Confessions of a Twilidiot

The Collider Twilight Super Fan Eclipse Review 'Audition' E-mail

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When Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub put out a call on Collider.com for a Twilight Superfan to review The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on Blu-ray, he received 764 e-mails from fans seeking to be the one.  I stayed up until 2:00 a.m. to get my submission done.  I never expected anything to come of it.  So I went all "fan girl" with the screaming and giggling and jumping up and down when I picked up a voicemail from Steve Weintraub.  Below is the e-mail I submitted in case you're curious.

Here's the original post I responded to:

This is either going to be the best or worst decision I’ve made this month.

While we have a lot of great writers on Collider, I’ve decided to try and find a Twilight super fan to review our copy of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on Blu-ray.  Now I’m not looking for someone who thinks it’s the greatest movie ever made, and I’m not looking for someone who hates it either.  I’m going to try and locate someone who loves the books and the films and can do an impartial review, while also writing about all the special features, commentaries, and the extra things on the Blu-ray.

Here’s the deal.  I’m not going to mail you our only review copy just because you tell me you’d be good for the job.

Instead, if you’d like to review it, please email me with the headline TWILIGHT SUPER FAN.  I’d also like you to provide links to your writing online, or examples of your writing in the body of the email.  And I don’t mean a few sentences.  I’m looking for enough examples that prove you are the right person for the job.  Keep in mind, I’ll probably get a number of people asking for this, so you’ve got to sell me on why you’re the right person.

Also, since the movie gets released soon on DVD/Blu-ray, I’d like whoever wants to do this to live in the USA so you can get the Blu-ray in time to review it before opening day.

Finally, if you’re reading this and think you know someone that would be perfect for the job, send them this article!

Below is my response:

Dear Steve "Frosty" Weintraub:

I am the “Accidental” Twilight Super Fan who would write a great review for Collider.com of the Twlight: Eclipse Blu-Ray/DVD.  Since I’m sure you’re inundated with requests, I’ve written a summary of my qualifications for your quick review, and then the full story if you would like more information.

I am an ardent fan of The Twilight Saga movies, books, soundtracks and scores but enjoy learning about the widely varying reactions of my family, friends and students as they encounter the world of Twilight.  I am an avid reader, a musician and a longtime DVD (and now Blu-Ray) junkie and am fascinated by all the aspects of movie making.  I am compelled to write, mostly for my own purposes, although I do have a few articles and a book chapter in print, an M.A. thesis (CU-Boulder, Chinese, 1996) and a Fan Fiction Challenge Honorable Mention Award from Twilight Novel Novice.

Here are the links to my writing on the Web:

• Three articles published in Camping Magazine:  http://www.outofthemountains.com/articles.html</span>
• Twilight Breaking Dawn Fan Fiction story told from Jacob’s point-of-view (even popular with Team Edward):  http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6282372/1/Running_Home
• Descriptions of five presentations (i.e. I wrote the descriptions as well as the DVD content) on DVDs that I made for the American Camp Association/Healthy Learning: http://www.healthylearning.com/m-1542-gretchen-vaughn-out-of-the-mountains-llc.aspx
• Eight reviews of fitness videos: http://www.videofitness.com/reviewsdb/disp_reviewer.php?id=116< (You do have to search for my name after linking to each video.)

The timing for writing the review is ideal for me.  I work at an elementary school and have a long Thanksgiving break starting on Wednesday.  My address is as follows:

Thank you for your consideration!

Gretchen Vaughn

Twilight Super Fan and Writer

Member, Team Switzerland

THE ACCIDENTAL TWILIGHT SUPER FAN

I came into my personal obsession with the Twilight universe just this past spring.  After seeing New Moon, I was a) very confused; and b) had to know how the story was going to turn out.  So I started reading the books and then I read them again (and again and again), read the Bree Turner novella, the unfinished Midnight Sun manuscript, the outtakes on Stephenie Meyer’s Web site, academic books (e.g. Twilight and History), Austen, Shakespeare, Bronte and the Book of Mormon and endless amounts of in-canon, in-character fan fiction.

 I’ve watched the first two films numerous times, including any commentary or special features I can get my hands on.  This included Catherine Hardwicke’s director’s notebook and the Mark Cotta Vaz “making of” books.  I didn’t have the Target or Wal-Mart special editions of New Moon, which irritatingly had their own content, but managed to track it all down on the Web.  Fortunately, with Eclipse, Summit’s properly packaging a DVD with the Blu-Ray and the special features should be the same across all special editions, regardless of where you purchase them.  Now if they would just include a digital copy as well, we’d have a great new industry standard.

