WormholeRiders News Agency

Tag: Ryan Robbins’

Falling Skies: San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive Cast Interviews Moon Bloodgood, Drew Roy, Colin Cunningham, Connor Jessup and Jessy Schram!
Hi there Falling Skies fans!

On Friday July 23, 2012, during the festivities at Comic-Con San Diego, and with courtesy of Turner Network Television and Dreamworks Studios, we had the privilege of attending the Falling Skies Press Room where the excitement was beyond a fever pitch since the announcement of a third season renewal a few days earlier!

Based upon world-wide distribution, Falling Skies is without a doubt the world’s number one science fiction series since production began two years ago, and it glowed during the Falling Skies Press Room!

Excitement, in fact outright glee flowed freely among both the cast, the creators and the media. All were quite pleasantly edified by the huge media draw versus Comic-Con 2011 before the series had swept across the world to widespread fan acceptance.

The “buzz” in the press room was palpable. While waiting for the special guests to arrive, the conversation among press contemporaries was lively as we too celebrated a science fiction series, once doubted by some of the critics, that had deservedly “made it”, a success in the highly competitive television programming industry!

When the cast members arrived, there was an audible cheer that erupted across the room as they lined up for a group cast photo opportunities!

In fact, this press observer and everyone in attendance were delighted with Falling Skies accomplishment of maintaining high ratings, not an easy task in today’s entertainment market for a full fledged alien invasion, science fiction television series.

All of these factors and more made this media event a highly sought after press room opportunity in 2012 as you can observe below in our exclusive video.
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Conservative estimates placed the media presence at three to four times larger in terms of people in the room. With many extra video camera crew’s, each packing high definition equipment, and more photographers packed into the press room than 2011, everyone was all “a Twitter” (literally) at the conclave.

The mood was festive with the presence of many fan favorites from the series including Noah Wyle (Tom Mason), Moon Bloodgood (Dr. Anne Glass), Will Patton (Captain Dan Weaver), Drew Roy (Hal Mason), Sarah Sanguine Carter (Maggie), Colin Cunningham (John Pope) as well as “Skitterized”Connor Jessup who portrays Ben Mason, and Jessy Schram as Karen!

The excitement at this years Falling Skies Press Room event was further amplified by the fact that more than twice as many media outlets from around the world were all ready and waiting eagerly for interviews with the cast members, each of whom were in extremely jovial spirits themselves having heard of the wonderful third season renewal news only recently.

The cast members talked about celebrating after their panel and how happy they were over the renewal. It was a pleasure to see their pride of ownership over a successful and well received science fiction entertainment product.

Now that tens of millions world wide have become Falling Skies believers, the creators were prescient in thinking ahead by increasing the number of celebrities in attendance at this years Comic-Con geek convention in San Diego.

Turner Network Executive Michael Knight beamed at the press reception as were series Executive Producers Justin Falvey of Dreamworks, and Remi Aubuchon of Falling Skies!

Also in attendance, coming in after the press room session ended, was science fiction legend and superstar in his own right, the one and only Wil Wheaton!

Falling Skies 2012 panel moderator at Comic-Con, Wil is well known as host of 2nd Watch, the runaway hit web “after show” that airs each week live on the Internet! Wil mentioned that he loves doing 2nd Watch and is a big fan of the series himself! It was nice to chat with Mr. Wheaton and to see him in person once again.

As I left the Falling Skies Press Room event with happy thoughts, I did something many journalists and celebrities alike seek when attending San Diego Comic-Con;

A quiet place to be away from the throng of humanity for a few minutes before the next assignment, panel or event squarely presented itself.

I sought out a little known area of the hotel with a view of San Diego Bay. As I turned the corner, there was Noah Wyle and Will Patton with their female companions seeking the same thing; 15 minutes of relaxation before the long walk to the next event.

Not wanting to intrude, I asked if it was okay to join them. Truth be told, I asked them how in the devil had they found my secret spot!? (Just kidding).

Noah motioned in a friendly fashion to join them, stating he “remembered meeting me last year”. Will Patton also looked up with a recognizing nod and smile. This was to be one of the special moments at a convention when the pressure of the event was off and we could chat freely.

I remembered them fondly from our interviews with Will and Noah last year during Comic-Con 2011 San Diego. This year however, with the success that brings more media attention, time had run out before interviewing them in the 2012 Falling Skies Press Room.

Keeping the cameras off out of reverence for the chance encounter, I enjoyed about 12 minutes of private time (compared to the gleeful bustle of the press room) chatting with Noah Wyle. I asked how he felt about his accomplishment as a producer of Falling Skies. From a business perspective he related that he was proud of what had been accomplished.

We also discussed the change in production locations to Vancouver British Columbia. Noah said he “was happy with everything that the move went very well in Vancouver, and was looking forward to shooting season three there”.

As we parted company, Will Patton remembered that I had asked him if he would be marrying Hal and Maggie in the future. He briefly went into character indicating he was going to “keep an eye on Maggie and Hal pending further developments”. As I wished them well, and thanked them for their time, Noah Wyle was gracious enough to do a spur of the moment photo opportunity, which I will think of fondly for a long time.

Thanks Noah!

Thank you for reading, watching and visiting WormholeRiders News Agency.

Please feel free to leave a comment here or if you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article.

Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on X, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. TeamWHR and I look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side“!

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn of #TeamWHR
July 24, 2012
Falling Skies: Why Is It So Popular As the Wormhole Turns?

Hey Falling Skies fans!

Falling Skies, an apocalyptic science fiction drama from Dreamworks Studios, is entering its second season on TNT. It stars Noah Wyle as a father of three sons doing his best to keep them alive and fighting back against an alien invasion force.

As a teacher of American History, Tom Mason (Wyle’s character) knows all about resistance against a superior enemy invasion force. He uses examples from the American Revolutionary War to teach the others that as long as they keep fighting, there is hope.

The history teacher in Tom Mason might not be able to explain it, but Falling Skies has become a very popular show. This series is one of survival in the face of an overwhelming enemy.

According to TNT, “Falling Skies opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. In the months since the initial invasion, the few survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. At the center of the series is Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), a Boston history professor whose family was torn apart.

Anne Glass (Moon Bloodgood) is a pediatrician who becomes the primary medic of the 2nd Mass. Capt. Weaver (Will Patton) plays a fierce leader of the resistance.

The series also stars Drew Roy (Secretariat) as Hal, Tom’s oldest son and a growing fighter in the resistance movement; Maxim Knight (Brothers & Sisters) as Matt, Tom’s youngest son; Connor Jessup (The Saddle Club) as Ben, Tom’s recently rescued son; and Seychelle Gabriel (Weeds) as Lourdes, a former med student and Dr. Glass’ only support for medical emergencies. Colin Cunningham (Living in Your Car) is John Pope, a rebel who will stop at nothing to kill the aliens.”

One must ask, what is it about Falling Skies that is attracting so much attention?

Despite premiering on Father’s Day in North America, Falling Skies turned in a winning performance Sunday June 17 with a “Prime Time” victory of 4.5 million live viewers (US only).

Falling Skies scored well for a holiday evening with solid ratings of 1.5 in the critical with adults between 18 to 49 years of age and nearly reaching 2.2 million live adult viewers in the 25 to 54 age group. Not since Stargate SG-1 has a science fiction program attracted so many adult viewers.

Seemingly down 25% from the 2.0 rating earned during the 2011 series launch, overall viewership is expected match the 2011 numbers, increasing to approximately 6 million when “Plus 7” DVR and on-line numbers are factored in.

This from a public who often time shifts their entertainment viewing to on-line network sources, mobile devices and or recorded sources (DVR) now widely available in many homes. Perhaps even more telling is the huge crowd that joined the Falling Skies cast at the dedicated Falling Skies TNT web site to participate in “2nd Watch”.

2nd Watch is an on-line program web cast that is conducted after the broadcast at the TNT Network web site. 2nd Watch, hosted by Wil Wheaton, set the Twitter and Facebook world on fire Sunday evening as eager fans set off to invade the TNT web site where they can chat and send text messages to the host and guests!

In this weeks episode of 2nd Watch, Mpho Koaho (Anthony) and Colin Cunningham (John Pope) will be awesome! Speaking of Pope, this week TNT also launched “Pope’s Blog” featuring insight into the enigmatic “bad boy” portrayed “in character” by Cunningham!

Here is the answer: Stories like the ones told by the TNT writers of Falling Skies attract us because they reflect humanity’s greatest strength, the power of adaptation. As a social animal, people are very curious about how others overcome challenges that might terrify us. We are fascinated by the thought that a person’s attitude can make a difference between life and death.

But it is more than that. Falling Skies has come along just as problems in the United States and around the world seem to be spinning out of control. The heroes in this show are doing more than just surviving.

They are people who are able to stay calm and reasonable in the face of fear; people who have retained their optimism and determination in spite of great odds. They are survivors focussed on others rather than themselves, either thinking about their families or their fellow survivors.

And that, I believe is what makes the show important at this particular time in America. Many Americans are facing challenges known only to their grandparents from the Great Depression often referred to as “the dirty thirties”.

Many today have lost their homes or have gone bankrupt. Many others cannot find jobs. The United States government is basically bankrupt. Horror stories from other countries abound. The world seems to be going crazy.

So, Americans and others around the word watch television as a means of escape. Comedy helps them feel better for a half hour at a time. Crime dramas produce a feeling that justice can occur and the good guys will win in the end.

Falling Skies has chosen to use a period in American history to support the characters belief that they will prevail over an enemy with better technology and greater numbers. Americans need that. It provides a sense of hope and empathy. “If Tom Mason and his group can survive all these bad things happening to them, maybe we can too”.

By watching how others cope with a traumatic event, even if it is fictional, we learn to cope with challenges in our everyday lives. “The biggest difference between our cool-headed heroes and the rest of us is not that those people are somehow fearless; it’s that they relate to their fears in a much more harmonious way than others do. In other words, these poised people have learned to work with their fears rather than against them — they don’t get preoccupied with their nerves or struggle to eradicate their anxiety — and this important shift frees them to focus on the moment and perform their best”, says Taylor Clark, author of the book, Nerve, a book about dealing with fear and stress.

During periods of upheaval, we look more to entertainment to help us feel better about ourselves. For example, during the depression in the 1930’s, popular films at the time were Gone With The Wind, The Wizard of Oz and Frankenstein.

These are all films where a few heroes were forced to overcome what seemed like insurmountable odds in order to survive. I believe that our entertainment often reflects the difficulties that we face as a culture. When the economy is booming, our entertainment is far different from what we watch when things seem to be falling apart.

As the creators of Falling Skies state, the show, “focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed. It is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. They may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat the human spirit. Most of all, the series is about the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances”.

“Tom, I’m old and I can’t remember stuff from one day to the next, but who is that new guy at the back?”

Despite our circumstances, we as a civilization will adapt and change. It is who we are as a people. Falling Skies shows us the best and worst of us in compelling ways. It helps us to learn more about who we are. And it shows us what we are capable of.

Thanks to Kenn for assisting with the audio video embeds for my Falling Skies review and analysis. And thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!

Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.

Regards.

ArcticGoddess1 (Patricia)

June 20, 2012
Krista Rand: An Outstanding Actress, Rising Fast with a Sanctuary Charity Heart of Gold!
Hello fans of the lovely Canadian actress Krista Rand!

Recently I had the pleasure of conducting an extensive interview with an up and coming actress, the gorgeous Ms. Krista Rand!

During our time together we touched upon a wide range of entertainment and personal topics including her work in film, on television, in stage plays, dancing and one of her passions, her workbook LIVE updates! (click the banner below to visit Krista at her Workbook LIVE page)

A resident of Vancouver British Columbia, this wonderfully talented actress was kind enough to invest nearly ninety minutes of her time in an intimate interview.

We discussed her recent work with Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, Ryan Roibbins and Aliyah O’Brien of the hit Syfy television series Sanctuary, her current work with Brian McCaig on “Mr. Young”, another hit (comedy) program featured on the Canadian television network “Y TV” and her work on stage.
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Of interest to fans of Ms. Rand and the program is that the studio where “Mr. Young” is produced has recently been acquired by Disney XD Studios. Many fans around the world and in the United States will soon be able to see the program on the Disney XD Channel!

A seasoned stage actress and dancer, Ms. Rand has a flair for professional makeup artistry on the stage, for weddings and other special events! Krista also shared several aspects of her private life with Karen Ford (our former WHR Sanctuary Team Leader) and I such as her leisure activities and discussion about things like her good friend Gina Holden and even a little about a cats life!

Krista is passionate about her charity interests as well including her support of Sanctuary For Kids and the search for a cure to the genetic disorder, Hunter Syndrome and their Once Upon A Cure gala this very weekend.

Please click the banners below or text link here to attend, donate, and or bid on the fabulous LIVE charity auction currently underway. Thank you.

Perhaps most telling was her recent experiences at the Sanctuary season three wrap parties! Yes my friend you have read correctly, there was two parties in Vancouver the weekend of August 21, 2011, the official studio event and an after party at non other than the home of Robin Dunne featuring a 1980’s motif replete with exciting music playlists from that much beloved bygone era.

Sworn to secrecy after Comic-Con 2011 where Ms. Amanda Tapping revealed that the Sanctuary was credit to house Mr. Dunne, we have not leaked the details of the 80’s Sanctuary wrap “after party” and whether or not Robin Dunne was able to keep his pants on during the festivities in his own home, but YOU can listen to the revelations here, now TODAY for YOURSELF! ZOMG!

I could go on for a long as the wonderful interview itself, but will cease so you can enjoy the vibrant spirit that is Krista Rand! She is an exciting personality to talk with so I know you will enjoy her interview as much as I did in conducting it.

Thank you Krista for a truly inspiring interview!

As always we appreciate your visiting our entertainment news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency.

Please feel free to leave a comment here or if you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article. Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story.

I and Team WHR look forward to will Seeing You on The Other Side“!

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Kenn
September 21, 2011
Once Upon A Cure: “Wishing On A Star” Saves Hunters Syndrome Children!

Hello once again charitable friends of Team WHR,

We bring the beloved supporters of the children some special news. In only four weeks from tomorrow, one of the most significant charity events to help children with Hunter Syndrome will occur in Vancouver British Columbia. Often referred to as “Hollywood North”, a superb organization has taken shape over the past three years from humble beginnings.

Of whom do we speak? The organization is known as Once Upon A Cure pioneered by Ms. Deb Purcell, a wonderful person who has dedicated a great portion of her life’s energy to finding a cure and mitigation for the unfortunate young souls who are suffering from Hunter Syndrome.

Known or referred to in the vernacular as MPS-II, Hunter Syndrome is a genetically inherited disease with devastating consequence for the afflicted whereby long chains of sugar molecules (mucopolysaccharides) are not broken down correctly by the victims system and build up in the body.

The symptoms of this tragic disease affect its targets in different ways often with life threatening consequences including organ failure.

Although this horrible genetic disorder primarily affects male children, there are female case studies dating back many decades that this malady can also attack opposite sex of our species with terrible results as well. In any circumstance, MPS-II whose formal scientific name is Mucopolysaccharidosis, can make life a living nightmare for the children suffering from the malady.

In 2010 we had the honor to be present at a charity fund raising event called Taco’s For Trey covered by a former member of our staff. Throughout the course of the past year we quietly provided support on Twitter to the event sponsor to endeavor to raise more money for the Vancouver based chapter of the MPS-II efforts. This year the expanded event will be conducted at:

Sutton Place Hotel
845 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
1-604-682-5511

All credit for the hard work performed by Ms. Purcell’s team and we have followed their progress which began as an idea, progressed via e-mail and conference call, moved to a concept on Powerpoint and has now blossomed into a full fledged web site charity campaign, a social media movement with Twitter account and Facebook page earning the well deserved support and acclaim of many of Vancouver’s greatest entertainment talents

The gala event with feature a cocktail hour, dinner, and an evening of superb entertainment including appearances by Allison Mack, Amanda Tapping, Anne Marie DeLuise, Christine Chatelain, Colin Ferguson, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Jewel Staite, Julia Benson, Lou Diamond Phillips, Paul McGillion, Peter Benson, Peter DeLuise, Peter Kelamis, and Ryan Robbins!

All of these outstanding actors are appearing at the “Once Upon A Cure” gala September 24, 2011 to raise charity funding to aid those afflicted as discussed in the official press release below from Once Upon A Cure!

For those who live or will be will be in Vancouver, please click the banner below to order a ticket for the event. For those more fortunate financially you may even a reserve a table of eight for your entire charity delegation to demonstrate your support for this worthwhile cause.!

Team WHR respectfully request that everyone, whether you can afford to attend, please visit the “Once Upon a Cure” web site and make a donation. We know that times are tough including for many in the entertainment business in Vancouver, however no child deserves to suffer the horrors of Hunter Syndrome.

Even if you cannot attend yourself, a modest donation can be made by clicking the image to above right to help the children. Thank you.

We include our special music video about “Wish on a Star” to cure Hunter Syndrome for your pleasure and the official press release for your edification. Enjoy!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: HOME INFUSION BREAKTHROUGH FOR RARE DISEASE For three and half years the Purcell family spent every Monday at BC Children’s hospital, where their son Trey received Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) infusions to treat MPS II (Hunter Syndrome), a rare degenerative disorder with which he was diagnosed at age two. No more! After six months of training, mom Deb Purcell is now the first ever parent in Canada qualified to do the infusions and has begun treating her son at home. This means their family has regained that day each week for living. There were a number of hurdles that prevented the practice of home infusions in BC until now – the most challenging being a personnel issue. The BC health care system allows for nurses to make home visits to begin infusions and to de- access, but they aren’t able to stay for the duration of a long infusion like Trey’s, which lasts 4 hours. With the use of ERT in MPS II treatment, there is always a chance of an adverse reaction, so a physician or experienced health care provider should supervise. With the medication in place, the home supplies provided by the government’s “At Home Program” and the family more than willing, the manufacturer of the ERT hired Bayshore Home Health to train and supervise Deb in the complicated procedure, and continue to retain the home nurses as a reference, resource and emergency contact for Deb and family. "Home infusions have given us our life back. Instead of having to cancel Trey’s baseball opening ceremony, a baseball game and a birthday party this past weekend, we were able to reschedule Trey’s infusion for a time when nothing was planned. We can now travel for more than 8 days at a time. Given the progressive nature of this disease, these extra moments mean everything to us.” – Deb Purcell It’s fitting that Trey’s family is part of this medical advancement in Canada. When Deb learned in 2006 that Trey had a crippling disorder, she successfully lobbied the government & BC Children’s Hospital for Trey to be the first child in Canada, who was not participating in the trial, to receive ERT, which was newly approved in the US, but not yet approved by Health Canada. Remarkable results from this treatment have since been observed in Trey – many of his symptoms have been reversed and the progressions of other symptoms have been halted. Health Canada has now approved the ERT and most provinces have made it available to Hunter patients, but ERT is a treatment – not a cure. So, the Purcell family has created a number of initiatives to raise the funds necessary to continue the research needed towards finding a cure to MPS II. To date these fundraisers have brought in $184,000 with all but 5% (used to cover basic admin. expenses) going directly to research grants applied for by doctors in the field of MPS II Research around the world. With hopes to increase the yearly number of grants made available, this year’s fundraiser, ‘Once Upon a Cure, a Gala for Hunter Syndrome Research’, will be held at The Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver, on September 24, 2011. Having ties to the film and television industry, they have attracted the attention of a number of Vancouver actors and VIP’s, who will be in attendance to experience the magical Alice in Wonderland themed cocktail reception, plated dinner, live & silent auctions, infamous Chocoholic dessert buffet, live entertainment and local celebrity DJ, to dance the night away. Not only will this event bring in the funding necessary to continue researching a cure, but it’s sure to become an annual event people will look forward to marking on their calendar. If you would like further details about this event or MPS II Please visit us at: Once Upon A Cure. If you would like to know more about this topic, or to schedule an interview with the Purcell family, please call Deb Purcell at (604) 980-0930 or email at dpurcell@telus.net. Contact Info: Jennifer Lo, Media Director media@onceuponacure.com As always we appreciate your visiting our news sites at WormholeRiders News Agency. Please feel free to leave a comment here or if you prefer, click the social media icons below to share this news article. Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, WHR on Facebook or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and the Team WHR look forward to will Seeing You on The Other Side"! Thank you. Best Regards, WR_Systems (Kenn)

August 26, 2011
Sanctuary ‘Out of the Blue’ Awakens the Senses! Did Someone Say…Box? With Finale Trailer!

Greetings Sanctuary Fans!

Every week, I love Sanctuary more and more. It’s a true factuary. I love that this wee ‘show that could’ is not afraid to say “To hell with the box!!! THERE IS NO BOX…”, and take its fans by complete surprise with every new installment of this epic story it has to tell. I love that Sanctuary is not afraid to have its own, unique and strong style. I love that in Sanctuary, what matters isn’t WHAT happens….but HOW it happens. Tasteful, intelligent and artistic!

This is where episode dix-neuf of the third season, ‘Out of the Blue’, comes in.

I don’t know what the writers are trying to do. You know, usually they’re pretty merciful, they get the need that we have for inhaling and exhaling at regular intervals. So what changed in the last four weeks? What did we do to deserve this blissful torture!?

First we were given ‘Awakening’, which brought back the dark sultriness of vampires and the earthy underground, then ‘Normandy’ blew our minds to smithereens with the much expected special effects and the return of the Holy Five into the midst of World War II. Then almighty ‘Carentan’ once again surpassed any expectations by adding to the previous episode with an added humanity, a brief but profound window on Helen Magnus (the elegant Amanda Tapping) and Will Zimmerman (talented wildcard, Robin Dunne) in the face of an ethical dilemma, and their own lives, and sanity, hanging in the balance.

And THEN…there was a little segment called ‘Out of the Blue’. Directed by the brilliant Martin Wood.

Not what we expected. Although with Sanctuary, you kind of learn to do away with expectations because really, our imagination fails compared with what they produce every week.

‘Out of the Blue’ sort of feels like an answer to ‘Carentan’. It does away the drama of physical action altogether and leaves us in a dream world full of confusion and frustrated irony. Like any of our dreams (please keep them to yourself…*COUGH*), little of it makes sense, and while everything is somehow familiar, it’s all somehow completely wrong. Disturbingly so. This is a wonderful character episode, It delves into the psyche, trying to unravel the complexity of human desires in contradiction with reality, and is such an intriguing, and at times painful, insight into psychology of both Helen and Will. It is simple and direct, without heroics or an elaborate storyline.

When we first heard of this episode, the cast and creators warned that it would throw fans off their scent. The fans were teased with the surreal content of the episode, that the characters were unrecognisable, and altogether a bit confusing!

It’s true, nobody could have known, but then Sanctuary fans are renowned for their intelligence and passion, and have quickly learned not to accept events in the show at face value. Besides the obvious, there are so many layers and complexities to ‘Out of the Blue’…it’s one of those episodes that every time you watch, you’re blasted with a new level of understanding.

It’s obvious that something is different from the outset. Will Zimmerman, professional ‘freaky eyes’, in a classy suit running after the garbage truck isn’t exactly how we’ve come to know him. Maybe Robin Dunne would (we could expect anything of that dude), but middle-class suburbia isn’t Will’s regular hangout.

One might jump on the science-fiction bandwagon and suspect alternate-universe-timeline or some other doo-hicky. But then you remember: this is Sanctuary. Convention be damned! There is no box!

Too right! But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Heehee.

Couple all that with domestic bliss and pregnant wife Abbie (Corrigan, played by the bubbly Pascale Hutton), and we have ourselves a situation!

Despite the complexities and psychology and what-not, the comedy in this episode is unique. No one-liners, cheeky banter, but simply the funny things that happen to everyone, every day. No effort required to make a dork of yourself! Situational comedy hands down.

Funny things like trying to walk and stalk a talkative kitty that just clawed its way over the warm bonnet of your beautiful shiny Beema.

Funny things like that awkward moment when you have to walk AAAALL the way, breathing heavily, over the street to your hermit artist neighbour (whom nobody REALLY gets), holding a squirming cat at arm’s length and trying desperately to NOT get white fur all over that lovely black, smooth blazer.

Funny things like the deadpan look from Helen Druitt as she stares at you. You, who dares to hold her beautiful white Henry like he’s a filthy football.

Funny things like Monty dropping on Helen’s lawn.

