Update as of September 24, 2005
As I write this I am sitting 10,972 meters above the Pacific Ocean.
It is minus 42 degrees celcius outside, and Michael Shumacher has nothing
on me, as, thanks to aerodynamics and a whole host of other physics related
matters, I’m moving at approximately 900 kilometers per hour, above
and around the face of our globe.
The land of the long white cloud (New Zealand) is my destination. Expecting this journey to be conducted aboard an Air New Zealand silver bird, I instead found myself departing the city of angels (LA) thanks to the Australian carrier, Qantas. My immediate destination is in fact Sydney, not New Zealand. Once in Sydney I then bid Qantas farewell and eventually touch down in the homeland care of the aforementioned Air New Zealand.
This meander through the skies of planet earth was brought about by a mechanical failure in the Air New Zealand plane I was due to fly home on. It was reassuring that they discovered said failure while the bird was on the ground, however it also means I am on a 19 hour journey which is 7 hours longer than was paid for. I’m not sure if I should offer to pay some extra, as I will have 3 meals instead of 2 and probably drink a couple more than my usual 2 red wines, or maybe I should just be grateful that I got a bargain….” But wait there’s more…. pay for 12 hours airborne travel and get, not 12, not 15 but 19 hours, that’s 7 hours of free travel time!!! “
The journey home is merely the concluding act in a 2 week odyssey that threaded LA, London, Atlanta and briefly, Sydney, into a weave of sight and sound making up the craziness of a wonderful adventure into conventionland.
I love travelling, so blatting around the globe to meet fired up 'enthusiasts‘ on the other side of the world is always a welcome distraction from the stuff I should be getting on with back at home.
My use of the term 'enthusiasts' is inspired by a comment Richard Taylor made during he and Tania Roger's Q & A before a sizeable gathering of 'Lord Of The Rings' enthusiasts, inside the hallowed halls of Wembley Stadium in London, England. The occasion was of course Louise Henry's second annual LOTR Fellowship Festival.
Having relished the opportunity to witness part of the Q & A session for Richard and Tania (the wonderful duo responsible for unleashing Weta Workshops and Digital upon the world), I heard Richard declare that he prefers to use the term 'enthusiast' when referring to LOTR supporters/fans. I thought to myself, “I like that” and so I am now an enthusiast of 'enthusiast'.
Attending the Fellowship Festival is a buzz on many levels and for many reasons, not the least being the chance to once again spend time in the company of the incomparable Allan Lee and John Howe. This year's buzz was enhanced with the presence of Richard and Tania, Shane, Mana, Daniel, Kiran et al.
The Parkers (as Craig and Mark have become known) did their usual great job in leading the on stage antics.
(I still don’t know which one is Mr. and which is Mrs. Parker!), and the festival was once again a non stop carnival of all things LOTR. Probably one of my favourite sessions to sit in on was Peter Tait's.
“Discover your inner Orc “. A revelation for me was the superb voice of Gandalf as rendered by Jed Brophy in the radio play. With regard the radio play, I would like to start a campaign right now calling for an end to the cruelty that is the sound effects department. Much like the performing bears of China, it is an obscenity and I only do it because they prod me with electric rods backstage!
It must be said the first night's dinner entertainment will slide very easily into the annals of easily forgotten moments in the history of performance!!!
Louise Henry and her team (many of whom are family and friends) once again poured their hearts and souls into the event, so thankyou to each and everyone of you. A big ups kind of thanks to Emma who was my buddy throughout the 3 days when she could find me! … I can tend to go a wandering. Also cheers to Michaela, a film student from the Czech Republic, you were a breath a fresh European air.
The final night saw me not wanting to go to bed. I’m a bit of a chicken when it comes to really late nights. I like to party, but I also like waking up in the morning with a clear head. However I was having such a wonderful time with folks like Mana, Rangi, Jed et al, that sleeping seemed a distraction from indulging in the company of truly fantastic people. Thanks to the folks I dined with each night at the Feasts, (my second night table guests comprised of nothing but gorgeous woman, the gods were smiling upon me that night) it’s a privilege to have been in your company, such a diversity to humanity, connected via the writings of JRR and the vision of Jackson.
From London it was on to LA, and the different buzz of staying with my very dear friend Hudson, she who created the kick arse character of Callisto in 'Xena'. Hudson is such a giving person, hanging at her place is like being on a form of retreat.
