Dent_1

After getting the very last Alien 3 picture off the table when I went to see Ralph Brown a couple years back, I don't take the chance anymore and always bring my own. Usually, even if the same image is on the table my prints are usually of better quality anyway. That said, I think generally speaking the quality of Showmasters photos is for the most part very good, and I don't think some people realise just how hard it is to find hi-res images for 8x10 pictures from some films shows. Older shows can be very tricky, but speaking of Alien 3, that particular film is a nightmare for high quality cast shots - they are simply not out there! I had a look at the photos on Roy Scammel's table before he got there on Sunday and thought they looked of ok quality. And I AM fussy with this sort of thing. Maybe I didn't scrutinise them enough? Image quality aside I do think a little common sense could be used by the organisers when arranging quantities of certain photos. To not have lots of Cheers photos for Ratzenberger seems daft (not everyone wants a Star Wars bit-parter). When I went to get Bill Paxton's auto on Saturday at about 5, I saw that on Gambon's table they had completely run out of Harry Potter shots and I did wonder at what time the last one was taken. There should have been more because no doubt that is what most attendees will have wanted. Fortunately the dealer opposite had a few Gambon's for any one in desperate need. When I was in an auto queue this weekend (I forget who for) the person in front of me was speaking to a friend and said that even if they get their own item signed they will always take a table photo anyway because that is "part of what they are paying for". I don't know if Showmasters see it the same way, or see the photos as more 'complimentary'? I used to do the same as this attendee above but I don't anymore after I realised that if everyone did that, LOTS of fans would be devastated they may not be able to have a guest on a picture featuring a cherished role. It's a bit selfish.

Based upon what you describe, I think you had very valid reason to ask for a reshoot, no matter how many SECONDS extra it would have taken. I think you're more than entitled to demand it given what these things cost. I had two resoots on Saturday, the first was with Bill Paxton where the photographer got me mid-gob open (hadn't given me the time to smile after Bill exchanged a few words), and the second was Sigourney Weaver where I was in focus but she was slightly out of focus. The crew member looked at the latter a little like I was taking the **** when I asked for a reshoot on Weaver, but even though I am not a photographer, I could see Sigourney was most definately out of focus. Had I been refused in either case, I wouldn't have let the issue lie, and your example sounds far worse if it is mid eyes shut! If the crewmember is quoting "exceptional circumstances" when your son hasn't even been given a moment to look at the camera then I have to think the bloke you spoke to was being a complete jobsworth. After this weekend it has become apparent to me that with the likes of MJFox and Sigourney where most attendees will not get to meet them for an autograph due to how popular/busy they are, that Showmasters are booking a lot more photoshoots these days. It makes sense as fans get to meet thier heroes and it takes less time than an autograph and Showmasters can charge the same, but it felt more like a cattle market and money-spinner than ever this weekend. I didn't feel rushed at any of my shoots, and exchanged a couple of words with Weaver, Paxton, Pryce and Henn, but that was purely down to the graciousness of the guests. The work of the photographers was too hasty and the crew at the shoots far too rushed. The worst example I have seen was with Jonathan Pryce where after immediately having your photo, there was a queue piling up just out of shot of the next person having their photo because they were taking photos faster than than the prints could be given out. Then the attendees were getting shouted at to "move up" when of course they can't because they haven't been given their photo.

Is there a signing time for Sigourney for diamond passes?

I'd love 3 but due to finances can only get 2. Ghostbusters poster and Alien 8x10. Ditto too - though on my photo (hoping for a personalisation) and Alien 12x8 I'm aiming for 6: Four 8x10s (one for each of the alien films), and two trading cards. Its gonna break the bank on one guest but fortunately I am only coming for 8 guests and 5 photos and this will likey be a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet my favourite actress. Or at least thats how I'm justifying it!

Thank you for the prompt reply Wrong Name!

Sorry if a dumb question... Purchased Saturday entry tickets and a photoshoot but didn't validate the tickets. Got the email through reminding me to pay for validation, which I have done now. ...what will need to be scanned by the crew on the day? The entry tickets, or the validation code for those tickets, or both? How does it work in such a scenario (how do the crew know that previously un-validated tickets have since been validated?) Thanks.

Have you been to LFCC before? I assure you there will be A LOT more than 5 guests using the VT system!

Yes I think most of us need pie all over us for photoshoots and to drip down onto our autographs... What?

