May 15, 1998 Live Chat with Steven Kirk TimeTraveller> Glad you could all come tonight to BTTF.COM's very first - scheduled chat! TimeTraveller> We've got Steven Kirk from Universal's Entertainment - Department online with us, and he's going to get us all caught up on the - progress of getting FutureFest a reality. Welcome to BTTF.COM, Steven! TimeTraveller> Where do we stand currently on the proposed "FutureFest" - Back to the Future Convention? [StevenKirk] Thanks! Here's basically where we're at. There is a group of people - here called the "Show Quality Team". Their job is to decide what - entertainment elements will be included in the park. This is the team who is - currently reviewing the proposal Stephen Clark and I put together. [StevenKirk] I have spoken to most of the members of this team and I have - received nothing but high marks and thumbs up. [StevenKirk] What needs to happen now is a meeting where the entire team - sits down to review their current and "future" projects. When this happens, - we will be able to move forward. [Outtatime] May I ask if this meeting is set to take place soon, and if so - around when will you be able to get back to us? Because writing from Hong - Kong...I need to be able to book tickets soon before they fill up. [StevenKirk] Actually, as to the date of the Team meeting at Universal, it - was supposed to be Tuesday and was the rescheduled for today. That's one of - the reasons we set this conference up for this evening. I came in today to - find out that a couple of the Team members were out today because of another - project so it was cancelled AGAIN. They will be meeting next week, probably - on Tuesday or Wednesday. [MyTatuo] Will be be able to set up another time with Mr. Kirk when we - know the results of that meeting? [StevenKirk] I would be more than happy to do this again. Don't forget, I'm - as anxious and excited about this event as you guys are. TimeTraveller> Steven, please tell everyone about some of the phone calls - you've had. [StevenKirk] Well, I spoke at length with Bob Gale. I had sent him a copy of - the 16-page proposal I wrote with the hope of getting his approval and - support. It was VERY cool to get a message on my system at work "Hi Steve? - This is Bob Gale." [StevenKirk] He is VERY enthusiastic about the project and can't wait to - participate! TimeTraveller> Have we actually heard anything from the other half of the - dynamic duo writing team yet? [StevenKirk] No word from Bob Z. yet. I also sent him a copy of the proposal - and plan to follow up with a phone call to make sure it even got to the - right place. TimeTraveller> We have contacted several celebrities by email to make them - aware of the event, including Michael J. Fox, Tom Wilson, Claudia Wells, - Peyton Reed, Jeffrey Weissman, and Dean Cundey. [Outtatime] What did the celebrities say...will they be attending? TimeTraveller> So far, we've heard from Jeffrey Weissman and Peyton Reed, - both of which plan to attend and participate if they can. [Ken] So have you been able to establish any sort of price for all of this?? TimeTraveller> The prices cannot be set until the event is approved. [KevinMcFly] How much are the passports? [StevenKirk] The 1955 passport includes a one-day admission to the park as - well as the on-lot events, so I'm sure that Universal will charge a marginal - amount over the regular admission. [StevenKirk] The additional passports have a lot of additional perks. There - should be a ticket that everyone can afford. I personally am not in this to - make myself or Universal rich. I want this as a fan. It's basically if nobody - else does what you want, do it yourself. [KevinMcFly] Will you put the prices for FutureFest at BTTF.COM? TimeTraveller> Believe me, as SOON as prices are established, they'll be - posted. [SkyCooper] Do we know if Cineplex is willing to do a trilogy screening? [StevenKirk] Actually, I would like to use the Universal Ampitheatre for the - Trilogy screening. A bigger arena and an area to park the DeLorean. [MyTatuo] Have any of the BTTF actors be contacted about attending any - scheduled chat meetings about their response to FutureFest, etc. TimeTraveller> So far, I've only talked to Jeffrey Weissman about doing a - chat at some point in the future. He's definitely interested. [MyTatuo] Are Michael and Lea definitely unavailable for Sept.? TimeTraveller> We don't know. They'll both be taping then though. - The new television season starts about 2 weeks afterwards. TimeTraveller> Folks, I've met a lot of the BTTF celebs over the years, and - they're all extremely grateful and appreciative of their fans. BTTF is not - like any other genre, so this will not be like any other SF convention! - They will make an effort to participate if they can make the time in - their busy schedules. [StevenKirk] And by virtue of the fact that it's the very first BTTF event, - it'll be huge. TimeTraveller> Steven, tell them about the conversation