Kristen: Blue Water Comics FAME cover

MTV exclusively premiered Kristen Stewart’s cover of Blue Water comic’s FAME series. Here is the official press statement of the company:

Actress Kristen Stewart to get Fame treatment from Bluewater Productions

Actress Kristen Stewart became an instant celebrity the moment she signed on to play Bella, the love interest of vampire-with-a-soul Edward in the Twilight series of vampire/romance movies based on the popular novels of the same name.

Now Stewart is making the leap to full-on celebrity: She is the newest star of Bluewater Productions’ Fame series of biography comics coming in June.

But Stewart has been acting long before Twilight, and most of her work hasn’t involved vampires or werewolves. In fact, anyone who has watched the coming-of-age drama/comedy Adventureland, knows just how powerful of an actress Stewart can be.

Fame brings to life in graphic form the stories of the world’s biggest celebrities. The series premieres in May and covers the life stories of Lady GaGa & Robert Pattinson. Future editions will include the stories of Taylor Swift and soccer sensation David Beckham.

Writer Kim Sherman, who has also penned Bluewaters’ Robert Pattinson entry in the series, said that Stewart’s versatility and talent might surprise readers who only know her as Bella.

“For Twilight fans, Kristen Stewart is a woman whom fans long to be and love to hate,” Sherman said. “But Kristen has been in the public eye for years, and her career as a serious actor spans dozens of films over a 10-year period of time. My goal with this biography was to show readers the depth residing in this young woman and the roles she’s beautifully tackled through a series of spot shots, pinups and word art.”

Sherman added that the art on this book, provided by renowned artist Warren Martineck, perfectly brings Stewart’s story to life.

“Well-known artist Warren Martineck, of Marvel and D.C. fame, takes my script and provides an amazing viewpoint of the beauty, the grit and the individuality which defines Miss Stewart,” Sherman said.

The 32-page comic book, Fame: Kristen Stewart will be available in June, and will retail for $3.99. Two covers will be available: cover A, by Juanmar Studios which attaches like a puzzle to the FAME: Robert Pattinson issue. Cover B is done by famed comic book artist Randy Green “X-men and Witchblade”.

Bluewater Productions has become well-known for its biography comics. In addition to its Fame series, the company also publishes both the Female Force and Political Power line of biography comics. March 31st comes the release of Female Force: Ellen Degeneres.

“I look at every one of our biography comics as a way to lead a new group of readers to the world of graphic storytelling,” said Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater Productions. “I have little doubt that Kristen Stewart’s biography will accomplish this.”

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Chris Weitz: the CNN interview

In a new interview with CNN, director Chris Weitz talked about his regrets and decisions in making New Moon. Chris also shared his thoughts on making the DVD as well his future plans and movies. Here is an excerpt of his interview:

CNN: For the DVD, what do you think the fans will appreciate the most?

Chris Weitz: What they’ll appreciate most is certain scenes that didn’t make it into the film. … There’s basically more Bella [Kristen Stewart], there’s more Edward [Robert Pattinson], there’s more Jacob [Taylor Lautner], and it’s often sort of more extended versions of scenes where things are discussed at greater length rather than entirely new scenes. I think there’s a lot of good stuff in the movie for fans, and at the same time we didn’t want to get rid of any of their favorite scenes.

CNN: At the time the movie came out, you said you were hoping to do the commentary with Pattinson and Stewart. What happened?

Weitz: They blew me off! (laughs)

CNN: Those young actors.

Weitz: I have to say, they had a lot on their plates … and there came a day when it was just me in a room, and I said, “I don’t want to do this alone,” so we managed to get my editor [Peter Lambert] on a satellite linkup, and we watched the movie together. And I think that it’s frankly rather amusing, because we have a joshing relationship, whereas it may have been a bit more stilted had it been the kids and me, because they’d have to say nice things about me all the time.

CNN: When you watch the movie again, is it the kind of thing that you say, “Why did I make that decision?” perhaps because there was a deadline you had to hit.

Weitz: Well, there is that old saying, “A film is never finished; it’s abandoned.” But there’s only one shot in the movie that embarrasses me, because every time I saw it in the movie, everybody laughed, even the most Twihard of them all. It’s when you first see Bella has become a vampire, and she’s running through the woods in this very diaphanous dress, and I guess my corny-meter was off that day. Everyone seems to find that terribly amusing.

CNN: How did a Cambridge-educated, nice, half-Jewish boy get involved with “New Moon” to start with?

