February 11

Twilight Calendars
If you did not purchase a Twilight Calendar from Borders last year, you may be in luck. The original calendar is now out of print and very hard to find. I have looked on ebay and they are going up words of $60.00. Before you go and spend your money, my sister Kristi found out there is another Twilight calendar being release in May through Borders. It is being released on May 30th for $16.99. It is an 18 month calendar. July 2009 - December 2010. My advice is to pre-order, they will go fast!!

New Moon News
According to MTV, it looks like the Jonas Brothers have jumped on the “put me on the soundtrack” bandwagon. Although the Brothers haven’t seen the movie, they definitely understand it’s wide appeal. According to Joe Jonas, “For a lot of guys, they want superpowers. He’s a vampire, but he’s pretty strong and stuff."

I called it! I did say they would be Paul, Quil and Embry, but thought they would have their hand it some how.

Role of Emily?
Check out this link to a blog post which talks about two twins, Shannon and Shauna Baker, getting call backs for the role of Emily in New Moon. See it here.

Hot Topic - Twilight pajamas
Your dreams have come true, Twilighters! No, you didn’t read that title wrong. Hot Topic has just added two new sets of ‘Twilight’ pajamas to their website. In addition to this, they’ve also added a new bag, charm bracelet, and tee since our last Hot Topic update. Looks like I know what I am going to spend my 15% off coupon on. Sleep over anyone?

Twilight DVD News - Behind the scenes Video
Yesterday I told you about how WalMart.com has been Twili-fied with polls, discussions, movie info, and more. Well, they also have a great little behind-the-scenes video on that page with never before seen footage! Click here to see the video. It is pretty cool!

February 10

New Moon News
Anna Lynn McCord of 90210 fame has confirmed that she is in negotiations to play Heidi in New Moon. The only way she’ll cross paths with 90210 co-star Kellan Lutz is if they film the Italian interiors in Vancouver. Still, it’s hard to feel bad for Anna since her prospects probably include Italy, we’re sure she’ll make friends on the set.

So what do you think? I thought if I was going to be able to play a part in any of the movies, Heidi was my one shot. I guess it is now gone.

Twilight DVD hits Walmart for just $17.00
The Standard Edition Twilight DVD will be at Walmart for only $17. You can pre-order now and they promise it will arrive on March 21st.

The Walmart Twilight page also includes Character Bites:

Edward (Robert Pattinson)Full Name: Edward Masen Cullen
Status: Vampire
Date of Birth: June 20, 1901

Bella (Kristin Stewart)Full Name: Isabella Swan
Status: Human
Date of Birth: September 13, 1987

Jacob (Taylor Lautner)Full Name: Jacob Black
Status: Human Quileute
Date of Birth: 1990

James (Cam Gigandet)Full Name: Unknown
Status: Vampire
Date of Birth: Unknown

Top 10 words to add to Webster's Dictionary
10. Twife (Wife)Noun- A female Twilight fan joined in marriage. (example: My Twife forgot to make dinner again tonight because she was re-reading ‘Twilight’.) My favorite!
9. Twitchy (Twitchy)Adjective- Having an involuntary, spasmodic movement of a muscle; or tic that happens when you haven’t had your ‘Twilight’/TA fix for the day.
8. Robsessed (Obsessed)Adjective- Having or displaying signs of an obsession with ‘Twilight’ star Robert Pattinson.
7. Fangdom (Fandom)Noun- Fans collectively, as of the motion-picture or book series ‘Twilight’
6. Cullenize Verb- To alter one’s image (photographic, or otherwise) for the purpose of making them appear to be a member of the Cullen Family.
5. Twefrence (Reference)Noun- An act or instance of referring an everyday scenario to the ‘Twilight’ saga. (example: I made the best Tweference in class today when my teacher was lecturing about new moons!)
4. Fursplode (Explode)Verb- To expand with force, burst forth, and phase into wolf form. (example: Jacob Black fursploded after an argument with pack member Paul)
3. Vamptastic (Fantastic)Adjective- Incredibly great or extreme; exorbitant. (example: My friend convinced me to read the ‘Twilight’ saga, she is vamptastic!)
2. Fanpire (Fan)Noun- An enthusiastic devotee, follower, or admirer of vampires; specifically relating to the ‘Twilight’ saga.
1. Twerd (Twilight Nerd)Noun-A person having an extraordinarily high intelligence relating to the ‘Twilight’ saga.

Source

February 9

Tantrums and tears at Twilight audition
There was a casting call in Vancouver over the weekend. New Moon is in need of Native Americans. People flew in from all over the US to audition, some as far as Florida, to get their shot. Click here to read the full article.

If you don't want to read the article, let me tell you what happened. At 12:30 pm, the casting director said they had enough talent and shut the doors. Hundreds of kids were left out and didn't even get a chance to audition.

I tell you what, waiting in line for anything Twilight related is what Channy and I do best. Don't worry, I will give you tips for those folks braving the midnight release of the Twilight DVD. Here is a glimpse.

Tip #1 - Learn Self Defense (or bring someone bigger than you along)
Twilight fans are the best and you love to talk to them, but as soon as they do something like cut in line, WATCH OUT! You may not only have to protect yourself, but other more vulnerable Twilight fans.

