We were extremely fortunate to have the great John Rhys-Davies speak at one of Saturday's panels. Rhys-Davies is most well known for his roles as Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies and as Gimli the dwarf in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy (he also voiced the ent Treebeaed) alongside numerous television credits.

Rhys Davies is a tall imposing man whose voice is able to annunciate a room with ease, when he speaks you listen!

'Before we begin, no I don't have Orlando Bloom's number, sorry!! Was his first comment!

When he was a younger man Rhys-Davies had a serious accident and a series of operations resulted in him having one leg longer than the other which in itself leads to back discomfort. In a subsequent panel, actor Michelle Harrison (Flash) remarked 'I was sitting next to him signing autographs & he was in obvious discomfort, despite this when disabled fans were not able to make it to his table he would get up, sign an autograph and have a talk with them'. I was also fortunate to see this and it was great to see.

Sliders

Our first question in the panel related to Rhys-Davies role in the television series Sliders and whether there would ever be a reunion. He admitted that he would be open to doing this but doesn't think it will ever happen.

'They (the studio) could have had the greatest show on television at that time if they wanted, the truth is that they didn't realise what they had (the show had a troubled production history), it's a great shame'. He alluded to the fact that there was too much meddling from Fox and that more autonomy should have been given to the makers to create the series they wanted.

Star Trek Voyager

Rhys-Davies famously played the holographic projection of Leonardo da Vinci in Voyager and spoke about his experience on the show - 'I had done Indiana Jones and lots of films but when my children found out that I had been cast in Star Trek they said Dad, now you've finally made it!' (Much laughter in the audience).

He revealed that is was Kate Mulgrew (Captain Janeway) who had suggested and pushed for a character like this in the show (the original idea was to have the opera singer Pavarotti star).

Rhys-Davies was complimentary about the production 'they were a well tuned group, TV isn't about mine or any one performance, it's about a group or building a show around a small group and they did that very well'. He denied being approached for any Star Trek films.


Indiana Jones

Talk inevitability moved onto Rhys-Davies role as Sallah in the Indy films and his casting in it.

'I read the script and it mainly read as a series of action pieces and I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it. I thought it was either going to be great or terrible, I just didn't know'.

'There was a lot of pressure on Steve (Spielberg) after 1941 (the WW2 comedy which famously bombed at the box office) to get this right' (I think we can all agree he did!).

'Harrison was marvellous but I think the best part and performance was that of Paul's (Paul Freeman who played bad guy Dr. Rene Belloq) his role was nunaced, charming and intellectually challenging'.

Rhys-Davies also takes about his other co-stars including Ronald Lacey, who played Major Arnold Toht and who sadly died at the age of 55 due to cancer - 'Before Indy Ronald was an actor who couldn't get work, he tried but he couldn't land a role. Dissatisfied with his agent he spoke to other actor friend who were in the same position and said look why don't I give up on acting and become an agent for all of you as I know what it's like to be out of work. They all agreed and three months later Ronald was cast in Indy and then had loads of offers for work, they never forgave him!' (lots of laugher).

On Spielberg, Rhys-Davies summarised 'at that time with that film and his others he was a young mozart, something within him just knew how to direct. A great director knows it all, they know their history, drama and have seen a lot of films, Steven has all of these'.

Lord Of The Rings

With time running out Rhys-Davies was about to talk about LOTR very briefly.

On Peter Jackson he compared him somewhat to Spielberg and said that he is one of the greatest directors we currently have. 'Peter has done more for New Zealand then Captain Cook' he quipped.

Much like Indy, he praised the ensemble nature of the production and very kindly spoke some lines in Gimli's district accent.


With that the talk wrapped.

After meeting Michael for a chat and autograph on Friday I took the opportunity to attend his panel on Saturday. He of course started by promoting his new podcast 'Inside Of You' a one on one discussion he has with an entertainer in his apartment (look out for one with his Smalllville co-star Tom Welling in a week or so). With a title called 'inside of you' it raised a few chuckles with it's no subtle double entendre, something which was referred to in subsequent shout outs.

