The Twilight Cornfield

"Twilight" franchise over, so Hollywood needs a new YA cash cow

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:25:28 GMT

Hollywood thirsts for young adult films as "Twilight" ends
By Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES | Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:46pm EST

(Reuters) - As vampires Bella and Edward take their last bites on the big screen, Hollywood studios are on the hunt for the next "Twilight," a movie that plays on teenage angst and, more importantly, lights up the movie box office.

The first four "Twilight" movies earned $2.5 billion at theaters worldwide, propelled by passionate fans of a book series about a vampire-and-werewolf teen love triangle. Box office watchers project "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" will haul in $150 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters this weekend, one of the year's biggest film debuts.

Eager to replicate that performance, studios executives have been trolling through young adult novels with the dream of uncovering the next big blockbuster franchise, paying as much as $1 million to secure the film rights to the hottest books.

Of course, the next big thing is Hunger Games. Speaking of which, Jennifer Lawrence is being touted as an Oscar favorite, although for "Silver Linings Playbook" not "The Hunger Games."

io9's final (they hope) collection of disturbing Twilight merchandise

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 05:01:54 GMT

The Most Disturbing Twilight Products OF ALL TIME

Back in 2009, we started keeping tabs on the terrible, horrible things that started trundling out on the internet shortly after the peak of Twilight fandom. And as the years passed, the Twilight merchandise only got weirder. Cold sparkle dildos, Edward-shaped body pillows, and now bloody Bella tampon tea. Yep we've seen it all. This weekend the Twilight franchise comes to a conclusion with Breaking Dawn: Part 2, and it's with heavy hearts that we offer up our final installment of The Most Disturbing Twilight Products. Here's our final wrap up of the very best actual things you can buy to celebrate what Edward's penis may (or may not) feel like.

Here it is, years and years of the best of the worst Twilight products, plus some all-new horrors too. Ready your Vampire Sparkle Lube!

I'm sure they've missed something.

There may be more Twilight books?

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:42:04 GMT

I almost put this in fandom_lounge but decided to put it here instead. According to Entertainment Weekly, there may be more Twilight coming. Here's a link to the article and I put the text under the cut:

Stephenie Meyer, the author of the wildly popular Twilight series of sexual morality plays, recently hinted to reporters that she might someday write a few more books set in the same universe and involving some of the same characters. Specifically Jacob the noble werewolf savage and the baby, an actual baby, that he romantically "imprinted" on and who is the half-vampire daughter of the girl he used to love. Yeah, Meyer might someday tell us, in book form, what happens to them. So, that's potentially good news for Taylor Lautner and mostly miserable news for everyone else. I mean really what more can Meyer teach us about a woman's responsibility to control her boyfriend's sexual urges? She's already taught us plenty! We don't need any more. We really, really don't. Please, Stephenie. Think of us. Think of all of us. [Entertainment Weekly]

Forgive me if this is old news, but I certainly hadn't heard it.

A new biography of SMeyer by academics

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 02:53:53 GMT

Arizona State University: 'Twilight' phenomenon among new faculty books
Posted: June 06, 2012

In 2005, Stephenie Meyer, a stay-at-home mom from Arizona, published her first novel, which was inspired by a vivid dream. “Twilight” was followed by four more books, and Meyer found herself as the best-selling author in the world.

What happens when a mom becomes a star? ASU associate professor of English James Blasingame and two ASU graduates, Kathleen Deakin and Laura A. Walsh, explore that question in their new book about Meyer.
...
“Stephenie Meyer: In the Twilight,” by James Blasingame, ASU associate professor of English, Kathleen Deakin (PhD Curriculum & Instruction, English Education 2010), and Laura A. Walsh (PhD Curriculum & Instruction, English Education 2010).