Then it was onto Atlanta and the one and only DragonCon. Pheweeee!!!
DragonCon means I get to hang for 4 days with my mate Janet , (she who runs this here website), Donna (the hostess with the mostest), Jincey, Balin, Ginger, Jane et al.
Then of course there are the armies of enthusiasts, however this time there are enthusiasts for other codes also, 'Star Wars', 'Star Trek', 'Buffy', 'Playboy Playmates'!!!, etc etc. What a wild old time that gig is. I love it. Half the time I think I’m shell shocked by the constant bombardment of visual excess that comes from having to make your way through a oceans of Klingons, Storm Troopers, Hobbits, bloody Elves and all other manner of mythological and science fiction forms.
Sleep becomes a discipline at these events, if you do not exercise that discipline it will not be handed to you!!!
Bonus time at DragonCon came in the form of having a brief catch up with Kevin Sorbo. He was about to marry my wife in an episode of 'Hercules', and then I showed up (they thought I had been killed in battle, so were about to go behind my back !!!). I also played a number of other episodes as both a goody and baddy, so meeting up with him was great, he is a true genuinely cool dude.
A highlight for me was doing a Q&A with the one and only John Noble, what a great turn out, thanks everyone who came along and took part.
Whoever purchased the package I got together to raise money for the victims of Katrina, thankyou so much. I really had thought a few hundred dollars would be great as that would maybe feed a family for a week or two, but the final sum of $2,000 was incredible, so thankyou for your generosity.
After Atlanta, it was back to LA for a couple of days…man I love driving around that town, although getting lost and taking 3 hours to drive a few kilometers can get slightly frustrating. My last day in LA I got to catch up with Teresa Rygiel and that was the icing on the cake. Teresa and Jim were two of the most open and warm people I met through the whole LOTR ride, so to be having a beer with Teresa and looking at the Oscars and Baftas sitting on the shelf was awesome. A great coffee and breakfast with fellow kiwis, artist and about to be Mum second time round, Nicola Donald (partner of Andrew Adamson), and Sala B (not pregnant as far as I know!) rounded the journey off very nicely.
Once again thanks to all of you for your time and all that you bring to these events.
I am finishing this on the day we in New Zealand go to the polls to vote, in our general elections, wish us luck!!!
(P.S. 4 days later and we have to wait for the special votes to be counted as we do not have a clear victor in the elections.)
Ciao
The land of the long white cloud (New Zealand) is my destination. Expecting this journey to be conducted aboard an Air New Zealand silver bird, I instead found myself departing the city of angels (LA) thanks to the Australian carrier, Qantas. My immediate destination is in fact Sydney, not New Zealand. Once in Sydney I then bid Qantas farewell and eventually touch down in the homeland care of the aforementioned Air New Zealand.
This meander through the skies of planet earth was brought about by a mechanical failure in the Air New Zealand plane I was due to fly home on. It was reassuring that they discovered said failure while the bird was on the ground, however it also means I am on a 19 hour journey which is 7 hours longer than was paid for. I’m not sure if I should offer to pay some extra, as I will have 3 meals instead of 2 and probably drink a couple more than my usual 2 red wines, or maybe I should just be grateful that I got a bargain….” But wait there’s more…. pay for 12 hours airborne travel and get, not 12, not 15 but 19 hours, that’s 7 hours of free travel time!!! “
The journey home is merely the concluding act in a 2 week odyssey that threaded LA, London, Atlanta and briefly, Sydney, into a weave of sight and sound making up the craziness of a wonderful adventure into conventionland.
I love travelling, so blatting around the globe to meet fired up 'enthusiasts‘ on the other side of the world is always a welcome distraction from the stuff I should be getting on with back at home.
My use of the term 'enthusiasts' is inspired by a comment Richard Taylor made during he and Tania Roger's Q & A before a sizeable gathering of 'Lord Of The Rings' enthusiasts, inside the hallowed halls of Wembley Stadium in London, England. The occasion was of course Louise Henry's second annual LOTR Fellowship Festival.
Having relished the opportunity to witness part of the Q & A session for Richard and Tania (the wonderful duo responsible for unleashing Weta Workshops and Digital upon the world), I heard Richard declare that he prefers to use the term 'enthusiast' when referring to LOTR supporters/fans. I thought to myself, “I like that” and so I am now an enthusiast of 'enthusiast'.
