The signing I attended would be the Brooklyn one and I decided to get to NYC at the crack of dawn in order to commandeer a free parking spot and to hopefully start the day early with some combos. My regular travelling buddy
was ok with that but this caused an objection from another friend of ours who we will call J who did not want to sleep in the car for the sake of combos and preferred to come later and split parking 3 ways. He almost didn't come due to this but then finally caved in. I also wanted to stay an extra day to get Dustin Hoffman but as it turned out he was filming 30 minutes north of the city and I had no exact address. So I decided that was too risky.
Anyhow, arrive in the city, commandeered the all important free parking spot, took a nap, and woke up.
The first spot was for Ashley Greene and Naomi Watts. Coming in they did nothing for no one. Naomi Watts leaves first and does nothing. I then chase after the car and hold up my item to get signed at a stop light. To my shock she rolled down and started signing. Other people followed. I managed to get J the only photo op she did at this spot.
Wait some more and Ashley Greene comes out. She is friendly as can be and I get a combo. Already right off the bat J should be thankful that I made him sleep in the car cause he got two first time photo ops he would not have had if we followed his plan to come later and pay for parking. Free parking AND first time photo ops? I would say that's win/win/win on all fronts.
Off to the next spot for Queen Latifah, Ken Jeong, and Alyssa Milano. The first one I never met the other two I already got but have photos for them to sign. Personally I could care less about Queen Latifah's music, but she is also a movie name which is why I wanted that combo.
We missed Alyssa going in but she did nothing for no one. Leaving Alyssa does nothing even after many of us ran after her car down the street. Going in Ken does nothing either. Sadly at this point the rain is hitting hard and hindering potential combos.
We move to an awning to remain dry till she arrives which was a terrible move because we forfeited our spots in the rail and when she arrived it was tough to get anything. I got a blurry and invalid shot! But others there racked autographs. She said she would rush to the car going out and went inside.
At this point Joresky and J decide it's cold, they're hungry, and no one will stop leaving. So they leave to get some food. I warned them "don't go crying if I get a combo from her" as they continued to walk away. I decide to stick it out as does one other person.
20 minutes later Queen Latifah comes out and we scream for her. She does photo ops with both of us, I get her to sign my 8x10. The other guy is stumbling saying he has one poster for her and she says "well hurry up and get it".
Waited more and Ken Jeong comes out. I get my items done and get another photo op just because. Now earlier someone had pointed me to Raven Symone's car. And she is someone I needed an upgrade with. So I waited it out. She comes out and is friendly, I get a photo op. Whoopie Goldberg was also parked by the door but since I have two photo ops with her and nothing to get signed I decided not to wait it out.
I grab some $1 pizza slices, and as I eat them I walk to the next spot and rejoin Joresky, J, and see none other than
and Masters waiting. Sadly I found out I missed Andie MacDowell by 30 minutes. Can't blame myself cause I was waiting for people that I knew I would definitely see. In foresight it's always smart to choose the known over the unknown. But I got a few people at that spot. I got Boris Kodjoe and Titus Burgess. Then I spot someone that looks like a rock star. I yell out for a photo op and he was nice as can be about it. After this is done Joresky realizes it's David Coverdale lead singer of White Snake. Decent music name. Then finally Dominic Sherwood from Shadowhunters. The cast of Pretty Little Liars including Billy Zane sadly rushed out and didn't stop. Sucks cause Billy is a want of mine. After this we take the train to Brooklyn for the Cameron Diaz appearance. This signing was a reunion of graphers including Masters. This is further proof on how impossible she is. Not as many as the Kate Hudson one but also because she did more appearances than Kate Hudson. It was good to see everyone and bs with everyone.
Finally get to Diaz and there are 2 issues. First there are 2 cameras, and second she is standing too far away! WTF? We take the photo op. Upon looking my picture, whilst valid was pretty pixelated and low quality due to 2 flashes going off at once and being too far away. Though Joresky's picture came out fine. I tell them I'm not happy with my picture I want a redo and I'm denied saying "it doesn't matter". Wow they do not know what these things mean to us and what we go through for them. I was asked to move along and when it came time to pick up my book I didn't pick it up saying I either want a refund or I want to go back to take my picture.
I then get called over by a guy and explain to him the situation and how my picture was crappy and I came for that yada yada yada. He says to wait and I do. After a few minutes he pulls me away from the vicinity and I go on explaining and ask "what's the big deal, I can just go back in line and pick up my book when done". He asks if I'm really telling the truth that I still didn't pick up my book and I assure him it's the truth (which it is). He goes "ok, I don't remember you, go". I thank him then go back in line with
A few minutes later the guy comes back to me to confirm that I didn't pick up the book and I do. He also tells another guy "I don't want to fight with him all day. Again go inside, none of the other staff seems to remember me (which is good). I get to Diaz and this time she is standing closer (again, good). I give the staff my camera and tell the pro photographer I just want one flash. He puts his camera down (another good). Get a second shot with Diaz and this time it turned out MUCH better. Not as good as it could be cause she was still a good distance, but more than acceptable. My reaction was this face
I then pick up my book and I shake the guy's hand and thank him. I was extra happy I did what I did when the photos they uploaded to facebook were VERY low quality. To boot, most pictures (mine included) were invalid as either one person or both were looking at different cameras (in my case both of us were looking at another camera). I still saved it for archival purposes but that shot is invalid and garbage. I really hope it doesn't become a trend to have a pro photographer uploading to facebook. It would be the modern day forced Polaroids. At this point on we go chill and have dinner at Wendy's. Then we go to a spot where we hope to see randoms. I then get a call from a Master who gives me a tip for Andie MacDowell. I also informed him of what I was doing and he told me this spot had randoms 2 weeks ago! WTF! Somehow we had wrong info. I then run to the Andie spot but looks like they were done, sadly. So I rejoin Joresky at a spot for Jessica Lange, Gabriel Byrne, Michael Shannon, and John Gallagher. We had good spots on the railing and hoping for the best. We get Colby Minifi. Then we see Jessica Lange dashing to her car doing nothing for no one. Next actor John Gallagher Jr. We sadly don't see Gabriel Byrne and Michael Shannon. Already had Shannon but wasn't to virgilize with some autographs.
