ROCK N’ SHOCK 2011: New England’s premiere Horror Event!
There’s always a special place in my heart for the big ROCK N SHOCK horror convention that takes place each fall in Worcester, Massachusetts. Back in July 2010, when David Albaugh and I created this site, there had never been any plans for us to formally meet (that story covered HERE). ROCK N SHOCK provided the opportunity and venue for this to not only take place but to also solidify our friendship – turning online pals into best friends. By the time the weekend was over, there was never any question that I would return.
CONVENTION PREPARATION 2: The Celebrity Encounter!
The biggest draw of any fan convention lies with the celebrities they feature. I find that there are few experiences more gratifying than seeing your idols up close and having an opportunity to tell them how much you appreciate their work. You can also get a small glimpse of what they are really like as opposed to the 2-Dimensional view offered by the small & large screens.
Meeting DAWN OF THE DEAD’s Ken Foree at the 2010 Indianapolis Horrorhound Weekend
Of course, this can be a double edged sword; Sometimes you gain a new respect for a celebrity like Ardriene King who, though not a horror fan, is happy to share her FRIDAY THE 13th memories while supplying unique genre items for fans to purchase. Other times you become disappointed, as was the case of when I met Linda Blair, who was so stand-offish I started sympathizing with the demon from THE EXORCIST.
FRIDAY THE 13TH’s Adrienne King at the 2010 Cyphan Convention
The success of a celebrity encounter, however, is not all centered on their behavior. There are things that us fans can also do to increase the chances of having a positive experience with them as well.
1) Mentally prepare yourself that you will be standing in line. We’re an inpatient society and we tend to want, what we want, yesterday! Like it or not, waiting in line is a fact of life and even more so at a fan convention (STAR WARS CELEBRATIONS being the WORST in that regard). Wear comfortable shoes and hopefully find a buddy to chat with. It will make the time seem to go much faster while offering an opportunity to make new friends. You’ll also be less of a crab ass when you finally meet the big headliner.
At last years Horrorhound Weekend I waited 4 hours to meet George Romero. During that time I chatted with a friend, did ample “people watching,” and later enjoyed a cocktail (brought to me by the aforementioned friend). By the time I met the Godfather of Zombies I was calm and in a happy frame of mind. I’m not encouraging alcohol consumption during convention lines (I’m not discouraging it either) but am merely pointing out that the situation can be a more “social” occasion as opposed to a tedious one.
George Romero at the 2010 Horrorhound Weekend in Indianapolis
Worth meeting again! Rock and Shock 2010
Everyone is conscious of how slow a line is moving while they’re standing in it. Unfortunately, this is quickly forgotten once you reach your quarry. Now, suddenly, you feel as if you can take all the time in the world and those poor saps behind you will just have to wait a little longer. Granted, you have earned some “one on one” time with the star. There are still, however, some things you can do to keep the encounter relatively quick while increasing its overall quality. This brings us to our next tip…
2) Have whatever it is you want signed OUT and ready to go! Some conventions limit the number of items that can be signed, or discourage photo taking with a celebrity. I find this to be unacceptable. The way I see it, if I’m willing to drop some of my hard earned, “non” celebrity money at their table (and willing to pay for each item) than I deserve a picture and having them all signed. At the same time they need to be out of their protectors and ready to be signed when the big moment arrives.
Danny Trejo signs items for David Albaugh
Likewise, if you’re purchasing one of the celebs own 8×10′s then choose your shot BEFORE standing in front of him/her. Most people are so transfixed watching them commune with the people in front of them that they don’t do this. Don’t use your time with a celebrity in choosing a picture, use it instead for…..
Lance Henriksen: Flashback Weekend 2009Be sure to limit that to one comment or question. This isn’t a lecture hosted by The Screen Actors Guild, this is a brief meeting between fan and star. Even if the celebrity is all alone, and with NO line, try to avoid the mindset that this is an opportunity to become their new best friend. Keep it short and sweet….not scary and stalkish!
4) Take the lens cap off! The simplest piece of advice is often the most overlooked. Get your cameras out and, more importantly, READY to go! Allow me a bit of “true confessions” as I share an embarrassing story that happened to me about 15 years ago. I accompanied a friend of mine to a small KISS convention here in Chicago. This was back before I had any monster friends and the thought of attending a horror convention would ever occur to me. My friend was (and is) a HUGE fan of the group and this event, while tiny, happened to feature one of the most elusive members of the group – Vinnie Vincent (he’s still alive but best of luck finding him today)!
Jason Lucas meets Vinnie Vincent – November 1995!
It was a long line and, like waiting for Romero, we decided to have a cocktail. Unlike Romero, however, we didn’t just stop at one. By the time we made it to Vincent, we were both two shades to the wind. As my friend posed with the guitar master himself, I stood holding the camera, joyfully snapping away. As I smiled (and swayed) in my drunken splendor, I was oblivious to the fact that everyone was yelling at me to take off the damn lens cap! Before the sounds even registered, I remember noticing the mob of angry faces, many mouthing the words “dumb-ass!”
