McKay<\/strong>: I’ve never been so excited in my entire life<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Karoline<\/strong>: I know!\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it great! *Bounce*<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n Aloha all! I\u2019m back and this time it\u2019s\u2026.nah, who am I kidding, it\u2019s not serious! \ud83d\ude00 <\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> I love cons, but I love new cons just that little bit more! Finding out how the new system works, meeting the new crew members and seeing a new dealer\u2019s room layout!<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The Sci-Fi Ball was a three day event hosted in Bournemouth\u2019s Carrington Hotel on the 12th \u2013 14th February. I was lucky enough to attend on the Saturday of the event when all four guests were attending. This convention was scheduled a little differently than the Massive Events event I covered before in that Guests at this convention were Kai Owen and Lachlan Nieboer who played Rhys Williams and Gray in Torchwood respectively, as well as Alexander Siddig of Deep Space 9 fame and Lou Diamond Phillips of Stargate: Universe.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Kai and Lachlan were on first, and whilst Kai was very chipper, Lachlan appeared a little hungover. Much of their talk was taken up with in-jokes about the previous evening when a couple of the attendees had taught them some con-dancing! Kai and Lachlan also expressed a desire to do quick fire questions which the audience gladly sated! For example, I asked Ferrari or Lamborghini? Stand-up or sitcom? Drama or comedy? Summer or winter? Simpson\u2019s or Family Guy? Cake or death? Amusingly, only Lachlan seemed to understand this as the Eddie Izzard reference it is, while Kai is obviously not that well-versed in Eddie Izzardisms!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The next guest on stage was the fabulous Lou Diamond Phillips, who was introduced with a fun little music video including clips from all of his past works. When he came out he commented on the video, saying that he could always tell when a movie was The first question came from one of the aforementioned show organisers, who asked what he considered his worst performance was? Lou replied at length, saying that he doesn\u2019t think anyone sets out to do a bad film, that he doesn\u2019t like actors who just \u2018walk through\u2019 a movie or series. He also warned the audience not to believe everything that is put on the website IMDB and that incorrect information regarding his height which had been put on there had actually cost him a couple of jobs! He said he had just graduated from Texas University with a degree in Performing Arts and after his role in \u2018La Bamba\u2019 he couldn\u2019t get cast until a friend called Eddie (not Izzard) asked him to be in a film called \u2018Stand and Deliver\u2019. As he never actually gave a direct answer to the question, should we assume there was a reason he mentioned these two films? I can only think of one way to find out, go and buy them on DVD! \ud83d\ude00<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He was then asked whether this was his first time in England, at which point he proudly stated that he was a huge \u2018Anglophile\u2019 and that he is of English\/Scottish descent on his father\u2019s side. He said that London was his first stop on a tour of La Bamba and the director took him on a tour of Piccadilly Circus where Lou met his \u2018doppelganger\u2019, a 6\u20191\u201dcardboard cut out in a music shop called Records, an experience he found to be very strange.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The next question was about his passion for cooking which was revealed on Twitter, would he have become a chef if his acting career hadn\u2019t worked out? He replied that he cooks about five nights out of the week because he enjoys it so much. He\u2019s judged Iron Chef a few times and revealed that Robert DeNiro has invited him to a restaurant opening. He told us that he and his wife are planning on producing a reality cooking show, but personally finds time limits in cooking scary. He finished off his answer by telling us that he was thinking of putting together a cook book called \u201cEats, Meats, Rests\u201d, so keep your eyes peeled! He also apologised for not Tweeting whilst he was at the convention like he had said he would, but that his phone had run out of battery and he didn\u2019t have an adapter to charge it up.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He was then asked about his time working on Hollywood Homicide with Harrison Ford. He could barely stop laughing as he told us of his character \u2013 an undercover police officer who dresses as a hooker, however he said that many of his scenes were cut. The director wouldn\u2019t give the part to anyone without seeing them in drag and so Lo<\/span><\/span> LDP: What\u2019s up?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Harrison Ford: Well, I don\u2019t have glitter on my tummy but I\u2019m all right.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He said that while he was acting, he couldn\u2019t stop thinking \u2018I\u2019m acting with Harrison Ford and I\u2019m in a dress!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The next question was regarding Stargate: Universe and he was asked about the intention to change the format of Stargate: Universe compared to its predecessors. He replied that he appreciates the Stargate: Atlantis\u2019 fans but recognised that Brad Wright wanted to challenge himself with a new direction. He spoke about the filming techniques involved with Stargate: Universe and how, when they are filming a scene you can\u2019t relax and just read your lines because there is almost always a camera pointing at you and you never know which shots they are going to use in the final cut. Another question on this topic was whether there was any room for \u2018tom-foolery\u2019 on set with this new filming technique, to which he replied that everyone was very funny on set and that in particular, he and Justin Louis have a lot of fun doing their body swapping.