After going on the Making Magic in London day on October 25th with Dominique Provost-Chalkley and Taylor Hickson, I went back to visit the locations and take the photos that I didn’t get the chance to do on the actual day.
Staring with the bus stop. I could finally get all the photos I wanted without any danger of stepping into the main road or having to barge Taylor out of the way to get behind her.
This was the poster frame where Dom’s father replaced the poster inside with one designed by Hayley.
Then it was round the corner to Lower Marsh and the bars. First The Glitch. BTW, the decaf tea was fine, but the less said about the cheese toastie the better. And they don’t accept cash.
The performance space is at the back of the bar and it actually quite small. The film gives the impression that it is bigger. Part of the magic of film!
This is where Jo (Taylor) was set up for her gig.
This is the site of the post gig Magic meets Jo and has the disastrous chat up attempts. The bar is quite crowded. Yes, those are free dog biscuits.
Next stop Scooter Caffee
This is where Jo and Magic went on their ‘date’. BTW, they don’t do decaf tea, but were happy to oblige when I produced my own tea bag [never travel without them!]. And they do accept cash. The date was filmed downstairs at Scooter Caffe. You go down a winding metal staircase to the basement.
There are three booths downstairs as well as other tables and chairs. Magic and Jo sat in the middle of the three booths, with the picture removed. Nice to sit where they filmed.
Come out of Scooter Caffe and turn left and in a few yards you are at Leake Street and the graffiti arches
This is a really interesting underground world. Everything from club entrances, exhibition spaces and plenty of graffiti artists in action. You can smell the paint.
And the side tunnel where we took the tour photos.
The large Magic mural had already been painted over when we went to see it, replaced by a mural of a witch. But even that had been painted over in the days between my two visits.
I walked through the tunnels towards the London Eye.
Then East, towards the steps and the beach.
This was as far as we got on the walking tour, because we had to head back towards the London Eye for the ride that was prebooked and timed. But to see the final few parts, we needed to go just a little further.
These are the Old Barge House Stairs.
This is where Magic climbed over the railings and Jo tried to climb through them and dropped her phone. I know Taylor is on the petite size, but climbing through there would be a challenge, even for somebody like her. I imagine filming that was hilarious.
Yes, of course I climbed down the steps.
Back up the steps and turn right. In a few yards you get to the plinth that Magic stood on for the White Rabbit line.
Saturday October 25th 2025 was Making Magic Day in London with a whole lot of Earpers and Switches. I love the name that Earpfest coined for the joint fandoms – Swearpers. This was a day of events and fundraising for Magic, with Taylor Hickson and Dominique Provost-Chalkley.
These are written from my memory and my recollections and, as always, recollections may differ.
It started at the Everyman Borough Yards cinema with a showing of the short film Magic. I really love this film.
Then we had a Q & A. This should have been with both Tayor and Dom. But Taylor’s plane was delayed and she hadn’t arrived yet. Those of us who have met Taylor several times at conventions, know that travel is always a big adventure where Taylor is concerned. She has told us many stories in the past of flights being cancelled or her luggage being lost and travel disasters seem to be very common. So some of us were not surprised at all. But at least she was on her way.
We had a short Q & A with Dom and Hayley and there would be another Q & A with both of them later.
The most interesting question, from my point of view, was the question about how Taylor got involved with the film. Taylor had been asked this at Witchbomb and at Switches Gathering 3 and had said that the offer of the part came through her agent. But we learned that there was more to it. Dom’s original idea was to use a queer actor to play Jo, but couldn’t find anyone who was exactly right. It was an essential part of the film that the character of Jo must be someone that the audience would instantly love, that they would relate to immediately. Eventually the casting director was asked to look more widely. The casting director came back with 2 names – Amalia Holm and Taylor Hickson. Dom listened to some of Taylor’s music and watched an interview where Taylor talked about queer representation and realised that ‘She really gets it’. So they had a zoom meeting after afterwards Dom knew that Taylor was the right person to play Jo. The job offer was sent to the agent and they got confirmation of her acceptance in less than 24 hours.
Dom was also asked about the film music. On the closing credits, Dom was credited with writing the songs, but Adrian (Leung IIRC) wrote the score. Dom described how working with Adrian on the score had been a real learning experience in writing music in a different way. Part of the writing process for the full length film has Dom writing the film score as well as the songs.
To make time for a second Q & A, the walking groups were rearranged, walking group 1, which I was booked onto, was split between walking groups 2 and 3 and that freed up time. We had a lunch break.
Making Magic had organised a hangout space at the Waterloo Action Centre for after lunch. So, we socialised and explored and ate and slowly made our ways to Waterloo. I am the sort of person who has maps and realised that the Waterloo Action Centre was just down the road from two of the known locations. Lower Marsh seemed as good a street as any to go and find some food. And locations.
