The Hub Productions proudly presents:
Jim Beaver; Misha Collins and Samantha Ferris to:
All Hell Breaks Loose Supernatural Convention Australia Pt2
2 cities in one weekend:
Sydney Saturday 8 May 2010
Melbourne Sunday 9 May 2010
For all details including tickets sales please go to:
Thanks
Hope to see ya there.
Well, first I have to say that I thought the Salute to Supernatural Convention in Vancouver this year would be my first convention ever…and so I was thinking that I’ve still got enough time to brace up myself for that convention in August, but it came different than planned!
Friday, a week before the Asylum 3 in Birmingham, a friend of mine told me that there are still some tickets available (thanks Tina)! So I wrote to Rogue Events and got my ticket on Sunday evening!! Couldn’t believe that anyway!! Okay, then I made another friend of mine completely mad because of telling her that there are still tickets available and so she wrote to Rogue Events as well. She finally got her ticket on Wednesday before the Asylum!! So you can see that we haven’t had time to think too much about the fact that we’re going to see Jensen, Jared and all the other great actors in a few days, because we were busily engaged in booking our flight/hotel and packing our bags (not to mention what we’re gonna wear there *lol*).
Friday:
Finally our flight starts on 5:50 on Friday morning (or should I say „night“?) and with a stop in Zurich we were arriving in Birmingham at 8:05. So the weekend started with two dead tired girls and it should not be better during the next days.
When we’re arriving at the Hilton we met a few friends of us and then we all lined up for registration and it seemed that the whole hotel was one big queue. After a few hours of queuing (over 1500 people had to go through registration…that’s a real pleasure!) we got our badge with our registration number on it (that’s all we got). Other members who also paid for Photo-Tickets, Autograph-Tickets etc. were less lucky because most of them got an incomplete package and so they have to queue again to get their missing stuff at the ticket office. Me and my friend had nothing to do on Friday anymore, but some of our friends got the Double-Shoot-Photos with Jensen and Jared and they were telling us that Jensen and Jared were sitting too wide apart on chairs and so they felt a little bit strange standing between them while the photo was taken. When I saw their photos I could imagine how they felt because it really looked strange and there was too much space between them and her (so there was no hugging anyway), so I was glad that I didn’t get such a Photo-Ticket (btw, Jensen and Jared looked great as always on that photos).
Although I never won anything before, I took part in the raffle for the Coffee Lounges for Jensen, Jared and Misha and chanced my luck.
Sometime in the evening we were told that the additional Photo-Tickets for Jensen, Jared and Misha aren’t going on sale that evening and so we left.
Saturday:
Saturday started early with queuing (again) for the additional Photo-Tickets and after a few hours we’ve got everything we wanted. So it was time for the next queue to get a good seat for the panels. We joined the Opening Ceremony and the panel of Jensen & Jared (they did a great job on stage…as always). During the break two of my friends went out to see if we’ve won at the raffle…well, and guess what: I’ve won the Coffee Lounge with Jensen AND the one with Jared! I didn’t believe my friends and so I went out to the flip chart to see my number standing there with my own eyes! And from that point I was completely out of it, as you surely can imagine! The Coffee Lounge with Jensen started about an hour later and so I couldn’t manage it to think about a good question to ask him and so I decided to go there and enjoy the Lounge in hoping some of the other girls got good questions in their mind.
Jensen’s Coffee Lounge:
Me and 19 other lucky people (one of my friends was also one of the lucky ones!) were standing in front of the door to the Coffee Lounge and we were talking about having a coffee at that Coffee Lounge, but then we decided not to have one, because the risk to spill the coffee was too high. *lol* When we entered the room I was able to get a seat near Jensen’s chair (just two seats between us) and my friend was next to me. While we were taking our seats I recognized that Jensen was already in the room and went straight to his seat…I thought they would bring him in, when everyone was already sitting…but then, I was really taking by surprise.
Well, so the Coffee Lounge started and he was asked if he had been to a whiskey distillery while travelling through Scotland the days before and if he can remember the special Scottish words they used for the manufacturing of the whiskey. He remembered every word and pronounced them nearly correct. Then he told us the whole process of whiskey manufacturing in every detail and when they were standing in front of a big bowl, where the whiskey was distilled, they were asked by their tour guide, if someone wants to smell the vapors of that distillation. And now guess who’s stuck his nose/head in that bowl!? Right! Jensen said he took a deep breath and the acrid smell went straight up his nose and brought tears to his eyes. So funny, especially when you keep his art of story-telling in mind! *lol* Btw, did you know, that whiskey is produced of some kind of beer? It’s amazing what you all can learn in only half an hour!*grin*
Asked where he thinks home is (Texas, LA or Vancouver), he answered Los Angeles, because he has a house there. Vancouver is just work for him and Texas is home of the family. His parents just built a new house over there and he helped with the painting and designing of it and he still has a room there.
Another question was if he received an injury during shooting a fight scene and his answer was that he’s got punched by Dracula while shooting “Monster Movie”. Dracula was supposed to elbow him in the face and after the first couple of times he really hit him. Then Dracula asked him (still with Dracula’s accent/voice) if he’s okay. Jensen’s got a little bit of blood in his mouth, said that everything‘s okay and they went on shooting! *lol*
I can’t remember the question, but somehow Jensen told us the whole story how it comes that he’s living together with Jared now. He said that it was all because of the commute to work. He said that he had lived in Downtown Vancouver before, what’s further away from the set than Jared’s house, and that he had to pick up Jared every morning to drive to the set. The problem was, that he spent too much time for driving to Jared’s house and he also spent too much time for waiting until Jared’s ready (he often wasn’t ready)…and when Jared broke up with Sandra they decided that Jensen should move to Jared’s sort of guesthouse. For one thing, that the commute to work isn’t to long anymore and for another thing, Jensen thought it was a good idea to keep him company during the time after breaking up with Sandra. But now he’s looking for his own house/apartment for season 5.
