Aftermath/Report, y'all
Okay, let's get this over with before the real fun begins:
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
There, I feel better :D
I'll leave this all behind a cut, because I plan to write a lot :) Pictures are also included.
I left work wicked early -- at 3 instead of at 5. I drove up to the T station at Braintree and took the T into town On the way, I wrote out a birthday card JUST IN CASE. I didn't really think I would be able to give it to him, but I wanted to be safe :) When I arrived at my stop (Coolidge Corner on the Green Line), I found the bookstore that had organized the whole thing. All the events, though happened at the little indie theater across the street from the bookstore. Also across the street from the bookstore? A crepe shop. Did I get a turkey and apricot jam crepe with a mango passion-fruit smoothie? You bet your sweet bippy! :D Yum!
So I go to the theater at about 5:15 and see what the deal is (everything starts at 6). I had ordered my movie ticket last week, so I picked that up. That was $12. I also called last week to reserve a ticket for the actual Q&A/autograph signing, which was $2. (2 separate tickets, y'see? You could get your book signed but not see the movie). I walked into the theater where everything would happen and I got my line ticket for the signing:
The advantages of getting there early, ya know :D
The theater itself is gorgeous -- a rich red curtain covering the screen, relief-sculptures of Greek mythology figures covering the walls, bright paint. Very nice :)
I manage to get a seat about 6 rows back from the front. Here's my view:
There is a podium w/a mike right at the front row, so I can tell where BC will be standing, so I know I can get good camera shots :) I hang out reading my Sarah Vowell book for about 45 minutes until The Man arrives :)
Then Bruce does arrive :) Much cheering had by all :) He announces that he will NOT be reading from his book, in favor of having a Q&A with everyone. In this we learn that his favorite actor is William Holden, his favorite movie is "Bridge on the River Kwai", and that he has absolutely NO intention of seeing "Batman Begins." We learn that, since in Spiderman I, he names Spiderman, in Spiderman II, he defeats Spiderman... in Spiderman III, he will BE Spiderman! :D We learn that he is extraordinarily funny, clever, and quick-on-his-feet. We learn of his conviction that Hollywood is full of crap, and it keeps re-making and regurgitating the same crap year after year after year. He says that the only way we can make any sort of difference is by supporting independant theaters like the one we were in, thus giving a showcase for independant film which would not be seen in a multiplex, and hopefully infusing the movie industry with fresh, creative blood! We learn he prefers B-movies to A-movies because, and I quote, "B-movies can do what A-movies do, but A-movies can NEVER do what B-movies can.... a B-movie production can slow down and cost more money if it wants, but A-movie productions CANNOT speed up and cost less money." But he forgives Sam Raimi for the Spiderman movies because he's his high school friend :D I want to marry this man so badly, you have no idea.
It takes me a few shots with my camera to figure out that the flash is NOT a good thing. I had to tweak these shots big-time to make them see-able. You can tell.
Once I figure that out, I get to picture-taking for real. Of course, my hands are shaking, so my first shots are kind of blurry:
I took most of the pictures while zoomed, but I did take some wide shots:
A fella who sat in front of me (and had an S-Mart Ash action figure for BC to sign, omgsojealousitmustbemine, had a hat, see:
Gesturing:
Heh, TOUCHDOWN! :D
Bruce answered questions for about 45 minutes and then started the signing. He would sign in a room upstairs, and numbers would be called in groups of 10 to go line up. It was cool, because he was just there in a room by himself (and a bookstore employee to take your picture for you :))
While he was signing away, the theater kept everyone entertained with a little documentary Bruce did called "FANalysis" about conventions and all the die-hard fans from many fandoms -- Xena, Star Wars, etc. I didn't really see it because I was waiting in line, but it looked cool :) Then the theater gave us a choice: should we watch "Evil Dead" with Bruce's commentary, or "Bubba Ho-Tep" with Elvis's commentary? The audience opted for "Bubba Ho-Tep" (Which EVERYONE needs to see -- omgsogood), and the commentary is HILARIOUS :) Elvis munches popcorn and answers his cell phone a few times while doing the commentary. Very funny :)
Well, since I was #64, I didn't have to wait very long to get my things signed. While in line, I grabbed the birthday card from my bag and stuck it in my pocket just in case. A lady had written my name on a post-it so he knew who to sign my book to. When it was my turn, he waved me over with a smile. When he saw my post-it, he was like, "I've never heard THAT name before!" :D There was a chair next to him which he had me sit in. As he was signing, he asked me what I did -- I said I'm a receptionist, nothing nearly as interesting as what you do!" and he was like, "Believe me, there are some days I *wish* I were a receptionist!" Then he and I posed for my picture and he shook my hand. I thanked him for making my name cool and I GAVE him the CARD. *facepalm* I wished him a happy birthday and that was it!
