Moonlight Rising Con June 2004

[PokerKitten]

Well, the thought of Con and gig reports from Moonlight Rising has been a little overshadowed by the news of Andy Hallett's hospitalisation. Andy was due to do photo shoots yesterday afternoon, the first day of the Con, and of course Q&As and stuff throughout the weekend, but hasd to cancel, as has been reported in the Angel news thread. Hope we learn more about this soon and that the news is good.

The scheduling - which will need to be adjusted, of course - for the rest of the weekend is:

Saturday
9:00-10:00-Auction
10:00-11:00-Stephanie Romanov photo shoot
10:30-11:30-MST 3000 takes on Buffy
11:15-12:15-James Marsters photo shoot
11:30-12:30-Angel panel with Andy Hallet & Stephanie Romanov
12:30-1:30-Buffy panel(James Marsters will not be involved in this)
1:45-4:30-autos-1-400
2:15-3:00 Trivia Contest
3:15-4:00: Trivia Contest
3:30-4:45 Fan Panel-Harry Dresden
5:00-6:15-Fan Panel-What Does a Soul Mean in the Jossverse?
5:00-5:40-Masquerade registration
5:45-7:00-Masquerade
7:15-Doors open for concerts
8:00-9:30-ComRo concert
10:00-11:30-GotR concert

Sunday
10:00-11:00-Stephanie Romanov q&a
11:00-12:00-James Marsters photo shoot
11:00-12:15-Fan panel-topic to be announced
11:00-12:00-JCB Love First seminar
12:15-1:15-Andy Hallet q&a
1:15-2:15-Trio q & a
2:30-3:30-James Marsters q&a
3:45-6:45-Autos-401-800 and 1-800 for James Marsters.(there will be a 45 to 60 minute break when we get to #400 so James can go for dinner)
6:15-7:30-Fan Panel topic-Sexuality themes on Buffy (for mature audience)
10:00-1:00-Dance.
10:00-1:00-karoke for non dance ticket holders

[PokerKitten]

Good lord, I actually found a report from the con on events so far. Check it out here - forum.jamesmarsters.info/viewtopic.php?t=118

Great that everyone who runs into Jimmy Leary feels the lurve

[JIG]

sounds good! i really want to meet James Leary he seems like such a great guy!

[PokerKitten]

Oooh, I'm glad I didn't go to bed!

The lovely lasses from BAPS have given permission for their reports to be posted, for which big thanks! They always do such a good job, you're gonna love this! ;D


Not much time right now, but three key things from the BEST
James Marsters Q&A that Alane and I have ever attended (and
<sob!> me without my recorder, so everything was hastily
transcribed as best we could do it).

1. James just got the financing for his Macbeth project
three days ago! Fifty million dollars! He's likely to be
involved with this for about three years, from what he said.
He's writing the script for it now.

2. James indicated that a Spike movie is going to
happen. Someone asked him if he would ever bleach
his hair blond again, and he said no. He then corrected
himself to say probably one more time -- for a Spike
movie. He reiterated this later, in response to a
question about what happened to Spike at the end
of Angel. He replied. "He died. They all died. That's
beautiful thing. That they were all willing to die. Except
there's going to be a Spike movie, so he didn't die."

3. Harry Dresden still looks possible. They haven't
even started casting yet, but he's in their minds,
among other people.

Lots of interesting stuff that we'd never heard from
him before, even different answers to old questions.
And he did Caliban, and a very British voice from
Dresden, and "you're a wee puppet man!" which
brought down the house. Great fun.

More to come.

Laurie and Alane

[PokerKitten]

As we said before, we both agreed this was the best JM
Q&A we remember. His answers to practically everything
were fresh. You could tell he was very happy and energized
by the news about Macbeth, and he was very playful with
the audience. He was wearing a denim jacket that he took
off before it even began, with a short sleeved simple black
shirt and jeans. His hair had grown out a bit, and it's
starting to acquire a little curl or wave.

One caveat before we begin. Since we did not have the
assistance of a tape recorder, this is our best recollection,
combined with notes. Some things we tried to transcribe
exactly (and we'll note those in quotes). But even then
we may not have it exact. Other times, we will give you
the gist if we weren't able to remember it more precisely
from our notes.

