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benbrowderportal.com

Thursday
Sep 09th
HOME arrow CONVENTIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS arrow Farscape and Stargate Cons arrow Oz Cons by Nette and MMonster (March 2010)
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Nette

The only conventions I have attended have been in America so I was very excited when I found out Stargate conventions were to be held on my side of the world and that Ben would be a guest.  It was an easy decision to attend both the Sydney and Melbourne conventions. Spending an hour or two in a plane was a treat compared to the 14 hours it usually takes for me to travel.The first event was held at the University of New South Wales.  The doors opened at 8:00am and a lot of fans were there bright and early. It wasn’t long however before there were very long lines of eager fans waited to see their favourite Stargate cast. It was quite strange to not be amongst scapers I knew but eventually I saw some familiar faces so it started to really feel like a convention.  First on the schedule were photo ops.  Of course I had one with Ben!  And even though I had a fanjirl moment when Ben recognised me from previous conventions, I did remembered to say “Hi” from the Terra Firma shrine jirls.

 

 

marktwo, bb, mrgtrxu1, gigi, claudia, nette, mmonster, ozfencer

 

 

 

Q&A’s were next and after Chris Judge and Dan Shea entertained us it was time for Ben and Claudia to come out on stage. There were a lot of the same questions asked from previous conventions and both Farscape and Stargate were talked about especially the differences between working in Australia and Canada and between both shows. As an Aussie I did have a little giggle to myself when Ben said he had trouble understanding the Australian accent for the first six months he was there. And apparently Canadians are more polite than Australians but that got a laugh as well.  

 

     

 

 

 

It was nice to see Gigi join Ben and Claudia on stage and talk about her current show.  It almost felt like a Farscape convention, especially when Ben treated the scapers to a loud “Can I Get a Hell Yeah” which according to Ben is the real difference between the two shows. It was nice to hear a loud “Hell Yeah” response even though we were at a Stargate convention. Not to be out done by Ben though, Claudia yelled “Aussie Aussie  Aussie”  to which she got the appropriate audience reply of  “Oi Oi Oi”

 

 Claudia Ben and Gigi

 

   

Ben talked about his writing, the webisodes, how family inspires him and that he is looking for work and auditioning.  Ben and Claudia talked about TPTB at Stargate and how excited Claudia was when she found out they finally had a scene together. Both were asked if they had seen Stargate before working on the show and as most of us know Ben watched the whole eight seasons in two weeks much to the amazement of the Stargate crew and his family. Claudia had only seen a few episodes.

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

Their time on stage was all too brief and before too long they were saying good bye.  There were more Q&A sessions to follow with David Nykl and Connor Trinneer, David Blue and Richard Dean Anderson and all just as entertaining.

Chris Judge   Richard Dean Anderson

 

Next up were autographs and after waiting in a very long line for Ben, he signed two beautiful pictures for a couple of special shrine jirls I know. Ben took the time to say hi to everyone, and you never felt like you were being rushed along even though there were many standing in line.

 

At the end of the Sydney convention, I said goodbye to new and old friends and made my way to the airport with a couple of scapers who were also travelling to Melbourne.   After a short delay we boarded our flight along with some very special passengers. To our delight the Stargate guests and HubProduction crew were on the same flight.  Despite the reports of bad weather our flight was uneventful and we arrived in Melbourne to begin the next part of the convention weekend.

 

Unfortunately Melbourne had been battered by a very bad storm the day before and the convention venue was badly damaged to the point where the event was nearly cancelled. Thanks to the hard work of the Hub team they managed to get everything underway with only a short delay to the starting time.

 

This convention schedule was the same as Sydney’s con.  Photo ops were followed by the Q&A sessions.  Ben and Claudia came out on stage after the lunch break.  Like the previous day, there was a video to introduce each guest so we were again treated to Cam and Vala on the big screen.

 

 

     

 

There were similar questions asked from the day before. However Claudia had once lived in Melbourne so she gave us a little story about a place she lived that appeared to be haunted.

Ben’s favourite scene in SG-1 was with the knight in the mud.  He told us “if he is dirty and bloody he looks better” and that the nine-year-old boy inside him loves to be that guy with the sword and the mud and the blood.

There was discussion about the difference between Aeryn and Vala, especially the clothes she wore. Ben laughed when telling us about the “bling” Vala had in her hair when they went on “black ops” missions. Aeryn would never have done that.

 

   

 

There was a really funny story about how on Farscape Claudia broke one of Ben’s fingers “with her bum.”  I am sure the broken finger was painful for Ben, but the telling of the story was hysterical.

 When asked if Ben would do more Farscape...the answer in short was “hell yeah” and the same went for Stargate.  He loved both shows and the family atmosphere that went with them.

I was quite amazed at the number of Farscape questions asked and it was quite clear that Ben and Claudia still had very strong feelings for the show and loved to reminisce.  They talked about Moya being a living ship, which lead them both to recite part the opening monologue.  It was so funny to hear them do that little high pitched scream at the end.

 

 ben 4100.jpg ben 5100.jpg   

 

Again the time went so quickly and they were leaving all too soon, but not before Ben said “Thank you Australia” and Claudia said what she had always wanted to say “Good night Australia”!

 

After the next guest Q&A appearances were over it was time for the autographs.  This time I had one for myself and Ben was kind enough to write something special.  I thanked Ben very much for coming to Australia and said I would see him in LA.