Again I can’t remember the question, but he told us something about throwing the ball to that kid in „After School Special“. Jensen said that it was his idea and that he got a „yes“ from the producers to do it (that’s what he also told at the panel). Then he asked the kids if there’s anyone who would like to do that scene with him, throwing the ball in the stomach of one of them. A few hands shot up and so he picked one of the smaller kids and asked him if he really wants to do this. Kid: Yes. Jensen asked him if they should go through it first before they shoot. Kid: No. Jensen: Are you sure? Kid: Yes. Well, and we all know how the scene looks like right know! Just great!*lol*
We’ve got only 30 minutes with Jensen and believe me, they all elapsed too fast. He looked so damn hot and he seemed very relaxed as he was sitting there (not wriggling about on his chair – like Jared did) with the coffee cup in his hand all the time, and he was as reserved as we know him, but very kind with making eye contact once in a while and of course overwhelmingly gorgeous (can’t find the right words how I felt when he looked squarely with his wonderful green eyes into my eyes…*love*). Btw, I didn’t know that he’s got such big feet…I constantly had to look at them, besides of staring in his eyes...
After the Coffee Lounge my friend and I got us a drink at the hotel bar to calm down a little bit, because the last half an hour were too much for us. I’m sure, you can understand us. Then, sitting in the 4th row, we’ve watched the panel of Amy, Matt & Samantha (didn’t know that Matt looks so damn good!!) and the one with Misha. Misha was awesome…so funny and he’s got such a dry sense of humour that I had to shake my head all the time, because of his answers, while laughing!! :-)
Well, and then it was show time for Jared’s Coffee Lounge.
Jared’s Coffee Lounge:
While standing on front of the Coffee Lounge room, Jared (with his bodyguard) came along the way to the room and went in. A few minutes later we’re also allowed to go in and take our seats. Fortunately I got the same as I had in Jensen’s Coffee Lounge (just two seats between us). Straightaway he was talking about coming late to the panel that morning. He said he has to take a bath because he broke the shower. It was his first bath since a long time, so he didn’t exactly know how it worked and he had problems with washing his legs, because the liquid soap came off in the water immediately. *lol*
First Jared asked how a coffee lounge is usually done and then he asked us if we all were locals. We’ve had people from Iceland, Sweden, Denmark (Jared then told us that his sister was there because of her studies and that she loved it), Hungary, Germany (a few girls, including me, but they were too quiet with their “Germany”…mine was louder and so he looked at me!!*grin*) and a few other countries…so I guess there were more non-locals than locals!
Then he was asked why he’s wearing a hat although the weather in Birmingham is real good/hot at that moment. He said that he’s been in San Antonio the days before and there it was really hot and that he hadn’t got used to the weather in Birmingham yet. He also said that he didn’t like his hair that day (after having a bath) and that he hasn’t had a hair dryer in his room. Everybody was laughing and then he realized that he was behaving like a girl and had to laugh at himself!*lol*
He told us that he had a full beard (like Richard Speight at the Asylum) a few days before while he was in San Antonio. He said his mustache was so long he could get it into his mouth and lick food off it! *lol* He said the beard also made him really warm and that he had to wash it, because it smells…everybody was laughing and making a face like “Aaahhh, that was too many detailed information!!” His reaction: You (girls) were lucky not having to shave your face…but then a girl replied that we need to shave/wax a lot of other stuff. Laughter again and Jared commented he just put his foot in his mouth. This guy is so damn funny!
One of the fans told us that she’d also been to San Antonio and at the River Walk over there and that there are so many pigeons. So Jared mentioned that the employees of the stores/restaurants always come out on the street and clap their hands or make noise to scare the pigeons away…and they doing it all the time and maybe for some of them it’s even their job to scare pigeons away! *grin*
Then he was asked if he’s got phobias or if he’s scared of something. He doesn’t like it to be tied down and can’t move (like in IMTOD), that freaks him out and so he doesn’t need to act a lot in such scenes because he’s naturally freaked. And it’s an uncomfortable feeling to be tied down while the crew walks around working and even playing pranks on him sometimes. He said that he never had problems with snakes, but the one in “Yellow Fever” scared him that much he couldn’t do the scene when the snake sneaking up behind him (although he tried it…and that “trying” should be on the gag reel) and so they had to re-write the scene for Jensen instead. Then he said something with “Bears”, but I didn’t get it. He also mentioned he had a spider on his hotel room the night before and that he put it away without problems. Well, I was just thinking of it, but someone really asked it: Because of the broken shower, no hair dryer and spiders in the room…someone wanted to know in what kind of hotel he’s staying at!! Laughter again on both sides and he just said that the hotel isn’t that bad…*lol*
The last question was if he’s got a funny/weird story about meeting a fan (or something like that…sometimes I didn’t get the questions right). A fan at a con wanted him so sign her tattoo she had on her body (on her hip)…and it was one with his and Jensen’s face on it! He was really flattered and confused about it and couldn’t believe that anyone would want a tattoo like that!
