Kristen Stewart next flick "Welcome to the Rileys" plays as an underage stripper and prostitute. In researching for her part Stewart talks to a couple of girls who worked in a strip club in New Orleans strip club.
"I talked to a couple of girls who worked in a strip club that we actually used for the set," she told MTV News more than a year later while promoting the film at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. "One of them was really dynamic, really interesting and charismatic. The other girl was less willing to talk about stuff, which means she's probably more in touch with it than the girl that was willing to talk about it. She's in the middle."
Not only did she talk with the girls, but as director Jake Scott told us, Stewart practiced dancing in the club itself. It was all in an effort to achieve verisimilitude for the role and to respect the stories of the women with whom she spoke. The film follows Stewart's character as she meets a troubled husband (James Gandolfini) who takes her under his wing, trying in many ways to find a replacement for his deceased teen daughter.
For Twilight saga fans site. Latest news on Twilight celebrities,Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz and Updates of Twilight Movies based on best selling books of Stephenie Meyer, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Free Download of Twilight e-book. The complete series, Twilight, New moon, Eclipse, Breaking dawn and Midnight Sun - Partial Draft (Edward Cullen Point of view)
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1/31/2010
Robert Pattinson's New Comic Image
E! News has the exclusive first look of the second installment of Bluewater Productions' new comic book line, Fame. The Fame is 32-page comic book which features the sparkle vampire of Twilight Saga Robert Pattinson.
The issue, written by Kim Sherman and drawn by Nathaniel Ooten, with the cover created by Juan Mar Studios, delves into the star's music, modeling and, of course, those dreamy roles he played in the Harry Potter and Twilight movies.
"I chose to conceptualize A-lister Robert Pattinson from a unique perspective, immersing the reader into the life of the talented actor beyond his most famous role," Sherman says.
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The issue, written by Kim Sherman and drawn by Nathaniel Ooten, with the cover created by Juan Mar Studios, delves into the star's music, modeling and, of course, those dreamy roles he played in the Harry Potter and Twilight movies.
"I chose to conceptualize A-lister Robert Pattinson from a unique perspective, immersing the reader into the life of the talented actor beyond his most famous role," Sherman says.
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1/29/2010
Kristen Stewart Compares 'Rileys' Role To 'Twilight'
MTV interviewed Twilight star Kristen Stewar at Sundance Film Festival which she compares her role as an underage stripper in "Welcome to the Rileys" to the Twilight saga. The the 19-year-old actress also described her feeling of her role portrayal in "Welcome to the Rileys" movie.
In an earlier interview with MTV News, the actress argued that even though the film presents her in a far different light than the “Twilight” films, fans of the vampire franchise will find much to connect with in “Rileys.”
“Most ‘Twilight’ fans are young girls, and this is a really, really good story for them,” she said. “It just sort of opens your eyes. You just don’t have any options.”
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In an earlier interview with MTV News, the actress argued that even though the film presents her in a far different light than the “Twilight” films, fans of the vampire franchise will find much to connect with in “Rileys.”
“Most ‘Twilight’ fans are young girls, and this is a really, really good story for them,” she said. “It just sort of opens your eyes. You just don’t have any options.”
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REMEMBER ME - "Ask Rob" Video
Robert Pattinson answers fan questions about REMEMBER ME in series of videos called "Ask Rob."
Summit Entertainment has just released the first video of “Ask Rob,” a video series of fan Q&A’s. In video #1 he talks about what drew him to the role/script.
More videos will be released over the next few weeks! Watch it now on Remember Me’s Facebook page here!
Summit Entertainment has just released the first video of “Ask Rob,” a video series of fan Q&A’s. In video #1 he talks about what drew him to the role/script.
More videos will be released over the next few weeks! Watch it now on Remember Me’s Facebook page here!
1/27/2010
New Teaser Posters of Jackson Rathbone’s ‘The Last Airbender’
The Paramount released two new teaser posters for The Last Airbender movie which Jackson Rathbone, plays Jasper in Twilight saga movies, is starring in.
Vanity Fair: Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning 'The Runaways'
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning speaks to Vanity Fair about their new film 'The Runaways' at the Sundance Film Festival.
Peter Facinelli says 'Twilight fanbase is phenomenal'
Twilight star Peter Facinelli has described the fanbase behind the franchise as "phenomenal".
The actor, who plays Dr Carlisle Cullen in the vampire saga, told ET Online that he enjoys "connecting" with fans through Twitter.
"The fanbase has been so phenomenal. When you go to an event, people have flown in from other countries just to take a picture with you," he said.
"That is a loyal fanbase that you can't even imagine having. I am thankful for all of them. That is why I try to give back in connecting with them."
