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!!).
Haven't been on in quite awhile so I see...but just wanted to say that I am going to the LA Con in March (yes again) and can't wait to see all my friends again. Although I did see a few when I went to Eyecon in Orlando last September.
Apparently I have been busy, but not too busy to watch Supernatural or keep in touch with the friends that I have made at the Cons I have attended...From my experience alone, Supernatural fans are some of the nicest and most fun people I have met in a very long, long time and really make the conventions worth every cent (yes, its always great to see Jensen and Jared and all the other actors but for me, its more about the friends you make at them).
I had a great time at Eyecon in September and i know this update is a long time coming but I forget to write about things that happen to me sometimes. Anyways, I did get to meet Jared again and he is still very sweet and good looking. When I went to my photo op with him he looked at me and said "Hey Babe, its good to see you again" and he hugged me...he's such a nice guy and then when getting the autographs, my friend and I didn't have much to say to him but we were trying to decide who got to keep something we bought together and we decided to flip a coin but we didn't have a coin, so when we went up to Jared, we asked him to make a call for us, either heads or tails and he had to pick and whatever he chose was going to get this item we bought (although we didn't really explain any of that to him, we just said choose heads or tails) . .so he chose and it was whatever I called (I can't remember now if I chose heads or tails) and my friend kind of went "Oh man" and kind of sulked off and Jared looked at me kind of confused, we didn't tell him who picked heads or who picked tails, and he said "Is she mad at me?" and I said "I don't think so" and then he said "Why is she like that then?" and I said "She lost the coin flip" and he looked at me and said "So are you mad at me too" and I said "Heck no, I won!Don't worry she'll get over it, she didn't really care one way or the other really, but I kind of did really want to win" And Jared said "Well I am glad to be of service to you then." Then he asked my name again and how to spell it and then signed my photo op that i had earlier that morning with him ..Alot of people were really jealous (and I don't mean to sound bad but I cant think of another word) that some of us got personal time with him while he was signing and that he did more than just sign his name..Mine said "Melyssa, Much Love, Jared Padalecki" ..I guess some people, because time was running out, he only signed his name and they weren't really allowed to talk to him...but thats just what I heard later....If it was thats kinda sad...Some of the first people in line to get his autograph had like 6 or 7 things for him to sign and then started showing him stuff they made for him and were spending like a really long time with him.....But other than that it was a good time...I mean I had a good time.....I also got to talk alot to Jim Beaver (Bobby) who is a very nice man, very smart and I talked with Jason Manns and Steve Carlson and me and a group of girls ate dinner with Jason and he was very funny, others ate with Steve, others ate with the Ghostfacers, with Chad Lindberg (who was fun to watch when they played rockband and when we got to see the documentary "My Big Break" which was amazing!!! If you get the opportunity, you should see it! ) and all the others there at Eyecon (Except Jensen and Jared, of course)....Anyways, it was fun...
But its been awhile since that and now in March I guess I will get an opportunity to meet Mischa Collins and more actors I haven't yet met...so it should be fun...if you are going, stop by and say hi!
OK, we all know that Erick Kripke has a thing for classic rock, muscle cars and Back to the Future! - LOL - among other things.
We also know how he likes to use foreshadowing in his episodes. He's also has a sense of humor in using certain names and lines that might sound familiar, such as using his name (Kripke) in the episode 'In My Time of Dying'. Or recycling the line "We've got work to do". These small yet noticeable things are what makes Supernatural endearing to fans.
Coming to what I mentioned in the latter statement, I've noticed something really fun! I was watching Born Under A Bad Sign, and I noticed something familiar, or rather, heard something familiar, that I had heard in the Season3 Bloopers.
In 'Born Under a Bad Sign' or as fans call it BUABS, go to the scene where Sam and Dean pull in the gas station, Dean says to Sam "maybe somebody will recognize you", they walk into the small mart, where they meet a young man behind the counter, he imediatley starts threating to call the police on Sam. Now, in the whole scene in the mini store listen carefully to what's playing in the background.
OK, now once you've listened and got the tune imprinted in your brain. Pop in your Season3 DVD and go to the bloopers, or if you don't have the DVD, you can find the bloopers on youtube, That's where I watched 
it. Remember to keep the tune you heard in the mini store in BUABS in your head. Now, you have the bloopers on, you can watch the whole thing if you want, but the scene you are looking for is the one where Jared turns around and is picking his nose, this funny tune starts and then the rest - you know!
Did you recognize the tune playing?! - Told you Kripke has a sense of humor! When I heard it in BUABS I was like - wait a minute that tune sounds familiar! I found myself listening to it rather than the back and forth banter between Dean and the counter guy. 
Anywayz, thought it would be cool to share it with you, that's if anybody didn't already notice it *winks*.
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!
Hey all!
This is your roving hobbit reporter, just back from the fun and adventure of EyeCon2 in Orlando, Florida!
