Vancouver: geek central

[locker_monster]

I'm off to often-not-sunny Vancouver Monday for the official Stargate convention. My first con of a sizable sort. I'm not sure what to expect, except expensiveness. I am, however, looking forward to the set tour included in my ticket package. They open up the sets to the fans every year so it's not like it's a once in a lifetime thing, but it's a look behind the scenes most people won't see. A potentially hazard look if the waiver I have to sign is any indication. Apparently if I get crushed by heavy equipment, set on fire by pyrotechnics, or get sliced open by wayward cables, I can't sue MGM or Stargate because I signed the wavier.

But I'm more bummed that I can't post the photos of the set that I take. I'm forbidden by a confidentiality clause. While I'm sure MGM and the producers can't patrol the Internet all the time looking for fan taken photos, I'll be kind and not post any of the sets. Sigh. We're not even visiting the Stargate Universe sets, so I don't see what the big deal is. It's the only show in production, that I'm aware of, so there's nothing to see on the SG-1 and Atlantis sets, besides the sets themselves of course. Are they going to stop people from posting about the con, too? I could reveal shocking plot details that were given freely! Oh no!

Since the whole point of the trip is geek motivated, I'll also be checking out some of the filming locations from Stargate (and BSG and every other Vancouver filmed TV show). I'm making an effort to visit Simon Fraser University, which is like the filming location for any Vancouver based, sci fi series. Notably, it's been Caprica and Tollan and a bunch of other places I'm sure.

There's an added bonus, too. The new V remake is also shooting in Vancouver right now. That means Morena and Alan are there, wandering around the city. Well, not wandering, but there, making television.

A week of geek. Just what I need. :-)

Comments

[littlebatti.livejournal.com]

Yay Con! What fun. I have not been to Vancouver in April. Is the weather really bad there in Spring?
Sorry I haven't commented in a while. It has been a busy week. Have been going through your fic though. It's great that you get to see the sets. Funny they won't allow posting of pics of the older sets.

I think I must be asleep half the time because I didn't realise they were doing a remake of V. WOW! That was a super scary show when I was a kid.

We have Supernova expo here in June. The one I'm helping the DWCA with their table. http://www.supanova.com.au/
Rumour was that Morena was going to be at the Sydney Supernova. I was hoping for Katee Sackhoff too but she's only at the Melbourne one and Amber Benson is only going to be at the Brisbane one :(
Although I think we are getting Dirk Benedict, the original Starbuck. lol

I have no tips for talking to Actors. From my limited experience of ONE day event the best opportunity is during signings not photos. It can depend on their minders too. I was too shy to say more than "Hi" and "Thank you". A friend, Joel, took along photos of the grade 3 class he teaches having a "Doctor Who Day" at school (He took in all his DW stuff and they watched the show and talked about it) At the autograph signing, Joel whips out the pictures and starts showing them to Peter Davison, telling him about his class and how he was using the kids' interest in Doctor Who to motivate them in class etc. So they had a little 2 min chat before the line moved on. Joel had me stand on the side with his Camera taking pictures of them talking. I saw other people asking if Peter could hold their knitting - no, I'm not kidding - and take a picture, which he said Yes. They were all, "Yay! I have a picture of Peter Davison and me and he's holding my Sock!"
So I think having something like photos or knitting can give you an opportunity to engage the actor in conversation.
Someone bought Mark Strickson a beer and handed it to him while he was doing the Q&A on stage. He was very happy about that.

If you don't mind being afflicted by the sight of me, there is a link on my lj to my other blog that has a picture of me and Peter Davison.

Have fun in Vancouver location hunting. Wish I could do that.

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

Vancouver is like the rain capital of Canada. Well, that's not true but it seems like it anyway. There's rarely snow but it's always cloudy. I expect rain every day, but seeing as how the con is four days, I'll be inside for most of the week.

I get that they don't want pictures leaked onto the net, but they can't mind every single website out there. Some stuff is bound to slip through. Not that I want to tempt fate.

Sounds like Morena backed out of your Supernova con because of V. I think it was like a month ago it was announced the show was being remade. I have a very vague recollection of V, but I think we rented the miniseries when I was a kid, so I never watched it when it aired the first time. I'm just happy they cast Morena and Alan.

Asking Peter Davison to hold your knitting. That's a new one. :-) I'm not expecting to have long conversations with these actors when I meet them, I just don't know what to say when I do have the opportunity to be in their orbit for like two seconds. I'm sure they're used to awestruck fans.

There's a few locations I've managed to track down, so we'll see how many I get to. Simon Fraser will be fun, though. I can pretend I'm on Caprica. :-D

[littlebatti.livejournal.com]

I remember when I was a kid my dad telling me that the rain in winter in Vancouver was depressing. No snow, just sleet and slush. I've only been to Canada 4 times. Once in summer the rest in winter, but never in spring or autumn. So I've no idea what those seasons are like. I remember the relatives thought it was amazing that it snowed the Christmases that I was there because it didn't usually happen.

The last time I was there, 1997, my cousin and I had to dig the driveway out of the snow so we could get the car out. Everyone was so super shocked we had that much snow. As I understand, it usually melted before it hits the ground in that part of BC.

[locker-monster.livejournal.com]

Snow is pretty unusual. My aunt and uncle live on Vancouver Island and most people there don't own a snow shovel. It's usually just rain, clouds, and occasionally, sun. I think the last time I visited Vancouver was back in high school on a band trip. I don't remember rain, but it was later into spring.

You'll notice that most shows that film on Vancouver are always cloudy: The X-Files, Stargate, Smallville, etc. Just one of the downsides of filming there.

Oh, and I forgot to ask. How did your BSG death pool turn out? Any big winners?