Diabolik Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Ok let's hear about your experiences with this chap! I'm sure there will be some interesting stories! For my part, he was completely disinterested, grunted an acknowledgment to my hello, and the signing interaction was over. As for the photoshoot! Well it nearly didn't happen and I understand that he had to be talked into it but only agreed on the strict proviso that no one touched him, even inadvertently and so the seats were positioned about a foot apart! Absolute joke and I might as well have not had a photo with him as it looks ridiculous with me sat on the left, Steven Berkoff on the right and a gaping big gap in the middle!!!!! I kid you not! I've read bad comments about Famke, which I did not find to be the case, but Steven Berkoff is probably the worst guest experience I've ever had. I'm sure I'm not alone in finding this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riot_star Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 You are not alone. I originally wasn't going to get his autograph but when I saw him I changed my mind. I asked how he was and such but got no reply. Just a quick signature and that's it. I understand people have off days, but some kind of acknowledgment would've been nice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenThePirate Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 To be fair, with the rigours of a con day and the age of the guest, him feeling ill and making a request to make a photo shoot easier is not unreasonable. The fact that he still saw the shoot through was a credit to him, and for my part he said thank you when I said it was a pleasure to meet him and you're welcome when I thanked him. Everyone has different experiences but mine wasn't bad. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerraHawk Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 (edited) I was warned he'd probably be a bit miserable from someone who got him at the last signing, but I was only after an undedicated autograph - not a meet and great - so that suited me. But he did interact with the person before me, as he was very careful to spell his name right on his dedicated photo. Edited July 30, 2016 by TerraHawk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.W Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 He was in good form when I met him fairly early on. I got a smile and he seemed well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007 spells Bond Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 (edited) Wasnt sunshine but wasnt grumpy either , not to me anyway. Polite. Edited July 30, 2016 by 007 spells Bond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Brownstone Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Have to echo the sentiments regarding the photoshoot - overall a poor experience. In mine, and several others I saw, he wasn't looking at the camera. One person's I saw he almost appeared to be looking in a totally different direction altogether. Totally disappointing, and a waste of time & money for a photograph with someone who isn't looking at the camera. Might just as well get someone to snap a quick pic when he walks past you on his way to the bathroom or something, and stand in the vague vicinity of the shot. For all intents and purposes would be the same result. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007 spells Bond Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Then he should simply skip doing shoots imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OurDek Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 If he is one of those people who hate having their photograph taken then I agree that there should not have been a photoshoot. It seems to me that this was a case of his management wanting their extra money in spite of his reluctance/displeasure at having a photograph taken. They would have known in advance that he may not like the publicity of a photograph and should not put him in the position of being forced to have a photograph. Now I am in no way excusing his behaviour but you'd be surprised how many actors and actresses I've met who really hate having a photograph taken because it leaves them feeling exposed or vulnerable. I've spoken to several stars who are happy enough playing a role on stage or screen and yet when it comes to a quick selfie or a posed shot would rather not do it. I did see Steven Berkoff at Autographica a few years ago and he didn't seem to want to be there. He had separated himself from other guests and was signing in one of the dealer rooms if I remember correctly. He looked disinterested and was just scribbling a quick signature whenever anyone visited his table, so it does seem like this is his natural default mood when it comes to these events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dent_1 Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 He was originally on my 'maybe' list. Glad I didn't bother from the sounds of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bing250 Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I was disappointed too. After hanging around for a long while after our previous shoot - the shoot starts late and also when I thanked Steven i got an inaudible grunt amnd expression like yeah whatever move along. I didnt mind him being in a chair to be honest or even sitting in one myself as I understand people do become tired or ill but as mentioned no need for rudeness but over whole.weekend its a tiny blimp as rest made up for steven and famke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewrolar Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 (edited) My BHC group photo is ruined by his presence, cropping is the option I think Edited July 31, 2016 by andrewrolar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diabolik Posted July 31, 2016 Author Share Posted July 31, 2016 Just off the back of these experiences I've been doing some research- the comments he's garnered on the IMDB message boards over the years should have been a warning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riot_star Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Well, when I posted a photo of my autograph from him on my Facebook, two people commented saying he's got a bad reputation. Meeting him didn't ruin anything for me though, everyone else I met was awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.H.R.E.K Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Just off the back of these experiences I've been doing some research- the comments he's garnered on the IMDB message boards over the years should have been a warning! Thanks for the heads up about the message boards- I didn't know they even existed. I genuinely though he'd taken some medication before the Beverly Hills Cop group photo to get him through the day. His eyes never moved from looking forward at the camera when we stepped into the middle of the shot. He looked miles away in cloud cuckoo land to me and didn't acknowledge my hello. I just thought fair enough, out of the 98% that are great to meet you will always get that 2% sometimes I guess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanspeechbubble Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 I too was a tad dissapointed. I said hello and he grunted. I asked him to sign his name and his character "Victor Maitland" and asked for a tiny quote and I noted as I asked his hand was trembling and he said he couldn't. I asked if it was too difficult and he said yes. To which I replied not a problem, lovely meeting you and shook his hand which was an extremely weak one at that. The experience was so bad,I did think how rude and wish I hadn't booked the photoshoot which was running over schedule. Whilst waiting my partner told me that Steven was sitting down by the balcony, so I toddled over to say hello. He told me that he wasn't feeling well and needed a break. To be fair he didn't look well at all. I asked about his novel as I too had written a similiar one just a few months before his and wanted to ask about his experience as regards the writing process. He really wasn't in the mood to self promote or even talk. He apologised to me and said please don't take any offense,it's nothing personal. I wished him well and left him. Then we did the shoot and agreed their was a huge void between us, and although there in body, he was not there in spirit. I guess he felt an obligation not to let his fans down and grind through what must have been a gruelling day. Still glad I had the oppurtunity to meet him, despite it not being as I had envisaged. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanspeechbubble Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 One additional note. He was animated and very chatty for the Beverly Hills cop talk on stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homerj Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 he was looking ill and in hindsight, maybe the photoshoot should have been cancelled. I've just looked at all my photos including Famke's which have all come out excellently. Not really happy with Stevens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BasG Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 I wasn't at the con on Saturday but I met him at EMS in 2012. He was pretty much the same back then, although there was no 'no toching' rule at the photo shoot. It didn't seem to be his thing and to be honest from what I had heard about him I was surprised he even did conventions. I was still happy to have met him for Rambo (and Octopussy & Beverly Hills Cop) and that I was able to get his autograph. If a guest is 'only' £15 the aftertaste for me is not as bitter I guess as for some people who paid £170 for a diamond pass for another guest at this event. i have never regretted meeting him as he was exactly as I expected him to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle Beech Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Met him a few years ago and had a terrible experience thinking it was maybe an off day it appears not! Which is a shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsoldierspoon Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Wasn't very chatty or nice, but at least he did say hello, which I hear doesn't often seem to be the case. He did say a surprised and seemingly genuine thank you when I told him I thought he was excellent in the Borgias. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yaget Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 (edited) Think judge summed up my experience Edited August 1, 2016 by Yaget 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMG Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riot_star Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 That is brilliant!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot182 Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 my signing experience was short and sweet, he was ok and half smiled even but the photo... he looks like the deflated and defeated villain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts