TORONTO - For many of Robert Pattinson's most ardent Canadian fans, the summer of 2011 is better known as hunting season.
With the British heart-throb based in Toronto for his ongoing shoot on the David Cronenberg thriller "Cosmopolis," devotees have been in a frenzy trying to suss out what they can about his comings and goings.
The "Twilight" star, who typically draws hundreds of squealing fans to red carpet appearances and fan conventions, arrived in town several weeks ago to star in the big screen adaptation of the Don DeLillo novel.
"I just want to see him ... a glimpse of him would send me off to heaven," a fan who identifies herself as Myra Munir wrote in an online plea for information at the website On Location Vacations.
"So if you guys know anything please let me know ... it honestly would be a dream come true."
Those looking for tips on where to stalk stars usually go online, where it's become increasingly easy to find details on celebrity work schedules, party hangouts and even accommodations, says security expert Adrianne Fekete-Romanick.
"There's so many blogs and interactive websites and social networks that give you so much information, very little is kept private these days," says Fekete-Romanick, director and owner of Star Quality Enterprises, which handled security for Toronto film shoots including "Phone Booth" with Colin Farrel and "S.W.A.T." with Samuel L. Jackson.
"There's things that obviously get out and there's going to be leaks of launch events, wrap events, personal autograph signings, or if (the star) is going to see an agent, meet an old friend.
"Somehow, somebody tells one person and it's kind of like that telephone thing where you tell one friend, they tell 10 and 10 and 10 and 10 and soon enough it's all over the place and they don't get a whole lot of rest and relaxation from the adoring fans."
Most filming for "Cosmopolis" -- which co-stars Paul Giamatti, Jay Baruchel, Juliette Binoche, and Samantha Morton -- has taken place undercover at an east-end studio. But several public shoots offered fans the prospect of a brush with fame.
Celebrity blogger Will Wong says he was among hundreds of onlookers who caught wind of the film's first outdoor foray on May 29, when "Cosmopolis" took over a downtown cafe.
At another location, Wong says a handful of admirers waited until 3 a.m. for Pattinson, who rewarded their patience by taking individual photos with each one.
"Generally the rule of thumb with him is the bigger the crowd the less likely he is to do it," says Wong.
"When it's a small intimate group you're more likely to get close to him."
Last week, dozens reportedly waited until 5 a.m. at what was purported to be Pattinson's final downtown shoot. "Cosmopolis" is expected to wrap production July 19 in studio.
Blogger Christine Bord, who runs On Location Vacations, says most leaks come from people who spot a public notice in their neighbourhood alerting them to an upcoming film shoot that could disrupt traffic or local businesses.
"On occasion I do get information from a PA (production assistant) or somebody like that on the set," says Bord, based just outside Syracuse, N.Y. But for the most part, inside information does not come from a film crew, says Bord, noting she is not well-regarded by some in the movie business.
"A publicist threatened to ruin my career a couple of years ago if I didn't stop what I was doing," says Bord, who has also fielded queries about Bradley Cooper's recent Montreal shoot for "The Words" and the Vancouver-based TV series "Fringe" and "Supernatural."
"(But) I think at this point if you're savvy enough to get online and figure out how to do a search to try to find something filming, then you're savvy enough to go on Twitter or Facebook and all the information is there for the most part.
"I'm not the only person causing the problem."
Fekete-Romanick says production companies are cracking down on leaks in this Internet age. Her company generally encourages filmmakers to keep lists of who has what information and to avoid emailing sensitive material when they can fax or courier it instead.
"Every production company is much more aware and much more conscious and they're definitely putting forth an effort to protect their intelligence. However, I don't think it's always possible," she says.
"We have been hired to find out where the source of a leak is. However, the only way that you can do certain Internet investigation is through IP addresses and whatnot and people get very crafty. They'll go to their local library or they will go to a public computer to do this kind of thing. And I mean, at the end of the day, by the time it's out, it's too late to be proactive, you have to be reactive."
By and large, the fervour around Pattinson in Toronto does not seem to be as intense as movie shoots he's helmed in Vancouver, Louisiana or New York, says Bord, who estimates she's received between 200 and 300 comments about his Toronto appearance, versus roughly 3,000 comments for his final "Twilight" shoots in Louisiana.
Wong notes that "Twilight" fans turn out for more than just Pattinson, pointing to co-stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner as big draws, as well.
The supernatural franchise, which centres on the tortured love between a high school girl and a century-old vampire, has a strong tween following, notes Bord. Young, female fans seem to be the most ardent about following a star to set, she says, noting that "Twilight" and "Gossip Girl" are two of her most popular topics.
Pattinson's latest venture is skewed somewhat older and broader, with "Cosmopolis" following a wild, 24-hour odyssey of a New York millionaire.
Still, near daily reports from fan sites and bloggers have offered plenty of gossip about Pattinson's activities and supposed partying at downtown hipster clubs. But a surprising amount of information has been successfully kept under wraps, says Wong.
"There is still speculation as to where he's actually staying," Wong points out.
"Nobody's actually seen him come out of a hotel. I think there was one set of photos of him on a balcony but no one is even certain if he was just visiting somebody there or if he was actually staying there."
Fekete-Romanick says celebs of Pattinson's calibre are never left alone by their private security guards, and it's increasingly common to use dummy cars to elude fans and photographers.
The tight wall around Pattinson stands in stark contrast to the relative accessibility of Farrell, who is in town filming "Total Recall," says Wong.
"People see him all the time. He's walking up and down the street going to the gym, going to Whole Foods," he notes.
Pattinson, meanwhile, appears to have perfected the art of laying low.
"He has done a good job," Wong says.
