Comic Con for those who aren't attending (& Hamlet)

[neadods]

The great thing about fandom in the Internet Age is that vicariously experiencing things is getting more and more real-time. And more and more outright real!

thefannishwaldo liveblogged the Julie Gardener - Stephen Moffat panel (small spoilers for Christmas special at end). There'll be a separate post for the Torchwood panel at some point. So far all she's posted is that there was a "marry, shag, or cliff" game with John, Julie, and Gareth, and Naoko (in which Naoko volunteered to be cliffed - John said he'd shag her first - he'd then shag Julie, but he'd marry Gareth "because I've seen him naked.")

And I don't know who grabbed the minute-long clip of John Barrowman and Naoko Mori singing Miss Saigon with Gareth in the middle.

The OG links to three interviews with Stephen Moffat from Comic Con


In Hamlet news, I'm more than a little appalled that the Tennant website has had to post basic theater etiquette - and I mean REALLY basic stuff, like "don't disturb the actors or the rest of the audience." *facepalm* The RSC/actors (who started it I'm not sure) have also put out a huge set of warnings that they will only sign stuff about Hamlet, not Star Trek or Doctor Who memorabilia. That makes sense enough. However, I'm sure it's the RSC that has added the rider that it must be materials from the RSC shop which does piss me off. For those of us who *have* theater diaries and/or favorite script copies, it seems frankly petty.

Not that anyone could necessarily tell in a glance say, an Arden that came from the RSC vs the Borders downtown DC anyway.

(I have a copy of the Arden complete that has served as notes and theater diary ever since I started going to Stratford Ont. & ushering at the DC Shakes; I've been writing down the dates/locations of the productions and (in the script itself) details of the particularly notable bits of business.)


PS - and since this is suddenly turning into the overarching Who post of the day, the Sun will just print anything they wank onto a page, won't they? The latest article is so full of facepalm fail I don't even know which loose end to start yanking to unravel it. Poor Freema, is she always going to end up being the whipping girl of the Whoniverse? (There was even Yet Another Ugly Rumor about the poor woman at Shore Leave, which was quickly and tidily shot down.)

It's going to be frickin' hilarious in retrospect if she's in both Torchwood and Law and Order: London, as is easily likely considering England's short show seasons. Far more likely than an experienced, professional showrunner somehow assuming that a working actress would turn down work in the hopes of some sort of last-minute "oops, we wrote huge scenes for you but forgot to actually sign you up" contract.

Truly, there is not enough eyeroll in the world.

Comments

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

In Hamlet news, I'm more than a little appalled that the Tennant website has had to post basic theater etiquette - and I mean REALLY basic stuff, like "don't disturb the actors or the rest of the audience." *facepalm*

I am not a bit surprised by this - given the online behaviour of some of the folks on both their forum and the T!L comm, I'd say it's extremely necessary.

Shall go investigate the linkies, thanks (although not the audio-related one(s) since my soundcard still refuses to work!)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've been adding while you've been commenting, if you want to come back and roll your eyes at me at the latest insanity in the Sun.

[missbaxter.livejournal.com]

"In Hamlet news, I'm more than a little appalled that the Tennant website has had to post basic theater etiquette - and I mean REALLY basic stuff, like "don't disturb the actors or the rest of the audience."

Really? They actually posted that? I don't know whether to laugh or go hide under a seat... Here's hoping that any nuisance audience members are spaced at the nearest possible exit! And also, since I don't think I got around to replying to your earlier Hamlet post, I hope you have a wonderful time!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Take a look. It's all really, really obvious stuff.

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

What was the Yet Another Ugly Rumor about Freema?

And why do so many people hate her so fucking much? :(

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I can only assume they hate her 'cos they're jealous that she's talented, gorgeous and a lovely person...

[tiggerallyn.livejournal.com]

My thinking on Freema, Law & Order, and Torchwood...

I think, at this point, that it's unlikely that Freema could do both. I think L&O is supposed to begin filming in August, and Torchwood begins in either August or September.

Thus, the Torchwood ship has sailed. I think that's pretty clear, even if The Sun had to layer on lurid dross on top of that.

My guess on what happened vis a vis the Torchwood situation is this — Freema's people were negotiating a contract with the BBC. The BBC had made it clear that they wanted Freema. They even had scripts that used Freema.