I've read the FAQs at the start but have a question regarding getting autographs from a diamond pass guest over multiple days and the 'protocol' for fairly obtaining more than the set limit of 5 autos per guest/per interaction. It says there will be a signing time for Diamond Pass holders and should the slot be missed you can join the back of the queue at any time. With someone like Sigourney Weaver where you get 1x guaranteed autograph with a Diamond Pass, does that mean that you could go and get that guranteed auto (plus any extra up to a max. of 5) for example on the Saturday, and later that day, or on the Sunday, could you use the diamond pass agian to get another autograph? (Obviously the free one already having been used/redeemed). OR will the Diamond Pass only allow you to see the guest once on Saturday or Sunday and should you want to see them to get more than 5 items signed, you would need to use your Diamond Pass to guarantee the first 5 autos and any additional would have to be obtained with a normal VT ticket? Thanks for any clarification.

Sorry, but no. Huge Alien/Sigourney fan here but "Ripley" is NOT as recognisable/bigger a character than James Bond. The Bond series has spanned 53 years, featured 6 lead actors in the role, and has always very much been a 'global' series with a far broader appeal. You're entitled to your opinion but number one is spot on - bond may have been going for longer but doesn't necessarily mean he's better - this debate is up there with Star Trek v Star Wars Star Wars v Harry Potter Star Wars v Avatar It's the way it goes with fandoms and polls such as this Sorry, but no. Huge Alien/Sigourney fan here but "Ripley" is NOT as recognisable/bigger a character than James Bond. The Bond series has spanned 53 years, featured 6 lead actors in the role, and has always very much been a 'global' series with a far broader appeal. You're entitled to your opinion but number one is spot on - bond may have been going for longer but doesn't necessarily mean he's better - this debate is up there with Star Trek v Star Wars Star Wars v Harry Potter Star Wars v Avatar It's the way it goes with fandoms and polls such as this I read your post wrong: I thought you were saying that Ripley was a bigger name than Bond! Now I'm on the same page(!) I would say Indiana Jones is a big name but I'd still say James Bond would take the cake. Not talking personal preference/fandom here, but rather casual familiarity amongst the general public. Indy is cool no doubt, but Bond is an institution.

Sorry, but no. Huge Alien/Sigourney fan here but "Ripley" is NOT as recognisable/bigger a character than James Bond. The Bond series has spanned 53 years, featured 6 lead actors in the role, and has always very much been a 'global' series with a far broader appeal.

Finally met her last year at DST3 (after trying to meet her for years but she got into a spate of cancelling), and she was well worth the wait. Lovely lady, made the effort with everyone. Added a personalisation and was happy to add a cool quote to my auto. So, I don't need to meet her this time but to anyone thinking of meeting her - I would seriously recommend seeing her.

Sir Patrick Stewart Gillian Anderson Sir Roger Moore (Private Signing) Ursula Andress Mads Mikkelsen Steven Williams John Rhys-Davies Honor Blackman Michael Madsen Alice Krige

Sorry, got to disagree with this, and I have highlighted some bits in bold, not least of all because it relates to what I (and a couple of people arguing with me above) have sort of been speaking about. Of course it makes a difference who SM announces. For those fans who don't just go for seemingly every other guest, new announcements can make or break this show for the individual attendee, even if we are up to 150 guests so far. A huge number doesn't mean every fan has many people or even a couple of guests they would like to meet at this point. Some of us are more discerning/selective in who we collect and new announcements are very much appreciated by many. ...Until a week ago I was going for Charles Dance (met before), Bill Paxton (wahoo!!), and Michael Gambon (maybe). Some were saying with MJFox DIamond Passes and all the other guests so far, the show already had 'enough' but now I am going for S.Sigourney, C.Henn, C.Hiller, J.Price and R.Park, all guests announced in the last 1 week. All of whom I have wanted to meet for years. So adding to the guest list is not pointless at all. People agreeing with your opinion would mean fanatstic guests I am now going to see may never have been announced in the first place, so sorry, got to call you out on this. With the above now on my list to get, yes I am more financially stretched that I was only a week ago(!) but if Showmasters want to announce more ALIENS guests to this show, for example, and make this the best ALIENS reunion there ever was in the UK, I'll get their autos as there are plenty of cast member I have never met. Same goes for any other phenomenal names I have always wanted to meet. Maybe they couple be spread out to other shows I hear some say? Yes, to a degree I agree, and think shows like the waning CM:MK could do with some enhancements guest-wise, but personally, I don't go for the 'convention' experience (no air-con, appalingly smelling individuals, cramped conditions and organisational stress) so if I can get more guests done in one event, rather than spreading them over several events scattered across the country, I'm all for it. At the very least, it saves massively on travel and other associated costs which take away from the money I would rather put into the show/guests. There are lots of assumptions flying about in your last few sentences....Whoever you or I are going for, (sounds like we will be meeting a similar no. of guests) there will be plenty of other attendees going to spend less, or indeed a lot more, so it pointless to worry about their priorities. Maybe you have less time to look at the stalls now; the stalls are an afterthought for me; and some will go primarily for the stalls. Neither of us can say how people will spend their money. Plenty of people will go for 'smaller' guests and keep them busy, plenty of guests are surely not naive enough to not realise they will not pull in the same number of fans as MJF/Weaver, and the insane footfall guaranteed by so many guests insures that stallholders should get more transient custom at this show that any other event in the country. It's a numbers game/a law of averages.

