Local Twilight Fans Pledge Team Allegiances at Post-Midnight Screenings

Sisterly love brought Julianna Maldonado and Iris Lugo to Brandon’s movie theater for the post-midnight release of “Breaking Dawn.”

But sisterly love had its limits.

“She’s Team Edward and I won’t sit next to her," said Lugo, whose proclaimed allegiance is to "Team Jacob."

And so it was for Twilight fans as they lined up for entrance to the 12:01 a.m. screenings of the fourth movie installment based on the vampire-themed fantasy romance series written by American author Stephanie Meyer.

For the uninitiated, “Team Jacob” refers to werewolf Jacob Black, played by actor Taylor Lautner.

“Team Edward” refers to vampire Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson.

Loved by both characters is Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart.

“I just love Taylor Lautner,” Lugo, 13, said. “I have such a passion for Team Jacob. He’s nice and he really loves Bella.”

As for Maldonado, 22, her real passion for attending the premier was playing the role of big sister.

"She gets to see the movie tonight," Maldonado said, "but she's going to school tomorrow."

With the sisters was Maldonado's friend, Camille Berrios, 21, who had her own views of the Twilight franchise.

"I read all the books and saw all the movies," she said. "Vampires versus werewolfs, it's so intense."

She favors, however, the books.

"They have more description," she said.

Maldonado, too, is drawn by the story line.

“It’s love, drama and action,” she said. “It has a mixture of everything in it and you can get together with all your friends and family and related to it. Everybody sees it from different points of view, which is good because you can talk about it later.”

Shaniece Dunning attended the Brandon screening because her “aunt’s a big fan, so we came here to keep her company.”

With Dunning was Nyaisha Pope, who said the midnight brouhaha was worth the effort.

“I saw two of the movies and I’m hooked,” she said.

So, too, is Sarah Jordan, 21, who said she “pretty much knows the ins and outs of everything” Twilight, although “I’m much more of a bookworm.”

Indeed, she added, she finished reading again earlier that day the book on which the “Breaking Dawn” film was based, “to prepare for the movie.”

 The draw for her is “a good romance,” she said. “It’s a great romantic story.”

As for allegiances, Jordan hesitated not a bit in answering, “Team Jacob, definitely.”

As Jordan put it: “He’s a hopeless romantic. I feel for him.”