Funny things like Helen. With a lawn. And a house.

WAIT A MINUTE. HOLD THAT TEACUP. Did you say Helen Druitt? *cue shipper squee from the world over* But there’s always so much more to it, we should know this by now! It’s not about mach-making, it’s the fact that tension is so much more satisfying than having every wish fulfilled!

Before we delve into the deliciousness of psychological torture (AHEM), just a few comments on a performance that blew most fans out of the water. Amanda Tapping. Helen Magnus as we’ve never seen her. This was something that was so far divorced from the Helen we know, but at the same time, she was one and the same strong, compelling and complex woman. To see a Helen so confused, anxiety-stricken, insecure and at times crushingly vulnerable, Amanda’s performance was subtly and lightly brushed with effortless English humour, flashes of unique strength and pride, and rippled by a heartbreaking humanity. Absolutely breathtaking… *stops breathing*…

It’s so hard to discuss the intricacies of Amanda’s nuanced delivery without plunging into the psychology of Helen, whom nobody REALLY gets. So back to the Blue we go…

The beauty of this episode is that the prequel to it is important, but is just that, a prequel. It is not until the resolution of the narrative that we really have any idea of the premise, and of WHY all this has happened. Curiously though, it doesn’t matter. Whereas many writers would concern themselves with screening the dramatic events that led to this situation, Sanctuary breaks the mould. Writer Damian Kindler beautifully dispensed with the need for exhibition, and made the point of view to be from the patients: Helen and Will.

The most pressing need for them, and for us as the audience, is to make darn sense of all these disparities, to understand why on EARTH Helen drinks coffee, wears lumpy cardigans and paints all night, and why Will doesn’t understand how he married Abbie and became a surgeon. What engages us is not how they came to be in this situation, but the journey of both these characters as they struggle to make sense of their lives. Ultimately it is about the personal journey from moment to moment, more so than the destination.

The first …well…’abnormal’ clue is actually from the very first moment that Helen opens her front door to rescue her precious feline creature from her fastidious neighbour. “DECLAW?! He’s an innocent creature!” Over her shoulder, Will spies the ghostly phantom of what seems to be…a creature? Symbols? But it is gone from his and from our sight before we can fathom what we are looking at. It is as fleeting and surreal as if it were a dream. He is brought jolting back to his ‘reality’ with an indignant English woman demanding he get out of her house. The true nostalgic spirit of Dr. Helen Magnus shining through in this neighbours-at-war scenario.

Also, I think many fans will be naming their future kittens ‘Henry’. The irony is too side-splitting! What would a werewolf think? Ravaged by self-cannibalism?

The ironic paradox is also Helen the painter. What happened to the feisty, gun-toting 159-year-old doctor, hell-bent on abnormal salvation?! The levels of irony in this 19^th episode ebb from hysterically funny, to cruelly tragic. In the real world, Magnus and John Druitt (the versatile and immensely talented, Christopher Heyerdahl) were torn apart by his ferocious demon, followed by a century of revisited pain and anger, torn by what-might-have-beens and the birth of a daughter.

It seems like she can’t have it both ways! In many ways, ‘Out of the Blue’ reflects the innate desires and dreams of Helen and Will; if Helen had followed her young dreams and married the man she loved, if Will had ignored his intuitions, and had become respected in his field. It just goes to show that maybe, after all, everything in life happens for a reason.

As Helen says “I got married because it was supposed to make me happy!”, and yet it didn’t, while in reality having their daughter was everything to her, besides her work. The angst and tension between Helen and Druitt is one and the same, the same betrayed love and trust, the same frustrations. The confrontations between the two of them calls for some of the most sublime deliveries from both actors, as Druitt gently asks, what is it that Helen wants? GOOD QUESTION! Helen herself doesn’t seem to know, her face twists in confusion and anxiety as she tries to make sense of herself, of John, of the whole damn situation! Everything just seems WRONG. Her frustration and loneliness is no different from the real world, and yet back when she was young and in love, it had been everything she wanted. Or so she thought.

And for God’s sake, she’s not Scottish.

Intuitionally, this Helen knows that her life is wrong, there is so much more that she is capable of, work that will actually make a difference to the world!

“I don’t know! Help homeless children! Work with animals….GOD SOMETHING!… BLOODY AGENTS!!”

And once again Helen asks Will to take a leap of faith. And die. Again.

Will, losing patience with Abbie’s “tinky woo-woo crap” (IRONY!), can’t remember the basic names of drugs and medical conditions, not a good headspace to be in with an upcoming bypass surgery. Instead both he and Helen find themselves saying and doing things that, out of context, make no sense at all! Semblances of their real selves start to poke holes in the fabric of this reality, which seems to be making an enmeshed plot out of suppressed desires, which, like all dreams, confuses us as our brain tries to make sense of the disparity between this dream-world, and what it knows to be a fact.

But then again, what would we be without our dreams? WHO would we be? As Will says. “Our dreams are actually our reality”, and while it may be literal in their case, so it could be for the rest of us. Thought-provoking, no?

There is something delightfully homey about this episode. No big guns or historical heroics, but the simple struggle of two human beings who can’t make sense of themselves. It is an episode about the people, not so much about events, and everything within the setting, the plot, the delivery by both main characters, even the glorious music (SOUNDTRACK DO WANT) and pseudo-psycho shimmering mind flashes, all contribute to the very delicious human quality of the story it tells. Flashes of the lost Ashley (Emilie Ullerup), and Will’s mother give a very nostalgic and very anguished frustration to their mindset.

The music. OH the music!! The mere thought of Helen painting through the night in a lumpy cardigan and sound system blasting is hysterical, but Andrew Lockington’s absolutely perfect soundtrack gives Helen’s existence a very artsy, very alternative, very grungy café feel…it positively embodies the hermit and enigmatic painter that she seems to be. The tortured, starving artist. Hah!

This episode bears the true Trademark of Sanctuary. It is not afraid to venture into the unknown, not afraid to demand thoughts and questions from its audience, not afraid to question not only what defines it’s characters, but what defines us as human beings. It tears down the barriers between our internal realities, and the world in which we live.

I’m curious to see what effects the events in this episode have on Helen and Will. Will they remember their experiences? What effects will it have on their respective relationships, in particular, Will and Abbie?

And how wonderful to revisit an old stooge, Virgil St-Pierre! We barely touched on his character in Hero II, so what does this mean for his mercenary relationship with the Sanctuary team? Twisted as he is, there’s something endearing about his arrogant dudeisms. He reminds me of our beloved Edward Forsythe!

And for crying out loud! What in God’s name can be going on in Hollow Earth? What global Sanctuary alerts? I sense another of Damian Kindler’s infamous cliffhangers…

Stay sane for the epic finale of an EPIC SEASON!

If you can. I’ll be sitting here. Chewing up my cushions as usual. Waiting! Rocking in my corner… In the meantime we include the Sanctuary season 3 finale sneak peak courtesy of Syfy via Hulu!

Thanks for popping by WormholeRiders News Agency and reading!

Please feel free to contribute constructively to the discussion below, or click to share the article on the social media site of your choice, or click my text link or avatar my avatar to say hello and chat on Twitter!

June 20, 2011
Sanctuary “Hangover”: “You Won’t Recognise This Place When You Get Back” with Sneak Peek and Episode Videos

Calling all Sanctuarians!

It seems discovering a new dwelling under Earth, dying, coming back to life again and saving the world just is not enough anarchy for these guys. Judging from the state of the Sanctuary in the opening anyway. Which of course begs the question: how much fun did the cast and crew have wrecking the set?

In this episode, titled “Hangover”, we see Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) getting stuck in the Mother role, Henry and his good ol’ one liners again, and general disarray and a relapse to childhood behaviour for the majority of the cast.

We open with Magnus returning to a Sanctuary with an unlocked door and an offline security system, which is never going to bode well for the rest of the episode. Drawing her gun, Magnus proceeds with practicality and searching the Sanctuary en route to her office.

After avoiding the old trick of an object falling when a door is opened, she finds a rather battered Henry hidden under a chair leads us to the conclusion that something far worse than an impromptu house party has occurred here! Magnus’ interrogative skills discover that Henry Foss (Ryan Robbins) is suffering from short-time amnesia, as he can not remember what day it is, or the events leading up to a trashed Sanctuary. In fact, all he remembers are names and that he has “the entire cast of stomp in my head, and they are not happy.”

On Magnus’ request, Henry recalls the last thing in his memory, which starts with Magnus departing for a conference and leaving them ‘chores’ to do whilst she is gone in preparation for a visit from Dr. Lillian Lee (Françoise Yip), the UN security chief. The ever ironic words of “You won’t recognise this place when you get back” are a fitting reassurance, because to be fair, Magnus does not recognise the Sanctuary when she returns anyway!

We carry on with the flashback, this time to Henry processing the new Mollox intake and naming it ‘Skippy’. Wonderfully typical of Henry! On opening the box holding the Mollox, Henry gets a surprise when a supposedly docile creature suddenly attacks him. He frantically radios for back up before grabbing a stunner and bolting…with the Mollox right on his tail. Once Henry has managed to stun the Mollox, we return to the present day and Magnus’ analytical mind starts to process the events and the possibility of a viral infection, perhaps airborne transmittance.

Upon starting a search for the missing Mollox and the missing team members, Magnus discovers the security systems are down, meaning no camera footage of the events. Henry’s attempt to hack into the server is also denied. Unusual, but after all, they could not make that easy to figure out!

Back to the eerily silent corridors of the Sanctuary, Magnus stumbles upon the missing Mollox, cowered and trembling in the corner of the elevator. Such a contrast to the Mollox we’d seen in the flashback, yet reminiscent of Magnus’ description of its nature. After presumably transferring the creature to its new home, she returns to her office where Henry is still trying to hotwire the Sanctuary servers.

Upon contradicting Henry’s “he’s a deadly little bastard, isn’t he?”, she informs him that back up is standing by from the other Sanctuaries and admittedly, it is a bit of a shame that we do not get to actually see this call with Declan in person. A little bit of Robert Lawrenson every episode would never hurt anyone!

The next step is Henry successfully getting into the server and retrieving the security camera footage, but only after suspicion for all recent events is thrown onto Will. However that suspicion doesn’t last long when the footage shows Henry pursuing and shooting Will on the residential corridor.

Whilst Henry is in complete shock over the recently discovered events, Magnus is her ever rational self and proposes that in addition to her tests on the Mollox, Henry be tested as well. All of this takes place still in Magnus’ office, because every good doctor has syringes lying around in every room of the house!

As Henry returns to his lab to continue clarifying the camera footage, Magnus heads off on her search and rescue mission to find the other members of her team. Revisiting the residential corridor, she happens upon the venue of Will’s shooting at the hands of Henry, but his body is no longer there.

Rather luckily, in Kate Freelander’s (Agam Darshi) case, whilst examining the scene, Magnus hears muffled screaming and with gun drawn, goes to investigate. In a supply closet, bound and gagged, she finds Kate. However, Magnus soon realises that Kate has no recollection of the events leading up to neither her current predicament nor what has actually happened in the Sanctuary over the last day or so.

What she is able to remember however, is responding to Henry’s call for help with Will and the subsequent search for him from the top to the bottom of the Sanctuary before losing radio contact with Will Zimmerman (Robin Dunne). The flashback continues, showing us Biggie (Christopher Heyerdahl) and Kate proceeding to check the cameras in order to locate Henry or Will. Upon finding “Hank” stalking the corridors of the basement, Kate attempts radio contact, which you would think would be a lost cause seeing as he has not responded to earlier attempts, but you have got to have hope, right? Also, Biggie shall henceforth be known as ‘Captain Obvious’ for his “Something is wrong comment.” Great intuition there, big guy!

Kate leaves Biggie monitoring the cameras and heads in search of Henry, on first view, without a weapon. Not a smart move considering her previous career but it shows how Kate continues to settle in to the Sanctuary and the team. Upon being threatened and shot at by Henry, we then see Kate’s quick thinking come into play. Using a fire extinguisher as a makeshift weapon? I approve.

However, that fight is the last thing Kate remembers before waking up in the closet. With 2 team members now found, you would hope that the pieces would start slipping into place, but it seems the writers are keeping their cards very close to their chests on this one as only minimal information on the background of these events has actually been gleaned so far.

It also happens that Kate has no sense of timings either as she presumes Magnus is back early rather than going for the option where she has lost a day. Once she takes this on board though, Magnus and Kate quickly start to bounce off each other until we learn that the tests for both the Mollox and Henry have come back clean for any infection.

Looking for an update from Henry on the security footage leads only to further bad news as he is seemingly not contactable by radio. A quick dash down to the lab reveals clear signs of a fight taking place…not that the hammer hitting the wall didn’t give that away too. It turns out that Will has taken it upon himself to attack Henry for reasons yet unknown.

At this point, Magnus takes on a very motherly role, her issuing of “time out” as well as attempted placation and listening to both sides of the fight definitely reinforces her position as head of the household. Nothing emphasises this more than “Somebody start talking and it better be good!” compared to Henry and Will yelling over the top of each other, each laying the blame on the other and generally reacting like children.

Once she has played her part to a tee, we turn to Will for his flashback of the events he remembers. We start with the ever dreaded filing and unashamedly asking Biggie for help which draws the genius reply of “I’d love to really, but my hands…too big and hairy, that’s why I gave up needlepoint”. There is not a moment when Biggie stops being epic.

The flashback then duplicates Kate’s in nature, with Will searching the Sanctuary from bottom to top for Henry, eventually finding him on the residential corridor then being pursued and shot at.

Back to the present day and it seems that Magnus’ presence may have calmed the general atmosphere but it does nothing to stop the clearly aimed jabs at one another, especially from Will. Henry’s desperate attempts to apologise for actions he doe snot remember go unnoticed as Will zeroes in on one word and loses it with “Do not ‘dude’ me. Do not use the word ‘dude’ in reference to me ever again!” Well, looks like Henry might need to find a new favourite word!

However, “the shooting was amateur hour compared to what happened next:” and we swiftly return to the flashback.

This time Biggie and Will have found each other for a catch up and update before splitting up again to continue searching for Henry and other dangers that the Sanctuary may hold. Will spots a stray stunner on the floor and heads towards it, as would be expected. However, what wouldn’t be expected is for the security barrier to lower right in front of him, nearly on top of him, in fact.

This leads his search through to the main Sanctuary enclave, where it seems the Sanctuary really is out to get Will as the lasers aim and fire around him until he shoots out the main circuit box. That really should be the end of the torture for Will, right? But someone really had it in for him when they were planning this episode because he still has to face the glass to one of the holds lifting and an abnormal trying to drag him back into its lair.

Biggie is on hand to save the day though! With a nicely timed stunner shot, Will survives to fight another day. If he survives the stench that has suddenly permeated the Sanctuary anyway, which with a bit of investigating and a genius conversation of: “What is that smell?” “Me.” “Why?” “Garbage compacter tried to eat me!” it seems he will.

It also turns out that help will not be on hand anytime soon as comm systems to reach Magnus are down and Biggie is convinced the building is possessed, again. Eventually, they headed to the mainframe where lo and behold, they find Henry. When they try to stop him from completing the work he’s doing, Henry attacks Will and turns werewolf before Biggie once again saves the day by sending him flying into the wall.

We learn a lot more of recent happenings from this flashback as the original suspicion that Will had tampered with the server because he was guilty turns out to only be half true and in fact he was only trying to keep the Sanctuary secure.

The attempt to keep the Sanctuary secure continues with restraining Henry and continuing the search for Kate. A search isn’t needed, however, as Kate conveniently finds Will pushing a restrained Henry down the corridor and first threatens, then fires at him. Compared to the Kate’s behaviour seen earlier on, this only increases the feeling that something is seriously wrong within the Sanctuary.

Will draws a blank after being chased by Kate and remembers nothing else besides waking up in the basement where he “realised that Benedict Arnold here had hacked back into the security system and since [he] did not feel like being sliced apart by a laser….”, prompting yet more desperate apologies from Henry and Kate’s usual flippancy of “What’s a little gunfire between friends?”.

After Magnus has once again succeeded in placating her team, she begins to try and figure out what abnormal could cause those effects on people, but she comes us blank. Houston, we have a problem. It seems somebody wants to eliminate the crew and take over the Sanctuary…again.

The news only gets worse as Henry finds an email from the UN Security Chief stating her intention to arrive earlier than expected, which after a quick look at the time, turns out she had arrived 3 hours ago and nobody had seen her…or at least remembered seeing her. Henry’s summation of “Aah, we are screwed” says it all at this point.

Magnus tries to remain her usual pragmatic self in these situations, with the order of “Let’s not panic.” Which doesn’t sit well with Will because “Really? Because [they] have trashed the place, [they] have attacked each other, there’s a psychosis inducing abnormal on the loose, [they] may have killed the UN security inspector…call [him] crazy, but this seems like a pretty excellent time to panic.” And I don’t think anyone could disagree with his round up of events and they’re current predicament.

As if on cue, Henry hears bell in south corridor and everyone but him goes to check it out. After manually opening the elevator, they find Biggie hanging upside down inside, continuously pressing the buzzer and proclaiming “Took you long enough”. Complaining or making light of the situation, either reaction still gives this scene that wonderful comedic effect whether it was intended to be humourous or not. The problem isn’t over with this find though because Biggie can’t remember who did this to him either. Quelle surprise!

To further the story, we go this time to Biggie’s flashback. He remembers Kate waking up from being knocked off, taking one look at Will and running, followed by Will having the exact same reaction, only with an added threat. He then hears a sound and upon investigating, finds that Henry has broken loose from his restraints. Biggie decides this is “enough!” and sets his own plan in motion. Tampering with the gas and ventilation systems, he quickly distributes a sedative-like substance, causing the remaining members of the team to collapse in their current locations. Biggie then proceeds to tie up and gag Kate before leaving her in the cupboard and heading to find Will in the basement.

Whilst this clears up a few questions, finding Will is the last that Biggie can remember and so the Sanctuary team, and ourselves, are still left with a few unanswered questions. Not that Kate and Will think of any of that before they start blaming Biggie who insists it was for their own safety.

Magnus steps into her ‘Mama boots’ again with “Can we just declare amnesty for all past transgressions?” which unfortunately only starts another round of blame being tossed back and forth and Magnus quickly reaching the end of her tether!

Luckily, before the whole situation gets out of control, Henry radios in with a possible find from the security footage and calls them all back to the lab. From there we see a multitude of clips detailing the team attacking one another in various places in the Sanctuary, concluding in a shot of the UN Security Chief shooting Biggie with a stunner. At this point, Magnus takes over the mantel of ‘Captain Obvious’ with the comment of “Oh, this is not good.”

It comes to light that the UN Security Chief managed to enter the Sanctuary due to there being no security measures in place at the time. However, no-one has actually seen her in person. Suddenly, Magnus has a light bulb moment and upon the rewinding and a slow motion viewing of the footage, she spots the cause of the recent behaviours when a small creature pricks Biggie. Biggie having a panic is a classic moment followed by an equally classic exchange with Magnus of “Don’t worry; it’s not on you anymore.” “How do you know?” “Because you’re not trying to kill us.”

In the end, we find out that this creature is called a Pinapex and it releases a powerful pheromone into the bloodstream which makes the stronger creatures protect it, apparently how it hitched a ride on the Mollox and entered the Sanctuary. Henry seems relieved to know that that was “why Skippy attacked [him]” although apparently his naming isn’t favoured by Kate and Will: “Skippy?!”

A deeper analysis of events shows that the Pinapex jumped from the Mollox to Henry then whenever someone was taken out, it jumped to the next protector. With such stringent security measures in place when the Mollox was brought it, it did beg the question of why the Sanctuary didn’t pick up on the presence of the Pinapex. The reason: because this creature was supposed to have been extinct for the past 50 years and was therefore never in the security database. Typical.

There’s no time to dwell on this lapse in security though because Henry soon finds the UN Security Chief on the cameras, and it appears she’s the Pinapex’s protector and she’s headed straight for the catacombs. Have no fear though, Magnus has a solution! A sex inhibited pheromone of the Red Bolwan, which although “hastily engineered synthetic but it should do the trick.”

Of course though, the conversation always steers slightly off topic when sex is mentioned. Kate’s question of “No sex?” encourages Henry response of “I don’t need a shot for that.” The honesty is refreshing at least! That’s not the effect of the pheromone however; instead it should provide them temporary immunity to the Pinapex.

With their susceptibility covered, the entire team heads to the catacombs, splitting up to come at the good Dr Lee from both sides, although Magnus insists on tranquilisers only as she would prefer both charges alive. This may turn out to be a risky decision as they are fired at as soon as they enter the catacombs.

I’ll take risky any day of the week for the comic genius that follows though. Biggie’s method for covering Magnus is quite possibly the funniest thing in Sanctuary so far, and I vote for seeing this “Woo-ooo”-ing again, in any context it’ll fit in!

Magnus uses that diversion to try and strike up some sort of negotiations, but Dr Lee is having none of it, which isn’t all that surprising when she’s under the influence. What is surprising though, is Magnus giving away Henry and Kate as they move round behind Dr Lee. Despite this though, the team are quickly able to move into position, confusing Dr Lee at the same time. Biggie once again provides his wonderful distraction technique and Will manages to take her out with a tranq. Mission accomplished once again and Biggie even gets a little lovin’ in with the Pinapex with “Don’t you listen to them, I think you’re beautiful” in retaliation to Kate and Henry calling it ugly. Once again, comic genius and Chris Heyerdahl plays it so wonderfully.

Magnus is ever the practical one however, informing everyone that once the Pinapex jumps, the previous protector won’t remember anything about it so they will not go looking for it. Defence plan 101 of the creature. The practicality does not stop with the abnormal though. Oh no, with Magnus back around, there is a bit of cleaning to be done!

We skip forward at this point to Magnus talking about quarantine procedures to UN Security Chief as she wakes up. Understandably confused, she looks to Magnus for an explanation and we wait with bated breath as Magnus calmly explains that she keeps blacking out due to hitting her head on the cab door when she reached the Sanctuary. I’m not sure they could have come up with a cover story any further from the truth!

Will and Kate then enter with the supposedly requested tea and security logs, and when Dr Lee doesn’t recognise them, they continue the charade of black outs and placate her as well.

However it soon appears as though their charade has fallen through as Dr. Lee starts to remember things like the front door being unlocked when she arrived and boxes in the entrance hall. She also asks the team not to patronise her because she didn’t get to be Security Chief by being an idiot. Well that depends on the profession, but we will take her word for it this time!

Now is the make or break moment. Do they stick to the cover story or do they tell her the truth? The latter prevails and between them, Magnus, Kate and Will break the ‘situation’ to her with results that most likely leave them questioning that decision when Dr Lee insinuates that next time they might not be able to contain a situation. And that was totally the wrong move. Do not imply that Magnus or the Sanctuary is incapable. It won’t end well. Ever.

After being shot down by Magnus, Dr Lee concedes and then simply wants to know what she went through. At this point, I do not think anything is needed other than the dialogue because the bluntness of that alone is genius:

Will: “This is Henry…shooting me”

Kate: “Here’s Will going after me.”

Magnus: “Will crashing through a table.”

Lee: “What the Hell am I doing?”

Magnus: “Well…I believe you’re trying to kill my colleagues…but I’m willing to overlook it.”

It seems that there is a happy ending to this sorry tale after all. No-one was hurt, the Pinapex is locked up and the Sanctuary has passed the security review despite Kate only just taking Dr. Lee on a tour at the end of day. Team Sanctuary prevails once again although as Will points out, Magnus may have done this before….just “once or twice”…

Remember to tune in for the next episode “One Night” (directed by Amanda Tapping!) tonight April 25, 2011 on Syfy! In the meantime here is “Hangover” and two sneak peeks of “One Night” courtesy of Syfy via Hulu

As always, thank you for reading on WormholeRiders News Agency and please feel free to leave any comments or questions below. To visit or follow myself or WormholeRiders on twitter, please click on the icons below.

~ Gairwyn

April 25, 2011
Riese Series Set to Rock Canadian Citizens on the Space Channel!

Well, hey there Rieslings!

How’ve you all been doing since the RIESE webisodes finished airing in the United States? I hope you’ve all been well! There is some exciting news for Canadians today! Starting on March 7th, Riese episodes will start airing every Monday and Friday on SPACECAST. But that’s not all!

