Vanctuary - The Sanctuary Experience
The Sanctuary Experience
ETA - edited parts (as it was originally started as a report to some non-fandom friends, so some of the references were odd for fandom friends) Also, In reading it over and/or thinking about it later, I realize I did make some comments about other fans that some of you might know better than I; I try not to be unkind in my speech but if you have a problem with ANYthing I said about another person and want to offer *constructive* criticism, I'd appreciate if you message me privately to discuss (rather than comment here or to someone else). Then I can determine whether I need to revise my words, apologize or whatever. I can't do better next time if I don't know if/what/that I handled something inappropriately the first time. I was typing this up pretty quickly in between work tasks.
I had a fun but very stressful weekend. The motel (a block away from the expensive event hotel) I had booked online (and recommended to a friend) turned out to be a dive. My friend arrived first and contacted me after securing other accommodations. Several issues arose financially because of this (and some poor planning on my part), but God provided for my needs and brought me home safely today.
And on top of that, a group of about 300 people raised over $90,000 CDN (about $87,000 USD as of today) for the charity which was the focus of the event. (This charity organization, which focuses on children in need, was formed by Amanda Tapping, Damian Kindler and Jill Bodie; they cover all the administrative expenses themselves, so every penny raised goes to the charities they support. Since its inception, they have concentrated on Nepal Orphans Home and Watari’s Transitioning to Independence Program(TTIP) and the Transitioning to Independence Program for Parenting Youth (TIPPY), an organization that helps teen girls, especially teen moms, get off the street in Vancouver. They also took advantage of a Canadian matching fund opportunity to contribute to Haiti relief.)
The funds were raised this weekend through:
***a live auction of items contributed by fans, the show's actors/producers & Legends Memorabilia - hosted by a half dozen of the celebrities
***sales of photo opportunities and autographs (which the celebrities donated, waiving their usual fee)
***a silent auction of some smaller items
***a bucket-pass (prompted by one of the actors - Ryan Robbins - offering to sing & play guitar if they passed the hat, as it were)
***sales of raffle tickets and a few small items like wrist bands
The weekend started off with the "Meet & Greet". Seating wasn't assigned, so we were challenged to find places together.
triciabyrne1978 and I sat with our friend from Dragon*Con, Sherry F. and several other fans. The G4 chose an Indian theme because of the two-part episode Cali. Kali. The food was...unpalatable mainly (to me anyway), vinegary-marinated veggies, a lentil-veggie, um...spread? and some flat bread and some tortilla-like rolled bread things. The guests came in after we'd been there a while and after a brief introduction, they each moved out to sit for a few minutes at each table.
We got Amanda fairly early on, I think. When she got to our table, she saw me and first came over to give me a hug from our friend Kett and then one from her. She sat and started to talk to me, but the girls across the table said, "We came from Australia for this and (something to the effect that they wanted to talk with her too, but said in a less polite way)." [In fact, they had *moved* to Vancouver 2-3 weeks before to try to work in the industry while studying for a masters degree online, but saying you came for a weekend event from so far away obviously sounds more impressive.]
The guests, besides Amanda, included Martin Wood, Damian Kindler, Robin Dunne (never made it to our table), Ryan Robbins, Agam Darshi, Chuck Campbell, Christopher Heyerdahl, Robert Lawrenson and Visual Effects Supervisor Lee Wilson. After the guests went around, some of the GABIT staff ladies did the Bollywood dance from the episode Cali.
As to the things that happened going forward from this, I'm putting as much as I can remember right now in. As I look at photos, I'll probably remember more, and I'll do separate bits about that and try to come back here and add a link to that.
SATURDAY
Things opened up early Saturday morning with Becky Preen G4 exeuctive director introducing staff and going over general rules. They also had some videos. Then the three exectuvie producers, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood and Damian Kindler did a Q&A panel/session. They showed episodes during times when photo ops and autographs went on, and then after a lunch break, RyRo and Agam came on for their Q&A.