Weitz: (laughs) Well, they asked. I think the first reason that I got involved was that I liked the actors very much. I think they’re very good. Then I went to see the [first] movie in a little theater, and the response of the fans around me was amazing — their degree of devotion, the delight they took in it. And you don’t always get that as a director. You don’t always know that there are going to be people watching and taking pleasure from what you’re doing, so that’s kind of a wonderful opportunity.

CNN: In the DVD commentary, you said you let the opening shot of the moon go on and on because you figured there would be 30 seconds of screaming when the titles came up. Was that true?

Weitz: The first time I saw it, there was quite a lot of screaming, just because of the buildup and anticipation were so great. People had been waiting so long to see it that it was good that they had a bit of time to calm down before you first saw Bella.

CNN: Were you reluctant to get involved in this, having come off “The Golden Compass” — another big studio project, best-selling book series, where you had both fans who knew the books backwards and forwards and a studio that wanted a big hit?

Weitz: Well, no. I had something to prove, which was that if you really made a movie that was faithful to the book that it was going to succeed, and I felt that hadn’t been the case on “Golden Compass.” … I knew I could do it properly if given the right kind of support. So there was a bit of redemption that I was looking for in that regard.

To read the rest of the interview, click on the link above.

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Robert Pattinson at The Remember Me Premiere in London

Twilight actor Robert Pattinson attended the UK premiere of his new film, Remember Me last night at the Odeon Liecester Square. He was joined by his co0star Emilie De Ravin. During the premiere, he was interviewed by SKY News where he was asked regarding his fans and maybe filling the shoes of 007 in the future.

Despite his fame, Robert says that he still hasn’t got used to all the screams and adulations that were given to him.

“I never go to places where crowds congregate, so it’s always a novelty. It’s a completely separate aspect of my life. It’s nice.”

His co-star Emilie De Ravin says that both she and Rob were passionate about his project and promises that the film will touch people’s lives.

We were both completely passionate about this project and did everything we could to make it as good as we could. He’s a really nice person and very talented.”She said promised the movie would “really touch people”

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The Hunt for Breaking Dawn Directors

According to Entertainemnt Weekly Summit is currently scouting for someone to direct Break Dawn.

“Sources tell EW that the studio has reached out to at least three top-notch directors, including Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation), Gus Van Sant (Milk), and Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) to gauge their interest in what is likely to be two movies. (Van Sant’s reps confirmed that he’s been approached, but Coppola and Condon’s people didn’t return phone calls by press time. Summit declined to comment.)”

See more at EW.

New Moon wins ShoWest Fandango Fan Choice Award

The Twilight fans have pulled through again. The second movie in the Twilight Saga Franchise has received the ShoWest Fan Choice Award for 2009’s Best Movie. This is the second time the Twilight Saga has won the award after winning the same award last year.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon is receiving the ShoWest Fandango Fan Choice Award for 2009’s Best Movie. ShoWest, which runs March 15-18, 2010, is the most prestigious and longest running event exclusively for the cinema exhibition and distribution community, and this is the second year Fandango has sponsored the Fan Choice Award in conjunction with the conference.

“Moviegoers on Fandango have been behind the franchise from the very beginning, and that’s why the first Twilight movie won the Fan Choice Award last year,” said Fandango Chief Marketing Officer Ted Hong. “The big question will be whether or not Eclipse will be in the running for next year’s award and if the franchise can pull off a three-peat.”

You might have guessed that Avatar would win this year’s Fan Choice Award since Avatar was the top ticket-seller in our company’s history,” Hong added, “but never bet against the passion, loyalty, and dedication of the vociferous Twilight fans.“

ShoWest is currently being held in Las Vegas with the Final Night Banquet and Award Ceremony going to be held on Thursday, March 18 at Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas.

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Kristen Stewart to star with Julianne Moore

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Kristen Stewart is set to star in a film together with Julianne Moore. The movie is entitled “Backwoods” and will be directed by Moore’s husband, Bart Freundlich. The movie will concern about the end of the world. There is still no other cast being made and tentative schedule for the film to start shooting will be this summer.

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Kristen and Dakota: MTV Radio interview

MTV Radio also had an interview with Dakota and Kristen where they talked about making The Runaways, meeting the icons Jett and Churrie and many more. Here is an excerpt of their interview:

MTV: How did you overcome being nervous around rock icons like Joan and Cherie?

Kristen Stewart: You try really, really hard.

Dakota Fanning: We were so lucky that they were supportive of the movie and were as involved as we wanted them to be.

