24 April, 2009

Montepulciano randomness...














Ok, so such is my life, right?

I'm in Montepulciano, which I realize is the site of Voterra for New Moon, but really I'm just thinking of it as a great place to have some great wine with my parents while they're on vacation. It's only a two-hour flight from Wales to get here, and I hadn't seen my folks in awhile, so it was just a nice hill-town for me to break away from work and see my parents. A vacation, right?

Of course I should really know by now that all things Twilight follow me no matter where I go...

So I'm sitting in the Grand Piazza in Montepulciano having a glass of Noblie (a wicked nice red wine here), and I notice a sign next to the information center with 'New Moon' in bold. Of course I have to look at it. It's a notice about casting for extras for the film (I'll upload the photos as soon as I'm back in the UK, Monday, but will post the info here). So I notice the New Moon casting, and go into the info center to chat to the staff about it.

They are horribly unaware of the wave about to descend upon them. They're excited about the prospect of more publicity and tourism, but I don't think they quite realize the following that Twilight has, and the possibilities that may arise with New Moon tours. I'll try and have a full transcript of my conversation with them, or at least something like it, when I'm out of Italy, but it was funny. I just can't escape! (Not that it's a bad thing).

The woman that worked in the information center was brilliant, and encouraged me to check out a wine shop up the street because a woman that worked there knew a bit about locations and whatnot. So I wandered up there, forced myself to taste another few sips of divine red (oh the things I suffer through for my work... :-p), and I asked her about locations. She gave me another spot she's heard of as a filming site, so I'll try and check that out in the morning.

So tomorrow is checking out this location, and climbing the clock tower (yes, the one that Kristen Stewart will run towards in order to stop Edward from stepping into the sun. And I've been taking pictures of every alley that I think may be a contender for that scene, although the alleys right next to the tower-building aren't that great. Both are picturesque, but one has a public bathroom at the end, and the other has a cash point/ATM at the end... not so cinematic...) to take a panoramic view of the area. It's just gorgeous here. Yes, I can see the Twilight elements happening here, but it's just a stunning piece of geography and history as well.

More soon, hopefully with many pictures :)

Casting Info:
28-29 April Donne and Bambini: 9:30-1, 2:30-7 (Women and Children, I think...my Italian is not so stellar)
5-6 May Uomini: 9:30-1, 2:30-7 (Men, I think, see note above regarding my Italian :)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi, I'm an Italian girl and yes, you're right, Women and Children 28-29th April and Men 5-6th May...
unfortunately, in those dates I'll be away from Italy...I'm so sad...
So, you're studying Twilight adaptation to movies??wow...you lucky...
ciao,
Lucia

Anonymous said...

Having visited Volterra and Montepulciano, I can't share your satisfaction/ fondness for the later town. My impression of Volterra, from reading New Moon, is sinister beneath the facade of celebration...physically darker with narrow alley ways and a much more intimate piazza. Montepulciano, for me, is too open and has less of the character I feel Stephenie Meyer intended...personally I am very disappointed with their decision to deviate from Volterra.

inglau said...

Hi I just came across your blog recently, and I've really enjoyed reading your thoughts about what you're studying. I was wondering if your articles and conference papers were available anywhere online. I'm contemplating doing a phd in English Lit and I would be interested in exploring the Twilight series, but I haven't really come across much in the way of academic writing on it, so if you have any suggestions or could point me in the right direction, I'd be very grateful. :-)

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