My camera isn't the best for taking action shots in low light, but when there are shiny pretty people all around you can't help but TRY to take pictures, huh?

So here are a bunch of blurry, graining shots of Asylum guests. I have no doubt that better ones will pop up in coming days. asylum07_alumni has been set up to gather all that kind of material, so if you've got it, post it there (you'll need to join to view it as well, it's all locked down for what I think are pretty obvious reasons).

Anyway, ( photos! )


The light in the whole hotel was pretty not-conducive to photographing, so I only got a couple of shots of fen as well. I might post some later in a flocked post.

We are finally home from the con. We should have been back about 3 hours ago, but our train stopped just outside of Coventry and didn't start again until 2 hours later. Joy!

Anyhoo, have had a quick skim of the flist and seen very little about Jensen's rather interesting panel session this afternoon.

Indeed, there were interesting questions.

It was very easy to tell when a question made him uncomfortable, because there was facepalming. The more uncomfortable, the more facepalming. All the questions about Dean & the show made him very enthusiastic and excited. Questions like, "what do you think are your best and worst physical features?"* and "if you had to write a personals ad for yourself, what would it say?" resulted in moderate facepalming.

The question, "You said in the panel yesterday that you were very protective of Dean. What do you think of fanfiction?" made him practically crawl behind the chair he was facepalming so much.

I don't even remember his very brief answer about 'fanfiction' because he launched right into "some really imaginative/crazy [can't remember exact wording, but def wasn't positive] fans write something called Wincest..." (cue more facepalming). He did handle it quite well, though he was clearly very uncomfortable.

Of course, about fifteen minutes later, someone else asked a question that was something like: "is there gay subtext between Sam and Dean?" (I didn't quite hear it, just got the gist), which, personally, I think is quite a valid question!! But it was met with another anxious moan from the audience, and Jensen adamantly declaring (and facepalming) that a) THEY'RE BROTHERS! and b) Kripke knows about all the Wincest/gay stuff, and puts in these little 'jokes' to poke fun and show how ridiculous and outrageous that idea is.

(...clearly, that's working out for them.)

Anyway, Jensen said that he and Jared only found out about Wincest BECAUSE KIM MANNERS GAVE SOME TO THEM. I could not love Kim Manners any more, at this point. (I would kill to know what/who's story he gave them!)

I'm not sure how I feel about those questions. Well, I feel fine about the gay subtext question - I think it would be more of a problem if people thought that it was a problem to ask about gay subtext at a convention - given that it's common practice that people were asking about het love interests and dynamics on the show. But it did come at a time in that panel where Wincest was already at the front of everyone's minds.

The fanfiction question is a sticky one. Some fans are adamant that it was incredibly inappropriate, that it's something that's seen but not heard/admitted to (on either side). But the old practices are changing anyway, I think, and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Yes, a lot of the practices of passing on etiquette is no longer present, but I think some of the 'rules' have - or should - become obsolete anyway.

The person that asked that question asked it of pretty much every guest at every panel; Alona Tal, upon being asked if she looked at websites/forums/etc, said she reads "everything. EVERYTHING." Nicki Aycox and Brooke Nevin seemed bemused, but relatively positive about support and imagination. Nicki had received fanfic about Meg in the mail from a fan, and had been blown away and utterly impressed by how awesome it was; Brooke suggested fans write episodes of the show themselves. Someone asked Alison Mack a question about the Clark/Lex and she very frankly said that the rescusitation scene in the pilot drew in a huge fanbase because of its homoeroticism - and she didn't seem to think anything was wrong with that. or with saying that.

I don't know. I think it's just as easy to find fanfiction as any fan website these days, and with TV producers becoming more connected with audiences and fans (and definitely seeing the benefit of that!), they're definitely less likely to just turn a blind eye to what the fans are doing and saying. And by 'they' I mean not only the actors (like Alona, who reads all the forums etc), but the producers and creators.

I think for me, my opinion on all of this is formed by my firm belief that fanfiction - including slash - isn't something that should be considered shameful.

