KJ
August 18th, 2005, 08:15 PM
Taken from Cylon.org
T'was a dark and stormy night! Nah this great day out doesn't begin like that. More like an exciting journey outdoors and to another city over 100 miles away for me to make my way to. As my day began early at 6.AM to 9AM till i got to Euston train station and departed to Rugby where a coach service awaited? Due to rail works on the line, there wasn't a direct route to Birmingham International airport where the N.E.C. happens to be next door to. (i.e. my destination) Thus i had to take the alternate route of getting there via this coach service stopping at 'Coventry' enroute to Birmingham International. The trouble i went through to see the Galactica stars eh? Which began around 1.20PM as the coach finally arrived at Birmingham's airport around the early afternoon on Sunday.
The arriving at the event!
After getting into the Memorabilia con after a massive walk from the entrance i first scoped the place out although i just arrived i wanted to see what else was going on around me. As once again finding yourself after such a long journey and focusing your mind to several tasks at hand, like organising myself and trying to work out what i'd do and say once i found where the BG stars were in the hall was my first priority. after meeting up and saying hello with a few sparce dealers i know locally from regular cons in London. i saw the Galactica booth where the stars had their signing tables. Although some had gone to lunch or were returning to their seats i was shocked to see them together, some for the first time all like that as a group at one convention at the same time. Seems each and everyone of them was there almost. Not wanting to just run in ill prepared, i composed myself wanting any first impressions to be positive and to last. I managed to get close enough to do the 'prize draw' for a signed Galactica figure should i win and filled out the form and handed it to the young girl holding the 'prize draw'. After that and being close enough i decided not to waste a minute more and began to march over to Richard Hatch area of the tables in a "V" shape, to once again say hello and get the afternoon off to a good start.
Meeting the stars.
First off, i kneel down and got my camcorder out to show Hatch and the star my camcorder footage of Glen Larson from two months ago. After trying it out the damn footage wasn't playing by the time i got to Hatch's table and introduced myself to him again? As i reminded him that i'd seen him back in October of 2004. Hearing i had the Larson footage of im saying he'd revive Galactica as a movie. Noah Hathaway and Jack Stauffer made their way over to me with Richard looking over my shoulder (what a way to kick the day off eh?) but the camcorder wasn't upto the task yet? Funny thing is they believed me and ask that i try to get the camcorder working yet, told me point blank. Glen Larson's like that, and they've heard it all before. As more private conversations broke out and i made my way to Richard's table again i got out my Ads of the CFF effort (as i promised Commander Taggart i would!) and handed them to Richard. He told me he already had these but was very flattered i was a big fan and yes he remembered me, mainly cos i jogged his memory by handing him a photo of me and him from October. I also still had the first 'Gastrof BG continuation' ad poster from 2003. which he jokingly liked cos of the reference to Richard Hatch THE ONE NOT FROM SURVIVOR! on old Gas' poster. Although he didn't want the CFF poster cos he already had it. I did however hand it into Terry Carter who loved it and decided to have it. i got talking with Terry Carter and told him how i was looking forward to meeting him. i had tried back in June of 2004 at the London Expo but missed him. Terry was the first one i asked for a autograph from and he smiled and took his time and personalized it for me (which i think they all did most autos just have the stars name on them, he made this one out to me personally?) I asked his assistant where Noah was as he wasn't back yet as i wanted his autograph next. I was just about to move on wanting to come back later when he came out of the blue, I regret not talking to Noah alot as i think out of all of them i talked to him the least. And i wanted to talk to all of them with equal amount of time spent. But i'll say this, each and every one of them was a joy to meet in person. Not one of them was the diva like a arrogant star from yesterday's era gone-by. Genuine smiles from each one of them they made witty and smart comments and they all had a quirk that added to the enjoyment of meeting them (you'll see as i go on). Moving on, went away to come back and whn i did have a bite to eat in the small lunch hall, i got the camcorder to work. The tape head was dirty and needed cleaning. I went back after a little while of taking time to see more of the convention (but i still mised out on alot there anyways?) and reintroduced myself to Herbert Jefferson jr, as i hadn't seen him at the Memorabilia Birmingham convention in over 2 years. Had my trusty photo album book with all the celebs i've met and showed him the pic with him and i. He too remembered.
