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[personal profile] gnimaerd
+Expo is exhausting. EXHAUSTING. I had forgotten just  HOW draining it is, especially on a Saturday. OH.MY.GOD.  The noise, the crowds, just -  NNNNGH. I'm completely drained and I was wearing reasonably comfortable shoes (unlike dr_dischordia, whose HORRIBLE HORRIBLE PAIN is well documented in the video diaries I kept today).

+Queueing to get into the panel room was a bit insane. Expo really need to sort out another system for getting people in to Merlin panels, because for a while the atmosphere at the front of the queue was NASTY because of how anxious people were about getting in and getting seats. It wasn't fun, in fact at one point I was worried it was genuinely going to turn dangerous (it looked like there would be a stampede inside the moment we were allowed in, and if someone tripped and fell in that, people weren't going to stop to avoid standing on them). Many of the stuards were young, inexperienced and totally ineffective at keeping people calm and civilised ([livejournal.com profile] doylefan22  was the ONLY  steward there who was worth her salt - I'm fairly sure something very unpleasant would have happened if she hadn't been there at the front managing people). We did eventually get in safely thanks to some of the firmer handed of the stuards and the compare insisting that anyone running to seats would be chucked to the back of the line, but it was hairy for a good wee while there.

+The panel itself was great - although Bradley hadn't been able to make it, and it was clear that Colin, Angel and Katie were exhausted. Angel particularly looked tired. They'd apparently been doing nightshoots last night, poor bbs. I felt REALLY bad for them. The fact that they made it at all, and were smart and funny and engaging anyway, was a miracle.

+Cringe-worthy moments were mostly minimal and luckily well-handled by the compare (who was good at making jokes over the tension and moving things swiftly on). One girl asked for a hug (WHY?  WHY would you ask total strangers for physical contact? ugggh. It's NEVER appropriate to do that - if the cast chooses to hug YOU it's another matter but you don't ASK for that sort of thing); the compare swiftly told her no and moved on - although Katie clearly felt bad for her and told her it was nice of her to come (the girl was from outside the country - I forget where). One girl mentioned slash (okay, somewhat more acceptable but still a tad cringe-worthy when it's asked sincerely).

+Lots of good questions and some awesome responses - Katie's favourite guest star is still Asa but she says he 'may' have been displaced by Emelia Fox (HELLO, RPS), who she really likes. Me and [livejournal.com profile] doylefan22  were most pleased by this news. Colin and Katie almost broke off in the middle of a question as to who would win in a fight between Merlin and Morgana to settle it by wrestling. (Clearly, this is the method of resolving conflict that Katie favours over all others, given that she did something similar with Angel in that interview at the BFI last year).

+Mine was the second question asked - I was lucky, in that I DID end up in (one) of the front rows (the chairs were set up in sort of a square formation around the front of the stage) so I got noticed by the compare pretty quick. I asked Katie about Hugo (obviously) - she said he is still integral to her character and not going anywhere (I told her 'peachy') and then asked: 'on a scale of one to ten, with one being a slap and ten being the loss of two or more limbs, exactly where will Morgana's terrible and bloody vengeance against Merlin fall?' Katie sporfled and said that as it turns out, the vengeance against Merlin is not as strong as she would like.

+She nettled Colin about Merlin killing Morgana repeatedly throughout the panel - it was very funny.

+Angel clearly has her eye set on doing some work in America as her next career goal - I think she sees being in Merlin as a gateway to that (and I hope she manages it).

+Katie says she rarely gets recognised in public (once had a full on arguement with someone on the tube about whether or not she was Keira Knightly; and was once out with Colin - Colin got recognised and a girl came bouncing up to ask for his autograph and a picture but had no idea who Katie was).

+If Katie wasn't an actor she'd want to write books about dead people (LIKE ME). Although I think she means more as a historian (which makes sense given that she has a history degree); whereas I like writing books about zombies.

