There are several things/events I have decided need to happen at some point in my cinematic and personal life. One that I’ve finally gotten out of the way was attending Atlanta’s own Dragon*Con, the fantasy/sci-fi/comic convention that takes place in the city over the Labor Day weekend. The convention has been on my radar since several of the cast members of “Firefly”/”Serenity” came in 2005. This year, partially inspired by my mother’s excitement about going, I finally made the trek downtown for the proceedings.
It won’t be my last time, either. I really wish I’d taken the entire weekend off of work so I could go all four days, but by the end of Friday I’d felt like I’d gotten my money’s work. (Note to self: Make sure I have more money next year…)
Here’s the thing about Dragon*Con I figured out immediately- like the Renaissance Festival (which I’ve gone to 3 years straight), your money can be spent really quickly if you aren’t careful. Me? The more I looked, the more I saw that I wanted to get. I think I did pretty good as it is, but there’s so much more I could’ve done, and gotten. More on that later…
“I’m a sci-fi person, not an exercise person.”
Here’s the first change I’ll be making in future Dragon*Con visits- buying tickets ahead of time. While I met some really cool people in line- including a lovely Alice (from “Alice in Wonderland”) I was next to in the on-site registration line- the two hours I spent in line there was just not worth doing again. True, I probably would’ve missed out on Nimoy & Shatner at 10am anyway, but at least I could’ve sat down, and walked around more.
“Spin City”
The first panel I went to was one I probably wouldn’t have considered at the start of the summer. Thanks to my mother getting us both hooked on “Spin City”- the NY politics sitcom starring Michael J. Fox (and later, Charlie Sheen) as the Deputy Mayor. Here from the show were Alan Ruck (as the horndog Chief of Staff Stuart) and Barry Bostwick (who played the somewhat clueless Mayor Randall Winston). Like most of the panels I visited this week, I videotaped the proceedings, partially for my mother (who didn’t join me Friday), as well as for posterity’s sake. While there was a moderator there, Bostwick and Ruck pretty much ran the panel when it came to Q&A, and whether it was about “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (which Ruck was in), “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (which Bostwick was in) to the inevitable questions about what changed between stars to why Heather Locklear should be offered more comedy, Ruck and Bostwick- who played off one another beautifully- were hilarious and entertaining to listen to. Afterwards I went up and said hello to Barry, but didn’t have time to meet Alan or get my pic with either, as I had another place to be…
Terry Gilliam and “Doctor Parnassus”
The line for a panel discussion and Q&A with Terry Gilliam about his career and the forthcoming “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” seemed long at the time. Oh, how wrong I was. All things considered, I got a pretty good seat for Gilliam. Sadly, the video turned out not so well. Lesson #2 from Friday- bring my tripod. My arms were pretty tired by the end, and keeping things focused was rough.
No matter- Gilliam was every bit as engaging and hilarious- and honest- as I’ve seen him in “Lost in La Mancha” and “The Hamster Factor” (the brilliant “12 Monkeys” documentary by the makers of “La Mancha”). Well versed in art of all kinds, with a lot of that biting Monty Python wit still left in him, the hour-plus session provided a master class in studying creative passion and imagination.
I can’t think of a better introduction for “Parnassus.” This is the film Heath Ledger was filming when he died in January 2008. Now slated for a Christmas release, Gilliam is making the rounds to drum up anticipation. If mine was peaked before Friday, it went over the edge watching (including several clips from the film) during the session. The film looks like a breathtaking mixture of the visual thrall of “Brazil” and the bleak and unnerving humor of his criminally-underrated “Tideland.” And Ledger looks astounding in a final role that, even more than his Joker in “The Dark Knight,” will further cement his status as a bold and original actor, lost too soon.
The Q&A with Gilliam had the director going to the front of the stage so he could hear each person’s question, then running back to the table to answer it. Sans tripod, it was tough to get good video for, well, any of the session, but there wasn’t a project that wasn’t discussed. Most tantalizing were his words on “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote,” which- sadly- came with the confirmation that Johnny Depp will NOT be returning to the project, thanks to a busy schedule, when it starts back up in the Spring.
