Rhode Island Comic Con 2016

Since Froggys took their time to send jpegs I had to wait to make this report. 

After my fight and subsequent success with Richard Dreyfuss, me and head out to Providence for RICC. I drop Joresky at the air b&b he's crashing at then go to the convention center parking garage and collapse. 

Though I had little reason to do RICC for two days (given that Gal Godot was now my only day exclusive want) doing it two days did allow me to relax at a con and go through it stress free. This in itself was a nice change of pace. 

Also thanks to Joresky's vendor buddies we were able to possess vendor passes which were worth their weight in gold and they allowed us easy entry and exit and we didn't even have to go through searches. 

The day begins and I start with voice actor Michael Bell who was in GI Joe, Transformers, The Smurfs, and many other things. Then to Shannon Faron who voiced Wonder Woman in Super Friends. Off to the American Pie folks where I add Thomas Ian Nicholas and Mena Suvari to my near complete American Pie collection. 

Video game voice actor Nolan North had quite the line but I stood in it and got him. Then I got a FREE photo op with John Brennan (Mort Goldman from Family Guy) and other stuff. Robin Shelby (who wore the Slimer suit in Ghostbusters II) was free to all VIPs and vendors. First they said free auto and $10 photo op with the vendor pass. I asked if I could just get a free photo op instead of a free autograph. Then the guy went ahead and said free combo 

Then I went to the Legends of Tomorrow actors and got Casper Crump (Vandal Savage) who was nice as be. And then Falk Hentschel (Hawkman). 

Go to the Froggys area and split Frank Grillo with then back to the main area and go for Deadpool actors. Got Stefan Kapicic AKA Colossus and split Brianna Hildebrand with Greg. Then split 90210's Ian Ziering with Greg. 

After helping Greg out by standing in line for Jeffery Dean Morgan autographs, I looked up what artists might be worth getting and got free photo ops with Joe Sinnott, Steve Lavigne, Roy Thomas, and Allen Bellman. The first 3 were actually shocked I wanted a photo op with them and were more than happy to oblige. Tried for a photo op with Jim Steranko but he said he only takes pictures with hot girls. WTF? If I bought an autograph from him I would have been so pissed had I been denied a photo op.

RICC concluded and it was time for the markedout dinner. It was good to hang out and BS with everyone in a relaxing and stress free setting. I bought a $4 appetizer (a plate of sweet potato fries). Met overthetop for the first time. Joining us was Asian Dave, Joresky, Woodmo, Lanza, wewantflair, Greg2600. Asian Dave said AJLe would also attend was disappointing that he didn't. 

After the dinner we head over to the hotel for some mooching. I mooch Michael Cudlitz, Mark Boone Jr, Theo Rossi, and Travis Aaron Wade. All but Theo are first time shots. Get an update with Melina and an upgrade with Kelly Kelly. I have several Kelly Kelly shots but they are all airport and hotel shots so they're not the best. This shot is night and day compared to what I have I'm glad I never paid for an upgrade all the times I saw her at cons. Then got an upgrade with co creator of Deadpool Rob Liefeld and finally get Arthur Darvill no shades shot (although he has a beanie).

It was painful seeing some people I got at the con walking around that I could have had for free. After this head to the Motel 6 where I split it with Asian Dave and Overthetop. 

Frank Grillo

Thomas Ian Nicholas

Mena Suvari

Casper Crump

Falk Hentschel

Stefan Kapicic

Brianna Hildebrand

Full list of Saturday photo ops part 1

Full list of Saturday photo ops part 2

Full list of Saturday photo ops part 3

Next day I wake up relatively early in order to get a free parking spot. Went to try for some mooching but only got Ming Chen and chatted with NYC combo hunter Leslie while her boyfriend was in the Gal Godot autograph line since he had a Gal Godot VIP ticket. 

Go inside the con and today it would see the presence of NYC Masters (mainly there for the nasty Gal Godot). 

First I go to the table of Guy Gilchrist who claims to be co creator of Muppet Babies and an animator for the original TMNT cartoon. Got a $10 combo with him but I am hard pressed to find online evidence of his claims so I hope I didn't waste my money. 

The table of Michael Koske advertised free photo ops. Though upon further research he seems barely valid I just saw the word "free" and "photo op" then acted upon that. 

