SFXclusive! Director Chris Weitz On The Robert Pattinson Effect

While chatting with SFX for an exclusive interview in the next issue of SFX (#190, out on 18 November), New Moon director Chris Weitz revealed how he got to experience “Twihards” for the first time while shooting the sequel in Italy

While fans were present during the entire shoot, it was the Italian leg of filming that saw real crowds of hardcore Twihards gathering. “I've never experienced anything like it. It was really energising at first. And by the last day we were in Italy, it was maddening. Only in that you felt so many pairs of eyes on you. And it was very difficult to get to the next location, which could be two blocks away but would take us an hour to cart all of our gear because there were all these girls in the way! That's lovely too because it shows how enthusiastic people are about the story. They're incredibly respectful of what we're doing and were very quiet during takes and would applaud afterwards. But on the last day I really had to go to the bathroom and there was no cafe that I could go into where I wasn't going to mobbed. And I don't make the mistake of thinking that it's me - it's because I can get close to Rob. Some Rob molecules might have rubbed off on me.”

There’s exclusive five-page feature on New Moon in the new issue of SFX, #190, on sale Wednesday 18 November. Join our Twitter feed so you get a reminder when the new issue comes out.