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When asked about the best prank that he\u2019d seen played on set, he recalled his time filming Young Guns with Emilio Estevez, saying that all the cast received gift boxes from MGM with a thank you card, but Emilio had replaced the contents of their boxes with a \u2018cowpie\u2019! In order to get back at him, when they were filming on a sheep farm, Lou rented a sheep, dressed it up in garters and a bodice and left it inside Emilio\u2019s trailer as a surprise for him. However they were filming for a lot longer than Lou anticipated and by the time Emilio returned to his trailer the sheep had \u2018left its mark\u2019 all over his trailer!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The next question was whether there is still room in Hollywood for original ideas now that it is more of a business? Lou told us that he had in fact just finished writing a Sci-Fi film that he wants to direct which is an original idea based on an old short story. He said that District 9, Up in the Air and Hurt Locker are original movies but with a smaller budget, whereas big Hollywood films are based in some way on imitation. However, he added that you can\u2019t blame the studios for producing films like that, since they make films they know they are going to make a return on which is driven by the audience who go and see them in cinemas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He then did a list of quick fire questions:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Thunder \/ Lightning —-> Thunder Next, someone asked how he feels when playing morally ambiguous characters and whether he has to feel justified in their actions. He then told the The last question was whether he preferred smaller independent films over blockbusters, to which he replied that there are different tastes globally, and that while he knows that independent projects won\u2019t be seen by a lot of people, he does them because he likes the story and\/or the character. As an example, he used his project Shadow Of The Wolf which was very successful in Canada and Europe but did not do as well in the USA.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n To finish up Lou\u2019s time on stage, the Not long afterwards, Alexander Siddig took to the stage with an energy that just made you smile.\u00a0 He started off explaining that he only lived an hour and a half away so he drove to the convention in the morning and would drive home that evening, certainly making it a long day!\u00a0 He then told us about a film he is currently taking to festivals around the world, called Cairo Time<\/em>, in which he co-stars with Patricia Clarkson.\u00a0 They began in Dublin, just before this convention, and were then heading to Khartoum in Africa before jetting on to Australia, however, during their time in Khartoum (which is incidentally where he was born) Alexander has been invited to meet the current president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir. He charmingly asked the audience for suggestions as to what he should say to the President, unfortunately I could not hear the suggestions,, but whatever they were, they made Alexander crack up!\u00a0 He then told us that at the film festivals they receive gift bags and one of the gifts for the festival in Dublin was an Ipod Touch with the name of the festival engraved on the back of it.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know how to use it himself, but he taped over the back and gave to his son!\u00a0 He told us that he is currently addicted to playing Battlefield on the Xbox with his son, to the point where his son calls him on set and asks whether he is free to play or not!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The first question from the floor was what he considered his worst performance, and he said that he felt that his role on Merlin<\/em> was hammy, he said it was \u201cThe ham in Hamlet, mate!\u201d But ultimately he simply feels embarrassed watching his own work back, even work he\u2019s not in that much.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When asked to name any scene or episode he disliked filming in Deep Space 9, he said that he hated filming the racquetball scenes because they had to He was then asked about the Deep Space 9 episode Our Man Bashir<\/em> and whether it was based on James Bond.\u00a0 He replied that it wasn\u2019t and that it was produced because his was the most unpopular character for the first three seasons.\u00a0 The studios and producers were taking their cues from the fanbase and kept trying to remove his character from the show, however Rick Berman kept \u2018going to bat\u2019 for him and fought to keep him.\u00a0 So they created this episode in order to try and make Bashir more popular and it worked!\u00a0 He was also asked about any other storylines he wanted to do and said he would have loved to do more spy stories because they were a lot of fun.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Then someone asked him about his name, which he explained in a fascinating story.\u00a0 His mother came from Liverpool, England and wanted to call him James, however his father was Sudanese and he and his family wanted to give him a Holy name.\u00a0 He then revealed that Siddig is in fact his first name, and it wasn\u2019t until he was about six and he had been living in England for nearly three years that he named himself after his best friend \u2018Alex\u2019.\u00a0 Alex was, however, a Golden Retriever!\u00a0 And so he became known by his \u2018Western name\u2019, Alexander Siddig, while his Arabic name remains \u2018Siddig\u2019 followed by all the names of his fathers before him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When asked about his relationship with Terry Farrell, he said that there was no chemistry on screen but they got along well enough even though he is no longer in contact with her.\u00a0 He then mentioned that he had become very close friends with Andrew Robinson who played Garak on Deep Space 9 as well as Colm Meaney.