Okay, I'm going to attempt to remember everything, but may need to keep coming back to add/amend bits, and the others might need to fill in gaps, but here goes....
Firstly, a few of us managed to get tickets to the preview and Q&A!! Whoop-whoop!
(I won't name the others in case they're shy - they can fess up in the morning!
)
We met up near the BAFTA building. One of our number came up with the brilliant idea of getting a Christmas card and small gift for Rufus. We had a choice re the card - a "normal" one or a....well....er....
slightly rather rude one - guess which we chose? Yup, the rude one!
(Well, you all know Rufus's sense of humour!) We kept the messages clean, though. ;D (The gift was a box of Thorntons chocolates)
Doors opened at 6pm, and we went up and waited in the bar for a while. One of our number practically ran into Rufus in the bar area, and he said how nice it was to see her again (he clearly recognised her from a previous event), and then he was spotted a couple more times before we trooped into the theatre.
Most of our little group (which included two hubbies) sat at the front of the theatre, in line with the centre of the stage. After some background to BAFTA and to how "Restless" came to be made, we were shown the first part.
Boy, it looked terrific on the big screen!
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am looking forward to re-watching it next week and then to part two. (I won't say more here - will save that for the main thread)
Once the screening was over, Rufus, Hayley Atwell, the author William Boyd and the director Ed Hall came on to the stage, and there was then a chat with them all, conducted by a BAFTA representative, before questions were invited from the audience. They all talked about the process of making "Restless" and various aspects of filming. When asked about how he got into character (I think - it's a bit hazy!), Rufus raised a laugh by saying something like "First I got a hat"! He later explained about getting into the right emotion for a particular scene by imagining a parallel event in his own life where, for instance, he would have to justify his actions to himself, and would then use how he felt about that to create Romer's emotional response in the scene. (Hope that makes sense - it did when he said it!) There was also a funny bit when Hayley was talking about Eva not getting much emotional support from Lucas, and Rufus raised his eyebrows in mock surprise/indignation!
All too soon, the Q&A was over - there was another event starting at 9pm so no chance of it over-running, sadly.
(It's difficult to remember what else was said - there weren't many questions directed to him, either from the BAFTA guy or from the audience. The others may be able to add more)
Rufus was in the middle of the five people on stage, and was right in front of our group, so we had a GREAT view of him!
He was wearing a charcoal(?)-coloured jacket over a dark blue shirt, with blue jeans, brown shoes and some rather fetching jade-coloured socks with a stripe on them.
(I have to describe what he wore because, sorry, we didn't get any pics.
)
BUT......we did get to speak to him afterwards! We waited by the stairs leading onto the stage while he spoke to a few people there, then as he stepped down, offered him the card and present - he gave his lovely throaty chuckle and thanked us, and I asked if he'd open it now as we wanted to see his reaction - we told him it was a bit rude but we thought it was his sort of humour, and as he tore the envelope open he said something like "Oh, I'm worried now", then laughed when he saw the card and agreed we were right! ;D
One of us asked about the play, and he said about them being in rehearsals and they were still trying to work it all out and about the actresses switching roles, and regarding the head-scratching that was going on (reported here recently), he asked "Was that from Kristin?" - so maybe she's the one most baffled by it?
A comment was made about the script being very short, and Rufus said the play is only 70 minutes long but "with a
lot of pauses" and they have made the decision not to have an interval during this production. (This is a huge contrast to Rock'n'Roll which was 3 hours long)
He then thanked us for attending and for the card and present, and then moved off.
We went into the bar area for a while (free drinks there for us!) and shortly after he came past, still clutching his present, and stopped and chatted again!
This time he opened the present and when he saw it was chocolates laughed and joked that he'll just have to go to the gym more! We were chatting about the play, and he was asked if he sings in it - he confirmed that he does (did he say "but badly", my fellow attendees?) and somehow we got onto musicals. Now I've long held a theory that I decided to test out - and that is, because Rufus likes to stretch himself as an actor, in a way (even though he has said he doesn't like musicals), it would be logical for him to do one precisely
because he doesn't like them. True? Well, it turns out it's only modern stuff he doesn't like! He then made a very funny comment that if there was a holocaust that ended the world, at least it would mean that we'd get rid of a certain musical impresario (who he named, but I'm not going to - well, not in public!
) !! Naughty naughty Rufus!
It seems he does like the old musicals from the 1940s and 1950s, stuff like Guys and Dolls - so naturally we said he should do that. He laughed - but I like to think we planted a seed in his mind tonight....
;D
And that was it. He thanked us again for the card and gift, then headed off to the roped-off section of the bar where there was a reception for the cast who attended (several were in the audience).
Oh, and we just all melted into a puddle on the floor - not least because when talking to us, were able to gaze into those amazing green eyes....
(I hope the others can remember the other things that were said - I'm sure there must be gaps)
Anyway.... WOO-HOO!!!!!
(And now I'm off to bed!)
)
)
) !! Naughty naughty Rufus! 
;D
)
<<< I love that scarf.
