August
10
Twilight Gets Widgets
The Stephenie Meyer/Twilight train keeps rolling, with record-breaking sales of her fourth vampire novel in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, which sold 1.3 million copies on its release date, August 2. (It's still not Harry Potter territory, though; last July Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold 8.3 million copies in its first 24 hours.)
It became clear to me at Comic-Con that while there are legions of rabid fans of the Twilight books, many of whom eagerly await seeing the lovers, vampire Edward and human Bella, come to life on the big screen December 12, there are also many young women who have already adopted Brit actor Robert Pattinson (who starred as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) separate from Twilight.
UPDATE: Pattinson has several movies coming up, including two Brit indie entries, Little Ashes (in which he plays the 18-year-old Salvador Dali) and How to Be, the comedy he finished just before starting Twilight, which has been playing the indie circuit. Here's the trailer.
The folks at Summit sent me this Twilight widget via Facebook:
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Anne you are spot on. I'm a fan of Twilight but an even bigger fan of Rob Pattinson after looking at his other work. I am dying to see his performance as Salvador Dali in Little Ashes. Any articles on that film would be a godsend. He's a very versatile and talented actor and is going to surprise a lot of people. I usually wax lyrical on the usual suspects - actors like Matt Damon or Johnny Depp but there's something about Pattinson that makes me feel he can eventually sit comfortably alongside these actors.
Posted by: Helen | August 10, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Couldn't agree more. Pattinson is an extremely talented young man. I wish the movies he made so far would be more easily accessible in the US. How exciting to finally see him as leading man!
Posted by: Claudia | August 10, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Robert Pattinson is one of the best actors of his generation. Having seen all of his previous films, I know he'll be fantastic in Twilight. But, even more importantly than that, are his other two films, 'How To Be' and 'Little Ashes.' These are the movies to be on the lookout for. These are what will continue to prove that he's so much more than an image. He's an incredible actor and musician......I'm really looking forward to what's to come in his career.
Posted by: blearyeyedmesgirl | August 10, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Its fair to say Rob has a growing fanbase of discerning viewers. He's a wonderful actor and I admire how he hasnt played safe with lots of pretty boy roles. He's held out for testing roles like Art in How to be which couldnt be more different from Twilight. Like others I'm more excited to see him play Salvador Dali in Little Ashes than I am to see Twilight. I hope the rumour about him appearing in Parts Per Billion is true.
Posted by: Alison | August 10, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Absolutely, Robert Pattinson is an actor to look out for. Twilight is going to help put his name on the map of those still oblivious to his talent and work. But their is still so much more to be expected. Those two small films "How To Be" and "Little Ashes" are two films to look for soon. Hopefully with the Robs name attached to them, they will get a bit more attention. He's going to explode in a few months. It's going to be quite exciting to watch.
Thanks Anne
Posted by: Priscilla | August 10, 2008 at 01:47 PM
I'm bored with the current crop of rather interchangeable young actors. Pattinson makes a refreshing change. I loved his geeky role of Daniel Gale in The Bad Mother's Handbook and the battle scared airman in the Haunted Airman. All his roles seem very different. I went to a screening of his new film How to Be this weekend and was very impressed with his performance. Who would have realised that he was such a wonderful physical comedian. He was also very touching. He continues to surprise me and will most certainly grow in popularity as word gets out that he's a fantastic actor. I'd love to see him as Salvador Dali. That film looks amazing.
Posted by: Shel | August 10, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Anne if you could find out about Rob's new film with Olivia Thrilby and Dennis Hopper called Parts per Bilion you'd make a lot of fans very happy.
Posted by: Tania | August 10, 2008 at 02:52 PM
I'd love Variety to do an article on Rob's music for Twilight. I'm really interested to learn about his contribution to the soundtrack. He always plays his talents down way too much. He's so different from most actors. He has no ego at all. An adorable and funny guy.
Posted by: Emily | August 10, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Rob is a wonderful talent, and everyone should be keeping an eye out for him! He takes on new and different roles, and can portray so much just through his physicality. I am looking forward to seeing his smaller roles of Little Ashes and How To Be just as much, or maybe even more than Twilight. I love that he is starting to get more recognition, he deserves it!
Posted by: lifeisfast | August 10, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Hi Anne,
I notice you've been posting a lot about Twilight and particularly Robert Pattinson on your blog. I'm the associate producer of How To Be, the British indie comedy he starred in just before he left for the U.S. to start work on Twilight. I thought you might be interested in our experience with Twilight fans. Like a good indie film, we've been studiously collecting email addresses and promoting the film ourselves while on the festival circuit. When I set up the mailing list form on our website, I added an option to say where they'd heard of the film (Festival, press report, IMDB, etc.). As of today we have 2,000 list members and probably 95% - 99% of them gave reason they were interested in the film as "Fan of Robert"!
I can definitely confirm the observation you made today that these
fans are at least as interested in Robert himself as they are in
Twilight (http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2008/08/
twilight-gets-w.html). In fact, probably more so! They're inundating us with requests for news about our release. We're still touring festivals and we haven't yet been picked up by a sales agent or for distribution so we don't know the release schedule. But the Pattinson fans are persistent and patient!
We won the Honorable Mention at Slamdance back in January before Robert had really broke. A couple of fans travelled to that. Our next public screening was at Rhode Island Int'l Film Festival just last Friday. They'd got wind of the interest and programmed us on Friday night at 9pm in their biggest theatre (1,000 capacity). The Providence Journal, the local newspaper, wrote "According to staff members at the 12th Rhode Island International Film Festival, the greatest interest in any film at this year’s festival has been generated by the British film How to Be".
The screening was a sell-out, and most of the audience were Pattinson fans who'd travelled to see the film rather than attend the festival. Robert couldn't be there himself, but he phoned in an during the Q&A. The response was, well, not quite Comic-Con, but not like your normal film festival!
I believe the experience of the makers of Little Ashes, another
British indie (in which he plays Salvador Dali) has been similar.
If you'd like to see the trailer for How To Be then it's on our website: http://www.howtobemovie.com/.
Best wishes,
Mike Williams
Posted by: Mike Williams | August 10, 2008 at 04:32 PM
Robert Pattinson is amazing, thank you so much to to the Twilight filmmakers for casting him! And any news on Robert's upcoming film would be great! :D
Posted by: Jade | August 10, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Robert Pattinson is such a versatile and amazing actor. I'm so glad that his newfound fame in 'Twilight' is helping to support his other projects. I think Rob is going to hit it big-and he deserves it.
I hope to see HTB & Little Ashes as well as Twilight, because they all look like fabulous films.
Posted by: Natasha | August 10, 2008 at 05:07 PM
I'm so happy that the response to How To Be and Little Ashes is getting around, and being heard. As a Robert Pattinson fan, not just a Twilight fan, I'm looking forward to these two Indies more so than the latter. And the positive response from RIIFF has been so heartening. How To Be, as well as Rob's performance, is clearly a hit. Not that I'm surprised; his role choice has been so spot on thus far. I can't wait to see what's to come for this talented actor.
Posted by: blearyeyedmesgirl | August 10, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Looks like Regent Releasing plans to open LIttle Ashes this fall, while How to Be still needs a domestic distributor...
Posted by: anne Thompson | August 10, 2008 at 05:34 PM
I've wanted to see HOW TO BE since I first saw the trailers on YouTube. I called my local Independent theater in Birmingham, AL., and inquired about this film. They said they would make note of it and look out for it. I really would like to see it in a theater. And yes, it's because of Robert Pattinson. Saw him in The Haunted Airman, and was floored.
Posted by: pwrgirl | August 10, 2008 at 05:34 PM
Thank you Anne, for keeping us updated! As you can see, any information on Rob will generate great interest...