I don't think that guests at conventions should be made uncomfortable by inappropriate questions. I think that if they are clearly uncomfortable, then questioners/audience/fans should back off.

But ideally, i'd like a world where asking about fanfiction doesn't make the guest - or the rest of the audience - uncomfortable. I really liked the way Nicki and Brooke dealt with the question; I didn't like the way I'm sure a lot of the audience held their breath and/or muttered to the person sitting next to them and/or shook their heads in disapproval.

I think the fact that the audience let out a big lascivious moan en masse when the girl at Jensen's panel asked about fanfiction only served to support his discomfort.

Basically, I think I want everyone to stop thinking that fanfiction, slash or no, is something to be ashamed of.

Especially with television texts, the boundaries of the characters are so open anyway, I don't think it is something that should invoke a concept of violation of those characters and who portrays them ('Dean' is written by a range of script writers, directed by a number of directors, has input from Jensen, is re-written by comics authors and novelists and whoever wrote the material on the official website...).

Anyway, it's late, and my brain surge upon walking home in the rain has subsided again.

All in all, a good weekend :)




* Answer to best & worse physical features question: Jensen facepalming, looking uncomfortable, then surreptitiously glancing down at his crotch. Then, when the crowd cheered, saying "well, yaknow, and worse would be... bow legs. An awful set of Texas bow legs."

Well, after about 2 hours of absolute CHAOS this morning, rogue events managed to get slightly more organised so that we all knew a little bit more about what was going on.

The goss is, yes, some fangirl threw herself at Jensen! See, as he goes between event things (like, from photo shoot to autographs to panels) he has to walk very rapidly through the masses, with two beefy bodyguards behind him (in black suits! with earpieces!), followed by a wave of hushed shrieking. Anyway, the talk of the con is that as he was coming out of a photo shoot, a fangirl leapt upon him, keen for a kiss. She was dragged off by the bodyguards, but then attempted to leap into the lift with Jensen, upon which they dragged her out again, and declared her Booted From The Convention. Upon which she (allegedly) put her cigarette out on the neck of one of the guards!

It's all drama and action, here.

Anyway, this morning got autographs from Nicki Aycox, Brooke Nevin and Alona Tal. Alona especially was absolutely adorable and sweet, and Nicki and Brooke were lovely too. They're all so wee and blonde and cute! Their panel this afternoon (had one with the three of them) was pretty good too, and we had really good seats.

At about lunch time, despite the fact that NO ONE was in costume (seriously, what? a convention without people COSPLAYING? what??), Derry and I decided to get into gear. I was reluctant, being in such a bad mood about it all this morning and there being NO ONE ELSE in costume, but geared up anyway. It was amusing, but slightly disconcerting. So many people appeared to have NO IDEA. I mean, what??? Seriously! if you're at all involved in Supernatural, how can you NOT recognise a dowdy white, charred, bloodied nightie??? A bunch of people did, and complemented, and a bunch of people didn't. And then still didn't. And then said things to me like "well the blood COULD be a pattern on your dress, and someone put a cigarette out on your sleeve. you can't TELL it's a costume." (...)

But anyway, our timing was such that we went to get autographs from Jensen in costume. Which was quite amusing, and lead to a conversation with him about fake blood (and how he had to have corn syrup poured down his throat). But he was quite appreciative of the costuming, at any rate. And he signed my comic what LOOKS like "All my butt", but is actually probably "all my best".

Which reminds me, speaking of butt. During Jensen's panel, he told this apparently infamous story about the 100s of bees they used when they were shooting "Bugs". The climax of the story is Jensen talking about how the only stinging incident was when one of the bees, and I quote, "flew up under my jacket, then down into my shorts, then stung me in the ass!"

He then went on to explain about how when bees sting you, their stingers remain in the skin, pumping out poison. I quote again, "So I could feel this stinger, pumping, and pumping, and pumping..."

Which, heh. heheheheheh. On conversation with other fangirls after this particular quote... yeah. We are quite amused.