When asked if he has any information on the proposed fourth instalment Breaking Dawn, he replied: "I don't know. Usually the fans know before I do."
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is released in June and Facinelli can be seen in the second season of Nurse Jackie from March 22 on Showtime.
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1/26/2010
Twilight Star Peter Facinelli Coming to Kentucky Oaks Mall
Twilight and New Moon fans can meet one of the Blockbuster's stars, later this month at Kentucky Oaks Mall.
Peter Facinelli, who plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the movies, will greet fans on Saturday, January 30, from noon to 5 PM. Autographs and photos with Facinelli may be purchased for $25 and $40 dollars respectively. Partial proceeds will be going to the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. That is a charity benefiting childhood cancer research.
For those that aren't fans of the Twilight saga, you may also recognize Facinelli from other shows he's been featured on. In 2007, he starred in the FX series Damages, with Glenn Close. More recently, Facinelli has been a regular on the
Showtime series Nurse Jackie.
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Robert Pattinson is Part of Growing Beard Trend
"We notice that Rob is one of several sexy men sporting some facial fuzz this week. We take a look at the beard trend on today’s show… Check it out!"
Chris Cooper talks Working With Robert Pattinson on 'Remember Me'
MTV got a chance to catch up with actor Chris Cooper in Park City and he had a few things to share about working with Robert Pattinson which Robert Pattinson's Rabid Fans Caused Heated Moments On Set For 'Remember Me' Director.
"We put up barricades 90 feet from the scene, and the people and paparazzi just didn't care," Chris said about the people who would swarm to watch scenes with Rob being filmed. "Robert was really under the gun, under a lot of pressure, and I know he's kind of learning to deal with it. And it's a lot to deal with."
Chris attributed "instant messaging" (the older generation's all encompassing term for text messaging, Facebook, and Twitter) for the amounts of people who would flock to the "Remember Me" set when they shot outdoor scenes. He said having NYU's campus nearby meant a lot of young female fans came to the set for a chance to see RPattz.
"He was doing scenes with a crowd of people 30 feet away from him and the paparazzi would not stop clicking the camera and there was a couple of hot, heated periods with the director [Allen Coulter] with that kind of intrusion," Chris said. "I know at his age, no way I could have handled it."
Coming from an Academy Award-winning actor, that says a lot. But Chris came into his own in Hollywood at a much later age than Rob did, and we wouldn't quite classify him as a young heartthrob, so when he makes comments like, "I think this is all kind of new to Robert," we think he might be talking more about himself than the man who has worked publicity for two "Twilight" movies.
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"We put up barricades 90 feet from the scene, and the people and paparazzi just didn't care," Chris said about the people who would swarm to watch scenes with Rob being filmed. "Robert was really under the gun, under a lot of pressure, and I know he's kind of learning to deal with it. And it's a lot to deal with."
Chris attributed "instant messaging" (the older generation's all encompassing term for text messaging, Facebook, and Twitter) for the amounts of people who would flock to the "Remember Me" set when they shot outdoor scenes. He said having NYU's campus nearby meant a lot of young female fans came to the set for a chance to see RPattz.
"He was doing scenes with a crowd of people 30 feet away from him and the paparazzi would not stop clicking the camera and there was a couple of hot, heated periods with the director [Allen Coulter] with that kind of intrusion," Chris said. "I know at his age, no way I could have handled it."
Coming from an Academy Award-winning actor, that says a lot. But Chris came into his own in Hollywood at a much later age than Rob did, and we wouldn't quite classify him as a young heartthrob, so when he makes comments like, "I think this is all kind of new to Robert," we think he might be talking more about himself than the man who has worked publicity for two "Twilight" movies.
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Relz Channel Tidbit Video: Twilight Cast Helping Charity
Twilight cast members are using their fame to support good causees across the globe. Interviews with BooBoo Stewart, Christian Serratos and Peter Facinelli.
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning Party Pictures at Sundace
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning partied it up at Sundance, as the hot young actresses were photographed at Utah's Park City Museum following a post-premiere bash for their upcoming film, The Runaways.
The film, the biopic of rock icon Joan Jett (who was also on hand for the festivities) takes place in the late 70s, a decade before either of the film's leading ladies had even experienced so much as a diaper change: Stewart was born in April 1990, Fanning in February 1994.
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Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning Video Interview
Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning chat with Access Hollywood at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival about their new film, “The Runaways.” Kristen Stewart said ‘It Was Cool’ Kissing Dakota Fanning.
Kristen Stewart And Dakota Fanning ‘The Runaways’ Premiere Pics
Hitting the arrivals carpet, Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning attended “The Runaways” premiere during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival on in Park City, Utah on Sunday evening (January 24).
