Summit EntertainmentEven the Southern California wildfires can't stop Twilight fans from trying to get a look at Robert Pattinson.
About 250 people have been camped out since yesterday in front of L.A.'s Mann Village Theater, home of tonight's world premiere of Twilight.
So, who are these folks? Read on to find out...
Mallory Gelineau and Allison Hart, both 14-year-old high schoolers, suffered through a 14-hour road trip with their moms from their homes in Folsom, Calif. “It was one hectic ride,” Gelineau said. “It was originally only supposed to take us 6 or 7 hours to get here, but we tried avoiding the fires...It was bumper to bumper. It took about three hours to go 30 miles.”
Melanie Atkins, 49, and her daughter, Rose, 15, were the first in line. They arrived yesterday at 7 a.m. (um, that's about 36 hours before the premiere even begins). "We slept on the sidewalk in the freezing cold," Melanie said.
And talk about a cool mom. Melanie said she planned on covering for her kid if any teachers asked why her daughter missed school today. "I'm not going to lie," she said. "I'm gonna say that I was out of a town on a trip. I'm just not going to give too many more details."
But so far, it all seems worth it. Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke made a surprise visit last night to the Twi-hard fans. She posed for pics and signed autographs. "It was awesome," Rose said.
And just when you think it's only teenage girls clamoring for a peek and maybe a photo with Pattinson, think again.
Seven thirtysomething members of TwilightMoms.com also staked a claim on the sidewalk. They left their kids home with their dads. “Twilight is just the perfect mix of the good, clean, old-fashioned romance, and awesome fantasy at the same time," said Sarah Clark, 32, of Yorba Linda, Calif. "I just fell in love with the book series instantly.”
Angela Atherton, a 36-year-old stay-at-home mom, beamed, "There's no end. This isn't over. There are several sequels to be had."
—Additional reporting by Dahvi Shira