When and where exactly is this thing held every year? It would be nice to try and get it on my calendar so I can be prepared to make travel arrangements.

The "Excelsior Ball" has not been held at the same location each year.  "EB3" will be held in Los Angeles from Friday 6 June to Sunday 8 June, 2008 (pending hotel selection).  Once we have received all information from the candidate hotels (regarding pricing and availability), a selection will be made and announced here.  The current plan is to hold the event at an airport-area (LAX) hotel.

And Andrew, perhaps we should mention to everyone to hold off making any concrete plans for anything until you release a formal schedule and information, becuase there MAY (or maybe not!) be other unofficial events before and after the stated dates that people might want to also plan for.

(Plus, did I hear correctly that Beo has a great new recipe for a pork CHOP that he wants to invite us all over to the house to taste?? Perhaps I got that wrong a bit, but it's stuff like that you want to know about before buying any airline tickets or quitting your job! )

-- Rick

*sigh* Somehow I knew I was doing something wrong by suggesting that weekend, because I just found out I have to be in Fontana that weekend...figures.

You're partly right, Rick. It was roast otter.......

I think Mr. Otter and Intrepid's Funny Bunny need to get together to teach these producers some manners.  Hopefully they can both make an appearance at EB3 so that their adoring fans can give them the respect they deserve.

And back on topic....  I really hope some of the Intrepid folks can make it to EB3.  Last year, meeting Michael and Alex was a definite highlight of my trip to Irvine.. especially watching the special sneak preview viewing of Heavy Lies the Crown you prepared for everyone there.  (Note: Seeing Michael scrambling nervously for his knickers made us all laugh!  What!?!  That statement  is 100% true... I'll leave it to Michael to sort it out with his pals back home). 

Anyway, although EB3 is HF/Ody/HC focused, it should also have Orphans as part of it, and there is definite interest in our other fanfilm families, especially Intrepid, so I hope it will be possible somehow to get some of you there.

Rick

  (P.S. I have some FedExpress international airbills... do you have any large cardboard boxes big enough for say, one or two humans?)

:D Very kind, it was great to meet you and the rest of the gang (and Alex).


:shock: Thanks Rick, most kind to bring that up.  True though.

(Although to clarify, it wasn't knickers, it was pants (UK version))

Please Rick, remember that you only add the 's' when there's more than one.  [grin]

Alex is certainly aiming to attend, and Bodo indicated an interest as well. Lucy and I are hoping to go, but we'll see how the money goes.

I might swing by LA if im not up to much

I'm going to book the time off work and if the exchange rate stays favourable, may well join you again.

1.00 GBP = 2.07724 USD

I'd say that's pretty favorable.  You're buying the drinks!

I have a few questions, now that the question of my attendance has moved from "Not f***ing happening" to "Hmm, there's a good chance".

As mentioned before, I will be working an event at California Speedway in Fontana on the weekend in question - probably leaving Poway on Thursday, June 5 (which, by a strange and unforeseen coincidence, is my 21st birthday), and possibly getting Friday the 6th all to myself, as it were. There is the possibility that Jim will be accompanying me to this event, and things will run relatively smoothly - that is, if the drivers keep all four on the pavement and not crash into the walls, each other, etc...and if the damn competition committee wakes up and realizes I'm here to stay (long story) - so that would give us time, if not to actually enjoy the days' festivities, to at least drop by.

Now to my questions:

1)Does anyone know where California Speedway is (I do, but I'm asking if anyone else does), and if so, how far is it from LAX?
2)What route would we take? The straightest route to Los Angeles from Fontana - at least according to the road signs - is Interstate 10, but I'm wondering if there are any other ways.
3)Can I have the otter's liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti? *vile slurping noise*
4)Is Andrew gonna regale us with his obvious possession by the late Mr. Dangerfield, who even in someone else's body can't get no respect routine from last time?

