Jessica Bendinger: Why I Love Kellan Lutz
So…why do I love Kellan Lutz? Many reasons. I met Kellan in 2005 when we were casting a movie I wrote and directed called STICK IT. He came in and read for the part of “Frank,” and I fell in love with him instantly. He was sweet, he was sincere, and he completely embodied what I was looking for in the part: someone really friendly and really real. I wanted an actor who was both stunning and authentic, and it was oozing out of him. When he came back to audition for something we call the “mix and match” – where you test out the actors with one another to make sure there is chemistry – he was a lock. He was perfect with Missy Peregrym, who had been cast as the lead, but he was also insanely funny with John Patrick Amedori (who played “Poot”). They were my dream team, and Kellan was as sweet as pie. He was talented and made my job so easy. He was a doll.
In 2006, one of the producers of TWILIGHT called me to ask me about Kellan. They were considering him for a part, and I did not hesitate to call back. It’s rare when you can wholeheartedly endorse an actor, but that was certainly the case. Kellan was a total pro and a pleasure to work with, and I would work with him again in a heartbeat. I was thrilled that he got the part, and subsequently delighted to see him getting so much fun attention in the press. It really couldn’t have happened to a better guy.
So, when my book was in galley form, I asked Kellan if he’d be willing to read it. It was a long-shot since he was busy shooting the next TWILIGHT movie in Canada. But I had to try. Not only did he respond immediately, but he read the book immediately, too. Kellan said:
“I love your book! It’s such a page turner! Half-way done! So great! I can’t wait to finish it!” And then when he was finished a few days later, I received an email with these words in the subject line: “I love your book!” It made my day.
I was on cloud nine. Kellan was the first actor I knew to read the book, and it felt great to connect to a reader outside the target demographic: a guy! My delight gained speed a few weeks later when I learned Kellan mentioned the book in a piece in VANITY FAIR.
Long story short? Kellan told Vanity Fair that THE SEVEN RAYS was, “amazing.” And that, my friends, is just one of the many reasons Why I Love Kellan Lutz.
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