 As a musician myself (bass and piano), I really appreciate the film soundtracks and scores both in how they’re often utilized as  another character in films and how they stand on their own as quality musical compositions.  New Moon and Eclipse both translate particularly well on the piano.  Every time I play that “Jacob’s Theme,” my heart just breaks for him.

Don’t tell anyone, but part of the impetus for me to purchase an iPad was so I could now carry everywhere my Twilight films, gallery of movie stills and Robert Pattinson photo shoots, the full saga in Kindle with the ability to bookmark, highlight and make notes, Wi-Fi and a readable screen for fan fiction and a word processor to work on my own story.  Plus the 64GB can house my entire music library.  It’s also great for accessing interviews (love those only lightly edited ones on collider.com), Twi-News and Melissa Rosenberg’s Facebook page.

I love the interplay between the films, books, music and fan fiction in the Twi-verse.  In some ways, it’s akin to how we experience Shakespeare’s plays as both written works and interpreted performances.  Melissa Rosenberg (who writes some real comic zingers) and the directors have brought their own styles to each very individual book and film.  It was hard to fully imagine Bella, Edward and Jacob until they were incarnated by Kristen, Rob and Taylor, along with a bevy of costumers and make-up artists.  Stephenie engages all five senses in her writing, much of which is lost in a 2D medium, but the sets, locations, lighting and cinematography add a visual punch that you can’t get anywhere but on a movie screen.  Unfortunately, the movies don’t stand on their own very well.  The relationships between the characters just aren’t as clear, the minor characters aren’t very fully developed and the lack of description of the mythology is very confusing for most viewers.  But partnered with the books, the films pack a one-two visual punch that I very much enjoy.

I saw Eclipse in the theater five times, which is saying something, because we have a top-of-the-line home theater set-up so it takes a lot to get us into a theater.  I saw it twice in IMAX, once on a giant screen, once at the drive-in and then on a regular screen.  I was with someone different each time so they were all very different experiences.   Whenever someone wanted to go, I was up for it, partially to find out what their reaction would be.  I also have bought extra copies of the books and DVDs specifically to loan out to see what they think.  I’ve had everything to total ‘converts,’ to ‘yeah, that was okay,’ to one friend chanting “Viva, Blade” every time I post about Twilight on Facebook.

Unlike many Twilight fans, I don’t do a lot with the merchandising.  I’m 40 years old and married, so our house reflects a variety of our interests and tastes.  I do have a framed Eclipse poster among the many in our home theater/man cave, a tasteful wolf pack tattoo Eclipse t-shirt, and a very nice Eclipse-style Bella bracelet with hand-carved wooden wolf and Swarovski crystal heart.  I’ve been converting my husband’s wardrobe into colored fitted tees and waffle weave like what Edward wears in Eclipse.  So far he likes it as long as he doesn’t know who I’m emulating (he’s very Team Jacob).   I did sneak an Edward Cullen standee into a Robsessed friend’s apartment while I was house sitting for her.  She did get the joke.  Standees, amongst many other items, are really silly in my opinion.

I haven’t found myself at any conventions, stalking any sets or camping out at any premieres, but I did take a Twilight-inspired trip last June.  It had been a particularly hot and dry spring here in Colorado and those cool, ferny forests and waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge looked so inviting.  So I took a relaxing trip to Portland to buy Twilight commentary books at Powell’s Books and visit movie set locations at Oxbow Park, Multnomah Falls and the Viewpoint Inn.

I’m very curious to hear the commentaries on the Eclipse Blu-Ray.  Rob has said some goofy things during the Twilight and Remember Me commentaries.  I’ll be interested to hear a scene-by-scene commentary from Stephenie Meyer, especially considering some of the discussions that occurred during the fan site interviews.  I haven’t seen the picture-in-picture documentary feature yet so that should be interesting as well.  Hooray for extended and deleted scenes!  There’s been no mention yet what will be on BD Live. 

I think the above illustrates that I am indeed a thinking Twilight super fan and one which could objectively review Eclipse as a film and how much the special features and commentaries enhance or detract from the Blu-Ray experience. 

Yours truly,

Gretchen Vaughn

Applying the "Super Fan" designation to myself is a bit amusing.  I will never claim to the biggest or best fan.  I'm still trying to understand why the Twiverse has so completely captured my attention and am in awe at the dedication of the fans.

