{"id":21935,"date":"2010-12-24T05:41:35","date_gmt":"2010-12-24T13:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wormholeriders.com\/blog\/?p=21935"},"modified":"2018-01-04T08:08:47","modified_gmt":"2018-01-04T16:08:47","slug":"gate-to-the-sanctuary-melbourne-the-amanda-effect-one-small-drop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/2010\/12\/24\/gate-to-the-sanctuary-melbourne-the-amanda-effect-one-small-drop\/","title":{"rendered":"Gate to the Sanctuary, Melbourne: The Amanda Effect! One small drop…"},"content":{"rendered":"

CALLING ALL SANCTUARIAN GATERS!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\"Click<\/a>\"Click<\/a>
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Further to my convention report, and the transcript of Robin’s panel, below is the MUCHLY anticipated, sublime and utterly inspiring transcript for Amanda’s hour of magic. Amanda\u2019s panel was the most memorable for its soul, its beauty, its crazed goofiness, the hysterical giggles, the moved tears, and its intelligent and thoughtful Q&A.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Please note that these are written exactly how they are spoken. I chose to leave in the \u2018umms\u2019 and \u2018aahs\u2019, the little vocal nuances, so that you may read it exactly as was spoken by HER, and not by anyone else. I did not want to filter it, but left it as it is so that you may hear it as Amanda told it. It is not a written report, but a transcript of spoken language, and should be read as such. I have also tried to include descriptions of actions and facials expressions where possible. In the case of Amanda, it’s kind of essential!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

A MASSIVE bouquet of gratitude to the lovely @PaganX<\/a> @MichelleDaGreek<\/a> and @Abydos71<\/a> for your fabulous photographic contributions!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Please also note that this transcript continues on DIRECTLY from where Robin’s left off!
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A day NEVER to be forgotten…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