\u00a0 Apparently Colm hired a limo one St. Patrick\u2019s Day which drove them to all of the many, many, \u00a0Irish pubs and bars in Los Angeles, of which Alexander said there were\u2026.. many!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He then spoke about how the story arcs were planned, and said that they were \u2018painted with broad strokes\u2019 and there wasn\u2019t that much detail, for example, he said \u201cSisko\u2019s a prophet? That\u2019s news to me even now!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I then asked him about his time filming When asked about filming Poirot, he said that David Suchet is very anal even though he denies it but really loved filming with him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Next came Alexander\u2019s quick fire questions:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Batman \/ Spiderman \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 Spiderman Someone then asked about rugby, since the Six Nations competition was playing that weekend, and who he thought was going to win.\u00a0 He said that he enjoys watching sports but alternates between rugby, football and cricket.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He also told us about how he came to be cast in Deep Space 9 and that he originally thought he was auditioning for The Next Generation!\u00a0 Apparently, Rick Berman had seen a film of his and asked to see him.\u00a0 All he had to say for his audition was \u2018No\u2019 but once he left the room, the producers followed him out and told everyone else to leave because they had found their Bashir.\u00a0 He considers himself a \u2018niche\u2019 actor who does art films and will occasionally do commercial projects.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A slightly strange question was \u2018how far down did they make Nicole De Boer\u2019s spots go as Dax?\u2019\u00a0 Alexander said he used to play dot to dot when he had scenes with her!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The last question was, what was the naughtiest thing he had ever done as a child.\u00a0 He told us a story about when he was at boarding school in Ramsgate and he decided to swing on the bars which ran across the ceiling.\u00a0 However the bar broke and he fell and broke his nose on the bed frame and when the teachers came in he made up a story about how he fell despite the fact that the towel he was swinging from was still up on the bar!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For me, it\u2019s the personal encounters you have with stars that really makes conventions special and usually mine come from the most innocuous things.\u00a0 For example, at this convention I had a photo with Lou Diamond Phillips and as I went up to meet him, we shook hands and he asked me my name.\u00a0 I told him \u2018Karoline\u2019 and he kind of went \u2018Oh really?\u201d He put Another personal moment came when we were signing with Lachlan Nieboer and I gasped \u201cYou have a white chocolate cookie!\u201d when I spied one next to his pens.\u00a0 He smiled up at me and asked me if I wanted a piece, I refused and hid behind my friend because I hadn\u2019t meant for him to hear me but he insisted and gave me a piece which turned out to be half of the cookie!\u00a0 Kai Owen was on the next table and started teasing me about stealing Lachlan\u2019s food at which point I must have again been bright red with embarrassment and asked if he wanted it back.\u00a0 They laughed at me and Lachlan told me to keep it, after which he told Kai off for teasing while we went and queued for Alexander. To answer your question no, I don\u2019t have the cookie anymore.\u00a0 I hadn\u2019t had lunch so I eated it while we were queuing!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude00<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When we signed with Alexander he laughed as we presented him with a Merlin Season 1 Companion to sign.\u00a0 He said he didn\u2019t even know that one existed and was surprised when we showed him the page with his photograph on it.\u00a0 He then asked me to repeat the name of the castle I had mentioned in my question at panel, explaining that when I\u2019d said it earlier he wasn\u2019t making fun of me when he asked me to repeat it but that he simply couldn\u2019t hear what I\u2019d said.\u00a0 We thanked him for coming and said that we hoped to see him at another event soon and moved on to queue for Lou.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Overall I really enjoyed this convention, even though I only went for the day.\u00a0 It was very relaxed and friendly and there was a great rapport between the organisers, the guests and the attendees.\u00a0 I had such a great time that it was such a shame that we couldn\u2019t hang around for the Sunday as well.\u00a0 I must say a huge thank you to the organisers for putting on a brilliant show and being ever so friendly and helpful as well as a thank you to the guests Kai, Lachlan, Alexander and Lou for being charming and friendly to us all!\u00a0 I can\u2019t wait to attend their next event, Reunion 8 in Daventry over September 10 \u2013 12,<\/sup> 2010 with their first announced guest Connor Trinneer!<\/span><\/span> Hope to see you there!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n JohnLizzieGirl<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Weir: This is it. Seriously, Doctor, calm down. You’re embarrassing me. McKay: I’ve never been so excited in my entire life Karoline: I know!\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it great! *Bounce* Aloha all! I\u2019m back and this time it\u2019s\u2026.nah, who am I kidding, it\u2019s not serious! \ud83d\ude00 I love cons, but I love new cons just that little…<\/p>\n![\"Click](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/SBF-Events-16.jpg\" "\\"Click")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Lou](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LDP-61.jpg\")
