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Of Robbie Cons and Roxann at Novacon
Jamelia, AKA "Auntie Janet," has been traveling around to quite a few cons in the past year. I've got a few con reports that I wrote up for a mail list. Thought some of you might enjoy reading them. Here is one compiled from two cons with Robbie McNeill as the guest, and another with Roxann Dawson as the guest. At the "Robbie Cons" in Cleveland (Vulkon) and Baltimore (Shore Leave) my friend Niomi had her tape recorder. There are transcripts available, posted on Niomi's Page , so you can look them up if you want to see how close my quotes are to what Robbie actually said. For Novacon, Niomi wasn't there and there was no tape recorder. I took some notes. While all the quotes may not be exact, they're close. If I find a web addy for transcripts from Novacon, I'll post it here, too.
Jamelia's Adventures with Niomi and Teddy in Baltimore--(With a Short Digression to Cleveland--A.K.A. "Robbie Refuses to Choose Between Iced Teas"
The Magical PTFever Tour to Cleveland to see Robert Duncan McNeill was pretty exhausting. It's a long ride from New Jersey to Cleveland (with a stopover in Philadelphia to pick up Katie Redshoes). It was terrific to meet so many people I've met on line. Neetz was there, and so was Kim, Trisha, Terri and her sister Kathryn (A.K.A. "Little Attila"--a name which seems incongruous--at first!), "SleepyInNJ" Deb, and Vicki of the MAJC clan (if I've left anybody out, forgive me. It was a few weeks ago). Between storms that stranded Kim (and Robbie, as it turned out) for many hours in various airports, sinus infections, margarita parties, and a general inability to get much sleep because of the goings-on, the weekend was exhausting. Seeing Robbie and asking him questions like, "Did you ever get your ears--or anything else--pierced?" (Yes to the left ear, no to anywhere else) and buying him "Rock Bottom" shorts that he donned over his jeans, I had a great time. And THEN I had to drive back to NJ, hellbent for leather (if you don't know what it means--ask Tex) because my son was graduating from high school and he hadn't given me the right date. I made it, but it was a hard trip.
Baltimore was different. I could really only go down for the day--a long day, but only one. Supposedly. Niomi was driving down from Connecticut Friday night to stay with me, and were going to pick up Teddy in Princeton Junction. The three of us were going to ride down to Shore Leave together, just for the day. Teddy had a bridal shower to go to in Manhattan on Sunday. Niomi had to get back early to Connecticut. I had curtains to hang in my living room on Sunday, so we had to keep it simple.
Right. Simple. Just for the day.
We ended up taking a room for Saturday night, Teddy took the Amtrack train to Manhattan on Sunday morning, but she got to the shower on time. Ni got back to Connecticut pretty late because we stayed to watch the screening of Robbie's movie, "The Battery," and then we figured we just HAD to get our money's worth for the second day's cost of the con by staying to listen to Robbie's talk on Sunday. That meant getting caught in traffic on the way home. An awfully long couple of days.
We had a marvelous time.
We had lots of fun talking fan fiction on our way to the Baltimore area, and the trip down wasn't a bad one. Once we got to the Hunt Valley Marriott, a Klingon told us where to go. Hey, I'm not fussy. We met up with our friend Monica and found our seats.
Now, unlike many other cons, Shore Leave is "first come, first served" for seating. There aren't any reserved seats except for the con committee, which is fair since they are busy working and can't save seats for themselves. Somehow, Monica got seats on the aisle, right behind the committee on the left side of the auditorium. I understand now why Kim says, "You want something done, check with Monica."
After listening to some very funny song parodies by "Boogie Nights" and watching some special effects clips by Mojo of Foundation Imaging the first guest was introduced.
Those of you who are fans of DS9 will probably know General Martok, who is played by J.G. Hertzler. I liked the character, but having seen him in action on stage, I like him even more. An honor guard of Klingons accompanied John into the hall (which is what the "J" stands for--he prefers using initials for credits, which Jamelia/J.A. Toner understands perfectly). John saluted them as they exited and began to speak in a sonorous voice. He's got flowing white hair and beard (he grew the beard so that the makeup artists only have to color it for him to play Martok). Seems he was invited to come in early, on Friday night, so he could participate in a Klingon Feast. He noted that lightning struck the building, and in the wee hours of the morning a fire alarm went off. He added, ". . . and Klingons sure know how to have fun."
He was asked about Terry Farrell's departure from DS9, and he said she was "irreplaceable." Doing a scene with her, with that beautiful face and lovely eyes, sometimes took his breath away. General Martok will be in the first few episodes of the new DS9 series, at least, grieving for his lost daughter-in-law and comforting his adopted son Worf. He wishes Terry well in her new series with Ted Danson.
Although John is of Amish descent, his father was in the Air Force and retired when he was stationed in the D.C. area. He calls Maryland home, which delighted the local contingent. Having played football, which "knocks the sensitivity right out of you," he figures he was well equipped to play a Klingon warrior. When he went in for the audition, he decided to play a "different" sort of Klingon--quieter, a bit more urbane. The producers asked him to read again with more vigor, which irritated him. He threw the chair he was standing near against the wall--but unfortunately, one of his fingernails got caught and was torn off in the process. John roared out his lines, spraying blood everywhere from his finger. The producers were a bit taken aback but hired him for the General -- he figures they were afraid NOT to hire him, after that performance. Method acting, to the max!
He wears a patch over his left eye as General Martok. This isn't a problem, since he has no vision in that eye because of "lazy eye." When the producers said they would fix the general's eye when he got back to DS9, he told them not to bother. He believes that the general would leave the eye as is as a badge of honor. Besides, it doesn't bother him to have the eye covered since he hasn't any vision in that eye anyway. He feels privileged to play a Klingon because of their code of honor and bravery. He wouldn't mind the next Trek series being, "The House of Martok." (". . . where no Klingon has gone before. . . ")
I found myself thinking that it would be really neat if B'Elanna's mother had a familial connection to the House of Martok so we could see him again when Voyager returns to the Alpha Quadrant. I liked this guy tremendously, and I wouldn't be sorry to run into him at a convention again someday. He was entertaining, has done some writing, and -- okay, I admit it. I found him to be extremely sexy. So what else is new? I like big tall guys with deep voices. So sue me.
Erin Gray was scheduled to speak next, but I didn't get a chance to listen to her. A quick trip to get a snack, a bathroom break, and a stroll around the dealer's room (which was the biggest I'd ever seen, I do believe) took up that time, as well as part of Bill Mumy's segment. When I got back to my seat, I had a chance to enjoy Billy, one of the child stars who survived. He credits this to the fact that he had other things to do outside of acting during the inevitable times when an actor is "cold." He was involved with a band, wrote comic books, and tried to get a "Lost in Space" film made in the early '80's. He was not involved with the new film, although he could have been had he wanted to--the producers asked him to do a cameo, but he declined. He had some nice things to say about the late Guy Williams, an actor I had always liked.
Many of the people there were eager to hear about his role as Lennier in "Babylon 5," of course. One of the things that most appealed to him about Lennier is how different he is from Bill himself. Bill himself? Well, think "Puck" or "Peter Pan," but all grown up. Lennier's calm, meditative personality is very different. He considered it a good experience for his acting skills for that very reason.
When Bill Mumy was done, The Man was introduced.
Now, I must digress a bit more here, although this time, it is definitely NOT off-topic. I never got a chance to do one of these con reports after Cleveland. The Real World, in the guise of a high school graduation and work that had to be done on my house (not to mention my job), got in the way. So I haven't really had a chance to deliver, on list, exactly what kind of impression looking into those eyes of cobalt for the first time, in person, made on me.
Robbie McNeill. Drop dead gorgeous does not even BEGIN to describe him. He is a nice polite Southern boy (yes, Tex, I agree) but with a sly, risque sense of humor that is definitely that of the Scorpio. (I am one, so I know!) He is very warm and friendly with the fans, but there is a degree of aloofness he uses to protect himself. That's necessary, I think, for any actor who is going to preserve his sanity and have a personal life.
