paraka | Drive by Con Update

Drive by Con Update

Ok, a quick post from Polaris.

I was really lucky to be able to leave work on Friday at 2:30 (I went in at 7:30 and worked through my lunch) so we were on the road much sooner than I expected. I was worried because we didn't pre-register and registration ended at 8 (it's a 4-5 hour drive to Toronto).

We didn't really do anything Friday, checked in, checked out a (bad) panel, headed over to my sisters. My sister had just bought a house the day before so her neighbours were over and we celebrated (there was drinking involved). As a result it was kind of late when we finally got to bed (1-ish). That wouldn't have been too bad had I not been up really early that morning and Saturday woke up at about 6am.

Needless to say we got a bright and early start to things. We headed over, checked out the dealers room, and then got in line for pictures with Torri Higginson. I was wearing my "Save Carson" T-shirt, and she thought it was just the cutest thing ever. We talked about the campaign for a bit, I mentioned there was one for her and then we got our pictures taken. She was super nice.

One thing that was stupid on the planning part was the pictures with Torri were scheduled at the same time as Teryl Rothery's Q&A. Since we were at the beginning of the line for pictures we still managed to catch half of the Q&A.

She was kind of hyper, and spent very little of her time on the stage. If you had a question, she'd come to you rather than make you go up to the set up. She also kept telling us there were M&Ms backstage. At one point she asked for a volunteer to demonstrate how RDA kissed her boobs, and led the guy backstage and made him take some M&Ms and then asked if he had a girlfriend, and if so can he hide lipstick stains. She was really fun.

Next we went to a panel, and then took a break from the con to go see Jenn's new house (it was really nice btw), the only thing is, it totally screwed up our mental plans for the con (we had actually factored the visit in, I just got highlighter happy and so confused myself) and we missed getting Torri's autograph, because we were getting pictures with Teryl (again stupid timing putting the two Stargate girls against each other, and stupid because Teryl was doing pictures tomorrow too, and we had planned to get them then). I'm kind of sad about that, especially since they were pretty fast about printing the earlier pics off, and we could have got her to sign the picture of us together. :(

Pictures with Teryl were really fast so we headed over to the Q&A hall and caught the end of Steve Bacic's talk (lots of dirty jokes involved). This meant we had awesome seats for Torri (front row and centre baby). Most memorable moment of her talk was when she said that she was fired from the show so that they could afford to buy Joe's hair gel. She tried to hide it, but I'm pretty sure she's kind of bitter.

Nick is having a lot of fun, because I don't think he gets to see a lot of other scifi fans, and you know it's always a relief and a ton of fun when you realize you're not alone. Also, everyone is so nice. While waiting in line for pictures we were surrounded by the same two guys, and started chatting. And while we were walking over for dinner, someone stopped me to ask about my shirt (the Save Carson one) and we ended up having dinner with him and his wife. It was a lot of fun, just sitting around, talking Sci Fi and life.

We did a few more things, caught the tail end of the Constellation Awards (and how stupid is it that Dr. Who won for advancing Canadian Sci Fi? Is there a single Canadian on that show? Although, also funny, there were 6 nominees, 5 TV shows, and Michael Shanks.) We went to the Masquerade, and I'd talk about it, but I feel that that would be better done when I can post pictures (how does my sister not have an SD slot in her computer!?).

Tomorrow, we'll get Teryl's autograph, and catch her other Q&A, do a few panels depending on time, and head home early-ish. More from me then. Must sleep now.

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Is that seriously why Torri's been reduced to recurring cast? I figured it was her choice. In fact, I thought I heard somewhere that it was her choice.

I so badly wanna go to a con where just one of the Stargate people are there. StargateCon looks like fun, but dammit, it's in Canada! And I can't afford it. *sigh* Have fun!

Is that seriously why Torri's been reduced to recurring cast?
No. That was totally a joke. Someone asked if Joe's hair just *did* that, and she said that Joe's this really reserved guy, and always comes in with his hair just so, and very neat, so the hair people spend a lo of time on it with gel. Lots of gel. Actually, then she said something that sounded like she just negated her whole story... I'm not sure.

I figured it was her choice. In fact, I thought I heard somewhere that it was her choice.
Hmm, well, maybe, but I never thought that. I thought it was more like Carson getting the boot. And like I said, while she was talking, she tried to sound neutral, but sometimes a tinge of bitterness seemed to come through. Like she'd make a joke, but it didn't really sound like she was joking. And she did thank the people who have been working on the campaign to bring Elizabeth back.
No, I'm pretty sure that had it been her choice, we would have heard more about it.

StargateCon looks like fun, but dammit, it's in Canada!
That's the official one in Vancouver right? I don't know how great that one is. It's a for money con (as opposed to a fan run con where they don't really make money as try to break even), and they really really come off as such. I mean Polaris is $70 for the whole weekend, less if you preregister, less if you volunteer (seriously, it's like $20 off every panel you run, and that's *fun*). You have to pay for pictures ($25) and autographs ($20) but that's really standard. The Vancouver one is something like $300 just to get in the door. And they don't garauntee that you'll get an autograph or anything. And I've heard horror stories about how unorganised everything is.

Overall, you're much beter off going to a fan run convention. And really, other than the one Vancouver one that's official so has a ton of the actors there, most of the really good cons are in the States or England.

Someone asked if Joe's hair just *did* that, and she said that Joe's this really reserved guy, and always comes in with his hair just so, and very neat, so the hair people spend a lo of time on it with gel.
If you watch his other movies, his hair is usually doing that in those as well. And some of those are from before he gained his "fame" as John Sheppard. So I wouldn't be surprised if that's just one of those things that you have to deal with when you sign Joe Flanigan.

