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Posted by: MacGyverOnline 19 August 2008 - 02:15 AM |
Several of our members are traveling to, and meeting up at Gatecon this week-end. As with any great gathering, there will be plenty of stories, photos and memories created. This thread is a place where you can share your Gatecon experience, photos and memmories with the rest of our community. |
Posted by: banlu 21 August 2008 - 11:22 AM |
Hey y'all! Astra, Loth, Macbeth and I had dinner last night (Wed) at a classy restaurant with a bunch of Stargate folks. More latrer banlu |
Posted by: Lothithil 21 August 2008 - 01:58 PM |
Only enough time to pop in and say, I'm having the time of my life!! Everybody is so wonderful, Vancouver is beautiful, and the fun is just getting started! 'Grrl, 'Beth, and I are just about to start our 'private tour' of Vancouver and various MacGyver film locations... the clock and Stanley Park are on our to-do list. My celebrity spotting so far consists of being in line ahead of Dean Haglund (The Lone Gunman, XFiles, Starhole) at the Hotel registration. *glee* Tonight, I hope to further narrowed my degrees of separation from RDA! *bounces around happily* More details as I have a chance to report! |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 21 August 2008 - 02:19 PM |
keep the reports rolling in guys and take lots of pictures! |
Posted by: jackwabbit 21 August 2008 - 07:20 PM |
*wibble* I miss you guys so much...can you miss an experience you're not having? How does that work? Love you all, truly, and wish you nothing but the best. Take care of each other, and I'll talk to you when you get back. Hugs, wabbit |
Posted by: Lothithil 21 August 2008 - 10:48 PM |
I don't have the energy to recount in suitable detail the amazing experience I had tonight... watching 'Beth and 'Grrl capering about on stage along a bunch of other GateGoers with Alex Zahara and Dan Payne during 'SG Fun'... I can only say that I laughed so hard that I think I coughed up a rib! Details to follow... and photographs (unless I can get them to pay me for the negatives... ) -Laughing Lothi |
Posted by: MacBeth 22 August 2008 - 12:09 PM |
Gatecon, Day One . . . I’ll have to post later about the evildoings of last night and the day before; because right now, I have to get as much of the morning panel out to you folks as I possibly can, while the memories are at their freshest. Each of the three days of RDA’s programming is themed: Sunday will be the MacGyver day, Saturday is focused on Stargate, today is the Sea Shepherds day. As originally announced and planned, today was the one day for which RDA was committed to doing programming: the rest of the events grew out of that original agreement. Each Gatecon (as I understand it) has been in aid of charity, with a particular focus on a different organisation each year. And this year, it’s Sea Shepherds. More than that: this year, it’s RDA. One of the pointers given us at our volunteer briefing yesterday afternoon was that “It’s taken 20 years for Mr. Anderson to agree to attend a convention – let’s not scare him off, okay?” So Friday morning in the main ballroom, on a stage set up with a Stargate as a backdrop and entrance, Captain Paul Watson and RDA made their appearance for an hour of talk and Q&A about the environment and the Sea Shepherds mission. I’ll try to remember as much as I can of what was said, although I’m not going to be focusing on Captain Watson – you can go to http://www.seashepherd.org/ for more about them! Good lord, where to begin? Well, for starters, he looked great. We’ll get photos up at some point, but for now, just remember how RDA looked at the Continuum premiere and picture him more casually dressed – black Sea Shepherds T-shirt, khaki trousers, lightweight jacket. Black shoes. White socks. RDA began by talking about how this is his first Gatecon, and mentioned that after attending Avalon and then having ‘a great time’ at Comic Con, he was in a much better ‘comfort zone’ when it came to attending these events. He introduced Watson, describing how deeply moved he had been by Watson when they had met years before at a charity skiing event. Actually, take that back. He started by cracking jokes. After the two had entered, they bowed, he salaamed to Watson, and then started to say goodbye and leave. They took their seats on the stage and one of the crew brought them water; he thanked her and then started checking his pockets and asked Watson, “Got any change?” He told the crowd to ‘stop taking pictures’, and when the cameras were immediately lowered, said “No! Just kidding!” He commented on how the attendees had come halfway round the world – and the cameras began to click again. He was relaxed and at ease, continuing to make jokes all the way through, often following Watson’s comments with a silly remark or using silly voices to call on audience members when the question session began. RDA was asked about whether there was any maritime history in his family, and he answered that his ancestors were Scandinavian – “They were Vikings. We used to rape and pillage. We’ve given that up, though.” Watson pointed out that he’s now a pirate. (The Sea Shepherds are regarded as pirates by some of their adversaries.) He mentioned they were miners after they settled in Minnesota. He was asked about becoming involved in environmental causes, and mentioned that growing up in Minnesota, he had spent as much of his life as he could out of doors. He was asked about MacGyver, and how the later seasons moved more towards environmental causes in the stories; he said that it was not so much his direct influence, as an interactive process. Over the years, the writers were ‘tapping into’ his interests, ‘writing to his strengths’: he would return from a weekend of racing cars ‘elated’ (or hurting, if he’d crashed), or be reading an issue of National Geographic, and the ideas would start from that. He specifically mentioned ‘the rhino episode’ and the auto racing story. One particularly fascinating comment he made, after the subject of MacGyver had been brought up, was a brief retelling of the day he auditioned for the role. He mentioned having been motorcycling ‘up the coast’, and how he’d answered the call from his agent and shown up disheveled from the ride, wearing his leather jacket – but he also said that he’d been on the verge of leaving the acting business, and had been thinking of what he was going to do with his life instead. That was quite a moment to hear. This is already a way-too-long post, so I’d better wrap it up . . . but there was a really fine moment when Paul Watson was first talking about RDA’s involvement with Sea Shepherds, and his coming along with them on some of their trips. On one voyage, the ship was holed and began to take on water; the crew asked why RDA couldn’t fix the ship, since he was MacGyver! RDA’s answer to them: he didn’t have his writers with him. I'll post more later . . . I'm still giddy! 'Beth |
Posted by: MacsChick 22 August 2008 - 06:10 PM |
Wow! This is great stuff, guys! Now I don't feel quite as deprived! RDA's story about the MacGyver audition is fascinating. It's a good thing he didn't give up on acting, or we (the broader world) would never have gotten to know what an amazing, incredible, charming guy he is! Also, imagine...by just one twist of fate we might have had someone different playing the role of MacGyver *gasps* I can't wait to hear more and see your pictures! Woo hoo! |
Posted by: Lothithil 22 August 2008 - 10:10 PM |
Lothi here... reporting in from 30,000 feet... floating, that is, on a cloud of elation after coming from the Banquet. Our table was packed with wonderful people; 'Beth, Astra, Banlu, Aud, Jane and Su, Paya, Dinky and Jo, and myself were all sitting together, having a WONDERFUL crazy time (snaps shots from our performance of 'Dancing Queen' will soon be available... providing the ransom is refused) and taking pictures with the Special Guests, Dean Haglund, Colin Cunningham, Dan Payne, Corin Nemic, to name the ones we managed to get photos with us. Never. Had. So. Much. Fun. We had four countries represented at our table tonight...Great Britain, Germany, the Czech Republic, and the good ol' USA... the world (Northern Hemisphere, anyway) at a single table, for four hours of laughter and good food, dazzling stars and flashbulbs. The panel with Richard and Captain Watson today was incredible. I can see why Rick... *sigh * ... is so passionate in his support of this amazing, brave, and fascinating man. I was proud to shake his hand after the panel, and honored when he signed my program next to his photograph. Incredible. I'm head over heels high right now, just taking the time to post this while the euphoria is with me, before I go off and try to get some sleep... preparing myself to see The Man tomorrow for his Stargate panel, and then again later for my autograph session... *gulp*faint* If I sleep at all tonight... it will be a *blinking* miracle! -Lothorizine |
Posted by: MacBeth 22 August 2008 - 10:12 PM | ||
*applies soporific trout to Lothi's head* |
Posted by: MacBeth 22 August 2008 - 10:18 PM |
And how has LOLMac been doing at Gatecon? Very well, thank you. With Grrl's invaluable help and connivance, we printed out and laminated a collection of the Best of LOLMac, mostly in the form of small (2 1/2") squares with pins glued to the back (although the glue and the laminate keep parting company). We've been giving them away to people, to share the glee. Meanwhile, back in Photoshop . . . Day minus-three -- vacation starts: http://lolmac.livejournal.com/72539.html Day minus-two -- on the road north: http://lolmac.livejournal.com/72792.html Day minus-one -- at the hotel: http://lolmac.livejournal.com/73061.html Gatecon, Day One: http://lolmac.livejournal.com/73440.html |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 23 August 2008 - 02:15 AM |
Great stuff guys. Glad your all enjoying yourselves Keep the updates coming in.... and don't forget to let RDA know that MacGyver is ONLINE. *hint hint* |
Posted by: Amy 25 August 2008 - 03:51 AM |
Awesome reports guys! Can't wait to hear more! Love the tidbit about his audition and how he was joking around... *sigh* brings back memories of the San Diego Sea Shepards event! |
Posted by: MacsChick 25 August 2008 - 05:44 PM |
So guys, any reports on what he said about MacGyver? |
Posted by: MacNymph 25 August 2008 - 06:57 PM |
They're all high from over dose of RDA well above the RDA. They've got the munchies and can't operate their computers. |
Posted by: MacBeth 25 August 2008 - 08:40 PM |
*munchmunch munch* Huh? Okay, okay . . . actually, we've been without internet access since the wee hours of Saturday morning, and it's now Monday evening. We just got back to Seattle. Lothi got to meet him -- I'll let her tell you all about that! We didn't actually need to resuscitate her, although care had to be taken for the next several hours -- okay, days -- to make sure she didn't float away through the ceiling. No, Rocky, don't worry. None of us embarrassed ourselves in public (unless you count the raucous singing in the bar) or behaved indecorously, at least not around RDA. In fact, since Lothi and I are currently sharing an internet connection, I'll log out now and let her have the floor first. |
Posted by: Lothithil 25 August 2008 - 09:28 PM |
I waited in line patiently for my turn to collect an autograph from Richard Dean Anderson. I was grateful for the efficient airconditioning in the room... my hands were sweating a little, and I had to be careful not to grip the photograph I had chosen for him to sign for me too tightly, lest I crease it. The only thing that kept me from insanity was seeing the familiar faces of my friends.. Banlu I remember seeing, and Aud, who graciously allowed me to proceed her in line. There were others... but I can't remember them all now... there was a great feeling of support in that patiently impatient line of fans. The line moved slow; when a person got called up for their turn, the whole line moved forward one seat. I was both impatient and grateful... I had time to practice my composure. When I reached the head of the line, I started finding it a bit difficult to breathe. He was sitting no more than ten feet from me, head down over the item he was personalizing. I got called up while he was still visiting with the girl ahead of me, and when his minder slid the photo I had selected of him over, he looked up and gave me a reasuring smile and said "Hi". "Hello," I said, hopefully in the correct language. The organizers of the auto session had written names on a sticky-notes so there would be no misspelling problems; mine said, quite simply 'Cat'. "That's your name?" he said, looking up at me with a grin. "Yes." Remember to breathe. "Short for Catherine." He looked back down at the photo; it depicted himself and a small seal in a snowy setting. He selected a pen and bent over his writing pad, and began to carefully scribe on the photo. I knew I should be making light conversation, or something, but honestly... all I wanted to do was stand there and watch him writing out my name and his brief but sweet message... watching his hands, which have always fascinated me so... so that is what I did. I watied patiently, smiling, for him to finish. He blew on the ink a little, then slid the picture toward me with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. I remembered who I was again. "There ya go," he said softly, as if he suspected that I might spook if he spoke too loudly. His smile was encouraging. "Thank you!" I said. I was already smiling, but I smiled more and added, "I'd like to say hello to you on behalf of the members of MacGyver Online." He brightened and said, "Thank you!". He looked pleased and happy. I nodded to him, said thanks again, and floated toward the exit. The girls watching the door were all smiling at me, and kindly guided me back to the table to collect my bag which I had forgotten completely. I stepped out of the room and into the corridor outside. A line of nervous, excited people were waiting their own turns. I smiled and walked past slowly, carrying my new treasure and waiting until the ink was dry enough to put it back into its protector. I don't remember anything after that... (more later... must use what little precious time is left to me for conspiring with 'Beth) |
Posted by: banlu 25 August 2008 - 09:41 PM |
Flying home tomorrow. More in a few days Pic from Sunday morning when he first walked onto the stage. banlu |
Posted by: MacBeth 25 August 2008 - 09:51 PM |
Back again, although only briefly because it's getting late! It is going to take days to get all the stuff out of our heads and onto the forum -- tons of pictures, tons of memories. They videotaped a lot of the con; we've ordered copies of the Gatecon DVD, which is expected out in about 6 weeks (and hopefully that won't stretch to six months or more). Once I have my DVD in hand, I'll be able to transcribe whatever relevant sections are included and post those. We have no idea what it will contain, of course, since they'll have to pick and choose from three full days of events -- including Grrl and myself larking around on stage during the "SG-Fun" parody show on Thursday night. A few quick sneak preview notes: I entered the costume parade, and won a prize. Lothi and I were interviewed by a Dutch journalist about fandom in general and fanfiction in particular. Grrl, Astra and I were amongst the attendees at a workshop on writing held by Sabine Bauer, a woman who has successfully made the jump from writing fanfic to writing published Stargate novels. Each attendee at this workshop submitted a 1000-word piece of writing, and the work was discussed and critiqued in the workshop. Ms. Bauer was very supportive and encouraging. The auction on Saturday night raised over US $28,000 for Sea Shepherds. That's just the auction; we're waiting for the report on how much was raised by the entire event. Captain Watson is an extraordinary man and a very powerful speaker. RDA has been invited to accompany them on their next campaign in Antarctica! We gave away almost all the LOLMacs we'd prepared, and got a lot of laughs. On Monday morning, I found out that apparently RDA did see them at some point; he was a little confused (not being familiar with LOLCats) but thought they were funny. Although the Sunday panel was supposed to be focussed on MacGyver, it turned instead into a general Q&A, with questions on everything from MacGyver to Stargate to Legend to snack foods. I'll post more details about the MacGyver info later -- I did, in fact, get a chance to ask him a question myself! It was obvious during the entire event that RDA was having a terrific time. His final panel on Sunday -- which was also attended by Amanda Tapping (as a surprise guest) and his daughter Wylie -- was followed by a tribute to Don Davis, and then by the closing ceremony; and he announced that he'd had a great time and was willing to attend more events. At the wrap party we were officially informed that we had "made Mr. Anderson very, very happy" and that his last words as he left were, "I'll be back next year. Just give me a call." 'Beth |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 26 August 2008 - 01:50 AM |
AWESOME!! I can't wait to hear more details! Loth mentioned MOL to RDA! Excellent! Impatiently looking forward to more reports and photos. |
Posted by: SHEILA 26 August 2008 - 02:05 AM |
I can't wait eather.Hi rock iI know this is not the place for this but I sent you an email a few moments ago.I can't get the map to work on the sit.I need a list of a list of were Mac has traviled to can you help.Please... |
Posted by: jackwabbit 26 August 2008 - 05:22 AM |
Banlu-thank you for sharing that wonderful pic. Lothi, Beth-you know I'll see you on LJ and there shall be much talking about this later. I have to run off to the dentist soon, and I don't really have a lot of words now, so...how about: *love* (oh, and hi back!) Grrl, Astra-hi back to you, too! Thanks for sending greetings back to me with Becky! *hug* And finally...BACK NEXT YEAR??? I was good and saved my pennies this year, but, um...well, I'm not usually like this, but, um...I reget it. So, um...yeah...about that next year thing...yeah... (Hope, hope, hope! We'll see. RDA or not, I'd love to hang with you all!) |
Posted by: Liz1976 26 August 2008 - 07:24 AM | ||
Hi Beth, Please forgive the rudeness of my question, but how much does a Gatecon experience cost? I just wonder if I would ever be able to afford it---maybe in 20 years from now? |
Posted by: Astra 26 August 2008 - 11:18 AM |
It was so great to meet all the girls (hugs) and I had a wonderful time! More later, just wanted to show a few of Paya's pictures: Attention - naked skin on the belly! |
Posted by: Astra 26 August 2008 - 11:36 AM | ||||
Jolene even took a video of this... If you all are strong enough to watch it.
You forgot how he spilled his coffee when Paul said that... We have a picture from that somewhere... |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 26 August 2008 - 12:52 PM |
WOW. Those are some really good photos. RDA looks healthy and happy. And I must say, after looking at those pictures, he could still pull off the MacGyver look. |
Posted by: MacsChick 26 August 2008 - 05:02 PM |
Thank you guys for continuing to supply us with these wonderful stories and pictures from the event! Rick does look great--he has aged well! I heard from others on other forums that he is anxious to get active and healthy again and that his weight gain had to do with health issues (surgeries, etc.), which is completely understandable. Were any of you present when he told the story about his heart having an abnormalilty of some kind when he went diving? Scary stuff! I'm glad he'll be all right! Keep up the good work on these detailed reports! Oh, and congratulations are in order for Loth for meeting (and surviving ) her encounter with The Man! I'm loving this! It's almost as exciting as being there! |
Posted by: Lothithil 26 August 2008 - 05:52 PM | ||
Paya's pictures are amazing! My own look terribly pale in comparison... hard to take pictures when your hands are shaking... but I will fish out the ones that look fair and try to get 'em up for you guys.