Now it was pro op time. I split John Ratzenberger (Cheers, Toy Story) with and both Gal Godot (Wonder Woman) and Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) with 50 Shades of Rey. Sadly we got screwed on Millie Bobby Brown as she made a funny face (she didn't do that for other shots). Wow how unlucky. Gal Godot was actually being super friendly and greeting everyone. I guess she was being fake nice. Millie Bobby Brown, age 12, is both the youngest pro op I ever obtained and the youngest photo op I ever paid for. 

The time at RICC was coming to an end. I picked up a photo op with Kevin Grevioux (co creator of Underworld). I asked him to remove the cap for the photo op and he goes "oh sure, sure!". 

My last get at RICC was Expose member Gioia Bruno. She looks at me and said I look too young to be around in the 80s. HCIT. After the photo ops she goes "hugs are free" and hugs me. 

Gal Godot

John Ratzenberger

Millie Bobby Brown

Full list of Sunday photo ops

RICC autographs

A bunch of music meets plus a Jedi Knight

It is mid November and there is an event that involves Joe Walsh of the Eagles. The event also included other names I either had or didn't care about. Most notably Samuel L Jackson. Of course I will never bother to venture for Sam Jackson, but since he's at an event where I'm there for someone else of course I will pack Sam Jackson items. 

So I venture and wait. Not being in NYC it is wonderful to only be 3 people at the railing. Myself, one Master, and one music grapher. The music grapher was especially useful as he knew who all these people were.

The event also took over all nearby parking. I found an illegal spot down the street. So I stood across the street from the railings and watched my car like a hawk, then whenever a car pulls up I run to the railing. With only 3 people, you don't have to guard a railing spot so I was able to do that. In hindsight that turned out to be smart cause I paid $0 for parking. 

Sadly as we found out Joe Walsh cancelled the event. This was crushing cause he was my reason to be here at all. 

Got a total of 7 photo ops, one of which was a repeat (Cee Lo Green). And Samuel L Jackson begrudgingly did come over and signed one a piece. The music grapher was given one 8x10 to get done (since he doesn't care about Sam Jackson) and Sam commented "oh, same printer" (it was also the exact same picture, so esems he realized what was going on). Then I asked him to sign my Phantom Manace VHS boxset in a specific spot using my gold and he complied with that. Wow how nice it is to just be 3 people. In a chaotic setting no way I could have pulled that off. Since he had a hat on I had zero reason to  ask for a photo op as it would have been a downgrade, though when he was asked for a photo op he just ignored that request. 

One notable rejection was teenage country star Tegan Marie. I actually wanted a photo op in case she does blow up, though everyone seems to doubt she will. I could have come back after the show but I didn't want to put more time. 

Though I always prioritize photo ops over autograph, the only haul I care about here was my Sam Jackson autograph, since I am not a fan of anyone I got a photo op with. But without Joe Walsh I had to take whatever scraps I could pick up. 

Full list of photo ops

Phantom Manace boxset


Next day there was a concert featuring the original lead singer of Queensryche Geoff Tate, the lead singer of Iron Maiden from 1994-1999 Blaze Bayley, and Tim Owens who was the lead singer of Judas Priest from 1996-2003. My main want from those three was Blaze Bayley because I'm a huge Iron Maiden fan and I also enjoyed the album X-Factor even though it was not well received critically. 

Additionally, I was originally going to go for them at the venue where I caused the scene with Gordon Lightfoot. But a tour date was added which not only cut my driving time by over 50% but also meant that the venue won't be seeing my face for the foreseeable future (which hopefully means they will completely forget me).

So I arrive and wait for the concert to break. A lot of times they hold meet and greets inside that venue so I had to mooch my way inside as I did in the past. From people leaving I managed to get the proper "insignia" to look like I was inside. Then I looked through the glass door and didn't look like any of the three were at the merch table. To boot, I would find out that they were selling paid meet and greets! $60 per person or $100 for a couple. So I aborted the mooching mission and simply stood by where they were going to come out. In hindsight that was a brilliant move cause they were kicking out people that actually paid for the show but had no meet and greet tickets. 

Two such people would join me in the wait, and their only real goal was Blaze Bayley. As opposed to me who wants to milk every bit I can from the time and effort I put into things.

