SHERLOCKED: Official "Sherlock" Convention

[Carol the Dabbler]

Sorry, I musta missed it!  Could you remind me where it's posted?

 

[J.P.]

You see but not observe...  :P

[Carol the Dabbler]

Thanks!  I saw, but what I observed was a notation that photos would be added later.  Apparently it's now "later," so I shall go back and reread those posts!

[J.P.]

Sherlocked Magic Mystery Tour, The Ominous VIP "Thing"

Firstly: it was much more casual and down to earth than I expected. Which was good.

Other good things:

-- having two people to help you with whatever you needed

-- not having to wait anywhere in those endless cues

-- having a luxury to come too late to the talks at the main stage and sitting in the first row.
Actually I don't like sitting in the first row for feeling exposed, but we were hidden in shadow, which helped. And most important: the chairs were comfortable (most chairs are to high for my short legs)
Because most of the time not all seats were taken, I had the opportunity to put my camera on the chair next to me to make non-shaken photos.

-- the Green Room we would have exclusive access to. It was neither green nor especially cosy, but it has a table, chairs, drinks an air conditioning, and it was a place to drop your stuff. Actually the plan was: having a place to retreat in case I'd get too much, but the schedule would not allow that. The exclusive toilet was nice though.

-- we were allowed to collect our prints-to-be-signed for free from the official merchandise stand. I think I've got a bit carried away…

-- the set visit. THE Highlight.


Not so good things:

-- I think we were the last people to know our schedule. My email came at Tuesday before the event. The information (or lack of it) was the most unnerving thing of all. Then someone made a mistake with the email and we received a message: "VIP Lunch with Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott – 12noon to 12:30pm" I've read this email at work, and had to retreat to the toilet because I couldn't stop giggling. I mean it sounded so utterly surreal. Hell, even if you see it's a half an hour and try to stay realistic, you cannot prevent your brain from doing flip-flops and pirouettes and producing the most ridiculous ideas… Later the "lunch" turned back into the initial "drink reception" from the program, and this turned out to be "just" a chat with the guys plus some drinks.

-- we were NINE. Which was PLENTY, if you consider the time frame. Sharing is caring and not an advantage.

BTW, we were not all Americans as I read somewhere on the net. The things start to get blurry in my memory from that point, but I believe two guys were Americans (and I think father and son) and at least one lady was from the US too. Some were surely from the UK, one was a teacher…

-- the schedule. Actually the whole program could fill two weekends. And of course, once you paid all inclusive you want to include everything. :P  Which meant there would be no time for anything but breathing.

 

 
The Friday Evening:
 

The cue for the entrance

After the meeting we are led into the main room. The crowd that made apparently endless cue outside, seems to dissolve once in this huge hall, so it looks almost empty. They have a TANK inside, a Sherlock themed red bus and a black cab.
 
 
 
 
To be 100% honest - I expected the interior to be prepared with a bit more… love, but maybe it's because I'm spoiled. At my workplace we have a quite big conference and event center and I can often take a look at what the interiors look like - I'm used more to the level of the Adobe Summit, but then - the tickets for the last were ca. 1800$ each.
 

 

tbc

[J.P.]

Anyway, the John Watson "exhibit" was what almost everyone was complaining about, mostly because it was so widely advertised and ended up being the said tank, an uniform and some posters
There were quite a lot of stands with "stuff", to which I didn't pay much attention, because I prefer to do my own before I buy something.

The highlight of the evening was the stand of RealSFX, where Danny H and his coworkers had soooooo much fun talking the technical stuff with interested people. They had some props, stunt glass (one elastic and one breakable made of sugar) and fake blood, snow made out of paper, dust and ash…  and a severed hand. I could listen for hours.

Someone wasn't careful enough with the FX...
 
Then Danny grabs a snow gun and makes it snow down at us. The snow is actually kind of soap lather but it looks quite real.
 

Oh, it's Christmas!