Joresky then leaves town and I go to the spot where I went to earlier. Picked up a couple of photo ops, then when Billy Zane and more Pretty Little Liars cast show up they sadly do nothing for no one. I pleaded with Billy for a photo op but he says he doesn't do photo ops at 3am (it was actually 1:15).
After this a grapher who me and Joresky hadn't seen in a year says he'll walk me to my car, take a piss, then take the train. I graciously accept his company. We walk to my car, he takes his piss. He is about to leave and I invite him to crash in the back seat of my car since we are both going back to the Billy Zane spot the next day. He accepts my invitation. Lucky for him I had 2 sets of blankets.
Full list of day 1 photo ops
Cameron Diaz
Ashley Greene
Queen Latifah
Ken Jeong
Raven Symoné
David Coverdale
Wake up and back to the Billy/Andie spot. Sadly don't see either one but I get a few female photo ops including Katherine McNamara from Shadowhunters and Danai Gurira from The Walking Dead. The latter did one photo op at that spot and it was with me. While at this spot I sadly didn't notice a pregnant Emily Blunt in time as she came in and out of her car. Though she probably wouldn't have taken the photo op whilst pregnant.
Then I had to move to another spot for Jai Courtney from Terminator: Genisys, Divergent and of course Captain Boomerang in Suicide Squad. Sadly I didn't have a prime rail spot but that didn't stop me. First the singer MAX leaves and I get a photo op with him. Finally Jai comes and gets handed a sub par silver. I get an autograph then go out of the railing and beg for a photo op which I score. Then I go back get a second autograph. The first auto came out fine but the second one sadly came out bad that I almost want to delete it.
With this objective successfully completed, I go back to the spot I left. Ray arrives and he wants David Coverdale. He also gives me a tip on Chicago's spot and that they are leaving the spot soon. Since nothing was happening here I rush to the Chicago spot and make it on time. Sadly no original members are spotted and I only get two scrubs from the band. I rush back to the original spot, grabbing some $1 pizza slices on the way. I thought about eating it there but then decided "that's how you miss people" so I just took it with me. As I arrive I see Billy Zane take photo ops, so I rush with pizza still in my mouth. I ask for a photo op and he goes "you were here last night" and I say "yes". He goes "no one wants to take pictures at 2am" and I get a photo op! YES another main objective is scored.
While we wait more baseball player Dave Winfield is spotted from a distance and we all get photo ops. David Coverdale also leaves and signs. Then I get Lucy Hale but sadly she is wearing a beanie and shades. Oh well I guess beggars can't be choosers still a valid shot. At this point I am joined by markedout's heelorton who also wants to get Andie.
I get a tip for Andie's spot, but sadly my phone was dead so I didn't see the message till late. Me and heelorton figure it's too late for that spot. We wait and wait still nothing. Then in a rookie move I step aside to charge my phone for 10 minutes and 5 minutes after I go to do that Andie comes in. My reaction is this face
At this point I was bummed and depressed as it seems to be Groundhog day for me when it comes to her. I just keep missing her. I still wait some more and lo and behold the combo Gods took pity on me and give me a chance at redemption. She comes out with her family to go eat dinner! I finally grab the photo op and tell her I've been waiting all day for her. She doesn't believe me but it's essentially half true. I've been waiting at this spot most of the day for her and Billy. Steven Weber also comes out and I score him. SUCCESS!
I then step aside to charge the phone, then at one point me, heelorton, and two others all go to the Jessica Lange/Gabriel Byrne spot. This time we stand on another door hoping to see Byrne and Shannon, but sadly see aboslutely nothing. We go to the door me and Joresky stood at yesterday and it is done.
I go up to a grapher and ask what happened, he saw the same people me and Joresky saw the evening prior plus Michael Shannon! Really?
Me and heelorton then decide to check one last spot for Deep Purple and members of the rap group NWA but sadly it looks like the spot is dead and we are too late. While I failed at all that Lanza and Greg both got Russel Crowe. I already had Crowe but would have liked a shot with less facial hair plus I had something to get signed. In foresight I wanted names I didn't have. In hindsight I should have been at that spot. My day wasn't a bust but the tail bit of the evening was. I guess you win some you loose some. It's the nature of the beast. The only guarantee when it comes to street meets is if you don't play you don't win. Full list of day 2 photo ops
Jai Courtney
Billy Zane
Andie MacDowell
Autographs obtained the past two days
Ken Jeong autographs
Sucks the shittier auto is on the better picture.
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