With the release of “New Moon” last Friday, the second film in the Twilight saga, the Daily got the chance to chat with Kellan Lutz, who plays big brother vampire Emmett Cullen in the series. Lutz, the object of many a teen girl’s attention, revealed his hobbies, real hair color and crazed fan moments.

Anna Williams: three words to describe Emmett?

Kellan Lutz: Loveable Teddy bear.

AW: three words to describe yourself?

KL: Loveable Teddy bear.

AW: as an insider, how do you explain the “Twilight” phenomenon?

KL: I wish I could. I don’t really see it for what it is, as an outsider would see it. I actually wish I could step away from it like that. But now we all, as a cast, live in this Twilight Zone. It’s a huge part of our lives, and it will continue to be for the next few years until we’re done with all the movies. I think five years from now, when everything is said and done, we’re going to look back and look at all the fan mail and look at all the scrapbooks and look at all the interviews…watch the movies again, and actually watch them as movies, and I’m going to just sit there in awe of this phenomenon that is Twilight.

AW: So it sounds like it’s been a really positive experience for you, but have there been any drawbacks?

KL: I don’t really get to spend time with my loved ones. I miss my dog, and my family and my friends. Thank God they are only taking three months to shoot. We shoot on the West Coast, and I find myself working six day weeks, with only Sundays off to myself. So I book a ticket for that morning, fly home for 12 hours, and book a ticket for that night to get back to work by Sunday morning. All just to see my dog.

AW: So how has this affected your family’s life?

KL: Well my mom, everyone knows her as Kellan’s mom, and she lives in Arizona. She’s so loving, and just awesome. you know, it’s weird having cousins come out that I never knew existed. People are contacting my mother and saying “hey I’m so-and-so, and can I have Kellan’s number?” and my mom has to think of some excuse as to why she doesn’t have my number for some reason- like I’m out of the country or something. But I have had a lot of relatives of relatives of relatives come out of the woodwork. But this has changed my life only for the better. I mean, yeah it’s crazy people knowing my name, but it is so humbling when people want my autograph, or a picture with me, because I am really just Kellan. I really haven’t changed who I am from before Twilight. I still do the same things I’ve done; I mean, maybe I style my hair now, and try to wear matching shoes and socks.

AW: So, going back to your hair…what motivated you to dye it?

KL: This is my normal hair color! I just had the black stripped out, because I get sick of it. It’s not really me, and I want to be myself. I sat in a makeup chair for three and a half hours, and they just stripped the color out — my hair is normally strawberry blonde, and gets very light in the summer. I just think blondes have more fun, and I just wanted to be back to myself.

AW: What kinds of things do you like to do, other than acting?

KL: you know, I have fun doing just about everything. the other day I was at jury duty, and I found this old grandpa dude, who was just sitting there looking really pissed-off, and I folded up a piece of paper and we started playing football. and he was having so much fun! We would sit there and start hitting people and annoying them. I really find fun in anything, even when I am by myself. I love painting and drawing, and just being active outside. Being outdoors, swimming, and just hanging out with my dog are all things I really enjoy.

AW: What kind of music is on your iPod right now?

KL: everything, actually. I have yet to listen to all the songs on there. I listen to different songs depending on my mood. when I’m going to the gym I like something that’s pushy, like rap, like J-Z, Z-Trip, Little Wayne, a little Kayne sometimes. I love Kings of Leon and Jack Johnson to mellow out too. Robin Thicke, Paramore, Citizen Cope, Incubus….I could go down the list.

AW: and what can we expect from “Eclipse” (2010)?

KL: A lot more from my character, thank god! I haven’t really done anything in these two movies besides be a presence. But “Eclipse” is such an action movie, and it was so much fun to film. I can’t wait to see the trailer! I’m really excited for that movie. In “Eclipse” I actually have great scenes with Kristen, and it’s really fun making her laugh, because that’s what my character does. I make her laugh when I’m not supposed to, and we end up having to reshoot the scene.