+We saw the new action figures - there will be Gwen and Morgana ones too and I WILL want those. Also, there were Merlin STAMPS on sale at the expo - proper collectable postage stamps with the cast on. I was VERY tempted but they were £25 and I'm not sure it's worth it.

+I have autographs!  ^_^  Still gutted about the lack of signing session but like I said, the guys were clearly exhausted and it was just good they made it at all. And the signed mini posters we got were VERY pretty - season two promos signed with silver sharpie. NICE.

+I bought a crazy 'beanie boo' (like beanie babies but with CRAZY huge eyes - meant to look super cute but really look a bit evil). I think it's meant to be a racoon. I have named him Milo. He is awesome.

+WATCH THIS SPACE FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEO CLIPS.

























 


Date: 2010-05-29 05:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] majorrogue.livejournal.com
i thought that question was you!!! hahaha! well done for asking a morgana question!!

Date: 2010-05-29 06:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
hehe - you were there? Awesome. ^_^

Date: 2010-05-29 05:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vermontypython.livejournal.com
I have named him Milo.
HOW COULD YOU

:P

seriously, though, despite the crazy insane crowd, this sounds awesome. And I'm psyched people have mostly stopped asking stupid questions, haha.

Date: 2010-05-29 06:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
hah - i think cringe-worthy questions are still sort of luck of the draw as to who's there and just HOW MUCH common sense they lack. XP

Date: 2010-05-29 06:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] little-ribbon.livejournal.com
AAH! ACTION FIGURES! ♥!

I'm really happy that you seem to have had a good time, despite the crazy fans and the scary atmosphere before the panel... O.o;

Date: 2010-05-29 08:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
ACTION FIGURES. ^_^

I think the queue issues were just normal fannish jitters which, unfortunately, were concentrated and amplified by the mistake the Expo made of timing the panel so that it meant the fans all had to create a mob queue outside as opposed to meandering in whenever they wanted like at other years, so the tension just got worse and worse, particularly as people who hadn't been queuing for so long tried to push through to the front with people who'd literally been there for HOURS and were getting angry that they'd had to wait so long. By the end it was really out of control. They NEED to fix that at the next one. Seriously, with that weight of people in that tight a bottle-neck-type space, someone could have been crushed or tripped up and trampled. It was REALLY irresponsible of the organisers to allow that kind of situation to develop. At the very least, they ought to have created a clearly defined space for people to queue IN, using ropes or something.

Date: 2010-05-29 06:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] heather.livejournal.com
Hee, well done you, getting that question in! I wonder how far from Katie's hopes that revenge will end up being, haha.

TY for the news!

Date: 2010-05-29 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
My guess (as a bunch of us were discussing after the panel) is that Morgana is not actually going to be taken as far towards the dark side as it's being made out she will be. Katie DID say that the most fundamentally changed relationship next series will be between Morgana and Merlin, and that the innocence of that relationship has been completely lost (which sounds actually pretty interesting to me, if they're actually going to explore it).

Date: 2010-05-29 07:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gealach-ros.livejournal.com
Thanks for your report and pics, gorgeous! :D Can't wait for your vid(s)! ♥

Date: 2010-05-29 07:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
Thanks! I'll do some editting tonight and get them up in the next couple of days. I already have the first installments (travel here and setting up in our hotel room) pretty much finished but I wanna get the stuff everyone will be interested in (like the actual expo) online fairly quickly as well.

Date: 2010-05-29 07:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] threemeows.livejournal.com
first, thanks for doing girls-focued commentary. \O/

second, i am SO pleased to hear that they're doing girls action figures too.

third ... cant remember. But thanks for posting this! ;D

Date: 2010-05-29 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 1nagromniloc.livejournal.com
Thank you so much for your report and your pics :) for all of us could not be there.
You have ask about Hugo , this is funny ^^ :)
Colin looks so wonderfull, adorable ♥ he is so lovely and so a great brillant actor :)♥

I love to have a Merlin action Figure heeee,
because Colin wanted one when he was a child and had not got this: (
and now he has himself as a action figure , it´s so amazing...
It must be for him amazing... :))

Thank you so much again gnimaerd :)

Date: 2010-05-29 08:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] reseda-3067.livejournal.com
Great report and nice pics.

