Continued from previous page...
Nathan Fillion (Caleb/Capt Mal Reynolds)
Nathan Fillion wondering if Caleb is in the house
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Let's face it, the fans just can't get enough of Nathan
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Nathan to many was perhaps the revelation of the weekend. Amazingly charismatic and compelling, Nathan had a kind word for everybody and always seemed to have a story to tell. What was also nice to see is that he had obviously put some thought into giving something back to the fans as during his Q&A session on Sunday he had brought stills from the set of Firefly which he happily distributed to most who asked a question. The two characters that most people at the event would associate Nathan with would be the maniacal preacher Caleb in Buffy the Vampire Slayer or the scoundrel almost Han Solo-like Captain Mal Reynolds in Firefly. What most people may not be aware of however is that Nathan actually auditioned for a role very familiar to Citizens of this City and that is the role of the brooding vampire with a soul himself, Angel. Of course Joss himself didn't remember Nathan applying for that role until Nathan mentioned it to him, "oh I didn't get as far as reading for him," he admits, "and when I see David Boreanaz in the role, I know that they made the right choice as David has certainly made the role his own." You can't help but think that Nathan must have felt a slight sense of retribution when Caleb got to hit Angel around a little in the Buffy finale "Chosen" though.
Nathan is very quick to recognize the opportunities that Joss Whedon has given him and feels he owes him a lot for casting him as his first villain as well as giving him the lead in a show. As Caleb, one of the things that made him so creepy was the sanctimonious way he spoke with a Southern drawl that just screamed of revulsion at Buffy and her world. He confesses when asked that he based the accent on someone he used to work with on a soap opera called One Life to Live, "Yeah the accent came from a friend of mine called Christopher Douglas," he says immediately going into a demonstration that made some feel decidedly nervous. In fact a young father brought his daughter to the side of the stage and told Nathan that the character of Caleb had scared the life out of his little girl to the point of giving her nightmares. Instead of saying something comforting or slightly apologetic to her as some people may expect, Nathan merely smiled, leaned in her direction and in his best Caleb drawl muttered, "I'm gonna git you little girl". Fortunately the little girl left smiling so hopefully there'll be no more nightmares. Nathan clearly loved the bad ass Caleb and refers to "Dirty Girls" as his favourite episode because he got the chance to "to kill a couple of cast members and take Xander's eye out which I kept by the way," but his least favourite was Chosen "when I got split down the middle," he complains, "that just isn't fair, it isn't right." Although Elisabeth Ann Allen openly admitted that she had not been able to watch the final episode of Buffy yet as she has had trouble admitting Buffy is gone and letting go, Nathan wishes that he had made more of appearance in the final battle because he feels that Caleb "could have definitely turned the tide" and brought about victory for the First Evil but what does Nathan consider to be the Second Evil. Without hesitation Nathan confidently declares - taxes!
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"I like to find new and inventive ways of flipping Jewel the bird when she least expects it!" ~ Nathan Fillion
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In Firefly, Nathan plays the role of Malcolm Reynolds, a guy Nathan himself describes as a "self-serving bastard." Nathan says of the character he plays on Firefly. Although not fighting on the side of evil as Caleb was, Mal is the kind of guy who does what needs to be done to get what he wants without too much room for sentiment. He is also known to fans under a different pseudonym and that is the adage of 'Captain Tightpants'. Nathan himself came up with that affectionate nickname, "After all," he says, "who knows better than I just exactly how tight those pants were! At one point they kept splitting!" Of course the tightness of his trousers did not present a problem for Nathan in the episode Trash. At one point we see the handsome Canadian sat butt naked on a rock staring out over a magnificent sunset before making his way back to his ship in all his glory. This particular image must have stayed with one certain female as she asks if there is going to be a repeat performance in the forthcoming film Serenity. Although Nathan didn't answer the question directly he did hint at something by saying, "All I can say is that I have read the script and for the immediate future there's no pasta or cakes for me!!" He also took the opportunity to clear up another couple of rumours that had been floating around the various sites on the Internet. Firstly, there is absolutely no chance that Firefly will have a TV series revival but if the first Serenity film does well then there is a potential trilogy in the making and secondly even though the brilliant series Angel has suffered the same fate as Firefly, lead actor David Boreanaz will not be appearing in the Firefly feature film.
