Robert Pattinson

You can almost hear the young women swoon. It's just a few weeks until the highly anticipated "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" opens across the country, and already fans are clamoring for tickets to see the second installment in the big-screen adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's bestselling series of novels. Photographer David Strick traveled to Vancouver, Canada, earlier this year for a sneak peak at the production and caught stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner behind the scenes.

Robert Pattinson has all the traits of a Hollywood heartthrob -- photogenic features, a lovely British accent and a starring role as the brooding but devastatingly handsome good guy vampire Edward Cullen in "Twilight," the big-screen adaptation of the first installment in author Stephenie Meyer's wildly successful young-adult book series due in theaters Nov. 21. The only thing that doesn't quite fit? Pattinson is one seriously self-deprecating guy.

It's a crisp May morning on the set of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," and Michael Sheen strides into an elaborate reconstruction of an Italianate marble hall in costume as Aro, the head of the Volturi, a menacing group of age-old vampires that metes out justice in the realm of the supernatural. Dressed in a cloak, he's sporting long, black locks, bright red lips and matching tinted contact lenses that give him a distinctly malevolent look. When a reporter asks if it's uncomfortable to look through the eyes of a monster, he suggests, quite politely and quite to the contrary: "No, I think it's more uncomfortable for you."

Westwood Village has entered the "Twilight" zone. The U.S. premiere of "New Moon," the latest movie installment in the "Twilight" vampire saga, is set for Monday at Mann's Village Theatre and Bruin Theatre, and fans have invaded the sidewalks hoping to get a glimpse of the cast. First in line was Alison Genet, 35, who drove from Gilbert, Ariz., arriving Thursday morning. "I couldn't get here fast enough," said Genet, who runs the social networking site www.twifans.com. "I want to be front and center when Monday comes around."

Novelist Stephenie Meyer has a rabid teen following, and Hollywood has already dubbed Friday's two-hour feature film debut of her book series "Twilight," about a girl named Bella who falls for a vampire named Edward, a pop culture phenomenon. But the author has had a few rough months. In August, the final book in Meyer's "Twilight" saga, "Breaking Dawn," was greeted with passionate but divided reaction from fans, some of whom were so disappointed that they threatened to return their copies.

"Twilight" star Robert Pattinson has made it official: "Breaking Dawn," the fourth and final book in Stephenie Meyer's vampire saga, will be adapted for the big screen. Pattinson confirmed the news Tuesday during the Cannes Film Festival, revealing that he is signed to star in all four "Twilight" films. The actor is shooting the second, "New Moon," with director Chris Weitz and said he was unsure as to when the fourth movie would begin production. Summit Entertainment gave the go-ahead to the second and third films late last year after the first movie took in more than $190 million in domestic box office revenue.

If you went by last year's box office, "The Dark Knight" was the defining film of 2008. If you judged by the Oscars, "Slumdog Millionaire" was the unforgettable Cinderella story. But if you watched the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night, you would know "Twilight" was the only movie that mattered and that there's a bloodsucker born every minute. The first "Twilight" film was named the best film of 2008 and the movie also generated honors for best kiss, best fight, best breakthrough actor and just about any other popcorn-bucket trophy they had available.

Passes to Comic-Con sold out months ago, but for those making the trip to San Diego, here's a guide to some must-see panels and programming that will make the lines worth the wait. -- The One: James Cameron and 'Avatar' Thursday, 3 p.m., Hall H "The game-changer." That's the nickname in some Hollywood circles for "Avatar," the December alien-planet saga by James Cameron. Cameron is beloved in the fanboy sector for the first two films in the "Terminator" franchise, "Aliens" and the underwater (and underrated)