubus... let's not even go there.

What message do you want to get to readers- why should they vote for you?

Please vote for me because I’m doing this for all of you! Let me represent Twilight fans the right way!

*DISCLAIMER: IF Rob is in attendance, I cannot be held accountable for trying to jump on his back like a spider monkey.

The coveted event, TwiCon, held in Dallas, Texas is coming up July 30 through August 2. Details of the convention include:

TwiCon 2009 is the premiere unofficial conference for Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight saga! The event will feature a Twilight movie screening, live Twilight inspired band performances, Volturi Masque Ball, opportunities to meet Twilight cast, dozens of breakout sessions, panels, workshops and more, as well as a Vendor Hall where dozens of vendors will be set up for your shopping pleasure. We will also have the Artists’ Alley, where you can display fan made art and goods.

Be sure to watch her audition tape, then cast your vote for Jessica HERE!

1. Cover each cake tier with a "mask" of white fondant [a thick, malleable icing]. Stack tiers from largest to smallest. 2. Separate one package of fondant into 5 batches. Use food coloring to tint each batch a different shade of green. 3. Roll each batch of fondant into a thin sheet and cut into strips of varying width. 4. Attach the strips around each tier using stiff royal icing as glue. 5. Place red, yellow and green Gerbera daisies around the bottom of each tier.

Explain to readers why the secluded identities and how many people make up the band:

When we started this project we didn't have much of a plan other than to make it about two things: 1) the MUSIC and 2) the FANS. That's all that was really important to us. We wanted people to give the music a shot without any kind of expectations or pre-conceived notions about the band. We’re made up of singers, guitar players, bass players, drummers, keyboard players, xylophonists, trianglists, pianists, hand clappers, dog barkers, cowbellers, yodelers, screamers, and autotuners. But on any given day you can say there’s about 5 of us. And after listening to “Shh…I’ve Got A Secret” (one of our songs), I can confirm there’s at least one girl in the band (or else it’s a really really high pitched dude!!?!).

Are you moonlighting as musicians or is this your day job? How do you make money and get your name out there without being signed?

Music is our day job, night job, weekend job, early morning job, late night job and every other job imaginable. We’re really blessed to be able to make music for a living. All of us are also involved in other projects outside of Oh, Hush! as well which keeps us even busier. And as Oh, Hush! has taken off a bit the past year or so, it requires even more of a time commitment. But we’re not complaining. It’s all good news for us!!

What gives you your inspiration for your songs- is there a theme behind them or are they completely random?

I think our music is inspired by everything around us. From our relationships with other people… friends, families, boyfriends/girlfriends. What we watch on TV inspires us. What we read inspires us. I think in a lot of cases our songs revolve around some aspect of a relationship. I keep a notebook (or rather, a lot of notebooks and scraps of paper and cell phone messages to myself) with song ideas that I gather as I’m going through a typical day. And then every once in a while one of those song ideas demands to be written into a full song. Charles Shaw also is very inspirational in the songwriting process!!

Ok, so what’s up with the New Moon song? What’s your ultimate goal with the song- to get it on the soundtrack? To rile up Team Edward fans?

The Twilight books were very inspiring and I remember jotting down little phrases and ideas from the book as I was reading. One day I decided to turn one of those ideas into a full song which became “Irresistible.” I wanted to capture the feelings that Jacob has for Bella in a 3 minute song and that’s what I came up with!

We don’t have any ultimate goal of getting the song on the soundtrack. I mean, we’d love it if they wanted to put it on the soundtrack!! And I really think they do need a few upbeat songs for a few of the scenes in the movie (the motorcycle scene or ending credits). But I think we just wanted to share this song with Twilight-fans because we think they’ll get it and enjoy it!! It’s a lot of fun to tie different art forms together (in this case, music with literature) and we think Twilight fans will be able to appreciate it!

