Highlander Worldwide 7, Leeds: part 1
Mar. 19th, 2006 07:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethHLWW7
con report
as usual, muchly a me report, with some famous people.
Also, since half the weekend was full of promos and discussion of what is happening next, there will be potential spoilers mixed in liberally. But due to the unfinished nature of all the projects, even them as filmed it don't know if potential is actual here, since things aren't settled yet. Or, in some cases, even begun.
report is from memory, all errors my bad
Setting out on Friday was... anti-fun. Mum reckons I skipped the usual pre-convention build up and just had two weeks worth of anxiety right then. That was uncomfortable.
But, set out I did. Got a taxi, got my tickets, got the nice train staff people to help me with the finding the right train thing. I've previously got myself in a huge great muddle over changing trains. As in, three hours on a platform eventually reduced to a brainless wreck. So this time out I decided to just travel as a disabled person and get the staff to do the thinking parts. It worked pretty good and they were all nice about it. As the guy at Leeds said, that is what they're there for. I always feel a bit odd getting stuff on account of being disabled. I mean theres so many things I can do, I feel daft when I bump into the things I can't. But if it was someone else, I wouldn't put up with that attitude from anyone, so I shouldn't do it at myself. So, asked for help, got help. Changed trains in the middle.
I saw many neat things out the windows on the way there. Lots of buildings and landscape and alive things. I quite like travelling, apart from the part where I feel too sick to eat just at the thought of doing it.
Maybe I could send someone with a video camera and do travelling from home off the tapes...
ANYways, got to Leeds in one piece, got to the hotel, checked in.
Slight teensy tiny eensy little problem with the room. I'm sharing, with someone I hadn't met before ( *waves to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
snowdrop3100), and the room was meant to be a twin, but I got there and it was a double. Flapping followed. Mainest problem was finding said other person to get the room changed. Turns out when they'd got there the hotel reckoned the room had been cancelled. Turns out when I phoned on Tuesday to make sure it was all still there, they cancelled it.
*headdesk*
They also hadn't cancelled the room I had actually cancelled. Easy mistake to make, yet very unhelpful. {note to self, check credit card to make sure what charges went on it}
So, all that sorted, had a nice twin room.
Snowdrop was nice people. Much saner than I am.
(Which reminds me – insert here the usual 'apologies for the general strangeness of me'. I don't do it to wind people up, and yet...)
Was also the first person I gave a t-shirt to, and she wore it that evening for the meet n greet.
Before that, picking up the convention pack. Nice bag full of bits of paper. Con booklet, included photo (official Highlander photos, most of which I had already, so I got one of Methos from The Messenger with his sword out). Dinner ticket. It said 'default menu' on mine. Actually, I couldn't eat anything from what I could figure out of the menu, but no worries, I figured someone would. Was also a concert ticket. And there was the con badge, which I straight away moved into a non pin holder. I, er, worry. And its a nice clip on holder I've had since... actually I can't remember, but a whole bunch of conventions ago. Is very handy.
Tried to walk up the stairs to my room after that. 4th floor. Very tall floors.
This is why when roomie first walked in I was lying on the floor in the corner...
(really must remember to get fit. Or take into account that I'm not.)
Meet and greet was down for 1530ish, so quick change into con shirt (Clan Denial for me, Richie Swimming in the River Denial given to Snowdrop) and down to the bar.
Con organiser does the hello and welcome, and then introduces the camera crew
who will be filming
the whole weekend
for a DVD release.
In the con packet there was also a form for picking 2 best and 1 worst episode ever. From these they're going to put together a DVD. With bits of film from the con as extras.
They'd also be going round interviewing people all weekend.
So, camera went around looking at fanpeople, including getting a good shot of the red shirts.
I'd like meet-n-greets more if I was better at meeting or greeting. As it was I spent most of the time trying to pick best episodes. I mean this week I'm all yaay about CaH and Rev6:8, because they are classic and brilliant, but they lack that crucial Richie factor. I'm not even sure what I picked in the end. Something different than I would today.
1630, PWFC meeting. Preceeded by PWFC queuing in the corridor. Where I gave away 2 more shirts. Unfortunately I lack names of who to, but they seemed to liking them. I think one person said they'd wear theirs in the gym and Stan would get a kick out of it. Lack context, might recall wrong.
Peter Wingfield arrived :-) :-) :-)
The weekend had a whole bunch of guests, but the only one I'm actively fannish about is PW. And when I say actively, I kind of mean lazily. I mean I sort of know what he's doing these days, but I keep on forgetting to rejoin the fanclub, and not really fussing when it runs out. BUT, if he's at an event anywhere in the country, I will be there. Happily. With much anticipation, and a big grin.
Whenever he so much as crosses my line of sight I get a happy little buzz. Peter Wingfield! Yaays!
So, fangirl, yes.
He said stuff. I'm sure it was interesting. Mostly I remember what he looked like. Started in a long coat, red scarf, white round neck t-shirt. Very white, contrast with tanned skin. Most, sat in the front row about six feet away from him, I was pretty much thinking 'skin... yum...'
*happy reverie*
or as I used to say a lot
*sighthunkdrool*
Actual content of meet...
We got badges. “The brains behind the horsemen” I think. Definitely 'Brains', for that becomes funnier later. (There was a songvid. To 'Pinky and the Brain'. Is brilliant :-) )
PW talked about work he's done recently, most of which I can't remember names for since I didn't see it. I love it when he's in a show I follow, I don't tend to hunt down shows when he's elsewhere. I do remember whatever it was there were quite a lot of FX in it, and he talked about how ... was it “The Collector”?... anyways, how he filmed a lot of stuff that was going to look different later, or people got put into it later so they were talking to nobody, or there was blue screen. Actually the most he said was about how one part, he had to stand there with his arms out and scream. He grins. He knows how to do that. (Quickenings as useful acting experience... the mind boggles.) They did something fiddly with camera moves and turning him around on a little turntable. And then he had to go in and do the voice bit again later.
Trying to lip synch the screaming.
*facepalm*
acting, so glamorous!
I think he said one time he took his kid in to work with him, one of these weird days. But to a 5 year old, world is pretty much all weird.
Tangent - Is so strange hearing about his kid whenever there is more meeting him. Because I heard when baby was new, and now these mini snippets from other times, and its just.. cool, because new person and they're growing up, but also odd, because mostly I know that many stories about babies I'm related to. Well, slightly more. But, theres a connection with this kid I've no connection with. In my head this is strange.
Cool though.
/tangent.
He did some voice tests for an animated project, but didn't think he'd be voicing anything in the finished version. We heard more about this later I think.
There was talking back from the audience too. PW has worked for the BBC lately, on Dalziel and Pascoe (sp?)(I think). And he said he'd be happy to do more. So someone said he should be on Torchwood.
*Much* agreeing from the room, including the me part of it. That would be outstanding cool.
So PW says he'll pass that on to his agent.
But then he starts talking about Doctor Who, and as it turns out he hasn't seen the new series yet. So he doesn't know what Torchwood is. Or that basically, when we say 'be on Torchwood!' many of us probably mean 'date Captain Jack!'
wonder if anyone told him...
... pretty sure he wouldn't be surprised.
There was mention of PWFC events of the future, ones not in the UK and entirely beyond my means, so retain the details have I not.
Don't recall if that was all the topics or if I was just busy staring at his neck.
And smile. And eyes. And the great lines he's got now.
