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PLANS FOR ANOTHER L WORD CONVENTION |
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Promoter Cites Fan Behavior as Reason
Feb. 10, 2006—Sean Harry, the organizer of the highly
popular United Kingdom L Word convention held Nov. 25-27, 2005,
announced that he has no plans for another L Word Convention after
his experience in London.
"When two of the guests canceled on the last event, the response
was so hostile and nasty (you only have to look back on this forum
to see), that it put me off running another event," explained
Harry in a recent post on the L-Word.com discussion board. "I
just don't want to run the risk of going through that again,"
he added.
Harry is a well-known UK convention organizer. For four years,
he hosted the Starfury convention for the television show, Xena,
and more recently, Harry hosted a convention for the Joss Whedon
show, Angel.
"Guests will only commit subject to their work schedule, meaning
they will cancel if a film or TV role is offered to them that conflicts
with the event. Attendees of other events that I have run understand
and accept this," said Harry in his post.
Harry's reference to the L-Word.com discussion forum echoes what
others have said about vitriolic, negative messages that fans sometimes
post. Both Rachel Shelley (Helena) and Meredith McGeachie (Tonya)
said in recent interviews with L-Word.com that they no longer visit
the message boards because of the "hate-mongering" and
attacking messages they read there.
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COMMENTS DISCLAIMERS
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Comments:
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2006-02-16, 22:47:07 PM
From: Precious Shadow
Comments: That is such a shame. If the intent is to make Tonya & Helena out to be villans and the actresses pull that off, then that is a credit to their acting skills. It takes great talent to invoke that kind of passion in their fans. It is a shame that they cannot take it for what it is and not take it personally.
2006-02-17, 00:20:15 AM
From: FUNKYJFAN
Comments: That kinda sucks but I totally understand what he means. Along with the actresses.
2006-02-17, 10:17:38 AM
From: suetinabette
Comments: that just a shame as i went to the invent and quite enjoyed it he should think about doing another one
2006-02-17, 12:03:47 PM
From: BetteAndTinaForever
Comments: i was dissapointed when i found out that Laurel Holloman wouldn't come but still i went because it was the first convention and there were other actors i wanted to see...the convention turned out to be so great that it's indeed a shame that we might not have another one...maybe some orginazers in US can follow...convention is a great idea to meet the cast and other fans
2006-02-18, 12:29:24 PM
From: meltam8
Comments: well that's a shame, although i have to agree the fans comments were harsh and extreme, i don't think that's a good enough reason not to hold another. i do remember jolesie saying there wouldn't be another because the first one wasn't successful. now i'm not sure what to believe
2006-02-18, 13:27:40 PM
From: bellyofthebeast
Comments: I second precious shadow. I can't imagine that an experienced, professional actor whose performance audience members find moving would boo-hoo over the very response that their characters were designed to elicit. How very strange and otherworldly. I guess their reported shirking from the L-word boards begs the question: exactly *what* do they consider offensive? Are they privy to secret forums where fans are attacking them as private individuals? Or, are they EXTREMELY thin-skinned, and for that matter, wholly unsuited for professional stardom, that they're actually made uncomfortable by the ways that fans experience their *CHARACTERS* ?!? Very strange, indeed.As for Sean Harry. Does he expect that people would pay a hefty chunk of change for airfare (many fans travelling from other countries), hotel accomodations, convention tickets and miss days of work and or school and after all that *NOT* be upset if the very guests they arranged to see decided not to show up because a better offer came along?!? That is so supremely unrealistic! In the rest of the world, when a performer doesn't show up, the audience gets angry. They often --deservedly--ask for and receive their money back. Harry is indeed in the wrong line of work if finds it acceptable for a performer/guest to back out at the last minute. In the rest of the world that's known as breach of contract. Sheesh!
2006-02-18, 15:18:53 PM
From: McBuffy
Comments: Sean recieved death threats after Laurel and Lauren had to pull out.It was an appauling and disgusting reaction.
2006-02-18, 15:34:17 PM
From: footdr
Comments: I find it a real shame. I went to the convention and had a blast. I think the problem with laurel almost not being there was that the replacements were guest stars that had left the series a while ago, and people who hadnt seeh S2 didnt know Rachel or the Helena character. Also many of the attendees where at their first convention and had no ides what to expect. I hope Sean Harry changes his mind because i feel the response would definately be better for a second convention.
2006-02-18, 15:35:11 PM
From: joleslie
Comments: To further what McBuffy said, Sean did receive phone calls in the middle of the night from 'fans' who were giving him death threats.At the event itself, some of the 'fans' were so rude and threatening to the staff members at the event that most Starfury staff would be unwilling to work another L Event.There's a difference between being upset about someone you respect and admire cancelling their appearance due to work and threatening people because of it.It was advertised from the start that all guests at the event are subject to acting work commitments. Laurel had to pull out because of filming on The L Word (and if she missed filming she would have been fired from the show), so that is not breach of contract.Jo
2006-02-18, 23:23:04 PM
From: Lamentamini
Comments: Could you image if Jennifer Beals was supposed to go and had to cancel? The response would've been insane. But for people to make death threats...that's just beyond immature. Besides, it's not like Laurel backed out because she was tired or just didn't feel like doing it. I hate that I missed it, however it happened at a time that just wasn't good for me.
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