B5 fans and actors in Orlando

[Jan]

I'm sure folks will be relieved to know that Orlando appears to have survived a weekend where Jan, OmahaStar and GLindros all met and hung out.

The B5 related guests were W. Morgan Sheppard who played the Soul Hunter and Warleader G'Sten, G'Kar's uncle in 'The Long, Twilight Struggle' and Dylan Neal who played David Martel in 'Legend of the Rangers'. When I arrived at the con after work Friday, I went immediately over to the autograph area in hopes of getting my 'Legend of the Rangers' and 'Soul Hunter' scripts signed. As luck would have it, both were there (sometimes the actors don't attend on Friday).

Dylan Neal was pleased to see the 'Legend' script and we spoke for a few minutes. He was very friendly and personable. Just as I was leaving his table, OmahaStar found me and took me over to introduce me to Morgan Sheppard whom he'd already met. What a delightful man. He talked about how he enjoyed working on B5, more so in 'Soul Hunter' than in 'Long, Twilight Stuggle' where he didn't get along with the director as well. I'd only brought my 'Soul Hunter' script so he made me promise to bring my 'Struggle' script too, which I happily did. OmahaStar and I had a great time talking in person finally. He's far more knowlegeable about actors and directors than I am. BTW, there's now photographic evidence that OmahaStar and I actually exist (and I got to snuggle with Mark and Morgan Sheppard while the picture was taken )

Saturday...I missed. I really tried to get there but traffic and impossible parking defeated me.

Sunday I met up with GLindros and this time it was my turn to take him over to meet Morgan Sheppard. Morgan told us that Jerry Doyle had actually stopped by the convention and had come over to talk on Saturday. We wandered the show floor for a while and then grabbed a table in the eating area and talked for ages, joined by OmahaStar.

Except for getting my scripts autographed, I'm afraid nobody at the con made much off of me at this con. The only other things I bought were some sleeves for my comic art. But I had a *wonderful* time hanging out with GLindros and OmahaStar, talking about everything from the script books to podcasts to other cons...and being with folks who understand the show references that crept into the conversation.

As the con drew to a close, we went over to say goodbye to Moran but he and his son were gone already. I spoke with Dylan Neal again briefly to ask what he did with his scripts and he told me he throws them away (sob!).

What a nice weekend!

Jan

[*Starstuff*]

Hi Jan,

glad to hear you had a great weekend with the cast members and other Board users I am delighted to hear that Morgan Sheppard is such a nice person; I am looking foward to meet him in Germany (it seems I posted information about him in my thread about the same time as you wrote this ). I am not even sure I'd recognize him since I have never seen him without make up. I have to look him up in the internet.

Greetings to Florida,
*Starstuff*

[Jan]

Hi Starstuff,

Yes, I saw your post after I'd sent my own off. I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting him. Even if you don't recognize his face, you're sure to recognize that marvelous gravelly voice of his. OmahaStar told me that this was only his second convention.

Jan

[*Starstuff*]

Hi Starstuff,

Yes, I saw your post after I'd sent my own off. I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting him. Even if you don't recognize his face, you're sure to recognize that marvelous gravelly voice of his. OmahaStar told me that this was only his second convention.

Jan

Yes, his voice has it's own special quality. I read somewhere that they actually considered Morgan Sheppard for the role of G'Kar when they auditioned for the Pilot (have to look it up, I don't remember where I read it).

Was it OmahaStars second convention oder Sheppards?

EDIT...:::... Well, my memory isn't that bad after all; he's even listed as runner up for G'Kar on IMDB.

[raw_bean]

I'm pretty sure JMS said as much in the episode commentary for one of the two eps he was in.

[OmahaStar]

Yes, his voice has it's own special quality. I read somewhere that they actually considered Morgan Sheppard for the role of G'Kar when they auditioned for the Pilot (have to look it up, I don't remember where I read it).

Was it OmahaStars second convention oder Sheppards?