5) Don’t forget to pay! In many cases, this isn’t a free “meet & greet.” The attending celebrities are often not getting paid to do so. They are usually responsible for their own travel and room expenses and those 8×10′s they offer weren’t donated to them either.
You may wonder why some of the bigger stars need charge at all since they are, by many accounts, wealthy individuals. Well imagine if you’re sitting at a booth and some guy asks for your autograph. You sign the picture and, later that week, see it selling on ebay for $50. You won’t get a nickle of it, yet it’s YOUR signature! The sad fact is that many people standing in those lines are doing so more for profit than out of devotion. Charging for autographs (with larger fees asked for bigger celebrities) is a way of deterring this practice.
Conjuring PUMPKINHEAD!
This Saturday’s Svengoolie is sure to be a special event here in Chicago. Not only does it mark an all new episode of Sven (after weeks of summer re-runs) but also an airing of one of my favorite monster movies – PUMPKINHEAD.
This is a film I have loved since it’s original release back in 1988. After my parents divorced, my mother instituted a weekly event called “family night.” My two siblings and I thought it was the corniest concept ever but, looking back, it does evoke some fond memories. At the time, however, it was torture. Usually instituted on a Friday night, we couldn’t go out with friends and had to spend the evening together (which was always interesting since my brother, sister, and I historically got along about as well as cats and dogs).
On some of these occasions, we would go out together for a movie. Since my sister was eight years my junior, it was rarely anything a teenager, like myself, wanted to see. I’ll always remember PUMPKINHEAD as being one of the few instances where my mother threw “Parental Guidance” to the wind and actually took us to see something cool (even if I would’ve rather seen it with my friends).
Weeks prior to its release, I remember anxiously reading about it in “Fangoria” Magazine. While slashers and aliens were prolific back in the 80′s, good old fashioned monster movies were not. Being a big monster fan, PUMPKINHEAD’s release was a true event for me. Whenever I’d hear the film’s trailer playing during commercials, I would stop whatever I was doing and run to the television to watch.
I was not to be disappointed. Lance Henriksen gives one of his best performances as the gentle, backwoods store owner, Ed Harley, who loses his beloved son due to the shenanigans of a group of reckless (and highly annoying) teenagers. Filled with rage, Harley seeks out the assistance of an old hag (one of the most convincing portrayals of a modern witch in my opinion) who can assist with his vengeance. Via the aid of her dark powers – she conjures a demon of revenge from a cursed pumpkin patch.
The old Hag is the cover Ghoul for the film's European VHS release.
Henriksen does well at eliciting viewer sympathy regarding the loss of his son and willingness to sell his own soul to avenge him. It can, however, be argued that the actor who plays his son is so gratuitously cute (with his coke-bottle glasses and “aw shucks Daddy” innocence) that he didn’t have to work all that hard at it. Even the the most pacifistic viewer would crave Charles Bronson-like vengeance against anyone who’d hurt this kid!
The teens must DIE!
Of course, much the success of any monster film rests on the monster itself and legendary creature effects artist, Stan Winston, serves up a winner. This pre-CGI beasty can stand up to most any modern monster of late, including it’s own post-CGI (and god-awful) sequels! As the monster continues his killing spree, he begins to develop the features of Henriksen himself, demonstrative of his own gradual damnation.
The monster is further enhanced by the eerie mountain landscape, one of the most atmospheric I’ve seen to date. There are few people that would want to toil in that pumpkin patch – even if you were with a group of friends!
I loved the film back in 1988 and continue to enjoy it today. It was one of my first DVD’s purchased when the “new” format was available and I ended up buying it a second time upon it’s more recent, and long overdue, WIDESCREEN release.
PUMPKINHEAD Special Edition
During last year’s “Flashback Weekend” in Chicago, I had the opportunity to tell Henriksen how much I loved his film – personally. I’m happy to say that he gets a “10″ on the celebrity meeting scale! He was very outgoing and eager to talk with his fans about his work. I told him how much I loved PUMPKINHEAD and that it still stands as one of my favorite monster films. He was genuinely appreciative and agreed that the sequels (some of which he was a part of) weren’t the greatest. I asked him what it was like working with Sigourney Weaver in ALIENS (another favorite of mine). Rather than give a generic, “Oh, she’s great!” answer. He told me, “Sigourney was one of the most fearless actresses I have ever worked with. But, in my opinion, after she had children of her own she lost a lot of the edginess that had made her so great.”
70 year old Henriksen is a Class Act!
Pumpkinhead joins The Alien in watching over my horror DVD collection.
Svengoolie also had the honor of meeting Henriksen that day in a clip he’s shown on past shows. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t gain another airing this Saturday in lieu of his presentation. I hope that it will. Henriksen recognized our beloved host and the two shared a humorous exchange that lead to him granting Svengoolie a rather unique “award.” Either way, I have no intention of missing this Saturday’s show. If for no other reason, I am really curious as to what parody song Svengoolie will do to enhance the experience. What possible lyric or song title rhymes with “Pumpkinhead?”
Dave F.
