Meet the Cast of V - My Experience.
Jun. 4th, 2010 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
riskingheartsI remember, so clearly, the first time I saw Amanda Tapping in the flesh. It'll be four years this November and I can still, when I think about it, reach out and touch those emotions - as if I keep them in a tiny box by my bed and they're waiting for that day when things aren't so great, when you need a reminder of what a truly awesome moment feels like. And I go there, from time to time, because even though I have had many, many encounters with Ms Tapping since and each experience has always been a rewarding one, there is nothing quite like the moment you experience when you see someone whom you admire, so very much, for the first time.
Yesterday evening, I got to see Elizabeth Mitchell being interviewed at a "Meet the Cast" event at the Apple store in London. If there is one person on the planet who surpasses my admiration for Amanda Tapping, it is the gracious Elizabeth Mitchell. I cursed the ridiculous tears in my eyes as she walked out. In hindsight, it's almost a blessing that we weren't able to say our own personal greetings to the cast of V or shake their hands because I know I wouldn't have been able to hold back my emotion. I'm an emotional human being, I know this, and this was a big deal to me, and I knew that if I were any closer to her than I actually was, I would have cried. Not because I'm hysterical, but because I get overwhelmed when I meet people that I have a great respect for and because I can't often find the words right away, my body translates them into tears.
Watching her being interviewed was surreal - I felt very disconnected from my own brain. Because you imagine - and you know what I mean - what it'll be like. What would it be like to be in the same room with someone you admire so much? With someone who inspires you. What would it feel like?
It feels like God saying "You have forgotten I come with blessings", because I was just thinking (after the Lost finale had aired) that I'd really, really love to see Elizabeth Mitchell in person. And not two weeks later she's in London, sitting a few feet from me, talking about her new show.
The interview itself was moderated by a journalist. He asked most of the questions and during the last twenty minutes opened it up to the audience. I'm going to recall what I can - none of it in any kind order so I hope you don't mind!
Initially what attracted Elizabeth to the show (V) was that the main protagonist was female, as was the main antagonist. Strong women, both mothers and she loves that idea. She spoke extensively about her role as a mother on television and the fact that her character has a teenage son. It's a very real relationship, it's complicated by all sorts of issues that stem from every day life. And it's further complicated when you "throw in an alien who looks like this" she says, gesturing to where Morena is sitting. She really adores Logan (Huffman) and feels very motherly towards him. Every time she has a scene with him she wants to take care of him and shake him at the same time.
She said, on a level, that Erica fails as a mom because she's really trying to make Tyler her friend and Tyler needs something more helpful right now. She (Elizabeth) draws on her own instincts and protectiveness as a mom in playing the role of Erica. It was one of the reasons she took the role (the fact that Erica has a son). She wanted to play a mother.
She describes "V" as an intelligent popcorn thriller.
Elizabeth doesn't worry about any similarities that people may draw between Juliet and Erica. Personally, she doesn't think they're remotely alike but she understands why audiences could see it that way. She laughs "It's still me. And she (Juliet) looks so much like me."
She touches briefly on her previous character: Juliet is really special to her and she loved playing her. Elizabeth understood her, she knew who Juliet was and that some people loved her or hated her and that was great. She feels Erica is the same way and has that same potential. At this point the moderator interjects that people can't possibly hate Erica and Elizabeth responds with "They might. I mean, you hope to inspire one or the other. You'd hate for someone to just go 'eh' ".
Elizabeth was very humbled by the fact that so many people responded positively to her (epic) reunion/re-awakening scene with Sawyer in the Lost finale. And although she didn't expand upon the moment, you could tell she was grateful that it has become a fan favorite moment. Well of course it did Liz, it worked!
We watched a couple of "V" scenes - mostly from early episodes. Watching her watch herself is fascinating, because she reacts as if she's seeing it for the first time - as if she's not watching herself, but some other actor, or some other show.
We watched the scene back in 1x02 when she's in the shower and afterwards she was determined to point out to everyone the state of her knuckles. "Did you see my bruised knuckles?" she indicates. Originally tptb didn't want them shown but Elizabeth pointed out that she (and Erica) had been punching the heck out of things. "Wouldn't they be bruised?" she says. So they kept it in.
Elizabeth does not read blogs/reviews/the internet and so on. She says it's not about not being able to handle criticism, it's just that there are some things you don't need - or necessarily want - to read. She once read that "Elizabeth Mitchell is the most overrated actress in history" and she was like "Really? In history? The whole of history? And how high up was I that I get to be overrated." It actually made me sad when she was talking about this because you can hear and see what a wonderful soul she is and why anyone would want to insite such hateful speech is beyond me. Understandibly, she prefers to stay away from such places now and I don't blame her.
She spoke a little about how nerdy she is and that she loves shows like BSG and Firefly (as she goes off on a brief fangurling tangent over Morena). Have I mentioned how adorable Elizabeth is? She also mistook the interviewer asking about Scott Wolf's almost "slimy" character, for "slutty" which was hilarious because she broke out into that damn infectious grin that just makes everybody smile
.
When asked where she would like to see her character taken, she almost had to hold herself back from all of her ideas. She laughed and told us she would like to have some sort of romance with both Jack and Hobbes!
She's an incredible listener too. You can see it by the way she engages with people who are talking to her and asking her questions. And she's really honest and open with her answers. She really pierces you with those eyes of hers. Which leads me to when the interviewer opened up the floor to questions. I knew at the start of the panel - purely because I've been to a number of conventions and you kind of get used to the layout - that the lack of any table set-up meant that we'd likely not be able to get anything signed and would very probably not be able to get any closer than we already were. So as disappointing as it may be not to have a personal photo opportunity or to be able to say "Hey" I decided early on, that the next best thing was to make sure that if they opened up questions to the audience, then I sure as hell better try and ask one.
My heart was beating a mile a minute when they opened up the questions. I'd had one in mind but there's a big difference between thinking it and having an opportunity to actually speak it. After the second audience-based question I raised my hand, because I knew if I didn't, I'd kick myself later. And the interviewer looks straight at me and one of the Apple boys comes over and hands me a microphone and Morena Baccarin, Scott Wolf, and Elizabeth Mitchell are looking at me expectantly. And I'm kind of numb, but oddly calm. My voice doesn't shake like I thought it would and it suddenly occurs to me how perfect this moment is.
What's amusing is I keep trying to remember their answers here but I can't because I was so in awe that they were here and that they were talking to me that my brain has stored this information in some back-up file I can't actually locate just yet. My question was to Morena and Elizabeth, and given that their scenes together are so nuclear and everything that comes out of their mouths is like a double-edged sword, it's really interesting to watch. Where do they see that relationship going and how would they like that to progress in season two.
Now if only my brain would unfog. I will remember eventually, I always do, but often with events like these my mind stores things and they re-appear a couple of days later when I've calmed the part of me that's still bubbling with that fresh excitement.
Right at the end she stood up too fast and fell back into her chair. "It's the shoes" she cries, lifting her leg to show off her gorgeous Louboutins. Then her mic falls off and dangles behind her and in this one moment of adorable embarrassment, you see that gentle dorkiness shining through. It's wonderfully human, because on-screen, we're so used to her grace that seeing that side of her that portrays her adorkableness is an incredibly unique and precious thing to see.
I walked home high as a kite. My sunglasses were still on, thankfully hiding my eyes - which by now were so full of moisture it was a wonder I could see at all, but the grin on my face possibly startled a few Londoners. Perfect moment was perfect. I've always wondered, what it might be like to see Elizabeth Mitchell in person. Will she be as genuine as she comes across in interviews? Will she be as captivating in real life as she is on the screen I tune into every week? Will she be kind, encouraging, supportive? Will I leave this auditorium feeling more humbled, and inspired by her than I was before. The answer to all of these is yes. And no amount of words can do her justice.
Yesterday evening, I got to see Elizabeth Mitchell being interviewed at a "Meet the Cast" event at the Apple store in London. If there is one person on the planet who surpasses my admiration for Amanda Tapping, it is the gracious Elizabeth Mitchell. I cursed the ridiculous tears in my eyes as she walked out. In hindsight, it's almost a blessing that we weren't able to say our own personal greetings to the cast of V or shake their hands because I know I wouldn't have been able to hold back my emotion. I'm an emotional human being, I know this, and this was a big deal to me, and I knew that if I were any closer to her than I actually was, I would have cried. Not because I'm hysterical, but because I get overwhelmed when I meet people that I have a great respect for and because I can't often find the words right away, my body translates them into tears.
Watching her being interviewed was surreal - I felt very disconnected from my own brain. Because you imagine - and you know what I mean - what it'll be like. What would it be like to be in the same room with someone you admire so much? With someone who inspires you. What would it feel like?
It feels like God saying "You have forgotten I come with blessings", because I was just thinking (after the Lost finale had aired) that I'd really, really love to see Elizabeth Mitchell in person. And not two weeks later she's in London, sitting a few feet from me, talking about her new show.
The interview itself was moderated by a journalist. He asked most of the questions and during the last twenty minutes opened it up to the audience. I'm going to recall what I can - none of it in any kind order so I hope you don't mind!
Initially what attracted Elizabeth to the show (V) was that the main protagonist was female, as was the main antagonist. Strong women, both mothers and she loves that idea. She spoke extensively about her role as a mother on television and the fact that her character has a teenage son. It's a very real relationship, it's complicated by all sorts of issues that stem from every day life. And it's further complicated when you "throw in an alien who looks like this" she says, gesturing to where Morena is sitting. She really adores Logan (Huffman) and feels very motherly towards him. Every time she has a scene with him she wants to take care of him and shake him at the same time.
She said, on a level, that Erica fails as a mom because she's really trying to make Tyler her friend and Tyler needs something more helpful right now. She (Elizabeth) draws on her own instincts and protectiveness as a mom in playing the role of Erica. It was one of the reasons she took the role (the fact that Erica has a son). She wanted to play a mother.
She describes "V" as an intelligent popcorn thriller.
