The Yak Shack Forum

Sorry I dont have pictures as yet, have to wait for my camera to finish the film (note to myself - must get a digital camera for Christmas!)

Anyway, went to Collectormania yesterday, just for the one day and it was an amazing day, even though there were very few LOTR stars.

Firstly, I have to thank Roz and Gimli for their combined efforts in getting hold of Carrie Fisher queue tickets for me - considering they were in the huge queue for about 1 1/2 hours before I even got there, and got me low numbered tickets too! It was great to meet people from the forum who are very nice and as movie-mad in real life!

My main focus was in getting my Starwars poster signed, and I managed to get Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Dave Prowse (Darth Vader). Peter wasnt the most enthusiastic person there I have to admit, but Carrie was really nice and posed to take a photo, even though we were told that she wouldn't be able to. Dave Prowse was also friendly and very precise with his signature. Each actor signed in a different colour pen when I asked them to, and I am so happy with the poster and particularly having met Carrie Fisher.

My bloke was intent on getting Star Trek Next Generation signatures (Data, Worf and Deanna). I have to say that Brent Spiner (Data) is the best person I met there - funny, charming and nothing was too much for him. He constantly made us laugh with his comments, and was such a warm and genuine guy, it really made the day. You could see some of the other actors looking tired or not that bothered, but he smiled and chatted with everyone and stood up whenever anyone wanted a photo.

I didnt see many Harry potter cast, as there were people blocking the queues, but did see a few LOTR actors. Sala Baker, Royd Tolkien and Thomas Robbins queues were suprisingly non-existant, but Billy Boyd was as busy as ever and we managed to get to the side of the queue and see him quite close up. He appeared to look quite tired and was talking on his mobile phone for a lot of the time - it was a shame, as I saw him at C4 and he was much more chirpy and enthusiastic - maybe he was jetlagged, or has stardom affected him the wrong way? I'd be interested to hear from people who actually got his autograph as to what he was like.

Anyway, as well as meeting and watching the actors, the stalls had plenty of merchandise to keep us occupied (and our pockets empty!) Was tempted by lots of the trading cards and it was great seeing all the LOTR, HP and other auto/costume cards for sale - but no good bargains. Saw the LOTR Trilogy promo 'Chrome' cards which I have to say look very smart indeed and also saw a few opened HP POA Hobby boxes for sale - but no sealed ones anywhere - I guess they are getting harder to find.

I ended up buying the Star Wars Top Trumps which I've wanted since seeing them on ebay, and a rather cool C3PO large rotating figure brand new for only £3!

So, all in all a very good and exciting day - too much money spent though which means I'll have to do a selling spree on Ebay! I think it was very well organised this time and the queues were not bad at all. Also, pleased that the tickets now have the actors name printed on them so that people cant try and obtain fake tickets.
Thanks again Roz and Gimli (and Showmasters) for making it such a success for us ;D

Note to MYself... must also get a digital camera ASAP.

I normally borrow my Dad's (offiially for field trips of course ;)) but they have just been on holiday so I *suppose* their need was greater than mine ;)

Anyway, we will have to wait til Gimli gets back as he has most of the great photos, Pippa I'd be delighted to see your Carrie Fisher pics as by the time we got there the Collectormania people were getting lairy about people having cameras open around Carrie  ::) I was pretty relieved to get the tickets spare for Pax... as I was rather caught up myself in egtting carries auto... they'd have had to take my DVD to be signed if we hadn't had the right luck ;)

I had a great day, it was a shame Miranda Otto wasn't there but I consoled myself by getting a Miranda Otto litho from Cards Inc/The Collector Zone peoples, and by getting a Carrie Fisher auto. (lots of pics of what we got to come... just watch this space).

I also busied myself with getting some FAN - BLOOMIN - TASTIC Lithos signed for Goofyjas... watch this space Goofy and you'll see what you got! Poor Old Goofy didn't have a Billy Boyd auto so we've well and truely sorted that out now! Sorry GJ I can't post these Monday as planned as I HAVE to scan them in first ;) but I'll egt them off later this week... unless you have an A3 scanner... if you do or have accesst o one let em know as I'll post them off asap then ;) I just HAVE to have copies of these in 6x4 format in my photo album... they are far too cool for their own good!...

Pip (hee hee - sorry Pippa), Billy was fine to meet! I know what you mean. On close inspection he seemed to have got a cold (everyone did - Ben, Ed, if I have a cold tomorrow I shall kill you both!!!) but was very good with us, but was definitely under the weather. I think it was the best meeting we have had with Billy so far, certainly the least rushed. At London Expo he was very rushed, and at London Film and Comic Con he was definitely feeling blue during the LOTR Guests talk. Though that does sound bad Pippa if he was on his mobile!!!

The star of the day for us would have to be Deagol/Thomas Robins; he didn't have a large queue (I have to say Billy is somehow the only repeat repeat repeat guest who you still have trouble getting tickets for). He was fun and nice to meet, and was blown away to see the Smeagol Science musum litho! You may ask why we showed it to him... but all will be revealed later! Sala goes to most Collectormanias and I was able to walk right up to him. He's glad to have done a Sauron auto for Topps and says it's totally awesome close up (I talked to him about it because he seemed to be feeling left out when we took a litho to talk to Deagol about!).