Stewart: It’s so weird when you meet [Joan Jett]. She does give off an energy, and at first it’s intimidating. For me to be playing her, especially before I cut my hair and got into the project, I felt like she was looking at me thinking, “What makes you think you can do this?” The thing about Joan — what I really wanted to play to but goes away as soon as she likes you — is she makes you feel so comfortable and at ease. She’s really sensitive and really righteous and morally upstanding. She would tear you down for saying something that wasn’t PC. It was easy [to play her] because she’s so great.

MTV: Would you ever want to start a rock band for real?

Fanning: I don’t really sing, unless I’m doing it for a movie. I just wanted to sing the songs right like she does, because I know they’re so iconic and important to a lot of people. I just hoped I could do them as well as she does.

MTV: We know the crowds you performed in front of were a group of extras …

Stewart: But it’s still a crowd.

MTV: Did you get a feel for what it must’ve been like for the Runaways?

Fanning: Yeah, and especially for me. I don’t do anything till the actual minute that I have to and it’s being recorded, so I like that. I like the energy and having the crowd. I find it really hard to do in front of a few people or no one. You feel kind of stupid for some reason, so I’d keep it inside until I have to actually [perform].

Stewart: I am the same way.

MTV: Would you say that what Joan did in the Runaways paved the way for what you guys are going to be doing for young women?

Stewart: I hope so. To a certain degree, you can definitely see the parallels. But it was so much harder for them.

Fanning: Yeah.

Stewart: We definitely have our own boxes; they’re just different.

Fanning: Music is so different than acting too

Kristen also addressed making the film, K-11 with her mother.

“Yeah,” was Kristen’s response when we brought up the project to her recently, asking if she still thought the film would get made. “Totally. It’s just one of those things where you try and get a movie off the ground that’s small.”

But she isnt sure when its going to be made though.

“I don’t know [whether it will get made],” she explained. “Like, right now it’s harder [to get indie films made].”

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Rob will start filming Water for Elephants on May 22

According to On Location Vacations, Robert Pattinson will start filming Water for Elephants on May 22 in Los Angeles. The film, which also stars Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, tells a story of a veterinary student who quit school and joined a traveling circus as their vet.

Casting for supporting roles have already started though its still not sure if they are going to shoot at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

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Kristen Stewart: Bella, Joan and being directed by mom

Kristen Stewart was recently interviewed by Parade, where she talked about Twilight, The Runaways, the fans and being directed by her mother.

Filling the shoes of a rock icon: “I think my generation doesn’t really know what The Runaways was. I didn’t, even though I was aware of Joan Jett. She’s a legend, so it was a big deal not only to meet her, but to have her on the set. The main thing that Joan talked about was just how much she cared about that period of her life because it jump-started her entire career. The Runaways was one of the first all-girl bands, so it’s an incredibly triumphant, feminist story. Joan became my friend and I was thinking about all she stood for and going, ‘Oh God, now I have to do her justice.’”

Not doing a Milli Vanilli: “I was really concerned about getting the music right because The Runaways have a very distinctive sound. It’s not just singing, it’s trying to sound like them. I wasn’t lip-synching. I worked hard to get like that growl that Joan does when she’s performing. I’m not saying that I did it perfectly, but I gave it my best. And I learned to play the guitar because I didn’t want to fake it.”

Meeting Dakota Fanning again in the “Twilight” zone: “We really bonded on ‘The Runaways.’ I’m really looking forward to the three days that she’s probably going to be filming ‘Breaking Dawn.’ It’s weird to see her in the ‘Twilight’ setting because it’s usually the same cast of people. But, suddenly, there was Dakota. The first time I saw her in her wardrobe as Jane, on ‘Eclipse,’ which was not too far after we finished ‘The Runaways,’ it was bizarre as all hell.”

Her review of Robert Pattinson in “Remember Me”: “I think he’s bold and different. It wasn’t an easy character to play. I thought he was really good in it.”

Those diehard “Twilight” fans: “I’ve never been so fanatical about something. I never had that thing that I’m obsessed with. But, I’ve followed things for years like bands and movies and actors. I completely get what they’re feeling. Personally, it’s just so cool for me to be able to go back and follow a character for so long in successive movies. The fact that fans love them helps give me the chance.”

As for playing a string of disaffected teens: “It’s hard to generalize about the characters that I’ve played because they all have their separate issues. I don’t know what types of characters, especially if they’re young girls, who wouldn’t be considered disaffected. I think to play a completely mindless happy person would be mindless and happy, but boring. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’m just playing parts that speak to me. The only thing I would never do is a big explosion movie. I couldn’t handle it. I would totally break down.”