AMANDA TAPPING<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Bouncing and clapping in seat<\/em>)I wonder who\u2019s up next?! I\u2019M SO EXCITED!!!!! (laughter and cheers<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(VIDEO<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Moderator<\/strong>: Amanda Tapping everyone!! (MENTALLY UPROARIOUS SCREAMS AND CHEERS<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"I<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: I look SO MUCH COOLER on TV than I do in real life! (laughter<\/em>) I can\u2019t believe how COOL I look!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Wow…Can I get a copy of that? Wow…for the days when I\u2019m feeling a little low! I\u2019ve had a lot of bullets in my time…HELLO EVERYBODY!!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Audience<\/strong>: HELLO!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Hi MELBUN!…Uh..Melbun, you never say \u2018R\u2019s in Australia (laughter<\/em>). Um ARRRRGH. That\u2019s Olivia\u2019s favourite joke; What\u2019s a pirate\u2019s favourite letter? \u2018ARRRRRR!\u2019. Um HI! I\u2019m so excited to be here, thank you so much for having me, for being so gracious. I have to say one thing: Australians. What is it with you guys and your eyes?! I have never seen more beautiful sets of eyes anywhere in the world (AWWWWW). I\u2019m not kidding you!..I\u2019m not, (to an audience member<\/em>) YOU..HELLO! I\u2019m not kidding! I…every time I…What do they put in the water here?!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Audience member<\/strong>: FLUORIDE! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: YEAH! Brilliant, I\u2019m blown away…I\u2019m not kidding! So there\u2019s..<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Audience member<\/strong>: It\u2019s the Vegemite!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: It\u2019s the Vegemite. I confess, I like it! (CHEERS<\/em>) But I\u2019m from England originally and we have Marmite which is not that different. (cheers<\/em>) Thank you very much! My favourite thing to do when I go to London, is to find like a, you know, a grungy little local caf\u2019, and have a cup of tea, and toast and Marmite. And that\u2019s…my start to the day *giggles*. That\u2019s my dirty little secret!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ummm…what…AH. Okay, I\u2019m in *goofy voice* Australia. Last week I was in Nepal (CHEERS<\/em>), hence all my accoutrements. But I, for those of you that don\u2019t know, I just..I feel like I have to tell you a tiny bit about Nepal, uh…and then we\u2019ll get into questions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um. About a year ago I started a foundation called Sanctuary for Kids, and uh *cups mouth* www.sanctuaryforkids.org<\/a> (laughter<\/em>) and uh..one of the charities that we support..- we support really small..it\u2019s a very grass-roots charitable initiative that we started. And honestly we started it because of you guys. It was my understanding after a …decade plus *ironic grin* in the scifi genre – a decade and a half, alright I\u2019ll be serious! \u2013 that, um, I have never met a more…aaah…more socially connected, socially aware, generous group of people that is scifi fans. It BLEW MY MIND every time there was an auction, or every time I go to England and do the GABIT events..that there…we raised SO much money for these incredible charities, and I think \u201cWhat…these people are so CONNECTED, they really GIVE A HOOT\u201d and it\u2019s so beautiful.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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So THAT\u2019S why Sanctuary for Kids was born, not only because we see, um, how incredibly lucky we are that we\u2019re working in our industry, but also that we\u2019re incredibly lucky to be connected to such an amazing and generous group of fans! So that was sort of the impetus for Sanctuary for Kids. And VERY grass-roots, no overhead, um..Damian Kindler and I cover all the costs of administration and people and banking and blah blah blah. Um…but we just do small online auctions, and we do, you know, little charitable conventions and things so…Anyway that\u2019s the impetus behind Sanctuary for Kids! Um, and we support really, really small charities. And one of them is the Nepal Orphan\u2019s Home which Kamil, who used to run my website, volunteered at. And he came back, and he sent me the most incredible email and pictures, and he said that \u201cI am transformed, this place is amazing!\u201d. And so I started doing some research, and hooked up with the people who run it, and so…Jill Bodie, who is the other person behind Sanctuary for Kids, and myself got to go to Nepal. And uh…we were in Kathmandu, we visited with Nepal Orphan\u2019s Home, as well as some other groups while we were there, um …groups primarily dealing with trafficked women and children. HEART-WRENCHING stories, but this speaks to the incredible resilience, and open hearts, and beauty of the Nepali people- that EVERYONE we met was so gracious, and so uh…LOVING. And the GIRLS at this orphanage…there\u2019s one house of boys, but I stayed at Sanctuary House. Partly because of the donations that we have made, they were able to open another house, and they called it Papa\u2019s \u2018Gumba\u2019 House, and \u2018Gumba\u2019 is the Nepali word for Sanctuary. So, uh, again..(\u2018aww…wow\u2019 from audience<\/em>)…yeah the power of fandom and the power of just a simple movement.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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So twenty-seven more children were added to the orphanage roster, and it united seven sets of sisters, this one house, who had been separated, and potentially would never see each other again, um, and they were reunited because of Sanctuary House. Uh, so we got to go. So it was an incredible gift, to be able to go and see what they needed, to uh..to crank lanterns that our crew all contributed money to buying these crank lanterns, because in Kathmandu, for 15-18 hours a day they are without electricity, and um…crayons, and art supplies. These kids were..phenomenal. And Happy. Brilliant, beautiful children, who will change this world. Um, the one thing that struck Jill and I while we were there was the incredible need and we felt \u201cGod we\u2019re just tiny drops in the bucket\u201d, and you know, I feel like that…as an actor in this industry, and sometimes you feel like that as a fan, and we\u2019re…we\u2019re just a drop in the bucket. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nepal<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But honestly from that drop in the bucket, AMAZING ripples emanate. And that \u2013uh- it was never more clear than when we were in Nepal, that that\u2019s what was happening. That, you know, 132 children at this house are being educated. And you know, they say, if you educate a woman…you educate the village, and therefore the ripple effect! So, uh, KUDOS to you guys for your support. But um, if you wanna check it out, check out sanctuaryforkids.org, and there\u2019s actually a blog called the Nepal Blog. And there\u2019s pictures of some of the kids…so uh…if you get a CHANCE.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nepal<\/a>
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(At this point, Amanda\u2019s voice was breaking with emotion<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(HUGE APPLAUSE<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Moderator asked for cameras to be put away, so that they could bring the microphone to people<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Oh great, there\u2019s gonna be a lot of pictures of Amanda in Melbourne…Please don\u2019t post them on the internet. There\u2019s about twenty-seven THOUSAND bad pictures of me on the internet. I ENCOURAGE you to put the good ones on! *GRINS*<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um…what else can I tell you? WE FINISHED SEASON THREE! We are SUPER-EXCITED about it. I know a lot of you are up to date on it, thank you very much for watching! Um, but I\u2019m still, you know, very much a part of the Stargate franchise, so feel free to ask me questions about that as well. Um… hard to take off those army boots, I tell ya! (laughter). A couple of girls brought two replica P90\u2019s (laughs) during the photos…*smooshes* I WAS SO HAPPY \ud83d\ude00 ! (laughter<\/em>). It\u2019s just really sick, because I HATE GUNS! But you know uh, there\u2019s something about the zen that I found as Sam Carter with a gun that…belied my inner turmoil *chuckles*(laughter<\/em>). So when I started playing Helen, and I was wearing stilettos and pencil-skirts, I just like..I…I was doing this scene and Martin said \u201cWhat\u2019s WRONG Amanda?!?\u201d and I was like *mutters out side of mouth* \u201cCan\u2019t I, you know, just carry a gun?\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>). \u201cYou\u2019re going to your library!\u201d \u2013 *whispers* I know, but…maybe she has a P90!\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
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YAH!. But …still. Okay. HI! Let\u2019s start with some *giggling* questions!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q1<\/strong>: Hey Amanda<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HI! \ud83d\ude00<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q1<\/strong>: If you could describe the relationship between Jack and Sam in a few words, what would that be?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(scattered laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: I think it\u2019d be ONE word. FRUSTRATING!!!!!!! (LAUGHTER AND CHEERS<\/em>) SERIOUSLY…..COME ON!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Rick and I actually talked about it not that long ago, and I had been asked so many times \u201cDo you think they should get together, do you think..\u201d. YES DARNIT. JUST ONCE, just get it out of the way! GOD! One night of crazy passion…where they *suggestive gestures*…(LAUGHTER<\/em>) I don\u2019t think that\u2019s too much to ask…on SO many different levels! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) But yah, I think it\u2019s really frustrating. I mean, it\u2019s usually respectful and loving and all those wonderful things…FRUSTRATING!!! is what comes to mind.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q2<\/strong>: (gorgeously British guy sitting behind me<\/em>): Hi Amanda, um, welcome to Melbourne! So nervous…(laughter<\/em>) sorry! This is the most nerve-wracking experience since I got married! So um…uh..where to start. So, both Dr. Helen Magnus and Sam Carter, they\u2019re both SUCH amazing characters, and they\u2019re wonderful, I think, to so many of us, they\u2019re STRONG female characters, but they don\u2019t rely on being…you know..adopting male, or kind of macho…I mean they\u2019re somehow so powerful and so feminine. They\u2019re sensational! And my question was, how much influence have you had over the years with both characters, to be able to say to the guys…you know..\u201dCan I go this way with Sam, or that way with Sam\u201d…just you know, kind of put that out there…and …you know…stick up for women, and wave the flag!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda\"<\/a>
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(Giggles in audience<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Yeah…RAR RAR! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) It\u2019s a great question! Um…Here\u2019s a prime example: In the Stargate pilot…Sam Carter has that…*rolls eyes*..<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q2<\/strong>: YEAH the line…the line!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Audience<\/em>: Say it!)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *Magnus accent<\/em>* Would you like me to say it?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(CHEERS<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: It goes..aaaah: Just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside, doesn\u2019t mean that I can\u2019t do whatever you can do…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(CHEERS AND LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HONESTLY I think every woman in this room would agree, we\u2019d NEVER say that. (laughter<\/em>) Even though it\u2019s absolutely true, it…ah…IT\u2019S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAY! (laughter<\/em>). So I remember, it was the pilot and we were under a contract whereby they could fire us after the *chuckles* the pilot if they didn\u2019t think it was working out. So we were all *chuckles* on our ABSOLUTE best behaviour (scatterings of chuckles<\/em>), so I was like \u201cI WILL SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO SAY!\u201d (laughter<\/em>). And then as soon as the contract were, you know, okay you\u2019ve made it through the pilot and you were continuing with you character *chuckles*, I was like *stern look* \u201cOKAY..yeah.\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>)…\u201dwomen don\u2019t talk like this!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So, I remember sitting down with the writers and saying \u201cSTOP trying to write what you think a strong woman would say…and just write a human being, right? As if you\u2019re writing for a man, if that makes it easier, and I will bring an inherent femininity to it, EVEN if only my virtue of the fact that I\u2019m a woman!\u201d (laughter<\/em>) This I did bring to the table! \u201cBut there will be an inherent femininity, just write a normal human being, don\u2019t write a woman trying to prove herself in a man\u2019s world, \u2018cause it..the more you red-flag the fact that, you know *thick Texan accent* \u201cI\u2019m a woman in the military!\u201d, the more boring she becomes! You know, we get it. You\u2019re a chick with a gun…OKAY! Just write a cool, interesting smart character! And uh, the writers, to their great credit, did exactly that, and for me it was…we steered a little bit away from the vulnerability, and I think it deeply important that as much as we show a character\u2019s strength, we also have to show the weakness. And i think the true power of a hero comes in their failings, and the, you know, the learnings from those failings! Um, so that was always my sort of bent with her, and they listened! And honestly after a few years, it was so much a part of each of us, our voices…you know Michael brought so much to Daniel, Chris brought so much to Teal\u2019c, and so on and so on, that it became them. I mean, Don Davis WAS General Hammond!…(stirring of sympathy in audience<\/em>)….heh…yeah..I can barely say his name without crying, still. Um…but that was, you know, Teryl came in and she WAS Dr. Frasier…and the things that she did. So EVERYONE informed their characters, and so…by virtue of the fact that we were on for so long I think.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now with HELEN, I got the script that Damian had written in 2000, and aah, really I didn\u2019t deviate from that very much. Except that we…it\u2019s important to me with Helen because I don\u2019t GET her, all the time, I don\u2019t UNDERSTAND the choices she makes. Which is COOL. \u2018Cause she\u2019s 160, and I SHOULDN\u2019T understand her (LAUGHTER<\/em>). Sometimes I FEEL *chuckles* like 160! But there\u2019s a loneliness there, there\u2019s a wariness, and a WEARINESS of the world that she has, that I don\u2019t necessarily understand. But I bring, I think um…aah..when I\u2019m talking to the writers I think she really WOULDN\u2019T make that choice. But she MIGHT make that choice. And at other times I would go I DON\u2019T KNOW if she\u2019d make that choice, let\u2019s make her make that choice, let\u2019s see her screw up! I love it! So, I don\u2019t know *chuckles* if I answered the question or not…I\u2019m just rambling! You see I\u2019M NERVOUS!! (laughter<\/em>). But um YES. I think After a while the actor does start to… inform what\u2019s happening, and I\u2019m just really incredibly proud, and privileged that I\u2019ve TWICE now been able to play really strong…who I THINK are really cool, interesting women. (APPLAUSE<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda\"<\/a>
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Q3<\/strong>: I heard in an interview, regarding the extended season, that I THINK the thing is that because you know that you\u2019ve got the time, that it\u2019s a lot more pressure, but it\u2019s a bit more of a luxury for you…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Yes…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q3<\/strong>: ..um…and that\u2019s how you were choosing to look at it. Then you said \u201cAsk me in ten months\u201d. How has it been? (laughter) Not that it took ten months, but how\u2019s it been?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: AWESOME! It\u2019s awesome! I forgot, you know Stargate was such a machine; ten episodes, take a little summer holiday, ten more episodes. And you just ground it out. And after ten years of getting up at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning, and working till, you know, 7:30 or 8 o\u2019clock at night, you know, it just becomes…your life! And with Sanctuary we only did 13 episodes, and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited, and did another thirteen and it was like \u201cOOOH this is NICE! Thirteen is NICE, I have a LIFE!\u201d And then…we got twenty, and still I say it\u2019s a huge luxury. We did what we did with Stargate, modelled, did ten episodes, took a summer break, and we\u2019ve just finished the last ten. But honestly by the end we were all….*audience chuckles*…a little bit coocoo for cocopuffs!(laughter<\/em>) It\u2019s a privilege. Honestly, because I think the story fits better, the arcs are more interesting, I think, what I LOVE, and I don\u2019t know if I\u2019m alone in this, but I think that fandom…me BEING a member of scifi fandom…I don\u2019t WANNA be spoonfed the answers! I don\u2019t WANT somebody soft-pabbleming (?) me going \u201cHERE, this is what we mean by that!\u201d I wanna wonder, I wanna ask some weird questions and NOT get answers, and go \u201c*STARES*…(laughter<\/em>)… I guess I\u2019ll have to watch NEXT week\u2019s and find out what the hell they were talking about!\u201d It makes sense to me! Because I think we\u2019re an intelligent group of people, who don\u2019t NEED to be told what\u2019s happening.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Audience member<\/strong>: There\u2019s always more guessing going on…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: EXACTLY, this season we\u2019re trying to do that, much to certain networks…chagrim *makes face*. You know, \u201cThe audience isn\u2019t gonna know what you mean\u201d…*STARES…rolls eyes* (laughter) \u201cwell…*goof voice* I THINK they\u2019re SMART!\u201d (laughter). Yeah, so it\u2019s been great.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q4<\/strong>: Hi, my name\u2019s Gochin (sp?)…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HI! \ud83d\ude00<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q4<\/strong>: …I just want to say that, you know, I think you\u2019re an amazing person, and you\u2019re an amazing actress….And…yeah…I just…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *goof voice* GOSH! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q4<\/strong>: Um, I\u2019ve noticed that the music of Sanctuary is very beautiful, and there\u2019s a very specific melody, and tune to all of it, and I was wondering if you, personally, had any kind of say in the choices for the episodes? And also, um, whether they were specifically chosen to suit the theme or something…or if it was just \u201cOh that one sounds pretty\u201d…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: YAH! I\u2019ll tell you what\u2019s happened.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Okay, so in Season 1 we had Joel Goldsmith, who was the composer for Stargate…was AWESOME, awesome composer. Ah, VERY orchestral in his..in the way that he writes his music, and we were very lucky to have him. But we are really striving to be a 100 percent Canadian show, and part of the issue was that we had an American composer. So we found Andrew Lockington who I think is ABSOLUTELY brilliant, and what Andrew brought to the table was a very world theme, ah, much more um, drumming…less orchestral and much more world music kind of feel to it. What happens, and this is part of the beauty of being a producer, is we do what we call \u2018sound spots\u2019. So, we\u2019ll watch an episode with Andrew on the phone (he\u2019s in Toronto and we\u2019re in Vancouver), and we\u2019ll watch exactly to time…and he\u2019s on the same computer..to time. So we\u2019ll watch the episode, we\u2019ll pause- anyone can pause at any given time, and can say \u2018here we need some more drum\u2019 or \u2018here we need some more of this\u2019 or \u2018wouldn\u2019t it be great if we could get a big sweep into this scene\u2019 or \u2018let\u2019s not have any music in this scene\u2019. So we actually do, um…to a degree..aah, inform how the music plays out. And then we just leave it in Andrew\u2019s incredibly capable hands, and he comes up with stuff way better than we could *chuckles* ever imagined! So in terms of where the music is placed and the, uh, the sort of temperature of it. Yes. But then it\u2019s up to him. And aah, I think he\u2019s brilliant, personally.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

