It's hard to believe it's really over. We're guessing the lack of Twilight at Comic-Con won't really kick in until next year, when all those other excited fandoms head to San Diego and we're left behind. But at least we have the memories... and the hope Stephenie Meyer really meant five years instead of fifteen, when she gave a timeline of when she might go back to writing about her family of vampires.
This year it was a mix of emotions at Comic-Con, because of the sudden death of a Twilight fan. But as it always seems to happen in difficult times, fans came together to honor the memory of Gisela Gagliardi who was also remembered during the Breaking Dawn Part 2 panel.
We arrived at Comic-Con just in time for preview night, and then headed straight to Camp Twilight where fans were about to get a visit from 28 Breaking Dawn Part 2 cast members and Stephenie Meyer!
We were lucky enough to be invited by Think Jam, to a special screening of Bel Ami this week. And our reps Lisa and Jessica were treated to more than just Georges on the screen, although that would have been more than enough ;)
Here is Jessica's review end exclusive pictures:
Bel Ami. Beautiful friend. Either way you say it is sums up my feelings on Rob Pattinson. I feel like it has been ages since we have met—me in the theatre and him on the screen, and I savoured every minute of it. Bel Ami was a wonderful catalyst for our cinematic encounter. Not only was the film breathtaking in all of its period glory but it’s themes of seduction and power were insurmountable, couple those things with the wonder that is Rob and you have the perfect equation. I can honestly say I left the screening without words.
When I arrived with my lovely friend Lisa I can tell you I was absolutely awe struck. Having never been to an advance screening before my thoughts on what it would be like were running rampant. However, I never imagined turning up at the very beautiful Soho Hotel for a trip to the movies. This was a perfect location for a screening of Bel Ami. You could just smell the money in the air and could definitely imagine the high flyers and deal makers holed up in their rooms with room service and an unlimited supply of Champagne.
The screening rooms were downstairs and the lovely Alice who was in charge of the event greeted us. She led us through to the screening room where a waiter offered us drinks ranging from Coca-Cola in the glass bottles and French still and sparkling water to delicious white wine.
Lisa and I grabbed our drinks and started to “drink in” our surroundings. The room was all black accented with love seats upholstered in red leather and animal prints. Most of the guests were already in their chairs and you could just feel the buzz of excitement. The screening was for a very intimate crowd, I don’t think there were more than 50 of us so the entire experience was very special.
Things got underway with a few prize giveaways. Under a few chosen seats were post cards that were numbered one to five. The first two were given signed posters from Christina Ricci, the Bel Ami novel, and a 3 pack of DVDs. The other three received a poster.
Sadly I didn’t win anything but did sneak a photo of one of the winners seated in front of me. After the prize giveaways the film started and I was drawn into the world of the power hungry Georges Duroy and the events that lead to his destruction, or as he would say success.
Over all I would say that I found the film to be intriguing. I was constantly finding my self wondering what is going to happen, how Georges was going to make it on this path to social stardom, and who was it that he ultimately loved? - While the feeling of suspense and being caught up in the story is what I ideally love to encounter whilst watching a film, I found Bel Ami to leave me a bit wanting. Without giving too much away, I didn’t find that the story really led me to a place of satisfaction. However, the journey was exciting enough that I didn’t mind the ride!
Rob played the part of the “down and out soldier looking for his place in the world” character brilliantly. In true Rob fashion, every layer of emotion that Georges was feeling and experiencing was evident in every move and expression Rob made. You truly could feel the anger seeping out of him on to the screen and straight into your soul. The honesty that Rob brought to the film was stunning. The supporting cast didn’t do so bad themselves. I would have to say that Christina Ricci’s character, Clotilde de Marelle, was probably my favourite. Clotilde was a young wife who clearly married for social stature but was a lively and adventurous girl who longed for love and excitement and she found that with Georges. I found my self captivated by her perception of Georges Duroy, and throughout the entire film I was rooting for them. Go see them film to find out the status of all the relationships and try and make sense of the tangled web that this film has woven—believe me it is worth it.
I highly recommend that not only should Rob fans see this film but lovers of period dramas and enthusiastic film buffs should as well. It is a wonderful depiction of human nature and the trials and tribulations of fighting your way up the social ladder. As an audience member you will no doubt find your self transported to this frustrating time in Paris. I know that I was, and I hope you find it as moving as I and my other fellow screeners did. The hotel lobby was buzzing with chatter of the film and of the intense performance that Rob conveyed. All in all it was a great night had by all.
Thank you Jessica and Lisa for making us long for Georges even more now - Bel Ami is out in UK theaters. Go watch and support Rob!
Sam Bradley just wrapped up the tour in support of his latest EP 'Zuni'. We had the chance to catch up with him when he made a stop in Vancouver, and he shared everything from quirky fan encounters, to future plans and his message to fans. And what did Sam think about Water for Elephants? - he answered that too.
Learn more about Sam's music at his site and give him a follow on twitter. He loves hearing from fans, and puts on one hell of a show. Don't miss him if he comes your way!
We were lucky enough to be on the red carpet at the Water for Elephants world premiere in New York April 17th, and we have the goods to share with fans. As we made our way there, TV reporters were already broadcasting live from outside the Ziegfeld theatre. They talked to fans who had spent the night in hurricane-like conditions (not kidding) for their chance to meet Rob.
While we waited to be allowed to take our spot on the red carpet, we could see cameras going up and down the line of eager fans waiting for the cast to arrive. And then it was our turn to start getting nervous.
We were standing towards the end of the carpet, sandwiched between two celebrity online sites. A Fox representative came over and explained that we'd likely have to ask group questions, since the cast would not have time to talk to each site individually. It wasn't long after that, when we heard the screams. Anyone who's been to Rob's film premieres knows that's the signal he has arrived. He showed up early so he could spend more time with the fans who had spent a night in the elements to see him. As he slowly made his way down the line of posters and books to sign (with traffic behind him and an army of bodyguards around him), all we could do is watch from across the street.
As we waited for Rob and the rest of the cast, other VIPs started walking the red carpet, including his gorgeous family.
Robert Pattinson News Blog Contributor Cindy recently had the opportunity to do a one on one interview with Paul Darnell. In this exclusive interview, Paul talks about his passion for Parkour & Freerunning, his teammates and their new gym, and his experiences working with Rob on different sets.
Read how this all came together in Cindy's words, and please credit and link back to us if you post on your blog/site.
Last August when it was announced that “Water for Elephants” would be filming in the Chattanooga, TN area I knew this would be an opportunity of a lifetime to watch Hollywood magic at its best. I count myself lucky just to stand by and watch how hard the entire crew and talent worked to make a beautiful story become real. While I was at the base camp in Tennessee my friend Cheryl and I saw Paul Darnell, and it dawned on us what he was there for. A lot of fans in the Twilight world know Paul as the stunt double in the original movie; he’s the guy who Robert Pattinson thanked at the MTV awards for the “Best Fight Award” that Rob won with Cam Gigandet. But there is so much more to Paul than being a stunt performer/double; he really does live an exciting life!
WFE Base Camp in TN - Photo Credit Cheryl Hagan
I know you are really passionate about Parkour. Can you share your dream and vision about this with us?
Parkour opened my eyes to a different way of viewing my world. It led me into freerunning where I have been able to travel around the world, meet the most amazing people and do things with my body I never imaged. Parkour is the practice of efficient movement through your environment. Freerunning is the art of movement. Even though they are both very similar and originated from the same roots, freerunning focuses more on the creative side of movement. It allows you to express yourself through your movements.
How did you first become interested in Parkour?
I was a kid who enjoyed sports and all types of movement. I played basketball, baseball, and tennis throughout high school. After team practices and on weekends I would try my hand at break dancing, bmx biking and extreme jumping. Extreme jumping or XJ as me and my friends would call it was my beginning into parkour. We would go around and jump over and off all sorts of things. It was just fun to see how far you could jump or how high of a roof you could jump off of. It definitely wasn't the smartest thing I did as a kid, because we really had no technique to landing and I'm sure I did some damage to my knees. After seeing an episode of “Ripley's Believe it or Not?” on a parkour group in France called the Yamakasi, I discovered people were doing the same thing as me but with more technique. I was on a mission to find out as much as I could about this French movement.