Synopsis: Inspired by a vivid dream, Stephenie Meyer, a stay-at-home mom, wrote a manuscript that started a worldwide sensation that has yet to abate. In 2005, her debut novel, “Twilight,” crashed onto the shore of teen literature like a literary tsunami. Four books later, she had become the top-selling author in the world. When the final book in the “Twilight” series, “Breaking Dawn,” was released in 2008, more than a million copies were sold on the first day alone. The popular-culture phenomenon of Stephenie Meyer and her writing is much more than the sum total of her weeks on the bestseller list, however.

This book looks at the life and work of this author, beginning with her childhood and covering her teen years and life before stardom. This volume also profiles Meyer’s world since becoming a cultural icon. In addition to discussing Meyer’s writing style, the chapters also explore each of her books, with a final chapter focusing on her presence in social media and public events.

ASU decided to promote this book ahead of academic studies of "Pakistan and New Spain, and look at marriage, language policy and poetry." Also, it's available at Barnes and Noble for $37.50 hardcover and $28.99 on the Nook. I think I'll wait for the paperback edition.

The Men Who Camped Out for Twilight

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:18:14 GMT

The Men Who Camped Out for Twilight: A Photo Essay

I personally don't want to make fun of these guys, especially considering my own age and fannishness, but this was still amusing.

(Last picture may be slightly NSFW as it features a T-shirt with Kristen Stewart flipping people off. Then again looking at the whole thing is worth it just for that.)

Anne Rice goes a-trollin'.

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 14:04:12 GMT

Anne Rice has posted a message on her Facebook page:

Lestat and Louie feel sorry for vampires that sparkle in the sun. They would never hurt immortals who choose to spend eternity going to high school over and over again in a small town —- anymore than they would hurt the physically disabled or the mentally challenged. My vampires possess gravitas. They can afford to be merciful.

As of yesterday: 8,000+ "likes" and 1,800+ comments.

(h/t MediaBistro)

Mitt Romney is a Twilight fan

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:46:45 GMT

Gawker has the video clip from the Today Show

ETA: io9 has their own version, which points out it could be worse. He could still be an L. Ron Hubbard fan.

Robert Pattinson confirms vamp caesarean in Breaking Dawn

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:11:29 GMT

Robert Pattinson tells Total Film that the scene where his character performs a caesarean with his teeth on wife, Bella (Kristen Stewart), has been filmed for the final part of the Twilight franchise, Breaking Dawn.

"Yeah, I’ve done it," RPattz laughed, "I’ve chewed it, spat it out!"

Though he's not allowed to give much more away (joking with Ryan Seacrest recently that he gets 'beaten' for revealing details), Pattinson promises that Breaking Dawn will be "very different to the other films - more like a horror film."

"Just some of the source material makes it inevitably more different. It's completely nuts, the book."

Breaking Dawn Rating Discussion

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:54:51 GMT

"The filmmakers are united in their desire to honor the spirit of the book while maintaining the invaluable PG-13 rating [for Breaking Dawn].

"Vampires doing kicks." "Soft porn." "A crime against our audience." "Newlywed tension." Fear not, Twi-hards, your beloved movie franchise will not contain any of those potentially offensive elements, even as its final two chapters tackle the thorny issues of sexual intimacy, a bloody birth, and a director known for his musical numbers. Except for "newlywed tension": that will definitely be an important component of 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1,' due out in theaters in November.

Producer Wyck Godfrey explained to USA Today that domestic issues will take precedence over the action in 'Breaking Part 1,' as Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) discover marriage "is not quite the experience that they thought it was," especially after enjoying a "romantic and sensual" -- but definitely not "soft porn"! -- honeymoon. The picture above, released a while back, is a "morning after" look at Bella's arm, which may give you an idea of the chaste tastefulness that will characterize the night when Bella loses more than her memory. But what of the product of their love?

