Mention to a teenage girl that the movie Twilight is coming to theaters Friday, and prepare yourself to listen for shrieks. You would think that we're dealing with the second coming of Beatlemania -- or better yet, a private Jonas Brothers concert in a fan's living room.

But the adaptation of Stephenie Meyers' vampire love saga -- in which new-girl-in-town Bella falls madly in love with Edward, who just happens to be a vampire -- has captured enough teens' hearts to garner it a film adaptation.

Three members of Twilight'scast -- Sarah Clarke, who plays Bella's mother; Edi Gathegi, who plays the evil vampire Laurent; and Taylor Lautner, who plays Bella's friend Jacob Black -- talked with us while on tour promoting the movie.

So tell us about your characters in Twilight .

Gathegi: ``I play the antagonist, Laurent. I play a vampire, how many people can say that? I love playing one because they're such mythical creatures. And, it's fun to cause conflict between characters in the movie.''

Lautner: ``As soon as I was cast, I did my research and read the books. I hope New Moon becomes a reality because that's when my character gains the most story lines and becomes an important aspect in Bella and Edward's life.''

Clarke: ``My character is a young mom about to live the life she never lived when she was in her 20s. Bella is moving to Forks to live with her dad just so her mother can go on tour with her minor-league husband. The relationship of mother and daughter is very different, beautiful and complicated, and it shows in this story.''

Did you guys know the book had such a loyal fan base before getting involved with the film?

Gathegi: ``It's a little surreal to be a part of this. I have to pinch myself.''

Lautner: ``I honestly have to say we have the best fans. Our fans are so supportive and passionate about this, dying for the movie to come out.''

Clarke: ``I didn't even know it had a big fan base until we started shooting. None of us realized how big it would be until we were a part of it. Every reader has an imagination and they see characters in a different way. We worked really hard to make sure they wouldn't be disappointed.''

Are you all fans of the book series?

Gathegi: ``They're great. People are intrigued with being supernatural. Vampires were human beings first and then got the virus. It's rare when you watch a movie that brings you to tears. I felt sadness when I was done with the books because I had invested so much in their world.''

Lautner: ``Meyer has taken mythology and flipped it upside-down. There's no garlic, coffins and fangs. It's a modern twist. It's darker. The part that attracts people is the romance. The girls love that because it's not your average romance.''

Clarke: ``I loved Twilight! I am planning on reading the other ones because the story is so captivating.''

Gathegi and Lautner, you were in town last weekend to promote the movie at Hot Topic; Clarke, you've worked here before. What do you love about Miami?

Gathegi: ``I fell in love with Miami. It's a cool, unpretentious. L.A. I felt a great sense of community I was welcome. Miamians -- is that how you say it? -- are very welcoming.''

Lautner: ``I haven't been to Miami before and it's really nice. We just came from Minneapolis to Miami on our tour, and even though it's hot and humid, it's awesome to see the sunshine in the winter.''

Clarke: ``I shot a cameo there once and it was fantastic. We hung out at The Delano by the pool and in the lobby bar. . . We also went to The Shore Club and it's a great hotel. Miami has a great scene!''

• For a review of Twilight, as well as our Holiday Movie Preview, see Weekend.

-- AURORA RODRIGUEZ

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