Further note that these are not necessarily exactly in the
order they were asked (we didn't number our notes while
we were frantically scribbling, and since almost everything
turned out to be interesting and different, we never really
got a chance to try to put anything into a coherent order).

1. Someone asked about Harsh Light of Day and whether
he really loved doing that scene because it was so funny.
James replied that he enjoyed working with Aly, and that
was practically the only time the two of them ever worked
together on the whole show. But he went on to add that
he was not comfortable with that kind of scene.

2. Someone asked admiringly about what it was like to
do the sock scenes in Buffy. This is pretty close to
verbatim (because it was important to Alane and I to
get it rightI):
James: "I didn't used to have a problem with nudity.
I'd drop my pants in a second. But after that season,
I am a changed man. It was NOT fun by any stretch
of the imagination." He went on to say "you're naked
in front of everyone, while Sarah was fully dressed,
with gloves, and they laugh at you. F*ck that. It
was humiliating on a very deep level. I used to go
home in tears." At which point he sort of hugged
himself protectively.

[Me: Damn ME and damn Marti Noxon]

3. Someone asked what the last day of Angel
was like. James said that the last day of Angel
was like every other day at work. He said that
during the middle of the season, when they first
got the news of cancellation, they were shocked
and stunned (because they had doubled the
ratings from the prior year). But by the end, they
had come to a point of acceptance. He said that
David (Boreanz) set the tone. He said the lead on
every show sets the tone for that set, and this was
David's show. He was very complimentary of David
on several occasions during the Q&A.

4. Someone asked if it was scary to shave his head.
James replied that he liked to terrify himself. But also,
he had shaved his head 8 years earlier for Macbeth,
and he knew he "had a good skull", so he knew it
would be okay.

5. Someone asked what was the greatest lesson he
learned while doing theater. He replied that "the
greatest lesson learned is to just be yourself. It's
about admitting that I'm beautiful and just letting
that out." He said that people are paying for the
right to stare at you, and you have to give it to them.
(or something like that; neither Alane nor I were
sure of how that ended -- too busy staring <g>)

6. Someone asked him what he was passionate
about, apart from his acting and music. James:
"Little kids in trouble."

7. Someone asked him if it was different being
on Angel, noting that the characterization of
Spike on Angel seemed quite different from the
Spike we last saw on Buffy. James observed
that "every season on Buffy, I was a different
character. Who am I this season, Joss?" He
mentioned going from villain to snarky neighbor,
redeemed man, lover... "Angel was no different."
On Angel, he was the comedic foil. And he made
it clear he was happy that it was different. "I am
so tired of barfing my heart out. I heard that some
people were offended that I wasn't used in a deeper
way on Angel, but I didn't want it."

8. Someone asked about influences on his music.
James: punk rock, folk, Joni Mitchell.

9. What would you like to hear after you're dead,
and you're standing at the Pearly Gates?
James: "I know you're a f*ckup, but you tried.
I forgive you."

10. Someone asked if he would be the next
actor/governor of California. He said why not
President? He joked that he's a very good
speaker; told the DMC to call him up <g>
He did say, more seriously, that he might run
for office some day, way down the road.

11. Someone asked if he had met Curt
Cobain and his circle while he was working
in Seattle. James mentioned they used to
come into this club he frequented quite
often, and that Cobain was "amazing".
(We don't have great notes on that question.)

12. Someone asked him if he might be
participating in the Vulkon Cruise next summer.
James said no. And then, he dropped the bombshell
about Macbeth: "I found someone who is going to
give me the money to do Macbeth. $50,000,000!
It happened three days ago." (Me: to say that he
was excited in sharing this is an understatement.)

13. Someone asked him when he first started singing.
James replied he started when he was 8, and it was
because of Al Green. Al Green and the Partridge
family. Regarding Al Green: "That man could sing.
He has a voice from God."

14. Someone asked about the Poetry Slam scene in
the Angel finale, and if he was as delighted by that
scene as she had been seeing it. James: Once
again, they gave me the gold. It was the best
scene in the whole script." It was clear he loved
doing it.

