Return to Fort Salem

  • Switches Gathering 3 was held in Paris on September 20 – 21st 2025.  We always have a great time at conventions, but sometimes the adventures start long before any of the cast walk on stage.

    There was a French air traffic controllers strike announced for Thursday the 18th, when many of us were travelling.  We have learned that travelling the day before a con is risky, no margin for things to go wrong.  But the air strike was a significant problem.  Some people just had to fly and hope.  Some people changed to the train.  I had always intended to go by the Eurostar, because it is easy for me to get there.

    But half the world seemed to have decided to go by the Eurostar, so it was packed out, with extra carriages and was so full that I was sitting in one carriage and my suitcase was in a luggage rack two carriages away.  It was just bonkers, but we made it to Paris.  Gare Du Nord had major roadworks going on so traffic in the area was diverted, slow or just at a standstill.  Luckily I was going to the hotel by RER B.  But that was affected by strikes too.

    Only about 50% of the trains were running, but they had extra carriages and were absolutely packed.  Paris is further south than the Midlands in the UK, so it was several degrees warmer.  I abandoned the jacket and hoodie I had been wearing and was down to a T-shirt.  But the heat hit you when you got into the RER carriages.  We were rammed in like sardines.  I was literally dripping with sweat for most of the journey to CDG airport. 

    Even at the airport, finding the hotel shuttle was difficult.  Lack of signs, nobody to ask….  Eventually I found the area and no shuttle for the Novotel.  It may have been bad timing, but they are supposed to be every half hour.  I eventually saw another Switch and got to talking and she was booked on a specific shuttle and had paid.  So we had a time for it and we were at the right location.  I decided to stick with her and find that shuttle, which did turn up and I was able to pay my €5 and get to the hotel.    I needed a cup of tea, a beer and a shower, not necessarily in that order.

    The hotel bar was the social centre for the evening as people arrived and told their travel stories.  From cancelled flights to delays and missed connections.  Some people didn’t make it till the Friday.  But people were happy to see welcoming familiar faces and destress by telling their stories.  Even getting to the hotel from the airport was a major source of stress for some people.  Somewhere about 1 am it was time to turn in.  To be fair, with the time difference, that was only about midnight in the UK.

    The next morning, I abandoned my plans for sightseeing in Paris.  Travel was too stressful.  But plenty to do at the hotel. 

    Pass pick up was after lunch

    And there was merchandise and extras to buy.

    We were especially keen on the trading cards.  These were very popular, with people trying to swop and complete their sets over the weekend. 

    There were 4 cards per pack and 21 cards in a set.  The Lyne Renee card seemed particularly hard to find.  We made sure that each member of the cast got a copy of their two cards and that they had one of their character’s badges. 

    Of course the Switch Welcome Desk was there.  There was a new bookmark.  As well as information about Taylor and Dom’s film Magic and about Citydrop.  In answer to the two most popular questions, ‘Yes, I have seen it’, and ‘Yes, it is good’.  There is a fundraising programme to try to get the money to make a full length movie.  For more information about that go to makingmagic.pictures

    Citydrop convention will take place in Vancouver October 17 – 18th 2026.  Keep the 16th free too.  They haven’t announced why, but we widely suspect a day of visiting Motherland filming locations.

    There was a birthday card to sign for Ashley and a Thank You card to sign for Taylor.   We got several of these signed at Witchbomb, but got many more signed here.  Sign the card, keep the pen.   I spoke at length to Ashley’s assistant for the weekend and she made sure that Ashley got her card on Saturday.  We wanted to make sure that she had them during the convention rather than at the end. 

    And another evening of socialising in the hotel bar with a lot of Switches.  Lots of familiar faces and lots to catch up on. 

    Switches know how to party, even before the convention starts

  • So, after more autograph signing, we got the closing ceremony.

    All the guests had had a great weekend and were keen to thank everyone, from the organisers to the fans.

    At a convention where we had been treated to Justine’s jacket on the Saturday, it was incredible to see another famous outfit from episode 2.05.  Amelia’s jumpsuit.  It was so great of the cast the way they have recognised that we love seeing them in their Motherland clothes and uniforms.  Very special memories from a very special cast.

    The final guest who got to speak was Taylor – The Witchbomb herself.  Taylor was in tears and very emotional.  She is the heart and soul of Witchbomb.  Leading on the screen and in real life.  She has grown into this role and it means so much to her. 

    Applause for Taylor

    Amalia and Demetria became friends in real life on the show, but hadn’t been together in person for three years.  It was lovely to see them together, celebrating friendship. 

    Sean said on the night, that this would be the last actual Witchbomb.  But that he would continue with the two shows and see if they could be part of other events.  But this weekend proved to be such a success that Witchbomb 4 has been announced.  It will take place on August 7 – 9th 2026 at the Renaissance Hotel. 

    Tickets are already on sale at  Starfury Conventions :: Leap Event Technology

    More information on Witchbomb 4 is at Witchbomb – A Motherland: Fort Salem & Warrior Nun Convention – Starfury Conventions

    Meanwhile, as we said our Au Revoirs, our parting salutation was ‘See you in Paris’.  The Switches Gathering 3 convention is taking place on September 20 – 21st.  Tickets : The Switches Gathering 3 – Billetweb

    Witchbomb – See You Next Year.  Got my ticket already

  • This was the Taylor and Amalia panel

    Question.  We know what your character’s last individual words on the show were.  Raelle’s was ‘We’re ancient’, Scylla’s were ‘She saw the good in everyone’, about Anacostia.  Not great.  What would you have liked your character’s last words to have been?