From Freema's point of view (and I'm referring here to her people, not necessarily herself), she was in the driver's seat. She knew that the BBC wanted her in Torchwood. She had a strong hand, and she could ask for... well, whatever.

This makes her sound mercenary, but it's not. It's the same issue the Star Trek films had; the actors weren't under contract, and when it came time for another movie, the actors were in a strong negotiating position, because they knew that they were already in the script. (This is also how we got Ezri Dax in the final season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Terry Ferrell's contract was up, and Paramount wouldn't meet her salary demands. Or Claudia Christian on Babylon 5. There's another example.)

My guess is that the negotiations were ongoing, with Freema wanting a higher number and the BBC wanting a lower number. And when the Law & Order offer came, it may have been in between the two numbers, but was still higher than where the BBC was willing to go. So, she went for Law & Order.

Writers livid? Sure. The word they'd done needs to be scrapped and reworked.

But the producers? They shot themselves in the foot by making Freema a low-ball offer.

That's how I'm reading the situation. It's not as lurid. It's just business.

[lagilman]

It's not as lurid. It's just business.

Bingo. But to *cough* some fans, anything that disses their darling is not only Lurid, it's A Personal Insult.

It's love, yes, but it's also a job. And it's a job first, or actors, like writers, starve. Cluefulness, sadly, is not an entrance requirement for fandom.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm not 100% sure that it's still impossible; "filming in August" doesn't mean "required same hours of same days in all of August." They're both ensemble shows, so any given actor could slightly overlap the schedule.

But on the other hand, if she is choosing, then the smart professional decision is to take the full-season show with potential for growth over the five-episode miniseries with an uncertain future - and that's before one even considers the bank account!

But the Sun has to go and make it sound like Freema's gone jump roping with another set of kids at recess and Davies is having a red-faced tantrum about it. "Smart professional" - which they both are - doesn't enter into it at all.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

However, I'm sure it's the RSC that has added the rider that it must be materials from the RSC shop which does piss me off. For those of us who *have* theater diaries and/or favorite script copies, it seems frankly petty.

in those situations, I do my "two things" - one brought by me, one bought in the store. the store sees me buy so they don't get mad, and the artist isn't going to actually say anything 'cause they're usually as miffed about such silliness as the fans are.

now, mind you, i do that even if there isn't a "only sign what you buy" rule, 'cause i know, for the kinds of acts I see at places like The Birchmere and 9:30 club, that merchandise sales are the only way the group actually makes enough of a profit on tours and can afford to return later.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's not like I'm going to have trouble shopping at the RSC! But still - I'd like to not be railroaded into being told what can or cannot be done.

I like the two items idea. And worse case scenario, I can always do what I did at a Rowling signing... walk up with the book I'm "supposed" to get signed and swap it at the last second for the book I wanted signed!

[steviesun.livejournal.com]

However, I'm sure it's the RSC that has added the rider that it must be materials from the RSC shop which does piss me off. For those of us who *have* theater diaries and/or favorite script copies, it seems frankly petty.

Okay, that pisses me off. Sorry. Okay, so fair enough, I can't get DT to add his autograph to my house of Who autographs that is my first series scripts. That's fair enough, he;s a serious actor, he's not always going to be the Doctor, fine. But then my backup plan was to go and buy myself a really nice copy of Hamlet that I could, you know, proudly have on my shelf for years to come. But this means I don't get to choose. I was going to buy pictures and the like anyway I'm sure, but this annoys me. Perhaps enough to pointedly not buy anything. They're making enough money, filling the theatre on enough nights, gonna sell enough stuff . . . they don't need to do this. Not for money. Or maybe he really is costing them THAT much . . .

[neadods.livejournal.com]

There's the "two items" idea suggested above: take the one you want signed and get something there, and either get both signed (or swap at the last second.)

I sincerely doubt that David or Patrick is going to be looking for an RSC receipt.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I sincerely pity anyone, whether a fan of Tennant and/or Stewart or not, who's actually going to this because they want to see Shakespeare. It's a virtual guarantee despite all these precautions that some lunatic fen will zip up their entitlement armor and cheerfully try to wreck it for everyone around them.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I feel I have to defend fandom - I've seen four or five theater productions that were stuffed to the gills with TV fan club members and every one of them has been an excellent experience for actor and audience. At the recent MacBeth I didn't even know that the first entire two rows were held by the Patrick Stewart fan club until the curtain, at which point they gave an en masse standing ovation and I think gave him something or said something in unison - I couldn't catch it, but he approached the edge of the stage for them.