Once all of the episodes are available online, Space Channel will air Riese: Kingdom Falling on April 9th right after the season finale of Merlin.

You lucky ducks getting to see it on your televisions! Hopefully this will kick start Riese into becoming a regular series on Space, Syfy and around the WORLD! It’s just so exciting!

PRESS RELEASE: January 31, 2011– The acclaimed Digital Series RIESE: KINGDOM FALLING Crash Lands on SPACECAST.COM, March 7, 2011!

Riese Series is narrated by Sanctuary’s Amanda Tapping and features Canadian sci-fi stalwarts Christine Chatelain, Ryan Robbins and Patrick Gilmore!

Television broadcast premiere April 9 at 9 p.m. ET on SPACE – Toronto. Beginning Monday, March 7, SPACECAST.com hosts the award winning digital series RIESE: KINGDOM FALLING. Featuring a bevy of Canadian sci-fi talent, new mini-episodes of the 10-part series are set to stream on SPACECAST every Monday and Friday through to Friday, April 8.

Also on the site, fans can log on throughout March for exclusive web interviews with the cast of the show. For those who want to see it all again, RIESE: KINGDOM FALLING airs in its entirety following the season finale of MERLIN on Saturday, April 9 at 9 p.m. ET, exclusively on SPACE.

Starring Canadian Christine Chatelain (Sanctuary), RIESE: KINGDOM FALLING is a fantasy adventure steampunk web series that chronicles the life of a mysterious wanderer named Riese. A life-on-the-run from a world with a dim future, Riese and her trusted wolf companion, Fenrir, flee their dying land of Eleysia in search of freedom as they are hunted by assassins of The Sect, a terrifying religious entity. As she tries to piece together her mysterious past,

Riese takes on a life and death journey with the balance and the fate of the world lying in the palm of her hands. Narrated by genre icon Amanda Tapping (Sanctuary), RIESE features a cavalcade of Canadian talent from the world of popular speculative drama, including Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary), Patrick Gilmore (Stargate Universe), Alessandro Juliani (Battlestar Galactica), Sharon Taylor (Stargate Universe) and Ben Cotton (Harper’s Island).

The 10-part web series and 2-hour telecast features other sci-fi mainstays including Allison Mack (Smallville) and Emilie Ullerup (Sanctuary). RIESE: KINGDOM FALLING is the first live action sci-fi web series to feature the genre steampunk – a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy that features anachronistic technology and design elements, often from Victorian-era Britain. The series won the Streamy Award for Best Cinematography in a Web Series with a further three nominations for Best Sound Design, Best

Foreign Series and Art Direction. Shot in Vancouver, RIESE was created by Ryan Copple and Kaleena Kiff, and produced by Galen Fletcher and Nicholas Humphries.

SPACE is Canada’s national science fiction, horror and fantasy channel. SPACE is truly the boutique station for all those who dare to challenge their imagination. SPACE is owned by CTV Limited, a division of CTVglobemedia, Canada’s premier multimedia company.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

SPACE on Facebook

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RIESE on Twitter

Thanks for reading and stopping by! As always, we appreciate you for taking time to visit WormholeRiders News Agency.

If you have any questions or comments, please drop me a line in the comment section below. You may also share this news article by clicking one of the social media icons below. Or you can chat with me by following on Twitter by clicking on my picture to the right. Have a Riese-tastic day!

~ MeaganSue

January 31, 2011
Sanctuary S3x10 “Hollow Men” Review – Definitely Not A Hollow Mid-Season Cliffhanger!

Hi Sanctuary fans and hello from Sanctuary Team in Europe!,

We have arrived. After ten weeks of adventures, unforgettable quotes and great characters’ moments we got to the mid-season cliffhanger of Sanctuary. We all dreaded that, knowing that with the minute Hollow Men is over, we will have to last through the mid-season break. But my dear viewers, what Sanctuary creators presented us with on 17 December 2010 was just mind-blowing and it is more than capable to get us through the weeks of waiting for the second half of the season.

So, grab a chair and let us do the review!

After we are treated to the ‘Previously on Sanctuary’ part, explaining the current major arcs, we set off with the Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and Adam’s (Ian Tracey) conversation. They have a quiet argument… battle of wits and their strengths, which is a bit ironic seeing as they are both dying of radiation poisoning.

You can easily see, that Adam is a true villain here… he always tries to angry his opponent and undermine their self-confidence. With Magnus he always attacks her feelings for Ashley, and hits the nerve. Although, by the stubborn expression on Helen’s face we can see that she knows his tactics, we can also sense it hurts her every single time.

After that, somewhat disturbing scene, we are very joyful to see the actual Sanctuary team coming down the hall. Kate (Agam Darshi), Will (Robin Dunne) and Henry (Ryan Robbins) all geared up follow Helen, the obvious leader, and like true friends they offer their support, not letting Magnus go on her little trip alone. I am sure, many of you rubbed their hands together upon seeing the team all dressed in the ‘adventure gear’. This episode truly gave us what we know and love about those people.

And when you think it cannot get better… Nikola (Jonathan Young) and John (Christopher Heyerdahl) show up. John quiet and Nikola obviously.. not.
This scene is one of the funniests in the episode. Tesla’s words like “Huey, Dewey and Screwy” describing Kate, Henry and Will (though no one knows if that is the order he had in mind). Or Helen’s “Don’t be bitter” and Nikola’s “But I do it so well.” – all make for the viewers’ good laugh.

And of course, I should not forget to mention Henry’s grimaced face when he utters “I have to pee” just before John zaps them to the gateway. Hilarious.

Couple of zaps later and we are with the team in a snowy, windy and overally cold place somewhere in the Asian mountains. On the sidenote, this still:

looks to me like a sketch taken from a comic book. My thought here is, that it adds to the, a bit gothic and also comic book-like feeling of the series itself.

But back to the action. After John teleports back and leaves the team alone, they spur back into their task. Locating the door quickly, they place all the pieces together.
“This is so Indiana Jones” – Kate

And we can see Helen is really excited for the journey they have ahead of them. But as usually, the problems will not leave them alone and after opening a few inches the gateway stops. Ahhh… but our heroes are resourceful and soon, they are cutting trough the ice with all they have. By the way, have you noticed the expression on Helen’s face when Henry turns the torch on for the first time and it appears small and weak? Looks trully funny. Amanda Tapping‘s comic talents shine through even in small details like this one, lightening Magnus’es character.
But I digress, after a few minutes of fumbling with obstacles and pushing the doors, with the help of a litlle Earth tremor, the team finally get the door open…. and promptly get locked inside when the heavy stone wall slides closed again after the four of them step inside.
Kate and Helen, already back in the working mode, discover a quartz based electronic eye and deduct quickly that this is what detected and got them locked inside. Team work of the ladies there and then, when the boys still try to gain their bearings.

One has to admit, that the moment the team walk inside and we can see the rocks and artificial lights, one can sense that the CGI will be unforgetabble. And Anthem does not fail us.

At the same time, John and Nikola are left at the Sanctuary with Adam… and that spells trouble. The boys’ club is chatting away, visibly provoking and making each other angry. Surprisingly, Tesla throws a few nasty comments but he is actually the “voice of reason” in their group. He proves that by ‘gently’ stopping John from suffocating Adam, stating Helen might need him.

Then we are back to the four explorers. They have already found the “Vampire detector” and as Helen states, “The light’s on” her source blood shield. However, the viewer can see the uncertainty in their somewhat slower movements and unsure looks. Even though, Helen is in charge of the trip (if not at the Sanctuary), Will steps in and offers the three of them will cross the barrier first. To his surprise, Helen agrees and when Henry and Kate pretend to look around Will decides to be the first one.

We see some cool CGI and then we stop breathing for a second when the barrier turns red while Helen is passing through. But everything turns out good and Kate states “I take back all I’ve said about Tesla” … to which Magnus responds quickly “Let’s not be too hasty”, as if sensing troubles. And right at that moment, the barrier comes to live and flashing red, starts to follow them gradually.

And when Hank and Kate jump up on a rock, while trying to avoid the red ‘thing’ (for the lack of a better word), they both stumble not-so-gently down the shaft when another Earth tremor hits. You cannot help but feel sorry for them too, always bruised or beaten, especially when Helen calls after them, fear for her friends visible in her eyes.

But she is not the only one worried. Back at the Sanctuary the Scary Duo, Nikola and John, detect the tracking device signal died. Worry written across their faces. When John is all about rescue, Tesla surprises us again, sitting calmly in front of the computer and investigating the cause of lost singal.

When the team is separated down in the Hollow Earth, we feel a bit sad, because we love the group dynamic. While Kate and Henry try to piece themselves back together, Magnus and Will explore the tunels further. Helen obviously fascinated by each small thing and the realization they “might be the first people in centuries who walk these corridors”.

Here comes a great scene… with a bridge… and a hole in it… sounds weird, huh? But believe me when I say that Helen Magnus can do anything!

Instead of jumping across at once, which as Will says “they can easily do”, Magnus sees the opportunity to cheat the red alarm thing chasing them. To her companion’s surprise, she swiftly does an impressing acrobatic act and is already hanging from one of the bridge’s bars!

It may seem I describe every movement, however, some of them have to be mentioned. They simply are the highlights of the episodes, which are brilliant anyway, but at such moments we go “Woohoo! Yeah Magnus!” or shout something similar in front of our TV sets. Remember Magnus wit a rocket launcher in Kali 3…

When poor Dr Zimmerman slowly follows Helen, we can see that it was a good idea after all (not counting the rockslide which leaves them bruised a bit) as the laser field passes them by and it is them now, who follow it to the city. But before that, we are privy to a nice moment between our heroine and Will. You can see he is worried about her, tries to get her to rest for a bit.

Will: “It’s just adrenaline talking.” Helen: “Well, yeah.. any port in the storm.”

That quote from Magnus is already on my favourites list.

And speaking of moving moments… at the same time one takes place between Kate and Hank. He is resigned, bleeding and bruised, she is too. However, when he wants to give up Ms. Freelander gives him a nice little talk why she needs Henry.

See, those are really the elements that keep us all watching Sanctuary. Visual effects are astonishing, stories breath-taking, jokes hilarious. But it all comes down to the creators trully caring and developing the characters and giving them fabulous interaction moments. In every single episode.

All right, the moving moments are over and we are thrown back into action with Helen and Will coming across the “armed escort”.

Helen: “At least we know there are humans down here.”

Luckily they avoid being detected and the security guards go back to their zeppelin, which Will propmtly states “Is. Awesome.”

Truly the CGI are mind-boggling. After a short ‘deep-breath’ moment and uncovering some ‘leftovers’ from an unknown (yet) species Magnus turns into a researcher. It is fascinating to see the many facades of hers – explorer, scientist, fighter – changing over so often and so quickly in her. Besides, it is always fun to see Will almost vomiting at something which Helen is sort of, fascinated by.

Then the next minute, what you know, they are running away from a basilisk! Magnus catching her wits about her in a record time, pulling her phone out to act as screen, she advices Will not to look at the creature.

“But that’s like saying… Don’t think of yellow rhinoceros!” Zimmerman says, covering one eye and stealing a glance at the creature with another. It looks really funny and gives us a good laugh.

After a bit of running, being almost burnt with fire, the protagonists meet the Nomadic culture representatives who save them from the basilisk. I have to say here, that when the man says “Apparently you speak ours [language]” is a nice twist to the ‘why they speak English’ nagging question appearing when you watch some other shows.

When the didvided team try to make the heads and tails of their respective situations and get to the city in one way or another. Adam, John and Tesla are again ‘chatting’ in the Sanctuary.

While, Nikola and John want to help Helen and the rest and they are truly worried, the change in Adam’s behaviour is obviously suspicious. However, Ian Tracey‘s acting skills are admirable, especially when it comes to the tone of his voice. He modules it whenever he slips from Hyde to Adam.

Meanwhile, Magnus and Will are treated to some food and they can witness what is the cultivation field of the Nomadic culture. Fantastic CGI. After quickly learning that they should have a clearance to get into Praxis (the name of the Holow Earth’s city) they are not at all discouraged in their quest. And by the way, one has to wonder why meeting another culture equals trying their not so tasty food….

While Magnus is still exploring the Nomadic habits, we get a first glimpse at Ranna (Polly Walker), and immediately you feel she is cold and dettached. And when, in calm voice she orders to look for the travelers, you think – troubles.

At the same time, poor Kate and Hank are still trekking through the labirynth of caves… But they find something… Plumbing!

Henry: “And where’s plumbing, there’s…”
Kate: “Toilets!”
Henry: “…Civilizaton.”

But the funny moment is over soon enough when unidentified monks appear and they promptly knock both of them out. Quickly and efficiently. Advanced civilizations like to act in such manners…

Part of the reason why we love the series so much is the way they edit the episodes. Especially those when you follow multiple storylines. In Hollow Men, when we are privy to one conversation and then cut to another one, we are not surprised to see it has already progressed. Actually, we are pleased to see the plots are constantly unfolding. In addition, evertyhing is quickly explained in a few efficient sentences or a quick dialogue.
That way, we are back to Dr Magnus and Will finding, what can only be called, “mass transit”.

Before you know, Helen, always the adventurer, is already getting inside one of the “Ping-Pong balls” and Will quickly follows her, truly surprised at her energetic behaviour. It is not like she is not always like that. However, there is something about Magnus in that episode that makes everyone wonder. Probably, it is the overwhelming need to meet her father mixed with finally seeing the breath-taking Praxis.

When they are both inside, you are able to feel their excitement, it is so huge. They glance out of the windows, outwardly fascinated and when Helen explains how the transport must work, you go all melting in your seat at her techno-talk. I know I did.

See, ther is a moment when Will tries to mimick Helen’s accent. It sounds funny and it is an interesting element of his character, however, it does not sound anyway near as fabulous as when Helen speaks.
But I digress. Even though they figure out they are heading into a trap, we all know there is no other way. So we wait in excitement, to see what is going to happen next.

And next is the scene back at the Sanctuary fort. The scary trio try to figure out a way to get inside the Hollow Earth. It is interesting to see them work together. And Nikola’s face expression when he gets left behind… priceless.

The viewers just know that John is heading into troubles. Do not trust the man with split personality. And we learn there are more pale friends of Worth’s, when they attack and cease John. This espisode nicely explains that there are many different cultures, creatures in Hollowth Earth. Each of them with their own agenda, history.

While that is happening, Freelander and Foss are thrown into a holding cell, and having a “Vista moment” as Henry puts it, after being knocked out. On the other hand we have Helen and Will, being captured upon getting out of the mass transit.

Helen: “And I believe this is our stop.”

Although, we all are sad they are held prisoners, we are thrilled to see how they will get out of it, after all it is what they do…

The duo is being led through an amazingly looking streets of Praxis. It is mind-blowing what Anthem can do with CGI. Just look at that:

And to think it is green screen, is just beyond imagination.

Next thing we know, we are overjoyed to see the gang back together, though in a holding cell. Fascinating to see here is, how much information the writers managed to fit in that short scene. And with a couple of jokes too. Investigating Henry’s wound, he will live. Exchanging information on how they all get there – “Let’s call it a tie” (Helen). Anger at unwelcoming greeting – them being from surface. And last but not least, acknowledging the Earth tremors and power fluctuations, which can be a means to escape, seeing as vast majority of Praxis’ technology works on it.

Personally, I also loved to hear how Helen turns to Kate when she asks about possible plan of escape, it shows the trust between them, again.

And then we are finally at the scene when Magnus and Ranna meet. Many waited for this. Magnus is, in some way, happy Ranna knows her, but that joy quickly fades away upon learning Ranna orders to execute them. Polly Walker does an admirable job here. Her face blank, betraying no feelings at all. The plot transforms quickly into another scene. The Sanctuary team hanging from the ceiling on some sort of electric handcuffs, really angry (politely putting it). We, as viewers, are also surprised when Henry is not able to transform and when, along with the team, we learn the Hollow Earth society is not as tolerant to abnormals as we all thought they would be. Seeing they want to simply kill the newcomers without sparing any moment to hear them out, we know they are not as advanced as we thought. Ranna, even though, answering some of the team’s questions, seems to be cold and distant.

After a few sentences, to our great surprise Helen, Kate, Henry and Will are electrocuted and Ranna walks away, while the screen fades away.

If they are dead, we do not know. After all it is a cliffhanger. I need to add, that the twist on the episode’s title was great, considering what happened in it. It was a cliffhanger with a kick, as it leaves so many plots unanswered and unresolved. The wait feels long, but look at it another way. You have much time to analyse the epsidode again…and again.. and think of possible rescue ways for the Sanctuary team.

Thank you for visiting WormholeRiders and reading my review. If you would like to comment you can do it below or visit me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar.

Best regards,
Katie__5

January 5, 2011
Gate to the Sanctuary, Melbourne: The Amanda Effect! One small drop…

CALLING ALL SANCTUARIAN GATERS!

Gate to the Sanctuary was an incredible Stargate and Sanctuary convention, held in Sydney by Culture Shock Events, and in Melbourne by Hub Productions. On the weekend of 11-12 December, 2010, several hundred extremely blessed fans had the opportunity to meet with some of their favourite artists, including Amanda Tapping of Stargate and Sanctuary, Robin Dunne of Sanctuary, as well as Carmen Argenziano (Stargate) and Chuck Campbell (Stargate and Sanctuary)

Further to my convention report, and the transcript of Robin’s panel, below is the MUCHLY anticipated, sublime and utterly inspiring transcript for Amanda’s hour of magic. Amanda’s panel was the most memorable for its soul, its beauty, its crazed goofiness, the hysterical giggles, the moved tears, and its intelligent and thoughtful Q&A.

Please note that these are written exactly how they are spoken. I chose to leave in the ‘umms’ and ‘aahs’, the little vocal nuances, so that you may read it exactly as was spoken by HER, and not by anyone else. I did not want to filter it, but left it as it is so that you may hear it as Amanda told it. It is not a written report, but a transcript of spoken language, and should be read as such. I have also tried to include descriptions of actions and facials expressions where possible. In the case of Amanda, it’s kind of essential!

I hope you enjoy the panels as much as we did! May you finish with a painful stitch, inspired beyoond belief, a mind in smithereens, and a heart exploding with love…it’s all about the living experience!

A MASSIVE bouquet of gratitude to the lovely @PaganX @MichelleDaGreek and @Abydos71 for your fabulous photographic contributions!

Please also note that this transcript continues on DIRECTLY from where Robin’s left off!

A day NEVER to be forgotten…

AMANDA TAPPING

(Bouncing and clapping in seat)I wonder who’s up next?! I’M SO EXCITED!!!!! (laughter and cheers)

(VIDEO)

Moderator: Amanda Tapping everyone!! (MENTALLY UPROARIOUS SCREAMS AND CHEERS)

Amanda: I look SO MUCH COOLER on TV than I do in real life! (laughter) I can’t believe how COOL I look!

Wow…Can I get a copy of that? Wow…for the days when I’m feeling a little low! I’ve had a lot of bullets in my time…HELLO EVERYBODY!!!!

Audience: HELLO!!

Amanda: Hi MELBUN!…Uh..Melbun, you never say ‘R’s in Australia (laughter). Um ARRRRGH. That’s Olivia’s favourite joke; What’s a pirate’s favourite letter? ‘ARRRRRR!’. Um HI! I’m so excited to be here, thank you so much for having me, for being so gracious. I have to say one thing: Australians. What is it with you guys and your eyes?! I have never seen more beautiful sets of eyes anywhere in the world (AWWWWW). I’m not kidding you!..I’m not, (to an audience member) YOU..HELLO! I’m not kidding! I…every time I…What do they put in the water here?!

Audience member: FLUORIDE! (laughter)

Amanda: YEAH! Brilliant, I’m blown away…I’m not kidding! So there’s..

Audience member: It’s the Vegemite!

Amanda: It’s the Vegemite. I confess, I like it! (CHEERS) But I’m from England originally and we have Marmite which is not that different. (cheers) Thank you very much! My favourite thing to do when I go to London, is to find like a, you know, a grungy little local caf’, and have a cup of tea, and toast and Marmite. And that’s…my start to the day *giggles*. That’s my dirty little secret!

Ummm…what…AH. Okay, I’m in *goofy voice* Australia. Last week I was in Nepal (CHEERS), hence all my accoutrements. But I, for those of you that don’t know, I just..I feel like I have to tell you a tiny bit about Nepal, uh…and then we’ll get into questions.

Um. About a year ago I started a foundation called Sanctuary for Kids, and uh *cups mouth* www.sanctuaryforkids.org (laughter) and uh..one of the charities that we support..- we support really small..it’s a very grass-roots charitable initiative that we started. And honestly we started it because of you guys. It was my understanding after a …decade plus *ironic grin* in the scifi genre – a decade and a half, alright I’ll be serious! – that, um, I have never met a more…aaah…more socially connected, socially aware, generous group of people that is scifi fans. It BLEW MY MIND every time there was an auction, or every time I go to England and do the GABIT events..that there…we raised SO much money for these incredible charities, and I think “What…these people are so CONNECTED, they really GIVE A HOOT” and it’s so beautiful.

So THAT’S why Sanctuary for Kids was born, not only because we see, um, how incredibly lucky we are that we’re working in our industry, but also that we’re incredibly lucky to be connected to such an amazing and generous group of fans! So that was sort of the impetus for Sanctuary for Kids. And VERY grass-roots, no overhead, um..Damian Kindler and I cover all the costs of administration and people and banking and blah blah blah. Um…but we just do small online auctions, and we do, you know, little charitable conventions and things so…Anyway that’s the impetus behind Sanctuary for Kids! Um, and we support really, really small charities. And one of them is the Nepal Orphan’s Home which Kamil, who used to run my website, volunteered at. And he came back, and he sent me the most incredible email and pictures, and he said that “I am transformed, this place is amazing!”. And so I started doing some research, and hooked up with the people who run it, and so…Jill Bodie, who is the other person behind Sanctuary for Kids, and myself got to go to Nepal. And uh…we were in Kathmandu, we visited with Nepal Orphan’s Home, as well as some other groups while we were there, um …groups primarily dealing with trafficked women and children. HEART-WRENCHING stories, but this speaks to the incredible resilience, and open hearts, and beauty of the Nepali people- that EVERYONE we met was so gracious, and so uh…LOVING. And the GIRLS at this orphanage…there’s one house of boys, but I stayed at Sanctuary House. Partly because of the donations that we have made, they were able to open another house, and they called it Papa’s ‘Gumba’ House, and ‘Gumba’ is the Nepali word for Sanctuary. So, uh, again..(‘aww…wow’ from audience)…yeah the power of fandom and the power of just a simple movement.

So twenty-seven more children were added to the orphanage roster, and it united seven sets of sisters, this one house, who had been separated, and potentially would never see each other again, um, and they were reunited because of Sanctuary House. Uh, so we got to go. So it was an incredible gift, to be able to go and see what they needed, to uh..to crank lanterns that our crew all contributed money to buying these crank lanterns, because in Kathmandu, for 15-18 hours a day they are without electricity, and um…crayons, and art supplies. These kids were..phenomenal. And Happy. Brilliant, beautiful children, who will change this world. Um, the one thing that struck Jill and I while we were there was the incredible need and we felt “God we’re just tiny drops in the bucket”, and you know, I feel like that…as an actor in this industry, and sometimes you feel like that as a fan, and we’re…we’re just a drop in the bucket.

But honestly from that drop in the bucket, AMAZING ripples emanate. And that –uh- it was never more clear than when we were in Nepal, that that’s what was happening. That, you know, 132 children at this house are being educated. And you know, they say, if you educate a woman…you educate the village, and therefore the ripple effect! So, uh, KUDOS to you guys for your support. But um, if you wanna check it out, check out sanctuaryforkids.org, and there’s actually a blog called the Nepal Blog. And there’s pictures of some of the kids…so uh…if you get a CHANCE.