This is The Glitch (134 Lower Marsh SE1 7AA) where the film opens. Jo is performing there and Magic walks in. Their eyes meet across a crowded bar and instant chemistry. Then we see Magic trying to chat Jo up at the bar, which is also in the Glitch.
Just down the road (132 Lower Marsh) from there is the Scooter Caffe where Jo and Magic go on their first date
Both places were decorated for Halloween. Then it was back to the Waterloo Action Centre for the afternoon events. And merchandise. This was a fundraising day after all and there was a lot of good stuff. I got a poster that had been used in the original short film.
I also got the postcard set.
And one of the Making Magic mugs.
Each of the mugs is slightly different and Dom’s father was involved in the individualisation of the mugs.
And Taylor finally arrived, having taken a car from Heathrow. Of course, she needed a cup of coffee and food. When she was ready, we had the second part of the Q & A with both Taylor and Dom. Even though this was a less formal setting, with the chairs in a horseshoe, it felt more intimate and open.
I particularly liked the question for Dom about which was the more exciting moment – the first time saying ‘Action’ or the last time saying ‘Cut’? Dom told us that with being in so many scenes, that they didn’t get to say ‘Action’ or ‘Cut’ very much. That led to a discussion of the work load, Taylor was very impressed that Dom was director and writer and star and composer and …. That was a lot.
They were asked about the scene when Jo and Magic are on the beach and getting up the stairs with the tide coming in. The speed that the tide came in took people by surprise. That was played for comedy, climbing through the railings was just funny. Dom also explained shooting the bit when the phone drops in the water. Originally the props people had created a foam phone and when they dropped that in, it just floated. So Dom found a nearby rock and they actually filmed that dropping into the water.
It was very clear that Dom and Taylor get on really well as people. They share a lot of things in common, not just acting, but a love of music, fears about live music performances etc. They both spoke about how they felt the signs were there that this was the right path, they were meant to make this film. Taylor explained her understanding of knowing the right path by the feelings of satisfaction or frustration when the path is wrong. Taylor is very connected to spirituality and they had a common understanding of how this shaped their decisions. They had clearly become good friends.
Eventually it was time for walking tour 3. We were starting at The Glitch. On our way we passed tour group 2. By the time we got there, both groups converged, so Dom told us about the venues, but we didn’t go in. We had been asked not to take photos of the tour participants, so we could look through the window of the two venues. In the Scooter Caffe, they filmed downstairs for the first date scene.
Then we went to the bus stop, which I had been particularly keen to see after Taylor told us a story about that in one of the fan meets at Witchbomb. Dom told us a similar story when we got to the bus stop.
They were filming at night, Taylor said she was able to stay on Canadian time (8 hours behind the UK). Everyone else suffered. They were filming at the bus stop in Baylis Road and worried about the light. Sunrise was coming, so they couldn‘t do as many takes as they wanted to and had to leave out some shots. Setting up the location, meant that they needed to change one of the bus stop posters for their movie poster. Taylor told us at Witchbomb, that this is highly illegal and they were worried about getting arrested. Dom told it slightly differently. Dom’s father had unscrewed one of the poster frames and put their poster in, while telling Taylor (here Dom changed to a more West Country accent) that this was ‘very illegal’. But it sounded like Dom’s dad was just winding Taylor up. And she believed it!!
From the bus stop, we went back down Lower Marsh to the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnels.
The graffiti art for these two images was done by @Voyder. The eye is still there, but the Magic image is not. The image here is a photo of one of the postcards. It was replaced by
Part of what was included in the walking tour was the chance to have a selfie with Dom and Taylor and we took these in the tunnels by the Eye art. I am not a great person for selfies, so I asked to simply take a photo of the two of them.
After that we headed for the river Thames. We went to see the beach where they had their picnic. This was Thames Beach.
This was to the west of the OXO tower. It was high tide when we were there, so very little of the beach was visible. Dom said that they had to put in an artificial wall to make the place seem more enclosed, so they would be more realistic at having no choice but to get up the stairs closest to the OXO Tower.
Close by was the pedestal where they did the White Rabbit Line, shown in the picture at the bottom right of the postcard
I am grateful to @tacosaretasty27 for the information from Google.
That ended the walking tours. Next stop on the Making Magic Day was the London Eye experience. This was very limited in numbers and was an opportunity to chat to Dom and Taylor in small groups. We weren’t able to take photos inside the pod, but the views outside were pretty special.
The day ended with the After Party on board a boat on the Thames. I didn’t go to that, I had a train to catch. But that seems to have been a great event.
I would like to extend my thanks to the team at Magic and the Earpfest team for putting this Magical day together. It was truly one of a kind. It also showed how big is the overlap between Earpers and Switches. These are two fandoms who fit together well. Yes, we need a joint convention.
