“Twilight Saga: New Moon” actress Rachelle Lefevre campaigning for animal adoption
Rachelle Lefevre (Associated Press photo)
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” actress Rachelle Lefevre and her friend, Johnny, a rescue dog, will be urging people to “Adopt Don’t’ Shop” in a series of public service announcements for Best Friends Animal Society debuting Dec. 1 in New York’s Times Square on the jumbo video billboard, Geoffrey Tron.
Lefevre, who plays vampire villainess in the movie “Twilight,” as well as its soon-to-be-released sequel, “New Moon,” is the star of 30-second and 60-second spots that will be distributed to television and radio stations across the country. She will also serve as national spokesperson for Best Friends’ “Puppies Aren’t Products” campaign, which draws attention to the fact that pet shops around the country are selling puppies that come from large commercial breeding operations known as “puppy mills” with deplorable conditions.
“I’m delighted to help speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Lefevre said in a news release. ”Ever since I rescued my own dog I have wanted to encourage people to do the same. Working with Best Friends is the perfect way to do this and I’m excited and proud to be working with an organization so dedicated to animal kindness.”
The PSAs will be distributed to about 1,400 television and cable stations, plus another 1,250 radio stations. Best Friends Animal Society is known for its leading initiatives and community programs in animal welfare, as well as operating the largest companion animal sanctuary in the United States.
“Puppy mills are directly linked to pet overpopulation in the United States, which contributes to the fact that approximately 4,000 dogs are put down in shelters every day,” Lefevre said in the release. “We hope that our message of ‘adopt don’t shop’ resonates with the general public so we can bring that number down substantially.”
The goal of the “Puppies Aren’t Products” campaign is to reduce the number of homeless animals by fighting against puppy mills and irresponsible breeding.
“We are so fortunate to have Rachelle giving a voice to the animals as our national spokesperson,” said Vicki Kilmer-Rinker, director of marketing for Best Friends Animal Society, in the release. “Our goal is to increase awareness of where pet store puppies come from, especially as we approach the holiday season when so many families think about adding a family pet.”
Lefevre, who has a wide range of credits in movies and television, moved to Los Angeles when she landed the female lead in the Fox comedy series “Life on a Stick.” She went on to appear in multiple episodes of acclaimed series “Boston Legal” and “Swingtown.” On the big screen, she appeared in a diverse range of roles including opposite Stephen Dillane in the Holocaust era drama “Fugitive Pieces” based on the international best-selling novel by Anne Michaels and comedy “The Pool Boys” opposite Tom Arnold and Matthew Lillard.
Lefevre will be seen next in “Casino Jack,” opposite Kevin Spacey and “Barney’s Version” opposite Paul Giamatti. But she will not reprise her role as Victoria in the third “Twilight” film “Eclipse”; Summit Entertainment created a bit of a furor earlier this fall when it replaced Lefevre with Bryce Dallas Howard due to scheduling conflicts
In addition to working with Best Friends Animal Society, Lefevre is involved with the literacy organization “School on Wheels” and is an “Ambassador for the Cure” with The Susan G. Komen Foundation.
I’m just returning from Los Angeles, where I participated in interviews with many of the cast and crew of “New Moon,” though Lefevre wasn’t among them for obvious reasons. Look for several posts from those interviews as Nov. 20, the opening date for “New Moon,” draws nearer.
-BAM
Oklahoma City Harkins theater selling “Twilight”/”New Moon” marathon tickets
Harkins Bricktown Theatres has tickets on sale now online and at the box office for the ”Twilight”/”New Moon” movie marathon beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The marathon will start with the one-day-only rerelease of “Twilight,” the movie adaptation of the first book in Stephenie Meyer’s mega-popular series. It will continue with the midnight Friday, Nov. 20 premiere of the sequel, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
Tickets for the marathon are available online at www.harkinstheatres.com or at the box office for $15. For those who have already purchased tickets at Harkins for the midnight premiere, they can simply purchase a marathon ticket and Harkins Theatres will refund the original midnight premiere ticket at the box office, according to a news release.