But due to my not being good at eye contact, pretty much mostly his neck... yeah, I know, strange...
but I was trying to avoid looking lower. I like all the parts of him, but many are not for staring at in public.
Also I like the way he sits. Or stands. Or moves around.
I'm... being a bit too obsessive here... moving on...
But, Peter Wingfield! Yaaays!
So, after, brief room break. Then back down to the bar a bit before 1800.
It was supposed to be the 'wake for absent friends', but there were few people and no formality. I thought some few sad thoughts, but my thought at this remove is, if fan people get to heaven, its pretty much going to be one great big convention anyway. So hanging out in the bar at one is the closest we'll get to them in this life anyways. *solemn nods*
Then people I knew started arriving, and much talking began.
And when I say much talking, I mean I talked more in this one weekend than I do in *months* of RL. Even counting college, I don't really do talking, as a general rule. I do typing. Typing is easier. But talking in person? Not so very much doings.
Plus I used to have a stuttering thing made it not so easy.
Pause and look at the past tense on that.
I talked, for the whole weekend, to a vast assortment of people, and I did not once stutter. Not even once.
*dance of joy! Happy dance! Dance of finally not being stuck without words!*
This is a very big happy.
So often, even at cons, I don't get the hang of talking until I been there a few days already (so technically-monday-morning sees me getting talkative, by which time most folks are gone already). And in college when I started I would often get stuck trying to make questions. But last year at college there was barely any problem, and this year so far none, and this convention? No stuttering at all.
Not silent! Talking! Wheeeeeee! Yaaaays!
That's a very cool thing.
And then there were many people, being mostly MTAS, or at least knowing Da Chief of MTAS, Andi.
Andi is very nice. Good for hiding behind, doesn't (noticeably) mind me being peculiar. Back at my first convention I shared a 4 person room and ended up in the middle of the MTAS parties, which turned out to be fun and make me think this convention thing was definitely worth the bother.
So, evening of talking to MTAS people, very fun.
Talked variously of conventions past, fandoms past and present, TV shows and Highlander episodes. Talked to many different people.
There was a big sofa bench with a table, and another little table, and about half the bar worth of chairs, and people sort of pulled out and added another chair whenever someone turned up. And we seemed to be the only ones in the bar. Don't know why. But it was fun. With much talking.
I sat on the floor in the middle at one point, and was reminded by peoples reactions that such action is considered strange, even if the chairs are uncomfy. I still don't get that. Seems an odd thing to have a rule about. So mostly I ignore/forget it again all the time. *shrugs*
Talked until times I consider reasonable for sleeping, but I hear the others went off to a pub around then. That would have been going out again, which I anticipated having far too much of this weekend anyway, so I did not. Hope they had fun though.
That was good conversation :-)
Saturday.
Challenging.
The convention starts at 0900, at the Leeds Royal Armoury.
We are all at the Queens Hotel, which is... distance. Away. Some minutes in a car, anyways.
As it turns out, rather more minutes than the con people thought it would be.
So, the first bus is at 0715.
Pause and marvel at that a while. Seven. Fifteen. In the morning. At a *convention*.
*shudders*
even more fun, the hotel only started serving breakfast at 0700.
which turned out to be less of a problem for me, on account of I couldn't eat it. Too bloody nauseous to eat. All. Weekend.
ANYways, to get to breakfast at 0700, there was official getting up in our room at 0630.
but there was unoffical becca's brain is very unhelpful getting up at 0500, because sleep and me do not always get along.
*headdesk*
So, anyways, I got up in plenty of time for the bus. Caught the first one there. It dropped off in sight of the big doors and went off for the next lot. We wander up to the doors. Which don't move.
It is cold, and early, and this is unhelpful.
So I tried one of the little doors, and thankfully that worked fine.
We get inside and wander along and find the door to the place the event will be. We've got an hour before they'll even think about letting anyone in, and even then, first the preferred seating. So we are left to our own devices for quite some time.
There were raffle tickets (bought them, didn't win anything), and probably fanclub tables though I didn't go in to see, and the reg desk for them as hadn't got in the day before.
I'm sure it was just as organised as early Saturdays tend to be, but it didn't feel that way. I guess with the added travel and the fact there is no going back to your room for a sit down or anything it just felt kind of wonky. I didn't like it. There was Outsides, and large rooms of much glass, and heights. The heights were optional, but I should have remembered not to exercise the option. Trouble with heights is I'm fine with them for about the first five seconds. Which is long enough to wander up to the railing and regret it. :eyeroll:
ANYways, I sat in the q, and eventually there was going in.
I was in the 6th row right on the right side. Nice seat. But this con was so small there was no such thing as a bad seat. Which is why I didn't fork out for preferred seating.
So then David Abramowitz starts going around with the camera doing little interviews with fans. Name, origin, job, favourite, least favourite episodes. And there was me conveniently sat on the end.
Yup, I talked to a camera.
With words! Out loud! Wah!
So, I'm not entirely sure what I said. At that time of the morning, what I was mostly thinking was 'don't throw up, don't throw up, don't...'
But on that day for my favourite episode I picked The Messenger, the one with the other Methos. Because it has moral issues, and Richie and Methos, and them interacting.
So DA asks something like 'were you sad when Richie died'
I get this grin on, and say “Richie never died. Still got the t-shirt.” And do a Superman with my coat, to reveal my stylish 'Richie's swimming in the River Denial' wear. Camera zooms in on chest.
(Note to self – next time, design t-shirts with a scoop neck. I look much less impressive otherwise.)
But least favourite, if it happened, the one where Richie died.
Several times over the weekend, people on the stage up and said Richie was dead. But I was there representing for the truth.
*waves a flag happily*
Actually, I'd kind of forgot that people didn't like Clan Denial. Heard some snark this weekend, but none of it directed at me particularly, so sod it. By now I'm not militant, I'm just saying which parts I liked. (I have a whole theory on Denial as a fan phenomenon, with quotes from Cultural Studies writers. Basically, fans always take the parts that are useful and valuable to them. Those parts are the why of a thing getting popular. So, if those parts are missing, of course fans stop taking any more of that cultural product. In other words, if a text loses the part that was interesting to me, it loses me. And this is all the t-shirt really means by now.)
Oh, snark, reminds me – PWFC meeting. Peter said he'd try and answer our questions about the film, so of course first thing asked was if Methos is alive at the end of The Source. And his answer was he couldn't answer that. As in, literally couldn't. They might not have filmed the end of the film yet. And if they have, even, its still ambiguous.
Reaction from the room was if Methos does die, we're just going to deny it ever happened.
Be a new Clan Denial!
Becca thinks yep, we already got Richie's red shirts and Connor's Kilt Denial. Happy to have another branch. Maybe they be in blue.
But someone else says loud there'll never be another Clan Denial.
Hmmmm. Think so? Methinks, if its their guy? They deny. Even loudly.
/flashback
Saturday events:
Opening ceremony
people arrived, being on stage, saying hi. I think. My brain blurs and I recall little.
had a little welcome vid.
Oh, yeah, that had to be everyone on stage – because I'm pretty sure that was the one where the guys were silly.
Actors on stage
Adrian Paul, Peter Wingfield, Richard Ridings and Marcus Testory. Video starts. So they all turn around to watch the big screen. And I also watch, until laughter from audience there is that has nothing to do with screen, so down at the actors I look. There lies RR, stretched out on the stage, with MT snuggled up to him, RR patting him I think. As I watch, MT pulls down the nearby tablecloth and makes a blanket of it.
