Friday, August 3, 2012

New Face Friday: Judi Shekoni talks 'Breaking Dawn - Part 2'

Breakingdawnmovie.org hosted this week's New Face Friday's interview is with Judi Shekoni, who plays the fierce looking Amazon vampire Zafrina!
check out her interview below!

Could you talk about what it was like the first time you saw yourself fully in costume?  There are some wonderful studio stills that were released of you and Tracey [Heggins] together in costume.
Yes, the first time I saw myself fully in costume was overwhelming.  It was kind of hypnotic and you can’t stop staring at yourself in the mirror.  It was just kind of overwhelming.  I don’t think I’ve ever been in that position in my life, where I had so many people who are great at what they do, all come together and work on this project as one entity.  It was really breathtaking.  As it was happening with the costume tests and make up tests that when it finally came together, it was all of a process, and it was very rewarding.

Will we get to see some of Zafrina’s illusions in Breaking Dawn Part 2?
I don’t know if I’m allowed to talk about that. [laughs] I mean, we know the character has a special power.  I don’t know if I can talk about that to be honest.  I’m so sorry.

Zafrina is very fierce, she’s kinda scary but she’s also got to be so soft enough to befriend this small child, and for people to let her around this young girl.  How did you toe the line between the intensity that she had to have and also the softness?
I think what was so wonderful is she has a real animalistic quality.  I really wanted to work with what that meant and tried a feral aspect.  I definitely worked with animals and looked up the black jaguar, that kind of quality.  Then with regards to Renesmee, I thought of it like in a way, parental. It was so great that I got to have that parental aspect, because you know vampires can’t really give birth.  I was fortunate to have that kind of relationship with Renesmee that most vampires don’t have.  I also think it came from a protective kind of instinct.  I felt that Zafrina really stands up for family and the most important thing for her is family.  That’s why she wanted to help the Cullens.  It’s why Senna came with her, because her family is the most important thing in life.

How did you prepare for the role for Zafrina, like her backstory and also physically?
I did a lot of different things.  Physically, I went to the gym a lot and ate more protein.  I just really built myself up muscly, make myself a little bit stronger.  Obviously, I was really blessed with my 6 feet tall and I have long limbs and a thin face, a lot of the characteristics that the character [Bella] mentions.  Other than that, I watch almost every single vampire film I could get my hands on.  I watched all the Twilight movies.  I had a great opportunity to go through the books again.  What was wonderful was that all the books were already on my bookshelf.  I really got into what it was like to be a vampire.  I came up with the idea that vampires have about 25% more of everything.  They have 25% more hair.  They have 25% more eyelashes.  Just everything about them is a little bit more than human.  I really worked from that aspect.  I thought they could feel everything more as well.  Almost like they can feel the wind more, and they can hear the sound.  I used those kind of senses to go from.

You were a fan before you came to work into this.  Who were you most excited to work with?
I was really excited to work with the whole cast because I’ve seen the movies before.  Also, I was really excited to work with Kristen [Stewart], Bella.  Because when you read the books, they’re from Bella’s perspective.  I almost felt like I let Bella drive myself and I kinda been on that whole journey.  It was so nice to meet Kristen and do scenes with Bella. I felt like a had with the part of Zafrina that I also had a real close connection with the Bella character.  I think Kristen herself is wonderful.  She’s like a little doll.  She seems extremely generous and very intelligent.  I think the characters of Bella and Zafrina have a interesting relationship because she’s [Bella] Renesmee’s mother.  When another woman comes in and has a relationship with your own daughter, it always creates something strange between the mother and the other woman.  I felt like my character had a special relationship with Bella as well.

