Site last Updated - May 13, 2006

"Chance" won The Feature Film Audience Choice Award at the festival.
I'm happy to say, it finally got released on VHS as well as DVD.
(by Amber herself) So get your copy of the film today!
Tis worth the money to be able to see it when ever you want to.

Photos from the Festival.

This is how crazy I am. I Saw all these little "Reserved For Amber Benson" signs taped to the first 2 rows of seats in the theater, and I HAD to have one. Of course you see I put it to good use too. ;o)	This is me and Jason inside the Alabama Theater in our *Reserved* attire, while waiting for Chance & Amber. He was a bit upset that I thought of the idea first, but I told him there should be a male reserved for Amber as well. So here we are, reserved for Amber. ;o)
Me and EvyXWP outside the Alabama Theater after Chance showed. We are trying to teach Buttons (my daughter) how to throw a goat. She doesn't have it down yet, but I'm working on it. Give her another year and she'll be able to throw a goat with the best of em'. ;o)	Buttons being held by EvyXWP outside the Alabama Theater. Aint she a total ham? ;o)

TrueXena's Reflections of "Amber-Bama"...

Just wanted to say that I had a wonderful weekend meeting folks at the festival. (ok so it was basicly one night and one day, but it still counts)

I didnt get into Birmingham till well after 11pm (central time) on Sat so I'd missed out on free tickets to the "After Party" in which most folks got to meet and talk to Amber. (I'd been calling Helen's cell phone from about 150 miles out of town, but got her voice mail every time.)

I did however crash a few partys while I was hunting down Zon, Helen, and Sheila.

I crashed a small gathering of women, outside the Redmont. They were all Kittens, who were kind enough to offer me up a bit of alcohol and some chat. When that little party dispersed a smaller group of us went to someones room and continued the drinking and chatting. Much was discussed of Buffy/Tara/FireFly/Queer as Folk/Bad Girls, and many other subjects.

Eventually the key holder of the room wanted to sleep and it was almost 2am so I went back down to the patio to finish off my drink, and see if I could catch Zon or the others on their way back from the After Party. (I never saw any of em, but got to talk to a few other really nice Festival goers while sitting there)

Eventually I went back in, and called up Sheila's room. WOOO HOOO someone finally answered, and I went to her room to get the 411 on the After Party. We called Zon and she proceeded to tell me about a girl who passed out on the dance floor and got carted away by Amber and her mother. And a few other things, but basicly everyone was tired and were headed off to bed.

So what is a wild woman like me spose to do when everyone else wants to sleep? We search for something else to do. (rather than head back to your own room and sleep that is.)

While exiting Sheila's room and headed towards the elevators, I heard a party of some sort going on down the hall. So I had to investigate.

Low and behold there was a party happening, and I crashed it. The owner of the room welcomed me warmly. (as long as I wasn't there to complain about the noise I was welcome)

More alcohol was consumed, and much chat about this, that, and the other thing was had. Come to find out the guy who's room it was is/was one of the film makers, and most of the guests were film makers or actors of films at the festival. It was really nice to meet them all, and to party with them while doing it. I got to chat with the guy who scored "Chance" and one of the girls who did post production on "Chance" as well, which was really nice, and very informative. Lovely people those two were.

I spent most of my time in the bathroom. (it was the designated smokeing area BTW, I wasnt THAT drunk yet) And got to meet a plethra of film makers, and actors of various degrees, as well as make some local contacts for future projects. (all numbers and emails were securely "Palm Pilot'ed")

Around 5:30am the crowd basicly left, and it was down to me and the guy who's room held the party. (god I love being the last one to leave!) So we had a nice long chat about his project and before it was all over, I'd gotten his name and contact info. And would you fucking believe his name was CHANCE??? I could have died!

So its now almost 6am, and I could do one of two things. Go to my own room and sleep it off, or find the Alabama Theater and start the line. Hmmmm??? What to do, what to do???

I figured, there would be enough time for me to get a few hours sleep and get in line later, so I headed back to my room. (in another hotel, in the rain) Wet, tired, and drunk, I shucked my clothes and dropped into bed.

Woke up a few times before actually rolling out of bed at 8am. Headed over to the Redmont again, got a call from Zon to say she'd meet me at the Alabama, so I got a ride from the guy at the front desk since it was raining and I still had no idea how to get there.