The character best known for his trademark companion white cat, Blofeld has been portrayed over the years by several actors including:

• Donald Pleasance (“You Only Live Twice”)
• Telly Savalas (“On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”)
• Charles Gray (“Diamonds Are Forever”)
• Max von Sydow (“Never Say Never Again”)

Mike Myers has taken the character of Blofeld to a whole new level with “Dr. Evil” of the Austin Powers series with a scarred face and bald head.

Sheen is said to be a fan of the Bond series, and his working relationship with writer Peter Morgan is a definite notch on his side. The next, as-yet-untitled Bond flick will be the 23rd in the long-running series, which will star previous Bond man Daniel Craig.

The plot begins with a stranded duo on a seemingly abandoned spaceship, 500 million miles from earth. Clueless to their identities, how long they’ve been asleep or their reason for being trapped in space, the smaller of the duo shimmies through the small airshaft of their sleep chamber.

Finding out quickly that they aren’t alone, secrets quickly begin to unfold and a deathly reality that could affect the survival of mankind shockingly surfaces.

The trailer begs the questions:

What if you awoke with no memory?

What if the world you knew was gone?

What if you discovered you were not alone?

Dennis Quaid plays Lt. Payton, Ben Foster plays Corporal Bower and Cam plays Gallo. Director Christian Alvart’s other films include Antibodies and Case 39 with Renee Zellweger.

“It took merely 30 pages or so to make me dig my nails into it. After all she knows how to tell a story, but above she pushed all the right buttons in me. I drifted into a very pleasant and extremely romantic mood (which didn't cease for a long time) and really felt like a teenager again while reading.

“Neither when I actually WAS a teenage girl back then nor later on, did I ever go crazy for anything. But I can say that TWILIGHT is the book/movie I would have needed when I was 16. I can't imagine what it would have done to me then, as it even gives me butterflies now that I'm an adult. Well done, Mrs. Meyer - you made me drop all those lame excuses I had for not going into the studio again and put some music on tape.

Betti has combined her music along with her newfound ability to animate figures to create music videos. Her latest creation, Bedtime Stories, has come under mixed reviews from various Twilight sites by women clamoring for all things related to the Saga.

Bedtime Stories has an eerie feel combined with a rated R theme. Thoughts?

Gil Birmingham and Billy Black maintain similar qualities. “We’re both ‘down with the kids.’ We both have a genuine compassion for the human condition. We both recharge our souls with Mother Nature, and we both keep it real,” he says.

Billy Black is the patriarchal figurehead with a monumental secret, and Gil understands well both the simplicity of not being a werewolf along with the difficulties his character faces. “Billy simply loves his son and his family (tribe). Billy is the wise tribal leader, who, because he isn’t a werewolf, understands the dangers and complexities of the ‘tentative’ peace between the Cullens and the Quileute tribe,” explains Gil. “He knows the dangers that the Cullens present to Bella and others. Billy is the glue that holds the tribe and its traditions together.”

Though not a bodybuilder these days, Gil still tries to get to the gym daily as his schedule allows. Gil knows the discipline and effort required to maintain a prime physique and has nothing but compliments for his on-screen son, Taylor Lautner, aka Jacob Black, “He worked tremendously hard between Twilight and New Moon to bulk up, and it paid off. I’m impressed by the discipline and commitment that Taylor has to acting and to his work at such a young age. He will have a long and successful career.”

Gil maintains that the instant connection between him and Taylor shines on the big screen. “When it comes to Taylor, you have to like him,” he boasts. “He is so young, yet he is such a talented and well-grounded young man. I hope we can work together again in movies outside of the Twilight films.”

Finally, die-hard Twilighters concerned about the discrepancy that Billy Black is driving while wheelchair bound need to relax. It wasn’t an oversight. Gil says that there is nothing out of the ordinary about having Billy behind the wheel. “There are many individuals in wheelchairs who drive cars every day. They have specially equipped steering wheels that allow them to accelerate and brake with their hands,” Gil says, sloughing off any discrepancy insinuations. “It also allowed for a better visual view of the ‘stare’ that I give to Edward during the scene.”

