So at the last minute, we decided to go to Calgary for the Festival of Animated Objects, AKA Trevor Anderson’s Puppet Festival.
This meant another couple of days at the Palliser, with those delicious bedsheets. But it got even better.
On Friday night, there was the opening night party at Victoria’s with Kara Keith and Chad Van Gaalen, two of the funnest interviews I have ever had since I started doing the What’s On thingy. It went pretty late, but gossiping with Skye Perry made it totally worth it. I almost won the Ronnie Burkett bunny puppet too– or rather, I almost convinced the festival to JUST GIVE ME THE BUNNY when no one had the winning ticket. But then someone came to claim it, and my argument failed. A fun party, then swoop! Like a royal chariot, Vanessa and Frankie (Trevor’s roommates) gave me a ride home.
Saturday started off with a brunch with Darcy, then an attempt at thrift shopping where I bought a copy of Dance Mix 94 and a card game called “The Ungame for Singles,” featuring questions like, “Tell me about a time when you felt most alone.” Fun. Fun. Yay. Darcy found the Calgary Flames video where they sing that song, and bought it only because we bullied him into it. Paul got a nerd book.
Then, we attended the Found Footage Film Festival, which I must recommend. Lots of absurdities, particularly in the Fitness Video segment. Then, at the end of the program, the two guys presenting it asked the audience to let them know about any videos that they might include in future programs, asking specifically about that Flames video. Which Darcy just bought that afternoon!
Then we got a phone call from Trevor, who very excitedly announced that Adriennce Clarkson and John Ralston Saul had requested tickets to his show, Get Off The Cross, Mary! Well, of course we had to get our hair done for that. A quick walk to the mall and we finally looked presentable.
But the former vice-regal and consort never showed up, as if to spite our new coifs. But it didn’t matter. As we were heading out for the theatre, we ran into Trevor, who offered us a ride– with the Chiodo Brothers, makers of Team America: World Police, the stop-action parts in Elf, and Gremlins! They are super-nice, and they even sat with us during the show. Paul got them talking about the internet, I cracked some jokes– with the guys who made the mogwai in Gremlins!
The brothers had their talk that night, so we piled into the van again and hung out with Stephen Chiodo beforehand. Here’s a guy who has so many stories, all of them really funny and interesting. The talk was casual and fun, and then they let us touch the puppets.
Back to the hotel, some late-night room service and Running With Scissors on pay-per-view. And this morning, we ran into Annie Dugan and John Ullyatt, from Get off the Cross, and had a fun brunch with them before heading home. Fun! Fun! Yay!