    Amalia. ‘Don’t trust Alder’

    Taylor. A nod to the future duck farm

    Amalia pointed out to Taylor that her last scene was ‘on the chopper’.  Taylor was adamant that Raelle’s last words would have been about the duck farm.

    Question.  Have you ever tried snowboarding?

    Amalia. I have tried it for a week.   I am good at skiing, but sucked at boarding.  So I didn’t carry on.

    Taylor.  I like sledding.  But it is dangerous for me.  I went into a burr bush.  My agent begged me not to go out without a helmet.  I have done some downhill skiing.

    Amalia.  Talked about that with Taylor’s mom.  Taylor was having a facetime with her and I got to be on it.  Both our moms came out to visit in S1.  Taylor’s mom got blue tooth with screen subtitles

    Question.  What helps you get into character?

    Amalia.  Steven Adelson recommended a book – The Power of the Actor [by Ivana Chubbock].  That is what I do, but more organised.  It has 12 questions – go to notes – find some objective etc.  I tried to do playlists, but it doesn’t work for me.

    Taylor.  Amalia is a strategist, deduces information, technical.  I am more emotional, finding common space for the character.  Kept journals.  It’s emotional. Try to fill in the empty gaps.  What is Raelle’s relationship with Adil? Write about the characters today.  Do background research.  Scattered notes on scripts, write things down immediately.

    Amalia.  Scylla had a friend, Cleo.  Ep 3 or 4, they met before Beltane, tried to relate to each other.  Expected to build a friendship relationship.  Never appeared again.  Made sense for Cleo to be a fake friend.  Not close, Scylla wasn’t there to make friends.

    Question.  You are both good singers.  If you went on the Masked Singer, what would be your costume?

    Amalia (to Taylor) You would be so good

    Taylor.  A small reptile, like a salamander.

    Amalia.  A cow or a bull.

    Taylor. Not from Monsters Inc.  Not like Randall.

    Question.  What scenes did you think were missing?

    Amalia.  (to Taylor) an entire season for you

    Taylor.  A lot depends on the editing and exposition.  Countless moments come to mind.  Editing can take a conversation and move it around.  It changes once it is out of our hands.  You just have to be true to the process.

    Amalia.  Don’t be bitter – there are red lines.  When you get a first look at what it looks like, it can take a few days to accept the new reality.  I edit in my head.  Only in some scenes.  Make myself accept the new reality.  I have to relinquish control.  I have to adapt,  there are editors and network execs.

    Taylor.  Sometimes it is not what we thought we were making in the day.  It is interesting what you [audience] experience with what we did.

    Amalia.  I saw that sometimes in the live tweeting.  Everyone’s different reactions.

    Taylor.  Fresh eyes.  That was a favourite scene, but now it is so short.

    Taylor.  Jess worked with a dialogue coach and then they changed the lines.  Must adapt.  A plot shift.  Libba’s death.  We lost the location we were supposed to use.  There was supposed to be a speaking scene between Abigail and Libba.  Big performance point.  Sarah Yarkin wanted to see a deeper dialogue.  It ended up different form what we prepared.

    Question.  Raelle and Scylla have no siblings.  If they did have, who would they have?

    Amalia.  Scylla would have a 2 year younger brother to play around with. 

    Taylor.  It would be a nice buffer for Raelle to find a play fellow and crack her shell.  Might help find her identity.

    Amalia.  We [Taylor and her] are both the eldest of four.

    Taylor.  They’re your best friends, they see you for who you are.  Also can get you angry.  Raelle found those sibling qualities in Scylla.

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

    Amalia.  Blue.  A cold light blue.

    Taylor.  Sparkly rainbow.

    Amalia.  I heard Demetria’s answer about blowing bubbles to keep people alive.

    Taylor.  Grow wings.

    Amalia.  Drill holes in the bottom of the sea.

    Taylor.  Sand crabs do that.

    Amalia.  A sand crab mermaid

    Taylor.  With a narwhal horn – a siren for Amalia – save people

    Amalia. Turbo swimmer

    Taylor.  Like dolphins – but walk on water.

    Amalia asked the questioner for their answer.  Light pink.  Speaking to sea animals of camouflage.

    Question.  You are friends with Dom Provost-Chalkley.  How did you meet?

    Taylor. Dom contacted my agent.  We spoke on the phone.  I felt safe with Dom.  I was jetlagged.  They are incredible to build that, taking notes.  Don’t know if you have met them.  If they are at a con, go and meet them.

    [Taylor spoke about filming Magic at various times over the weekend.  If I recall correctly, it was at one of the fan meets that she spoke about having got back from Europe and was jetlagged.  Then she got this through her agent and she had to go back to Europe almost immediately, didn’t get over her jet lag.  She only had 6 days to prepare for the part.]

    Question.  What was your favourite dance last night?

    Taylor did the actions because she couldn’t remember the name of the song. 

    The audience told her it was Tragedy.  By the Bee Gees

    Amalia.  I wasn’t there.  I was overwhelmed.  I practised the dance, I went to the Green Room and talked to Ess and Krystina.

    Taylor.  I came back all sweaty and joined in the conversation.

