SDCC 2007: Um, More Weta?

Oy, so I feel like I've left out something in my Weta-thon post...
http://marybluefairy-forest.blogspot.com/2007/08/sdcc-2007-weta-thon.html

Here is the intrepid Lord Cockswain and Moon Mistress. This bad@$$ sculpture was LIFE-SIZED! It was a bit eerie to walk by this every day, as Lord Cockswain seems to have a twinkle in his eye. In fact, in one video I saw, I could swear his eyes moved! Freak-y. Since it was made of some type of foam and was NOT roped off, you could often spy little children poking at it, bits being knocked off, and Jaime performing emergency surgery with a bottle of tacky glue. Seriously though, the sculpture was really life-like, the skin was amazing. I spotted this hilarious video of Cockswain getting dressed. ;)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gEq2D7QmU4o

Sorry, Broadmore. :P

In case you didn't know, Weta Bug is the awesomest. You know who thinks so? Weta. Apparently, Daniel Falconer did the original Weta Bug illustration, from which this statue was made. Several Weta members were involved in the sculpting and painting of this one of a kind collectible. Hmmm...makes me think I should commission a marybluefairy collectible...Okay, at least a drawing? No? A sketch? Sigh...

So these thingies here were a sore spot with some fans at Comic Con. I cannot profess to be a Dr. Who fan (in fact, I caught a glimpse of the show the other day and declared it to be so awful, I changed the channel, heh), but there are apparently legions of them and they were piping hot when these bits of gold cloth stayed on all weekend! There were to be 4 statues revealed at SDCC, but only two were uncovered. The two here were not yet approved for viewing, though Jaime slyly let a few bits and bobs peek out. You can read the labels for yourself if you are so inclined. I, however, was present when Jaime briefly lifted the covers to give us a look (no pics, sorry). Mighty impressed, I was, though I still don't have any desire to watch the show! I will be stoned by Dr. Who fans who justifiably feel that such fortune was wasted on my miserable self. :P

Smeagol Bust

I would be remiss if I blogged about meeting David Wenham, but not Andy Serkis. Andy was genuinely cool. I made a dumb joke, something about Ebay, which actually got a few laughs from the folks standing around. I felt like an idiot, but I couldn't stop it coming out me mouth!

It took me a long time to decide what to get signed, I really wanted to get the Gollum DVD exclusive signed because it's (inexplicably) a bit less common, and even thought about getting the Smeagol signed too (extra $35, ka-ching for Creation), to make a matching set. In the end, there was just no smooth surface on the base, and I don't have the big Gollum bust, so this one was it. As you can see, Andy figured out the right place to sign. :P It's a little off-center, but that's mainly due to the hand being in the way. It really is a well-done little piece, but it is a bit front-heavy and because there are so many of them, it doesn't get it's due. If the edition were, say, 1000, it would be more popular.

I didn't take this photo, I don't remember where I found it, but it's awesome, no? Hehe. My friend Dune and I got to see photos that Andy took with this little guy. It belongs to one of the attendees, looks like maybe the Rubies life-size? Anyway, I believe she brought it in for a photo-op and Andy was so taken with it, he asked for a few shots for his personal collection. There's an especially charming one where he is pushing the stroller, Dune dubbed it "Son of Gollum." Alas, since the photos were just for Andy's benefit, I don't have any to show you, you'll have to use your imagination. :)

Autographed Faramir Helm

Dear Collectors,


Do you notice anything unusual about this helm?




No?

I had the good fortune to have David Wenham autograph my Faramir Helm last Saturday. I probably waited about 10-15 minutes. Having mistakenly thought that the line was going to take a lot longer than it did, I went back to the hotel room, but rushed back in time to be one of the last through. Since I was totally oblivious to the "no pictures" rule, I had my camera out. I try to be helpful in such situations and tried to show him where to sign it. Well, the woman in charge dismissively said, "Oh, he's signed lots of these before," to which he added something to the effect of "Yes, and it's rather difficult to do." I take a few blurry pics as he carefully pens his name:



It is only after I get back to the hotel room and open up the carefully swaddled base that I discover...that he signed the back.

In the photos above, I have the helm on the base properly. However, on my shelf it is displayed signature and helm forward. It doesn't look terribly out of place, as the helm obscures the top of the base (which indicates the direction), but still. Had I noticed while I was still in his presence, I might have sheepishly asked him to write "Faramir" on the front. John Rhys Davies signed my Gimli bust similarly, with the signature on the front and "Gimli" on the back. Ah well.

I also have a lovely portrait of David and I together, and indeed we are wearing eerily matchy-matchy black shirts, but no I am not blogging it! One thing I noticed about him in close proximity was the straw-like texture of his hair. I swear it was sticking straight out in the back!