First they spot is Tim Owens who would have passed right by me. He is nice as can be and does photo ops. Wait some more and we finally spot Blaze. He says he would put his stuff in the bus and come back. True to his word he did, but sadly he put an eskimo hat on. He was nice as can be, telling life stories, signing, and doing photo ops. 

My main goal was accomplished now it was time to wait for Geoff. The other two were satisfied and left, so I was now alone. Luckilly I had the brilliant foresight to view some m&g photo ops from pepole leaving so I knew exactly how Geoff looked like (he has a beard unlike the photos that come up on google images so would have likely walked by me if I didn't know that). 

Wait some more and he shows up. I ask for a photo op and like Blaze he says he would come back after putting his stuff in the bus. So I wait and the bassist in the band (who isn't valid) comes down from the bus and asks what I'm waiting for. I say that Geoff said he would come out. He said he'd remind him but thought he'd come say hi. Since he did come down just for me I took a photo op with him so he doens't feel left out. He then shook my hand as he went back in the bus. 

True to his word Geoff comes out, and nice as can be. Shook my hand, asked my name, did a photo op no problem. Wow how refreshing. I can see why goes for all the lower tier music names he does as they are normally so happy to do combos. Though I should add that Geoff, even though not my main reason for doing this, is no small name as he was the lead singer of Queensryche for 30 years from 1982-2012 (and will forever be their only valid lead singer). 

Full list of photo ops

Blaze Bayley

Geoff Tate

Signed X-Factor CD

The PRINCESS gave me some WOOD

It was a long and grueling RICC weekend yet there was no rest for the weary as I get a tip for actor Woody Harrelson and director Rob Reiner (Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally). Not too much can make me move after a long grueling weekend, but two great names that I failed on in the past would do it. 

I drive to get to the spot. I am a few blocks away and would get my first PUNCH. The police blocked the road! I waited and waited and the road didn't open up. So I made an illegal left turn and had to detour to the spot! Sadly by the time I got there the Master waiting informed me that I was 20 minutes too late! He showed me his perfect Rob Reiner photo op and an invalid Woody photo op. He also added that he doesn't care that much because he has a perfect shot with Woody from the pre digital age. 

He would leave while I waited in case they would both leave to go to a restaurant as opposed to staying for the whole event. Sadly it became evident they would stay and I was stuck waiting. Wow how crushing. 

The event breaks and the Master returns. He looks around and says none of the cars waiting belong to them. WTF! At this point we're not even sure if they're inside or snuck out but after research seems they're both inside. I attempt to mooch my way inside but to no avail. A bit later one grapher who is a minion shows up. 

Wait a bit more and all of a sudden everyone that is left inside walks out. I first approach Woody and ask for a selfie and he agrees! I couldn't believe it! I got a shot and it is valid! I then take a photo op for the Master but turns out it's still invalid. I then run to Rob Reiner and get a photo op. I ask him for autographs and look for my gold but accidentally give him the blue. And he is nice as can be making sure to sign in the area where the blue would show.

Me and the minion then wait to ask Woody for autographs but he denies us. 

As I was leaving I get a call about the restaurant they were at in case I wanted to attempt for  a Woody autograph, but I decided to quit while ahead. 

Sucks I had to dedicate much more time than I initially had hoped, but the end results speak for itself. And getting two upper tier names I failed on in the past, one of which is not known to be the nicest, that's a pretty damn good end result. 


Woody Harrelson

Rob Reiner

Autographs

Pre Rhode Island Comic Con meets in two cities

Prior to going to RICC, me and  headed to NYC. We arrived a little later than we had hoped but the event we were going to ended up having no access. With that revelation we went to a spot where was waiting. As we arrive turns out we missed Jon Voight by 10 minutes though I already had him. We end up getting actress Skyler Shaye and waited for JK Rowling but turns out she went through the back of the building.

With a rather uneventful evening we commandeered a free parking spot and readied to get some shut eye. Vanessa the Jersey Shore Stalker decided to to crash in my car in order to get up early and try for Ryan Phillippe of Cruel Intentions. Since he is a want of mine I decided to join her at the spot. 

Wake up bright and early and go to the spot. Unfortunately for Joresky who is still fast asleep we find out Voight already left. 

So we wait and wait and Ryan finally comes out and is nice as can be. Sadly he's wearing hat and shades but at least that's a fresh photo op for me. 