    Amalia.  I felt I was letting myself down.  Learning is hard.

    Taylor.  Give it a week, if you can’t manage the turns.

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

    Amalia [sounded like ‘Skio’ but clearly not an English word.]  Norwegian waffles with goats cheese.  Brunos.  There would be a café in the gift shop.  With an old grandmother cooking there.  Norwegian waffles are more elastic, Swedish waffles are crunchy.  Stock both.

    Taylor.  Rubber ducks.  Taylor Swift CDs.  Own brand tarot cards.  Crystals, nose flutes and kazoos.  Different flutes and kazoos.

    Question.  Are you thinking of another project together?

    Jess is closest to her own production.  Wants to use her friends.

    Amalia.  No power

    Taylor.  Few opportunities.  Making minimum wage.  You get told ‘take the wage or don’t work at all.’  You have to fight to honour yourself and the work.  Things are going backward.

    Amalia.  Do you have an idea?

    Taylor.  A gay Avatar.  Or in an alternate world.  With Dragons.  Fourth Wing, just tweak it a bit.

    [Questioner suggested setting up a production company]

    Taylor.  Working on it

    Question.  If Raelle and Scylla did a body swop in season 1 , what would be the first thing you would do?

    Taylor.  This is like an Instagram meme.  Take care of the body.

    Amalia.  I must have seen a different Instagram meme.  Saw Raelle naked.  Good, you would take care of Scylla.  Wonder if the balloon part of Scylla’s work is affected by acupuncture?

    Question.  At the end of the pilot, did you have any concerns about intimacy?

    Amalia.  It is awesome that it’s going to be a gay storyline.

    Taylor.  Intimacy co-ordination was not mandatory.

    Amalia.  Not offered it.

    Taylor.  By season 3 we were offered it. 

    Both.  We were co-ordinated.

    Amalia.  It was blocking.  Getting pushed into a wall.  Read it, saw the intimacy, wanted a great co-actor to feel safe.

    Taylor.  We won the lottery with that one.

    Amalia.  We did

    Question.  How was this project unique and different from others?

    Amalia.  I had never worked in North America and never worked on something this size.  I was in the lunch queue and was talking to the man in charge of plants.

    Taylor.  Green team.

    Amalia.  In Sweden, we scout places and use them as they are.

    Taylor.  The guys ship in bushes.  Tuck them into crosses and make scenery.

    Amalia.  In 1.05 there was a big flower.  They were setting up for a shoot for a long time.  They were moving a tree.  I said ‘just move us’. 

    Taylor.  We are privileged to spend time to learn lines.

    Amalia.  You lead at this age

    Taylor.  I didn’t know what the role meant.  Now I have seen more.  The first couple of people on the call sheet set the tone.  I had to set the tone.  We had to set the tone.  People are watching what you do – a lot of us learned, how to show up and be there for each other.

    Taylor.  The entire cast were women.  All the leads were women.  Used to a man holding that space.  So much space allowed for women and non-binary.  Used to having to fight for space.  How can we show up for black people and people of colour?  Built strong machine.  Brought so many beautiful people here.  It’s a ripple effect.

    Amalia. We’re the ones being brought here.  There are so many other people.  We’re the end of the line.  Want to add to the whole production company.

    Taylor.  See the art, the greenery, the space.  Create more

    Amalia.  Show up, learn your lines.  Small task, big sea.  Amazed by others.

    Taylor.  Female empowerment and space, so much more rare.  Cherish it all.

    Question.  If you could be any animal, what would it be?

    Amalia.  Mind gone blank.

    Taylor.  Duck as a dog.  Have a big yard.

    Amalia.  Can it fly?  What could be mine?

    Taylor.  Lots of majestic

    Amalia.  Hare?

    Taylor.  Phoenix?  You would vibe with a turtle.  [Note – later Taylor posted a picture of a turtle on Instagram for Amalia]

    Amalia.  Thank you.  Can I have an old one

    Taylor.  You can have an old one

    Amalia.  Put it in a back porch

  • I missed some of the Cat and Arlen panel due to fan meets. 

    Question.  If one day Petra was in Nicte’s body and vice versa, what is the first thing you would do?

    Cat.  Change her face back to Petra’s.  But find a way to use it tactically and get intel.

    Arlen.  Nicte would kill Alder.

    Question.  If you had a lifetime supply of anything, what would it be?

    Cat.  Edible cheese.  New socks.  I love new socks.  I would have them everyday

    Arlen.  (1) Ice cream.  Any flavour.  (2) Money.  Enough so I could distribute it more equitably. (3) World peace. 

    Cat.  With enough money, you could buy world peace.

    Question.  What is your favourite cheese?  [Note, this was clearly an ongoing thing that I had missed part of.  But cheese was a big part of last year’s Witchbomb when Jess said she would have a cult of cheese.  And I heard that at least one table asked Amalia about cheese in the Friday evening Meet and Greet.  If someone could explain this year’s cheese to me, I would be grateful.]

    Cat.  Something with flavour.

    Arlan.  Mascarpone – you can make so much with it.

    Question.  If Motherland had continued, what would be next for your character?

    Cat.  Petra would be president. 

    Arlen.  Nicte would work with President Petra It is not over with the Camarilla.

    Cat.  We need to do a Truth and Reconciliation.  Bring the Spree back in.  Some of their claims are legitimate.