Posted by: blearyeyedmesgirl | August 10, 2008 at 06:56 PM
Thank you for the positive slant on the Twilight phenomenon. Stephenie deserves accolades for creating Twilight, Catherine deserves them for being possibly the most focused and determined director for an unknown entity ever, and Robert Pattinson deserves every positive comment available for being a diverse and excellent actor. I'm very excited about seeing him in Twilight, but it doesn't diminish the other wonderful work he's done leading up to these three films. Excellent acting, surprising musical talent, a genuinely endearing amount of insecurity, and one of the most charmingly boisterous laughs I've ever heard, have captured me as a Robert Pattinson fan.
Posted by: Lydia | August 10, 2008 at 07:08 PM
I find the comments on here very touching and vey justified. Its amazing how it takes PR from one film to awaken interest in an actor's career and his other work. Until Twilight I had only thought of Pattinson in terms of his small role in the Harry Potter film but after liking what I'd seen in the twilight trailers I went to search out his other work. I must admit I was shocked by how good he was. I suppose thats a back handed compliment but I had fully expected him to be the token pretty boy in productions but it couldnt be further from the truth. If anything he searches out roles that play down his looks. He's a wonderful comic actor and I agree with an earlier comment on here that says he's an excellent physical actor. He seems to take particular care to get his characters movements just right. I hate comparing actors to other actors but I really do think he could be the next Johnny Depp if he handles his career right. Mix the quirky roles with the blockblusters. Every role he plays is completely different from the last. Its hard to even recognise its the same person. I hope the fans of Twilight who support Rob continue to support his other work because he's an actor that deserves to do well. Little Ashes, if I'm honest, excites me much more than Twilight. If I could swap and have the Salvador Dali film in the cinemas in December instead of Twilight I would. I really hope it gets cinema release early in 2009.
Posted by: Sandy | August 10, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Here's a well written fan review of Rob in How To Be. The author made the treck to the film's screening and it seems it was well worth it.
http://www.robert-pattinson.co.uk/press/2008/08/how-to-be-review-at-riff/
Posted by: Judith | August 10, 2008 at 11:47 PM
I cant think of a young actor today with such a devoted following. It bodes well for the future if casting agents realise he has a loyal fanbase. Whats interesting is that fans are raving about his acting and the acting choices he;s made and not just hyperventilating over his looks. His fanbase seems to stretch from teens right up to retired people which shows how his versatility is paying off. I'm in my 40's and enjoying following his career and my 19 year old daughter is too. Its a lovely shared interest to have. While we might not have come across him if it wasnt for Twilight its definately not the reason we'll keep following him. We've developed a huge admiration for his acting and adore his dry (sometimes tactless) character in real life.
Thanks for mentioning Rob occasionally Anne, we look out for all your articles now because of Rob. So you could say Rob's brought you more of an audience too.
Posted by: wendy | August 11, 2008 at 05:57 AM
Robert the best and full stop.
Posted by: JL | August 11, 2008 at 06:07 AM
Not only is Rob a brilliant actor, but he seems like a genuine down to earth guy. No doubt he's gonna be huge in hollywood. I really hope to see him in lots of more roles. Twilight is gonna be his Leonardo's Titanic or Orlando's Pirates of the Caribbean. Plus, he's SO HOT. I mean, orgasim much?
Posted by: Maggie | August 11, 2008 at 06:21 AM
I have loved Rob since before being a Rob fan was cool and was thrilled with his casting as Edward in Twilight. (I’m a Twilight fan, too.) There is one word for Rob, amazing. You can’t deny that Rob is a beautiful man but more so he has true talent. I love how humble and charismatic he is. I adore his sense of humor. His range is absolutely unbelievable. While he did a fine job in Harry Potter, he didn’t have much to do. His roles in The Haunted Airman and The Bad Mother’s Handbook were fabulous. I love how he can pull off hauntingly beautiful and disturbed to a lovable geek. I can’t wait to see How To Be and Little Ashes. I am little bummed that Rob doesn’t realize how well liked he is for himself and his talent and not because he is playing Edward Cullen. I love Rob because of his talent, humility and the way he treats his fans. I hope that is something that he doesn’t lose as his popularity continues to rise.