I have witnessed this firsthand before.  My dad was one of the co-founders of the Colorado Wagner Society and used to travel to Seattle in the summers to see the entire Ring cycle.  When he retired from teaching, he taught himself to type just so he could put out a newsletter.  He died from ALS before the invention of DVDs and blogs.  I can only imagine.  But it would have been fun.

I still haven't asked Steve Weintraub if it was the "best or the worst decision" he made last month.  It took me longer than I had anticipated to write the review, because four hours after I hit send on that e-mail three of the most chaotic weeks of my life began starting with a bad virus, my dog being hospitalized and being forced to resign from a job I loved.  Disappearing into the world of Eclipse kept me sane.

Right after the review went up, I went to Las Vegas and completed a half-marathon, along with 28,000 others, to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (still not at my fundraising goal - please help!  Click here for more info and to donate).  Came home, was in a head-on collision that totaled my car and went for my first ambulance ride as a patient.  Later that week, I put a kid in an ambulance, took a friend to the ER and seemed to be at the center of a new drama everyday at work. 

Luckily, life has settled down considerably.  I've finally gotten around the Web to read reactions to the review and so many have been so kind.  Those who disagree have been civil and well-reasoned.  The Twi-Haters have let me be.  And one Tweet, from the original paragon of fan sites, that made my month:

TwilightLexicon: @twilidiot Just wanted to say well done on the @collider review. @colliderfrosty picked well!

I think I might have that one framed.  Especially considering it was in response to my Tweet:

Woke up with Mini Jacob wolf on the bed and not at the hospital. Neuro deficits still there but he's in good spirits. And I am, too.

Love you, Twilighters!

Tasteful Twilight Gifts #6: Eclipse Wall Calendar

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My thoughtful husband gave me a The Twilight Saga: Eclipse 16-Month 2011 Wall Calendar for Christmas.  I had thought about purchasing this before but could not tell from the limited images on Amazon and other sites if the calendar had photos I would want, enough space to write on the dates, etc.  Happily, it does!  The 16 months are October-December 2010 on one page with the cover photo and then a standard-sized 12 month wall calendar.  Here's a closer look:

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am very much looking forward to May with Edward and Bella in the meadow, plus upcoming events:

Edgar Meyer is a virtuoso bassist, composer and all-around genius.  That's not just my opinion:  he received a MacArthur Genius grant.  The Colorado Symphony Orchestra program features Meyer's Triple Concerto with Béla Fleck on banjo and Zakir Hussein on Indian drums, Gershwin's An American Paris, and Copland's Appalachian Spring.  This concert plus Pirates in IMAX and my anniversary!  What a very, very awesome weekend it should be.

 

 

Sydney/Mini-Jacob Wolf approves of May as well:

Sorry!  Just could not help sharing a cute dog pic.  He acts as adorable as he looks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tasteful Twilight Gifts #5: Eclipse Wolf Pack Tattoo T-Shirt

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I love red and the artwork of the Wolf Pack Tattoo.  This is a very fashionable T-shirt, especially for boys.  I realized this when I snapped a picture at school one day of our third-grade boys who just happened to be in the lunch line like this:

In the interest of Internet safety and lack of permission, I unfortunately had to chop off their heads.  The boys claimed that they had not planned anything; it was just a coincidence.  These designs are very popular right now, often with an association with mixed martial arts.  The Eclipse wolf pack tattoo T-shirt fits right in:

This is a regular fit tee.  The fabric is a medium-weight 100% cotton. 

I ended up giving mine away to a nine year-old boy who is a big Twilight fan.  He was very grateful.

I dug around and finally found it in stock on Amazon.  It ships from AnimeTruck which does not have expedited shipping.  The cost is $17.95 + $7.99 for standard shipping.

 

 

 

 

Tasteful Twilight Gifts #4: Victoria Barbie Doll

Normally, the Twilight dolls and action figures just make me giggle, especially Edward and Jacob.  But then Mattel came out with the Victoria Barbie.

Right from the very first The Twilight Saga: Eclipse trailer, I loved the Victoria costuming during the battle.

 
There are a couple of Victoria Barbies now but my favorite is the one in this outfit.  It's a part of the collector's Pink Label Collection.  The clothes are exquisite, a wonderful doll-quality replica of the real costume. 
 
The hair is very nice, although I think it should be a brighter red.  The eyes aren't quite red enough, either.  She certainly has a pleasant expression on her face, which does make sense for a doll.  I honestly can't imagine a snarling Barbie.

I purchased this doll for an eight year-old girl who is a fellow vampire, pirates and zombie aficianado.  She also has long, curly, red hair and I thought she deserved a doll that had the same.