    Arlen.  Might be something romantic about Madam President.

    Question. Who is your dream actor / director to work with?

    Arlen. [Didn’t catch the name] and somebody new.

    Cat.  Likes working with new people,  It is always a good challenge. Christine Boranski as a director.  Mike Quinn (?) White Lotus

    Arlen. Leah Fedou

    Cat.  Jodie Foster as a director.

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

    Cat.  Choose to find my community.  Share hope and a world view.  Then show up and do the work of change.  Need self care too.

    Arlen.  Community.  Choose how much I engage with the world.  Community building.  Dance communities.  Things like this, you are all connected.  Through computers, then in person.  Making art is beautiful.

    Arlen. Money, power, cheese.  Can change someone’s mind through your character.  Creating or telling stories.  Some days you feel depleted.  Connection.  Community

    Question.  How do you keep your love for acting when you have to wear so many hats and deal with the industry?

    Arlen.  It’s the place where I feel free. What I am in the moment.  I can binge watch TV and tell myself ‘this is acting’. The industry – busy – have to find a work/ life balance.  Then nothing and I can see family and friends.  Enjoy those moments.

    Cat.  I have been doing this long enough.  There are always changes.  I am comfortable with change and enjoy pivoting to do new things.  Like directing.  The variety of roles is constant.  It is what I signed up for.

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

    Arlen.  Green.  A variety of greens.  Power – you are in the water and can jump out

    Cat.  Chameleon.  Shift colours to the surroundings.  Power – being invisible.

     Arlen.  Kind of naked

    Question.  If you could throw your soul and knowledge in to the past – what infant historical personality would you like to be?

    Cat.  There are a number of men in power whose mother I would like to be.

    Arlen.  Napoleon.  [To Cat] You could be my mother.  Double team

  • 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 18th 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 3rd 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.

  • Saturday evening was the cosplay competition, judged by the guests.  This was the first time I had seen Ess wearing glasses. 

    My personal favourite was Colonel Jarrett.  Cat helped by re-enacting THAT scene from 3.08 Petra’s Favourite Pen. 

    With the same result.  Jarrett had that coming.

    In many ways this proved to be Cat’s evening.  She gave us one of my all time favourite convention moments.  [It doesn’t top Amalia singing Redemption to Taylor at Witchbomb 2003, but it is right up there in the top 5].  The ‘halftime song’.  Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.

    She had the entire hall singing along with her, or perhaps roaring along with her would be a better description.  And joining in the actions.  One thing I want to ask her at the upcoming convention in Paris is whether this was planned or spontaneous?  I should explain that this is the song of The Lionesses, the England Women’s Football team.  The Lionesses had won the European Championship the previous weekend for the second consecutive time.  So that song was everywhere leading up to Witchbomb. It was unexpected and a great success. And that Grrl has got moves

    Ess and KTY giving us the results of the competition.

    After the cosplay, it was time for the disco and dancing.

    After a little while some of the cast returned to the dance floor.  Arlen talked to the DJ and the music stopped.  Arlen took the microphone and, with Taylor’s help, gave a dance class in how to do The Hustle.  They had a packed dance floor paired up and following dance moves, with varying degrees of success.  Sadly taking photos was forbidden.  It was fun and original. Thank you Arlen.

    After that the DJ played dance music again and Arlen and Taylor stayed and joined the dancing.  Seeing them doing line dancing to YMCA, the Macarena and Tragedy was a lovely thing.  Taylor looked so happy out there on the dance floor.  She is a party girl.

    At various points Cat, Amalia and Demetria joined us briefly at the dance party.  It is unusual for convention guests to join in the evening parties, but the ladies of Motherland certainly made this an evening to remember.

  • Witchbomb part 3

    The next Motherland panel on Saturday was Taylor, Amalia and Demetria.

    It started innocently enough.  But this is Motherland, so you know that anything could happen…. and usually does.  Especially when we had Demetria in her dress blues uniform jacket and Amalia in Justine’s jacket.  Just like in ep 2.05, that jacket had a purpose – it had pockets….

    Question When the zombie apocalypse starts, who dies first and why?  Who makes it out alive and why?

    Taylor.  Me.  With Jess a close second.

    Demetria.  She right.  She’d try to fix them.  Or it would be the cue for a song.  Or she’d be going ‘poor zombie’.

    Taylor.  Or try to pet them.

    Ess would make it out alive.  They’re resourceful, a contortionist.

    Taylor.  Amalia has a great amount of tenacity.

    Demetria.  Strategist

    Amalia.  Ess would do all that in 2 seconds.

    Wait for it…..

    Question.  What is your go to song to hype yourself up?

    Music plays.  My heart will go on from Titanic.  Celine Dion.  Amalia’s hand goes into her pocket and produces a nose flute.  She puts the flute to her nostrils and starts to play it.  Meanwhile Taylor puts her hand into Amalia’s jacket pocket and produces a kazoo and starts playing it.  They are both playing the My heart will go on tune. 

    Demetria is initially stunned, so were the rest of the audience.  Then she just commits to it and starts to sing the song.  She has a really fine voice. 

    Demetria.  This is what true friendship looks like.  (to Amalia) Did you know this was coming?

    Amalia.  Yes. 

    Another stunning musical surprise from the ladies of Motherland.  Taylor and Amalia knew, but Demetria was taken by surprise, just like the audience.  Then we had to try and get back to some sort of normality. 

