Collectormania

Collectormania 3

This event was held in Milton Keynes UK between 3rd and 5th May 2003

I was very lucky to be there I met a great many LOTR actors and went to both the Fellowship and Two Towers screenings which had talks before them.

Will update with more pics soon and write up and need to link to larger pics. I had over 40 pics to scan in.

The Short report

Friday

We had arrived the night before at about 10pm and had a few drinks and met up with a few online friends from bb.net.

Saturday

We end up getting up at 6.30 getting ready and set out we have NO idea where were going it's 7.30 and were meant to met people in Mcdonnalds. We finally find someone to ask and get there 5 mins late not bad for people with no idea at all. I spot some loons from the window after some food and talking We head off to the hall we get round the corner and I then get really hyper I do what I normally do in this type of thing I walk very very fast. Were trying to find Billy's signing area it's like 8.20 or something we walk round a bit then someone spots and we head over. I spend most of the time trying to calm everyone down. Billy's section was right next to Andy's in the signing part and they were away from everyone else. Both were now an hour late I heard someone say they were going to be late so I sat down. Next minute Billy's sneaking down Andy's side and is going to sit down. I was in shock I had kind of calmed down. Now I was in a right mess even though I had all my stuff sorted. I notice he has a grey jacket on and under it a BLACK SHIRT. Now this may not seem important to others but the girls over at bb.net will understand I started up a campaign to try and get support in Billy wearing a Black Shirt hoping that in fact Stewart the web master and a friend of Billy's would see it and maybe tell him.
I saw Liz and her lot go up they were really hyper and looked to be having great time. We saw whom we thought was Stewart and then we shouted Stewart to see if he would look, I think he kind of did not sure. We left it at that and just kept saying it must be him it's got to be.
It had been agreed that Lynda was going first the first thing she said to Billy apart from hi was is Stewart here and Billy looked at Stewart so Lynda hands over the bag with goodies for Stewart he looks in totally shock but starts to look though it straight away. Lynda kind of looked in shock she looked really happy. I was a little out of it but I saw Lynda hand over the Penguin and heard Billy say I think I know what is to go with this. Next minute Billy is there with Lynda and I've got the camera and I'm in a mess Lynda's camera isn't working. So I've got mine and I'm trying to take a pic and I'm shaking and I hear Pauline say stop shaking. I just can't help it what the hell is up with me I manage to take 2 hoping at least one comes out ok. I've spent so long trying to calm others down that I haven't worked on myself. Before I know it I'm in front of Billy I pass the pic over to be signed and look at Stewart and pass him the bag with the beer in and card. I then give Billy the banjo he puts it on the penguin straight away then poses with it. The next few mins are a little hazy so I might get it a little mixed up. I remember I said to him that I had got him practical things then he say's I like practical things it was really funny the way he said it. Then I handed over the hand cream and say it's because your hands are really going to hurt by the end of this. Straight away he put some on and he was being really nice about having it saying he had not used it before. Then I pass over the Foot Lotion I then said this is for when you get back to New Zealand. After he had managed to read it and realise what it was he said how much the feet hurt and how useful it was going to be. I have got a pic of him looking at the cream and he does look a little puzzled. I do have to point out it is very good cream from Body Shop and it really does work.
My over all impression of Billy a very nice chilled out guy who tries to make every fan feel special he also seems very funny. I was very nervous in a way hoping he was what he seemed to be. He was a much more when asking for a picture he was very willing saying of course. He also went out of his way to try and talk to fans instead of just signing and smiled and made eye contact with every fan.
Next stop was going to see Sala Baker he wasn't signing for anyone so we walked straight up. I went first and he was very nice and kind and was willing to give out hugs. There was a lot of us there but he smiled and took it all in his stride. BRUCE HOPKINS table was right next to his and so we went straight over to see him. This was it the handing over of his wee scarvie find out more at this site Fellowship of the Wee Scarvies. It's a bb.net thing many of the actors from LOTR now have them as well as fans from all over the world. Shout out to Jennie is in order who makes them for free and is great lady. He seemed a little puzzled at first but then looked to be very happy after we explained. He posed with it for all our millions of pics. Sala was watching and Bruce turned to him and said you didn't tell me about this and Sala replied I got mine last year with a big grin on his face.
Now going on to Andy it's getting late now 3 and I had arranged to met some loons at 3.30 but we get there and we know we have to stay in the queue. I phone a few people all of, which are not hear BHS so it looks like a run to BHS straight after. I get to the Andy and he smiles as I hand over the picture to be signed and tell him what name I want it signed to. I then tell him how much I admired what he did at the Oscars he smiles and say's thank you. I then give him a small white ribbon it's a peace ribbon that I made and another for his wife. Andy was such a nice guy he must have had a million request to do his Gollum voice and not one did he turn down in fact it seemed they got longer talking. He was also very very funny in the question and answer sessions, as were all the LOTR guests.
After Andy I waited for the others and we had to run up to BHS to met loons we had something to eat and a nice chat then off to the hotel to freshen up. We head straight out to cineworld we got there for just after 5pm and already there is a queue to go in. We get in and sit down the actors are a little late due to the fact they still had a lot of signing to do. The questions start straight away it's takes everyone a while to get going but then there is no shortest of questions. We even end up singing the drinking song from the green dragon, which is a lot of fun. I even got my question answered mine was the one about the audio recording. I also was very cheeky and carried on asking questions after that the next 2 are mine as well. I can't really say more about the q and a as you can read it for your self. A lot of questions were directed at Billy as I think that night there were a lot of Billy fan's there. Andy also asked us a question how many times we had seen Fellowship of the Ring hands stayed up after 100 for anyone who wants to know I think Pauline has seen it the most over 200 times yes that's the Pippin alike for you.
The guys then had to head off and the film started straight away I have to say I have never enjoyed watching a film so much. Yes there was talking but it was line repeating everyone knew it so well cheer laughing a great atmosphere for all. I know some people don't like that sort of thing but nearly everyone loved it and it rounded of the night perfectly. We all got our things ready to leave when we look up the film was in fact the version with the clips from Two towers it all made us cheer again what a lovely surprise.