*facepalm* and LOL in equal measure
:-)
So, onwards, to the first talk.
Bill Panzer turned out to be there, with some industry promo vids. One for '20 years of Highlander' and one for 'The Source'.
The difference between that and advertising is that a lot of what we saw was very rough and very unfinished. Its meant to give people who make movies an idea of what is being worked on, and there are lots of unfinished aspects.
That said... From what I saw of 'The Source', I'm sort of looking at every bit of news through my fingers. Like, peeking at it. Because... well, there are differences. Pretty big differences, actually.
First thing shown was a big montage – 20 years of Highlander.
It had a lot of numbers on it, like total sales and yearly sales and merchandise sales. And I have to say, they are very impressive numbers.
The point of the video is to show that Highlander is a franchise with legs. Its been going for 20 years, and it is still going. And really, that is indeed impressive.
Actually, the existence of British conventions at all is pretty impressive, considering how much of the show wasn't shown over here where anyone could get it. That was discussed on stage a bit in other talks, the channels that showed Highlander, and how Sky dropped it right before Sky got to be a big deal. Was a bit of a saga.
BP talked about how, for him, its actually been closer to 24 years. He first found the script that became Highlander in 1982. Then in 1986 the film, and later the other films, and much stuff.
Montage went from first film through series up to Endgame, including clips I didn't recognise, but all managing to look very cool. Had the fire walk from Highlander 2 in it, so all films represented.
So, the point of this film is to show industry that Highlander is still here, and indeed is coming back.
And we got our first look at The Source.
... I... am worried. But, I haven't written it off entirely yet. There was much that looked cool, and many things said over the weekend that sounded solid. And the thing is still up in the air, so they can reshape it in many ways.
But, the idea of The Source is to introduce Highlander to a new generation. The current crop of prime movie viewing public, principally young males, mostly weren't *born* when the first film came out. And the expectations for the action/adventure genre have changed in that time. Specifically, they expect FX, and they expect Matrix style camera and fights.
Around here, I get worried.
Two main elements from the promo that bugged quite a lot of people, those being two characters that could be better described as creatures. Heavy makeup, FX makeup. One questioner from the audience described the resulting look as 'sub-Buffy', and by the way they sneered Buffy I do not believe they were meaning simply second best.
That question was from later though. Hopefully I'll remember it when I get there. (not magic, mythic.)
Secondary elements that bugged me... one of the main characters looked like a prat, with bleached out hair and a priests robe that seemed to have more to do with the Matrix than was actually healthy. Though the character is, in fact, a priest, so *shrugs*.
And, one of the characters is called Reggie.
Now that actually had to be clarified, because the sound was crap (the actors mentioned other times they were expecting to go back in and redo all the voices later). What it sounded like was Richie.
Someone from the balcony asked after that, did they say Richie?
Answer, No, Richie is dead. This is Reggie.
*Obviously* an entirely different thing. Totally obvious.
:eyeroll:
is it really so hard to pick a name more than one syllable different than one of your series regulars?
Or are they overlapping on purpose, to get some associative mileage out of Richie without actually bringing the character back?
So, it bugged me. Seems like a stupid thing to do.
There's also the love interest girl, who we found out more about later. (Apparently she's not the usual kind of Highlander girl. And also, mortal.)
And Joe.
And Methos.
:-)
Joe charges in to save Duncan, splat the bad guy with a car. Very cool :-)
But there was a scene that a lot of people in the audience worried was Joe's death scene. Which would be entirely UNcool.
There was another bit with a guy hanging from a crane. I mention this because later, when PW was on stage, someone cleverly phrased a question to try and fish from him if that was Methos. Without saying what we'd seen, they asked if he'd ever done a stunt hanging from a crane. But, from assorted comments, I suspect the actors were up on the balcony watching along with the rest of us anyway, so PW knew exactly what that was about. And also, no, that wasn't him. If we watch carefully you can see the guy on the crane in the background when Methos is walking along afterwards.
So the schedule says that first bit was “Highlander: The Source: From script to screen”
The thing about this weekend was, it was all about one of two things – the Horsemen, or the Source. So the answers from different days kind of blur together. Which makes it difficult to put them in their right places here.
David Abramowitz was brought in by Adrian Paul to rewrite a script that had already been rewritten rather a lot and turn it into what was filmed as The Source. So he was answers guy. But, some of those answers aren't actually spoilers, because, unfinished.
So, on the Saturday morning DA is telling us a bit that he reckons he probably shouldn't tell us, but he likes the lines so tell us he will. About Methos and Duncan talking about faith, and the comparison to the priest character. Methos tells Duncan he is the only one there with faith. Duncan says what about the priest? Methos says his faith is based on vanity, but Duncan's is based on hope.
The Source is set somewhere post-apocalyptic. Something very bad has happened – he wouldn't specify what, but he had this little speech about how if the flu gets out of hand or something then civilization would fall apart fast. So the film is set in the near future, like 10 years off, but everything has gone horribly wrong.
Also, Duncan's love of his life (which one?) has gone missing, presumed dead. So Duncan is all depressed again, and darker than we've seen him for a long while.
There were kissing bits in the promo, so obviously he finds someone else in the movie.
So, there's some thing where Methos is looking for the Source, and Duncan meets up with him. Or something. Like I said, crappy sound.
They meet some guy that was one of the two makeup monsters. DA says what that guy is about... I think he called him the Prior??? Some kind of religious title? He definitely said, what that is about, is theres this idea where you can choose to be a blessing or you can choose to be a curse, and this guy chose to be a curse. So, why he looks that way.
Actually I'll put it here – the question was from Sunday, but someone asked, said it looked like the film was going magical.
DA says its not magical, its mythic. Finds that an important distinction. Mythic structure.
Reckons that the core things about Highlander include the philosophy, the morality, the fact that it asks questions. The film will ask questions.
There will also be action and romance and sword fights.
The fights were the most promising and the most worrying bits at once. As I mentioned, they said 'Matrix' a bunch. And some of the fights were... well, like the monster went Agent on them, going real fast. And that, to me, would be a bad thing.
tangent on What I Love About Highlander – the thing of it is, these guys are just guys. Just regular people. And, yeah, they live a long time. So they've had time to practice. That, the time, to me, is the only important difference between what they can do and what everyone can do (if you ignore the not-dying). That was the difference between Mac and Richie, that Rich was just getting started and Mac had been around. Flashback Mac far enough and you get someone rather less competent than our Richie. And Methos? Old as history, still just a guy.
You bring in things that can do stuff that no one, absolutely no one, in this world can do... you lose me.
This is why I'm looking through my fingers.
On that point alone, I'm not sure I'll count this film as a Highlander film.
BUT, there were a lot of promising things said too, a lot of interesting aspects. And some of the fight choreography we saw was just classic stuff. So, I do have hopes for this movie. It could well turn out to be a good story.
I just... have much more trepidation. Because look what happened every other time...
/tangent
What else was asked of David Abramowitz...
He explained what 'talmudic discussion' is, like from the quote, 'Highlander is talmudic discussion with ass kicking'
its trying to keep the word relevant to the world. Trying to apply the laws to the situations. Questions are raised and then talked about. Like with Highlander, the questions would be like 'how long do you keep a promise'.
There was much interesting there. I recall little of it well enough to type.
