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2002
Sat. July 13th, 2002
London, Ontario
20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EVENT!!!!!!
THING-FEST 2002 sponsored by
Western Film and CHRW 94.7 FM
~Listen to the THING-FEST
2002 CHRW 94.7 FM radio spots with the
links below! 5 free double admission passes were given away on-air!!
Ad produced by Adam Dafoe, production director of CHRW 94.7 FM.
~East Side Mario's offers a 10% discount to
all THING-FEST attendees for the post-screening dinner!!
~The London Free Press runs an article on THING-FEST "The Thing lives to
be shown again", in the Fri. July 12th
newspaper. THING-FEST gets 1/4 page write-up in the
Entertainment section with a photo.
Click thumbnail to read full-size article!!
THING-FEST 2002
THING-FEST 2002 is a
huge success! Outpost #31 in conjunction with Western Film and CHRW 94.7 FM
bring "The Thing" back to the big screen for the 20th
Anniversary! With a good turn-out of just over 55 people arriving for the
screening it is a huge jump in attendance from last year. Geri Baker (aka Talon)
is the furthest visitor arriving two days in advance from Dublin, Ireland. Talon
arrives only hours after Alex Wheill (aka The Butterman) who hails from
Montreal, Quebec. And then the fun begins...
PRE-PARTY
A two-day THING-FEST
Pre-Party ensues, plenty of J&B Scotch Whiskey is consumed and food BBQ'd.
One of the highlights is the arrival of the third Outpost #31 site mascot, a
replica prop of the Norwegian-Thing head. The timing couldn't have been better
as the package is opened by Todd, Butterman, Talon, and Steve Davis (aka Tie Pilot).
The prop is incredible, even better than we had expected from the photos and is
the center piece of discussion. With the article in Friday's paper the phone
rings off the hook with inquiries on Saturday's event and people just start
answering the phone "Hello, THING-FEST!"
THING-FEST kicks off
with a brunch at Todd and Moon's and although many more than expected show up
there is plenty of food and drink for all. Members of the Outpost #31 Disc.
Forum meet face to face for the first time. Benson arrives with his friend
Dennis from Detroit, Steve (aka Zombi69) and his buddies Cory and Mike come in
from Mississauga, Mike 'Mac' Reidy and his girlfriend Nicole come to see The
Thing for the first time, a pile of Todd's and Moon's family and friends
pile in and it is soon standing room only. Then more people arrive... I lost
count at 24 (this is a 1 bedroom apartment). Regrets I don't even remember
everyone's name but it was an awesome time. Butterman and Talon depart early
with Steve (Tie Pilot), and head over to Western Film to set-up, reserve seats,
and hand out raffle tickets. Within a half-hour the brunch attendees and public
start to show. The Western Film staff sell tickets and run the concession stand.
A die-hard The Thing fan who saw the film opening night in '82 arrives
with part of his collection.
PRIZES & SCREENING
And it's time for
PRIZES!! Butterman and Talon accompany me to the front of the theater (Thanks
guys!!) and I welcome everyone to THING-FEST 2002, a 20th Anniversary screening
of John Carpenter's "The Thing". People are excited at the
aspect of prizes (free stuff!) and we have some cool stuff to give out.
Butterman draws the tickets from a basket and reads them off. We have the
winners!! First go the two McFarlane The Thing figures, then 2 copies of The
Thing on DVD. Then 10 The Thing Video Game posters. A big thanks to Computer
Artworks, developers of the upcoming video game for donating the posters for our
event. The posters go in an excited flurry and people are pumped to win. With
about 50 people and 15 prizes the odds to win are not too bad and Butterman
reads off the numbers. Finally we save the best for last. A super rare copy of
the 1982 promo re-release of "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell. A
younger fan who came with his Dad wins the novella and I am thrilled to see him
win it. I could tell he was equally as happy.
Now it is the moment
many have waited a long time and traveled great distances for. We are about to
see "The Thing" big screen! I'm just wired at this point. Here
we have our first minor glitch as the lights dim and the film starts to roll.
The picture is off-kilter on the screen. I head back to the projection room and
the projectionist has a bit of difficulty with the film. It is an older print
and not easy to run like the newer films. They get grumpy with age. I'm told it'll
be a 5 minute delay to get us rolling again and I come out to inform the
audience of the short delay. We start some impromptu 'The Thing Trivia'. The
film's music is discussed as well as how the movie got a bum rap at the box
office opening alongside "E.T.". Butterman joins me up on the
hot seat to aid in leading the discussion and we talk of Rob Bottin's special
effects work. I get a thumbs up from the Projection Room and we quickly take our
seats as the light go down again and the film rolls. We ended up missing most of
the opening credits and unfortunately the saucer and burning title logo
sequence. The film started back up at ANTARCTICA, WINTER 1982 and rolled smooth
to the end. The finale brought applause from all. I was again completely blown
away by this film on the big screen. You just have to see it, words do not do
the experience justice. We all meet out in the lobby and re-grouped for
pictures, discussion, and to head out for dinner.