AW: What is the most outrageous thing a fan has ever done to get your attention?

KL: there was this one time when I was running with my dog down the street, and I see this car go past me. All of a sudden, the car comes to a screeching halt, and this woman gets out and screams, “Emmett!” I turn around and start booking it in the other direction. and I hear this flip-flops running after me, and two seconds later this water bottle is skidding right past me. and I was like, “Did you just throw that?” and she was like, “I wanted you to stop and say hi!” and I was just like, “Oh, hey…”

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It has been reported by various sources that the Twilight Saga: new Moon has had the biggest opening in history. With all of the vampire hype, this is not at all surprising. what many people are wondering is just how much the cast members of New Moon are making off the movie. of course, we seem to be most concerned about the numbers that Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson are earning from new Moon.

According to E!Online News, the stars of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen have gotten a pay raise from $2 million to $12 million. In addition, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson will be earning profits from New Moon. the number will probably be a very small percentage, but it is important to keep in mind that New Moon is sure to sell a lot of movie tickets and DVDs. This percentage alone will help Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson become some of the richest people under the age of 25.

It appears that Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson will both also be earning $12 million for the next movie in the Twilight Saga, which is called Eclipse. Eclipse is already completed and set to be released in June of 2010.

There’s been a lot of buzz about Taylor Laughter, who plays Jacob Black, in the Twilight Saga movie series. Taylor Laughtner has bulked up a whole lot for his role in New Moon and is getting quite a lot of attention from the ladies. according to E!Online News, lawyers have said that Taylor Laughtner is likely going to also be getting a huge pay raise for his role as Jacob Black.

The downside: midnight showing tickets have been sold out for over a week.

“One girl almost cried, one did cry and a lot of people were just upset,” said Jasmine Smith, ticket seller at the Lincoln Grand Cinema.

The Twilight: New Moon sequel has sold more tickets in advance than any film ever, according to Fandango, the cinema booking website. More fans have pre-booked tickets to New Moon than earlier sequels, including Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and the dark Knight.

“I was kind of sad the midnight showing has been sold out for a week, I just didn’t know,” said Yasmine Khachab leaving Lincoln Grand ticket booth today. “But I did just buy tickets for four o’clock on Friday so right after class I’ll be there.”

Smith says that many of the customers who came in to buy tickets before they were sold out were mothers going to buy them for their teenage daughters or college girls. This craze, however, has been stirring the blood of many generations.

Thirty-four-year-old Cassie Taggart, for instance, will leave her son at home to attend the midnight premier.

“Because of my busy schedule, it’s like the only time I can see it,” said Taggart. “But I’m really excited to see the different types of people that will be there. since there is such a wide age gap, there are bound to be different reactions to the movie.”

Though she is not planning on dressing up, Taggart says a few of her friends plan on buying fangs to wear to the film which “might be dangerous!” said Taggart.

Due to its popularity, Marcus theatres across town are hosting various activities leading up to the midnight showing of the film. the Grand will be asking “Twilight” trivia (Twivia?) all night. East Park will also host a 7 p.m. character lookalike contest and will display a “Twilight” backdrop so people can take pictures in front of it. All four theatres, Lincoln Grand, East Park, Edgewood and South Pointe Cinema will hold a 9 p.m. screening of the first “Twilight” film that was released last fall.

The movie is hugely popularity among women, but may not play as well to guys. “I have no interest in it whatsoever,” said junior Kriston Burroughs, “although… the New Moon preview did look kind of interesting just because of the fight scenes.”

Burroughs says that many men like him feel the same way.

“I can deal without the romantic aspect just because I don’t really care who Bella (main character) ends up with,” said Burroughs.

Besides the movie phenomenon, Twilight has taken over many spots across UNL campus. for example, the University Bookstore has set up a special sales display devoted to Twilight, complete with the book series, soundtrack, 2-disc DVD, calendar and even books about lead actor Robert Pattinson.