I stay there so long that I finally run out of time in the costume display booth, and cannot make pictures of all props. Two hours are gone so quickly.

The party rooms are another subject of complains - the settings are minimalistic to say it politely. The best part for me - the balcony with the spectacular night view of the docks. I make some pictures, regretting for the first (but not last) time that I haven't take my tripod-thingy with me.
 

[J.P.]

From now things start to get blurry. Actually, the whole weekend feels like being 3 steps behind the reality and desperately trying to catch up.

The data input is enormous. There is no time not only to eat or find a toilet, but to digest the stimuli bombarding my brain.

Plus: I am not alone in my head. There is my tendency to automatically take the POV of people I interact with. There is the inner reporter trying to convert the running experience into a story. There is the inner photograph trying to make good photos despite the dreadful lighting conditions. Then there is the inner censor making me bump into big red "REALITY CHECK" signposts all the time: This is not your little fan bubble, these people are not a part of your mind palace, this is the dreaded RL, and you have no control whatsoever. They don't know you, and more important: you don't know them, even if they might feel like your extended family and everyone is using their first names (English language being very egalitarian when it comes to the direct communication isn't especially helpful either). Feels a bit like walking on a mine field.

My overloaded brain makes what all overloaded computers do - it slows down - to the extend when I myself notice the delay between the impulse and the response to it. It takes like 2-3 seconds to react to what's said, even if I can understand the words perfectly (which, sadly didn't happen too often)…

 

Oh, yes, so we are back at the language...

I knew it would be tough - the last time I was speaking English with native speakers was 2006.

 

My first report about Thursday is actually a translation of a letter I wrote to my polish mail-friend. Writing that piece in my own language reminded me how much I enjoy playing with words, controlling not only the content but also the tone and the nuances.

 

Compared to this, speaking English in noisy environment, in a stressful situation (and having to guess much too often), was so damned FRUSTRATING.

It's like trying to dance the Swan Lake with a wooden leg.

[J.P.]

On Photoshoots:

This was a part of the package that I would gladly give to someone else if it was possible. I hate having my photos taken. Never liked it, but now there is the additional factor of getting older and fat, and it is hard to deny the changes looking at your photographs.

The first shooting was with Ben and that wasn't helpful either, nor the fact that we were brought to the front. A totally new experience. You enter the photo area, drop your stuff at a table, and wait for your turn. Everyone in the line is watching those who's photos are taken. Then there is this bald headed bodyguard standing half way between the photographer and Ben, a bit aside, just a bigger step away. This guy makes a hell of an impression by just being there, and he is clearly reading everyone approaching, ready for action. God, if I make a wrong move, he will break my neck in a second.

It's my turn and I make my two steps, say hello, take the place that the person before me made free and try to smile to the camera. Done! Next two steps to the printer station, waiting for my print. The smiling didn't work, dammit, my face lowers the esthetic quality of the whole line! But it is how I look like, and I don't even want to look too close. Grab the photo, grab my stuff that was pushed along the table by helpers. All takes maybe 30 seconds. Makes me think of the production line from Chaplin's Modern Times.

It will get better with the time. I get used to walking straight to the front of the cue, and at one point I even start to have fun with the whole procedure. Then, the guests apparently have a good time too. Louise seems to love every person approaching her, gives everyone a hug. You cannot help but look happy with her.

Rupert, as you can see at the Showmasters photoshoot archive - he's ready for any prank. You just need an idea and guts to ask. I took an apple with me to the shoot with Andrew, but was first in the line and didn't have time to come with an idea what to do with it. I wish I was sixteen again and could act crazy without remorse. Still the photo is at least funny and I really like it.

Actually VIPs have had two shots inclusive, but I think I sometimes forgot about it. Anyway, during the shoot with Mark after the first photo I could sense that his hand is moving behind my back, and I knew exactly what he's into. :D I didn't do or say anything, it was alone his idea.