    Question.  If you were sick, who would you not want to play your character?

    Demetria.  I’m not going first.

    Amalia.  I’m not going first either.

    Taylor.  Glory.  Annie.  Too sweet.

    Amalia.  Who would play it better than me?  Demetria.

    Demetria (to Amalia).  What are you on today?

    Amalia.  Do you remember when we couldn’t hug for 2 years? And we had to spend New Year’s Eve alone.  We found a way.

    Demetria.  Not play me.  Cat.  She like my big sister.  Sibling rivalry.  Blocking.  It is colour coded.  I’ve always had orange.  Cat decided she wanted it.  2 people could play Anacostia better – Amalia or Lyne.  Working with me, I could grow Anacostia.

    Taylor said she originally auditioned for Scylla. 

    Amalia.  We could have had opposite roles.

    Question.  Would you prefer a Motherland prequel or sequel?

    Amalia.  Prequel.  You could have a dodger prequel.

    Taylor.  Agreed

    Amalia to Demetria.  You want to be in it.  So it would have to be a sequel.

    Demetria.  We got some bits of the history.  Loved the way the dynamic between Scylla and Anacostia grew.  Would be nice to see what happens next.  Like to see an Alder prequel.

    Taylor.  Would be super interesting to see the history, wiccan practice, Spree history.

    Amalia.  Could do a whole prequel of the Bellweather family.

    Demetria.  What made Alder gravitate to Anacostia?  Wanted to see more of that.  Tap into some of the magic.

    Question.  Would you rather sing everytime you talk or dance everywhere you walk?

    Taylor.  Dance.

    Amalia.  Dance and sing.

    Demetria.  Sing.  I do it everyday.

    Taylor.  Very cathartic.

    Question.  What was your favourite together moment on set?

    Demetria.  Last episode.  I say ‘watch out for her’.  Double entendre.  Mamacostia welcoming her into the fold – see how they love each other out loud. How proud of them.  Intentionally concise.  That moment was her way to tell them she loved them.

    Amalia.  The shoot in the mall with Justine and Amalia.  There were jokes we didn’t notice because we were concentrating too hard.

    Demeria.  In the car.  We couldn’t pull it together.

    Amalia.  We got dressed up, like it was a different show. 

    Demetria.  She thought she was my handler.  She is Swedish.  Good English but occasional problems.  Can’t eat DIARY.

    Taylor.  I met best friends.  Covered in fungus.  ‘I am mouldy’.  Favourite moment with Demetria.  She held space with me when personal stuff was bleeding into work.  I was heartbroken at the end of a relationship – I walked into the scene.  Raelle is sitting by the tree and Demetria gave me the space to hold me and comfort me emotionally from the break up (from Scylla).

    Question.  Anacostia spent a lot of season 1 disciplining these two.  Was there one thing that made it easier or harder?

    Demetria.  I am a military brat.  Mom was air force.  Got a son, 26.  I could use that.  It was like having 4 different children.  Kudos to the writers and Eliot for finding the foundation for that.  The hardest scenes were with Tally.  She never meant to hurt anyone.  Like the scene where she has to pick up the stick and attack Anacostia.  She was nervous.  Not expecting that.  Trying not to cry.

    Question.  Are there any real world parallels with the show?

    Amalia.  The Spree and anti colonialism.  Complicated.  Talked with Eliot about the philosophy, imperialism and Norh America.

    Taylor.  It is too relevant at the time.  We were caught up as women to honour them.  We still don’t hold up to men in society.  We had the premiere and then everything shut down.  There were a lot of parallels to the real world at the time with COVID / Juneteenth / BLM.  So many parallels.  We saw some of the dots connect.  It is rooted in science fiction, dystopian America.  History repeats itself.  Healing.  There is hope.

    Question.  What is your go to karaoke song?

    Amalia.  Toto, Africa.  I did it, but didn’t know the words exactly.

    Taylor.  You sexy thing. Hot Chocolate. (To Demetria) got to be Whitney Houston

    Demetria.  I’m Every Woman

    Question.  In Bellweather Season, how did Scylla get extracted?

    Amalia.  If it was the Spree, Scylla had to get out of there.  Then Anacostia tailed her and took her.  Or Raelle looked away and Anacostia got her.

    Question.  How was it for Scylla and Anacostia to work together after being in her head?

    Amalia.  It was about the nitty gritty.  It is easier to focus on working in a duo than working in a group. ‘hold harder so I can push against you’.

    Demetria.  They helped each other discover more about each other.  It has a higher intensity.  Magical.

    Taylor.  There was so much play / ping-pong with you and Amalia.  Sometimes the written scenes were short.  So it was how do we amplify this?  Sometimes the scenes were short and underdeveloped.

    Demetria.  Filling in the blanks that were not there.

    Question.  The world in bleak.  How do you deal with it without falling into nihilism?

    Taylor (to Amalia).  Can I tell the story?

    Amalia agreed.  Taylor was having a hard time and needed to cry.  The hotel spa was closed.  So we sat in the bath in our bathing suits and improvised a meditation for 10 minutes.  Making her feel safe and feel seen.  Show up with love and openness.  ‘This too shall pass’, quoting Gandalf in the meditation.  We have to hold each other.  Don’t let AI reduce human connection.  Make peaceful, loving choices. 

    Amalia.  Community is loving choices.  That is the way.  Human connection.  Don’t blame yourself or isolate yourself.