Elizabeth doesn't worry about any similarities that people may draw between Juliet and Erica. Personally, she doesn't think they're remotely alike but she understands why audiences could see it that way. She laughs "It's still me. And she (Juliet) looks so much like me."
She touches briefly on her previous character: Juliet is really special to her and she loved playing her. Elizabeth understood her, she knew who Juliet was and that some people loved her or hated her and that was great. She feels Erica is the same way and has that same potential. At this point the moderator interjects that people can't possibly hate Erica and Elizabeth responds with "They might. I mean, you hope to inspire one or the other. You'd hate for someone to just go 'eh' ".
Elizabeth was very humbled by the fact that so many people responded positively to her (epic) reunion/re-awakening scene with Sawyer in the Lost finale. And although she didn't expand upon the moment, you could tell she was grateful that it has become a fan favorite moment. Well of course it did Liz, it worked!
We watched a couple of "V" scenes - mostly from early episodes. Watching her watch herself is fascinating, because she reacts as if she's seeing it for the first time - as if she's not watching herself, but some other actor, or some other show.
We watched the scene back in 1x02 when she's in the shower and afterwards she was determined to point out to everyone the state of her knuckles. "Did you see my bruised knuckles?" she indicates. Originally tptb didn't want them shown but Elizabeth pointed out that she (and Erica) had been punching the heck out of things. "Wouldn't they be bruised?" she says. So they kept it in.
Elizabeth does not read blogs/reviews/the internet and so on. She says it's not about not being able to handle criticism, it's just that there are some things you don't need - or necessarily want - to read. She once read that "Elizabeth Mitchell is the most overrated actress in history" and she was like "Really? In history? The whole of history? And how high up was I that I get to be overrated." It actually made me sad when she was talking about this because you can hear and see what a wonderful soul she is and why anyone would want to insite such hateful speech is beyond me. Understandibly, she prefers to stay away from such places now and I don't blame her.
She spoke a little about how nerdy she is and that she loves shows like BSG and Firefly (as she goes off on a brief fangurling tangent over Morena). Have I mentioned how adorable Elizabeth is? She also mistook the interviewer asking about Scott Wolf's almost "slimy" character, for "slutty" which was hilarious because she broke out into that damn infectious grin that just makes everybody smile
.
When asked where she would like to see her character taken, she almost had to hold herself back from all of her ideas. She laughed and told us she would like to have some sort of romance with both Jack and Hobbes!
She's an incredible listener too. You can see it by the way she engages with people who are talking to her and asking her questions. And she's really honest and open with her answers. She really pierces you with those eyes of hers. Which leads me to when the interviewer opened up the floor to questions. I knew at the start of the panel - purely because I've been to a number of conventions and you kind of get used to the layout - that the lack of any table set-up meant that we'd likely not be able to get anything signed and would very probably not be able to get any closer than we already were. So as disappointing as it may be not to have a personal photo opportunity or to be able to say "Hey" I decided early on, that the next best thing was to make sure that if they opened up questions to the audience, then I sure as hell better try and ask one.
My heart was beating a mile a minute when they opened up the questions. I'd had one in mind but there's a big difference between thinking it and having an opportunity to actually speak it. After the second audience-based question I raised my hand, because I knew if I didn't, I'd kick myself later. And the interviewer looks straight at me and one of the Apple boys comes over and hands me a microphone and Morena Baccarin, Scott Wolf, and Elizabeth Mitchell are looking at me expectantly. And I'm kind of numb, but oddly calm. My voice doesn't shake like I thought it would and it suddenly occurs to me how perfect this moment is.
What's amusing is I keep trying to remember their answers here but I can't because I was so in awe that they were here and that they were talking to me that my brain has stored this information in some back-up file I can't actually locate just yet. My question was to Morena and Elizabeth, and given that their scenes together are so nuclear and everything that comes out of their mouths is like a double-edged sword, it's really interesting to watch. Where do they see that relationship going and how would they like that to progress in season two.
Now if only my brain would unfog. I will remember eventually, I always do, but often with events like these my mind stores things and they re-appear a couple of days later when I've calmed the part of me that's still bubbling with that fresh excitement.
Right at the end she stood up too fast and fell back into her chair. "It's the shoes" she cries, lifting her leg to show off her gorgeous Louboutins. Then her mic falls off and dangles behind her and in this one moment of adorable embarrassment, you see that gentle dorkiness shining through. It's wonderfully human, because on-screen, we're so used to her grace that seeing that side of her that portrays her adorkableness is an incredibly unique and precious thing to see.
I walked home high as a kite. My sunglasses were still on, thankfully hiding my eyes - which by now were so full of moisture it was a wonder I could see at all, but the grin on my face possibly startled a few Londoners. Perfect moment was perfect. I've always wondered, what it might be like to see Elizabeth Mitchell in person. Will she be as genuine as she comes across in interviews? Will she be as captivating in real life as she is on the screen I tune into every week? Will she be kind, encouraging, supportive? Will I leave this auditorium feeling more humbled, and inspired by her than I was before. The answer to all of these is yes. And no amount of words can do her justice.