15. Someone asked if he and David noticed the
homo-erotic subtext between Spike and Angel
on Angel this past season. James: "Joss,
man, he f*cking loves to do it. Yes, we noticed
it. Yes, we were uncomfortable. But it was Joss.
He's our boss. Actually, it didn't bother me. But
it bothered David. And that's why Joss kept doing
it."

16. Someone asked him why he went into theater
initially rather than film. James replied that "film was
too easy. There's no take two in theater." He liked
the challenge. But then he got hungry and wanted
to be able to eat.

17. Someone asked him about the band and its
future plans. James replied that "the next three
years of my life are going to be tied up with Macbeth,
and I don't know if I'll have time for the band. The
whole golden door opened up, and I would be an
idiot not to take advantage." Same questioner
then asked what music he was listening to now.
James: "Jimmy Eat World, Five For Five, Norah
Jones, Tom Waits. All music is good."

18. Someone asked about the Angel cancellation,
and what was up with the WB, considering how
good the Angel ratings were. James replied that
he was reluctant to criticise them: "It's hard. It's
their ball. They kept passing it to us, and we
started to think it was our ball. But it's not our
football. They took it back." He went on to say
that they were replacing Angel with Dark Shadows,
and was shocked when we the audience shouted
that the WB had ultimately passed on DS.
James: "It's reality ."

More to come. Alane and I have to go somewhere
for the next few hours, but we will come back and
finish this some time tonight (maybe late, but
tonight).

Laurie and Alane

[nightnurse]

;D Wow...kudos to Laurie and Alane for reporting so well and sharing.....glad I didn't go to bed yet either
Lots of stuff to mull over there...you gotta love the 'homo-erotic' question, and I can just see DB being uncomfortable with it LOL

[PokerKitten]

Yeah well, James worked through any remaining issues he had with that kind of material when he was heading for Venetian Heat ;D David must have dug it really, because he never acted better or more convincingly than in his scenes with James ;D

[PokerKitten]

Next part.

Continuing our report from where it left off. Same caveats
apply as before.

19. Someone asked if James was ever going to go back
to blond hair. James: "No." Then he continued, "I will
probably go back to the blond hair one more time to do
a Spike movie."

20. Someone asked him what was his best class in
school. James replied that his best class was English
and his worst class was chemistry. The funny thing
was that his chemistry teacher was an actor, and he
took James under his wing and tried to mentor him
but he was still terrible at it.

21. Someone asked if after all the conventions
James has been to, was there anything he regretted.
James replied that "I said a lot of things with this
mike that I wish I hadn't said."

22. Someone asked what his favorite song was.
James replied that "This Town" was his favorite.
He was pleased that he finally wrote a song that
wasn't about "she's hot" or "she hurt me." He
finally wrote a song that wasn't about himself
but that told a story, and he was very proud of
it, and didn't know if he'd ever write a better one.

23. Someone asked if he got nervous or shy
before his concerts when he went on stage.
James (paraphrasing): When I come out on
stage (acting), I feel like there has been no
better actor since Edmund Keane. My ego
is like this (he gestured with his arms up
and wide). "And when I come out on stage
as a singer, I don't feel it. And it's digging
into my soul. I've taken two f*cking years
of voice lessons, and I don't cut it."
People went *awww*. James: "No, no,
don't feel sorry for me. The only dishonor
is in not admitting that."

24. Someone asked a very politically
charged question, and got a very politically
charged answer. But since we don't talk
about politics on BAPS, we're not going to
get into that particular question. Suffice
it to say, his imagery was fairly graphic.

25. Someone congratulated him on Macbeth
and asked if he would favor us with a reading
from Macbeth. He asked if he could do
something else, and the audience cheered.
He then treated the audience to a lovely
rendition of Caliban from The Tempest.