EDIT...:::... Well, my memory isn't that bad after all; he's even listed as runner up for G'Kar on IMDB.

It was Morgan's third convention. He'd done two before, one general SF and another that was Star Trek, he told me.

I also have a unique memento of that meeting, which Jan knows about ... and I am SO happy to report that it made it all the way here in one piece. Not even the tiniest bit damaged, as we both had feared, being so fragile.

Now it's a question of where to hang it? :P

Unfortunately, the airline lost one of my bags. It might be in Orlando, might be in Kansas City, they don't know, and since it was a codeshare, they don't even know which airline might have lost it. They're investigating. Fortunately, the important stuff I had brought carry-on, so they just lost some dirty smelly clothes ... it'll still be a surprise for whoever opens it, when they find it. grr argh.

[glindros]

I had a great time. Thanks Jan and Omaha.

It's nice to connect with other B5 fans and exchange thoughts, comments and reactions, that typing doesn't always convey.

Jan, I thought you were really into B5 before I met you, but your watch puts all of my efforts to shame.

Omaha, you were a real hoot, thanks for the laughs, and insights on how important Jane was to the B5 story. Please PM me with your address for a stitch item I picked up.

[OmahaStar]

I had a great time. Thanks Jan and Omaha.

It's nice to connect with other B5 fans and exchange thoughts, comments and reactions, that typing doesn't always convey.

Could not agree more. It's wonderful being able to have those kinds of conversations, without having to first explain what B5 is and why people should watch it. I wish it could have gone longer, but there's always next time.

Jan, I thought you were really into B5 before I met you, but your watch puts all of my efforts to shame.

She's incredible, isn't she?

Omaha, you were a real hoot, thanks for the laughs, and insights on how important Jane was to the B5 story.

See, B5 is about so many things all happening at once. Everyone can get something out of it. I get that Jane was the focal point of the entire story. Others get that it was all about the way the other ISN reporters worshipped her. what? Ok ok, Sheridan was ok too. :P

Please PM me with your address for a stitch item I picked up.

bwah? you did? I never say no to Stitch. Thanks!


Also, I really really hope Barbara sees this thread and decides to join us.

Barbara was this very sweet, nice lady we met at the convention, and she lives in the area (Orlando area, not Omaha area lol). I think we must have chatted with her outside the convention, and she's such a sweetheart.

There were some ... well, to put it diplomatically ... not very nice people, who just pushed her out of their way and ran over top of her. Shame on them! There weren't a lot of them, but even one is too many. Generally at science fiction conventions, everybody is nice and looks out for one another (like what happened with Jan and her white star) ... Heck, I saw a lady drop a twenty out of her purse and the guy behind her picked it up and ran after her and gave it back to her. When does that ever happen in real life?

[Jan]

Also, I really really hope Barbara sees this thread and decides to join us.

Barbara was this very sweet, nice lady we met at the convention, and she lives in the area (Orlando area, not Omaha area lol). I think we must have chatted with her outside the convention, and she's such a sweetheart.

Hey, Barbara, are you out there?? Hope you'll join us; I enjoyed meeting you.

Generally at science fiction conventions, everybody is nice and looks out for one another (like what happened with Jan and her white star) ...

Yeah, Jan left her white star running and a nice lady turned it off for me and left me a note.

Heck, I saw a lady drop a twenty out of her purse and the guy behind her picked it up and ran after her and gave it back to her. When does that ever happen in real life?

I can top that. At the con in San Francisco a few weeks ago I had about $75 and my hotel room key card fall out of my pocket at JMS's writing panel and the guy behind me made sure that I got it back at the end of the panel.

Fans ARE the nicest people and B5/JMS are nicest of all.

Jan

[glindros]

Omaha,

I wonder if Jane was the Walter Cronkite of her time, and since it was an ISN production, featured her prominently?

[OmahaStar]

There's now a thread on Trekbbs for MegaCon - http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=48214

It's a stinker of a thread. :P