And I…I know that now that Syfy International only shows the ten second opening title sequence…right? (mumbles in audience<\/em>)…*Amanda makes a face*…YEAH not into the ten seconds! (laughter<\/em>). We fought REALLY hard, because aah, we have a BEAUTIFUL thirty second opening title sequence, and aah..I think everywhere else in the world, except for Syfy…um…because they decided that um…*snirks* you wouldn\u2019t stick around if it was thirty seconds *makes face* (LAUGHTER<\/em>). ALL of their shows have ten second opening title sequences. I\u2019m never gonna work for this network again, apparently *chuckles* \u2018cause I keep telling people bad things about them (LAUGHTER<\/em>)…*goofy voice* but I LOVE Syfy, and I owe a GREAT career to them…BUT. Ten seconds. It was like \u2018Seriously? The audience is gonna…you guys are gonna stop watching ..AWH *SIGH* it\u2019s twenty-seven seconds *SLUMPS*\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>).\u201d I don\u2019t CARE what happens between John and Helen…*shuffles away*\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Audience member<\/strong>: Bring back the Stargate intros…that were like…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: YEAH! Exactly, and they just keep getting smaller. So no it\u2019s..ten second into the scene. The REST of the world gets thirty seconds. And that…again it\u2019s now ANDREW, doing the opening title because part of the problem was… that Andrew was having, was that Joel\u2019s music was very orchestral, and he\u2019s trying to feed that into the first scene. You know from a…ah..it was too much of a JOLT in music styles, so now Andrew does it all. So…*chuckles* did I answer your question? (laughter) I tend to RAMBLE on… wow…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q5<\/strong>: Hi…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HI!!! Up there!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q5<\/strong>: *mutters* My friend Miranda thinks I have this one game where I like to ramble on…*chuckles*<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My question is…now, you\u2019ve done a lot of scenes with David Hewlett when you…went over to Atlantis…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Yeah!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q5<\/strong>: ..and your guest one when you did \u2018Grace Under Pressure\u2019, did you enjoy it more…doing that episode, or the one where you were with Jewel and you all fell down into the shaft…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda: OOOH TRIO!…YEAH…I LOVED doing that episode! Aaaaaaaaand I… I couch this by saying I have an incredible and ridiculously paralysing fear of heights. And uh, and I was supposed to be like, the one who walks across the beam all \u2018yo, yo!\u2019 and THEY\u2019RE the ones who were supposed to be scared, and they were just, like, hangin\u2019 out on the beam…like..*relaxes*. But we had a BLAST. That episode, just in particular, it was very strange…we were on a gimble set, and this metal box..aaah..up on these rafters, DUST falling on us, DIRT, and aaah…we laughed. Our. heads off. I just…I COMPLETELY remember shooting every day of that episode, it was SO much fun. So THAT for me, um, but not only because of the character interactions, but because of the personal interactions…between David and Jewel and I. And just being goofs in the makeup trailer. I LOVED, you know, getting covered in dirt…you know, I love that kind of stuff..so..it was really fun.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Grace Under Pressure\u2019 was, you know, had it\u2019s OWN *goofy voice* sense of fun! (laughter<\/em>) But that was…aaah…yeah that was *chuckles*. That was a strange episode for me. Ah…David\u2019s..aaah, WIFE was there, not quite then his wife…Jane, was his \u2018fianc\u00e8e\u2019 at the time. And aaah, so that was…awkward! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) It was like \u2018I love you Jane! I love you…*pulls face*\u2019 (laughter<\/em>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q6<\/strong>: Hi…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Hi!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q6:<\/strong> GOD you\u2019re pretty!…sorry…(LAUGHTER<\/em>). Much prettier in real life…umm *Amanda\u2019s making shocked faces* (LAUGHTER<\/em>)….(couldn\u2019t hear what she said<\/em>)…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um…I just..we saw you when we were watching \u2018The Tok\u2019ra\u2019 and you just peeked in, down there with Robin, and had a peek. What was the thing…what runs through your mind, seeing, like, those images of you from so long ago…with that hair..and…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *sobs* I was SO YOUNG!!!! (LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q6<\/strong>: \u2018Cause it must be stranger when…I mean, a lot of us see photos from we were younger but, like, you\u2019ve got…over ten years of your life on…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *Stunned face* YEAH. (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q6<\/strong>: So what was that like, to watch back…from your perspective?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda:<\/span><\/strong> It\u2019s actually, now I can look back on that with a much greater sense of detachment, and really appreciate what the show was. And go \u2018AWW yeah, that was the first day that JR Bourne and I met, and …and we hung out for seven hours talking, and we, you know, these scenes happened so beautifully and…you know, so I can look back on it now…much EASIER than I could. You know… I couldn\u2019t WATCH Stargate for the longest time, \u2018cause I was so self-critical about everything. And NOW I step back and go \u2018Well…it was a FUN show, and that…\u2019 I remember the moments BEHIND them. The moments. And it is HONESTLY really FREAKY…to see…the videos that are put together *chuckles*, you know, of the transformation of Sam Carter, and of Helen. Uh…it…yeah. *whispers* OH GOD! (chuckles in audience<\/em>) I\u2019m like, ageing…before my eyes. There\u2019s no denying that!…(Audience member<\/em>: Aging gracefully!) …thank you VERY much! But yeah. It\u2019s really weird. My DAUGHTER watches , you know, like…I got a video from a fan, and I put it in and she *chuckles* was like *shocked face*\u2018Mama!\u2019, and I was like *wide eyes*\u201cI know.\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q7<\/strong>: *mutters* Okay you\u2019ve got the mic, now don\u2019t screw it up! (Iaughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *grins* NO PRESSURE!(Iaughter<\/em>) Everyone\u2019s listening!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *GRINNING BROADLY*<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q7<\/strong>: ..I\u2019d just like to say that, I don\u2019t either way pertaining to Stargate, and Atlantis..and Sanctuary, you\u2019re just a GOOD role model to watch on the screen. So, I just wanted to say that…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Thank you!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q7<\/strong>:..And, my question is..um..I\u2019m not sure if it\u2019ll ever happen. The SG-1 third movie. Would you be in it?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/strong>: *wide eyes* I hope so! (LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q7<\/strong>: But if they..asked you, would you…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Oh God yeah! Yeah, I mean…aah.. I was asked this in Sydney, and I don\u2019t KNOW if it\u2019s ever gonna happen, it would be great. I …I don\u2019t know if the ship has sailed on that. There was so much BUZZ about it for a long time, and we were all very excited. And then…the buzz sort of died, and after that we heard about MGM having trouble…and you know, all manner of different scenarios were being spread and…and we didn\u2019t KNOW. And now, were just no hearing anything, so I, I don\u2019t know. Maybe…someone would like to write one, and we could all do it! (laughter<\/em>). (audience member makes a comment, perhaps about the movie campaign?<\/em>) Oh is there? Yeah, I would ABSOLUTELY. I mean… I will NEVER turn my back on Stargate…that…it\u2019s just such a HUGE part of my life. Yeah. And the boots are SO comfortable!*GRINS* (laughter<\/em>). Who could say no? I mean it\u2019s….Win, win, win!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Oh…HI!!..YOU FINALLY GOT THE MIC!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q8<\/strong>: Hi Amanda *very tearful*<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Hiiii! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q8<\/strong>: (quietly<\/em>) I\u2019m losing my voice…um…I just wanted to say..thank you, um, you\u2019ve given me a lot more confidence, and you\u2019re an Angel, and thank you…for…*buries face*<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(scattered laughter in audience and THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Oh please! *goofy voice* You\u2019ll make me cry! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q8<\/strong>: Amanda, my question is, back in webisode four…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *stares wide-eyed trying to remember*…UH HUUUH…(laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q8<\/strong>: What did Druitt say to Magnus?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: What did…?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q8<\/strong>: Druitt, say to Magnus?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Q8<\/strong>: Magnus…was tied to the chair…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: OH YEAH! And then he…yeah. And I say \u201cAre you gonna carve me up like one of your whores?\u2019 and…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q8<\/strong>: Yeah…no just before, when he starts like…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *staring totally lost* (chuckles in audience<\/em>)….Let\u2019s call him! (laughter<\/em>). I don\u2019t…..CRAP! *staring*(laughter<\/em>). I think he said \u2018I still love you, you gorgeous thing\u2019 (awww-laughter<\/em>). I THINK that\u2019s what he said. Yeah. It might have been \u2018I hate your guts you evil BITCH\u2019 *GRINS* (LAUGHTER<\/em>). I think it was \u2018My God, you\u2019re even better-looking close up\u2019 (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE<\/em>). Kinda! (audience chuckles<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q9<\/strong>: Uh Hi! First, welcome to Melbourne!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda:<\/span><\/strong> Thank you!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q9<\/strong>: I hope you\u2019re enjoying your time…I have two questions for you. The first one is just a short…little one, the second one is SLIGHTLY more involved. The first one; If you could live in any of Helen\u2019s decades, which would you live in, and why? And of the decades she\u2019s lived through, if you could live through any of those, which one would you live in and why? And the second is, um, you\u2019ve often spoken of your background in theatre, your training in theatre, you\u2019ve had years on the screen now, and television. And you\u2019ve had a very significant role now, behind the scenes, you\u2019ve done directing, and I was wondering which of those transitions was…the most challenging, but also the most rewarding for you?