Stars of ‘Eclipse’ play in the shadows at the premiere after-party
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The vampires and werewolves of ‘The Twilight Saga’ can agree on something aside from the importance of Bella Swan: serious partying.
That’s precisely what the young things of ‘Eclipse,’ the franchise’s third installment, did after the massive world premiere of the flick Thursday in downtown Los Angeles.
Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner turned up in a tented space across from Nokia Plaza, transformed into the snowy mountains of Washington state, where their on-screen counterparts live, love and brood.
‘I’m so proud of where the three of them have taken these characters,’ said ‘Eclipse’ director David Slade, who had his own shining moment during his chat with the Ministry.
‘Twilight Saga’ author Stephenie Meyer marched up and congratulated him, calling his effort ‘so well done.’
‘That’s the golden seal, isn’t it?’ Slade asked, right after he picked his jaw up off the floor.
Meanwhile, Pattinson remained an easy mark at the party in his maroon Gucci suit, while Stewart opted out of her white Elie Saab minidress for an anonymous tank top with jeans. Lautner posed for photos with teen actress Lily Collins while wolves and the undead -- think Alex Meraz and Charlie Bewley -- mingled freely together.
Redhead Bryce Dallas Howard reveled in being the new girl in ‘Twi’ town.
‘It’s overwhelming, to be honest, but these are great stories,’ she said of Meyer and ...
... screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg‘s supernatural world. The daughter of director Ron Howard joined the cast as a replacement for the role of vampire Victoria, previously held by Rachelle Lefevre. ‘In, like, 20 years from now, when kids see the franchise, Rachelle’s portrayal of Victoria is going to leave the most lasting impression. I just showed up in the last leg of the race,’ said Howard, with husband Seth Gabel in tow. ‘The thing that was most important to me was honoring everything she created.’
Celeb fans such as director Kevin Smith and his daughter Harley Quinn did laps to spot cast members, including Nikki Reed, BooBoo Stewart and Anna Kendrick. Jennifer Love Hewitt and Olympic medalist Shawn Johnson pondered decadent desserts.
Non-famous devotees to the franchise huddled in the streets surrounding the event, again produced by Chad Hudson Events.
‘We really outgrew Westwood,’ Hudson said of the prior premiere and party location for the first two films. To mark the foray into downtown, forest tableaux, dry-ice fog and a murky pond were placed amid minimal white furniture and matching floral arrangements.
Outside on an open patio, miniature plots of grass and lavender were built to re-create the meadow that Pattinson and Stewart’s characters are fond of rolling around in -- complete with a healthy amount of glitter for the diamond-skinned vampire effect.
And to remind everyone that the party always ends, guests were offered Team Jacob and Team Edward Crumbs cupcakes to choose from upon exit.
Which side are you on? Tell us in the comments section below.
— Matt Donnelly
Related dispatches from or approved by the Ministry of Gossip:
‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ news, pictures, clips, quizzes and spoilers
‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ premiere pictures from the red -- er, black -- carpet
LAFF 2010: Dispatches from the land of Rob Pattinson and the ‘Twilight: Eclipse’ premiere
Ryan Seacrest is ready for Robert Pattinson at the ‘Eclipse’ premiere
‘Twilight’ fans camp in downtown L.A. ahead of ‘Eclipse’ premiere [poll]
‘Twilight’ screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg talks Kristen Stewart, Bill Condon and ‘Breaking Dawn’
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