The side effect of the whole thing - through this kind of exposure therapy, it feels like I made a first step to make peace with my own image.

 

PS: I'm using the images I sneaked from the Showmasters' Gallery, I'm too lazy to scan the prints.

[J.P.]

The Case of Missing Sherlock

Meeting actors in RL makes funny things to your brain. Generally you can look at one of them and see a person whom you have seen on screen, wearing a costume and makeup and pretending to be someone else. You can see both the actor and the character you think of. There is a certain range to it: Mrs Stubbs is practically Mrs Hudson. She plays the role being herself, which she also admitted during the talks. Mark is very different from Mycroft, but still you can see: this is Mark Gatiss, actor, and he plays Sherlock's big brother. Of course, I don't mean the cognitive level, but what the visual processors in your head are telling you.

But it doesn't work with Ben. I think I could find connections to his other roles, based on the photos I saw. Maybe I could find Khan, if I only the thought occurred to me at the right moment. But despite my knowledge I couldn't see Sherlock, either in the body expression nor in the looks. It's not the hair: it seems impossible that ANY kind of makeup (not being a mask) or costume, or hairdo would be able to turn this person into Sherlock.

 

But we know it is a fact. Hell, what I would give to see this transformation!

(I have seen Jon Voight on TV once, turning from an actor in pope's costume into John Paul II himself in one second during an interview. The memory still sends shivers down my spine)

[sfmpco]

Interesting what you say about Benedict because the opposite is also true...that when he's playing Sherlock, I absolutely see no trace of Benedict.  I can't entirely say that of everything he's done, but when it comes to Sherlock, that character is such a separate entiity that it has a life of its own.

[J.P.]

Yep-p, it works (or should I say: it doesn't work) in both directions.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Rupert, as you can see at the Showmasters photoshoot archive - he's ready for any prank. You just need an idea and guts to ask.

 

Is your photo on that particular page?  I looked through them twice, but couldn't find you.  I believe you could link to your individual photo (all of them, in fact, if you don't mind?).

 

... during the shoot with Mark after the first photo I could sense that his hand is moving behind my back, and I knew exactly what he's into. :D I didn't do or say anything, it was alone his idea.

 

That is just adorable, and I love the expression on your face!

 

[T.o.b.y]

Thank you so much, J.P., for sharing all your experiences and even your photos here! It's almost as good as having been there.

 

And I like your pics. I don't think you look at all bad in them (of course I don't know what you actually look like and I'm willing to believe you are a thousand times prettier if you want me to).

[sittything]

I just want to ditto Toby and say THANK YOU for sharing all of that, and for sharing the photos, especially of you.    I always find it fun to put a face to a "name."  I am INSANELY jealous that you got a hug from Loo and bunny ears from Mark.  I think the photos of you and cast are great!

 

I 100% agree with you that when I look at Ben (not that I've ever seen him in person) I don't see Sherlock and vice versa.

[J.P.]

I 100% agree with you that when I look at Ben (not that I've ever seen him in person) I don't see Sherlock and vice versa.

 

Your inner fan wants to tap him on the shoulder and ask: Hey, may I talk to Sherlock for a minute?

[J.P.]

 

Rupert, as you can see at the Showmasters photoshoot archive - he's ready for any prank. You just need an idea and guts to ask.

 

Is your photo on that particular page?  I looked through them twice, but couldn't find you.  I believe you could link to your individual photo (all of them, in fact, if you don't mind?).

 

To be honest, I didn't find all my photos over there, but I didn't look too hard, as I don't intend to buy them anyway. I have chosen the page with Rupert, because of the funny pics of him - it seemed to come in waves that people made silly things with him (somewhere are also pics of him "arresting" the fan). I secretly wonder what his wife says to all that. :P I almost asked but my inner censor didn't let me...

[J.P.]

We have a holiday so I took time to look around for other's reports. Those below are interesting.