Photo Credit www.tempestfreerunning.com
How difficult is the training and what has been the biggest thrill of this sport?
The training has never been difficult, because you are always playing.It's about seeing a railing or wall and playing with different ways to jump over or balance on. Through playing you discover new movements and in the process you are getting an amazing workout and staying in shape while freerunning has never been an issue for me.
How many competitions have you competed in for Free Running?
I have competed in only 3 competitions. After my second one, I injured my knee so I took a break from competing. During this break I became a judge for competitions. While the competitions have never been my main focus, I do enjoy them very much. Mainly, because they turn into a big jam session where you get to hang out with all of your YouTube heroes.
Tell us how you and your Tempest teammates started and how many members are in the group?
Tempest was started in Blacksburg, VA with a friend of mine. We formed Tempest to become a leading brand, much like a skateboarding company, in the freerunning/parkour scene. Our goal was to push the limits of what is physically possible and add some style to it.
Tempest has since grown to 11 talented members. We are based out of Los Angeles, CA where I soon moved to after college.
Meet Tempest
I hear Tempest is opening up a gym in the Los Angeles area, what can you tell us about that?
YES! And we are very very excited! This has been a dream of mine since Tempest was first formed. It will be the first gym in California dedicated to the sport of freerunning and parkour. Much like an indoor skate park, the Tempest Freerunning Academy will be a spot that people from all ages and around the world can train and learn how to move.
One of the biggest features our gym will have to offer is a 36ft long foam pit! Pits are key for learning new moves. With 36ft of foam you are sure to be well protected when trying a flip for the first time.
Is there a website or online social network site fans can go to for updates?
We are currently building the gym's website which should be available the 2nd week of February. Right now our Tempest Freerunning facebook page is where we post all of our updates and photos of the gym. It's looking amazing!
I understand you have a television show coming up. Can you tell us about it?
I do! The show is called JUMP CITY which will air on G4. You can check G4tv.com for show times.
Commercial for Tempest on JUMP CITY
Will the show also be available online for the fans?
If you don't have G4 full episodes will be available the day after on G4tv.com and iTunes.
You also work as a stunt performer/double. Why and when did you decide on this as a career?
As I mentioned before, I have always been interested in human movement and exploring what the human body can do. Watching Jackie Chan films and seeing all of the creative stunts he performed I knew that is what I wanted to become. I didn't know how, but I knew that's what I wanted to do for a living.
Check out Paul's Stunt Reel - the video includes some of his Twilight stunts.
What is the most dangerous stunt you have done for a film?
The most dangerous stunt I have performed so far in my career is a fire burn for the movie Battleship. I was lit on fire and had to jump off the top of a sinking boat 30ft down into the water.
What a rush!
Fire is serious stuff. I have had two of my close friends and teammates burnt while working with fire on set. Fire is definitely one of the gnarly-est stunts to do no matter how big.
What has been your favorite stunt for film so far?
To pick a favorite would be very tough. Doing stunts is so much fun, sometimes I forget that I'm working and getting paid to play. Freerunning stunts are definitely some of my favorite stunts to do in movies. Getting to double Adam Sandler and performrunning gainer off a 12ft high box van definitely stands out as a highlight. I did the gainer 3 times and after each take Adam was so stoked and excited. He would have me come over and watch playback with him to show me how good it looked on film. I will always remember that.
Unfortunatelymy knees have taken a beating and I had to have surgery on my right knee for a torn meniscus. Too much extreme jumping ;)
How did you react when Robert Pattinson thanked you for his Twilight “Best Fight” MTV Movie Award? Can you share your experience in filming that scene?
First let me say that Robert Pattinson is an amazingly humble person and a very hard worker. He works very hard and shows up to every rehearsal. The last battle scene in Twilight was very intense. Many of the stunts involved hard hits with wires and crashes which are so much fun to do! Without risking personal injury to Rob, I ended up doing the majority of stunts in the final battle which won the award.