Held at Eccles Center Theatre, the “New Moon” co-star cuties hammed it up for photogs alongside Joan Jett and Cherie Currie before heading inside and grabbing their seats to see the first screening of their new flick.
As for the theme of Kristen and Dakota’s theatrical offering, the film is a coming of age biopic telling the story of Joan and her former bandmates, The Runaways.
Having arrived in Park City on Friday, both Miss Stewart and Miss Fanning were spotted making their way to Harry O’s the previous night to see a performance by Joan - with insiders telling that Kristen and her “The Runaways” co-star Dakota Fanning were brought up on stage by Miss Jett during the gig.
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Kristen Stewart Strips on ‘Welcome To The Rileys’
Kristen Stewart's Shooting of ‘Welcome To The Rileys’ was a real pain for …literally!
She plays a 16-year old stripper who is taken by a married man, played by James Gandolfini.
“I did do some pole dancing in the movie and it hurts! I got bruises all over my legs and I tore myself up. It sucked.” said Stewart in a recent interview.
Welcome To The Rileys was rumored to come out January 23rd but after a mishap, it will come out later this year.
She plays a 16-year old stripper who is taken by a married man, played by James Gandolfini.
“I did do some pole dancing in the movie and it hurts! I got bruises all over my legs and I tore myself up. It sucked.” said Stewart in a recent interview.
Welcome To The Rileys was rumored to come out January 23rd but after a mishap, it will come out later this year.
1/25/2010
Kristen Stewart talks Stripper Role on "Welcome to the Rileys" Movie
Kristen Stewart's punk role in "The Runaways" isn't her only showing at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. She's also appearing in "Welcome to the Rileys," which sees the "Twilight" star as a troubled young stripper named Mallory who becomes a surrogate daughter to a grieving father played by "Sopranos" kingpin James Gandolfini. So naturally, we were curious whether Stewart thought her darker turn will surprise or shock her Twilighter fanbase.
As it turns out, Stewart says the most shocking part of her role is that it's really not that shocking.
"It's really not like a stripper movie at all. You never see me stripping," the actress told us. According to her, the emotional bond between Gandolfini's character and the underage exotic dancer should be a sort of inspiration.
"Most 'Twilight' fans are young girls and this is a really, really good story for them," she said. "It just sort of opens your eyes. You just don't have any options."
Twilighters will have to wait to see exactly how Stewart's character is developed because there's only so much she can share. "I'm speaking really vaguely about it because it's so awful. But yeah, that's like the only way I can describe it."
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As it turns out, Stewart says the most shocking part of her role is that it's really not that shocking.
"It's really not like a stripper movie at all. You never see me stripping," the actress told us. According to her, the emotional bond between Gandolfini's character and the underage exotic dancer should be a sort of inspiration.
"Most 'Twilight' fans are young girls and this is a really, really good story for them," she said. "It just sort of opens your eyes. You just don't have any options."
Twilighters will have to wait to see exactly how Stewart's character is developed because there's only so much she can share. "I'm speaking really vaguely about it because it's so awful. But yeah, that's like the only way I can describe it."
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Kellan Lutz donates his clothes for Haiti people
Kellan Lutz is the latest star to lend his wattage to the Haitian people -- yesterday, the "Twilight" actor donated his own clothes to DoSomething.org and Aeropostale's 3rd Annual Teens for Jeans campaign, which is benefitting the victims of Haiti's earthquake.
Not only is this a wonderful thing for Kellan to have done, but it leaves him with less clothes to wear in his real life, which is nothing but a good thing if you've seen the boy sans shirt before.
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Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning Photos at Sundance
SocialiteLife posted new pictures of Sundance of Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning from Sundance. Kristen Stewart Promotes 'Runaways' And 'Rileys' At Sundance
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1/24/2010
Robert Pattinson Video Clip of Hope For Haiti Relief
Robert Pattinson from the ‘Hope For Haiti Now’ event talks about how social media technology has changed the way we interact when devastation hits and how we can help the Haitian people recover from the devastating earthquake.
1/22/2010
Taylor Lautner Plays on The 4TH Annual DIRECTV Celebrity Beach Bowl
On Saturday, February 6, the DIRECTV Celebrity Beach Bowl returns home to South Beach, the site of the inaugural Beach Bowl. Now in its fourth year, the Beach Bowl brings together gridirion greats and a who's who of the entertainment world in a no-holds-barred flag football game.
Ex-Super Bowl-winning quarterback Eli Manning will coach one of the sides, with ex-Pro Bowlers Troy Aikman and Warren Moon captaining their respective teams at quarterback. Rounding out the teams will be TV and films stars including Taylor Lautner, Christian Slater, Guy Fieri and Kevin Dillon, all looking to prove they are just as much competitors as celebrities. And keep checking back to see what other celebrities will be taking to the sand.
