Meeting Mark: Rebecca
Photos
Story
First, the man is gorgeous in person! I went to the "Meet & Greet" as well as the screening for Comic Book: The Movie. I loved the movie - very amusing - smart humor and great characterizations of a truly nerdy man by Mark. I haven't laughed so much at a movie since seeing "Best in Show" (if you haven't seen this film either, it is a must see if you like smart humor that pokes fun at people's different idiosyncrasies and has lots of observational humor).
So anyway, there were three other stars from the movie in attendance as well. Donna D'Errico, Debi Derryberry (voice of "Jimmy Neutron" cartoon), and Rob Paulsen. Eric Mittelman, the producer for the film, was also there. The group arrived in two hummers, with Mark being immediately surrounded by press photogs and little kids with various SW stuff to sign. He was so nice to the little kids - asking their names and personalizing the stuff he signed. I got a few snapshots as he was entering the bar/restaurant where the "Meet & Greet" was being held. The others in the group were basically able to make it into the bar unhindered and slightly bemused with the attention surrounding Mark.
Important stuff - he was wearing indigo blue Levi's, a slate blue cotton t-shirt, a grey/withe small geometric design button-down shirt (opened partly down) and a black leather jacket. He is definitely in great shape - very slender through the waist and hips with broad shoulders. He looked very nice! ;o) I got to speak to Mark's wife a little bit as she was patiently waiting for him off to the side as he was signing autographs and trying to make it inside the restaurant. She is a very sweet lady - soft spoken and good natured. As soon as Mark was moving closer to the entrance, he reached his hand out for his wife and ushered her inside - so sweet!
Inside, Mark was surrounded by people trying to get a snapshot or an autograph. He was being interviewed by a couple different local reporters and continued to sign autographs of various SW memorabilia at the same time.
Anyway, he spent about 30 minutes chatting with various people and he gave a quick story to a reporter about being given the key to the city of Oakland. Apparently he was born in Oakland, but only lived there for six weeks. When in New Zealand, he was being interviewed and was asked where he was born. He told the interviewer Oakland and the guy asked him (all surprised and excited), "Auckland, how did you lose your accent!?!" Mark corrected the guy and said, "No, Oakland!" (This story got big laughs - he even did a mimic of the interviewer's voice.)
As he was being asked to come over to the restaurant side to sit down and eat, I pressed my luck and moved closer. The producer, Eric, was the one trying to get Mark to come sit down and he noticed me waiting with my camera. He offered to take a picture for me - then I asked Mark if he would mind. He smiled and told me he'd "love to" - he flipped around to stand on my left side.
I had hoped to get an autograph from Mark, but froze before asking when I had the chance earlier. I was glad I got the picture with him, but was trying to work up my courage to ask for an autograph when they left for the theatre next door. As I was patiently waiting close to the door inside the restaurant, Eric, the producer, approached me and asked if I was waiting to get an autograph. I told him I was hoping, but didn't want to interrupt anyone's dinner (although there were quite a few people going up to their dinner table). Anyway, he asked me if I'd do a favor for him - go get a pack of cigarettes. I said sure, and then he took my movie flyer from me and told me to come to the table when I got back.
Well, when I got back with the cigarettes and gave them to Eric, he had me give them to Donna and then passed my movie flyer over to Mark and asked him to sign it for me. Luckily they were all done eating, but I was mortified to be standing there interrupting their private time together (everyone from the entourage was at the table.) Anyway, Mark signed my flyer and he also got Donna and Debi to sign it for me also!
Eric told me to wait by the door and give him my camera when they were exiting and he'd get me another picture. When they were moving out the door, I got to walk out with Marilou and we chatted some more. I told her how I missed getting to see Mark in Six Dance Lessons because it closed before the date for my tickets to the show. She told me how they were disappointed as well - they had moved out to NY for the entire year - but that Polly Bergen just wasn't able to continue the play. When Mark finally caught up to us - just before hitting the red carpet - Eric grabbed my camera and asked him to get a photo with me - I asked to have Marilou in the photo as well.
Inside the theatre, they did a Q&A session before screening the film. This is the one that was provided on the web. Mark got a lot of questions and the whole group talked about making the film. Everyone on the panel spoke of how down to earth Mark is and what a great voice talent he is. Mark, for his part, spoke of how the movie came about and of wanting to use voice actors for his film. He was very gracious and humble.
After the screening, Mark took a few more questions from the audience. Just a little trivia for you, in the movie Mark's character is sitting in a den surrounded by toys and action figures. Mark told us that that was in fact his den and those were his things on the shelves in the background - mostly characters he's played / voiced. He also told a cute story of how when his son Nathan had his first sleepover at a friend's house, he came home and complained that his friend's dad didn't have any toys!!
Another little tidbit, I came back to my hotel after the evening festivities (I drove some woman home who got stranded by her husband at the screening) to find Mark and company sitting in the lobby! I'm sure by this time he was convinced I was stalking him!! *grins*