Next up I go for Priyanka Chopra. I got her before but the shot I have is pretty bad. She is wearing shades, she is in a car, pose is bad, and the sun is shining. Rather than shoot for an upgrade Joresky preferred to go eat breakfast at McDonalds citing that she'd have shades on (and by the time he got back the railing was full so he could not wait). 

The crowd is sizable, she arrives, and starts signing. I tell her I have nothing to get signed and want a photo op. She pulls a Moses/red sea on all the graphers' extending hands and stands next to me as I selfie it. Though she is wearing shades it is still night and day compared to my old shot. MUCH better in every respect. Even the shades she is wearing you can see through them. Based on my old shot I almost considered I didn't have a photo op with her. 

Next up I try to break the long running curse I have with Jennifer Lopez. Go to the spot but I see nowhere to wait. Turns out she is in a building that has a garage. Abort mission, the curse lives on. 

Go to the set for Pierce Brosnan. I have a shades shot with him so this would hopefully be an upgrade. First get is Tate Donovan who I missed out on in the past so I was happy to get that. See Wallace Shawn and I figured why not get another shot. He also said that today he's a celebrity doing photo ops and no one knew who he was yesterday. I replied "really? That's inconceivable". Joresky took my shot but it was invalid. No biggie as I got him so I didn't fight for a retake. Next picked up shot with Cynthia Nixon (update) and Debi Mazar (upgrade). 

Also got in a spat with another grapher who made a threat. I cursed him out and dared him to make the threat while I recorded him. 

Finally time for the main event with Brosnan and he is swarmed by graphers. I get an auto and he does one photo op. The graphers leave and the guy who I had a spat with apologizes to me. I accepted his apology and shook his hand. Me and Joresky then wait for round 2 with him and in a rare NYC moment we have a huge name 2 on 1! He signs, takes photos. Sadly the photo was overexposed and Joresky didn't notice or take another for me (after I took a perfect shot for him that he relished when he saw). 

This ended our time in NYC as we then head for Hartford. 


Pierce Brosnan

Ryan Phillippe

Priyanka Chopra

Full list of NYC photo ops

Brosnan autographs

For reference, my old Chopra shot


My main want in Hartford is Richard Dreyfuss, and my secondary want is Roscoe Orman from Sesame Street. 

First stop is Dreyfuss. It breaks and we wait. We get a photo op with actress Christa Scott-Reed. Finally the witching hour is upon us. In order to increase my chances at a photo op I hold up my program and my camera, keep all my merch in a bag, and ask for a photo op. He goes off on me and says "you're a pro autographer, you're a pro you're a proooo" and I ask him how am I a pro if I'm only asking for a photo op. He attacks me and grabs my bag asking "what's this, what's in there, merchandise, you're a pro". 

This marks the first time a celebrity physically assaulted me. 

He then goes to a restaurant, and I decide to wait for him to finish. Before doing that I go to the next spot for Roscoe Orman and Cleavant Derricks from Sliders who is get if there for me. We are by the front and Cleavant dashes out the other door. But we manage to catch Roscoe Orman. He sees us and looks at us with a mixture of this face and this face  but when we explain what we want he is nice as can be. We each get a combo no issue. 

Back to Dreyfuss and I confirm that he is still in fact inside. Wait a little more and him and his entourage exit. I plead some more and his wife goes "ohh you've been waiting all this time, c'mon take a picture with him" as I grab a selfie! Wow success when I didn't expect it. My reaction was this face

I decided not to push my luck with an autograph as we head for Providence. 

Richard Dreyfuss

Full list of Hartford photo ops

Autograph

Some scattered meets in October and November

In mid October I went to an event where any randoms could show up. So I had no items on me and hoped for the best. While waiting some names began to leak so I was able to know who I'm looking for. First sighting is John Turturro from Transformers, The Big Lebowski, and more. That is a name I once missed at NYCC so it was awesome to make that up! He was nice as can be and did photo ops. 

Next was another half decent name in Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni. I enjoyed him in Son of the Pink Panther. Unfortunately he is rushing in and not trying to stop. I get a photo op where he's looking at me. James Taylor comes in and is his usual friendly self. I get another photo op with him, which may be my best James Taylor photo op I ever got. 

Now I could have waited 3 or 4 hours to hopefully see Roberto again and hope he is accomodating in order to improve my photo op. But I chose to go home. In hindsight that may have been a bad move because when he came out he was nice as can be and did proper photo ops for all waiting. Quite the PUNCH. 

