THE 'VERSAL SHINDIG - JULY 12 HOLLYWOOD

POSTED BY: ironcladotter
UPDATED: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 03:18
VIEWED: 12423
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IRONCLADOTTER

Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:13 PM

THE 'VERSAL SHINDIG - JULY 12 2004
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS THEME PARK, HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA

The shindig: An informal fan gathering at Universal Studios Hollywood, where SERENITY is being filmed on the backlot. Come around to meet other FIREFLY fans, ride the studio tour (over and over and over), and hopefully catch a glimpse of sets, extras, cast, or anything else related to the filming of the Big Damn Movie. No RSVP necessary, wear any FIREFLY gear you've got, and bring as many friends as you like... the more the merrier!

Schedule/events: We'll be meeting up at around 11:30am at the Things From Another World shop on the Citywalk. Look for anybody in FIREFLY gear, or specifically seek out Wiley in the very Jayne-esque hat. For anyone who wants to arrive earlier (the park itself actually opens at 9am) or later than 11:30, you'll have another chance to meet up with the Browncoat contingent at 2pm, when we'll all hopefully congregate at Doc Brown's Fancy Chicken (inside the park) to grab some lunch, share any sightings we've made on the studio tour, and kick back for a bit before hitting the rides again. This Shindig is loosely organized by the seat of our tightpants... I expect folks will split up into groups to hit the different rides, but I hope we'll be able to meet up again and spend some time getting to know each other.

Tickets: Regular one-day admission to Universal is $49.75. You can buy tickets online at:
http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/hollywood/website/ush_tickets_v
acations_index.html
Universal also offers multi-day passes, as well as the "VIP Experience" and other premium tickets which may afford better backlot access; details on those are also available at the URL above.

Venue: We'll be meeting up at Citywalk (which is a kind of mall area outside the theme park; you'll walk through Citywalk to get to the gates of Universal) and then moving on into Universal Studios itself. You will need to pay for parking ($8). The park has a couple of new rides, "Revenge of the Mummy" and "Van Helsing: Fortress Dracula." Maybe next year they'll hook us up with "Serenity: The Ride." ;) There's also food and shopping inside the park itself, and the park is open until 9pm.

Address and directions:
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
For directions check out:
http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/hollywood/website/ush_park_hour
s_directions.html

Contact: wileythewolf[at]comcast[dot]net

Relevant websites:
http://www.citywalkhollywood.com
http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/hollywood/website/index.html?__
source=USMN.GNAV

Thanks everybody, hope we'll see you all there!

Wiley

BRITCHICK

Thursday, July 8, 2004 9:13 PM

Have a Shiny time everyone :)

From a UK fan. At home. In England. Where it is RAINING as though it was Autumn (Fall).

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IRONCLADOTTER

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 5:13 AM

Here's my short recap of our day at Universal...

Okay. So. Having trouble articulating. I'm just going to post whatever quick notes come to mind and let the others post something that's actually, you know... coherent and intelligent.

Somehow we missed the rest of the shindiggers... dunno if they opted not to go, or arrived late, or what, but I met up with three of the girls (who I hope will post some fabulous accounts of all the fabulousness) at the store, and we waited until about noon at our rendevous point and then set off into the park. We'd all been inside already and taken the studio tour tram on our own, and decided that there wasn't much to see... went on a few rides when we entered the park, then moved down to an area a little closer to Stage 12, which is the main Serenity soundstage.

I'll let the girls describe exactly how we ended up loitering in a shrubbery (they are so much braver than me in so many ways), but I can tell you that we saw some very cool-looking extras... one of them was wearing a zany zebra hat. Summer walked by on her way to somewhere and waved at us. At one point, a PA noticed that the shrubbery was talking, and he came over to visit us. He then left, and came back with Nathan Fillion. Nathan chatted with us, we took some pictures, then he left and came back with Alan Tudyk. Then Jewel Staite was walking by, and was no doubt wondering why Alan and Nathan were over there talking to a shrubbery, so she came over to say hello too. (Everybody likes a talking shrubbery.) They all had to get back to work, so they moseyed away...

