Chris Weitz talks Kristen "She's an independent actress of the highest caliber"

What was it like when you started Twilight: New Moon, which was such a highly visible project?

For me, it was tremendously refreshing because I knew that people were going to go see it. So there’s no pressure on me, as far as I’m concerned. Instead of treating it in any way like a popcorn movie, I just decided to treat it like a big, widescreen romance. That conditioned getting Alexandre Desplat to write the score and getting Javier Aguirresarobe, who’s one of the great DPs in the world, to shoot it. I knew that if I was true to the spirit of the book, there were all kinds of things I could get away with in terms of what we were doing with the camera and the lushness of the colors and the design. It was a complete delight. Kristen Stewart is an amazing actress. Really, she’s an independent film actress of the highest caliber. So she will bring to what’s essentially a melodrama these very harsh emotions. Coming out the other end of it when we were marketing the film, that was madness — in a very enjoyable way for me because I kind of got to be the Ringo Starr of the group. We traveled around Europe, the big three and me, and the biggest it got was Munich’s Olympic Stadium with 23,000 screaming fans who were there just to see us say hello and answer a few softball questions. There were moments where you felt that this could get dangerous or this could get really weird, really fast. It was rather extraordinary.

Chris Weitz: 'I was the Ringo Starr of Twilight: New Moon'

New Moon director Chris Weitz has revealed that he felt like the Ringo Starr of the Twilight franchise.

The A Better Life filmmaker, who helmed the second movie in the vampire romance franchise, suggested that the fan hysteria created by stars Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart was akin to Beatlemania.
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Weitz told Digital Spy that the amount of screaming from Twilight fans will "haunt him forever".

"I remember going to the Munich Olympic Stadium and there were 23,000 young women screaming. It wasn't for me, I was only the Ringo Starr at best of the whole quadruplet that was travelling," he said.

The director also recalled being unable to go to the bathroom during filming in a small Italian town because the location was overrun with fans of Stephenie Meyer's fantasy saga.

"When we were shooting our final four days in Montepulciano in Italy, because it was known that we were shooting there every day, thousands and thousands more young girls would show up - until the point where the streets were jammed, we couldn't get our equipment from one location to another," he explained.

"I couldn't go to the loo because every cafe, every restaurant was just packed. So I just held it!"

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Summit Executives, Melissa Rosenberg, and Chris Weitz Give Credit To Harry Potter Films

Erik Feig(a Summit Executive), Melissa Rosenberg (Twilight Saga screenwriter) and Chris Weitz (the director of The Golden Compass, New Moon and A Better Life) have cited the Harry Potter films as industry inspirations and changers. In the above photo, taken at the A Better Life premiere, Erik Feig is standing to Chris Weitz’s immediate left:

Erik Feig:

‘”There was a sea change with Harry Potter,” says Erik Feig, president of worldwide production at Summit Entertainment, which has made the Twilight movies. “The story has a younger protagonist, but the book series and the movies are greatly enjoyed by older people, too. I devoured the first book and gave it to every grown-up I knew. We saw the same thing with Twilight. We did not ghetto-ize it as a young-adult movie. Nor did they with Harry Potter. They drew all audiences. It was an inspiration to us.”

Weitz shares hopes for ‘Twilight’ stars

LOS ANGELES – “I really want to see how they’re going to figure out the part where the vampire baby chews its way out of Kristen Stewart’s stomach,” said “New Moon” director, Chris Weitz, when we recently asked him what he’s looking forward to seeing in the final “Twilight Saga” movies.

Chris quipped with a smile, “I certainly wouldn’t know how to shoot that. I’m sure Bill Condon is going to figure it out, because he’s a terrific director.”

As for the future of Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner after “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” Parts 1 (to be released in November this year) and 2 (next year), here’s Chris’ wish for them: “For the three leads, they’re going to need to handle this last tsunami of publicity and distinguish themselves in other films.”