Well, again the 30 minutes with him elapsed too fast. He was gesturing and moving around on his chair all the time (not like Jensen), here and there drinking some coffee, which was standing next to his chair on the floor, including a glass of water and his cell phone. He was so damn funny and we laughed a lot (with him and because of him). Can’t believe that I didn’t recognize it before, but he looks so gorgeous if you see him in person. Maybe it was because of his two-day-old beard, the partly unbuttoned black shirt, the tanned skin or just because of the fact that he’s making eye contact more often as Jensen did, but he completely confused me in a very crazy way.*lol* Btw, he’s got bigger feet as Jensen (and Jensen’s are already big!).
After the Coffee Lounge I went straight back to the main room to watch Jared’s panel, which was just great! And with our 4th-row-seats I managed it to take some great photos (in my opinion, but I know there are already some better ones in the internet). A little time was left until Coby Brown’s concert started and so we went out to eat something. Back at the hotel we’re able to get seats in the first row (which means sitting on the floor, which I prefer than standing all the time; thx L & M *grin*). I haven’t heard any song of Coby Brown before, not even anything of his name, but he was really good and I greatly enjoyed his concert!
Now it was time for Jason Manns to come on stage and what should I say: he was/is terrific and we all really had a blast! For me the best moments were as he was singing “Hallelujah” (the crowd made an indescribable atmosphere) and of course “Crazy Love” (nearly everyone was singing with him)! I always admire people who are standing on the stage, just “armed” with a guitar, and singing their songs in such a great way (the same is true of Coby Brown). Jason’s concert was really a great experience and I can’t wait to see/hear him again!
We didn’t join the disco because we need some sleep and so we went back to our hotel.
Sunday:
Because of our very uncomfortable bed (wooden-board with mattress over it) we couldn’t manage it to sleep very well, again. So we went, completely overtired, to the Hilton... We thought it would be a good idea to queue to get our first half of the autographs, but we were told that they go strictly after registration numbers and people with high numbers should go away until they’re called. We decided to watch Jensen’s and Jason’s panel until they’d call us for our photo shoot with Jensen. Jensen was in a really good mood (and good looking, but I think I don’t have to mention this again) and his panel was just wonderful! *grin* Then it was time for our photo shoot. I don’t know which timeframe is normal for a photo shoot at conventions, but ours wasn’t! It went like this: going into the photo shoot room, laying down your bags/stuff on a table, standing in the queue, being pushed by someone of the staff in Jensen’s direction. So you’ve got 1 sec to go one step to Jensen (in the meantime you have to say “Hi” as well), 1 sec to look into the camera while the photo was taken and 1 sec to say “Bye” and leave immediately because the next one was already standing next to him. Although it was a great experience to stand right next to Jensen (if only for 1 sec), it all went too fast and all I can say is that it was horrible to be treated like you were on an assembly line.
Well, I couldn’t believe it, but then we’re called for the first half of our autographs…so great that this went well without queuing that much, although Jared’s and Misha’s queue were the longest, but over the weekend we got used to it, anyway.
After lunch we still got our 4th row seats and watched Jared & Jason’s panel and Amy, Matt & Samantha’s. During that panel I had to run out to get my photo shoot with Misha, run back and watch the panel again, then run out to get my photo shoot with Jared…both proceeded like a mass processing again!:-(
Well, the last thing they showed on the screen was that numbers 1-1200 should go to the autograph room to get their second half of the autographs. We’ve had 1400+, so we stay seated (because they go strictly after registration numbers, that’s what they told us in the morning) and waited to be called, but nothing happened. Sometime during Misha’s panel we decided to go to the autograph room to have a look what’s going on over there. And there I was really pissed: on the flip chart was standing “1-1400” and under that “autograph session is closed!”!! I couldn’t believe my eyes…but it was true: we didn’t get our autographs because of the disability of someone who couldn’t manage it to show the information for “1-1400” on the screen and the staff did even know that!!! And they didn’t let us in (just me and two of my friends) to get our autographs…I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how I felt, because of NOT getting an autograph of Jensen…and NOT seeing him again!:-( It really made me wanna puke!
Back at the main room, Misha was still talking and he had to go on for another hour because Jensen was still writing autographs. Misha did a great job and again: I can’t believe how dry his sense of humor is!*lol* But I couldn’t laugh that much, because I was too sad for not getting my Jensen-autograph. After Misha’s extra-long panel they brought Charles and Gabriel on stage to play for time until Jensen was finished with writing autographs. Then the moderator came on stage an asked if everyone got what they want, if everyone got their photos and autographs and blah, blah, blah. I couldn’t hear it anymore! If I hadn’t been on the verge of tearfulness, I would have stood up and said “NO”. But what ever, I just wanted to see Jensen on stage for the last time! Finally everyone (instead of Jared who left earlier and said goodbye during Misha’s panel, which I think was a handsome gesture) came on stage for the closing (I don’t know if you can call THIS closing) and so did Jensen. I was just thinking: OMG! He looked so tired, very exhausted, his eye was more red/ annoyed than the days before and he seemed to be in a very bad condition. I nearly got tears in my eyes and I think I wasn’t the only one who felt like that. From that point on I’d completely forgotten my missing autograph, in fact I was glad that I didn’t get one, because if I had faced him and seen him in that condition, I’m sure I wouldn’t want him to sign it anymore. I really felt so sorry for him and at the same time I was so angry because RE made him looking like that…I was really glad that everything was over… Okay, not everything was over…we stayed at the Hilton and waited for our photo shoots to be printed until 1:30 am and what did I get? My photo with Jared, which is a little bit blurry! Thanks for that! But I think I should be glad about it, because as far as I’ve seen it, there were a lot of photos in more bad quality (very dark, etc.). I’m still missing my ones with Jensen and Misha (but they’re on their way as I was told on 21st, June).