The auction - hosted by Amanda, Martin, Damian, Chris, RyRo, and Robert Lawrenson - raised about $27,000 CDN for Sanctuary for Kids. Items included:
Two Fan-made "nubbins"; the fans had taken one on a trip in Europe and the other to North America, the trips being documented by photo books and even a replica "passport".
A fan-drawn sketch of Helen Magnus
A 15-minute phone conversation with Richard Dean Anderson
A Sam Carter bobblehead (completed with Amanda's impersonation of one!)
Sam Carter "scrubs" from "Desperate Measure"
Sam Carter white lab coat
A jacket and hat from production of Twilight New Moon, donated by Chris Heyerdahl
Ryan Robbins had issued a challenge that if a bucket-run raised enough, he'd sing and play. The did the bucket-run at some point during the auction because I remember Amanda came by our area with a hat. I can't remember what they said it raised, but people were putting $20s & $50s in the bucket! Damian played with him when they did it.
During the auction, they drew the raffle tickets for "Tea with Amanda & Chris" and "Coffee Break with Robin & Agam". After they had drawn the tea tickets, I leaned over to Tricia and said, "I don't know why I keep buying these tickets, I never win." Amanda promptly drew my name seconds later for the coffee with Robin and Agam!
After dinner, there was an "Abnormal's Ball", which we came to kind of late. It didn't seem quite as well attended as at the AT functions, but maybe it seemed that way because the room was bigger or because people had come and gone. There was some of the obligatory con dancing - Star Trekking, Macarena, etc. Costumes included a werewolf, Mark Twain or Albert Einstein - so hard to tell apart, a few Victorian England guys and gals, a Kiss-band sort of character and at least one Bollywood dancer outfit. Ryan Robbins and Robert Lawrenson even came for a while.
SUNDAY
Festivities didn't start quite as early, but our gang went over to the Wall Centre from our hotel about the same time. So we hung out at Starbucks a little longer and then some of the gang perused the silent auction items and bought more photo ops and autograph tickets.
Robert Lawrenson and Chuck Campbell did the first Q&A of the day.
After their panel, the photo ops and autographs started, and they showed another episode - I believe it was Requiem as I started to watch it.
COFFEE
After that, it was time for my "coffee", so the four of us who won gathered at the charity raffle table. I had met only one - JoAnn - and the other two gals had travelled quite a ways to be there. One was a con virgin from New Zealand or Australian; the other was from England. All the others were extremely nervous. They had tea, coffee, water, champagne and treats for us. We all just drank water until the guests came - first Agam who asked us all our names and where we were from. Robin came in a little late from photo ops, and then the champagne was poured and we all toasted.
Robin asked us how we came to Sanctuary - whether we were Stargate fans first. I said Stargate, how I had come across it in syndication & had seen RDA but then came to love Sam (and Amanda). He asked me what specifically I liked about Sam - strong woman, etc. The gal from England said she didn't like the didactic Sam speech when I mentioned it, and I agreed, but I said, "She grew so much from that!" I told them my first experience meeting Amanda and asked about theirs, but I don't think they really answered that thoroughly. Robin said he hadn't really known Amanda as Sam, hadn't watch the show; he only knew her with dark hair and as Magnus.
I asked them how they keep their energy up during long shooting days with all the sitting around between takes and all. Agam said they move at a pretty good pace, so it's not too bad. Robin demonstrated that he sort of hops up and down and said he sometimes says, "Let's get ready to rummmmmblllllle!" Agam said that despite all his surprising antics and craziness,she had noticed him just before it was time to do a scene kind of withdraw and focus and then be totally ready to go - spot on even for just run-throughs..
I said to Agam that I had noticed something about her the first night at the M&G - and she looked a little worried and said, "Uh-oh." I said I said I didn't know if she was already like that or if Amanda had rubbed off on her, but that I had noticed that - like Amanda - she really looked me in the eye, paid attention and had a conversation, not looking all around or distracted, not really "present" in the moment. Robin joked - looked all around at the ceiling and asked, "What do you mean, some people don't do that?" I answered very clearly that no, no every actor really pays attention when a fan is talking with them. It's so true, too.
