Sunday, April 8, 2018

Sunday Evening Almost Monday Morning Musings - Nibbles 'n Bits


Good Day to all!  Just a few matters of business this morning today because we can't ignore other news items just because we have 30 Days of Jake and Austin, right?  ;-)

1) When you feel like you're watching puzzle pieces falling perfectly into place...





Such is the case watching this whole One Tree Hill EyeCon vs. Hilarie Burton/Sophia Bush battle, one which began as a Twitter "fan reply" mess, but quickly elevated into a Just Jared/Page Six/US Weekly/Fox News/UPI/PopSugar  and People.com exhibition.  When you see a story escalate to such visibility, there's a reason.  

Even before Eyecon3000 took place in March 2018, One Tree Hill fans were badmouthing Eyecon on Twitter left and right:






And there were plenty of tweets which repeated how former regular Hilarie Burton would never attend an EyeCon event:


 


 

"pretty common knowledge for a couple years now"?  Well, that's interesting.  


 

 

Three years ago, which would have been in 2015.  Hmm, must have been right after she attended the first Eyecon Return to One Tree Hill.


Eyecon held its first One Tree Hill convention in Wilmington NC in 2015:


"EyeCon’s “Return to Tree Hill,” which brought in massive crowds at its first convention last year. The Florida-based company touted it as the first of its kind in the country. It sold out so fast, in fact, that EyeCon scheduled a second event in August before the initial convention had even been staged. And a third, featuring the first appearance of James Lafferty, will be held March 11-13 at the Wilmington Convention Center." - Local Film Producer Promises Personal Perspective to Own One Tree Hill Convention




You don't say, Daffy?  Interesting, isn't it?  EyeCon holds the first One Tree Hill convention in 2015 in Wilmington NC and it is so successful, that it prompted an "idea" from a former producer of the show, Beth Crookham. The concept came from this article "Local Film Promises Personal Perspective to Own One Tree Hill Convention" which is dated February 2016 and followed the large success of EyeCon's first round of conventions. Let's just say that the timing of this "casual" water cooler chat is certainly interesting.



About a year ago, Crookham and some fellow “One Tree Hill” crew members were chatting about how much fun it would be to organize their own fan convention.


And Crookham asked, "[edit] so who better than the people who worked on the show to give them that behind-the-scenes peek?”  Aaaah, indeed!

In the same article, it becomes clearer there is an association between Crookham and Hilarie Burton.

Crookham explained she and Hilarie Burton, one of the stars of the Wilmington-based show, wanted to give back to future filmmakers.
“Hilarie is all about North Carolina film, and we were talking about how do we give back” Crookham explained. “We started kicking that idea around, and because we're working right here with CFCC in the Wilson Center, somebody said, 'you know, we've got the video and film technology program.'” The "we" sure sounds like Beth Crookham and Hilarie, doesn't it?  Here are Beth and Hilarie on the Inside One Tree Hill Instagram page:

  
Eyecon held its first OTH con in March 2015, followed by one in August.  The company's third event occurred in March 2016, but the fourth, which was to be in July, was going to fall one week before Inside One Tree Hill would hold their first in Wilmington.  As a result, it looks like EyeCon might have made a business decision and moved their convention to Chicago in the fall of 2016.

Frankly, without being a deeply involved active OTH fan, I'm not quite sure what happened with the new Inside One Tree Hill organization in 2017; it doesn't appear there were any additional conventions, though.  They have a new website and new activities, but something seems to have caused a stall as far as the next One Tree Hill convention. 

Which brings us to 2018 and the dragging down of EyeCon on social media, which mushroomed after a seemingly "innocent" tweet from a fan who inquired if she could hope to see Hilarie attend a future Eyecon convention:


 
Of course, it was at this same "sistah-hood" which proceeded to be blow-horned on major gossip sites and on Sophia Bush's twitter.  For any of those who would like to read Sophia Bush's cap-filled, angry series of "I've Got Your Back, Burn It Down Sis" rants, please feel free to peruse right here.  