Then there is The Ring. This man is *taken*, and he wants everybody to know it. The ring is very prominent on those beautiful hands, a barrier to hold the lustful at bay. Enjoy your fantasies, ladies, but it's true. This is a Very Married Man.
I have not been one of the lucky ones who have gotten a hug and a kiss from him. Redshoes got both in Cleveland
Back to Shore Leave. The Man was introduced. Now, I didn't take notes. I was too busy trying to take a decent picture (and out of a couple of rolls of film, I have maybe one or two that aren't bad--it's difficult under con conditions). I'm doing this from memory, so some of these points may have been stated at either or both of the cons, and on either day. I'll do my best to keep it straight, but my old brain isn't quite as well organized as it used to be. In other words, be happy I remembered anything at all!
First off, Robbie reiterated that, contrary to the Internet rumors he'd heard about, everyone is back. Yes, there will be an attempt to spread the wealth around, story-wise, compared to last year's "Seven of 36D--or Seven of Nine--I always get those two mixed up" season. He complimented Jeri Ryan again about how professional she is despite her brutal schedule. They call her Seven-Eleven, "because she's always there." He wasn't real thrilled with the number of "That's an order, Seven"/"I'm going to do it my way. I am Borg"/"Do it the Starfleet way"/"No, I am Borg" scenes in the scripts last season. "They were the same scene, over and over again!"
After his brief introductory remarks, he opened the box he had carried on stage. It held one of the TV Guide photos the cast has been auctioning off for charity. "The last I'm going to get." He made pointed reference to the fact that Roxann got $1800 for the same photo in Springfield, while he only got $1000 for it in Cleveland. "You can do better than that, can't you, guys?" He was duly impressed when the winning bidders from Springfield were pointed out to him Throughout the actual bidding he kept saying, "$1800, $1800, $1800--no pressure, now!" sotto voce, trying to subliminally get us to bid higher. Hey, if I'd had the money, I would have bid. It's a beautiful picture. The bidding got up to $1400 before the "Going once, going twice, Sold!" was called out. The winners came on stage to collect the photo.
Now, during the auction, Robbie at one point offered to throw in his chewing gum to the winning bidder. When the winners went back to their seats, somebody called out to Robbie by the side of the stage. He laughed, then took the gum out of his mouth and put it in a tissue. "They really want the gum," he explained. The con people were kind enough to supply him with another stick--but later he had to get rid of that, too. Some of the audience members who were hearing impaired were having trouble reading his lips because of the chewing.
I want to know what was one with the gum! Inquiring minds want to know!
He mentioned again that Tom will be working on building a new shuttle. This is for a very practical reason--it's difficult for the camera crew to work in the old ones. There isn't enough room for a variety of camera angles. So, Tom the pilot will help develop the new shuttle, which will be bigger and, hopefully, indestructible!
The costumers will also be busy. Brannon Braga and his new staff believe that having the crew wearing their uniforms, even when they're off duty, doesn't make much sense. So, he mentioned that when they were filming the most recent episode on Friday, he was filming a scene where B'Elanna comes to his quarters and they talk. Tom's dressed in casual off-duty clothes--loose trousers, and I think he said something about them wearing tank tops.
He said that there was a funny fold in the shoulder of his shirt in this scene with B'Elanna they just filmed, so the costumers pinned it all up the back ("I felt like a fashion model"). He had to move carefully from side to side because he couldn't let his back show on camera. The audience laughed. I was getting heart palpitations, visualizing this snug shirt, possibly a tank top--and with any luck, a low cut one--on the body of The Blond One. Yum. My mind wandered a bit, let me tell you.
At any rate, this scene is from the episode in which B'Elanna, exploring her Klingon side, gets caught up in some very self-destructive behavior on the holodeck.
He spoke a bit more about Captain Proton--who has a sidekick in battling the dastardly Dr. Chaotica. Dr. Chaotica will be played by an English actor who Robbie said was very good. "Martin .... somebody." He didn't remember the last name, but said he was a Shakespearean actor and very good. Harry Kim plays the sidekick. Natch. "Captain Protein--I mean Proton" (Robbie said this several times, so I do believe this must be an injoke) also has a secretary, played by Seven. Now, can you imagine our Seven acting as a subservient, 30's B movie style secretary? She's certainly got the figure for it, but the personality? Does anyone else get a vision of Harry getting smashed into a wall again? I do!
Robbie said he will be directing Voyager episode #20 for this season.
At this point, I noticed that the line to the microphone for asking questions wasn't very long, so I got up. I had a question to ask Robbie, and it was involved enough so I didn't want to ask it from my seat, where he'd have to repeat it. I don't know my exact wording, but I will do my best here:
"In Cleveland, you were asked a question about whether you thought Tom and B'Elanna would ever be in a committed relationship (as in married). You said you doubted it, as it would eliminate the chance for any 'Alien of the Week romances' (read AOTW) for Tom, and, as an actor, you weren't sure you wanted that possibility eliminated.
"I can think of at least three scenarios in which Tom could be in a committed relationship with B'Elanna, yet a romance with another actress could take place, but anyway. . . In Star Trek through the years, there have been a lot of brief, AOTW romances and hardly any long-term ones. I can understand that Robert Duncan McNeill the actor enjoys playing love scenes with different actresses, but what does Robbie McNeill the husband and father feel about the example this sets for young people?"
Robbie paused a moment to think, and then he acknowledged, "You know, I never thought about that. It's true, I guess. That doesn't set a very good example." Then, in a kidding tone of voice, he said, "Okay, married is good. Everybody should get married."
After the laughter died down, he got serious again and talked about how the writers often want to convey concepts and that they feel are best explored in an AOTW romance. He also said that it's difficult for the writers to keep a long term relationship interesting. "It's easier to write the short-term things and keep it fresh. Showing a married couple's ups and downs might be boring, even though it isn't that way in real life." (Robbie the Very Married One making an appearance.) He repeated what he said in Cleveland: that he found that much of Jeri Taylor's stuff for Tom and B'Elanna had been too much "therapy speak" for his taste last season, and he hopes that the relationship will not be featured unless the romance will be well integrated into the story. He believes that this is what Braga wants, also.
He also admitted that the AOTW stuff is simply easier to write. TPTB can bring on a love interest and dispose of him/her very easily. That way, there aren't any consequences that have to be written about consistently in future episodes.
"Okay, that's enough therapy-speak for today," he finished. And I made my shaky way back to my seat.
Someone asked how he met his wife. It was on a subway. He also mentioned that he gets in trouble with her sometimes when something he says at a con or in an interview is taken out of context and published. "How could you say something like that!" he quoted her as saying. Then he said, all sincerity, "Really, my wife is a wonderful mother, wife, and person. She works hard taking care of the children, of me, cooking, cleaning..." (Hoots and hollers from the audience re this sexist remark, which he laughs at and adds) "I'm kidding, but she is wonderful...just, she won't let me date!" Lots more laughs from the audience (the guy definitely has the timing to be a comedian).
Someone asked him about Roxann's pregnancy last year. There had been discussions about having the baby be either Tom's or some kind of alien child, although, "That's been done, I know." Robbie admitted that one reason the producers were afraid to write in Roxann's pregnancy was that if she delivered prematurely, it would be terrible for her if she had to continue playing a pregnant Torres. So, the final result was that B'Elanna wasn't pregnant on the show, and it limited the way they could film the stories for the year.
[Jamelia has heard that both Roxann and Robbie's wife Carol had pregnancies that weren't very easy. The Seven oversaturation made things difficult, too. It couldn't have been a fun year. Hopefully, this year will be better.)
He also made reference, on several occasions over the two days, to the "implants" that they were all getting "to sex up the show." He used the term Seven of 36D a few times, admitting he was "scared" to say it to Jeri's face.