Summary of the weekend: it was very unorganised and chaotic, which resulted in that the staff were completely overworked (although they attempted the impossible and more! Thanks for that!) and that most fans were dissatisfied.
Reviewing I have to say that I’m glad I’ve written the report now and not straight after the Convention, because now my anger has flown away a little bit and I don’t want to be annoyed again. Even so the RE made a bad impression on someone who joined their first convention! And if I hadn’t had all my friends around me (thanks girls (and one boy *lol*) for that great weekend) and if I hadn’t had the luck to win the coffee lounges, it would have been an very awful weekend…I hope RE has learned from mistakes and they do it differently for the next convention (btw, they already have for Ayslum 4 and Asylum Europe, thank god!!).
The weekend was AWESOME! Came back from the Supernatural convention in Birmingham with such great memories. Met both boys, Misha, Fredric, Malik and young John and Mary and old Mary.
It was really surreal and there were some right wrong'uns at this event, weirdos! but I kept my cool and avoided them.
Then we came back on Sunday and sat down to the next episode of Supernatural - when the boys encounter the ghouls and their half-brother.
I really hope the guys are at Comic Con again this year. x
Hey, is anyone attending Asylum, the Supernatural convention in the UK later this month?
Would be great to hook up. xx
If only Jensen and Jared knew the traumas their fans endured! I work in the media and want to attend the LA or Vancouver Supernatural convention but the organisers say their limited press passes are only for domestic media!
Is this how the programme-makers thank their international fans and audience for being loyal?!
And if they want to get more fans surely they should allow international media to cover domestic events... or hold events in locations other than the US and Canada.
The only solution is for CW to host their own Supernatural convention so ticket allocation and opportunities are fair. If the boys only knew their British fans were getting dicked around...
Grrrr...
ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
The Ozchicks are pleased to announce the third guest to the HUB Productions All Hell Breaks Loose Supernatural convention.
Misha Collins!
Misha is most recently known as Castiel, the angel who saved Dean from Hell in Supernatural. He has also appeared in shows such as 24, ER, Charmed, Without A Trace and CSI:NY.
Misha will be appearing both days of the Convention and attending the cocktail party.
Autographs $30 - Purchase on the day!
Photographs $40 - Purchase on the day!
Please note – If you have a Platinum ticket, the photos and autographs with Misha are included.
Updates:
Platinum Weekend Tickets - SOLD OUT!
VIP Tickets - SOLD OUT!
Photo Ops - SOLD OUT!
ANNOUNCEMENT
VIP tickets are sold out!!!
We are sorry to those of you who missed out, but remember there are
still day passes and autograph opportunities available!
Why buy a day pass? What's the point?
Well, day passes still get your into the Convention and the panels, which let face it is where all the wackiness happens.
You can still take photos of the guys doing their talks on stage.
You get to hang out with hundreds of the coolest Supernarural fans on the planet. And you can also say you were at what could possibly be the ONLY Australian Supernatural Convention.
Isn't that something?
And if you manage to get some autograph opportunities with you day pass, you still get to meet the boys when they something for you!
There are plenty of day passes left, so hardly any chance of you missing out before April.
Thanks
Bex, Jenna, Maritza, Kaz, Sarah, Jodie and Clare
ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE SUPERNATURAL AUSTRALIA CONVENTION
18th & 19th April 2009 SYDNEY
VENUE - Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW Campus, High street, Kensington, NSW
UNSW Venues and Events website.
YES! WE GOT IT! The boys are heading down under for our very own meet and greet.
OZCHICKSUNITE are extremely happy to announce that with the awesome work of HUB PRODUCTIONS we will have the amazing opportunity to host Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, here on our own turf.
A year of working tirelessly to make it known that Australia is ready for a Supernatural Convention, has come to fruition. Ozchicksunite have been in constant contact with the delightful Carissa of Hub Productions, who in turn recognized, through our petition, that the fans are there and they have a need, one that can never be denied. Supernatural must come to Australia. You can imagine our euphoria when we found out that contracts had been signed and an ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE SUPERNATURAL AUSTRALIA CONVENTION was a GO! Yep…there was jumping, squealing and basically plenty of fangirl-y moments.
More details to come…stay tuned at www.ahblsuperozcon.com and subscribe to our newsletter [...]
HUB PRODUCTIONS : www.thehubproductions.com
Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of you who have supported us and given us the energy and love to keep at it and keep those petition numbers rising. Supernatural Fans are the best. YOU ROCK BIG TIME J
With love,
Clare, Sarah, Jenna, Maritza, Jodie, Bex and Kaz.
Ozchicksunite
Let’s Raise A Little Hell!
Day 2 of EyeCon 2 began for me with a trip to the downstairs Starbucks for a nutritious breakfast: a muffin, a fruit smoothie, and a cup of decaf. The muffin was awesome. The smoothie tasted like ... a liquefied vitamin pill, lol! I also made a mosey around the autograph tables, where I said good morning to AJ & Travis and Chad.
Anyhow, the day's events kicked off with a Q&A by the one and only Jim Beaver! I can safely say he has got the hang of all this convention stuff, including taking the mickey out of us. *g* He opened with this truly silly charade of having a faulty mic, very animatedly talking and gesticulating - while making no sound at all. He followed this up with fragments of voice, as if he were cutting in and out, and I think he missed his calling as a human sound effects machine. ;-P
Before the good stuff started, though, we had a redheaded staffer, Yvette, with ... well, some sort of gift/joke where she presented Jim with a "I'm a Bobby Girl" T-shirt, and then commenced to sing (badly) a song to go with it. *scratches head* Um ... yeah. Needless to say, she rendered Jim and a good part of the audience pretty much speechless.