Immediately after the game and trophy presentation, stay tuned as the crowd fills the beach for The Post-Game Concert featuring All American Rejects, presented by Palladia, the High-Definition Music Channel from MTV.
It's an afternoon full of sun, sand, songs and super action from the best of the football and entertainment world. So make sure you see it all LIVE on Saturday, February 6, on The 101 Network.
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The Runaways Movie's Dynamite Teaser Poster
"The Runaways" makes its big Sundance debut this Sunday in Park City, and we have something that will keep your rocker hearts beating until then: an exclusive first look at the movie's teaser poster.
We know, we know: now that you've gotten to see plenty more stills and a clip from the Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning-headlined flick, a "teaser" isn't exactly the sort of juice you're looking for. But once you click the handy "read more" link below, we have a feeling, you're going to think this art work is quite literally the bomb.
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Taylor Lautner part of the phone crew during Hope For Haiti Telethon
"Hope for Haiti" relief telethon airs tonight, Robert Pattinson will not be manning the phones, despite reports to the contrary. Rather, he'll support the effort with an appearance out of London, a spokesman for MTV confirms.
Robert was spotted today on his way to the taping -- rocking one of those oh-so-popular beards we've been seeing so much of lately.
Taylor Lautner, however, will be part of the Los Angeles-based phone crew, which includes more than 100 other celebrity names. And just because we haven't seen shimmers from the likes of Mel Gibson, Nick and Kevin Jonas, Jeremy Renner, Gabourey Sidibe, Russell Simmons, John Cusack or Alyssa Milano lately doesn't mean they don't give good phone!
Brad Pitt, who's an old hand at this sort of thing, will also be among the stars appearing, though not as part of the phone bank.
What about Kristen Stewart?
Edward's Bella was already committed to the Sundance Film Festival, where she's promoting "The Runaways" and "Welcome to the Rileys."
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Anna Kendrick Audio Interviews
At the moment, Kendrick is as much of an “It” girl as anyone. She recently starred in Catherine Hardwicke’s “Twilight” and Chris Weitz’s “New Moon,” both among the biggest box-office hits of all-time; her next role will be in another likely blockbuster, Edgar Wright’s “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World”; and, in the meantime, she’s been working tirelessly for “Up in the Air” and garnering best supporting actress nominations (HFPA, SAG, BAFTA, BFCA, and OFCS) and wins (NBR) from seemingly every awards group out there. In all likelihood, her next accolade will be a best supporting actress nomination from the Academy, which would would make her one of the category’s youngest nominees — and potentially its seventh youngest winner.
To listen to audio highlights of my discussion with Kendrick, click here.
Twilight Fashion Range: ‘Bella’ Clothing Line
Calling all fang fans hoping to attract their very own Edward, your chances of success have just got a whole lot better.
American fashion label, BB Dakota is releasing a Twilight-inspired range after the success of a canvas jacket designed by the young brand that Kristen Stewart wore playing love-bitten Bella.
The Jack BB Dakota jacket was originally launched in 2006 and caught the eye of thousands of young fashionistas after it was worn by Bella during a romantic scene with Edward set amid a mossy grove of trees.
According to Twilight costume designer Wendy Chuck though, the cargo jacket wasn't supposed to appear in the film at all.
'I was planning to use the brown hoodie for that sequence,' said Chuck, talking to Entertainment Weekly, 'but the director of photography hated the fact that her hair and the jacket were both brown and felt she got lost in it.''
Kristen Stewart-Bella-Twilight
Chuck had to make a last minute dash to a nearby outlet store to pick up an alternative, thus catapulting BB Dakota's coat into stardom.
Capitalising on the success of the film, BB Dakota reintroduced the coat last year and renamed it the Twilight Jacket making it a huge hit amongst US teenagers.
For this autumn, the brand are creating a new collection consisting of plaid shirts, skinny cords and hoodies, all revolving around the still-in-demand jacket and the outdoorsy style of Twilight's vampire-loving heroine.
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Vote in iVillage's Entertainment Awards:Hottest ‘New Moon’ Hunk
Cast Your Vote in iVillage's Entertainment Awards.
Talk about an award to sink your teeth into and howl about! Vampires and werewolves never looked so good as they did in New Moon. Which otherworldly guy reigns supreme in your eyes?
VOTE HERE!
Talk about an award to sink your teeth into and howl about! Vampires and werewolves never looked so good as they did in New Moon. Which otherworldly guy reigns supreme in your eyes?
VOTE HERE!
