Robert Pattinson appearance causes increase in Orland Square Mall security

Robert Pattinson appearance causes increase in Orland Square Mall security
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November 11, 2008
BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist

Given the riots in San Francisco surrounding a mall appearance by ‘‘Twilight’’ star Robert Pattinson, the Orland Park Police Department has geared up for the actor’s scheduled appearance early Wednesday evening at Orland Square Mall.

In addition, the mall’s own security force is said to be ‘‘totally ready’’ for the expected hordes of tween and teen girls, who make up the bulk of fans for the Twilight saga of books, penned by Stephanie Meyer.
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Tears stream down the face of Hayley Minniti, 14, of Maple Valley, Wash., as she walks out of the Hot Topic store with her mother, Kelly, at an autograph signing Monday near Seattle.
(Dean Rutz/AP)


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Robert Pattinson stars in the upcoming movie adaptation of "Twilight."

(AP file)


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Actress Rachelle Lefevre (from left) joins fellow "Twilight" cast members Taylor Lautner and Edi Gathegi at the Hot Topic store to sign autographs Monday near Seattle.
(Dean Rutz/AP)



On Monday, a similar event in San Francisco got crazy when an expected 300-500 attendees swelled to more than 3,000. Things got out of control — during one of many disputes about places in line, one girl was seriously injured and others were trampled, but did not require hospitalization — and Pattinson’s appearance was canceled.

However, a similar appearance in Seattle came off without incident — ‘‘and that’s what we expect here,’’ said a Chicago representative for Summit Entertainment, the studio distributing ‘‘Twilight.’’

Pattinson himself seems reluctant to take up the mantle of celebrity his role as the handsome vampire Edward Cullen is sure to bring, once the film opens Nov. 21. In an interview with the Sun-Times on Sunday in Los Angeles, Pattinson said, ‘‘That whole thing about being a star or being a celebrity makes me uncomfortable. I love acting, but the rest of it can be bit unnerving.

Since he co-starred in a couple of ‘‘Harry Potter’’ films, Pattinson said he looked to Daniel Radcliffe as the role model for dealing with success.

‘‘Daniel’s handled it all so beautifully. And he’s had to deal with far more stuff than I likely ever will.’’

However, that could change if, as predicted, the ‘‘Twilight’’ film spawns another franchise, which Hollywood hopes will be a ‘‘Harry Potter’’ for girls.

Pattinson is scheduled to sign autographs at the Hot Topics store in the Orland Square Mall, beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday. That will be followed by a Q&A session in the mall’s main atrium, beginning at 7:30 and expected to last about a half-hour.