November 2009 | blackfilm.com | THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

November 2009

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON | An Interview with Edi Gathegi

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THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
An Interview with Edi Gathegi
by Wilson Morales

November 13, 2009

Coming out on Nov. 20 is 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon,' the second installment of author Stephenie Meyer's phenomenally successful 'Twilight' series.

While Chris Weitz has replaced Catherine Hardwicke as director, most of the original cast is back, including Edi Gathegi, who plays the vampire Laurent Da Revin. The Nairobi, Kenya, native is the lone black actor in the action and suspense thriller.

In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Gathegi spoke about his character, fame, and of course, the film.

How does it feel to come back for the sequel and working with the cast again?

Edi Gathegi: It's pretty exciting. To be honest, it took forever, and all of a sudden, it just crept up. I don't even know where the time went. I'm waiting to see what everyone thinks of the film. Working with the cast is great. We have a wonderful relationship, working and personally. Going back to work on this film is like having a family reunion.
The film also brings out several new cast members as well.

EG: Yes. 'New Moon' introduces the audiences to the Wolfpack and the Volturi. Among the new cast, I'm very excited to see Michael Sheen's work. I can't wait to meet him.

How's life changed for you since the first film?

EG: Since 'Twilight,' I can't say that my life has changed at all. From seeing the fans at Comic Con to doing press interviews, it's a roller coaster. But like all things, it will come to an end. Right now, I'm just riding the wave.

Did you have an inkling when you first signed on, how huge the franchise would become?

EG: I think so. I think the second is maturing in the right way. Things are always changing, either for the better or for the worse. The first film did so well that the audience will come see this film, and they will go spread the word and expand the audience in that way.
What's different with your character Laurent in the sequel?

EG: The one thing they wanted to stay the same is what Stephenie Meyer created in the book. The difference in character from the first to the second book is that Laurent comes back a lot less conflicted. He's not so much a traditional vampire who has a moral compass, but in fact, he's ignoring it.

From one of the trailers of 'New Moon,' there's an intense scene with you and Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella. How was shooting it?

EG: It was a lot of fun. The director, Chris Weitz let me do what I wanted to do, and I tried different takes with Kristen in which I was trying to scare her. The scene has a beginning and an end. It was a scene I could sink my teeth into, no pun intended.

In working with Chris Weitz, what were some differences between his direction and Catherine Hardwicke's from the first film?

EG: They are both different. Catherine has a strong independent film background with a lot of handheld camera movements and that sort of thing. She's used to stretching as much as she can with a small budget. Chris has more of a cinematic, epic look, like what he did with 'The Golden Compass.' With 'New Moon,' I don't think the budget was high like 'Compass,' but Chris gives you the impression that it was.

I tried different takes with Kristen in which I was trying to scare her. It was a scene I could sink my teeth into, no pun intended.

You are currently touring the country with new member Jamie Campbell Bower promoting the film. How's that going?

EG: It's great. I had never met Jamie before the tour, but I knew that we would have a connection and that turned out to be the case. All of the cast got along with each other, even if some of us just met. I've known Jamie for three days now, and we are having a good time.

Although the film is based from the best-selling novel, is it challenge not to tell friends and fans anything about the film?

EG: There are some things that I just don't know, so I can't really divulge. When people ask me questions, it gives me great pleasure to tell them to go see the film. I know that they are going to enjoy it more not knowing too much about it. I saw part of it some time back and it's very different. I've had opportunities to see the final cut, but I want to wait and pay to see it with people for the first time.

Have you given it a thought the fact that you are the lone black in the film?

EG: I thought about that in the sense that there are no other blacks in the film, but when I was going out for the part, I didn't ask how many people were going to be African American. I just auditioned for the role, and then I got it. There was actually some fan backlash when I got cast, because people didn't see Laurent being black. In the book, he's described at being olived-toned, and I decided to address the issue head on. I did an interview where I said, "The character is described as olive-toned, but there are many patches of olives. Black olives anyone?" I think the fans responded to that, and they immediately gave me an open reception after the interview. I think that they did a great job in casting colorblind, because it makes it more accessible to many groups of people, and for African Americans to see me in the film, they know that they are being represented.

Since you're playing a vampire, what's the makeup process like?

EG: It's an arduous task putting on all that stuff, but as soon as you have it on, you instantly feel like you're a part of that world, and it's very easy to believe in what you are doing.

What's next for you?

EG: I'm trying to find a project that I'm passionate about. That's my mission right now. It's not enough to be a part of this franchise. I would love to do a comedy like a Judd Apatow-type film or do a biopic like redoing the Basquiat story.

Did you see the 'Basquiat' film with Jeffrey Wright?

EG: I loved that film. I'm not sure I can do any better, but with so many remakes all over the place, Basquiat is an artist who inspires me and whom I'm very passionate about, and I think a younger generation would appreciate a retelling of it.

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