Some of us just happen to have a lot of fandoms. I usually reach the teens when I count up people I want to meet at these kind of events, this time I'm closing in on twice as many. Not yet reached 40 and not sure I could afford it even if that many guests of interest to me were announced, but I can understand that some people could reach that number. I am somone who likes lost of films/shows myself, but I don't need everyone from everything. I've just recently gotten into Game of Thrones for example, but I'd only ever want autos from Charles Dance and Sean Bean. Not to say Dinklage, Headey, Clarke etc. aren't great in it too but surely we all have favourite actors and consequently lesser favourites? Michael Gambon surely means more to 99% of Potter fans than some random kid who was in the series charging £15 per auto/photo? I just don't enjoy the whingeing on this forum that people can't afford to meet everyone. Well, sorry that is the case for most of us and being more selective might mean less griping, less stress and a more refined collection. Are you implying that someone who wants to meet about 40 guests are not real fans? That's rather insulting and not true at all. I'm simply saying that no-one can be an equal fan of every single guest they meat in exactly equal measure, which is why I put the word 'fan' in parenthesis. We all have favourite films, favourite actors, favourite foods etc. It can be a tough job picking the favourite but there is always a preference. Someone in another thread said the price for Sigourney's auto/photo at £95 was too high because they felt the 'casual' fan could likely not justify that spend. I didn't understand that comment, nor the point in making it because of course a casual fan won't pony up the dough, whereas a diehard fan obviously will (funds allowing of course). One 'fan' may like the Alien films whereas another Alien 'fan' may LOVE them - who is more likely to pay the price? There is no point pretending there are not different levels of fandom. If that were not the case, we wouldn't all budget and prioritise to meet the most important guests to us at each show would we? IMO, and it is only my opinion, sometimes I think some attendees get a bit carried away at these events trying to meet all and sundry without being discerning at all. I mean come on, who are these people moaning the show is getting too big? How is it too big? Nobody has to meet guests into multiple double figures. If Showmasters went around worrying the show was "too big" (capacity issues aside) then they wouldn't be booking amazing guests like Sigourney - and that would be great wouldn't it?!? I really though about meeting Neve Campbell but ultimately thought, "nah, I'll put the money towards another auto from someone I like more." I would have been picking up her auto just for the sake of it, because she is a rare signer, and that goes against my collecting 'rules'. Don't kid yourself, there will be plenty of other 'fans' meeting her and other guests for similar reasons with far less self control than I!

This is my dilemma. Read the name and didn't know which character he played. I do remember Wierzbowski so does he warrant inclusion on a cast item?!?

Great guest for horror fans!

Too big? No, just more expensive! I agree with the posts at the start of this thread wholeheartedly: it is better to have more guests - i.e. more choice. Not every attendee can afford to meet every guest, but not every attendee wants to meet every guest either. I would rather SM booked loads of guests because it is nice that they can give attendees a wide scope of guests that appeal to multiple fandoms. High price tags and rarer guests do not intimade me because I am rather select in who I meet anyway. I think a lot of attendees could be far more selective in their choices. If customers didn't feel they have to have everything, they might not be so worried about large guest lists. I honestly do not understand 'fans' who meet 40 odd guests at these shows and want that many photoshoots too. Surely no-one likes EVERYONE and EVERYTHING??? The most guests I have met totalled 9 at Destination Trek London last year + 1 photo, and prior to that, 8 at last years LFCC + 2 photos. Those were busy shows for me because usually in the past I have gone to these events and never met more than 4 guests. In fact, I went to Collectormania MK last week to meet just one guest! For this LFCC I intend to meet 8 guests (would have been 9 if Jonathan Frakes had not cancelled again) + 5 photos + 2 talks (the latter being something I have never paid for) and even I am suprised by that because up until a week ago... I was originally only going for Charles Dance, Bill Paxton and then Michael Gambon who was recently announced + 1 photo. Dance I have already met, I was undecided on meeting Gambon so was really only making the effort and the journey for the rare Paxton. Then in the last week Showmasters have announced Sigourney Weaver(!!!!!!), Carrie Henn, Colette Hiller, Jonathan Pryce, and Ray Park. I am a huge Alien and James Bond fan (and meant to meet Ray Park at a previous show but missed him) so these are guests I cannot miss. In the space of a few days Showmasters have changed this event from being a bit limp for me, to being a must attend show I am certain will be my best show ever, if only for Sigourney Weaver. This show will be a gamechanger for the organisers and it has happened only 4 weeks before it opens. Had they of been worrying about the event getting "too big" we would not be getting some of the AMAZING new guests just announced. What should they do, turn Sigourney down when they have the chance to finally get her? What a coup! I, for one, am glad they are trying to grow these shows. They provide a unique experience for the fans and the names they are snagging are just getting more impressive each year.