Toward the end of his scheduled time on stage, the lady in charge of keeping everyone on time started to bug him to talk about something. Robbie said, "I'll take one more question and then I'll talk about my little thing." There was a rather startled silence in the room before hoots of laughter erupted. "What???" he responded, looking out at us very innocently. Then he said it *again*, and everyone hollered again, and he made some comment about "You people..." The "little thing" was his short film, "The Battery," which he announced would be screening the next morning at 10 AM. The $2 admission fee was going to charity, but only people who had paid for the entire weekend at Shore Leave could get in. After talking it over, Niomi and Jamelia decided to stay for the film the next day, which meant shelling out more money, which meant not leaving right away after the screening. Teddy had the bridal shower to attend, so staying was unfortunately not an option for her.
When Robbie finished his talk, the autograph queues formed according to badge number. I can't say I was thrilled the way it was done, but Shore Leave sold out all 1500 available tickets on Saturday, so maybe I shoudn't complain. I got autographs from everyone but Erin Gray, whom I hadn't seen anyway, so I shouldn't be upset. A lot of people were turned away, because they ran out of time.
When he was "walking the line" at the end of the session, my friend Teddy had a great chance to take his picture. He saw her camera out, and he smiled for her. Teddy was so dazzled, she never snapped the shutter. Another testimony to the man's power!
After the Saturday sessions were over, several of us went to a minor league game in Bowie: the Bowie BaySox vs. the Trenton Thunder. I went crazy, because the Thunder are My Team! I pass Waterfront Park every day on my way to and from work! We offered Robbie a ride to the game, but he had con obligations and couldn't go--although he admitted later he wanted to. Those of us who went had a great time--a nice bonding session. There were even fireworks! Then Jamelia, the self-serve-gas-pump-impaired person (hey, we're spoiled rotten in NJ--full service at the pumps only, by state statute!), had another lesson in "fill 'er up" before we returned to the hotel to turn in for the night.
It's a funny thing how fast Sunday morning comes when you go to sleep around 3 AM, after gabbing for hours, and get up at 6. Sunday morning, we got Teddy to the train so she could get to her bridal shower. Niomi and I took a brief, unscheduled tour of some of the neighborhoods of downtown Baltimore, however, thanks to a dearth of signs to tell us how to get back to the Interstate. We can say with complete honesty that we visited Baltimore. We recognized the train station and several streets from watching "Homicide, Life on the Streets," which is filmed in Baltimore. Didn't see Giardello or Munch or Bayliss or Pembleton--but of course, Pembleton's retired, and Bayliss is in the hospital. Oh well. And I guess "G" and Munch don't work on Sunday.
After breakfast, we went for the screening of "The Battery" being held as a benefit for Pediatric Aids, RanDoM Flight's chief charity. Before the screening, the baseball game group gave Robbie a tee-shirt, a souvenir BaySox ball, and a BaySox wash-off tattoo. He said he wished he could have come--"Minor league games are fun!"--and said thanks for the presents.
Jamelia mentioned to Robbie that as a Trenton resident, she was very happy that the Trenton Thunder won the game. Robbie gave her a nice pat on the shoulder. He understands the priorities--fans like having their team win.
And did I mention I got a pat on my shoulder? The left shoulder, the one closest to him? I have washed it since (had to), but I will remember that touch always. Hey, it's not a kiss or a hug, but I'll take what I can get.
Robbie left us when they called him up to the stage. He was adorable, by the way--all scruffy looking. He hadn't combed his hair at all. Seems he'd just rolled out of bed at 10 to 10 because he'd slept through his alarm, despite all his good intentions about getting up at 7 AM to work out. That would be 4 AM to his body, though, with the time change. For a California resident, he was up pretty early as it was.
(Let me interject here that if anyone thought Robbie looked a bit "puffy" by the end of last season, he has lost about 25 pounds and looks wonderful now. Lost that sympathetic pregnancy weight, I guess. What with his wife Carol and Roxann being pregnant at the same time, it's not a surprise he could have been affected. All those hormones flying around him, night and day!)
In introducing the film, Robbie explained that it wasn't quite finished yet. It needed end credits and a little work to correct the color. Because everyone volunteered their time to make it, he never got a good, complete list of people who had worked on it to finish the credits. He said he can never make any actual money on the movie because he would have to pay everyone union scale, even if there were only a couple of dollars of profit.
The reason this movie was made is that it is a "demo." He found the screenplay for a film he wants to direct. He and the writer of this screenplay got together to concoct a short "prequel" to the movie. Robbie filmed this with donated talent and his own money, as a labor of love, hoping to take it to some film festivals so he might get financing to direct the complete film. He advised us that it's a gritty story, "not like Star Trek."
Not like Star Trek--I'll say. Truer words were never spoken, and truer, even, than he knew they would be.
As the film unfolded, I was quickly caught up in the story about two brothers: the older, who loves baseball, and the younger, who is interested in art. In a few deftly directed minutes of film, Robbie lets us see that they come from a very dysfunctional family. Dad drinks too much. Mom does too, plus she has a young lover who "visits" her in the kitchen after dinner.
Does he ever visit. As I mentioned to Robbie in my comment during the Q&A after the screening, if I'd had any doubts that this wasn't "Star Trek," the bobbing bare butt in the love scene at the kitchen table was a dead giveaway. Mom abandons the family, and the father, a former ball player who once outhit Pete Rose in his youth, pins all his hopes upon the older son. So the younger son paints a mural on the barn/garage door of an umpire, catcher, and spectators, setting it up so that the catcher's mitt is at strike zone level. He paints it, but he also pitches at it. He gets pretty good, and by the end of the film, he's pitching against his brother. They make up "The Battery," which is the name of this short movie as well as of the screenplay that Robbie wants to film, if I am not mistaken.
Everyone clapped. Robbie took the stage. He was mortified and apologetic. The film lab to which he'd last taken the film had put it in the wrong container. He had the print that had no opening credits, music, or sound effects, not the most complete copy. That's when I realized I'd never noticed the lack of sound from the clattering dishes during the love scene.
We told him not to worry. The film was good enough, even in this form, for us to enjoy it. The film was so much more intense because there wasn't any distraction because of music. The missing sound effects, I guess, I just filled in from my own imagination. Gollee, that man can direct even better than he acts. I just hope he doesn't give up acting altogether, because he's really good at that, too!
~~~
On Sunday I hadn't intended to go through the autograph line because I expected to be leaving before it started. The con people swapped J.G. Hertzler's time for Robbie's, however, and Robbie signed from 12-1:30. So, I figured I'd get in line after all. The autograph line on Saturday was such a huge crush of people, I was lucky to get anything signed at all. On Sunday, I had a couple of pictures I wanted to buy from the club.
When I reached him, I told him again how much I liked his film. Then I added that his fan Marianne from Canada said he should be sure he enters the film into the Toronto Film Fest. He said, "OK," like the idea was something he'd consider.
Then I said, "She also asked me to ask you if you prefer American iced tea to the Canadian variety." (He'd praised the Baltimore iced tea from the stage on Saturday). He smiled and said, "I have to be diplomatic here. I don't want to cause an international incident."
Jamelia replied, "You mean you don't want to start the Robert Duncan McNeill Border War Over Iced Tea?"
I got a REALLY big smile for that one.
I got back into my seat in time for J.G. Hertzler's second talk. He was just as entertaining Sunday. It was hard to believe this was the first time he's actually done a con--he'd only done an autograph signing before this. John was "home" in Maryland, though, so perhaps that helped a bit. At the end of his talk, someone asked him how much Klingon he spoke. Actually, not much, he admitted, since his dialogue usually only has a few words of it at a time. But singing is another matter. He once had to learn the words of "The Warrior's Anthem," and "I can't get the words out of my head!" he exclaimed. Then, in a very pleasant baritone, he started to sing it for us. Everyone clapped along. It was the perfect ending for an appearance that began on Saturday with John being marched onto the stage with an escort of Klingon warriors. The guy has great style.
As John was finishing his song, he turned and introduced "Robert Duncan McNeill" in Scots accent, with a flourish. Robbie, brandishing a brandy bottle filled with his ever-present iced tea, came stumbling on stage pretending to be tipsy and putting on a Scots accent of his own. It was a fun moment.