    Demetria.  Three things.  (1) recognise all.  Invite very little in, be the change you want to be.  (2) Family.  That does not always mean blood. (3) Ask.  For help.  How you can get help.

  • Saturday morning began with photoshoots – and getting more cards signed by fans.  Some attendees didn’t arrive until Saturday morning, so it got busy.

    Costumes seemed to be a theme for the weekend.  The Saturday morning photoshoot had Amalia in her ‘Justine’ jacket from ep 2.05.  And later on, we saw Demetria in her dress blues uniform jacket.  Demetria confirmed at the autograph session that the jacket was hers and she is bringing it to the convention in Paris.

    The first Motherland panel had Arlen, Cat and Ess.

    Question.  What got you into acting? 

    Arlen said it started as a kid.  Their parents had a friend who ran an agency and encouraged their parents to get them into acting.  They stopped acting in their teens and went to work in business and recruitment and switched back to acting later.

    Cat said that she used to read stories when she was young.  He father was a minister, so she saw that stories had power to help live and connect.  Part of story telling is to create community.

    Ess said they fell into it.  They were a stunt performer in Toronto 10 years ago.  They had intended to be a writer, but were working in a bar.  One of the other workers had a job finding picture cars, where you find particular cars to be used in films.  They decided that Ess should work in stunts, so they got a call to go to Queens St and told to ride a motorbike – but they don’t ride motorbikes.  So it all started in stunts.  They had to learn the hard way, like wearing pads when you get thrown onto cinder blocks.  Later they were asked to say a few lines, so they became a stunt actor, so they got a job on Motherland.

    Question. When the zombie apocalypse starts – at this point Cat leaves the stage – who dies first and why?  Who makes it out alive and why?

    Cat decides it is safe – no zombies in the room yet – and returns.

    Arlen felt that Ess would be the one to make it out alive.  They had seen Ess’s circus stuff.

    Ess suggested entertaining the zombies.  Taylor dies first, because she is very jet lagged.  Cat would survive.

    Cat felt that the answer would be Demetria on both counts.  She would confront them, so it would be 50 / 50

    Arlen suggested that they pretend to be zombies.

    Cat ‘I just need to be faster than you two’.

    Arlen said they were thinking too hard and Ess thought the funniest person would die first.

    Question.  What was their favourite funny scene?
    Ess, ‘not getting stuck in pipes’ (referring to the blooper scene).

    Cat felt it was the fight scene with Ashley in season 1 and some of the specific stunts.

    Arlen thought stunts were fun.  They specifically mentioned the rooftop scene with Tally.  The funniest was when Nicte was captured and wearing a muzzle on the plane.  Every time they kept moving and trying to talk, the muzzle kept falling off.

    Question.  What was the most difficult scene to shoot?

    Cat gave two scenes with Alder.  The first one was when Petra confronts Alder in her office at the end of her generalship.  The second was coming off the aircraft carrier and Abigail wasn’t there.  That was quite exhausting, but very true to the relationship.

    Arlen had watched those, they were intense.  Being tied up in the aircraft hanger.  It was very cold and they were tied up for a long time.  Their body was experiencing the intensity.  ‘Sometimes they forgot to untie me’.  It was Jess who was asking ‘are you OK?’ Arlen ‘I would love to be untied’ and Jess organised it.

    Ess, there was lots of rain.  Mentioned a scene with Ess and Abigail, where they had scourges and were on a hill in the rain and the ground turned to mud.  They couldn’t hear each other.  They were waiting for ‘Action’ to use the whips at the same time but couldn’t hear.  They were using SPX whips with the tops cut off.  They were cold and wet for 2 hours and everyone got sick.

    Arlen pointed out that filming the Liberia scenes, ‘Your heart is black Sarah’, there was rain, it was freezing because it was November and they had to yell the lines so they could hear them.

    Question.  Have you filmed in any memorable locations?

    Arlen. Uruguay.  They lived across from the beach and spoke Spanish, living with their grandmother.  It was like entering another universe.

    Cat mentioned seeing more of BC, like going to Yukon for a commercial.  She grew up in North Saskatchewan, so going to Yukon was going back to the snow.  She would love to film in the Caribbean and mentioned watching Death in Paradise, she wants to be on that show.

    Ess has done Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver.  Montreal was all about circus training.

    Cat felt that going to a new place set up the new character in a new space.

    Question.  In the world’s biggest food fight, what would be your weapon?

    Ess.  Durian

    Arlen.  Mayonnaise.  With a hose

    Cat.  5 day old baguette

    Question.  If you wake up tomorrow and you could have any superpower for 24 hours, what would it be?

    Cat.  Invisibility.  You can go on a plane, hear plans

    Arlen ‘Cat survives the zombie Apocalypse!’ 

    They would be too lazy to play tricks.  They would sneak on a plane and go to visit some chef they admire.  Go into the kitchen, find a pastry chef and watch them.

    Ess, eat as much chocolate as they want.  They wake up invisible, so everyone can just see the clothes, but nobody could see their expression.

    Arlen wondered about Nicte’s actual power.  Eliot had created the categories of fixer / blaster / knower… these were fixed for the military.  Perhaps they could enhance one of them   Nicte’s power to get people to kill themselves came from their mother’s experiences in the military of being tortured and wanting to kill herself. 