Thanks to Taylor for flying from Vancouver for one night, she flew back on Sunday. (She was clearly getting tired by the evening – lots of coffee needed). I am grateful to Dom for the vision to create this for us all. I am also very grateful to all the fans who came and made it such a successful day of Swearpin’ and fundraising for Magic. We need to do this again
To donate to the making of the full length Magic film, go to Makingmagic.pictures
Having written about all the panels, there were some stories that should be shared. Things from the Saturday Chill Night, or the fan meets or the autograph sessions. Clearly, these are just what I experienced from the table I was at or the fan meets I went to or when I happened to be in which autograph room, other people may have very different stories. Recollections may differ. And because I didn’t use any of these in blog 9, I am using photos from the closing ceremony for this blog.
So let’s start with Ashley at the Chill Night. There were vegetables on the table, including some tomatoes. Of course one of my table had to ask Ashley to recreate her classic line ‘that bitch just ate my tomato’. Staging agreed and props organised, Ashley got into role and as the tomato she was reaching for was taken by somebody else, she took a moment and then, in full Abigail mode ‘that bitch just ate my tomato’. Round of applause.
Then Ashley was asked about locations, a couple of us had visited a number of the Vancouver locations. She was asked about the Marshall’s Hotel from 3.05 – that was one of our location failures, we didn’t find it. Ashley said that the interiors were filmed at the studio, but the exteriors were filmed elsewhere but she didn’t know where because she was driven there and was asleep in the car.
She asked us about our favourite location. I said Riverview. Ashley was ‘Seriously?’ I was serious, It’s Magical. So she asked if we had visited it at night, which we hadn’t. So she has a point.
Conventions were very much the talk of our table. Lyne talked about Witchbomb last year and saying that they needed to diversify the guests, that they should have Ashley and Demetria and others. The response, quite rightly, was that there was a limit to the number of guests that the ticket sales could support. So Lyne said that she would stay at home this year. So she wasn’t at Witchbomb 2025 because she wanted other people to have the chance to experience that convention.
And then there is Citydrop. At the start of the con a couple of the cast seemed to be aware of it, but by the end of it ALL the cast were aware of it. Some of the American fans made it their mission to draw this to the attention of all the cast. Every single one of them was ‘If I’m invited, I’m coming.’ They want to be invited, they want to be there.
And there is rumour of an email having been sent to someone on the cast, but no details…
Then there was the boxing match between Cat and Demetria in the Sunday autograph session. Photo taken from a post by @Witchplague. The two boxing balloon gloves had been used in a photoshoot and were now brought to the autograph room to give to Cat and Demetria. Cat had first choice and chose the blue ones. Then Demetria got hers and got up and charged the length of the room to Cat and they had a friendly boxing match in the room, including chasing round the table. Demetria won, she managed to take one of Cat’s gloves. They were like this all weekend, great friends and rivals.
At Taylor’s fan meet, she was asked about Magic, the film with Taylor and Dom PC. So far the short film has only been shown twice, both in the UK and there is a 3rd screening in London coming up. She was asked if she could help to get screenings in the US and in Asia. Clearly she can’t decide that, but we asked her to talk to Dom about it.
Taylor has clearly become good friends with Dom. They have been discussing music, politics, campaigning, and learning a lot from each other. Including trying to get Taylor to master a British accent.
We were sorry that Taylor wasn’t going to be with us on the Sunday. But she said she would be on an early morning train and this was giving others the chance to be there.
Cat was asked about Witchbomb and leading the singing at the costume competition. Was it planned or spontaneous? She said it was spontaneous. Then she was asked if she knew the cultural significance of that song to the English, she didn’t. It is the anthem of The Lionesses, the England women’s football team. The weekend before Witchbomb, the England Lionesses had played in the European Cup Final and won. That song was everywhere, so we all knew it and were used to singing it as a crowd. It’s nickname is ‘the halftime song’ because that is when it is usually sung, and she sang it at ‘halftime’ in the costume competition. It couldn’t be more perfect if she had spent hours planning it. It was suggested she might want to reframe that story.
She was asked about Eliot Laurence and the fact that he seems to have disappeared. She said that they didn’t see much of him anyway. The Custodians of the Canon were Brian Studler and Amanda Tapping. They were the ones who oversaw the writing and the continuity.
I didn’t really realise until this convention, just how much the conventions mean to the cast. I have been to a lot of conventions over a lot of years. Yes, most actors enjoy cons, although some don’t. Yes, they can make sure the audience have a good time, but then they go back to their lives because it is a job. But the Motherland cast are the exceptions, they love cons just like we do. They want to see the other cast members and be part of the community too. They make the effort to get to know us too. They get a lot out of conventions and want to go to them.
This is the last Switches Gathering. Nevastalgia are closing the business in a few weeks. But they are sad about not having another convention as well. They have taken the Switches and the Motherland cast into their community too.
