The Royal Exhibition Building hasn’t seen a sight like Oz Comic Con since the zombie’s shuffled past it last year. Today there are scores of die hard comic and movie fans all streaming into the building to gain knowledge about a favourite actor, score some great purchases or meet new friends. A scene of mecca consumables in every corner where every item you see is for sale, whether it be the soft toy organs, swords, lollies, vaudeville couture, coloured eyes, comics, books, dolls, steampunk leather or even trying out the laser tag game, Comic Con has it all.
Perhaps meeting your favourite movie star is on the list(I met Cary Elwes, eekkkk) or settling down to listen to the celebrities on stage openly answer your questions for those who dare approach the microphone. It’s a day out for nerds, rockers and an outing for those to dress up in their favourite costumes to parade around with glee and happiness of being part of a culture that incites a smile on every face. The people attending today are from all ages of life, lot of happy kids with parents who no doubt didn’t complain about taking the kids to this event as they would have nostalgia checking out the blasts from the past.
Oz Comic Con is a two day event and the building is set up well for this, with all stalls to buy items downstairs and the meet and greets upstairs. It’s billed as the ultimate pop culture and fan exhibition, featuring multi-genre content from across the globe. The prize winning Cosplay is on this year -‘costume play’ (for those who don’t know), this is a chance for fans to wear costumes and accessories that represent a character and they create a role play to win prizes and have some fun.
Walking around the room one can’t help but progress like a sloth, eyes goggling from side to side at the effort people go to with costumes. The mind boggles as well looking at stall after stall of delectable goodies for purchase. I checked out Rodger Bumpass (Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants) who had a busy queue and he was laughing and chatting with fans about his character. Onto Milk Shadow Books, an Aussie venture and I loved seeing Sea Shepherd Australia getting a check in.
There are three ‘panel’ rooms where the celebrities take the microphone to chat with us (Q&A) for an hour, two of these rooms are huge marquees set up outside, and I managed to attend a few of these starting with;
Shannon Doherty from movies such as Heathers and the popular TV shows Beverley Hills 90210 and Charmed as well as her own reality show. Shannon spoke happily and answered all questions given to her by audience members. She told us about her friend Ian Ziering and his latest role in the Chippendales and also that Ian sells a line of skin products which he wants to give some to Shannon who thought at first – “what are you trying to say”. Shannon loved working with Jay and Silent Bob, shooting a film with them though was highly amusing as she would walk out of her hotel room to find everyone getting high on joints and cruising the corridors on skateboards. When asked what character she relates the most to she replies “Prue” from 90210. Reason being is that she has a quirky side like Prue, that only her friends see. Prue values her family and this Shannon can relate to as family is everything to her. Shannon says she found playing Brenda very draining as Brenda’s life was full of drama and around the time her Dad (in real life) bacome ill, she realised she didn’t need this drama anymore. In Charmed she thoroughly enjoyed working on and she found her hardest scene was when Piper, (Holly Marie Combs) was dying on a gurney. She hasn’t watched herself on TV as she is self conscious.
Next panel is Holly Marie Combs and Brian Krause talking about Charmed and their highlights. Holly tells us that the show Picket Fences is her acting highlight as she was eighteen whereas Brian says it is Blue Lagoon. – being naked and young made it an experience he’ll never forget. Their favourite scene in Charmed was when Piper (Holly) brought back Leo (Brian) to life. The other interesting scenes are when Holly was pregnant in real life which were hard to film, trying to hide her bump! Holly’s favourite demon on Charmed is Julian McMahon (loads of screams here from the audience) and her saddest scene was freezing her tv husband, Leo, into an ice cube. Holly says she isn’t picky on her roles, there isn’t a role she can think of that she’d love to do. Someone suggested cat-woman to her and this is agreed to by Holly. Brian, also in the tv series Sleepwalkers, says he can’t choose between liking a good or bad character as both has great qualities.
When Holly is asked about her feeling’s when Shannon Doherty, aka Prue, left Charmed she said is was a frustrating time and a hard season to work. She says that although there were so many great times, like friends weddings outside of the show with the actors, there were also times when she felt like throwing them off a building. All comes with the territory of being an actor.
Another panel is Rocky Horror Picture Show stars Nell Campbell aka Columbia and Patricia Quinn aka Magenta who dance their way to stage with the music of the hit movie bouncing from the speakers. They look clearly happy to be here and they sing and dance away until the song ends and sit down to a flurry of applause.
