From Starship Troopers at the Phoenix Comicon 2012 with Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer
Ever run into movie stars and not realize right away that they were standing next to you the entire time? That happened several times during our stay in Phoenix. Sometimes the actors are shorter than you imagined, older than you imagined, or not as attractive as you imagined......but there is something that you pick up on that separates them from the rest of the crowd. My brother caught both these stars in the elevator alone and felt as if something wasn't right with the force:)
Dina Meyer
As a photographer, I try to capture interesting and different looks. Some actors (un)surprisingly don't show much emotion and it makes the shoot difficult.
Casper Van Dien from Starship Troopers
Ed Asner is seen below talking about his life experiences as an actor. Love this guy! Very funny and says it like it is.
Ed Asner
Some actors don't always turn out to be like their TV characters. This actress plays Deanna Troi on Star Trek the Next Generation. She's a bit sassy and demanding. Some audience members were put off by her. When we met her in person, Marina was a bit bossy, but I don't mind:) I come from a family of strong women.
Marina Sirtis 2012
And then there is Jamie Bamber.......from Battlestar Galactica. I encountered him early in the morning getting ready for a workout. My brother and I were heading for breakfast and the elevator door opened up and there was this shorter guy. We said, "Hey." and when I noticed who it was I laughed and said, "Hello." properly. Well, Mr. Bamber is afterall half English/half American. He played Apollo from the new Battlestar Galactica series.
Jamie Bamber
And of course, several of the actors were witty and a lot of fun. For example, Wil Wheaton and Brent Spiner had the crowd going several times during their panel.
Brent Spiner and Wil Wheaton
Movie stars are people like everyone else. They live their lives similiar to our own....some with money; some without.....and the struggles may be different.....but no matter how you look at it....it's still kinda fun to see them in person and chat.
Jamie Bamber is from one of my ultimate favorite TV shows. I don't watch much TV but BSG is about technology and our advancement in robotics. The robots(or cylons) become intelligent and kill most of the human race. The humans flee their planet in search of a new home and it's some of the best storytelling you'll ever see on TV. You can watch Battlestar Galactica on Netflix TV.
Micheal Dorn
And look at this guy! Michael Dorn(or Worf) playing around with his camera. He's so skinny and unlike his Worf character in real life! At the end of it all, it was sad because we had such a great time. But that's my life with this blog. I look forward to the shoots and interviews and ultimately know that it will all end. So this is the final post on the Phoenix comicon. I hope you enjoyed my take on this major event for Phoenix. I've got so much more in store for you all. Stay tuned for more....
I gotta say that I never know what's coming on a daily basis with this blog. But this time, I know that I have a special week long post on pics and writing based around the 2012 Phoenix Comicon. Everyday I'll take you through our extremely fun journey at the Con. One of the posts is rather personal, but I hope it sheds some light on why I value this event every year in Phoenix. But let's get you ready for some things that you need to know about any SyFy con. It's a bit different from birding and yet it still requires a lot of patience. Why? Come on, I'll tell you everything you need to know:)
The pic above is an example of what you'll see. I don't know what the gas masks are for but I can only imagine. I went with 3 other people....2 were newbies. There was one man going down an escalator sweating! He was a larger man and barely able to walk.....and smelled as if he had never taken a shower. My not-so-savvy brother's friend inappropriately asks a question on this forever moving escalator, "Dude! What's that nasty smell?!" The larger man turns around and smiles. He says, "It's Con Sweat!" Gross. Nasty. I don't know. I plug my nose and keep my mouth shut. My brother and friend have a good laugh with the other guy. Afterall I do bird at the Sweetwater Treatment plant and there are days that I don't always smell the best after that little hike:) It's a little different though....it's not my sweat that makes me smell but the sewage:) But it still smells the same. So perhaps this man wears a gas mask because of the "Con Sweat."