But this journey is strong. So it is Au Revoir, not Adieu. Until we meet again
Because this Motherland journey continues. Next up is Magic in London, on October 25th. For more details go to makingmagic.pictures
There is the online zoom meeting on November 1st, All Switches Eve 4.
And two conventions next year – Witchbomb 4 in London and Citydrop in Vancouver.
But, for now, I leave you with the Souvenir video from Addiction Conventions, available to watch at:
We came to the final panel of the day, with Ess, Cat and Demetria. Followed by the photo retakes and Sunday autographs, leading to the closing ceremony.
Question. For Demetria. Asking about a song they did and wanting to know more about it.
Demetria. They recorded a song 6 or 7 years ago. It was a different type of song from what they usually record, it wasn’t R & B. It was coming from a different place, where the finally felt connected and understood. She had been asked if she would release it. The song is called Find Your Crime. Because it is different from her usual genre, she didn’t intend to release it. But she would play it for us.
She got it up on her phone and Cat held the mic by Demetria’s phone for us to listen to it.
Huge applause from the audience.
Cat. [pointing at Demetria] She’s glistening (crying). She had been teasing Demetria that she was the only one not crying that day.
The person asking the question said they found the song on Instagram, downloaded it and really connected with it.
Question. If you could have any quality from your character on the show, what would it be?
Ess. I wish I could be a little more mysterious or stoic. Hold a lot more back. There is a time to be joyous or over the top in public. Be a little more serious. Been a loudmouth their entire life instead of trying to put a bear cap on their tongue. [Ess then translated their answer]
Cat. Admires Petra. There is a confidence in the steps she takes for her own advancement. She can focus on self care. Helping to get more sense of personal fulfilment.
Demetria. Anacoatia’s ability to be still. She is a bit neurotic, a Virgo. Everything is to fix, to find, to correct. But to connect to someone like Scylla, she needs to be cerebral, she needs to be still and listen. That is fruitful in relationships
Question. To Ess. When season 3 was released, Ess had done an interview about M. Saying that they had created some backstory for M. Did any of that make it to the fandom?
Ess. Said they had mentioned this earlier this summer [Ess / Arlen talked about this at Witchbomb]. Arlen helped them a lot in Vancouver to come up with an explanation for how a character like M could come to exist. Their Matriarchal society is very gendered, but M is non-binary. How does a trans witch fit into Motherland society? Arlen helped them to write what they knew, how to fit with other groups, like indigenous people or not?
They took Arlen and themselves as a starting point. They were cast as M, as a transgender person, even building costumes differently from others. Is this something that magic could do? With all the circus events this summer, they haven’t been home this summer. The pages are in a bottom drawer in their office. There are suggestions for it. Right?
Question. For Cat and Demetria, one of the best parts of the series, is seeing story arcs for women who are often put aside for being above a certain age. How do you feel about these complex projects? Did it affect the projects that came later?
Cat. The first day on set was at the scene of Abigail’s call up. The second day on set was at the set of Petra’s office. In the Green Room were all the biddies – every generation was represented. Every spectrum of existence and we were not talking about a man. We were there to talk about our scenes and our experiences. Had scenes with others. So when she has auditions, it has changed what she goes to. Wants good people, good stories and not talking about men.
Demetria. Briefly. The House of Payne. 27 years a wife and mother, become a grandmother, her son had a daughter. In Motherland, age is a number, age wasn’t a factor, just part of the story. In her 40s, teaching the recruits, wasn’t tethered to a male figure or some feminine things. I got to be Anacostia whatever her age, her valour, her care, her love.
Question. Yesterday, someone asked our favourite part of the day. If you texted Arlen, Amalia, Kandyse, Emilie about your favourite part of the day, what would it be?
Cat. Continuing the conversations. First you get the introductions. Second you start to get to know someone. Third you see how the encounters go. It shifts the dynamic. So getting to know people. Recommend things. Have context. Rather than just seeing people.
Demetria. Talking, taking pictures. My first time here. All the beautiful gifts. The ideology of someone who marked me on their body. How did someone come to that place? Experience it together. Share your story. Help you over sickness, help you over grief or find a wife. Deal with fear of health. Touch with tears. Find commonality. Enjoyed every moment, every bad joke. Even [looks at Cat] losing with you.
Ess. Loved what you said. Amplify. Energy exchange. Fun. Specific moments, enjoyed the games and selfies and being my messy, complicated self. Everyone shows up with their happiest self and tenderest self. It is a special time, that we get to share that.
You can watch excerpts of this panel, including the Demetria song at
After lunch we were back for the second games session. This was between the Salva Queens, Ashley, Demetria and Cat, and Alder’s Angels, Lyne, Jess and Ess. And audience participation.
This was back to the format of two years ago. The idea is that everyone stands in a line. The person at the end is given a word and they mime it to the next person in the line. And so on down the line. The person at the far end has to guess the word. I loved this 2 years ago and it didn’t disappoint this time either.