He was even cuter with his rumpled hair, t-shirt, and black (casual) pants. He apologized for coming on stage with a black windbreaker--but he was cold! And even though there were several people (let me be honest here--MANY people of the female persuasion) who shouted out that they'd be more than happy to help him get warm, he chose to stick to the windbreaker. Once woman even asked him if she would lend it to him later in the session. He said, "No! Because then I'll be freezing!"
He entertained questions. One was about the difference between Nick Locarno and Tom Paris. He's answered this question before: Nick seems like a good guy from the outside, but inside he's pretty rotten, while Tom seems sleazy on the outside but has a good heart. He is grateful that he took his agent's advice about going to the audition for "The First Duty," as he was all excited about beginning "Going to Extremes" in Jamaica about a month later. His agent told him that it would be a good "time filler" for him to take the Star Trek role on Next Generations. "It's a good place to work. You'll like it." Robbie said he was made to feel very comfortable and part of the company while he was guesting on that episode--something he finds doesn't happen with every guest star job, such as the "Quantum Leap" episode he did. Robbie remained in touch with Wil Wheaton after the episode was over.
Of course, had he not taken that job, there probably would have been no Tom Paris on Voyager. It was the impression he made in "The First Duty" that made the producers decide to create the character and cast Robbie in the role. He'd also heard that there had been some thought given to resurrecting the character of Nick Locarno and having him land on DS9, but it didn't work out.
(When this answer is put together with information about Robbie's casting from the book, "A Vision of the Future: Star Trek Voyager," it makes it clear just how precarious a profession acting is. He was broke when he auditioned for "Voyager," when he had been a star of "Going to Extremes" only a couple of years before.)
Someone asked Robbie how Tom felt about abandoning the three kidzards he'd had with Janeway. He stopped for a moment, turned away from the microphone he was holding, screwed up his face and started to (play) cry: "I just can't talk about them. It hurts too much." The audience howled.
A woman asked one innocuous question, and then asked, "And will we ever learn if Tom and B'Elanna are actually having sex or not?" Robbie looked down at the floor bashfully, all but dragging his toe in the dirt, and said, "Oh, my. Paramount won't let me say anything about .... THAT .... what you said." General snickers abounded. He added, "But I think they are going to really heat up the show this season, so I think you're gonna find out."
After that, there was a question--or rather, a request-- "Show us your tattoo." He smiled wickedly and went to unzip his pants. "Oops. Wrong tattoo," he explained as the crowd went wild. He explained that he was going to go to a minor league game the night before, but he couldn't because there was "too much luuuuvvv going on" at the con, or something to that effect. He removed his jacket and showed off the Baysox tattoo our group gave him, which he had put on his arm and showed off to everyone.
When Roxann's name came up, he noted that he and her husband Eric Dawson like to ride motorcycles together. They are doing a charity thing for Muscular Dystrophy in a few weeks. It's the first time for them to be able to get away on their bikes, Jamelia suspects, since the additions to the two families occurred.
Someone asked him if he liked "Star Trek" as a kid. He reported that his father had been a big Trek fan, but that when he was a kid, he wanted to "be" Will Robinson of Lost in Space. Bill Mumy came skipping out from where he was waiting to be announced and danced for joy. Robbie bowed down to him, laughing.
There was a question from someone in the audience about Tom the medic. He replied, "Hi. I'm Tom Paris. I'm a licensed Starfleet medic. Let me check you out with my tricorder." There was such a wicked tone in his voice. The man was playing with us--and we absolutely ate it up.
Those who have seen him at other cons commented that they'd never seen him play with the audience like this before. All those wicked innuendos. He has this whacky side, but there's lots of subtle stuff going on too, along with a rapier sharp wit. As Kim says, "He's sooooo bad--and he's getting better at being sooooo bad all the time." He was really relaxed and friendly. Robbie seemed to be having a good time, as were we.
More questions were asked, some duplicating previous ones from other cons. All too soon, however, it was over.
When Robbie was being escorted off stage, Niomi and Jamelia had to leave, even though Bill Mumy was coming back up. We had expected to be on the road at 3 PM at the latest; it was a quarter until 4. So we slipped out of the Marriott and drove on down the highway, back up towards NJ and Connecticut. We took a brief meal stop that stretched out longer than it had to, but we were glad for one reason. Jamelia got this really good picture of the placard for a Tattoo parlor ("and body piercings") which was just too funny to pass up. Because of the weekend shore traffic, Jamelia and Niomi got back to Jersey just before 8 PM. Niomi got in about 11 PM to Connecticut. It was much later than we thought it would be. We both agreed it was worth it.
Jamelia's Jaunt with Europa to Novacon, or, Breakfast with Roxann (and a Whole Lot More)
Jamelia feels compelled to confess that she's seen Roxann Dawson at a con before. Twice, in fact. This time, though, was going to be the first time when Roxann wasn't preggers. I expected her to be lots of fun on stage but missing her baby Emma. Right on both counts.
Friday night was spent traveling from New Jersey to the D.C. area to stay with "Europa," hereafter to be known as Monica. Her eight-year-old son Colin was going to come along with us to the con, because there was an extra ticket. Colin paid for it, cash on the barrelhead, so he got to come along on Saturday. Originally, Monica and I were to only go on Saturday, too. When a family party was changed to the following weekend, however, I was able to go both days. That was fortunate, because Sunday was a good day for Monica and me to attend--Adult Day at the con. But I am getting ahead of myself a bit. What else is new?
Once I finally got to D.C., Monica had a real treat for me--she took the opportunity to run Colin's tape of "Masters of the Universe," which I'd never seen. Terrible movie. Really cute male ingenue. A certain RDM. Even at the age of 20 or so, he acted rings around Dolph Lundgren Of course, chances are *Auntie Janet* could act rings around Dolph Lundgren. Big muscles, yes, classically trained actor, no. He would not have lasted long if he were working against--oh, say--Marc Alaimo, for instance. (More on that later.)
The script didn't exactly require Academy Award-caliber acting, though. As Monica pointed out when we were watching the flick, there's an invasion from another universe and NOBODY BOTHERS TO LOOK OUT THEIR WINDOWS TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE SHOPPING CENTER!!! [I, of course, know the real reason. No room in the budget for extras.] Anyway, everyone must have been busy watching television and didn't bother to check on the commotion outside. Either that, or invasions from alternate dimensions were a weekly occurrence. ("Oh, drat! That's the third invasion this month, Flo! Better break out the powdered milk and bottled water. Who knows what kind of radiation is gonna leak into the water supply this time?")
The next morning, we piled young Master Colin into the car and drove to Tyson's Corners to meet up with a bunch of friends that we knew from previous cons--and some new ones, too. Hugs all around. It's a friendly group!
The first guest was a woman from B-5. A "surprise guest" whose name I never did catch. Sorry, B-5 fans. That's what happens when a con decides to have a surprise guest instead of a pre-announced one. I'm sure someone else can fill you in on who it was. Marc Alaimo was due on stage at quarter past 2 and Roxann wasn't due on stage on Saturday until 6 P.M., which left us with some time to kill. We spent some in the main hall listening to Richard Arnold, who apparently worked for Roddenberry (missed his intro). After his talk, there was a "Name That Episode" contest.
Now, Jamelia has watched every episode of TOS at least a half-dozen times, but it was a long time ago--20 years since I saw most of them. I watched every TNG episode, most several times (but some only once), and taped all but a few seventh season episodes. I've caught most DS9 episodes, but I'm not good at the titles. Voyager, of course, I'm pretty good at. Monica convinced me that I should give the contest a try, so I went up to stand on line.
There were several guys there who were really good, but correctly naming 5 episodes in a row without a miss is hard. Only one person managed it, even though everyone except me tried it on multiple occasions.