But check out some of these outfits people put together!!! It's called "Cosplay". They act like the character they portray all day long. Thousands of people ask for their pictures and leave satisfied by the excellent costumes. People dress up for attention, but they also do it because it entertains crowds. You should see the little kids faces as Batman takes a pic with them. It makes me smile. Little geeks in the making. I also discovered that you have to create your own outfits for Cosplay or they won't count. So you can't purchase an outfit from a retailer. But I suspect that there are people who do;) Look closely and you'll see that this Iron Man outfit was put together with cardboard. Really well done.
And of course there are the long lines to get into the halls and presentations. Here is a pic of The Big Bang Theory's Wil Wheaton. Rooms are full to the max.....usually pretty warm from all the body heat. Again like waiting for the Lazuli Bunting or Elegant Trogon, this famous bird was worth the wait:)
But there are days that you feel like this "thing" above. Thousands of people who are socially awkward and a little....um....strange can get to you after 4 days. I took this shot from the floor exhausted after the constant walking through the heavy traffic. Bring good walking shoes.
But then you get to meet people like Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton who inspired many of us to read at an early age. You know that song....."Butterfly in the skyyyyyy! I can fly twice as hiiiigh. Just take a look. It's in a book. On Reading Rainbow....." And it was moving to see what an affect this actor had on so many people. Some were in tears thanking him for such a beautiful childhood memory.
And then there is me....HUGE Star Trek fan. Here are some amazing Romulans from the original series. Incredible outfits. Yeah it's pretty exciting. These Romulans were nice people.
But at the end of the day, especially for newbies like my younger brother, Comicons can be exhausting. We let him sleep and snuck off at 6 AM to get our days going. Schedule schedule schedule.....especially at the San Diego Comicon in July!!! It's not for the weak of heart.
And look at who else I invited to the party.....King Tuzigoot!!! He's walking with his friend Slimer. I have some treats for you all coming up in about a week. But I thought I'd give you a taste of what's to come. I hope I don't disappoint. Don't know the Reading Rainbow song? I have it for you below. More tomorrow.....
They say the road between Tucson and Phoenix is one of the worst. People say there is no greater hell than driving north into this hot inferno of evil. They say the devil lives here and acts as our Governor!!! Can you believe the stuff people say? Well not all of it. The part about the highway between Tucson and Phoenix is true:) Or is it? Judge for yourselves at the pics today from our Interstate 10 and make up your own minds.......
Picacho Peak. Careful driving through this corridor. Sometimes accidents happen here and will stop traffic for hours. And there are cops with radar guns. Be aware of your speed in the town Casa Grande. Many speeders pulled over in this area as well.
The differences between Tucson and Phoenix are vast. Tucson is a democratic city while Phoenix carries the red of our state heavily. At one point last year, Tucson had proposed seceding from the state of Arizona. I'm not sure I liked the name of Baja Arizona. It was all silly really. But it is true. Tucsonans aren't much for Phoenix and Phoenix isn't one to travel south and visit our city. Yet there are many that do. Most people in Phoenix will head north to the mountains and areas that surround Sedona.
One of my favorite areas of the interstate are along the Pecan groves. Gorgeous bare or green.
It is also hot in Phoenix. Very hot. There is usually a ten degree difference between here and there. So on our mandatory road trip up to Phoenix, which occurs once or twice every year, we took the I 10 corridor to the concrete city in the desert. While the drive is terribly long, the best time to go is when the sun is setting. I brought my camera to keep me occupied on this trip.
But don't listen to what people say. Phoenix is a beautiful city. The Convention Center is one of the best and the landscaping is gorgeous. While Tucson can be a bit unkept, Phoenix is a stark contrast with it's clean downtown scapes.....and it's nice. But while the sun is setting...or rising....you will see some of the most beautiful color in our skies. And I don't care what side of the political fence you're on, I think most people in Arizona would agree that our state is pretty incredible.
But we rush, rush, rush. And it was very evident once we arrived in the city. Traffic everywhere and people not seeing the incredible sunset displays. We are so busy running around that we take things for granted. There is beauty all around us. I am having a hard time these days focusing on conversations while an incredible bird flies over my head or a citrus smell permeates the air. It's these moments that matter the most. But then again....