Sounds simple, but did take a bit of explaining. It was only later in the game that it was realised that all the members of Alder’s Angels had played this game before – 2 years ago, whereas for the Salva Queens it was all new.
It started promisingly enough.
The Salva Queens looked like they knew what they were doing. For at least the first couple of people. Then it started going wrong. And then wronger.
Then …. by the time it got to Demetria, we all knew there was no chance of getting this right. And Demetria likes to WIN. The word was koala, but no points there. When the word was revealed, Cat walked out the door, but did return quickly.
So Alder’s Angels got to have a go. Ess was given a word
Demetria was inspecting, to make sure there was no cheating. The General gave her, her marching orders.
This didn’t go to plan for very long. Jess demonstrating something to do with corn. Their word was candy corn. I had no idea, but neither did Lyne by the time it got to the end of the line.
With no points all round, the Salva Queens were in action again, with Ess trying to make sure there was no cheating either. The word turned out to be Witchfather. But none of us would have guessed it even from the first demonstration by Demetria.
Even at this point Demetria was working out the things were going wrong.
And things didn’t get any better. Cat in despair, Demetria on the prowl and Jess laughing.
The look on Ashley’s face shows she has no clue at all. More no points.
At this point Cat decided that Demetria’s desire to win needed a time out.
As we saw several times over the weekend, these two are great friends and have a great mutual respect and competitiveness between them. Demetria even describing Cat as like her Big Sis
After all that, the organisers say that time has run out so Alder’s Angels don’t even have time for a second word. That is a great pity, I was enjoying this a great deal. Laughing till I cried.
Demetria had to have the last word.
But friends in the end and a lot of fun and laughter.
Question. For Jess. What do you miss most about South Africa that you didn’t realise you would miss?
Jess. My family. They are always there. Our culture. Our resilience. Saying cock, you can’t say that in the US. Also [inaudible], every syllable of our language carries our identity. Missing Demetria’s laugh – same feeling. Hard to put into words.
Question. For Ashley, we have come to know Abigail in season 1. But in season 3 we learn that Alder’s sister is called Abigail. Do you think Petra named her after Alder’s sister.
Ashley was initially thoughtful about the question. She didn’t remember General Alder’s sister being called Abigail.
Lyne. Is that true?
Jess. Yes.
Lyne puts on Jess’s sunglasses and pretends she is not there!
Ashley. Maybe. Don’t know. My mom had to get in her good graces somehow
Question. If you could have any animal as a pet, even mythological ones, what would it be?
Ashley. Unicorn.
Lyne. Dragon. And I’d ride it. FLY ride it [Ashley makes cowboy gestures]
Jess. Taking notes. Fan fiction… Rabbit. I love rabbits. I’m going to have to come up with something cool, after unicorn and dragon. [Pause] Rabbit is good. Bunny rabbit.
Question. What’s your favourite holiday? Do you have any funny family traditions?
Lyne. In Belgium we have [inaudible] which is Santa Claus, but not Santa Claus. He comes on December 1st and we would put our shoe at the fireplace. We’d put a carrot in there for the white horse. We would also put a letter asking for what we want. Then mum and dad would get us what we wanted. Her dad told her the story that they went out one night and got really drunk and they came home and needed to put everything together, there was a Playmobil and a Lego box, he would actually assemble it for us. So he was assembling it completely drunk. These are the funniest and most cherished memories of our family holidays. We would be in the house at a window looking down in the house at the table where they put everything. But that night they were so drunk they put it in another room. The three of us run down and there is nothing on the table. My mum says perhaps you should check the other room then
Ashley. I have it written down. Christmas is favourite holiday. Favourite thing to do is decorate the tree with my mom while listening to Mariah Carey. Her Apple music might be Justin Bieber all year, but get to December and it is Mariah Carey. Make gingerbread houses and have a competition, she wins. Matching Christmas PJs. Big pieces of ice and choose a theme, last year was Shrek, so you walk through like a Shrek ice museum. Loves Christmas. Feels warm and fuzzy
Lyne, I’m going to come to you
Ashley. Great. Everyone’s invited
Jess. Favourite holiday is Peso with her family. Particularly the feet washing ceremony. It is so intimate.
Lyne asks for clarification.
Jess explains that it is Peso, Passover. Incredible time. So intimate. Won’t forget the first time, never seen her dad cry before. He and his brother, washing their mother’s feet. Jess was visibly emotional. She’s not always in South Africa to do it, so she and her husband do it. Feels stupid, just the two of them, but get out the bucket, wash each other’s feet, very honouring. Something of South Africa I miss is a really good Braai on Sundays. Miss the smell. Whole day event
Question. If you go out to eat, which would you prefer Braai or a Texas cook out?
Jess and Ashley stand up and stand off against each other fists raised, as if in a boxing match.
Lyne. Doesn’t know either of them. So chooses both.