I nearly had a heart attack myself listening to RDA talk about this! *gulp* I recall something I heard from Comic Con (I think) when he was talking about having to spend time in a hyperbaric chamber... I'm guessing that was related to the problem he talked about. RDA told us during one of his Q&As that he had felt something funny in his chest when he was diving in a swimming pool with his daughter. He was planning a scuba dive soon, so he went in for a check up and the doctor said that a dive over 20 feet would probably have killed him. RDA said that was the first time that he'd listened to the warnings from his own body. He went on to say that he is improving, and that he'd recently been cleared to dive up to 60 feet... but hoped to improve that number, since he likes deeper dives. I also had a bit of a wibble hearing him talk about joining Capt. Watson's future campaign to Antarctica... as much as I love him for the adventure in his heart, I pray that he doesn't get himself harpooned by an illegal whaler. |
Posted by: Astra 26 August 2008 - 06:15 PM | ||
I believe it even only were ten feet. He dived six feet in the pool with Wylie and the doctor said if he had gone at this dive trip at ten feet he already might have died. I'm so glad he listened to his body! |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 26 August 2008 - 06:44 PM |
Wow that is kinda scary. Thats a not a web page I ever want to have to make. It makes one aware of our own mortality when you hear about active healthy people having heart problems. It makes you wonder if life style does relaly have much of a bearing on our health after all. I'm loving all the stories and pictures we're getting, this is probably about as close as I'll ever get to meeting him myself, although if he heads down to Antarctica he might stop in NZ (probably the south island though - still no good to me). Anyway keep the stories and pictures rolling in if you can guys. This is great!! |
Posted by: Lothithil 26 August 2008 - 06:58 PM | ||||
You're very likely correct, Astra! Specific details are still a little fuzzy... I'm just really glad I managed not to make a *blinking* fool of myself in front of RDA Behind closed doors, however... there was much squeeing to be heard! I can has dignity! |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 26 August 2008 - 07:34 PM |
You wish! I saw the drool marks on the pillow. Paya's pics are AMAZING!!!! Makes mine look downright paltry, but I will post them anyway once they are downloaded and sorted. GateCon, hmmm, where do I begin. Well, I guess I could start with my own RDA encounter of the close kind...Legends Memoribilia and Sea Shepard Conservancy were sharing space in a dealer's room and RDA walked in the back area from the room where he was doing his first photo session to check things out. I was looking at some photos and artwork for sale and looked up as he was walking in and he was RIGHT THERE!!!!! Right in front of me. HOLY CRAP!!!!! I mean right there as in close enough to touch. When I regained the power of speech, I managed to actually say something that resembled 'hi'. Usually I am not at a loss for words, but something about gorgeous brown eyes and a kind smile...and yes I did have enough presence of mind to snag a photo. Which I will post later. Fast forward to the Sea Shepard fund raising auction Saturday night: Rick was in a bidding war with someone else for a Sea Shepard pirate flag and he was walking around the rows of chairs where we were all seated. He had his back to us and kept taking steps back until he ended up right in front of my row. My seat was three from the end so of course, out comes the camera and I click off a couple of pics. He then steps back again so he is behind my row a little. I turned and snapped another shot and he was looking at me and made the funniest face at me at the same time I snapped the picture. OMG!!!! I love it. I will definitely post it and I think it is one of the best pics I have. The whole thing was a blast. I am still trying to process everything and that's not easy considering I'm still trying to recover from too much excitement, too much caffeiene (well maybe not), too much carousing (use your imagination) and an utter and absolute lack of restful sleep. I need to eat and unpack and get some rest so I can start making sense. I had a wonderful time and Beth, Lothi, Astra, Banlu, and everyone else I met are just as awesome, actually more so, in person than they are here on the forum. If GateCon returns to Vancouver next year, I am totally planning on going. Almost everyone I met was totally cool. There were some behind the scenes issues that should hopefully be resolved, but I have no intention of letting them taint an otherwise wonderful experience. Anyway, that's all I have for now. I will report more, complete with photos when I can string two or more thoughts together logically. And Paya, I want your camera and that amazing lens...what fab photos. |
Posted by: SHEILA 26 August 2008 - 08:29 PM |
Does anyone have any news on the MacGyver panel that was at gatecon yet. |
Posted by: Lothithil 27 August 2008 - 08:24 PM |
I remember that there was one... I know I was there... but I don't remember much yet. I'm still dizzy! I'm working on a con diary, which I didn't have the wherewithall to keep during the con... but now that I've retold the experience a couple of times, I think it's starting to come back to me. I know it is annoying when you have to wait for a Con report, but I understand better now the breathless excitement of attending such an event, and the way the experience can overwhelm you... bear with us until we can find our brains and dust them off and get the story together. I can say that Rick looked fantastic. He complained that he was still about thirty-five pounds heavy, due to the surgery he had on his foot, and that he would soon have to have the other foot done, too... he did not sound enthusiastic about it. Apparently, it is a tremendously painful surgery, and he doesn't like to have his mobility reduced. If he was thirty-five pounds heavy, it must have all been in his pockets, because he looked pretty trim when he came out for the Stargate panel with shirt tucked and BDUs. All through the panels, Rick smiled easily, talked easily, and eagerly invited questions from the audience. All I could do was watch and try to remember to use the camera, even though my hands were shaking so much that most of my pictures are unusable. Luckily, Paya was there... she had a better seat and a WAY better camera. I want to go again. Gatecon 2009, anyone? If Rick does sign on for another 'con, I am going to be sorely tempted to repeat this experience! |
Posted by: MacBeth 27 August 2008 - 08:35 PM | ||||||||||||||
It's amazing how much it helps to have a full night of sleep. Wow. Let's catch up with a few comments and questions first . . .
Oh, man . . .
Yes indeed -- RDA did a full-blown spit-take at that.
Possibly a posthumous practical joke from Don Davis? Everyone was given a special badge to wear in his memory; that's what RDA is wearing clipped to the front of his shirt. It had a photo of General Hammond on one side and a short memorial piece on the back. Partway through the panel, the weight of it apparently pulled one of the buttons open. After a while, RDA noticed it and buttoned it back up again: and the crowd let out a moan of objection. Rick shook his head at us and said, "Oh, STOP!" Admittedly, at the beginning of the panel the previous day, he happened to ask "Any questions?" just as he was fussing with his shirt. So someone in the audience called out "Will you take it off?" Unfortunately, he didn't. Oh, well. On the other hand, if you look at the pictures from the Sunday panel -- the ones with the light-coloured shirt -- you may notice the top button is unbuttoned in most of them. Well, I sure noticed. At the end of the panel, RDA called Wylie up onto the stage, and she remained with him through the Don Davis memorial, which followed directly after, and the closing ceremonies after that. He interacted with her a lot during this time, leaning down to listen and then talking to her. At one point, she said something to him; he looked at her, buttoned the top button of his shirt, looked at her again, and she nodded. Dang.
Not sure why you specifically asked this of me -- but to quote Asimov, "Insufficient data for meaningful response." There were three different levels of membership, differently priced; numerous add-ons; and the biggest costs are travel, hotels, and meals, not to mention memorabilia and souvenirs. The biggest spenders dropped thousands of dollars at the charity auction. Try looking over http://www.gatecon.com to get an idea.
Yes! We must have wabbit next year!! I will now try to get my thoughts collected enough to attempt a post about the panel itself! |
Posted by: MacBeth 27 August 2008 - 09:18 PM |
So. The Sunday panel . . . was supposed to be focussed on MacGyver, but it wasn’t; as I said, it turned into a general Q&A, and only a few of the questions were about MacGyver. One young boy, who had a very strong Scottish accent, asked how many ‘pen-knives’ they had used in the show. It took Rick some effort to grasp the question, between the accent and the unfamiliar term, but he finally got it. He said they ordered them by the gross, then interjected, “How much is a gross? 144, right?” Audience agreed. Rick beamed and said, “Really? I got it right?” and turned towards the side of the room where Wylie was sitting and made a joke about how her father actually does know a few things. This was how many of Rick’s answers went – he had commented the day before that his answers were often ‘tangential’, and sooner or later he would often ask, “What was the question again?” This was very entertaining and made for unexpected answers. In this case, he got back to the question about the knives, and guessed that they probably went through a gross of them every season, ending up by guessing a thousand knives – “all different sizes, with different blades.” Then he admitted that during the series, he cut himself repeatedly, and told one particular story: he had been playing around with one of the knives between takes, stabbing with it; he remarked that they don’t have a lock on the blade to keep it open. The blade folded itself closed right over his hand and gashed his finger. He looked at it and thought, “Well, that’s not going to match!” – that is, they were going to have a continuity problem with a bandage suddenly appearing on his hand. (We can now start speculating which episode it was! He mentioned that they were shooting scenes in a car.) Posted below is a picture Lothi took of Rick pantomiming messing around with the knife. Other questions asked during the panel included whether Legend would ever be released on DVD – no, Lothi did not ask that, someone else did. And it gave us a great opportunity to cheer and make it plain that there was a market ready to buy it. Amanda’s appearance was as an unannounced ‘surprise guest’, although it was nicely set up. Someone asked Rick which, of the times he’d kissed Amanda, was the best! He hemmed and hawed and said he didn’t remember, and she appeared through the Stargate behind him and said, “Maybe I can refresh your memory.” As the room exploded with cheers, they hugged (for a very long time) and kissed (platonically). They still had their mikes in hand as they did so; eventually, Rick asked Amanda (into his mike, quite audibly, still hugging her) “So, how’s the husband?” She asked after Wylie; that’s when we learned that Wylie was not only at Gatecon, but was there at the panel, watching from the sidelines by the sound booth! Rick invited Amanda to visit him at their new house as long as Wylie didn’t object, and mentioned that Wylie was a little jealous of other women. And he did eventually answer the question about kissing Amanda – he said that just as the best Stargate episode was always “the next one”, the best kiss was always “the last one”. This post is getting horrendously long; I’m going to break now and start a new one! |
Posted by: MacBeth 27 August 2008 - 10:48 PM |
More MacGatecon bits. After Amanda had made her entrance and taken her seat, she asked Rick, “So, can you build a nuclear reactor from a stick of gum and a shoelace?” General laughter, and Rick answered, quite loudly, “No! Nobody can!” One of the odder questions asked was what they liked as snack foods. Amanda favours apples with almond butter. Rick hemmed and hawed a bit, and Wylie announced from the sidelines that her dad really likes blueberries. This was the start of a long and silly story about Rick’s addiction to blueberries. At the end of the panel, Rick and Amanda were asked to share favourite memories of Don Davis. Rick talked about how he had met Don during MacGyver, when Don had been Dana Elcar’s double. They had first met during the filming of what must have been “The Survivors” (RDA does not remember episode titles). They were shooting the scene where Pete Thornton falls into the lake – which was apparently filmed out in Stanley Park, so the fall was actually done into the harbour. It’s a very cold harbour. Don Davis did the fall, and Rick admired how matter-of-fact and professional he was about it. Amanda went on to tell a story of her own, but I kept watching Rick. He had removed his Don Davis badge when he’d fixed the button on his shirt, and set it on the table beside him; now he picked it up and studied it again, his face growing very serious. He put the badge back on and stared out into the distance, and wrapped both hands around his microphone and gripped it harder and harder. Amanda’s story hit a silly line, and he didn’t so much as glance towards her or crack a smile – pretty much the only time all weekend that the light went out of his eyes, and he wasn’t smiling or laughing. It was a very poignant moment. I just wish someone had asked Rick about memories of Dana Elcar! Maybe next year . . . And yes, I know that I haven't yet posted about the question I asked. It's taking me a while to pull my memories together and actually write it down! Asking that question was the most direct interaction I myself had with RDA; I didn't have an autograph or photo session, and I didn't run into him in the dealer's room or the halls or anything like that. More later. PS: Nearly forgot to credit Lothi -- she took the photos! I was too absorbed in staring at him. |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 28 August 2008 - 01:27 AM |
I wonder where RDA's mind was during those few minutes? very interesting. Something else which is interesting is his recollections of when he first met Don S Davis. I'm almost certain RDA was on-stage with Don in 1985 to accept an award at the Stuntman Awards Show for the parachute jump in the gambit of the opening episode. |
Posted by: Lothithil 28 August 2008 - 06:33 AM |
I recall that someone asked RDA during the panels if he had performed that particular stunt. He said that he had done everything up to that point... including catching the hook and setting it in the saddle, but he wasn't allowed to do the actual lifting-the-horse-off-of-the-ground shot. He mentioned that the stunt had won an award, but he didn't elaborate further; he was commiserating the fact that the directors hadn't alowed him to do the 'fun part'... His answers were often quite 'tangenial' as he defined it. I would have been perfectly happy to listen to him rambling about anything he cared to talk about |
Posted by: Astra 28 August 2008 - 10:33 AM |
Just an update, people: I just read in the RDAnderson forum that Kate will do a full transcript of all the panels, so we can read all of his ramblings again and again and again... Can't wait! And thanks, Beth, now I know Paya was right and I was wrong, I understood Wylie said "You should add frozen blueberries" (to the apple) which is quite different than "my dad likes frozen blueberries". And I also watched him during when he was just staring into space for quite a while. You really could see how he came out of it after quite some time, squinted around and remembered where he was again. |
Posted by: MacBeth 28 August 2008 - 12:47 PM | ||||
My interpretation was that he was very deeply moved and trying to keep a grip on himself; he doesn't strike me as someone who would be comfortable getting teary-eyed in that particular public forum. All the rest of the time that he was on stage, throughout the weekend, he was either attentive to the audience or to whoever else was on stage with him. This was the only time that he turned inwards, as it were.