Playing Bella remains a challenge: “You have to live something when you film it. I know from the outside ‘Twilight’ looks a big commercial movie. But, it was more difficult to play Bella than a lot of other parts I’ve done. And, she’s still developing because I’m not finished yet. It’s more of an exploration of a person’s journey.”

Her escape after the first “Twilight”: “I did my own road trip back from Portland where we were filming. I bought like a little truck and drove home to LA. It wasn’t like the most transformative experience, but it was fun. It gave me a sense of freedom and going away from something that was a rather intense experience.”

Still not ready to be directed by her mom: “She’s a really well-known script supervisor and she’s co-written this drama ‘K-11,’ which she’ll direct and I would be in. If she called me right now and said, ‘We’re making the movie,’ I would be really excited. I guess my question is, ‘How would it be to work with a parent?’ We’re really close and then, at the same time, we’re creatively very different. But, I think it would be cool if it happens.”

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Twilight in Forks: the men behind the documentary

Document makers York Baur and Jason Brown talked to Moviefone regarding their experience in making a documentary about the town of Forks, Washington and on why they decided to chronicle the town that served as the backdrop of the Twilight success.

Did you have a plan on how to film this?
Brown: We kind of said, “Let’s bring a camera out and see what’s happening.” Our approach came out from a trip out to Forks, and having seen the town, you couldn’t not be aware that ‘Twilight’ had an association with Forks. We packed our cameras and went out, and decided to let the story tell itself.

What were the locals’ reactions?
Baur: I would attribute their reaction to our stylistic approach. First, we tried to make it more like a conversation, and not overwhelming people with gear and hoopla. And second, because of my relationship with folks out there … we were able to reference and be sensitive to, and understanding of, what the context of the town was. That helped us gain access to people in a non-threatening setting. Everyone was wonderfully open to us, and certain people were very excited about ‘Twilight’ and are tremendous fans. Others … it’s a big change for them, in terms of what’s going on with the town. You have to keep in mind how remote it is, people are there for a reason; so the exposure is not always a huge positive for everyone there. But even people in that category were friendly to us, and saw how important this was for this area.

Was there a difference between how the younger residents reacted, versus the older ones?
Brown: For the most part they’re all aware of it; many of them have read the books and seen the movie. When you put yourself in the shoes of a high school kid, they’re a little confused by it: “I grew up here, I don’t get what’s the big deal?” But nobody was dismissive or angry, or thought it was weird. Everybody in Forks, regardless of their age, can see there’s a huge benefit, to the spirit of the town, the vivaciousness of what’s going on there. Regardless of how they feel about the story, it’s had an impact on their life which is positive; for that reason they are excited by it.
Baur: The demographic isn’t as young as everyone thinks [I nod my head enthusiastically at this]. It’s a small town, so the connectivity amongst individual people is much greater. You have to give the school a huge credit; in a town this size the school is the center of the town. We were invited to the graduation of Forks High School, to a football game — and the entire community is there. The school has done a great job at involving the kids in it. Here’s a great example: people from around the globe are e-mailing the school, funny e-mails to ‘excuse Edward from class’ and that kind of thing. What they do is funnel these to the ASB (Associated Student Body) and they handle these e-mails.

Have the townspeople seen the film?
Baur: They haven’t seen the whole thing, but we did a sneak peek at Stephenie Meyer Day last year. They were definitely excited. It was disappointing to the town that ‘Twilight’ ended up not being filmed there, and people do understand why the decision was made to film in Oregon. So part of the reason the reaction to our movie was so favorable was they finally got their film after all. In an 83-minute film, there isn’t one word of narration– it’s all the people saying everything. So they were understandably proud.

How did Summit get involved in this project? [Summit Entertainment is the studio behind the 'Twilight' saga.]
Baur: We had a connection to one of their executives, and we were in L.A. talking to Larry Carroll from MTV. We had a meeting, and by the following week we were back showing them footage. Within two weeks we had a deal. They are absolutely the un-studio; they are doing things other studios cannot conceive of, they’re amazing. What sets them apart is from top to bottom, they think out of the box. They’re not afraid to take a risk and try something, and learn from it.

They timed your DVD release very well!
Brown: Yeah, they in fact packaged it with the ‘New Moon’ DVD exclusively at Walmart, so there’s a fan special edition that includes both. [The DVDs will be released Sat., March 20.]

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