A few hours later, I stood in line for a signing with Gilliam. With only 90 minutes allotted for the room, and close to 200 people in front of me, things weren’t looking good that I’d be able to meet him. But Gilliam cemented his status as a class-A person and fan fave by staying at least 2 hours signing for fans. When I did get up there, I got him to sign the cover of my “Lost in La Mancha” DVD, had my picture taken with him, and told him how inspiring his determination in getting his films made was to me, to which he replied, in true Gilliam form, “If I wasn’t, I would be out of a job.” True, and we’d be out his cut of “Brazil,” the creativity inspired by loss that led to “Parnassus'” completion, and his chance at another stab at “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.”
A Star is Lost, and a Break at Last
In between Gilliam events, I was able to grab a bite to eat, and take a look around. I took a stroll around one of the dealer alleys, and spied some merch I’d buy later, as well as took my first trip through the Walk of Fame.
Now, going into the weekend, I had bold ambitions in terms of autograph getting on the Walk. Unfortunately, the financial realities set in quickly that I wasn’t gonna be able to get everyone I’d hoped to. By weekend’s end, however, I’d gotten a lot of the autographs I’d most wanted to get, starting with Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), whom I was too shy to really speak to, and Julie Benz (“Angel’s” Darla), both of whom couldn’t have been nicer.
About 4pm, I headed over to the Hyatt for a panel with Anthony Daniels, aka C-3PO. Well, in what would be the first of several setbacks this weekend, Mr. Daniels never showed. First we heard he’d gotten “locked out” of the hotel, only later to hear he’d gotten lost on the way over. His presence got only more elusive as the weekend wore on.
“I predict this is the first of many times this movie goes into a wall.”
After the Gilliam signing, I got some much-needed caffeine in me, dropped off some of my things at my conveniently-parked truck (note to self- remember that lot next year), and checked in with my mom before heading to my final event of the day, the “Mystery Science Theatre 3000 to Cinematic Titanic” presentation with Trace Beaulieu (“Crow”), Frank Conniff (“TV’s Frank), and Mary Jo Pehl (“Pearl”). Before they took audience questions, however, we were treated to “Cinematic Titanic’s” latest DVD offering, “Blood of the Vampires.” The title doesn’t do justice to how abysmal the film is, which ranks with the worst “MST3K” offerings. Like on that cult show, however, the worse the film, the better the riffs, and the “Cinematic Titanic” crew was on its’ A-game with this film.
Afterwards, Trace, Mary Jo and Frank fielded questions from the audience, giving funny and sometimes informative answers before starting a lineup for DVD sales and autographs. I wasn’t able to buy any DVDs then- I’d spent all my cash earlier- but they were kind enough to autograph the case of my copy of “MST3K: The Movie,” after which I made the trip home, ready for short night’s sleep.
The early bird catches the worm…sometimes.
The plan was simple for Saturday. Get there early, get through the line for on-site quickly, and hit the scene. I knew a little bit of what to expect in my adventures the day before, but a few things threw us off course. First of all, while Ron and I were ready to go at the agreed time, my mother- bless her- and all she had to do meant we didn’t get on the road until around 7:30am (about the same time I left Friday). However, my mother’s health ailments meant we could get her and Ron registered at the disabilities table. Great for them, bad for us, since it meant a 40-minute lag time before anything started/opened.
Music to our ears…
While my mother waited at the Sheraton for a panel with “Torchwood’s” Gaereth David Lloyd (Ianto) to begin, Ron and I headed to the other hotels, starting- at 10- with the comic artist alley and shopping area, then heading over to the Marriott’ two dealer alleys.
That’s where we found ourselves in nerdvana. In the upper alley, there was a bootleg DVD shop that not only had the original, unaired “Buffy” & “Angel” pilots (as well as test footage of the never-produced animated series) but, get ready nerds, the “Star Wars” Holiday special. Guess which 2 DVDs I picked up on Monday…
But for Ron and I, the best was yet to come, and it all had to do with 4 words- “rare and expanded soundtracks.” True, they’re basically bootlegs, but when you’re talking to a couple of soundtrack nerds like us, the prospect couldn’t be more exciting (especially at the prices they offered). Finding an affordable original NES controller (not to mention the classic “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out”) pales in comparison. We each could’ve spent $100 each on soundtracks alone, but for now, the money spent on the likes of the “Back to the Future” trilogy, “Die Hard,” “Predator,” “The Shining,” and “Spider-Man 3” will have to do. Let the listening begin…
Better late than never…
Ron and I ended up seated near the back for the “Firefly” Q&A with Ron Glass (Shepherd Book), which felt less worth it the later the time got as Glass was about 20-25 minutes late for the 11:30am start. Once he did arrive, however, he dove straight into audience questions, walking through the audience as much as he was on stage, much like a preacher might on Sunday. Understandably, most of the questions were about his enigmatic “Firefly” character, as well as about the standing of him- and the show- in the future of the Whedonverse. Among the juicier tidbits to come out of the abbreviated session was the announcement of a Whedon-developed comic book, called “A Shepherd’s Tale,” to be released in the coming year about the character, as well as four pieces of Book background Whedon once told Glass that leads to further questions about the character. Despite the late start, this remains one of my favorite moments of the weekend.
