Conventions, Obsessions and Disappointment
Conventions, Obsessions and Disappointment
(Old Blog Article from Easter 2010)
We’re bringing our 4 year old son to a Star Wars convention this Easter weekend?
“Oh yes John” you say “You’re bringing him.”
No seriously, I’d never go along to it but Johnny loves Star Wars, so hopefully it’ll be a terrific experience for him – and his 5 year old cousin. To be honest, knowing what little kids are like, they could be underwhelmed by it!
“Can I go home now? And watch it on DVD?”
“But that’s Darth Vader – right In front of you!”
Even so, we’ll take lots of photos and he can enjoy it when he’s older. I missed bringing him to meet Ozzy Osbourne last year so this’ll make it up.
There’s something a bit – I don’t know if I should say it. Is it sad that Dave Prowse and Kenny Baker might be appearing at it?
Might (they’ve promised to appear). I read a fan’s account last month of meeting Prowse and it seemed pretty clear that he never thinks about Star Wars and has absolutely no interest in Sci-Fi. I think he enjoys crime novels. Nothing sad about that, but then I see that he’s coming along to this. English comic Justin Lee Collins made an entertaining if quite sad programme called ‘Bring Back Star Wars’ in which he tried to reunite all the actors. Kenny Baker and Peter Mayhew showed up. He interviewed Carrie Fisher, who was wonderful as ever; but no one else really took part. Fair enough, why should they? Kenny Baker seemed bitter about Anthony Daniels’ treatment of him in the films – and his attitude ever since. At the end of the programme there was an anti-climactic scene in the nightclub featuring the small gathering and I just thought
“They shouldn’t have done it. It just looks… sad.”
Perhaps it’s better to be content with the 30+ year old films themselves and not try to have a piece of the people involved in them as well. Fans of various things often say “THEY OWE IT TO US GODDAMMIT! We put them where they are.” I really don’t agree. Obsessive fans obsess because they can’t help themselves, wanting more and more and more. The original object of their love isn’t enough and they get into the whole diminishing-returns syndrome of the expanded universe and the disappointment that goes with it. When an actor appears in a film in the 1970′s for – probably – a fixed one-off fee aren’t they allowed to ‘move on’?
Never meet your idols
Another thing, someone said to me years ago: “Never meet your idols”. He’d worshipped a well-known, extremely talented Irish folk-pop musician for years and finally met him after a gig. He was so obnoxious that this fan could never bring himself to listen any of his music again. Now, perhaps it was a bad night – perhaps his mum had died the day before. He’ll always be guessing as to the real reason, but the associated bad feeling will linger. It’s surprising how ordinarily human one’s idols can be.
That said, I think Johnny will like it, and maybe his mum and dad will too. Let’s just hope the actors, are allowed to – or manage to maintain their dignity. Perhaps I’ll ask Baker and Prowse to autograph this comic – if they don’t mind of course. At least I can truthfully promise never to sell it on eBay!
So, should our Johnny dress as a Clone Trooper or Darth Vader?
Comments
From my experience, back when I used to go to conventions, Kenny Baker is lovely. David Prowse … not so much. He had a massive chip on his shoulder at what he perceived as slights by Lucas … not using his voice, not telling him he was Luke’s dad, not using his face when the mask came off … I don’t know if he does conventions for the money, or just to air his grievances, but I bet he’ll air them!
Having said that, when I met him he was quite happy to autograph a Marvel Star Wars UK Xmas issue with Vader wearing a Santa hat, though he did give me a bit of a funny look before agreeing
Oh and Johnny should definitely dress as Darth Vader!
Hi Carrie,
Baker does indeed seem nice, maybe that’s why he was so disappointed in Daniels.
It seems you often have to pay for autographs. That must leave people feeling a bit disillusioned?
Yep, Johnny has a DV outfit. We haven’t actually told him that he’s going yet. Maybe we should sometime today. We’re torn between blowing his mind with the surprise and building the anticipation!
John
Kenny is getting good reports from his stint over the weekend. At the last minute I sheepishly enquired of an organiser if he might sign the SW9 comic. He did: after hours, and gratis. Fair dues to him!
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