Smallville

Smallville was inevitably the subject of most questions & Rosenbaum stated how much he enjoyed the show and the reaction it got. He remarked that in some ways Smallville was the first of its kind (with respect to the Reeves era movies & Lois & Clark) in that is was an origin story and he believes that it's success led in some way to the arrival of subsequent shows such as Gotham, Arrow & Flash etc.

One draw back however was the hours in the makeup chair, aside from shaving his head (I can testify to how frustrating this can be!) he was in makeup for two hours a day and hours before anyone else arrived, Lex had to resemble someone who has never had hair so any pigmentation had to be covered by make up, he lost track on how many hours he was in the chair but it was thousands over the years he was in the show.

Rosenbaum believes that Lex's descent into villainy is due to a large part in Clark refusing to disclose his powers to his best friend. 'To be lied to for that amount of time must have an effect in you'.

When asked about whether the romance between Lex & Lana was planned Rosenbaum said 'no, but I was hoping so!' & winks, in acknowledgement of Lana actress Kristin Kreuk's beauty. Rosenbaum jokes 'Sometimes I would go up to her and start talking and then she'd say Michael why are you talking to me today, we have no scenes together'' it was at this point that a few people (including myself I'm sorry to say) suggested that Kristin should be 'inside of you' which got a good laugh.


Aside from the positives he did find the second season very intense to film (some scenes had Lex in a straight jacket) & he needed some levity straight after a take to release some of the strain away. This is where his friendship with Tom Welling developed, they remain friends and Rosenbaum will be attending Welling's 40th Birthday party in a few weeks.


Rosenbaum finished the Smallville section but saying that the show has actually opened doors for him to other projects, most notably his voiceover work as the Flash for Warner Brothers and several other shows (actors in this type of show at this time were famously typecast) it was at this point that he did several examples of the Flash's voice that went down a storm.


Guardians of the Galaxy 2


Attention turned to Michael's small role as Martinex
in one of the post credits scenes in GOTG 2. Martinex is an original GOTG members in the comics and he starred alongside Sylvester Stallone, Michelle Yeoh & Ving Rhames in the post credits scene 'let's steal some shit' is Sly's rallying call to his troops in the scene.


Rosenbaum remarked that the films director and best friend James Gunn called him and said 'I think I have a role for you, it involves working with Sly Stallone' 'stop there' said Rosenbaum, 'I'm in''.


Rosenbaum shared an anecdote at the films premiere, just after the film had finished Sly went up to Rosenbaum and said 'we are coming back right?' Michael replied 'well you are Sly Stallone, I think you'd know more about it then me!'. As it stands Rosenbaum cannot confirm or deny that he will be back in answer to a fan question but winked as he said it, I think it's safe to assume that he will be.


With that, time beat us and Michael was applauded offstage.

Morning! Just a quick post ahead of what will be a busy day at the con. Below are some of the vehicles on display during the weekend, I took these yesterday and somehow forgot to add them to a post! Enjoy!

Sylvester McCoy was an absolute delight at his talk today, constantly funny and engaging with his audience by walking around answering questions (including one of mine!).

Sylvester revealed that he was originally scheduled to film four series of Doctor Who, he was approached by the producers while filming the second to advise that he would be signed for four, during production of the third he was told that the series would go on hiatus before being eventually cancelled. His incarnation of the Doctor however, was maintained by a series of audio novels 'some were recorded in a toilet as it's quiet and it can sound like a spaceship in there'! quipped McCoy.

His Doctors outfit was a collaborative effort, he auditioned while wearing the hat that he wears in the show due to it being a warm day. 'The producers loved the hat and wanted it to stay, the umbrella was my idea' he remarked.

In respect of the 1996 TV movie which featured him regenerating into Paul McGann it appears that McCoy has mixed emotions. 'I enjoyed doing it, it was fun. I was paid probably three times what I earned in total playing Doctor Who in the UK. I had this enormous trailer and everyone was very friendly. Eric Roberts (who played the master) was very Hollywood, when he first entered his trailer he immediately asked that the carpet was changed, I never knew you could do that'.