 

http://nottinghamconfidential.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/sherlocked-confidential.html

 

http://geeksoftheround.com/sherlocked-the-sherlock-convention-experience/

 

3-part report from another forum

http://sherlock.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?pid=218542#p218542

http://sherlock.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?pid=218732#p218732

http://sherlock.boardhost.com/viewtopic.php?pid=218732#p218732

 

Ben's talk transcript: sorry if it's a repeat:

http://marybegone.tumblr.com/post/117634687436/sherlocked-convention-benedict-cumberbatchs-talk

 

Rupert and Jonathan
http://saziikins.tumblr.com/post/117458523938/sherlocked-talks-rupert-graves-and-jonathan-aris

[Carol the Dabbler]

I 100% agree with you that when I look at Ben (not that I've ever seen him in person) I don't see Sherlock and vice versa.

 

Your inner fan wants to tap him on the shoulder and ask: Hey, may I talk to Sherlock for a minute?

 

If I were ever fortunate enough to chat with Martin Freeman, and he suddenly went into character, I think it would weird me out.  (Especially if the character he went into was Lester Nygaard.  :P )

[J.P.]

But at least Martin and John look alike...

[J.P.]

A Case of Self-Deception?

 

I was always quite skeptical about "professionally" organized fan conventions/meetings in general: you know the points: the "circus" and commerce, selling autographs and photos, screaming fangirls paying their last savings just to touch their movie star. Actors reduced to a freak show attraction.

Actually, this is probably just a schoolbook example of my mind trying to deal with the cognitive dissonance, but attending Sherlocked has changed my opinion a bit.

I have seen people of all ages and plenty of men at the Con. Attendees were average folks and well behaved. The screaming took place as a part of applause or responses during the talks. And when you give someone a standing ovation together with several hundred of others, it is not about the commerce anymore but about artists and their work that mean so much to you, that you decide to travel around the world and spend your money, not to "snuggle with stars", but to show your admiration for their work. 

 

This felt good, even to my nonsocial, cynical, pessimistic self.

What's wrong with an event? Someone needs to organize that, find a venue, coordinate, take care of the security, etc, etc, so there are costs and all involved parties want to earn their living… But it's an opportunity where both sides have agreed to meet, it's not violating actors' privacy when they want to go after their business, or freezing your butt off waiting for your chance at a stage doors, or hiding in the shrubs trying to get a photo. An event is probably the only civilized way. Still, in case of Sherlocked I find it sad that until you paid a package or an extra fee, you had no chance even to have a look at the lead actors and say hello. I can imagine how bad it must be for people to know that people they admire are walking around somewhere behind the walls, and it is the closest they will ever get to them.

It is also frustrating (and I can imagine - sometimes for both sides) that apparently any interaction on a simple human level is impossible. And it gets worse, the more popular the "star" is. You could see it on the impressions video I linked before. While Louise runs alone through the crowd and Mrs Stubbs is solely led by a staff member, Ben is escorted by those three big guys, and the picture reminds me of Khan escorted on board of the Enterprise. It is so sad that there must be preparations of this kind, that someone has to fear for his security. Even in the VIP talks there were two of those body guards in the room, discretely staying out of sight, but still, well… present.

[sittything]

Impressions video?  

[J.P.]

This one: you can jump to 4:15 to skip the costume and prop exhibition

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS9CCvrCS2A&feature=player_embedded

[Sarina_Goldfish]

I can't believe this was just two and a half week ago. i really want to do this again! I mean London, Sherlock, amazing people... We should have our own bar or something haha. 

[J.P.]

Actually we have. Speedy's. :D

[sittything]

So Gatiss and Andrew each had at least 1 security guy, Una had the lady in the t-shirt, and how is Loo just walking around with nobody?!   

 

 

[sfmpco]

Actually we have. Speedy's. :D

 

And there is a Sherlock pub...

 

https://twitter.com/Ladybird699/status/598902200954462208