So what is it that makes Twilight alluring enough to be chosen as one of the top staff picks at the University bookstore? Just read the display:

“Twilight – by Stephanie Meyer. a great book if you love romance and mystical creatures. Meyer is a fantastic writer that makes you feel like you are Bella.”

“Twilight – by Stephanie Meyer. Fun interesting read that makes the supernatural seem possible, even likely. You’ll fall in love with the series.”

Maria Walker, avid Twilight fan, was also “devastated” that she was not able to get tickets to the New Moon premiere before they sold out. Walker described the Twilight actors as being people everyone can relate to. everyone wants to be loved, whether you are watching the relationship between Edward and Bella, Jacob, Alice, or whomever.

“A lot of people love vampires,” said Walker. “I love vampire books, movies, everything about them. I think I should be one but hey, it’s whatever.”

Walker, who has read the series once already and has just begun reading it again, will also be attending on Friday.

However, New Moon is only the second of four books to hit the big-screen, which may leave fans thirsting for more.

Videographer: Mike Schaefer

Photographer: Kris Knowlton

LOS ANGELES — for Kellan Lutz, co-starring in the phenomenally popular “Twilight” films has given his career a brightly dawning future.

“I’m just so blessed to be a part of this amazing experience. It’s such a magic carpet ride. And it’s opened up doors for all of us within our careers to frontline other movies and be a part of bigger and better things,” Lutz said in a phone interview earlier this fall from Vancouver, British Columbia.”It’s just so amazing to have forged these relationships with these other actors who are just as humble and down-to-earth and have their heads on solid shoulders.”"The Twilight Saga: new Moon,” opening Friday, is the second “Twilight” film. Lutz reprises his role as vampire Emmett Cullen, the adopted big brother to the series’ brooding hero, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).in the sequel, Edward decides to leave his human girlfriend Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) after a minor accident puts her in mortal danger. in his absence, Bella tumbles into a deep depression, which is only lightened through her friendship with sunny Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). but Bella again finds herself in supernatural peril when Jacob becomes a werewolf.the films are based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling four-book series, though Lutz didn’t realize that when he got the role in “Twilight.” Like the novels, the movies boast legions of passionate female fans.”We didn’t know what this would become, in a way. we were just actors who fell in love with a script, and within doing that, it’s not like a Marvel hero where you know Green Lantern or Captain America, whoever is that is gonna be famous right off the block. we fell in love with our characters and kind of looked at this as just another job,” Lutz said during a recent news conference with co-stars Ashley Greene, Elizabeth Reaser and Nikki Reed at the four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.the North Dakota native is thrilled fans have accepted him as Emmett. “Twilight” was a 2008 blockbuster, and “New Moon” is one of the most hotly anticipated movies of the year.When Edward leaves Bella in “New Moon,” the rest of the Cullen coven also cuts ties with her. that meant Lutz, 24, and his Cullen co-stars had to make the most of short screen time in the sequel. Lutz tried to show his character’s protective side, especially his big-brotherly manner toward Bella.”The more you can still be in the scene and react … and really be in the scene without dialogue, the more you can add to the scene and fulfill it and just make it a full scene. That’s definitely the hardest part, but in a way it’s where the best acting comes out,” Lutz said from Vancouver, after a day of fight training for “Eclipse,” which wrapped filming in October.Lutz is confident his patience will pay off in future installments of the franchise: Emmett has a beefed up role in “Eclipse” and in the fourth book, “Breaking Dawn.” during a separate L.A. news conference, Pattinson said filming for “Breaking Dawn” is tentatively set for fall 2010.”We’re doing such intense fight training that we’re gonna look like trained killers by the time the fans and the audience sees it onscreen,” Lutz said of “Eclipse.”Outside the “Twilight” series, Lutz next will be seen in the remake of “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Growing up, horror villains such as Chucky and Jason Voorhees didn’t scare him, but “Elm Street’s” Freddy Krueger did, he said.”It’s such a blessing to be a part of something that for me, I grew up with,” he said. “It’s this psychological thriller that can take you in your dreams.”Though fame can be a double-edged sword, Lutz again counts his blessings when he considers the “Twilight” phenomenon.”We’re blessed to be actors and have such a loving fan base. And the fans are always so great, and they’re giving us presents, which is so crazy ’cause we’re allowed to work because of them. And the time they put into making dolls or buying Gummi bears or anything like that, it’s very humbling.”Travel and accommodations provided by Summit Entertainment. Share with a friend your Email address:Enter multiple comma-separated email recipients. Friends Email address many: Leave a Comment

