8am: Amazed to be awake an hour before the alarm, but there’s nothing for it. I can’t go back to sleep, so I hit the shower.
9am: Dressed and ready, but putter around until Kathy calls to ask if we are ready for breakfast.
10am: Lovely white omelets and fresh fruit. Protein has suddenly become VERY important, as we review the schedule for the ORC and realize that there are no scheduled lunch breaks.
11-12: Lost hours, as I can’t seem to recall what we were doing. We seem to spend a huge amount of time reviewing the schedule.
Noon: The doors open for the ORC and we arrive shortly after. We wander around the vendors booths for almost an hour.
Announcement: I might as well say it now, but I did not get to any of the programming tracks held outside the main theatre. Scholars, Artists, Costuming, Kids…not a single one. The Main Theatre and autographing schedules simply didn’t give you enough time to eat, much less leave the room for an hour to go watch something else. That was my experience anyway, and one of my largest complaints about the whole event. I just wanted to warn you that I can’t share anything about those programs, just in case you were hoping to hear about them. Sorry and back to my report…
1pm: The supporting panel begins in the Main Theatre. Peter Tait, Sandro Kopp, Jorn and Jarl Benzon are presenting and handily rotate between themselves telling stories and answering questions. They have done this routine before (Thankfully at RingCon, where a friend had gotten the Benzon’s and other autographs for me, since they were not included in the Wizard Circle package I had bought), and it went very smoothly.
1:50pm: Bruce Hopkins. The energetic and fabulous Bruce. I can’t say enough nice things about the actor who played Gamling. He talked about LOTR, but he also used his experience with the film to bring some publicity to Project Read: LOTR, a program helping kids learn to raise their reading levels. Just a super guy.
2:30pm: Dominic Monaghan is late. He attended the AFI awards before heading to the ORC and got stuck in traffic. So, I just hung around chatting to the person seated next to me until he showed. Dom was great, answering as many questions about Lost as LOTR and even giving a spoiler away (“Did you see the episode where Claire returns?” Sorry Dom. You were a week early with that revelation.). Cheeky as you ever imagined him to be. And, yes, ladies. He still claims to be going “commando” on the undies issue. *Snort*
3:30pm: Dom is joined by the rest of the Ringers film crew (He’s narrating the documentary, if you haven’t heard). They answered a ton of questions and heavily promoted the premiere at the Slamdance festival in Utah. The clips we saw were pretty cool and very high quality- what you’d expect from people who took a few years to produce the film. It’s good to see a fan film that looks like the writers didn’t have to become hacks, trying to crank the project out for immediate gratification.
4:30pm: I forego the auction to look around the Annex and witness first hand how quickly the photo sessions are being run. Frankly, a person would run to the chair next to Dom, smile, and shoot out of their chair. Repeat for next person. I’m surprised Dom didn’t look more windblown, but his hair products must be super hold.
5:40pm: Dom and Bruce begin signing autographs. These went row by row. I was in row B, while Kim, Kathy and Sharon were in rows D and F, I believe. So, I got a chance to chat with –up to now- unknown Ringers as we waited together. Creation Entertainment had the volunteers strictly enforcing the no photos rule. Usually that means no flash or not holding up the line. Most events let you take pictures while you are standing in line, as long as your friend isn’t up at the table making everyone wait as you snap a picture of them with the star. Nope. Nothing was allowed here, so people would pop for $60 to get a photo with the stars. Really quite annoying. By the time I finished, it was after 6 and the vendors had closed.
7-9pm: Kill time and then we all go to the mall to eat a sandwich before the 50th Anniversary dessert function.
9pm: Back to the convention center. Fabulous chocolate fondue with strawberries, pineapple, rice krispies, apricots and more for dipping. Vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream with multiple sauces and toppings too. Cake and a bar, of course. Kathy and I barely got our drinks in time for the toast to Professor Tolkien, but I believe we squeaked in. Musical performances by fans, then World Without Sundays performed. I saw them last year at the Oscar party, when Elijah introduced them, but this time Billy and Dom did the honors. They did not join them this year in singing, however. Then, it was karaoke by the TORn staff, the supporting panel of stars and then the fans.
1am: Headed back to the hotel for some shuteye.