OMGsquee!
The camera must have caught him w/o the smile, but he was really quite friendly and happy throughout the whole thing :) Very dry humor :) I love him! Aiee!
The booty :)
So, I stagger back downstairs and realize I'm rip-roaring hungry. So I dash back to the crepe place and get a dulce de leche crepe (OMGSOYUMMY) and an iced chai (which was disappointing -- tastes exactly like Borders chai, meaning NOT yummy at all). I munch on them while watching the rest of "Bubba Ho-Tep". The movie ends and the theater starts letting in those who paid for the movie but NOT the signing. They say not to worry -- all you who didn't get your stuff signed -- Bruce will stay after the movie and keep signing until everyone who wants something signed has got it :) I love him! So Bruce shows up again and does a little mini-Q&A about his movie. The movie itself is called "The Man with the Screaming Brain" and it was written, directed, and produced by, as well as starring Bruce. One guy in the audience asks him if he'll do the thing where he grabs the back of his shirt and flips himself over (like in "Evil Dead 2"). The audience cheeeeeers, and he says, "Well, I would, but I'm NOT YOUR TRAINED MONKEY!!" Bwahaha!
Then he takes his leave and the movie starts.
It was supposed to start at 9:30, but it doesn't start until 10 (and here I am trying to calculate how long I can stay before I can leave and not miss the last train! I resolve to stay no later than 11:30, 'cause the last train leaves at around 12 or 12:15 AM). The movie itself?! BLOODY HILARIOUS. Oh. Em. Gee. It gives B-movies a great, great name :) I swear, Bruce is a bloody MASTER of physical comedy :) It's no "Citizen Kane," but you can tell right off the bat that he wasn't TRYING to make "Citizen Kane." He was just trying to have a great time! And you can tell that he was, even though the moustache he sported would make a member of the Village People proud :) The audience was way into it -- clapping at Ted Raimi's first appearance, laughing and groaning and clapping at all the right places. Good times! The movie ends *right* at 11:30, and I was able to catch the train. I got home exactly at 1 AM. I woke up at about 7 this morning to take a shower.
But I'm not really that tired. Maybe it's the leftover adrenaline? God, I love that man.
*lights up a cigarette*
Was it good for you, too?
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
There, I feel better :D
I'll leave this all behind a cut, because I plan to write a lot :) Pictures are also included.
I left work wicked early -- at 3 instead of at 5. I drove up to the T station at Braintree and took the T into town On the way, I wrote out a birthday card JUST IN CASE. I didn't really think I would be able to give it to him, but I wanted to be safe :) When I arrived at my stop (Coolidge Corner on the Green Line), I found the bookstore that had organized the whole thing. All the events, though happened at the little indie theater across the street from the bookstore. Also across the street from the bookstore? A crepe shop. Did I get a turkey and apricot jam crepe with a mango passion-fruit smoothie? You bet your sweet bippy! :D Yum!
So I go to the theater at about 5:15 and see what the deal is (everything starts at 6). I had ordered my movie ticket last week, so I picked that up. That was $12. I also called last week to reserve a ticket for the actual Q&A/autograph signing, which was $2. (2 separate tickets, y'see? You could get your book signed but not see the movie). I walked into the theater where everything would happen and I got my line ticket for the signing:
The advantages of getting there early, ya know :D
The theater itself is gorgeous -- a rich red curtain covering the screen, relief-sculptures of Greek mythology figures covering the walls, bright paint. Very nice :)
I manage to get a seat about 6 rows back from the front. Here's my view:
There is a podium w/a mike right at the front row, so I can tell where BC will be standing, so I know I can get good camera shots :) I hang out reading my Sarah Vowell book for about 45 minutes until The Man arrives :)
Then Bruce does arrive :) Much cheering had by all :) He announces that he will NOT be reading from his book, in favor of having a Q&A with everyone. In this we learn that his favorite actor is William Holden, his favorite movie is "Bridge on the River Kwai", and that he has absolutely NO intention of seeing "Batman Begins." We learn that, since in Spiderman I, he names Spiderman, in Spiderman II, he defeats Spiderman... in Spiderman III, he will BE Spiderman! :D We learn that he is extraordinarily funny, clever, and quick-on-his-feet. We learn of his conviction that Hollywood is full of crap, and it keeps re-making and regurgitating the same crap year after year after year. He says that the only way we can make any sort of difference is by supporting independant theaters like the one we were in, thus giving a showcase for independant film which would not be seen in a multiplex, and hopefully infusing the movie industry with fresh, creative blood! We learn he prefers B-movies to A-movies because, and I quote, "B-movies can do what A-movies do, but A-movies can NEVER do what B-movies can.... a B-movie production can slow down and cost more money if it wants, but A-movie productions CANNOT speed up and cost less money." But he forgives Sam Raimi for the Spiderman movies because he's his high school friend :D I want to marry this man so badly, you have no idea.
