Restless preview and Q&A - 18 December 2012

[kernowsqueen]

How fantastic! Oh I'm so happy for you ladies - and its seems that our darling Rufus really is a sweet and gentle person, recognizing and interacting with his fans and how delightful this must have been.

Joy Joy Joy!

[nell]

Sorry to keep you all waiting for my report, but you know how it is, some of us have to work ;D

I got so many pm's asking if I went and if I could give my report I don't have time to answer them all individually so I'll reply here if that's ok.

As most of you probably realise it's an easy train ride to London for me (usually) and despite a few hurdles hubby and I managed to get there.

I think GE2 pretty much covered everything. The description is outstanding GE2 - you gave Eva a run for her money Restless was fabulous and to see it on the big screen was amazing. The picture quality was superb, the sound crystal clear, I don't think any of our ladies that don't speak English as a first language will have any difficulties at all. The story did follow the book and there were just a few minor characters left out. I thought it worked really well. I was surprised at how much of the book was included in the first episode. The outfits were very stylish, one of the suits looked very similar to this one I thought........



I was completely absorbed and couldn't believe when 90 minutes were up.

Rufus was lovely as always and we were thrilled to get a chance to chat to him.

So sorry, hubby didn't manage to get pics. He went all prepared but it was so busy and there wasn't much space in the auditorium. When Rufus came over to us in the bar it was quite crowded too so there wasn't really the opportunity. On top of which it didn't seem appropriate somehow. Glad to see the press managed a couple of pics though. Love the one showing the chocolates, thanks for posting ladies

[anniem]

Thank you for a great report GE2. Don't think I am able to remember as much as you. I will own up and admit I was the one who asked if he was going to sing in the play, that's because I think I mentioned in the Old Times thread that I heard Jeremy Northam sing in the Donmar production of Old Times. I don't think Rufus said he would sing badly, it was something like not in the usual way as it's not a musical. Anyway, Rufus was so nice to all of us. The thing I like most about meeting him is that he always looks at eveyone in the group when he is speaking and makes us all feel special no matter who has asked the question. He is a true gentleman.

[walt]

8-)Thanks so much for all the detailed reports about this event, and specially GE2!

Judging from the pics posted in this thread our man obviously enjoyed the evening as well! ;D

[GreenEyesToo]

Dec 19, 2012 19:28:24 GMT nell said:

Sorry to keep you all waiting for my report, but you know how it is, some of us have to work ;D

Just like some of us were still working while you were travelling down to London!!

Thanks for filling in some gaps, Nell and Anniem - he is indeed a true gentleman, and as gracious and friendly as ever.

I remembered a couple of other things! In the Q&A, Hayley was talking about how she was impressed with the attention to detail in this production, even regardings things that wouldn't be seen on screen - for instance, she'd look inside the various handbags she was given to use, and inside would be things like the type compact that really would have been carried around at that time. That helped anchor her performance, in that it gave Eva a reality separate from how she was supposed to be feeling in any given scene.

William Boyd, the author and screenwriter, also commented on having to adapt his own story for the screen, in a process of deconstruction - having all the same ingredients but working to a different recipe kind of thing. He said how important it was to get the right actors for the roles. Either he or Ed Hall, the director (son of theatre director Sir Peter Hall) spoke about using other actors for the older Eva and Lucas, that they felt that was better than ageing Hayley and Rufus. Both characters would have been changed by their experiences, so to that extent it was logical to have different actors playing the roles. On being asked, he said that Charlotte Rampling didn't view any footage of Hayley as the younger Eva, as there was no need to.

The other thing I remembered was in the bar afterwards. I mentioned there was a reception that Rufus joined. At one point, waiters were bringing down trays of food from there and handing them round to those of us in the main bar! I had a delicious lemony confection that looked like two miniature biscuits sandwiched together by a fondant filling. Yum! ;D

[megagem]

GE2, Anniem and Nell, I am soooo jealous of you all but I'm so happy you all had such a fantastic time and that you got to speak with Rufus twice!!! I love the pic of him with the chocolates. He's so sweet. What a fun event! Thanks for the reports!

[kissmekate]

Thanks for adding your reports, Nell and Anniem! Reading them makes me feel like I'd been there with you

Dec 19, 2012 19:28:24 GMT nell said:

The outfits were very stylish, one of the suits looked very similar to this one I thought........