When it was my one turn, I went up to the stage and was treated to several seconds of Harry and Tuvok in a turbolift, with Harry moaning that he was "so predictable." My fingers twitched, and I correctly named "Alter Ego" as the episode. As the winner, I stayed up while a young girl with Bajoran nose makeup came up against me. The video went on.
The only reason that Tom got out "I s…" before the buzzer went off was that there is a bit of time required for the nerves to traverse to the fingers for switch-pulling. One look at the expression on his face, and I knew. The turbolift scene from "Blood Fever." Richard Arnold, who was the moderator, was suitably impressed! The Bajoran Nose Girl went back on line.
(Jamelia has watched "Blood Fever" a few times, she must admit.)
Unfortunately, the next clip was from a DS9 episode in which Odo and Quark are discussing Quark's larcenous ways. That could have been from at least 3 dozen episodes, maybe more. Neither of us knew it. We then had one more shot, but the next clip from TOS was very frustrating. I knew that episode! I just couldn't remember the title. I guessed wrong--but that was okay. I'd had fun.
I went back to my seat and not back on the line, even though Monica urged me to go back up. I knew a lot of the subsequent clips, but I never got 5 in a row, I'm sure. I was happy just to have had the honor of having beaten the eventual winner--Bajoran Nose Girl was the one who won the "James Kirk Memorial 'Get a Life' Award."
Better her than me. My husband is ready to say that to me already. I don't need the proof in the form of a trophy!
After the contest was the auction. Colin's true desire to come to the con (other than to spend money in the Dealer's Room, which was a given) was to become a "kid runner" at the auction. Henry, the con organizer and the man who was doing the auction, chose Colin and a teenage girl from Sri Lanka to help him by displaying the items being auctioned. The kids took turns. About half way through, Henry addressed the audience and asked, "Who is this young man's parents?" Monica identified herself (possibly with a bit of trepidation--I know I would have). Henry went on, "You have a fine young man here. You are to be congratulated." I would have to agree. Colin was unbelievably patient and extremely well-behaved. He also did his bit for charity by bidding on a small toy (that his mother claimed he already owned). He won it, and a prize at the end of the auction for helping. Colin had a good day.
Most of the remaining time waiting for Roxann to speak was spent very pleasantly in the company of Marc Alaimo, A.K.A. Gul Dukat on Deep Space Nine. I remember Marc from guest starring shots on a multitude of drama shows over the years. One thing I didn't know before, but now surely do, is that he is a classically trained actor who is familiar with the works of Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Clifford Odets, Paddy Chayevsky, Arthur Miller ("Those guys used to WRITE--like oracles or scribes--now the theatre suffers because there's been no one to replace them--no one can write the way they could.") Marc is most comfortable with other actors who have the theatrical background to know how to speak and move on stage, which serves him in good stead on Star Trek. Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, and Andy Robinson were all cited as having the training in the classics to do well by the DS9 scripts (generally acknowledged to be very finely written, I must agree).
Marc went a little into his background. His father sold aluminum siding. ("Any of you see that movie 'Tin Man'? That was my dad. Sitting around, deciding who we are going to fleece today!"--but working on his father's construction crews gave him the knowledge he needed to completely rebuild his house in California, so it wasn't a wasted experience.) He was the class clown as a young child but became introverted when he reached high school. His family life was not very happy, although he didn't go into great detail about it.
Speech class with Mr. Grabowsky changed his life. Given the assignment to do a mime, Marc chose to act out a man getting hanged. A classmate helped by putting the imaginary noose around his neck. After he was done, Mr. Grabowsky said, "I'd like to talk to you after class, Michael." (Marc's given name is Michael Joseph Alaimo--like Robbie McNeill, he had to choose an alternate name because of acting union rules.) Fortunately, the reason he wanted him to stay after class was to offer him the leading role of The Stage Manager in Thornton Wilder's "Our Town." The other teachers and students thought Mr. Grabowsky was nuts. Marc's performance suggested that Mr. Grabowsky was a genius. His success in the play turned the young man's life around. He became an "A" student, popular, and the class president; most importantly, he found direction in his life.
After finishing high school in his home town of Milwaukee, Marc joined a theatre company run by a Jesuit priest, Father Walsh. He had to take seven hours a week of ballet lessons ("Me! Ballet lessons! Can you believe it!"). Seven hours a week of voice training. Many more hours building sets and learning all there is to know about putting on a play. After his time with Father Walsh, he spent a lot of time on the stage, playing roles such as Rosenkrantz and Laertes in "Hamlet," Iago in "Othello," Cassius in "Julius Caeser." He played Moliere comedies as well as heavy Shakespearean dramas. Marc is proud that his classical training enables him to do DS9 ("Not every actor in town can do our show!")
Then someone asked him what his favorite role was. Marc hemmed and hawed a little before sheepishly admitting it. Seems his favorite role was on "The Incredible Hulk."
To be fair, the role sounds wonderful. A cop who, because of his own cowardice, saw his partner killed has turned to the bottle to help live with his self-hatred. He finds redemption by saving the life of a youngster. Even though the requisite "two hulk-outs per show" took place, the script and character were worthy of Marc's time. He went on to work on the show twice more and is happy with the work he did there. Marc also spoke with reverence about what a wonderful person Bill Bixby was--which may be another reason he is so fond of the experience.
Another portrayal of a cop was upsetting for him. He wasn't happy playing the policeman who beat a young black man in the DS9 episode, "Far Beyond the Stars," about the science fiction writer in the 1950's and directed by Avery Brooks. He did it because Avery asked him to, and because, even though he hated the violence, "It was true to the period. That sort of thing did happen."
He said he had a "crush" on Nana Visitor when he first acted with her. One regret he has is that the one kiss Dukat had on screen--with a hooker--was cut from the episode. He would love for Dukat to have a true love affair. It could be with a Bajoran. "Dukat loves Bajorans!" Even if, "You've seen one orb, you've seen them all." He is glad that Terry Farrell moved on to another role, but he's sorry that Dukat was the one who killed Dax. He said that the fans in the audience who are on the Internet know more about the seventh season than he does! One thing he does figure is that Worf hates Dukat now. "If the writers let them fight it out, they'd probably let Worf win. Of course, in real life, I'd win!" The crowd laughed--apparently Michael Dorn is known for being a very gentlemanly Klingon.
There was lots more. Marc is an extremely entertaining man who loves doing cons because the interplay with the audience is very similar to the phenomenon that happens when he is acting on the stage. It was easy to envision him playing the great theatrical roles, especially Iago and Cassius--he possesses that "lean and hungry look," and he paces with a catlike grace that pays tribute to the thoroughness of the training he received in Father Walsh's company.
Marc admitted he was too busy working on becoming an actor to be a Star Trek fan earlier in his life, but now he is happy to be part of Star Trek. He's played three roles on Next Generation that paved the way for his portrayal of Gul Dukat. He loves the way ethics and moral dilemmas are examined in the scripts, as well as the fact that Dukat is unpredictable and sees himself as a good guy. The way good and evil war in Dukat makes the character wonderful to play. Marc's one hope is that Dukat never does anything "irredeemably evil," because once that happens, the audience will be unable to enjoy the character. Now, Dukat sees himself as the "good guy," he just "makes some bad decisions."
One of the audience members wanted to know if there was one role he'd always wished he had played but didn't. He didn't hesitate answering, "Hamlet." Marc says that he is too old now to play the Melancholy Dane. He would have played the opening scene with Hamlet drunk out of his mind, mourning his father's death--but sobering immediately upon seeing the ghost. Sounds good--too bad he never had the opportunity.
At the end of his talk, Marc did give us a little sample of his ability to deliver Shakespeare's wonderful lines that conveyed just how good a Hamlet he would have made. He asked a woman and a man from the audience to come on stage with him while Marc delivered Hamlet's soliliquy from Act III, Scene II, commonly known as Hamlet's Instructions to the Players. As Monica and I have always noted when an actor is well-prepared for Shakespearean roles, the fact that the lines were written 400 years ago is of no concern. The words and ideas were presented in a clear, precise rendition that rendered every syllable of meaning with great clarity (well, it might have been above Colin's head, but he *is* only eight).
"Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, the whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumbshows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it.
Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special o'erstep not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure. Now this overdone, or come tardy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and that highly, not to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
O, reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns speak no more than is set down for them; for there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too; though, in the mean time, some necessary question of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready."
With that, Marc and his two helpers from the audience "exeunt."
After enjoying Marc's talk, several of us went to dinner at Wendy's before settling in for our chat with Roxann. One thing Roxann likes to do at the beginning of her talks is to run down a list of commonly answered questions to get them "out of the way."
So, for your edification, let it be known that Roxann's makeup takes 2 ½ hours to put on, Ethan's takes 3 ½; Tim Russ pulls the most practical jokes; Garrett is late the most often; Robert Beltran blows his lines more than anyone else; Roxann's makeup takes 2 ½ hours to apply; B'Elanna didn't get fat last year--Roxann was pregnant; the tools in the "engineering smock" were useless, of the Doctor and B'Elanna, the Doctor has the higher forehead; Roxann's makeup takes 2 ½ hours to put on; are those Roxann's real eyebrows (no)--is that Roxann's real forehead (no)--are those Jeri's real…(whoops, sorry); and the length of time Roxann can go without talking about her daughter is--not very long at all.
In fact, Roxann took a call from her husband on a cell phone when she'd been on stage barely 5 minutes, cooed to Emma, and then took out a pair of pictures of her daughter so she could look at them on stage. Hard to tell that this was the first time Roxann had been away from Emma overnight since the birth? Not very! Emma even comes to the set to be with Roxann whenever possible. If the cast is doing simple blocking, Roxann often carries her around with her. A devoted mom? You betcha. I felt very happy for her, considering how difficult last year was for her. But at least she can "burn the smock," which hid nothing.
Roxann went back to work only ten days after delivery (by c-section, yet!), and she'd hoped that the first time she'd be wearing the B'Elanna makeup, her call would be late enough so that Emma would be with her while it was applied. She wanted to reduce the chance that her daughter would be frightened, but that was not to be. Roxann had an early call, and Emma came to the set after the makeup job had been completed. Roxann very carefully approached Emma and started to talk to her. Emma looked at her, but when she recognized her mother's voice, she suddenly broke into a big smile. Roxann is convinced that her daughter is under the impression the makeup is a game Mommy plays, just to amuse Emma!
When the audience questions began, one of the first was a question about the "Captain Proton" scenario on the holodeck. As of the con, B'Elanna had not participated in the scenario. How does B'Elanna feel about Seven getting to play on the holodeck with Harry and Tom? Roxann sniffed, "B'Elanna is busy saving the ship. Some of us have to work in the REAL world."
Another questioner asked how she would feel if she ever became B'Elanna Paris. "You mean, like Tom and B'Elanna get to be merged into one person, like some kind of alien?" Everyone laughed. Roxann then agreed pretty much with what Robbie had previously said. She's not expecting a marriage in the near future for Paris and Torres.
When someone asked how she felt that Tom never had said he loved B'Elanna, Roxann replied, "But of course he has!" Then she thought about it. "Wait a minute, you're right! He hasn't, has he? Well, then, he's out of there!" There were lots of hoots from the audience as Roxann put her hands on her hips, like B'Elanna getting ready to pop Tom Paris. She added, however, that she was going to be having a long talk with the producers and writers about this oversight. P/T fans should breathe a sigh of relief--the relationship is continuing.
She had some kind words to say about Robbie, "The poor guy--one day he came in and said, 'I'm soooo sick of pregnant women,' because his wife was pregnant at the same time." In fact, "We had the same due date. I wonder what we were all doing that same night," Roxann laughed wickedly. Filming got rather tricky in scenes like the "Vis a Vis" kissing-in-the-Camaro scene. Most of the time, though, Robbie was adept at coming in for a hug or kiss because he knew how much room to allow for the big stomach--Carol McNeill was the same size as Roxann, and he was getting plenty of practice at home. One of the questioners asked her later, "What kind of kisser is Robbie." Roxann allowed he was "a good kisser, as far as kissers go." They usually have fun with those scenes now. Initially, it was awkward, she admitted. They all clown around on the set so much that it was a lot like "kissing your brother." (At another con, Roxann had mentioned that kissing Robert Beltran in "Persistence of Vision" was a hard scene to shoot, because they kept breaking up and giggling.) At this point, Robbie and Roxann are used to the kissing scenes.
[Jamelia must make a momentary interjection here, to confess that Roxann's "day at the office" sounds like a lot more fun than her own.]
Roxann was asked about other Star Trek stars whom she admired, and she mentioned Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, and Armin Shimmerman, among others. She expressed sorrow that Terry Farrell had left DS9. To another question, she agreed that the cast missed Jennifer Lien (who spoke with Roxann on the phone to congratulate her on Emma's birth), but she admitted that the Seven character is probably more interesting than Kes, whose character had been "backed into a corner" by the producers. Roxann indicated, too, that Jennifer might not have wanted to become the "body in the babe costume," even though Seven definitely is much more than just a sex object because of her intelligence.
Roxann is as complimentary about Jeri Ryan's friendliness and professionalism as Robbie and Robert Beltran have been at previous cons I've attended. None of the cast has any problem with her. Roxann enjoys having "mother" chats with her. Jeri's son is three years old, so they compare notes. On screen, however, Roxann is glad that the friction between Seven and B'Elanna hasn't gone away. She wants to "keep the fire going" between the characters, because she feels that the Maquis and the Starfleet crew got comfortable much too quickly. She likes the idea that there are "squabbles, like in any family situation." B'Elanna appreciates Seven's technical abilities, but the two aren't going to be close friends right away. Roxann talked to the producers about this last year, in fact, but wasn't sure that this suggestion would be followed. Then, fan letters started coming in, praising the fact that the two women were still antagonistic to one another. The producers decided that Roxann--not to mention the fans--were right.
[So those letters to the producers DO carry some weight. A word to the wise!]
To the question, "What was the most difficult episode to shoot," Roxann answered, "Day of Honor," because of the technical demands of shooting in the EVA suits. They were hot, air had to be piped in just like they were really in space, and Roxann and Robbie were hanging up against a blue screen for the special effects to work out right. Roxann was two months pregnant at the time, so she also wasn't feeling very well. Frequent breaks were needed.
An upcoming episode was also quite demanding.
.
In "Extreme Risk," which is the third episode of the new season, apparently, B'Elanna is having trouble mourning the loss of her Maquis friends. She doesn't really know how, and instead, she blocks out all pain and joy to try to become numb, to protect herself. She turns off the safeties on the holodeck and hides the damage she does to herself by using a dermal regenerator to hide the bruises. [It sounds like an excellent B'Elanna episode--and, I strongly suspect, is a script that was held over from last year. Later in the talk, Roxann mentioned that the producers were very good about adjusting her schedule because of her pregnancy, which limited what she could do. She said, "It's pretty difficult when your action heroine can't do any action." With the Maquis connection, this story sounds like it logically would have come shortly after the Hirogen arc, had Roxann not been pregnant.]
LeVar Burton will direct the 100th episode of Voyager, which will be airing sometime in November, it appears. It's an episode in which Garrett Wang's character of Harry Kim figures prominently.
The series of novels she has been working on with co-writer Daniel Graham have not yet started to appear in bookstores, but they are still working on them. Graham was a guest at the con on Saturday and came up on stage for a few minutes with Roxann, handing her a draft of the story. He is the
author of a book called "Gatekeeper."
After talking about the book, Roxann answered several other questions. She isn't particularly interested in seeing another Q episode. She feels that character belongs to Next Generation more than Voyager. She admitted her nickname is "Ruffles" on the set, because "Ruffles have ridges." (From the expression on her face, she feels that's pretty corny.) She misses being on the stage. She was on Broadway for a few years in "A Chorus Line." Roxann has written a few short stage plays that have been produced at Circle Rep in New York and elsewhere.
