EyeCon 'Twilight' Convention Enchants O-Town
Story and Photos by Praise SantosSunday, Sept. 27, 2009
The words "sparkle" and "pale"--along with phrases like "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob"--seemingly mean nothing to the ordinary observer, but to the attendees of the EyeCon Florida Twilight Convention these were omens of delight.
Central Florida devotees decked in Twilight paraphernalia (and one seemingly out-of-place adolescent wearing a Nazi outfit. Uh...awkward) entered the Florida Hotel and Conference Center.
Girlfriends.
Mothers and daughters.
Women with loyal boyfriends/whipped husbands.
The gender divide is apparent. "Ninety-nine percent of the people who come to these conventions are females," confirms promoter Kenny Smith.
And though hyped from a book labeled a teen novel, 20-to-30 somethings were the majority. Author Stephenie Meyer's tale of the ongoing romance between teen Bella Swan and the over-a-century-old vampire, Edward Cullen, has become the heartbeat of millions.
To the romantic, the story is a goldmine: unusual heroes, romantic triangles, and sexy, pale men. Three reasons strong enough to draw a demographic that extends beyond the teen crowd.
The Twilight series followed this millennium's extremely popular and successful book-turned-movie recipe (why can't screen-writers come up with their own ideas anymore? C'MON!) with the first book published in 2005 and the movie released in 2008.
With the four-book Twilight series listed as last year's biggest selling novels worldwide, it's no surprise that conventions such as these draw a crowd.
Fans shrieked at vampire sightings.
Well, at the sight of Edi Gathegi, who portrays vampire Laurent in the film.
Twilight's Edi Gathegi at a Q&A session with fans
Other guests of the convention include Justin Chon and Gil Birmingham and even model Kimbra Hickey--AKA "The Hands of Twilight"--whose hands hold the apple on the famous Twilight book cover.
Other attendees got the chills at the sight of some of the costumes worn by the cast.
Featured wardrobe from the movie
"That's the one he wore in the movie. That means he touched it!" a young Twilight fan enthuses to her mother. She strikes a pose in from of the jacket. "Take my picture!"
Cameras continued flashing when four character impersonators passed by. Apparently by the crowds excited, better-than-my-dreams(!) reaction they hit the nail on the head with their brooding looks and pouty lips.
A fan poses with Twilight impersonators
To me--a writer who resisted giving into the Twilight hype--I could admire and respect their devotion...but a Wikipedia synopsis on the series was enough RobPat love for me.
So yes, I could really do without those temporary tattoos of bite marks on my neck, but thanks anyway TwiGuy (BTW, this was a catch phrase--Twi-lingo, per se--that I soaked in during the event. This fancy term means a male lover of the Twilight series. And you're welcome for that bonus education.)