Many of the vampires from the book have not been cut, but so far we know in the book there’s a third Amazon vampire, Kachiri.  What happen to her?
I ate her. [laughs] I think obviously when you translate from a book to a movie, there are certain things that come and certain things that go, and I think they did just concentrate on a few vampires.  I don’t think that character [Kachiri] was that strongly mentioned in the book either. When that happened, me and Tracey [Heggins] had a little conversation about it.  We just tried to make sure we can encompass as many qualities of that coven [Amazon] as possible.  So anything that may not be in the movie that was in the book, somehow we put that in [Breaking Dawn Part 2] by using that energy to still have some of those characteristics.  So, yeah she’s not there at all. [laughs]

You talked about preparing the emotional side of it and what you did to train. How did you prepare the animalistic motions that your character has as oppose to the other vampires?
I went to the London Zoo pretty early on and met up with Tracey [Heggins].  We came up with the idea of them [Senna and Zafrina] having these animalistic qualities.  We actually went to the LA Zoo together before we started shooting.  We looked through all the animals and decided which animal we can pick our movement from. We came up with the black jaguar, because there are a lot of them in the Amazon and they have these beautiful bright eyes that very similar to vampire eyes.  We’d go to the zoo, using video and watching the animals in real life and taking pictures, deciding which aspect.  Basically, they have a lot of power and a lot of energy in their shoulders.  They have this grace about them, and a stillness about them as well which is very vampiric.  We tried to find elements to put that in. We actually did a couple of dance classes together, me and Tracey.  So we could just be able to find a way to move at the same time, and have that same kind of rhythm about us.  Actually, it’s quite funny on set, Stephenie Meyer came up to us at one point and said she noticed our vampires are really different from the other ones.  She really noticed us and thought it was really pure.  It was all a success for it to be noticed by Stephenie.

As a fan of the books before you came into this franchise, obviously you were probably very excited when you got cast but you’re usually not allowed to tell anybody. When you finally got to tell somebody, who did you tell first?
I remember!  I first got into the Twilight Saga because I was on a cruise on holiday with my friend Jenny.  I was bored, stuck on this ship and she was reading Twilight.  She gave me the book.  I remember I started reading it going ‘a life about sixteen year olds’. Then after the first few pages, I was totally hooked. She was the one who bought tickets in advance for the first film. We spoke about the casting and we went along through the journey together. It was so wonderful and she was the first person I called. I said to her “I’m playing Zafrina,” and she couldn’t believe it. She was there when it all started.  It was so wonderful because I was able to offer her tickets to the premiere.  I asked her to be my date to the premiere.  This coming premiere, she’s going to be my date to experience the whole thing.  She was there in the beginning.  She gave me the first book and she’s going to be right up there for the premiere when I come out for the first time as the character.

Is there a scene that blew you away?
I really did love the scene that you saw with the campfire. For a lot of us, it was our very first time on set.  I remember being completely nervous.  It was the first time we all got to see each other in character.  It was the first time me and Tracey got to decide where we would stand, the type of movement we have to each other, how often do we look at each other.  I felt like it was the first time on screen that those characters developed very early on in the story, where those characters are all together.  For us as a unit as actors, it was one of our first times for us to all be together on set.  I would probably say that.  It was so beautiful and it was a campfire where stories are being told.  It was very scenic, a very beautiful experience.  Magical.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Kristen Stewart lands a new role in "Lie Down in Darkness"
(And it's one she really wanted!!)

It's not all bad news for Kristen Stewart right now!

According to Vulture.com, she has landed a leading role in the film adaptation of William Styron's 1951 novel 'Lie Down In Darkness'.

Kristen had expressed an interest in playing the books main character, Peyton Loftis, in Elle Magazine's June 2012 issue by saying;
"Have you ever read Lie Down in Darkness? ... I want to play Peyton more than anything I can possibly taste or touch in my life. I want to play her so bad.
Peyton is bright, beautiful, suicidal narcissist, preyed upon by her father ... Oh, dude, she f**kin' loves it! She's in love with him. I mean, I think she's in love with him. It's not his fault. They're the most f**ked up family! ... There's a script adaptation I've read, and it's good ... Two people vying for the part of the father are Daniel Day-Lewis and Colin Firth. Daniel would be perfect."
Vulture reports that production is expected to pick sometime this fall or winter. There is no news yet on whether this could affect her work on Cali with Nick Cassavetes.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Summit Ent. 'moving full steam ahead' with Breaking Dawn Part 2 Promo!


Have you been wondering if KStew's recent actions will effect the promo for Breaking Dawn Part 2?

Summit Entertainment has obviously been keeping an eye on the fandom during this difficult time, and has released a message for the fans regarding The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2.

