Here’s a tip for all aspiring actors. Beg, borrow or steal your way into the “Twilight” franchise.
“I used to beg for auditions. Now, they’re being thrown at me,” says Alex Meraz, one of the new stars of the franchise who makes his debut in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
Now, Meraz has a team behind him – a manager, a publicist – to help him sort through the projects. And not every script hitting their desks is Oscar worthy.
“We’re getting a lot of crap,” he says.
The young actor, a Mesa, Ariz. Native who is part of the Purepecha (Tarasco) First Nation of Michoacan, understands the franchise is far bigger than him.
“I can be a horrible actor but I make a move that makes a money I’m secured a job,” he says.
“New Moon” co-star Kiowa Gordon, who also is a Native American, is grateful his new film shows a different, more contemporary side of his culture.
“It’s not just leather and feather, it’s roles meant for Caucasian actors,” Gordon says.
Gordon sees a similar philosophy behind the film franchise, one that uses the supernatural to tell a very human story.
“It really relates to everyone … it‘s all real emotions. It‘s not just about vampires and werewolves,” Gordon says.
“New Moon” allowed Meraz and Gordon the chance to bond with their fellow cast mates, particular the young actors who make up the Wolf Pack. The actors exchanged numbers after the film shoot ended and have stayed in touch during the filming of the third entry in the franchise, “Eclipse.”
“We’d always call each other and make sure, mentally, we’re prepared for the onslaught that’s coming at us. It’s keeping us grounded. We’re not alone,” Meraz says.
(Photo: Alex Meraz, Kiowa Gordon and Chaske Spencer co-star in ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” Photo Credit: Kimberley French. All Images © 2009 Summit Entertainment)
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Fluff piece – but telling in that there are expanded roles for “non-traditional casting” such as this. (Of course, there seemed to be a similar ‘Get me an Indian!’ casting outreach after the success of “Dances With Wolves” that lasted all of a couple of years….)