I was at a friend's house and I started getting text messages and phone calls from friends saying "I think Rob Pattinson just thanked you on national TV". I was really stoked and also a little confused by the "I think" part. Immediately I went online and found a video of Rob's speech where he gave me credit for the award but said the wrong last name. To his credit, someone had misspelled my name on a photo shoot for LA Magazine and my wrong last name was plastered all over the internet. None the less, I was so stoked that he would even think of me for a shot out. Actors rarely do that for stuntmen. Rob is a very considerate individual and true gentleman. When I saw him on the set of Remember Me he immediately apologized for the mishap.
How has the experience of being Robert Pattinson’s stunt double varied from Twilight to Remember Me to Water for Elephants for you?
It has been amazing to see Rob's fame grow and grow. His fan base is grown so much since the first Twilight and I am very happy for him. He also continues to stay the same humble guy each time I see him.
Paul Darnell dressed as "Jacob" at the WFE Base Camp in TN
Photo Credit by Cheryl Hagan
Can you share any of the experience of last summer’s filming of Water for Elephants?
A terrific book turned into an even greater film with three outstanding actors. Reese, Rob and Christoph, worked together amazingly. Rob also did an amazing job learning and performing the fights and working with the animals. Rob has a scene feeding tigers, REAL tigers, that could eat you if they wanted. Rob played it cool and had no problems working with them at all. Probably better than I could.
Exclusive Picture - Never Published
Robert Pattinson on set at "Jacob's House" - GA
Photo Credit Cheryl Hagan
What are you currently working on?
I'm lucky enough to be working again with Rob on Breaking Dawn which has even more action than any of the other Twilights. Can't say much other than it is going to be an amazing film!
Paul I really appreciate you taking the time to answer some questions and letting the fans know a little about you and your experiences.
Thanks so much!
To find out more about Paul Career check outPaul'sIMDb page.
Don't forget to catch the new show "Jump City" which features Tempest with Paul as it debuts next Tuesday the 15th at G4 at 8:00 EST.
UPDATE 1/16: We've added the still of this smoldering moment. Check it out now!
You are looking at the first official still of Edward and Bella in Breaking Dawn. Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive on its next issue (with Johnny Depp on the cover). Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight (E! too?) have a preview tonight.
Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive first look at The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. The shot, which is only available in Entertainment Weekly’s print edition, features Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) as husband and wife…on their wedding night. “It’s one of the most anticipated scenes,” Breaking Dawn director Bill Condon tells EW. “I spent a tremendous amount of time thinking about it. The anticipation is part of it and you want to play with what people expect and maybe subvert it a little and surprise them.”For more information about Breaking Dawn (in theaters Nov. 18), check out this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly
From the first time you meet him, you'll know Lee MacDougall is something special. He'll draw you in with his warm personality, and when he hits the stage his voice will mesmerize you. After dreaming of becoming a musician since he was a child, his hard work is about to pay off as he embarks on his first US tour early next year.
We had the opportunity to chat with Lee and ask him fan submitted questions, plus a few of our own.
Can you share some background/on the lyrics/inspiration/story behind these following songs?
'She'
On the surface "She" is very poppy and up tempo, but it's actually quite a dark song with some pretty serious lyrics. I have met a few people who have had to overcome some very serious things in their lives, whether it be bad upbringings or turbulent and abusive relationships, and so they've grown up to be quite insecure about themselves or they have suffered from low self esteem. I just wanted to write something positive and hopeful, it's just a little message to someone saying that even if sometimes you don't feel too good about yourself or you find it hard to love yourself - things can get better and there's beauty in everybody.
'Falling in Love For The Last Time'
I'm sure everyone has been here at some stage or other. Imagine being totally obsessed with someone, but they don't feel the same way. And to make it worse, they know how you feel, but rather than put you out of your misery they play innocent and pretend to be unaware of the effect they are having because they enjoy the attention and being in control. It's a true story about a guy obsessed with a girl and he knows deep down that she is probably no good for him, but he just can't help himself because being with her feels so good. He wants her so bad it makes him sick. I quite like the twist, he's falling in love for the last time both because he knows he will never love anyone else this much, and because it hurts so bad he doesn't want to go through it again!
