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Local teen uses "Twilight" truck to raise money for charities
By Chris Roark, Staff Writer
Sterling Biegert has noticed a difference in the way people react around her when she rides around town in her new truck.
Let's just say the 17-year-old from Flower Mound now understands what celebrities experience when they are noticed on the street.
Ever since Sterling's parents bought her the actual 1963 Chevy used in the movie "Twilight," her commutes have been more interesting.
But, attention isn't what Sterling is seeking now that she owns the famous truck. It's donations.
Knowing how popular the movie is, as well as any major paraphernalia from it, Sterling plans to rent the truck out for parties and give the money generated from it to charity.
"A lot of people ask me why I'm going to use the money for charity and not for college," said Sterling, who will be a senior this fall at Willow Bend Academy in Lewisville. "Originally, that was the plan. But, anyone could have gotten this truck. It's just like winning the lottery. I should use this to help people who already don't have anything. For me, this is a plus. I don't need to have the money, so I shouldn't have an advantage that others don't."
Sterling said she plans to give the money to a variety of charities but wants to focus on those that help children, such as PediPlace, CASA and community theaters.
"I teach at Studio B Theater, and I babysit," Sterling said. "So, I'm really close to kids. Anything I can do to help children is close to my heart."
The plan is still relatively new as Sterling has only had the truck for two weeks. Her parents bought her the truck on July 4 after Sterling learned from a "Twilight" fan site that a family in Lubbock who collects vehicles used in movies was selling it. When the truck didn't meet its reserve on Ebay, Sterling's parents contacted the owners and made an offer.
Now, the same truck that Robert Pattinson, who played Edward Cullen in the movie, Kristen Stewart (Isabella Swan) and Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black) have sat in now sits in Sterling's driveway.
The truck was in the scene where Edward saves Bella from being crushed by one of the character's van. In addition, Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen) sat on top of the truck in the scene that shows several of the characters running away from James, the evil vampire.
Throughout the movie, the truck took on its own character, which Sterling said adds to the excitement of owning it. In the movie, Bella's father buys her the truck. At first she doesn't like it but ultimately gets attached to it.
The truck was painted to have the appearance of a lot of rust, though Sterling said it's all paint.
The sound of the engine is all real, though.
"It makes a loud noise when you turn it on," Sterling said. "But, that just adds to the character of it. It definitely gets everyone's attention."
Sterling said the truck can be used for birthday parties, movie release parties, slumber parties, anniversaries and even weddings. There are also "Twilight"-themed parties available. Cost for the service will be between $50 and $100 per hour if the truck comes to the event, or it would be more if the partier wants to make a grand entrance in the truck.
For now, Sterling's mother, Dara, will likely drive the truck to those parties until Sterling gets used to the truck, which is a true 1963 truck in that it doesn't have power steering or power brakes.
"It's a safety issue," Dara said. "There are things that we want her to learn first before driving it. But the goal is for her to be the one driving it to the parties."
So far, Sterling said, there have been three people who have reserved the truck for their parties.
"We're very proud of her," Dara said. "At first this was a bit overwhelming. But, she's a big thinker, and we've always encouraged her to pursue her ideas. Besides, not many people can say they own a vehicle that's been in the movies."
Sterling's connection to the cast of "Twilight" may not stop with the truck. She is attempting to become her school's valedictorian, and then it's off to Yale or The Julliard School, where she wants to pursue a degree in musical theater.
"Hopefully in the future, I can work with the same actors who were in 'Twilight,'" Sterling said.
For information on renting the truck for a party, go to www.eternaltomorrows.itgo.com.
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