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda: Uh..okay. First question. Um, I think she would go back to the twenties *nods*…the roaring twenties, BEFORE the *chuckles* Great Depression. Um…at a time when women were a bit more liberated…I\u2019d LIKE to say the sixties but I think Helen is too much of a *chuckles* control freak. (laughter<\/em>) Except for the sexual liberation part…but I think all the other stuff…she\u2019d…boot it! (laughter<\/em>). *whispers emphatically* Silly woman, SILLY WOMAN! UM…but I think maybe that the roaring Twenties, I think that was a time of, sort of, decadence and fun and…and political upheaval…and…women were a little, were staring to get a little bit more liberated, uh I think that..YEAH. THAT\u2019S my answer for today *grins*(laughter in audience<\/em>). Ask me again tomorrow!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um…second question *stares up*.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q9<\/strong>: Span of you career..and what…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Oh yeah, yeah! Oh YEAH! (laughter<\/em>). *sings dorkily* HEEEEEEY GOOD LOOKIN\u2019 (laughter<\/em>). THAT\u2019S what he said to me! (laughter<\/em>)…I think the transition to…(laughter continues) *chuckles* I don\u2019t know WHERE that came from…I\u2019ll tell you that story in a minute! AH…the transition to producing, for me, has been really incredibly rewarding, because I never quite understood what exactly a Producer did, like the full extent of what they did. And to be able to sort of, have a hand in …in the MINUTIA of putting together an episode, of going through a sound spot after the fact, or doing the final mix on an episode and going \u2018Oh you know what, we need another clip of the gun here, a screech of tyres here…\u2019the LITTLE things. I LOVE that. The details. I really, really enjoy that. Um, I would LOVE to go back on stage, um…time permitting, and it just hasn\u2019t been.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um, a few years ago I got the chance to do the \u2018Vagina Monologue\u2019s in Toronto, and um…(scattered chuckles in audience<\/em>) *grins* (LAUGHTER<\/em>)..*dorky voice* Sheee saaaaid \u201cMonoloooogues…\u201d(LAUGHTER<\/em>). And uh…it was to raise money! To raise awareness against violence against women…um…Awareness FOR…AGAINST violence against…*chuckles* you know what I mean (laughter<\/em>). And I had not been on stage for such a long time, and I literally had this moment, which was very telling for me, which made me think I gotta get back on stage, where…I was about to go on, and I saw the stage door, and I was like *STARES* (chuckles in audience<\/em>)…*glances around awkwardly-breathless* I wonder if anyone would notice..if I just…left! Then I..I literally PANICKED, I literally went *anxious*. And uh, it was very telling for me, because I used to LOVE that pre-stage rush, you know that moment before *takes huge breath-EXHALES* HOHKAY! I used to LOVE that feeling, and then it scared the LIVING DAYLIGHTS out of me and I thought \u201cUH OH, *dork voice*I\u2019d better get back on stage!\u201d Um, so eventually I would like to do that, I think THAT would be the full circle that I need to, you know. I always say, creatively you need to scare yourself…it..I think IN LIFE you need to scare yourself, as soon as you start to become complacent, do something that scares the CRAP out of you! And you…feel alive, which is what directing is for me. And what producing is. So now it\u2019s going back on stage. I\u2019ll just pretend I\u2019m doing a play right now! (laughter<\/em>). Yeah…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q10<\/strong>: Hello!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Hi!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q10<\/strong>: Hi, how are you…um..<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Good!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q10<\/strong>: My question was, um, which historical figure or mythological character would you like to see on Sanctuary in the future?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *GRINS* Elvis! (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE) *chuckles* Naw I\u2019m kidding. There\u2019s a bad…you\u2019re gonna leave aren\u2019t you! *thoughtfully* Who should I say that would make you happy? Ummmmmmmm…..John F. Kennedy. I think she knew him well *coy smile* (LAUGHTER).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I think that uh…Yeah I think that there are some amazing political figures that we should explore, because for..Helen has such an interesting history, politically. But I would also really like to see some strong women, from the past. On the show. Um, dive back into that part of Helen\u2019s past. (audience member:<\/em> Eleanor Roosevelt…) Yeah! Eleanor Roosevelt would be amazing! Amelia Earhart would be amazing. There\u2019s a whole bunch of them; Dorothy Parker would be really cool, \u2018cause she\u2019s kinda weird and that would be fun (chuckles<\/em>). Ummm some great artists. I mean, like..yeah I. Honestly, I think we showcase some really strong men, I think it would be great to showcase some really strong women…from history. Um, so I\u2019ll say Eleanor Roosevelt, \u2018cause I want you to be happy!*cheeky smile*(laughter<\/em>). Molly Brown…*to audience member* yes! We did a brief reference to her in the \u2018Next Tuesday\u2019 episode. I TOO am suddenly remembering the names of episode *grin*(laughter<\/em>). You know, people ask me \u2018Do you remember the episode such-and-such from Stargate..?\u201d and I\u2019m like *whispers* \u201cWhat happened??\u201d (laughter<\/em>). But yeah. Strong women!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q11<\/strong>: Hi!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HI!!!!!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q11<\/strong>: Um…two questions!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: UH HUH!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q11<\/strong>: The first one is, um, at the beginning of \u2018Pavor Nocturnus\u2019 (Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: yes!) um, it looks like it was a really difficult one to shoot, and also a fair amount of the set was built, rather than green screen (Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Yep!). Um, it looks really cold and…what was the experience like with the intensity? Because Robin was talking about it as well…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: It was..aaaah…it was a VERY scary episode. Um, and it wasn\u2019t being wet and cold. We shot the majority of it in-house, on the stages, uhh , besides the matte paintings that you see of the ruined city, most of it was a practical set. And it\u2019s amazing to me what our set decorators were able to do, in creating the city-scape with the, you know the plastic sheets and the..our special *chuckles* special effects guys, have this, like, CRAZY love of Hudson sprayers…which are like fine mist sprayers, and fans. And they put the HUGE fan, and this water, and they all look REALLY happy about it (laughter<\/em>). Then they throw dirty leaves at you…(laughter<\/em>). So it was a VERY uncomfortable episode. The shower scene in particular, obviously, was one of the scariest. Um, a lot of our crew members walked off set. Not…walked off and never came back…they were like \u2018it\u2019s too much, we can\u2019t handle it\u2019 and they left. Um, because it really…it really was an awful scene to shoot. But it was an IMPORTANT scene to shoot, um, for Helen\u2019s vulnerability, and to speak to the absolute anarchy and chaos that was happening. The WEIRDEST thing was Robin. He walked onset with this crazy hair, and this eye and this MASSIVE intensity that FREAKED me out! (chuckles<\/em>). And he..in the scene where he sort of yanks Helen up, right off the top, I … I had bruises for weeks. Because he *grits teeth* GRABBED SO…HE WAS MEAN! (laughter<\/em>). Next time you see him in the autograph line, KICK HIM!!! (laughter and some applause<\/em>). The whole line…this can be our little secret! *grins* (laughter). But yeah, it was..uh..a VERY intense episode. It was VERY wet and um…but YEAH. That sort of speaks to the whole philosophy of SCARE yourself! It was scary! And so afterwards we were all like PHOOOO!! It felt great!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q11<\/strong>: And the other question is um, in the sort of …three seconds Syfy told about Season Three, you talked about it being more romantic. Can you, talk more about that?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *Exhales frustratedly* Helen should have …more fun relationships than she does *frustrated stare* (chuckles<\/em>) EVERYONE ELSE…is getting (scattered chuckles<\/em>). Just get some. (laughter<\/em>) Get some… dot, dot, dot! Aah…so Will finds romance, Henry finds romance, I don\u2019t know if the five years are up for Biggie and it\u2019s time for HIM to find romance (laughter<\/em>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Uh, Helen…There\u2019s only one scene, I think, which is truly romantic in Season 3, and I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve seen the episode \u2018King and Country\u2019 yet (resounding<\/em> YES!). Right, okay, so THAT SCENE…I would like to take credit for, so I will! (laughter<\/em>) And um, I had this WEIRD sort of daydream vision, because I think part of the problem with…part of the problem…*dorky voice* Part of the problem with Helen and John *chuckles*, is that. Um. It\u2019s SO HARD to fathom what this love is. Because he\u2019s a DICK! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) And..but she… He is her FIRST. LOVE. He…he\u2019s her Jack O\u2019Neill *smiles* (laughter<\/em>). Unrequited! Uh, no but HE\u2019S her first love. He EMBODIES the innocence, the joy, the first BLUSH, um…of True… Love .Until he became this hideous thing! And, she blames herself for that…even still, um, knowing all the other variables in place. And I think that there\u2019s just this…nobody else, besides Tesla, and Watson and Griffin, well Griffin\u2019s now dead and Watson\u2019s now dead! Nobody else understands that! The depth of that loneliness, the history, the…so…I had this vision …<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Mobile phone in audience rings<\/em>)…do you want me? *grins and mimes holding to ear* (laughter<\/em>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Uh. I had this vision, of Helen taking a moment. So I went to the writers and I said \u201cCould, we..in this scene…find a moment where Helen just takes that: It\u2019s safe, he\u2019s not gonna wake up, she just wraps herself in his arms and *EXHALES*. Because he\u2019s the only one…who would understand, the loss of a child, the depth of despair, she\u2019s dying, finally…like…everything. The weight finally hits her, and nobody else who she could turn to. But she couldn\u2019t turn to him AWAKE, because that\u2019s all..you know *dorky voice* \u2018cause then all SORTS of weird stuff happens! So that…I asked for that moment of…and I talked to Christopher about it and we both just LOVED it. It\u2019s a great moment to play. So that\u2019s the extent of her romance, with a guy she\u2019s KNOCKED OUT! *chuckles* (laughter<\/em>). *dorky British* Caught in Cambodia, wraps herself in his arms *chuckles and punches air* WOOOOH HELEN!! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) YEEEEAH that\u2019s romance! *nods*. I\u2019ll take what I can get!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