I get around…
After the “Firefly” panel, Ron & I made our way over to the Hilton, and the Walk of Fame. Food was requisitioned at a Papa John’s vendor before we made our way upstairs, figuring my mother- whose main autograph “gets” heading into the weekend were Lloyd and “Buffy’s” James Marsters (Spike). She managed to get both, as we all looked around a bit, each one of us a little star-struck over the people who were there, before going our separate ways…
“Why are we here again?”
Look, if you think I went just for the panels and celebrities, you’re diluting yourself. Like with the Renaissance Festival, one of the reasons – went was to see women in teasing costumes. I saw a few Slave Girl Leias, was in line next to an Alice, had an eyeful of Silk Spectres, was one row up from a woman who was in a 2-piece made up entirely of can tabs at the Anthony Daniels no-show, and a woman in a Stormtrooper outfit and a skirt leaving the same event. And then there were all the Hogwarts students in short skirts and even a woman in a towel with a sign that said, “Lost costume. Can I have yours?” Needless to say, the past few nights have been good for my fantasies…
“If you’re gonna dub it into English, go all the way…into English.”
At 2:30pm, Ron and I headed to the weekend’s second “MST3K to Cinematic Titanic” panel with Trace, Mary Jo, and Frank. No DVD screenings this time, but Trace did lead us in a slide show of how the old MSTie gang- including creator Joel Hodson and original Servo J. Elvis Weinstein- got back together through a filming session for one of the MST3K DVD releases to create “Cinematic Titanic.” (Fun fact: For said session, Frank Conniff was the voice of Tom Servo.)
After this came time for audience questions. Ever since the night before, I’d had one of the tip of my brain for these three. As someone reasonably well-steeped in pop culture, I was less interested in what influences the riffs- although on question about it led Trace to call himself “Pop Culture Flypaper”- than I was the people and groups that inspired them and their sensibilities. So I decided to get in line to the mic. Time passed, and questions came and went, as I hope to be able to ask my question (all the time thinking, “What would I do if someone asked it before me?”). Finally, it came up to me, and their answers ranged from the Marx Brothers to Monty Python, to name the most vivid answers mentioned of the three.
After the panel closed, Ron & I sat down for a bit before heading to the signing with Trace, Mary Jo, and Frank at 4. It was while in line that Ron & I met “Library Lass,” an original character in a form-complimenting costume. We struck up a conversation with her and her “companion” in line about Whedon and MST3K, and got a couple of pics of me with her before getting up to the trio, where I had them sign my newly-purchased “Titanic” DVDs of “Blood of the Vampires” and “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” with one signed to me, the other to my mom, also a big MSTie fan.
“Why’d we even go inside?”
After that, it was on to the Marriott for the 5:30pm “Buffy”/”Angel” panel. Now, based solely on my experience going to Gilliam in the same hall the day before, I figured we’d have a fairly quick seating chance in line. Yeah, I am such a “newb,” as the saying goes. The line for this panel went halfway around the building (after going down three levels to ground level I might add)…and we were at the end of it. (Note to self: Evidently James Marsters is a bigger draw than Terry Gilliam…) Ugh. Frantic calls were made to my mother- who’s come to get in line after the Walk of Fame- to see what her situation was. Thankfully, she was able to reserve two seats for us behind her in the hall, and she had some really great seats. I was worried for a bit, ’cause as we were being let in, Ron had been taking pics of the crowds around the ballroom. Sorry I had to yell man, but calling you wasn’t working, and I wanted to make sure you got in alright.