Anyway, I just had dinner with eloise_bright, wenchpixie and eldritch, after a whole crowd of LJ peeps met for the asylum_spnfics exchange. Hee! Apparently, this evening Jason Man (does that have two Ns?) is performing, and then there's a 'disco'. Which is, apparently, fancy dress, but that's only been hearsay.

I love staying in the same hotel as the con :D I think I'll go down and check it out and stuff and if I feel like it, come back up and get into the Mary gear again. We'll see.

I would share photos but I left my special camera cord at Derry's, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow night. Not that they're incredibly exciting or anything!

Anyway, hope everyone else is having a good weekend too.

Well, live from our hotel room at Asylum, actually.

We just went to the screening of 2.21, which was quite entertaining. ( cut for spoilers )

Is it can be next week now pls?

We managed to register after about an hour's wait in a queue this afternoon, when we got a schedule (finally, after saying they'd post it on the website a month beforehand!). The schedule isn't that helpful, though.

... a limo just pulled up outside the hotel so Derry and I peered out the window at it for a while, but no one got out so we made jokes about Jensen giving the limo driver a blow job until we got bored and here i am again!

anyway, the schedule is not very helpful. I seem to recall hearing talk of one of the party nights being costumed, but there is no indication ANYWHERE so we'll just see what we hear tomorrow morning.

Anyhoo, better get off the computer because Derry is HOVERING by.

ETA: Grrr.

We just went down to check out the 'disco' for tonight (which are, btw, not on the schedule, just something vague in the booklet about 'evening entertainments'). We were utterly baffled to find half the people there dressed in cowboy garb. wtf?

After digging around (mainly ctrl+f'ing for "cowboy"), we found this post on the rogue events forums. Buried in one of the threads.

There is not actually any announcement or notice elsewhere of themed parties. Not that can be found, at any rate. There's no signage or notice anywhere at the con itself. way to go, rogue events!

honestly. How bloody hard does it have to be to find a dowdy white nighty?

I stopped by the local crappy mall and checked out Kmart and Best & Less, but no luck. They either have polyester camisoles with lace, or shapeless, floral, long-sleeve cotton nighties. That's as close as they get.

Bah!

I shall have to try some op shops, maybe. Or Target/Big W/Dimmeys.

Unless anyone can think of anywhere online I could obtain a dowdy white nighty? I don't really want to spend more than $30 on it, seeing as I'm going to be liberally adding bloodstains.


...Um. This is for my cosplay at Asylum, by the way. *g*

Jared canceled Asylum. Poop. I don't want to see bitchface!Jensen without the Jolly Green Giant! THIS IS ALL THOMAS KINKADE'S FAULT!

I am most irked by the behaviour of the organiser. Dude. Way to cause yourself more trouble by refunding photo tickets without actually sending out a group email about the cancellation. I had to dig around on the message boards (which I've never visited before) and lj community before I found out what was going on. And by then had already emailed him back with a "wtf whyfor you refund me?"

Ah well. That's 40 pounds more for booze. Though it's somewhat ironic that I bought my con ticket on the strength of Jared, and now all I get is fan-hating Jensen. And Nicki Aycox, though. She's cool.


ETA: should probably clarify this for a public post, oops!

I'm honestly not all that upset about this whole thing - in fact, in a way I'm kind of glad, because I get anxious about "Guests" and much prefer cons where I can just hang out with fans.

Therefore, please don't assume any genuine vitriol in any of the above (aside from being irked by the Asylum organiser, that annoys me to no end, when people I'm in a business 'contract' with behave irresponsibly). So when I say "bitchface" and "fan-hating Jensen", I don't mean it as a dig at Jensen fans. I'm very fond of Sam and Dean but don't generally mind either way for Jared and Jensen (though they are both very pretty), and wasn't particularly looking forward to seeing Jensen if his attitude was still one of "TV is crap and worthless, and people who think otherwise are lame".

But I mean "bitchface" the same way that I mean Dean is a man-whore and John an abusive parent and Sammy a total brat. BECAUSE THEY SO ARE.

But, like I said, no great bitterness. SERIOUSLY.

Am I digging myself deeper here?