There was also about the origin of the Watchers. I may remember this wrong, but I think he said 'Levites'. I know he said 'scribes'. There was a class of scribes who had the job of writing it all down, keeping an accurate record. They had power because they were in between the boss people and the regular people, I think he said. So the Watchers, writing it all down.
Actually, that bit was probably from way later in the program. There was a panel on Watchers.
All the panels had topics. It wasn't like 'Here, have an actor for an hour!', it was always 'have two guests and a topic'. Except for that little bit when DA was on his own, which had topic still.
The whole weekend was so on topic it was strange. And the questions that weren't asked, that wouldn't even have been appropriate... Like, boxers or briefs? Classic con question, but not for this con. And the one about the caramel or whipped cream would have been right out. It was all... focused. I was told it was all grown up. Which apparently is different from adult. Which is what the whipped cream question usually is.
Very odd.
;-)
seriously though, the con culture at different events is different, and the differences here were notable. On topic Q&As.
The topic for DA was supposed to go from The Source to The Horsemen episodes, but recall much of the latter I do not...
Someone asked if Kronos was meant to have much to do with the greek god. DA replied he'd love to claim that was on purpose, but no, they just needed a K name.
I think also he was asked about Ahriman. As in, what up with that? And his reply was fairly apologetic.
Ahriman was meant to be about... um, I think he said a tribe of people who did bad things to the bible people and got cursed, and the curse went down the generations. Ahriman was the embodiment of evil for a particular religion. So it was meant to be about evil that stays the same and gets passed through the generation. That was the idea behind it. How it turned out... was different.
Also, he said, it was the end of season 5 and he'd pretty much run out of ideas.
*headdesk*
I mean I always figured, but... argh!
Mentioned episodes that didn't quite work. Some of the comedy ones. Specifically Ransom of Richard Redstone. Which, I want to leap up and defend, but I concurrently have to admit was kind of... lame. But hence the funny! So. Anyways.
Any more any more... nope, I forget, not so much more.
Next on the timetable, Adrian Paul and David Abramowitz, Directing Four Men on Horses.
I remember a bit that I guess happened here – everyone was trying to ask about the Source, but DA didn't know how much he could answer. Its still a big secret, so what can he say? So he looks over at AP. And AP looks back at him for a big. And then kind of jumps and goes “Oh! I'm the Exec!”
Like, AP forgot he was the boss.
:-)
Thats one of the little moments that added up to me deciding I like AP. From the answers this weekend, his and others, it looks like he tries to be the boss *in order to tell a better story*. He isn't trying to be big, he's trying to get something done.
DA said that often Executive Producer is just a title on a movie, something to hand out as a bonus. But Adrian Paul is why The Source even got made. He did the work – he did lots of extra work. He got people together. He was the one who got DA in on the script, and I have to say personally if he wasn't involved I'd have very small hope for the film indeed. But AP got DA in to rewrite, and he did fight choreography, and apparently he ran around with a camera getting extra shots, and basically he totally put the work in. Which is classy, no matter what film we get out.
Also he took DA's side in arguings with the Director. DA was saying “Duncan MacLeod wouldn't do that!” and the other guy was all “How do you know?” (and, hello, wrote him for how long?) And AP came up and he just said. “Duncan MacLeod. Wouldn't. Do that.” Just flat statement.
DA said that was great, a great moment.
I said in a previous post, I hadn't paid so very much attention to AP before. I'm not primarily a Duncan fan, and looking at AP doesn't give me the happy that PW's mere existence does. So I hadn't particularly noticed him. But from this weekend, have to say, reckon I like him.
AP got asked much.
Someone asked why he distanced himself from Highlander, and why he was back now.
That was when he expressed his opinions about Endgame, as politely as possible. The words 'didn't work' were included. Endgame, when he finished with the filming bit, he still thought it could be a good film. But it didn't work. I think it was a different panel he mentioned that flashbacks were one why – flashbacks have to feed the present day story, have to be part of the forward momentum of the story, or it doesn't work. Yeah, he said that when they watched the bad hair clip later. I'll leave it here for topic.
Endgame was a 'too many cooks' problem. Now he is back, making The Source, and he is Executive Producer. Which means now he has the stirrer. (His metaphor.)
Actually, when talking about several of his previous projects, there was didn't work. But there was also how. Seemed to me he'd been learning stuff from all of it.
Talking about... Duncan and love. Saying that Duncan falls in love a lot, like completely, but not easy. DA said Duncan isn't easy.
Someone from the audience pings back “Yes he is.”
*looks over at Fides*
Someone had great timing this weekend.
There was question from the audience included someone saying Duncan has pretty loose morals.
And here was when AP impressed me even more, because he came back with exactly the thing I always say (yes, agreeing with me is wisdom! Obviously!)(I so want to rephrase that there but it says what I mean even if I look silly).
AP said basically,
Different times, different morals.
He had a nice little well reasoned speech about it. Coolness!
He said Duncan reckons as long as everyone has fun, its all good.
I think it was a different panel, but topic connects in my head – someone asked about the Dark Quickening, was it rape? AP says Duncan never thought it was rape. Seduction by not giving all the information. But not rape. Also, in the morning, she says “We shouldn't”, not “You shouldn't”. AP says when he says 'we' he means he has some complicity in what happened. So that line, thats why. Duncan doesn't reckon it was rape.
What else what else...
er the actual on topic stuff. The directing the Horsemen bit.
{break for delivery turned into break for... most of the day. To do Tuesday things, which are many.}
{and now I'm back a week later to type up more. Sunday actually, so this is about what happened a week ago.}
Directing Four Men On Horses / Taking Direction
I actually don't remember much of this bit.
PW talked about taking direction from AP. Said AP did a really useful thing where he'd say “We got that, now lets try something else.” (or words to that effect). He would tell the actors when they had the footage necessary to stick the episode together, then they'd have the freedom to concentrate more on the acting. So much of acting for TV is so technical, getting the marks and the angles and the right footage and all, that its harder to concentrate on just letting go and doing acting. AP gives more room for that.
Also AP got the actors together and they talked through all the motives and such, the actor-y bits of storytelling, so everyone knew where they were coming from before they started filming.
Everyone reckoned AP was a good actor's director. AP reckoned he needs the other staff more for the more technical aspects, like lighting and cameras and that. Someone asked him what you can learn about directing from school, and he said the technical side, and went off and listed much technical stuff. I got the impression it was all stuff he'd found he needed to know when he started directing.
I think this was also when they said that actually the thing about faith that DA was saying before? They hadn't filmed it.
And this was funny, for later when all 3 were on stage someone tried to fish that admission from them again.
I think also here it was said that actually, taken as a whole, the films and series and all Highlander together came in under budget.
AP reckoned he could have spent the extra.
Actually iirc he reckoned part of why Ransom of Richie Redstone didn't work is that he'd gone over budget on the Horsemen eps, so there was no money for it.
Getting the band back together – the Horsemen
This was the group Q&A, three horsemen and It. AP was being It for the day. Because VP wasn't there.
But VP recorded a video interview in Australia and we saw that, and then he phoned in. He actually called when he got off stage in Australia, and talked to everyone on the phone. It was very cool.
He said about being in AP's bedroom, how he'd never forget it and it was good... That was where they talked character, of course. Yup. All entirely work related...