“With Kristen, she has always done terrific independent-film roles, and that’s great,” said Chris, who also directed the memorable “About a Boy,” “The Golden Compass” and, now, the acclaimed “A Better Life.” “Rob is doing that sort of thing, too,” Chris pointed out. “Rob is filming with David Cronenberg (‘Cosmopolis’) now. Taylor is carving a different path in action films.”

“I want to see them succeed,” Chris stressed. “I want to see them retain their essential humanity. I like them very much. What I also wish for them are happy lives that

A Better Life - Official Trailer

New Moon director Chris Weitz's 'A Better Life' gets good reviews

Review: 'A Better Life' offers a direct and devastating emotional experience

Hitflix reviews Chris Weitz's 'A Better Life'
For Chris, the high watermark so far has been "About A Boy," the 2002 film he made starring Hugh Grant and a young Nicolas Hoult. I love that film. I love the performances, and I especially love the way it seems to take its time and leave a lot of room for raw humanity, in no hurry to get to the clever concept or the big twist. It's a simple film, direct and real. Since then, "The Golden Compass" and "Twilight: New Moon" both felt like detours that did nothing for Weitz as a filmmaker, but I understand the freedom that a hit like "New Moon" buys for you as a director, and it looks to me like Weitz cashed that freedom in on his new film, and it may be the best choice he's ever made.

There's no way to deny that the script, with story by Roger L. Simon and screenplay by Eric Eason, owes a nod to the structure of the classic Vittorio De Sica film "Bicycle Thieves," and I'm sure Weitz would acknowledge it. But if you think this is just a remake of that movie, or just a modern update of it, you'd be wrong. The basic structure allows Weitz to use the movie as part of a larger conversation about the modern immigrant experience, and the divided world that is Los Angeles.

Read entire article here

Chris Weitz talks about the Twilight Cast

CW talks about the Twilight Cast WATCH HERE at E!OnLine
"Yeah. I really, really like those guys. Some of them are coming to support me tonight, which is really great. And I think that they're all terribly talented. It was part of the reason I did New Moon in the first place."

"I wanna figure out how they shoot that part where the baby eats its way out of Kristen's stomach!"
via fiercebitchstew

Celebuzz Anyone you would love to work with again?
CW: Kristen, Rob, and Taylor. If they let me! Sure.

What does it mean to have the support of your former cast-members like Kristen and Taylor here tonight?
It’s tremendous. I think it’s really cool. I mean because every time they come out, they face a gamut of fans and get screamed at and everything and they have to dress up and think like ‘Oh what am I supposed to wear tonight.’ It would much easier for them to just watch the DVD at home. I’m really touched that they’ve come out tonight, and it’s great to see them because I’m really fond of them. Read more

Tweets from ChrisWeitz at night, in case you missed it.
"Driving back from premiere. Taylor and Kristen represented. Love you guys.
(When asked about Rob) he's shooting out of town!

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Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner Attend Chris Weitz’s ‘A Better Life’ Premiere

Both Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner turned out last night for the big Los Angeles Film Festival premiere of their former New Moon director, Chris Weitz’s A Better Life. Kristen and Taylor were seen on the red carpet to support Chris, and Kristen even got a hug from the director. Check out the pictures below:

Chris Weitz talks 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' and 'A Better Life'

The Twilight Saga: New Moon director Chris Weitz's A Better Life premiered last night at the L.A. Film Festival, but before hitting the red carpet, he stopped to talk to a few Twilight sites about his film. The full transcript for the interview is below:

Q: How were you able to get such amazing emotions out of the actors, especially [Jose Julian] – I just read on his page that he’s never done anything like this before. The movie’s so powerful; how did you get the actors to portray that on-screen?

