Ok, I’m continuing this from my Tom Hiddleston blog.
Richard Armitage at San Diego Comic Con, 2012. From rollawayyourstone428.tumblr-2 via RichardArmitageNet.com.
Anyway, Richard’s experience in the Detroit area will be different than Tom’s. Richard will be filming more in a studio in a Detroit suburb versus a beautiful old house in downtown Detroit. The studio where he will be filming at is not really conducive to fans hanging about for autographs and photos. Of course, there is going to be some on-location filming but I’m not sure where that will be and if I did I’m not sure I would publish it on the blog (every fan for him/herself).
Do I want to meet Richard? Would I have an opportunity if I wanted to? If I did have an opportunity and acutally met him, would I be attacked by discussion board poster as a certain blogger was (she admitted it, I know someone who has the screencap) if I published my experience meeting with him? All important things to consider.
Deep down in my heart, I don’t think I want to bug Richard. I know he isn’t as into meeting with his fans as Tom Hiddleston appears to be (Tom really seems to thrive on it, which is what it is). If I can give Tom space out of respect who thrives on it, I can do it for Mr. Armitage who appears more cautious.
Mr. Armitage, enjoy your stay in the Detroit area! If you want to see fans, let us know and we’ll be more than happy to comply (holla). If you have an opportunity to get out of the greater Detroit area, I recommend checking out the beautiful scenery (we’re not New Zealand, but we have waterfalls, sand dunes, stunning lake shores and more).
July 31, 2012: comments made referring to another recent event in Armitage World have been approved with consent of parties involved.
Yeah, I don’t expect that there will be the rush of fans to Detroit for RA like there was for Tom Hiddleston. I understand your decision to leave them both be. As much as I like both actors, I don’t really want to meet them, nor would I want to disturb them if they were just out and about living their lives. I do think it is sad that fans have to worry about sharing their experience of meeting an actor for fear of another fan’s actions. I guess that’s one of the pitfalls of being a fangirl.
I agree about that it’s sad. I know on Tumblr there were some negative reactions to how some of the fans met Tom, but I’m reserving passing judgement on anyone. Just because someone does something I may not do, doesn’t mean I have to publicly denounce them or anything.
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As with everything, it’s a matter of personal decision. I think most of us would feel a little silly running around town to meet a favorite actor. Having said that, if I were to come across RA by chance, I would probably go up and say a few words. It really does depend on the situation. And yes, I would probably write about it, as I’d feel that I’d want to share my joy with my fellow RA admirers. But, like I said, it would all depend on the circumstances.
I agree, a personal decision. I just wanted to let people know not to expect any I met Richard Armitage stories from me because it’s not happening.
LOL! It’s such a funny abstract thought that someone would expect you to go Armitage hunting, and yet I can see it happening. Not sure if funny is the word, now that I think of it…
There are respectful ways of requesting a signature from a celebrity or saying hello. It requires time I most often don’t have. Usually the time it takes to experience that small moment a fan dreams about is extensive & unpredictable. Ive never gone out of my way but have experienced two stagedoor experiences. (Hugh Jackman & Alan Rickman) Those are controlled with security and rules are applied. If I was in your vicinity I would consider contacting the studio asking if & when would be a good time to wait for RA to exit the building to request a signature or say Hello. At the same time I’m not expecting more than 5 min of his time either. And though RA is not as vivacious as Hiddles I think he would be happy to know he has fans in Detroit.
I felt the screenscap commentary talks mostly about not feeling her other fandom being represented and yes her opinion is not positive on RA admiration from his fangirls. What I’m trying to say she’s more or less acknowledging that ComicCon provides a space for fans to “meet” RA
Sadly for FL and all of us that decision (to contact CBR) has wide ramifications in taking away an opportunity many have wished for FL for so long, a possible opportunity to interview RA and to live out a dream many have no access to.
RA just seems to me someone who would want to be left alone when he doesn’t have to be “on” like at a red carpet event, for charity or a stage door. I’m sure he wouldn”t mind spending some time with fans, especially because it would be good press for The Hobbit as well, I just doubt I’m going to find out first hand. I can be happy knowing he’s here and leaving it at that. If anyone else wants to meet him or whatnot I feel they should do that without having to worry about any repercussions from fellow fans. If RA has a problem with how people are reaching out to him, he’s a big boy and has people that can take care of him. Especially since the studio has security and I’m sure he could have security away from the studio if he felt he needed it. I doubt he’ll need it here, the major press for The Hobbit hasn’t started yet, he’s not really recognizable to most people, so I think he should be able to enjoy his time here. As Agzym mentioned, perhaps this way people will be able to bump into him and more will learn what a neat guy he is.