I'm sure this was a good Q&A, but from this remove I don't remember half as much detail as I'd like. *sulk* Shall have to look up other people's write ups.
continued in next post
con report
as usual, muchly a me report, with some famous people.
Also, since half the weekend was full of promos and discussion of what is happening next, there will be potential spoilers mixed in liberally. But due to the unfinished nature of all the projects, even them as filmed it don't know if potential is actual here, since things aren't settled yet. Or, in some cases, even begun.
report is from memory, all errors my bad
Setting out on Friday was... anti-fun. Mum reckons I skipped the usual pre-convention build up and just had two weeks worth of anxiety right then. That was uncomfortable.
But, set out I did. Got a taxi, got my tickets, got the nice train staff people to help me with the finding the right train thing. I've previously got myself in a huge great muddle over changing trains. As in, three hours on a platform eventually reduced to a brainless wreck. So this time out I decided to just travel as a disabled person and get the staff to do the thinking parts. It worked pretty good and they were all nice about it. As the guy at Leeds said, that is what they're there for. I always feel a bit odd getting stuff on account of being disabled. I mean theres so many things I can do, I feel daft when I bump into the things I can't. But if it was someone else, I wouldn't put up with that attitude from anyone, so I shouldn't do it at myself. So, asked for help, got help. Changed trains in the middle.
I saw many neat things out the windows on the way there. Lots of buildings and landscape and alive things. I quite like travelling, apart from the part where I feel too sick to eat just at the thought of doing it.
Maybe I could send someone with a video camera and do travelling from home off the tapes...
ANYways, got to Leeds in one piece, got to the hotel, checked in.
Slight teensy tiny eensy little problem with the room. I'm sharing, with someone I hadn't met before ( *waves to
snowdrop3100), and the room was meant to be a twin, but I got there and it was a double. Flapping followed. Mainest problem was finding said other person to get the room changed. Turns out when they'd got there the hotel reckoned the room had been cancelled. Turns out when I phoned on Tuesday to make sure it was all still there, they cancelled it.*headdesk*
They also hadn't cancelled the room I had actually cancelled. Easy mistake to make, yet very unhelpful. {note to self, check credit card to make sure what charges went on it}
So, all that sorted, had a nice twin room.
Snowdrop was nice people. Much saner than I am.
(Which reminds me – insert here the usual 'apologies for the general strangeness of me'. I don't do it to wind people up, and yet...)
Was also the first person I gave a t-shirt to, and she wore it that evening for the meet n greet.
Before that, picking up the convention pack. Nice bag full of bits of paper. Con booklet, included photo (official Highlander photos, most of which I had already, so I got one of Methos from The Messenger with his sword out). Dinner ticket. It said 'default menu' on mine. Actually, I couldn't eat anything from what I could figure out of the menu, but no worries, I figured someone would. Was also a concert ticket. And there was the con badge, which I straight away moved into a non pin holder. I, er, worry. And its a nice clip on holder I've had since... actually I can't remember, but a whole bunch of conventions ago. Is very handy.
Tried to walk up the stairs to my room after that. 4th floor. Very tall floors.
This is why when roomie first walked in I was lying on the floor in the corner...
(really must remember to get fit. Or take into account that I'm not.)
Meet and greet was down for 1530ish, so quick change into con shirt (Clan Denial for me, Richie Swimming in the River Denial given to Snowdrop) and down to the bar.
Con organiser does the hello and welcome, and then introduces the camera crew
who will be filming
the whole weekend
for a DVD release.
In the con packet there was also a form for picking 2 best and 1 worst episode ever. From these they're going to put together a DVD. With bits of film from the con as extras.
They'd also be going round interviewing people all weekend.
So, camera went around looking at fanpeople, including getting a good shot of the red shirts.
I'd like meet-n-greets more if I was better at meeting or greeting. As it was I spent most of the time trying to pick best episodes. I mean this week I'm all yaay about CaH and Rev6:8, because they are classic and brilliant, but they lack that crucial Richie factor. I'm not even sure what I picked in the end. Something different than I would today.
1630, PWFC meeting. Preceeded by PWFC queuing in the corridor. Where I gave away 2 more shirts. Unfortunately I lack names of who to, but they seemed to liking them. I think one person said they'd wear theirs in the gym and Stan would get a kick out of it. Lack context, might recall wrong.
Peter Wingfield arrived :-) :-) :-)
The weekend had a whole bunch of guests, but the only one I'm actively fannish about is PW. And when I say actively, I kind of mean lazily. I mean I sort of know what he's doing these days, but I keep on forgetting to rejoin the fanclub, and not really fussing when it runs out. BUT, if he's at an event anywhere in the country, I will be there. Happily. With much anticipation, and a big grin.
Whenever he so much as crosses my line of sight I get a happy little buzz. Peter Wingfield! Yaays!
So, fangirl, yes.
He said stuff. I'm sure it was interesting. Mostly I remember what he looked like. Started in a long coat, red scarf, white round neck t-shirt. Very white, contrast with tanned skin. Most, sat in the front row about six feet away from him, I was pretty much thinking 'skin... yum...'
*happy reverie*
or as I used to say a lot
*sighthunkdrool*
Actual content of meet...
We got badges. “The brains behind the horsemen” I think. Definitely 'Brains', for that becomes funnier later. (There was a songvid. To 'Pinky and the Brain'. Is brilliant :-) )
PW talked about work he's done recently, most of which I can't remember names for since I didn't see it. I love it when he's in a show I follow, I don't tend to hunt down shows when he's elsewhere. I do remember whatever it was there were quite a lot of FX in it, and he talked about how ... was it “The Collector”?... anyways, how he filmed a lot of stuff that was going to look different later, or people got put into it later so they were talking to nobody, or there was blue screen. Actually the most he said was about how one part, he had to stand there with his arms out and scream. He grins. He knows how to do that. (Quickenings as useful acting experience... the mind boggles.) They did something fiddly with camera moves and turning him around on a little turntable. And then he had to go in and do the voice bit again later.
Trying to lip synch the screaming.
*facepalm*
acting, so glamorous!
I think he said one time he took his kid in to work with him, one of these weird days. But to a 5 year old, world is pretty much all weird.
Tangent - Is so strange hearing about his kid whenever there is more meeting him. Because I heard when baby was new, and now these mini snippets from other times, and its just.. cool, because new person and they're growing up, but also odd, because mostly I know that many stories about babies I'm related to. Well, slightly more. But, theres a connection with this kid I've no connection with. In my head this is strange.
Cool though.
/tangent.
He did some voice tests for an animated project, but didn't think he'd be voicing anything in the finished version. We heard more about this later I think.
There was talking back from the audience too. PW has worked for the BBC lately, on Dalziel and Pascoe (sp?)(I think). And he said he'd be happy to do more. So someone said he should be on Torchwood.
*Much* agreeing from the room, including the me part of it. That would be outstanding cool.
So PW says he'll pass that on to his agent.
But then he starts talking about Doctor Who, and as it turns out he hasn't seen the new series yet. So he doesn't know what Torchwood is. Or that basically, when we say 'be on Torchwood!' many of us probably mean 'date Captain Jack!'
wonder if anyone told him...
... pretty sure he wouldn't be surprised.
There was mention of PWFC events of the future, ones not in the UK and entirely beyond my means, so retain the details have I not.
Don't recall if that was all the topics or if I was just busy staring at his neck.
And smile. And eyes. And the great lines he's got now.