I haven't seen any pictures of the packaging, which is really quite nice.  The doll is posed against a wooded background and tree.  The packaging is nice enough that if you were going to "collect" the doll instead of playing with it, it would make a nice display.  Here's my attempt to capture it on film:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have not seen this doll in stores but Amazon does have it in stock.  Since Bryce Dallas Howard herself is a real doll, beautiful and sweet, it seems quite appropriate that she has a Barbie modeled after her.

 

 

Tasteful Twilight Gifts #3: Eclipse T-Shirt Quilt

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A great project for this time of year, when you're snowed in and the kids are off from school, is to make a T-shirt quilt like the one seen in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.  Keep reading for how-to instructions for a variety of methods for different sewing skill levels.

Quilts are the real immortals.  I have one made my great and great-great grandmother that protects my niece and goddaughter when they stay over.

One of the summers I was a Girl Scout camp director, my staff made me a quilt with each person decorating a square in puffy paint.  The sashing is a print with smiley-faces, something I'm known for.  I would wear smiley-face pajama pants, bandana and socks.  To work.  As the boss.  ;-)

One of the great additions by the production designers to The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was the quilt Renee makes for Bella out of their old trip T-shirts as a high school graduation present.  By the way, will the phrase "Congraduation!" catch on this year?

The quilt is a clever prop, reminding Bella of the human life she's spent so far with her mother and just how much she's about to give up by becoming a vampire and never seeing Renee again.

  Renee:  I just figured, you know, when you get older, have kids, we could add to it, maybe go visit the world's largest ketchup bottle or something.... I just thought you should have a little piece of me up there in Alaska.

Later on in the film in Bella's bedroom, the quilt underscores Bella's discussion with Edward as to what to tell people, why she won't be home for Christmas -- ever again.  It's definitely a thought that gives me pause, especially this time of year.

 As explained in the Blu-Ray/DVD/iTunes Special Features, the quilt for the film took over 400 hours to produce.  The T-shirts were designed especially for the film, ordered and aged.  Here are a couple of stills from the documentary so you can get a closer look:     
 

 

 

 

 

It won't take you 400 hours, though, to make your own because you already have the T-shirts.  Aside from souvenir T-shirts, you could assemble  a quilt from scouting t-shirts and include the patches on sashing inbetween the T-shirt squares.  Check out http://www.tshirtquilt.com for an example.  You can make these quilts in nearly any size from a blanket or lap throw to a full-size bedspread.  Here are links to how-to articles and patterns:

"How to Make T-shirt Quilts" (standard sewing techniques) 

"How to Tie Quilt Squares Together" (less sewing, more  yarn)

"Design and Applique Your Own No-Sew Quilt Top" (using paper-backed fusible webbing)

If you prefer a video, there is a great four-part series on You Tube on using a sewing machine and using the T-shirt quilt project as a beginner's quilting project:

 

 

 

Don't want to make your own?  There are a ton of companies out there that will make a quilt from your T-shirts.  Most run about $10/square!  But Shannon, at Twilight Quilter's Coven has offered to make a quilt for anyone for $100.  Yet another reason to love Twilighters, some of the most generous people you'll ever meet.

http://www.twilightquilterscoven.com/2010/10/t-shirt-quilt-claimed.html

Shannon kept a log while she made a Twilight T-shirt quilt so you can imitate her beautiful work as well.  And check out the other beautiful Twilight quilts while you're visiting the Web site.

Wow, it took me three hours to put together the above post.  Please share!

My Twilight Super Fan The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Blu-Ray Review on Collider

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens with a fresh-faced college kid attacked in a dark Seattle alley by an unseen menace, save for a flash of red hair, and left bitten and screaming on a dock in the pounding rain.  Immediately, you know you’re in a more dangerous film than Twilight or New Moon.  Ultimately, Eclipse is still more love story than horror film: a supernatural Wuthering Heights of the Olympic Peninsula.  Altogether, it’s an intoxicating blend of vampires, werewolves and romance.  The Blu-ray Special Features explore a quality film production, in more depth than has been marketed.  The more time I spend with the Blu-ray, the more I like it.  Find out why in the review on Collider.com.  Continue reading.

Tasteful Twilight Gifts #1: Bella Eclipse Bracelet

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Do you have a Twilight Super Fan in your life?  Or perhaps, (like me) you have to let your loved ones know what to get you for Christmas, birthdays, etc.?

