The Non-SNL Weekend Update

The name of the game today is...hookey. Both myself and the other half were pretty much wasted away from the wackiness of the weekend, so we're sitting here @ home...away from the world.

Let's recap.

Friday night we headed out to Rosemont for the big Fangoria Weekend of Horrors. I've wanted to go to one of these since I was about 12 years old. I dreamed of meeting my horror heroes in person, getting photos and autographs; and buying tons of horror merchandise. My first experience with this was Flashback Weekend in 2004...a competitor (do they compete?) convention. But, technically, it wasn't a Fangoria sponsored nerd-a-thon. So this weekend was a bit of a milestone for me. This is all basically a Star Trek Convention, but for horror films. What this means; is...plenty of nerds...and goth chicks and more nerds. It's fun to be around all of these like-tasted folks, but I can't help but feel I stick out. I look a bit more preppy, while the majority of those around me are long-haired, pierced, tattooed, goth, rock-n-roll, comic-book guy types. I'm not judging that...hell, do what makes you feel good, be who you are!...but I don't feel I fit those types. I KNOW I don't fit those types. I wish that there were a way for me to tell these actors/directors/filmmakers that I am a big fan, but also a serious artist in my own right. I appreciate what they've offered to the industry and that I am also an equal. So many of these fans fit that stereotype of a socially inept geek. I saw them talking to some of the celebrities. They were that type. Awkward and shy. I don't believe I am. The other half said it well. If you come in as a "fan", and these folks are the stars, there is no way to cross that line. You can never be their friends or equals or co-workers, unless you meet under different circumstances. So, a valuable lesson learned.

We drove out to the burbs from the city (in what seemed like record time), checked into our hotel and headed over to the Wyndham; where the convention was being held...just a few blocks of walking.

We interrupt this blog for this special French Toast bulletin. As we were approaching the hotel to enter into horror film heaven, friend Serena called to let me know that she had a conflict on our first weekend of shooting...on the Sunday. No word yet on how this will effect things, but no doubt some clever re-scheduling is in my cards.

Anyway, this minor interruption passed (I'm not dissing Serena, but I was too excited to discuss that I was either pissed or not pissed on what she was telling me). We found our way to the main entry area. We called friend Val (lead singer of Fashion Bomb), who was to set us up w/ tickets; if they were indeed sold out. They weren't so we were able to get them on our own. We entered the dealer's room and began scouting for celebrities. First on my list was Ken Foree. He is one of the four leading actors in Romero's original Dawn of the Dead. He seemed pleasant, but not overly enthused to be there. It didn't help that some skank he had obviously previously met, came up to him w/ a drink in hand and some boob to show (well not really, but she seemed pretty pushy). I felt Ken's attention was taken from me to accomodate said skank, so my overall encounter w/ him left me feeling deprived. Oh well, I got a photo w/ him and an autographed Dawn of the Dead photo for myself and my older brother Wayne. Wayne is the one who first got me involved w/ zombies, and Dawn of the Dead is one of his all time favorites. I hope he's excited to receive this photo in the mail.

On we went through the showroom. I saw much I wanted, but simply could not afford. I found a place that has name badges/parking permits, and other laminated items w/ many different horror/sci-fi movie themes on them. 20 bucks for 8 of them, so I stocked up. An example was a parking permit for Amity Island Beaches Lifeguards. For those not in the know, that is the fictional setting of the Jaws films. These all seemed very well done and certainly fun souvenirs for horror geeks such as myself.

There were also lots of freebies. I bought some 8 x 10 movie stills, and other odds and ends. I couldn't help but feel that I was missing some of the people on the roster. We then discovered another room downstairs; where we came across John Russo and Russ Streiner. John Russo is the co-author of Night of the Living Dead; as well as many other horror novels/comic books/films. He was also the "crowbar" zombie in the original Night of the Living Dead. Seated next to him was Russ Streiner; the man who uttered those famous words, "They're coming to get you Barbara." If you don't know this classic line...I'm sorry, you've been living under a rock. I met Russ @ the Land of the Dead premiere in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago. I reminded him of this, but I'm sure he did not remember me. The other half had always given me a hard time for not asking Russ to quote this line, so we asked him this second time around. He obliged, and it will certainly be a very fond memory. The other half and I got a photo w/ him and a personalized autograph on a photo from the film. From John Russo; a photo w/ me, and signed Night of the Living Dead trading cards. Both John and Russ signed the cards on sight, and they had previously signed cards from Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman (also cast members in Night of the Living Dead), who are both now deceased. But, the souvenir to beat all? A cancelled check from the Romero directed film, Martin. It was his classic, wonderful take on the vampire legend. The check was for some various production expense; and signed by producer Richard Rubinstein and Romero himself. The memo section says "MARTIN". Very cool!

This post has become epic. More on this last weekend in a bit. Stay tuned.