It was worth the hassle. James Marsters, Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia), Kristy Swanson (Buffy in the 1992 movie), and Julie Benz dove right into audience questions, which ranged from favorite episodes and would they rather be good or bad to what it was like being directed by Stallone (Benz in “Rambo,” Carpenter in the upcoming “The Expendables”) to- most explicably- how Michael Jackson- his music and his death- affected Marsters as a musician. I really felt sorry for Swanson- who didn’t get too many questions her way- but the hour provided a lot of great insight and entertainment, most of all when Benz had to take a personal call, and James answered on her behalf. I also got to ask the TV actors what it was like going between good and bad with their characters, and how- as actors- they were able to move so effortlessly between one and the other. Their answers were fascinating to a budding filmmaker about the acting process- James even gave me a “good question” at the end of his answer. This was one of the big highlights of the weekend for me.
“Dogs and cats, living together. Mass hysteria!!”
While this heading might seem apt when it comes to the number of “Ghostbusters” outfits I saw over the weekend, it better describes the chaos we met trying to get home, as purchases were misplaced (and thankfully, found again) and all three of us ended up on different floors at one point. My mom and I did see Barry Bostwick and Alan Ruck riding the elevator at the Marriott, so that was a cool way to end a hectic day.
“I have to work today? NOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Of the many Dragon*Con lessons learned this weekend, Sunday provided one of the most important ones- just take the whole damn weekend off. While my mom was able to go down Sunday- and by herself no less- I was stuck working, the first of an eight-day run on working. When my mom came home, and tole me about her day, this mistake was an obvious one. Next year, I’m taking vacation days and going every single day.
“It’s over. All over. It’s time to go home.”
Labor Day. Last day of ‘Con. My mom and I got down there plenty early. The two big things we both wanted to hit today were “Working With Joss” and “Torchwood: CSI Cardiff.” “Working With Joss” was sans Charisma and Julie (who’d left Sunday), leaving just Ron Glass and (eventually) Kristy Swanson. Both had interesting insights on Joss and their careers, although it was strange a couple of times when it was revealed neither had seen the other’s project with Joss. It was a fun panel, and afterwards I got my picture taken with Kristy, who was really sweet.
While at the Sheraton, I made my way upstairs to the Walk one final time to stand in line for Felicia Day, who’s been the big draw at the ‘Con this weekend (supposedly the “Dollhouse” panel on Sunday was overbooked, and people in line for hours didn’t make it in). I’d known her as Penny from “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog” and Vi from “Buffy,” but also knew she’d created her own popular web series “The Guild,” although I still haven’t watched it. Well, after about 30-40 minutes in line, I now have two seasons on DVD, an autographed pic from “Dr. Horrible,” a picture of me with her, as well as good luck wishes on my own web film endeavors from Miss Day. Pardon the pun, but that certainly made my Day…
…And yet, my “geekiest” moment was to come when I headed down the row to see Ron Glass. All I wanted was a picture with him (my mom had gotten his autograph on Sunday), but it led to a lot of spattering praise about “Firefly” from me, and gratitude for his part in it. At least with Peter Mayhew I just said hello, thanked him, and was on my way. Well, he didn’t have me thrown out or my phone smashed, so it couldn’t have been that bad.
Leaving the Walk for the last time, I headed down to the 2 dealer alleys to pick up some things before heading over to the “Torchwood” panel at the Sheraton. As a final panel for the weekend, it was a letdown for both of us. My mom expected Gaereth David Lloyd there, but instead to get a free-for-all vivisection of the series by panelists and audience alike. It was like a chat room or message board come to life, and while as a relative “Torchwood” newbie I got some intriguing food for thought for when I eventually watch the series, my mom was uncomfortable the entire time. Me, I wasn’t quite as thrown by the tone as my mom, but being a relative “newb” to the show, I didn’t put up much of a fight when my mom left halfway in.
Afterwards, we headed back to the Marriott to pick up a professionally-done pic my mom had taken with James Marsters. Well, she thought she had done- turns out they were in such a rush to get James finished up they didn’t actually take a picture with the two. Dejected, and after waiting at least an hour no less (at least they gave her her money back), mom and I went back to the truck, and headed home until next year…
In the end, there was just too much going on to be everywhere at once. Of the misses, the ones I regretted most were “Crow vs. Crow” (with Trace Beaulieu and Bill Corbett discussing playing the wise-cracking ‘bot on MST3K), Anthony Daniels, not saying hello to Karen Allen or Charisma Carpenter myself, the film festival that plays throughout, Friday night’s “Light Speed Dating,” “Harry Potter’s” Tom Felton, Nimoy & Shatner, Monday’s “Futurama” discussion, and not getting my pic taken with any of the TV “Buffy” people on Saturday’s panel.
Oh well, there’s always next year…