That is it for the glimpse. Stay tuned in March for even more helpful Twilight Tips on How to stay after while waiting in line.

February 6

Twilight: Director's Notebook
written by Catherine Hardwicke

February 4, 2009 (New York, NY) – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, will release Catherine Hardwicke’s Twilight: Director’s Notebook as a one-day laydown on March 17, 2009, it was announced today by Megan Tingley, the division’s Senior Vice President and Publisher. This intimate look at the making of Summit Entertainment’s film follows visionary director Hardwicke through the creative process. Designed to replicate the director’s own personal notebook that she kept on set, readers will discover the inside secrets on casting, location scouting and wardrobe to storyboard sketches, behind-the-scenes photographs, personal notes about Catherine’s favorite scenes and much more. This one-of-a-kind experience for all Twilight fans will be released in hardcover for $17.99

with an announced first printing of 500,000 copies.

“With this book, I tried to show fans and future directors some of the process that the crew and I went through filming Twilight,” said Hardwicke. “My challenge was to translate Stephenie’s powerful book and make you feel what she makes you feel when you read her works.”

The movie version of Twilight has grossed over $340 million worldwide since its release on November 21, 2008. The movie debuted at #1 at the box office with $70 million, making it the highest debut for a female director. Twilight: Director’s Notebook is being released just in time for the March 21st multi-million copy release of Twilight on DVD.

So I guess we should all pre-order now. 500,000 copies are going to go fast.

King vs. Meyer
If you haven't read this article, you should. All I can say is, jealous much Mr. King?

February 3

Site of the Month
I know this isn't a "new" website so to speak, but I don't think people really know how much extra information Stephenie has on her website. So February's site of the month goes to none other than the women who started the Twilight phenomenon, StephenieMeyer.com

Here are a few things I think you should check out.

FAQ's
Each book has FAQ's. You learn a lot about some of the unanswered questions in the books.

Outtake's
Everybook has outtakes. These are parts of the book that were not able to be published. These are great and help fill in the blanks.

Midnight Sun
For those who may not have known, Midnight Sun is Edward's version of Twilight. If you haven't read it, click here.

New Moon News
“Twilight” sequel “New Moon” has landed its first overseas sale, to Italy, where the Chris Weitz-helmed vampire romancer is partly set.

Eagle Pictures, which released “Twilight” locally, announced on Tuesday that it has reupped with Summit Entertainment for the sequel, which will shoot in the ancient Tuscan city of Volterra for two weeks in May.

In Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling “New Moon,” Volterra is the town where the powerful Volturi vampire coven resides.Shooting on the pic begins in Vancouver in March, with “Twilight” stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart reprising their roles.

Eagle Pictures, which is owned by Tunisian mogul Tarak Ben Ammar and has close ties with Summit, announced that “New Moon” will be released in Italy on Nov. 20, day-and-date with its Stateside release.

“Twilight” took $15 million in Italy, making it the country’s ninth highest grosser in 2008, after “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and ahead of Matteo Garrone’s “Gomorrah.”

Source

New Moon and Vanessa Hudgens
Melissa speaks - on Vanessa Hudgens, Chris Weitz, Leah Clearwater, and more.

“I’m not sure about [final] casting but I had heard Vanessa Hudgens was going up for the part of Leah [Clearwater, a werewolf],” screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, who wrote both films, explained to PEOPLE at the 61st Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles Saturday night. “But at the moment, the part of Leah doesn’t happen until the third movie.”

Rosenberg also offered a few other insider tidbits about the progress of New Moon. “Well, you know Taylor Lautner will be back as Jacob Black. I can tell you the original cast will all be coming back. They’re on set right now, in Vancouver! They’re all up there prepping the movie to start shooting very soon.”

As for other changes in the next installment, Rosenberg said she expected new director Chris Weitz – who replaced the first film’s director, Catherine Hardwicke – to put his expertise and imprint on the second film.

“Chris Weitz directed The Golden Compass, which was a beautiful-looking film,” Rosenberg said. “And I think it’s wonderful we have someone who has worked with CGI animals … that will be a big part of New Moon. I’m delighted we have someone who’s so expert at that.”

Source

Summit and Lionsgate Merger?
Reports that Summit -- the studio behind the Twilight movie (pictured) -- and Lionsgate, the makers of the Saw franchise, are discussing a merger have been greatly exaggerated, EW has learned. Following a report yesterday on Sharon Waxman's new website The Wrap, which revealed that the two indie studios are in fact having conversations about a corporate marriage, a source tells EW that those discussions actually occurred before Summit took the $37 million Twilight and turned it into a $340 million worldwide franchise. Now that they've got a real hit on their hands, Summit is going it alone for the time being, with the Dakota Fanning-starrer Push releasing on Friday, and New Moon, the studio's Twilight sequel, scheduled for a Nov. 20 bow.

However, with the economic conditions being as they are, everyone in Hollywood is talking about ways to enhance their business strategically while simultaneously reducing overhead, so it's certainly not out of the question that we'll see some kind of changes taking place at various studios in coming months. We'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.

Source

Movie Totals
Total US Gross $187,066,718
International Gross $160,000,000
Total $347,066,718