I just did a check on a map site, Joshua.  The ONLY route from LAX to Fontana is I-10, and that way is just under 70 miles.  If you want to miss downtown LA, you're adding a whole bunch of mileage and time to get from the airport to Fontana.

It is indeed but it has to stay favourable for a while longer. :)

Sure, but be sure to avoid the really sharp teeth and razor-sharp claws on your way to get it....

On-topic, please!

I make a motion that any discussion of disemboweling Mr. Otter is automatically on-topic.

Failing that, perhaps it could be one of the EB3 panel discussions?  (Thus bringing it back on topic.)

I'm all for option #2!

;D ;D ;D

Nnej

I already made a "reservation" at work for June, will be able to book that time off as soon as 2 of my colleagues return from vacation.
Then it will be a question of money, but I'm confident I'll make it this time. :)

Bodo

I second that. ;D



I was afraid of that. I double-checked with my grandfather and he said that's the only way as well, right up I-10 from the Speedway. (To clarify, I'm coming FROM Fontana, heh....actually, I'm coming from Poway to Fontana, but can go from Fontana to LAX. Depends on what is required of me on Friday. Which, God willing, should be diddly squat...)

Oh, and based on the tentative date, I will not be able to make it to EB3. 

What date would work for you, Michael?

Rob

Am not 100% sure.  As of right now, I've got commitments the first 2 weekends of June.  I think the problem mostly is, I'd have to leave early Sunday morning to fly back home to be at work on Monday, which means I'd be missing quite a bit, you know? 

How about a red-eye Sunday night?

Rob

Been there; done that... plenty of choices available.

If one can sleep on a plane, it is great.  It is almost like climbing into bed and having your bed fly you home.  Well, not quite, but almost.

Dates were discussed in September.  Currently, RFPs are only for early June due to staff commitments later in the month.  Once all information has been received and sorted (lots of criteria and options), we'll be able to post the exact location.

and arrive directly at work Monday morning???  Thanks, Rob, but I don't think that'd work, especially since I have trouble sleeping on aircraft (unless I'm in business class - I'll drop you a picture of the business class seat where I was actually able to sleep, if you'd like).

Hmm, I guess we need to start a campaign to get you upgraded to business class so you can join us!  :P

Rob

Probably best I wait until 2009.

Any update on the hotel? 

I ask because we're now talking about filming happening the week before or after the ball and I need to work out logistics from cast that would be coming for the ball and the shoot. 

Most likely the shoot would be a closed set.  However we may do a raffle or something and invite a small number of winners, or break it down by people that have their own ground transportation or are willing to use public transportation to travel the hour or so it takes to get from LAX to the studio.  It would also be further wittled down by the number of people that would be willing to come a few days early, or stay a few days after the ball weekend as that is when the shoot would be.

The sooner we know the hotel, the sooner we can start fleshing out the details.  :)

Rob

a closed shoot, because some of us cannot behave when we have an audience? hmmmm?  :angel:

may I make a motion that people coming from the UK get to come to the shoot automatically? or will there be too many ? I just think it's *such* a long way to come . ( although...a recent trip home from Florida took longer than it would have taken to go to Wales and back again, twice...so you never know.)

Will the lovely Miss Becky be making an appearance at EBIII in June?  (He hopes beyond all hope...)

-- Rick

hi hi! yep, you couldn't keep me away ;)  but let's stay on topic..from whence could you not keep me..er...away?

that. is. the question.

Oh goody.  Can't wait to see you in Los Angeles in early June then... I don't think we have an "official" date/site yet, but it has been discussed that it will probably be near LAX Airport and probably, but not definitely, the first weekend of June, maybe June 6-8, 2008. 

I think I saw on here we would know more details fairly soon.  Hopefully you are not locked into a production somewhere else at that time! 

Rick

can't wait...and nope, (unless all of the Warner Bros. call- ALL of them, mind you, not just one measly warner brother) the date is set in concrete for me.

Sweet!  This year will be a blast! 