Although Hilarie had attended EyeCon's first convention in 2015, she had not agreed to any of their subsequent events.  She did, however, attend Inside One Tree Hill's convention in 2016, and since the showrunner Beth Crookham refers to her and Hilarie as "we," as stated above, Narnia has to wonder if Burton doesn't have money invested in Inside One Tree Hill?  In other words, is there perhaps a business conflict of interest going on here?

After all, there is big money involved.  In "New One Tree Hill Convention Moves In On Established Event's Wilmington Territory" , written in 2016, Eyecon's Guest Relations Director Autumn Dawn Nierode states that they'd spent about $100,000 locally on the convention (with about 1200 attendees) and these con-goers spent about $500,000 at the event and local businesses.   That's a pretty good return and chunk of change, isn't it?  Daffy?




So.   What now?   Well, perhaps Hilarie Burton gave a clue with this reply tweet to Sister Sophia Bush:


 

"We'll figure out something fun to meet up for."  

I'm sure there will be something lined up.   I know that we here at Narnia are waiting to see just what that something might be. [Insert Daffy Duck, bulging $$$ eyes gif here.]


2)  Supposedly Jake was in attendance at a ritzy, swingin' wing ding in San Francisco, CA on Thursday evening, April 5.  We have stills and one 2 second video of Jake at the affair which was to celebrate the launch of the Santos de Cartier, of which Jake is the face of.



????


 

When there were folks like Lily Collins, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Sienna Miller, Aaron Paul, Jeremy Renner and Liev Schreiber in attendance, well, let's say that there should have been no shortage of folks for Jake to be seen schmoozing with.   But instead, what do we have?  Green Screen material:


 

and pre-recorded "Tony's Hottie" videos like this:


 

Any other sign that Jake was really there?  M&M consulted the San Francisco Chronicle and here's what they had to say about Jake's alleged presence:



Jake Gyllenhaal, the face of the Santos, showed off his timepiece on the red carpet, then was quickly ushered away before answering questions. News of his presence quickly spread to the main party with more than one fan starting search parties to find the actor. - San Francisco Chronicle source
 

Alrighty then.....

Let's put it this way, in actuality this was Jake the face of Santos de Cartier's and his team phoning it in that night:


3)  In flick news, Jake has another future project lined up, Welcome to Vienna:


 

If you're curious about the premise, Welcome to Vienna is described as:

The plot centers on a civilian surveillance contractor named Freddie Makin (Gyllenhaal) who is suddenly hunted after acquiring some intel about a Chinese academic. As unknown agents break into his home and attempt to take his life, Makin realizes that he must have witnessed something he shouldn’t have. This opens up a slew of questions about who hired him in the first place and the people currently after him. Further complications arise because Makin himself has something to hide: a “past he’s running away from.” - source


Looking forward to a new week and perhaps some new music from Zayn Malik.  

And we'll leave you with these ponderings...What will Harry Styles' next suit look like?  Donde esta Liam Payne?  Why won't Kris Allen venture west of the Mississippi River?  When will Louis Tomlinson be freed?  Will Spn_Goss ever turn another web page or remain on Page 2 this entire week?

Stay tuned for answers to these questions....no, no, no, no!!!  We don't have the answers, lol.   Enjoy your Monday!  Hours are countin' down!


via GIPHY 


sources:  WECT.com, Star News Online, Port City Daily, WBTV.
               com, Giphy,  GrabCAD, Inside One Tree Hill Instagram
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10 comments:

prairiegirl said...

LOLLL!! That last gif about kills me.

Been wanting to do a post on that whole EyeCon / Hilarie Burton / Sophia Bush debacle for a little while now. I'll be curious to see just what event will come up that those ladies will attend.

I know that Hilarie is extremely popular amongst the OTH fans. I was a fan because she and Austin seemed to get along so well and she was so likeable. Then I saw her in a Hallmark movie and loved her in it. But between her endorsement of Danneel & Jensen's fake marriage (found out today she was a bridesmaid in their wedding) and now the hinkiness of this whole EyeCon bashing, I am not quite so blinded. I just believe she is a beard herself and the fact that she puts it out there to endorse a false marriage like the Ackles' is enough for me to question motives.

