Next month, vampire fans will see the genre in a whole different light with director Mark Waters' Vampire Academy. The story is set in a world where there are three distinct breeds of vampires, the peaceful and mortal Moroi, the half-human/half-vampire Dhampir, who serve as guardians for the human race from the evil, immortal bloodsuckers, the Strigoi. Before this adaptation hits theaters on February 7, The Weinstein Company has released a new featurette with author Richelle Mead, who wrote the novels this movie is based on. Watch as the author explains what it's like to watch her characters come to life before her very eyes, along with new footage.

Based on author Richelle Mead's worldwide bestselling series, Vampire Academy tells the legend of Rose Hathaway (Zoey Deutch) and Lissa Dragomir (Lucy Fry), two 17-year-old girls who attend a hidden boarding school for Moroi (mortal, peaceful Vampires) and Dhampirs (half-vampire/half-human guardians). Rose, a rebellious Guardian-in-training and her best friend, Lissa - a royal vampire Princess - have been on the run when they are captured and returned to St.Vladamirs Academy, the very place where they believe their lives may be in most jeopardy. Thrust back into the perils of Moroi Society and high school, Lissa struggles to reclaim her status while Rose trains with her mentor and love-interest, Dimitri (Danila Kozlovskiy), to guarantee her place as Lissa's guardian. Rose will sacrifice everything to protect Lissa from those who intend to exploit her from within the Academy walls and the Strigoi (immortal, evil vampires) who hunt her kind from outside its sanctuary.