It takes me a few shots with my camera to figure out that the flash is NOT a good thing. I had to tweak these shots big-time to make them see-able. You can tell.
Once I figure that out, I get to picture-taking for real. Of course, my hands are shaking, so my first shots are kind of blurry:
I took most of the pictures while zoomed, but I did take some wide shots:
A fella who sat in front of me (and had an S-Mart Ash action figure for BC to sign, omgsojealousitmustbemine, had a hat, see:
Gesturing:
Heh, TOUCHDOWN! :D
Bruce answered questions for about 45 minutes and then started the signing. He would sign in a room upstairs, and numbers would be called in groups of 10 to go line up. It was cool, because he was just there in a room by himself (and a bookstore employee to take your picture for you :))
While he was signing away, the theater kept everyone entertained with a little documentary Bruce did called "FANalysis" about conventions and all the die-hard fans from many fandoms -- Xena, Star Wars, etc. I didn't really see it because I was waiting in line, but it looked cool :) Then the theater gave us a choice: should we watch "Evil Dead" with Bruce's commentary, or "Bubba Ho-Tep" with Elvis's commentary? The audience opted for "Bubba Ho-Tep" (Which EVERYONE needs to see -- omgsogood), and the commentary is HILARIOUS :) Elvis munches popcorn and answers his cell phone a few times while doing the commentary. Very funny :)
Well, since I was #64, I didn't have to wait very long to get my things signed. While in line, I grabbed the birthday card from my bag and stuck it in my pocket just in case. A lady had written my name on a post-it so he knew who to sign my book to. When it was my turn, he waved me over with a smile. When he saw my post-it, he was like, "I've never heard THAT name before!" :D There was a chair next to him which he had me sit in. As he was signing, he asked me what I did -- I said I'm a receptionist, nothing nearly as interesting as what you do!" and he was like, "Believe me, there are some days I *wish* I were a receptionist!" Then he and I posed for my picture and he shook my hand. I thanked him for making my name cool and I GAVE him the CARD. *facepalm* I wished him a happy birthday and that was it!
OMGsquee!
The camera must have caught him w/o the smile, but he was really quite friendly and happy throughout the whole thing :) Very dry humor :) I love him! Aiee!
The booty :)
So, I stagger back downstairs and realize I'm rip-roaring hungry. So I dash back to the crepe place and get a dulce de leche crepe (OMGSOYUMMY) and an iced chai (which was disappointing -- tastes exactly like Borders chai, meaning NOT yummy at all). I munch on them while watching the rest of "Bubba Ho-Tep". The movie ends and the theater starts letting in those who paid for the movie but NOT the signing. They say not to worry -- all you who didn't get your stuff signed -- Bruce will stay after the movie and keep signing until everyone who wants something signed has got it :) I love him! So Bruce shows up again and does a little mini-Q&A about his movie. The movie itself is called "The Man with the Screaming Brain" and it was written, directed, and produced by, as well as starring Bruce. One guy in the audience asks him if he'll do the thing where he grabs the back of his shirt and flips himself over (like in "Evil Dead 2"). The audience cheeeeeers, and he says, "Well, I would, but I'm NOT YOUR TRAINED MONKEY!!" Bwahaha!
Then he takes his leave and the movie starts.
It was supposed to start at 9:30, but it doesn't start until 10 (and here I am trying to calculate how long I can stay before I can leave and not miss the last train! I resolve to stay no later than 11:30, 'cause the last train leaves at around 12 or 12:15 AM). The movie itself?! BLOODY HILARIOUS. Oh. Em. Gee. It gives B-movies a great, great name :) I swear, Bruce is a bloody MASTER of physical comedy :) It's no "Citizen Kane," but you can tell right off the bat that he wasn't TRYING to make "Citizen Kane." He was just trying to have a great time! And you can tell that he was, even though the moustache he sported would make a member of the Village People proud :) The audience was way into it -- clapping at Ted Raimi's first appearance, laughing and groaning and clapping at all the right places. Good times! The movie ends *right* at 11:30, and I was able to catch the train. I got home exactly at 1 AM. I woke up at about 7 this morning to take a shower.
But I'm not really that tired. Maybe it's the leftover adrenaline? God, I love that man.
*lights up a cigarette*
Was it good for you, too?