26. Someone asked if he had any upcoming
concert plans for the East Coast. He said
"not currently." The questioner then asked
if he'd play the Stone Pony in NJ. He basically
said *in an instant, but I don't think they're going to
ask us.*

27. The next question was easily voted "best
question today and one of the best questions
ever" by Alane and myself. Question: You've
said that in retrospect, you think you played
Spike *too soulful* before he had the soul,
because once he was resouled, you didn't really
have that much more you could do with him to
show the difference. But you've also said that
as an actor, you have no control over the show
or the character; that you're just one cog in the
machine, so to speak. Which is it? Do you
have the control, so you could have played it
differently, or do you have no control? Wouldn't
the director(s) have told you to play it differently,
if they didn't like how you were playing it?
James: It's both. In filmmaking, you have no
control, and you have ultimate control, because
everything goes so fast. They didn't have time to
tell me not to do that. As long as you get the lines
right, they get their closeup and tell you to move on.
Theater people come to and are shocked that
you don't get any direction in an entire day as to
how to play a scene. The actor is in a vacuum.
You can do whatever you want to do. I was just
trying to mean it, and speak with conviction. Back
then, nobody knew what the journey was. I'm not
regretting it. But if I had known what the whole
journey was going to be, I might have done it a
little differently.

28. Someone asked about the "Dresden soul gaze" --
Dresden's ability to see into peoples' souls -- and
asked James how he would play that if he got the
Dresden party. James replied that he would do
it by "confronting the horror that is in people".
Because if you really look inside people, you see
the complexity of the human being, and it's
unsettling."

29. Someone asked about the cross scene in
Beneath You, and wondered if he would have done
it any differently, if it was his words instead of the
writer's, to show how Spike was different and what
it meant to have a soul. James: "I wouldn't change
a thing. Self-knowledge is self-loathing." We filmed
another version and it sucked. Joss came to me and
said "James, we don't know what to do with you this
season, and your episode sucks. But I'm going to
save you." And he rewrote it. I'm f*cking proud of
that scene."

30. Someone asked him how he got the part of Spike,
and did he know he had it right away. And we got
a different answer than the usual! James: I was
dating a girl, and we were having the hottest sex!
Questioner: That's not exactly the question I asked,
but -- James: "I walked in there thinking I was the s*it,
swaggering around, among all these other Spikes.
And I was so going to f*ck with your your heads; I'm
going to make you pee in your pants. And I got up
in the middle of the room with all these Spikes, and
started doing Shakespeare. They all pulled back
(he gestured), and I told them, *can't you do that?
Good luck in there.* It was MY role. I f*cking took
it by the throat." (very emphatic)

31. Someone mentioned that her favorite scene
ever was the porch scene in FFL. James replied
that that was Marck's work, he directed it. And
that the scene was so characteristic of Marck.
"Breathe. Cut."

32. Someone asked for acting advice. She felt
that Stanislawski (sp?) was too consuming, and
asked for recs on other schools of acting where
you can stay in the part without it consuming you.
James referenced Elia Kazan and Marlon Brando.
He also did an amazing Brando impression. He
asked her if she was acting for film or for stage.
He told her that "what the camera is asking for
is not an intellectual recreation of a moment,
which is what happens on stage. What the
camera is asking for is a real moment. (and
he went on to say some really cool stuff that
alas, neither Alane nor I remember. Sorry.)

33. Someone asked what else he would have
liked to have done with Spike. James replied
that he had the full plate with Spike. "I got to
light myself on fire. I did everything. I'm just
glad I survived it."

34. Someone asked what do you think happened
to Spike after the fade out at the end of Angel.
James: "I think he died. I think they all died.
And that's what's beautiful -- that they were
willing to die. But there's a movie so
obviously Spike didn't die.

35. How did you react when you saw the
script for Smile Time and saw that you
were going to be beaten up by a puppet?
James: "So cool. Now you read a script,
and watch your castmates work, and you
have a day off, and another day off, and
another day off. And then you get to do
your scene, and it's the highlight of the
episode. It was a low tech gag. They
wired it to me with coat hangers, and I
had total control of the gag. And it took
five minutes to film."

36. Someone asked him about House
on Haunted Hill, which she had seen
years ago and just recently saw again,
and was stunned to realize he was in it.
James said he did that movie because
he wanted to meet that actor. (He never
mentioned the name, but it was Geoffrey
Rush.)

37. Someone asked him about the accent
of the character "Marconi" from The Dresden
Files, wanting to know what accent James
had used. He seemed confused by the
question at first, but ultimately replied that
he had used a very rich, proper accent
(which he then switched into as he continued
to answer the question to the delight of the
audience). He noted that the character uses
words as a weapon and repeated some of his
lines.