(At this point, Amanda’s voice was breaking with emotion)

(HUGE APPLAUSE)

(Moderator asked for cameras to be put away, so that they could bring the microphone to people)

Amanda: Oh great, there’s gonna be a lot of pictures of Amanda in Melbourne…Please don’t post them on the internet. There’s about twenty-seven THOUSAND bad pictures of me on the internet. I ENCOURAGE you to put the good ones on! *GRINS*

(LAUGHTER)

Um…what else can I tell you? WE FINISHED SEASON THREE! We are SUPER-EXCITED about it. I know a lot of you are up to date on it, thank you very much for watching! Um, but I’m still, you know, very much a part of the Stargate franchise, so feel free to ask me questions about that as well. Um… hard to take off those army boots, I tell ya! (laughter). A couple of girls brought two replica P90’s (laughs) during the photos…*smooshes* I WAS SO HAPPY 😀 ! (laughter). It’s just really sick, because I HATE GUNS! But you know uh, there’s something about the zen that I found as Sam Carter with a gun that…belied my inner turmoil *chuckles*(laughter). So when I started playing Helen, and I was wearing stilettos and pencil-skirts, I just like..I…I was doing this scene and Martin said “What’s WRONG Amanda?!?” and I was like *mutters out side of mouth* “Can’t I, you know, just carry a gun?” (LAUGHTER). “You’re going to your library!” – *whispers* I know, but…maybe she has a P90!” (LAUGHTER)

YAH!. But …still. Okay. HI! Let’s start with some *giggling* questions!

Q1: Hey Amanda

Amanda: HI! 😀

Q1: If you could describe the relationship between Jack and Sam in a few words, what would that be?

(scattered laughter)

Amanda: I think it’d be ONE word. FRUSTRATING!!!!!!! (LAUGHTER AND CHEERS) SERIOUSLY…..COME ON!!!

Rick and I actually talked about it not that long ago, and I had been asked so many times “Do you think they should get together, do you think..”. YES DARNIT. JUST ONCE, just get it out of the way! GOD! One night of crazy passion…where they *suggestive gestures*…(LAUGHTER) I don’t think that’s too much to ask…on SO many different levels! (LAUGHTER) But yah, I think it’s really frustrating. I mean, it’s usually respectful and loving and all those wonderful things…FRUSTRATING!!! is what comes to mind.

Q2: (gorgeously British guy sitting behind me): Hi Amanda, um, welcome to Melbourne! So nervous…(laughter) sorry! This is the most nerve-wracking experience since I got married! So um…uh..where to start. So, both Dr. Helen Magnus and Sam Carter, they’re both SUCH amazing characters, and they’re wonderful, I think, to so many of us, they’re STRONG female characters, but they don’t rely on being…you know..adopting male, or kind of macho…I mean they’re somehow so powerful and so feminine. They’re sensational! And my question was, how much influence have you had over the years with both characters, to be able to say to the guys…you know..”Can I go this way with Sam, or that way with Sam”…just you know, kind of put that out there…and …you know…stick up for women, and wave the flag!

(Giggles in audience)

Amanda: Yeah…RAR RAR! (LAUGHTER) It’s a great question! Um…Here’s a prime example: In the Stargate pilot…Sam Carter has that…*rolls eyes*..

(LAUGHTER)

Q2: YEAH the line…the line!

(Audience: Say it!)

Amanda: *Magnus accent* Would you like me to say it?

(CHEERS)

Amanda: It goes..aaaah: Just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside, doesn’t mean that I can’t do whatever you can do…

(CHEERS AND LAUGHTER)

Amanda: HONESTLY I think every woman in this room would agree, we’d NEVER say that. (laughter) Even though it’s absolutely true, it…ah…IT’S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAY! (laughter). So I remember, it was the pilot and we were under a contract whereby they could fire us after the *chuckles* the pilot if they didn’t think it was working out. So we were all *chuckles* on our ABSOLUTE best behaviour (scatterings of chuckles), so I was like “I WILL SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO SAY!” (laughter). And then as soon as the contract were, you know, okay you’ve made it through the pilot and you were continuing with you character *chuckles*, I was like *stern look* “OKAY..yeah.” (LAUGHTER)…”women don’t talk like this!”

So, I remember sitting down with the writers and saying “STOP trying to write what you think a strong woman would say…and just write a human being, right? As if you’re writing for a man, if that makes it easier, and I will bring an inherent femininity to it, EVEN if only my virtue of the fact that I’m a woman!” (laughter) This I did bring to the table! “But there will be an inherent femininity, just write a normal human being, don’t write a woman trying to prove herself in a man’s world, ‘cause it..the more you red-flag the fact that, you know *thick Texan accent* “I’m a woman in the military!”, the more boring she becomes! You know, we get it. You’re a chick with a gun…OKAY! Just write a cool, interesting smart character! And uh, the writers, to their great credit, did exactly that, and for me it was…we steered a little bit away from the vulnerability, and I think it deeply important that as much as we show a character’s strength, we also have to show the weakness. And i think the true power of a hero comes in their failings, and the, you know, the learnings from those failings! Um, so that was always my sort of bent with her, and they listened! And honestly after a few years, it was so much a part of each of us, our voices…you know Michael brought so much to Daniel, Chris brought so much to Teal’c, and so on and so on, that it became them. I mean, Don Davis WAS General Hammond!…(stirring of sympathy in audience)….heh…yeah..I can barely say his name without crying, still. Um…but that was, you know, Teryl came in and she WAS Dr. Frasier…and the things that she did. So EVERYONE informed their characters, and so…by virtue of the fact that we were on for so long I think.

Now with HELEN, I got the script that Damian had written in 2000, and aah, really I didn’t deviate from that very much. Except that we…it’s important to me with Helen because I don’t GET her, all the time, I don’t UNDERSTAND the choices she makes. Which is COOL. ‘Cause she’s 160, and I SHOULDN’T understand her (LAUGHTER). Sometimes I FEEL *chuckles* like 160! But there’s a loneliness there, there’s a wariness, and a WEARINESS of the world that she has, that I don’t necessarily understand. But I bring, I think um…aah..when I’m talking to the writers I think she really WOULDN’T make that choice. But she MIGHT make that choice. And at other times I would go I DON’T KNOW if she’d make that choice, let’s make her make that choice, let’s see her screw up! I love it! So, I don’t know *chuckles* if I answered the question or not…I’m just rambling! You see I’M NERVOUS!! (laughter). But um YES. I think After a while the actor does start to… inform what’s happening, and I’m just really incredibly proud, and privileged that I’ve TWICE now been able to play really strong…who I THINK are really cool, interesting women. (APPLAUSE)

Q3: I heard in an interview, regarding the extended season, that I THINK the thing is that because you know that you’ve got the time, that it’s a lot more pressure, but it’s a bit more of a luxury for you…

Amanda: Yes…

Q3: ..um…and that’s how you were choosing to look at it. Then you said “Ask me in ten months”. How has it been? (laughter) Not that it took ten months, but how’s it been?

Amanda: AWESOME! It’s awesome! I forgot, you know Stargate was such a machine; ten episodes, take a little summer holiday, ten more episodes. And you just ground it out. And after ten years of getting up at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning, and working till, you know, 7:30 or 8 o’clock at night, you know, it just becomes…your life! And with Sanctuary we only did 13 episodes, and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited, and did another thirteen and it was like “OOOH this is NICE! Thirteen is NICE, I have a LIFE!” And then…we got twenty, and still I say it’s a huge luxury. We did what we did with Stargate, modelled, did ten episodes, took a summer break, and we’ve just finished the last ten. But honestly by the end we were all….*audience chuckles*…a little bit coocoo for cocopuffs!(laughter) It’s a privilege. Honestly, because I think the story fits better, the arcs are more interesting, I think, what I LOVE, and I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I think that fandom…me BEING a member of scifi fandom…I don’t WANNA be spoonfed the answers! I don’t WANT somebody soft-pabbleming (?) me going “HERE, this is what we mean by that!” I wanna wonder, I wanna ask some weird questions and NOT get answers, and go “*STARES*…(laughter)… I guess I’ll have to watch NEXT week’s and find out what the hell they were talking about!” It makes sense to me! Because I think we’re an intelligent group of people, who don’t NEED to be told what’s happening.

Audience member: There’s always more guessing going on…

Amanda: EXACTLY, this season we’re trying to do that, much to certain networks…chagrim *makes face*. You know, “The audience isn’t gonna know what you mean”…*STARES…rolls eyes* (laughter) “well…*goof voice* I THINK they’re SMART!” (laughter). Yeah, so it’s been great.

Q4: Hi, my name’s Gochin (sp?)…

Amanda: HI! 😀

Q4: …I just want to say that, you know, I think you’re an amazing person, and you’re an amazing actress….And…yeah…I just…

Amanda: *goof voice* GOSH! (laughter)

Q4: Um, I’ve noticed that the music of Sanctuary is very beautiful, and there’s a very specific melody, and tune to all of it, and I was wondering if you, personally, had any kind of say in the choices for the episodes? And also, um, whether they were specifically chosen to suit the theme or something…or if it was just “Oh that one sounds pretty”…

Amanda: YAH! I’ll tell you what’s happened.

Okay, so in Season 1 we had Joel Goldsmith, who was the composer for Stargate…was AWESOME, awesome composer. Ah, VERY orchestral in his..in the way that he writes his music, and we were very lucky to have him. But we are really striving to be a 100 percent Canadian show, and part of the issue was that we had an American composer. So we found Andrew Lockington who I think is ABSOLUTELY brilliant, and what Andrew brought to the table was a very world theme, ah, much more um, drumming…less orchestral and much more world music kind of feel to it. What happens, and this is part of the beauty of being a producer, is we do what we call ‘sound spots’. So, we’ll watch an episode with Andrew on the phone (he’s in Toronto and we’re in Vancouver), and we’ll watch exactly to time…and he’s on the same computer..to time. So we’ll watch the episode, we’ll pause- anyone can pause at any given time, and can say ‘here we need some more drum’ or ‘here we need some more of this’ or ‘wouldn’t it be great if we could get a big sweep into this scene’ or ‘let’s not have any music in this scene’. So we actually do, um…to a degree..aah, inform how the music plays out. And then we just leave it in Andrew’s incredibly capable hands, and he comes up with stuff way better than we could *chuckles* ever imagined! So in terms of where the music is placed and the, uh, the sort of temperature of it. Yes. But then it’s up to him. And aah, I think he’s brilliant, personally.

And I…I know that now that Syfy International only shows the ten second opening title sequence…right? (mumbles in audience)…*Amanda makes a face*…YEAH not into the ten seconds! (laughter). We fought REALLY hard, because aah, we have a BEAUTIFUL thirty second opening title sequence, and aah..I think everywhere else in the world, except for Syfy…um…because they decided that um…*snirks* you wouldn’t stick around if it was thirty seconds *makes face* (LAUGHTER). ALL of their shows have ten second opening title sequences. I’m never gonna work for this network again, apparently *chuckles* ‘cause I keep telling people bad things about them (LAUGHTER)…*goofy voice* but I LOVE Syfy, and I owe a GREAT career to them…BUT. Ten seconds. It was like ‘Seriously? The audience is gonna…you guys are gonna stop watching ..AWH *SIGH* it’s twenty-seven seconds *SLUMPS*” (LAUGHTER).” I don’t CARE what happens between John and Helen…*shuffles away*”

Audience member: Bring back the Stargate intros…that were like…

Amanda: YEAH! Exactly, and they just keep getting smaller. So no it’s..ten second into the scene. The REST of the world gets thirty seconds. And that…again it’s now ANDREW, doing the opening title because part of the problem was… that Andrew was having, was that Joel’s music was very orchestral, and he’s trying to feed that into the first scene. You know from a…ah..it was too much of a JOLT in music styles, so now Andrew does it all. So…*chuckles* did I answer your question? (laughter) I tend to RAMBLE on… wow…

Q5: Hi…

Amanda: HI!!! Up there!!

Q5: *mutters* My friend Miranda thinks I have this one game where I like to ramble on…*chuckles*

My question is…now, you’ve done a lot of scenes with David Hewlett when you…went over to Atlantis…

Amanda: Yeah!

Q5: ..and your guest one when you did ‘Grace Under Pressure’, did you enjoy it more…doing that episode, or the one where you were with Jewel and you all fell down into the shaft…

Amanda: OOOH TRIO!…YEAH…I LOVED doing that episode! Aaaaaaaaand I… I couch this by saying I have an incredible and ridiculously paralysing fear of heights. And uh, and I was supposed to be like, the one who walks across the beam all ‘yo, yo!’ and THEY’RE the ones who were supposed to be scared, and they were just, like, hangin’ out on the beam…like..*relaxes*. But we had a BLAST. That episode, just in particular, it was very strange…we were on a gimble set, and this metal box..aaah..up on these rafters, DUST falling on us, DIRT, and aaah…we laughed. Our. heads off. I just…I COMPLETELY remember shooting every day of that episode, it was SO much fun. So THAT for me, um, but not only because of the character interactions, but because of the personal interactions…between David and Jewel and I. And just being goofs in the makeup trailer. I LOVED, you know, getting covered in dirt…you know, I love that kind of stuff..so..it was really fun.

‘Grace Under Pressure’ was, you know, had it’s OWN *goofy voice* sense of fun! (laughter) But that was…aaah…yeah that was *chuckles*. That was a strange episode for me. Ah…David’s..aaah, WIFE was there, not quite then his wife…Jane, was his ‘fiancèe’ at the time. And aaah, so that was…awkward! (LAUGHTER) It was like ‘I love you Jane! I love you…*pulls face*’ (laughter).

Q6: Hi…

Amanda: Hi!

Q6: GOD you’re pretty!…sorry…(LAUGHTER). Much prettier in real life…umm *Amanda’s making shocked faces* (LAUGHTER)….(couldn’t hear what she said)…

Um…I just..we saw you when we were watching ‘The Tok’ra’ and you just peeked in, down there with Robin, and had a peek. What was the thing…what runs through your mind, seeing, like, those images of you from so long ago…with that hair..and…

Amanda: *sobs* I was SO YOUNG!!!! (LAUGHTER)

Q6: ‘Cause it must be stranger when…I mean, a lot of us see photos from we were younger but, like, you’ve got…over ten years of your life on…

Amanda: *Stunned face* YEAH. (laughter)

Q6: So what was that like, to watch back…from your perspective?

Amanda: It’s actually, now I can look back on that with a much greater sense of detachment, and really appreciate what the show was. And go ‘AWW yeah, that was the first day that JR Bourne and I met, and …and we hung out for seven hours talking, and we, you know, these scenes happened so beautifully and…you know, so I can look back on it now…much EASIER than I could. You know… I couldn’t WATCH Stargate for the longest time, ‘cause I was so self-critical about everything. And NOW I step back and go ‘Well…it was a FUN show, and that…’ I remember the moments BEHIND them. The moments. And it is HONESTLY really FREAKY…to see…the videos that are put together *chuckles*, you know, of the transformation of Sam Carter, and of Helen. Uh…it…yeah. *whispers* OH GOD! (chuckles in audience) I’m like, ageing…before my eyes. There’s no denying that!…(Audience member: Aging gracefully!) …thank you VERY much! But yeah. It’s really weird. My DAUGHTER watches , you know, like…I got a video from a fan, and I put it in and she *chuckles* was like *shocked face*‘Mama!’, and I was like *wide eyes*“I know.” (LAUGHTER).

Q7: *mutters* Okay you’ve got the mic, now don’t screw it up! (Iaughter)

Amanda: *grins* NO PRESSURE!(Iaughter) Everyone’s listening!

Q7: Well, first of all I would like to say that, well, for the better part of, well, fifteen years of being just…NOT just a strong role model for women, but also a good match for most men, knowing that…you could probably take them ANYWHERE. (LAUGHTER)

Amanda: *GRINNING BROADLY*

Q7: ..I’d just like to say that, I don’t either way pertaining to Stargate, and Atlantis..and Sanctuary, you’re just a GOOD role model to watch on the screen. So, I just wanted to say that…

Amanda: Thank you!

Q7:..And, my question is..um..I’m not sure if it’ll ever happen. The SG-1 third movie. Would you be in it?

Amanda: *wide eyes* I hope so! (LAUGHTER)

Q7: But if they..asked you, would you…

Amanda: Oh God yeah! Yeah, I mean…aah.. I was asked this in Sydney, and I don’t KNOW if it’s ever gonna happen, it would be great. I …I don’t know if the ship has sailed on that. There was so much BUZZ about it for a long time, and we were all very excited. And then…the buzz sort of died, and after that we heard about MGM having trouble…and you know, all manner of different scenarios were being spread and…and we didn’t KNOW. And now, were just no hearing anything, so I, I don’t know. Maybe…someone would like to write one, and we could all do it! (laughter). (audience member makes a comment, perhaps about the movie campaign?) Oh is there? Yeah, I would ABSOLUTELY. I mean… I will NEVER turn my back on Stargate…that…it’s just such a HUGE part of my life. Yeah. And the boots are SO comfortable!*GRINS* (laughter). Who could say no? I mean it’s….Win, win, win!!!

Oh…HI!!..YOU FINALLY GOT THE MIC!!

Q8: Hi Amanda *very tearful*

Amanda: Hiiii! (laughter)

Q8: (quietly) I’m losing my voice…um…I just wanted to say..thank you, um, you’ve given me a lot more confidence, and you’re an Angel, and thank you…for…*buries face*

Amanda: AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

(scattered laughter in audience and THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE)

Amanda: Oh please! *goofy voice* You’ll make me cry! (laughter)

Q8: Amanda, my question is, back in webisode four…

Amanda: *stares wide-eyed trying to remember*…UH HUUUH…(laughter)

Q8: What did Druitt say to Magnus?

Amanda: What did…?

Q8: Druitt, say to Magnus?

Amanda: *trying to place it* Okay, so we shot it as a two-hour pilot…so…that would be… about halfway through*stares*…(chuckles in audience). Where were we…? (laughter)

Q8: Magnus…was tied to the chair…

Amanda: OH YEAH! And then he…yeah. And I say “Are you gonna carve me up like one of your whores?’ and…

Q8: Yeah…no just before, when he starts like…

Amanda: *staring totally lost* (chuckles in audience)….Let’s call him! (laughter). I don’t…..CRAP! *staring*(laughter). I think he said ‘I still love you, you gorgeous thing’ (awww-laughter). I THINK that’s what he said. Yeah. It might have been ‘I hate your guts you evil BITCH’ *GRINS* (LAUGHTER). I think it was ‘My God, you’re even better-looking close up’ (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE). Kinda! (audience chuckles)

Q9: Uh Hi! First, welcome to Melbourne!

Amanda: Thank you!

Q9: I hope you’re enjoying your time…I have two questions for you. The first one is just a short…little one, the second one is SLIGHTLY more involved. The first one; If you could live in any of Helen’s decades, which would you live in, and why? And of the decades she’s lived through, if you could live through any of those, which one would you live in and why? And the second is, um, you’ve often spoken of your background in theatre, your training in theatre, you’ve had years on the screen now, and television. And you’ve had a very significant role now, behind the scenes, you’ve done directing, and I was wondering which of those transitions was…the most challenging, but also the most rewarding for you?

Amanda: Uh..okay. First question. Um, I think she would go back to the twenties *nods*…the roaring twenties, BEFORE the *chuckles* Great Depression. Um…at a time when women were a bit more liberated…I’d LIKE to say the sixties but I think Helen is too much of a *chuckles* control freak. (laughter) Except for the sexual liberation part…but I think all the other stuff…she’d…boot it! (laughter). *whispers emphatically* Silly woman, SILLY WOMAN! UM…but I think maybe that the roaring Twenties, I think that was a time of, sort of, decadence and fun and…and political upheaval…and…women were a little, were staring to get a little bit more liberated, uh I think that..YEAH. THAT’S my answer for today *grins*(laughter in audience). Ask me again tomorrow!

Um…second question *stares up*.

Q9: Span of you career..and what…

Amanda: Oh yeah, yeah! Oh YEAH! (laughter). *sings dorkily* HEEEEEEY GOOD LOOKIN’ (laughter). THAT’S what he said to me! (laughter)…I think the transition to…(laughter continues) *chuckles* I don’t know WHERE that came from…I’ll tell you that story in a minute! AH…the transition to producing, for me, has been really incredibly rewarding, because I never quite understood what exactly a Producer did, like the full extent of what they did. And to be able to sort of, have a hand in …in the MINUTIA of putting together an episode, of going through a sound spot after the fact, or doing the final mix on an episode and going ‘Oh you know what, we need another clip of the gun here, a screech of tyres here…’the LITTLE things. I LOVE that. The details. I really, really enjoy that. Um, I would LOVE to go back on stage, um…time permitting, and it just hasn’t been.

Um, a few years ago I got the chance to do the ‘Vagina Monologue’s in Toronto, and um…(scattered chuckles in audience) *grins* (LAUGHTER)..*dorky voice* Sheee saaaaid “Monoloooogues…”(LAUGHTER). And uh…it was to raise money! To raise awareness against violence against women…um…Awareness FOR…AGAINST violence against…*chuckles* you know what I mean (laughter). And I had not been on stage for such a long time, and I literally had this moment, which was very telling for me, which made me think I gotta get back on stage, where…I was about to go on, and I saw the stage door, and I was like *STARES* (chuckles in audience)…*glances around awkwardly-breathless* I wonder if anyone would notice..if I just…left! Then I..I literally PANICKED, I literally went *anxious*. And uh, it was very telling for me, because I used to LOVE that pre-stage rush, you know that moment before *takes huge breath-EXHALES* HOHKAY! I used to LOVE that feeling, and then it scared the LIVING DAYLIGHTS out of me and I thought “UH OH, *dork voice*I’d better get back on stage!” Um, so eventually I would like to do that, I think THAT would be the full circle that I need to, you know. I always say, creatively you need to scare yourself…it..I think IN LIFE you need to scare yourself, as soon as you start to become complacent, do something that scares the CRAP out of you! And you…feel alive, which is what directing is for me. And what producing is. So now it’s going back on stage. I’ll just pretend I’m doing a play right now! (laughter). Yeah…

Q10: Hello!

Amanda: Hi!

Q10: Hi, how are you…um..

Amanda: Good!

Q10: My question was, um, which historical figure or mythological character would you like to see on Sanctuary in the future?

Amanda: *GRINS* Elvis! (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE) *chuckles* Naw I’m kidding. There’s a bad…you’re gonna leave aren’t you! *thoughtfully* Who should I say that would make you happy? Ummmmmmmm…..John F. Kennedy. I think she knew him well *coy smile* (LAUGHTER).

I think that uh…Yeah I think that there are some amazing political figures that we should explore, because for..Helen has such an interesting history, politically. But I would also really like to see some strong women, from the past. On the show. Um, dive back into that part of Helen’s past. (audience member: Eleanor Roosevelt…) Yeah! Eleanor Roosevelt would be amazing! Amelia Earhart would be amazing. There’s a whole bunch of them; Dorothy Parker would be really cool, ‘cause she’s kinda weird and that would be fun (chuckles). Ummm some great artists. I mean, like..yeah I. Honestly, I think we showcase some really strong men, I think it would be great to showcase some really strong women…from history. Um, so I’ll say Eleanor Roosevelt, ‘cause I want you to be happy!*cheeky smile*(laughter). Molly Brown…*to audience member* yes! We did a brief reference to her in the ‘Next Tuesday’ episode. I TOO am suddenly remembering the names of episode *grin*(laughter). You know, people ask me ‘Do you remember the episode such-and-such from Stargate..?” and I’m like *whispers* “What happened??” (laughter). But yeah. Strong women!

Q11: Hi!

Amanda: HI!!!!!

Q11: Um…two questions!

Amanda: UH HUH!

Q11: The first one is, um, at the beginning of ‘Pavor Nocturnus’ (Amanda: yes!) um, it looks like it was a really difficult one to shoot, and also a fair amount of the set was built, rather than green screen (Amanda: Yep!). Um, it looks really cold and…what was the experience like with the intensity? Because Robin was talking about it as well…

Amanda: It was..aaaah…it was a VERY scary episode. Um, and it wasn’t being wet and cold. We shot the majority of it in-house, on the stages, uhh , besides the matte paintings that you see of the ruined city, most of it was a practical set. And it’s amazing to me what our set decorators were able to do, in creating the city-scape with the, you know the plastic sheets and the..our special *chuckles* special effects guys, have this, like, CRAZY love of Hudson sprayers…which are like fine mist sprayers, and fans. And they put the HUGE fan, and this water, and they all look REALLY happy about it (laughter). Then they throw dirty leaves at you…(laughter). So it was a VERY uncomfortable episode. The shower scene in particular, obviously, was one of the scariest. Um, a lot of our crew members walked off set. Not…walked off and never came back…they were like ‘it’s too much, we can’t handle it’ and they left. Um, because it really…it really was an awful scene to shoot. But it was an IMPORTANT scene to shoot, um, for Helen’s vulnerability, and to speak to the absolute anarchy and chaos that was happening. The WEIRDEST thing was Robin. He walked onset with this crazy hair, and this eye and this MASSIVE intensity that FREAKED me out! (chuckles). And he..in the scene where he sort of yanks Helen up, right off the top, I … I had bruises for weeks. Because he *grits teeth* GRABBED SO…HE WAS MEAN! (laughter). Next time you see him in the autograph line, KICK HIM!!! (laughter and some applause). The whole line…this can be our little secret! *grins* (laughter). But yeah, it was..uh..a VERY intense episode. It was VERY wet and um…but YEAH. That sort of speaks to the whole philosophy of SCARE yourself! It was scary! And so afterwards we were all like PHOOOO!! It felt great!