That's fabulous news! I've been very annoyed with myself -- I used to have a much better memory when it came to recalling the details of conversations, and now I can't do better than recall highlights and approximate phrasings. |
Posted by: Amy 28 August 2008 - 12:58 PM |
wow...great pictures and reports guys! |
Posted by: Astra 28 August 2008 - 04:57 PM | ||
I saw him once wiping away a tear, though - it was when he was speaking about Wylie. I was very moved then, also. I think he even said something like "Jeez." |
Posted by: Lothithil 28 August 2008 - 05:13 PM |
Wibble! |
Posted by: MacsChick 28 August 2008 - 05:51 PM |
Rick strikes me as someone who is very passionate and cares deeply about others--that could explain why he looked so serious and moved during the discussion about the late Don Davis. They were probably very close and he was most likely reflecting on that relationship, mortality, etc. He also said once in an interview that he is a "moody" and "emotional" person who chooses to go with those moods when they arise rather than attempt to suppress them. Perhaps he would control himself enough to not shed too many tears in public, but to show his sadness openly in other ways is the most likely explanation. |
Posted by: MacBeth 29 August 2008 - 07:10 PM |
More Mac-moments: During the Saturday panel (I think), Rick was asked if he had seen the Mythbusters special on MacGyver, and what he thought of it. He said that the Mythbusters people had contacted him before the show was made. They had contacted Paramount first, to obtain permission to use clips from the show; then they contacted him to ask if he minded their doing the special. Rick was very touched by this – he pointed out that he has no ownership of MacGyver, and that it was a true courtesy on the part of the Mythbusters to go to the added effort of asking him. His answer to them was that he didn’t mind at all, as long as they didn’t make MacGyver ‘look stupid’. On Sunday, after Amanda had joined him on stage, they ribbed each other a good deal. At one point, she told him, “You’re so pretty.” He thanked her and said, “You used to be blonde.” After a moment, he added, “So did I.” I laughed so hard I just about coughed up a lung. At the end of the Sunday panel, after Wylie had come up onto the stage, Rick spoke about how all the work he does on environmental causes is for her – and for all the other children, of course; that it was for them that the planet needed to be saved. I got very teary-eyed myself at that point . . . |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 29 August 2008 - 08:02 PM | ||
Well it's certainly encouraging to hear a response like that from him. It's nice to know that he has that sort of concern for MacGyver. |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 29 August 2008 - 08:26 PM |
Actually, Rocky at some point over the weekend, he said he was proud of the work he had done on MacGyver. |
Posted by: MacBeth 29 August 2008 - 08:59 PM |
That was on Sunday, in the MacGyver panel -- part of his answer to my own question! I’ve been trying to see if I could actually recall it verbatim, but I can’t, and I’m going to have to settle for paraphrasing again. A note on the Q&A sessions: during Rick’s panels, there were usually seven hundred or more people in the room, and the mike runners had a real challenge sorting out who would ask a question and in what order. Given the size of the room, questions had to be asked into the mikes; that meant you raised your hand, not to be called on by the guest on stage, but to signal the mike runners. There were three of them, each in a different section of the auditorium, on headsets, tracking the order of questions. When it came to be someone’s turn, they were handed the mike, and the mike runner raised a badminton racquet with a bright coloured number on it, and Rick (or whichever guest was on stage) would point towards the person and call out for the question. Questions weren’t submitted or vetted in advance; it was a case of catching the eye of the mike runner, and hoping you got into the queue early enough that the sequence reached you before time ran out. With that many people, the odds weren’t great. Before the MacGyver panel, I had spent a lot of time thinking about what question I myself would ask, if I could. There were so many! Rick’s penchant for ‘tangential’ answers actually gave me the idea of rolling two questions into one, in the hopes that he’d wander through answers to both. So, as soon as I could after the panel started, I raised my hand at a moment when the runner was looking in my direction, and got a nod. As the questions continued, I kept on catching her eye to be sure I wouldn’t miss a signal for my hoped-for turn; after a bit, she came to the end of our row and beckoned to me. She asked me, “Is it a MacGyver question?’ and I said yes; she replied, “Okay, you’re the next-next.” The sequence went around twice more, and then it was my turn, and I stood up praying I wouldn’t suddenly go totally blank. I had rehearsed my question mentally what seemed like dozens of times. “This is a MacGyver question. The character you created has become a cultural icon. Do you ever get fed up with people expecting you to be MacGyver, or asking you to MacGyver things? Or do you find it funny? Would it get in the way of you possibly reprising the role if they go ahead with the movie?” Clever, huh? I wanted to ask how he felt about the role, and I also wanted to hear him talk about the movie. Well, it worked. As Grrl, said, Rick’s reply was that no, it didn’t bother him – he was proud of the work he’d done. (big bright light explosions inside!) He went on to express reservations about the movie, however. He said that, given the amount of technology present today, and how common it is, he thought it was ‘ludicrous’ to resurrect the character at this time. He didn’t see how the premise of the character would work today, and said that MacGyver had happened ‘at exactly the right time’ – the mid-eighties to the early nineties. He mentioned the Mad Magazine parody, and a scene in which Mac uses a real key as a model to carve a copy, and then tries to use the copy to unlock the door when he also has the key itself – this was his example of how he thought the MacGyver approach would be likely to play out in a contemporary setting. Then he added, “And besides, I’m too old.” There was a chorus of disagreement from the audience, and he began to insist, “I wasn’t fishing!” Amanda laughed and started to pantomime casting a fly with a fishing rod and reeling it in. So that was my one moment in the panel – after that came the Don Davis memorial and the closing ceremonies, and then Lothi and I were swept off into our interview, and much later we made our way back to our room for a little quiet time, the first chance we’d had to think about the experience. I plopped down on a chair, and Lothi took out her camera and started flipping through the pictures on it. After a moment, she handed me the camera. The little screen showed Rick looking directly at me. I made some burbly noises as Lothi proceeded to rub it in – I had asked him a question! He’d looked me right in the eye (and since Lothi was sitting right next to me with her camera, that was close enough for the photographer!) He’d paid close attention as I spoke, and then answered me directly. And I had been so focused on the question and the answer that I had not, at the time, really registered that Richard Dean Anderson was looking right at me and speaking directly to me. It came back with a thunk as I sat there looking at that picture, and the next several. All. Looking. At. Me. A moment later, Lothi looked over at me and saw that I had slid off my chair onto the floor. Not that I actually hit the floor. I was floating . . . I didn’t come down to earth for hours! |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 29 August 2008 - 11:11 PM | ||||
Interview?