*To audience member* HEY YOU GOT IT, YAY!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q13<\/strong>: We\u2019ve been talking a lot about you being a role model for a lot of people in this room, and all around the world. What\u2019s it like now, that you\u2019ve got a career, you\u2019re producing a show, to be a role model and a mentor for a lot of the younger actors that belong to your show?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: I take it very seriously. Uh, I think that..um…there weren\u2019t a LOT of women, when I was starting out, who were doing…uh…everything that I\u2019m trying to do! Um, or that, basically, had the time! So I\u2019m really…I\u2019m really CONSCIOUS about trying to …to talk to young women. I work with women in film, in the Flashforward program, I do a mentorship program with them. I have a DAUGHTER. And I think it\u2019s really important that she understands that…there\u2019s a whole…you know, there\u2019s a whole world of possibility. And that it\u2019s gonna be hard and crappy at times, but then it\u2019s okay. Um, I…but with Agam. Agam\u2019s constantly coming up and asking me stuff and it\u2019s very cool, same thing with Emilie. I DO take it very seriously, because I think…I was really lucky. And I feel that somehow *chuckles* I\u2019ve sort of stumbled into this crazy life, and I LOVE it, but I\u2019ve been given a great gift…and if I were to not…share it…that would be really…dumb. (chuckles all round<\/em>). Uh, I remember, before I directed Stargate, I sat on a plane to LA with Helen Shaver. And she was directing \u2018Judging Amy\u2019 or something at the time, and she was in \u2018Poltergeist\u2019. I don\u2019t know if you know who she is or not, but um. She\u2019s a female director and, um, SHE. WAS AWESOME. She totally mentored me the whoooole flight down to L.A. I was like, you know \u201cthis is what I wanna DO with the scenes\u201d and blah blah blah. And I thought \u201cIf I can do what SHE\u2019S doing, that\u2019s great\u201d. There\u2019s another director, Ann Wheeler, who\u2019s one of my favourite female directors. And she that kind of woman too, she\u2019s like \u201cCome to editing! Come and sit! Watch what I do!\u201d Which I think is so cool! So, yeah.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q14<\/strong>: Hi Amanda!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HIIII!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Well…Robin\u2019s big thing, as you ALL know, is taking his pants off (LAUGHTER<\/em>). Which is why I wrote \u2018THIS IS MY BUM\u2019, because I\u2019ve SEEN it so many times!(laughter<\/em>)*makes a face* (LAUGHTER<\/em>). Don\u2019t tell him I said that! Uuuh, so..the big thing *sighs* practical jokes is hard because our cast is really funny, and so the biggest thing we do is crack each other up off-camera. And it was the same thing that happened on Stargate. It would be… you know, Michael and Chris behind the lens, you know, making stupid faces..or, and trying to get you to break. And that\u2019s the biggest practical joke that actors ever play on each other. I mean with Christopher, it\u2019s taping…duct-taping you to chairs (laughter<\/em>) *chuckles* It\u2019s funny! …until everyone leaves the room and you have to pee! (LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But, I told this story in Sydney about Christopher\u2019s flatulence…and I\u2019ll BRIEFLY tell you now. Um, he has this horrifically gaseous body (chuckles in audience<\/em>), um and…he would constantly clear rooms with like, you\u2019d walk into the room and go *complains*\u201cOh God… Christopher we BEGGED the caterers not to serve beans!\u201d …and we would, you know EVERYTHING we could do, our ..Our craft service guy had like, bottles of Pino up against the back wall, to stop Chris\u2019s gas, and it never worked. So he finally had his own, when he had to wear a full NASA space suit (LAUGHTER<\/em>). THE REAL DEAL. And he got bolted into it. And then the helmet came on. And the GUY FROM NASA was THERE, putting this thing on! And…(chuckles all round<\/em>) We all sat back and were just like *waves hands*..it…it HAS to happen (LAUGHTER)! We watched him go, you know, from his delicious chocolate brown, to this weird shade of green *chuckles* (LAUGHTER). It was nice,…himself. His face was kind of *screws up sour face* (LAUGHTER). And I swear the entire crew had tears in their eyes from laughing so hard (LAUGHTER). That\u2019s KARMA! *grins*. That\u2019s not a joke, that is KARMA. Yeah…I wish we\u2019d filmed it!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q15<\/strong>: Hi!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Hi!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q15<\/strong>: Um, you have acted with Christopher Heyerdahl in every series from SG-1, to Stargate Atlantis, to Sanctuary. Which character, out of the five that he\u2019s played with you, is your favourite? And why?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Druitt. Although..umm.. I really like him as Biggie. Uh, although…ahh..I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve noticed, but Helen never refers to him as any… she never calls him \u2018Biggie\u2019 or \u2018The Big Guy\u2019 or…she never…One day we\u2019ll actually reveal what she calls him. It\u2019s interesting with Christopher, obviously I have more to do with him on \u2018Sanctuary\u2019 than I DID on the Stargates, but um. There\u2019s just such a great connection when he plays John, and there\u2019s such a..aah..well..it\u2019s a very interesting passion between the two of us when we play those characters together, and I LOVE it. Like, as actors we sort of HOOAH! There\u2019s a connection, it feels so real and great! Yeah, but when he plays Biggie, he\u2019s a completely different guy! He walks onto set and he is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GUY. And he\u2019s …a bit more aggressive, and he\u2019s …bigger *chuckles* which is weird, because he\u2019s tall and big as he is! But he\u2019s…he\u2019s SO interesting to me as an actor, how…how he transforms himself. Um, and the relationship between Helen and Biggie is soooo…gentle, and they\u2019ve known each other for so long, and they have such a deep friendship. And with John it\u2019s all about passion. So, but I think John. Because I can actually look at Christopher\u2019s face. When he\u2019s Biggie I forget he\u2019s Christopher, I TRULY do. Wow….till he slaps (laughter<\/em>). But yeah, I think John.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q16<\/strong>: Hi Amanda, how are you?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Hi! Good thanks!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q16<\/strong>: Ah, look, just a two-part question! Any chance of, aah, an episode of \u2018Sanctuary\u2019 starring Richard Dean Anderson? (laughter<\/em>, Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: OOOH YEAH!). If so (laughter<\/em>)…If so what…as you\u2019ll be HIS boss, what would be the most interesting abnormal you would make him? (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *smiling* I would give him some REALLY special skills (laughter<\/em>). Ah, we actually tried to get Richard for the webisodes to play , um, Helen\u2019s previous assistant…aaah…and I think there\u2019s this sort of weird video blip that Will looks at. It ended up…ROBIN ended up doing it, in full make up, which is really cool. But we wanted to get Richard to do that, just play this cranky, crazy *chuckles* old FART (laughter<\/em>)…who\u2019s dying \u2018cause of all the experiments he\u2019s done with Helen and…I thought THAT would be really fun. Um, but we have yet to get him on the show…But if we did. I don\u2019t…I don\u2019t think I\u2019d make him an abnormal. WELL I mean he is…*chuckles* just by being Richard (laughte<\/em>r) Dean Anderson *chuckling*. Have you all met him? (YEAH! He was here earlier on in the year) YEAH. So…ah, he doesn\u2019t…*chuckling*…really need makeup or anything (LAUGHTER<\/em>). He\u2019s just weird (laughter<\/em>). Lovely. Um, yeah I don\u2019t think I\u2019d cover up that beautiful mug with any prosthetics or anything. I think in one of Helen\u2019s…*cheeky smile* (LAUGHTER<\/em>)…I think it would be a really lovely full circle if, uh, SAM doesn\u2019t get it on (LAUGHTER<\/em>), then Helen could at least get it on with somebody who *chuckling* looks a LOT like Jack! (LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE<\/em>). But yeah. And of course there\u2019s the whole Richard-Dean-Anderson factor for ME! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