Official Twilight Graphic Novel
I’m delighted to announce, exclusively, that Yen Press will publish Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 on March 16, with a first printing of 350,000 copies. Here’s a first glimpse at the book’s cover, as well as an exclusive peek at one of its panels (for a full ten-page excerpt, and the entire Q&A with Stephenie Meyer, see the issue of EW that goes on sale this Friday).
What strikes me, looking at the book, is how faithfully, and how beautifully, artist Young Kim has translated Meyer’s original vision. Kim, who has a fine arts background—in fact, this is her first foray into graphic novels—didn’t just read the book; she absorbed it. Her Bella is the Bella I had in my mind’s eye the first time I read Twilight; her Edward is the Edward I always imagined. It took me back to reading Twilight pre-movie: Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson faded into the background.
Meyer talked to us about all this, and more. Here are a few snippets from our conversation:
The text of your original novel is boiled down so carefully that it doesn’t feel like anything is missing. Were you the one who did that?
I was definitely involved. I didn’t do the original “script” for the book, so to speak. But when I got the dialogue with the images, I did a lot of tinkering. In a couple of places, I asked for missing scenes to be inserted. For example, the conversation in the car that Bella and Edward have after she faints in Biology.
How does the feeling of reading the graphic novel compare to that of reading the original? Does it bring something new to the experience for you?
For me, it takes me back to the days when I was writing Twilight. It’s been a while since I was really able to read Twilight; there is so much baggage attached to that book for me now. It seems like all I can see are the mistakes in the writing. Reading Young’s version brought me back to the feeling I had when I was writing and it was just me and the characters again. I love that. I thank her for it.
When this project is done, are you done with Twilight?
I can’t say that I am done with Twilight forever. I’m not working on anything new Twilight-related now, and probably not for a while. But there’s still a possibility that I’ll go back and close some of the open doors.
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1/20/2010
Anna Kendrick on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Funny Video Interview of Anna Kendrick with Craig Ferguson.
Kristen Stewart Unable for “Hope for Haiti” Telethon wih Robert Pattinson
Several days ago Gossip Cop told you Robert Pattinson had not yet been approached to participate in this Friday’s “Hope for Haiti” telethon, but a source close to the actor said, “I’m sure Robert would participate if asked.”
We passed the message along to organizer George Clooney’s people, and today it appears as though the “Twilight” star is on board.
A source close to Pattinson tells Gossip Cop he’s doing the event, saying, ”We are in the process now of working out his participation from London.”
Gossip Cop is working to confirm other possible additions to the list of participants. We will keep you posted on what we learn.
Haiti obviously needs as much financial support as possible, so the more big names to lend a hand, the better.
Many of you asked whether Kristen Stewart will be part of the “Hope for Haiti” event. Gossip Cop has learned that Stewart would love to be involved, but will be occupied at the Sundance Film Festival and unable to participate.
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1/19/2010
Kristen Stewart &, Dakota Fanning in biopic 'The Runaways'
LA Times got a new still from the upcoming film, The Runaways, of the two Twilight cast mates Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.
Dakota Fanning's porcelain-doll features were swathed in exotic makeup and her blond hair coiffed into a feathery shag; she raised her umpteenth shot of sake and cast a knowing glance at Kristen Stewart. The "Twilight" star held Fanning's gaze briefly and toasted back, looking every inch the tough rocker chick, with her matching black shag hairdo, spiked bracelet and razor-blade charm necklace.
The actresses clinked glasses and giggled.
With downtown Los Angeles' Kyoto Grand Hotel standing in for a bustling Tokyo sushi joint last summer, the teen stars were on the set of the coming-of-age drama "The Runaways" -- in character, with Fanning as Cherie Currie, the wild-child lead singer of the titular all-girl rock group, and Stewart portraying Joan Jett, its electric-guitar-wielding, 'tude-copping founder. Between the years 1975 and '79, the Runaways packed shows from coast to coast, toured the world and racked up hits before self-immolating in a blaze of drugs, jealousies and in-fighting.
"The Runaways" will premiere next Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, arriving as one of the fest's most outrightly commercial offerings, thanks largely to Stewart's demonstrated "opening" power as a marquee draw. (Put out by independent distributor Apparition, the movie reaches theaters in March.) But "The Runaways" is also one of the most piquantly feminist films to touch down this year at America's preeminent independent film forum -- albeit a punk- infused genre pic with a pronounced generational viewpoint and no shortage of blood, drug abuse and bodily effluvia.
Written and directed by Floria Sigismondi, the acclaimed photographer and video director behind such foreboding, atmospheric clips as Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People" and Christina Aguilera's "Fighter," the movie was less intended as a by-the-book musical biopic à la "The Doors" or "La Bamba" than an impressionistic character study illuminating a unique female predicament: What happens when teenage girls get handed too much, too soon via worldwide rock stardom?
