Question. How did you get into acting?
Dom, didn’t want to be in musical theatre, was cast in Wynonna Earp and here they are
Kat went to musical theatre school. Can’t dance, could sing. The acting coach said they should leave here and go to New York. Study acting. Never work in musical theatre. So she left the programme and studied classical theatre. Did one film class. Theatre wages were so low. Fell in love with the intimacy of film. Had a few years of waiting tables. Got Earp and quit the other jobs.
Question. Any thoughts on a musical episode of Wynonna Earp?
Emily wouldn’t go for it. Dom was enthusiastic. Season 5? Mel would do it. Star Trek did that. Kat didn’t know that. Dom said season 5 write it down.
Question. When you signed on for Wynonna Earp, what did you expect?
Dom, trying to find the vibe. Calgary was cold. Experience. Didn’t realise Waverley was queer. Didn’t realise that part of the adventure.
Kat At ??? [inaudible] Con, Em sent us a note after the bar scene. ‘Are you up for being queer?
Dom didn’t understand ‘ship name’ – heatwave was an early suggestion.
Kat wouldn’t have had it any other way. It was beautiful.
Question. If you had a musical episode, what sort of song would you choose for your character?
Dom, Waverley a cute country vibe
Kat bouncing between rage ballads or drunk jiggy
Question. How have you found it, discussing with other cast from other fandoms?
Dom, such a crossover in experience. Understand them and us
Kat, discussed it a bit. The pandemic, online cons. Fortunate to have cons and filming. Didn’t have a disconnect. Hallmark Con has a different fan base. But coming together and celebrating the same beautiful people. A room full of people who love what we love.
Question. Lesbian characters tend to die. Did you know your character would survive?
Dom, lucky to have Emily Andras. Caring about gay shows. People were scared that this would happen to Wayhaught. Didn’t trust. Emily did a great job saying that here I will stand and stay. The fandom was proved right. And we got a queer wedding.
Question. You have both transitioned into behind the scenes
Kat has gone corporate, but Dom has gone the other way. Kat has directed for Hallmark and Kat and Mel have directed for Tubi. Dom has gone independent. Kat, it is a positive experience. Hallmark knew the product well and the business, had a great time. Worked with crew that they had worked with before. With Tubi, they were in Africa blowing up people. Almost nobody was checking what they were doing. It was wonderful to do that with close friends. Doesn’t like to work alone. Don’t like directing alone. Have to write with partners. Work as a team.
Dom, it is an interesting journey with Magic. Lots of control and censorship, so inspired to work on collaborative projects. This needed to happen from the foundation, inspired by a community. It came naturally, build on that, a blessing. Amazing things happen. Retain authenticity. Collaborating is important. As a director, lent on the crew. Writing, working with a script editor, highlights things.
Question. Did you research Doc Holliday and Earp?
Kat it depends on how much notice you get. She was on a plane after getting the job. Had the show Bible, read that, but didn’t have time for research.
Dom was overwhelmed by the world building. Nerded out at the beginning. Went full Waverley, highlighted everything. Feel safe. Trust the process.
Question. What topic would your TED talk be?
Dom, power connection and community as a tool for liberation.
Kat, a little kid phase. Got a 2 year old and a 5 year old. Reflect on drop off parenting. Stripped of things like vacations. Work to live rather that live to work. How messed up, living as a human being.
Question. What is the most difficult emotion to portray?
Kat, perpetual terror. Stopped doing horror. Stress. No thanks.
Dom. Drinking game in the fandom. Jenna. Younger sister gone missing. Night shoots. Stuff in the script not working. Told to run around and shout Jenna. Don’t do it with whiskey. [Hope that makes sense to somebody, but that was the answer…] Depends on the day. Acting is vulnerable, sad and not connects to it. The environment, block everyone out. Mel does it so well – drop in. A big journey, be gentle with myself.
Question. What have Wynonna Earp and the fandom added to your life and career?
Kat, I wouldn’t be the same person without this experience. For a decade.
Dom, 100%. Know how much Waverley helped others and helped me. The light in the dark, showed another way. The universe conspired – you can’t live your life this way. Meet all of you lot. Continuation of Earp, met people living life authentically. Inspires me so much. So central to who I am.
Kat, so big on inspiration. Seeing you, being brave. Witness people’s transformation and journey.
Question. If you did a crossover between Wynonna Earp and any other show, what would it be?
Dom. I feel like the answer is Motherland. Anyone seen North of North with Taylor? Add some supernatural bits
Kat, with Earp, got to do so many different things. Think Motherland is the perfect choice.