Jess. Ashley hasn’t had a Braaai. She hasn’t had a Texan BBQ
Ashley. My mom’s Texan BBQ can’t compare to anything. Lists everything – corn, wings, hot dogs, sauces, vegetables, meats, everything… Have 20 – 30 family and friends. So both
Jess. Get back to you next year
Question. On the show, was there anything you had to redo over and over because you kept cracking up?
Ashley. Season 1, when Tally was opening up the roll from Gerit.
Jess. I was so serious. She kept laughing
Ashley. Got yelled at by the director. This is so funny
Lyne. First of all I never mess up. There is a reason I never had anything to put in the blooper reels. I never messed up. Unless you have anything. [Imitates mic drop, brushes shoulders and hands the mic to Jess].
Jess. We had a lot of fun in the ice caves. No messing up
Jess. The rose ceremony in 1.01 was quite difficult. We had filmed the pilot and she never understood the scene. We had a chance to refilm with Ashley and I knew then what the scene was all about. Explains to Ashley about sitting on the floor and sharing the rose.
Ashley finally remembers the scene
Ashley. Mothers who passed. When the salva ran out.
Jess. The energy had to be so specific. Was able to work out what had been missing, had to be the heart of the scene and cry. Filmed the entire day. Stayed on the floor all day, crying, pretending to burn petals. Rare opportunity that you don’t get to do, a scene with a different actor and we were a different unit. So we had done that scene and I had missed it, but got a chance to land it this time
Question. If there were to be another season, where would your character be – storyline?
Jess. Told by Eliot that Tally would end up a General. Fascinated. Helped in season 3 to understand the journey to who she needed to be. Just showed up on a farm. Tally and Alder somewhere, creating a matrifocal compound, training some chickens. Stay in touch with the unit.
Lyne. Distance, coming back, can feel it. It was the Magic dust that was bringing Alder back.
Ashley. Talked about this last night at the cocktail party. First she would explore the First Song and the new power. Then the Camarilla are witches, bad things. She would stay in the army. Ther would be resistance, she would be fighting somebody.
Question. If General Alder wrote her autobiography, what would be the title?
Lyne. I know.
[Jess whispered into her ear – a lot]
‘45 years of being a General.’ Then she explained that Alder had been the General for 45 Presidents. Then Lyne told us Jess’s idea of ‘The Last Ride’.
[I think Lyne was working her way towards something like ‘General to 45 Presidents’.]
Sunday morning and a significant event in the history of Motherland conventions. Taylor was not there. This was the first time ever that Taylor was not present. As she herself said, ‘It was time to let other people enjoy this experience’. Taylor had been presented with the Thank You cards at the end of Saturday, with the instruction not to read them until ‘tomorrow’.
It is Sunday and our guest panel was joined by Ess for the Opening Ceremony and the group panel.
Cat. Team Euro Spicy. Woke up to ‘last day, last one’. Need a reset. Enjoy the magic today. Enjoy the now. Take care of yourself. Hydrate. Don’t be overwhelmed. You are with people who get you.
Demetria. This crazy chick to my left (Cat) is the Michelle Obama to my Whoopi Goldberg. We offer wisdom. Enjoyed yesterday, the energy, the gifts, the laughs. Vote for me to win today
Ess had major FOMO yesterday. So it was wonderful to see faces they hadn’t seen for 2 years. For some it is not the first time, so it is a repeat joy. Seeing the cast, seeing each other. So many languages. Time goes on. We get stronger, we all want to do this. Thank you for the love.
Then Ess did their own translation. Ess speaks French.
[Then Cat and Ess fixed a wobbly table leg on the table in front of them]
Lyne. Been crying again. Love these people. Let’s have a fantastic Sunday.
Jess. Maybe silence. Take a moment. Deep breath. [Passes tissues around, Cat is crying] Come to the power of shared space. Facilitation is a way into a space. Resonate. Here today to breathe with you all. Love. Quoting Jack Gilbert ‘we have to be stubborn with our delight’. Delighted to be here today.
Ashley. Grateful to share space with you. Thank you for coming to meet us. Grateful to meet you. Fill my cup up
[At this point Demetria is the only one not crying. Cat poked her – was she still alive? asleep?]
Ashley. Makes my heart full to know the love for the show, the characters and for us. Never thought I would ever experience this.
Question. [Commented on Demetria not crying] Which god or goddess is your character the child of?
Demetria. Let’s be clear about something. It’s not that I don’t possess tear ducts. You have come from everywhere. I have just been crazy enough to not fall for the fact that we’re not going to see each other again. I’m not going to sit here are cry that I won’t see you again. Amen
[She got an Amen from other cast members, then got back to the question.]