Well, there is always going to be some people who has absolutely NO clue as to what´s appropriate to ask. Personally, I think that slash question was not acceptable, because, honestly, I can´t imagine the writers/producers of this show has any plans whatsoever to add that sort of thing. This is after all, based on the A/G story. But that´s just my take on things. I´m sure there are plenty of people who would disagree...

Nice that you got the chance to ask your question, though!

And too bad Bradley wasn´t there...

Date: 2010-05-29 09:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/la_esmeralda_/
heh, my sister asked the merlin vs morgana quetsion and wahey, I thought that other question must have been from a Morgana fan. I think they should wrestle it out in s3, on a 10-level of scale. :D

The cast sound absolutely lovely for making it through, and WEE TOYS I WANT TO MAKE SIX INCH GWEN AND MORGANA KISS.

Date: 2010-05-29 09:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oneaccolade.livejournal.com
safjakja thank you, I was waiting for someone to comment about if Merlin/Morgana was discussed or not. Do you mind if I take some of your paraphrasing and post it to my M/M tumblr (http://fymerlinmorgana.tumblr.com/)? Your pictures are great, I am very familiar with the dilemma to try and shoot the table or shoot the screen.

Date: 2010-05-29 09:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
Oh, sure, go ahead! I follow your tumblr already. ^_^
(deleted comment)

Date: 2010-05-31 10:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
lol - awesome. You can actually hear my me ask my question very clearly at about one minute into that clip (I start with 'Hi - um - Katie, have you still got Hugo?') XP

Date: 2010-05-31 10:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oneaccolade.livejournal.com
Your accent is lovely.

I'm having fun guessing at pictures trying to match the video but it's so whited out by the flash and gets cut off and unfortunately the next video picks up from a different question. I'm surprised more video hasn't surfaced, are they like Comic Con where they technically prohibit video?

Date: 2010-05-31 10:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
Yeah, you're not meant to film it. I have a few clips that I took with my camera, including the tail-end of Katie answering my question, but I was worried about getting my camera taken off me and all the footage deleted if I kept filming for too long so I only have a few minutes here and there from the first half of the panel - not much better than what's in that clip you linked, really. Didn't help that i was actually in a fairly obvious spot (on a corner right down the front with a huge open space in front of me) so it was hard to take any footage without it being obvious what I was doing.

Date: 2010-05-31 11:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oneaccolade.livejournal.com
Oh I know how that goes. I was at San Diego Comic Con last year and Chris Pine sent a video message and so I have (had) a friend who was a huge fan so I taped some of it for her and I was so nervous I was going to get caught. Then he phoned in so I taped the phone call figuring it would be a minute .. it was like ten. At another panel Jim Parsons was giving acting advice so I taped it, but I was so nervous I forgot that my lens cap was still on so the first 20 seconds are black and you can only hear him talking until I took the cap off. Whoops.

Date: 2010-05-29 11:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] doylefan22.livejournal.com
I am awaiting my gold star for the day still :D

Honestly, Bryan seriously underestimated the queuing fiasco. I had to go and tell him that we needed more stewards or there would be a crush. Poor timing t have the highly popular DS thing right before.

Anyway...

Yay for Katie and action figures/dolls and her fangirling Emilia Fox. And big yay for meeting you guys.

*many hugs*

Must go to be - hope you have fun tomorrow and your feet have survived

squeee!!!!

Date: 2010-05-30 02:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kmpendragon.livejournal.com
OMG THE ACTION FIGURES ARE OUT???!!!!(I live in Australia)
I NEED the ENTIRE COLLECTION (when they're all out
And was that a plait on Katie?? SO CUTE!!!

Date: 2010-05-30 05:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] robinmarian.livejournal.com
Lovely update and photos! Thank you so much for sharing!