Q11: And the other question is um, in the sort of …three seconds Syfy told about Season Three, you talked about it being more romantic. Can you, talk more about that?

Amanda: *Exhales frustratedly* Helen should have …more fun relationships than she does *frustrated stare* (chuckles) EVERYONE ELSE…is getting (scattered chuckles). Just get some. (laughter) Get some… dot, dot, dot! Aah…so Will finds romance, Henry finds romance, I don’t know if the five years are up for Biggie and it’s time for HIM to find romance (laughter).

Uh, Helen…There’s only one scene, I think, which is truly romantic in Season 3, and I don’t know if you’ve seen the episode ‘King and Country’ yet (resounding YES!). Right, okay, so THAT SCENE…I would like to take credit for, so I will! (laughter) And um, I had this WEIRD sort of daydream vision, because I think part of the problem with…part of the problem…*dorky voice* Part of the problem with Helen and John *chuckles*, is that. Um. It’s SO HARD to fathom what this love is. Because he’s a DICK! (LAUGHTER) And..but she… He is her FIRST. LOVE. He…he’s her Jack O’Neill *smiles* (laughter). Unrequited! Uh, no but HE’S her first love. He EMBODIES the innocence, the joy, the first BLUSH, um…of True… Love .Until he became this hideous thing! And, she blames herself for that…even still, um, knowing all the other variables in place. And I think that there’s just this…nobody else, besides Tesla, and Watson and Griffin, well Griffin’s now dead and Watson’s now dead! Nobody else understands that! The depth of that loneliness, the history, the…so…I had this vision …

(Mobile phone in audience rings)…do you want me? *grins and mimes holding to ear* (laughter).

Uh. I had this vision, of Helen taking a moment. So I went to the writers and I said “Could, we..in this scene…find a moment where Helen just takes that: It’s safe, he’s not gonna wake up, she just wraps herself in his arms and *EXHALES*. Because he’s the only one…who would understand, the loss of a child, the depth of despair, she’s dying, finally…like…everything. The weight finally hits her, and nobody else who she could turn to. But she couldn’t turn to him AWAKE, because that’s all..you know *dorky voice* ‘cause then all SORTS of weird stuff happens! So that…I asked for that moment of…and I talked to Christopher about it and we both just LOVED it. It’s a great moment to play. So that’s the extent of her romance, with a guy she’s KNOCKED OUT! *chuckles* (laughter). *dorky British* Caught in Cambodia, wraps herself in his arms *chuckles and punches air* WOOOOH HELEN!! (LAUGHTER) YEEEEAH that’s romance! *nods*. I’ll take what I can get!

*To audience member* HEY YOU GOT IT, YAY!

Q13: We’ve been talking a lot about you being a role model for a lot of people in this room, and all around the world. What’s it like now, that you’ve got a career, you’re producing a show, to be a role model and a mentor for a lot of the younger actors that belong to your show?

Amanda: I take it very seriously. Uh, I think that..um…there weren’t a LOT of women, when I was starting out, who were doing…uh…everything that I’m trying to do! Um, or that, basically, had the time! So I’m really…I’m really CONSCIOUS about trying to …to talk to young women. I work with women in film, in the Flashforward program, I do a mentorship program with them. I have a DAUGHTER. And I think it’s really important that she understands that…there’s a whole…you know, there’s a whole world of possibility. And that it’s gonna be hard and crappy at times, but then it’s okay. Um, I…but with Agam. Agam’s constantly coming up and asking me stuff and it’s very cool, same thing with Emilie. I DO take it very seriously, because I think…I was really lucky. And I feel that somehow *chuckles* I’ve sort of stumbled into this crazy life, and I LOVE it, but I’ve been given a great gift…and if I were to not…share it…that would be really…dumb. (chuckles all round). Uh, I remember, before I directed Stargate, I sat on a plane to LA with Helen Shaver. And she was directing ‘Judging Amy’ or something at the time, and she was in ‘Poltergeist’. I don’t know if you know who she is or not, but um. She’s a female director and, um, SHE. WAS AWESOME. She totally mentored me the whoooole flight down to L.A. I was like, you know “this is what I wanna DO with the scenes” and blah blah blah. And I thought “If I can do what SHE’S doing, that’s great”. There’s another director, Ann Wheeler, who’s one of my favourite female directors. And she that kind of woman too, she’s like “Come to editing! Come and sit! Watch what I do!” Which I think is so cool! So, yeah.

Q14: Hi Amanda!

Amanda: HIIII!

Q14: Um, I was just wondering. Aaah Robin was talking about practical jokes on the set (Amanda: AHA :D!) and I was wondering if you had any really, really funny moments that you can remember?

Amanda: Well…Robin’s big thing, as you ALL know, is taking his pants off (LAUGHTER). Which is why I wrote ‘THIS IS MY BUM’, because I’ve SEEN it so many times!(laughter)*makes a face* (LAUGHTER). Don’t tell him I said that! Uuuh, so..the big thing *sighs* practical jokes is hard because our cast is really funny, and so the biggest thing we do is crack each other up off-camera. And it was the same thing that happened on Stargate. It would be… you know, Michael and Chris behind the lens, you know, making stupid faces..or, and trying to get you to break. And that’s the biggest practical joke that actors ever play on each other. I mean with Christopher, it’s taping…duct-taping you to chairs (laughter) *chuckles* It’s funny! …until everyone leaves the room and you have to pee! (LAUGHTER)

But, I told this story in Sydney about Christopher’s flatulence…and I’ll BRIEFLY tell you now. Um, he has this horrifically gaseous body (chuckles in audience), um and…he would constantly clear rooms with like, you’d walk into the room and go *complains*“Oh God… Christopher we BEGGED the caterers not to serve beans!” …and we would, you know EVERYTHING we could do, our ..Our craft service guy had like, bottles of Pino up against the back wall, to stop Chris’s gas, and it never worked. So he finally had his own, when he had to wear a full NASA space suit (LAUGHTER). THE REAL DEAL. And he got bolted into it. And then the helmet came on. And the GUY FROM NASA was THERE, putting this thing on! And…(chuckles all round) We all sat back and were just like *waves hands*..it…it HAS to happen (LAUGHTER)! We watched him go, you know, from his delicious chocolate brown, to this weird shade of green *chuckles* (LAUGHTER). It was nice,…himself. His face was kind of *screws up sour face* (LAUGHTER). And I swear the entire crew had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard (LAUGHTER). That’s KARMA! *grins*. That’s not a joke, that is KARMA. Yeah…I wish we’d filmed it!

Q15: Hi!

Amanda: Hi!

Q15: Um, you have acted with Christopher Heyerdahl in every series from SG-1, to Stargate Atlantis, to Sanctuary. Which character, out of the five that he’s played with you, is your favourite? And why?

Amanda: Druitt. Although..umm.. I really like him as Biggie. Uh, although…ahh..I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Helen never refers to him as any… she never calls him ‘Biggie’ or ‘The Big Guy’ or…she never…One day we’ll actually reveal what she calls him. It’s interesting with Christopher, obviously I have more to do with him on ‘Sanctuary’ than I DID on the Stargates, but um. There’s just such a great connection when he plays John, and there’s such a..aah..well..it’s a very interesting passion between the two of us when we play those characters together, and I LOVE it. Like, as actors we sort of HOOAH! There’s a connection, it feels so real and great! Yeah, but when he plays Biggie, he’s a completely different guy! He walks onto set and he is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GUY. And he’s …a bit more aggressive, and he’s …bigger *chuckles* which is weird, because he’s tall and big as he is! But he’s…he’s SO interesting to me as an actor, how…how he transforms himself. Um, and the relationship between Helen and Biggie is soooo…gentle, and they’ve known each other for so long, and they have such a deep friendship. And with John it’s all about passion. So, but I think John. Because I can actually look at Christopher’s face. When he’s Biggie I forget he’s Christopher, I TRULY do. Wow….till he slaps (laughter). But yeah, I think John.

Q16: Hi Amanda, how are you?

Amanda: Hi! Good thanks!

Q16: Ah, look, just a two-part question! Any chance of, aah, an episode of ‘Sanctuary’ starring Richard Dean Anderson? (laughter, Amanda: OOOH YEAH!). If so (laughter)…If so what…as you’ll be HIS boss, what would be the most interesting abnormal you would make him? (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)

Amanda: *smiling* I would give him some REALLY special skills (laughter). Ah, we actually tried to get Richard for the webisodes to play , um, Helen’s previous assistant…aaah…and I think there’s this sort of weird video blip that Will looks at. It ended up…ROBIN ended up doing it, in full make up, which is really cool. But we wanted to get Richard to do that, just play this cranky, crazy *chuckles* old FART (laughter)…who’s dying ‘cause of all the experiments he’s done with Helen and…I thought THAT would be really fun. Um, but we have yet to get him on the show…But if we did. I don’t…I don’t think I’d make him an abnormal. WELL I mean he is…*chuckles* just by being Richard (laughter) Dean Anderson *chuckling*. Have you all met him? (YEAH! He was here earlier on in the year) YEAH. So…ah, he doesn’t…*chuckling*…really need makeup or anything (LAUGHTER). He’s just weird (laughter). Lovely. Um, yeah I don’t think I’d cover up that beautiful mug with any prosthetics or anything. I think in one of Helen’s…*cheeky smile* (LAUGHTER)…I think it would be a really lovely full circle if, uh, SAM doesn’t get it on (LAUGHTER), then Helen could at least get it on with somebody who *chuckling* looks a LOT like Jack! (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE). But yeah. And of course there’s the whole Richard-Dean-Anderson factor for ME! (laughter)

HI!

Q17: Hi, um I’ve got two questions. The first one is; Is there any chance in Season 4, you would come down and film here.

Amanda: Oh I would LOVE to, are you kidding? My God, I think there’s a Melbourne Sanctuary, don’t you? (YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!)

Q17: Um, the second question was; Did you do all your stunts in ‘Breach’ yourself?

Amanda: Um, I think there’s ten…LESS than ten shots that aren’t me.

Q17: Because it …was amazing!

Amanda: YEAH. Thank you! That was aaah, I have an AMAZING stunt double, aaah for fights. Her name’s Ashley. She. Is. AWESOME! And ah, so she taught me all the fights. Rob Hater is our fight coordinator, and uh, the two of them taught me all these fights. But I’m like “No let me do it, let me do it” and obviously it’s easier to FILM if it’s really me. Um, so there’s a couple of things like, when she does the pipe thing over her head, that is HER going over her head, but the rest of the stuff is me. Um, and I think it’s because…that I’m…too much of a spaz (laughter) to have this *chuckling* long metal pipe to swing around my face! (laughter) Um, and that drop from the ceiling is HER *COUGH*…*cough* sorry! *HAAAAACK* (laughter) And uuuuuh, there’s a couple of sequences in the, aah, hammer/machete fight, that are her. Um, but for the most part…YEAH…I got my ASS kicked! (chuckles) But I got to do some kicking too! (Yeah…it was pretty cool!) YEAH, Ian Tracey, too, is a PHENOMENAL actor. We fought REALLY hard to get him, he’s just SO great. Um, so the two of us had a lot of fun *laughing* beating each other up! *smiling* I’ve got a…I’m kind of a fan of his…kind of…I am! I’m a fangirl…ah…so it was like *chuckling* “Uh…okay…*breathes* Really?…uh. Okay…you really want me to punch him?!” (laughter) But it’s really interesting, when you get actors who actually understand, ‘cause he’s done a lot of stunts, of his own stunts, himself. And you get actors who understand it, it’s REALLY FUN to play that you’re…kicking the CRAP out of each other! And very rarely…land a punch! You know, I’ve actually…punched, one of our stunt guys, Clint, on three different shows (laughter). He’s really cute, like…REALLY CUTE. Aaand maybe that’s why I keep connecting him *demonstrates* “Oh…OH!…OH I’M SO SORRY…here let me help you up!” (LAUGHTER) That’s why, I dunno. Umm, but it…it’s…usually I’m pretty good about swinging punches, but for some reason I…actually in ‘Pavor’ I punched him, I elbowed him right in the chin *demonstrates* “oh CLINT!” (LAUGHTER) *goofy voice* I’m blushing now! (chuckles)

Q18: Hi Amanda.

Amanda: HI!

Q18: Just, um, one question about two episodes of Stargate. Um, how much fun was it to do episode 200? And how emotional was it to do ‘Unending?’

Amanda: Uh, okay. Aaaaah. ‘200’ was sort, of, the episode where we got to do EVERYTHING we ever wanted to do! Um, all in one episode. And aah we had a blast! I LOVED ‘100’, I loved ‘200’, because when you get to 200 episodes you ought to be able to do something completely irreverent and silly and fun. And sort of, the things…that a fan had written you about, or things that we’ve asked the writers about or things the network has said ‘no’ to. ‘200’ is like, *goofy voice* “Let’s DO it!” So we GOT to do it, but it was REALLY fun. We laughed a LOT during that episode!

Um, ‘Unending’ was aah, I’ll NEVER forget the moment, um…aah, and I think there’s a lot of pictures that have made their way out into the world. Um. Rob Cooper was really smart, ‘cause he waited until the VERY last scene, VERY last day, for us to step through the Stargate. The VERY last shot we did on the series was…stepping through the Stargate. And…we were bawling. Christopher was bawling. He could barely…he…they were like “Cut. Are you okay Chris? Just your…make up…” (laughter) *does Chris impression, crying and whimpering*(laughter). We, we ALL were. It was, it was INCREDIBLY emotional, and Rob Cooper, again, was REALLY, REALLY smart to save THAT moment. Because we thought “God, this is the last time we’re gonna walk through the Stargate on this television series” It was really, REALLY emotional! And it was RELLY…it was like, WEE hours of the morning, and ALL the production staff stayed. And so like, the entire GATEROOM was FILLED, with people who had worked on the show for ten years. People came BACK, who hadn’t been on the show for a few years, came back just to watch that moment. And then the coolest thing happened, was: Michael, Christopher and I snuck upstairs, we went through the control room, and up the spiral staircase to um…the briefing room. And the three of us just stood there and looked down at the Stargate, and we put our arms around each other and we were like “Wow. So that happened”. Umm, because that’s how we started! The three of us aah, found ourselves around the corner and saw the Stargate for the first time before the pilot. And ah, I remember turning to Michael at that moment, before we had even SHOT…you know…a roll of film, going *chuckling*“Oh my God! We’re working on a really cool show, LOOK AT THAT THING!” (laughter) “It’s HUGE!!” And we were SO EXCITED, and so…you know…YOUNG, and “Oh my GOD this is, you know, our first big series for both of us!” and we were just like “aaah!” and then Chris joined us, and the three of us were just like “WOW. This is gonna be GREAT!!!” Flashforward to ten years later, when we were like “Oh my…GOD ten years!”. It was veery emotional, but REALLY, really beautiful. And it was…we didn’t even say a word! Except for “wow!” Just…we all kinda looked at each other, SO many people, and everyone’s talking and crying…we sort of FOUND each other, and went *wow!*. And uh, it was REALLY beautiful. Yeah, very….*sheepish smile* (chuckles).

Mic handler: One last question…

Amanda: WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?! (groans and complaining from audience) AWwww COME ON! *makes face* (LAUGHTER) I don’t have to be anywhere at the end of this panel!…*mumbles* just the autograph line…*mumbles*

Q19 (Me): Hi Amanda! (Amanda: HELLO!) Welcome to Melbourne! (Amanda: THANK you!)

Um, I’ve got two quick questions…at the end of Season One, you had…um…Babz Chula, guesting with ‘Sanctuary’, and how…how was that to work with her. Because obviously, what happened afterwards (Amanda: Right…yeah…) She seemed like..(Amanda to audience member: Oh she’s asking about Babz Chula…) and she seemed like, before she came on ‘Sanctuary’ as well, um, I know she was a role model for a lot of young Vancouver actors as well. So um, what was it like working with Babz on the show? And also (Amanda: She’s an AMAZING woman…sorry..!) …SORRY! Um, The Sanctuary Experience. The auction…was AMAZING. I mean, I don’t know about everyone else here, but we felt the energy (Amanda: YEAH!) across the oceans. I mean, everyone was just…over the moon, and we were wondering where the fund from that went to?

Amanda: OKAY! Alright, so the first part of the question was about Babz Chula, um….I dunno if..uuh…all of you know who she is. She’s…WAS…sadly..uuh…passed away. An INCREDIBLE local Vancouver actor, activist, role model…amazing, AMAZING, FEISTY woman. And, I had ALWAYS wanted to work with Babz. And we were both being honoured for…a…women in film…I won a Woman of Vision award, and she won Woman of the Year. And, uh, so AT this event, the two of us…uuh… so EVERYONE came up and gave these very nice speeches and thank-yous, there were ALL these different awards being given out. And then I got Woman of Vision, and she got Woman of the Year. And I gave this completely irreverent and goofy speech, and then Babz came up and gave a completely irreverent and goofy speech, and so the two of us were just like “YEEEEEAH!” (laughter) “AWESOME!” And I said, “I would LOVE to have you on the show!”, and she said “I’d LOVE to do your show!”, and I went “…oh…well ALRIGHT!!!” (laughter). And so we wrote her a part. And that was it! Um, I never got to really work with her! *chuckles* Which SUCKED, I was like “Why did you write her a part where I’m not even…I don’t even TALK to her? *stares hard*” (chuckles) “I…I…*sighs* it’s BABZ CHULA, and SHE’S WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE!” I’m…I really…I’m peeved! But as much as I get peeved…HMMM *makes face* (laughter). Uhh. So I didn’t get to work WITH her as an actor, which…yeah…SUCKED. SHE brought something…the role is written for a man, aah, originally in the script it was a MALE doctor, and aah, we thought “Wouldn’t it be really interesting if it was a woman, and we played up the MATERNAL side of this …creepy scientist”. And she just…she did a beautiful job. We just…put it in her hands, and said “Do WHATEVER you want, because we know you’ll bring something incredible, to the table” Umm, so yeah. It was amazing. Amazing. Uh, she passed away last year and…aah…there’s a big hole in the Vancouver acting community. She…touched a LOT of people. She passed away shortly after I…ah…one of my best friends passed away, from…from cancer. And so it was a really…it was a tough beginning… it was the beginning of this year! So it was…a tough beginning to the year to lose somebody that special.

Um….*stares into corner* OH! The Sanctuary Experience. Aaah. Sanctuary Experience was aaah run…aaaah a Vancouver convention in the summer! Aand, aah, we raised aah…ALL TOLD, ah, about $100,000, for Sanctuary For Kids, which was…PHENOMENAL, ‘cause there’s 250 people in the audience (amazed mutterings) and, YEAH! It was…ALL the actors donated time, the crew, EVERYONE…I mean everyone donated everything, and we raised…an INCREDIBLE amount of…I thought we’d get away with maybe $20,000! So a hundred thousand was insane. Um, THAT money has gone…uuuh…to, Nepal Orphan’s Home. We’ve also started a new, um, partnership with Next Generation Nepal. Uh, Nepal Orphan’s Home specifically, aah, we were going to but the vitamins, multi-vitamins for the children. And, uh, INSTEAD what’s happened, which is actually WAY better, is they were doing a…they were getting a mid-level grade of rice, they’re now getting the top level which is…packs far more nutrients. They’re getting double the amount of vegetables and fruits, and they’re getting chicken twice a week instead of…once a month! And the energy…aah…I got an email literally THE DAY before I came to Australia, from Michael Hess, who runs Nepal Orphan’s Home, saying “You won’t believe how much energy the girls have, aah, so much brighter, and so much, you know, more focused on their schoolwork, and just…simple nutrition”.

So that’s where…a big portion of the money went. Also to a local organisation in Vancouver called the Atari Tip Program, which deals with…homeless teens, transitioning to housing, and…homeless teens with children. So, it’s getting them off the streets into affordable house…housing, and helping the transition into lives that don’t involve…ah living on the street. So, it’s been amazing, yeah. We donated …aah…a bunch of money for bus passes! Quite simple, right? But when you’re on $600 a month and a bus pass is seventy dollars, that’s…a MASSIVE part of your budget. So, to get a bus pass gives them absolute freedom. They can get to their training, they can get to their schools, they can get to their jobs…aah. We didn’t limit it to bus passes! You know if there’s…there’s a guy who, ah, got an aaah apprenticeship! On a construction site. And we bought him…steel-toed boots! And a hard hat, and now he can go to work! So it’s…it’s the little things, but those are the things that…the little drop, big ripples! But yeah, it’s really done some…phenomenal…but yeah…

(MASSIVE APPLAUSE, CHEERS)

Wow you guys ask great questions!

Carissa: Before she leaves, we’re going to do one of those LOVELY teeshirts…

Amanda: III am NOT taking off my top! (laughter) I don’t look nearly as good topless as Robin! (comments in audience) well maybe…to some people..(chuckles)…I…I’m NOT gonna take off my shirt *chuckles* but I will put it on! Umm…HEY. THANKS guys! I…that was AWESOME. I feel like, you know, I watched the end of Robin’s talk, and it was really funny and…and great, and I felt just a little bit… maybe I was BORING…but um…aah, you asked really beautiful questions and I really appreciate it. And I LOVED Australia (to audience member), yeah thank you!

AAAAAH, so I get to stay in Melbourne for a few more days, ‘cause I have my daughter, Olivia, and my MUM! (“YEAH!” from guy in the audience, punching his arms in the air. Chatter and excitement) YES!! *points* My mum’s new BFF! (LAUGHTER) *laughing* they were sitting in the hotel lobby in Sydney, and Vance *laughing* just struck up this conversation with my mum! And…he’s like “So, you know, you’re a fan?” she’s like “Yeeah…okay…o.O” (LAUGHTER) Y’know: “Where are you from?”, “Vancouver…”, “OOH you came a long way!!” (LAUGHTER). And they had like, this REALLY CUTE conversation where they….and finally my mum was just like *leans over and whispers* “I’m Amanda’s mum…” (LAUGHTER). GOSH….*chuckling* she refers to him as her new best friend *grinning* (laughter).

AH! Okay thank you…*Is given teeshirt and marker*…okay WOW What do I do?! OH MY GOD, Robin is not going to *mumbles*…

(At this point, Amanda put on the shirt and started pulling funny faces as she tried to draw on the left side of her chest) *deep, thick voice, goofy grin* AM THRYING TO DRAR ON MAH SHIRRRRT!! (LAUGHTER) *draws and colours in heart over her own* So I do these heart paintings! And uuuuh, now OLIVIA *trying to draw on very awkward place, making faces* I’m SELF-colouring! (LAUGHTER) I do these, HEART paintings, and aaah, my daughter Olivia has just started doing her first canvases, and uuuh *chuckling* so this is ALL she draws! But it’s beautiful, so homage to her.

*Finishes drawing* Ummm, alright! So I think we should all wear our hearts on the outside. Dorky, I know! I can’t do anything funny, I’m not gonna draw a penis (laughter) aah…or…nipple rings, or anything like that…*drawing* and I apologise!

Umm, alright. Does anyone wanna draw something?! (chuckles in audience). *British accent* NOT ON MYYY NUBBINS!! (LAUGHTER)

(PaganX gets up from front row to draw something…expectant chuckles. She crouches behind Amanda and begins writing. Amanda alternates between a screwed up awkward grin and outright silent giggles, people are laughing at her. She’s muttering about how weird it feels.