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A&E Photo Galleriesview all OU men vs. Louisiana-Monroe: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009

Men’s college basketball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Louisiana-Monroe at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. Photo by Nate Billings, the Oklahoman

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“The Twilight Saga: new Moon” premiere: Nov. 16, 2009

View photos from the movie’s premiere.

Daily Published Photos: November 17, 2009

View pictures from the Oklahoman.

Published: 7:00AM GMT 18 Nov 2009

More film fans have pre-booked tickets to New Moon than ordered advance seats for Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince or The Dark Knight, according to Fandango, the cinema booking website.

With three days to go before the sequel goes on general release in the US on Nov 20, it has already sold more advance seats than the original Twilight film in 2008.

“For many fans, it’s the year’s most anticipated film event,” a Fandango spokesman told the Deadline Hollywood website.

“Ever since tickets went on sale in September, it’s been among our top five weekly ticket-sellers, as New Moon has a strong pull on audiences.

“We’re seeing a higher-than-usual number of tickets per transaction for this film, suggesting that moviegoers will show up en masse at theaters this weekend with their friends and family.”

Thousands of fans flocked to see New Moon stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart at the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Monday.

Pattinson, 23, who plays vampire Edward Cullen in this latest adaptation of the popular series, said this year’s crowd of thousands of screaming fans was larger than last year’s turnout.

“And it seems different to me because we have done this world tour in the last week and it has just been unbelievable in every single city,” he said. “It is about 10 times bigger than any other city in the world.”

It’s not every day that you get to meet a vampire. Thankfully Kellan Lutz, who plays the “vegetarian” vamp Emmett Cullen in The Twilight Saga: New Moon and its predecessor Twilight, doesn’t suck.

“Hereally hasn’t changed, there’s just more to him,” he tells me about hisrole in the sequel. “My character is not the lead and he doesn’t have aton of dialogue but his presence is great, and felt,” he adds.

Beingaccepted by the fans was a huge weight off of Lutz the second timearound and, he said, it allowed him to have more fun with thecharacter. He still prepared just as much as the first time however.

“Igot my journal out, the journal that had all my Emmett notes about howI was going to play him and what I liked and disliked. I maderelationships with all the characters and just elaborated on that.”

The 24-year-old is genuinely enthusiastic about New Moon and says his role as the protectivebig brother plays a larger part in the film. He also notes that,compared to the relatively low budget production of the first Twilight, this was a big studio movie.

“After the success of Twilight we got a lot more funding for New Moon and couldmake it bigger and better. A lot of money goes to CGI for the wolvesbut it was cool to have an endless supply of resources to make it thebest film it could be,” he says.

If you have opened a newspaper or turned on a television in the last couple of months you know that Twilightfans are an intense bunch. And it’s not just its main stars, KristenStewart and Robert Pattinson, that are being constantly hounded. Lutzthinks the fans are an amazing group but he also has some stories totell.

“[The fans] allow us actors to continue working,” he notes. “But there are also the marriage proposals andpeople wanting to handcuff themselves to you. [We get] common ones like ‘willyou bite my neck’, ‘will you sign my baby’s forehead’, and scandalouspictures in the mail. Most recently a lady wanted to know if shecould lick my face.”

New Moon also has a new director with Catherine Hardwicke being replaced by Chris Weitz. In The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, the third film that opens in 2010, David Slade takes over the reins. Does Lutz like a fresh eye behind the camera each time?