Chris Weitz: Well, I mean Demian Bichir is a big actor in Mexico. He’s been in many movies; he’s incredibly technically accomplished and a brilliant actor so that was never in doubt for me. Of course, when you’re starting with a newcomer, you don’t really know what you’re going to get, but I think the thing that we managed to do was to schedule it so that the scenes which he was being a difficult teen and kind of a pain in the butt were early on, which is kind of easier for a sixteen-year-old actor to go to, and then the more emotional scenes, by the time we got around to shooting that, he had lived in our little circus for you know a couple of months. He had learned from Demian; he had learned how to focus; he had been through all this thinking about things, and so that helped him. And of course acting with Demian when he’s delivering that sort of final speech in the detention center, I would find it hard not to convey a hell of a lot of emotion myself.

Chris Weitz Talks About the Ups and Downs of the Post New Moon Experience

It’s no secret that Chris Weitz had a really bad time making The Golden Compass. New Moon was his chance to do book adaptation the way it should be done. However, he soon found out that it wasn’t all a bed of roses. Indiewire interviewed Chris about his post New Moon life and his new film A Better Life:

“New Moon” was all about getting back on the horse for me and working with some very talented people – Kristen Stewart, Alexandre DesPlat, the great Spanish cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe. I wanted to make a lush widescreen romance out of a ‘tweener phenomenon and I knew the audience would come. I would say, “They’re expecting a cheeseburger, but I’m going to give them foie gras.

Such is the naiveté of late-early-middle age. The restaurant critics were not supportive. Nonetheless, I was able to compose hybrid real-action and CGI sequences on a grand scale, create sheer cliffs and raging seas from pixels, and transform people into horse-sized wolves at the side of the legendary Phil Tippett.

Chris Weitz: David Cronenberg could have directed 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn'

BOXOFFICE recently sat down with Chris Weitz to discuss A Better Life, a naturalistic and moving portrait of immigration in Los Angeles with a strong father/son story. Before we post the full interview, we wanted to pass along some words from Weitz about American Reunion, the fourth theatrical release of the American Pie franchise, and his half-serious joke about who else could have directed The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.

Chris Weitz Named as Possible Contender to Direct ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5′

The majority of critics seem to agree that from a creative standpoint, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has turned into a sinking ship. Nevertheless, the series remains an unrivaled cash cow for Walt Disney Pictures and they’re understandably anxious to see it carry on. In fact, they had a script fora fifth film in their hands before On Stranger Tides was even released.

The domestic box office gross for the latest entry might be lower than that of its predecessors, but the studio has little reason to worry that audiences are starting to grow impervious to the charms of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp). To date, On Stranger Tides has amassed more than $472 million outside of the U.S. and is on track to earn close to $1 billion before it hits DVD and Blu-Ray. The foreign market has become increasingly important to Hollywood and with numbers like that, another voyage aboard the Black Pearl seems all but inevitable.

Filming for ‘Breaking Dawn’ is Over

Well we finally have confirmation that filming for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn has now finished. Thanks to a tweet from New Moon director, Chris Weitz, we know that it really is done. While that may sound strange, Chris let’s us know that he received an email last night from Bill Bannerman, who was the Unit Production Manager for New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, letting him know that filming was a wrap. Check out the tweets from Chris below:

Chris Weitz understands and compares Robert Pattinson to chocolate

Here are the Robert Pattinson mentions from Chris Weitz over the past several days:
xAdele95 @chrisweitz What's your favourite line in New moon??? :P x

CW: I love when Edward says, "I'm getting to old for this S---".

TwitterTime with Chris Weitz- Part 12. Flashback 'New Moon Breakup Scene'

If you have been missing Chris Weitz for the past blah number of days.... Worry no more...

athenia_22@chrisweitz Kristen once said she cried really hard in her car right before filming the breakup scene? did you know and how did you react? Yup, I did know that. It was a tough night's filming.

melcitron@chrisweitz where the line from the trailer I promise to never put you through anything like this ever again? scene for megabox fan edition? Saved for Special Platinum I Promise Never To Put You Through This Deluxe Boxed Gold Platinum Stamped Superset ( LOL)

CamiFaith@chrisweitz Which scene took longer/was harder, underwater bella and edward, or Edward/Volturi fight scene? Underwater Bella was tough. Fight scene I had loads of 2nd unit help

CharmedTink@chrisweitz Hello...I wanna know, did Jackson do his own stunts in NM? ie, when Jasper was 'pushed' into the piano?!No, Jackson is not from the Taylor Lautner school of self-endangerment.

