I just got the LOW DOWN
Okay guys, I know I was the last poster on this thread, but this weekend is my new obsession (now that Darkly Hallows has been read and digested). I just got off the phone with the director of the whole event, Alan Hoffman (and I hope he isn't angry that I'm posting this!) and now I know more than I ever knew before.
First of all, Dave Goelz. When I called, he had JUST GOTTEN OFF THE PHONE WITH HIM. I squeeed like a 21 year old ought never to do. So Dave's up for WHATEVER, he said. He's already guest speaking at Dark Crystal and MFS and has agreed to do TMM and GMC as well. He'll be there all weekend! Apparently (and I can believe it) he's been SO NICE and SO WILLING to do anything he's asked to--and he had to apply for special permission but it looks like a certain blue whatever will accompany him.
Second, Kevin Clash IS doing a movie with Jamie Foxx right now, and Alan had to apply directly to Jamie Foxx's people to get the time off for Kevin to come. I believe he'll be there Friday and then all day Saturday, because he's potentially speaking at the Labyrinth screening.
ALL the guests will be there for the panel, led by Jane Henson (also talking before TMM), who wants her name out of the press, but is okay with the information being passed along through Alan, or at least that's what he said.
Marty Robinson and Joey Mazzarino are in talks!
People who definitely can't be there... I don't know where the Carroll Spinney rumor came from, because Alan said that he was crossed off the list in the very beginning. He's been planning this even for 7 months and spoke to him in the very beginning, and Carroll said no. He spoke to him AGAIN after he got a bunch of people lined up but, unfortunately, he still said no.
He spoke to Frank Oz. DIRECTLY. HOW COOL IS THAT? And Frank was apparenly very gracious, but he said that he's on vacation after promoting his movie and his wife would kill him for agreeing to do it.
Steve Whitmire's out of the country, as is Eric Jacobson, with whom AGAIN Alan spoke directly, although he would have loved to be able to participate.
Jerry Nelson's name was crossed off early in the process, but he never spoke with him directly, so he might see if he could attend.
I spoke with Alan about the $100 gala and he said it's definitely going to be awesome, but it's not going to be a fan's only chance to speak with the performers. He says they'll be roaming the hallways, available to talk and sign autographs! We'll basically be hanging out with them for the entire weekend which is OH SO COOL.
One final thing worth noting is that the advance buzz for this event is kinda huge, and they're expecting a huge turnout. HOWEVER, it's going to get even BIGGER. Newsweek (I think he said...) and other periodicals are running COVER STORIES about the event. It's going to get HUGE PRESS and LOTS of interested fans. So GET THOSE TICKETS WHILE THEY LAST, FOLKS!
I'm pretty sure that's all we spoke about... But if I remember anything I'll let you know. And he was SO NICE, guys. I just called the box office and they transferred me right to him--he took a lot of time to answer all my questions and just chat with me. He seems SO EXCITED as well and he said they want to make it just a big party for two days straight.
Honestly. Could this GET any better?
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