Walker Stalker Brings Stars to Fans
Atlanta- Over the weekend The Walking Dead convention Walker Stalker Con came to the Georgia World Congress Center. Walker Stalker brings together actors and fans of the show for three days. There was also a team of volunteers who came from all over the world just to help with #TWDFamily (The Walking Dead Family). All of this happened while the premier of the new season loomed in the background.
The Walking Dead is one of the most popular shows on television despite its ratings falling. It still brings in millions of viewers from all over the world. The show is essentially a family drama set in hell with zombies and villains at every turn. The rows of actors from the show are split into three distinct sections alive, dead, and unaffiliated with the show.
“I’m dead,” said Jason Kirkpatrick, an actor from the season nine finale, “that’s my head right there on that pike.”
“This is death row,” Kelley Mack said from her table next to him. “Everyone in this row is dead dead dead.” She’s very correct. Every banner that had the actors name also had two pictures, one of them dead and one of them alive and well.
Kim Raker was a volunteer for the event. She lives in Senoia, Georgia where the show is filmed. She and her son, Bryce are close friends with a lot of cast and crew from the show.
“I love the conventions because actors on the show are really fans of the show, but they can see people dressed up like them, people bring gifts,” she said.
A few minutes later a young boy came down the row taking pictures with all of the dead cast members who had their heads put on pikes. He created a scene with PVC piping. When he put his head through the hole in the fabric he also looks like his head was on a pike.
There are six Walker Stalker conventions; five in the United States and one in London. Dedicated fans and volunteers go to as many as they can.
“I like to call them completionists,” Kirkpatrick said, “they get one or two autographs on the same poster and after a few conventions they have to meet everyone. Get as many signatures as possible.” He explained that he saw multiple posters with well over 100 autographs. “That’s a lot of money people are investing in this show. You can’t scoff at their support.”
Not everyone was pleased about the convention though. Multiple actors and vendors made claims about beings harassed by security. Kirkpatrick said that on more than occasion he was prevented from using the private restrooms or even entering the green room.
Actor Angel Theory, who is hearing impaired, was harassed by security after being seen playing with her own service dog. The entire incident is described in detail by fellow actress Nadine Marissa.
Traditionally, after the convention ends on Sunday, volunteers are allowed to go to actors and ask for signatures on their event-shirts. Kirkpatrick was happy to oblige them. Also offering volunteers photos and selfies. A security guard observed this behavior and got on his radio, loudly saying that the actor was selling his merchandise.
“It was humiliating,” Kirkpatrick said, “people came from all over and the only compensation they get is a shirt and an autograph and this guy has a problem.”
The future of Walker Stalker Con is in jeopardy. The founder and CEO James Frasier stepped down from his position the day after the convention ended. Many actors who appeared there are worried that they may not receive payment for their public appearances.
“I love being here. It took a long time for my signature to be worth anything,” an actor from the convention said, “we’re not all Norman.” They said referring to actor Norman Reedus who is now considered to be the star of the show.
