Kimberley French

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson star in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

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After hearing the news that "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" would premiere at Regal Cinemas' Pinnacle 18 at Turkey Creek in November, "Twilight" fans from all around had the same reaction: They have to go.

Ashley Holley of Mobile, Ala., wants to go to thank the cast of the movies, particularly stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

Holley has wanted to write for a long time, but it wasn't until seeing the first "Twilight" film (and subsequently reading the entire series in five days) that she was able to begin writing.

"It started out being a hobby, but I'm wanting to actually make it a profession," she says. "After reading the series, it was like, 'OK, I really have to do this now.' And I just started writing."

Series author Stephenie Meyer's vivid imagination persuaded her to rethink the way she writes, incorporating more imagination and less past experience.

Now the married mother of two is working on chapter three of her novel, she says.

She looks forward to seeing "New Moon" whether a trip to the Knoxville premiere works out or not.

"It's a big deal to me," she says. "I've already gathered up some friends that we're going to see the movie together when it hits theaters."

It's also a big deal to Bonnie Herring of Lancaster, Ky., and the timing of the film's release couldn't be better.

"The premiere here in Kentucky is actually three days after my birthday, so everybody's decided it's going to be a birthday present for me one way or the other," Herring says.

The self-professed "Twilight" mom and her son have read the books, and Herring would call them her absolute favorites.

"And I've read a lot," she says.

The news of the Knoxville premiere not only was exciting to her because it was "New Moon" but also because of the sheer rarity of film premieres in that area of the country.

"That's like maybe a three-and-a-half-hour drive from where I live, which is as close as we'll ever get," she says. "Rural Kentucky isn't exactly premiere central."

Perhaps it's how unlikely this scenario is that has spurred all the phone calls to Dena Pinsker, executive director of Variety - The Children's Charity of Eastern Tennessee.

Variety is the beneficiary of the premiere, and "New Moon" is the latest installment of Regal Cinemas' and Variety's annual fundraiser that brings a movie premiere and high-profile stars to Knoxville.

But Pinsker says the reaction to the "New Moon" debut premiere in Knoxville has engulfed the previous releases.

"'Twilight's' reaction and enthusiasm by the fans is twice or three times as much initial contact to me as other premieres with the exception of 'Dukes of Hazzard,' which was similar to the 'Twilight' fan enthusiasm but not quite so much initial excitement," she says.

Since the July 3 News Sentinel story on the premiere, Pinsker has received about 100 phone calls a day to the Variety/"Twilight" information line she set up at 865-925-9906, she says.

"I have had requests for tickets from Michigan and St. Louis," she says.

But she says it's still about 30 to 60 days until the event date and the stars in attendance are decided.

Robby O'Daniel may be reached at 865-342-6432.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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