HI!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q17<\/strong>: Hi, um I\u2019ve got two questions. The first one is; Is there any chance in Season 4, you would come down and film here.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Oh I would LOVE to, are you kidding? My God, I think there\u2019s a Melbourne Sanctuary, don\u2019t you? (YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q17<\/strong>: Um, the second question was; Did you do all your stunts in \u2018Breach\u2019 yourself?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Um, I think there\u2019s ten…LESS than ten shots that aren\u2019t me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q17<\/strong>: Because it …was amazing!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: YEAH. Thank you! That was aaah, I have an AMAZING stunt double, aaah for fights. Her name\u2019s Ashley. She. Is. AWESOME! And ah, so she taught me all the fights. Rob Hater is our fight coordinator, and uh, the two of them taught me all these fights. But I\u2019m like \u201cNo let me do it, let me do it\u201d and obviously it\u2019s easier to FILM if it\u2019s really me. Um, so there\u2019s a couple of things like, when she does the pipe thing over her head, that is HER going over her head, but the rest of the stuff is me. Um, and I think it\u2019s because…that I\u2019m…too much of a spaz (laughter<\/em>) to have this *chuckling* long metal pipe to swing around my face! (laughter<\/em>) Um, and that drop from the ceiling is HER *COUGH*…*cough* sorry! *HAAAAACK* (laughter<\/em>) And uuuuuh, there\u2019s a couple of sequences in the, aah, hammer\/machete fight, that are her. Um, but for the most part…YEAH…I got my ASS kicked! (chuckles<\/em>) But I got to do some kicking too! (Yeah…it was pretty cool!) YEAH, Ian Tracey, too, is a PHENOMENAL actor. We fought REALLY hard to get him, he\u2019s just SO great. Um, so the two of us had a lot of fun *laughing* beating each other up! *smiling* I\u2019ve got a…I\u2019m kind of a fan of his…kind of…I am! I\u2019m a fangirl…ah…so it was like *chuckling* \u201cUh…okay…*breathes* Really?…uh. Okay…you really want me to punch him?!\u201d (laughter<\/em>) But it\u2019s really interesting, when you get actors who actually understand, \u2018cause he\u2019s done a lot of stunts, of his own stunts, himself. And you get actors who understand it, it\u2019s REALLY FUN to play that you\u2019re…kicking the CRAP out of each other! And very rarely…land a punch! You know, I\u2019ve actually…punched, one of our stunt guys, Clint, on three different shows (laughter<\/em>). He\u2019s really cute, like…REALLY CUTE. Aaand maybe that\u2019s why I keep connecting him *demonstrates* \u201cOh…OH!…OH I\u2019M SO SORRY…here let me help you up!\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>) That\u2019s why, I dunno. Umm, but it…it\u2019s…usually I\u2019m pretty good about swinging punches, but for some reason I…actually in \u2018Pavor\u2019 I punched him, I elbowed him right in the chin *demonstrates* \u201coh CLINT!\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>) *goofy voice* I\u2019m blushing now! (chuckles<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q18<\/strong>: Hi Amanda.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HI!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q18<\/strong>: Just, um, one question about two episodes of Stargate. Um, how much fun was it to do episode 200? And how emotional was it to do \u2018Unending?\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Uh, okay. Aaaaah. \u2018200\u2019 was sort, of, the episode where we got to do EVERYTHING we ever wanted to do! Um, all in one episode. And aah we had a blast! I LOVED \u2018100\u2019, I loved \u2018200\u2019, because when you get to 200 episodes you ought to be able to do something completely irreverent and silly and fun. And sort of, the things…that a fan had written you about, or things that we\u2019ve asked the writers about or things the network has said \u2018no\u2019 to. \u2018200\u2019 is like, *goofy voice* \u201cLet\u2019s DO it!\u201d So we GOT to do it, but it was REALLY fun. We laughed a LOT during that episode!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um, \u2018Unending\u2019 was aah, I\u2019ll NEVER forget the moment, um…aah, and I think there\u2019s a lot of pictures that have made their way out into the world. Um. Rob Cooper was really smart, \u2018cause he waited until the VERY last scene, VERY last day, for us to step through the Stargate. The VERY last shot we did on the series was…stepping through the Stargate. And…we were bawling. Christopher was bawling. He could barely…he…they were like \u201cCut. Are you okay Chris? Just your…make up…\u201d (laughter<\/em>) *does Chris impression, crying and whimpering*(laughter<\/em>). We, we ALL were. It was, it was INCREDIBLY emotional, and Rob Cooper, again, was REALLY, REALLY smart to save THAT moment. Because we thought \u201cGod, this is the last time we\u2019re gonna walk through the Stargate on this television series\u201d It was really, REALLY emotional! And it was RELLY…it was like, WEE hours of the morning, and ALL the production staff stayed. And so like, the entire GATEROOM was FILLED, with people who had worked on the show for ten years. People came BACK, who hadn\u2019t been on the show for a few years, came back just to watch that moment. And then the coolest thing happened, was: Michael, Christopher and I snuck upstairs, we went through the control room, and up the spiral staircase to um…the briefing room. And the three of us just stood there and looked down at the Stargate, and we put our arms around each other and we were like \u201cWow. So that happened\u201d. Umm, because that\u2019s how we started! The three of us aah, found ourselves around the corner and saw the Stargate for the first time before the pilot. And ah, I remember turning to Michael at that moment, before we had even SHOT…you know…a roll of film, going *chuckling*\u201cOh my God! We\u2019re working on a really cool show, LOOK AT THAT THING!\u201d (laughter<\/em>) \u201cIt\u2019s HUGE!!\u201d And we were SO EXCITED, and so…you know…YOUNG, and \u201cOh my GOD this is, you know, our first big series for both of us!\u201d and we were just like \u201caaah!\u201d and then Chris joined us, and the three of us were just like \u201cWOW. This is gonna be GREAT!!!\u201d Flashforward to ten years later, when we were like \u201cOh my…GOD ten years!\u201d. It was veery emotional, but REALLY, really beautiful. And it was…we didn\u2019t even say a word! Except for \u201cwow!\u201d Just…we all kinda looked at each other, SO many people, and everyone\u2019s talking and crying…we sort of FOUND each other, and went *wow!*. And uh, it was REALLY beautiful. Yeah, very….*sheepish smile* (chuckles<\/em>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mic handler<\/strong>: One last question…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?! (groans and complaining from audience<\/em>) AWwww COME ON! *makes face* (LAUGHTER) I don\u2019t have to be anywhere at the end of this panel!…*mumbles* just the autograph line…*mumbles*<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Q19<\/strong> (Me<\/em>): Hi Amanda! (Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: HELLO!) Welcome to Melbourne! (Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: THANK you!)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um, I\u2019ve got two quick questions…at the end of Season One, you had…um…Babz Chula, guesting with \u2018Sanctuary\u2019, and how…how was that to work with her. Because obviously, what happened afterwards (Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Right…yeah…) She seemed like..(Amanda to audience member<\/em>: Oh she\u2019s asking about Babz Chula…) and she seemed like, before she came on \u2018Sanctuary\u2019 as well, um, I know she was a role model for a lot of young Vancouver actors as well. So um, what was it like working with Babz on the show? And also (Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: She\u2019s an AMAZING woman…sorry..!) …SORRY! Um, The Sanctuary Experience. The auction…was AMAZING. I mean, I don\u2019t know about everyone else here, but we felt the energy (Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: YEAH!) across the oceans. I mean, everyone was just…over the moon, and we were wondering where the fund from that went to?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: OKAY! Alright, so the first part of the question was about Babz Chula, um….I dunno if..uuh…all of you know who she is. She\u2019s…WAS…sadly..uuh…passed away. An INCREDIBLE local Vancouver actor, activist, role model…amazing, AMAZING, FEISTY woman. And, I had ALWAYS wanted to work with Babz. And we were both being honoured for…a…women in film…I won a Woman of Vision award, and she won Woman of the Year. And, uh, so AT this event, the two of us…uuh… so EVERYONE came up and gave these very nice speeches and thank-yous, there were ALL these different awards being given out. And then I got Woman of Vision, and she got Woman of the Year. And I gave this completely irreverent and goofy speech, and then Babz came up and gave a completely irreverent and goofy speech, and so the two of us were just like \u201cYEEEEEAH!\u201d (laughter<\/em>) \u201cAWESOME!\u201d And I said, \u201cI would LOVE to have you on the show!\u201d, and she said \u201cI\u2019d LOVE to do your show!\u201d, and I went \u201c…oh…well ALRIGHT!!!\u201d (laughter<\/em>). And so we wrote her a part. And that was it! Um, I never got to really work with her! *chuckles* Which SUCKED, I was like \u201cWhy did you write her a part where I\u2019m not even…I don\u2019t even TALK to her? *stares hard*\u201d (chuckles<\/em>) \u201cI…I…*sighs* it\u2019s BABZ CHULA, and SHE\u2019S WORKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE!\u201d I\u2019m…I really…I\u2019m peeved! But as much as I get peeved…HMMM *makes face* (laughter<\/em>). Uhh. So I didn\u2019t get to work WITH her as an actor, which…yeah…SUCKED. SHE brought something…the role is written for a man, aah, originally in the script it was a MALE doctor, and aah, we thought \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be really interesting if it was a woman, and we played up the MATERNAL side of this …creepy scientist\u201d. And she just…she did a beautiful job. We just…put it in her hands, and said \u201cDo WHATEVER you want, because we know you\u2019ll bring something incredible, to the table\u201d Umm, so yeah. It was amazing. Amazing. Uh, she passed away last year and…aah…there\u2019s a big hole in the Vancouver acting community. She…touched a LOT of people. She passed away shortly after I…ah…one of my best friends passed away, from…from cancer. And so it was a really…it was a tough beginning… it was the beginning of this year! So it was…a tough beginning to the year to lose somebody that special.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Um….*stares into corner* OH! The Sanctuary Experience. Aaah. Sanctuary Experience was aaah run…aaaah a Vancouver convention in the summer! Aand, aah, we raised aah…ALL TOLD, ah, about $100,000, for Sanctuary For Kids, which was…PHENOMENAL, \u2018cause there\u2019s 250 people in the audience (amazed mutterings) and, YEAH! It was…ALL the actors donated time, the crew, EVERYONE…I mean everyone donated everything, and we raised…an INCREDIBLE amount of…I thought we\u2019d get away with maybe $20,000! So a hundred thousand was insane. Um, THAT money has gone…uuuh…to, Nepal Orphan\u2019s Home. We\u2019ve also started a new, um, partnership with Next Generation Nepal. Uh, Nepal Orphan\u2019s Home specifically, aah, we were going to but the vitamins, multi-vitamins for the children. And, uh, INSTEAD what\u2019s happened, which is actually WAY better, is they were doing a…they were getting a mid-level grade of rice, they\u2019re now getting the top level which is…packs far more nutrients. They\u2019re getting double the amount of vegetables and fruits, and they\u2019re getting chicken twice a week instead of…once a month! And the energy…aah…I got an email literally THE DAY before I came to Australia, from Michael Hess, who runs Nepal Orphan\u2019s Home, saying \u201cYou won\u2019t believe how much energy the girls have, aah, so much brighter, and so much, you know, more focused on their schoolwork, and just…simple nutrition\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So that\u2019s where\u2026a big portion of the money went. Also to a local organisation in Vancouver called the Atari Tip Program, which deals with\u2026homeless teens, transitioning to housing, and…homeless teens with children. So, it\u2019s getting them off the streets into affordable house\u2026housing, and helping the transition into lives that don\u2019t involve\u2026ah living on the street. So, it\u2019s been amazing, yeah. We donated \u2026aah\u2026a bunch of money for bus passes! Quite simple, right? But when you\u2019re on $600 a month and a bus pass is seventy dollars, that\u2019s\u2026a MASSIVE part of your budget. So, to get a bus pass gives them absolute freedom. They can get to their training, they can get to their schools, they can get to their jobs…aah. We didn\u2019t limit it to bus passes! You know if there\u2019s\u2026there\u2019s a guy who, ah, got an aaah apprenticeship! On a construction site. And we bought him\u2026steel-toed boots! And a hard hat, and now he can go to work! So it\u2019s\u2026it\u2019s the little things, but those are the things that\u2026the little drop, big ripples! But yeah, it\u2019s really done some\u2026phenomenal\u2026but yeah\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(MASSIVE APPLAUSE, CHEERS<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Wow you guys ask great questions!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa<\/strong>: Before she leaves, we\u2019re going to do one of those LOVELY teeshirts\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: III am NOT taking off my top! (laughter<\/em>) I don\u2019t look nearly as good topless as Robin! (comments in audience) well maybe\u2026to some people..(chuckles<\/em>)…I…I\u2019m NOT gonna take off my shirt *chuckles* but I will put it on! Umm\u2026HEY. THANKS guys! I\u2026that was AWESOME. I feel like, you know, I watched the end of Robin\u2019s talk, and it was really funny and…and great, and I felt just a little bit\u2026 maybe I was BORING\u2026but um\u2026aah, you asked really beautiful questions and I really appreciate it. And I LOVED Australia (to audience member<\/em>), yeah thank you!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