Harkins is also offering the “Twilight”/”New Moon” marathon in the Cine Capri at Bricktown, the theater’s extra-large-screen house. It is exclusively for guests who have already purchased midnight premiere tickets for the Cine Capri at Bricktown. Guests can bring their midnight premiere Cine Capri ticket to the box office and upgrade it for $5 to a ticket for both films.
In the second installment of Meyer’s literary phenomenon, director Chris Weitz brings to life this modern, visual, and visceral star-crossed story of the ultimate forbidden love affair – between vampire and mortal. “New Moon” stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Ashley Greene.
Harkins Bricktown 16 is located at Reno and Oklahoma avenues in Bricktown.
-BAM
“Twilight” film to get one-day theatrical rerelease Nov. 19
Summit Entertainment announced today that it plans to rerelease the vampire-romance movie “Twilight” in more than 2,000 theaters for one day only on Nov. 19, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
That’s the day before the sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” opens in even wider release.
“Despite the first film already being on DVD, fans across the nation have been calling out to see the film once again on the big screen, and the studio is honoring their request,” Summit said.
According to the trade publication, “Twilight,” the first film based on Stephenie Meyer’s super-popular four-book series, has made $191.5 million to date domestically and $383.7 million worldwide. When it opened Nov. 21, 2008, it topped the domestic weekend box office with $69.6 million.
The buzz is even bigger for “New Moon,” so don’t be surprised to see the sequel take an even bigger bite of the box office on Nov. 20.
Summit said “Twilight” tickets would be sold at a discount at select sites.
-BAM
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” soundtrack ascends to No. 1 on Billboard charts
N0t surprisingly, “New Moon” has risen quickly.
The soundtrack to the hotly anticipated movie “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” has ascended to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week, according to Billboard.com.
The soundtrack sold 153,000 copies in its first full week of release. The album, released by Summit/Chop Shop/Atlantic, arrived on the chart last week with 115,000 after an early release Oct. 16 release landed it on the chart after just three days of sales.
The album features music by Death Cab for Cutie, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, the Killers, Muse and a collaboration between Tulsa-born singer-songwriter St. Vincent and indie band Bon Iver.
According to Billboard, “New Moon” is the second soundtrack this year to top the Billboard 200. The “Hannah Montana: the Movie” album hit the top of the chart dated May 2.
“New Moon”’s predecessor, last year’s blockbuster film “Twilight,” also notched a No. 1 soundtrack. The “Twilight” album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 less than a year ago, on the list dated Nov. 22, 2008, with 165,000 units sold.
Here is the song listing for the “New Moon” soundtrack:
1. “Meet Me On The Equinox” Death Cab For Cutie
2. “Friends” Band Of Skulls
3. “Hearing Damage” Thom Yorke
4. “Possibility” Lykke Li
5. “A White Demon Love Song” The Killers
6. “Satellite Heart” Anya Marina
7. “I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)” Muse
8. “Rosyln Bon” Iver and St. Vincent
9. “Done All Wrong” Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
10. “Monsters” Hurricane Bells
11. “The Violet Hour” Sea Wolf
12. “Shooting The Moon” Ok Go
13. “Slow Life” Grizzly Bear with Victoria Legrand
14. “No Sound But The Wind” Editors
15. “New Moon (The Meadow) Alexandre Desplat
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: More film trailers
Since the holiday movie season is approaching, and the studios soon will be rolling out films worthy of awards consideration, I’m again posting trailers and TV spots for upcoming movies in this week’s Video Spotlight:
-BAM
Weitz brothers’ releasing dueling vampire movies
“Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant”
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon”
Filmmaking brothers Paul and Chris Weitz are facing off this fall with dueling vampire films. Their battle for cinematic supremacy starts this weekend.
The horror-comedy “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” written and directed by Paul Weitz, opened Friday in theaters.
Chris Weitz is the director for the hotly anticipated sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which comes out Nov. 20.
