Random thoughts

So I actually booked for a Convention this year. Problem is, I left it too late following a big announcement which I failed to notice on twitter and had to go with regular ticket as all the Golds had gone.

I was enticed by Starfury's Ultimates in June.  Hayley Atwell and Enver Gjokaj were announced and I thought what the hell.  May be a bit of a punt to get Hayley's auto & photoshoot as she is only there two days but it will be a good opportunity for the new camera to show me what that zoom can do, and in low light as the lighting at those events isn't the kindest to photographers. Plus  I'll be a way back from the stage as a normal punter.  Brett Dalton, B J Britt, Bridget Regan  and Dichen Lachman from Agents of SHIELD/Carter are all booked to appear too. I've had the pleasure of meeting Enver & Dichen before but not the others. Starfury sometimes have surprise guests too so it would be cool if they were more Marvel ones.  Should be fun.

Oh and it's at the Norbreck in Blackpool. I went to my very first Convention (Which happened to be Starfury's End of Days for Angel the Series) there in 2003. Ah happy memories.

Now I need to break out the art materials to do some portraits for autographs.

I did this one last Autumn for the Hallowhedon 3 Convention.


A bit bigger here 

Talking of conventions - I've only got the one booked so far this year.  I'm going to Invasion 2 because *crosses fingers* Eliza will turn up for that one. There's a  fair few BSG/Caprica other SciFi guests along with Morena Baccarin and Felicia Day but it's not really heavy on the whedonverse front. 

The 3rd Vampire Ball has a repeat of last years True Blood guests (ok but I've met them already) and now James Marsters & Juliet Landau. Whilst I love James & Juliet I'm not sure I really want to go yet. So holding off booking that.  The only guest I want to meet for Hallowhedon 4 is Kristine Sutherland - their guests have been thin on the ground so IDK and I really don't like the way they run their cons - overstretched I think.   I've met Sean Maher a few times and Nick Brendon at least four times now, so unless they come up with a rare guest then I'll probably skip that one too.   

So I'm back from the Second Vampire Ball.  I had a good time despite the disappointment at the late cancellation of Eliza - many tickets were sold on the strength of her appearance which is always risky but at least I had already bought mine before she was announced. It would have been nice to see her though. Ah well. Apparently she has agreed to appear at Invasion 2 in May next year. It's a mix of shows - The Guild, Battlestar, Caprica, Stargate and Firefly.  Whilst I watch all but Stargate I'm not sure I want to go yet.  Morena Baccarin and Felicia Day will be there - but the other guests don't really get me excited.  I think I will mull over buying a ticket until December.

Anyhow new venue Renaissance Hotel was pretty nice - no sticky carpets,  indifferent service or poor food so that was a plus. The DJ at the parties has changed and is much better although you do get a small selection of Convention dance songs (whiskyinmind they played House Rules and Whisky In Mind by Kane )   To give Sean Harry his due he got J August Richards at four days notice and Keith (Holtz) Szarabjaka as replacements.  Julie Benz, Nick Brendon, Mark Metcalfe, Clare Kramer, Georges Jeanty, Allan Hyde (True Blood) & Mariana Klaveno  completed the line up. I've some nice photos which I'll post along with a report /artwork later once I've got everything unpacked.

I did miss my con buddies whiskyinmind and acrazywench  so much. It's not the same without you guys.

Just look at these banoonoo guests?



Now that looks more like a Zombie pose than a Vamp one but I don't want to be picky. If you can't quite make out who's who then the line up was as follows : Steve Carlson (Kane)  Georges Jeanty, Dayne Johnson, Brody Hutzler, Clare Kramer, Allan Hyde (True Blood), Keith Szarabajkas, Juliet Landau. and Christian Kane (with a special appearance Saturday evening and Sunday from Jonathan Woodward)  An impressive line up even with the cancellation of Julie Benz and Marianna Klaveno (True Blood)    Both myself and whiskyinmind had a super time.  The meet and greet was awesome - we got to meet all the guests who became steadily more inebriated each time (apart from Allan Hyde - aww bless) who was just seriously cute.  Christian Kane I think made whiskyinmind  whole weekend regarding her tattoo and a certain guitar pick :) 

Here are teaser photos of the guests. On each of the links there are more notes about what was discussed in the Q&A's and the read throughs. I just didn't have time to cut and paste it all here.