AAAAAH, so I get to stay in Melbourne for a few more days, \u2018cause I have my daughter, Olivia, and my MUM! (\u201cYEAH!\u201d from guy in the audience, punching his arms in the air. Chatter and excitement<\/em>) YES!! *points* My mum\u2019s new BFF! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) *laughing* they were sitting in the hotel lobby in Sydney, and Vance *laughing* just struck up this conversation with my mum! And\u2026he\u2019s like \u201cSo, you know, you\u2019re a fan?\u201d she\u2019s like \u201cYeeah\u2026okay\u2026o.O\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>) Y\u2019know: \u201cWhere are you from?\u201d, \u201cVancouver\u2026\u201d, \u201cOOH you came a long way!!\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>). And they had like, this REALLY CUTE conversation where they\u2026.and finally my mum was just like *leans over and whispers* \u201cI\u2019m Amanda\u2019s mum\u2026\u201d (LAUGHTER<\/em>). GOSH\u2026.*chuckling* she refers to him as her new best friend *grinning* (laughter<\/em>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

AH! Okay thank you\u2026*Is given teeshirt and marker*\u2026okay WOW What do I do?! OH MY GOD, Robin is not going to *mumbles*…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\""I<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(At this point, Amanda put on the shirt and started pulling funny faces as she tried to draw on the left side of her chest<\/em>) *deep, thick voice, goofy grin* AM THRYING TO DRAR ON MAH SHIRRRRT!! (LAUGHTER)<\/em> *draws and colours in heart over her own* So I do these heart paintings! And uuuuh, now OLIVIA *trying to draw on very awkward place, making faces* I\u2019m SELF-colouring! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) I do these, HEART paintings, and aaah, my daughter Olivia has just started doing her first canvases, and uuuh *chuckling* so this is ALL she draws! But it\u2019s beautiful, so homage to her.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

*Finishes drawing* Ummm, alright! So I think we should all wear our hearts on the outside. Dorky, I know! I can\u2019t do anything funny, I\u2019m not gonna draw a penis (laughter<\/em>) aah\u2026or\u2026nipple rings, or anything like that\u2026*drawing* and I apologise!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Umm, alright. Does anyone wanna draw something?! (chuckles in audience<\/em>). *British accent* NOT ON MYYY NUBBINS!! (LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"PaganX<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(PaganX gets up from front row to draw something\u2026expectant chuckles. She crouches behind Amanda and begins writing. Amanda alternates between a screwed up awkward grin and outright silent giggles, people are laughing at her. She\u2019s muttering about how weird it feels. <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"PaganX<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

PaganX finishes writing and hands her the marker with a big grin, while Amanda twists around to see what she\u2019s written<\/em>) OH IT\u2019S MY GUNBUM!!!! (laughter and cheers<\/em>) YAAAAAAAY! THAT\u2019S PERFECT\u2026yeah\u2026I dunno if you guys know it *big grin,giggles *proudly* I have a GUNBUM!!! (laughter)<\/em> And uuh, on the show (Carissa hands out mic to her<\/em>) oh right\u2026*yells* ON THE SHOW!!!!! (laughter<\/em>) Ah…nobody could figure…like\u2026the CREW started asking \u201cwhere is she getting her GUNS from?\u201d, because I wear these tight skirts, and these stilettos, and all of a sudden I\u2019ve got…like an AK-47 (LAUGHTER<\/em>).And uuh, so we decided that I have a gunbum *grins* (laughter<\/em>) AS you do! Um, one of the great things about doing scifi is *laughing* anything is possible! (laughter<\/em>) I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve ever seen the show \u201cThe Backyardigans\u201d, it\u2019s a little kids show (cries of<\/em> YEAH! In the audience<\/em>), I don\u2019t know if you get it here, but they like, produce props\u2026from behind their backs! So aah, and Olivia is OBSESSED with \u2018The Backyardigans\u201d, and so\u2026I\u2019ve just decided I\u2019m *chuckling* a Backyardigan, and my special talent is MY GUNBUM! (laughter<\/em>) Yeah! Umm\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa<\/strong>: Was there someone else?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(A guy gets up and Carissa hands him the marker. He approaches Amanda slowly and she seems terrified<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *deep and shaky* I\u2019M AFRRRAID!…(laughter. He goes behind her and begins drawing on the back of her right shoulder. Amanda\u2019s face is torn between looking scared and looking awkwardly amazed<\/em>) No I\u2019m not afraid! I\u2019m not afraid at all\u2026*awkward facial expressions*\u2026(Writer is saying about how she shouldn\u2019t be afraid, it\u2019s something nice, and it was nice of her to come<\/em>) Oh thank you! (he keeps writing. She\u2019s grinning expectantly<\/em>) What is it? What is it?!?! (chuckles in audience<\/em>) Uh ooh\u2026Uh oooh\u2026UH OH (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Writer is just finishing up when we hear a familiar voice from the back of the room<\/em>):<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