Speaking exclusively to EW, Summit's Nancy Kirkpatrick said;
"While it is studio policy not to comment on the personal lives of actors, Summit is moving full steam ahead and looking forward to this November’s opening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. We are confident that the film delivers amazing entertainment for our passionate fans and general audience alike.”
Do you think the studio's statement was necessary?
Has it ca;med you down, or do you think her actions have tarnished the Saga a little bit? 

Let us know in the comments section below! : )

UHQ Breaking Dawn Part 2 Character Posters

Just over two weeks ago, we got new Character posters for Breaking Dawn Part 2. 
Now we have them de-tagged and in UHQ! 

Check them out below (click each image to make them bigger, or click here to download all of the character posters we have so far!).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, July 27, 2012

New Face Fridays Interview with MyAnna Buring (Tanya)! New Face Fridays Interview with MyAnna Buring (Tanya)!

This week's New Face Friday looks at MyAnna Buring - AKA Tanya Denali!

Tanya is part of the Alaskan Denali coven which is considered extended family to the Cullens, and are also a "vegetarian" coven. In the books, Bella finds out that Tanya was once interested in Edward, but that he refused her in a gentlemen-type fashion. Tanya was first mentioned in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse movie, but we first saw MyAnna Buring portray Tanya as a guest at Bella and Edward's wedding in Breaking Dawn - Part 1. 
Now onto the full interview:
Q: A lot of people who are cast talk about the very first time they see themselves in their red or gold contacts, and that's the first time they really felt like a vampire. Can you describe what it was like for us the very first time you saw yourself all decked out in your vampire gear?

MyAnna: It was amazing. I think that's the first moment that I really, truly, believed that I was doing the film. Because all of it, you know, you have this build up when you get the part and you can't quite believe it's true then, and then you arrive and you still can’t quite believe it’s true then. The idea of you becoming a vampire, or becoming part of this incredible group of vampires that’s described in Stephenie’s films, it’s such a far fetched notion in a way, and then all of a sudden as soon as the contacts go in, it’s a reality. Suddenly you are able to see yourself as apart of that group, if you will, and it’s amazing feeling.

Q: Congrats on being cast in Downton Abbey. Can you tell us a little about that part and when you are starting to work on it?

MyAnna: I’ve already started working on it. I play a maid who joins the rest of the staff downstairs. She causes a bit of mischief and I’m very excited to be playing, her name is Edna, and I’m thrilled, really.

Q: Awesome. Excited to see you in it.

MyAnna: It’s quite fun. All of a sudden, in my the last two years, I have been part of the most amazing stories that we’ve had in the last few years, Twilight, and now Downton.

Q: Looking at your resume you have done so much TV and film work. Which do you prefer and why?

MyAnna: I don’t have a preference as to mediums, for me it’s really about the characters and the parts and the stories that we’re telling, that’s what really intrigues me. So whether that is in film or TV, I don’t mind at all. I just feel really lucky that in the last couple of years I have been given the opportunity to play so many different parts, in so many different characters, in so many different stories.

Q: Quick follow up. Are you going to be able to see anything at the Olympics this week?

MyAnna: I will actually. I’m going to see a track and field event later on. I’m thrilled, it’s so hard to get tickets.

Q: How much of the back story between Edward and Tanya might we get to see? I know it was a big part of Midnight Sun for your character, and I was wondering how much of that made it into the movie?

MyAnna: Well of course this film is based on Breaking Dawn, so obviously, I believe it’s going to stay quite true to that story. And if there are any elements of that back story that you feel that hinted towards that more than expressed. Which would be a fun side story to do someday, maybe. (laughs)

Q: Some key parts in the story that fans are excited about with your part is you possibly training vampire Bella and also being on the front lines against the Volturri. Can you give us any clues whether those scenes will be in the movie?

MyAnna: Quite possibly, quite possibly. All I can say is that there is a final confrontation that I think audiences and especially fans will be very excited to see. I was definitely excited to film them. That’s all I can say really [giggles].

Screencap from the teaser trailer!

Q: Was there any favorite moments during filming?