    Ess said they had seen M’s military profile, but couldn’t remember it.

    Question.  What was your audition scene and if you still have it would you put it online.

    Arlen had put one of their scenes online, the ‘Your heart is black Sarah’ Liberia scene

    Cat, it was an in person audition, so there was no self tape then.  It was first the scene with Petra and Abigail.  At that point there was an indication that Petra was high ranking military, although the details came later.  So she could use a deeper voice.  She played it very traditional military, hair tied back and in charge

    Ess said they didn’t get a call back from their self tape.  The scene was the very first scene where we meet M.  For the audition they deliberately wore a tank top so they could show shoulders. 

    Question.  Have you been to any spooky locations?  Have you had any paranormal experiences?

    Ess.  Riverview.  It has a history as a psychiatric hospital.  As someone who had been hospitalised ‘I would have been in a place like this and you wouldn’t leave it.’  There is a residue of suffering in a place and can feel a vibe.

    Arlen, driving through a series of tunnels.

    Ess walking between buildings in winter.

    Arlen.  When we went to check it out, filming in a cabin in the woods, the scene where we pour lava down his mouth.  Walk into the cabin and ‘there is a prosthetic of him there dead. Creepy.’  Nicte has done some dark stuff.  [Arlen is referring to the Caretaker’s cabin at Murdo Frazer Park].

    Cat, Riverview has an accumulation of negative energy.  There was a scene where Dematria, Lyne and Cat were lined up in front of the building.  If you went inside there were lights and weird things.  It is important to acknowledge that and bear witness.  You have to correct that residue and repurpose it.  It needs to evolve. 

    Question.  Through the evolution of the show and your character, were there any themes that spoke to you?

    Cat ‘Fear causes us to go backwards’.  There were numerous references to the 45th president. You could see the imagery and the iconography.  We are stronger when we overcome our differences and weaker when we are fractured.  It is a guide to evolving.

    Arlen.  Knowing why Nicte was killing.  The Spree was born out of Liberia, following the orders of a President she doesn’t believe in and won’t follow.  That is relevant today.  They could agree with Nicte in what the Spree was about

    Ess is trans.  M is non binary.  Ess had spent hours with Arlen in S2 making head canon.  There are a lot of questions that the world wants to fix for you.  The military has rigid structures, society puts you in rigid boxes.  Make sense of yourself.  ‘I make myself fit into the character I am playing.’  Been transitioning for 6 – 7 years.

    Question  What is your go to karaoke song?
    Arlen.  The prayer with Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli

    Ess.  Never sung Karaoke.  Eventually they settled for Meatloaf’s I would do anything for love

    Cat doesn’t like karaoke.  But eventually chose Don’t stop Believing or something by Jonny Cash

  • As always, these reports are to the best of my recollection, and recollections may differ. 

    The 3rd Witchbomb convention took place on August 1 – 3 2025 at the Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow.

    Some of us got there on the Thursday, so we could get the party started on the Friday. 

    There were cards to sign, freebies to give away, people to greet, newbies to welcome.  This has become our traditional place, in the foyer near the front entrance to the Renaissance.  It was delightful to meet so many old friends again, as well as getting to know people who were attending their first convention ever. 

    This led up to registration and the opening ceremony

    There was a new banner for the weekend.

    The opening ceremony is always arranged in tables, so the audience are further away from the stage, so it is not as easy to get good photos because we are further away.

    Arlen was making their first appearance at a Starfury event, so were Cat and Ess.  Some of us had been able to meet all of these guests previously at Switches Gathering events in Paris or Brussels. 

    However this was the first time that most of us had been able to meet Demetria.  She had previously done a convention in Florida in 2022.  She was well worth waiting for.  It was a real delight to get to meet her for the first time. 

    And no Witchbomb convention would be complete without Amalia and Taylor.  It is a joy to have them with us again for a special weekend.

    We had three guests from Warrior Nun, Kristina Tonteri-Young, Lorena Andrea, Meena Rayann and an surprise addition to the event, Sarah Walker who was one of the directors of Warrior Nun. 

    After that, there was a Meet and Greet for the Gold ticket holders, with the guests.

    No photos are allowed at that event.  And no recording either.  Some guests wanted to talk to the fans and ask questions about where we were from, favourite characters etc.  But for some, we got to ask questions.

    Cat said she was still in contact with Simon Barry.  She had worked with him on the show Continuum, which is another of my all time favourite shows.  She said she was watching Warrior Nun and was halfway through season 2 and loving it.  She said she would have finished the whole thing that weekend.  She asked people round the table which show they watched first, everyone said that they had watched Motherland and then gone on to watch Warrior Nun.

    Taylor was asked about MAGIC, which is a short film that she stars in with Dom Provost-Chalkley.  Dom is trying to get this made into a full length feature film, but is still showing this at festivals and trying to raise the money. 

    It was just bad timing that there was a Wynonna Earp convention happening in Glasgow the same weekend as Witchbomb.  They had a screening of Magic there and it is something that many Taylor fans wanted to go to.  Taylor said that she had recorded a message for the screening up in Glasgow, saying that she couldn’t be with them because she was doing the same thing ‘here’.

    Taylor said that she only had 6 days to work on the British accent.  She was trying for a Bristol accent, to match Dom’s.  She thought her accent was dreadful and wanted to be able to work on it with a dialogue coach.  I tried to reassure her that the accent was fine, clearly British and recognisably Southern British.  Although I am sure there was a bit of Raelle in there a couple of times.