But due to my not being good at eye contact, pretty much mostly his neck... yeah, I know, strange...
but I was trying to avoid looking lower. I like all the parts of him, but many are not for staring at in public.
Also I like the way he sits. Or stands. Or moves around.
I'm... being a bit too obsessive here... moving on...
But, Peter Wingfield! Yaaays!
So, after, brief room break. Then back down to the bar a bit before 1800.
It was supposed to be the 'wake for absent friends', but there were few people and no formality. I thought some few sad thoughts, but my thought at this remove is, if fan people get to heaven, its pretty much going to be one great big convention anyway. So hanging out in the bar at one is the closest we'll get to them in this life anyways. *solemn nods*
Then people I knew started arriving, and much talking began.
And when I say much talking, I mean I talked more in this one weekend than I do in *months* of RL. Even counting college, I don't really do talking, as a general rule. I do typing. Typing is easier. But talking in person? Not so very much doings.
Plus I used to have a stuttering thing made it not so easy.
Pause and look at the past tense on that.
I talked, for the whole weekend, to a vast assortment of people, and I did not once stutter. Not even once.
*dance of joy! Happy dance! Dance of finally not being stuck without words!*
This is a very big happy.
So often, even at cons, I don't get the hang of talking until I been there a few days already (so technically-monday-morning sees me getting talkative, by which time most folks are gone already). And in college when I started I would often get stuck trying to make questions. But last year at college there was barely any problem, and this year so far none, and this convention? No stuttering at all.
Not silent! Talking! Wheeeeeee! Yaaaays!
That's a very cool thing.
And then there were many people, being mostly MTAS, or at least knowing Da Chief of MTAS, Andi.
Andi is very nice. Good for hiding behind, doesn't (noticeably) mind me being peculiar. Back at my first convention I shared a 4 person room and ended up in the middle of the MTAS parties, which turned out to be fun and make me think this convention thing was definitely worth the bother.
So, evening of talking to MTAS people, very fun.
Talked variously of conventions past, fandoms past and present, TV shows and Highlander episodes. Talked to many different people.
There was a big sofa bench with a table, and another little table, and about half the bar worth of chairs, and people sort of pulled out and added another chair whenever someone turned up. And we seemed to be the only ones in the bar. Don't know why. But it was fun. With much talking.
I sat on the floor in the middle at one point, and was reminded by peoples reactions that such action is considered strange, even if the chairs are uncomfy. I still don't get that. Seems an odd thing to have a rule about. So mostly I ignore/forget it again all the time. *shrugs*
Talked until times I consider reasonable for sleeping, but I hear the others went off to a pub around then. That would have been going out again, which I anticipated having far too much of this weekend anyway, so I did not. Hope they had fun though.
That was good conversation :-)
Saturday.
Challenging.
The convention starts at 0900, at the Leeds Royal Armoury.
We are all at the Queens Hotel, which is... distance. Away. Some minutes in a car, anyways.
As it turns out, rather more minutes than the con people thought it would be.
So, the first bus is at 0715.
Pause and marvel at that a while. Seven. Fifteen. In the morning. At a *convention*.
*shudders*
even more fun, the hotel only started serving breakfast at 0700.
which turned out to be less of a problem for me, on account of I couldn't eat it. Too bloody nauseous to eat. All. Weekend.
ANYways, to get to breakfast at 0700, there was official getting up in our room at 0630.
but there was unoffical becca's brain is very unhelpful getting up at 0500, because sleep and me do not always get along.
*headdesk*
So, anyways, I got up in plenty of time for the bus. Caught the first one there. It dropped off in sight of the big doors and went off for the next lot. We wander up to the doors. Which don't move.
It is cold, and early, and this is unhelpful.
So I tried one of the little doors, and thankfully that worked fine.
We get inside and wander along and find the door to the place the event will be. We've got an hour before they'll even think about letting anyone in, and even then, first the preferred seating. So we are left to our own devices for quite some time.
There were raffle tickets (bought them, didn't win anything), and probably fanclub tables though I didn't go in to see, and the reg desk for them as hadn't got in the day before.
I'm sure it was just as organised as early Saturdays tend to be, but it didn't feel that way. I guess with the added travel and the fact there is no going back to your room for a sit down or anything it just felt kind of wonky. I didn't like it. There was Outsides, and large rooms of much glass, and heights. The heights were optional, but I should have remembered not to exercise the option. Trouble with heights is I'm fine with them for about the first five seconds. Which is long enough to wander up to the railing and regret it. :eyeroll:
ANYways, I sat in the q, and eventually there was going in.
I was in the 6th row right on the right side. Nice seat. But this con was so small there was no such thing as a bad seat. Which is why I didn't fork out for preferred seating.
So then David Abramowitz starts going around with the camera doing little interviews with fans. Name, origin, job, favourite, least favourite episodes. And there was me conveniently sat on the end.
Yup, I talked to a camera.
With words! Out loud! Wah!
So, I'm not entirely sure what I said. At that time of the morning, what I was mostly thinking was 'don't throw up, don't throw up, don't...'
But on that day for my favourite episode I picked The Messenger, the one with the other Methos. Because it has moral issues, and Richie and Methos, and them interacting.
So DA asks something like 'were you sad when Richie died'
I get this grin on, and say “Richie never died. Still got the t-shirt.” And do a Superman with my coat, to reveal my stylish 'Richie's swimming in the River Denial' wear. Camera zooms in on chest.
(Note to self – next time, design t-shirts with a scoop neck. I look much less impressive otherwise.)
But least favourite, if it happened, the one where Richie died.
Several times over the weekend, people on the stage up and said Richie was dead. But I was there representing for the truth.
*waves a flag happily*
Actually, I'd kind of forgot that people didn't like Clan Denial. Heard some snark this weekend, but none of it directed at me particularly, so sod it. By now I'm not militant, I'm just saying which parts I liked. (I have a whole theory on Denial as a fan phenomenon, with quotes from Cultural Studies writers. Basically, fans always take the parts that are useful and valuable to them. Those parts are the why of a thing getting popular. So, if those parts are missing, of course fans stop taking any more of that cultural product. In other words, if a text loses the part that was interesting to me, it loses me. And this is all the t-shirt really means by now.)
Oh, snark, reminds me – PWFC meeting. Peter said he'd try and answer our questions about the film, so of course first thing asked was if Methos is alive at the end of The Source. And his answer was he couldn't answer that. As in, literally couldn't. They might not have filmed the end of the film yet. And if they have, even, its still ambiguous.
Reaction from the room was if Methos does die, we're just going to deny it ever happened.
Be a new Clan Denial!
Becca thinks yep, we already got Richie's red shirts and Connor's Kilt Denial. Happy to have another branch. Maybe they be in blue.
But someone else says loud there'll never be another Clan Denial.
Hmmmm. Think so? Methinks, if its their guy? They deny. Even loudly.
/flashback
Saturday events:
Opening ceremony
people arrived, being on stage, saying hi. I think. My brain blurs and I recall little.
had a little welcome vid.
Oh, yeah, that had to be everyone on stage – because I'm pretty sure that was the one where the guys were silly.
Actors on stage
Adrian Paul, Peter Wingfield, Richard Ridings and Marcus Testory. Video starts. So they all turn around to watch the big screen. And I also watch, until laughter from audience there is that has nothing to do with screen, so down at the actors I look. There lies RR, stretched out on the stage, with MT snuggled up to him, RR patting him I think. As I watch, MT pulls down the nearby tablecloth and makes a blanket of it.