I complimented him on how he looks much better than all those so-called young stars of today, as he looks all "buffed out" and "toned up" like he hits the gym 24/7 ready to "whup" someone. He loved that compliment i can tell you. Sharing many little barbs within a few minutes (i already have his, Dirk's and Hatch's autos from before so i saved a bit of cash) i managed to get into a conversation with both Jack Stauffer and Stu Phillips (one of my favorite moments during the day) Can't remember how it started but it was the prime example of how conversation done right can be like "brain candy". Between Dirk and Jack you'll have a hard time wondering who makes you laugh more and who's the straight man.
In any case, the discussion that came up between me Stu, Jack and another fan was something that should have been caught on film. But you can't walk around like a nerd between people/stars with a camcorder all the time. Everything from The reshoots during the series to Stu being called into the studio to do another late night session rescoring something cos the whole production was a wildfire one to put together, was unbelievable to hear. Alternate versions of how some scenes were shot and disgarded to how much footage didn't make the episodes (NOR THE DVD's) and and reshoots that occured. Makes you understand even more how the series was that expensive to begin with. Although Stu didn't know off hand that the 'Colonial Anthem' was on the DVD's he said that too was filmed differently. Jack brought up the fact Universal were hard pushed to do anything with the series for 2 decades as 'Universal Home Video' practically live in a cave and didn't communicate with anyone on how to release the series on DVD (or tape back in the day for that matter?) Their relationship was different than the studios but it was the same all round no one know what to do in regards to the series for years. Kind of makes you think don't take those DVD's for granted. We "ARE" damn fortunate we got'em in the end as it is.
End of part one!
T'was a dark and stormy night! Nah this great day out doesn't begin like that. More like an exciting journey outdoors and to another city over 100 miles away for me to make my way to. As my day began early at 6.AM to 9AM till i got to Euston train station and departed to Rugby where a coach service awaited? Due to rail works on the line, there wasn't a direct route to Birmingham International airport where the N.E.C. happens to be next door to. (i.e. my destination) Thus i had to take the alternate route of getting there via this coach service stopping at 'Coventry' enroute to Birmingham International. The trouble i went through to see the Galactica stars eh? Which began around 1.20PM as the coach finally arrived at Birmingham's airport around the early afternoon on Sunday.
The arriving at the event!
After getting into the Memorabilia con after a massive walk from the entrance i first scoped the place out although i just arrived i wanted to see what else was going on around me. As once again finding yourself after such a long journey and focusing your mind to several tasks at hand, like organising myself and trying to work out what i'd do and say once i found where the BG stars were in the hall was my first priority. after meeting up and saying hello with a few sparce dealers i know locally from regular cons in London. i saw the Galactica booth where the stars had their signing tables. Although some had gone to lunch or were returning to their seats i was shocked to see them together, some for the first time all like that as a group at one convention at the same time. Seems each and everyone of them was there almost. Not wanting to just run in ill prepared, i composed myself wanting any first impressions to be positive and to last. I managed to get close enough to do the 'prize draw' for a signed Galactica figure should i win and filled out the form and handed it to the young girl holding the 'prize draw'. After that and being close enough i decided not to waste a minute more and began to march over to Richard Hatch area of the tables in a "V" shape, to once again say hello and get the afternoon off to a good start.
Meeting the stars.
