This is the Cat, Lyne and Demetria panel and the closing ceremony. Now I have to make clear that I was not able to be at the Cat, Lyne and Demetria panel. I was sitting in the hall waiting for it to start, when they announced that they had moved the Taylor fan meet early so the two things clashed. I ended up with Taylor and missed the panel. I am grateful to Right Stumble and Addiction Conventions for their help in sorting out what happened. But I don’t have any photos from that panel at all
Question. There is a mother daughter relationship between Alder and Demetria. You have mutual betrayal. There was a lot of drama going on there. Did you take notes on how you wanted to shape that relationship. To Demetria, how do you think it was being raised by Alder, what was that like?
Demetria. Fantastic question. The mother daughter dynamic between Alder and Anacostia. I said this in my group setting. I have to start by giving credit to Brian Studler, Eliot Laurence and the writing team because they honed in on each character so beautifully that it was easy to not only find the basis of who they were but find those things that make those connective tissues really work. Between Alder and Anacostia it was fostered a lot because of the way that Lyne and I do. The writing was wonderful. The storyline was fun. There was a lot of trauma bonding. Because we respect each other and are genuine friends we have an algorithm that we specifically have. When it came down to the mother – daughter dynamic, it wasn’t even a thought, it just naturally flowed. Now, off camera, when I talk about our dynamic, Lyne is not Alder. As goofy as I am, I am more the authoritarian, I’m Mamacostia to Lyne. It’s strange because we got the chance to be ourselves in each other. It was a beautiful dance in that way. That made it resonate so well, so when that dynamic had to break
Lyne. That was painful
Demetria. That hurt.. [to Lyne] Continue
Lyne. I mean to be surrounded by talented actors is not always a given. Sometimes you have to pull a lot to get what you need to tell your story. But with these two incredible women sitting next to me, it was almost like a natural respect for each other. Such love for each other. Such beautiful diversity, which I embraced the mother daughter role which I thank Eliot for because he would always go for the fantastical. Maybe Alder seemed very much like a mother figure to Anacostia, but off screen it’s the opposite literally. It was almost like a mirror that was held up. We built up a beautiful rapport with each other. She was my anchor, especially during covid. It was very lonely and very isolating. We had out weekly moment. I think without that I wouldn’t have survived. I love these two women so much and I feel proud and privileged that I got to work with them and learn from them.
Question. Heartbreaking moment in the show, Anacostia’s death. We know this was implemented due to your show conflicts. Can you tell us what was initially planned for your character in season 3?
Demetria. The long and short of it, I don’t know. Season 3 moved a little bit differently, we didn’t have all the scripts upfront like we did with season 1 and 2. Season 3 moved a bit differently because we went into it knowing it was our final season. I think they were still trying to figure out if they left it open ended, if they closed the chapter completely, what would that look like? Was it going to a different network? There were a lot of question marks. So there wasn’t a lot of penmanship from the beginning. I know that it wasn’t intended originally for her to die. But this is a show about magic, and I saw the wonderful work they did with Alder when she turned into woody. Because we can see all these different things, if there was an opportunity for rebirth in a different capacity, there is always an opportunity for them to be able to somehow bring Anacostia back. So even though Anacostia was done with that season, I never took it as impossible for her to be part of a storyline going forward
Question. Is there any aspect of your characters that you wanted to explore deeper?
Cat. No [laugh]. I really appreciated how much growth Petra experienced when she started to listen to other people and when she led with her kindness. I like that it didn’t cost her the things she had accomplished, when she allowed herself to be more vulnerable, to be more emotional and more appreciative of the diversity of opinions and lived experiences around her. That’s what I have tried to carry forward into my life. But I was also fascinated to see where she went as her leadership increased and she took over the army and had most witches who would come home with wisdom from their experiences. She’d be able to integrate them into the army and expand their kindness and their integration into society.
Lyne. To explore Alder further, where would I want to explore? I think it would be more about what I want to explore ahead. How she became Alder, how she became the iced creature we got to know at first and then got to crack. I almost wanted to go to what came before for her to become that woman. I would love to explore that more, it would be so cool.
Demetria. Everybody else had an origin story. I was the big question mark. I played it like I was the fosterling. Like I don’t know where she came from. I don’t know which tribe of witches she was with. I don’t know what she had to endure as a foster before she got to Alder. I don’t know how Alder found her. Was she in a basket?
Lyne. You were my favourite one. I picked you from a letter.
Demetria. But how did I get to that orphanage? There were so many question marks. What made Alder pick her. It got real deep for me. If there was something that I would personally like to explore, just like we knew where Raelle, Tally and Abigail, Petra, Alder, we know where everybody else came from. But we did not get to explore the beginnings of Anacostia. I think it would be really interesting to see who she could have been and where it turned once she met Alder.
Demetria. I have been doing this for twenty something years. I have never been on a show where the names were married and the nicknames were given and it became a universal understanding. When I became Mamacostia, Anacostia was fine. Demetria liked her real hair. Mamacostia was a different thing because it felt like I wasn’t just teaching the unit. I had a whole other unit outside of the screen. And for that I am so very thankful. And that is when I knew that the work that I was doing was making an impact. So thank you all because it is because of you.
Cat. Often times we are put in positions where the reality we are trying to create is different from the reality behind the scenes. So it has been a special privilege to be a part of a community telling a story of female empowerment and togetherness with women I feel empowered by. The fact is that what you see on screen, in terms of the Unit that forms to tell the story is not dissimilar to the bond that we had formed behind the scenes and rarely is that balance maintained. And maintained in the hallways as you see it in a good manner years after we’ve finished filming this. The real takeaway for me is what I’ve been able to take away, which is new sisters, new friends. And the fact that this [indicates audience] fosters this elevates the magic and makes it even more special. The gratitude you hear us repeating is sincere and important. It is not just something we did. It’s a community we all created together and it’s unique. She might be 20 years in it [indicating Demetria], this is my 40th year. The gratitude and the specialness we try to share with you is so sincere and so real and so treasured by us. Thank you for making that happen.
The closing ceremony was short, because the room had to be prepared for the Chill Night.
Lyne. The more we see you, it feels like family. Getting to know you.
Jess. Hi. Thanks. It’s been a great first day. Thanks to the organisers. It takes a team. The translators, all of you, loving the show and coming back to see us. Building a community. A Mycelial Network.
Taylor. Happiness. Rooted into daily routine. It is a safe space. You take incredible care of each other. You began by coming for a show. Now you see the cast, but you come for each other. Thank you to the organisers and translators
Ashley. A great day. 2 dad jokes
Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl going to the bathroom? … The p is silent
What kind of bird sticks together? … Velcro [vel crow]
Thank you guys for being here. See you tomorrow
Cat. You’re all here because of our creative presence, seeing people’s creative artistry. Important to have stories about being creative in our own lives. Can’t wait to spend tomorrow with you.
Demetria. It is my first year with you guys, feels like forever. Life is not easy every turn. You make a choice to live in our world. I wanted a turtle since the Teenage Ninja Turtles came out. You don’t have to give back to us, but each time you show up – thank you. We see you every time you show up. Thank you to the organisers and translators
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