Here's the quick and dirty from me. :-) First, Chad Lindberg's movie, "My Big Break," was SO not what I expected! It started off as a sort of whacky guy-thing kind of film, complete with all sorts of "inappropriate" behavior, including opening scenes of one of the guys trashing a big ol' pile of film in the back of his truck, finishing with peeing on the whole, mess, lol! But as the film followed these four young actors through their trials and tribulations in Hollywood ... it became grew into something much sadder and sobering. By the end, the scene of the film being destroyed was not a bit funny, at all. It is, as the creator/filmmaker Tony V said, a denunciation of Hollywood, and it really *really* made me think. Of course, Chad as presenter with Tony was awesome and adorable, and we showed him the love!
Jason Manns - Wow. That man can sing like an angel. His folksy soft accoustic sound was absolutely beautiful, and as I texted to Lindsay, lol, that man can sing me to sleep any night. He was an utter doll to talk to, as well, sweet and engaging and just the kid next door. My roomie and generous friend, Karina, bought me his CD, which makes my ears very happy! *G*
Then the Cocktail Party - w000t! WE HAD ELBOW ROOM! Gone was the claustrophobic cattle call of last year, but this time a generous room with *two* bars set up, and they did not charge for my wine, at least, until they shut the bars down for the night. :-) Per celebs - LOL, I had a hard time getting *to* anybody simply because I kept running into fan friends and LJ acquaintances! But I did chat just a bit with Chad, who was cute as ever. I forgot to say that not long before the film, Karina and I ran into Chad with his lovely girlfriend down in the Mall, and Chad recognised and greeted us warmly. What a doll! *G* Back to the cocktail party, I honestly never *saw* Nicki, which makes me feel bad. I probably looked right past her, without that blond hair. :-/ I saw Travis but ever got over there, didn't see AJ but again, probably just missed him. Jim Beaver, however, repeated Chad's welcome when he recognised me from last EyeCon and gave me a big hug. LOL, the poor man really was snowed under by eager fans, and I fear we backed him into the corner, but he's getting the hang of this crowd-working thing. I missed seeing Fred, as well, so I'm sorry to read Jane's report that he's ill. Sinusitus? GAH! Hope he can get some antibiotics.
Anyhow, so I had an *awesome* time chatting with fandom pals, and it was very cool to be recognised by Jim and Chad - though maybe I should be vaguely alarmed, since there is the possibility that makes me notorious ..... Hmm .... ;-)
I hung with the die-hards until the threw us out, whereupon I retired to congregate with the folks down at Crickets. Jim Beaver was down there, too, but engaged in private conversation as well as getting something to eat. As I said, I flat *forgot* to eat, just had a power bar, so it's probably no wonder 3 glasses of wine pretty much rendered me rediculous. *g*
Other characters to meet were of course Kenny and Voni, who looked awesome and greeted returnees with huge smiles and hugs, and Dizzy the MC, who is still the outragous flirt. *G* Of course I saw Yasmine and Megan and met Jane and I don't even remember who all, lol, so if I forget I saw you that night, please don't hold it against me! Until later- this is me, signing off! {*HUGS*}
TBC ....
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OKAY, HERE ARE THE SEASON FOUR SPOILERS! My instant reaction to the show *I wrote this ten minutes after the show had ended*:
SUPERNATURAL
JUST ENDED!! I am so dying for next weeks episode to get here already! And it's
only been ten minutes!!! :D That was SO awesome.
There were some comments
about the opening being just too Dean-centric...but, hey, is that even possible!
There's no waaay we can have too much Dean on that TV show! Am I right???
*Crickets Chirp*.
Dean is told by an angel that God pulled him out of
Hell. OMGosh! Dean! The same Dean that doesn't even believe in Angels. lol. He
was picked to be brought back from Hell...and then told that he needs to get
some faith. I laughed at that part. Poor dude's had, like, the worst life EVER
and then he's told by some Angel (AFTER he was already in Hell for MONTHS AND
MONTHS AND MONTHS) that he was saved for a reason...that God has plans for Dean.
I cannot imagine what that could mean...Wait! I just had a thought. ...I KNOW!
Just a second, I'm thinking it through.
...
I've GOT IT! In
this episode Sam is hiding the fact from Dean that during the elder Winchesters
time in Hell, Sam was letting Ruby teach him how to expand his dark powers.
Maybe ultimately it's going to be up to Dean to keep Sammy from wiping out the
WHOLE...EVERYONE!! We know that Sam still has the same good heart, but he gets
into situations where he does things that he would rather not when he just has
no other choice. So, it could be something like that and Dean is going to have
to stop him from doing the wrong thing. Do you think that is a possibility?? I
think it is...After all, Dean is the only one who can actually influence Sam on
any real level. AND with Sam's powers so strong that he basically defeated
Lilith with a blink (AFTER Dean was killed by the Hell Hounds. *Rolls Eyes*.) it
could spell some s-e-r-i-o-u-s doom for mankind. Sammy isn't all that stable (As
much as I luv the guy...I know he's got a good heart and his motivations are in
the right place...it's his brain that's a little screwed *Thanks to some of the
WORST parenting I've seen*).