today with the - BattleStar folks. [StevenKirk] I don't know how many of you are fans of Battlestar Galactica, - but they also have a convention planned the same weekend as ours. [StevenKirk] I spoke with the producers of their event today and discussed - the possibility of combining certain aspect of both conventions to - everyone's mutual benefit. They were very receptive to the idea. [StevenKirk] They are actually sharring the Universal Hilton with the DOA - that weekend. We are talking about sharing the Dealer's room with them. - Perhaps we can also work out some sort of Mega-Ticket to attend both events. TimeTraveller> The DeLorean Owners Association is receptive to the idea as - well, as we've been talking with them too. [Ken] Thank you. As a DeLorean owner, I'm really looking forward to all of - this [StevenKirk] I'm sure you've all reviewed the FutureFest site. What's your - opinion? What do you like? What DON'T you like? What are we forgetting? [Outtatime] The Futurefest site is good, however, if possible it should be - updated more often. [StevenKirk] Good point. Our main problem is, there is only scarce - information from time to time. It's such a long process to get anything - going here. TimeTraveller> Steven, please explain what plan "B" may entail, should - Universal not support it. [StevenKirk] Stephen has proposed that if we aren't able to get sufficient - time to promote this event in time for Labor Day, we are looking at an - alternative date of 4th of July weekend, 1999 -- the 14th anniversary of - the opening of "BTTF". TimeTraveller> Which may allow more celebrities like Michael J. Fox and Lea - Thompson to participate, since they'll be on hiatus from their TV shows. [MyTatuo] Especially since it's getting later and later, and our friends - from Hong Kong, Austria, etc., won't be able to get plane tickets, hotel - rooms, etc. [Edda] MyTatuo's right! It is not easy to get tickets anymore! [Ken] And with the DOA already at the Universal Hilton it MAY get a bit - crowded.. TimeTraveller> But you WANT a lot of folks at this thing. That's the point! TimeTraveller> This all started because the DeLorean group was holding their - Expo that weekend, and it would be a wonderful PR event for everyone - involved. [Ken] Have you mentioned any updates to the condition of the 'BTTF - Universal' car? [StevenKirk] Actually, the Time Vehicle restoration whas put in motion by me - before we even came up with the Fest, and THAT still hasn't moved very far - forward. There's just so much happening here. [StevenKirk] Like the rest of you, I'd like this to happen TOMORROW. I'd - love to get the DMC repaired and all beautiful again. But it's taking so - long. There's other factors, too. There are props and other 2015 vehicles - that are here that I also want to restore and display. I'm not sure if that - could all happen now. [KevinMcFly] So will you have the actual BTTF DeLorean? [StevenKirk] You Betcha! The DeLorean is very near and dear to my heart. I - take GREAT pleasure in wandering down, opening up that gull wing door and - plunking myself down in that seat! [StevenKirk] Because of some silly union rules I can't do the restoration - of the DeLorean myself. I've been collecting, restoring and displaying - Hollywood memorabilia for years. I was the curator of the Hollywood Wax - Museum for five years and have built some pretty cool stuff. BUT because I'm - already an employee here at the park, I can't ALSO be an outside vendor to - do any work like that. The next best this was to call in my buddies at - ICONS. They've got BIG plans for the car. [Ken] Is the company ICONS involved with the restoration? I've - seen the ICONS logo on the BTTF web pages. [StevenKirk] The Icons guys might also come aboard to help produce the - event. [StevenKirk] They have done tours of the Star Wars characters at conventions - and are looking at a BIG project to get involved with. [StevenKirk] ICONS is also planning to produce exact replicas of the Almanac. - When or how much, I don't know. Check their site "www.icons-replicas.com". [StevenKirk] I am also proposing to Universal that we "take the show on the - road" and do the first convention here, another at Universal Japan when it - opens in 2001 and then bring the convention to Florida some time after that. [Ken] If you keep it simple, everyone will have a good time and will be even - more eager to come back next year. [StevenKirk] This is one of the main reasons why we wanted Universal to get - behind this. When they really want to do something, they've got some pretty - deep pockets. [Ken] True, you can do anything if you have enough money.. [StevenKirk] It's also one of the reasons I'm talking multiple conventions - around the world and video sales etc. To make them invest in the future of - the "Future". TimeTraveller> Steven -- approximately how many emails did we accumulate in - support of the event? [StevenKirk] We're looking at over 300 e-mails from