Opening ceremony 'Cheers' and Allan is wondering why he's the only one without a drink. More opening ceremony photos here



Brody Hutzler tries to feed Dayne Johnson some Pom Bear crisps he acquired from us in the front row. He tells Dayne that they have cute little faces and 'teddy balls'  More photos on this makeup demo here



More photos of  these guests  including Juliet without the glasses) here and here .  Georges was a demon on the dance floor at the parties by the way - I bought two of his sketch books and the characters he sketched were just the business!  See here ( here  )




Details of Allan's Q&A & more photos here He will now be forever know to us as 'wee boy' .





Awesome Kane gig where Steve was presented with a replacement guitar by his fans after his was stolen - more pics of the gig are here . Unfortunately Chrisitan wasn't too well and the gig was cut short, he made it to the Convention the next day though.  More Photos of Christian and Steve are here and here .



Keith Szarabajkas brought a couple of scripts that he'd written and we were treated to two read throughs with the other guests playing roles   - It was very enjoyable. More photos of those read throughs are here and here .



Any regular at Starfury events will know what this is all about. We had Brody and Allan both come up during the ceremony too.  whiskyinmind  was the first up of all the attendees (of course) and even returned to the stage as 'back up' more than once ;-) 

So that's that. Most of the guests wanted to see snow when they were here. I'm not sure they did but I know for sure that the snow around us can leave any time it likes, I can't get into town to do Christmas shopping.

Here's that awesome sketch by Georges Jeanty (S8 Artist)   from the Saturday. He uses a couple of A4 reference sheets covered in screencaps of the character in various facial positions/expressions. It was great just to watch him work away at the strokes getting the lines so right, brilliant opportunity although mostly you shut up and watch rather than ask questions so as not to break his concentration.


On Saturday I'd had photoshoots with Summer, Adam and Tom (I'd actually missed my previous chances to get a photo with Tom at earlier cons so I had to go for it this time)  All the guests looked great - hee! Denis the Menace jumper Tom, I've scanned the pics here.

It's always tough to get up early for photo shoots especially with parties and such.(I was being good and avoiding red wine all weekend in favour of vodka).   It get's tougher every con. Needless to say Zach, Dichen, Miracle and Felicia all looked bright and sparkly.
( Sunday Morning Service ... )(  Dollhouse ladies take the stage... )

( Chuck V The Sandwich  )
( You can't take the sky from me..... )

(  Parting is such sweet sorrow )

So yes, I know I've had the T1 con booked ages and should have started earlier but you know how it is. It's a Terminator, Dr Horrible, Dollhouse, Chuck convention but most guests are whedonverse related.

See the awesome guest list of Summer Glau, Adam Baldwin, Zachary Levi,  Amy Acker  oops just got cast in a Movie, Stephanie Jacobsen (shooting a pilot and may not come)  Clare Kramer   oops another bites the dust, Jonathan (pass the single malt) Woodward, Georges Jeanty (a real artist S8 BtVS comics)  and Dominic Keating.  

Sad to hear Amy (our Dollhouse rep ) couldn't make it - she sent Sean, the organiser, a  note " I was really looking forward to seeing you and some Angel fans. I have been thinking about the show so much- even rewatching some eps, since Andy passed- I was excited to be around people who I know would be celebrating his life! Please pass on my regrets to everyone"   She, Andy and J always seemed so close when they were on stage together - they used to call each other Fred, Gunn and Lorne.  I'm sure she'll make it over some time soon.   Sean, has already organised a replacement with  Miracle Laurie - Mellie from Dollhouse YAY!      and has promised possible another surprise. 

Dr Horrible artwork is done \o/      Took longer than I'd like but I was working from the caps and some of the quality was a bit fuzzy, plus tough to get a good facial expression when mostly the cast are singing their little hearts out.

Started a last minute Summer sketch yesterday which I should finish today  but I now want to do some Dollhouse Group piece - hedging my bets for any surprise cast members.    Not. enough.  time.   *panics* 

I've been so busy decorating and stumbling over firewalls/routers/speedswitches and thin clients that I have only just taken a peek of the pics from Serenity Four.  Small number of guests, but all so charming and entertaining to say the least.  Not so many to go through so I hope to have them uploaded to my site by the weekend along with some anecdotes from the weekend.

mara_sho  and acrazywench  were excellent companions - and like we said - we seriously need to do this more often. 

Sean Harry announced the first batch of guests for Serenity Infinity this October and Adam Baldwin has signed to attend along with Sean Maher and Morena Baccarin (I think)  Ellen Muth from Dead Like Me will also be there which should be dandy.  The three conventioneers have  booked so it will be something else to look forward to.