Kid rock
No stranger to the rock 'n' roll life in her own right, the Italian-born first-time feature director -- a striking woman with a mane of raven-black hair who was clad in a vampire-chic, all-black ensemble on set last summer -- said she drew on personal experience to connect with the characters. "It's young girls getting swept up into a world they couldn't handle," Sigismondi said. "Feeding on those confusing feelings that develop from moving from girl to woman, I could reach deep into myself to find those things."
Sigismondi, who is married to Lillian Berlin, lead singer of the hard-rocking alt-quartet Living Things, continued: "I wanted to focus on Joan and Cherie. How different they are, how they were drawn together for this crazy experience. Joan is so focused, she really wanted to have this band. And Cherie wanted the rage of rock 'n' roll, the rebellion."
The film follows Currie at age 15 as she chafes against the San Fernando Valley's suburban torpor and her family's psychological abandonment en route to becoming the most forward female face in rock. On a parallel track, Jett is shown raging against the proverbial machine, defying all cultural expectation to stake out her place as a young woman in the boys' club of hard rock while still in her midteens.
One night in Hollywood, Jett approaches record impresario Kim Fowley (a scene-chewing Michael Shannon in campy glam drag) who introduces her to drummer Sandy West (Stella Maeve) and becomes the band's Svengali. Fowley "discovers" Currie at a nightclub, installs her as frontwoman and even concocts the lyrics to one of the group's biggest hits, "Cherry Bomb," on the spot during Currie's audition. Scant character development is devoted to West and bandmate-guitarist Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton).
"Runaways" producer John Linson pointed out that even though the film is partially based on Currie's 1989 memoir "Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story," "The Runaways" is not a "band film" per se, because the filmmakers did not secure life story rights for Ford and bassist Jackie Fox (drummer Sandy West died from a brain tumor in 2006; original bassist Micki Steele was fictionalized by Alia Shawkat's character "Robin").
Instead, the grander ambition was to faithfully capture "the youth ethic in film."
"It's about 15-year-old rock stars, the rise and fall of kids," Linson said. "We're trying hard not to let that get taken away."
Profligate prop sake consumption aside, Fanning, who turns 16 next month, and Stewart, 19, appear side by side in an overwhelming majority of the movie's scenes. The two are shown snorting cocaine in an airplane bathroom as well as getting very up close and personal in what is sure to become one of "The Runaways' " primary talking points: a make-out scene in a roller rink that takes place about two-thirds of the way through the movie.
The scene was inspired by a remark Currie made in the rockumentary "Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways," made by former band member Victory Tischler-Blue.
"In 'Edgeplay,' Cherie mentions that Joan is really good in bed," Sigismondi said. "I thought, 'I have to pry into this a bit. It will cause an explosion in the film. Why not go there?' "
Stewart and Fanning first shared screen time in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and became fast friends. "You can probably tell we get along really well," Fanning said in between takes. "For the characters, it's really important that bond is portrayed. And we have that in real life."
Rather than talk up the more sensational aspects of filming -- like, say, the scenes in which Fanning writhes and vamps onstage dressed in fishnet stockings and a revealing bodice -- the actress chose to explain how she and Stewart (with castmates Taylor-Compton, Maeve and Shawkat) rehearsed the Runaways' music together for a month before filming began. Stewart and Fanning then re-recorded the vocals for several of the songs heard in the film.
"When you're up there and you hear yourself singing the songs and feel yourself performing the dance moves that are so iconic -- when you're up there having the time of your life -- you feel like you are those girls for a few minutes," Fanning said. "It's really fun!"
Asked if the role was an attempt to shatter the conception of her as the child star of such kid flicks as "The Cat in the Hat" and "Charlotte's Web," the actress demurred, explaining it was simply part of her natural career evolution.
"I'm just portraying what was going on with [Cherie] when she was my age," Fanning said. "I want to continue to act for my whole life. Eventually, everyone will have to let me grow up, somehow, some way. I'm just trying to let that happen as naturally as I can."
Look-alike
During production, the real Joan Jett was a semi-constant presence on-set. At the Kyoto Grand location, the rock icon huddled with Stewart conspiratorially in between takes, their closeness highlighting a remarkable physical similarity. In the film, Stewart convincingly channels something of Jett's androgynous, take-no-guff demeanor and rock star swagger. (Stewart declined comment for this story.)
"She has completely embodied the character of Joan," Sigismondi said. "Her body language, her face, her walk. It's amazing how she has just become her."
Production designer Eugenio Caballero was even more blunt. "Kristen is Joan," he said in between scenes. "You talk with her and you think it's Joan Jett."