Well it's certainly good to know what he really thinks about MacGyver. His answer also confirms pretty much that he wouldn't be part of any movie, and by the sounds of it, wouldn't be too supportive of any ideas to make one either. Although I'm not sure how he connects technology to MacGyver not working. |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 30 August 2008 - 01:49 AM |
Jade and I had a quite intersting discussion about this yesterday. Rick said that with the prevalence and access to modern technology, and people using it for everything, that there really isn't a place for a MacGyver--a guy who makes stuff from ordinary objects lying around. Beth, Loth and I talked about this at the con, and Jade and I talked about it later. We've decided that MacGyver would probably have a greater impact now because of our dependance on modern technology. The general consensus is that even though tech is present in such a large degree in our lives, very few people actually understand how their gadgets work. I also pointed out that there are places where things like cell phones and GPS don't work at all, and then threw out the what if the battery dies argument. Living and playing in the southwest desert has given me a different appreciation for the uses and limitations of modern tech like cell phones. Some of the places we've gone in the past 5 years have no cell coverage at all. Others, we can only get a signal if we are at the top of a mountain and in line of sight of a cell tower. People who are used to having cell coverage find themselves at a loss when their phones don't work. About 3 weeks ago, there wasa atory on the local news about some people who got themselves in trouble with a rental vehicle and a GPS in southern Utah. They decided to do a little sight seeing and relied on a GPS in the vehicle to guide them on their tour. The GPS showed them a road; what it didn't show was the road is a Jeep trail, requiring high clearance 4 wheel drive to make the trip. No theirs wasn't. By the time they realized their mistake it was too late. They were stuck and required Search and Rescue to find them and get them out. They had the technology, but in this environment, it was pretty useless. Put MacGyver in the same situation, and he would have talked to the locals, found out the road conditions and then decided what to do. Same thing if we have a major natural disaster. Anybody remember HUrricane Katrina? Knocked out communications, transport and a whole lot of other vital services. A very large part of the rescue efforts was achieved by ordinary people using low to no tech methods to save themselves and their neighbors. I think, given the right conditions, a MacGyver movie does have a place in the modern world. And yes, Rick is older, hey who isn't. But that could be built into the story line as well. In fact, it could be a very essential plot element if handled properly by the writer. Overall, I think Rick has a great deal of respect for the work he did as MacGyver and that the years have mellowed his sometimes harsh view of the character. He appreciated the MythBusters guys not making him look stupid, and he has a pride for his work in the creation of the character. On the good news front though, he did tell the producers of Stargate that he was prepared to lose the 35 lbs he gained, if they were inclined to make a third SG1 movie. According to Rick, they said "deal". I don't know for sure if that is an endorsement that a third SG1 movie is in the works, but it certainly opens the door for one. Who knows, he may even consider a Mac movie if the story and the writing is right. |
Posted by: Lothithil 30 August 2008 - 04:05 AM | ||||
Beth and I were interviewed by a journalist from Holland about Fandom and Fanfiction writing. I can tell you... it is quite overwhelming when an international journalist recognizes your pen name and knows your writing enough to mention titles and content For a moment or two, modesty fled and I almost felt like a celebrity myself. *blush* One of the questions she asked us, when we were discussing fandom, which were the websites where we liked to spend our time. (paraphrased, of course... I don't remember verbatim what she asked) My answer was that I liked MOL because of the atmosphere of friendliness and of intellectual discussion about all aspects of the show, as well as the passionate interest that is still present, despite the fact that it has been decades since the show aired. I find that very impressive, and I think that Trix did too. I told her that, while I check daily at RDAnserson.com for Notes From Rick, I don't spend time at the forum, because of the degree of cliquishness that I have found there. Also, they don't have a fanfiction forum, which is of course essential to my mental well-being She told me that she was going to mention MacGyverOnline to RDA, when she interviewed him later. I hope that she did... following my own mention of MOL during my brief encounter with him, hopefully it will intrigue him enough to check us out! EDIT: A misunderstanding here... Trix did not have an interview scheduled with RDA at this point, but rather intended to create the opportunity at a later time. Sorry about that... I wish I'd had the wherewithall to mention to Trix the book 'What Would MacGyver Do' and the fact that MOL and Rockatteer are mentioned within. Andy Warhol said everyone gets 15 minutes of fame... I am thinking that this interview (and the article(s), when it is written) will probably be my 15 minutes, with change... and that I really don't want any more! |
Posted by: jackwabbit 30 August 2008 - 05:44 AM |
Grrl-I completely agree on the tech thing. Spend five days in and around Fort Kent, Maine in the dead of winter and you'll agree, too. No cell, no internet, often no actual phones. Just hamradio and brains and most importantly never, ever doing anything alone. Ever. Myself and a vet student joked that we should make a book called 'The MacGyver Guide to Veterinary Medicine' for the dog sled race we were vetting. Yeah, you get a bit creative when you got what you got and that's it. Wouldn't trade it, though. Lovely experience. Loth-I haven't been interviewed yet, but I have been recognized for my writing at a con, and I nearly died, too. I felt like a celebrity, too. Very, very, very cool. |
Posted by: Amy 30 August 2008 - 07:59 AM |
Good points, Grrl...I totally agree that MacGyver could work now. It's good to know tho how he feels about his past as MacGyver. Great plug for MOL, Loth! Maybe we'll get him to show up here yet! LOL |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 09:24 AM |
On the movie question: one of the things I came away with was a very strong feeling that Rick cares about the character and image of MacGyver, and does not want him to be made to look ridiculous. Funny is okay – Rick is such a richly humourous man that it's amazing he's never played a completely comic role – but stupid would be wrong. During our discussions (as Grrl mentioned), I was holding out from the start that if anything, the premise of MacGyver is even more valid and relevant today. Much of Mac’s genius involved understanding technology and how it truly works at the most basic level, allowing him to apply that knowledge in unconventional and improvisational ways. At the time, most people did not have much of a grasp of how things worked around them, whether it was a car or a computer. We are inundated with technology now, and we have even less of a grasp of how it works and how it fails. I have no problem with MacGyver getting older, and I can easily see him keeping up with technology, and continuing not to be a slave to it. Grrl hit the bull’s-eye with her examples of When Tech Fails; here in the NW, we get a constant run of news articles about hikers and climbers who come to grief when they assume technology will save them in out in the wilds. One of my responsibilities at work is disaster contingency, and I have to plan for how we will cope when (not if) our technology is knocked out even for a day. I’m supposed to plan for terrorist attacks, but I spend a lot more time thinking about crippling snowstorms (it only takes 2” of snow to shut down Seattle completely) and power outages. Back to the movie: an older MacGyver might be less able to leap tall buildings with a single bound – but that would just mean he’d be all the more obliged to resolve problems with his brains instead. Again, the premise holds. |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 09:44 AM |
On the interview: I had mentioned this in my Quick Highlights post a while back, but it’s been one of the things that’s kept me feeling giddy for days now. I entered the costume parade on a lark, mostly because the organiser had made it plain on the Gategoers list that she really, really wanted people to participate. (I officially retired from costume competitions years ago.) I put both my real name and “MacBeth” on the form, since more people at the con knew me by the latter, and both were announced when we did our stuff on the stage. In addition, Lothi and I had written our usernames on the backs of our Gatepass badges. Afterwards, a woman I’d never seen before approached me and asked in a Dutch accent, “Are you the MacBeth who does the stories?” Uh, yeah, I stammered, I’d written two MacGyver stories. She said she was a journalist – her name was Trix, a columnist from the Netherlands – and she’d like to talk to me about writing – could we find time during the weekend? “Are you sure I’m the MacBeth you’re looking for?” “You wrote ‘Up a Long Ladder’, didn’t you?” Brain short-circuits. “Um, yeah, that’s me.” It took us till Sunday to set it up; in the interim, I introduced Trix to Lothi, confirmed that she knew Lothi’s work as well (and a good thing, since Lothi’s far better established than I am as a writer, and deserved the recognition!) So I gleefully dragged her (Lothi) into the interview. Trix was covering the convention and had visited MOL as well as various other sites beforehand; heck, she’s probably going to end up reading this thread! (If you do, Trix, it was a delight and an honour to meet you and I really want to read your articles.) And she was indeed expecting to interview RDA later that week. |
Posted by: MacsChick 30 August 2008 - 11:36 AM |
Rick seems to be very cryptic about this whole MacGyver movie business. In one interview during the Comic Con, he said he would consider reprising the role, and now he says he doesn't want to do it. I'm hoping he will change his mind, because a scenario could be in the movie that there is some spectacular technological failure of some kind (perhaps terrorist-related), and MacGyver is called in as a consultant to solve the problem. I don't know-something like that could work. And he is NOT too old! I don't want to hear that from him! Keep the recent Indiana Jones movie in mind, Rick! I hope he takes a break between foot surgeries to lose some weight, act in the third Stargate movie (and possibly a MacGyver movie), and does some of the active things he loves, like skiing. He deserves a break from the pain so he can be healthy and enjoy his life for awhile. |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 30 August 2008 - 01:32 PM | ||
Me too! Sounds kewl! |
Posted by: rdamel 30 August 2008 - 05:22 PM |
I hope I'm doing this correctly (I'm new here), but I just wanted to thank all of you who took the time to post your memories and photos for the rest of us to enjoy. It's wonderful to read all about the con and the obviously good time that RDA was having there. Thanks so much! |
Posted by: jackwabbit 30 August 2008 - 05:28 PM | ||
The first question we were asked in our prep meeting for the dog sled race, which runs 250 miles through terrain that changes yearly based on weather and logging road conditions was this: If you know where you are, but no one else does, are you lost? Answer: YES. Because if no one knows where you are, SAR's coming after you. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 30 August 2008 - 05:30 PM | ||
OMG, Beth, I'd die. I had a similar experience, but just with another fan, over one of my SG stories (A Long Road Home) and I was floating for days, but this is so much cooler. All the way around the world! Excellent! |
Posted by: Tal 30 August 2008 - 06:33 PM |
*waves* I'm new here too and would also like to say thanks for the con reports. I hope some day it's me giving a report of seeing Rick in person *dreams* |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 07:12 PM | ||
That would be great, Tal -- make it happen! It's only a year till the next Gatecon, after all! |
Posted by: Tal 30 August 2008 - 07:16 PM |
Well, I imagine it could be difficult getting RDA to come on out to Australia - but if I had any say in the matter I would surely convince him it would be loads of fun down here |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 07:20 PM | ||