Dom, imagine Doc Holliday in there!!!
Question. What was your favourite episode to film and your overall favourite episode?
Kat, most fun 4.07. The gnome. Nicole and Waverley drunk. Watch the wedding. Perfect.
Dom. To film, the Halloween episode. So fun, so silly with Mel. To watch – For the Journey.
Kat, walked out, saw the chairs. Everyone dressed up, including the crew in wedding suits.
Question. What is the best prank you ever played on set or in real life?
Kat, if we go back, it’s going to be prank city. I was a camp counsellor, mom was the camp nurse. Scraped out the middle of an oreo and put laxative in it. For the ski instructor. Mom’s idea. Hard prank summer. Retaliation prank.
Dom, can’t match that. Played some in Dirty Dancing. Played tricks. Years and months in that show. Move all the props around. Put a rat – open fridge to get a prop and nothing there. Laugh on stage when not supposed to
Kat, nobody put laxative in your….? I’m not a nurse
Question. Did you take any mementos from the set or anything you forgot to return?
Dom got Waverley’s wedding dress. Em taken Waverley’s boots. Like OG outfit. One thing sums up the journey, the wedding dress. Should bring it to a con
Kat got Nicole’s belt. Last thing to put on. Got weight. Locks into Nicole. Should put it on display. Got a jacket, put every pin I ever received on it. Need to put it on display
Question. Is there a specific scene on set filming when you hear Wynonna Earp?
Dom, the first scene that came to me was the proposal round the fire
Kat I remember the first day in Shorty’s, remember it so clearly
Dom, such babies. We were so lucky to have that opening scene
Question. Favourite quote from a song etc?
Dom, don’t have a favourite to whip out from my backpack – no backpack.
Kat, big Pink fan. Glitter in the air [Quoted]
Dom, don’t have a quote but ‘This too shall pass’ to recentre myself
Question. If your life was a museum, what would you sell in the gift shop?
Dom, interesting childhood. Father had lots of projects – wake up – make it happen. Made monkey puppets. Cute. Until you are a teenager and you model for the puppet. On a website. Then at school in D&T [Design and Technology], lots of computers, everyone gets the website up. Juggling monkey
Kat, never heard that story
Dom, monkey puppet
Kat, market. Food I love, peaches. Grew up on a farm. Food memories
Dom, and monkey puppets
Question. Would you like to see a spin off of Waverley on her black badge journey? What would that mean for Wayhaught?
Dom. Jeremy helping practising her powers, tap into those powers. Badass. Use it to define herself [Note, Dom uses female pronouns for Waverley]. Metaphorically. Waverley’s journey from ‘smile and wave’, to hide the darkness. The darkness needs to be seen. Balanced, light and dark. Spinoff, a chance to see Waverley and Nicole in …
Kat [interrupts] can’t leave. Perhaps there is a way… Always a loop hole… Repercussions…
Dom. Don’t like that. Emily would.
Kat. Season 5. Power of collective manifestation
Question. If you were recast to play a different Wynonna Earp character, who would that be?
Kat, Del Ray
Dom, said Bobo, in the past. Not clear, going through villains. Mercedes, but nobody else can do that except Dani Kind. [Someone suggested Jolene]. Can I play Jeremy?
Kat, similar to Waverley a little bit
Dom, auditioned for Wynonna. Kat auditioned for Waverley. It still exists. Emily has the audition tapes. Kat watched her Nicole audition. Casting is an interesting process.
Question. What is the most memorable question you have been asked at a con, and your answer?
[pause]
Kat, why do we have such bad memories? [Stumped]
Question. If you had the opportunity to turn your favourite childhood book into a film / tv, what would it be?
Kat, reversal of the 3 pigs, they became villains
Dom, Raold Dahl, Matilda. But it has been done already
Question. If you could talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Kat, don’t take everything seriously. Chill a bit
Dom, trust the process. What is meant for you won’t pass you by. Surrender to the journey. Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it is having fear but doing it anyway.
Question. Is there any show or person that you would go to a con for?
Kat, Hunting Wives – southern wives, double lives, murder, hot girls, fun activities
Dom, this con. They had started watching Warrior Nun. I get it. Working with Taylor, they wanted to watch a couple of episodes of Motherland, but instead of a couple of eps, they binged all 3 seasons.
Question. What is a TV show you haven’t seen but everyone has?
They both thought that was a question for Tim, who in more into popular culture.
Kat, so many, Game of Thrones, watched a bit. Epic
House of the Dragon just got gay.
Next time, the Amalia and Diana panel