When their love child bursts forth from Bella's body in a hail of blood, bones, and gooey stuff, it will all be seen from Bella's point of view, "looking through the haze" of a very painful experience, thus neatly side-stepping the more explicit descriptions in Stephenie Meyer's novel. The producer says "it would be a crime against our audience to go R-rated." This confirms what screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg said last summer. (For a more extensive weighing of the pros and cons of showing the bloody birth scene on the big screen, see this great article by our own Jessica Barnes -- and check out the passionate debate it sparked.)

The interview features other tidbits of information: where, exactly, the book will be split ("The first part will cover the wedding, the honeymoon and the birth. The film ends just before she embarks on her supernatural transformation"); how Jacob's section of the book will be handled in the films; why Bill Condon ('Dreamgirls') was selected to direct; and the possibility of a vampire "soft-shoe shuffle." If nothing else, it's clear that the filmmakers are united in their desire to honor the spirit of the book while maintaining the invaluable PG-13 rating. Whether they succeed or not will be entirely up to you.

The line that jumped out at me was, "The producer says 'it would be a crime against our audience to go R-rated.'" My good sir, you do not know your central audience for Breaking Dawn.

Just when you thought you'd seen all the Twilight tattoos possible...

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:47:18 GMT

from io9:

World's Biggest Twilight Back Tattoo

I'm trying to provide some sort of relevant commentary, but all I've got is "OH GOD WHY"

Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:23:48 GMT

Nuttymadam was just featured on the Idiot Awards. She won the award for most idiotic fan, which was presented to her by one of the wolf pack chaps? I think? I didn't recognise him. She seemed to take it in good humour, so, good for her?

Edit: Yeah, she seems happy.

The 'Anti-Twilight'?

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:19:07 GMT

Stephen King's vampire is anit-"Twilight" and evil.

King wouldn't have it any other way.

Sweet, he said in an interview, is the "anti-'Twilight' vampire, the anti-Edward," a "dissolute Kurt Cobain" with a mean streak a mile wide and a sweet tooth for hard candy to match.

But the really exciting thing, for me, was this.

So far, King said, he's hooked and "American Vampire" won't be his last foray into comic books. He's mulling a creator-owned book for Vertigo and possibly another tale about Sweet, too, that he's discussed with Snyder.

I'll admit to being very intrigued as to what he might decide to do.

I know I was waiting to hear about Bella's dress, how about you guys?

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:04:14 GMT

Breaking Dawn Update! Which Star Is Stripping Down?

Actually, the thing that caught my eye in this article that I thought might be worth sharing was this:

Oh, and some not-so-hot news from down south: Apparently the wedding dress Bella wears isn't as hot as the sex scenes.

"It's hideous," dishes our insider. "And it's not the designer's fault. Let's just say someone who has final say on the matter has decided upon a terribly conservative and ugly gown."

This is going to be AWESOME.

Birth scene in Breaking Dawn to be "intense" and "tasteful"

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:35:39 GMT

According to cast members Jackson Rathbone and Nikki Reed, the scene in Breaking Dawn where Bella gives birth to Renesmee will be "intense" and "tasteful".

Jackson Rathbone tells me that the cast is very impressed by screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg's treatment of the much-talked-about birthing scene in B.D. "I think people are really, really excited and surprised about how tastefully it can be done," he said at Spike TV's Scream Awards.

Nikki Reed echoed Rathbone's enthusiasm. "It's intense," she said. "It's really intense."

TWILIGHT HAND MODEL BREAKS SILENCE

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:46:44 GMT

EXTRA EXTRA

IMPORTANT NEWS BULLETIN. PLEASE DO NOT ADJUST YOUR INTERNET TUBES. LIFE CHANGING ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT TO BE MADE HERE.
Kimbra Hickey Reveals Self to Be Twilight Hand Model

"Now the New Yorker occasionally offers autographs near her local bookstore’s cash register when someone picks up a copy of the book. She also attends fan conventions, where she markets hand lotion — apple-scented, of course. She’s expressed interest in being cast in the Breaking Dawn movie, “even if they only wanted my hands in it.”
Hickey got $300 for the 2004 photo shoot that became Twilight’s cover and says she’s aware of at least four fans who have tattoos of her famous mitts.
As it happens, Hickey’s hands aren’t just for “looking.”
She’s also a massage therapist."