I worried all along that I was dominating the conversation - as I *can* do! I know! - but the others seemed very shy and hardly interracted. I asked JoAnn later if I had taken too much of the time, and she said I was fine...wasn't 100% convinced, but I can't do anything about it now but try to be better next time. (I even commented during the time about the others seeming shy, and I definitely had met enough actors [and know they put their pants on one leg at a time] that I'm not that way quite as much now as I was back when I first met them.)
Agam and the con virgin (Germina?) had both poured tea for themselves, so I asked for the pot. Robin "played mother" for me, which was sweet. Amanda's rubbing off on him, too, I guess - LOL!. No one had made a move for any of the food items - fans too nervous, I guess, so I got up and offered if anyone wanted anything...said I had been staring at it all far too long. I just took one little chocolate mousse-y dessert thing, which was kind of rubbery, but I ate it.
After a few minutes, John Goode of the G4 came in to take some photos. (Never having won one of the tea raffles at the AT function, I didn't realize we'd get a photo. They had made us put all our stuff away at the very beginning. He had me scoot closer to Robin - I know, poor me! - and brought a chair close to Robin for Agam and then put JoAnn next to Agam. He had the other two younger gals stand behind. After a couple shots, he pulled the table away and took a few more. Then, since Robin had suggested it, he took some "crazy face" ones. We got a print of one of the nice shots and one of the crazy ones. (Keelie, the gal from England, didn't do a crazy face...which kind of looks odd since the rest of us did, but oh, well.)
During the photos, my hand *accidentally* (really! ;p) landed on Robin's leg, and I apologized. He said it was no problem. Sadly I can't remember the exact words but he said something to the effect that there wasn't any place he would mind being touched or something, and I jokingly told him not to say things like that to fans!
Before we got up, I leaned in and asked Agam and Robin to do me a favor. I said, "Would you please tell Amanda she doesn't need to lose any more weight?" I said, "I know I'm not a good example, but I'd heard that she was concerned about her weight." I said, "Seriously, if she loses any more we won't be able to see her when she turns sideways." I doubt Robin would remember much less ever talk to her about it, but I wonder if Agam might.
Then we had hugs and had to go because the next panel was due to start. I accidentally left my badge on the table (taken off for photo) and had to run back for it. John was still there and encouraged me to take a bunch of muffins or whatever I wanted, which I thought was very nice. They were actually like little biscuits rather than muffins, but with cranberries in them; very tasty.
The next panel was with Lee Wilson of Anthem, sharing visual effects info. We weren't allowed to take any photos during this panel at all, not even of Lee, in order to manage the "no photos of the effects stuff". He showed us stuff "They didn't even see at Comic-Con" and said he had asked Martin if it was going to be okay to show some of this stuff that was just finished last Thursday; Martin had given the go-ahead, which was cool. They showed this long montage where you saw the scene, the concept art and the programming to put the two together (actors on the green background in some cases). Way cool. Scenes included
***Ashley way up high on the girders meeting that one guy in S1, and then him falling off and flying away as a vamp;
***Helen and Will walking along
***Encounter between Henry going all wolf-y and Paul McGillion's character going all lizard-y.
***Kate and a little boy in Mumbai, trapped on the top bit of a building with flooding all around
***Will and Cali
***Cali on the rock in the ocean sending the wave
***Will in the car when a creature comes in the window
***Next Tuesday scenes in the water and on the helicopter
and lots more.
During the Q&A, I said I was a CAD drafter and liked to draw and then asked him how one becomes a visual effects person. He misunderstood my question - which I intended to find out what course of study one pursues, etc. to get into doing visual effects - and talked about how he started making movies at a kid with a Super-8 (8mm) camera and how his career progressed.