But on with the show. Jim was in his usual rare form, funny, snarky and sardonic, addressing us as if we were all his somewhat dim but no less loved relatives, lol. He especially played with us about spoilers, hemming and hawwing to cries of protest until revealing the dramatic fact that ... Sam and Dean will be investigating something really scary. LOL! (For those wondering, his T-shirt was quite tame this time, reading only, "I do my own stunts" with a little cartoon of a guy falling down.)
Of course, Jared and Jensen figured into some of Jim's talk, including Jim stating ominously that Jared's only played one prank, but he hasn't dared any more. Jim promised he has a plan for revenge, but (insert deep, wicked voice) it may take two or three years, heh heh heh. Jared is, Jim assured us, 6'4" of baby, who thinks he's in kindergarten and when he's 90 years old on his deathbed, he's going to pull a stunt. ;-)
The Qs and As were fun and entertaining, not a whole lot new but mainly just a chance to enjoy Jim being Jim. LOL, a note I both treasure and dread: when I raised my hand for my chance to Q, when he saw who it was, he got this sardonic, teasing grin and said, "Yes, Erin." Oh, noes, he knows me by name across a room - eeps! *face-palm* But, being dead tired on little sleep and rather much wine, last night, my thinky question of earlier evaporated completely from my mind. So, instead I asked him about wrestling down a big ol' kid like Jared, as Bobby did Sam in the season premiere.
My question inadvertently sparked what's apparently become a favorite note of the evening, LOL! After chiding me for not thinking he could really *do* it, Jim told how he had to hold Jared for the shot of Bobby restraining Sam from attacking the newly-risen Dean, and teased that yeah, the rest of us would love that, lol. When it took them time to set it up, he *kept* holding Jared preparatory to each take, and meanwhile felt up Jared's pects and chest and the upshot now is ... they're engaged. ROTFLMAO! (He later also noted that they're registered at Home Depot. *SNORK!*)
Oh! Jim did spill that in Episode 6, Bobby gets to drive the Impala. HEE!
Some A's from Jim's Q's include:
His current project, Harper's Island, is under uber strict confidentiality agreements, because the effectiveness of the show depends on the audience being surprised. Jim's own role is very different from Bobby, instead a man who rarely speaks, and it's a more internal role.
Deadwood was, he said, a role he was born to play.
The nature of a character and the scripts writing have more to do with him getting into character than the period or the costumes.
He finds it most chaotic to shoot a scene with lots of people or lots of Special FX. The fight scene with the boys' blasting ghosts during Bobby's ritual in 4:02 his example.
And ... that's kind of it. Jim doesn't know what Bobby is doing after about Ep. 6, and he figures we won't see much of Bobby for a while, until Harper's Island is wrapped and the latter episodes of SPN are to be filmed. HI would let Jim go film SPN if needed, but he hasn't got the call for anything further on, yet.
In summary, Jim was awesome and amazing and a pure joy to see/hear. He treats us all like ... well, like occasionally exasperating family whom he nonetheless loves to have around. :-)
Next on the schedule were the Ghost Facers, AJ and Travis. To be honest, I was kind of "meh" about seeing them, figured I'd do it just because I'm here, but ... no squee involved. I even came back in a few minutes late... and I was very pleasantly surprised! They were funny and goofy and borderline slapstick and played off each other hilariously. AJ seems the mellower of the two, with Travis so amped he had to put aside his chair just so he could pace and bounce around, lol! They also did a hilarious in-house riff where AJ flattered Travis about we don't even know what, while Travis went all "golly shucks" - all in an absurd verbal shorthand that meant nothing to anyone else. They really should be a stand-up team...
Tidbits of their talk include: a very great deal of Ghostfacers was shot by them, with their ghost hunting crew actually holding the cameras. It was scripted, of course, but they were given lots of room to just do their thing, which made for a very different acting experience. (For example, the rat Travis freaked over was just tossed in the room for atmosphere, but Travis saw it and chose to scream and react.)
AJ and Travis also spoke very highly of Jensen and Jared, as well as riffing about how HUGE Jared is, how big *both* boys are compared to their smaller statures. AJ told how Jared one day just picked him up and ran around with him slung over his shoulder, while AJ freaked that he was going to be dropped, and Jensen chastised him to put AJ down. LOL!
Fave lines from the show: "Sweet lord -" "- of the Rings!" and the "chisel chest" exchange. Apparently that absolutely broke Jared up the first time they said it, and they said Jared laughs *huge*, and when he does, everything just stops.
Yes, they miss Corbett, and if we smell French Vanilla, that would be Corbett farts. :-p
Asked about pranks, they said Jared would do just anything to distract and make you laugh. They also told the already-immortal tale of them trying to keep straight and do the ghostly train-death victim scene - while Jensen was goosing AJ in the ass with a shotgun! AJ would go "AH!" and the director would ask, "Why do you keep going 'ah'?, and Jensen would echo, "Yeah, why do you keep going 'ah'?" LOL!
In all, they were funny, boyish, hyper, and played off each other hilariously, as well as being easily distracted by their own silliness. They also had great fun with the guy who ran the mic around, Steven, sending him dashing from one side of the crowd to the other.