“I don’t think there is one director who could do all the booksjustice because all the books are so different. Catherine was perfectfor the first, Chris for the second and David for the third. Who knowsfor the fourth…I would love Chris to come back,” he says. “Chris iseasy to deal with. He was an actor once so that goes along with theterritory of knowing how to deal with actors.”

After New Moon, Lutz will be battling the iconic horror character Freddy Krueger in the reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street.This time around Freddy is played by Jackie Earle Haley, and Lutz, whoplays Dean, can’t give us much more information than what we alreadyknow.

“My character is the guy you want to root for,” he says when describing his new role. “I’m up for a couple ofdays…I can’t sleep, I’m an insomniac, and I’m taking medicine becauseI’m having these dreams where I see Freddy.” He teases, “I might make it and I mightnot.”

Lutz says he’s also ecstatic about the release of Eclipse and can’t wait until a trailer is cut so the world can get as excited about it as he is.

“It’s amazing. It’s going to kill in the theatre with the guyaudience,” he tells me. “So many cool stunts and fight scenes. We did six weeks oftraining…some kung fu, jujitsu, boxing, kick-boxing…everything. My character is in it alot more,” he continues. “David Slade is a kick-ass director. Hedid 30 Days of Night and Hard Candy and just has this way of makingmovies edgy.”

Lutz’sgoal is to be an action hero like Matt Damon in the Jason Bournemovies. He would happily work on one of those films with Damon too, ifthe offer was ever given.

“There’s no rush, I don’t need to work every day of my life. I don’tneed to be on a TV show where I’m working nine months a year. I have a great team that understands I wantlongevity…I want to do this for the rest of my life,” he concludes.

And with that he turned into a bat and flew out the hotel window to battle some spies. Or something like that.

Watch the video for Death Cab For Cutie’s Meet Me At The Equinox from the soundtrack for The Twilight Saga: New Moon below.

brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com

Top image: Kellan Lutz and Nikki Reed in a scene from The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Courtesy E1 Entertainment.

BY Cristina Everett
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, November 17th 2009, 4:40 PM

The stars were out in full force at Monday night’s premiere of “New Moon” – all except for one familiar face.

Noticeably missing from the star-studded event was “Twilight” actress Rachelle Lefevre, who plays evil vampire Victoria in the first two installments of the film franchise.

Though the hoards of fans who assembled at the premiere would have liked to have caught a glimpse of the actress, Lefevre says her red-carpet absence was for a good reason.

“2 fans at the premiere: w/ Honey in hospital & being fired from Eclipse tonight was just 2 emotional 4 me & I couldn’t manage it,” the actress wrote Monday on her Twitter page. “So sorry.”

Lefevre, who was referring to her dog, Honey, opted to skip the premiere after finding herself in a feud in July with the movie’s production company, Summit Entertainment.

Despite Lefevre having appeared in the first and second installments, Bryce Dallas Howard surprisingly was recast in the role of the film’s red-headed villainess for the third chapter, “Eclipse.”

Lefevre was left “stunned” by the sudden dismissal, which Summit attributed to scheduling conflicts. The actress had signed on to work for 10 days on an indie film, “Barney’s Version,” that began production on the same day as “Eclipse.”

“I was fully committed to the ‘Twilight’ saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria,” Lefevre said in a statement. “I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules.

“Although the production schedule for ‘Eclipse’ is over three months long, Summit said they had a conflict during those 10 days and would not accommodate me. Given the length of filming for ‘Eclipse,’ never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10-day overlap.”

The bigwigs at Summit were none too happy with Lefevre’s public statement and fired off a counterstatement.

“We at Summit Entertainment are disappointed by Rachelle Lefevre’s recent comments which attempt to make her career choices the fault of the Studio,” the studio’s statement said. “It is not about a ten day overlap, but instead about the fact that ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ is an ensemble production that has to accommodate the schedules of numerous actors while respecting the established creative vision of the filmmaker and most importantly the story.

“Ms. Lefevre’s commitment to the other project – which she chose to withhold from Summit until the last possible moment – makes her unfortunately unavailable to perform the role of Victoria.”