After lunch, Agam and Robin took the stage for a Q&A session. I said that when I find a new actor in a new show, I go back and find what they've been in before. I asked them what pre-Sanctuary work of which they were most proud and what they found most cringe-worthy. At some point in the "coffee" I had talked with Robin about "Skulls 2", and he and I had an interchange over that while I had the mic in the panel. Robin finally admitted that he kind of liked how Skulls 2 came out and thought that in some ways it was even better than the first one; he admitted that people are often skeptical about a sequel, but he was not ashamed of that. I can't remember the other parts he talked about. Agam mentioned having had some scenes with - dang! I suddenly can't remember who. It was a popular show. Oh, yeah, Anthony Michael Hall and the show was Dead Zone. Anyway, she said she had thought she had done a good job, and when she had finished the scene, he had complimented her and encouraged her. But, she said, she recently considered including that clip in her promotional portfolio material, and went back and looked. She said it was awful! Agam also talked about wanting there to be a day when "brown people" are well represented in all aspects of characters, not just to be Indian or whatever, but just to *be* the character without the race being an issue.
There was another break for photo ops and autographs, with episodes playing (Cali 1 & 2, I believe; we didn't stay), and then it was time for Amanda & Chris Heyerdahl's panel. They showed a music video of them first, and Amanda's first comment was what an interesting relationship they had.
I got to ask a question again, and I asked a 3-parter: "Do you think there are any more embryos, would Helen ever try for another child, and if it came out male, would she worry about his becoming too much like Daddy?" Since Amanda said, "No," to parts 1 and 2, there really wasn't an answer for part 3. She said that she thought that (1) that ship had sailed (basically, my words not hers), that that part of Helen's life was passed and she wouldn't revisit it. She said Helen holds things so close to the vest that we only see little glimpses here and there, but no, she didn't think Helen would try motherhood again. And in part, Amanda said, because of having now seen what that meant for the child, in terms of putting them in danger, and the kind of life they'd lead, etc. She said it was a good question, though.
Someone asked about whether we'd see more of Victorian England, and they talked about at least one upcoming episode and the guest star that would be involved...Ian Tracy. They had high praise for him. It involves revisiting The Five.
Sadly, I have to leave for the day and can't stay to type more. I'll try to update and add more as I remember it.
ETA - edited parts (as it was originally started as a report to some non-fandom friends, so some of the references were odd for fandom friends) Also, In reading it over and/or thinking about it later, I realize I did make some comments about other fans that some of you might know better than I; I try not to be unkind in my speech but if you have a problem with ANYthing I said about another person and want to offer *constructive* criticism, I'd appreciate if you message me privately to discuss (rather than comment here or to someone else). Then I can determine whether I need to revise my words, apologize or whatever. I can't do better next time if I don't know if/what/that I handled something inappropriately the first time. I was typing this up pretty quickly in between work tasks.
I had a fun but very stressful weekend. The motel (a block away from the expensive event hotel) I had booked online (and recommended to a friend) turned out to be a dive. My friend arrived first and contacted me after securing other accommodations. Several issues arose financially because of this (and some poor planning on my part), but God provided for my needs and brought me home safely today.
And on top of that, a group of about 300 people raised over $90,000 CDN (about $87,000 USD as of today) for the charity which was the focus of the event. (This charity organization, which focuses on children in need, was formed by Amanda Tapping, Damian Kindler and Jill Bodie; they cover all the administrative expenses themselves, so every penny raised goes to the charities they support. Since its inception, they have concentrated on Nepal Orphans Home and Watari’s Transitioning to Independence Program(TTIP) and the Transitioning to Independence Program for Parenting Youth (TIPPY), an organization that helps teen girls, especially teen moms, get off the street in Vancouver. They also took advantage of a Canadian matching fund opportunity to contribute to Haiti relief.)