Elizabeth Anne Allan and Nathan tease the fans
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Both Summer and Jewel had hinted that Nathan is the joker on set but which joke does he consider his best. "I like to find new and inventive ways of flipping Jewel the bird when she least expects it!" he admits, "We can be doing a scene and all of a sudden I'll just......[raises finger]" He begins to look around the set to try and find something to demonstrate with (which by now has become Giles' Magic Shop as if by....er....magic) and finds a loose scarf. He covers his hand and starts to recite some imaginary dialogue before discreetly and unexpectedly popping his middle digit at the audience. We're sure that somewhere down the line, Jewel will get her revenge and sooner than Nathan thinks (keep reading to find out. Projects outside of the Whedonverse has seen Nathan playing the role of Adam on the acclaimed series Miss Match (of which Charisma Carpenter has also made a couple of appearances) with Alicia Silverstone. Nathan has nothing but praise for the former Clueless star describing her as one of the "nicest people ever" and as one of the most "hard working people he had ever known." Although filming for Serenity is due imminently and all the costume fittings have been done, Nathan also had the opportunity of working on a pilot entitled Hollywood Division based around a cop on the edge "like that hasn't been done before!" adds Nathan. Nathan may have been enjoying his first visit to a Sci-Fi con but there will be many hoping that it won't be his last.
Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris) & Emma Caulfield (Anya)
To thunderous applause, Nick and Emma take the stage
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Nick began his talk with the first question regarding his being a vampire, "The overall experience was something fantastic. I like playing evil. Joss likes me to play evil. He had the idea actually that I was going to be killed. Like when I got my eye poked out he was going to kill me instead and I was going to be the evil person. But he thought the fans might not like that so I lost an eye." 145 episodes of Buffy later and Nick reflects that, "Allyson and I thought about going on for one more year, that that would have been fun, but it was just a great run. There's talk that there could be a film version. But I'm not in control, I'm just a mere actor." Emma concurs, "I had a great time on Buffy. I had an amazing character to play; she was just ridiculous, fun, and smart. There was really nothing by the end of the time I was there that I didn't get to do. I think it was just pretty much 'game end' when they do that, so..." (Nick provides a smart aside comment to which Emma replies, "Ass." (laughter) But Emma got serious for a moment to clarify some rumors. "I'm sure as a lot of you know, I pay attention to what you guys say on the web and there's been talk of some comments that I've made about my being happy to be off the show and bitter or something, and that's definitely not the case. And I should clarify that some of those really annoying things that made it so that I was really was ready to go, ended up being on the corporate side. It really had to do with Fox and didn't have anything to do with anything else. There were some rumors going around that it was about Sarah, and that's not true, it was all Fox. And I've been pretty vocal about how much I don't like them, (applause) and it may hurt me if I ever work for them again, but I don't want to work for them again, so I don't f***ing care." (applause)
Emma was asked if she ever find out why Anya like bunnies when she were human, but didn't as Anyaka. "I never found out why," she admitted, "and I think that's funnier that they never really explained it. I loved in that one episode when they showed me actually loving these bunnies, bunnies were all around me, and they never explained why they became really ugly which I should think that's just Joss. But I don't know why and I like bunnies." Of course, this prompted a request from the musical episode. Emma and Nick were more than happy to oblige, unfortunately the lyrics were not, so we got the abridged version. "He snores." "She whizzes." "Say housework and he sneezes." "She eats these skeazy cheeses that I can't describe." (applause) Favorite songs included, "I've Got a Theory" and Tara & Giles' duet for Nick, "Where Do We Go From Here" and "Through the Fire" for Emma. The comfortable banter of years of friendship is so obvious with these two actors that you sometimes forget they are talking to a room of 1500+ fans, but rather feel you are in their living room as they tease and pick on each other. Nick was asked if he had written the episode Hells Bells, would he have left Anya at the alter, to which Emma warns, "Watch it." But Nick is quick to reply, "Ah, no! We would have lived happily and had kids. And then invested wisely. No, I love her too much. I think it worked out well, but who's to say we're not married right now? Just because you're not seeing us anymore..." Emma offers, "She died!" (laughter and applause) But Nick counters, "She's been brought back to life, or I'm actually making love to a dead person."
Some how we don't think he snores or she whizzes
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Emma was questioned on her skating at the Magic Shop as one of Charlie's Angel in the Halloween episode. "I actually roller blade, well I haven't in awhile, I used to roller blade all the time and I was an avid skater when I was a kid. I'm sure they were all terrified because I just sort of went around between takes and I was constantly spinning around and doing stuff. And I actually managed to not knock anything over, which was great, but it was fun. I wasn't too keen on the shorts, I wasn't working out then." And as far as practical jokes on the set go, "Aly [Allyson Hannigan], who really is the one," offers Emma, "if there was a practical joke to be played it was Alyson's doing, on my 29th birthday she thought it'd be a great idea and a lot of fun to make everyone think I was turning 30. She had it put in the Call Sheet, 'Happy 30th Birthday Emma' and she had my whole trailer wrapped with 'Happy 30th banners, and she got these huge basket full of Depends undergarments, basically anything for senior citizens. So all day, people where going, 'Happy 30th', 'No I'm not 30, I'm 29', 'Oh, sure you are.' She had a lot of fun with that one!"
