Octavian Cantilli | The Grand Rapids PressAlex Meraz, who plays Paul in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” signs an autograph for Dana Keyes, 15, before the Grand Rapids Griffins game at Van Andel Arena on Saturday. Alex Meraz’s top priority for visiting his “New Moon’ co-star Taylor Lautner’s hometown?
“I definitely drank some of the water,” the actor said before he signed autographs and snapped photos with approximately 1,000 “Twilight” fans before Saturday’s Griffins game. “I want to pop a couple more abs (like Lautner).”
A virtual unknown before inhabiting the role of werewolf Paul, Meraz was friendly and smiling as he greeted smitten fans. Among those thrilled: a pack of teen girls from Forest Hills Central High School, who had won tickets to the game and the chance to meet Meraz at a VIP autograph session before the general signing event organized by the clothing store Platos Closet.
Starry-eyed after meeting Meraz, they were iffy on whether their allegiance had shifted from “Team Jacob” (fans of Lautner’s character, Jacob Black, and by association his werewolf pack), and “Team Edward” (fans of Robert Pattinson’s character, Edward Cullen).
“If it were Team (Alex Meraz), then yes, I would have switched,” said Madeline Martin, 17. Her pals Skylar Grant and Hilary Spruit, both 17, concurred. “I’m on ‘Team No Shirt,’” joked Grant.
Teenage girls were not the only demographic represented in the line to meet Meraz. Sara Heacox, 32, of Grand Haven was sporting a “Twilight Moms” tee shirt over her pregnant belly. Heacox is the book-of-the-month moderator for Twilightmoms.com, and recently met author Stephenie Meyer when she appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
“Those of us in ‘Twilight Moms’ tend to follow the actors in the movies, and (Meraz) is one of my favorites,” she said. “He paints and reads. He recently Tweeted that he was reading “Water for Elephants” (by Sara Gruen). I was impressed.”
Meraz, wearing a thin sweater and “weak little jacket,” admitted he was “underdressed” for Michigan’s bluster. His werewolf character, Paul, would never be caught under-prepared for the elements; after all, he can shapeshift into a snarling, furry monster at will.
“(Paul) is unapologetic about what and who he is and his role as a protector,” Meraz said.
The 24-year-old father of one promises that “Eclipse,” the third movie in the “Twilight Saga” franchise, will find Paul “hairier and scarier. The werewolves team up with the Cullens, and it’s a whole bigger thing.”
With his career launched into orbit by the extraordinary success of “New Moon,” the Arizona native is in talks with film producers to appear in more movies. Unless lightening strikes twice, though, Meraz may never be a part of a worldwide pop culture phenomenon like the one he’s in the middle of right now.
“(The Twilight Saga) is a love story, yes,” he said, attempting to explain the appeal of the books and movies that have captivated so many. “But more so, in this day and age, of war and financial crises, people want to go to a place of fantasy.”
January 13th, 2010 
Angela 