The funds were raised this weekend through:
***a live auction of items contributed by fans, the show's actors/producers & Legends Memorabilia - hosted by a half dozen of the celebrities
***sales of photo opportunities and autographs (which the celebrities donated, waiving their usual fee)
***a silent auction of some smaller items
***a bucket-pass (prompted by one of the actors - Ryan Robbins - offering to sing & play guitar if they passed the hat, as it were)
***sales of raffle tickets and a few small items like wrist bands
The weekend started off with the "Meet & Greet". Seating wasn't assigned, so we were challenged to find places together.
triciabyrne1978 and I sat with our friend from Dragon*Con, Sherry F. and several other fans. The G4 chose an Indian theme because of the two-part episode Cali. Kali. The food was...unpalatable mainly (to me anyway), vinegary-marinated veggies, a lentil-veggie, um...spread? and some flat bread and some tortilla-like rolled bread things. The guests came in after we'd been there a while and after a brief introduction, they each moved out to sit for a few minutes at each table.
We got Amanda fairly early on, I think. When she got to our table, she saw me and first came over to give me a hug from our friend Kett and then one from her. She sat and started to talk to me, but the girls across the table said, "We came from Australia for this and (something to the effect that they wanted to talk with her too, but said in a less polite way)." [In fact, they had *moved* to Vancouver 2-3 weeks before to try to work in the industry while studying for a masters degree online, but saying you came for a weekend event from so far away obviously sounds more impressive.]
The guests, besides Amanda, included Martin Wood, Damian Kindler, Robin Dunne (never made it to our table), Ryan Robbins, Agam Darshi, Chuck Campbell, Christopher Heyerdahl, Robert Lawrenson and Visual Effects Supervisor Lee Wilson. After the guests went around, some of the GABIT staff ladies did the Bollywood dance from the episode Cali.
As to the things that happened going forward from this, I'm putting as much as I can remember right now in. As I look at photos, I'll probably remember more, and I'll do separate bits about that and try to come back here and add a link to that.
SATURDAY
Things opened up early Saturday morning with Becky Preen G4 exeuctive director introducing staff and going over general rules. They also had some videos. Then the three exectuvie producers, Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood and Damian Kindler did a Q&A panel/session. They showed episodes during times when photo ops and autographs went on, and then after a lunch break, RyRo and Agam came on for their Q&A.
The auction - hosted by Amanda, Martin, Damian, Chris, RyRo, and Robert Lawrenson - raised about $27,000 CDN for Sanctuary for Kids. Items included:
Two Fan-made "nubbins"; the fans had taken one on a trip in Europe and the other to North America, the trips being documented by photo books and even a replica "passport".
A fan-drawn sketch of Helen Magnus
A 15-minute phone conversation with Richard Dean Anderson
A Sam Carter bobblehead (completed with Amanda's impersonation of one!)
Sam Carter "scrubs" from "Desperate Measure"
Sam Carter white lab coat
A jacket and hat from production of Twilight New Moon, donated by Chris Heyerdahl
Ryan Robbins had issued a challenge that if a bucket-run raised enough, he'd sing and play. The did the bucket-run at some point during the auction because I remember Amanda came by our area with a hat. I can't remember what they said it raised, but people were putting $20s & $50s in the bucket! Damian played with him when they did it.
During the auction, they drew the raffle tickets for "Tea with Amanda & Chris" and "Coffee Break with Robin & Agam". After they had drawn the tea tickets, I leaned over to Tricia and said, "I don't know why I keep buying these tickets, I never win." Amanda promptly drew my name seconds later for the coffee with Robin and Agam!
After dinner, there was an "Abnormal's Ball", which we came to kind of late. It didn't seem quite as well attended as at the AT functions, but maybe it seemed that way because the room was bigger or because people had come and gone. There was some of the obligatory con dancing - Star Trekking, Macarena, etc. Costumes included a werewolf, Mark Twain or Albert Einstein - so hard to tell apart, a few Victorian England guys and gals, a Kiss-band sort of character and at least one Bollywood dancer outfit. Ryan Robbins and Robert Lawrenson even came for a while.
SUNDAY
Festivities didn't start quite as early, but our gang went over to the Wall Centre from our hotel about the same time. So we hung out at Starbucks a little longer and then some of the gang perused the silent auction items and bought more photo ops and autograph tickets.
Robert Lawrenson and Chuck Campbell did the first Q&A of the day.