I think I did, and then instantaneously self-resurrected from sheer bogglement. I had, in fact, met a fellow fan at the Meet & Greet Thursday evening; she recognised me from my having put "[Mac]Beth" on the back of my badge (which obligingly kept flipping over anyway, so that name was usually the visible one). She said truly ego-inflating things about my writing, so I had already been floating! |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 07:24 PM | ||
I understand you've got good diving in that corner of the world; it might not be so hard. And they've held Gatecon in Canada and in the UK -- maybe they'll hold it in Australia some year! |
Posted by: Tal 30 August 2008 - 07:31 PM |
Good diving and all other manner of outdoorish type activities I'm sure he would love - does anyone know if he's ever visited Australia before? I'm sure he must have....? |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 07:33 PM |
I don't know specifically, but I wouldn't be surprised. |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 30 August 2008 - 08:46 PM |
I know he's dived some of the tropical islands in the area, I remember reading about it somewhere and he mnetioned that he had been planning a dive to Truk Lagoon when he had the heart problem. Any hard core diver has the Great Barrier Reef on their short list of 'must do' dives. Jade is planning his about 4 years from now... On the interview front, it is very cool that Beth and Loth were recognized for their work. I attended the writer's workshop as well and had an absolute blast. I learned a lot and am encouraged to keep going with my writing. I will actually finish a story and post the darn thing before the end of the year. I will be having a lot of down time coming soon and writing will be my connection to the world and my reason for getting up every day. I'm having the reconstruction surgery on my knee on October 16 and I expect to be off work for a bare minimumk of 2 weeks but it could turn into 6 weeks or longer depending on my physical therapy schedule. So far, work has been great about it and re-arranging my schedule so I will finish all my critical courses before I go out. I keep having Con flashes--little memories popping up at unexpected times. Jade was watching the first 4 MacGyver episodes yesterday and we talked about some of the show and the Con. One memory: Rick talking about one of his favorite stunts on MacGyver. The one in the opening gambit where they airlifted the horse off the beach. The show won an award for that one and Rick was speaking about how he wanted to do the whole thing but the producers vetoed that and made him stop after he attached the helicopter hook to the horse. The stuntman took over from there, but Rick said he would have liked to have done the entire thing. And open invite to Con attendees: if you ever make it to Utah, Jade and I will be happy to play tourguide and take you to Dead Horse Park where the opening gambit of the pilot was filmed. We can also take you into the back country and show you the other side of the park. |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 30 August 2008 - 08:46 PM |
Make that an open invite to MOL members |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 08:57 PM |
You're on, Grrl! It was incredibly wonderful getting to meet you -- and Lothi and Jade and Astra and banlu and Paya and ........... Best of luck with the surgery! You'll be kicking ass again with both legs in no time at all. |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 30 August 2008 - 09:21 PM | ||
Oh that reminds me. There was talk about a locations tour of Vancouver. Did that happen? |
Posted by: Lothithil 30 August 2008 - 09:22 PM |
Don't think I won't take you up on that offer, Grrl... I absolutely want to come to your neck of the woods sometime! |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 09:47 PM | ||
There was a formal bus tour on Thursday of assorted locations, but Loth and Grrl and I did not go on it; Loth and I had our volunteer shifts that morning, and we had decided to do our own informal tour instead, especially since most of the locations were Stargate-related instead of MacGyver. On the way up to Vancouver on Wednesday, we detoured through the Mountain Loop Highway for a good look at 'MacGyver country'; after we had crossed into BC, I was also pointing out the general terrain from "The Visitor", "Blind Faith" and "The Negotiator". On Thursday afternoon, we went out to Gastown and drove past the steam clock, and then drove around Stanley Park spotting possible locations from a variety of episodes -- "Easy Target", "The Survivors", and "The Ten-Percent Solution" for starters. We didn't get out to Bridge Studios or to the Phoenix building, but when we looked out of our hotel window, we were right across the street from two very impressive churches, which might have been used in "Holy Rose", "The Madonna", and "There But for the Grace". Loth took pictures of both from several angles; she's posted one already. On Monday, before we headed south, we went out to Burnaby Mountain Park, driving through a section of Vancouver's Chinatown, and spotted more familiar vistas. |
Posted by: Astra 30 August 2008 - 10:13 PM | ||
Where and what exactly? Am glad for any help, we haven't seen much of Stanley Park yet. But I can happily report that I walked over the suspension bridge where MacGyver has dangled from I have lots of pictures but need to upload them when I am at home finally. And today we visited the house of the Lacey sisters. Unfortunately the museum only is open till 5 PM, so we could not get into, but we walked around and Paya played Mac and sat on the stairs as if her leg hurt I also tried to find the trees where this old man was killed, but they seemed pretty far away for a hanging coat or whatever the right English term is. Tomorrow we will go up Grouse Mountain in the skyride, which Mac also dangled from, you know, the episode that is supposed to be Switzerland, the name eludes me right now. Oh, and today we also were in Stevenston, one wharf building there was used in "Back from the dead". If anybody wants to know where all these locations are, Kate's page is a big help! |
Posted by: MacBeth 30 August 2008 - 10:14 PM | ||
"Cease Fire". |
Posted by: Astra 30 August 2008 - 10:18 PM |
The candidate has five points |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 30 August 2008 - 10:31 PM |
We did take some pictures of us in front of the Gastown clock. The view from the top of Burnaby mountain was spectacular. I have some good photos from there and the weather cooperated, sunny and nice. The only downside was that when we were leaving, a young man crashed his truck into a tree. He wasn't hurt, buthe was shaken up a bit. We stopped and offered help, but he had someone coming and he had a couple of friends that stopped by, so we left. Nice kid. He wrecked his truck because he swerved to avoid running over a squirrel. I have some very nice photos from the mountain loop detour as well. |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 31 August 2008 - 12:50 AM | ||
http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/locations.html Every location is mapped. Just click the link to see exactly where they are. |
Posted by: Macs Lab Rat 31 August 2008 - 06:49 AM |
Hey! This is all so very cool! I’m so glad you all had such a great time. I know I've not been around much but I have managed to pop in to read this thread and loved hearing all your reports on gatecon and your adventures. You guys have done a great job with the reports and remembering all the information. Thank you! I’d like to do a tour of MacGyver locations one day. In your tour of filming locations do the locations still look familiar after so many years or do you need a moment to squint a bit and try figure out what’s what? Loth and Beth – that’s exciting news about your interviews on fanfiction. I'm glad you have been recognised in such a way. I’ve enjoyed your stories more than some of the ones I’ve paid for and you guys do it for the pleasure and don't get a pay cheque. |
Posted by: MacBeth 31 August 2008 - 10:42 AM | ||||
Great to see you, Ratty! We've missed you!
For me, a lot of the appeal of doing our own informal tour started with the sense of familiarity. I was last in Vancouver three years ago, and when I started watching the MacGyver episodes again last year, I kept doing double-takes because I recognised so many places -- if not specifically, then generally. In fact, I really approached the whole thing backwards. I'd had so much to do getting ready for Gatecon that I never did get back to the website for a list of addresses and locations; when we had free time, we just got into my car and I drove down to Gastown and then out to Stanley Park to look for familiar sights. We drove past one marina that was not Coal Harbor, but looked familiar enough in situ to draw delighted smiles and laughter. The trip into the mountains was similar -- we weren't at actual filming locations, but the country looked right. Great Big Honkin' Trees.
If there were a market for MacGyver novels, I'd be tempted -- till then, I'm in it for the sheer fun. I'm still pretty boggled over the fact that I'm writing at all, after decades of thinking I would never be able to. |
Posted by: Lothithil 31 August 2008 - 11:33 AM |
Gratuitous Rick-pic!! This is from Sunday's MacGyver panel. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 31 August 2008 - 02:19 PM |
He's been hanging out with Shanks too much! (I've never seen someone touch their head as much as Michael Shanks, I swear!) To be fair, these pics are from the second time I saw him, and it wasn't nearly so bad as the first time. The first time I saw him, I think he was nervous/new to cons and his hand kept reaching up to play with his hair, fiddle with his ear, etc...so much so that to this day we remark on it, though it was years ago. Poor guy. p.s.-speaking of other SG stars, I hear Paul McGillion showed up briefly. *dies* Anybody get any Pauley pics? You know hows I loves my Pauley. (It was Friday night, I think? Or was it Thursday? I forget...just heard that rumor.) |
Posted by: Lothithil 31 August 2008 - 04:57 PM |
I think it was Saturday that Starhole was on... Paul McGillion popped during the middle of Gary and Dean's show. The crowd went wild! I know I did! I wish I had better shots... but he really caught me by surprise! |
Posted by: jackwabbit 31 August 2008 - 05:44 PM |
Thursday, Friday, Saturday...whatever. Ah, Pauley. Sigh... (For any of you who don't know, Paul McGillion is my biggest, bestest, one true love-ish star fave. Simply because he's been the nicest to me in person when I had the chance to meet him and because he went out of his way to brighten some fan days at the infamous Fed Non Con in Dallas this summer, and...ok, I'll stop there.) Love. Him. Thanks, Lothi! Any Paul pic is good in my book! |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 31 August 2008 - 08:32 PM | ||
it was Saturday night. I got a chance to say hi and he was really sweet. I think I might just become your new best friend. I have a pic of me with him in the bar at the hotel Saturday night. And I will post the damn thing when I can get my computer and my brain to cooperate. That pic is definitely one of my favorites from the weekend. |
Posted by: MacsChick 31 August 2008 - 10:22 PM |
What, are you telling me you've gone sour on RDA already and replaced him with the new guy? (Just kidding!) |
Posted by: MacBeth 1 September 2008 - 12:01 AM |
Replacements? Who said anything about replacing? They've added Paul McGillion to their harems -- I've added Alex Zahara. RDA didn't exactly fidget during his panels, but he was rarely still for more than a few moments, especially not when he was talking. He gestures and gesticulates constantly and emphatically. (And beautifully.) When other guests were on stage with him and talking, he did stay more or less still, focusing on them; the one exception being right after he'd talked about Don Davis. That was probably the stillest I ever saw him, and certainly the only time he didn't focus on the fellow guest. It might have been caffeine, of course: they were providing him with Red Bull to drink, and he said that caffeine is his only remaining vice. He also attempted to interview the Red Bull on the table at one point -- his backstage support had popped in and set one beside him, and he held the mike to it. It didn't have anything to say, though. |
Posted by: MacBeth 1 September 2008 - 12:14 AM | ||
I've heard from Trix directly, and I need to post a correction: although she's hoping to interview RDA at some point, she did not and does not have an interview arranged or scheduled. I misunderstood her at the time. (I did say that I was very giddy, although that's not a real excuse for misrepresentation.) I've also told her that we'd really love to have the chance to see her articles when they are written! |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 1 September 2008 - 10:30 AM | ||||
As if.
