Robert Pattinson

Star of “Twilight” dazzles The Vista

Ashley Benson / Asst. Arts & Culture Editor / The USD Vista

Well-known as a young adult fantasy book, “Twilight” is making it to theaters on Nov. 21. As young fans flock to theaters to buy presale tickets for midnight showings, Robert Pattinson, the actor playing Edward, took a moment to speak about the film to publications across the nation.

Question: There are a lot of pressures that go into playing “the perfect man,” how did you go about stepping into the role of Edward Cullen?
Robert Pattinson: I guess by ignoring it. I put off going into the audition for that reason, and then I thought I had really no chance of getting it at all. When I went into the screen test with Kristen [Stewart, who plays Bella] and Catherine [Hardwike, the director], I realized…Edward was a lot more broken.

Q: Critics have said that Bella as a character is not exactly the ideal role model for young girls. Her one driving force is her love for Edward. But in the trailer Bella seems to have a bit more grit to her. Is there any difference between the book and the movie?
RP: Kristen is very strong, she has a hardness to her, fierce intelligence. She was kinda the main reason I wanted to do the movie. She’s not a damsel in distress. Kristen wasn’t that, she has as much hidden depth as Edward does. I don’t think Stephenie Meyer intended to write a book to be a role model for anybody. It’s a very specific character. She starts out being logical. Then, in meeting Edward (that’s the point of the story), her life becomes something completely different and out of her hands because of her connection with him.

Q: How much influence did “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer have in the movie-making process?
RP: A lot in the beginning, in pre-production. But I only met her three or four times in Portland…but I’d already been working on the character for two months when I met her. I asked her a few questions.

Q: Like what?
RP: Just about the basic facts of the characters. I didn’t understand how Edward could be anything other than a complete manic-depressive. I just didn’t understand why he would care about anything. [Stephenie] was basically saying he was naturally happier than I wanted to play it. And Catherine [the director] wanted me to play it lighter as well.

Q: What do you have in common with Edward?
RP: When you’re doing jobs for a long time you forget what you had in you before you started the character, and what came about because you’ve been thinking about it for so long. I had a lot of self-doubt going into this film, [laughs] which was how I felt when I was about seventeen.

Q: Was the film designed to be part of a series, or was it more a stand-alone piece?
RP: I was definitely going into it thinking it’d be a trilogy. Yeah, definitely. Everyone was.

Q: Your other major film in the states was “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” now you’re involved with a film about vampires. Is there something about super-natural films that you’re drawn to?
RP: It’s been totally random…I definitely want to eventually play a normal person. Every job I’ve done has been some period/super-natural…But I hope to play a normal modern-day person.

Q: I understand you got your start as an actor doing theater in London. Which do you prefer, stage acting or film?
RP: I like both. It’s a very different dynamic. When I was doing stage stuff I wasn’t being paid. It makes a huge difference; you’re not worried about getting fired. My memories doing plays were great. I could just do whatever I wanted. It took me a while to get back to that mentality in film acting, because it’s just so much more satisfying when you feel like you can do whatever you want. But instead you get worried about doing a job, when you should really just do whatever you want.

Q: You’ve said before that this film is very serious, even melodramatic. How do you steer away from that in your portrayal of Edward?
RP: Yeah, there are extreme emotions in this film. But I mean, I like that. There aren’t that many movies that are operatic made anymore. I like melodrama. But I definitely tried to make it as un-cheesy as I could. I tried to take it in the most real direction I could.

Q: Who are your influences as an actor?
RP: If you’re an interesting person in reality you’ll come across as interesting on film. Any actors who I like I just want to spend time with…I don’t want to just watch their movies. I don’t think there are direct influences. I’ve never trained or anything…I don’t know the “craft” so much.

Q: What advice do you have for young artists who hope to get into the entertainment industry?
RP: Don’t do it to be famous, I guess. ‘Cause you’ll end up being very depressed. I mean…I don’t know, try to do good stuff. There are so many pieces of bad entertainment made for the sake of making money. If you want to do it for the honest reasons, do it for honest reasons.

“Twilight” opens Nov. 21.