Posted by: JulieThi1 | August 11, 2008 at 10:54 AM
I concur about Pattinson's amazing acting range which I really dont think has been picked up by the press. Only dedicated fans who have spent the time looking out for hid other work realise what a gifted actor he is. Not just a leading man but a character actor. The press cant see beyond name checks for Harry Potter.
I really hope Pattinson begins to realise how good an actor he is. He plays down his talent way too much. Yes he's good looking but he's a lot more than that. There is definately something special about him on screen. You really focus on him when he appears. There's a quiet dignity and stillness about him. He's a very charismatic actor with a lot of screen prsence.
Posted by: Ruth | August 11, 2008 at 03:50 PM
I have to agree with everything here. rob is a great actor and I saw him in Harry Potter for the first time and then I found out he was going to be in Twilight. Ever since then I have been searching youtube for his movies and signing up for sites with info on him because all his movies are so good. I loved him in The Bad Mothers Handbook. He is just such a good actor. I can't wait to see How to Be but I don't want to see Little Ashes, it's not my kind of movie but I wish I could see it but I'm not. Well it makes me so happy that so many people are just talking so constructively about him and not bashing him like I have seen as well.
Posted by: Katie | August 11, 2008 at 04:44 PM
He can express more emotion in one look, than some can express in a lifetime...
Posted by: blearyeyedmesgirl | August 11, 2008 at 06:40 PM
Pattinson is a naturally gifted actor.
Based on reading around the fanistes its clear he makes a lot of people happy. Fans arent really focusing on one role but all he's done which is a good thing. I had expected fans to only discuss him as Edward Cullen but if anything they seem as excited by his other future projects like Salvador Dali in Little Ashes or his comedic roles like Daniel Gale in The Bad Mother's handbook. Fans dont just appreciate his looks they appreciate his acting ability as well.
I'm very curious to find out more about Parts per Billion. All we know is that he's in the film with Oliva Thirlby and Dennis Hopper and its about bio terrorism. Anne if you do have any information fans would love to know more about it. Keep up the good work I love reading your articles.
Posted by: Andrea | August 12, 2008 at 01:04 AM
Anne I'm as interested in seeing Robert in Little Ashes as I am Twilight. The synopsis of the Salvador Dali film looks fascinating. I do hope the producers get a cinema release. I'm fed up of american teen movies I want to see something with more depth.
Posted by: erica | August 12, 2008 at 01:42 AM
I like Pattinson as he comes across as a real individual unlike so many Hollywood actors. I find his lack of PR savvy endearing. He seems incapable of conforming or lying for that matter.
However I'm not sure if Americans in the entertainment industry can deal with actors with such little polish. He's definately an actor to keep an eye on. He has huge potential but will the industry ultimately destroy him. He doesnt seem to have the hard edge thats necessary to survive.
He doesnt come across as a hussler for roles. A lot of fan forum threads on sites focus on their worries for Rob. They want to look after him and protect him so it seems I'm not the only one worried about him surviving in the big bad world thats Hollwood.
As a shallow asside I still think he needs a hair cut! It detracts from his perfect face.
Posted by: cres | August 12, 2008 at 05:15 AM
Rob has become quite the obsession for me, although I only noticed him after he was cast as Edward. I'm not worried about his career, his charming honesty and nonchalance make him even more desireable in the land of pushy opportunists. But someone needs to make his British projects available in the USA... its not fair!
ps. I only partially agree about the haircut. There's something so entertaining about the different crazy ways he moves it. Plus, it always looks like he just had wild, mind-blowing sex.
Posted by: Tal | August 12, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Vote for Robert Pattinson on PEOPLE.com!
Visit our site to vote for Robert Pattinson in our Who's Next poll and create your own fan banner and widget to post on your site, so other Robert Pattinson fans can rock the vote!
Here’s the links:
The Who’s Next Poll & Widget: http://www.people.com/people/celebrities
The Fan Banner Site: http://declareyourlove.people.com/declareyourlove/
Thank you!
Posted by: Karina Huertas | November 24, 2008 at 12:03 PM