Several times during the session, Roxann took "Emma breaks," in which she went up to the picture, said, "Hi, honey! I miss you, sweetheart," and blew a kiss at the picture. One of the audience members sagely asked Roxann for the date of the birth. "Seven fifty-two AM (I think it was AM--I forgot to write that part down!) on January 16th. Five pounds, 16 ounces (we corrected her, since 16 ounces make up a pound--it was 15 ounces). And now she's sixteen and a half pounds and 27 inches long!" The name Emma was chosen because "I've loved the name forever," but the
middle name Rose was bestowed to honor Roxann's mother.
Roxann noted later that she and her husband knew that January 16th was a date of some significance even before the birth of their darling Emma, but they couldn't quite place it. A fan helped out during an autograph session. Voyager premiered on January 16, 1995. "That's it!"
Whenever the talk got a bit risque, Roxann would walk over to the picture and turn it to the wall. "You can't hear this, honey," she would say.
When the talk got to the Tim Russ-in-the-Turbolift story, the picture definitely had to face the wall. Tim seems to be angling to make Tuvok Voyager's nudist. Once, he put on his costume inside out and went into the turbolift to change. Kate Mulgrew walked in on him accidentally. There were various repercussions from this, involving Kate Mulgrew's taking Tim's clothes from his trailer, Tim taking photos of his bare butt and placing them all over Kate's trailer, and Tim driving away in his car at the end of the day without clothes on (or at least, visible from the point of view of those outside the car--one hopes, for the sake of any passing truckdrivers or law enforcement personnel, that the man was wearing SOMETHING besides a smile).
Having heard the rundown of so many bare-buttTim shenanigans on and off the set, I think I can figure out the writers' inspiration for having Tuvok be the one dreaming of walking onto the bridge *sans apparel* in "Waking Moments." During the filming of "Waking Moments," the classic unclothed Tim story took place. At rehearsal, Tim was stripped to the waist but was wearing shorts. When he walked out of the turbolift doors during the first take of the scene, however, Tim was still wearing his shorts, but with a little something extra added. Or perhaps I should say, a large something extra--a "very interesting prosthetic." The laughing reactions of the rest of the cast in that scene were quite genuine--and that's the take they used for the episode.
Tim also has a nickname: "Gaseous Anomaly." [At Shore Leave, Robbie claimed it was "Gas Giant." Only a slight discrepency--and you shouldn't need to tax your imagination too much about what might have prompted such a nickname.]
Someone asked her if she would be having another baby soon. Roxann mentioned that the producers had been very good about adjusting her schedule because of her pregnancy, which limited what she could do. She said, "It's pretty difficult when your action heroine can't do any action." She feels it would be unfair of her to become pregnant again so soon, for the sake of the show. "Besides, I'm so happy now, I might burst if I had another!" She's planning on bringing Emma with her to the Denver Starcon.
[I hope, Gentle Readers, you now know that when I said that Roxann couldn't go for long without talking about little Emma, I was not lying.]
Roxann told a story she'd told before about being so nervous delivering technobabble lines when LeVar Burton (another chief engineer!) was directing that she could barely get them out. She mentioned that in an upcoming episode, Robbie and Tim started taking bets about who would be the first to blow a technobabble line. They kept upping the ante, and after a while, "Robbie was sweating bullets." The only thing on the minds of either of them was not blowing a line, and therefore the bet. In the end, there was no winner. I guess that means that both did a good job with the technobabble. [An aside: perhaps that would be an excellent technique to use in the future, particularly given Robert Beltran's reputation for blowing lines?]
All of the guys are known for their practical joking, as a matter of fact. They get especially nutty in briefing room scenes such as the one in which Tim and Robbie had their epic contest. Directors are advised to plan on spending extra hours for filming there to allow for "cutting up" time.
Because of a press release about finally seeing the "sonic shower," someone asked Roxann who would be the first one in it. B'Elanna is the lucky person in the shower. "The producers said they were going to ease me back in, let me get time to get back into shape after the baby--and then the first episode, I'm in the shower!" And who might be second in the shower? Roxann laughed. Not Tom Paris, apparently. The Doctor is going to be the one to interrupt B'Elanna's acoustic ablutions.
Roxann auctioned off a couple of pictures for Camp Heartland at the end of her talk, but there was one other question she was asked. By yours truly. It was similar to the one I asked Robbie at Shore Leave--about how there are mainly flings and short term relationships in Trek, and how does she feel about the lack of committed relationship and what message that sends to young people, now that she's a mom herself.
Her answer, at first, was to indicate that she feels B'Elanna's relationship with Tom is a committed one--or at least, a long term one. Then she told a story about Robbie's wife bringing little Carter Jay McNeill to the set on the same day as Emma was there. Roxann mentioned that Carol McNeill is dark haired and dark eyed, like Roxann. They took pictures of the two babies together on the set. When Roxann got home that night, she told her husband Eric Dawson all about it. "They're so cute together--they almost look like brother and sister!" At Eric's withering look, Roxann realized that that was not the politically correct thing to say.
[This was a very cute story. It did not, however, answer my question. Roxann didn't call on me the next day, once saying to me, "Let's get someone new" even though I heard a couple of questions coming from the same people. She may have just gone off on a tangent, of course. Or maybe Robbie warned her about the question so she had a story ready to go on a tangent with! Perhaps, in the future, I'll ask this question again, Voyager cast members. Be forewarned!]
Oh, yeah. And I was one of the ones who bought a signed cast photo at auction. It wasn't the TV Guide photo, although I admit I lusted after it. It went for too much money. I did get a very nice black and white cast photo, to go with the autographed script of "Day of Honor" I obtained at auction in Cleveland. More on that later.
One of the last questions asked of her on Saturday was, "What is the main driving force of your career?" Flipping her head back and forth saucily, Roxann's answer was a succinct, "Paycheck." After the laughs died down, Roxann gave us the real answer. Just as Robbie had said in Cleveland several weeks ago, and Marc Alaimo had reiterated earlier in the day, Roxann said that the only real reason to go into acting is because you love it and you have to do it. It's a brutal business, filled with rejection, and if you don't love it, you'll never last.
[So, to all of those aspiring thespians out there, another word or two to the wise: Don't bother to go into the acting profession unless you've just "got to do it" because it's the only thing you think will make you happy.]
After Roxann's talk was over, Monica and I chatted a while with members of Roxann's club, B3, as well as RanDoM Flight members. We also had a chance to sit down for a few minutes with Anne and Patricia, two of the "Bunnies from Hell." It wasn't long enough, though. Young Master Colin finally had had enough of con-going for the day (he'd spent all his money, natch), and we had to leave.
After dropping Colin off at home, Monica took me for a nice drive through Washington by night. Monica is a terrific tour guide. She took a course at Georgetown about Washington scandals and shared with me some of the juicier stories while we toodled by the monuments. Very educational.
On Sunday, members of Roxann's club (of which both Monica and I are members) held a brunch. I must say that I like the way it was run. No promises were made about Roxann's attending, although she was invited. The breakfast was for all of us to get together ourselves, with or without our star. This is only right, in my humble opinion. In my book, the guests may be what draws the fans together initially, but what's brought me back over and over again has been the people I've met at previous cons. I want to see my friends again. That's the best part of fandom and fan clubs. Roxann seems to agree, because she made the time to see us, too. The members of the club kicked in for the cost of the catered breakfast, but anything extra that was collected above the cost of the meal was donated to Camp Heartland (Roxann's club's charity--a camp for children with AIDS so that they can be kids for a while, but still have the medical care they need available at all times). It was a very nice affair, and everyone benefited.
Before the breakfast, Roxann took care of a few autographs that were owed to people. One of them was mine. In March, I bought at auction the aforementioned "Day of Honor" script, signed by all but one of the cast. The one whose signature wasn't on it was--Roxann Dawson. I understood perfectly. She had a few other things--like motherhood--on her mind at the time, and she forgot tos sign it herself before sending it to Maria for the auction. I finally got her signature and added the script to my collection of Star Trek mementoes.