After their panel, the photo ops and autographs started, and they showed another episode - I believe it was Requiem as I started to watch it.
COFFEE
After that, it was time for my "coffee", so the four of us who won gathered at the charity raffle table. I had met only one - JoAnn - and the other two gals had travelled quite a ways to be there. One was a con virgin from New Zealand or Australian; the other was from England. All the others were extremely nervous. They had tea, coffee, water, champagne and treats for us. We all just drank water until the guests came - first Agam who asked us all our names and where we were from. Robin came in a little late from photo ops, and then the champagne was poured and we all toasted.
Robin asked us how we came to Sanctuary - whether we were Stargate fans first. I said Stargate, how I had come across it in syndication & had seen RDA but then came to love Sam (and Amanda). He asked me what specifically I liked about Sam - strong woman, etc. The gal from England said she didn't like the didactic Sam speech when I mentioned it, and I agreed, but I said, "She grew so much from that!" I told them my first experience meeting Amanda and asked about theirs, but I don't think they really answered that thoroughly. Robin said he hadn't really known Amanda as Sam, hadn't watch the show; he only knew her with dark hair and as Magnus.
I asked them how they keep their energy up during long shooting days with all the sitting around between takes and all. Agam said they move at a pretty good pace, so it's not too bad. Robin demonstrated that he sort of hops up and down and said he sometimes says, "Let's get ready to rummmmmblllllle!" Agam said that despite all his surprising antics and craziness,she had noticed him just before it was time to do a scene kind of withdraw and focus and then be totally ready to go - spot on even for just run-throughs..
I said to Agam that I had noticed something about her the first night at the M&G - and she looked a little worried and said, "Uh-oh." I said I said I didn't know if she was already like that or if Amanda had rubbed off on her, but that I had noticed that - like Amanda - she really looked me in the eye, paid attention and had a conversation, not looking all around or distracted, not really "present" in the moment. Robin joked - looked all around at the ceiling and asked, "What do you mean, some people don't do that?" I answered very clearly that no, no every actor really pays attention when a fan is talking with them. It's so true, too.
I worried all along that I was dominating the conversation - as I *can* do! I know! - but the others seemed very shy and hardly interracted. I asked JoAnn later if I had taken too much of the time, and she said I was fine...wasn't 100% convinced, but I can't do anything about it now but try to be better next time. (I even commented during the time about the others seeming shy, and I definitely had met enough actors [and know they put their pants on one leg at a time] that I'm not that way quite as much now as I was back when I first met them.)
Agam and the con virgin (Germina?) had both poured tea for themselves, so I asked for the pot. Robin "played mother" for me, which was sweet. Amanda's rubbing off on him, too, I guess - LOL!. No one had made a move for any of the food items - fans too nervous, I guess, so I got up and offered if anyone wanted anything...said I had been staring at it all far too long. I just took one little chocolate mousse-y dessert thing, which was kind of rubbery, but I ate it.
After a few minutes, John Goode of the G4 came in to take some photos. (Never having won one of the tea raffles at the AT function, I didn't realize we'd get a photo. They had made us put all our stuff away at the very beginning. He had me scoot closer to Robin - I know, poor me! - and brought a chair close to Robin for Agam and then put JoAnn next to Agam. He had the other two younger gals stand behind. After a couple shots, he pulled the table away and took a few more. Then, since Robin had suggested it, he took some "crazy face" ones. We got a print of one of the nice shots and one of the crazy ones. (Keelie, the gal from England, didn't do a crazy face...which kind of looks odd since the rest of us did, but oh, well.)
During the photos, my hand *accidentally* (really! ;p) landed on Robin's leg, and I apologized. He said it was no problem. Sadly I can't remember the exact words but he said something to the effect that there wasn't any place he would mind being touched or something, and I jokingly told him not to say things like that to fans!
Before we got up, I leaned in and asked Agam and Robin to do me a favor. I said, "Would you please tell Amanda she doesn't need to lose any more weight?" I said, "I know I'm not a good example, but I'd heard that she was concerned about her weight." I said, "Seriously, if she loses any more we won't be able to see her when she turns sideways." I doubt Robin would remember much less ever talk to her about it, but I wonder if Agam might.