John Turturro

Roberto Benigni

James Taylor



The day prior to my Mel Gibson score I went to the airport for the director of Rocky and Karate Kid, John G. Avildsen. Ask for a photo op and he goes "no thank you" but then we talk him into signing and then he finally accepts to do photo ops! Success.

Photo op

Autographs

Sadly I screwed up on the 8x10. It's from a movie he directed but he's not actually on the 8x10. Incorrect. 

Early November I attend a book signing for actress Jane Alexander. She made a speech first then after the speech a fraction of the crowd lined up at her table. One guy had two books so I asked if I could get his book signed for him so I could just get the photo op. He agreed. I go up to her, she signs, and I get the photo op. Quick, easy, and painless (for a change). 

Photo op


The next day it is time for Faerie Con. I pick up and we head over there. I enter the con and find both Wendy Froud and her son Toby at their table. Toby was baby Toby in The Labyrinth, and his parents created the goblins in the movie. They also did other work for Jim Henson movies. Sadly Toby's dad had to cancel the con. But I get both Wendy and Toby on my blu ray digi book of Labyrinth and get Toby to sign other photos. I also get photo ops. 

Then I go to a panel. That panel has Wendy, Toby, and Jim Henson's daughter Cheryl Henson. Cheryl did lots of work for Jim Henson movies so she is valid. I get a photo op. Technically it would have been correct to get her on Labyrinth items but I felt her role for that movie was too minor to warrant getting her to sign them. 

With this done I go to a book signing for author Holly Black at the same event. She is the author of Spiderwick Chronicles which was made into a movie. I tried for her once at Bookcon in NYC but it was so chaotic I barely got the photo op and was not able to get my extras signed. So this way my chance to make that up. Thankfully I didn't have to buy the overpriced books they were selling at the table since I had the books of own (which I bought for like $1 when I hoped to get her at bookcon). She thanked me for bringing those books and signed them. I asked for a photo op and she was happy to oblige. 

Full list of Faerie Con photo ops

Signed 8x10s

Blu ray digibook

Signed books

This ended my time at this con. I then dropped Joresky home and proceeded to an event for Mike Pence (this was saturday before election night). Sadly I arrived a little late and people were already going in. The line was HUGE. If I stood at the back of the line I would have zero chance at the photo op. So I casually and successfully mooched my way into the front of the line. 

Got in, went through security, then took my spot. Sadly the spot was third row. Much MUCH better than all the way back if I had followed the rules, but still not very good. So I wait some more and one guy in front of me decides to leave. I pray to the combo Gods that he decided to leave leave as opposed to going to the bathroom and returning and thankfully he never came back 

YES so now I'm second row! I have a good shot. Then I get a second blessing from the combo Gods. Next to me as a guy on a wheelchair who is in his 50s. I befriend him, show him my Donald Trump photo ops, show him other celebrity photo ops, and even offer to take his Mike Pence photo op. After all being allied with someone in a wheelchair can do nothing but increase my chances. 

Speech after speech, Pence begins. Since I am in good view of Pence I of course make sure I visibly clap and cheer. I also started chants! Namely "build the wall" and "drain the swamp" chants (who said wrestling is useless!)

When the witching hour finally arrives, I have my newly found buddy ask him for the photo op. I let one of Pence's aids know that I'm taking his picture then getting a selfie. He gets his photo op then I ask for the selfie and SCORE! 


The best part about this, unlike other events of this kind it was not life draining and I only dedicated 40% of the time I normally would. I guess one reason is because I arrived late and mooched as opposed to arriving early but also because I would normally target presidents or presidential candidates. Here it was a VP candidate.  

Three days later this would be the next Vice President! 

Photo op

Post Chiller meets in NYC were pretty GOOD

After Chiller theater me and head to NYC for some meets. Joresky wanted to go for Lisa Lampanelli. I could care less for her as it's a get if there name for me. So I went for Frankie Valli to try to get his autograph and upgrade my photo op. 

I wait and sadly Frankie takes long to come out, and when he does it's programs only no photo op! Bust! To add insult to injury, that combined with traffic meant I wasn't able to get to the B52s in time! Wow what a PUNCH. We then wait at a spot to see if any randoms are spotted, but sadly nothing. Hindsight is 20/20 I should have stayed at Chiller and mooched little then later in the evening gone directly to the B52s. 