Funny that you mention this! When I saw the first pics of him in that suit, I was thinking ", lovely retro style"

[kygal]

Glad they mentioned using older actors for the aged Lucas and Eva. I was not happy about that at first but after seeing the film it works best. Proves I should leave the fim making to the film makers....haha.

[Rachel]

So, so jealous of those of you who were able to attend the screening and Q&A. But also, so, so happy for you that you had such a marvelous time. Thank you for being so generous with your time to give us such full reports of your experience.

[anniem]

I suppose, as we didn't get any photos, we can't moan about the people on twitter who see Rufus and don't get any pictures either! Sometimes it's just too difficult.

[GreenEyesToo]

You know, if I was offered the choice of a pic of him and that was all, OR a chat lasting several minutes, I'd opt for the chat every time! There will be other chances for a pic, but not always to speak with him the way we did. We were very lucky.

[kissmekate]

Dec 20, 2012 19:33:50 GMT GreenEyesToo said:

You know, if I was offered the choice of a pic of him and that was all, OR a chat lasting several minutes, I'd opt for the chat every time!

Oh, me too, definitely! These are memories you'll treasure forever And so will we because you all were generous enough to share them with us in such glowing words that it almost feels like we'd been there with you

[lassie]

I was at Bafta too and so was hubbie!

Sorry my account is a little late - I did log on last night to type in the details, but just couldn't think straight and had to take myself off to bed with a cold remedy! I was on the way home from Bafta and thought hang on a minute, don't feel quite right and I didn't get much sleep, but not from excitement, but from blowing my nose all night!! Any how I'm dosed up with Paracetamol now and feeling slightly more human (apolgies to fellow rooftoppers if I was contagious - I really hope I haven't passed on a cold just in time for Christmas!)

I see GE2, Nell and Anniem have given wonderful accounts of the evening, so there's not much to add.

Thanks ladies for posting the pics outside Bafta. We didn't get the opportunity to take any photos - as Nell said, not really appropriate that evening. Rufus is holding a copy of 'Restless' - I think this was given out in the VIP section as I saw other people with the same book that night.

I didn't get to sit on the front row this time as there was a big 'Reserved' sign on it, so I sat on the second row ;D A gentleman sat on the front row in front of hubbie and my hubbie has been trying to figure out who he was. It has been driving him crazy ever since as he cannot put a name to the face! I didn't really notice - I was concentrating on someone else up on the big screen ;D

Restless was fantastic - really looking forward to seeing on the TV next week and hubbie is keen too!

GE2 has given a brilliant account of Q & A - I can't really remember any more apart from when Rufus sat down he did a little shiver and hugged himself and announced how cold it was on the stage.

After the Q & A it was announced that we would have to leave the auditorium quickly as it was going to be used again that evening and there were 'free drinks' (orange juice) on the bar!!!. We approached Rufus to give him his card and pressie and wish him a Merry Christmas. He seemed very pleased and GE2 has already described this conversation.

Then we all went in to the bar. Now you would have thought that I would have learned a lesson (see Bafta Q & A Zen), but no I decided to go to the toilet - Duh Guess what - I missed the whole second conversation with Rufus . I didn't get to see him unwrap his present, but my bladder did feel a lot more comfortable

So there you are - the morale of this tale is don't go to the bloody toilet however full your bladder is if Rufus is near by!!!!!

Despite missing out on the second conversation with Rufus I still had a wonderful evening (thanks rooftoppers) and hubbie enjoyed himself too. Hubbie did say "well, I have met Rufus and he didn't turn me gay" - cheeky thing!! Joking aside, hubbie did say how he impressed he was that Rufus took the time to speak to his fans and what a nice person he was.

If I think of anything I have missed - I will let you know.

[kygal]

Sounds like a great time was had by all. Thanks for the details!

I agree that it is much better to speak with him than having a picture. But I still may fuss at "lay" people who do not take a pic since we do not have details of their encounters...hehehe.

[anyother]

Oh, sounds like you all had a lovely memorable experience, GE2, Anniem, Nell and Lassie! What a perfect pre Xmas gift (for you, though I liked your attentions for him as well - good choice, I'd like to see that card - you didn't happen to scan it, did you .

Lassie - that man of yours has the right kind of spirit - very supportive!

Rufus sounds kind and funny as ever. I think he's really unique in the way he remembers fans, and gives them his time and full attention. Nothing superficial about him.

I liked the bit about the eyebrown thing he did to Hayley - reminds me of one of those Sundance preview-scenes (one involving nails), ha ha. By the way, I just finished the book, which I really enjoyed.