Upstairs, we hoped that the Oscar winners would make their way up, since they hadn't visited us yet. Sure enough, we started recognizing some of those behind-the-scenes faces. At this point, I became very sad and annoyed that we never got our "LOTR Crew Flashcards" made up to memorize on the trip down. We weren't sure who most of these people were and we wanted to let them know how happy we were that such talented people became involved in the movies. Apparently, Jeffrey and I passed Mark Ordesky and didn't even notice him! Blast!!! Melonie tried to signal to us that we were standing next to him, but alas! We didn't see her. I did notice Barrie Osbourne, however. Not wanting to let the photo opportunity pass, I tried to say something to him but he was very busy and didn't hear me. Suddenly he was gone, swept out of the room by some errand, which turned out to be an interview. While we were waiting I noticed, sitting on a small table in the main pool room, a Best Sound Editing Oscar, just waiting for a photo! So I grabbed Kierstin and LadyBird and dragged her in. The nice ladies watching over the Oscar were happy to let us take a picture of the Oscar with a strange, stuffed penguin, though when we all started taking pictures of ourselves with the golden statue, they joked, "We should be charging!"

We returned to wait by the interview room, but now who should be in the room being interviewed but ALAN LEE? Alan Lee, a man whose art I've admired since I was a child. Alan Lee, a sweet, quiet British gentleman who I'd never dreamed I'd ever meet! Yet there he was. As he finished up, he started to leave. I could tell he wasn't the type to just start talking to fans - he was definitely the more reclusive type that felt more comfortable drawing pictures away from probing eyes. I decided if we were going to talk to him, I'd had to make the move. I approached him and told him what a pleasure it was to be able to meet him, how I've loved his beautiful artwork for so long, and what a wonderful thing it was that he was involved in the movies. I told him it wouldn't have been the same without him. Melonie said  Rivendell was absolutely beautiful. Throughout it all, he was very sincere and gracious. He was so soft-spoken and kind, and thanked us for dressing up, adding "It makes me feel right at home." We snapped a picture with him and went to go get some water. The nice folks at the bar were closed but gave me water anyway, bless their hearts! Kierstin, Tami and I headed back to the interview area while Mel hopped away to the loo. Alan Lee was still there, and he approached us and asked if HE could take OUR pictures this time! So, somewhere Alan Lee has a photo of US! I don't know why that should be so exciting - I guess it's because he did so much to create this beautiful Middle Earth, and was impressed enough by our costumes to want to remember them later. Wow! What a sweet, sweet man!

Against all hopes, Barrie Osbourne returned for a moment. I could tell he was very busy and had a lot on his mind, but I approached and asked for a picture anyway. He was very happy to be in the picture, throwing his arms about us, though one hand held a drink and the other clutched the Golden Gandalf. We thanked him for the enormous amount of work he'd done on the movie, and he was glad to hear that we loved the results so very much. That was it, he had to run off to do something else wonderful, no doubt! I was impressed by how fatherly he acted for the brief moment we spoke to him. I don't know why (I suppose it's because he's such an important man with so much authority) but I didn't expect him to react so warmly to us. And really, that's the overall impression I was left with at the end of the night - how warm, friendly, and family-like everyone in the cast and crew behaved towards each other, and more wonderfully and surprisingly, towards their fans. These people have a passion for their work and put so much effort over the years into this project, yet they were never blinded to the passion that others feel for it. What a great group of people!

We ran into Craig Parker again, who had just been interviewed. He asked Melonie how her ears were holding up after all this time (Melonie insists that I mention that he stroked her ears at this point!). After some more idle chit-chat, Melonie told him how beautiful his death scene was, making her cry. He thanked her, and shared his experience filming it. He said, "You know it was really beautiful because - you know what all the dead elves and things were about? They were really there, I could see them. So it made it really great to do the scene." At that point, the woman he and Bruce Hopkins had come in with (she was BEAUTIFUL, by the way. Her dress was our favorite of all that we saw. We have since discovered that she was the reason that Craig and Bruce were at the party. THANK YOU REBECCA!!!) told Craig there were some people downstairs he needed to talk to. Then, she turned to us and said, "I'll bring him back, I promise!" Melonie complimented her on her dress and she said, "Me? Thank you! You guys have the lovely dresses." SO nice!

The night was obviously winding down. The rooms were emptying, equipment was being gathered, and our aching feet were begging for relief (I remember sitting down briefly only twice after the Oscar broadcast ended!). Quickbeam was saying good-byes to Barrie Osbourne and others, thanking them for showing up and saying he hoped they'd had a good time. Always the gracious and responsible host! We had made him promise to get a picture with us before the night was out, so we patiently waited while he took care of some last bits of business. His mother was there and he eagerly introduced her to everyone he met. She was a sweet little lady with, we discovered, a great sense of humor! When we finally managed to wrangle Quickbeam into a corner to take a picture, she offered to snap the shot. Instead of telling us to say 'cheese!' or 'smile!' to prepare us for the picture, she said "Say SEX!" Bless her heart! The picture speaks a thousand words about what we thought about that! I think Quickbeam must have been confused or shocked.

Begrudgingly, we made our way downstairs and out to the car, picking up our "Goody Baggins" at the door. When we stepped outside, the magic already started to fade and I was almost instantly tired. Still, it took quite a while once we got back to the hotel for my head to stop buzzing and my stomach to cease quivering with excitement. That, my friends, was a night to remember.

Endnote: Whilst gathering up our things from the interview room, Melonie accidentally picked up somebody's glasses. After realizing the mistake, we returned them the next morning to the security guard at the HAC. So, if anyone reading this lost some glasses that night, that's where they are! SORRY!

Makeup prosthetics by Shawn Gordon, he welcomes questions or comments at sfgthebatman@hotmail.com.

VSTM wishes to thank the TORN staff and volunteers for all of their HARD work and for a GREAT party! We'd also like to thank all the great fans for making the experience so wonderful. We'd like to specifically thank all the people who gave us such wonderful compliments. They did not go unheeded! Finally, thanks to the people so closely involved in the making of LOTR, for their dedication and talents. Our lives are all the better for their work and their vision.