True Snicker’s Mom,
As to Fanny suggesting that fans try to find out from the studion when one can “catch” a star? Shivers! That would be so impolite–and frankly, stalkerish in my view.
Scheduled public appearances by celebrities–at premiere, fan events like Comic-Con, etc.–are possible opportunities for fans to “see” their stars up close. That is the point of them. So I also was heartbroken when Fedoralady didn’t get to go to Comic-Con. However, when a star is “off duty” traveling, eating out with friends, working on his or her next project, etc. I feel that they should be respectfully left alone.
We might liken it to the doctor analogy. Don’t tell doctors your ailments (no pun intended. ha) when you see them at the grocery story–make an appointment to visit their office. A related example is from my own life, my hubby ran photography stores for 15 years and he was constantly getting stopped by his customers when we were out together– them asking him some lens, exposure, developing question and such. I tried to take it in stride and with humor. But alone time with family and friends–even coworkers–is precious (no pun intended there, either) and shouldn’t be interrupted by outsiders.
So the $64 question is, would I try to see Richard Armitage while he is filming only one state away from me? Nope! The man is working. Let him be. Enjoy his films when they are released.
Cheers! Grati ;->
Asking is not stalkerish actually the opposite! LOL Asking (politely obvioulsy) implies that you request when would be the most opportune time. Stalkerish IMO would be hanging out at a place which fans do to! Happens on film locations etc it’s the HOW I want to point. But yes, RA tends to get in the zone so would it be worth it is a personal decision, for me probably not. Except if I had to consider it given the opportunity … I might discuss it with a girlfriend (who’s a pro photographer) but realistically I probably couldn’t do it.
Fanny,
You may think you’re being polite, but your version of how to go about trying to meet a star–asking where they are or when is a good time to catch them–merely gives stalkers a better “MO”, to supposedly “appear” polite. I wouldn’t give stakers any tips if I were you. Ha!
Stars private time and work time should be their own and not intruded upon in my view. Fans should relegate themselves to public events where stars purposely make themselves available.
Cheers! Grati ;->
P.S. My husband knows a lot of pro photographers–he has even done a bit himself–but I doubt that he knows your friend, since we don’t live in the same state. Ha! But I sure you have other girlfriends who are not photographers who might also chat with you about it.
I’m going offline now to write. So feel free to reply here and get the last word in. I’m said my piece on the subject.
I feel this is a really good example of how each fan has a different idea of what he/she feels is appropriate. I would imagine almost every fan has slightly different lines in the sand drawn and how respecting each other can go a long way. See, I got the last word.
Regarding fans appearing near the studios/locales hoping to catch a glimpse or get a word, this is done all the time. Celebs usually know fans are there and can choose to interact with them or not. True, it takes a certain amount of fervor and persistence to camp out like that; it’s not my cup of tea. However, I wouldn’t put it in the realm of stalkerish. But as Snicker’s Mom says, every person has her own limits.
Snicker’s mom, thanks for posting about your feelings. I know it’s a difficult thing to do.
BTW, I put the screencap you mentioned on my blog.
Thanks. I appreciate it. Don’t need people to think I’m over-exaggerating.
I don’t have any fixed opinion on the behavior question — I would imagine some of it would also depend on the intent of the person hoping to meet the celeb. I also have no fixed opinion on what you should do yourself. However, I do have a comment on the “he isn’t as into meeting his fans” thing. Armitage doesn’t engage in social media with fans, it’s true, but we’ve never had any indication that when he actually met an ordinary fan in the flesh in a situation where one might anticipate doing that, he was hostile to the experience, and we’ve had many reports to the contrary. I think that “Armitage as afraid of meeting fans” is another trope like the ones I discussed on my blog — something that it is important for some people to believe for reasons of their own.
I don’t think RA is afraid of fans or is rude to them when he does meet them, it would seem that any documented interaction is to the opposite. The feeling I get from Hiddles is that he almost craves that attention. In some of the stories I’ve read he encourages the photos when the fan in question didn’t even have that intention or encourages people to come up to him. We’ll see if any stories come out of RA’s filming here in the States.
I wonder to what extend Tom has been coached in how to deal with fan encounters. Offering a picture could possibly a way of fulfilling the need of the fan and then to move on.