PaganX finishes writing and hands her the marker with a big grin, while Amanda twists around to see what she’s written) OH IT’S MY GUNBUM!!!! (laughter and cheers) YAAAAAAAY! THAT’S PERFECT…yeah…I dunno if you guys know it *big grin,giggles *proudly* I have a GUNBUM!!! (laughter) And uuh, on the show (Carissa hands out mic to her) oh right…*yells* ON THE SHOW!!!!! (laughter) Ah…nobody could figure…like…the CREW started asking “where is she getting her GUNS from?”, because I wear these tight skirts, and these stilettos, and all of a sudden I’ve got…like an AK-47 (LAUGHTER).And uuh, so we decided that I have a gunbum *grins* (laughter) AS you do! Um, one of the great things about doing scifi is *laughing* anything is possible! (laughter) I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the show “The Backyardigans”, it’s a little kids show (cries of YEAH! In the audience), I don’t know if you get it here, but they like, produce props…from behind their backs! So aah, and Olivia is OBSESSED with ‘The Backyardigans”, and so…I’ve just decided I’m *chuckling* a Backyardigan, and my special talent is MY GUNBUM! (laughter) Yeah! Umm…

Carissa: Was there someone else?

(A guy gets up and Carissa hands him the marker. He approaches Amanda slowly and she seems terrified)

Amanda: *deep and shaky* I’M AFRRRAID!…(laughter. He goes behind her and begins drawing on the back of her right shoulder. Amanda’s face is torn between looking scared and looking awkwardly amazed) No I’m not afraid! I’m not afraid at all…*awkward facial expressions*…(Writer is saying about how she shouldn’t be afraid, it’s something nice, and it was nice of her to come) Oh thank you! (he keeps writing. She’s grinning expectantly) What is it? What is it?!?! (chuckles in audience) Uh ooh…Uh oooh…UH OH (laughter)

(Writer is just finishing up when we hear a familiar voice from the back of the room):

OOOOOOOOOOOHKAY, HERE WE GO!!!! (UPROAR OF LAUGHTER AND CHEERS. Robin’s standing there nodding his head comically and grandiosely clapping his hands in preparation for the shirt-fest. Amanda is laughing as her writer finishes writing on her shoulder. MENTAL LAUGHTER AND CHEERING)

(Writer finishes and gives Amanda the marker. She peers over her shoulder)

Amanda: “OMG Amanda wore this!” *turns to Robin and exclaims emphatically* See?! NICE..and POLITE! (laughter)

Carissa: *pointing and grinning* I believe there’s a charming gentleman up the back DESPERATE to draw on that teeshirt!

Amanda: *stares challengingly at Robin* Bring it! (laughter)

(Robin swaggers purposefully down the stairs with a grin on his face and hands in his pockets, everyone is laughing. Someone is singing the ‘Star Wars’ march in accompaniment)

Amanda: Oh…OH OH!

(Robin pauses halfway down, throws back his head with a MWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Laughter! He reaches the bottom of the stairs, right in front of Amanda, and approaches her)

Amanda: Wow, look at you walking all… butch-like! (laughter) *leans forward* You’re still in the running towards becoming America’s Next Top Model!!! (LAUGHTER and some claps)

(Robin takes the marker from her and stands back, slightly to the left, so he can choose where to start first. Amanda puts her hands on her waist and pushes her chest right out, emphatically smiling and throwing her head back slightly. Robin has a fit and drops his pen in shock, like some kind of hormonal adolescent. Amanda breaks the pose and folds over, clapping her hands in hysterical laughter. Everyone is cracking up!)

(Robin goes behind Amanda and splits his legs to the side so he can reach her lower back. Amanda’s standing nervously making ridiculously frightened, awkward and goofy faces at the audience and trying to figure out what he’s writing)

I..I don’t trust him!…(LAUGHTER)*frightened giggle* Can you see what he’s actually writing?!….*more faces* (LAUGHTER) IT HAD BETTER BE ANGEL WINGS! (LAUGHTER)…

(Robin has a smug grin on his face, and Amanda’s face is getting more and more anxious by the second, laughter continuously! When he’s done, Robin grasps her by the shoulders and turns her around to face him. Her teeshirt reads: MAGNUS IS HOT!!!! UPROAR OF CHEERS, CLAPPING AND LAUGHTER. He whispers it in her ear and she collapses in helpless laughter. Once the noise has died down…)

Amanda: *very coyly*Would you like to sign your name on it?

Robin: Yes…

(Amanda grasps the back of the chair, and assumes a seductive pinup pose, arching her back, and assuming the most cheesy, wide-eyed, open-mouthed look on her face. Everyone is in hysterics! Robin stands back and doesn’t know what to do, staring at her in awe, like a teenage boy. Finally he drops the pen and grabs his crotch, doubling over, and waddling awkwardly to one side, exclaiming,

Robin: “OH,..OH MY GOD!!…*waddles embarassedly* this is a bit awkward, I gotta go!!!”

Amanda breaks her pose in a fit of laughter. Robin recovers, grasps her shoulders, and turns to face the audience with her back to us so that he can write on her…AHEM…shoulder. Amanda throws her hair back seductively, and pushes her chest out, Robin can’t restrain the grin as he starts to write on her…erm…SHOULDER. Everyone is laughing their faces off!)

(When Robin is done, Amanda takes of the teeshirt, and grabs the marker herself . She lays the teeshirt on the counter and starts writing. Someone yells “Write ‘Property of Jack O’Neill!”)

Amanda: “What?”, (“WRITE PROPERTY OF JACK O’NEILL!!”), (LAUGHTER) Amanda: “YEAH!!!” and she starts to write)

Carissa: So we may start the bidding whilst Amanda is…scribing.We’re gonna start the…

Amanda (interrupting): This is totally dorky! This is exactly who I am. I’m an idiot. Not an idiot, but I’m kinda, you know, lame and dorky, and I ..OWN IT! (chuckles) I uh…I uh…YEAH! (Call from audience: ’Me too!’) YAY! I totally own my dorkiness, so aah.. (calls from audience:’ It’s what we love you for!!’,’You’re our role model!’) THREE of my favourite sayings *holds up teeshirt*…

Carissa: So, can we start the bidding at two hundred dollars. We’ve got 200 in the front row there…220…350..sorry 250! Three hundred! (comment from audience : “yeah I think I’ve got enough in here…” laughter)

(A guy calls out: “One thousand!”, “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH ONE THOUSAND”, Amanda looks up from the teeshirt with the most shocked, wide-eyed, bunny-in-the-headlights-of-a-car expression to stare at him in AWE. Everyone cracks up at her facials)

(SCREAMS, CHEERS, LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)

Robin: That was GREAT!

Amanda: This is uuuuuuh…*mumbles aside* I’M NOT EMBARRASSED. I OWN my dorkiness! (laughter) ….I’m a LITTLE embarrassed! (laughter)

(silence for some time)

Robin: I think he won (laughter)

Carissa: There are a lot of high-flyers in the audience, I wouldn’t bet on it!

Amanda: *holds up teeshirt* Okay these are three of my favourite sayings: Live Peace, Speak Kindness, and Dwell in Possibility (AWWWWWW applause and cheers). Before my friend Cynthia passed away, I gave her this necklace because she was going through and incredibly difficult time with chemo, and she wore it…and..uh, I believe is STILL wearing it. Um…uh..yeah, the saying “Dwell in Possibility”, because I really believe that it can change…*chuckles* I’m getting sooooo dorky! (LAUGHTER) *goofy voice* I CAN MAKE MYSELF CRY! (laughter) YEAH but these are three of my favourite sayings. So there you go! AND AAAAH. I have a gunbum!!! So…I’VE GOT EVERYTHING! (laughter)

Carissa: One thousand dollars going once!…

Amanda: *remembers to sign* OH…CRIMANY! (chuckles)

Carissa: One thousand dollars going twice…sold for one thousand dollars (UPROAR OF CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(Amanda stares at the winner mouthing silently: ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS *GAPES*…LAUGHTER)

(The winner, of course, gets to take her top off. He walks straight up to Amanda and tries to grasp the bottom of the teeshirt. Amanda embarassedly shuffles away laughing awkwardly, then shakes her hair back, grabs his wrist, and coyly tries to drag him into a dark corner. She finally, with much blushing and giggles, lets him grab the shirt, and he pulls it up off her while her face is blushing and grinning cheekily. CHEERS, LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)

Carissa: Put keep clapping for the LOVELY…(is drowned out by SCREAMS,CHEERS AND DEAFENING APPLAUSE WHICH TRANSFORMS INTO AN EPIC MINUTE LONG STANDING OVATION UNTIL AMANDA, GRINNING AND WAVING, LEAVES THE ROOM, ALONGSIDE ROBIN DUNNE)

Amanda: BEST AUDIENCE EVER!!!!!!! (CHEERS AND CLAPS)

I sincerely hope that you enjoyed these panels as much as we did. From all of the lucky admirers who were able to attend, I think we can say that this day will always be in a corner of our hearts for the inspiration, the stitches and the tears that it manifested.

Thank you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency and reading. Please feel free to contribute to the discussion below, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the button down there, or my avatar at right!

CHEERIO!

JandyraCJM

December 24, 2010
Gate to the Sanctuary, Melbourne: Robin’s Happy Hour!

CALLING ALL SANCTUARIAN GATERS!

Gate to the Sanctuary was an incredible Stargate and Sanctuary convention, held in Sydney by Culture Shock Events, and in Melbourne by Hub Productions.

On the weekend of 11-12 December, 2010, several hundred extremely blessed fans had the opportunity to meet with some of their favourite artists, including Amanda Tapping of Stargate and Sanc tuary, Robin Dunne of Sanctuary, as well as Carmen Argenziano (Stargate) and Chuck Campbell (Stargate and Sanctuary).

Included are banners on two very worthwhile charities we ask that you support, Starlight Foundation of Australia and Sanctuary for Kids. Thank you for your generosity and support!

Further to my report on the convention, below are the transcripts of Robin’s and Amanda’s PHENOMENAL panels from the Melbourne event. Throughout Robin’s panel, the entire audience was in bouts of hysterical laughter, while Amanda’s panel was the most memorable for its soul, its beauty, its crazed goofiness, the hysterical giggles, the moved tears, and its intelligent and thoughtful Q&A.

Please note that these are written exactly how they are spoken. I chose to leave in the ‘umms’ and ‘aahs’, the little vocal nuances, so that you may read it exactly as was spoken by THEM. I did not want to filter it, but left it as it is so that you may hear it as Amanda and Robin told it. It is not a written report, but a transcript of spoken language, and should be read as such. I have also tried to include descriptions of actions and facials expressions where possible.

Some details may be blurry, so I apologise for any slight mistakes in spoken words. I hope you enjoy the panels as much as we did! May you finish with a painful stitch…it’s all about the living experience!

A MASSIVE bouquet of gratitude to the lovely @PaganX @MichelleDaGreek and @Abydos71 for your fabulous photographic contributions!

A day NEVER to be forgotten…

ROBIN DUNNE

(Intro. video playing)

(Robin appears at top of stairs, runs down. Stops. “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!”! With his arms punched in the air. Runs down to floor at the front of the theatre)

(LAUGHTER AND CHEERS)

Robin: HOW ARE YOU NEAT PEOPLE?! (laughter) I gotta say, um, before we get into the REAL…meat and…and potatoes, I’m just kidding around around by the way (laughter)I’m totally like…OH NO…

Um, …okay let’s get those photos first alright? (LAUGHTER)*starts posing* (LAUGHTER)….I should just hold it up here like this *demonstrates with arms thrown apart in a sort of victory pose*(LAUGHTER)

I’d just like to warn you, um, and I mean the several people speaking today, uh… I’d just like to warn you that this may be the more X-rated of the uuh…(LAUGHTER)…I…I can’t help it, I ..I… I just go there sometimes, so forgive me. I know it’s sort of a family thing, I’ll try to keep it as..uh…family-friendly as possible! But uh…you never know. It’s me, I’m the wildcard of the…(chuckles)

Uh, but I just wanna say, before we get into it. Before we get into the..uh..all the questions..and the, you know, DEEP, DARK, and the underbelly of Sanctuary, and all those things that you wanna know, and that I will definitely tell you. Aaah, even if you DON’T wanna know, I’m gonna tell you! …(laughter).

Um, I just wanna say! I just spent the last couple of hours walking around Melbourne. *waving arms* OH MY GOD! WHAT AN AMAZING CITY THIS IS!! (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)I went to the…um, the Australian Centre for Moving Images?(Murmers of YEAAAH). Oh my GOD! It’s fantastic!! I mean, you know, I was..I was totally uh, TOTALLY blown away! And then, you know…pouring rain! Five minutes later, beautiful sun!! (LAUGHTER) YOU GUYS WEREN’T LYING, I SAW IT TOO! Wait five minutes! What is this huh? C’MON! (Audience: Four season in one day!) I know…four seasons in like…half an hour! (LAUGHTER)CRAZY! I’m sure it’s like, hailing and snow out there right now! (laughter)

Um, so anyway. Thanks for coming! It’s so great to be here, I love talking about the show! Uuum, I’ve said this many times before, you know…I’m a fan..you know, I’m a HUGE fan of the show. It also happens to be my job. But I…I love it, I love the show, and uuuh, I’m happy to, you know, let’s talk about it! I mean, um, I guess I’ll just open it up to the floor, open up some questions, you know and it’ll jog my memory. And I’ll probably you know, go into some long, boring, meandering stories. Um, but do we have…anybody who wants to open it up with, like, questions? Are we gonna, are we gonna…(Moderator: We’ve got a mic going around) Right…

Can everybody hear okay? (Yep! What? Yep! laughter)…Yeah…yeah your answer to that is, WHAT!?! (laughter). Physical comedy is my life…I’m telling ya…

Q1: Hi Robin…

Robin: HI!

Q1: I just wanna know, on the episode of ‘Breach’ what WAS the ‘knock knock’ joke?

Robin: *ponders for a moment* I have no idea! I uh…I really don’t..okay i have no idea what the ‘knock knock’ joke is. I think uh, that was the whole point of the show, you know, that there’s sort of this…this GAP in reality, um. But on that subject of that episode. What an AMAZING episode for Amanda to do, I mean, she got her ass KICKED (chuckles), uh…in that episode. And..and I remember talking to her after she shot it! She said “God!.. you know, umm, it was really tough! Like, it was really, really physical, and I really got beaten up!…in that episode!” And I sort of looked at her and went, “*STARES* WELCOME TO MY LIFE!!!!” (LAUGHTER). EVERY episode, I get my ass kicked! Um, but also! That’s another exciting thing about season 3, um, is uuh..IAN TRACEY, who is our new, AMAZING villain, um. GOD what an ACTOR! I got to do, um, quite…quite a lot with him this season, and I think he’s gonna become one of those, uuh, favourites. You know, he’s kinda gonna go into one of those Hannibal Lecter, you know, love-to-hate-him kind of zones. Um, and…you know, i think he’s gonna become a fan favourite like, in the way Tesla is, you know, Tesla…you guys love Tesla right?! (LOUD CHEERS AND WHISTLES)

Yeah…’cause like..You know, ‘Sanctuary’ is so cool, ‘cause like, they’re CONSTANTLY…you know, it’s such an INNOVATIVE show, and..and we’re constantly getting these new characters coming onto the show, who are…who are SO amazing. You know, of course Ian, Pascale Hutton, who plays Will’s girlfriend this year…WILL, has a little bit of a romance this year. Kinda nice, you know, I…I’ve been unlucky in love a few times! I’ve had…I’ve had a couple of girls DIE on me! (LAUGHTER) Which is..not..that great. But uh, ANYWAY so yeah, that’s that. But if I can think of a ‘knock knock’ joke, throughout this talk, I will definitely do one. Uuuh…

Q2: AAAH, in the INITIAL, Season 1, your relationship with Amanda’s daughter…did you find that challenging? Or…

Robin: My relationship? *stares, Bill Clinton impression* I did not. Have….*stabbing finger emphatically* (LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE). *still in character* What I did was wrong, but I did not…have…

Q2: Did you find that a challenge? That…there was a divide between you? One ran one way, the other ran the other? There was no…communal…

Robin: It was very challenging because she’s not an attractive girl *smiling* (laughter). Um, no I think..I think it was interesting because the two characters were very, very different. Particularly, in Season 1, um you know, I think we’ve talked about it. You know, Will has come a long way. Um, I was saying earlier, you know there are certain episodes in Season 1 where Amanda’s like “BOOM! Blumblumblum!” and Ashley’s like, “BLAMBLAMBLAMBLAM!” and Will’s like this, *cowers covering head* “AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargggGGHHHHHHHH!!!” (LAUGHTER). Um, so that’s kinda gone away a little bit, um, it’s the natural progression of the character. He’s the guy who’s, who’s sort of resigning himself to the fact that he’s gonna be living in this dangerous place, and that he’s life is gonna be, you know, at stake. Risked every week. And he’s just sort of, numb to it now! But, in Season 1 he certainly wasn’t, and I think…YEAH…sort of…Ashley and Will were very mismatched! In that first season, because…she was obviously, you know, more cavalier and…I don’t..I don’t think Ashley would go for Will, particularly in Season 1. She’d be like*impression* “God this guys..is….what a LOSER! Get away from me loser…you…you’re crying! STOP CRYING!” (LAUGHTER) “You’re EMBARRASSING!”. So, yeah…

YES! *waits*…WAY UP THE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Q3: Hi I’m here! Hi I’m Suzie…um..is there any…

Robin: Hi Suzie. (chuckles)

Q3: At the end of Season 2, um, you had a REALLY nice scene….dancing! (LAUGHTER)

Robin: Dancing…dancing…DANCING! UUUUUUUUGH…THE BOLLYWOOD SCENE, that’s what you’re talking about! Um. Don’t remember it! (LAUGHTER) Have noo..noooooo recollection.

I..the only thing I really remember from that is this, it’s disappointing, but, I’ll do it for ya anyway! *Prepares himself. Double hand clicks up, double hand clicks down*(LOUD CHEERS AND WHISTLES AND APPLAUSE). Yeah you know, that was one of those things where…I honestly thought it was a practical joke! I did, I said to Damian, you know, “I know that I’ve gone into your computer many times, and, you know, uploaded the most…disgusting pornography (laughter), or you know, upgraded your Facebook status to say, you know ‘Damian Kindler is getting his nipples pierced’ (laughter). I know that I’ve done that many times, but, this is going a little far! You’ve written an entire script as a JOKE! (laughter). Uuuh, shouldn’t you be writing ACTUAL EPISODES for the show? Like, shouldn’t that be the important thing…”. And uuh, both Martin and Damian told me that “uuh, no actually, that’s actually a real episode. We are actually going to be shooting that!” IN TWO WEEKS!!! (laughter) Um, so I remember, the girl who came to …teach me to dance, um…lovely girl, um, very well versed in dance…particularly in Bollywood dance! She said uuh, “Okay you know what? I’m gonna…I’m gonna just, you know, just so I can gauge your level of…rhythm. (laughter) No no no, I’m…I’ll play some music, and just sort of…dance a little bit for me! Just so I can see, you know..like…how much work you need to do! (laughter)”. So, as if that’s not humiliating enough! So at first, like…I start doing this…*bends elbows and starts bopping and swinging slightly*(LAUGHTER)And she literally did this, she turned off the music, *STARES….buries face in palm*, *under breath* “OH my God…” (LAUGHTER). “When are you shooting this?!”, “uuuh two weeks…”, “TWO WEEKS!! Alright…aaah okay…”. Yeah, it was a very nerve-wracking thing, uuh, I said, just before I tell you…Uh. At one point, um, Martin Wood stood up on a chair, and he was like *demonstrates holding up phone* “HEEY! I JUST WANNA…” On the set, the day we were shooting, “I JUST WANNA SAY, UMM, YOU KNOW ON MY IPHONE HERE, IT SAYS IT’S FORTY DEGREES IN MUMBAI. And it’s…FORTY-TWO DEGREES IN VANCOUVER!! So…GREAT, you know, SO WE HAVE THE INDIAN WEATHER!”. And me, I’m like, literally sweating, like, really patching out, and I haven’t even done the dance yet. Um…and aah. You know, ALL DAY, people were like, you know crew guys, all sorts, *strained deep voice, nudging and smirking* “Heey, can’t wait to see you dance!” (LAUGHTER)”My wife…and, my brother came in to see this!” (LAUGHTER)” I told them you were gonna dance, you know and, they just need a good laugh! (LAUGHTER)”. And I go, you know, we were setting up the shot, and you know, we’re in the Mumbai set… in our parking lot. And aah,…I could see on the landing, like, people from ACCOUNTING (LAUGHTER), the caterers haven’t left! I was like, “You know, what…what is this? This is NUTS! It’s not some SPECTACLE, where everyone’s like, let’s laugh at ROBIN!” (laughter). Uuuuuh…actually, who am I kidding, like, that’s the whole show…(LAUGHTER). So um, we started…we started going into the dance, and it..it sounds like baloney. It sounds like, something that just came from anybody…I SWEAR TO GOD, this is exactly what happened. We start doing the dance, and I don’t know if it was the HEAT, or if it was…ABJECT FEAR on my part, but I honestly…don’t remember doing ANY of it. (laughter). I remember…it was like, I swear I went into some kind of hypnosis. Aaand, Martin Wood goes…, “Okay everyone! We’re done with the dance!!”, and it was almost like the hypnotist was like, was… SNAPPED me out of it. I was like, “What? We’re done with the dance?…wha…When are we doing it?!” (laughter), and he was like, “We’ve just been doing it for the last four hours!…Are you okay?”, he said, “SOMEONE GET HIM SOME GATORADE! (laughter)”. But yeah, it was a pretty…it was a pretty cool thing to do. And again, one of the great things about ‘Sanctuary’, is that…they DO that kinda stuff. I mean, who would have THOUGHT, that you could watch …an episode…of scifi, a scifi show, and have a Bollywood number! (laughter). You know..umm, you know, with episodes coming up this season, where you go, ‘Is this..?! Like…what SHOW is this?!?!” And, I think that’s one of the GREAT things about ‘Sanctuary’, is that: It’s NOT a show that’s gonna spoonfeed you, It’s NOT a show that’s gonna be like, “Hey…hey c’mon, let’s watch…let’s just watch a little episode of television! It’s okay, you don’t have to THINK”. You kinda actually HAVE to think with ‘Sanctuary’, and you have to kinda keep up, and I THINK that, certainly for ME as an actor, that’s one of the things that really draws me to the show and makes me excited about it. And I think, from an AUDIENCE standpoint, that’s really cool too, is like…you’re gonna be like, ‘Wait a second..what..wha..where are we?! What are we doing?!” Umm, and that, that…I credit, you know, Damian Kindler, and…and the writing team for REALLY coming up with those innovative stories. EVEN if it means, *British accent* I have to be…publicly embarrassed! (LAUGHTER) I think that’s where the root of the ideas come from. They…they sit in the writing room, they’re like, *scheming voice* “How can we make Robin look like a COMPLETE idiot this week?(laughter)” and then they come up with the story…so…Anyway, that’s…that’s uuh, it was a pretty fun! It was pretty fun…

Q4: Hi Robin

Robin: HI!

Q4: I was just wondering, from…Seasons 1, 2 and 3, in each of those, which has been your most favourite episode?

Robin: From each…each SEASON? My favourite episode?