The notoriously private rocker, whose post-Runaways project Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'N Roll" famously hit No. 1 and has sold more than 10 million copies, did not want to be interviewed. But she admitted feeling a strange satisfaction while watching the actresses perform the Runaways' music.
"It's surreal, that's all I can say," Jett said. "But I have a smile on my face."
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Dakota Fanning's porcelain-doll features were swathed in exotic makeup and her blond hair coiffed into a feathery shag; she raised her umpteenth shot of sake and cast a knowing glance at Kristen Stewart. The "Twilight" star held Fanning's gaze briefly and toasted back, looking every inch the tough rocker chick, with her matching black shag hairdo, spiked bracelet and razor-blade charm necklace.
The actresses clinked glasses and giggled.
With downtown Los Angeles' Kyoto Grand Hotel standing in for a bustling Tokyo sushi joint last summer, the teen stars were on the set of the coming-of-age drama "The Runaways" -- in character, with Fanning as Cherie Currie, the wild-child lead singer of the titular all-girl rock group, and Stewart portraying Joan Jett, its electric-guitar-wielding, 'tude-copping founder. Between the years 1975 and '79, the Runaways packed shows from coast to coast, toured the world and racked up hits before self-immolating in a blaze of drugs, jealousies and in-fighting.
"The Runaways" will premiere next Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, arriving as one of the fest's most outrightly commercial offerings, thanks largely to Stewart's demonstrated "opening" power as a marquee draw. (Put out by independent distributor Apparition, the movie reaches theaters in March.) But "The Runaways" is also one of the most piquantly feminist films to touch down this year at America's preeminent independent film forum -- albeit a punk- infused genre pic with a pronounced generational viewpoint and no shortage of blood, drug abuse and bodily effluvia.
Written and directed by Floria Sigismondi, the acclaimed photographer and video director behind such foreboding, atmospheric clips as Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People" and Christina Aguilera's "Fighter," the movie was less intended as a by-the-book musical biopic à la "The Doors" or "La Bamba" than an impressionistic character study illuminating a unique female predicament: What happens when teenage girls get handed too much, too soon via worldwide rock stardom?
Kid rock
No stranger to the rock 'n' roll life in her own right, the Italian-born first-time feature director -- a striking woman with a mane of raven-black hair who was clad in a vampire-chic, all-black ensemble on set last summer -- said she drew on personal experience to connect with the characters. "It's young girls getting swept up into a world they couldn't handle," Sigismondi said. "Feeding on those confusing feelings that develop from moving from girl to woman, I could reach deep into myself to find those things."
Sigismondi, who is married to Lillian Berlin, lead singer of the hard-rocking alt-quartet Living Things, continued: "I wanted to focus on Joan and Cherie. How different they are, how they were drawn together for this crazy experience. Joan is so focused, she really wanted to have this band. And Cherie wanted the rage of rock 'n' roll, the rebellion."
The film follows Currie at age 15 as she chafes against the San Fernando Valley's suburban torpor and her family's psychological abandonment en route to becoming the most forward female face in rock. On a parallel track, Jett is shown raging against the proverbial machine, defying all cultural expectation to stake out her place as a young woman in the boys' club of hard rock while still in her midteens.
One night in Hollywood, Jett approaches record impresario Kim Fowley (a scene-chewing Michael Shannon in campy glam drag) who introduces her to drummer Sandy West (Stella Maeve) and becomes the band's Svengali. Fowley "discovers" Currie at a nightclub, installs her as frontwoman and even concocts the lyrics to one of the group's biggest hits, "Cherry Bomb," on the spot during Currie's audition. Scant character development is devoted to West and bandmate-guitarist Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton).
"Runaways" producer John Linson pointed out that even though the film is partially based on Currie's 1989 memoir "Neon Angel: The Cherie Currie Story," "The Runaways" is not a "band film" per se, because the filmmakers did not secure life story rights for Ford and bassist Jackie Fox (drummer Sandy West died from a brain tumor in 2006; original bassist Micki Steele was fictionalized by Alia Shawkat's character "Robin").
Instead, the grander ambition was to faithfully capture "the youth ethic in film."
"It's about 15-year-old rock stars, the rise and fall of kids," Linson said. "We're trying hard not to let that get taken away."
Profligate prop sake consumption aside, Fanning, who turns 16 next month, and Stewart, 19, appear side by side in an overwhelming majority of the movie's scenes. The two are shown snorting cocaine in an airplane bathroom as well as getting very up close and personal in what is sure to become one of "The Runaways' " primary talking points: a make-out scene in a roller rink that takes place about two-thirds of the way through the movie.
The scene was inspired by a remark Currie made in the rockumentary "Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways," made by former band member Victory Tischler-Blue.