Yeah. And Dean Aylesworth, and Colin Cunningham and Corwin Sanford and Dan Payne and .... Every single one of these guys was so nice and gracious. And Dean is a blast to be around. Jade and I met him in the bar Saturday night and he was cracking us up. He started doing impressions of Arnold Swartzennager (I know I spelled it wrong) that had us in tears it was so funny. He also said he was working on a project for the Sundance Film Festival. Since I only live about 80 miles from Park City, I'm going to keep an eye out for it and maybe go if I can swing it. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 1 September 2008 - 11:11 AM | ||
Well, I haven't met RDA. I've met Pauley. And no star (none) has ever been as nice to me. No one has ever looked me right in the eye told me thank you for writing about his character before while he shook my hand firmly. Not many stars take the time to personalize every single item for every single fan at a big con. I don't know of anyone else who has taken 26 minutes of their time to call a hotel room in Dallas to cheer up some fans who were stuck at a con that was cancelled at the last minute. Paul's a real person to me, not a celebrity who lives way up there in the ether. I know people who actually know him. He's a regular guy, who likes the Dallas Cowboys and just happens to be really cool and super nice. Hell, he remembered my name. RDA is still at that 'not quite down here in reality' level for me. That's all. One day, I'll meet a nicer star, I'm sure. Until then, true believers, Make Mine Pauley. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 1 September 2008 - 11:14 AM | ||
Precisely. Not replacement, just addition. As for fidgeting, well, it's probably caffeine for Shanks, too. (I believe you know my Michael Shanks and caffiene story, Beth and Loth? No time to relay here, but maybe later.) The man is usually jittery as all get out at cons. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 1 September 2008 - 11:16 AM | ||||
New best friends it is, then! (Paul trivia for today...he was the first modern man through the Stargate! Chronologically, at any rate! Long live young Ernest Littlefield!) |
Posted by: stargate1121 1 September 2008 - 09:25 PM |
Wow. those pics are great. when I went to Gatecon he wasn't there. too bad. would have loved to have seen him. those pics of Amanda Tapping were good. Will never forget my trip to Vancouver to Gatecon. I went in 2003. |
Posted by: Astra 1 September 2008 - 09:42 PM | ||
Well, since I told you the story how I became the "spellchecker" - that would be "Schwarzenegger" And I guess next time I will not sign up for so many things at the same time (Starhole, Fan party) and hang out at the bar instead. Seems I missed all the good things. |
Posted by: sharjan 2 September 2008 - 04:50 AM |
Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou! To everyone who has posted stories and pictures from Gatecon. I have finally joined after spending most nights rushing to the computer to get my latest RDA fix. Maybe if he ever visits Australia I might get the chance to meet him. I noticed their is a few of us from Down Under who would gladly keep him company. |
Posted by: Tal 2 September 2008 - 09:11 AM |
no no no! if he comes down here he's all mine - I'm not sharing ! j/k of course |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 2 September 2008 - 04:35 PM |
[QUOTE]And I guess next time I will not sign up for so many things at the same time (Starhole, Fan party) and hang out at the bar instead. Seems I missed all the good things. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I think we will just stake out a prime table or two right in the middle of the room between the entrance and the bar. We can have our own party and of course invite cool people (like us) only. And if some of the aforementioned guys show up, well, I believe we can find extra cahirs/laps for them to share. [/QUOTE]And no star (none) has ever been as nice to me. No one has ever looked me right in the eye told me thank you for writing about his character before while he shook my hand firmly. [QUOTE] He (Paul Mc) reads Fanfic? Now that I would never have guessed. Or did you tell him you wrote it? Either way, extremely cool that he acknowledged it. And I had heard about that cancelled con and his kindness to the people who paid and then got shafted. What an amazingly nice thing to do. And that's what struck me about him that night, he just came across as so nice and genuine. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 2 September 2008 - 05:51 PM | ||
I told him about it in passing. He signed one of my items "To Wabbit" and he asked about the name (after I spelled it for him). I told him it was my fanfiction name, and the girl behind me in line said 'uh oh' and I remembered how for some actors, etc, fanfic is taboo...and I got a little nervous. No need. Paul stopped writing, looked up at me, and asked what I wrote. I told him. I told him that I'd never written an SGA fic until Sunday aired and TPTB killed our Carson and how upset I was about it. He looked at me the whole time, not writing, then smiled, looked me right in the eye, held out his hand, shook mine and said 'thank you'. THUD. Oh, and my best friend on the planet (that would be the aforementioned lemonpiefirefly, who isn't on this board, but did get to go to Gatecon and meet our mutual friends Lothi and MacBeth and Grrl) was one of the thirteen in the now infamous hotel room in Dallas. The one where several fans consoled themselves about a cancelled con (some of whom had flown thousands of miles) together. The one where Paul McGillion spent 26 minutes of his time on the phone cheering them up. Paul was nice to my friend, so he was nice to me. OH, and THEN, another friend of mine (in OZ for the record, for you other Aussies) met him at a con shortly thereafter. She mentioned that she knew a few people who'd been in the room that day, too, and he added a line to her signed pic for them. See below. Love to the ladies, indeed. I'm Paul's girl, folks. Just the way it is. |
Posted by: Tal 2 September 2008 - 06:36 PM |
Ok - I know I wasn't telling who the familiar face from elsewhere I saw here was - but I now I can't help myself because ........that's MY signed pic LOL |
Posted by: jackwabbit 2 September 2008 - 06:55 PM | ||
Oh, crap! Did I out you? Or me? Or...um... It is ok that I posted it? I was going to send you a PM on that other board, but I hadn't gotten around to it yet. If not, I'll yank it quicker than a rabbit on crack. Just let me know. It'll happen yesterday. But it was in the public section, right? I think so... You know what's funny? I was thinking the other day that I should post some smarmy comment to your 'I see a familiar face but I'm not telling who' line to the effect of: "Well, since I know it can't be me, I'm totally safe" and then go off on some silly tangent to see if we could guess who it was...would've been a fun game. But, alas, I messed it up. My bad. Sorry...hangs head in shame and hides behind ears for a while. But not before sharing why Tal has such good taste! MY signed pic: |
Posted by: Lothithil 2 September 2008 - 07:29 PM |
*giggles* You two are so cute! After a story like that, I can understand perfectly why you're Pauley's girl! Real friendship trumps fandom. After seeing him at Gatecon, I'd have added him to my Harem Wish-list... if I hadn't already put him there on a friend's recommendation! |
Posted by: MacBeth 2 September 2008 - 09:48 PM |
Well, I had a blast at SG-Fun and Starhole, and Paul was a riot on stage, even though I didn't get to rub elbows with him in the bar. Singing and laughing and talking until all hours in our hotel room rocked -- next time we'll just have to make it bigger! (Isn't that what Peter DeLuise always says?) |
Posted by: Tal 2 September 2008 - 11:08 PM |
It's ok wabbit - it was funny - I was going to kind of keep my posting here totally separate to that other forum but it doesn't really matter. Did you really think it couldn't be you? |
Posted by: MacDriver 3 September 2008 - 07:28 AM |
Wow, I can't wait until I graduate college and I can schedule and take road trips to chase RDA and Co., but I seem to have been born too late . Thanks to all of you who do go though, it's the next best thing to being there myself! Seeing the event through Mac fan eyes is spectacular, you all really make me wish I had blown off my classes for a week and bought a plane ticket I was wondering, has anyone ever asked about his hair? I remember reading in an ancient interview, like 1986, he commented about how a stylist approached him in real life and said "That looks terrible, let me cut your hair for you, I'll make it look great" or something like that, and he tells this oblivious woman "Well, I have to have it this way for the cameras" or something like that, and eventually she realizes she's talking to a movie star. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has heard him get asked what they did to his hair, ie highlighting, blowdrying, harspray, mousse, whatever. Not sure I'll grow the mullet back just yet, but I never could get anyone to cut it right, either That was a long time ago, but I've always thought if I could meet him I'd ask him how he got his hair that way My biggest yearning is that I want to know if there was a rhyme or reason to the SAK swapping business where he had a different one in almost every episode. Maybe they had a Victorinox rep there or consulting, maybe the company would just send two of everything and so they switched back and forth, etc. I will not rest until someday that question is answered. I would think Rick would know. He could at least say who it was that would hand him stuff and say "Put this in your pocket." |
Posted by: MacBeth 3 September 2008 - 04:14 PM |
Re the SAKs -- check my second post from 27 August. He was asked about the 'pen-knives' and said that they ordered them by the gross. It was plain that he pretty much used whichever one the props department handed him. No-one asked him about his hair, but I'd bet money that he let them do whatever they wanted with it; that's pretty standard in the life of an actor. He did make a joke when Amanda was on stage with him: "You used to be a blonde . . . so did I." Amanda also made a comment to the effect that not many people could pull off a mullet (implying that Rick could). And Driver: Rick's still above ground, so you aren't 'born too late'. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 3 September 2008 - 04:40 PM | ||
Cool. Actually, I totally had no clue, since you used a different user name. That's what you get for being so sneaky! Now I'm feeling inadequate for only having one...oh, wait! I do have two! But no on here knows the other one! Na, na, na, na na! Or some might...but whatever, it's all good. I have one I've had for years and years and don't use much anymore that is for all things NOT fandom. (ie, that pesky real life thing) I won't out your other name or affiliations, my down-under fellow McGillionaire. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 3 September 2008 - 04:41 PM | ||
Glad I could amuse, dearie. |
Posted by: MacsChick 3 September 2008 - 06:13 PM |
Any more Rick stories, gals? |
Posted by: Astra 4 September 2008 - 02:05 AM | ||
You know what, before I joined MOL I did not even know there were different kinds of SAKs... I thought it was the same all time along! Just one tool with many different things on it. He said they ordered them by the gross, and he did the math and came up with around 1,000... Not sure if that is a real number, looks a bit big for me? As for the hair, he talked about wanting to grow back a moustache, but Wylie doesn't let him (and I'm glad, because I like him more clean-shaven, too) Don't worry, your time will come yet, RDA has just started to find out how much fun conventions can be. I bet there will be a lot more of these things in the future, as long as nobody behaves inapropriately. I really really wanted to tell him "Told ya so!!!" More stories... I have to go through all my notices yet, and I am afraid to maybe having understood something wrong, so the best shot is to wait for Kate's transcripts or native English speakers, but yesterday in the train home I remembered something more: He talked about Wylie and how good she is in everything she does and how cute it is to see her doing the step dance, and that it's the only thing he ever pushed her to go to a better class, because she wanted to stay in her old class and staying to be the best in there. |
Posted by: jackwabbit 4 September 2008 - 08:20 AM |
I agree, Astra, that more cons may be in Rick's future. No one ever thought he'd do one, ever. Avalon changed all that, and with this second one and him saying he'd do another, I think he did indeed find out how much fun they can be, and hopefully he'll do more. Does the name William Shatner ring any bells? I see that pattern coming on here, and I can only hope I'm right, as I'd love to see RDA at a con one day. Oh, and sorry to all for high-jacking the thread. I just get a little excited about the Pauley, that's all. |
Posted by: MacBeth 4 September 2008 - 04:59 PM | ||||||
Minor correction: he was talking about her tap-dancing, which is different from step-dancing.
A gross is a real number: it's 144, 12 dozen. If you multiply 144 by 7 seasons, you get 1008 knives, which is close enough.
