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Val Kilmer -- Autographs Part II

I wrote the story before about how he wouldn't sign autographs for people that had to sit through his horrible "Citizen Twain" play/movie, even though they paid $100 for the "meet-and-greet" (and they couldn't talk to him, as the surgery rendered him without a voice).

He would sell you a signed picture for $75, he just wouldn't sign your items. Well, people that pre-ordered his book could get signed copies. A few had complained they didn't get it signed, though. Others have complained they got a book plate signed. I ordered one, so I could do a review.

In his book, he tells two interesting autograph stories. One of them is on the set of Batman (can we all agree, he was the worst Batman?). Jim Carey, playing the Riddler, was distraught about having just lost his dad. Carey said that at the funeral, someone came up with a headshot of him asking for him to sign it.

He also said that Marlon Brando, on the set of Dr. Moreau, gathered the entire cast, and everyone working on the movie, no matter what their job, to come over to his trailer so he could introduce himself. Kilmer figured he did this so during filming, various people wouldn't try to ask for his autograph during the process. A smart move by Brando.

Anyway, don't waste your time on the book. It's a mess. Here's my review of it:

https://fox5sandiego.com/entertainment/val-kilmer-im-your-huckleber...

Tags: Batman, I'm Your Huckleberry, Jim Carey, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer

1 member likes this

Comment by Robert Babb on May 10, 2020 at 11:20am: I think top secret was one of his best movies josh! nice article as well.

Comment by John Michael on May 24, 2020 at 1:07pm: Loved the article and I’ve always admired Val Kilmer. As a matter of fact during my childhood I used to recreate the Gunfight at the OK Corral f on Tombstone and always wanted to be Doc.

Needless to say when Val Kilmer first started touring his Cinema Twain experience I bought tickets for my father & I. At the time they included a Meet & Greet, the movie, and Q&A with some gifts (We received signed “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” DVDs on the plastic and some also got a bonus Willow signed print if they arrived really early). Since it was at the beginning tickets were around $50-100 each. Later on he added a premium for the M&G. It was surreal to see/hear Val, but at the time Val was denying his cancer scare and “had a swollen tongue.” My father and I awkwardly looked at each other, as did most patrons, reluctant to ask in depth questions as it was difficult for us to see Val struggle answering questions. Afterwards it was organized for all of us to lineup and meet Val with almost everyone holding memorabilia. Val took pictures and for the first dozen people he signed additional autographs, one per person, as no one was being pushy. Unfortunately in the middle of the line, his handler and/or Val recognized dealers in the middle holding stacks of items forcing an announcement to be made, “Only photos-no autographs,” which frustrated all of us.

My dad and I got to joke with Val for our 30 sec M&G Each and took out pictures. We debated to see if Val would sign afterwards as there was a 2nd screening (intro if memory serves me correctly), but my dad was tired and didn’t like the idea of dealers being aggressive. Shortly thereafter (again 2016), Val started to finally offer sign posters and photos on his website for around $70/ each besides his drawings and art, which were $150++.

The more Val toured, again pre-book, it became tougher to get autographs outside of his store and all of his public appearance were all photos except for the rare convention appearance. He conducts events at his art gallery all the time, but now posts warnings NO AUTOS or PHOTOS at the events. Sadly his autographs are now $100/each on his website!

It’s crazy he has literally tripled his prices from when he first started shows (one of the first to start charging $30++ at a one time appearance at The Hollywood Show and a one time appearance at SD Comic Con through Cool Waters’ booth) in the early 2000s to now $100. The fact his autograph is essentially a glorified V and K with lines....just deeply disappointing to pay that price and get that kind of graph. If you’ve preordered his book or order a signed copy (Premier Collectibles or Barnes & Noble) it’s slightly better, BUT it’s only around $30 so keep that in mind.

Comment by Josh Board on May 24, 2020 at 5:27pm: The book I got was signed, and just the sloppy V and K, with a line, and a dot above the name. I get the fact that he's broke and wants to make money off his signature, but he just has to do a better job. If you pay for M&G, sign ONE ITEM per person, perhaps personalize it, and dealers don't make out in the process.