If you're a Twilight fan and you're like us, you've already tracked down every active Twitter-ing "Twilight" cast and crew member to follow their every move and catch as many details as you can about the upcoming films. Of the cast, Peter Facinelli (Carlisle Cullen for all you uninitiated) is arguably the most active on the social networking site, all thanks to an iPhone application an old friend helped make for him.
The Boston Globe interviewed 211(me) creator Rob DeFranco, who Peter had worked with on the 1999 film "Telling You," as well as two of his most active clients: Peter and Billy Burke, who plays Bella's dad Charlie, to talk about the interest in social networking.
"They have more control to show other parts of their life, not just the plug they do on Jay Leno," Rob told the Globe. "There's a real interest in social media in Hollywood right now."
The cruel irony Peter comments on, is that its he and Billy who are the avid social networkers, and not so much Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, or even Taylor Lautner. With the exception of one Tweet from Peters iPod app ("Hi, its Rob . . . My first and last tweet. My dad [Peter] made me do it"). none of the franchises popular young actors have dipped into the social networking circle.
Peter speculated in his Globe interview that its probably because Rob and Kristen are already dogged by almost every media outlet imaginable, and they don't want to invite more attention. He, on the other hand, said he has no issue with it.
"[Rob and Kristen] so oversaturated. After 15 years in the business, I'm used to it," Peter said. "I'm boring. Everybody knows that I'm married and have kids."
Along with Billy and Peter, Peter's wife Jenny Garth has started using the app, along with Lucas Till of "Hannah Montana: The Movie," Danneel Harris of "One Tree Hill" and Neal McDonough of "Desperate Housewives." Subscribers to the app have to pay a one-time $1.99 starting fee and are then able to talk with the stars who also use it. Sometimes, they even talk back.
"It's fun to be able to connect to fans. I find it more fun than a burden," Peter said.
Are you using the app? What do you like about it?
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