THE MOAR YOU KNOW

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:47:04 GMT

Robert Pattinson wants own religion.

The ambitious, young actor thinks this is the best way to make people bow at his feet. And besides, “There are lucrative tax breaks given to religions. I definitely wouldn’t have to pay taxes anymore,” he said. The 24-year-old actor also revealed how author Stephanie Meyer hides Mormon teachings and philosophy in her vampire books, “especially final tome Breaking Dawn in which character Bella Swan decides to keep a baby even though it threatens her life.”

Probably said as a joke, but I think we should call this is as the next Scientology anyway,.

Good god in hell...

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:09:38 GMT

Supreme Court Nominee Kagan declines to take sides on 'Twilight' debate

WASHINGTON -- Team Edward or Team Jacob? That's one debate Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan steered clear of.

At her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, Kagan was asked by Sen. Amy Klobuchar about "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" movie, which opened this week. The franchise has a huge following among teenage girls and has sparked debate over whether the tormented heroine Bella should choose Edward the vampire or Jacob the werewolf.

The senator jokingly asked Kagan's thoughts on "the vampire versus the werewolf."

Kagan, who has declined to say how she might rule on issues that could come before the court, dodged this one - presumably on other grounds. She said she hadn't seen the film, and wished the senator wouldn't pose the question.

Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, said she realized Kagan "can't comment on future cases. So I'll leave that alone."

I'm scared now...

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:19:04 GMT

Linked, because sylva can't embed video. Ever. ):
Those poor patrons, all they wanted was a freakin' cheeseburger!

Edit: And there are toys as well? I love the accusations of racism being bandied about in the comments.

Robert Pattinson Is (Gulp) Distantly Related to Dracula

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:03:50 GMT

-People, why did you nix the publication of Teen People again? More importantly, why did I subscribe to your newsletter? Perhaps for random gems like this:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20396558,00.html

"Not to sound batty, but it appears vampire blood may really run through Robert Pattinson's veins."

I am sorry guys but you are coming of as pretty dang batty there. lion_lamb is already on the case as well: http://community.livejournal.com/lion_lamb/7348543.html

No trees were harmed in the filming of "Eclipse."

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:58:31 GMT

Mother Nature Network: 'Eclipse' director embraces green filmmaking
David Slade says he tried to leave only footprints while filming latest chapter in the 'Twilight' series.
Michael d'Estries

As the release date for the highly anticipated "Eclipse" film approaches (and young women everywhere work on their screams of joy), we're starting to learn a bit more of what went on behind-the-scenes; particularly with regards to keeping the production green.

Actually, it's a relief that any attention to this aspect was even considered. Director David Slade labeled himself as "fatalistic" a few years ago when it came to humans and their impact on the environment.

In an interview with Artcotic.com he said, "...there's so much burying of heads in sand going on in the U.S., people are finally beginning to recognize that the environment is dying but it's far too late, and I am conflicted."

"In England right now people talk endlessly about how they can preserve energy, people use Blackle rather than Google to save power output on their laptops and it is really making such a tiny difference," he added. "I mean every little bit helps, but I kind of wonder whether it's a form of conscience-appeasing for most people, you know driving a Hybrid or what have you. I applaud it all, but the planet IS dying and I really believe it is too late to resuscitate it, and eventually we will have to come to terms with life on a corpse."

While filming "Eclipse", Slade must have put his fatalistic side to rest, as the director did try to reduce the production's impact on the forests where they were shooting in and around Vancouver.

"For a film shoot, you do need specific things, but on this one, the conservation of the nature that we went to was a very big concern," he told ShockTillYouDrop.com. "We made sure that we didn't touch or damage anything that was there, and we left everything exactly as best we could."