Date: 2010-05-30 09:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] keleosnoonna.livejournal.com
Thank you for the report!
I wonder why Katie doesn't get recognised in public, I MEAN SHE CERTAINLY STANDS OUT ♥
AND UNF, MORGAN, YOU'RE LOOKING FIIIIIINE

Again, thank you so much for this!

Date: 2010-05-30 09:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
I think it's probably to do with the fact that when she's not filming, Katie a) most likely wears her (oversized) glasses in public, b) also has the piercings all up her ears filled (otherwise she'd risk letting the holes close up) and c) keeps her hair pulled back out of her face, where as Morgana she usually has it down.

I think us as hardcore fans would recognise her, but the general public would find it harder to make the connection, when they're so used to Morgana being all elegant and medieval in gowns with insanely long flowing hair, where Katie's personal style is clearly much simpler, much more tom-boy-ish. I remember showing a friend of mine who's seen Merlin but isn't a member of the fandom that group photo of the cast at the BFI screening last year, and she didn't recognise Katie AT ALL, just ebcause she was dressed so different and had her glasses on and her hair up.

Date: 2010-05-30 10:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sangate.livejournal.com
Ahhh awesome :D Thanks so much for the report :)

action figures XD But how cool is it they made it even though they were so tired :)

Date: 2010-05-30 01:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cherish4.livejournal.com
Thanks for sharing your report, it's much appreciated!

Date: 2010-05-30 01:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dame-margaret.livejournal.com
Thanks so much for your report. Those of us who couldn't be there (i.e. live in the US) have an idea of what it was like.

Just one question, though. Who is Hugo?

Thanks for sharing.

Date: 2010-05-30 04:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
LOOOL Hugo is Katie's hot water bottle cover. He's shaped like a tiger. If you watch behind the scenes footage from the first series DVDs and from Secrets and Magic in the second series, you can briefly spot her carting him around with her. The first Expo the whole cast went to (May last year) I asked Katie why she could be seen carrying a tiger around with with her in the DVD extras, since there had been some chatter online about what the hell she was doing with a toy tiger between takes, and she told me that he was her hot water bottle, which the costume department had made for her because her gowns tend to be very thin and the sets tend to be very cold, and I've always asked whether she still has him at everything I've seen her at since. Now at signings, she calls ME 'Hugo'. It's kind of awesome. XP

Date: 2010-05-31 06:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] squishyshazzy.livejournal.com
Whoa, that is so cool, dude!

Date: 2010-05-30 04:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] clevermonikerr.livejournal.com
I enjoyed your report, and loved your question! Books about dead people, huh? I kind of love her.
Despite the crazy crowd, the panel seemed like a lot of fun.

Action Figures

Date: 2010-05-31 03:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] morganaobsessed.livejournal.com
This post was really helpful! I really liked the question you asked and it made me laugh to hear about Hugo. Now that i have heard about the action figures i really want them (even though i am way too old to play with them :p). I have been searching online and i can't find anywhere to order them. Any idea where i can get them online? I really want them! Thanks a ton!

Re: Action Figures

Date: 2010-05-31 08:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gnimaerd.livejournal.com
lol - they're not available yet! These were just the prototypes. Johnny Capps said they wont be available to buy until the end of August. Sorry - should have made that clearer. XP

Date: 2010-05-31 08:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mai-shiranui.livejournal.com
Action figures?! I will have to get a Morgana one.

Great report and great pictures!

Date: 2010-06-01 06:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hannah1193.livejournal.com
Hiya! I was at the Expo too! :) I was the girl who asked for acting tips. :)

I bought a beanie baby too! :P

You are soo lucky to have got a presigned autograph from the cast.When I got to the InfoDesk they were all gone :( Oh wel, I have their autographs from previous events :)

Date: 2010-06-01 08:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zahrawithaz.livejournal.com
Thanks for posting this! I'm especially intrigued by the hints about what will happen between Merlin and Morgana (maybe worried would be a better term), and thrilled to hear that Angel wants to do work in the US! I think she'd be brilliant over here.

TV taught me how to feel, now real life has no appeal

Oh no!

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