As Fox airs the final episodes of FRINGE, we talk to series John Noble about what he loved most about the show, the characters and in particular, Walter Bishop and J.J. Wyman gives us some hints on how it will all play out up to the finale. Plus more on why WAREHOUSE 13 works so well, Stan Lee is on the mend and The 2013 Oscars, ala Seth McFarlane.
Tonight FRINGE starts it’s run of the final 13 episodes on Fox (8pm ET) and we talk to Joshua Jackson and Anna Torv on how they are dealing with it all. Meanwhile, Monday on SyFy (9pm ET), WAREHOUSE 13 serves up it’s midseason finale and it’s huge. Show runner Jack Kinney along with Allison Scagliotti and Saul Rubinek gives us hints in what we can expect. Plus welcome Robyn Schneider (@robynschneider), joining the broadcast today and talking Doctor Wh0 exclusively here!
If you follow my columns on ComicMix at all, you know that I’ve posted about attitudes towards women at cons afew times, and that I tend to get a bit, shall we say, heated about some of the gender and entitlement issues I’ve encountered in the context of cons and fandom. When I sent in my last such article, Mike (Gold, Editor Extraordinaire) said to me, “I love the column! And these are really important issues; but…you are going to talk about some of the joys of being at conventions at some point, right?” To which I said, “Of course!”
This is one of those columns.
I love conventions. Love them. For all of my complaining about some of the attitudes I have encountered in fandom and internet discussion, at the conventions themselves I fortunately don’t run into too much of that face to face (it’s easier to say those things in the echo chamber of the internet, I suppose). Instead, for me, cons are pure joy. The energy of the other fans and the creators, actors, or whomever might be on the guest list; the costumes (if it’s a costume-heavy con); the diverse people you meet; and best of all, getting to catch up with the wonderful friends I’ve made who I usually only get to see at cons – these things are why I spend my vacations from lawyerdom at places like Dragon*Con, which just ended last night.
One of the great parts of a con like Dragon*Con is getting to meet some of the talents that I don’t usually encounter in my literary and comics-heavy convention rotation, i.e. the actors and actresses and writers for genre TV and movies. Having co-founded a literary convention, I’m a little more accustomed to the literary atmosphere; so I love the diversity and excitement that surrounds a con that embraces the TV and film aspects of fandom as well.
At this con, I was fortunate to have the chance to talk to many of the wonderfully talented folks writing and acting in some of genre fiction’s best TV and movie projects, and now, I get to share those encounters with you. This week, I’m going to focus on one of my favorite shows, Warehouse 13.
Warehouse 13 is a fantastically fun show in which U.S. Secret Service agents are tasked with retrieving and storing troublesome or dangerous “artifacts” that once belonged to important historical figures and have been imbued with some of their characteristics. These artifacts can affect the way people behave, or even their physical being. Sometimes the consequences might be terrible; and sometimes, hilarity ensues. If you’ve never seen the show (which airs on Syfy) I highly recommend it. The smart writing, excellent cast interactions, and fun premise make it a great show; and I love that the show really does have the ability for endless possibilities (and endless wonder, as per their tagline) without going stale, thanks to the way it draws on history and plays with the pasts of historical figures.
At Dragon*Con I got to go to one of the Warehouse 13 panels, and it was a blast. Eddie McClintock is hilariously over-the-top (but in a great, energetic way) and clearly delights in the con experience; Saul Rubinek read my mind when he filmed the audience cheering for Allison Scagliotti to come to the next Dragon*Con and then sent it to her via smartphone right then and there; Aaron Ashmore tried valiantly not to give away possible future romantic hijinks for his character Jinks in the face of great audience interest; Anthony Michael Hall discussed villainy with a surprising aplomb for such a nice guy (and does a great evil laugh); and Deric Hughes discussed several exciting future possibilities for the show. Everyone on stage also encouraged the excellent idea of a Warehouse 13 convention; and if you want to see that, as I do, tweet @warehouse13 and @Syfy and tell them so using the hashtag #Warehouse13Con.
The panel was fantastic; and happily, I was also able to catch up with everyone personally at the con and ask them a couple of quick questions. Here’s what they said:
Aaron Ashmore (actor):
What would you like to say about current or future projects?
“Warehouse 13 is my main focus; I’m so wrapped up in it right now. We’re on a full-time schedule that finishes shooting in November. After that, well, I may be looking for a new gig!” (Everyone: hire him for things. He’s awesome.)
What’s your favorite part of Dragon*Con?
(Aaron noted that he hadn’t really gotten a chance to chill at the con yet because of all the panels and being at the table, at which point I extended him an invitation to our informal Sunday night party, Beer-Pirate-Palooza.)
Aaron: “Well then, I’m going to preemptively say Beer-Pirate-Palooza!”
(Bless.)
Saul Rubinek (actor):
What would you like to say about current or future projects?
“Warehouse 13 is the best – It’s just a great role and I love it!”
What’s your favorite part of Dragon*Con?
Saul’s deadpan humor was clearly present as he replied:
“Meeting fans…and helping to pay for my kids’ college education!”
Eddie McClintock (actor):
What would you like to say about current or future projects?
“Warehouse 13 is awesome!
I’m also getting ready to do a film with the godfather of horror, Mr. George Romero, called Road of the Dead. Let me just say that zombies no longer have to shuffle around for their food – they’ve learned to drive.”
What’s your favorite part of Dragon*Con?
“Seeing an Uhura (of Star Trek) dressed in bunless leather chaps.”
Anthony Michael Hall (actor):
What would you like to say about current or future projects?
“Warehouse 13 is great!
I’m working on a new film with Danny Trejo and Mickey Rourke called Dead in Tombstone, for which there is actually a trailer on YouTube already. I am co-producing and starring in Friend Request, which is about a detective who is kind of down on his luck and is raising his daughter on his own, while trying to catch a Facebook-style killer; and that is shooting next week. I’ve also started a new production company called Manhattan Films; and through that I am producing and directing The Lost Shield, which is a cop story and should be shooting by next summer. I’m really excited about these projects.”
What’s your favorite part of Dragon*Con?
“The fans; seeing people have a great time. I genuinely love doing these things, and I love that it’s run by fans.”
Deric Hughes (writer/producer):
What would you like to say about current or future projects?
“Warehouse 13 definitely occupies my time. We have a ten episode web series called Grand Designs that people should check out, and I co-wrote and produced a couple of the episodes. My writing partner for that is Benjamin Raab, and J.P. Nichol, Mark Frank Williams, Ian Maddox, Sueha Koorse, and Joseph Brock also worked on those. They are on the main show website, and all of the cast did voices on those.”
What’s your favorite part of Dragon*Con?
“Definitely the people!”
Thanks a bunch, Warehouse 13 folks, for your time and awesomeness; and we hope to see much more from you!
Check in with me next Tuesday for Part II of the Dragon*Con Experience, including more awesome panels and chats with guests; and until then:
Servo Lectio!
TUESDAY AFTERNOON: Michael Davis and… Friends
WEDNESDAY MORNING: Mike Gold Takes On The Fish… Again!
As Fox airs the final episodes of FRINGE, we talk to series John Noble about what he loved most about the show, the characters and in particular, Walter Bishop and J.J. Wyman gives us some hints on how it will all play out up to the finale. Plus more on why WAREHOUSE 13 works so well, Stan Lee is on the mend and The 2013 Oscars, ala Seth McFarlane.