The moustache business came up when he was asked about Legend; he said he'd be willing to grow a moustache again, but Wylie wouldn't let him. The implication was that Ernest Pratt was a role he'd be willing to reprise. He was asked if, in the last season of Stargate, he was "channeling Ernest Pratt" from Legend -- drinking, womanising, etc. He said no, he was just pushing things a bit farther since he knew he would be leaving the show -- and maybe it would have been better if someone had told him not to push so far! And another interesting bit: Rick talked about MacGyver having lasted "seven and a half years", which I found interesting. I realised that the extra time must have been since he was involved with it from when the pilot was initially filmed. It takes extra time to film a pilot, sell a series, and then put the series into full production. |
Posted by: MacsChick 4 September 2008 - 05:03 PM |
I would LOVE to see him reprise the Ernie role, considering I never got to see Legend when it first aired. |
Posted by: Lothithil 4 September 2008 - 05:22 PM | ||||
One might consider the time he spent filming the movies, too... though I would think that would add more than six months to the time-frame...
|
Posted by: MacBeth 4 September 2008 - 05:37 PM | ||
Yes; I don't think he was including the movies. That reminds me of another bit: Rick was asked about working with Brian Blessed. He asked the audience, "Who here knows who Brian Blessed is?" Many hands. He admitted that, when they had started production in England . . . he didn't know who he was. It was his first experience as a producer, and he had actually . . . asked Brian Blessed to audition for the role . . . and fortunately, Brian thought this was funny. "Charming" was the word used. No, Brian Blessed did not read for the part. And they got along well in spite of the rocky start. Rick also talked about how physically imposing Brian is -- I think the word he used was "massive". The man climbs mountains, and when Rick saw him in person, he couldn't help wondering "How does he even get up stairs?" He went on to talk about how fit Brian is, and compared him in that area to Captain Watson -- whose build (and hair and beard) is somewhat reminiscent of Santa Claus (my comparison, not Rick's). |
Posted by: Lothithil 4 September 2008 - 05:43 PM |
*big smiles* That was a great moment! I loved hearing him talking about working with Brian. *retro-squee!* |
Posted by: Astra 5 September 2008 - 02:43 AM | ||||||
See, that is why native English speakers should do the reporting (or waiting for Kate's transcripts) I always get something mixed up Question: When we shall be careful with posting pictures of Wylie (which I understand) and every material goes to RDA's publisher before it is allowed on the DVD - does that mean we won't get to see any of the closing ceremony?
Yes, I understand, I just wondered, because that would make more than one knife per episode, and I wondered, what the heck did he do with all of them? Can you really lose/break that many knifes? Or do we even have different styles in the same episode? As I said, I never noticed...
I guess I have to agree with him there, and with me many other fans. Once you have seen it you will know what we mean. The serious soldier and leader that cracked a joke once in a while was replaced by a joking clown, whose jokes weren't even funny all the time anymore, and you cringed rather than laughed. I think, that it takes ... to openly admit that he went wrong there (sorry, insert every English word you think, as greatness somehow does not seem to cover what I want to say) |
Posted by: MacGyverOnline 5 September 2008 - 02:56 AM | ||||
Unless he meant one gross for the whole 7 seasons, which would make a lot more sense. |
Posted by: Lothithil 5 September 2008 - 04:45 AM |
RDA was pretty clear about it... they got a fresh 12 dozen every season. Maybe they gave a bunch of 'em away as promos... isn't that the usual way with product endorsement? At least, back in the day when the product being endorsed was glad to have the advertising and didn't charge for the privilege of association? No worries about losing a prop |
Posted by: perfectlykevin 5 September 2008 - 10:30 AM | ||
I'd guess many of them were used once and given to cast/crew or their families etc. With that many ordered, I can't see them loosing them that regularly. Kev |
Posted by: MacDriver 16 September 2008 - 11:06 AM | ||||
That's awesome! I really want to know who picked them out now And I wonder if the shipment was 12 each of 12 different models. But this explains why they were always changing it up. Also, if they were "handed out," you would think some would show up on ebay as "Knife used by MacGyver during filming." But that's hard to prove, and only matters to someone like me. Thanks for sharing! Is that all he said about it, by the way? |
Posted by: jackwabbit 20 September 2008 - 05:07 PM | ||
So, I see your advertising that little site that someone made...nice banner! Oh, and it suddenly occurs to me that you never know...there's other wabbit's out there...yeah...I have no idea who you are...giggle! Happy day to all! |
Posted by: stargate1121 20 September 2008 - 08:43 PM |
I was at Gatecon several years ago and I had a blast. RDA wasn't there which was a bummer but it was still fun. Just about everyone else was there. Vancouver was beautiful. Hated to have to come home. That was neat that you saw Dean Hagland. I watch X-Files all the time and know the Lone Gunmen. They are funny. |
Posted by: Amy 21 September 2008 - 02:53 AM |
Very cool catching up on this stuff! Props to MacBeth and Lothi on their interviews! How cool is that! |
Posted by: Astra 21 September 2008 - 10:47 AM |
I wanted to show you the few pictures I have taken when Rick was near me at the auction: |
Posted by: MacDriver 22 September 2008 - 01:38 PM |
Did he auction off a SAK? If one actually used on the show turned up anywhere, its hard telling what I wouldn't pay to have it |
Posted by: MacBeth 22 September 2008 - 07:29 PM |
No SAKs were auctioned off -- but if I recall correctly, the MacGyver poster you can see in some of those pictures was one RDA himself had owned, and he'd had it since the show was in production. It was a gorgeous poster. And it was autographed, of course. I don't remember what it went for -- over a thousand; I do remember them trying to start the bidding at something like $100, and it immediately jumped to $500. The various people involved, including Rick, took turns doing the actual auctioning, as well as walking things around to show them off. The energy in that room got especially electric every time bidder passed the $1000 level, as you can imagine! Rick would look around with his jaw dropped as if he couldn't believe it. There was a funny exchange between Rick and one of the auction organisers about the autographs. As the bids reached the stratosphere, "added value" bits got tossed in -- something would get signed, it would get signed by everyone, the buyer would get it personalised, the buyer would get a hug, etc. At one point, one of the other people was auctioning off (if I recall) a picture of Rick and Captain Watson. Bidding had passed a landmark point, and the auctioneer said, "It will be signed, of course . . . Rick? Will you sign it?" Rick, who was some distance away, turned around and called out in an an almost irascible tone of voice, "Of course I'll sign it! What kind of question is that? I'll sign anything!" I was kind of sorry no-one jumped on that last remark -- maybe it took a bit to settle in? Of course, he actually only signed items that were auctioned off . . . this did include a giant stuffed toy fish, though, so there might have been other odd items. But no SAKs. In fact, SAKs, and all other 'weapons', were strictly prohibited anywhere in the public areas of the convention -- anyone caught with one had it confiscated and had to retrieve it after the con was over. |
Posted by: Astra 23 September 2008 - 12:25 AM | ||
He corrected himself immediately after that, I seem to remember, by saying something like "well, maybe not everything", but it was in a very low voice, so maybe you missed it. As for the toy fish (think "Nemo"), I read in the gategoers list that many more signs were added later and it already has been sold again at another convention for a good cause. PS for all: You can read the whole Saturday panel, all questions and answers here: http://rdanderson.com/archives/a8-08-21c.htm It feels like hearing him talking while reading. |
Posted by: trtlsoup 28 September 2008 - 04:54 PM |
I just spent the last hour reading about all (all those attended) experiences, and I've to say... I'm STILL jealous! The whole experience sounded like SO much fun! And thank you all for sharing so much detail, and the fantastic pictures. I'm still trying to catch up (RL keeps on intruding) but this was a most enjoyable time spent. I do hope Rick is there next year... I just might be able to go! *crosses fingers* |
Posted by: Lothithil 28 September 2008 - 05:40 PM |
Oooo! Trtl-possibilities! An added incentive for me to save up for another Gatecon! |
Posted by: jackwabbit 29 September 2008 - 12:21 PM |
Maybe turtles and maybe wabbits...a regular zoo! (Though I'm torn between Gatecon and DragonCon right now as my possible big con-we'll have to see how things shake out...) |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 29 September 2008 - 05:37 PM |
Already started my GateCon 2009 fund. So far, I've got $65 for dealing blackjack at a party Saturday night. Added $78 to that playing craps in Carson City last night. And this is a first, I never win table games in casinos. And after my VISA card is paid off in November...all the $$$ I have been giving them goes into the GateCon fund. Yeah!!!! OK Beth, Loth....I'm counting on you guys next year. And Wabbit, and Astra....and anybody else who wants to come to the party. |
Posted by: Lothithil 29 September 2008 - 05:41 PM |
* wonders which internal organ she can do without...* I'm excited about it! |
Posted by: trtlsoup 29 September 2008 - 06:40 PM | ||||
I'm in... as long as my finances are okay by next year. |
Posted by: Lothithil 11 October 2008 - 02:42 PM | ||
'Beth and I were interviewed by a journalist named Trix at Gatecon. Her article was published in the VPRO Guide. Gerda on rdanderson.com posted these scans, and generously gave me permission to post them here. Trix herself translated the article, which follows. Here come the original pages from the article page 2 page 3 Here is Trix's Translation (slightly edited, with apologies, to conform to MOL guidelines):
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Posted by: MacGyverOnline 11 October 2008 - 03:12 PM |
Wow! Great article. You guys only got a quick mention though. I felt kinda sorry that Orlane didn't get to meet RDA. It's a pity her story didn't make it to RDA's ears. I was kinda hoping that he woudl somehow "catch wind of it" and want to meet her. ahh-well The article did a good job of explaining the excitement that goes on there. |
Posted by: Lothithil 11 October 2008 - 03:17 PM |
We were but two of hundreds of fans... it was a privilege to speak on a subject so close to my heart. |
Posted by: MacNymph 11 October 2008 - 06:17 PM | ||
That chick ain't letting go. |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 22 October 2008 - 09:40 PM |
Would you? |
Posted by: MacBeth 23 October 2008 - 06:36 PM | ||
He was pretty emphatic about coming back -- "Just ask!" . . . save your pennies! It would be wonderful to get the whole menagerie there! |
Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 24 October 2008 - 03:21 PM |
I'm planning on it. And one step closer to financial freedom goal--paid off and closed another credit card. One to go, should have it paid in full by end of December. WooHoo!!!! |
Posted by: Astra 6 March 2009 - 04:34 PM | ||
So, where are they? Wanna include them in my photoalbum! I can share the sound of it in return, if you like, Jolene has made a video, can't see a thing, though, it's too dark. But the voices are loud and clear (And I hope nobody did mind that it was at least one octave too high for me) |
Posted by: Lothithil 6 March 2009 - 09:08 PM |
Follow the linky-link to unveil the mysteries of the Dancing Queens of Gatecon 2008. http://www.macgyveronline.com/forums/index...indpost&p=53076 |
Posted by: Astra 7 March 2009 - 07:40 AM |
Thank you! Your link doesn't work, but I found my way. This should be the right one: http://www.macgyveronline.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4722&st=30entry53091 |