"In 'Edgeplay,' Cherie mentions that Joan is really good in bed," Sigismondi said. "I thought, 'I have to pry into this a bit. It will cause an explosion in the film. Why not go there?' "
Stewart and Fanning first shared screen time in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" and became fast friends. "You can probably tell we get along really well," Fanning said in between takes. "For the characters, it's really important that bond is portrayed. And we have that in real life."
Rather than talk up the more sensational aspects of filming -- like, say, the scenes in which Fanning writhes and vamps onstage dressed in fishnet stockings and a revealing bodice -- the actress chose to explain how she and Stewart (with castmates Taylor-Compton, Maeve and Shawkat) rehearsed the Runaways' music together for a month before filming began. Stewart and Fanning then re-recorded the vocals for several of the songs heard in the film.
"When you're up there and you hear yourself singing the songs and feel yourself performing the dance moves that are so iconic -- when you're up there having the time of your life -- you feel like you are those girls for a few minutes," Fanning said. "It's really fun!"
Asked if the role was an attempt to shatter the conception of her as the child star of such kid flicks as "The Cat in the Hat" and "Charlotte's Web," the actress demurred, explaining it was simply part of her natural career evolution.
"I'm just portraying what was going on with [Cherie] when she was my age," Fanning said. "I want to continue to act for my whole life. Eventually, everyone will have to let me grow up, somehow, some way. I'm just trying to let that happen as naturally as I can."
Look-alike
During production, the real Joan Jett was a semi-constant presence on-set. At the Kyoto Grand location, the rock icon huddled with Stewart conspiratorially in between takes, their closeness highlighting a remarkable physical similarity. In the film, Stewart convincingly channels something of Jett's androgynous, take-no-guff demeanor and rock star swagger. (Stewart declined comment for this story.)
"She has completely embodied the character of Joan," Sigismondi said. "Her body language, her face, her walk. It's amazing how she has just become her."
Production designer Eugenio Caballero was even more blunt. "Kristen is Joan," he said in between scenes. "You talk with her and you think it's Joan Jett."
The notoriously private rocker, whose post-Runaways project Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'N Roll" famously hit No. 1 and has sold more than 10 million copies, did not want to be interviewed. But she admitted feeling a strange satisfaction while watching the actresses perform the Runaways' music.
"It's surreal, that's all I can say," Jett said. "But I have a smile on my face."
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Twilight star Robert Pattinson On Haiti Relief Telethon
The Twilight star Robert Pattinson is among the Hollywood celebrity who signed for the Haiti Telethon.
I just got word that the Twilight star has signed on for Friday's Hope for Haiti telethon. As of right now, it looks like Rob will be the sole presenter in London, with performances by Jay-Z and Bono.
Stateside performers—some announced and others not—will include:
Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Shakira and Bruce Springsteen, who are among those performing live during the two-hour benefit, which will air on all the major television networks (including our very own E!).
Other mega-celebs who will present and/or help in the phone banks are Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaal, Brad Pitt, Anna Kendrick, Zac Efron, Bradley Cooper, Renée Zellweger, Chris Pine, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Colin Farrell, Gabby Sidibe and Emily Blunt, among many others.
No word yet on Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, but as I was the first to tell you, Hollywood's hottest vampire movie trio is a very wanted group for the telethon because of the impact they would have with young people.
Also on organizers' wish list are—no surprise—Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie.
George Clooney is set to host from Los Angeles, with Wyclef John in New York City and CNN newsman Anderson Cooper in Haiti.
Our source says celeb participation and other plans keep changing. "With everything moving so quickly," the source said, "changes are happening every minute."
Source
I just got word that the Twilight star has signed on for Friday's Hope for Haiti telethon. As of right now, it looks like Rob will be the sole presenter in London, with performances by Jay-Z and Bono.
Stateside performers—some announced and others not—will include:
Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Shakira and Bruce Springsteen, who are among those performing live during the two-hour benefit, which will air on all the major television networks (including our very own E!).
Other mega-celebs who will present and/or help in the phone banks are Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaal, Brad Pitt, Anna Kendrick, Zac Efron, Bradley Cooper, Renée Zellweger, Chris Pine, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Colin Farrell, Gabby Sidibe and Emily Blunt, among many others.
No word yet on Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, but as I was the first to tell you, Hollywood's hottest vampire movie trio is a very wanted group for the telethon because of the impact they would have with young people.
Also on organizers' wish list are—no surprise—Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie.
George Clooney is set to host from Los Angeles, with Wyclef John in New York City and CNN newsman Anderson Cooper in Haiti.
Our source says celeb participation and other plans keep changing. "With everything moving so quickly," the source said, "changes are happening every minute."
Source
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