'How To Be'
My friend Robert Pattinson told me about a movie he was making called "How To Be" and that he was to play a guy who was a bit of a super loser. He said the guy wanted to be a singer, but couldn't really sing, and his girlfriend dumps him, and he is just generally a bit lost with his life and doesn't really know where he's going. I thought it sounded really funny, and a good idea for a song, and being both actors and musicians struggling to achieve a higher degree of success at the time, I think we could both identify a little with the character. I said that I was going to try and write the theme tune for the movie based on what he had told me and I went home and wrote it in a couple of days. I went back to his house and played it to everyone and everybody really liked it, so I gave Rob a CD to give to the people doing the movie. Unbeknown to us though, I think the soundtrack had already been selected and I was too late, so it never made the cut. I didn't mind too much because soon after I started to play the song live and it got such a great reaction from the crowd that I just decided to keep it for myself. I always have to tell the story behind it when I play it because people still assume it's about me! The amusing thing is, looking back at it though and how I felt at the time, I think it probably is semi-autobiographical.
You play gigs with Lizzy Pattinson once in a while, but fans want to know if you would you like to collaborate with Rob Pattinson musically in the future and have you ever played together?
Yes we have - but only if you count jamming on the piano in his living room! We've never done an actual gig together, although he did used to come and watch my shows in London. Rob is a really natural musician, he's amazing on the piano - although he always claims he doesn't really know what he's doing, but I think he's just very modest. We have quite different styles, but that can often produce the best results. Of course if the chance ever presented itself to collaborate I think it would be great, and a lot of fun. Would you guys like to see Rob and I collaborate? (Us: Yes please!)
What kind of music are you working on at this moment and what is the significance of it?
All my songs are pretty much true stories, and often quite personal, and I hope significant in the sense that in a time were almost all music is manufactured - people can relate to the honesty and sincerity in them. I'd like to do some more film soundtrack stuff too. My newest song called "Stay" is probably the most haunting ballad that I've written so far and I think that it would be perfect for a movie.
Artist you most look up to and why?
I don't really look up to any artists. I admire talent and determination in people to succeed, but I wouldn't say I look up to anyone. It's just entertainment. I look up to soldiers and doctors and people who devote their lives to helping others and seldom receive the credit they deserve for it.
What are you most looking forward to when you go on Tour in the US?
Everything! The chance to visit so many different places and to meet so many great people. I love US culture too. Just to be able play a song that I've written in my bedroom in a tiny flat in London, all across America in places like New York, Nashville, San Fransisco, and hopefully to have people singing along - that's going to be an amazing feeling.
Yes, providing I don't accidentally turn left at Georgia and end up in Disney World - I'm 99.9% certain I'll be playing at South by Southwest.
Is an album on the way and can you give us a preview of what will be in it?
Yes, I'm just putting the finishing touches to an album that I'll be selling at shows on the road next year. It's going to be a limited edition collection of the best of all the demo's and little tales that I've recorded so far. Kind of like a diary of my life since moving to London a few years ago.
Favorite on-stage moment and why?
I did a show with US band Train recently in London. It was sold out, and my biggest show in London so far. Half way through I asked the crowd to sing along. I stopped playing guitar and the whole crowd sang the song back to me word for word. It was an amazing feeling and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
What makes you smile each day?
My family, my friends. Having the support of so many incredible people. Reading letters from fans. Just being able to have the chance to exist doing the thing I love. I feel very lucky so far.
Finally, do you have a message for fans who you have connected with online and many of which you will meet in person in the coming months?
Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. It's your support that is enabling me to be able to tour across the USA and Canada, and hopefully Europe too. I'm really looking forward to repaying you all with some fantastic shows and looking forward to saying hello in person as opposed to through a computer screen!
To find out Lee's tour dates and hear more of his music, check out his MySpace. You can also find him on Facebook and YouTube, and make sure to give him a follow on twitter.
Summit has partnered up with Wrigley for this new Eclipse promotion that gives fans a chance to see some sort of "secret footage" from the film. The pretty awesome site set up for it is now live, and runs through the end of March, 2011. While it answers most questions on how the promotion works, as far as the videos it only says there are five clips to be unlocked and 30 images with *exclusive* content. Read all the details at eclipsesecrets.com and share the scoop if you win!