Next up - Fred Lehne, the Yellow-Eyed Demon himself! Having stepped out for a break, I came in late, so I missed his entrance, but I got the bulk of his Q&A. The poor guy was *not* well, and his voice was half gone, but he carried on like a trouper. I honestly didn't know what to expect, and I've heard some iffy things about past con behaviors, but the man I saw today was just plain fun. He told us about his underwear - Calvin Klein - his fan boy moments - Bruce Springsteen and Elizabeth Taylor (her eyes really were violet, and she rendered him completely incoherent.)
My question to him was how much was him and how much was direction, in the YED's smarmy, supercilious demeanor. His response: they just let him go, and what we saw was what came out when he played the scene. Someone also asked if he ever thought about the poor janitor the YED had possessed. Fred responded with a practiced sneer that the janitor had more fun with him then out in the basement with the mops, lol!
A couple times he turned the questions back on his audience, which earned fun results. When people floundered for answers, he laughed and said, "Not so easy, is it?" He also set himself up with innuendos several times, chiding us, "You've got *dirty* minds. I like it." LOL! On the many times he's died in various roles, he quipped, "I've died so many times I'm afraid when it really happens it'll be a disappointment - hey, this isn't like on Supernatural!" His favorite film death(s) belonged to "Lost," where his character apparently died several nasty times.
Upon being asked, "Do your kids ever show any interest in acting?" he replied, "No, not even mine!" LOL! His favorite SPN line: "You're going to live long enough to know the taste of your own intestines." He declared it's not often you get to say something like that! ;-)
So ... there's that. He gave us nothing new, but simply because he *has* nothing new, but he was by turns warm, funny, irreverent and teasing, a very comfortable presence to be around. I found him to be a pure pleasure and lots of fun, which rendered me happily surprised.
Subsequently came Nicki Aycox, aka the demon, Meg. Now this girl? Was an absolutely unexpected joy. My first impression was that she is *tiny*, lovely, a bit nervous at first, but utterly spunky and witty.
Highlights of her talk: her fangirl moments were with X-files movie co-star, David Duchovny, where she had to appear in a scene in a yukky hospital gown. Not exactly the circumstances in which she wanted to meet him, lol! And ditto with Bruce Willis, when she met him before playing a part with him.
Asked if Jared and Jensen ever pranked her, she replied tartly, "Pranks? I'm too smart for that." Did she prank them back? Nicki smirked and said, "It wouldn't be an even match." ROTFL!
On filming SPN: she told of how hard it was for Jensen to slap her for a scene, to the point he almost couldn't bring himself to do it. (Awww.) Per getting along with the boys, she said they were Texas boys and she was an Oklahoma girl, so they got along just fine. She spoke of Jared and Jensen in the very highest of terms, nothing but praise and affection for them both.
My Q to her was regarding the episode, "Shadow." I loved her sensuality, her sexual aggression in Meg, the imbalance of power with Sam and Dean as her prisoners. I wanted to know how much was her and how much was direction? She replied that the words were all scripted, but the actions were all hers, the crawling back and forth and sliding around the pole, kicking Jensen's/Dean's leg aside, etc. She had *wanted* that imbalance of power, wanted to give a strong woman character. Jared and Jensen had no idea how she was going to play the scene, so she asked the crew to keep them in the dark until they were rolling, so she'd get the sort of genuine reactions the boys gave.
A trivial note: they sometimes used ramps to get hers and Jared's faces in the same frame, lol! She also repeatedly praised Jared and Jensen, saying she'd come back for them in a heartbeat and do anything on SPN, and equally praised the SPN workplace. In all, I found Nicki to be articulate, smart, forthright, and a real treat to hear, and she was fiercely proud of how the SPN fandom had embraced Meg.
Jason Manns had the next Q&A, which I attended since I liked his music so well. (I must here add that ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
blacklid bought me Jason's CD, which makes her eleventy billion new kinds of awesome.) Up there in front of a couple hundred inquisitive eyes, Jason came across to me as affable, relaxed, low-key, and a man at home in his own skin.
My Q for his A was about how he wrote songs: in effect, did he tend to find words first and then the music, or music first and then the words, or what? I told him that a handful of my own poems came out with such a strong sense of internal rhythm that they sometimes felt like they could be songs - were it not for my total lack of musical talent. Jason replied that it was both, sometimes he'd get words in search of a tune, and he has snippets of tunes just waiting for the words. He went on about the songwriting process for a little bit, which pleased me to no end, talking about songwriting teams where one person is the lyricist and the other the musician, and finished by advising me with a smile that I should find a friend with a piano. *G*
Other answers to fan questions included: He did encourage Jensen to sing, but Jason also explained about the commitment needed to really pursue singing. He reminded us that Jensen was simply too busy for the amount of practice that would give him the confidence to play and sing in front of audiences, and that being a musician/singer is a thing that requires work. Jensen, Jason said, is just not prepared to make the change from music he plays to relax into music for work. Right now Jensen's work is acting, and he prefers to keep music just for fun.
So, fans who love Jensen's angelic voice, there is your answer on that. :-)
Jason rounded out his session by playing a song or three in his mellow, beautiful, acoustic style, including a gently-jazzed version of "Sittin' On a Dock of the Bay." I really, really like this guy, both the easy, comfortable way he has with people and the sheer beauty of his voice, the artistry of his music. When I want something to just be mellow with and feel good, I think I've got me some new tunes for my playlist. :-)
There were breaks between things, too, I'm just not writing a strict chronology, but I did make time to mosey about a bit. At one point Karina and I took a turn around the mall, nosing in a couple shops and getting her a pair of sunglasses, me a new Led Zeppelin t-shirt, and just sort of stretching our legs. In the vendors' room I replaced my SPN poster that I'd lost/left coming through airport security on my flight out, and looked at all the SPN goodies that were on offer. They also had a vendor selling corsets and other goth-type costume stuff, which actually seemed to sell. Me and corsets? Not so much, lol.
