Cary let down at MotorCityComicCon
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Cary Elwes
ayceod — 12 years ago(May 18, 2013 10:27 PM)
I just want to say, in hopes that Cary might actually see this, albeit a slim chance he actually will, I was let down by Cary at Motor City Comic Con 2013 today in Novi, Michigan. I have always been a big fan of Cary's work. Princess Bride has been one of my favorite movies since I saw it as a child. Men in Tights brings back fond childhood memories of laughing my head off, staying up all night at a friends, watching it over and over again. Today at Comic Con, as I was roaming the convention floor, I approached Cary's booth and wanted to take a quick snapshot of him from the sidelines, since I was such a big fan. As soon as I raised my camera, I was quickly approached by two gentleman yelling at me to stop taking his picture. Now, I do understand that if I wanted a photograph taken "with" Cary, I should have to pay for that. However, to just snap a quick shot of him from the side, not obstructing the line of paying fans, there should really be no restrictions. Cary is great at what he does but he is not God. If I were a reporter with a camera and I bumped into Cary on the street, he most likely would have no issue having his photo taken. But if your a fan like myself, and have supported his career by purchasing all of his films, then happen to bump into him at a comic book convention and want a quick pic, you are treated like a criminal. There is just something wrong with that.. The kicker of all this is, I was going to purchase an autograph and photo with Cary today, but I had only been in the convention for minutes when I saw hb68im and thought I would return later after having a chance to wander for a bit. I have to say, I lost a lot of respect for Cary today and most likely will never again look at his films the way I always have. Cary's quote on his Twitter page says, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I wonder if that includes walking around with your nose in the air
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gabby56-691-77138 — 12 years ago(May 21, 2013 05:01 AM)
I was at Motor City Co16d0mic Con as well, and he was one of the prime reasons for me going. He looked pissed off and uptight the whole time. He was the only celebrity I saw who had bodyguards around him the whole time. Even though I wanted to, I never really went up to him. He gave off some seriously bad vibes.
I later learned that a friend of mine had gone and snapped a picture of him. Cary Elwes in response, got up out of the chair, walked over to her, and demanded $40 for it.
He was my hero, my childhood crush, and someone I still find to be a wonderful actor. He's also a conceited, moneygrubbing jerk, and I am incredibly upset about it..
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damian40330 — 11 years ago(September 24, 2014 06:46 PM)
I find that very hard to believe. I had the opportunity to meet him at a con in Ky a couple of weeks ago, in which I was volunteering, and he was the very definition of "dashing." He brought his assistants (con volunteers) coffee in the mornings when he arrived, and didn't have any bodyguards at his sides, just a manager/assistant. He was happy to sign free autographs for the staff volunteers, take as many photos as we wanted, and was nothing short of debonair. He routinely said please, thank you, shook hands, and hugged folks freely.
During his Q&A, he sought out some kids in the audience to take some photos with, even before the session began, and took extra time after the session to take free pics with fans before returning to his booth. He went out of his way to take time with his fans, and his line moved slowly because he took extra time to tell stories to his fans and listen to their stories.
In your account, he was flanked by bodyguards, yet HE got up and demanded $40 from a fan who snapped a candid photo. If he's surrounded by his staff, why would HE do that? I've worked a few cons for the past few years, and a general rule of thumb is that the celeb is the good guy, who signs and smiles for the camera, and the con staff/security is the bad guy, that takes the money and says "No". This is to protect the reputation of the celeb. The celeb would never get up and demand money. If anything like that were to take place, it would have been one of his "bodyguards" that did the dirty work. -
Dash_Rendar — 12 years ago(June 09, 2013 10:22 PM)
Very surprised by the negative comments. I didn't approach his signing booth but I was in the audience for Cary's Q & A panel and he was a tremendous class act. He politely answered every question and personalized each response into a mini conversation. He gave hugs to every lady that asked for one. A few requested a quick picture which was probably not allowed but he and the moderators were lenient about it. He even recorded a video message for my friend's cell phone.
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mckracken — 12 years ago(June 27, 2013 10:38 PM)
well he's moderating the Psych panel at Comic Con '13 so.. y'know.. his wranglers might not take too kindly to strangers snapping pics of him.