There's a bevy of, IMHO, tacky Twilight merchandise.  I'm just not one of those people that are into Jacob dolls, fuzzy Edward blankets or lunch boxes with quotes about the "soul."  My walls are not plastered in Twilight images.  But I do have a few items that I think are quite nice. (I receive no compensation or consideration from any of these vendors.  I honestly like their stuff.)

Item #1:

Bella Eclipse Bracelet from Bella Twilight Shop:  This is my favorite Twilight possession.  I loved the extensive description in Eclipse of Bella's bracelet that she received for graduation from Jacob and then was accessorized by Edward.

 

Fastened to one of the links of the silver bracelet was a tiny wooden carving.  I held it between my fingers to look at it closer.  It was amazing the amount of detail involved in the little figurine -- the miniature wolf was utterly realistic.  It was even carved out of some red-brown wood that matched the color of [Jacob's] skin. -- Eclipse, "Alliance"

Awww!  Jacob made Bella a present.  "Took a long time, too."

I looked at every Bella bracelet I could find.  Most of the other vendors don't have wooden wolves (they're stone, or, horror!  Plastic).  I found another store with a wooden wolf, but it looked more like a bear or something.  This one is a perfect color and shape.

     "This bracelet."  [Edward's] finger traced a circle around my wrist. ... "Don't you think it's fair, then," he asked, looking down at my hand as he spoke.  He turned it palm up, and ran his finger along the veins in my wrist.  "If I have a little representation? ... A charm -- something to keep me on your mind."
     "You're in every thought I have.  I don't need reminders."
     "If I gave you something, would you wear it?" -- Eclipse, "Selfish"

{Swoon}  Oh, yes, Edward, I would.  Give away!

      On the opposite side of the chain from the wolf, there now hung a brilliant heart-shaped crystal.  It was cut into a million facets, so that even in the subdued light shining from the lamp, it sparkled. ... "It's hard and cold."  He laughed.  "And it throws rainbows in the sunlight."
      "You forgot the most important similarity,"  I murmured.  "It's beautiful."
      "My heart is just as silent," he mused.  "And it, too, is yours."
      I twisted my wrist so the heart would glimmer.  "Thank you.  For both." -- Eclipse, "Compromise"

On the Bella Twilight Shop bracelet is a Swarovski crystal; and it does throw beautiful rainbows in the sunlight.

The chain is sterling silver, with a heart-shaped toggle clasp.  It is very easy to fasten but stays closed.  I wear my bracelet on my right wrist so it has to be easy to get on and put up with getting banged into things all day.

This bracelet is meaningful to me, not only because it reminds me of all these lovely passages in Eclipse, but also Bella's thoughts as she leaves her wedding:

The last image I registered was one of my parents.  Phil had both arms wrapped tenderly around Renee.  She had one arm tight around his waist but had her free hand reached out to hold Charlie's.  So many different kinds of love, harmonious in this one moment.  It seemed a very hopeful picture to me. -- Breaking Dawn, "Big Day"

I took a picture like that out the window of the Jeep as we drove away from the reception on our wedding day 17 years ago:

The bracelet is $60.00.  It's a real piece of quality, handmade jewelry.  You'll find cheaper replicas, but not as exquisite.  Really fast shipping, too.  There are always great discussion topics on the Bella Twilight Shop on Facebook page, as well.

Enjoy!

Tasteful Twilight Gifts #2: Scene It? Twilight Saga Deluxe DVD Game

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My husband and I have played our own game of "Name that Movie" for years.  Basically, whatever he's watching when I walk into the room I name within 30 seconds or less, to which he replies "You suck."  Most of the time, I haven't seen the film but my brain seems to have an enormous amount of celebrity trivia stored within. 

I have fallen off my game a little since the final and tenth surgery for my Crohn's disease finally did the trick.  (Click here for the full story and/or to donate to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.)  I no longer have to spend all my time in the bathroom (TMI, I know, but that's the reality of Inflammatory Bowel Disease) so People doesn't get read cover-to-cover anymore.

We were delighted when the original Scene It? DVD game appeared on the market.  It's a very exciting game, partly because you can make a surge at the last minute to advance to the "Winner's Circle."  Many a dinner guest (or dinner host) has been roped into playing with us.  I have yet to not win a game.

There are a few versions of Scene It? for Twilight out there.  The one you want to get for your TwiFan is the Scene It? Twilight Saga Deluxe DVD Game which has scenes from all three movies.

Here's the link to a very comprehensive summary of the game's features (and user reviews) on Amazon.

The best deal, though, is at Kohl's.  It is on sale for $14.99.  Be forewarned, though.  If you give this game, you probably should be willing to play it at least once.