Aside from maybe a little extra applause during appearances or maybe an identifying piece of clothing/accessory, nobody ever did anything "fannish" until the final curtain... and hey, that's the time to let the actors know they're appreciated anyway!

[jigglykat.livejournal.com]

That liveblogging thing cracked me up. Oh Moffat.

That Sun article... sigh. I hope that Freema does both Torchwood and L&O. Heck, I'd still be happy if she shows up on Torchwood every now and then!

And the theatre etiquette makes me mad. Are people THAT uncivilized? Actually, no -- I take that back. I fear when Equus comes to NYC that the theatre is just going to be filled with screaming little fangirls.

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

Darn it, John, "Sun and Moon" is a much prettier song! But he's right -- it's mostly handoff, with only a couple lines actually together.

I love that she thought she was in the wrong key when she was. :-)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

That was hilarious. And what a pair of voices!

[jennetj.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm glad that the website has posted theatre etiquette. A lot of the people who will be going to see Hamlet will probably be seeing live theatre for the first time, and they need to learn that it's vastly different from film, or even from a concert. I'd much rather have them be forewarned than have my evening ruined by some screaming fangirls. I'd wished Stratford Festival had done the same when they had Paul Gross there.

I expect you could get your favorite copy of the script signed (mine, alas, is in my Riverside Shakespeare, and ain't no way I'm haulin' that to England). From the article I read, it sounds like they're trying to avoid having fans bring craploads of Doctor Who or Star Trek stuff. If it was Shakespeare, I'm sure that would be fine. Hmm, I wonder if I could get my Portable Hamlet signed....

[maypanic.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links! How did I not know that Naoko has such a lovely voice? I'm hoping eventually someone posts what led up to them bursting in to song.

It's horrifying that they had to post such reminders on basic theatre etiquette, but I hope they also have reminders before every show and ushers ready to shush and remove people. Because unfortunately, I'm sure there will be many a rabid fan who insists on squealing and other silliness, with no concern for those around them.

I hope Freema can do both, but if not then good on her for taking a role that could be long term on a major show, rather than holding out for a part of a one week special. Of course I'd rather see her on TW, but it's a sensible professional decision for some job stability and to avoid being typecast.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

good on her for taking a role that could be long term on a major show, rather than holding out for a part of a one week special

Exactly!

[jennetj.livejournal.com]

To add to my previous comment, I just read the RSC statement again:

"only Royal Shakespeare Company or production related memorabilia will be signed by members of the company"

Production-related to me says that your favorite copy of Hamlet, or even your theatre diary would be totally acceptable.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Okay, I confess that I wasn't planning on hauling that bigass Arden in my suitcase anyway. But I do want a certain amount of choice in what Hamlet memorabilia I get signed!

(Which reminds me - need to scoot to see Renee Auberjonois - I know, I've misspelled it - in Imaginary Invalid. Next post, play review... and I can take a look at the Shakes merch at the theater there.)

[isabeau.livejournal.com]

And I don't know who grabbed the minute-long clip of John Barrowman and Naoko Mori singing Miss Saigon with Gareth in the middle.

Whoever did grab it is /awesome as fuck/. *watches several times*

[skywardprodigal.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this. Naoko's voice is glorious. Wow.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Isn't it? I'll miss Tosh, but Naoko has such a stunning voice - and smile - and we never got to really get either one in Torchwood. I'd love to see her in a role that lets her cut loose.

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Sadly, theater etiquette, like common sense and simple courtesy- is no longer taught/enforced by schools or parents. (With the exceptions of some old-fashioned folks who make sure it gets passed along.)
I can totally understand the edict about "No DW/ST stuff", and agree that the RSC adding that bit about "From the RSC shop," is just a money grubbing greedy grab. (Say THAT three times fast!)
That said, I REALLY Like Acroyear70's idea of two things... :)

[steviesun.livejournal.com]

Umm, my school made sure we were much much better behaved than those around us in the theatre. And we had to be making notes at the same time. We had to be quiet, discrete, etc or we'd not get taken on any trips and fail our course. I think people just forget that the rules when they were on school trips were there for a reason.