*facepalm* and LOL in equal measure
:-)
So, onwards, to the first talk.
Bill Panzer turned out to be there, with some industry promo vids. One for '20 years of Highlander' and one for 'The Source'.
The difference between that and advertising is that a lot of what we saw was very rough and very unfinished. Its meant to give people who make movies an idea of what is being worked on, and there are lots of unfinished aspects.
That said... From what I saw of 'The Source', I'm sort of looking at every bit of news through my fingers. Like, peeking at it. Because... well, there are differences. Pretty big differences, actually.
First thing shown was a big montage – 20 years of Highlander.
It had a lot of numbers on it, like total sales and yearly sales and merchandise sales. And I have to say, they are very impressive numbers.
The point of the video is to show that Highlander is a franchise with legs. Its been going for 20 years, and it is still going. And really, that is indeed impressive.
Actually, the existence of British conventions at all is pretty impressive, considering how much of the show wasn't shown over here where anyone could get it. That was discussed on stage a bit in other talks, the channels that showed Highlander, and how Sky dropped it right before Sky got to be a big deal. Was a bit of a saga.
BP talked about how, for him, its actually been closer to 24 years. He first found the script that became Highlander in 1982. Then in 1986 the film, and later the other films, and much stuff.
Montage went from first film through series up to Endgame, including clips I didn't recognise, but all managing to look very cool. Had the fire walk from Highlander 2 in it, so all films represented.
So, the point of this film is to show industry that Highlander is still here, and indeed is coming back.
And we got our first look at The Source.
... I... am worried. But, I haven't written it off entirely yet. There was much that looked cool, and many things said over the weekend that sounded solid. And the thing is still up in the air, so they can reshape it in many ways.
But, the idea of The Source is to introduce Highlander to a new generation. The current crop of prime movie viewing public, principally young males, mostly weren't *born* when the first film came out. And the expectations for the action/adventure genre have changed in that time. Specifically, they expect FX, and they expect Matrix style camera and fights.
Around here, I get worried.
Two main elements from the promo that bugged quite a lot of people, those being two characters that could be better described as creatures. Heavy makeup, FX makeup. One questioner from the audience described the resulting look as 'sub-Buffy', and by the way they sneered Buffy I do not believe they were meaning simply second best.
That question was from later though. Hopefully I'll remember it when I get there. (not magic, mythic.)
Secondary elements that bugged me... one of the main characters looked like a prat, with bleached out hair and a priests robe that seemed to have more to do with the Matrix than was actually healthy. Though the character is, in fact, a priest, so *shrugs*.
And, one of the characters is called Reggie.
Now that actually had to be clarified, because the sound was crap (the actors mentioned other times they were expecting to go back in and redo all the voices later). What it sounded like was Richie.
Someone from the balcony asked after that, did they say Richie?
Answer, No, Richie is dead. This is Reggie.
*Obviously* an entirely different thing. Totally obvious.
:eyeroll:
is it really so hard to pick a name more than one syllable different than one of your series regulars?
Or are they overlapping on purpose, to get some associative mileage out of Richie without actually bringing the character back?
So, it bugged me. Seems like a stupid thing to do.
There's also the love interest girl, who we found out more about later. (Apparently she's not the usual kind of Highlander girl. And also, mortal.)
And Joe.
And Methos.
:-)
Joe charges in to save Duncan, splat the bad guy with a car. Very cool :-)
But there was a scene that a lot of people in the audience worried was Joe's death scene. Which would be entirely UNcool.
There was another bit with a guy hanging from a crane. I mention this because later, when PW was on stage, someone cleverly phrased a question to try and fish from him if that was Methos. Without saying what we'd seen, they asked if he'd ever done a stunt hanging from a crane. But, from assorted comments, I suspect the actors were up on the balcony watching along with the rest of us anyway, so PW knew exactly what that was about. And also, no, that wasn't him. If we watch carefully you can see the guy on the crane in the background when Methos is walking along afterwards.
So the schedule says that first bit was “Highlander: The Source: From script to screen”
The thing about this weekend was, it was all about one of two things – the Horsemen, or the Source. So the answers from different days kind of blur together. Which makes it difficult to put them in their right places here.
David Abramowitz was brought in by Adrian Paul to rewrite a script that had already been rewritten rather a lot and turn it into what was filmed as The Source. So he was answers guy. But, some of those answers aren't actually spoilers, because, unfinished.
So, on the Saturday morning DA is telling us a bit that he reckons he probably shouldn't tell us, but he likes the lines so tell us he will. About Methos and Duncan talking about faith, and the comparison to the priest character. Methos tells Duncan he is the only one there with faith. Duncan says what about the priest? Methos says his faith is based on vanity, but Duncan's is based on hope.
The Source is set somewhere post-apocalyptic. Something very bad has happened – he wouldn't specify what, but he had this little speech about how if the flu gets out of hand or something then civilization would fall apart fast. So the film is set in the near future, like 10 years off, but everything has gone horribly wrong.
Also, Duncan's love of his life (which one?) has gone missing, presumed dead. So Duncan is all depressed again, and darker than we've seen him for a long while.
There were kissing bits in the promo, so obviously he finds someone else in the movie.
So, there's some thing where Methos is looking for the Source, and Duncan meets up with him. Or something. Like I said, crappy sound.
They meet some guy that was one of the two makeup monsters. DA says what that guy is about... I think he called him the Prior??? Some kind of religious title? He definitely said, what that is about, is theres this idea where you can choose to be a blessing or you can choose to be a curse, and this guy chose to be a curse. So, why he looks that way.
Actually I'll put it here – the question was from Sunday, but someone asked, said it looked like the film was going magical.
DA says its not magical, its mythic. Finds that an important distinction. Mythic structure.
Reckons that the core things about Highlander include the philosophy, the morality, the fact that it asks questions. The film will ask questions.
There will also be action and romance and sword fights.
The fights were the most promising and the most worrying bits at once. As I mentioned, they said 'Matrix' a bunch. And some of the fights were... well, like the monster went Agent on them, going real fast. And that, to me, would be a bad thing.
tangent on What I Love About Highlander – the thing of it is, these guys are just guys. Just regular people. And, yeah, they live a long time. So they've had time to practice. That, the time, to me, is the only important difference between what they can do and what everyone can do (if you ignore the not-dying). That was the difference between Mac and Richie, that Rich was just getting started and Mac had been around. Flashback Mac far enough and you get someone rather less competent than our Richie. And Methos? Old as history, still just a guy.
You bring in things that can do stuff that no one, absolutely no one, in this world can do... you lose me.
This is why I'm looking through my fingers.
On that point alone, I'm not sure I'll count this film as a Highlander film.
BUT, there were a lot of promising things said too, a lot of interesting aspects. And some of the fight choreography we saw was just classic stuff. So, I do have hopes for this movie. It could well turn out to be a good story.
I just... have much more trepidation. Because look what happened every other time...
/tangent
What else was asked of David Abramowitz...
He explained what 'talmudic discussion' is, like from the quote, 'Highlander is talmudic discussion with ass kicking'
its trying to keep the word relevant to the world. Trying to apply the laws to the situations. Questions are raised and then talked about. Like with Highlander, the questions would be like 'how long do you keep a promise'.
There was much interesting there. I recall little of it well enough to type.