Now I'm standing in a somewhat small group of people waiting for them to open the doors to the theater. We all pretty much fit under the awening of the theater with much elbow room to be had. (untill it got closer to 11 that is)

Saw a few of the Amberholics (who had been there since 6:30, I'd of beat them by half an hour if I didnt think I'd need some sort of sleep to be functioning!) So I introduced myself and they let me do an interview with a fish. We talked about Jude, and her site, some of my videos, some of their videos, and I cant remember what else. But it was much fun. Amberholics are just way too kewl for words.

It got a bit crowded under the awening eventually, it was hard to keep track of who was entering the frey. However I did catch site of a long lost Xenite, who is an avid poster of the Essence board, so I hollered out her name over the tops of many peoples heads.

EvyXWP, was rather surprised to see me there. As we hadnt seen each other for going on 4 or 5 years now. (since the last Xena con we both attended together) She had no idea I'd come over to the darker side of Buffy either, but she was happy. She introduced me to a few more Amberholics, and some catching up was done while we waited.

I was in the middle of the interview with the fish when Amber pulled up. (so of course that had to end rather quickly so filming of Amber could be done) She didnt have to brave the crowd, as she went into a side door that wasnt being blocked by over 100 fans.

Eventually they let us into the theater. The first two rows had signs taped to them "Reserved For Amber Benson". To which I felt the need to take one and tape it to my chest. The flashbulbs were going off with that move. Geesh I never knew I was that popular. (BTW anyone who got a shot of me and/or "Man Whore" in our *Reserved* glory, could you please email me at truexena@truexena.com? As I'd like to have a copy of those shots, thanks)

The shorts were played, some good, some wacky, some just didnt make sense at all.

Finally its time for Chance to be shown. They told a short bio of Amber, then she came out on stage. Basicly saying her hope of everyone likeing the movie. Which with me, was a total understatement. I LOVED the move. It was very funny. (which I'm pretty sure it was ment to be)

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! Is pretty much how I feel about this movie. I have no idea why nobody is crawling on their hands and knees begging Amber to let them distribute this movie. I would pay 12 bucks a hundred times over to see this in a theater near me. I would pay "distributor" prices of 90 bucks to purchase this movie on VHS tape. I would SOOOO buy a copy of this on DVD. I swear I dont know why she doesnt have a deal already with this movie. Anyone would be LUCKY to get it under their banner, I say!

After the movie was shown, Amber and the cast/crew who were at the festival came on stage and answered some questions from the audience.

I didnt ask a question, but I got up pretty close to the stage to try and get some pictures of her. At one point she looked down at me and saw the "Reserved for Amber Benson" sign on my chest and just smiled at me, with an "OMG! you're a nut" look in her eye.

Someone asked if she would be doing some signing afterward. She said she might, but we would have to see about that.

So with that being said many of her fans stuck around outside/inside the lobby of the theater to see if this would happen. (I was in attendance as well)

They were selling "Chance" movie posters outside in the lobby, which were signed by Amber, for 5 bucks. I picked up 2 of them before the movie started, and picked up another one while waiting. I got the last one signed by all the cast/crew who were on stage, to include Amber's mother.

One of the Amberholics had given me a "Once More, With Feeling: Spoof" script to give to Amber if I got to meet her. (sorry, but I sure as heck cant remember the name of the girl now.) But was told that if that didnt happen to just keep it and enjoy the read. I read the first few pages while waiting, but since I wasnt sure if Amber would be available I felt it best to give to her mother to give to her. So thats what I did.

My mother, her friend, and Buttons had made the trek to AmberBama with me. So when I exited the theater, I saw Buttons being walked past with her harness and leash. So of course she didnt want to stay with my mom anymore, she wanted to chill out with me and over 200 Amber fans.

Buttons is a born ham, and she was true to form with all the cameras around. Many people took her picture while she was being loved and held by EvyXWP. (and if any of those fine folks would contact me at truexena@truexena.com I'd like to get copies of those shots as well. Thanks.)

Anyhoo, while I would have waited around till the sun went down, and came back up again, for a chance (tee hee, no pun intended) to meet Amber personally, I still had a long drive home ahead of me. So I asked one of the folks who were selling the Movie posters if Amber had left the building and she said yes, but that she would be at the Awards later that night. I however did not have a "Somebody" pass (nor the money to aquire one) so sticking around was pretty pointless. So I said my goodbye's to the people who were still around, and headed back home.

And that there folks, is my report. Sorry for not remembering everyones names that I met, but you know who you are, and you as a person are well remembered if not your name. Oh and sorry for all the requests in this post too, but I really want copies of that stuff, so if you got it, send it!

Later dayz,
TrueXena

 

 

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