 

This convention went later than expected because of the morning’s delay but unfortunately all good things must come to an end.  It was announced that Ben and Claudia were about to leave the building but before they did Ben treated us to a last “Hell Yeah” and Claudia stood on her chair and gave the Aussie call.  We all had a laugh and Ben said the “Oi Oi Oi” had won because it was the loudest.  After waving goodbye they were gone.

 

It is difficult to remember everything that was said but I do remember how very entertaining Ben was and how a couple of times he held impromptu chats with the fans.  I admit, I went to these conventions to see Ben and I am a Farscape fan first and foremost.  But Stargate has been a show I have watched and enjoyed so it was wonderful to be entertained by the rest of the cast as well.  

 I take away many fantastic memories of my weekend and look forward to my next convention experience.   

 

MMonster

For all con goers, be they first timers or seasoned "professionals", there's a special kind of excitement at the prospect of what is before them. The talks, Q&A's, photo ops, autographs. The anticipation of standing next to, speaking to or just admiring from afar somebody you've watched on a TV show or movie can be one of the biggest buzzes for a fan.
 


For me, everything is special - meeting old friends and making new ones. Seeing people I've watched on TV and admired for a plethora of different reasons creates very special memories and feelings that I will look back on for years to come. And sometimes there are those moments that go beyond your expectations and make it all so much more special.

 

 

     

 


 
  

Claudia and BenThis year I was lucky to attend both the Sydney and Melbourne Stargate 2010 conventions. My 3rd and 4th cons that included Ben Browder. After finally making it to Sydney late when a cancelled flight forced me to fly out the following morning, I arrived just in time to be greeted by a few scaper friends and to stand in line for my "Fargate" photo op with Ben and Claudia. I eventually made it to the head of the photo line after watching a large number of fans, most swooning females, have their first opportunity to meet Ben and Claudia. But that's a whole other story - I'm sure all of us who have met Ben remember the first time we met those blue eyes ...... Claudia is the first to notice me. She smiles and waves and asks how I'm doing. Then Ben turns, smiles in recognition (now that's a good feeling), throws his arms out to the side "Look at me, I finally made it" - two big thumbs up come from my direction. I step in for my photo, the camera flashes and we chat for 2.4 seconds before the photographer practically chases me out of the room. As always it's over way too quickly, but wow, what a buzz!

 

 

     

 

 

I headed back to join the photo line with the Aussie chapter of TerraFirma scapers, Nette, mrgtrxu1, MarkTwo and Ozfencer for a second photo. This one was with Ben, Claudia and Gigi. After a whole lot of shuffling, squashing and squeezing we were finally in place for an extra special photo opportunity. Came out pretty well too if you ask me.
  
 

It seems that before it starts it's all over. But there's always Sunday with my single photo op and auto with Ben at the Melbourne leg of the convention. With that, Nette, Ozfencer and I make our way to the airport.
 
 

As we head to the gate for our flight we notice Dan Shae (Stargate SG1),  Chris Judge (Stargate SG1), then Ben, Claudia and the rest of the convention guests. It appears that we are on the same flight - just about every fans dream come true. 
 
 

Due to a massive storm cell that headed across Melbourne dumping baseball sized hail stones across much of the city, our flight was delayed when the airport was closed. Nette and Ozfencer headed across the room for much needed coffee and I headed for the guests manager to update her on some weather information I had received. When I stood up and turned around I came face to face with the one and only Ben Browder. He looked absolutely exhausted. But I guess we all would if we'd arrived from half way around the world on Friday, then spent a full day entertaining 1000+ con goers. Nette and Ozfencer joined us as we were talking about his pole vault coaching. We chatted about how tall his kids are getting, his flight in a jet fighter (one of the coolest things he's ever done - AND he didn't even throw up) and how he'd love to spend more time in Australia. Like all things amazing it was over far too quickly - the fastest 20 minutes of my life. At least there was still Sunday to go.


 

Nette and I arrived bright and early at the Melbourne convention venue. We caught up with Ozfencer and a few of her friends. Then, as you do when you’re standing in line, we made a few new friends. Because of the storms the night before, the start was delayed by an hour with the convention hall shrinking by 2/3 due to water damage to the building.

 

FBen Browder signing autographs at Oz conirst up were the photo ops. I entered the area for my photo with Ben. I asked him how he was feeling. His reply, “I’m more tired than I think I am”. I stepped in for a fantastic bear hug photo, wondering at the time if he was using me to hold him up. But seriously folks, there were no complaints from me.   The last item on the agenda was autographs. After a whole lot of shuffling, lines merging into lines and attempting to stay in the right place, I made it to Ben for my autograph. His line at that moment was a little slow, so there was time for a chat. I asked him if we’d have to wait another 10 years to see him at a convention in Australia. He shrugged and stated he hoped to be back for his own reasons before too long.

 

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of Peter Fallon of Castle Photography

 

 

With that, my weekend of Benness was over, well worth it and provided memories that will last me and so many others for a long time.   Thank you Ben for making the ultimate whirlwind trip half way around the world to give your fans in Australia the opportunity to see what a true gentleman and entertainer you are.

 

 

     

Courtesy of Peter Fallon of Castle Photography

We wish you all the best in your endeavours and hope you get everything that you wish for.  Here’s hoping he managed to catch many hours of Zzzz’s on the trip home. I think my autograph says it all …..

 

 

 

 Ben Browder Autograph

 

 
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