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Reflecting on Super Megafest 2011

Posted on Nov 17, 2012Feb 1, 2022 by Ken Gagne

Every year's weekend before Thanksgiving is host to the Super Megafest, an annual convention of sci-fi, comics, wrestling, and nostalgia. I have recently returned from my sixth consecutive attendance at the event — but what about the fifth?

I report on every Super Megafest for Showbits, but the past few years I've taken procrastination to new heights. Before I can in good conscience relate my experiences at the 2012 convention, here I must finally reflect on the 2011 show.

The headliners of 2011 were two stars well-known to science fiction and fantasy fans: Sean Astin and Sir Patrick Stewart. I had the opportunity and pleasure to first visit their tables, where I paid handsomely for their autographs, then attend their free Q&A sessions. In that former one-on-one encounter, the two actors could not have been more different in their receptions.

Sean AstinAstin had a table in the common area, where no one minded the queue moving slowly, as it was the product of the actor taking his time to recognize each fan as an individual. He'd shake their hands, listen to their comments, and respond with stories. In my case, I told him how, in my sporadic career as an educator, I had a high school student who wrote a paper about his family movie starring Sean Astin. Goonies? Rudy? Lord of the Rings? Nope — Slipstream, a 2005 science fiction time-travel movie that got panned by critics. When I told Astin about this paper, his eyebrows shot up to accompany a disbelieving "Really??" He then quickly harrumphed and, trying to take more pride in his work, offered a casual, interested "Really!" Astin then suggested that Slipstream was the basis for Jake Gyllenhaal's more successful Source Code, though I consider the connection between the two films tenuous at best.

Sir Patrick StewartBy contrast, Sir Stewart gave me almost nothing to relate here. Rather than wait three hours in line for his autograph, I paid for a pricey "speed pass" that got me to the head of the queue. When I was finally face-to-face with Captain Picard himself, I held out my hand, as I did with every other actor I'd met that weekend. Stewart seemed intent on putting his John Hancock on my purchased 8×10" glossy, so thinking he hadn't noticed my gesture, I asked, "May I shake your hand?" "No, sorry," he replied. Fair enough; many stars are concerned about being introduced to too many fans and their germs. I offered as an alternative: "How about a fist bump?". "No, sorry." I persisted: "Elbow bump?" At this point, his handler stepped in: "Sir Patrick has arthritis." Both gentlemen then looked to the side at the next person in line, making it clear that my time had expired. It was an impersonal experience and a real letdown: The Next Generation was my first exposure to Star Trek and defined me and my life. I never even got to say "Thank you".

Despite the discrepancy in personal encounters, both actors proved entertaining in their Q&A sessions, in which neither had to deal with fans on an individual basis. With this being Stewart's first New England convention, he reflected on the first such con he ever attended after gaining fame as Jean-Luc Picard. He said that when he stepped on the stage and the crowd went wild, "In that moment, I knew what it felt like to be Sting." Stewart has rarely turned that fame to the silver screen, though, commenting that his movie career had been limited to Robin Hood: Men In Tights (a slight exaggeration) — but that he'd recently asked his agent to actively solicit movie options. Why not just retire completely? Because in 71 years of life, 54 of them spent acting, Stewart has found that "Actors are some of the most inspiring, respectful, generous people I know." Stewart went on to talk about his gardening — he'd recently produced 24 dozen cases of apple juice, a dozen cases of pear juice, and 16 pounds of damson jam — and about taking risks, The Inner Light, William Shatner, his workout routine, and more. (He also mentioned handing out diplomas at a college and shaking 800 hands… but he couldn't shake mine?)

Sean Astin, better known to some as Samwise Gamgee, was equally entertaining, sharing the stage with Sala Baker, who played Sauron in Lord of the Rings. The two recounted how the trilogy's cast were joined in a real-life fellowship through the art of tattoo. He laughed when the film's star found the experience painful: "I'm ten years older than Elijah [Woods]; he's a punk kid." As it turned out, Astin didn't have so easy a time with it, either.

In a turn of events, Astin even took a photo of ME! You can see me in the right rear in the red sweater.

@SeanAstin_LA #lordoftherings #theonering #SuperMegafest Here's a snap of Sala Baker and me at Q&A…it's still going http://t.co/oRLibqtJ

— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) November 20, 2011

I told Astin how unusual it is to have a career that spans so many decades and genres. Demonstrating the humility of any great man, Astin seemed even more amazed than I did. As many Hollywood veterans will tell you, nepotism is alive and well, and Astin couldn't help but be recognized during auditions due to his lineage, mother Patty Duke and adoptive father John Astin. A father of three daughters of his own (with the oldest playing his on-screen daughter in The Return of the King), Astin is glad to have a filmography in which each of them can find something to relate to, especially as they near the ages at which he began his career.