Paul and Chris Weitz in 2003 shared an Oscar nomination for their adapted screenplay for “About a Boy.”
-BAM
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” lights up Rome Film Festival
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” actors, from left, Charlie Bewley (Demetri), Jamie Campbell Bower (Caius) and Cameron Bright (Alec) walk the red carpet Thursday at the Rome Film Festival. (Associated Press photo)
Three actors who play Italian vampires in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” walked the red carpet at the Rome Film Festival on Thursday, with fans getting a 20-minute preview of the film before next month’s release.
Three actors who are playing vampires of the Volturi coven – Charlie Bewley, who plays Demetri, Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Caius, and Cameron Bright, who plays Alec – along with screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg were in Rome to promote the second film based on Stephenie Meyer’s mega-popular four-book series.
In “New Moon,” teenage heroine Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and her vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) are separated because he fears putting her life in jeopardy. Bella stays behind in Forks, Wash., and befriends werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), while Edward disappears from her life.
Edward eventually travels to Italy, where he encounters the Volturi, who ruthlessly enforce the laws of the vampire world.
The first “Twilight” movie was a smash hit that grossed $383 million worldwide, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Tickets for the preview of “New Moon” were sold out in just a few hours, and hundreds of screaming teenagers braved the rain to greet the three Volturi actors on the red carpet.
The film will be released Nov. 20 in U.S. theaters.
-BAM
New releases for Oct. 13, 2009
Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips (Photo by John Clanton/The Oklahoman Archives)
Oklahoma City-based psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips release today their first-ever double-album “Embryonic,” which promises to make the world a little more weird – but in a good way.
Brandon Jenkins
Also, red dirt rocker Brandon Jenkins, who grew up in Tulsa but now lives in Austin, Texas, releases his new album, “Brothers of the Dirt,” which as the title suggests, features collaborations with fellow red dirt artists, including Cody Canada, Stoney LaRue and Mike McClure.
“Drag Me to Hell,” Sam Raimi’s (the “Spider-Man” movies) return to the horror genre, is among the new films on DVD this week.
In books, Irish author Eoin Colfer (”Artemis Fowl”) picks up where the late, great Douglas Adams left off with “And Another Thing…,” a sixth book in the legendary “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series.
Stephenie Meyer (Associated Press photo)
And as the anticipation for the movie sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” builds, “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer releases a collector’s edition of “New Moon” and her “Twilight Saga Journals.”
The soundtrack for “New Moon” will be released on Friday.
Here is a list of this week’s new CDs, DVDs and books from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
The Flaming Lips, “Embryonic.”
Brandon Jenkins, “Brothers of the Dirt.”
Bob Dylan, “Christmas in the Heart.”
David Archuleta, “Christmas From the Heart.”
Neil Diamond, “A Cherry Cherry Christmas.”
Barry Manilow, “In The Swing of Christmas.”
Five For Fighting, “Slice.”
Jack Bruce, “Seven Moons Live.”
Various artists, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack” – releasing Friday.
DVDs
American Violet
Drag Me to Hell
The Haunted Airman
Jackass: The Lost Tapes
Land of the Lost
Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season
Married… With Children: Complete Eleventh Season
Natural Born Killers
The Proposal
Books
“Dog Days (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series No. 4)” by Jeff Kinney
“And Another Thing… (Hitchhiker’s Guide Series No. 6)” by Eoin Colfer
“Chronic City” by Jonathan Lethem
“Deep Kiss of Winter” by Kresley Cole
“Dracula: The Un-Dead” by Dacre Stoker
“Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters” by Chesley B. Sullenberger
“Jamie’s Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals” by Jamie Oliver
“Moon River and Me: A Memoir” by Andy Williams
“New Moon: Collector’s Edition” by Stephenie Meyer
“Nine Dragons” by Michael Connelly
“Pursuit of Honor” by Vince Flynn
“Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul: How to Create a New You” by Deepak Chopra
“Twilight Saga Journals” by Stephenie Meyer
-BAM
“Twilight Saga: New Moon” soundtrack release moved to Friday
The hotly anticipated “Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack” will be released on Friday, four days earlier than originally scheduled, Billboard.com is reporting.