Looking back on the TV movie now, McCoy doesn't think he should have been in it. 'I think it would have been better if it just started with Paul and no regeneration but the producers wanted a regeneration scene'. 'Doctor Who was famous but not world wide at the time so I think the regeneration was confusing to an audience unfamiliar with the character'. 'Someone said to me once, I really liked you in that Doctor Who but you were killed off halfway through...and there's your problem'.

A fan asked if there was any character or storylines from the present day run of Who that McCoy would have liked to take on. He mentioned the Xmas 2007 special 'Voyage of the Damned' and the Weeping Angels.

I changed the subject onto the Hobbitt and asked him how we was cast as Radagast in the trilogy. McCoy explained that he was up for the role of Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films and made it down to the last two, narrowly losing out to Ian Holm for the role. 'I must have made an impression as they kept me in mind for 12 years'. 'I was performing King Lear in NZ with Sir Ian Mckellen and Peter Jackson and his family came to the show. At the end of the evening I was invited back to Peter's house and after a while it became apparent that this wasn't just social and I was being tested'. Another interesting anecdote was that Guillermo del Toro was still onboard as director at this point, so after getting the thumbs up from Jackson, McCoy had to re-test for del Toro who also approved. Only a short time later del Toro would depart the project due to the financial issues with MGM.


McCoy spoke very positively on his experiences with the production of the Hobbitt, referencing his delight at working with McKellen again. McKellen for his part, accordingly to McCoy was less enthusiastic at playing the role again. 'Ian has to film his role separate to the hobbits so most of his days were standing in front of a green screen reading lines for three months, he was a little grumpy as all actors are, but he was glad when I came on set as he had actual lines with an actor in front of him to perform with'.


In the wrapping up of the talk, McCoy revealed that at the end of filming the hobbit Peter Jackson made a speech where he punched the air in delight and exclaimed his excitement in finally directing an actor who had played Doctor Who....we still haven't had that Peter Jackson directed Who episode yet Peter!


Sylvester could have been there all day answering questions, he was an absolute joy and it was fantastic to listen to his many stories.

Michael Madsen needs no introduction, He has starred in over 200 films, including Thelma & Louise, Reservoir Dogs, Wyatt Earp, Free Willy, Species, Donnie Brasco, Son City, Kill Bill and The Hateful Eight. He gave a talk about his career in film and how he made it into the business.


With his notorious gravelly voice, Michael quipped that he's the only American actor who loves the British weather (it was raining of course) being a native of Chicago.


Acting was vaguely in his family, his mother had a drama scholarship as a young woman but upon meeting Michael's Father decided not to pursue it.


Madsen himself had no real tangibilie interest in acting, he moved between job to job before beginning to study to be a paramedic, his father, a firefighter urgesd his son to be a police officer however Madden's 'colourful' fomative years made that unlikely.


A friend of his was attending an open audition call and persuaded Madsen to join him to keep him company during the wait to audition. His friend struck out 'he lasted five seconds and they said no' remarked Madsen and upon leaving to go home he was persuaded to audition by an agent who spotted him waiting for his friend which he did. A few weeks later he was signed by an agent and decided to move from his native Chicago to New York.


'That guy was angry with me' said Madsen of his friend, 'I never saw him again, I have no idea what happened to him'. We are guessing he didn't make it as an actor Michael...


Madsen's breakout role was of course Reservoir Dogs, a role which he is asked about more then any other. He maintains a close relationship with Director Quentin Tarrintino and shared an anecdote about the filming. Whilst filming the famous ending with everyone pointing their guns at each other, Madsen suggested that his Mr Blonde character should set the police officer, already doused in petrol, alight! ' I though it would be cool' remarks Madsen, 'I think that's a little too much' was Tarintino's reply and the screen remained as written.


Madsen spoke about some of his other film roles, remarking that he was dissatisfied with Wyatt Earp, 'it was too long and Tombstone was the better film' he revealed in the talk (both films were released in the same year, 1994). When filming the famous O.K Coral scene fellow actor Dennis Quaid quipped, 'lets be honest Mike, filming this scene is the only reason we wanted to do this fucking film' hinting that production was problematic.