DINNER & AFTER-PARTY
Upon seeing the
article in the paper for the 'FEST the manager of East Side Mario's called us up
and told us he'd give 10% off to all THING-FEST attendees. So we head over for
some good eats. All was great save for some "conspirators" at the far
end of the table who ordered me up a ridiculous balloon hat. Being a sport I
wore it for dinner and even posted a pic. (Wait'll next year
Butterman...payback!) From here it was decided we would go back to my place for
drinks and it was a mad dash to make the closest beer/liquor stores before they
closed. Meeting back it was apparent everyone succeeded in the pursuit of
alcohol and the drink flowed until the wee hours of the morning. What a party!!
The atmosphere was great and everyone had an absolute blast. Talon's Jameson whiskey
was a hit, more so than the J&B! (Bring another bottle next year Talon!)
That was the biggest bash Moon and I have had in that place (almost 20 people)
and we rocked it hard...good thing we are moving soon! Taxis were called for the
inebriated with Steve (Zombi69) and his crew being the last to depart around 3am
with a sober driver back to Mississauga. Talon returned home to Ireland Sunday
evening after another day of touring London, Ontario, shopping, and seeing "Reign
of Fire". Butterman left Monday morning for Montreal. We were sad to
see them go, but one thing is for sure... I know they'll be back!!
What an experience,
what a weekend. Watching The Thing big screen with family, friends and fellow
fans and ending it with an incredible bash. That is THING-FEST and we plan to do
it annually to celebrate the #1 movie of all time, John Carpenter's THE
THING. See you all next year!!
Todd Cameron
THING-FEST Host & Promoter
tc_outpost31@yahoo.ca
THING-FEST PRE-PARTY
 
~ Talon arrives overseas from Ireland!! Butterman
arrives from Montreal!! Talon wins the Ultimate Trivia prize-a bottle of
J&B!! Butter gets into Talon's J&B!! Then Butter lights up a
spliff!! Todd under the
influence of J&B!! Norwegian-Thing head prop replica arrives at the last
minute!! Steve, Todd, Butterman, and Talon open the package.... Outpost #31 Site
Mascot, a popular item at the 'FEST! Talon cheers a shot of J&B!
THING-FEST BRUNCH
 
~Some of the brunch tables! Steve, Benson, Todd, Talon, &
Dennis! Butter cheers!
PRIZES & SCREENING
~Big screen ad for TF2!! A pumped fan arrives with some of his Collection! Western
Film foyer! Talon with TF2 poster! Prizes to
be given away at the screening!! Talon, Butterman, and Todd start the prize
draws! Giving away the Game posters! An excited poster winner! More
posters-another happy winner! Butterman reads the last ticket number! Drawing
for the coveted "Who Goes
There?" novella! Todd hands the novella to a young fan! The crew after the
show: Butterman, Todd, Benson, Steve, and Talon.
AFTER-PARTY
~Nicole & Talon at dinner!! Restaurant table!! Todd gets
stuck with the balloon hat!! Talon, Todd, Zombi69, Mike, Cory, and Butterman pose with
friends!! Butterman & Todd start the party! Talon grinning big...and feeling
no pain! MacReidy takes on the Spider-Head! What's Butterman doing? Alright,
then what the Hell is he doing here? Butter & Steve with friends! Some of
the after-party crew! MacReidy & Nicole lounge while Butter shows off his
calf development... Steve (aka TiePilot) comes face-to-face with the
Spider-Head! Steve & Talon grin innocently for the camera! The TF2 Crew have
a drink: Mac, Todd, Moon, Steve, Talon, & Butterman. B-Man (in a candid
shot) is left to clean the mess...
PRIZES & FREE STUFF!!!: At THING-FEST
2002 we gave away a copy of the extremely rare
Promo Booklet novella "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell, two MacFarlane Movie Maniacs The Thing figures,
two copies of "The Thing" on DVD, and 10 THE THING Video Game
posters!!!
THING-FEST Itinerary: Saturday, July 13th, 2002
1:00pm: Pre-screening brunch prior to the film. Meet the Outpost #31 Staff,
site mascots, fellow fans, and view the Collection & Archive!! Please
Contact Us
for more info!!
4:00pm: Matinee screening of "The Thing" at Western
Film, a state-of-the-art big screen theater!! $6.00 admission.
6:00pm: Post-screening dinner at East Side Mario's!! (5 mins. from
Western Film)
9:00pm: After-party at Todd & Moon's place!!
THANKS!
Outpost #31 would like to thank the following
who helped make THING-FEST 2002 a successful reality: Western Film, CHRW 94.7
FM, The London Free Press, James Waite, Tom Everett, Adam Dafoe, Noel
Gallagher, East Side Mario's, Blair Claxton, Geri Baker (Talon), Alex Wheill
(The Butterman), and last but not least Moon for her constant support and
encouragement. Your generosity, feedback, and assistance has been extremely
appreciated. Thanks!!!
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