We commandeered our free parking spot a couple of blocks from Times Square and went to sleep. I slept like a baby for like 7 hours. 

First spot for the next day, my main target is a huge want in John Goodman. I've heard mixed things about him in that spot. So I had to try for myself. First get there is Robert Morse. So many young actors want to do nothing, yet Morse is 85 and happy to do multi combos with everyone. Get Jefferson Mays, John Slattery, and Dylan Baker. This Dylan is a huge upgrade because he was bundled up in the cold when I last got a valid shot with him. 

When I saw John Goodman I approach and plead for a photo op. He goes "I'm going to finish this fucking cigarette". I apologize to him and inform him truthfully that I didn't see the cigarette. I then inform all graphers he is smoking and to back up. 

When he is done I get the first shot, which was damn good because the venue people cut off photo ops after about 3 people! But he was a signing machine in fact when the venue folks said "do you need to go inside" he said "I've gotta finish these first". Sadly he had a tendency to drop the pen on the freshly signed item. I managed to get two items done. First a Monsters, Inc DVD which got slightly smudged (still good though) and the second was a Revenge of the Nerds blu ray which I managed to move away before he could drop the pen on it. 

Overall, it was good to start my day with a huge want such as John Goodman, especially since I heard very mixed things about him. Additionally, my October finally lived up to that of previous years albeit through the skin of its teeth. In the very tail end of October I got Mel Gibson, Jeremy Irons, and John Goodman! 

Next up I go for Mary-Louise Parker. I got her before but wanted to get some autographs and improve my photo op. She is nice as can be but sadly is wearing shades so I didn't improve my shot. But I got her to sign. Then to a spot for Amy Ryan and Richard Armitage from the Hobbit. Get a few names there but sadly Amy Ryan apparently slipped by us and Richard apparently snuck out. This spot is a bust. 

Next up to a spot where randoms are expected. It's off to a good start for me as I upgrade my Naomi Watts photo op. I get even more photo ops and see people I have which I don't bother. For instance I saw Lucy Liu but since I have a couple of shots with her I stayed back so some of my other buddies can have a chance. We were informed that Pierce Brosnan entered. I already got him but could use a no shades upgrade. Joresky wanted to wait till exits but I was dead against that because I thought zero chance he would stop in that crowd. But we made a compromise to wait till intermission. Sure enough at intermission we see him but does nothing for no one. We did however see Ray Fisher AKA The Cyborg in Justice League! He was nice as can be and that saves me a pro op at RICC!! 

Sadly this wait was not without a PUNCH. While waiting for intermission I found out that Keri Russel, who I still need, was at another spot and did photo ops! This would have been my second best NYC name after John Goodman 

While Joresky declared this day not worthwhile for him, I saw it differently. I got a huge want in John Goodman, flourished by a few fresh names and a few upgrades, and topped with a name that saves me fuck money at RICC! I surely walked away happy with that haul. 

John Goodman

Naomi Watts

Ray Fisher

Full list of NYC photo ops

Autographs

Chiller Theater Halloween 2016

Like most, I thought that this Chiller theater line up was overall lacking. But they had two huge names for me, namely Tim Curry and Natasha Henstridge. Just for those two names, they did good by my book. 

I attended this with and sadly due to him swearing off splits and me being unable to secure very many splits (save a few with Greg), I had to skip some people I had hoped to get. While it helped that some photo ops were $10 and a couple were free, this con was a bigger blow to me than I had planned. Also, due to my Mel Gibson endeavor this essentially took away any mooching opportunities for Chiller.  

Some people had an issue with Tim Curry. Some decided not to get to the photo op due to how he looks after the stroke. This is something I cannot comprehend. Me? BECAUSE he had a stroke I am ever so grateful to the combo Gods to even have the opportunity to get a valid photo op with him. 

Speaking of which, Tim Curry had the longest line, and when I got up to him he shook my hand and introduced himself. Seemed genuinely appreciate of everyone. 

Got the group op with Tony Orlando and the Dawn. Joyce said I was cute, HCIT. The photo op would have upset me due to not being next to Tony IF I didn't already have a Tony photo op from his last Chiller appearance. So it made perfect sense to stand between the two females. 