I think uuum, ‘Requiem’, in Season 1. Umm, and I wanna…GOD I wanna say it was episode SIX, of the first season. Um, so…it, it was, I mean I always knew that ‘Sanctuary’ was something special, aaand it was a show that…uh, was trying to do something different. But…but really, ‘Requiem’ was, was the point where I was like “Okay, no…on second thoughts, it’s something really COOL” . It was, we…you know we, Amanda and I …it was REALLY amazing to just be able to, to work with Amanda in… in that sort of intensity. And also we…we shoot things out of sequence, as you may or may not know. I don’t know if…if… but like, you know. Let’s say there’s a, like, a scene that takes place…there’s two scenes in a movie that take place in an auditorium like this, one at the beginning, one at the end. Well, on a day of shooting, we would just shoot BOTH of those scenes the same day, rather than coming back to it, right? Sooo, a lot of times you have to really kind of, as an actor, know where you are, know where you are in the story, because…you know, you jump AROUND a lot. But in..in an episode like ‘Requiem’, because it was…a BOTTLE show that we say…isn’t…a bottle is we don’t leave, like, ALL of the scenes in one…bottle (LAUGHTER) That’s why we call it a bottle show,..(chuckles) It doesn’t happen…like…in a BOTTLE (laughter) we’re not DRUNK…well…sometimes (laughter) well…But no, it takes place in one…in one LOCATION. So, BECAUSE of that, we were able to shoot the ENTIRE thing in sequence. Which is very cool…it’s,…it’s very much like it’s a PLAY. So YEAH, I mean…it wasn’t…it was a difficult episode to shoot, I mean we were soaking WET all the time. You know, I think you saw a little flash of me wearing that…RIDICULOUS…aah…jumpsuit, as opposed to dry clothes…like Freddy Mercury. (laughter) It’s not really a look I’m going for. Um…so yeah, I think from Season 1 that was aah….In Season TWO, I think just..there were several that I really, really like. If I HAD to pick one, I would say…’Pavor Nocturnus’. Aaah, really kind of a DAUNTING episode for me to shoot, because I was PLAYING Will…this is the apocalyptic future…one. Umm, I was playing Will, but…a Will that was UNRECOGNISABLE to the one that we…we know. So it was like playing a different character, but I was playing the SAME character. So it was really, kind of different. Uuh, AGAIN LOVED the stuff, sort of, with me and Amanda one-on-one. Uh it was a …you know THAT’S a very weird episode too, because you know, NORMALLY we have…we’re joking around all the time, you know, people are taking their PANTS off (chuckles), and people are playing JOKES on each other…and you know, Martin Wood is throwing tennis balls, and it’s usually a very jokey-laughey set. But in an episode like THAT, that’s so heavy and serious uhh… that kinda goes out, ‘cause you…I mean I was REALLY kind of struggling to STAY in that character, to keep that intensity, and so was…Amanda. I mean she had, that was a very, very TAXING episode…for her to shoot! Uh…and there’s definitely a different MOOD on that episode. I noticed that some of the crew people were like, *strained whinge*“I don’t LIKE this episode (laughter)! No-one’s…like, LAUGHING or GIGGLING, I don’t LIKE this. It’s not like…it’s not like an episode of ‘Sanctuary’!”. Umm, but it was a, it was a very COOL episode…uuh, I think AGAIN, you know…some of the PRACTICAL sets on the show. You know we talk about the VISUAL effects on Sanctuary, and rightfully so they’re AMAZING, BUT..but…the PRACTICAL SETS. You know, the Bollywood episode, that was just… built in our parking lot. Uuuh, and…and in PAVOR, you know that was just built in a WAREHOUSE. It was all…you know, all that apocalyptic stuff, and how they really, like, DESTROYED Magnus’ office, destroyed the Sanctuary. Uhh, really amazing stuff. So I would say, Pavor is…Season 2 my favourite! And SEASON THREE MY FAVOURITE, I…I CAN’T TELL YOU ‘CAUSE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET (LAUGHTER and awwwwww!). You haven’t seen it yet, but I’m telling you! We did an episode THIS YEAR…the BIGGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE, biggest in SCOPE, biggest STORY, most…UNBELIEVBLE pieces of MACHINERY onset, that you’ve ever seen! It’s episode 17 this year…it’s called ‘Normandy’ (chuckles and oooh!). Which uuh, which uuh…ish very exshiting! (LAUGHTER)Yeah…that’s, that’s definitely my favourite one. And you know, the thing about…and that’s the thing about ‘Sanctuary’ too, you can just be like “OH MY GOD my LIPGLOSS! (LAUGHTER)” Um…yeah you definitely look at…and just be like “Wow, I just can’t believe, how cool …what a cool job. Yeah, those are my three favourite I think…

Anybody else…? Oh sorry…YOU’RE in control of this, I’m not controlling this…I’m…

Q5: Over time, or actually from the very BEGINNING, you’ve had a bit of a penchant to…um…lose your pants (LAUGHTER).

Robin: I don’t know, I don’t know if LOSE is…

Q5: You tend to DROP it!

Robin: YEAH…um…If I’d worn my tear-away jeans today *mimics ripping them off* (LAUGHTER) PRRRT! You know…that’s a good question! I was…I was talking about this yesterday in Sydney. Uh, I DON’T know where that stunt came from, I don’t know the root of that! Ummm, I do know this..sort of…if I take it back…there was ONE point where, early in Season 1, we were doing…interviews, you know, for ….aand Martin Wood was sitting there, and…you know I love Marty, but he can kinda go on a little bit. Sometimes, at you know, like Comic Con, you’re just like “Martin! WHAT are you TALKING about?! You’re like…ranting…you’re like my MUM! (laughter) You’re ranting on like a story, and then a branch, and then another story, and we’re beginning to forget where we even STARTED!” (laughter) so I think…I think Martin was just doing that, and was doing his little interview and…I was sitting there watching him, and …I dunno! I had this…perverse desire to just see if…he was sitting right here doing the interview, right, *sits in chair, arms folded and demonstrates* He was speaking this way, and I kinda walked up and I was just like *turns around, bends over and mimes pulling down pants next to Martin’s face*(LAUGHTER) I dunno! I was just like, had to, had to see…I just had a desire to put my bare ass… next to his face because I wanted to see…if anyone could tell the difference! (LAUGHTER) So then AH…you know, it just became, just became a THING, it waqs, it was …you know…I…I dunno, I’ve embarrassed myself, you know…and I’ve embarrassed my PEERS, and uuh, the SHOW, certainly I’ve embarrassed. But the people I feel REALLY bad for …are my POOR Mother and Father (LAUGHTER). Because you know, they actually…, that THING that I just described? THEY PUT THAT ON TELEVISION. (laughter) They ACTUALLY put that on TELEVISION..they, you know they…you know, pixeled out my…my naked parts (laughter). But they PUT it on TELEVISION, and my PARENTS saw it, and PHONED me! (LAUGHTER)”WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!” (LAUGHTER) “Could you wait until we’re DEAD” (LAUGHTER). Um, yeah…I dunno where it’s come from, but…you know what? This is what I think. If you’re good at something, just stick to it. (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)

Where are you? There you are!

Q6: Um…I wanna…

Robin: *British voice* Hello darling, how are you?! How’s it going? A’right? *suave* I’m trying to ignore ye…(one of the organisers leans on one the wall cubes, it falls out of the wall and onto the floor, LAUGHTER) … wow, you touched it. They look like TEETH actually…*reaches out to touch one* anyway uh… Anybody who works here, I didn’t mean to touch those, and I will not touch anymore!(laughter)How many times have I said THAT in my life? (LAUGHTER, steward says something) yeah, I told you, I TOLD I WORK HERE YOU DIDN’T I?! This is what it’s gonna be…

Go ahead!

Q6: I remember you talking about the entire experience…filming in Tokyo! And um…going to a, to a convention there…and can you tell us about it?

Robin: Tokyo was AMAZING! Amazing, and one of the crazy things about shooting in Tokyo is that…we work on this show where we…go to Mumbai, or we go to…you know, ALL over the world, or we go to, you know, Hindu Kush, we go…around the world, but we never leave our STUDIO. Um, and we had this opportunity to go and do some PRESS for Syfy Asia, and uh, Marty Wood got the brilliant idea of, “Well, we can’t… we’re not going to Tokyo without SHOOTING something!” So uuh, you know, in the… you know n the seventy-two hours we were actually IN Tokyo, we managed to do a whole bunch of press, AND shoot a scene! And um, the funny thing about THAT, is that people actually go “WOW man, the CGI is getting REALLY GOOD!” (laughter)”They look like they actually went to TOKYO!! (LAUGHTER)” Um, but we were actually there…But, it was AMAZING to be over there in…in Tokyo. It feels like, it’s just like coming here. It…it’s crazy for us, because we WORK in…this little, you know, abandoned BIKE factory in, in Vancouver, aaand we do the show! And we all kinda think it’s cool! But you know, you don’t really KNOW if anybody else is watching it, or…you’re just, I don’t know! We just kinda work in this bubble! And we’re working on the show. And to be able to travel, to such…to such far-away places, like Tokyo, or like this…how do we pronounce it? Melbun…Melbun?! (LAUGHTER) *tries Aussie impersonation* I like Melbun…Melbun, Australia, I like it…*fails* I’m working on it, sorry guys I’m working on it! (LAUGHTER) AAAAH I’ve only been here a couple of days, let me work it out! UMMM, it’s amazing to…to talk an interact with people, and see…that, you know, people are actually watching the show, and like it. Um, we did get some SERIOUS notice in Tokyo though, and…as you may KNOW the, the Japanese culture is one of…uuh…privacy, they’re very polite, they’re very…sort of, non-invasive. They’re very, VERY …gentle people, the Japanese! And um, you know we…we did some crazy things like…you know. The four of us went to do some interviews in the Syfy…Syfy office in Tokyo, and um…they took…they took Amanda away *ironic grin* (LAUGHTER, someone says something) NO, they took Amanda…I mean, Amanda, AMANDA is…the star, right? So you know, everything Amanda does, she…she just does it for the longest. So, they take Amanda away to do some interviews. And, literally, Marty, Damian and I….we call Damian ‘Aussie’ by the way, ‘cause he’s Australian…just to avoid any…any confusion. Um, and I’m sorry, I know, he’s an embarrassment to your nation (LAUGHTER). Um …alright, okay (someone in the audience asks something :”….did he do?”) Um…I just heard you say, you think he’s an idiot!! (LAUGHTER) Um, ANYWAY. So….So AMANDA’S off doing interviews, okay? Martin and I are literally sitting in this APARTMENT, Damian and I are literally sitting in this room, like this *sits on chair, legs sprawled open, hanging head over the back, clearly bored as heck* (laughter) TINY little room with a couch, and…and some art right? So FINALLY after forty-five minutes, I’m like “GOD…I am BORED, I’m gonna do like, something CRAZY here, what do we do?”, and then Martin goes: *whispers* “….Let’s change all the furniture around!” (LAUGHTER) And so we…*mimics panicked rushing around* ”No..NONONO..nono take the couch, COME ON, and this art over HERE and.., take this ART from over HERE, and take this art from here, and take that one THERE…” (LAUGHTER) The SECOND we put in the last of the artwork, one of…one of the um, the Syfy executives walked into the room like *opens door* “Hey guys! We’re gonna…! *STARES IN SHOCK* (LAUGHTER)…*long silence*…we’re ready.” (LAUGHTER) And it just worked out that people thought we were insane (laughter)

But ANYWAY…this is…uuuuuh….this is a HUGE display of my childishness. You know…we, we were standing in an elevator going up, you know, one of those HUGE buildings they have in Tokyo. Me, Martin, Amanda and Damian, and like about….ten Japanese people. It was just…a CRAMMED elevator, and it’s …SILENT right (expectant laughter). And all the Japanese people are standing like this *stands with arms and feet very close together, still, staring straight ahead*. And we’re goin’ up, goin’ up…and it’s silent…silent…and literally I just go like this, I go, *covers mouth: PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFRRRRRRRT* (LAUGHTER). Damian turns around is just like *demonstrates* “YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT!! (LAUGHTER) YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAAAAAAAT! *flailing hands*” (LAUGHTER). Great, GREAT times…but yeah it was a lot of fun! (chuckles in audience)

Anyway…who’s next?

Q7: Um, G’day! I’m Lucas…umm…*Robin’s grinning cheekily*

Robin: *PFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT* (LAUGHTER) you know what, we can send a MAN to the MOON (laughter). But, making a noise with your ass will never NOT be funny! (LAUGHTER) Okay sorry! I WARNED you DIDN’T I?! I warned you I’d…okay…

Q7: Um, working in a predominantly, um, green-screen environment, you work with practically…nothing, but…green. I suppose, I mean you have your imagination. Could you talk about the challenges…you faced, and how, um, what you’ve done to overcome those challenges.

Robin: NO Lucas, I can’t! (LAUGHTER) *chuckling* Um, no I can’t do that Lucas…and uh. SHAME ON YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION! (laughter) Just…um, I’m challenged somehow as an actor! (laughter) No, you know…it’s interesting. You know, every actor…*sighs* in the last…fifteen or so years, has worked with some…sort of green-screen. Um, but usually it’s just like, you know, ”HEY THIS IS A MONSTER LOOK OVER HERE!” (chuckles)”SOMEBODY SWING THE TENNIS BALL ON THIS THING”, so usually that’s just the gist of it. So when I first…started doing Sanctuary, it was a LITTLE BIT of a learning curve! Because, you know we’re working…with such a…CRAZY amount of green screen! And uh, you know, there’d be…there’d be scenes where I’m running away from…some kind of abnormal, you know, and I’d be like, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH *flailing*”, and Martin would be like, “Okay cut! You see this line…you see this line over here Robin?! *bends over and points out* That’s a WALL!” (LAUGHTER) “Unless…unless Will can WALK on AIR…you’ve just…ruined everything for that take”(laughter). Bu uh, now …now that we’re more used to it, and particularly being IN the Sanctuary, we really KNOW the dimensions of those rooms, we know what the library looks like…you know, that kind of stuff. It’s a LOT easier! And…you know, AMANDA uses this analogy, which I will steal, and use as my own (laughter): It’s kinda like doing…THEATRE. It’s kinda doing minimalist theatre. ‘Cause you know, you’re there, and you’re really relying on the actors. And that’s a lot of fun too, ‘cause we DO have some…AMAZING actors on the show. Not me, but…some…(laughter) some amazing actors. So that’s…that’s really cool, and ALSO, it ALLOWS you to do …to do so many cool things. I mean, we…WITHOUT green screen technology, we really, LITERALLY couldn’t do the show. ‘Cause you know like I say, we’ve gone to all these places, we have these cool monsters. So any, any sort of…difficulty in imagining…that stuff, or…working with it, is FAR…you know it’s FAR better to have that, to be able do these things. Um, ONE THING that does happen to me frequently, is that…you know, you’d be like…”Okay, so. The monster’s coming after you, uh, this is the vista, you’re looking at a disc…and there’s like, this big creature…you know there’s a ….the spider monster’s coming after you, you know, and you’ll be running, and it’s kind of this HEIGHT. So as an ACTOR, what you have to do is go, “Okay. Giant spider….it’s running this way, so I have to look over here, okay imagining the spider …what that looks like. Okay cool yeah!”. So we shoot the scene, “CUT! Great okay…”. And then you WATCH the finished product, after Anthem, our visual effects company, very cool…you’re like, “WOW! That’s uh…that’s WAY cooler than what I imagined!” (laughter) My imagination sucks! ‘Cause…you know, If I was in charge of Anthem, I would have actually done something much different. So…but it’s actually…it’s VERY cool. Um, a lot of times, there are difficulties…for the TECHNICAL people as well, because, the LIGHTING is difficult, because you know…you kind of, you don’t wanna get GREEN reflections off things, and off the actor’s faces. Sometimes some actors…come to set, ALREADY green uuhm (laughter), yeah, we won’t mention those people. Me. Uh, but you know…psychologically it’s difficult as well, but I think…certainly, you know, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. So…not like…not, not CONS *waves arms over audience* (laughter)…so…

Q8: Um Robin, I just want to know, were you into…I mean obviously, Sanctuary takes a lot of your time, currently…

Robin: HHYEAH. (laughter)

Q8: Were you into, scifi before you got this role, and…and um, what other scifi shows, besides Sanctuary, would you enjoy watching…or DO you enjoy watching?

Robin: UM…you know, it’s…it’s a CLICHÈ answer, but I think if I had to…find ONE film, that really got me into the film and television business, at all, it would have been Star Wars. I mean, I’m a HUGE Star Wars fane, aah, the (applause) …the ORIGINAL. I know they made…ah, weren’t there like, three OTHER pieces of crap that they made? (laughter) We don’t really need to talk about that, but, so yeah. Certainly, you know, I definitely LOVE that genre. Um, it’s NICE to be working in the genre, because…there are SO many different things you can do, and…and you know, obviously. Obviously EVERYHING, that we do are metaphor sort of things, but certainly in …in the scifi genre, you can go that much FURTHER with things. Um, I think there’s some pretty cool shows on television, you know, I really recently got into ‘Being Human’, aaaaah what a GREAT show (applause). Um, but yeah I mean, it’s really kinda nice to work…to work in the genre, doing things that we do. It’s pretty cool. (audience member: Do you watch ‘Firefly’?) I DO watch ‘Firefly’, you know, and that was one of those sad things about television, aaaah, you know. Sometimes things get cancelled and you go, “God, why did that get cancelled?!” Um, I certainly HOPE that that doesn’t happen to US (laughter).

Q9: Keep in mind before, before you answer the question. (Robin: UH OH, here we go! laughter) No remember on the…eco-downloading, which of course…we…we HAVEN’T (laughter) um, there are in Season three…um so… keep that in mind. But, IF…based on previous episodes, it seems…that the writers would like you to be an abnormal.

Robin: Or maybe they just go, “this guy is so abnormal, we can’t help it!” (LAUGHTER)

Q9: Yeah, the question is…do you think that..they ARE, or are they just playing around with you. And, if you were to settle with one abnormal power, what do you think would be the most fun power to play with?

Robin: Um, interesting question. I think, you know, the thing about Will, is that, and it’s a JOY to play, is that I think..I mean he DOES have special skills. And yes, you’re right, he is NOT an abnormal. Um, I will go so far as to say he’s normal (laughter). But,…that might be a stretch, but he’s not abnormal! (chuckles). But the COOL thing about that, is that…you know, *tedious voice* “NOOOOOOOOOO I don’t get to turn into a werewolf, Ryan’s real proud of that, loves to turn into a werewolf”(laughter) “great for you…” you know, the guy’s a CANINE and he loves it, I don’t know!…But um, the cool thing about playing Will, is that I get to be the…the, particularly in the..in the FIRST season, the first few episodes even, is the EYES and EARS of the audience, sort of stepping into this world and experiencing it. And I think that’s a very cool trade-off, to sort of, not have…not have an abnormal POWER. Um, *chuckling* yeah I got this question one year at Comic Con, you know, if Will could have an abnormal power, what would it be? And I made the major mistake of saying, “You know, I’d like to turn, I’d like people to …you know, to be able to turn myself invisible!” And Martin was sitting next to me and goes, “You know Robin, we could make you invisible REEEEEALLY easily!” (LAUGHTER)” Just keep up that crap you’re doing in front of the camera…(LAUGHTER)…you’ll be invisible in NO time!” (laughter) Um…but yeah, it’d be kinda COOL to be invisible, or to be able to make yourself invisible..um….I’M NOT GONNA BE GOING INTO THE LADIES’ CHANGING ROOMS OR ANYTHING (LAUGHTER)…MUCH…(laughter) but yeah, that would be …that would be kinda cool! (Muttering quietly, hard to hear)

Q10: Hi. Um…I have a question to ask about, um, working with Jonathon Young, and …have you got any good stories on set?

Robin: *SIGHS* you know Jonathon….he’s just the CONSUMMATE actor, you know. He’s a guy who comes in,…we have a great time with him. The thing about Sanctuary too, that’s really fantastic, is ..You know, when you start off on a show, there’s a core group of people that you, you know, really get along with, have a great time, and LOVE working together. Like…WE ALL DO. And, as the show PROGRESSES, more actors come into the fold, and ..and…as soon as the GET there, you can’t really remember what it was like WITHOUT them. And, that was…that’s certainly true for Jonathon Young, um ..Ian Tracey, you know, all these actors who have come on the show, who are just sort of…you know, NOW are part of the family! And…and we get ALONG with, we joke around, um…And Jonathon is certainly one of those guys, who’s REALLY taken …the ROLE he’s doing. And done something VERY very cool with it. I mean, he’s …he has that GREAT stuff with Heyerdahl, and stuff in scenes with Druitt, um…but HE’S just a…solidly CONSUMMATE professional, ALWAYS in a good mood, and always CHALLENGING. The thing about…the thing about a great actor is, they’ll…they’ll come in, you know AMANDA’S like this too…you know very GENEROUS, you know, NEVER wanting to steal a scene, but always wanting to kind of challenge you, to make sure you’re LISTENING, and taking the scene in a different direction. And…and, Jonathon’s just certainly come in and done that, and has REALLY stolen the hearts of a lot of the fans, which is REALLY, really lovely. ‘Cause he’s this, you know, this CHARACTER who’s…KINDA DESPICABLE (laughter) you know I, Will doesn’t like him…Tesla, at all! You know, he’s really, he’s REALLY stolen the hearts of the fans, and uh…we LOVE him. You know, I THINK…has he ever come out to one of these things? I think it would be GREAT (murmers of agreement in audience) he should come out! You know, …I’m gonna have a convention in my living room! (cheers and applause. “YEAH! We’re all coming!”)

Hi! THERE YOU GO!

Q11: Hello, my question is about the …I forgot the name of the episode. It’s the one where…you get stuck down…the helicopter? All hanging by the wires?

Robin: YEAH, Next Tuesday! (Q11: right..!) Yeah just before you…you say…you DO know that the original title of… that episode was…you know what I’m talking about right? (chuckles) Next Tuesday…’see you next Tuesday’, you know the…(OOOOOOOOOOOH right!) WHAT?! ‘We’ll see you next Tuesday” What are you talking about?! I dunno..! (laughter) What…yeah…sorry go ahead…see I’ve done it again! Like…okay we’re sinking lower and lower here, it’s terrible…sorry …

Q11: That’s alright…I wanted to know about that, but also, the difference between that and the episode where you’re…stuck in the submarine with Amanda, between THAT episode, and the differences?

Robin: YEAH. I mean *sigh* that AGAIN, was another one of those GREAT two-handers, um, again…it was a difficult episode to shoot, because it was …we were LITERALLY in water…the entire…for, for SEVEN DAYS. Fifteen hours a day, uuh, in wetsuits, floating around in the water…but ummmm, ANOTHER great episode, to sort of, play out. And I, I THINK …I really like the RELATIONSHIP between the two characters in that episode! It’s kinda like this odd, sort of, JEALOUSY, sort of..brother-sister kind of things, we’re it’s like “AW COME ON, you’re gonna…you’re going to see her!” and, you kinda really get the crux of the relationship between Will and Magnus in that episode. Because, they CAN’T really lie to each other, you know, they’re…they’re two characters that really RELY on each other for survival. Umm, they kinda really see THROUGH each other. And it’s BECAUSE of that RELIANCE on each other, that they really see through each other! And I thought that was a really COOL thing in the writing where, we sort of had that play-off back and forth. ANOTHER really cool thing that…that happened, uuh, another EXAMPLE of sort of, the tight-knit group that we have on ‘Sanctuary’, is, …You know, a lot of…a lot of directors, would have just been like, you know…Sitting back *sits on chair and rests feet on table*, on the nice dry land, you know, going *mimics holding cup of coffee* “OKAY GUYS…NOW I WANT YOU TO TRY IT ONCE MORE”, you know, sitting here nice and dry, sipping…sipping a coffee…cappuccino, “Yeah NO, NO! GET FARTHER DOWN INTO THE WATER (laughter)…somebody get some…get some WEIGHTS to put around his ankles! *sips*(LAUGHTER)…no, no GET DOWN, ROBIN…in the water…NO. KEEP HIM DOWN UNTIL HE TURNS BLUE!…keep him down until he turns blue! (LAUGHTER)…WE REALLY WANT TO GET THAT REALITY” But um, the thing about Martin is that, HE was…in a wetsuit, in that water, just as long as the…as the actors were! And, you know, that…that really goes to show, what kind of a group we have, you know. Um, and a lot of the CREW guys, I mean, AGAIN…a show that’s really pushing the technology…we had, underwater CAMERAS, I mean we had, literally, guys…They did this really cool thing where, there was a microphone in…underneath the water, and…I didn’t think you could actually HEAR under the the water. I mean, you’re in the water…I dunno, I’m not…technological! But it’s WATER right? I don’t know if you can hear, but you literally hear CRYSTAL CLEAR down there…the direction. So, they would have these camera guys…you know with air tanks, and wetsuits, and all…the WHOLE gear, and obviously a waterproof camera. …

YEAH Robin a waterproof camera, they’re not STUPID they know it’s waterproof! *flips back to argue with himself throughout the sequence, flailing his arms indignantly*

*High pitched* Well YEAH I’m just trying to…I’m just SAYING (laughter) . What’s the matter, why are you going all grumpy?

I’m not going GRUMPY. You didn’t have to SAY…you know, it’s waterproof…they KNOW that! (laughter and applause) *stands staring* Why do you embarrass me in public like this?! (laughter)

You’re not very nice, I’m just trying to tell a story…can I continue?