Okay. So. The Dean moment at the beginning
that SQUEE lasted for an entire ten minutes!!!!! ;D !!!! Was totally awesome.
I'm all for that. :D.
The lady losing her eyes was so horrible, but the
Angel DID try to warn her. The thing I don't get is how he got summoned by a
S*****E anyway (Sorry, I refuse to blog that word....erm, and I can't spell it.
lol.). If he ISN'T evil, like he claims, how come something like that could draw
him? He's claiming to be an Angel of God......who is kinda like God's mediator
for Dean... or vice-versa. Whatever.
OMGOSH! I almost died when Dean went
back to his car for the first time after his return from Hell. What Sam had done
to it!!!!! I laughed so hard at that. lol. :D. Funny moment in the middle of a
very, VERY serious episode. All of the humor was well-placed, I thought. Like
Sam's girl Christy. lol. That was pretty funny in a really, really, really sad
way. *Sigh*. Sammy, Sammy, Sammy. *Sigh*. *Shakes Head*.
Okay. So, some
more points that I noticed and don't yet have an explanation for. 1, Dean's
tattoo is missing (You know, the one that makes it so he can't be possessed. My
Grampa said that it could have been a movie glitch and they just forgot, but it
was SUCH a major scene when he pulls his shirt up...that I don't think it's
likey. But you never really know).
There have been some very minor
flashbacks for Dean. He truly doesn't remember his time in Hell, but he has
these weird flashes where we hear weird stuff and there's these really, REALLY
freaky flashing lights. Nothing like the lonely, empty, thunder filled, chain
filled Hell of the finale episode last season. So, I don't know if Hell is,
like, constantly changing or what??
I was SO MAD at Sammy when I found
out that he had lied to Dean about developing his dark powers...but at the same
time I am totally proud of him for fully intending to tell Dean "when the moment
is right" As Sammy said. ;). I know that it will happen eventually.
My
boys are BACK! WHOOOHOOO! wOOt! :D :D :D *SQUEEEEEEeeeEEEeeeEEEEE* :D :D :D :D
You have NO idea how happy that makes me. I cannot wait to own season four on
DVD .. .And I've only seen the premier epie. lol. ;).
I have no doubts
that next week will be equally as awesome! I saw a peek and whoah! All of the
people that they had NOT saved - the ones that died - are back and they are
trying to kill the brothers. I don't know the hows and whys and all that...but
it looks super interesting. OMGosh! They bring back that agent dude who died in
Jus En Bello! You know, the guy from ... Hendrickson. That's his name, although
I'm not sure if that's the spelling. ;).
Anyway, tell your friends about
this show and watch it yourself if you have a TV and just happen to be watching
Smallville anyway. ;D. lol. Or just if you're interested. :D. It is such a great
show and this episode has thrown a WHOLE new dynamic in there...awesome! I'm
going to go to bed now so that I can wake up tomorrow and watch it all over
again. :D. :D.
Season 4 premiere is almost here!!!! I'm so excited!!!!! I have been checking for spoilers everyday, or for a miraculously a new promo, which is much needed! Just to rant about the promo they have now, it sux. I know if I was a new viewer, it would completely freak me out, and scare me away from watching supernatural. It wasn't scary in a good way and they should have put on some new footage or some brotherly, funny moments. If it wasn't for the comedy, chemistry of the two brothers, and story line, I wouldn't be such an obsessed viewer. I have been going LOCO with this insanely long wait. I probably haven't had to suffer as much as long time viewers cuz I started watchin the show around when they showed Ghostfacer's, or it might have been a re-run. I luv that epi, got me interested in the show. I don't know why people hate it. Anyway, it was nice being able to watch all the epi's online without waitin. If I was a viewer with the season 1 finnally I probably would gone insane. Just addin it cuz waz thinkin about it. Anyway, this is my first blog EVER! Wooot! Yeah, so I guess I'm supposed to write about what I think lol. Oh, and lots of people hate the episode 2 season 4 title " Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester" I think it sounds interesting and can't wait to see it!! And as of today, 3 More days till Supernatural Premiere!!!!
Well I hadn't realized it had been so long since i had been on here. But anyways, shortly after my last blog on here I guess I went to LACON in March and yes was lucky enough to meet Jensen and Jared who were both very sweet and funny (and made fun of me when I had my pic taken with them because I kept blinking my eyes and they (Jared started it) called out "Blinker! BLinker!" It was all in good fun of course. But they were very cute and very fun to meet. I also met alot of other fans there who were great and some of them have even talked me into going to Eyecon in Orlando in Sept. Now I am just saving money to pay off my credit card bills for that convention. But to be honest, I am going not only to see all those on the show who are attending but the chance to hang out again with some cool people I met in LA is reason enough frankly.
