(no subject)
So I don't know what's going on this year but apparently they told the whole volunteer staff that they need to stop EVERYONE who's trying to record ANYTHING at the panels - not just the clips from the studios. So I didn't get to actually record the panel via video like I expected that I'd be able to do. As it is there's no way that the footage was allowed too be shot, so unless Disney puts it up on LOTS.com don't expect to see it appearing anywhere. I DID however audio record the entire panel so when I'm back home next week we'll get the audio to listen to unless the whole panel shows up on LOTS.com. Audio will be posted over at The Confessor and the Seeker Society.
That being said - Terry seemed much more upbeat about the series than that IMDB article that's posted in the S2 spoiler thread. Yeah he mentioned that he thought the experience of others playing w/ his characters was odd for him after he had invested so much time into them BUT in the end he didn't really care because SOO MANY people had now discovered his books (IE his book sales have been through the roof.) He put a VERY positive spin on the whole experience...which should shut bashers up once and for all.
Billar also addressed the need to make the show different and that he knew/recognized the concerns of book purists but that they felt that the books just wouldn't translate in this format. Most people at the panel didn't seem to care. People who walked by the room looking for other panels - they all seemed to know about the series. The room being so full was proof that they've got a HUGE growing fanbase. The best news was that the small room that they picked was too small. The producers were stunned by the attendance actually - expect for a season 3 panel that we'll get a larger hall.
SPOILERS BELOW
Bridget and Craig had a cute intro w/ both in costume saying how much that they wished that they were there. Craig is sporting a smallish beard and his hair is a bit longer. My eyes could be deceiving me because I've just been hungry for new Craigy stuff but he looked a little beefier too.
DVD News - looks like there will be a featurette on the disks w/ Bridget and Craig giving a tour around the set. There will be commentary w/ some of the eps including what Craig and Jessica were thinking during the torture scenes in Denna. It also sounds like that there will be a blooper reel.
Someone asked about a CD and the other producer who was there had his ears perk up and said that he'd definitely take that idea back to the studio, especially since De Luca was Emmy nominated. So I'm guessing that if we all email ABC we could get that to be made a reality!
Billar confirmed that w/ the whole time shift thing at the end of RECKONING that Kahlan did not succeed in Confessing Richard so the angst continues w/ them being in love but not being able to be together. He was very, VERY tight lipped about spoilers. BAH!
Footage was awesome - Richard/Kahlan/Zedd all standing around a gap in the ground w/ green light coming out of it.
They were all talking about a skreeling and wondering how it could've gotten loose in the world and Zedd mentioned that the creature was only a small problem that with the veil was broken that the Keeper could be unleashed if it gets any worse. The only thing to reverse it is the Stone of Tears. Richard of course says that he'll find it, Kahlan has faith in him. Zedd is unsure - it's been lost for centuries. He then tells Richard that the only thing that could have done this was the power of Orden - Richard realizes that it's his fault that the veil was broken and Zedd tells him about Wizard's Second rule that the best intentions can lead to bigger problems (paraphrased.)
Random clips included the ones mentioned above we also saw a glimpse of a black skreeling and Rachel hiding under a table.
Everyone bowing to Richard ROCKED.
Cara's hair is now blond. I'm guessing Denna will not be back. We got to see Cara and Tiara kissing.
Richard leading an army of D'Haran soldiers against an army of Mord Sith - ROCKED harder. Mord'siths all in a line shooting arrows at Richard's army. Richard fighting like hell and not happy about it.
Casting news above was revealed Charisma Carpeter as Tiara, Talbret has been signed on as a full time cast member as Cara. Bruce being thrilled to be one of the good guys for once was really cute. He mentioned how he felt that he actually could be Craig and Bridgets grandfather - poor guy! But that by the end of the season all 3 of them had really meshed and he felt that that really translated well at the end of the season. They laughed about the naked chicken scene. Bruce stated that the costume never makes him feel like Zedd - it's what he feels on the inside. It's nice to know that they cast such a dedicated and talented actor in the part.
Overall not a lot of Richard/Kahlan news - no mention of a love triangle. I still contest that Cara isn't a "love interest" but that Kahlan and she will have power struggles over who gets to protect Richard. Affection doesn't necessarily mean love. The one thing that Ken said was that these 2 are so obviously head over heels in love w/ each other at the end of season 1 that even though they can't "be" together - they CAN'T be apart from each other...so we're likely not going to have they ripped apart like in the books.
Finally Ken said it was a conscious decision to make Kahlan even more kick ass than she was in the books because they really wanted her to be an arch-type warrior woman. This actually went well for me since I also attended the Women of Power panel earlier w/ Sigourney Weaver, Zora Saldano (sp?), Eliza Dushku, and Elizabeth Mitchell. Sigourney stated that TV really leads the way w/ how females are portrayed that it's more of a reflection of real life. Even though LOTS is a fantasy show, and maybe yeah Kahlan shows cleavage she isn't always subjected to having to wear skimpy outfits to show how ferocious that she can be. Bridget should be really grateful - I got the impression that life sucks being a film actress and having to try to justify why they shouldn't have to always wear skimpy clothes or get naked w/ the lead just because 65 year old studio execs want to see that.
Kahlan really is a change even from Xena who had to wear a skimpy outfit - Kahlan can look like a woman and be mostly covered up and yet still run, fight, scream, yell, kill, and kick ass as much as Richard does - you HAVE to love that
I got to run up to the stage at the end and Bruce Spence and Terry Goodkind both signed autographs for me
Overall it was a satisfying panel the footage made up for the serious lack of spoilers. My Dad who came w/ me knew nothing about the series and after seeing the 6 minute season 1 recap came out saying that he would buy the DVDs when they were released.
The producers profusely thanked us all for watching the series and were humbled by the large crowd that arrived.
Season 2 premieres 11/7.
S1 DVDs 10/13.
Terry's new book "The Law of Nines" hits stores August 18th.
Here are a couple of photos of Bruce and Terry w/ pics of the promo photos that they used on the screen. Sorry I was on the other side of the room so they're not that great but they're an idea of what we'll see w/ new promo photos coming.