Attending the Fellowship Festival is a buzz on many levels and for many reasons, not the least being the chance to once again spend time in the company of the incomparable Allan Lee and John Howe. This year's buzz was enhanced with the presence of Richard and Tania, Shane, Mana, Daniel, Kiran et al.
The Parkers (as Craig and Mark have become known) did their usual great job in leading the on stage antics.
(I still don’t know which one is Mr. and which is Mrs. Parker!), and the festival was once again a non stop carnival of all things LOTR. Probably one of my favourite sessions to sit in on was Peter Tait's.
“Discover your inner Orc “. A revelation for me was the superb voice of Gandalf as rendered by Jed Brophy in the radio play. With regard the radio play, I would like to start a campaign right now calling for an end to the cruelty that is the sound effects department. Much like the performing bears of China, it is an obscenity and I only do it because they prod me with electric rods backstage!
It must be said the first night's dinner entertainment will slide very easily into the annals of easily forgotten moments in the history of performance!!!
Louise Henry and her team (many of whom are family and friends) once again poured their hearts and souls into the event, so thankyou to each and everyone of you. A big ups kind of thanks to Emma who was my buddy throughout the 3 days when she could find me! … I can tend to go a wandering. Also cheers to Michaela, a film student from the Czech Republic, you were a breath a fresh European air.
The final night saw me not wanting to go to bed. I’m a bit of a chicken when it comes to really late nights. I like to party, but I also like waking up in the morning with a clear head. However I was having such a wonderful time with folks like Mana, Rangi, Jed et al, that sleeping seemed a distraction from indulging in the company of truly fantastic people. Thanks to the folks I dined with each night at the Feasts, (my second night table guests comprised of nothing but gorgeous woman, the gods were smiling upon me that night) it’s a privilege to have been in your company, such a diversity to humanity, connected via the writings of JRR and the vision of Jackson.
From London it was on to LA, and the different buzz of staying with my very dear friend Hudson, she who created the kick arse character of Callisto in 'Xena'. Hudson is such a giving person, hanging at her place is like being on a form of retreat.
Then it was onto Atlanta and the one and only DragonCon. Pheweeee!!!
DragonCon means I get to hang for 4 days with my mate Janet , (she who runs this here website), Donna (the hostess with the mostest), Jincey, Balin, Ginger, Jane et al.
Then of course there are the armies of enthusiasts, however this time there are enthusiasts for other codes also, 'Star Wars', 'Star Trek', 'Buffy', 'Playboy Playmates'!!!, etc etc. What a wild old time that gig is. I love it. Half the time I think I’m shell shocked by the constant bombardment of visual excess that comes from having to make your way through a oceans of Klingons, Storm Troopers, Hobbits, bloody Elves and all other manner of mythological and science fiction forms.
Sleep becomes a discipline at these events, if you do not exercise that discipline it will not be handed to you!!!
Bonus time at DragonCon came in the form of having a brief catch up with Kevin Sorbo. He was about to marry my wife in an episode of 'Hercules', and then I showed up (they thought I had been killed in battle, so were about to go behind my back !!!). I also played a number of other episodes as both a goody and baddy, so meeting up with him was great, he is a true genuinely cool dude.
A highlight for me was doing a Q&A with the one and only John Noble, what a great turn out, thanks everyone who came along and took part.
Whoever purchased the package I got together to raise money for the victims of Katrina, thankyou so much. I really had thought a few hundred dollars would be great as that would maybe feed a family for a week or two, but the final sum of $2,000 was incredible, so thankyou for your generosity.
After Atlanta, it was back to LA for a couple of days…man I love driving around that town, although getting lost and taking 3 hours to drive a few kilometers can get slightly frustrating. My last day in LA I got to catch up with Teresa Rygiel and that was the icing on the cake. Teresa and Jim were two of the most open and warm people I met through the whole LOTR ride, so to be having a beer with Teresa and looking at the Oscars and Baftas sitting on the shelf was awesome. A great coffee and breakfast with fellow kiwis, artist and about to be Mum second time round, Nicola Donald (partner of Andrew Adamson), and Sala B (not pregnant as far as I know!) rounded the journey off very nicely.
Once again thanks to all of you for your time and all that you bring to these events.
I am finishing this on the day we in New Zealand go to the polls to vote, in our general elections, wish us luck!!!
(P.S. 4 days later and we have to wait for the special votes to be counted as we do not have a clear victor in the elections.)
Ciao