Witchbomb part 5

It is now Sunday.  So we started with the photo shoots.  Amalia stunned us all with her first outfit. 

(Yes I know this is from the closing ceremony, but you can’t take photos in the room where they are doing the photo ops). That outfit was HOT. 

Then we had the much anticipated photoshoots with Taylor and Amalia in their uniforms.  The fact that we knew in advance that Amalia would be wearing the season 1 uniform meant that some of us were prepared. [Yes, I was in my season 1 uniform and yes I was complaining about how tight the sleeves are – again!]   But I don’t think anybody was prepared for how emotional it was.  And as someone who is a big fan of season 3 it was great to see ‘Raelle’ in that uniform with long hair.  My photo with Taylor in that uniform is probably my favourite photo. 

Thank you Sean for suggesting this. 

Then we got to the panels.  The first Motherland panel was Ess and Demetria.

Question.  What were you told by the others before Witchbomb?

Demetria.  Nothing anyone could say would prepare for this.

Ess.  I was not prepared for the cosplay excellence.

Question.  Who would you go to a con to see?

Demetria.  Amanda Tapping.  She is a hero.  She was a director who saw her.  It wasn’t about ambition, but seeing people.

Question.  What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you, that still haunts you?

Demetria.  I was at the Bellweather Mansion with Cat.  Needed to go to the toilet.  Under a uniform you are wearing everything.   Spanx have a hole, but it didn’t work and I had to call wardrobe.  They were kind and just got me redressed.  Said, you can’t tell Cat. 

Ess.  Does Catherine know now?

Look who had been sitting at the back, listening to the panel….

Cat had to get the microphone and tell us about it.  Got back to the set and was waiting, said ’you were a long time.’  We got on with the scene.  But she doesn’t tell us about the Spanx malfunction.  With all the family there.  Demetria couldn’t keep a straight face. 

Cat is a gifted raconteur.  She knows how to capture an audience and have people hanging on her every word.  Or the previous evening, singing our hearts out.

Ess. Can’t follow that.

Question.  What is the funniest moment on set together? 

Demetria.  Ess doesn’t know this.  There was one scene outside.  They wanted Anacostia to be androgenous, but they paired us with him.  For Ess it was a challenge to keep a straight face.  Then we had to act.

Question.  Have you got any projects to tell us about?

Ess.  I have stuff out in the  Fall.  In Circus, you have a short half-life.  I won’t be able to hang by one arm in 10 years time.  December 18^th to mid January, I have circus in Germany.  North East Germany.  It is the Barbette act.

Demetria.  Tyler Perry. 20+ years later.  Friends and lovers movie on Lifetime.  Getting back into music.  Hope Motherland can find a new home and be back.

Question.  Could you live stream the circus?

Ess.  It is old school.  I can share some stuff on Patreon.  Look for Montreal videos.  Got funding to research and develop it.  In the 1920s Barbette was an A list celebrity.  They would do a gender reveal at the end of the performance.  How would a modern audience react now?  Will put the video on Patreon.

Question.  What other shows / films would you like to be in?

Demetria.  Would love to do a remake of The Bodyguard.  Whitney’s part.  A remake of Ghost.  Last Kingdon, would love to play a Moor, love Viking stuff.

Ess.  That would be cool.  Want to be in Ghost as Patrick Swayze

Question.  You are a mermaid.  What colour is your tail and what superpower do you have?

Ess.  To jump high out of the water.

Demetria.  Purple.  To blow air bubbles, to save people who are drowning.

Question.  Use one word to describe cast members.  And why?

Ess.  Joyful

Demetria (to Ess) And why

Ess.  The energy I feel before we came out and professional

Demetria.  Nutty.  A mixed bag of nuts.  You must be outside the lines to do what we do.  If you saw some of what we do.  We are nuts about you guys.

Question.  3 years ago I heard you sing live.  Could you sing again?

Demetria.  At the end.

Question.  If you were Muppets in one episode of Motherland.  Which Muppet would you be?

Demetria.  A combination of the Critics.

Ess.  Which episode?  Beltane?  The Swedish chef?

Question.  If you met your 7 year old self, what would you tell them.  If you met your 70 year old self, what would you ask them?

Demetria.  7 year old, keep dreaming.  70 year old, ask if I did it right?

Ess.  70 year old.  Wouldn’t ask, just sit.  7 Year old, don’t watch Land Before Time, because it will erase all the dinosaur names.

Question.  Have you ever lied on your resume?

Demetria.  No.  Honest to a fault.  Keep chilled.

Ess.  As it gets automated, you can’t.  Finished an undergraduate degree, but needed a 3^rd job.  Was a page in the library at 14.  Wanted a job in the kitchens at the University of Toronto.  The catering staff were well paid, but unionised.  Got the security code and snuck in to see John.  Told him ‘I’m your new server’.  He said ‘I won’t hire you’.  We stared at each other for about 8 seconds and I got the job.

Question.  With the world now, how do you deal with it without falling into nihilism?

Ess.  Was nihilist – now absurdist.  If the world is shit, laugh at it.

Demetria.  Reviewed her answer from yesterday (Part 3 of this blog).

Question.  [inaudible]

Ess.  Yes.  M would be excellent.  If I had not exceeded, I would not have done.

Demetria.  Anacostia trained the cadets and while she dealt with the Bellweather Unit, she checked in on M and didn’t fail him.

Question.  Do you have any secret hobbies you don’t tell?

Demetria.  We had a 5 hour zoom and one question was what Anacostia does.  Demetria hates toe socks.  I think behind closed doors Anacostia is a secret Taylor Swifty.

Ess.  M had a hobby – thinks paints their toe nails every week.  Ess with painted toe nails wouldn’t survive circus training.  I inherited my grandparents sewing machine.  Loved it.  Tik Tok is full of sewing videos.

Question.  If your life was a museum, what items would be on sale in the gift shop?

Ess.  At the checkout there would be Rockies (in Canada, called Smarties).  In every bag.  Sugar crash after circus training.  Sugar tablets are just rockies.

Demetria.  Lotions.  Lip balm, crystals to charge energy, puppies.

Ess.  And Demetria’s museum a puppy mill.

Demetria.  Puppy in the Green Room

Ess.  Funko version.  Can put in needles.  Dry needling.

Question.  What book changed your life?

Demetria.  The Secret.  About who you are.

Ess.  The Tao of Pooh (abut Winnie the Pooh).  Read that at about 13 – 14.  Reminded of it when meeting spiritual people.  Peacefulness.

Question.  If you could have a useless superpower, what would it be?

Demetria.  Moonwalk everywhere. Do nothing and people smile.  Moonwalk the dog. 

[from audience – what about on an ice rink?  Would be useful.]

Ess.  Know when tyres need more air.

Demetria.  That is useful.

Ess.  Not if you don’t drive.

Demetria.  An appendix.

Question.  If every time you enter a room a song played, what would it be?

Demetria. ‘ I’m Every Woman.’   I can do it.

Ess.  Mozart’s Requiem.  Set the tone and then go up.

So it was about the end and Demetria sang.