By Jacquelyn Perreira

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In 2008, the world was hit with the phenomenon that was the first movie in a saga entitled Twilight. One individual who was particularly bitten by the Twi-bug was mother Lori Wright, who is a Co-chair of MHS’ Students and Parents Against Drugs and Alcohol Inc. (SPADA) and, with the help of volunteers, decided to turn her obsession with the franchise into a fundraiser for MHS’ Project Graduation. Now in 2011 a third fundraiser was organized for the fourth installment of the movies, which premiered on Nov. 18.

“My kids are not in school anymore, they’re both in college, but I’m still on the board of directors for SPADA. It’s the mother company basically for Project Grad … and so I was approached by the other board members if I could do it again, and I said of course. Anything for Twilight,” said Wright. “Since the first Twilight movie and every one since then, SPADA and Lori Wright has been there … (the fundraiser) has helped offset the cost of Project Grad which is very expensive,” explained English teacher Lisa-Anne Tsuruda.

Tickets to the movie were sold for $20 and the price included popcorn and a drink. Since there has always been so much hype surrounding the Twilight films, Mililani Consolidated Theaters held their own premiere on midnight of Nov. 18, meaning SPADA was only able to reserve theaters for the night of the premiere day, so fundraiser attendees saw the movie midnight of Nov. 19.

Unlike past years, SPADA was met with the challenge of determining how many theaters to reserve because not as many people were buying tickets. During the first week of sales, only about ten people purchased tickets. “That’s a challenge just for (kids) to understand that I’m pressured from the theater to find out the amount we’re going to have … and it’s hard,” explained Wright.

However, sales gradually went up and the showing was still held. Before the movie, attendees were given the chance to play a few Twilight-related games. “The games that was played was trivial games and at first you could have won a Edward ‘chest.’  After that they would give out bookmarks and stickers.  Then they started handing out hardcover Twilight books,” said Junior Rachel Storch, who attended the showing.

As there is one more installment in the series, SPADA plans to continue the fundraiser next year.