First off, i kneel down and got my camcorder out to show Hatch and the star my camcorder footage of Glen Larson from two months ago. After trying it out the damn footage wasn't playing by the time i got to Hatch's table and introduced myself to him again? As i reminded him that i'd seen him back in October of 2004. Hearing i had the Larson footage of im saying he'd revive Galactica as a movie. Noah Hathaway and Jack Stauffer made their way over to me with Richard looking over my shoulder (what a way to kick the day off eh?) but the camcorder wasn't upto the task yet? Funny thing is they believed me and ask that i try to get the camcorder working yet, told me point blank. Glen Larson's like that, and they've heard it all before. As more private conversations broke out and i made my way to Richard's table again i got out my Ads of the CFF effort (as i promised Commander Taggart i would!) and handed them to Richard. He told me he already had these but was very flattered i was a big fan and yes he remembered me, mainly cos i jogged his memory by handing him a photo of me and him from October. I also still had the first 'Gastrof BG continuation' ad poster from 2003. which he jokingly liked cos of the reference to Richard Hatch THE ONE NOT FROM SURVIVOR! on old Gas' poster. Although he didn't want the CFF poster cos he already had it. I did however hand it into Terry Carter who loved it and decided to have it. i got talking with Terry Carter and told him how i was looking forward to meeting him. i had tried back in June of 2004 at the London Expo but missed him. Terry was the first one i asked for a autograph from and he smiled and took his time and personalized it for me (which i think they all did most autos just have the stars name on them, he made this one out to me personally?) I asked his assistant where Noah was as he wasn't back yet as i wanted his autograph next. I was just about to move on wanting to come back later when he came out of the blue, I regret not talking to Noah alot as i think out of all of them i talked to him the least. And i wanted to talk to all of them with equal amount of time spent. But i'll say this, each and every one of them was a joy to meet in person. Not one of them was the diva like a arrogant star from yesterday's era gone-by. Genuine smiles from each one of them they made witty and smart comments and they all had a quirk that added to the enjoyment of meeting them (you'll see as i go on). Moving on, went away to come back and whn i did have a bite to eat in the small lunch hall, i got the camcorder to work. The tape head was dirty and needed cleaning. I went back after a little while of taking time to see more of the convention (but i still mised out on alot there anyways?) and reintroduced myself to Herbert Jefferson jr, as i hadn't seen him at the Memorabilia Birmingham convention in over 2 years. Had my trusty photo album book with all the celebs i've met and showed him the pic with him and i. He too remembered.
I complimented him on how he looks much better than all those so-called young stars of today, as he looks all "buffed out" and "toned up" like he hits the gym 24/7 ready to "whup" someone. He loved that compliment i can tell you. Sharing many little barbs within a few minutes (i already have his, Dirk's and Hatch's autos from before so i saved a bit of cash) i managed to get into a conversation with both Jack Stauffer and Stu Phillips (one of my favorite moments during the day) Can't remember how it started but it was the prime example of how conversation done right can be like "brain candy". Between Dirk and Jack you'll have a hard time wondering who makes you laugh more and who's the straight man.
In any case, the discussion that came up between me Stu, Jack and another fan was something that should have been caught on film. But you can't walk around like a nerd between people/stars with a camcorder all the time. Everything from The reshoots during the series to Stu being called into the studio to do another late night session rescoring something cos the whole production was a wildfire one to put together, was unbelievable to hear. Alternate versions of how some scenes were shot and disgarded to how much footage didn't make the episodes (NOR THE DVD's) and and reshoots that occured. Makes you understand even more how the series was that expensive to begin with. Although Stu didn't know off hand that the 'Colonial Anthem' was on the DVD's he said that too was filmed differently. Jack brought up the fact Universal were hard pushed to do anything with the series for 2 decades as 'Universal Home Video' practically live in a cave and didn't communicate with anyone on how to release the series on DVD (or tape back in the day for that matter?) Their relationship was different than the studios but it was the same all round no one know what to do in regards to the series for years. Kind of makes you think don't take those DVD's for granted. We "ARE" damn fortunate we got'em in the end as it is.
End of part one!