That’s possible, Fanny, but in interviews he’s almost over-the-top charming. It might just be his personality.
Actually he has mentioned at least a few times that he is not comfortable with the attention he receives, most notably and directly here:
http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/articlescans/Stage_060510.jpg
“For Armitage, however, the recognition and attention that comes with appearing on television is the least appealing part of his job. “I don’t really like it,” he says.”I am happiest when I just getting on with the job. I’m not really one for signing autographs in the street.”"
While I am sure he tries to be gracious to fans who encounter him when he is not doing an event, that is a pretty definitive boundary he has set: “When I am not at an official function to meet fans, please leave me alone.”
I have to wonder at so many fans who ignore such statements.
There are lots of official functions for fans to meet him. Cons like the one being discussed one option where the fan can attend a panel and get an autograph, not fraudulently use a press pass to gain access to him to find out what he smells like. (CBR did not even cover The Hobbit panel. The only film panels they covered were the one derived from comic books. So yes, it would have been fraudulent for her to use it to get to Armitage.) There is the stage door which is a traditional point for fans to gather and get autographs. In fact, while David Tennant and Patrick Stewart were doing Hamlet, the theater sent out an announcement out that they would only sign autographs on items have to do with the play, not Star Trek or Doctor Who memorabilia, so the practice is completely sanctioned. There are charity events like Sir Ian’s show after which Armitage did a meet and greet. And the red carpets usually have areas set aside for fans that actors can visit and sign autographs, etc. Theses are appropriate venues for fans to meet actors. I have zero issue with people using events designed for fans to meet actors. I am totally happy for people who get to meet him that way. Go you!
But sneaking backstage/on set, standing around their trailer on location, hanging out at their hotel (if rumors are to be believed, all of which Armitage fans have tried at one time or another), or using deceit to force a meeting is not cool. It is possibly tantamount to stalking.
Think of it, if you only knew a person through the internet and they used trickery or hung around places you frequented to force a meeting with you, you would be freaked out. You might even call the police. Famous people are more used to complete strangers doing it, but that does not mean they like it. From Armitage’s statement above, it is pretty clear he would not.
I guess RA will be able to enjoy a few more months of anonymity while filming in Detroit. Things will get mad soon enough, but right now, in spite of Comic Con, few people are aware who he is. And who knows how he will looks for the new movie? It seems, he has always been gracious, gentlemanly and charming when approached by fans, which to date seems to be more the exception than the rule, but just looking at those pics of TH posing enthusiastically with fans, those two are totally different in temperament, with RA being the much quieter one.
I agree, the temperaments appear to be night and day. It will be interesting to see how RA deals with increased visibility.
I don’t follow Hiddles on twitter, but every once in awhile (like today) when his name pops up via blogversation – I’ll click on the twitter link from the ‘Adieu’ post to see what he’s tweeted lately. I gotta say – it never fails to impress me what an outstanding tweeter he is, and how incredibly sensitive his posts can be.
What I’ve noticed: 1. He iteratively tweets how much he loves his army 2. He re-tweets some nice quotes, including from Alain de Botton: “Feeling lost, crazy and desperate belongs to a good life as much as optimism, certainty, and reason. (June 1)” and “We study biology, physics, movements of glaciers…Where are the classes on envy, feeling wronged, despair, bitterness… (May 28)”. A bit on the prescient side, these tweets, given very recent events.
This is a guy – you’re just happy he’s out there, doing what he does best, embracing every aspect of his profession, and multiplying the love that is bestowed upon him by sharing it right back with others.
Also, his twitter description always kills me: “brother, son, friend, runner, dancer, prancer, loon”
Agree 100%
The debate on fan behaviour will continue to arise often. I doubt Mr. Armitage requires “protection”. (not yet.) If a fan does become a harassing element at some point, he can take legal advice. He doesn’t need any self-appointed, blog/forum advocate to interfere “behind the scenes” ? in a situation that ought not been any of the “advocate’s” business. As for approaching an actor filming in one’s town, I have my personal lines not to be crossed. Chance encounter when said actor if “off duty” wouldn’t work for me. Neither would I criticise another fan/supporter, who did take the opportunity to approach and politely express appreciation of his work. Little doubt that he would be polite, and would appreciate the compliment. Could we persuade a certain blogger to create one of her SFR vids concerning an actor dealing with an over- abundance of fans?
That could be a cute vid, with RA surrounded by hoards of adoring fans!
Skate-boarding fans; fans on stilts; Olympic-standard hurdles (not Hiddles) fans ….
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