You see something like this below and you snap back to reality and laugh your butt off. We will be "trekking" to the north this May to take part of the 25th anniversary of Star Trek the Next Generation with Patrick Stewart and gang. And that's pretty exciting. I'll have coverage and so much more...including some spectacular landscaping from around the Convention Center. I CAN'T wait to show you some of the things that they've done with Agaves and other structural plants. Life is too short and I'm going to live it:) It's not better anywhere else because it's all the same. Cold weather. Hot weather. Sun. Clouds. After awhile it all blurs together into one reality and just IS. And Interstate 10 isn't an exception to the rule. The pictures today were taken during our drive up and proof that it's all in the eye of the beholder. But if you still don't believe me and have some time on your hands between Tucson and Phoenix, you can always take the "in your face!" picturesque State Route Hwy 77:) Live long and prosper.
Storytime with Wil Wheaton(Big Bang Theory, Stand By Me, ST:TNG)
Actor pics from the Comicon were taken by me. If you want to use my pics anytime from this blog, please drop a note first or source the pic.
In life, we sometimes make imaginary bonds with people that are on screen or from a book. My youth was no different. Even today during life's little trials as an adult, I still have those attachments which act like a security blanket that comforts me when I need escape. I grew up watching Wil Wheaton on TV always wondering what it would be like to be a child actor. During my awkward high school years, I struggled with my identity, like most teenagers, and escaped into the world of science fiction. In my imaginary world, I have always dreamed of leaving the planet Earth for the stars and Star Trek allowed me the chance to escape my reality. Like my Grandpa and Mother, I joined the realm of the exciting and unknown. Each week I followed the voyages of the starship Enterprise as it explored new planets and met strange aliens. I was a freshman in high school when Star Trek: The Next Generation began and Wil Wheaton was part of the cast.
Telling the tale of the Unicorn Pegasus Kitten
Both of us were the same age and both in our teenage years. Everyone made fun of Star Trek(sometimes they still do...but I don't care anymore:), but having someone from the same age group seemed to make it okay to watch TNG. Eventually, we grew both grew up to be 39 years old. He is turning 39 this month and I'll be celebrating my birthday in October. Seeing him in person and hearing his voice made me smile and think about how much time has passed in my own life. During his presentation, he shared with the audience that he really enjoyed writing.....something I also enjoy doing now. Beyond having the "writing bug", I discovered that we had a lot more in common.....a relationship, travel, and a similiar snarky sense of humor. It was great to see someone having fun in their 30's. Sometimes I see a lot of my peers and siblings irritated that they can't always do the things they want to do because of kids, their work, or marriage. Life is, of course, what you make of it. Both of us have blogs and both of us have found writing to be quite exciting. Even better, I think we're both more comfortable in our own skins as adults and people. So while my imaginary friend and I have taken different paths in our lives, we still have taken on similiar interests.......and it brought me a strange comfort. Why should it matter? I think many people sensationalize an actor's life thinking it's awesome. Some parts of it seem cool, but I don't think I'd want that life. But it's comforting to know that the people we enjoy watching on TV have somewhat normal lives just like everybody else. Now if he reads this blog, his response would be, "That sounds &*%^$ %$^!" And I'd laugh because I would probably say the same thing. However, I have students who like to pop in every now and again and read my work so I have to keep it clean:) Anyhow, if you read this Wil, I get it, but I just wanted to thank you for the fun time we had up at the Phoenix Comicon. It was a good escape after the school year ended.
Bazinga!
So this blog sounds as if I am a stalker and that isn't the case at all.....just a huge fan and geek at heart. It's about the respect I felt for this actor as a kid as well as the appreciation for the work he's done and continues to do. Conventions allow us to meet these imaginary and timeless friends in person and connect with them via stories from their real lives, etc. In many ways, it's like visiting an old friend who you haven't seen in awhile. It was great to finally meet this funny and witty blogger. Stay tuned for more personal stories and science info from the Phoenix Comicon. I have a lot of reporting to do....I'm working on my Panama posts right now from our work with the turtle program in Bocas Del Toro as well as our adventure from Coiba Island.....plus some features on the local flora and fauna. So much to write on plus several updates on the garden.....Until tomorrow!
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