Sunday

I was a bit late for the 9.30 met up in Mcdonnalds but had a quick breakfast then over John Rhys-Davies queue luckily we had got there early enough not to need a ticket. John was happily signing away and when the group of us got there he was kind and joking about. We all knew already that John is the type to tickle people I asked him if he was going to tickle us he said he only tickled the pretty girls, one of the girls was really ticklish and was finding it hard to controlled herself we got in for a group pic and I think he tickled everyone of us. We then got down to Billy and got a ticket. Then it was time to see Billy again Sarah had been very very excited about going to see him so I had a little feeling she might either one cry or two not say anything at all. It had got to that time in the afternoon where they were trying to cut down the amount of time Billy spent with each person so he was moving down the line having pictures taken with people. Sarah didn't really say anything to Billy ; we then had a little look round then off to the costume competition where everyone was waiting.
The first thing I noticed when I got there was the fact there was some very little kids wearing costumes we all thought that's it everyone's done for kids are going to win it. It was great though Sala Baker was there helping to judge it and everyone got signed pictures from him then the little kid did come away with second prize. We were all very happy when Pauline in fact was the one to win first Prize a signed dvd by Cate, Ian, Billy and it was said to be Orlando's but everyone agreed it looked like Dom's autography.
After that straight to cineworld again for Two Towers showing this was a different atmosphere from the previous night but still good. John Rhys-Davies seemed to sneak in he was a true champ chatting away giving stories about different things coming right up close to us all and the story and acting out of him swinging the axe and falling flat on his face has got to be on video somewhere. I have to ask I want that video someone please put it online. The rest of the cast then came in the questions were not as thick and fast as the night before but still very good. With offers of chocolate been taken up from Ikki in the front the guys seemed happy. The highlight of the q and a was Andy whole scene reactment of Gollum's arguing speech after he had finished we all stood up and clapped it was great to see it and the way he did it you just know that Andy is the true Gollum the face movements everything was perfect. It was a much longer q and a as than the night they all thanked us and went with lots of waves from all.
The film was great we all loved it again and at the end I was very sad. I hugged all the girls I had met what a great bunch of loons they were and with that we went.
Can't wait till October we've been promised a lot more LOTR guests and fingers crossed for the rumours of Dom being there for a signing session.

Pictures

Please note all my larger pictures are copyrighted if you want to use them email me at hobbitlotrlover@aol.com I will then give you permission and sightly change the writing on it for you. Please do not directly link the pictures from this site please give the linkof my front page for them. http://www.boomspeed.com/hobbitlover

Some of these pictures have been taken for me using my camera people who took the pictures are Lynda , Ikki and Pauline. Also I have a lot of pictures that are from my friend Lynda's camera these are mainly the ones with me in them. Two of the pictures are also taken by Pauline with her camera of me with Billy.