MyAnna: So many. I think I had a favorite moment every single day of shooting. A couple that stand out for me are one day on the set in Baton Rouge, or just outside of Baton Rouge, a few of us cooked up a little plan to surprise Bill Condon with a little bit of a dance off. You know when there was supposed to be something completely different in the take, we were doing a very technically difficult take that we had to do several repeat takes, over and over and over, just to get it right, and we thought that we would be checky and put in a little number that would just lift the spirits on set and create a bit of fun and laughter for all of us. It really paid off for us and it was so much fun. Everyone laughed so much that day and it was just joyous to see everyone having a bit of a dance. And then, I had a stunt which hopefully you’ll get to see in the film, but I wasn’t going to do it. It involved myself and snow. I wasn’t going to do it, but in the very last minute of the day, the last shot, we were up against it and running late and Bill came to me and said, “MyAnna it’s gotta be you that does it. You gotta do it cause they are going to see your face.” So I won’t tell you what the stunt was. Or what exactly I had to do because I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I got ready to go out in the freezing cold and I saw this crew that was so cold and shivering. They had been out all day and I cannot mess this up, we have got to get this in one [take]. And we got it in one [take] and I have never felt so satisfied, ever, with a shot in my life. It was amazing. Just wonderful and the relief on everyone’s faces that they didn’t have to stay in the cold anymore. I felt I had done did my job well that day.

Q: Did you have a chance to talk to Stephenie about your character and what that was like?

MyAnna: Yeah. Well the great thing was that we had Stephenie on the set, everyday, so absolutely. Obviously we had her books for source material while we were researching our characters and there have been so many side stories written around the franchise that was amazing research material. But then, to have the source on set was incredible. So yea, I took every opportunity and chance I got to talk to her about Tanya. I kept joking with her saying, ”come on Tanya has got to end up with somebody, there’s got to be someone cause it’s sad. Everyone ends up with someone.

Q: What did she say?

MyAnna: Well What she said made me very happy, but I will end it at that. [laughs]

Q: Come on you gotta tell us!

MyAnna: I think Tanya will have a great end, or she has a great end in the world of Twilight. Tanya ends up very happy.

Q: Would you ever do a spin-off involving the Denalis?

MyAnna: Well I never shot that possibility out. You never know where you are. As it stands, I don’t believe that it’s in the pipeline to happen right now. You never know and if it were to, perhaps. Maybe, who knows, who knows. I had so much fun shooting these two films that I wouldn’t say no immediately, that’s for sure.

Q: As a fan of the books, you were a fan before you were ever cast.

MyAnna: Yes, absolutely.

Q: I think it has so many great visual images in it and in your filming is there any one scene that stands out in your head and you said “oh gosh this is so much like the book! or everything you imagined?”

MyAnna: Umm. Well the wedding, in the first Breaking Dawn, was really lived up to everything I imagined it would be - everything. I thought Bella's walk up to the altar was just breathtaking and I thought it completely encapsulated what I had envisioned when I read the books. What exceeded my expectations..oh there was so many things that exceeded my expectations, but I have a feeling that in this final film there will be a great moment towards the end that I think will blow people away. It definitely blew me away while we were filming it and I’m really excited for it.


Q: Obviously this movie has a giant cast of new vampires coming in, what kind of things did you do to bond?

MyAnna: Well when we first arrived in Baton Rouge when we first started filming in Louisiana we were all staying at a hotel together. So everyday you woke up you’d walk out of your room and you would stumble across a couple of actors playing vampires and you’d cook up an adventure and go off and do something and you’d stumble onto some people around Baton Rouge and you’d go off and do something else. I think I described it before as having sort of a musical festival feel to me. You know all of a sudden you walk up to this place and you don’t know anyone, but it’s very exciting and by the end of the first couple of days you feel like you’ve known everyone for years. Then you’re all going off and listening to music and making music and having fun and having these little adventures together. Yea it felt like a music festival or summer camp for six months which is an incredible experience that I have never ever experienced before.

Q: Did you keep anything from your character? A prop or anything?

MyAnna: I did end up with a ring. Casey Lebow had a friend, jewelry designer, who Michael Wilkinson saw her stuff, and he said that absolutely we have to use her stuff for the Denalis. Very much Denali material. So we were all decked out in her incredible designs, and they were so beautiful. We cooked up this little story that perhaps the Denalis had odes of mines around the world, in South America and they would go mining themselves for precious jewels and then they would make their own jewelry and that’s what they wore all of them together. One of their trinkets had part of a stone that was broken while filming it wouldn’t be used again and I kept that one.