No-one. I'm spent up! But if you insist on adding more guests... Yaphet Kotto Ian Holm Harry Dean Stanton - if you can coax him onto a plane! (those three because they are rare and not getting any younger) and David Duchovny would be nice. Or Judi Dench.

Interesting topic. To serious poster collectors, re-prints are garbage and not worth the paper they are printed on. This is an opinion I agree with 100% unless you want a nice image on the cheap, don't place any intrinsic value on authentic pop-culture memorabilia, or want something for easy to display purposes, rather than archival. Also, if you are gifting to someone else they will usually not understand the value of originals over reprints: it is an argument of a piece of paper vs. an 'identical' piece of paper. If you want something impressive and of real 'value', the preferred option is to have originals signed. Ironically though, most poster collectors are of the belief that signatures (no matter who they are from) devalue rare and desirable posters. End of. So really it comes down to the individual preference of the collector. A signed poster usually has no value to anyone but the person who collected the signatures, especially if the autographs are personalised. And if they are not personalised, so in theory 'worth' more to another collector, good luck proving their provenance. Catch-22. I have many original movie posters and when I have had the occasional piece signed, I do feel I am defacing a piece of artwork. That said, if I was going to potentially have it signed by celebrities at a cost of hundreds of pounds, I would rather they weren't signing something worthless. The only good thing about reprints is they are cheap and will always be in perfect condition, but that's it. They're not even the correct size as originals so are not even faithful reproductions.

Sigourney Weaver - because the Alien films were a staple of my youth, and the fascination remains just as much today. A real sci-if icon and great actress. Bill Paxton, Carrie Henn and Coletter Hiller for the same adoration of the Alien series Jonathan Pryce - because I'm a huge Bond fan and he is one of my favourite Bond villains and really chewed the scenery in Tomorrow Never Dies. Nice to see a rare Bond guest and great actor like him. Michael Gambon - because he is one of our country's best. Obviously liked him in Potter (more than Richard Harris) and loved him in Layer Cake. Ray Park - because he's the best thing to come out of the Star Wars prequels by a mile. Hear he's a nice guest and I always end up thinking I'll get him some other time and never do, so will finally do it. Charles Dance - have always enjoyed his work in everything, and the only guest at this show I have met before. Had him sign an Alien3 pic last time but now I need him for Game of Thrones which I have just started watching. I WAS going to meet Jonathan Frakes but I always expect him to cancel these days and, true to form, he has!

TBH I think the price is far more to do with paying the guest their necessary fees than health & safety!

I understand that Henn doesn't do all that many of these shows so I will be very glad to meet her. Maybe a day out with her surrogate mother enticed her?!? Great that her auto and photo are part of the Sigourney Diamond Pass. I'm liking the tease at more Aliens guests...With the new Terminator film on the horizon, I would love to meet Jeanette Goldstein as Vasquez. Looks like this show may trump the 'Aliens Reunion' show Showmasters put on many years back!

Along with the events happening in the Sigourney Weaver Diamond Pass, Pryce being there Sunday only makes it all the more worthwhile doing both days.

The Diamond Pass cap seems to be definite going from the wording in the post. I imagine normal pass holders will be at this cap too. It would be kind of unfair to give them three when Diamond Pass holders can get only two, don't you think? I agree, it seems pretty definite. But in theory I guess a Diamond Pass holder could obtain two autos and that same attendee could get a VT ticket and try and get another if they were prepared to wait again for her all day if needs be? I would like 4 or 5 autos from her even if it meant I didn't eat for the next month, but I would rather there was a cap on the number if it means more attendees get a better chance to meet her.