And then another PA came over and invited us in for a tour. We were taken into stage 12, where we got to wander through Serenity: we went up into the cockpit area, down through the corridor where everybody's quarters are, through the dining room, out to the lounge and the infirmary. We didn't go into the cargo bay, because they were shooting in there, but we did get to look in between takes; Summer waved at us and Sean gave us a funny look like "what is Summer waving at?" ;D Once we'd seen pretty much everything, the very kind PA led us outside again, and we ran into Alan again as we were leaving; he was on the phone so he just waved goodbye at us. Then we went back out and, you know... gibbered incoherently at each other. It was a good day.

I'm sure the girls will have better photos to share (one of them got a jawdropping shot of Alan and Nathan), but here's the few salvageable ones I took:

(This is the trailers outside Stage 12, which is the main soundstage and the place they were shooting today. You can see one of the zany-looking extras going into a trailer.)

(Alan talking with a Shindigger. Look! It's The Fabled Outfit!)

(Alan again)

(Jewel, tragically out of focus)

(Our big damn heroes walking away)

(And more walking-away action)

(And the best for last... a photo of me and Nathan, only with the "me" part cut out. You can see why I found his shirt so distracting.)

Okay, that's it for me. I've got to scrounge up some dinner. Hopefully the rest of our merry party will show up and share what will undoubtedly be more interesting anecdotes and pictures.

Wiley

OOG

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 5:32 AM

Alan looks great, and Jewel looks just as good slightly out of focus as in.

Oh. Dear. God. That picture of Nathan. It's so beautiful I could cry. I have died and gone to Heaven. I'm sure if I'm a good little Angel they'll let me out to watch the BDM.

_____________________
Great. Another exciting adventure in sitting.
Loni

APEX

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 6:04 AM

Did it make you feel special when they came over? It makes me feel special for you (and whoever else was there). Witnessing how friendly and familiar this cast is towards its fans makes me like them even more, especially since they seem to realise that small things that take not much effort, like this, posting on fansites etc. means so much to a lot of people.

/me takes his hat off to the cast & crew.

Hope y'all had a shiney time.

IRONCLADOTTER

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:06 AM

Yes, special and slightly mortified. I'm not very good at the being-a-fan thing. It conflicts with my being-a-professional instincts. (It is terribly difficult to do both.) On the up side, my companions were charming and made up for my speechlessness and raging internal conflict.

My companions, by the way, were fabulous and wonderful people, and I only avoid naming them here because I don't really know how much they want to be exposed on the Internet. ;) I'm a pretty private person and I don't like having my own info out there on the Net, so I'll let them speak for themselves on the day's adventures. :)

Wiley

ERIN9277

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:17 AM

Darn it. I was going to meet up with you all today, but I had to compete my stupid English papar. I hate college! We should plan another day. If anyone is interested. :)

POLGARA

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 8:44 AM

WOW!!! I was going to Universal Studios that day!! and I changed plans at the last moment!
I also hope we can arrange another 'versal shindig!! and a shrub meeting ofcourse!
Who else is interested? I was thinking on July 15 or 16 (Thursday or Friday) will the cast be there? and one little question to the person who found the place where thay met the cast, where is it?? (unless you can join me hehe)

Bye and keep flying!

polgara

ERIN9277

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 9:02 AM

I might be able to go to Universal on Thursday or Friday. Hopefully other people will be interested too. But, I have to wonder if we have any chance of being as lucky as the group that went yesterday. I went to Universal the first week of filming (I have a season pass) and saw nothing. But, it would still be fun to go. You never know. :)

HAUFEL

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 9:29 AM

Friday. I'll be there. I really wanted to go today, but couldn't make it (cuss cuss cuss). But I've decided that I have to at least make the pilgramage. I'm up for a meet up.

Yeah, and if wishes were horses we'd all be eatin' steak.

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