The soundtrack to the second “Twilight” film was originally slated to be released next Tuesday, Oct. 20. But the album leaked online over the weekend, which likely led to the earlier release date.
The film, based on the second book in Stephenie Meyer’s mega popular book series, has been building buzz since the first movie, “Twilight,” reached blockbuster levels at the box office last fall. “New Moon” will be released in theaters Nov. 20.
But anticipation for the soundtrack started cranking up after the track list was released last month. The album features songs from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, The Killers and Grizzly Bear.
Tulsa singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist St. Vincent collaborated with band Bon Iver to contribute a track called “Roslyn” to the soundtrack.
The “Twilight” soundtrack, featuring contributions from Paramore, Collective Soul and Linkin Park, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last November. It has sold 2.2 million copies, according to Billboard.com.
-BAM
New releases for Oct. 6, 2009
Toby Keith
Oklahoma country music star Toby Keith releases his latest album, “American Ride,” today.
The title track and lead-off single currently is sitting at No. 1 on both the Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase top country songs lists. Climbing into the top 10 in just eight weeks, “American Ride” is Keith’s fastest-moving single since his 2001 smash ”Courtesy of the Red, White And Blue (The Angry American).”
Rascal Flatts (Associated Press photo)
In addition, country band Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, is offering today new bonus content on a limited edition re-release of its “Greatest Hits Vol. 1.”
“Imagine That,” Eddie Murphy’s underrated family-friendly comedy (that’s a phrase I haven’t needed to use very often), gets its DVD debut today. Also, Disney has a Diamond Edition DVD-Blu-Ray combo pack of the classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in stores today; I love this Disney DVD-Blu-Ray combo pack concept.
In books, “The Twilight Saga: New Moon – The Official Illustrated Movie Companion” will help tide over Stephenie Meyer fans who are eagerly awaiting next month’s release of the movie.
And Christopher Robin reunites with Winnie-the-Pooh in “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood,” a sequel to the beloved children’s classic by David Benedictus and authorized by the late A.A. Milne’s estate. The book includes a new character, Lottie the Otter.
Here is a list of new CDs, DVDs and books for the week, from Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Toby Keith, “American Ride.”
Rascal Flatts, “Greatest Hits: Vol. 1 Limited Edition.”
Backstreet Boys, “This Is Us.”
Tokio Hotel, “Humanoid.”
Rosanne Cash, “The List.”
Joe Perry, “Have Guitar, Will Travel.”
Lita Ford, “Wicked Wonderland.”
Brandi Carlile, “Give Up the Ghost.”
Luke Bryan, “Doin’ My Thing.”
DVDs
“Year One”
“My Life in Ruins”
“Imagine That”
“Ally McBeal: The Complete Series”
“The Hills: Season Five, Part One”
“Bones: The Complete Fourth Season”
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show – The Complete Fifth Season”
“Trick ‘r Treat”
“Werewolf: The Complete Series”
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition” (DVD-Blu-Ray combo pack)
Books
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon – The Official Illustrated Movie Companion” by Mark Cotta Vaz.
“The Red Book” by C.J. Jung, edited and translated by Sonu Shamdasani.
“Christmas List: A Novel” by Richard Paul Evans.
“The Professional (Spenser Series No. 38)” by Robert B. Parker.
“Evidence: An Alex Delaware Novel” by Jonathan Kellerman.
“A Touch of Dead: The Complete Stories (Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series)” by Charlaine Harris.
“Finding It: And Satisfying My Hunger for Life without Opening the Fridge” by Valerie Bertinelli.
“Julie Andrews’ Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies” by Julie Andrews.
“Half-Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel” by Jeannette Walls.
“American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood” by Marc Eliot.
“How to Raise the Perfect Dog” by Cesar Millan.
“Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son” by Michael Chabon.
“Return to the Hundred Acre Wood” by David Benedictus.
-BAM
