We finally got the convention started. Registration, followed by the opening ceremony in the main hall. Where there were blue balloons, of course.
We had the return of two favourites – Emilie Leclerc (Izadora Dart) and Diana Pavlovska (Willa Collar).
We had two people who had never done Starfury conventions before – Ashley Nicole Williams (Abigail Bellweather) and Sylvia De Fanti (Mother Superion).
This edition of Witchbomb had the welcome addition of guests from Wynonna Earp – Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Waverley Eary) and Katherine Barrell (Sherriff Nicole Haught) AKA Wayhaught.
As well as the perennial favourites – Amalia Holm (Scylla Ramshorn), Kristina Tonteri Young (Sister Beatrice) and Taylor Hickson (Raelle Collar).
And the group appearance.
Photos are not allowed at the Meet and Greet, so this section will be largely text only.
This was the first time that I had met Kat. But I discovered that most of the people on my table were Earpers and many had been at Earpfest in Toronto the previous weekend. Kat clearly recognised them and they chatted about the fest. I have to say that Kay was a real sweetheart.
With Kristina, the main topic of conversation started when I complimented her earrings. Really quite something – photos not allowed, but there is a photo of the earrings taken by @DutchStarbuck during the opening ceremony, that shows them clearly.
Kristina told us a story about being on a bus in London, wearing them and having trouble with some young lads who objected to her earrings. But that is a tale that she should tell herself, if you see her at a con, ask about the earrings on a London bus story.
When Diana came here last time 3 years ago, it was during the SAG ACTRA strike so we weren’t allowed to ask any questions about the show. There was a question that I wanted to ask her then, but wasn’t able to. Now I could. So I finally asked her if it was always the plan for Willa to be in Season 3? Or was that something that came about due to Taylor’s accident? She told me that it was quite a tale and to ask her at a panel tomorrow. And I did.
When Ashley came, I put a piece of paper on the table in front of her
Was she aware that it was Abigail’s birthday the next day? Ashley’s first reaction was ‘She’s old’. Not what I expected. I pointed out that she will only be 26. But Ashley explained that in her mind Abigail is 18 and has never aged. So realising that Abigail would be 26 made her realise that Abigail was old. She wanted the piece of paper (which was a copy of one of the show props) but we are not allowed to give the actors anything at the Meet and Greet, so that had to wait till the next day, but she did get the copy.
And, no, Ashley had not brought any uniforms with her for photo shoots.
I also had not met Sylvia before. She was charming. She was talking with others about places she had visited or worked. She seemed to have been everywhere and know everybody who was anybody in European theatre.
When Amalia came, I put the two leaflets about Scylla Publishing in front of her
and asked if she had heard that one of the Motherland fans had started her own publishing company and named it after Amalia’s character? She was aware of it and was delighted. I explained the real name of the person starting the company, but that they usually wrote under a pen name, I mentioned the pen name and Amalia reacted immediately. She knows that writer!
Amalia was also asked about which uniform she would be wearing for the uniform photoshoots on Sunday. She wasn’t sure, but thought it would be the blue combat uniform, but it depended on Taylor.
Emilie had been working with the Canadian Broadcast team for the World Cup until just before coming to Witchbomb. I asked her how she got to be involved with the World Cup? Her first language in French. As well as acting, which is her first love, she has been doing French language announcing for the rugby for a while now. So it was through the rugby connections that she got asked to be part of the football broadcast team. A memorable and unique experience.
Like Kat, Dom immediately recognised many of the Earpers at the table and knew they had been at Earpfest. That was quite a party. One thing Dom did get asked about several times was Magic, which they are making with Taylor Hickson. They were asked if they could find parts in the movie for Kat and Amalia too, because we would love Wayhaught and Raylla to be in the same movie. Dom’s answer was the cryptic ‘I may have something up my sleeve’. I know they were asked this by other people and gave the exact same answer. They would be really something
Taylor was not only wearing her glasses – first time I have seen her wearing them ‘live’ – but she brought her sister Tiernan along as well. Tiernan is well known to some Switches from the videos she creates for her You Tube channel. Chaotic energy sums them up. More of Tiernan in the next blog.
Taylor and Amalia were doing a uniform photo shoot on Sunday, so what uniform was Taylor going to be wearing? Some of us want to co-ordinate our costumes. Taylor wasn’t sure, but when pressed on the matter, she said that she doesn’t own dress blues, which is a real shame. Several people were hoping for dress blues.
Next time we move on to photo ops, Tiernan causing chaos at the autographs, and panels
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