SMFb11_30
The fast and the Fury-ous.
The fast and the Fury-ous.
SMFb11_29
I'm seeing stars!
I'm seeing stars!
SMFb11_28
Flame on!
Flame on!
SMFb11_27
These bat girls can kick my butt any day.
These bat girls can kick my butt any day.
SMFb11_26
This is NOT the droid you're looking for.
This is NOT the droid you're looking for.
SMFb11_25
Come to the dark side -- we have cookies.
Come to the dark side -- we have cookies.
SMFb11_24
I think I'm a clone now.
I think I'm a clone now.
SMFb11_23
I love the Insecticons!
I love the Insecticons!
SMFb11_22
Mrowr.
Mrowr.
SMFb11_20
Look out behind you, Black Widow!
Look out behind you, Black Widow!
SMFb11_19
I never did like that movie.
I never did like that movie.
SMFb11_17k
Make it so.
Make it so.
SMFb11_15
The doctor has regenerated!
The doctor has regenerated!
SMFb11_14a
Is there such a thing as too much leather?
Is there such a thing as too much leather?
SMFb11_13
This isi th stuff dreams are made of.
This isi th stuff dreams are made of.
SMFb11_12
Nightwing? Buffalo Wing? I can never remember.
Nightwing? Buffalo Wing? I can never remember.
SMFb11_11
These rogues will save Princess Zelda!
These rogues will save Princess Zelda!
SMFb11_10k
Fear the cobra.
Fear the cobra.
SMFb11_10
I don't know who she is... and I'm not sure I want to find out.
I don't know who she is... and I'm not sure I want to find out.
SMFb11_09
Batman friends and foes.
Batman friends and foes.
SMFb11_08
Byron and Patricia Kara.
Byron and Patricia Kara.
SMFb11_07
SMFb11_06d
Gene and Patricia Kara.
Gene and Patricia Kara.
SMFb11_06
Sean Astin again!
Sean Astin again!
SMFb11_05
SMFb11_04
Who ya gonna call?
Who ya gonna call?
SMFb11_02
'mobiles abound!
'mobiles abound!
SMFb11_01
All these and more can be yours!
All these and more can be yours!
IMG_3537
Where we're going, we don't need roads.
Where we're going, we don't need roads.
IMG_3536
An actual, working flux capacitor!
An actual, working flux capacitor!
IMG_3535
The Doctor isn't shy!
The Doctor isn't shy!
IMG_3534
"I'm the Doctor." Obviously.
"I'm the Doctor." Obviously.
IMG_3533
Sean and Sala look at the photo he just tweeted of the audience.
Sean and Sala look at the photo he just tweeted of the audience.
IMG_3532
IMG_3531
Sean shows off his LotR tattoo!
Sean shows off his LotR tattoo!
IMG_3530
IMG_3529
Sean Astin with Sala Baker, one of the orcs from Lord of the Rings.
Sean Astin with Sala Baker, one of the orcs from Lord of the Rings.
130_0312
A fan poses with Gene. Or is it the other way around?
A fan poses with Gene. Or is it the other way around?
130_0311
Commander Gene peruses the pretties.
Commander Gene peruses the pretties.
130_0310
Disney Princesses.
Disney Princesses.
130_0309
Sean is a really nice guy!
Sean is a really nice guy!
130_0308
The hairy hobbit.
The hairy hobbit.
130_0306
Sean Astin signs for a fan.
Sean Astin signs for a fan.

I enjoyed meeting these stars, and several of the complaints I had about Super Megafest 2010 were rectified: from lines to flow to space, everything just seemed better organized and laid-out. The celebrity Q&A sessions could still provide better perspectives by putting the stars on risers, making them visible to the attendees in the back of the room, but c'est la vie.

With any luck, I'll break my lack of timeliness in these reports and will share my 2012 memories while they are still fresh. I know I've already forgotten many details of what Stewart and Astin discussed, and I'd hate to do the same to this year's stars: Dean Cain and Bruce Boxleitner!

(Thanks to Gene Demaitre for providing many of the photos in the above gallery!)

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Related

Tags: Captain Picard, convention, Framingham, hobbit, Jean Luc Picard, Lord of the Rings, LoTR, Patrick Stewart, Samwise Gamgee, Sean Astin, Sir Patrick Stewart, Super Megafest, The Next, TNG

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