Want to hear more about Gil? Read part one of the interview here. For a chance to win Bella's wardrobe enter t5m's exclusive Twilight competition click here. ]]> Gil Birmingham nails the role of Billy Black: Part Two- The Quileute tribe and working with werewolves http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/gil-birmingham-nails-the-role-of-billy-black-part-two-the-quileute-tribe-and-working-with-werewolves.html/feed http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/gil-birmingham-nails-the-role-of-billy-black-part-one-the-outsider-with-an-inside-secret.html http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/gil-birmingham-nails-the-role-of-billy-black-part-one-the-outsider-with-an-inside-secret.html#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:57:01 +0000 http://www.t5m.com/twilight-moonlighter/gil-birmingham-nails-the-role-of-billy-black-part-one-the-outsider-with-an-inside-secret.html

Gil Birmingham tackles the role of Billy Black not just convincingly. Gil IS Billy Black. And it’s not until he exposed his true nature that I could peel back Black’s exterior to reveal the complexities behind Birmingham.

A Comanche through his father’s side, Gil appreciates the benefits of his heritage and the ability to portray Native Americans who made an impact throughout history. “Projects like Into the West, by Stephen Spielberg, have given me the opportunity to explore the Native American experience in ways I might not have been able to do in other walks of life,” Gil said. “Having to reach into the depth of a character like Dogstar, for example, and understand the experiences he went through and how his life was shaped by the historic events he witnessed, helped me better understand what my own ancestors went through.”

You may be surprised to learn that Gil’s background includes polar opposites- both bodybuilding and a background in petrochemical engineering, thanks to his administration degree from USC. “I actually fell into acting during my bodybuilding days. I was asked to appear in a Diana Ross music video for her song, “Muscles,” which was written by Michael Jackson,” say Gil. “It was my first acting experience in front of a camera, and I was hooked.”

Not surprisingly, Twilight is his most memorable recent film, thanks to the youthful energy, director Catherine Hardwicke’s vision, and the sheer scope of the film, says Gil, which made Twilight a unique project.

He does admit to enjoying the diversity of roles that come his way and looks for roles that will challenge him as an actor. Two recent roles include a TV episode of the improve comedy 10 Items or Less, where Gil experienced a different pace and spontaneity than that of traditional drama.

In Love Ranch, Gil plays corrupt Sheriff Johnny Cortez, right-hand man to Joe Pesci’s character Charlie Bontempe. Based on a true story about the couple who founded the Mustang Ranch, Reno Nevada’s first legal brothel, Love Ranch is currently in post-production. “I had the opportunity to work with award-winning actress Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci, who both are extremely talented individuals,” says Gil. “I was able to watch them and how they approached their roles; it was an honor to work with them.”

For a chance to win Bella's wardrobe enter t5m's exclusive Twilight competition click here.

Watching Kelly reduce to a bemused fan just like the rest of us is not only refreshing to see, it’s a clear reminder of the mesmerizing effect and stronghold Stephenie Meyer has on millions of tweens, teens and women around the world.

Sandira Reddy, a graphics design graduate from Kingston University is using her degree and God-given talents to create hand-painted Twilight Converse sneakers. Most recently, Sandira has found a niche in the Twilight world designing beautiful pieces of jewelry for the savvy, mature fan with a little more cash to dole out than that needed for a cheap Hot Topic Twilight keychain.

Suzanne, a Twilight mom and writer, attributes her saucy poetry to the sexiness that oozes from Robert Pattinson. An excerpt from a recent poem reads:

When I heard his voice

Pour out of his heart

I felt the pierce

of an invisible dart

Wine and honey

Were never as smooth

As the man whose voice

Made my very soul move

It's exciting to see all the ways Twilighters choose to utilize their creative outlet. Some sing, others design. Some of us blog, and still others create poetry as an ode to their favorite Twilight characters and actors.

How do you choose to feed your Twilight addiction?