Chris Weitz tweets about Robert Pattinson,Kristen and New Moon

northjers @chrisweitz Hi Chris.There is talk of Edward getting his own flashback in one of the BD films. Do you know, will we be seeing green eyes?

CW: Will have to wait until the Eye Color Director's Summit convenes at end of month.

TwitterTime with Chris Weitz

More from chrisweitz . More Rob, Kristen and New Moon Q and As - all here.

YekitaB@chrisweitz What was the hardest scene to do for Robert and Kirsten. Please Well romantic scenes are hard. Movie sets are not romantic, hard to act intimate.

@chrisweitz Have you seen Kristen in the Cake Eaters"? Such a tremendous and outstanding performance Yes, she's lovely in that film.

smurfy_tapz @chrisweitz Did Rob get around to calling you after your nice write-up about him when he made TIME's 100 Most Influential? Nah. The funny thing is, he usually gets in touch when he changes emails due to their being hacked.

VeronicaLove78@chrisweitz what previous roles w/ KristenStewart in your opinion she should have received nominations for? Give her time! She ws pretty great in Into the Wild though

Miriam522@chrisweitz are you going to see Rob Patz new movie "Water for Elephants"? Have you read the book? If you have, did you like it? PLEASE!!! Well now. I am bemused that anyone cares if I will see it or not, but yes, he's my homey, I'm going.

Chris Weitz's Says Robert Pattinson Is His Homey In His Latest Round Of Tweets

Chris Weitz didn't spend as much time on twitter chatting as he normally does because he wasn't feeling well but there were still a few Rob mentions in there.

Miriam522 @chrisweitz are you going to see Rob Patz new movie "Water for Elephants"? Have you read the book? If you have, did you like it? PLEASE!!!

CW Well now. I am bemused that anyone cares if I will see it or not, but yes, he's my homey, I'm going.

TwiRK_World @chrisweitz does it creep you out seeing so many Twilight, Rob and Kristen dedicated Twitter accts?

CW Well, to be honest, what feels a bit odd is people having someone they don't know as their avatar. I have been pondering a call to, at least for one day, use your own face as your avatar, because you are not defined by what you want. But what the hell, it's a free country.

kathycarrillo@chrisweitz is it ok if your avatar includes you and "famous person"?

CW It's all ok. I'm not the boss of anybody. But really, famous shmamous.

Twi_Star @chrisweitz we wouldn't be talking to you if you weren't famous?

Twittertime with Chris Weitz

It's Twilight Tuesday and Chris Weitz was up and early for Rob, Kristen and New Moon 'related' questions. And he was entertaining as ever. Fun!

rkfanz @chrisweitz The dream Bella had in New Moon that got cut was really freaky & cool. Were you upset that it didn't make it to movie? Nah. Didn;t move forward the plot. It was pretty weird, hunh? BAsed on Gregory VCrewdson photos, and we built a room set half in the dirt

Robert Pattinson and New Moon featured again in Chris Weitz's daily tweets

athenia_22 @chrisweitz if you had to choose either rob or kristen to babysit your son who would you choose? hehe

CW: Taylor

AwesomeArianna @chrisweitz It's whateva wednesday right? Random: Did you guys use Virgin Airlines in NM as a crack towards E/B virginity? Please do tell!

CW: Yes, the idea of using that airline amused me....

tucheer83 @chrisweitz Since I'm watching NewMoon I have 2 ask: Y didn't you have Edward steal the pics from Bella but decided to let them disappear?

CW: Film narrative -- seeing him steal the pics would give away the game. But seeing them not there all at once would, to me, lessen the impact

tucheer83 @chrisweitz Now here's the season's scene. Y didn't you let Edward take the pics like the book & chose to let them disappear off the wall?

CW: Yeh. Nice to see it in the process of happening; her heart is still breaking.