I also got a chance to meet even more people I've been corresponding with online for many months. We had a good meal, some laughs, and an opportunity to see even more pictures of baby Emma from the proud Mommy, including one taken minutes after Emma was delivered, and one taken a few days before the con. Emma is a beautiful child, not very surprising, I might add. Having seen both Roxann and her husband in person, I can attest to the quality of that gene pool.
After a sojourn in the Dealer's Room that was relaxing compared to the previous day (amazing how much less hectic it is when there's no one you have to play mommy or auntie to), we went to take our seats for the Sunday talks. Marc Alaimo's session covered much of the same ground as his Saturday talk. He noted that when he was in a repertory theatre, he wanted to play in a comedy. The artistic director went along reluctantly. He wanted Marc to appear in the drama he was directing. Marc enjoyed doing the play, "She Stoops to Conquer," not the least because the headline of the play's review in the newspaper was, "Play Bores--Alaimo Shines."
Marc will be at a few other cons this year, in London, Italy and Austria. He finds the interaction with the fans very rewarding.
He's going to buy himself another reward. He's decided that when he gets back to Los Angeles, he's going to buy himself a motorcycle. He's had cycles before, but this time, he's getting himself a Harley-Davidson. "I've earned it. It's time." So Gul Dukat can talk Harleys with Roxann's husband Eric and Robbie McNeill.
Monica and I hadn't gone through the autograph line for Marc on Saturday, but we rectified that oversight on Sunday. After signing our stuff (a trading card for Monica, the 1999 DS9 calendar for me), Marc agreed to pose for pictures. As Monica said, both to me and then to Marc himself, Marc is a very good hugger. Marc answered us, "I like to hug real women."
There are a couple of "real women" who are now Marc Alaimo fans, you may be sure.
Roxann's talk had quite a few repetitions from Saturday, too, although she elaborated on a few things. The technobabble bet took place in the conference room seen in "Extreme Risk," when Tuvok and Tom are talking about the specs for the Delta Flyer shuttle, which is a combination of Borg and Federation technology. B'Elanna is the first to fly the shuttle, apparently. There's more to that, but the spoilers have probably already let those who want to know know, so for those who don't want to know, I won't go into it now.
Tim has a practical joke he's been dying to pull for a while now, involving a big Afro wig, a boombox, and the "Theme from Shaft." Hasn't pulled it off yet, but it promises to be an interesting story someday for someone!
Re the rumors about Voyager getting back to the Alpha Quadrant: she hopes not too soon. "I (B'Elanna) would be tried for war crimes!" Seven, as a former Borg, wouldn't be too welcome either. Roxann would prefer that they stay in the Delta Quadrant for a while longer, but that they have aliens that stay a bit longer than a week, like the Hirogen. "The stories would be better if the same aliens were around for a while." [Jamelia must slip in another aside: "As long as the Kazon don't come back!"]
"What's your philosophy of life?" Roxann was asked. Without missing a beat, Roxann said, "Gratitude. It's important to be grateful, to be happy with life. I love my work, my husband, my daughter, my two dogs. There's always something to be grateful for, even when things aren't going too well." [Another aside: smart lady.]
She went on later about this in a question about acting. She knows excellent actors who, because of the fickle ways of the acting business, can't get work despite their talent. She's very grateful for Voyager and for her career, but if her daughter wanted to become and actress, Roxann would say, "No--this business is a tough one on the ego, on your dreams."
Someone asked about whether Janeway, Torres, and Seven would ever "kick butt." Roxann's answer was, "This isn't 'Dynasty.' We aren't going to get into a fight and fall into a pool, shouting, 'You stole Paris' or 'You stole Chakotay.' " When it comes to saving the ship, though, she admits they are very capable of that.
"Blood Fever" was a scary episode to shoot, because Roxann knew that the only way it would work was if they "really went for it." After all, it's "consummate this relationship or die." She had a few bruises after that episode. It was tough filming the love scenes because of the fact that she and Robbie were friends. Now, "We can be kissing for an hour and still have a conversation!"
Like Robbie at a few recent cons, Roxann picked on poor Harry. The idea of Harry and Seven together made her laugh--"Harry always wusses out! He's a pushover!" She also noted that Harry is the "resident dying person," and laughed that "It's fun to pick on Harry."
There was more, of course. Your intrepid reporter took as many notes as she could, but she couldn't manage it all. Suffice it to say that Roxann was in great form physically, as beautiful as ever, and with sense of humor firmly intact. And yes, Baby Emma's picture was cooed to on multiple occasions on Sunday, too.
I met Roxann again while going through the autograph line (I had a picture of Joe Carey and Torres that Josh Clark had signed for me, so I wanted Roxann's autograph on it, too). She was in a hurry, so I didn't get a chance to say anything other than "Hello," because she had to take a plane home to her husband and Emma.
After she was gone, the fan club had some chocolate cake that a certain person who likes to buy cheesecake brought along. (I admit nothing!) There was more chatting with fellow fans, and then it was time to withdraw to Monica's house for a nice chicken and rice dinner before heading back up I-95 towards home, hearth, husband and kinder (teenage kinder, actually, who probably never even noticed I was gone for the weekend).
Jamelia had had lots of fun with "Europa" and young Master Colin, who called her "Auntie Janet," the way they do on the AOL message boards. Maybe next time Alyssa, Colin's sister, can come along, too. Jamelia and Europa are already planning the next trip.
Robert Beltran at Raleigh, North Carolina, in January. I haven't asked Robert about how he feels about short term relationship as opposed to committed ones on Star Trek yet. From what I've seen of Robert, however, I have a hunch that he's likely to say, "Let's hear it for the Alien Babes of the Week!"
And with Jamelia's luck, that will be the same weekend the blizzard of the millenium hits.
But hey, we'll see! This con-going is pretty addictive!
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There was another con I attended in Baltimore this spring. Robert Beltran was there and was extremely entertaining. Robert is happy working on Star Trek and enjoys doing cons, but he is very up-front about the fact that it is a job for him. He doesn't have the passion for every detail some fans have for all things Trek. A few of the fans weren't as cordial as they could have been, IMHO. Robert himself was a riot, mugging for the crowd, "necking" with a lifesize cardboard stand-up figure of Janeway, and generally having an outrageously good time. And that smile! Devastating. Katie "Redshoes" calls him "criminally good-looking." Gotta agree with her. Whew!
Jamelia also met Josh Clark last December when he came to Trenton for an autograph signing. This was a "Toys for Tots" charity appearance, which pleased me no end. He was a very nice guy. I'm looking forward to getting to a con that he will be at in the future, too, especially since I ended up enjoying J.G. Hertzler and Marc Alaimo so much. It's a wonderful bonus when the stars you haven't particularly come to see turn out to be just as entertaining as the headliners. In Josh Clark's case, I'd like to see him back on Voyager. Here's hoping the new regime will bring back Joe Carey for some appearances on the show.
Hey, Roxann said that the letter writing worked when it came to keeping the conflict between Torres and Seven from dying out too quickly. Maybe the same thing will work for Josh.
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One other thing before I go: While I had great fun attending the two "Robbie" cons and Novacon, with Roxann, I've found out the real reason that they've become such a part of the culture. It's the people. And not only the actors, although they are the draw that pulls everyone to a certain location. It's the fans themselves. I've had an absolute blast putting names and voices to many of the names I've been chatting with/reading posts from during the past year and a half, since I joined the Star Trek "community" as an active participant and not just a passive viewer. Thank you all, so much, for letting me meet you and becoming chums with you. I won't list names here, as I will inevitably leave someone out and hurt feelings. You know who you are.
I hope to attend more next year, because there are lots of names I haven't matched to a face or voice yet. Hopefully, we'll get together someday.
I can honestly say that now that I've met them, I like Robbie, Roxann, Robert, and Josh as people. I may have found them because of their Voyager roles, but I will be following their careers from here on in.
That's what fans do.
Jamelia
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