Dirk Benedict turned and put his back to me when I took his picture at Comic Con a few years back I didnt pay for an autograph but i introduced myself and shook his hand.. Dirk's a recluse and lives in Montana I think or Colorado.. on a ranch -
wj-n3 — 12 years ago(June 29, 2013 01:35 PM)
If you ran a hotdog stall and people decided that just smelling a hotdog was good enough, I don't care what you think I'm saying they actually think that sniffing a hotdog is sufficient, then what you gonna think about creeps coming up and sniffing your hotdogs?
You gonna get angry.
Man don't got nothing going on right now, he is what he was. What he was is all he is. If you is up against a wall you want people to sniff you own hotdogs, not some other lazy ass dogs.
Obvious, right? -
DrmWmn — 12 years ago(July 01, 2013 07:25 AM)
I think the bigger problem is how much these conventions charge just to enter, when you have to pay for pics with the celebrities. It's very misleading when you come out of pocket so much already.
I can understand how it seems harsh that they won't let you take their picture. Part of their contract for showing up at these events is that they get paid for their image. This is why they don't allow anyone to just take their picture.
Also, take this into account. You have a lot of people who would snap and try to sell it, a lot like the paparazzi. You may pay $40.00 for his pic and autograph, and others do this and then charge more for it on eBay.
It's a system to protect the celebrity and I think it just needs to be clarified better up front.
<- You know what it is -
Shiva1177-2 — 12 years ago(January 11, 2014 10:53 PM)
I totally agree. After chatting with a few celebs that actually will talk to fans (Alexis Cruz from Stargate) I've learned that they have to give half of all the money they make from photos and autographs to the convention. Which is why it's a convention person taking the money not the celebs personal assistant. I also had a few friends who would work the cons and I was told that they stop people from taking photos for the exact reason DrmWmn is talking about. AlsoWhy should someone get a free photo when others have to pay? How is that fair to the paying customers. I am one of the paying customers and I would CERTAINLY pay for Cary's autograph if he were to come to ECCC or Rose City Comicon. To end all this up. Maybe Cary himself was talked to by the con people about letting people get away with too much? Who knows what possibly made him grumpy etc. We all have bad days. Give the guy a break. I've heard nothing but good stuff about him. And if this is what he has to do to make some money so be it.
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zappbrannigan83 — 12 years ago(July 05, 2013 10:40 PM)
I met him today at the Melbourne comic con, he was really nice and was laughing with surprise when I asked him to sign the psych book, he had never seen it before and took time to flip through it and have a look. he signed it as cary elwes and then as desperaux and then wished me a good day.
as for not having people taking his photo its more of a comic con thing, they wont let anyone take photos of the celebrities even if their just walking around, which makes me think that they get a cut in every photo that the celebrities sell. -
PolarBearr — 12 years ago(July 14, 2013 07:59 PM)
Just an FYI, ALL CONS, demand a fee from the celebrities per photo/autograph. I've gotten autographs from celebs and pics of them, sometimes with them after a play. But in a convention, they're at the mercy of the convention money whores, all these con runners loves to double/tripple even quadruple dip.
These con runners, will charge for a panel, charge vendors for a booth, charge people attending, over charge on vending machines, etc etc. I used to have a booth back in the 90s selling non American anime movies. They'd charge me for the space which is fine, but if I make a certain amount of money, they'd ask for some BS tax, of course I'd always tell them, I'd made less than what I said.
But yeah, they'd charge for everything, so it's not so much the actors, yes they get a cut, but it's the con runners that's the one demanding for pic/autograph monies. Believe me, there are a lot of celebs that will never charge for a pic/autograph if you ran into them after a play, or maybe in the streets. Though I'd think it'd be intrusive to ask them for one if I just bump into them, and I wouldn't even attempt that if I sat in the same restaurant as them.
-The Price of freedom is eternal vigilance. -
Stef_antique — 12 years ago(August 07, 2013 06:55 AM)
Don't worry mate, It'b68s just the power of the convention. I was lucky enough to meet Cary at the Melbourne Comic-Con but at the large $40 fee for a photo. It's just something you have to abide by i guess as sad as it is man. The con is a bit of a rip off but you get to meet people that you may not get the chance to another time!
