It's curlers for Eowyn (Kierstin)!

Melonie carefully applies Rachel's ears

Steve, future Wormtongue

(Janette, Tami, Melonie, Rachel) Almost ready!

A Dark Queen

Dorian Mirth performing on the Main Stage

Rachel prepares to sing (courtesy of Heather M. Stanfield)

The One Ring
 

Shawn interviewed by NZ television

Kierstin and husband Gary

Still a cute hobbit!

Self portrait Angie and Chris

SPIDER!!

Spider? whatever

words  Melonie
with contributions by Dorian Mirth

The day started early, but went surprisingly smooth. Everyone pitched in to help with the final touches of makeup, prosthetics (thanks Shawn!) and costumes, and we were ready and at the American Legion at 1:30 p.m.. After a bit of confusion, we were allowed to set up on the main stage, as we were once again the opening act. Being onstage, we were immediately struck by the projection of the One Ring rotating around a map of Middle Earth on the back wall of the main hall. Very cool and an excellent touch! By the time we started playing at 3:00 p.m., it seemed that there were only a few people there to listen. However, we played an excellent set and those who were there were generous with their appreciation. The crowd slowly grew and Saurumann was able to set aside a half hour or more to listen to us play. How very kind! We were filmed by the Ringers crew, and, we think, the camera in charge of the webcast being broadcast live on theonering.net during the entire evening.

After we played, we were allowed to take our many instruments to our hotel rooms for safe keeping. On our way back to the party, some of our members were stopped in the parking lot for an interview. (Watch it here! http://www.socal.com/articles/631-2.html) Others of us (wondering where everyone was and deciding it didn’t matter because we were hungry) hurried back to get some delicious food we had smelt cooking the day before during our sound checks. Mordor – the food area – was very cleverly decorated, with lava projections on the walls and orcs looming menacingly in the corners. The ring toss, though we didn’t participate, was a very cute idea and we enjoyed watching other participants win.

Those of us who went for food made our way through Shelob’s Lair (this particular hallway made future trips to the loo very exciting indeed) back to the main room and found other members of our group who had staked out seats on the first two rows. We sat and waited for the telecast to begin and ate while the other members of the group went to get their food. The food this year was again SUPERB! We were delighted to note that the same delicious potatoes we’d had last year made their way onto this year’s menu! The only problem: my plate wasn’t big enough to hold everything! I wanted to try it all! In true hobbit fashion, I went back for seconds. . .

Just before the telecast began, Gina, Shawn, Julie, Chris and I were interviewed by a New Zealand television crew. The main question they wanted to know was whether “Lord of the Rings” would win Best Picture that year and why. I replied that it was going to win because it deserved it. The woman then asked us what would happen if it didn’t win. Gina said, “There’d be a riot. We are just up the street from the Kodak Theatre, after all.”

The Oscar telecast finally began. Kierstin and her husband, Rachel and her boyfriend and Janette and her guest Angie opted to stay in the basement, where it was much quieter, to watch the telecast, while the rest of us sat on the first two rows of the main hall, next to the press area. This proved very interesting as the press enjoyed photographing us and filming us. It was easy to tell when a “Lord of the Rings” nomination was up because the cameras would all shift to the audience, flashing their lights in our eyes and trying to get our reaction to the news – whatever it may be. This was actually very handy as we always knew when a LOTR nomination was up. We also tried to put on our best smiley faces so we’d always be ready for the camera. Apparently, we were just what the press was looking for -- we were lucky enough to get a picture in the LA Times, a few went online through the Associated Press and CNN online got a great picture of Rachel’s boyfriend in his Wormtongue costume and makeup.

At some point during the telecast, Tami, Julie and Shawn were interviewed by BBC Liquid News. BBC was among those cameras that would point the camera at us whenever Lord of the Rings was up for an Oscar. And reactions they got! When Ngila Dickson won for best costumes, for example, Liz and I leapt up and nearly started crying for joy. I ran downstairs to find Rachel only to find her running upstairs to find me. Little did we know that was just the beginning!

By the time Best Director was up we were all prepared to celebrate the minute Peter Jackson’s name was read. However, on the front row Gina and others were momentarily distracted by several suited men suddenly instructing to "Don't stand up, don't stand up."  They almost missed the announcement, but happily missed getting hit in the head by streamers that were shot from up front! Several enjoyed grabbing a few of the colorful strands to decorate themselves with.

Kierstin, Rachel, Janette et al appeared in the main hall just in time for the announcement of Best Picture winner. The excitement in the room was palpable. The press that surrounded us took their place and made final preparations for the photo shoot opportunity of the century. I don’t remember actually hearing the announcement read, for all the cheering, but I do remember the almost physical force pulling me out of my seat. There was hugging and kissing going on around me (and to me) and I couldn’t have spoken if I wanted to. Finally, the moment we’d waited for all these years. Not only had our beloved movies been recognized, they’d succeeded in a clean sweep! Overall, I found the telecast very enjoyable indeed. The telecast ended and I actually felt like the four hours I’d just spent staring at a giant screen were well spent and much shorter than 4 hours.