When asked about what is was like to work with Tim Curry we are told ‘Heaven’! Tim is witty, laid back and doesn’t have a big ego. They had a blast filming Rocky Horror although a lot of the time they were freezing! We are told that a lot of the songs for the movie were written in the rehearsals. They both don’t keep in contact with other actors in the movie as they are “bloody bastards” and they admit its such a pity there was no sequel. Nell says if the movie was done ten years ago there would probably have be a sequel made. Asked about their thoughts on singer, Meatloaf, Patricia states that when the baby faced large boy entered the room, and sang – jaw’s dropped and the roof blew off. Meatloaf, they say, is divine and they had a ball working with him.
Lucky last for my day is Ron Perlman who managed to get many people lining up two hours before he was actually on stage. Such is the phenomenon of the movie, Hellboy and the TV series, Sons of Anarchy. Ron enters stage to astounding applause, tells us he’s never done a panel like this before and continues to make us laugh throughout the entire session. I have read that early in his career he tried stand up comedy and I can hear why. He tells us that the heater on stage is “burning my balls” (a comment he tried to take back later on when he realise children are in the room). He is asked what he does when sitting in the make up chair for hours at a time. Ron says he listens to music, watches movies, gossips and learns about the movies direction and production.Ron tells us to all come see his new movie Pacific Rim as it’ll be way better than 5ive Girls which he said was a terrible movie and not underrated in the least. It was a low budget movie and you can defiantly tell!
Ron’s role in Hellboy was a role which was accessible for him. He read up on all the comics when he got the role and he says the comics have more persona than personality but the movie has more personality. Director Guillermo del Toro wanted Ron as Hellboy and pushed and pushed for Ron to get the part and for this Ron is grateful.
He is asked what character does he prefer to play and he states that it needs to be an interesting one. Bad guys are fascinating and he’ll analyse any character he is given to play – even woman! He just tries not to repeat playing the same characters.
When talking about Sons of Anarchy, Ron tells us Kurt Sutter (creator of Sons of Anarchy) is one amazing and brave guy. People feel strongly about Sons and he feels it resonates around the world. We are told the structure is reminiscent of Hamlet with the kings and queens vying for position. Ron and the crew did a lot of research into motorbike gangs before shooting the movie. They all needed to research the codes and allegiances within the gangs and understand the mindset as well as the common thread. Kurt befriended the Hells Angels about the storyline and since the series has been going the Hells Angels have given all positive feedback about the show.
Hell Boy takes a lot out of the cast we are told by Ron, and del Toros and Ron are hoping to bring Hell Boy 3 to the fans as promised but due to needing to spend a lot more money for it to work, its being held off for the moment.
Ron is asked about what character was the most uncomfortable, and he replies, “all are uncomfortable and all had their moments. “It was wet and bloody for 17 hours a day but never a drag as there are worse things in life that that”.
When asked what was his favourite character he played he says “I love all my children equally!” but says that Hell Boy will always remain in his heart due to the struggle that went on for him to play the part.
He is asked about why he pulled out of having a part in The Hobbit and he states that when the Guillermo del Toro pulled out of directing the movie he backed out too, simple as that.
Ron is questioned about his role in the French movie City of Lost Children. Ron says he didn’t understand why he was chosen for the role but believes the directors were looking for someone who wasn’t French and who was uncomfortable in such a role, like a fish out of water. Ron says the script was amazing and it took him one week to fully read it but he got it the part and loved the experience.
Last question asked is about his thoughts on current tv shows made in America, how they are a lot better than previous years. Ron says yes, that is true, “Reason being is that great writers sell original ideas to cable TV now, the younger networks, and they get the chance of being picked up and a chance to show more controversial stories”. After a loud applause, Ron leaves the building.
Other celebrites present this weekend are William Shatner (Captain James T.Kirk from Star Trek and Denny Crane from Boston Legal), puppeteer and actor Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars), Tia Carrere (Waynes World, Relic Hunter), Colin Ferguson (Eureka, Then Came You) plus many more.
This weekend event is one that suits all ages and parents with kids and prams. The space at the Royal Exhibition Building worked well and is very accessible to all that came along.
Over and Out Captain.
Me with Cary Elwes!!
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