There was one huge PUNCH in the face for me. Denise Nickerson once again got sick at Chiller thus prevented me from getting a photo op with her. Now I doubt she will ever return to Chiller. All I can hope is that Mike Tee Vee does another reunion. 

Also Scott Ian was supposed to be pro op only. But thankfully he did table ops!

Besides that not too much to say except the standard running around. Good seeing everyone as always. I go zero autographs at Chiller. Here is a sampling of Chiller photo ops with full lists. 

Tim Curry

Natasha Henstridge

Karen Fukuhara

Scott Ian

Ted Lange

Telma Hopkins, Joyce Vincent Wilson, and Tony Orlando

Tonya Pinkins

Full list of photo ops part 1

Full list of photo ops part 2

I had a PASSION for some IRON COBRAS

Let us look at some of my endeavors before heading out to Chiller. 

First off I try for an incoming train of actor Jeremy Irons. Sadly I don't see him. Could he have walked by me? Could he have garaged it out? The mystery remains unsolved. 

I then head to the event. While waiting secret service asks what I'm doing I say I'm "just hanging". Finally a town car pulls up and there he is. I ask for a photo op he says he does not do selfies and I have to ask someone to take it. I get the photo op. Yes I am now on board! He signs for a grapher then I try for an autograph but he denies me. The secret service guy then says "now I know why you were waiting". I then proceed to show him some of my photo op collection and he goes "they're people just like you and me". I say "well I see it differently, I guess to each his own". I call over the grapher to go over to the next spot then tell the secret service guy to "have a good day" and he replies "have a good day gentlemen" as we walk away. 

Jeremy Irons

Proceed to the next spot for a shot at one holy grail level want, and one huge want. Namely Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn, respectively. Luke Bracey, who plays Cobra Commander in GI Joe: Retaliation, is also there. 

I enter the event and give out the name of a Master and they check the name from the guest list. I am let in. Sadly in the event it didn't seem like it was possible to get near the celebs. They were surrounded and security guards watched you like a hawk. At one point they went right passed me and I felt crushed beyond belief. Wow what a painful experience that was. The event then ends and I rush outside as I believe there is no opportunity inside. 

Two Masters are outside and they point out which cars belong to the three of them. Go by the door where exits are going happen and the waiting game begins. We are three people, myself, one Master, and his minion. Much better than NYC spots where you would have 30 to 300 people. There was one security guard that was being particularly aggressive towards me inside the event, but as I told the other two, if he dared do anything on the sidewalk he would have hell to pay. 

Everyone comes out at once, and security surrounds. The Master breaks him down for the photo op and he does it. As he heads towards his car I beg and plead and completely ignore said security guard next to Mel (who to his credit was not very aggressive with me). As I plead more Mel goes "ok ok, stop screaming". I then get this incredible holy grail shot with this legendary actor and director, Mel Gibson

Mel also signed for the third guy there. But I didn't get a chance to ask for autographs. It was really either or in that setting. 

Sadly in this focus on Mel, Vince Vaughn is already in his car. But I rush to Luke Bracey who is not yet in his car. I ask for a photo op and he does that no problem. 

Mel Fucking Gibson

Luke Bracey 

Overall I would say a successful day. Sucks the photo ops aren't ideal (shades, beard) but October which is usually my best month has been pretty dire and flourished with so many punches. Beggars can't be choosers when it comes to street meets and I've been quite the beggar lately. So I am ever so grateful to the combo Gods for this day where they giveth me Jeremy Irons and Mel Gibson 

The weekend quest for Bill Murray

Bill Murray is a huge want of mine that I previously failed on in the past. So on a weekend in October I had a chance at him. Armed with a camera and my items, I hope to score this huge want of mine.  

But first I would go for a spot to try for director Tom Shadyac and actor Robert Duvall. Tom has directed many great comedy movies including Ace Ventura, Liar Lair, Bruce Almighty, Patch Adams, and The Nutty Professor (among others). Duvall I had but wanted to upgrade my photo op and get some autographs.

I arrive and wait for Tom's event to be done. After the fact he is nice as can be. I get the combo. 

I also see Ed Asnar walking around and my reaction is this facebecause I forgot to print stuff for him. But I got another photo op with him.

Sadly I missed Duvall going in, so I had to wait for a more chaotic exit. I would also be joined by and some other people he informed of this spot. 