Madsen responded to a fan question on Bond film Die Another Day and he how he come to be cast. 'Years ago I was neighbours with Pierce Brosnan, his kids used to play with my kids on the beach, he was due to play Bond but a contractual issue on TV show Remington Steele mean't he couldn't do it '(the role went to Timothy Dalton). ' I teased him for years about it and when he finally got to play Bond I said that I would love to be in it, Pierce arranged a meeting with Bond producers Michael Wilson & Barbara Broccoli and I cast'. Madsens character was one of the last to actually smoke in a Bond film, he was on a break and was called back to film mid cigarette, Judi Dench suggested he keep smoking as he looked cool doing it so he did and he was filmed whilst smoking (backwards compatible strongly advises against smoking folks! It's very bad for you).


Michael wrapped up the talk discussing his hopes for his career going forward, he is frustrated with always being the bad guy 'when I look at a script I start at the back to see if I've been killed off!' He quipped. He mentioned that he would like to play 'more sympathetic characters' something akin to his role as the Father in 'Free Willy' although he's extremely grateful for the career he's had he finds villain roles generally under written.


Madsen finished up by revealing that his audition for The Hateful Eight' consisted of a phone call with Quentin Tarrintino and him repeating his characters name 'Joe Gage' a number of times down the phone.


'Yeah that sounds cool, you are in' confirmed Tarrintino.

Michael went off the stage to a large applause.

I'm sure you all know who Michael Rosenbaum is but for those of you who do not he was TV's Lex Luthor for many seasons of Smallville and was recently in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 playing Martinex T'Naga, one of the original members of GOTG and featured in a post credits stinger with Sylvester Stallone. You can find him at - @mrosenbaum711


I was quite keen to meet him being a fan of his work and while queueing I obviously caught his eye as he looked at me & smirked, noticing my lack of hair! I just hope he didn't think I shaved it for the con on tribute!


We spoke briefly on Smallville, saying how much he enjoyed working in the show and I will go more in-depth on that tomorrow after the talk. He complimented me on the lack of hair 'it's a good look'' (very polite of him! Thanks Mike!) and signed an autograph for me.


On Guardians He did say that he's been told by James Gunn that he'll have a much bigger part in volume three (I'm guessing he'll be part of Sly's original GOTG ravagers line up) and that he and James are due to meet next week to disusss over dinner (they are best friends). I told him to say thanks to James for me for both GOTG films, he's doing the lords work.

I'm really looking forward to Michael's talk tomorrow and will write it up as soon as I can.

I've also included a quick plug for his podcast...but listen to ours first! 😊

So the first person I met was MarcBernardin - @marcbernardin who hosts the Fatman on Batman podcast with Kevin Smith (who I am meeting tomorrow!) and is a former fillm editor of the NY times.

We spoke about our mutual love of comic books & movies (both agreeing on how Captain America - Civil War kicks all kind of ass) and he was very gracious when I complimented him on the podcast. 'Kevin's gift is that he can talk a lot, I just fill in the gaps' was his reply, believe me if you listen to the pod he does a lot more then that. With a queue of people waiting he very graciously gave me an autograph & a handshake and wished him a good con.

Okay so before I get into talks here is an idea of the scale of #LFCC it really is quite massive. You have the area where the actors do their signings which is on one level, there are two stages for the talks as well as the retail stalls, let's put it like this, any sort of memrobilla you could want is here...my bank balance has already been hit!

Right! Sorry for the lack of updates, the app which I use to maintain the blog was a little unresponsive to my updates so instead I'll be reviewing my day, in separate recaps, starting...now!

On Sunday I will be reporting from the Marvel and DC panels and then attending a talk with Kevin Smith!

Marvel - Benedict Wong from Doctor Strange, Finn Jones from Iron Fist & others will be discussing the Marvel cinematic universe as well as their respective film & TV projects