Vanny Knowles's blog

'The Host' Set Visit: Stephenie Meyer On 'Beautiful' Adaptation

'The Host' Set Visit: Stephenie Meyer On 'Beautiful' Adaptation
It's no secret that readers become protective of their beloved novels when a film company takes on the ambitious task of turning it into a movie. Fans rally behind their favorite actors to play the lead roles and voice their concerns over the script staying true to the book. When it comes to Stephenie Meyer's, [...]

It's no secret that readers become protective of their beloved novels when a film company takes on the ambitious task of turning it into a movie. Fans rally behind their favorite actors to play the lead roles and voice their concerns over the script staying true to the book. When it comes to Stephenie Meyer's, "The Host," the response has been no different.

Luckily fans have been warm to lead actors Saoirse Ronan and Max Irons, but will they be happy with the script? Cast your worries aside Meyer fans! When MTV News headed out for a behind-the-scenes look at the big-screen adaptation of Meyer's novel, she told us that she's had more input in this film thanks to director Andrew Niccol.

"Andrew and I work pretty well together, he's really, really great," Meyer said. "And so he was super easy to work with. In the script-writing process he loved to hear what I had to say and worked really well with me on that. He's really about, 'What do you think about this? What do you think about that?' I think [I have more input] because we are really in sync."

Both parts sci-fi and romance, Meyer's story follows the invasion of an alien race called Souls. Like parasites, they enter the human body, but these trespassers erase their host's personalities. When Melanie Styder's (Ronan) parasite, Wanderer, becomes engulfed in Melanie's memories instead of erasing them, she develops her own feelings for Melanie's love Jared (Max Irons) and allies with her host body to find him.

Meyer told us that filming the movie has been a welcome experience, partly due to a change of scenery—no more dreary Forks for this writer! "This [set] has beautiful landscapes everywhere we've been and so that's been kind of different, too. We're not in a forest where you can't really see, we have all this beautiful stuff. It's great."

And while the author is enjoying her time on set, she also revealed that she misses "Twilight" stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.

"It seems funny not to have Kristen here," she said. "'I'm on a set, why can't I talk to Kristen?' That's a little funny."

Have you read "The Host"? Are you excited for the movie? Let us know in the comments and on Twitter!

May 29, 2012 11:00:02 PM

Lady Gaga - Just Dance (Gaga Live Sydney Monster Hall)

Just Dance (Gaga Live Sydney Monster Hall)

Artist: Lady Gaga
Label: Streamline/Kon Live/Interscope
Director: Bernie Zelvis

May 19, 2012 3:00:12 AM

Usher - Climax

Climax

Artist: Usher
Label: RCA Records
Director: Sam Pilling

May 12, 2012 3:00:08 AM

Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff

"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.

You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.

Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.

And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.

And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.

To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.

"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."

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May 8, 2012 11:00:08 PM

Justin Bieber - Pray

Pray

Artist: Justin Bieber
Label: RBMG / IDJ
Director: Alfredo Flores
Album: Rarities

May 1, 2012 3:00:13 PM

Michael Jackson Lives On In 'Immortal' Tour

Cirque du Soleil show pays tribute to late icon with world tour.
By Uptin Saiidi

NEWARK, New Jersey — Music, dance and acrobatics combine in celebration of Michael Jackson's iconic life in the "Immortal" World Tour. From trapeze artists to acrobats and even a world-champion pole dancer, guests at the Cirque du Soleil show can expect a high-energy tribute to the legend.

The tour stopped for two nights in Newark, New Jersey, this past weekend (its 40th stop) and will open Tuesday night (April 3) at New York's Madison Square Garden, where it will remain through Thursday. From there, it will continue across North America through the summer before heading to Europe in the fall.

Having already produced the Beatles "Love" show in Las Vegas, Cirque is no stranger to musical tributes.

"Immortal" serves as a sensory explosion that starts on the subdued side and progresses in both spectacle and energy. More than 60 artists perform to 32 songs in a presentation that feels much like a concert with an ensemble of circus-inspired acts elegantly melding together. The stage is two levels with a long peninsula extending into the audience, where the majority of the acrobatics takes place. MJ's famed choreographic style was present in nearly all the numbers, and the audacious task of the performers was well-received by the audience.

The progression of the musical numbers moved seamlessly. The energy kicked into high gear with Jackson-like characters performing "Fanatics Medley" as Jackson 5 — one of them in MJ's signature fedora and another as a gold-suited mime. Jackson's youth was remembered in "Childhood" during which a recording of Jackson's voice referred to his early stardom as he sang, "Have you seen my childhood?/ It's been my fate to compensate/ For the childhood I've never known."

While the moving screens, elaborate stage designs and detailed costumes were impressive, one of the most awe-inspiring moments was witnessing what the human body is capable of during the pole-dancing number. Felix Cane, a two-time world pole-dancing champion, maneuvered in the sky dancing on a pole — with no harness — appropriately performing to "Dangerous," as the audience was captivated by her every move.

Another highlight was "Human Nature," during which the back screens were dominated by Neverland graphics and an image of a young Michael sitting on the moon. In front of the backdrop, a half-dozen artists wrapped in multicolored LED costumes soared through the air in sync, representing the constellations.

"Beat It" got the crowd moving while they watched performers in MJ's signature accessories, including his famous glove and penny loafers, dance in dynamic movement. A rock-infused duel between an electric guitar and electric cello capped the song.

After an elaborate performance to "Black or White," as the night seemed to be over and the audience slowly started spilling into the aisles, the lights illuminated one last time for an encore to "Man in the Mirror." The artists appeared to take a bow in front of exploding fireworks.

Have you seen "Immortal"? Share your review below!

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