The week before Eyecon Return to Tree Hill which I attended, I was already seeing tweets from accounts endorsing the Chicago PD convention that Sophia had attended and the girls were dissing Eyecon left and right, talking this new outfit up like they walked on water. Okay, sounded a bit OTT, but what did I know? I had not attended an EyeCon event before.

But now I have and yes, they couldn't adhere to a schedule. But, in the end, they delivered everything I had paid for, which was to see Austin (and the other actors). I met some very nice fans and when I did have a question of the staff, I was answered. I had no issues whatsoever.

I witnessed fans getting their pictures in very quick fashion, much quicker than you get them at a Supernatural show. The actors seemed very warm to the fans and seemed happy to be there. This EyeCon organization seems to run on a very basic budget. Again, I saw spiral notebooks used, they posted their notices on Xerox copy paper posted on a brick wall, and that stage was as simple as it gets. I had excellent seats in comfortable chairs and even though events like the banquet were expensive and on top of the admission price, I had a choice and chose not to attend those. I just wanted to meet Austin and his autograph came with my paid admission.

It was very well attended on Saturday and Sunday. I was shocked. The audience was very young and there's no way those girls grew up with OTH. They must have become fans through Netflix, I reckon. All these fans, like Tom & I, we came to town and we spent money on restaurants, on cabs, on hotels, and some spent on souvenirs. What a boom to the city for a weekend.

And I think after that first convention sold out, there were some folks who wanted a piece of that pie. I'm not saying Eyecon is perfect. I'm not saying there are some fans who didn't have bad experiences. Eyecon's not the first nor the last convention outfit to be accused of price "gauging" or being unfair. I also can't speak of this actor who was supposed to have been inappropriate with fans and was asked back. I don't know about that so I can't speak anything about it.

But Sophia has no room at all to talk. She grabbed Austin's ass in 2010 in a photo; certainly a touch that would get you a harassment charge at another place of business. She knew Austin was gay and in the closet, and yet laid her hand on him like that, knowing he's not going to knock her hand away. Not only that, she knew he was and still is a married man, with a family. Funny, in a near future photo at a Black Eyed Peas concert, Austin made sure to stand behind her so that she was at a disadvantage to try that again.

But she's just ignoring that bit of inappropriateness, isn't she? Kind of forgetting about that one. I don't want to hear her talking about exploitation when she has that in her personal history.

You can't find that photo of Sophia grabbing Austin's ass anywhere; Mgmnt has made sure that thing disappeared. I'm so shocked. [sarc]

Methodical Muser said...



I think you are very much on to something with the devaluing, even slandering of the Eyecon OTH experience by Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush. That tag team social media assault seemed just a little too choreographed, didn't it? And, usually when something like this occurs, you follow the money. In other words, there's profits to be made and why should Eyecon be the only one reaping the benefits of what they perceive as "their" show.

Seems like Ms. Burton's intentions are less about "outrage" over what she implies is the exploitation of her pain by Eyecon's girl power centered program and more about building the brand of Inside One Tree Hill so ol' Beth and Hilarie can get in on the action. Eyecon simply appeared to trying to put the women of OTH front and center. Give them their voice and the spotlight they have earned. Greed can never be underestimated in these kinds of tugs of war. The jury is still out, but something doesn't smell right for sure.

Methodical Muser said...


LOL! Jake's middle name should be "Quickly Ushered Away". Oh, and that search party reference in the San Francisco Chronicle was just too darn good. Jake is supposed to be the face of this watch marketing campaign, but he doesn't want to be interviewed to answer any questions, and then he disappears completely. That's what I call, "Selling It". You are too, too funny, Mr. Jake.

Even the very limited photos with Jake wearing that watch he is supposed to be pimping, I mean spotlighting, was half hid by a ridiculously frumpy suit jacket. Jake is truly becoming a parody of himself. But, I have to admit I'm loving every second of Jake's feeble attempts to look like he is actually living a normal life. In reality, his "public" appearances repeatedly reveal him to be as deep in the closet as he has ever been.