Two answers. First there are seven African gods and goddesses. I think I am descended from them. But in a space that my son would recommend, I am a fan of Storm. I absolutely love Storm. She’s from African descent. Like asking what Anacostia’s mega power would have been – never got a chance to fully explore that – like Storm. Electricity and all that stuff. She can astral project, she can go into space. So a descendent of the seven African goddesses or Storm
Ess. Was sitting here like ‘which one’? Which one do you think?
Ashley. I think Abigail is the daughter of Athena. She never backs down from a fight.
Ess. In English because don’t know their Greek mythology in French very well. M might be a descendant or second cousin of Hermes, a healer, the son of Aphrodite. The dude with wings on his feet. Also associated with the caduceus. Or the Roman version is Mercury. [Then Ess translated into French]
Lyne. Had just read a book by Phil Knight, the creator of Nike. She highly recommended it. Lyne thinks Alder would be descended from Nike, because she stands for victory [Lyne translated herself]
Cat. Her first thought was Athena, that is where Petra starts. But where we leave her and take the wisdom into her own life is Diana the huntress. To hunt effectively you need to be wise and tactical and patient and observant. After that the goddess of love, trying to find how to use love over war to affect change
Jess. Goddess? One of the gods of mirth or joy. Or love. Aphrodite
Question. Neuro spicy. Which character gives the most neurodivergent vibe?
Ess. Izadora.
Jess. Emilie says ‘Hi’ by the way.
Question. The end of season 3 and the outcome. There are two possible effects of the first song. Either everyone is a witch or there are no witches. Which outcome would you prefer?
Cat. Wonderful question. The most powerful element of storytelling is transformation. If we have to pause that story, we should choose the higher self rather than being reduced from the greatness within. There is magic power of our own voices. So we should be left in a place where everyone is tapping into inner magic is the higher nature. It is a hopeful place to pause those characters. An allegorical character is everyone tapping in. I’m team everybody has the magic within and is using it.
Question. If you were in a karaoke competition and you could choose one character to be your singing partner, who would you choose and what song would you sing?
Demetria forces the microphone on Ess, who takes it reluctantly
Ess. Anacostia. Never done it, won’t do it. [translate]
Lyne thought Alder would not partner up. She would take the stage solo. Lyne was not sure what Alder would sing, so she chose one of her own favourite karaoke go to songs. She loves karaoke. Black Velvet by Alannah Miles, written by Elvis. [sings briefly]
Jess. Was with Ess. Doesn’t possess that amazing skill. Demonstrates rhythmic finger clicking. Do something amazing with my body. Watch Abigail and Raelle do something amazing. Sing Edge of 17
Demetria. Anacostia would want something soulful and hopeful. ‘When you believe’ by CC Wynan. Want to partner up with Scylla. Their arc. Coming out of a dark place to hope. Amalia is wonderful and sometimes not. [She recaps the story about Amalia not knowing the difference between a dairy allergy and not being able ‘to eat diary’. Then Demetria sings ‘When you believe’ [at least I think that is what my notes say.]
Cat. Thought I avoided this. But when I do, rumour has it Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Abba. ‘Don’t stop believing’. Turn up the volume and listen
Ashley. Told to choose Edge of 17. In season 3 she would choose her man Adil to sing with. In season 1 she would choose to sing with her unit. Song choice, Man Eater by Nelly Furtado
You can watch excerpts from the opening ceremony and group panel from Addiction Conventions by following the links below
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
After lunch we had games, with two teams – Ashley, Taylor and Jess against Cat, Lyne and Demetria. They had team names. Cat, Lyne and Demetria were the Commander in Chiefs. I didn’t hear what the other team was called.
The idea was that one person would be on the stage and would hold a notepad on their forehead with a word on it and the others in the team would describe the word and they would guess it. This was what was supposed to happen
Started OK, somebody explaining it to the teams
But then the teams had to decide their team names. There were conversations. The Commanders decided very quickly, the other team – not so much
Too many opinions, not enough decisions
The Commanders started off. Led by their General Lyne. It started alright. There was some semblance of order. Those on my side of the room couldn’t see the word so had no idea what the others were saying or trying to communicate.
Even when Lyne guessed the word and she turned round, it was too small and too far away to see what the word was. But people on that side of the room were having fun.
Until….
The Bellweather Unit went across to see for themselves what the words were that Lyne was trying to guess. Demetria went full Anacostia and decided to escort them back to their side of the room. No cheating going on here.
Then the Bellweathers had to get themselves organised. At least this time they were close enough for us to be able to read the word and have some idea what was going on.
Adigail…. Yes, Jess got it eventually
Meanwhile, the Commanders were far better organised. I do have to say that in real life it is Cat who is the take charge and organise person. She knows how to get things done
But it was still too small and too far away to know what was going on. But they all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
And the Bellweathers crept closer and closer…
Then they ran out of words. That happened last year too. So more words were created by each team for the other team to guess. Nice to see Taylor and Jess using the purple Motherland pens.