And I suspect most of the UK people will be on set anyway since they will be *in* it.  It's gonna be one hell of a busy week before that ball, or after.

Rob

Next planning meeting will be TUESDAY 8 JANUARY 2008 at 7:00pm Pacific Time (10:00pm Eastern) in the chatroom.  Hotel information will be presented and discussed.

[Edit: revised date]

That's a base canard!  I can behave properly with or without an audience.  A good 70% of the time.  Okay, 60% of the time.

If we grant an automatic pass to long-distance travellers, may I suggest that we expand it slightly to anyone from outside the U.S.  I'd hate to see someone excluded on the basis of having come from the 'wrong' foreign country.

I think, though, that a raffle of some sort might be better, as it gives us greater control over how large a crowd we have there, and no one gets excluded save by the rather notorious Lady Luck.

I would agree, because that seems more fair and gives everyone an equal chance at having the opportunity to come to the shoot.

Anyway, back to the date and location talk.

I hope it's that weekend, since that's the time I've booked off work. :)


Goodness, that could be construed as a teeny tiny hint there, Rob!

..sigh..of course, sillies..I was not attempting to discriminate against other countries. I just assumed (silly me) that all of our out-of-country guests would be from the UK. but you're right, I suppose a raffle would be the most argument-free option.

You mean, I'm going to have to miss your smiling face AGAIN?!?!?!  :cry:

I would love to attend, but as I live wayy up north in Niagara Falls ONT, I sadly can't. Plus getting money together too would be a big burden as well. Ah well, you all have fun when it is..even though it's not for a while yet. ;)

Okay, okay... so yea, I know it's still months away.. and things are still subject to change..

Since I would like to make my plans to attend as early as possible (Anytime I fly I hate rushing to get things setup... bad past experinces) not to mention it is more cost effective and such.. *breath*

What if someone started some sort of mailing list or such that people planning to attend can subscribe to? That way when there are major announcements and/or the date and schedule is set more in stone everyone can be alerted via e-mail.

Unfortunatly I do not spend as much time on the boards as I would like or even. Not to mention I'm not the best at meeting people this way and jumping to this discussions.. and let's face it Andrew, you're never on AIM anymore!  :roll: Which is where I usually get most of my updates and info..

Anyways.. it's just a thought and would be easy to setup if someone used Yahoo! groups or such. The custom code is also already in place with the newsletter (which I wish came out more often  :( ) and would not take much editting for this purpose.

The dates will be 6-8 June 2008 in Los Angeles.  The exact hotel will be chosen at our next meeting on 8 January 2008.  We are planning to have further information on the main HF/ODY/HC front page, if that helps.  At any time, you can email eb2@hiddenfrontier.com (we might just change that ID, but we'll let you know).  A registration form is being designed as we speak.  I'll mention the possibility of "alerts" at our next meeting.

(Oh yes, I keep on forgetting to start up AIM these days)

:( just for you, I won't smile a bit.  not at all.  :$

I'd like to be there for some of the filming, but I don't necessarily need to be on set. As long as there's a comfortable lawn chair for me to pass out in and get a California sunburn, I'll be fine. I'll look after my own transporation. So all I need to know is the dates and the hotel we're going to be defiling.

HD

As I said to Rob while I was at Risha's, my attendance will depend on whether or not I'll have time from my racing duties (alas, they need me a lot). Especially considering someone in authority changed the damn schedule - normally we'd arrive on Thursday and have all of Friday to set up, relax, so on...for the upcoming event at that track (Fontana's California Speedway) next month, they're making Friday a full day's worth of events. I just hope they don't do that in June, or I'm gonna be pissed...

For those who wish to talk about their availability for EB3, I'd suggest creating a thread "EB3: Will You Be There?" or something like that.  For now, let's just keep this one for information about the date and location (which hopefully we'll have confirmed during the first week of January 2008, i.e. 6 months prior).

DONE.  Please see the new, separate thread.