A brave audience member asked who was their best snog on the show, and Nick replied with, "I'll go with the usual on that one, Faith." Emma responded with, "Um, you know James was pretty proficient. Yeah, he had a lot of gusto." Insightfully, Emma was asked if she had the choice, how would she have changed Anya's death? "I don't think I'd change the way Anya died," she confessed. "It was so harsh and out of the blue. When I read it, 'What?' it just seemed like there was no build-up, you didn't see it coming; I liked that. And I liked that she died doing good, she kind of really had come into her own, which I think made it more sad. I knew I was going to die but I didn't know it was going to be like that." Emma also has a new film out on the Festival circuit with her own project called, Bandwagon. She took a moment to express some personal view about the film, "... and it shifts focus and she takes on a want-to-be developmentally unstable actress and tries to brake her into Hollywood." (re: developmentally unstable people comments on the web) "No one is making fun of anyone, if anyone is making fun of anyone it's me making fun of the business and of myself. I think it's pretty damn funny and I think people would really enjoy it."
BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO REALITY
Robert Patrick, his X-Files skills tell him there are vampires
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No sooner had all the merriment began than it was brought to a close but in true con style. Running traditionally late, Sean Harry brought the guests who had worked so hard all weekend out in front of the crowd to get the plaudits they deserved. However, before doing so he had the small task of announcing the winner of the Tom Lenk & Emma Caulfield raffle. Emma chose the ticket and it seems there was a little confusion as two winners stepped up to claim their prize only for one to find out that her ticket was right number, wrong color! Once Tom had made his promise to take the winner to the Blackpool Sun Center for a slap-up dinner, each guest took the microphone and took their turn to say goodbye to the fans.
Summer seemed genuinely overwhelmed by the fans appreciation seeming a to be little bit tearful but Sean was happy to announce that we would be seeing her again as he announced her as a guest for the forthcoming White Room. Nathan Fillion invited himself to a future event pointing at both Sean and the crowd and announcing he'll be back. Each guest had nothing but praise for the fans they had encountered over the last three days and Jewel was no exception. As she stood and faced the crowd she told everyone what an amazing time she had had and thanked everyone for making her time so special, "That only leaves me with one thing to say," she says before turning towards her friend Nathan and giving him the finger! Ah revenge is sweet and Nathan couldn't help but laugh. Just like the opening ceremony the loudest cheer was reserved for Nick Brendon who at the pure volume of noise withdrew under the table, arms wrapped around his legs and started to rock back and forth afraid to come out and face his fans. "There's nobody there, there's nobody there, it's OK," he'd mumble to himself before emerging larger than life to applaud all those applauding him.
James Leary, So long, farewell, hope you had fun too!
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An attending Fan, Tony, sums up a Starfury event best, "I've had a really great time so far, the first two days. I think Robert Patrick is an inspired replacement guest; he's been very popular. He seems to really enjoy it. Pleased that the organization is a little bit better this year, we've got through everything a lot quicker. Thoroughly entertained by Nathan, he's a top guest; I'd certainly come see him again. He was very lively, very good stage manners; I'd certainly buy a used car off him. He's that sort of guy. [re: the girls from Firefly] They're hot. Jewel is an absolute charm, and Summer is really sweet, very cute girls. Absolutely stunning actually, real charming. Looking forward to Sarah and Tom tomorrow, he's a nice, funny chap, Sarah's quite sweet and charming, a little bit shy I think. Just a great weekend so far!" Events such as these cannot happen without the selfless dedication of countless, hardworking, 'survive on half-an-hour's sleep' behind the scenes staff and Sean took the opportunity to thank his wonderful team. The guests also recognized that Sean deserved some credit too because if it wasn't for him then there would be no con at all. It just took a rapturous run through the crowd slapping high fives with everyone from James Leary to round the night, and another excellent event off. With the 2004 UK con scene kicked off in fine style it is only with frustrated impatience that we say bring on Hyperion, Prometheus, White Room and the New Years Bash with Andy Hallett.
Written by CoA UK Staff Writers, Sue Grimshaw, Nicola Jones and Sarah Wallis
CityofAngel.com would like to extend our gracious thanks, once again, to Sean Harry for all this assistance in allowing CoA to cover this Starfury event. And all his Guests who made it such an enjoyable weekend!
Much appreciation to Michael Gilroy for allowing us his personal time.
Special acknowledgement goes out to Dave Sumner for the use of his Nathan Fillion photo.
Additional thanks and credit to Hazel Clark for the permission and use of her photos.
If you have any comments for CityofAngel.com regarding this Happenings feature, we would love to hear from you. Just email us at: comments@CityofAngel.com
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