If only Cards Inc had got a mouth of Sauron litho with them yesterday .. I would have bought it and had him sign it too... that's on my shopping list... I am sure Sala will be back at another event in the future even if it is after he finishes filming the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe!

Right - off to the shops for some more Potter Cards Inc cards and some litho holders and then I'll take some photos to show you :)

note to myself must get a digital camera

wait a minute i had one with me

hold the presses i will be back soon to post my pics  ;D

right first off this is a picure of my wife Joy with Nicolas Brendon (Xander from Buffy) we wasn't aloud to take posed pictures so it ain't too bad really

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/chrischidgey/joy-nick.jpg)

then we have 3 pics of joy with the 3 members of the buffy cast

Adam Busch who played Warren

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/chrischidgey/warren.jpg)

Tom Lenk who played Andrew

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/chrischidgey/andrew.jpg)

Danny Strong who played Johnathan

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/chrischidgey/johnathan.jpg)

So now on to Lord of the Rings and 2 pics of Mak the Yak and Roz with Billy Boyd who we don't think was too well. Arrrrrrrrr. Poor guy

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/chrischidgey/mak-boyd.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/chrischidgey/roz-boyd.jpg)

Then we have Mark and Roz with Deagol Thomas Robins who was a really nice guy

Then we have Mark and Roz with Deagol, Thomas Robins who was a really nice guy

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v424/chrischidgey/deagol.jpg)

Nice ones Gimmers!

10 points to the first person (and double entry into the next competition ;)) to the first person who can identify the guy to Billy Boyd's right in the picture!

You HAVE seen him before!

OK folks, some spoils of the day!

These are Jas (goofyjas') lithos that he wanted "sprucing up a bit ;))

Billy Boyd:

(he also has another litho signed too - but it's just a sig!)

and this is cool as Beans... Thomas Robbins signs Serkis' litho (which is was blown away by... he loved it)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/Roz_qmw/LOTRLithos/Deagolsigns.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/Roz_qmw/LOTRLithos/deagolsig.jpg)

close up it reads:

"Be careful what you fish for :D" .... lucky Jas! I want one ;) "ooh sorry Jas.. I erm... lost them" ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/Roz_qmw/LOTRLithos/Deagolsigclose.jpg)

And Jas has aclassic line from Billy Boyd on his litho...

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/Roz_qmw/LOTRLithos/Billysig.jpg)

And the sig for me was...

Carrie Fisher on our DVD case ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/Roz_qmw/fishersig.jpg)

(it's a bit dark on that photo - I hope you can see it!!!). We also got a personalised 8*10 :)

Sounds great. I'm looking forward to going to these when I'm in the UK!
I think everyone who meets Thomas Robbins comes away thinking how great he is and just being impressed.
and those lithos are great!! Pity about no posed photos with Billy though.
Oh, and that guy to the right of Billy, is that Rick Porras? That guy cracks me up on the DVD stuff. Way too funny.

Spot on!

Go to the top of the class!

 ;D

Had any luck finding a good deprtment to work with? I'll ask Rachel (the friend I was telling you about) when I go home this weekend if she can suggest anywhere. She was in the Anthropology department at LSE back when she did her PhD but that was a LOOOONG time ago and it may not be appropriate to her work now - neverlo yours ;)

Those photos are great! Especially like the Billy Boyd quote and it's a cool litho.
Will eventually get my photos posted here too :)

Great pics!

Sorry we missed it, but we were busy getting married  ;D

PAH that's the worst excuse I have heard since FTY's "Oh I am in Australia that weekend"

 ;D

Hmph :P

So I expect I will be seeing you in December for the Sydney LOTR Exhibition then Roz?

 ;D

Umm I would... but my Yukka plant is feeling Yukky.

:D

Seriously Collectormania was great fun, hideously busy and rather crushed... not a lot of cards there really - I think Memorabilia is where it all happens for that!

Funny quote from the Collectormania forum, from a guy who was getting Carrie Fisher's autograph:

"I wanted her to put "Help me Kris, you're my only hope" but she winced like I had farted on her breakfast."

Priceless!

agreed that is priceless . ... but I agree with carrie - that is cringeworthy to the max

Thanks to all who have posted pics and their impressions.  If you can't be there in person this is the next best thing.   :)

:) it was fun Ed.

I have to say I was so impressed by Deagol/Thomas Robbins that if he comes to another Collectormania or event in the UK I think I'll get him to sign on the front of our litho case... there's not much room left though :)

I haven't got his auto yet and I think that would have been a good one for Topps to have cashed in on - he's always keen to sign and he's more important than the Proudfeet chap!

:)

Jas - when Sala sees your moth of sauron litho I bet he'll be impressed, he was looking over Thomas' shoulder at your Smeagol one so he'll love to see a Sauron one. I hope you show us what he does - try to avoid "I see you" since you already have that on a Frodo litho