Don’t mess with the Wolf Pack.
The young actors who find themselves howling at the moon in the second installment of the “Twilight” franchise formed a bond during the shooting of the new film, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
They also clicked immediately with the “Twilight” faithful during a recent string of public appearances to promote the movie, opening Nov. 20.
Alex Meraz, who plays Paul in the film, recalls staring out at roughly 800 screaming fans at a public appearance a few weeks ago in Denver. He Tweeted of the event – “that was the warmest reception I’ve ever experienced.”
“I could barely speak,” Meraz says.
“New Moon” cast mate Kiowa Gordon got the role of Embry Call, in part, because he attends the same church as “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer.
“She took a look at me and thought I could play one of her wolves,” Gordon tells WWTW.
He ended up auditioning for the film – his first audition, ever – and landed the part.
Gordon says his eclectic background, which includes training in dance and mixed martial arts, didn’t help him secure his part.
“I wasn’t fighting or dancing when I did the audition,“ Meraz says. But those disciplines help him “being aware and in tune” with his body, a physicality which helped bring an edginess to his role.
“As an actor, you just can’t fake that,” Meraz says.
Meraz liked the fact that “New Moon” director Chris Weitz is no stranger to working with young actors.
“He has an immense background in doing it that,” Meraz says of Weitz, who previously helmed “About a Boy” and “The Golden Compass.”
Twilight fans were a bit cautious of the choice all the same, Meraz adds. They figured a male director – the original film was directed by Catherine Hardwicke – would take the film in a more action-oriented direction “and forget about the love story.”
“He came into it just the opposite,” Meraz reassures fans. “He was worried about honoring the book.”
Tomorrow: Gordon and Meraz describe a harrowing cliff diving sequence and share how their careers have changed by getting cast in the “Twilight” franchise.
(Photo: The Wolf Pack from “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” – (Left to right) Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon, Chaske Spencer, Taylor Lautner and Bronson Pelletier. Photo Credit: James White. All Images © 2009 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All rights reserved.)
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