This weekend Melbourne will play host to the Australian Movie and Comic Expo (aka AMC Expo), a convention that is run by fans for fans featuring movie and TV stars, voice actors, literary authors and comic authors. The expo will be held this Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
Some of the film and TV guests on this year’s lineup include Lou Diamond Phillips, Michael Rowe, Dichen Lachman, Bernie Kopell, and Claudia Wells. While Carl Sundstrom, Jacinta Maree, Kimberley Clark, Gerry Huntman, Tom Taylor, and Dean Rankine are just some of the authors both literary and comic that will be attending also.
However AMC Expo (formerly Armageddon Australia) prides itself on including plenty of activities that are non-guest related that the whole family can enjoy. Some of the other events include Fan Club Trivia, a live Quidditch match, laser skirmish a Lego display, the 1966 Batmobile, Toby the T-Rex, panels about prop making or costuming which is perfect for those budding cosplayers and face-painting for the little ones.
In the lead up to the AMC Expo we got to ask one of its film and TV guests – Dichen Lachman – some questions about their work and also why they love coming along to conventions.
Dichen Lachman is of Australian and Tibetan descent and will be returning to Australia to meet her fans at AMC Expo. Best known for her roles in Neighbours, Aquamarine and Joss Whedon’s short lived but fan-favourite series Dollhouse, more recently she’s starred in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and also The 100.
When you found out that you were going to be on Agents of SHIELD and be a part of the Marvel universe what was your first reaction?
I was very excited, I really didn’t have much info about what was going to happen but I had a feeling it was going to be exciting.
As Jiaying on Agents of SHIELD you had the ability to regenerate and was basically immortal. If you could have a super-power what would be your choice?
To be able to do that for other people. Regenerate them, heal them.
How tricky is it working to a green screen where you have to imagine some of the special effects that will be put in later?
It’s tricky, I always feel a bit silly but then you have to commit to it. That’s the key.
You’ve done a few different sci-fi shows or shows that have sci-fi elements, Agents of SHIELD, The 100, Being Human and Dollhouse. Which has been the most challenging and do you enjoy sci-fi as a genre?
They were all challenging for different reasons. Dollhouse was wonderful and challenging because you were always playing different characters. Being Human was great because I really loved playing a vampire from another time. The 100 was extremely physically demanding and I broke my nose doing a stunt so that was rough.
What’s your favourite thing about coming to conventions?
I love meeting the fans. I actually have a bunch of very dear friends who I met at conventions.
Do you get a kick out of seeing fans dressed up in cosplay?
Yes I always get a huge kick out of that. The detail is amazing. It’s one of the things I look forward to.
Is there anybody on the AMC Expo line-up that you’re a fan of or excited to meet?
I’m excited to meet everyone and I’m really pleased to have been invited.
What’s next for you? Got any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
I just had a baby so that’s been keeping me very busy. I was actually pregnant the entire time I was on Agents of Shield. Otherwise most recently I released a web series on YouTube called “Hollywood Hitmen”, I had a little part and Produced it and I did a arc on Showtime show “Shameless” which was really exciting too.
The AMC Expo will be held this Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 of October at the Melbourne Showgrounds. For more information about the AMC Expo and to purchase tickets visit their website or check them out on Facebook.
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