<\/a> there were talks throughout the day, with photo opportunities spread over the afternoon and signings as the last thing before the ball in the evening. An important aspect of this convention however is that it is charity-based with proceeds from the auction and other special events going to the Teenage Cancer Trust, and they are very keen to not become a commercial convention.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lou](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LDP-5.jpg\")
<\/a>going to be a hit, because it involved him getting his a$$ kicked! He then thanked the organisers of the event for a wonderful weekend, adding that he was happy to be here because he enjoys performing for an audience, after which he invited questions from the attendees.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lou](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LDP-2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/span>u Diamond Phillips scared his children and dressed in full drag, including mini-skirt, to attend his meeting with the director. He drove to the meeting in a Ford Bronco and as he was driving, his skirt started riding up his legs. During his drive a lorry overtook him then suddenly slowed down along side him, Lou then realised that the driver was looking down into his car but could only see below his shoulders, including his padded bra and underwear! A sight we can only imagine! He also told us of getting in touch with his feminine side during his time in the movie, from shaving and plucking to filming on Hollywood Blvd dressed completely in drag and glitter. He then said that he still gets starstruck, but he made himself go up and talk to Harrison Ford when they were having a break in filming. Their conversation consisted of:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nOn top \/ Under —-> Both
\nTooth fairy \/ Boogeyman —-> Boogeyman
\nDisney \/ Pixar —-> Pixar
\nSlap \/ Tickle —-> Slap
\nBreast \/ Thigh —-> Thigh
\nKirk \/ Spock —-> Spock
\nStar Wars \/ Star Trek —-> Star Wars (but only the IV, V, VI)
\nBeauty \/ Brains —-> Brains
\nType casting \/ Unemployed —-> Type casting
\nMovie \/ Theatre —-> Theatre<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lou](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LDP-4.jpg\")
<\/a>audience that he thought his character in Stargate: Universe was \u2018a prick\u2019, however he said that what makes a good bad guy is that they don\u2019t know they are doing wrong. He added that Telford does not feel bad about what he does because he thinks that he is doing the right thing. He said that actors have to adopt the same point of view as their character. He took the role in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit without reading it because he trusted the director, however it turned out he was cast as a paedophile and he couldn\u2019t let his children watch it. He likes the psychology which makes an interesting bad guy and followed it up with a very good impression of Hannibal Lector!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lou](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LDP-7.jpg\")
<\/a>compere came on stage and together, they auctioned a limited edition Stargate: Universe t-shirt which had all the names of the cast and crew, which Lou would sign and personalise for the auction winner with all proceeds going to charity. Lou concluded with expressing his thanks for all the support the fans continued to give both him and the show before leaving the stage to a rapturous applause!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Alexander](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AS-1.jpg\")
<\/a> wear skin tight spandex suits.\u00a0 As his favourite scene or episode, he chose the time when they were filming with three emus on set and the wrangler got so starstruck (or \u2018startrekked\u2019 as my mother seems to read that word!) \u00a0that the emus were just running around doing whatever they liked!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Me](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Me-asking-AS-question-2.jpg\")
<\/a>Merlin and whether he was able to go off to Pierrefonds Castle with the rest of the cast to film.\u00a0 He said that he was left to film in Cardiff whilst the rest of the cast went off to France.\u00a0 He also said that the kids are a \u2018magnificent lot\u2019 and really nice and he enjoyed his time filming.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nDax \/ Dax\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 Both
\nTypecast \/ Unemployed\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–> \u00a0 Typecast
\nJoe 90 \/ Captain Scarlet\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 Joe 90
\nSweet tooth \/ Health freak\u2019\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 Sweet tooth
\nKitten \/ Puppy\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 Puppy
\nStockings \/ Hold-ups\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 Both
\nTeddy bear \/ Doll\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–> \u00a0 Doll
\nPhobias\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0 Public swimming pools.
\nTattoos? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 None.
\nFavourite drink?\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —–>\u00a0\u00a0 Bourbon.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lou](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/LouDP-resize.jpg\")
<\/a> his arm around me and we both smiled for the camera and as I stepped away he started singing \u2018Sweet Caroline\u2019 to me!\u00a0 And trust me, the man has a great voice!\u00a0 I think I must have blushed bright red as I giggled at him because he gave a hearty laugh as I left.\u00a0 Suffice to say I went in to the hallway and collapsed on the floor in a swoon!\u00a0 When we went for signings afterwards, I asked him if he was a Neil Diamond fan and he sang part of \u2018I am I Said\u2019<\/em> to us and said he would love to do a \u2018Diamond Does Diamond\u2019 cd!\u00a0 Something else to keep your eyes out for guys!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Click](\"http:\/\/www.wormholeriders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/JohnLizzieGirl-c3.jpg\" "\\"Click")
<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n