There was also about the origin of the Watchers. I may remember this wrong, but I think he said 'Levites'. I know he said 'scribes'. There was a class of scribes who had the job of writing it all down, keeping an accurate record. They had power because they were in between the boss people and the regular people, I think he said. So the Watchers, writing it all down.
Actually, that bit was probably from way later in the program. There was a panel on Watchers.
All the panels had topics. It wasn't like 'Here, have an actor for an hour!', it was always 'have two guests and a topic'. Except for that little bit when DA was on his own, which had topic still.
The whole weekend was so on topic it was strange. And the questions that weren't asked, that wouldn't even have been appropriate... Like, boxers or briefs? Classic con question, but not for this con. And the one about the caramel or whipped cream would have been right out. It was all... focused. I was told it was all grown up. Which apparently is different from adult. Which is what the whipped cream question usually is.
Very odd.
;-)
seriously though, the con culture at different events is different, and the differences here were notable. On topic Q&As.
The topic for DA was supposed to go from The Source to The Horsemen episodes, but recall much of the latter I do not...
Someone asked if Kronos was meant to have much to do with the greek god. DA replied he'd love to claim that was on purpose, but no, they just needed a K name.
I think also he was asked about Ahriman. As in, what up with that? And his reply was fairly apologetic.
Ahriman was meant to be about... um, I think he said a tribe of people who did bad things to the bible people and got cursed, and the curse went down the generations. Ahriman was the embodiment of evil for a particular religion. So it was meant to be about evil that stays the same and gets passed through the generation. That was the idea behind it. How it turned out... was different.
Also, he said, it was the end of season 5 and he'd pretty much run out of ideas.
*headdesk*
I mean I always figured, but... argh!
Mentioned episodes that didn't quite work. Some of the comedy ones. Specifically Ransom of Richard Redstone. Which, I want to leap up and defend, but I concurrently have to admit was kind of... lame. But hence the funny! So. Anyways.
Any more any more... nope, I forget, not so much more.
Next on the timetable, Adrian Paul and David Abramowitz, Directing Four Men on Horses.
I remember a bit that I guess happened here – everyone was trying to ask about the Source, but DA didn't know how much he could answer. Its still a big secret, so what can he say? So he looks over at AP. And AP looks back at him for a big. And then kind of jumps and goes “Oh! I'm the Exec!”
Like, AP forgot he was the boss.
:-)
Thats one of the little moments that added up to me deciding I like AP. From the answers this weekend, his and others, it looks like he tries to be the boss *in order to tell a better story*. He isn't trying to be big, he's trying to get something done.
DA said that often Executive Producer is just a title on a movie, something to hand out as a bonus. But Adrian Paul is why The Source even got made. He did the work – he did lots of extra work. He got people together. He was the one who got DA in on the script, and I have to say personally if he wasn't involved I'd have very small hope for the film indeed. But AP got DA in to rewrite, and he did fight choreography, and apparently he ran around with a camera getting extra shots, and basically he totally put the work in. Which is classy, no matter what film we get out.
Also he took DA's side in arguings with the Director. DA was saying “Duncan MacLeod wouldn't do that!” and the other guy was all “How do you know?” (and, hello, wrote him for how long?) And AP came up and he just said. “Duncan MacLeod. Wouldn't. Do that.” Just flat statement.
DA said that was great, a great moment.
I said in a previous post, I hadn't paid so very much attention to AP before. I'm not primarily a Duncan fan, and looking at AP doesn't give me the happy that PW's mere existence does. So I hadn't particularly noticed him. But from this weekend, have to say, reckon I like him.
AP got asked much.
Someone asked why he distanced himself from Highlander, and why he was back now.
That was when he expressed his opinions about Endgame, as politely as possible. The words 'didn't work' were included. Endgame, when he finished with the filming bit, he still thought it could be a good film. But it didn't work. I think it was a different panel he mentioned that flashbacks were one why – flashbacks have to feed the present day story, have to be part of the forward momentum of the story, or it doesn't work. Yeah, he said that when they watched the bad hair clip later. I'll leave it here for topic.
Endgame was a 'too many cooks' problem. Now he is back, making The Source, and he is Executive Producer. Which means now he has the stirrer. (His metaphor.)
Actually, when talking about several of his previous projects, there was didn't work. But there was also how. Seemed to me he'd been learning stuff from all of it.
Talking about... Duncan and love. Saying that Duncan falls in love a lot, like completely, but not easy. DA said Duncan isn't easy.
Someone from the audience pings back “Yes he is.”
*looks over at Fides*
Someone had great timing this weekend.
There was question from the audience included someone saying Duncan has pretty loose morals.
And here was when AP impressed me even more, because he came back with exactly the thing I always say (yes, agreeing with me is wisdom! Obviously!)(I so want to rephrase that there but it says what I mean even if I look silly).
AP said basically,
Different times, different morals.
He had a nice little well reasoned speech about it. Coolness!
He said Duncan reckons as long as everyone has fun, its all good.
I think it was a different panel, but topic connects in my head – someone asked about the Dark Quickening, was it rape? AP says Duncan never thought it was rape. Seduction by not giving all the information. But not rape. Also, in the morning, she says “We shouldn't”, not “You shouldn't”. AP says when he says 'we' he means he has some complicity in what happened. So that line, thats why. Duncan doesn't reckon it was rape.
What else what else...
er the actual on topic stuff. The directing the Horsemen bit.
{break for delivery turned into break for... most of the day. To do Tuesday things, which are many.}
{and now I'm back a week later to type up more. Sunday actually, so this is about what happened a week ago.}
Directing Four Men On Horses / Taking Direction
I actually don't remember much of this bit.
PW talked about taking direction from AP. Said AP did a really useful thing where he'd say “We got that, now lets try something else.” (or words to that effect). He would tell the actors when they had the footage necessary to stick the episode together, then they'd have the freedom to concentrate more on the acting. So much of acting for TV is so technical, getting the marks and the angles and the right footage and all, that its harder to concentrate on just letting go and doing acting. AP gives more room for that.
Also AP got the actors together and they talked through all the motives and such, the actor-y bits of storytelling, so everyone knew where they were coming from before they started filming.
Everyone reckoned AP was a good actor's director. AP reckoned he needs the other staff more for the more technical aspects, like lighting and cameras and that. Someone asked him what you can learn about directing from school, and he said the technical side, and went off and listed much technical stuff. I got the impression it was all stuff he'd found he needed to know when he started directing.
I think this was also when they said that actually the thing about faith that DA was saying before? They hadn't filmed it.
And this was funny, for later when all 3 were on stage someone tried to fish that admission from them again.
I think also here it was said that actually, taken as a whole, the films and series and all Highlander together came in under budget.
AP reckoned he could have spent the extra.
Actually iirc he reckoned part of why Ransom of Richie Redstone didn't work is that he'd gone over budget on the Horsemen eps, so there was no money for it.
Getting the band back together – the Horsemen
This was the group Q&A, three horsemen and It. AP was being It for the day. Because VP wasn't there.
But VP recorded a video interview in Australia and we saw that, and then he phoned in. He actually called when he got off stage in Australia, and talked to everyone on the phone. It was very cool.
He said about being in AP's bedroom, how he'd never forget it and it was good... That was where they talked character, of course. Yup. All entirely work related...
I'm sure this was a good Q&A, but from this remove I don't remember half as much detail as I'd like. *sulk* Shall have to look up other people's write ups.
continued in next post