around the globe. Bob - Gale was really impressed with the world-wide support. TimeTraveller> This thing could become a top priority in a flash of - lightning too, so don't count September out yet. TimeTraveller> All it takes is the right folks at Universal to give the - greenlight, and we're all headed to Hill Valley! [StevenKirk] How 'bout some more ideas? I'd like to think Stephen and I came - up with the perfect event, but we must have left SOMETHING out. [Ken] It all sound pretty overwhelming as it is. [MyTatuo] I think this project sounds so good as is. TimeTraveller> One of the things we want to do is to involve some of the - secondary actors in their respective roles, such as Lou, Western Union, - Needles, etc. on camera greeting fans. TimeTraveller> We hope to schedule Huey Lewis & The News for an outdoor - concert in the Courthouse Square too. [StevenKirk] And if we do end up waiting till July '99, we might have a - better chance at that, too. TimeTraveller> And maybe we can get ZZ Top as well... [Outtatime] In BTTF2, Marty walks around the future before entering the - Cafe80's...will that particular set be up? TimeTraveller> If Universal sponsors it, you can bet it will be all dressed - up nicely, in one of the time periods for sure! [StevenKirk] We plan to have all four time periods represented in the area - surrounding CHS. [Ken] How many people do you think the square can hold? [StevenKirk] Courthouse Square (CHS) is surrounded by the facades of our - metropolitan streets. If the party is big enough, we can take over those - areas as well. For our employee Christmas party, we had over 5,000 guests in - the area. It's big enough. [CharlesMurphy] What time will the picnic be? TimeTraveller> We don't know WHEN any of this will take place, yet. [KevinMcFly] At the end of the FutureFest, you can make lightening go to the - clock tower at 10:04 PM. [StevenKirk] Sounds like a cool way to end the picnic at Courthouse Square! - I love it! [StevenKirk] ...and of course, I don't know if the picnic will be going that - late... [StevenKirk] My basic idea is, a Grand Opening of the park with a big press - event and all the stars at the main entrance. Everybody goes into the park - and takes the tram ride. The Fest guests will be taken after the tram ride - to CHS for the picnic, so it could be as early as 10:00 or 11:00 am [Edda] WILL THE ACTORS WEAR THE SAME THINGS LIKE THEY WEAR IN THE "FUTURE" - AT FUTUREFEST? [StevenKirk] Edda, unfortunately, I think it is highly unlikely that any of - us will be sitting down and eating corn-on-the-cob with Michael J. Fox. TimeTraveller> There may be a raffle or such that will allow a few lucky - fans to ride "The Ride" with a celeb or two... [StevenKirk] Bob Gale suggested that we get our "Doc Brown" in the park to - take people on a guided tour behind the scenes of the "BTTF Ride". [Ken] I'm at least hoping that Universal Studios be able to work with the - D.O.A. on some kind of access to the park. [Ken] I'd like to see the square filled with DeLoreans. What a group photo! TimeTraveller> We're hoping to have a parade of DeLoreans through the park, - led by the restored DeLorean... [StevenKirk] Let's see a show of hands. How many of you would pay a couple - of extra bucks to get your picture taken in the DeLorean with the Clocktower - in the background? [CharlesMurphy] If I shelled my two bucks of my life savings to be - photograph of me with a DeLeorean just to put it on my webpage it would be - worth it. [StevenKirk] That's one of the big plans that I'll insist on. Also, seeing - as I'm a wax artist, I'm planning to make a figure of Marty (wearing my - costume from the photo on the web page) in the pose from the poster. [Ken] So that's YOU in the Marty outfit?! Good Job! [CharlesMurphy] Where can I get '50s clothes for the "Enchantment Under the -Sea" Dance you're planning? [StevenKirk] Try your local Salvation Army store. That's where I put - together my Marty costume and most of the costumes I build for my wax - figures. TimeTraveller> Folks, we need to wrap this up. We've taken too much of - Steven's time as it stands already. Let's show our appreciation for his - willingness to appear here today at BTTF.COM! [StevenKirk] So how does everybody feel about the possibility of waiting - till JULY '99? [MyTatuo] Like I said, if we can get more celebs signed on, I'd rather - wait... but September's better!! [Edda] IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA; ANYWAY. [StevenKirk] We just don't want you all to lose interest. [Ken] Thank you very much for everything you're doing.. I'm sure it'll be - great, whenever it happens. TimeTraveller> Steven, thank you so much for spending your valuable Friday - evening with us tonight! We know that you're working hard for us all at - Universal to see to it that this event becomes a reality in the near future! - Thanks to all for attending tonight! Copyright (c)1998, To Be Continued... All rights reserved.