Then we had hugs and had to go because the next panel was due to start. I accidentally left my badge on the table (taken off for photo) and had to run back for it. John was still there and encouraged me to take a bunch of muffins or whatever I wanted, which I thought was very nice. They were actually like little biscuits rather than muffins, but with cranberries in them; very tasty.
The next panel was with Lee Wilson of Anthem, sharing visual effects info. We weren't allowed to take any photos during this panel at all, not even of Lee, in order to manage the "no photos of the effects stuff". He showed us stuff "They didn't even see at Comic-Con" and said he had asked Martin if it was going to be okay to show some of this stuff that was just finished last Thursday; Martin had given the go-ahead, which was cool. They showed this long montage where you saw the scene, the concept art and the programming to put the two together (actors on the green background in some cases). Way cool. Scenes included
***Ashley way up high on the girders meeting that one guy in S1, and then him falling off and flying away as a vamp;
***Helen and Will walking along
***Encounter between Henry going all wolf-y and Paul McGillion's character going all lizard-y.
***Kate and a little boy in Mumbai, trapped on the top bit of a building with flooding all around
***Will and Cali
***Cali on the rock in the ocean sending the wave
***Will in the car when a creature comes in the window
***Next Tuesday scenes in the water and on the helicopter
and lots more.
During the Q&A, I said I was a CAD drafter and liked to draw and then asked him how one becomes a visual effects person. He misunderstood my question - which I intended to find out what course of study one pursues, etc. to get into doing visual effects - and talked about how he started making movies at a kid with a Super-8 (8mm) camera and how his career progressed.
After lunch, Agam and Robin took the stage for a Q&A session. I said that when I find a new actor in a new show, I go back and find what they've been in before. I asked them what pre-Sanctuary work of which they were most proud and what they found most cringe-worthy. At some point in the "coffee" I had talked with Robin about "Skulls 2", and he and I had an interchange over that while I had the mic in the panel. Robin finally admitted that he kind of liked how Skulls 2 came out and thought that in some ways it was even better than the first one; he admitted that people are often skeptical about a sequel, but he was not ashamed of that. I can't remember the other parts he talked about. Agam mentioned having had some scenes with - dang! I suddenly can't remember who. It was a popular show. Oh, yeah, Anthony Michael Hall and the show was Dead Zone. Anyway, she said she had thought she had done a good job, and when she had finished the scene, he had complimented her and encouraged her. But, she said, she recently considered including that clip in her promotional portfolio material, and went back and looked. She said it was awful! Agam also talked about wanting there to be a day when "brown people" are well represented in all aspects of characters, not just to be Indian or whatever, but just to *be* the character without the race being an issue.
There was another break for photo ops and autographs, with episodes playing (Cali 1 & 2, I believe; we didn't stay), and then it was time for Amanda & Chris Heyerdahl's panel. They showed a music video of them first, and Amanda's first comment was what an interesting relationship they had.
I got to ask a question again, and I asked a 3-parter: "Do you think there are any more embryos, would Helen ever try for another child, and if it came out male, would she worry about his becoming too much like Daddy?" Since Amanda said, "No," to parts 1 and 2, there really wasn't an answer for part 3. She said that she thought that (1) that ship had sailed (basically, my words not hers), that that part of Helen's life was passed and she wouldn't revisit it. She said Helen holds things so close to the vest that we only see little glimpses here and there, but no, she didn't think Helen would try motherhood again. And in part, Amanda said, because of having now seen what that meant for the child, in terms of putting them in danger, and the kind of life they'd lead, etc. She said it was a good question, though.
Someone asked about whether we'd see more of Victorian England, and they talked about at least one upcoming episode and the guest star that would be involved...Ian Tracy. They had high praise for him. It involves revisiting The Five.
Sadly, I have to leave for the day and can't stay to type more. I'll try to update and add more as I remember it.