Neverland

I saw Alan Lee speak at the Free Library today. It was interesting, a lot more interesting than Sean Astin. (I mean, the guy was a little more intelligent...). That's mean. But yeah, it was funny, I didn't get there in time to see it, but apparently he was standing outside on the steps of the library waiting for it to open with the rest of the crowd. Way to go, whoever organized that. If I had gotten there early enough I could have shown him to wood street entrance! Oh well.

I got a seat right up front again, which was great, because it was like two feet away from the podium, and also because he made up a slideshow to go along with his speech, so I didn't have to crane around to see the slides. It was really a neat presentation, he had a lot of behind-the-scenes photos of the production process, like the back of Edoras which was apparently only a sheet of plywood, and hobbit-holes that were tarped over. He also had some never-before-seen conceptual sketches for the movie, like of elven armor and of galadriel. I would post them for you guys, but we weren't allowed to take pictures! And Alan Lee is really a nice man. He was soft-spoken and british. He was also really shy- his hands were shaking while he was standing up there. It probably blows his mind that all the people came out to see him. But I really respect his artwork- I think it's really well thought-out, on top of being beautiful.

Hehe, and then when I got my book signed I told him "I really liked 'Fairies'. I also like Brian Froud a lot." Way to go me! Who goes to see an artist and then tells them they like another artist's work? He signed my book anyway, with best wishes, lol.

After that Comfort and her roommate Anna and I went to see "Finding Neverland." I suggest everyone go see it! It's not just another Peter Pan reproduction, it was about the life of the man who wrote Peter Pan, and how his taboo involvement with this one family affected his work. It was really well done- all about how to deal with loss and growing up, and still keep in touch with your imagination. There wasn't a dry eye by the end of it! (Also, Johnny Depp's hot). It also brings you back a step. It made me wonder "What am I doing, stressing myself out about the future and forgetting who I am and what I want to be, really?"

I also went to a University church for the first time today. UniLu, as they call it. It was nice, and the congregation seems nice enough. I'm going to try to keep going back.

Just need a closing sentence for this paper...