And, I'm still waiting for that Calvin Klein fragrance campaign, Jake. One October released online video does not make a campaign. In fact, it almost seems like that whole Kebede, poetry reading to my bi-racial child nonsense was more about reminding people that Jake does not have children. Hmmm. I wonder why that would be so important to you? *shakes head at the desperation*

Florida Tom said...

It definitely was interesting to me that not one of the women from OTH attended the OTH reunion. I would say 90% of the audience were woman and wanted to meet the guys on the show. I also believe they would have enjoyed seeing the girls. Fact is the potential to make money at these type of events favor the men. That is the reason the actors attend these event. I am sure a big part of the money that the men make come from the meet up and autograph sessions. The women could not compete with that opportunity to make money. PG and I discussed some of the other reasons the girls were not there but in the end I think it was about money.

Florida Tom said...

I agree with PG that the convention was a little unorganized and maybe underfunded but the staff were very friendly and helpful .I spoke to several and was tested very well.

Florida Tom said...

I think Jake may be a little desperate to find ways to make money. His movies aren't doing it for him. He needs endorsements just like athletes. This is also one of the biggest reason actors and athletes have to stay buried in the closet.

Methodical Muser said...

The women could not compete with that opportunity to make money. PG and I discussed some of the other reasons the girls were not there but in the end I think it was about money.

I don't disagree with that, Tom. No doubt, co-stars like Chad Michael Murray, Robert Buckley, Stephen Colletti, and James Lafferty are all very popular with the girls and the female demographic. But, OTH has had several successful Conventions in Paris back in 2012, 2014 and I believe 2015 and the gatherings were intentionally marketed as the OTH Family. The guys and the women of the cast fully participated. Sophia, Hilarie Bethany Joy, and Shantel. Austin even attended the 2012 Paris event. All of them were very popular with the audiences from what I could see on YouTube videos and other write-ups. It's all how the event is packaged and sold. But, if certain players, like let's say Sophia ad Hilarie are out to cash in on their own events that might have played into why none of them participated in the Wilmington show.

We'll see soon what happens with this "Inside One Tree Hill" initiative. Because there must be money to be made when it comes to the female co-stars or else Hilarie, Sophia and Beth wouldn't be so interested in starting up their own event.

Methodical Muser said...


I think Jake may be a little desperate to find ways to make money. His movies aren't doing it for him. He needs endorsements just like athletes. This is also one of the biggest reason actors and athletes have to stay buried in the closet.

An excellent point Tom. In fact, Endeavor is really getting into the whole endorsement part of the business and I think that's what this over the top stuff from one of their clients, Serena Williams, is all about these days. I swear if I have to hear more melodramatic details about her self-professed C-section. I'm going to scream. I believe she has a lot of secrets she's hiding too, but she at least is being seen.

No doubt endorsements for celebrities are important for a steady and alternative stream of income. But, there are ways of doing this that can be fun and support your brand. Like Harry's business relationship with Gucci. I think my point about Jake is that he's not putting himself forward much at all. There's these microbursts of effort and then crickets. If Jake's going to be the "public face" for these products then maybe he should probably make himself...well, public. Accessible. Relatable. Instead he's as much of a recluse as ever. The contrast is glaring.

Florida Tom said...

One thing that has really sparked my interest is the new relationship between Aaron Rodgers and Dana Patrick. What a convenient and interesting match up. Rodgers who was pretty much outed by his live in male trainer several years back. Of course Rodgers denied it and the trainer has been silenced. Immediately after Rodgers hooks up with Olivia Mumm. That's certainly seemed convenient. Well Rodgers broke up with Mumm and Patrick retired from racing. Unlike superstars who retire from Nascar who remain icons forever she would have soon become irrelevant and unmarketable. What a convenient matchup. It immediately sparked my interest.

prairiegirl said...

Yeah, Munn is a beard, Tom. I think she’s helped out quite a few, not even necessarily being seen with someone needing cover, but just loaning her name out for the rags and gossip sites.

I don’t think Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick are fooling a whole lot of people, lol.