38. Someone asked if he played any other
instruments besides the guitar. James: No.
I barely play guitar.

39. Someone asked what's up with Dresden.
Any chance he might get the part. James
replied that it was actually possible (and
sounded surprised when he said that). He
said that Nick Cage is producing it. It's
with Nick and Norm Golightly through
Lion's Gate. "If you were casting for
physical type, I wouldn't be called. But
I can do that film noire, and play hung over
and grumpy." He did not have an audition
scheduled -- he said they were not to that
point in the creative process yet. But he
said that the production people were aware
of him, and he was in their minds as a
possibility. "We'll see."

In the interests of taste, we will omit to describe
the numerous requests during the Q&A for hugs,
close-up photographs, and unwrapped, partially
sucked lollipops, all of which were cheerfully
dispensed by James.

Alane and Laurie

[PokerKitten]

24. Someone asked a very politically
charged question, and got a very politically
charged answer. But since we don't talk
about politics on BAPS, we're not going to
get into that particular question. Suffice
it to say, his imagery was fairly graphic.

Bugger! Just quoting James isn't the same thing as talking politics on the list. Hope someone else reports it!

[deborahw37]

Wow ! what a lot James manages to pack into a Q and A session .. my head is spinning!

I'm thrilled to bits about Macbeth and about the possibilities of a Spike Movie and Harry Dresden

But mainly I'm more than a tad upset about the band thing .. I know speculation is't helpful but what the hell has happened between the last GOTR Q and A and now? I hate to hear James saying that he can't cut it as a singer his progress in the last year has been amazing and I'm stunned that he doesn't think he'll have time for the band . GOTR gigs have been such fun and I don't want to contemplate a world where there won't be any more gigs . More than anything If this is the end of the road for the band I want them to finish the album and do one more tour, sign off properly go out on a high (And yes I know that even if James leaves the band will probably continue but it won't be the same band ) . Don't give up the music James .. a bloke needs a hobby !

Still to the positives A year ago James said that he wanted $8 million to do Macbeth and now he's got $50m! he must think all his Christmasses have come at once . My fingers toes and elbows are crossed that the deal is safely locked down and that the film gets made .. it's his dream project and I'm chuffed to bits that it's happened so fast for him .

I loved what he said about Spike being his role and phasing out the other "Spikes" before the audition .. I cringed when I read about how unhappy he was at playing the sock scenes and I laughed at the Idea of DB's discomfort with the gay subtext .

Most of all I wished I had been there to hear this ... anyone know if MR is the type of con that sells videos after the event? because I would so love to be able to hear and see his responses as well as read them

And Kudos to Alane and Laurie for the transcript .. I'm hopeless at taking notes at these things and I owe a high debt of gratitude to those who can watch James and scribble at the same time


Right off to read it all again

Deb

[Pixie]

Spike movie would be great! But would be very sad if James left GotR... he IS a good performer, and his singing really has improved radically... the others are great musicians, but he's the one that means they carry off the act, because he can act up to the audience and connect with them... and dance!

And it's not just James fans that think that, either. My friend Laura said the same, and she was there purely for the musical side, and she said how great he was on stage, too. Well, you'd expect it.

Sorry, I'm rambling, dreadful habit.

[PokerKitten]

I was a bit sad for him, thinking that he can't hack it as a singer. We know differently. But I haven't heard how the MR gig went; maybe he was on a downer from that?

I remember how organised and reporterish I was after SFX in 2002, but how last year and this I was more into just listening and watching him, and doing my best to remember stuff afterwards. If I get the chance again, I think I'll be back in reporterish mode because it is very satisfying in its own way. And yeah, big hugs to the BAPS gals!

I don't remember there being vids available after last year's MR.

[SpikesToy]

Ahhhhhhh

I had to cover my eyes because there's some spoilery stuff in her about Angel S5 that I don't want to see!

[PokerKitten]

Oh, oops! Yes, a teeny mention of the finale, but his answer is very fudged. You wouldn't learn anything really!