I also did my photo op with Jim, figuring to get that out of the way before the Sunday crowds. I missed Nicki's Saturday op, but she would be there again on Sunday. Meanwhile I got some of my autographs for my spiffy SPN poster, including Jim's, AJ's & Travis', Nicki's, Fred's and Chad's. This year everyone including Jim were at tables off the vendors' room, which made casual chatting much easier and more fun. So, all I needed was Jared's autograph! YAY! Uh, I think I also took time out to grab a quick lunch in the food court along with roomies Gwen, Cassie, Heidi, and Amy. LOL, I couldn't just keep forgetting to eat, or I'd tip over!
Later that evening, I had some things on my mind and dinner plans fell through, so I threw monetary caution to the winds and bought myself a Banquet ticket. I had no one to sit with, and really just expected to end up with fans, but to my amazement found myself with a choice: Fred, Jason or Steve Carlson. LOL, I was so flustered by this unexpected chance that I just went for the easy choice, Steve, since I'd already talked to him a few times both this con and last April. I guess I wasn't feeling brave enough for Fred and just kind of spazzed over the idea of sitting with Jason, lol.
Anyhow, it made for a pleasant interlude. I sat among strangers and there was a bit of initial awkwardness, but Steve was so laid-back about it. In fact, he led us in staging the first assault on the buffet table, lol, when everyone else seemed to be waiting in exquisite politeness for some sort of dinner bell. After a while we relaxed into comfortable conversation, and enjoyed.
The food *was* better than last time, served on steam tables rather than allowed to get cold and yukky whilst trying to figure out how to serve umpty hundred dinners at once. I think there were fewer people this time, too. The dinner itself included rice pilaf, chicken, roast beef, a tasty pasta dish, something with zucchinis and yellow squash, and pie. :-) Maybe not 4-Star, but they made a noticeable effort to improve, and my roast beef was tender and delicious. (Plus being able to go back for seconds was a definite plus, lol!)
Across the room, gales of manic hilarity burst frequently from the tables headed by Travis & AJ and Chad Lindberg. LOL, evidently they were having a fake-laughter contest. Those of us with Steve were just as glad to play it mellow and let those guys have all the rowdy fun. ;-)
Steve eventually had to leave to prepare for his concert, but for those who remained at our table, AJ stopped by to chat a bit, just a really nice, gently-spoken guy, then Fred popped in to joke and tease, despite his raspy voice and lingering cold-bug, and he made us laugh over I don't even remember what. Chad stopped by last, when I think only 4 of us remained over pie, and we all had a *very* nice chat about his movie. He's very earnest about it, passionate in his desire for it to reach a larger audience, and sincere in his inquiries about our reactions. I think it really pleased and touched him that we understood its message, the need to understand about the acting industry and how easily the lines blur between fiction and reality, too often with tragic consequences. I think of the entire dinner, I enjoyed the chat with Chad the most.
Anyhow, it was worth it to me, given my temporary state of mind, to just say [...] and throw some money at the chance to embrace one more con experience. I enjoyed it, and I was *very* happily surprised that my late dinner ticket and lower badge number (106) still got me a celeb seat. :-) LOL, the only thing I might do different would be to *plan* slightly ahead, so I could have changed into better evening clothes.
Things were running late by then, but I looked forward to Steve Carlson's concert, having enjoyed his music at the April EyeCon. A good crowd gathered and I thought it was cute that, when he first took the stage, he asked lighting to turn off the spot for a few minutes. Before we make love, he says, we should at least make eye contact. Flirt. ;-)
As before, his show was warm and fun and intimate, just a storyteller and his songs. At one point he called Jason Manns up to join him in a duet, singing an upbeat version of "Stuck on You," the two of them swapping lead vocals. Good? Honey, there were angels weeping at the beauty of those two voices. :-) Jason remained in the front of the audience for the rest of Steve's concert, and the two palled around all weekend. In all, Steve once again gave us a terrific show, closing with a high energy encore with a sweet finish and awesome, awesome guitar. :-)
And after that ... uh, what next? Oh, Platinum Party! Right. So we had the platinum party, and again, Kenny and Voni made a real effort to improve. The room was much bigger, the bar more accessible, and people had more room to mingle. The party room was dominated by the Rock Band game setup, and we got to watch Travis, Chad and several fans horribly mutilate a couple songs, lol! Chad followed with a rock star rendition of "Eye of the Tiger" which is probably all over YouTube by now, very funny!
The noise in the room did, however, prompt people to drift back out onto the Mezzanine by the game room, where folks congregated to talk and hang out. Having not sufficiently humiliated myself with Jim Beaver yet, I joined the little circle of folks standing with him. I was touched once again by him talking about his little girl, Maddie, and the journey she's made from losing her mother so young to a precocious 6-year-old who is, Jim fears, destined for world dictatorship. *G*
Tonight I only had a single glass of wine, so I took the chance when offered to chat with Jim about writing, the subject I'd *meant* to bring up in his Q&A before hanged-over-ness turned my brains to applesauce. ;-) I can only say again what a good and decent man Jim is, to lend himself and his attentions to us. I truly enjoy how articulate and intelligent he is, how deeply he thinks under that gruff exterior. We chatted for quite a while about his upcoming book and writing in general, and I hope he knows how much I appreciated his time. :-)
And ... that was pretty much that. I straggled back on up to the room, where the rest of my roomies were already asleep. Karina and I, however, stayed up nattering and whispering for probably another hour, until we conked out. Tomorrow was JARED DAY!