On exit it was chaos. One guy try to tell me "sir, he's not signing" I respond with a quick and curt "leave me alone" and Duvall starts signing. I get autographs and I get a photo op. Sadly I consider this photo op a downgrade from my last one. Though he has a cap in my first photo op here the pose isn't very good.  

Unfortunately this spot was not without a PUNCH in the face. There was another spot with Miley Cyrus but I expected it to be total chaos (which it was). But some people did have success there, though others also failed. I set my sights to where I thought I had more guaranteed success. Additionally, a Master would not give me the hotel of Miley (where she did combos) because he was afraid I would pass the info to Joresky. 

Now off to the next spot for the evening. This is where I would at least see Bill Murray. 

Sadly this spot would start off badly for me as I missed Ivan Reitman (director of Ghostbusters 1&2 and Kindergarten Cop) and Brian Doyle Murray! Addtionally there would be a policeman who did not like our presence. He would say he feels threatened by us following everyone around. He said "I have a job to do" to which I responded "you have a job to do, so do we". 

Bill Arrives and sadly is not in a photo op mood. He says he's going to walk and to walk with him. I manage to get one of three autographs that he gives out. I got him on my Ghostbusters laserdisc which he looked at before signing.

I also got a Paul Shaffer photo op on entry which was a tad blurry but got a retake on exits. Some people got Santa bearded David Letterman photo ops but I had no reason to fight for that one. He also refused to sign autographs saying he's no longer in show business. 

On exits I manage to also get a Sigourney Weaver autograph and BEG Ivan Reitman for a photo op which I manage to score. Ivan didn't sign anything. Bill comes out and signs 7-10 autographs but I sadly fail to get one on exit. For some reason he seemed to have singled me out in this round. 

Jane Curtain and Bill Hader did nothing for no one on entries or exits. 

Go to another spot where I watch Bill Murray curse out adelta (I didn't approach as I knew he would do nothing for no one there). I also get a Jimmy Kimmel combo (upgrading the hat and shades photo op I have with him). 

Tom Shadyac

Full list of day 1 photo ops


Next day is a spot where Bill Murray and others are expected. The first arrival is Brian Doyle Murray and I ask for a photo op one on one. He did the shot, but did nothing later. 

I also improve my photo op with Ivan Reitman and get autographs. Coming in I got him on my Ghostbusters laserdisc and his page on the Ghostbusters blu ray digibook. Leaving I got him to sign the director's letter that comes with this. 

Got more Sigourney Weaver autographs including the blu ray digibook. Emma Stone comes and I got a photo op along with autographs. Sadly her autograph on my Amazing Spiderman 2 8x10 is bad as she signed on a dark spot and went over Andrew Garfield. I consider this item garbage. But I got her on an 8x10 and two Amazing Spiderman 2 posters so I don't mind. 

Other photo ops included Rhiannon Giddens and Roy Blount Jr. Also got Bill Hader autographs. Sadly both Bill Murray and Miley Cyrus snuck in and out. At one point I was thinking of going to get Heather Menzies and actor Nicholas Hammond (both in the Sound of Music and Nicholas played the 1970s Spiderman) but didn't for fear I would miss Bill. In hindsight that was a horrible move cause I would have missed nothing. 

Later on Bill Murray shows up and does nothing but shake hands. Jane Curtin as usual does nothing for no one. 

On exits I tried again for Emma Stone (I have no shades shots from her in the past but needed a better shot) however she didn't do too much. Some got photo ops by breaking barrier rules but I didn't want to do that for an upgrade. 

Bill Murray leaves and keeps going. I am weary about breaking rules at this spot as I don't want to strain things, but I do. After adelta gets a cell phone no flash shot I go up and ask but he ignored me and walks inside. 

We then wait on the other side of the building. Larraine Newman starts signing and I beg for the only photo op she does the whole evening. Bill comes out and we're told to line up, but he just goes into his car. 

With this epic fail, I try one last spot to no avail, then I drive home in depression and tears. 


Ivan Reitman

Full list of day 2 photo ops

Now to showcase autographs obtained:

8x10 photos part 1

8x10 photos part 2

Amazing Spiderman 2 Posters

Blu Ray digibook: Sigourney

Blu Ray digibook: Ivan Reitman

Ghostbusters laserdisc

Only other living member I would add to the laserdisc is Rick Moranis.