    She was asked how fans could help get the feature length movie made.  Taylor fell back on social media engagement, wanting fans to post about it.  This was very like Jo, the character she plays in the film.

    It emerged later that a website and fundraising campaign was launched in Glasgow, so we only found out about it later.    You can access this from makingmagic.pictures  and there is a newsletter that you can sign up for.

    One of the very welcome innovations for Witchbomb this year was the cast and uniforms.  There were photo ops with Taylor and Amalia in their Motherland uniforms.  So naturally we wanted to know which uniforms they would be wearing.  For some people it was to help them come up with an idea for a suitable pose, but for others, it was so we could wear the right uniform to match them. 

    As soon as Amalia sat down at our table, she was asked what uniform she and Taylor would be wearing?  She said that it would be the Season 1 uniform, but not the actual boots.  She was using her own boots.  She said she wouldn’t be wearing the spats, but would wear the hood that she was finally given in the last episode.  In point of fact, she didn’t wear the hood in the photos. This was the uniform she had worn the most. She didn’t explicitly say so, but she clearly seemed to relate to this one as ‘Scylla’s uniform’.

    She had no idea what uniform Taylor would wear – she didn’t think Taylor knew.  Someone suggested that she and Taylor should wear the same uniform.  Amalia’s response was  – ‘You try and organise her’.  She was asked whose idea the uniforms were and she said that it was Sean’s idea.  Well done Sean for that. 

    Talking to other fans afterwards, Amalia and Taylor had not been very forthcoming about what uniforms they would wear. But this was the last table for Amalia and perhaps she got fed up with not answering the question. It certainly helped me to get ready for the Sunday photoshoot.

  • The world premiere of Magic took place at The Watershed in Bristol, UK on Sunday July 6th 2025.

    It was in the Queer Visions Festival, which is part of Bristol Pride.

    It was written and directed by Dominique Provost – Chalkley, who attended the festival in her role as the film’s creator.

    The lead character is Jo, played by Motherland’s Taylor Hickson.  Dom stars as the title character, Magic.  This is a real case of when fandoms collide.  Two leading actors who already have big queer followings now getting to star opposite each other.  This was dynamite.

    It is set in London, so we get to hear Taylor performing with a British accent.  Pretty good, although I am sure there was a little bit of Raelle Collar in there too. 

    The film opens with Jo performing at a gig, which she is filming on her phone for her followers.  We later learn that Jo was once a contestant on The Voice, so she does have a significant number of followers. 

    This photo, which had been released in advance, is from the opening seconds of the film, showing Jo performing at her gig. 

    Then Magic comes into the bar, takes a seat and their eyes meet across a crowded room.

    After the performance, Jo comes to the bar.  Magic is drinking water.  Magic starts to chat Jo up.  This is a lovely scene, warm, funny, adorable.  Exactly the sort of scene that would inspire a multitude of fanfics.  Magic’s chat up lines could do with a bit of work!  But they do eventually connect and leave the bar for somewhere more private. 

    Now they can talk and start to get to know each other.  They decide to leave there and go to the shore.  This is London, so we don’t have beaches, but we do have the River Thanes, which is tidal, so we have low tide places and this is where Jo and Magic go. 

    Jo is always on her phone and Magic is encouraging her to put it away and just experience life right now. 

    Down on the shore, Magic gets lunch out of their bag.  Jo is surprised that anyone has that much food in their bag.  Lunch is water and vegetarian food.  Magic is quite happy eating their slice of watermelon, but Jo is less enthusiastic about eating her carrot. 

    Jo has her guitar with her, from the gig, and asks Magic if they play.  Magic says yes and gets Jo’s guitar out of its case.  Magic starts to play the guitar and then sings.  After a little while, Jo and Magic do a duet.  Their voices compliment each other beautifully. 

    Switches have been wanting more music from Taylor and this film delivers.  Taylor had sung two songs in episodes of Motherland and they were on the Motherland soundtrack albums.  I believe all the songs were written by Dom, but the music credits page of the closing credits went by too fast to read all the credits.  I wanted to freeze the screening and read it, but not possible.

    After singing, they notice the tide is coming in and they need to get out of there, but the bottom of the access ramp is underwater, so they decide to climb the railing.  This is just physical comedy.  Magic gets over the top of the railing, but Jo decides to go through the gaps in the railing.  No words, just funny. 

    They go to the bus stop.  Magic is going to hitch hike, which Jo is not happy about.  Hitch hiking goes with Magic’s view of life, living in the moment, not being connected.  Then the bus comes.

    There is a promo trailer for Queer Vision 2025 which includes a clip from Magic, with Jo.  This comes at the end of the film.  The clip from Magic is at about the 10 second mark.   Available to watch at 

    After the films, there was a networking event with the film creators.  I and some other fans, got the chance to talk to Dom in person.     What a lovely person.

    Now we need a full length version of this film – the story of Jo and Magic has a lot of mileage in it.  We also need Dom and Taylor at a convention together.

    And, just to make clear, yes, there was something for Amalia to be jealous about.  Raylla fans will get the reference, but for everyone else, watch the Motherland After The Storm ep – around the two minute mark.

    I want to watch this again and I want a full length version.  I hope Dom and Taylor are able to give this to us. It was just pure Magic.