No, I'm pretty sure that had it been her choice, we would have heard more about it.
With as many wild theories as there were going around when it was first announced, I wasn't sure what to believe. I mean, I know that they already had Amanda signed for one more season and they had to figure out what to do with her, but there are other ways to do it.

That's the official one in Vancouver right? I don't know how great that one is.
Judging by just the panels that you can see on YouTube, it looks like fun. Plus pretty much *every* body is there. I like to hear not just the main people, but the others like Carmen Argenziano and Cliff Simon (Baal) and now I'm blanking on the others. But you get the idea. Don't get me wrong: I'd love to see Michael and Amanda and Torri and RDA and all the others, but I wanna see the rest, too. And I understand what you mean by fan-run and for-profit. Most of the cons I go to down here are fan-run and I actually usually just volunteer for Security and get in free. I work between 12 and 14 hours and can usually see some of the panels and meet the guests. The one for-profit con we have in the state started last year and people were talking shit about it on the site forums before it was even held. And most of their bad predictions came true.

If I can get the price reduced by volunteering or if I can scrap together the money, I'd love to go to StargateCon. Otherwise, the closest they ever come to me is DragonCon in Georgia. That's not exactly close. *sigh* I'll see them eventually.

With as many wild theories as there were going around when it was first announced, I wasn't sure what to believe. I mean, I know that they already had Amanda signed for one more season and they had to figure out what to do with her, but there are other ways to do it.
To be honest, I think the writers are worried because SG-1 was cancelled. They're employing every trick in the book to try and "liven" the show up, but they went at it the wrong way and are instead pushing people away.

Plus pretty much *every* body is there
There is that. Actually, that's pretty much the only reason why I'd go to it. With the smaller cons, you may not be able to see everyone at once, but if you continue to go for a couple of years you slowly get a chance to see people. Which I suppose can be more money in the long run, but you also get more fun out of it :P

Just so you know -- Torri's demotion to recurring was not her choice. They came to her and said "you can either be recurring or we can write you out, which we do of the two is up to you". Joe Mallozzi said as much, essentially. It's major suck, but bleh.

Also, Polaris FTW. *is still on con high*

Yeah I figured as much. Paul came out and said that it wasn't his choice, so I couldn't imagine it being Torri's. Plus how many small actors give up regular work on a popular show?

There is that. Actually, that's pretty much the only reason why I'd go to it. With the smaller cons, you may not be able to see everyone at once, but if you continue to go for a couple of years you slowly get a chance to see people. Which I suppose can be more money in the long run, but you also get more fun out of it :P
I never said I wouldn't go to the smaller ones as well. If I have the money and I can get there (or if I can volunteer and not need the money and get there) then I'll go just to see one person. I love to see these people together as a group and then on their own. But that's a people-watching thing. ;)

Yeah, Torri was actually kind of disappointing to talk to in the Q&A because she'd never really answer questions. It would be really cool to see everyone at once for the interactions.

I love when people write about Cons though I always get very jealous. ;) But it's great to hear from you and that you seem to have a lot of fun. :)

Yeah, I've only ever gone to this Toronto con, and it's been fun, but it's small, so doesn't attract nearly as much of the fans and stars as some of the bigger cons do, so I get jealous too. Still this is a nice little con, and I am having fun. :)

Maybe you'll get to go to a con someday.

A small con is better than no con. ;) I really hope to go to one someday.

Oh yeah, I'm not *really* complaining. :)

Please could you add your pictures on your lj ?

I'll try to tonight, I didn't have a chance to over the weekend because I wasn't on my computer, and I'm at work right now.

Doctor Who is co-produced by the CBC, which has put a lot of money and a lot of work into the project.

Contribution doesn't necessarily have to have been in an acting capacity. ^_^

I did know that, especially since the CBC was the one accepting the award, I just don't agree that they should have been nominated or have won the award.

Next to no Canadians actually *worked* on the show.

Sorry, I just realized I came off as a bit abrupt in my last comment, I didn't mean to be rude.

It's just, I don't know, throwing money at something doesn't make it Canadian to me. Especially since the other nominees actually represented Canadian talent. Something like the Stargates, where quite a few of the main actors are Canadian, and almost all of the extras are. Well that last really applies to all of the shows shot in Vancouver, and those shows also have Canadians working behind the scenes. Doing lighting, graphics, editing, set design and more.

Where's the Canadian *talent* in Dr. Who?

Well.. I suppose if it's easy to accidentally overlook contributions which take place behind the scenes, it must be super-easy to overlook contributions which occur *behind* behind-the scenes ;)

Significant Canadian talent went into earning the money which a Canadian organization run by Canadian individuals then chose to invest in the (British) production of Doctor Who, enhancing it and helping to bring it to the world in its present form. If not for the CBC's very Canadian contribution, Doctor Who would not exist in its present form.

Putting myself in the shoes of CBC executives, I would find it somewhat insulting to be told that my contribution didn't "count" as Canadian, simply because it came in monetary form rather than in the actual blood, sweat, and tears... To me, Doctor Who is part Canadian, because it is co-produced by the CBC in an economic sense. The economy is very real, money is not a joke. Without money, our precious Science Fiction TV shows and Movies would never materialize in reality. Whatever way you look at it, the CBC helped to make Doctor Who an awesome reality this year. Just because the work-in-progress never actually passed through Canadian hands doesn't change that.

Remember, money makes the world go round and nothing exists that isn't owned by someone... Some people don't find that so pretty, but that's the reality we live in. Unfortunately there's a tendency toward socialism in fandom. ;)

With love,

cuteteenboy

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