Armageddon Multimedia Expo 2008

November 1st

Actors: David Hewlett, Kavan Smith and Gary Jones

Pictures in Photos on the website ;)

I was up late the night before. The Supernatural download didn?t finish until about 3am and of course I couldn?t go to sleep then knowing that I finally had it. We all did get up a little later than I had originally planned but hell we hadn't had much sleep and for once I was beyond caring about us not being on time. My brother?s friend whose name is also Matthew came along with us but for confusion sake we will call my brother Matt and his friend Kennedy (we do that a lot anyway lol)

I got my Mum to drive my car because I don?t like driving in the city and considering I have to for work a lot I don?t want to do it on the weekend lol.

The convention was held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre across the road from the Crown Casino. We parked in the actual car park under the building and I took notice that a daily rate was $26. I don?t particularly like paying that much for parking but it could have been worse and we were still there relatively early so we got a decent park.

The length of the line of people lining up in front of the closed doors was long enough but not so long that I cringed, so that was good. These cons always make me laugh because they have so much more than just actors to meet. There is anime crap and comics and wrestling and books and well a whole heap of stuff and so many people come dressed up. We saw a Wraith queen which was pretty cool and lots of Storm Troopers which is awesome because they always act like them too. Lots of people dressed up in their favourite Anime stuff which means nothing to me but its still cool seeing all the effort people go to.

We go in and as we were walking through the doors there were Storm Troopers on each side of the entry just inside the door and the kid in front of me was in awe over them and was touching them and the gun and then shit himself when the Storm Trooper moved and looked down at him saying hello in that deep voice. The kid jumped in surprise and I tried to keep my laughter to myself.

I headed as fast as I could to where the photo ops for David Hewlett (Doctor Rodney McKay from Stargate Atlantis) were being sold and found the line was getting long already so I lined up and eventually my mum, Matt and Kennedy joined me. The line wasn?t hardly even moving at all which was annoying. So I left the line (the others keeping our place) to go over to the Hub Productions (the same people that are holding the aussie Supernatural Con) to buy my photo ops for Kavan Smith (Major Lorne from Stargate Atlantis) and Gary Jones (Master Sergeant Walter Harriman from Stargate SG-1) They were separate from the others because they were there for the different company, not strictly for Armageddon. The good thing about the lesser known characters and actors? The easier access you have to them. Being a diehard SG-1 fan I love Walter and Gary Jones is so funny so I was so glad that I was still going to be able to meet him after his original con was cancelled. And Kavan Smith ? he is HOT!! So yeah ? all around, I was happy.

I got back to the line and it still hadn't moved. My Photo op with the other guys was at 10.30am and sure enough we still had hardly moved by the time that had come around. So I gave my mother the money she would need for the photo ops so she could by them for me ad I headed around to the photo booth. There were only two people there when I got there so I pulled up a chair next to them and we chatted for a bit. The lady taking the photos came out and spoke to us and was discussing the spn boys coming out and the hassles the organiser has had from fans about it and how much it actually takes to get these guys and other people like them. It is crazy and really if you go to these things and you want these conventions no-one should complain how much these companies charge because it costs them a fortune to get these stars out. It?s insane but hey you know I won?t complain. The experience is always well worth it!

Gary and Kavan showed up and Gary stuck his head outside the booth and waved and said hello and was every bit excitable as what he has always seemed on TV. It was so cute to see and he is so easy going, funny and nice.. I think it would probably be exciting meeting any celebrity you like but for me? Supernatural and Stargate are the biggest. I cant remember not watching these shows (even though SG-1 has been cancelled and Atlantis is on its way to that end) so when I meet people from them, even the little guys like Gary its super big to me. The two people in front of me went first and then it was my turn. Kavan was first and I got a good look at him. My GOD!! I mean in Atlantis and even that episode of Supernatural he was in he was clean shaven but yesterday he was sporting a goatee and stubble and ? *sigh* it was nice.

And he is so nice. I walked up to him and he held out his hand and asked me my name and I answered when I was spoken to lol and then he pulled me in for the photo. That?s my favourite part most times, being that close to them. I told him thanks after the photo was done and then I got my photo with Gary. Despite Kavan?s hotness factor I was almost in a little more awe at Gary probably because he has been in Stargate for the full ten years and well he might be a small character? But in the Stargate world he is big. He?s been encoding those Chevrons and making sure the SG teams get home safe for all these years and some of the comedic events have certainly come from this man. My mind strayed to the episode commentaries I have heard him do with Peter Deluise and I couldn?t help but laugh in my mind coz I could see Gary was just like he seemed to be ? a loveable goofball lol. They had to take my photo with him 3 times lol. First time I blinked, second time she said that I looked sad and gary thought she had meant him, to which she promptly responded that no he never looked sad, so true lol third time was the charm and I shook his hand and thanked him and left the booth with a massive smile on my face. I rushed back to the line all giddy and excited. I had been3rd to get my photos done and they had been so awesome so I was stoked. Mum and the boys had moved somewhat. They were a little closer so that was something.

Then I notice that behind me where the autograph booths were, David Hewlett was already there. I got all excited all over again because it was him and Michael Shanks that I had really come to see (Michael had to cancel) Wow seeing David in person was such a trip. I took some photos while there wasn?t a lot of people around (when I say that I mean wasn?t a lot of people lining up for the others. David?s line was already long lol

We finally got our photo ops for David and then we could relax. I was surprised too because they only cost $30 each, much less than what I was expecting. I found Mum sitting at a table near the café talking to some woman she had met and we sat and had some food and drink while we waited around. I was watching the people getting photo ops with Gary and Kavan again from across the Café area and saw that there wasn?t a big line anymore. I had paid for Mum?s David photo op because she didn?t have any money and I know she loves Kavan so I made a quick decision and rushed (literally running and dodging people) all the way back to the hub booth to buy another photo op. I ran all the way back coz they were almost finishing up and shoved the ticket in Mum?s hand and told her to go. She did and came back all gushing about how gorgeous he is lol

The boys were off doing there own thing. Kennedy is a big Anime fan so I assume they were off doing something related to that. And at one point I found a stand that was selling a new Stargate SG-1 novel. The author was there signing so she signed the book for me J and in her dedications after thanking her family and friends and other people, right at the end she thanked Michael Shanks for being Daniel Jackson hehe She is a Daniel!Girl and that gave me hope that this would be an awesome story lol

David?s panel was at noon and we probably left it a little late getting up to the room because the line was HUMUNGUS!! We were both afraid that we wouldn?t actually get in there and we would have been spewing if we missed his talk. We did get in ? the very last row but it was still cool. I had no idea where the boys were at this point. They were either missing the panel and I knew Matt wouldn?t be happy about that, or they were already in the room and didn?t see fit to let us know or remind us *eyeroll*

David came on and I think my jaw got tired from smiling and laughing. The man is hilarious. He was up there picking on us, picking on himself and that?s one thing I do love to see in people. When you have no problem giving yourself shit I thin it speaks volumes and he was awesome. A baby started crying in the room and the mother was taking her out, David made a point to tell her that she didn?t have to leave because he was used to people crying because of him. He then bonded with the father who was scurrying after her carrying everything else.

He went on to tell us about when he had first joined the Stargate team when McKay was introduced in SG-1 and how he had tried to make his character as un-likable as possible. He did a good job because aside from some amusing moments I didn?t like Rodney McKay. It?s probably why I was so surprised to find how much I started liking him when he signed on to play McKay in the spin off Atlantis (A show I didn?t want to watch on principle but had to coz Daniel and Jack were in the pilot which allowed me to get a good look at John Sheppard and my fight was well and truly over lol)

He went on to say that when they asked him to come and act on Atlantis it was originally to play this guy called Ingram. He had suggested they let him just come back as McKay (which makes sense to me since he had been in 3 SG-1 episodes) They didn?t want that but when he was auditioning for Ingram they kept telling him that he was too much McKay and that he needed to tone it down. He got the part but just before Atlantis was scheduled to start filming they called him up and said that Ingram wasn?t going to work and that they wanted him to play McKay ?. He was like der that?s what he had said in the first place and boy, am I glad. I might be a John!Girl but my Rodney love grows with each episode and I adore the man now even with his arrogant arsehole ways at times. It?s the Rodney under that that makes me love him.

He talked about his father, his wife and son BAZ. It was so good to see how unhappy he was that Atlantis is getting axed. He was with the rest of us and his reaction to hearing that the new Stargate that they have planned doesn?t even have a Stargate was hilarious. I was right there with him. It?s a freaking stupid idea and I?m kinda hoping it flops to prove that to the network.

He talked about Distribution problems with his movie ?A Dogs Breakfast? and I couldn?t help but be thinking about the problems with getting ?Ten Inch Hero? distributed. I think its kind of cool that basically he and his wife just created this story and then enlisted friends from the show and whatever to star in and help make it. I can?t wait to see it because it sounds funny and seeing Paul McGillion in a dress would be worth it ? how funny. I love how much of a family the Stargate crew and cast seem.

He talked bout the episode when McKay was addicted to the Wraith Enzyme and he was fighting in the infirmary against his restraints (a McKay moment that totally made me fall in more for him. Amazing acting by David in that ep) After the many, many scenes and they walked away for lunch he couldn?t feel his left arm. He?d been pulling against the restraints that hard that he had lost feeling in his arm. Even the very next week when he had his MALP on a stick he had to tuck the stick under his arm because he didn?t have enough strength to hold the stick. We laughed as he was throwing his limp arm around for effect to show us lol

He talked about a whole heap of stuff, including telling us all not to make war in Michael Shanks for having to cancel and that how working alongside him recently in Atlantis was fun. Michael plays a geek and so does he but he made a point to say that if you look like Michael does without his shirt off then you?re not a geek lol

Scott (the guy that ran the Chris Judge Con I went to) came out at the end and as per usual they gave David a tube of Vegemite (YUCK!!!) He said he liked vegemite and squirted some in his mouth and then declared that it?s better on toast. No David, it?s not good anywhere lol

On the way out of the room I took it slowly because he was still standing at the edge of the stage talking to fans and just basically mingling and how cool is that. The con staff were the ones to eventually drag him away. Mum and I walked out practically basically beside him and then headed back downstairs. We wanted to line up for the photo ops straight away because they started at 1.45pm and we knew the line would probably already be long. We got there and it was fairly long but not as long as it got lol. We had to stand there for a good while but I reckon about half an hour and the line started moving and I started getting excited. Everything was going to plan and I kept wondering what was going to go wrong lol

It got to my turn. I waited while I watched the person in front of me have their shot and I though Jared had been excitable and all smiley lol David was like a ball of energy and it was so cute to see that because lets face it, Rodney is a grumpy bastard most of the time lol I walked in and he introduced himself with a huge smile and I am actually capable of looking into their eyes now (see going to cons is good practice lol) The whole time it just kept going through my mind that this is Rodney McKay ? how freaking cool!! After a warm greeting he pulled me under his arm and we got our photo taken. Instead of just thanking them and leaving I actually spoke lol I rubbed his shoulder and told him he was amazing and that I was going to miss him when the show ended and he thanked me and then said ?I?ll miss me too? hehe he?s cute. I then got braver. He shook my hand and then I asked if I could have a hug! He said sure and grabbed me and hugged me ? sooooo cool!! I hugged McKay ? how cool!!! If I thought I had a big smile on my face after leaving Kavan and Gary? That was nothing compared to the look on my face after leaving David?s booth. Mum was right after me so I picked up hers and my bag and started walking off coz I know my brother and Kennedy were just down the line a little. I walked excitedly up to him and rambled in a rush about my photo experience lol He seemed to understand my ramble which was a good thing lol.

We waited for the boys to get out of their shots and Matt said that David had asked him if he was hot in the jacket he was wearing and Matt replied no. David told him that all us Aussies are crazy coz it?s hot (although the room was a little bit stuffy) and we are wearing big jackets. It wasn?t that hot but he had just come from a cooler climate so he wouldn?t be used to it lol but it was cute. Good News is that Matt asked him since the show is ending now at season 5 will there be any movies and he said they are hoping for April!!!! A Stargate Atlantis Movie!!!!! Woohoo. I have my fingers crossed it happens!!

Next up I had to head over to the Hub Booth again to get Kavan?s autograph. I promised Tidia when he was originally booked at the other con that I would get his autograph for her coz she loves Major Lorne. I lined up and when I finally got up to him he said ?hey Sweetheart, nice to see you again.? I melted it. He has such a nice voice. I?m glad I didn?t melt to the point of mute. I?m better at this stuff now. I told him it was great to see him again too. I asked him to sign the picture to Tidia (well her real name lol) and I was spelling it out when my mind went blank lol (don?t you hate that) He looked up at me and goes. ?That?s not your name right.? Was it that obvious? Lol :P I got my wits about me again and he signed it, gave me a big smile and thanked me and I returned the thank you with one of my own and shook his hand. *happy sigh*

My Kavan and Gary photos were ready so I collected mine and mums and then went in search of her. On my way I stopped by the front desk to see if the David photos were ready yet. They had some of them there but mine weren?t there yet so I went outside and found mum outside the building having a cigarette. We gushed over the photos and breathed in some fresh air. It really was a bit stuffy in there. I opened up the new Stargate novel I bought and did a bad, bad thing. I flipped to near the end to have a look. The hurt junkie in me wanting to see if there was any lol and OMG there is heaps for the whole team but Daniel cops it the most and OMG I was hooked but what was so good about the book also was how in character the woman was when writing all of them. Some of the banter, especially between Jack and Daniel was the best, just like the show. I admit I have started from the middle to the end ? I now have to read the start lol

I went back inside a few times and eventually my photo was there, mum?s too. So I picked up both of ours and had seen Matt?s but thought I would go and find him so he could pick it up himself. I eventually, after a long search lol, found him and Kennedy with some other mates that had showed up. The boys collected their photos and wren we met Mum back outside. We all had a laugh at Kennedy?s photo with David. It was so funny, the faces they were pulling. He needs to give us a copy lol

We left shortly after and the good news was that I only got charged $10 for parking!! Bonus!!

All in all? This was an awesome experience. I had the best time and I was so stoked to see how easy going, funny and nice David is in person. I already loved Rodney McKay but now I know I will have an even new appreciation for him. He?s AWESOME. Kavan and Gary ? Aweome!!! I am so glad to have had this opportunity and so glad that I got over my unable to speak problem and spoke them, to David. Hopefully I?ll be real prepared when I meet the boys ? until I look into Jensen?s face and die lol