'Twilight' Look-a-Likes Sink Teeth Into W. Caldwell

Vampires were sighted in West Caldwell Saturday night.

They weren't of the pale-faced, cape-wearing Dracula variety, and they weren't from Transylvania, but rather Las Vegas, by way of Parsippany.

A troupe of five aspiring actors and actresses, representing characters from the popular "Twilight" movie series, visited Vitella's Cucina.

They were in full character, stage makeup and most were wearing special gold contact lenses for an extra spooky Goth effect. Camera flashes were constantly alight as diners of all ages posed with the group.

The Nevada-based dopplegangers—varying in ages from 20 to 24—have been busy hosting Creation Entertainment's Twilight Convention at the Hilton Parsippany hotel.

The three-day event began on Friday, and after a long second day, they wanted not to drink blood, but to suck down some of the restaurant's cuisine—and take their gold contact lenses out. 

"Ahhh ... " Hannah Hindi sighed with relief, after posing for pictures. She was in full "Alice" mode, and she was ready for a break—the contacts apparently get a little uncomfortable after the 10th hour. 

The group had actually dined at Vitella's the night before, and liked it so much they wanted to come back—in full costume this time. The group found the restaurant not by the light of the moon, but by way of a "Twilight" aficionado, Caldwell's Laura Cristiano.

In 2006, she launched a website about the movie and book series. When Creation started doing its events, she wanted to get involved. It turned out, the company was avidly using her "Twilight Lexicon" and immediately brought her aboard.

She happily acknowledges being a super-fan, but admits her 17-year-old son, who attends James Caldwell High School, wasn't too fond of his mother's interest in the fantasy series at first, "but now likes it," she said.

Cristiano speaks highly of the "Twilight" convention scene, citing its youthful following and "a lot of females" compared to Creation's other big convention theme, "Star Trek."

About the look-a-likes she said, "we became friends on the convention circuit," and after having done several events together. Eating on the road can get bland fast, so when the group rolled into Parsippany, Cristiano knew just where to go.

"I want to give them authentic Italian food," she said.

The "Twilight" gang enjoyed their dinner together and the immense attention from some diners.

"This is our 16th convention," Hilly Hindi said as she ate a slice of pizza, taking a break from playing "Bella Swan."

Hilly and her older sister Hannah started "The Hillywood Show," a website featuring their own video spoofs of popular and not-so-popular movies.

All are filmed by the sisters, using some additional actors, but just one camera. They have targeted a fairly diverse list of films, creating parodies of "The Dark Knight" and even "The Runaways." The "Twilight" theme has caused the biggest stir. 

"The 'Twilight' one got a lot of hits," Hilly Hindi said modestly. In fact, it has received more than four million views on YouTube.

With the Creation conventions and filmmaking keeping them busy, the sisters and crew that also includes Jacob Jost as "Edward," Kyle Dayton as "Jacob" and Drew Lorentz as "Jasper" look forward to stops at places like Vitella's, where they can take out their contacts, step out of character and sink their fangs into a good meal.

Still, even after doing an extensive meet and greet before sitting down, they have to sign some autographs.

"Can you sign this?" asked a smiling Isabella Vitella, daughter of owners Franco and Ally.

Taking her movie magazine, they happily obliged. 

Until this "Twilight" fades, they better get used to it.