Meeting Mark Ruffalo! Suddenly Susan Asks The Question… Does Just Getting An Autograph Make An Encounter Successful? Signing! The Hulk! And More!
Ruffa-LOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Sorry, that was sort of a Hook reference mixed in with my own swipe of insanity.
Suddenly Susan and I both headed out to meet Mark Ruffalo last week. You’ll see my recap later on but i wanted to share Susan’s story because what she brings up is an interesting point.
Does just getting something signed make for a successful encounter? Is getting a signature in the wrong spot, rushed, or impersonal make for a not so well meeting? Or was it just lackluster?
Personally, I don’t know. I’m always happy when someone is cordial and happy to sign or take photos. I don’t need the wine and cheese, as Erica would say, but it would be nice right? Still, as I go out more I ask myself this a lot.
Check out Suddenly Susan’s report after the jump!
M-
_______________________________________________________________________________________
It’s hard to say definitively if an autograph outing was successful. There are so many variables involved, it cannot be based solely on getting the signature. There are dried out, dead Sharpies, using the wrong color, signing dark on dark, or light on light, and sloppy illegible signatures.
Take for instance my recent encounter with Mark Ruffalo. I’ll start by saying I adore him. I’ve been a fan of his LONG before his days as Bruce Banner. I’ve met Mark twice before and he is always super nice and down to earth.
If he ever receives an Angry Theo Award, you’ll hear my jaw hit the floor all the way on the Isle of Mann. When I ventured out this third time for Mark, who was doing a talk show appearance,
my goal was fairly simple: to get a personalized autograph on this super cool, limited edition Hulk poster. I hoped to get it signed in gold ink and was prepped with a brand new metallic Sharpie.
Mark arrived, came right over and signed down the line. Even though some douchey videographer was conducting an “interview” with him, I got Mark to switch to my gold pen. I also got him to personalize. All was well, right?
Except that the signature is pretty damn sloppy. The “to” part of ‘to Susan’ is just a “t”. The “Susan” part looks like it was written by a 4 year old. The actual autograph is barely an M with a line and I can’t even make out the Ruffalo part.
I don’t fault Mark. He always takes the time to sign for his fans. The first time I met him, a few years ago, it was just me and a friend. He chatted with us for 10 minutes and signed the photo I brought with pristine accuracy. It’s absolutely beautiful.
The second time I met him, I got a super cute photo with him. It’s definitely one of the best in my collection.
On this latest encounter, he took photos as well, even re-takes that didn’t come out. He even went back to the front of the line and a few people got more than one autograph, even though we were sternly told one each by security. I didn’t bother asking for a photo, as he seemed so rushed and I already have a great one.
So, was this a successful outing? Technically, yes. I got everything I wanted. But, I suppose had I known ahead of time the quality of the autograph I was going to get, I would have saved the poster for a time I knew I could get a good signature. I suppose that’s the chance we take each time we head out on an autograph adventure. Mark still holds a special place in my autographing heart.
Share on Facebook
Oh Susan, my heart was ripped open and sewed up with a golden haze when I saw your glittering face staring at me. Yes, oh yes.. I see the questions you propose and I’m trying to answer.
For what is anything really, life, collecting, and our souls are intertwined into a weave of infectious despair. Now, the green hulk still shows love.
When I was younger and singing with my choir, not just fables and foils but with heart and integrity I said to my partner… Love. That’s the key. The key to what we have in our hand. For that “reporter” to steal your moment, to steal your time, to steal who we are is reprehensible.
Suddenly Susan is a huntress and will strike down her foes with a single slash of her steely blade. Yes, like the phoenix you must, oh you must reclaim your land, your being and your moment from the devil. If I was there I would have given him a poison apple to impede his progress but alas I am not able to fight the fight for the huntress, only Suddenly Susan can fight for her gold.
Positivity emanates your eyes, from your coil and from the soil from which you walk.
Now, I used to what you yanks would call dramatic but I have settled and instead what Suddenly Susan to conquer her lands like the solder clad in silver and armor.
I can’t hold out any longer for more… Suddenly Susan!
Dude, are you like nuts? What the hell… Wanda… I’m talking to you… It’s an article not a battle.
Susan- Mark is awesome. I know what you mean though.
Susan, I too compared my previous autographs of Mark with the ones we got that day. I lived he met with everyone but he did seem a bit rushed. Maybe it was because he had the “Now You See Me” premiere afterwards. Still it was cool he stopped by signing/ taking pics
Don’t you listen to him, Wanda!! You’re super support to the whole MTF family and we appreciate it. I look forward to your comments every time
Jack – I saw a video of Mark heading into the Q&A. It was a madhouse! Mark was even more rushed, but of course signed for everyone. He called people out though. He’d lift the item, check the face of who was holding it, and say, “I got you brother” or “I got you at Kimmel”. Has asked those who already got one to step back and of course they didn’t. He also said “let me get the people who haven’t gotten one yet” I know we all like to get more than one if we can, but he’s a class act in my book!
Susan: Yeah I saw a lot of familiar faces both before and after the screening so I don’t blame him calling people out. Still, it’s cool he signed both times despite beingg rushed
P.S. It’s supposed to be “Loved” not lived* in my comment before
Susan, sorry to say scribble is what your going to get in situations with large crowds. Unfortunately this is the norm for this perticular talk show and the premieres.
I respectfully disagree. I’ve seen celebs sign for more people than were waiting for Mark on the “line up” side and still gotten a really nice signature. It depends on how rushed they (or their publicist) feel they are. Case in point – the last time Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was out. He signed for 30+ people and took photos and they were all beautiful, full sigs.
John: When Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise both did they had gorgeous autographs with way more people in hectic situations. Just depends on if the celebs feel rush or are in a “time crunch.” Mark literally attended a premiere right afterwards so I will have to politely disagree with you
At Avengers I got an even worse autograph from Mark and it was on a shot of he and I together. For this outing I had a really nice 12×18 and I was going to use it’s my birthday ploy to ask for a nice autograph. My B Day was the next day. Before I could blurt it out he already signed the M. But I got a very nice last name of his autograph after he heard the request.