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adamknox — 12 years ago(December 17, 2013 03:49 PM)
I don't think the guards did anything wrong. There were fans in that que who were/had paid money to have a photo of the guy/with the guy. Why should you get one for free? I understand you didn't think you were doing anything
but the rules are the rules. I've been in a que for a photo/autograph before and seen people taking free snap shots. 90% of the time the guards approach them and ask for the person tb68o delete the photos or they'd be removed. Most of them always come out with "Oh what ever! Its only a photo" and are quickly removed. When they did the line cheered! Nothing pi**es off convention fans than people getting stuff for free when they're paying for it. If you were taking them from outside of the que that's worse lol
I understand you say you 'were' going to get a paid photo eventually.. but that isn't good enough. Its a bit like walking around a supermarket eating the goods from your trolly saying "Yeah i'm going to pay for it.. eventually." Would you exspect the security to just trust you to pay when you get to the counter and half the food you've eaten has gone?
If you knew you were going to get a photo eventually why not wait? I don't mean to be harsh but just chalk it upto lifes lesson and don't do it again
Otherwise you'll have a crowd of Wookies chasing you out of the convention. lol
Please excuse typos. Im typing this on a phone and it keeps correcting my spelling.. yet it changes it to something totally different grrr!
This message was done in the best possible of taste x 24/7 -
Shiva1177-2 — 12 years ago(January 11, 2014 10:56 PM)
Well said Adam. Well said. I am one of those paying people who has seen people try to take a "free" photo from the sidelines. Actual cons do NOT allow that. Don't blame the celebrity for the convention rules. Not fair to a celebrity who would totally give someone the time of day outside of the convention.
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belles-chaussettes — 12 years ago(February 05, 2014 11:23 PM)
You're right. At one con a celebrity stood with his back turned to the line because of all the people wanting to take his photo for free. He spent a great deal of time with everyone who paid to have their photo taken.
Having run state wide professional conventions I can tell you that most have no idea at the huge fees charge for use of the convention center, required food events, security, etc., etc. For example there was a $2,000 charge for one room's use for an evening party. Plus food and drink. The employees of the con would like to pay their bills too. -
Edelweis1966 — 11 years ago(April 22, 2014 04:58 PM)
Sorry to hear that happen to you. Makes me think of all of the rude people running up to me on the observation deck of the Empire State Building telling me not to take a ohotograph. I could never figure that one out.
As for Mr. Elwes, I've always heard very good things about him. He is one of those celebrities that I have heard have gone personally out of their way to make someone's day. I don't know much about the Comic Con's conventions, but I have heard that they are pretty strict about people taking photographs of the celebrities. I also heard an apology given out to Cary's fans in regard to one such instance. It seemed as if Cary didn't mind the photographs, but Comic Con was getting mad that people at people who did not pay and did say something to Cary about it not being fair. I really don't blame a lot of the celebrities. I do think that it is the conventions' rules.
Cary's not one who is in need of money. I doubt that he is making all that much out of the conventions. He's probably a guy that you could meet walking along the beach and have his photograph and an autograph for free. -
MarcusTCicero — 11 years ago(May 24, 2014 05:54 PM)
The convention hall hires security. Security is told to not allow photos. If everyone simply took pictures without paying then it defeats the purpose of charging for photos. This isn't hard to figure out.
A close relative of mine is a celebrity does several appearances per year similar to comb68ic cons. Sometimes the venue pays them a flat rate, then the venue charges what they want for photos. Sometimes they pay for the booth then keep the money. Deals vary.
Do you work for free or would you give away a free product? Of course not. Don't be a cheapskate. Pay the money.
BTW - We met Cary today at a comic convention. He was super nice and took his time with each person he met. (We paid for a picture AND autograph). -
shipaddict — 11 years ago(May 25, 2014 12:57 AM)
We met him today at the same convention. He was great! He took lots of time with everyone and even played with the two young kids in line just ahead of us for quite some time. He was all smiles and very friendly. Really enjoyed my hug!
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Edelweis1966 — 11 years ago(May 31, 2014 06:11 PM)
I figured that he was pretty nice. I know someone who really enjoyed how nice he was to her daughter. She was having a Princess Bride birthday party. My friend posted photographs of how happy her daughter was to meet Cary.
It is too bad that not everyone is nice everywhere, but that is to be expected. The celebrities have to follow the rules. Not that particular ones need the money, but I am sure that the conventions are getting a cut.