When in doubt, take the microphone and talk to the audience. Perhaps she should have sung?
More words, more chaos. Lost the plot by then, but having fun
I am not sure that this worked out as planned, it didn’t work out as well as the game they played on Sunday – but more of that later.
To be honest, I am still not sure who won. But I know that wasn’t exactly the point
We waited through 6 conventions and 3 years, but we finally had the Bellweather Unit present in person. Wast it worth the wait – definitely.
Ashley. Did you miss us? We missed you.
Question. How are you enjoying the day?
Taylor. Exhausting
Jess. How are you guys doing? [Cheer from audience]
Question. The Camarilla are a threat. They quote scripture. In season 1 Alder sees church and Camarilla as very different. What did Eliot tell you about the history? We love a good conspiracy theory
Jess. If he told me, I was asleep. I just saw Bob Frazer’s face. He just got it done. He was just going to rough something. Make people angry
Ashley didn’t know the connection. Taylor had a lot of scripture lines – ‘Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find…’ She didn’t know of any connection with the Camarilla
Jess. Where is Eliot Laurence when you need him?
Taylor thought he was trying to fit 5 – 10 seasons of information into 3 seasons. We were asking questions every day. Trying to make sense of it, what is the arc. They were probably given the information. People are due for a rewatch party. Got to know people and actions and who came back. Building community
Question. With your life so far, if it was a children’s movie, what would it be about?
Ashley wanted a Pixar movie. Just my life. What have I done? Lived
Taylor wanted a Disney movie. Animation. Hand drawn. Self Identity. The big questions – what drives you? [to Ashley] you experience these too. Turn 30, ‘Happily Ever After’, no problems.
Jess. I want a good answer. [Asks the audience for suggestions] She has immigrated countries, met these incredible people, as a warrior fighting witch, for 4 years and 3 seasons. Come from Africa. Don’t know what my accent is any more. [Taylor suggested Coraline or James] I’ve been with my high school sweetheart since I was 15 years old. He’s my best friend.
Taylor suggested An American Tail
Ashley asked if anyone had seen it
Taylor told Ashley it was ‘homework’
Ashley didn’t know, the ups and downs of life
Jess felt ‘we haven’t lived enough’
Taylor tells Ashley to ‘let the nice ladies translate’
[Translators, we have to translate now, so Ashley must stop speaking]
Taylor gives the microphone to Jess and says that Jess had a slightly more accurate answer.
Jess. Lilo and Stitch, because I am both an alien and a little girl who likes to surf and it is all about friendship
Question. When did you think ‘we’re headlining the show’, when did it hit you and who freaked out first?
Ashley felt it was when they were on Good Morning America. We saw ourselves on a billboard in Times Square
Taylor felt that it didn’t really hit her until the final season, then thought ‘this is it’. We did this. You just hope it keeps on forever, which isn’t realistic. Freaked out in hindsight. It was a massive burst of light and growth in my life. It pushed me to be a leader, to learn my limitations. When to push those boundaries and limitations. I get to keep that experience with me forever. You can’t replicate it. You can’t get it back. You have to honour it
Jess. That. Everyday on set have a mind melt moment. I look at the boots and smile. How did a girl from South Africa get here? Everyday, it still lives with me
Ashley feels you appreciate things more when they ended, like craving being back on set and in Vancouver and telling stories of characters we all love so much. Like doing a promo and seeing me on the prompter and I’d say something and fade out and they [Taylor and Jess] would jump in. In the US, Good Morning America was such a big thing. Holy Crap we can still do it
Question. What do you miss most about each other? Share one memory of each other when you feel down.
Taylor. 3am after a 20 hour shoot. There is a kooky childish side. If it is day 6 of that, we are only human we F** up a bit. We would get told ‘You guys need to be separated’, ‘Get some work done’, ‘Enough’. Talking and acting like siblings. Seems to be unique to you two [Jess and Ashley]. It sticks with me, the space to play, space to search and discover what it means to be a woman. A rarity
Ashley. The first memory is when they met me. One licked my hand and one licked my face. Simultaneously. It was a drama show, when there was crying or we needed comfort, when we struggled to be strong, we would form a circle, hold hands and feel strong. Miss that, feeling the love. Will cherish that forever
Jess. I haven’t come across …the chemistry we have is unique. Big complicated time in my life. Trying not to lose my job, survival. It was the people I saw every day, in the make up trailer, that kept me going. That sense of belonging and support
In season 3 two were down and we were wondering if we were even going to finish it. Jess and Amalia would look at Amanda Tapping and just ask ‘what can we shoot?’ Anything? Lost herself in it
Jess. There was an intimate chemistry, the chemistry with Lyne, where do I look? I miss it all. It became a world to me. I get homesick from time to time, hold hands with Ashley, get calls from Taylor, love from Demetria. How is it possible? How is it here? The love that we have for each other. New family connections [They held hands]
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