I gather from other sources (like catlady, at Sparklies)that the political stuff was about him going into politics at some point; but this led to an anti-Bush rant. Now, you know me, I'd have been rolling round in his vehemence like a dog (bitch, heh!) in muck and getting off on it. But I know it doesn't go down well with everyone ;D Apparently Danny Strong revealed he will be working for Kerry til November; and Adam offended some folks with a wee comment he made about Reagan. The sensible, and compassionate Libran in me disapproves, but the political bitch queen from hell relates to something said in the heat of the moment, and I can't promise I won't say something similar when Mrs T pops her clogs.

[Pixie]

lmao! Not wanting to be too political, I don't go a bundle on any politicians anyway, so I'd prolly have loved every minute of it - I love bitching about politicians!

Muhaha, evil cynical bitch that I am!
Some of the time.

[JIG]

I'm really glad about the macbeth project going ahead but am really upset but this GotR news! Why does james think he cant cut it? and i want more gigs, i want the band to stay together!!

[PokerKitten]

Hee! Reposting this for Nos because it somehow landed in the Halloween thread! But thanks Nos!

Andy Hallett - I wasn't there for the actual announcement but the 2 people that I was sitting with told me that he got some kind of a virus that went to his heart which conflicted with already existing heart problems & he was really sick & in the hospital. This happened 3 weeks ago I believe?! But he's home & doing well tho the doctor strictly told him NO TRAVEL. Andy made it clear to Aria that he wanted her to tell his fans exactly what happened so that we understand how sick he is & how deeply sorry he is he couldn't be there. 3 big Get Well cards were bought & attendees signed them while waiting in line to get autographs from the guests.

Bugger! Just quoting James isn't the same thing as talking politics on the list. Hope someone else reports it!

Someone asked, "Governor Ronald Regan, Governor Arnold Schwartzeneger, what about Governor James Marsters?" To which James replied "How about President Marsters?" Ofcourse applause. James said that it was a possibility cause he was very opinionated & has a big mouth & vocal about his views. Then he began state some of those views including how much he doesn't like Bush & how we need a real man in the White House. How Bush should go to Iraq & have them cut off his hands (I couldn't hear the reason). But he was graphic about it. There were some booing but mostly clapping. That was the jist of it.

Like PK said, Danny expressed his support for Kerry & Adam expressed some of his views at the Common Rotation concert the night before.

anyone know if MR is the type of con that sells videos after the event?

No they don't. It's taped only to show to the volunteers who don't get to watch the Q&A as they're working while it's going on. It's not sold to the attendees.

Is it just me or was this question... "How old is your son?"... completely inappropriate? I mean really! I still can't believe James answered it instead of nicely saying "It's none of your damn business!"

[Nosferatu]

I was just gonna say.. "What the hell did I do? And how the hell did it get there?" lmao Sorry about that PK!

Btw, about Andy, just so you understand the extent of his illness, as I understand it, he was on an oxygen tank when he was in the hospital at least & he has to take medication for the rest of his life now.

Did I mention James let me rub his shaved head? lmao I got a collective "hey! that's not fair!" from the next 10 people behind me in the auto line. Well to you!

Maybe he let me rub it cause I cheered him up a bit about his drunken performance with the band the night before lol

[PokerKitten]

Then he began state some of those views including how much he doesn't like Bush & how we need a real man in the White House. How Bush should go to Iraq & have them cut off his hands (I couldn't hear the reason). But he was graphic about it.

Holy guacamole! I think he could give me a good run for my ranting money! I just love him to pieces! ;D

And yeah, questions about his son, especially if out of the blue and James not having talked about him, are intrusive.

No probs Nos! Really appreciate the extra info

[Nosferatu]

Oh yeah, I mean if James had been talking about his son I can understand asking about him as a follow up question. But James didn't mention his son AT ALL. This woman walked up there with her son, about 6 i guess, and the little kid said hi so James was very cute & said hi back & asked how he was. Then the woman asked "How old is your son?" To which James replied very directly, quick & somewhat quietly "8. He's beautiful." and then said something like "and that's all I'm saying about that." Then she asked James to settle a debate between her & her daughter (who got up & came by her mom at the mic) which BAPS already wrote about.

And why am I posting on your board when I haven't written my reports on my own board yet! lmao