YEEEEES of COURSE you can continue! I just…you know. *silence* Would you like ME to continue?! ‘Cause you’re sulking…

I’M NOT SULKING! I just…(LAUGHTER)

Do you wanna…? You’re sure..?

Yes…go ahead…!(LAUGHTER)

NO..no..just…just do it, will you please?!

Um. *stands awkwardly facing audience*(LAUGHTER) *chuckles* you’re all like, “OH MY GOD…THIS GUY’S CRAZY, HE’S TALKING TO HIMSELF!” Um…but um, underwater…but ALSO, just talking about camera stuff, just pushing the envelope…like…technologically. Um, we had an episode shot this year, in Season 3, where we….I just have to think about it…um, where we…it was ENTIRELY from Will’s perspective. And they put this camera on a…it was almost like a BIKE helmet, and with the camera sticking out like this *demonstrates*. And I LITERALLY shot the entire show…just…sort of…you know, the camera was on my BODY. So, you know, in…in MANY ways, we’re trying to break the boundaries of technology.

Now *chuckling* now everyone’s trying to be…everyone’s like…*whispers* “Just get him OUTTA here!” (laughter). “Don’t ask ANY more questions, just make him LEAVE!” (laughter) But…who’s next?

WAY UP THE BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Q12: Yep, right up the back! Um, in Sanctuary, there are a lot of characters, or historical figures like…Nikola Tesla, John Druitt, or Dr. Watson. Are there any characters…that YOU would like to brought into the show?

Robin: *gazing intently* Yes.

Q12: Oh…GREAT! *laughs* (LAUGHTER)

Robin: *Elvis impression* I, uh…would like to see a bit of…uh…Elvis Presley! (LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE AND CHEERS) thanks…I love you, I love you…(LAUGHTER)

YEAH maybe Elvis should show! I mean we did have a …we did have a THING where, you know ah…I think it already happened this year? Or was it last year? (murmers) I don’t know…it’s all together in my mind…OBVIOUSLY …I’m TALKING to myself (laughter). UH…she kind of has this thing with Elvis…THAT WOULD BE KINDA COOL…to see Elvis. Um, you know, um…I dunno, I dunno what ERA we would take. Um…I kinda, …I would kinda like to see him, if Elvis was gonna come on the show, I kind of wanna see him in that …Aloha, Hawaii them you know. He can wear mine! I actually have one of those! (laughter)

(Audience member talking to him) Yeah…YEAH…*starts singing deep Elvis voice* I’m bluuuuuuuuuuuuue….without you…(laughter). You know it’s funny, when I get tired on set, which is normally…I always say, like, I’m getting ‘Elvis’ syndrome, ‘cause like, my voice…my LIPS get tired…and I…I can’t TALK anymore, so it’s like, *deep lazy voice* “WELL…I justwannatellyouthat…I think we’re…I can’t pronunciateit..” (chuckles). Yeah, I’m digressing, I’m sorry. Who’s next? What’s going on? Who wants to know anything else?

YES!

Q13: If you had to write a dating ad for yourself, what would you write? (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)

Robin: If I had to WHA..A WHA A WHA?!?

If I’m gonna what? I’m sorry…repeat the question…

Q13: If you were gonna write a dating ad for yourself, what would you write?

Robin: *STARES* (laughter)

*Sobbing anxiously* Psychiatrist…*trembling* works in mental…ASYLUM. NEEDS…human…COMPANIONSHIP…..*shaking and sobbing* PLEASE (laughter). PLEASE…please don’t ask me about my job (laughter). *crumbles to knees sobbing* JUST HOLD MEEEEEEEEEEEE…..(LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE).

*silence*

*SOBS* I’m so ALOOOOOONE! (LAUGHTER)

That’s what I would write…*mumbling*

Ahhh, what else…what else, anyone?

Q14: Uuuh HI. Um…

Robin: *British accent* Helloo! (laughter)Hello darling, you alright? (LAUGHTER) DON’T TOUCH THOSE TEETH THINGS. (laughter) I touched them, and I got in trouble, don’t touch them!

Q14: *chuckling* Yeah you mentioned the amount of jokes being played on set, and stuff like that, and I was wondering which was the best one that you played on someone, and which was the best that someone played on YOU?

Robin: UMMMM. I…I think, I like telling about Holden MacPhillips, do you know the story? (mixed replies). It’s a looong story, but I’ll try to make it really quick. But um, basically:

I created this character named Holden MacPhillips. He’s…he’s this OLD man, he’s a realtor in Hollywood, but he’s also a film producer. And uuuuh, I …I made him a fake email address, and…for YEARS…like this is going back to the end…maybe the MIDDLE of Season 1, I was emailing Martin Wood…these weird things like: “Hello!..” and I always spelled his name wrong, “Mr. Woods! *muffled dorky voice* Dear Mr. Woods!”, you know, “I’m a filmmaker, out her at sunny Hollywood, California, and I have some VERY exciting projects that I would like to team up with you!” Uhh, and i would email these ideas, ideas like, you know, uuh, a SEQUEL to Rocky, where Rocky’s BRAIN…is..is taken out of his body and put into a FIGHTING ROBOT (LAUGHTER), set in some..some planet in the future, and I called it ‘Gingko Balboa” (LAUGHTER). I kept emailing these things, and Martin would be like, “oh my God, check out these emails, this guys is crazy *laughing*”, and as the emails kept going on, he STOPPED talking about it. (laughter) “Hey Martin! Have you got any emails from Hold…”, “No.” (LAUGHTER). So then one day I called up a florist (expectant laughter), I said to the florist, I said, “You know, I want you…I want you to put together an arrangement of flowers. But I want you to do it as though….a CRAZY person, has put together (laughter) an arrangement of flowers. I want it to be like, CLASHING and UGLY, and just like, the most DISGUSTING arrangement of flowers. I want you to do that!” And the woman goes, *stares hard* “WHY?!?!” (LAUGHTER). “Trust me, trust me! I just need it.” So, I sent these flowers to Martin FROM Holden MacPhillips (LAUGHTER), and uuh, you know, Martin’s sitting in his office, and aah, the door’s here right *shows*. He’s sitting at his desk, like this. Right, *sits in profile to audience, hunched over desk*. Damian comes in and goes “OH MY GOD *laughing* oh my God, you gotta go look at the flowers dude, you gotta go look at the flowers!” So, Martin’s sitting at his desk, but I CAN’T SEE HIM, I can’t see him ‘cause there’s this HUUUUUUUGE bouquet of flowers right in front of him (LAUGHTER). All I can see is his BACK sticking out like this *demonstrates*. And they’re like, PINK, and like plastic…GREEN ones, and it’s disgusting, right! So I like, I pretend to like, ask him a question, so I walk in, I’m like, “Hey Martin! PFFFFFFFTAHAA *doubles over* (LAUGHTER)”. Damian’s like, ‘No, no we’ve gotta see him” So, Damian walks into the office, he’s like *nonchalant*,

‘HEY! Martin, howsitgoin…?”,

Martin’s like this *hunched over work*, “Fine” (LAUGHTER).

“Like uuh, SO what’d you think…of the last draft of uuh, the script…”,

Martin: “Yeah it was good”, “Anything that needs to be done with it…?”,

“NO..no it’s, it’s fine”,

“Okay, cool man….uh…say…who are these, uh, who are these flowers from?”,

*Head buried* “Uh…uh they’re from no-one” (LAUGHTER).

So THEN, we’re about to go to Comic Con, right, and CAROLE our publicist, she didn’t know…she didn’t know anything about this. So she comes down to me and says, “You know what? I’m really worried about Martin!”, “Why?”, like, “Well, *sigh* you know, we’re doing the uuh, the hotel arrangements for Comic Con, and he wants to check in under an ALIAS!” (LAUGHTER, CHEERS AND CLAPS). I’m like “What?!”, “Yeah, he wants to check in under ‘Martin Carruthers’!” (LAUGHTER). And I was like, “you know what, he’s fearing for his LIFE”, ‘cause I’d also sent him an email saying, you know “I’m gonna be at…”, from Holden, “AAhm, Mister Martin Woods, I’m going to be at, aah, at Comic Con, I happen to be staying at the same hotel you’re staying at! (LAUGHTER) You know, maybe we could get together and discuss some of these projects!” (LAUGHTER) So, I like, NOW I panicked. I’m like “Oh my God, he’s actually FEARING for his life. So I go into Damian’s office, and I go, “You know what?! We gotta…we got to aah …I’ve gotta tell him! I can’t keep doing this to him, I can’t…he’s losing SLEEP! (laughter), and he’s WORRIED, and…this has, this has gone BEYOND a joke”, and Damian looks at me, and goes, *choked with laughter*“I know. It’s brilliant” (LAUGHTER).”There’s no way, NO WAY, we’re going to pull the rip cord on this, NOT YET”

We get to the…*sighs* we get to the hotel at Comic Con right, Marty…Marty’s in the lobby, literally going like this, *stand arms folded, twitched, staring nervously around and over his shoulder* (LAUGHTER). You know, like he’s looking out for some frail old man from Hollywood. We got to the counter, like:

“Checking in?”,

“Yes! Yes, um…Damian Kindler”,

“Okay..there’s your room key”, “Okay thank you!”,

“Checking in?”,

“YEP…aah, Amanda Tapping”,

“Okay thank you, there’s your room key”

“Checking in?”,

“Yep Robin Dunne!”,

“Your room key!”,

“Checking in?”,

“Uh yeah…uhm *coughs, leans over and undertones*…Martin Carruthers” (LAUGHTER).

SO, FINALLY. I’m like, actually feeling really, really bad. So, ‘When are we gonna let him…when are we gonna let him know what’s happening?”, Damian’s like, “We’re gonna do it RIGHT after the panel at Comic Con”. So we do the panel at Comic Con, we walk out, we’re in the Green Room, and I get..uuh…I think it was Carole, she..she, I heard her go to Martin and say, “Uuuh, Martin, listen um. Holden MacPhillips is outside” (LAUGHTER AND CHEERS), “DON’T WORRY, he’s not, he doesn’t look dangerous. But, he’s out there, he’s NOT going away, why don’t you just go talk to him? And just, like, and just be nice to him. I’m SURE if you just say hello to him, he’ll go away”. So Martin…Martin literally turns, he turns WHITE like this thing right*places hand on white bench* (LAUGHTER). And i go, “Marty, what’s wrong?”, he’s like “Yeah, HOLDEN MACPHILLIPS…stopped by”, and he’s like, “Yeah…I’ve got to go and talk to Holden MacPhillips!”. So, I run out, and I beat him, I beat him outside to the front of it. And I’m…I’m, I’ve got a video camera, somebody had the TERRIBLE idea of giving me a video camera (LAUGHTER). For the BTS, most of it was just like, *dorky voice*“LOOK, MY FEET, I’M WALKING!” (LAUGHTER). *Dorky voice* “I’M TAKING A PEE LOOK! I took lots of vitamins and now my pee is REALLY YELLOW!” (LAUGHTER). I mean, I didn’t do that, but I do some funny things (LAUGHTER). So, I’m standing, Martin comes around the corner, and I’m standing there, right? And Martin’s still like, white like a sheet, and he looks at me, and he sees ME there, you know, with the camera. And everybody starts laughing…and I…except for me, I felt so bad, I was like:

“*grovelling* MARTIN I’M SORRY! (LAUGHTER), I’M SORRY I DIDN’T MEAN IT (LAUGHTER)”,

and Martin’s just kinda standing there, he’s like, shocked! He’s like,

“*STARES*…………..*mumbles* Holden..MacPhillips…is YOU?”,

“*grovelling* I’M SORRY!! IT’S JUST A JOKE, IT GOT OUT OF CONTROL, I’M SORRY…I’M TERRIBLY SORRY, I KNOW YOU HAVEN’T SLEPT”

He goes, “*STARES*…..*breathes* WOW…(LAUGHTER)you know…you know, you’ve been writing me emails for, like…three YEARS! (LAUGHTER)”.

So, “YEAH I know”,

He’s like, “YOU’RE A SERIAL KILLER…I DUNNO!” (LAUGHTER). I mean…IT’S BRILLIANT don’t get me wrong! But you’re …CRAZY!…You need a HOBBY!” (LAUGHTER). So yeah…I’m yet to be trumped. But you see the PROBLEM is when you get to do a show, where everybody plays practical jokes on everyone else. EVERYBODY gets super, like, suspicious, and you know. No…I mean, because of ME, nobody leaves computer unlocked! (LAUGHTER) It’s not happening, you know! Everybody’s like, you know, Martin’ll be like, you know, installed in his chair, and he’ll be like, “Okay, for this scene, I think…WOAH…where’s my phone?! Where’s…(LAUGHTER). I don’t care WHAT we’re doing, I don’t care if we’re doing the most brilliant scene in the world, you are NOT getting my phone!” One day, I’m like…my like, computer broke, you know, the boy who cried ‘Wolf’ right? I’m like,” I don’t have a computer today *SIGH*, can someone…lend me theirs?”, and they’re like “SORRY PAL! Guess who’s not getting any emails today!” (LAUGHTER). So…

God you guys are gonna be like…I will NEVER shut up (laughter). “Who gave this guy a microphone?” *dorky voice*, “THIS IS FUN! I CAN…MY VOICE IS REALLY LOUD! (chuckles)”. Who’s got a question?

Moderator: This is the last question.

(AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!)

Q15: Hey Robin, how you goin’?
Robin: *fails Aussie accent* How you goin’ mate, you alright? (laughter)

Q15: HA…HA…HA funny, what are you…?

Robin: No no, I’m just trying! Trying to learn…is that okay?(YEEEEAH!) When I…when I try to talk in an Australian accent I just start talking *impression* like Russell Crowe (laughter): “ You alright? Yeah…yeah just going down to Dundee…” (LAUGHTER and claps) *continues impression under his breath*….

Yeah, go ahead. I’m going well thank you! HOW ARE YOU GOING? (chuckles) Are you GOING? I’m gonna GO after I finish this panel…(LAUGHTER) to the autograph line!

Sorry, go ahead.

Q15: Um, we were just watching the first episode of ‘Sanctuary’, and …just up here today…

Robin: The very first? From the first Season?!

Q15: YEAH!

Robin: Back when I was young and innocent! (LAUGHTER)

Q15: You still ARE young and innocent (LAUGHTER AND AWWWWWW)

Robin: *stares* *dorky voice* THANKS EVERYONE! THAT’S GREAT! (LAUGHTER) That’s really nice…!

Q15: So, I just wondered…that Will, the Will that we …that was written in the first episode was before you got pummelled along. I just noticed, I guess, that over the three years of the character’s evolution, ummm, there’s quite a difference, in the first episode…you know, he was not the kind of character that would walk into a scene, and he knows exactly what’s going on…

Robin: Just enough to know that he’s a beautiful man, thank you. (laughter)

Q15: Um, I just wanted to ask you, you sound like you seem to know a lot of the episodes by their titles, which a lot of the actors who come to these cons do NOT know, and you sound like you watched the episodes. And I was wanting to find out your method as an actor, and how you evolved his ongoing character, and…do you go back and WATCH the…your parts, and EVOLVE the character. And how much word do you have with the writers, on where you think Will as the person, and the plot, should very much run. As for Will’s character, do you have…a method?

Robin: NO…No there’s no method! (laughter) There’s no method…no method whatsoever!

Um, yeah. The thing about…the evolution of the character I think, is very organic, I mean I think..it…it’s a character who has got…BELIEVES in this type of world, you know, was convinced that it was out there. But when it was FORCED upon him…*awkward pause* Not in that way!! (LAUGHTER), dirty mind….umm…when it …when it was REVEALED to him, by Magnus that, this thing that you believe in, it actually exists, and why don’t you come and live in this world, and actually help me DEAL with this. Uh, it was very DAUNTING for him, so I think the evolution of the character being kind of, nervous about it, to continue on, and get to the sort of, more cavalier…I wouldn’t say, completely cavalier, you know, as we know him now in Season 3. But certainly he is…MORE so..than when we…first saw him. Um, but you know…*sighs* YES there are times when I’ll…you know…I’ll add a line or sort of…do something, but REALLY, the …the credit to the character and the story, are REALLY…goes to Damian Kindler and the writing team. You know what they do, and how they do it, you know how they…crafted this character. And ALL their characters, I mean, we have such AMAZING…CHARACTERS on the show…um…characters obviously taken out of history, and turned on their ear, and I think THAT’S the real feel of the show! SO…YES…it’s pretty much done up in the…in the writer’s room, which I like to call ‘The Lab’, you know it kind of…sort of…trickles down to us…NOT ‘trickles down’ in that way! (LAUGHTER) But um, but it is kind of nice to know, being so…we’re all kind of really close, because we’re all friends, you know…You DO find aspects of your own character are worked INTO the character you’re playing. You know, I’ll find, you know, that I’ll be out…with Damian one night, and it’s sort of, *slow and deep* “Hey Damian, how’s it goooin’?” (laughter), “Would ya like anutha DRINK? I think I’D like wun!” You know, it’s just terrible…that was Jack Nicholson by the way! (LAUGHTER) It’s really awful when you do an impression and you have to explain afterwards, I shouldn’t HAVE to do that! But you know, I’ll sort of do something, and then a couple of episodes later you’ll see it sort of…you know… WILL AS JACK NICHOLSON “MAGNUSS…please down’t give me a hard time here, I’m working with a SASQUATTCH!” (LAUGHTER). Yeah, so that IS kind of cool…to see…the evolution of the character comes through with sort of the, ‘cause…all our relationships, PERSONAL relationships, are strengthened. NOT personal relationships in that way…(LAUGHTER) *chuckling*Yeah…but REALLY it’s all really crafted upstairs.*Hillbilly accent* “Aye just…aye just reed the wurds that they write daown!” (LAUGHTER, CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Moderator: We want to ask if you agree to wear one of these wonderful personalised teeshirts, which will be auctioned off for the Starlight Foundation…

Robin: *deep voice* YES (applause) (as moderator approaches with teeshirt) *British accent* Hello darling, how are you? I like having this microphone (laughter) You know why? Power. (LAUGHTER) *normal voice* OH MY GOD I’m gonna buy a megaphone! I want to… carry it around *mimics*”HI! HOW MUCH IS THIS NEWSPAPER?!” (LAUGHTER) Um, I should never be allowed to have one of those, maybe you should take it *shoves toward moderator*…take it…(laughter) She took all my POWER!

Moderator: You’re going to have to take your shirt off

(WHISTLES, CHEERS AND LAUGHTER)

Robin: I mean can I…go all the way? (LAUGHTER AND CHEERS)

(Robin takes off his teeshirt amidst a barrage of cheers and laughter, pretends to be embarrassed. Once off, begins to undo the fly of his jeans, exposing his underwear. People are laughing hysterically!)

Robin: I wasn’t going to wear underwear today! (LAUGHTER) BECAUSE IT’S SUNDAY! (laughter) *mumbles*…look!..*chuckles* I’m kidding! You’ll be like…Oh my God…it doesn’t STOP with Robin Dunne! (laughter)

Moderator: What we’re going to do, is we’re going to get you to draw on it, write something…

Robin: WELL, I think maybe…maybe the thing to do , might be to have..someone come from the audience to come and write something! (LAUGHTER) Uuuuuuuuuuh…UUUUUUUUH.

(The first girl comes down and writes the word ‘Sanctuary’ across Robins chest)

Hey cool, it kinda looks like the ‘Sanctuary’ logo!

(The second girl approaches and writes ‘I <3 U’ on Robin’s right shoulder)

OKAY. WHO WANTS TO MAKE THIS INAPPROPRIATE?!?!

(Yells of ME! From the back. A Kiwi girl runs down and kneels in front of Robin. When she comes away, his teeshirt reads “GOT YOUR SANCTUARY RIGHT HERE vvvv”. Uproar of hysterical laughter and cheers!)

Robin: I warned you that I was going to be inappropriate…BUT YOU GUYS..!!!! (LAUGHTER)

(Suddenly everyone hears a familiar yell from the back of the room: “I WANNA DRAW ON IT!!” After a moment, everyone breaks into cheers of laughter and clapping as Amanda Tapping comes running down the stairs, giggling madly and rubbing her hands together. She approaches Robin with her arms thrown wide open, and an evil grin on her face, and gives him a massively warm cuddle. Robin has a look of doomed shock on his face, he knows what he’s in for!)

Robin: *heartbroken voice* I DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE HERE! (LAUGHTER)

(Everyone is cheering and laughing, as Amanda crouches down, and when she backs away, there is an extra “KEEP GOING vvv” on the front of his teeshirt. People are giggling and laughing madly as Amanda moves behind Robin with a massively cheeky grin on her face, smoothing his shoulders sweepingly and rubbing his muscles. Robin’s knees crumble and he shivers, as everyone breaks with laughter. There is much cheeky banter going on between them, and then Amanda begins writing on his back. When she finishes, there are shouts of TURN AROUND!! and his back reads: “AND THIS IS MY BUM vvv. Squeals of laughter echo through the theatre and the grin on Amanda’s face is splittingly HUGE. There are shouts of PULL YOUR PANTS DOWN etc, Robin is standing there with a look of amused weariness on his face, as he endures the mockery brought on by Amanda, who is laughing and giggling manically in the background)

Carissa: We’re starting the bidding at 370, for those who’d like to make a contribution, going once at 370!

(Amanda is making comments in the background , Robin is responding. Shouts of ‘WHAT DID YOU DRAW’, “WHAT DOES IT, SAY WE CAN’T READ IT” and “CAN YOU COME UP SO WE CAN SEE IT?”)

Amanda: *demurely* I just drew a heart! (LAUGHTER)

(Robin runs up the right hand aisle, and walks across the middle of the theatre so we can have a good look at his teeshirt)

Robin: MODELLING ITH FUN! (LAUGHTER)

(He makes his way to the left aisle staircase and stand so people can see the shirt)

I’m too sexy for this shirt! (LAUGHTER)

(The whole auditorium is riddled by hysterical laughter, giggles and thrown out comments. The moderators are grinning hugely down the front, and Amanda is alternately laughing her face off, and giggling with a splitting grin)

Carissa: So going once at 370!…380!…400! 400 going once…..400 dollars going twice…

(420!)

OOH 420! (claps and OOOOOOHs from around the theatre)

(450!)

450! (OOOOOOOOOOOOH!) You could claim your …name Robin Dunne! (LAUGHTER) (call from audience, LAUGHTER)

Robin: For the sake of everyone I work with…DON’T (LAUGHTER)

Carissa: So it’s 450…going once…

Amanda: He’s a little shifty…so it’s nice and *contours his shape* (LAUGHTER)

(460!)

460…SEE? *grinning* (LAUGHTER)

Carissa: 460 going once…

Robin: I’ve never known what it felt like to be a piece of MEAT! (LAUGHTER)

(500!)

Carissa: 500 DOLLARS! (applause and cheers) So 500 dollars going once, 500 dollars going twice…

Sold to the….(drowned out with cheers and applause!)

Carissa: Now the winner can take your shirt off…(LAUGHTER, CALLS AND CHEERS)

(Robin goes to the winner, a lady in the very front row. She is shy, and as he stands there waiting with his arms straight out to the sides, she wraps her arms around his middle in a big hug. Eventually she pulls his shirt off, and he runs back to his clothing hugging his naked torso in a big show of awkward embarrassment. THE LAUGHTER IS HYSTERICAL)

Robin: WOW LIKE….(laughter)…Um…I’ll never forget Melbourne! (LAUGHTER)

(Audience member) So are you coming back?

Robin: I’m not leaving!! (LAUGHTER)

Carissa: Ladies and Gentlemen, can you please put your hands together for the amazing…(IS DROWNED OUT WITH CHEERS AND APPLAUSE. Robin dons his clothing, and runs up the stairs high-fiving the audience, while Amanda remains behind, still laughing, applauding and grinning like crazy)

Robin: Goodnight everyone! Thank you so much! (CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Amanda: Oh my God you guys are really FUN!! (LAUGHTER) Who’s up next?!?! *sits in seat* (shouts from audience) I’M SO EXCITED! *bouncing and clapping* (LAUGHTER)

(Amanda’s intro video begins – transcription coming in next report )

I sincerely hope you all enjoyed the stint as much as we did! Stand by for Amanda’s fabulous hour. Thank you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency and reading.

Please feel free to contribute to the discussion below, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the button down there, or my avatar at right!

CHEERIO!

JandyraCJM

December 23, 2010

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