The producers also made an effort to save and reuse set pieces from previous films in the series and make the whole process as efficient as possible.

So while Slade may believe that the human race is doomed, he obviously not trying to hurry the process along. "We were as responsible as we could be," he added, "but certainly that was one of the biggest things for us, was going into one of the most beautiful natural habitats and then making sure we left them exactly as we found them."

"Eclipse" opens June 30.

I don't care about the books or movies other than as a source of snark (I have a Twilight/Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines crossover in the works, and it's reading the Twilight books that's the hangup for me), but I like reading about any sincere effort at sound environmental business practices.

ETA: The LJ-cut wouldn't work, so I edited it out.

Emma Roberts was driven from Twitter by Twilight fans

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:49:05 GMT

San Jose Mercury News:

This just in — some "Twilight" fans might just be a wee bit nuts.

Emma Roberts found that out this week. The 19-year-old actress and niece of Julia Roberts was forced to disable her Twitter account after receiving oceans of hate mail and even some death threats from "Twilight" fans after remarking on the "Tonight Show" that, on the great debate over who should win the heart of Bella (Kristen Stewart), she was on "Team Jacob (Taylor Lautner's character) rather than Team Edward (Robert Pattinson's). The remark was devoid of malice and was actually uttered in the company of Pattison, who chuckled and quipped, "You've just revealed yourself to have absolutely no taste."

Roberts later posted on Twitter that Pattinson in real life "was so nice" and joked that she was "slightly disappointed (that) his skin wasn't glittering." Then came the outpouring of cyber vitriol that forced Roberts to disable her Twitter account.

Reports on Friday said another issue might have contributed to the Team Edwards' collective wrath. The reports have it that Roberts is buds with, maybe dating, Michael Angarano, the actor who was Stewart's boyfriend before she started filming "Twilight" and reportedly took up with Pattinson. Team Edwards fans apparently hate Angarano. A lot.

Daily Mail:

One of the milder tweets aimed at Roberts was, 'Team Jacob? Ewwwwwwwww!!!!!'
Another fan wrote: 'If you came on Leno and had a beef with then you deserve what you are getting but if not I feel bad for you.'

Even the actors are disagreeing with Rosenburg.

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:14:15 GMT

In light of yesterday's post, I changed my mind about posting this here.

Robert Pattinson Wants "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" to be X-Rated.

"I would love it if 'Breaking Dawn' became a totally hardcore series for adults," he told Premiere magazine. "Can you imagine if they decided to go full out and 'Twilight' suddenly became this totally hardcore series for adults with nude scenes? Summit would suddenly become the most progressive studio in the world. It would be funny."

Personally, I think he wants nekkid scenes so he can drop trou and moon the Twifans all while pretending it's just fan-service.

Will we get a graphic version of Renesmee's birth in the Breaking Dawn movies?

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:11:14 GMT

Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg answers the question.

MoG: Speaking of which, [spoiler alert!] fans are crazy over Bella losing her virginity, the graphic birth of her and Edward's child, and her vampire transformation. Any idea how you'll handle such serious imagery?

MR: On the fan site, on Facebook, all the comments are "It has to be R rated! You have to show the childbirth! Gore and guts and sex!" For me it's actually more interesting to not see it. You know, you can do childbirth without seeing childbirth ... it doesn't mean it's any less evocative of an experience.

Bonus wank in the comments as the fans argue about Melissa's adaptations of the books for the big screen.

D: D: D:

Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:52:18 GMT

A Glimpse Inside The Rooms Of Twilight Super Fans.

Make sure you click through and look at all the pictures on ONTD.

The Count vs Edward

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:21:40 GMT

Down for the Count by ~poopbear on deviantART

One!

One punch to your sparkly face!

*lightning* *thunder*

AH AH AH AH!