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
October 1, 2008
Only One Month Left to Donate to Support Supernatural Fan Fundraiser!
October 1, 2008 – There is one month left to donate in the Support Supernatural fan fundraiser on behalf of The CW’s Supernatural stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles!
Support Supernatural is raising money for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on behalf of Padalecki and Doctors without Borders and St. Jude Children’s Hospital on behalf of Ackles.
Supernatural fan support so far has been overwhelming! The goal is $750 per charity for a total of $1,500 on behalf of each actor!
As of October 1, Supernatural fans have donated:
• PETA $577 – short $173.
• HSUS: $610 – short $140.
• Doctors Without Borders: $670 – short $80.
• St. Jude Children’s Hospital: $755 – over goal!
“We’re so thankful for the passionate fans who have donated. We have four worthy charities that mean so much to the fans. And if just ten more people donated $10, we’d have another $100 for these awesome charities. It adds up very quickly and we’re so close to meeting our goals!” said Heather Vitas of Support Supernatural.
“We really want to showcase how much good a fandom can do. We’re hopeful that we can meet our goals and present the fundraiser results to Jensen and Jared at Creation Entertainment’s Salute to Supernatural convention in Chicago in November,” said Lindsay Warren of Support Supernatural.
Donations to any of the four charities may be made at www.SupportSupernatural.com by clicking the PayPal links OR personal checks made out to the charity of choice. For tax purposes, PayPal provides donation receipts. Persons who wish to write checks may use their duplicate or canceled check for their receipt. Contact Lindsay Warren [...] for an address where checks may be sent.
Currently, Support Supernatural also has an exciting offer from Titan Magazines. Titan is allowing Support Supernatural to give away two subscriptions to Supernatural Magazine! Every fan that donates will be entered to win a subscription, courtesy of Titan! Donation size does not affect chances of winning, but if someone donates to both campaigns, that person has two chances to win!
Additionally, for every purchase made at the Titan store through the Titan link located at the top of SupportSupernatural.com, Titan will give 10% to the Support Supernatural fan campaigns!
###
In light of the news about Jensen and Jared's current choices of charities from the Red Bull Derby, they are launching a second charity campaign for fans in Jensen Ackle's name. This will benefit Doctors Without Borders and St. Jude Children's Hospital.
PLEASE NOTE: Lindsay and Heather *will* be presenting proof of the charities' efforts to Jensen and Jared, personally, at the Chicago convention in November.
Now, with no further ado, here is their press release:
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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 10, 2008
Support Supernatural's Fan Campaigns Continue!
September 10, 2008 – Support Supernatural's fundraiser on behalf of Jensen Ackles is in full swing! Due to fan demand, Support Supernatural has added Doctors Without Borders and St. Jude Children's Hospital to the campaign.
Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Today, Doctors Without Borders provides aid in nearly 60 countries to children, teens and adults whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. They provide independent, impartial assistance to those most in need.
St. Jude Children's Hospital is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. Discoveries made at St. Jude have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly. St. Jude is a place where many doctors send some of their sickest patients and toughest cases. All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay.
Support Supernatural's goal is to raise at least $500 for each charity, for a minimum total of $1,000 to be donated. Support Supernatural is also running a campaign on behalf of Ackles' Supernatural co-star, Jared Padalecki and his dogs Harley and Sadie for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
The following has been collected so far:
• PETA $572
• HSUS: $600
• Doctors Without Borders: $285
• St. Jude Children's Hospital: $280
Support Supernatural also has an exciting offer from Titan Magazines! Titan is allowing Support Supernatural to give away two subscriptions to Supernatural Magazine! Every person who donates will be entered to win a subscription, courtesy of Titan! Donation size does not affect chances of winning, but if someone donates to both campaigns, they will have two chances to win! Also, for every purchase made at the Titan store through the Titan link located at Support Supernatural, Titan will give 10% to the Support Supernatural fan campaigns!
Donations to any of the four charities may be made at www. SupportSupernatural. com by clicking the PayPal links, or personal checks made out to the charity of choice. For tax purposes, PayPal provides donation receipts. Persons who wish to write checks may use their duplicate or canceled check for their receipt. Contact Lindsay [...] at [...] for an address to send checks. The Ackles and Padalecki fan campaign deadline is November 1.
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C'mon, fandom! Let's go do the boys proud. :-)
Supernatural Convention November 2008 Imma totally excited i have a gold pass where i get to eat breakfast with sam and dean and there will be other guest stars there as well....Is anyone else going its gonna be a total blast its in chicago
Just arrived in the VIP lounge and thought I'd say Hi to everyone!
This looks like a very convient place to post about the upcoming Salute to Supernatural Convention in Dallas.
I'm looking forward to sharing all the awesome goodness of that convention! If I'm half as lucky as I hope then this convention will be twice as fun as Fangoria and I had an absolute blast at Fangoria.
Enjoy and hope to blog again soon!
Hellowee Folks,
Ozchicksunite petition site has now moved to www.ahblsuperozcon.com unfortunately unforeseen circumstances has forced us to leave our beloved JRAUlimited and branch out on own. We are still hard at it on myspace.
Sorry for any inconvience inregards to banners and avi's we are currently changing all our banners to directly link to our new site. Please take all old banners down and post our new banners.
Tell You Friends To Tell Their Friends That AHBL SuperOzCon has moved
Thanks
Love and sunshine
Vix - Ozchicksunite