OOOOOOOOOOOHKAY, HERE WE GO!!!! (UPROAR OF LAUGHTER AND CHEERS. Robin\u2019s standing there nodding his head comically and grandiosely clapping his hands in preparation for the shirt-fest. Amanda is laughing as her writer finishes writing on her shoulder. MENTAL LAUGHTER AND CHEERING<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"HERE<\/a>\""MWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Writer finishes and gives Amanda the marker. She peers over her shoulder<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda:<\/span><\/strong> \u201cOMG Amanda wore this!\u201d *turns to Robin and exclaims emphatically* See?! NICE..and POLITE! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa<\/strong>: *pointing and grinning* I believe there\u2019s a charming gentleman up the back DESPERATE to draw on that teeshirt!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\""BRING<\/a>\"NOOOOOOOO....\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *stares challengingly at Robin* Bring it! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Robin swaggers purposefully down the stairs with a grin on his face and hands in his pockets, everyone is laughing. Someone is singing the<\/em> \u2018Star Wars\u2019 march in accompaniment<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Oh\u2026OH OH!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Robin pauses halfway down, throws back his head with a<\/em> MWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Laughter! He reaches the bottom of the stairs, right in front of Amanda, and approaches her<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: Wow, look at you walking all\u2026 butch-like! (laughter<\/em>) *leans forward* You\u2019re still in the running towards becoming America\u2019s Next Top Model!!! (LAUGHTER and some claps<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"NUBBINS\"<\/a>\"Too<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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


\n<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Robin goes behind Amanda and splits his legs to the side so he can reach her lower back. Amanda\u2019s standing nervously making ridiculously frightened, awkward and goofy faces at the audience and trying to figure out what he\u2019s writing<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"There<\/a>\"OH<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I..I don\u2019t trust him!…(LAUGHTER<\/em>)*frightened giggle* Can you see what he\u2019s actually writing?!….*more faces* (LAUGHTER<\/em>) IT HAD BETTER BE ANGEL WINGS! (LAUGHTER<\/em>)…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Oooooooooooh\"<\/a>\"Uh<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Robin has a smug grin on his face, and Amanda\u2019s face is getting more and more anxious by the second, laughter continuously! When he\u2019s done, Robin grasps her by the shoulders and turns her around to face him. Her teeshirt reads<\/em>: MAGNUS IS HOT!!!! UPROAR OF CHEERS, CLAPPING AND LAUGHTER. He whispers it in her ear and she collapses in helpless laughter. Once the noise has died down…<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Magnus<\/a>\"Yeah...she<\/a>
\nAmanda<\/span><\/strong>: *very coyly*Would you like to sign your name on it?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Robin<\/span><\/strong>: Yes…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Amanda grasps the back of the chair, and assumes a seductive pinup pose, arching her back, and assuming the most cheesy, wide-eyed, open-mouthed look on her face. Everyone is in hysterics! Robin stands back and doesn\u2019t know what to do, staring at her in awe, like a teenage boy. Finally he drops the pen and grabs his crotch, doubling over, and waddling awkwardly to one side, exclaiming<\/em>,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Oh<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Robin<\/span><\/strong>: \u201cOH,..OH MY GOD!!…*waddles embarassedly* this is a bit awkward, I gotta go!!!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda breaks her pose in a fit of laughter. Robin recovers, grasps her shoulders, and turns to face the audience with her back to us so that he can write on her…AHEM…shoulder. Amanda throws her hair back seductively, and pushes her chest out, Robin can\u2019t restrain the grin as he starts to write on her…erm…SHOULDER. Everyone is laughing their faces off!)<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(When Robin is done, Amanda takes of the teeshirt, and grabs the marker herself . She lays the teeshirt on the counter and starts writing. Someone yells<\/em> \u201cWrite \u2018Property of Jack O\u2019Neill!\u201d)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda:<\/span><\/strong> \u201cWhat?\u201d, (\u201cWRITE PROPERTY OF JACK O\u2019NEILL!!\u201d), (LAUGHTER<\/em>) Amanda:<\/span><\/strong> \u201cYEAH!!!\u201d and she starts to write<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa<\/strong>: So we may start the bidding whilst Amanda is…scribing.We\u2019re gonna start the…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Amanda<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong> (interrupting<\/em>): This is totally dorky! This is exactly who I am. I\u2019m an idiot. Not an idiot, but I\u2019m kinda, you know, lame and dorky, and I ..OWN IT! (chuckles<\/em>) I uh…I uh…YEAH! (Call from audience:<\/em> \u2019Me too!\u2019) YAY! I totally own my dorkiness, so aah.. (calls from audience:<\/em>\u2019 It\u2019s what we love you for!!\u2019,\u2019You\u2019re our role model!\u2019) THREE of my favourite sayings *holds up teeshirt*…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Live<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa<\/strong>: So, can we start the bidding at two hundred dollars. We\u2019ve got 200 in the front row there…220…350..sorry 250! Three hundred! (comment from audience<\/em> : \u201cyeah I think I\u2019ve got enough in here…\u201d laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(A guy calls out<\/em>: \u201cOne thousand!\u201d, \u201cOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH ONE THOUSAND\u201d, Amanda looks up from the teeshirt with the most shocked, wide-eyed, bunny-in-the-headlights-of-a-car expression to stare at him in AWE. Everyone cracks up at her facials<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(SCREAMS, CHEERS, LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Robin<\/span><\/strong>: That was GREAT!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda:<\/span><\/strong> This is uuuuuuh…*mumbles aside* I\u2019M NOT EMBARRASSED. I OWN my dorkiness! (laughter<\/em>) ….I\u2019m a LITTLE embarrassed! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(silence for some time<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Robin<\/span><\/strong>: I think he won (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa<\/strong>: There are a lot of high-flyers in the audience, I wouldn\u2019t bet on it!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *holds up teeshirt* Okay these are three of my favourite sayings: Live Peace, Speak Kindness, and Dwell in Possibility (AWWWWWW applause and cheers<\/em>). Before my friend Cynthia passed away, I gave her this necklace because she was going through and incredibly difficult time with chemo, and she wore it…and..uh, I believe is STILL wearing it. Um…uh..yeah, the saying \u201cDwell in Possibility\u201d, because I really believe that it can change…*chuckles* I\u2019m getting sooooo dorky! (LAUGHTER<\/em>) *goofy voice* I CAN MAKE MYSELF CRY! (laughter<\/em>) YEAH but these are three of my favourite sayings. So there you go! AND AAAAH. I have a gunbum!!! So…I\u2019VE GOT EVERYTHING! (laughter<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa<\/strong>: One thousand dollars going once!…<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amanda<\/span><\/strong>: *remembers to sign* OH…CRIMANY! (chuckles<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Carissa:<\/strong> One thousand dollars going twice…sold for one thousand dollars (UPROAR OF CHEERS AND APPLAUSE<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(Amanda stares at the winner mouthing silently<\/em>: ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS *GAPES*…LAUGHTER<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"He's<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\"Oh,<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Amanda:<\/span><\/strong> BEST AUDIENCE EVER!!!!!!! (CHEERS AND CLAPS<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Thank you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency<\/a> and reading. Please feel free to contribute to the discussion below, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the button down there, or my avatar at right!\"Click<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

CHEERIO!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

JandyraCJM<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CALLING ALL SANCTUARIAN GATERS! Gate to the Sanctuary was an incredible Stargate and Sanctuary convention, held in Sydney by Culture Shock Events, and in Melbourne by Hub Productions. On the weekend of 11-12 December, 2010, several hundred extremely blessed fans had the opportunity to meet with some of their favourite artists, including Amanda Tapping of…<\/p>\n

Read More “Gate to the Sanctuary, Melbourne: The Amanda Effect! One small drop…”<\/span> »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1390,61,244,1437,1123,1392,574,264,1124,1394,265,1127,559,1430,1438,74,596,1400,1439,271,111,1403,3,1436],"tags":[1391,11,2046,1121,1990,2031,987,1991,1393,1395,1992,258,175,1913,2044,1431,1355,105,268,2032,1432,270,1132,2033,1435,262,180,110,1402,1404,1860,871,2045,1440,272],"class_list":["post-21935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agam-darshi-celebs","category-amanda-tapping-celebs","category-amanda-tapping-creators","category-andrew-lockington","category-carmen-argenziano","category-carole-appleby","category-charity-news-series","category-christopher-heyerdahl-celebs","category-chuck-campbell","category-culture-shock-productions","category-damian-kindler-creators-2","category-gate-to-the-sanctuary","category-hub-productions","category-ian-tracey","category-jaclyn-macrae","category-joel-goldsmith-creators","category-martin-wood-creators","category-nepal-orphans-home","category-robert-lawrenson-celebs","category-robin-dunne-celebs","category-sanctuary-studios","category-sanctuary-for-kids-creators","category-stargate","category-starlight-foundation","tag-agam-darshi","tag-amanda-tapping","tag-andrew-lockington","tag-australia","tag-carmen-argenziano","tag-carole-appleby","tag-christopher-heyerdahl","tag-chuck-campbell","tag-culture-shock","tag-damian-kindler","tag-gate-to-the-sanctuary","tag-helen-magnus","tag-henry-foss","tag-hub-productions","tag-ian-tracey","tag-james-watson","tag-jandyracjm","tag-joel-goldsmith","tag-john-druitt","tag-jonathon-young","tag-kate-freelander","tag-martin-wood","tag-melbourne","tag-nepal-orphans-home","tag-robert-lawrenson","tag-robin-dunne","tag-ryan-robbins","tag-sanctuary","tag-sanctuary-for-kids","tag-sanctuary-productions","tag-stargate-atlantis","tag-stargate-sg1","tag-starlight-foundation","tag-tesla","tag-will-zimmerman"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21935"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21935\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28410,"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21935\/revisions\/28410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wormholeriders.net\/stargate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}