#same one he wore to MEGACON

[ansonmountdaily]

Anson Mount in "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Exploring Season 2" interview

Not being allowed to reveal much about Season 2, Anson was asked safer questions: he talked about loving Star Trek since he was a child, what makes Star Trek different from other sci-fi shows, the various genres episodes in s1 and s2 are exploring (the cast mentioning "taking big swings" in s2 and pointing to episode 9 in particular), and what it was like sitting in the Captain's chair for the first time.

Source: Official Paramount+ clip, June 9 2023

[thezfc]

Tom at the Con in Kuwait. Uniform but add a jacket.

It's the Con uniform, he wore the very same stuff at Megacon. Jumper and jacket. He'll wear a different jumper underneath the jacket tomorrow. And there's a hole in his pants that has quickly been sewn. Maybe he just brought one pair.

Looks like the same jumper today.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Convention

My one and only anime convention that I have attended was Megacon. Honestly, from what I have noticed by taking this course, I am not as big of an anime fan as I thought. I have only watched a few anime series’ like Attack on Titan and Naruto and although I did enjoy them thoroughly, there is an entirely different world of anime that I was completely unaware of. Unfortunately, many of the anime’s in this class I have not really enjoyed, so I think after this course ends I will continue sticking to mainstream anime because those seem to be the ones that I like the best.

I was pretty young when I went to Megacon. My sister and mother do not watch anime at all, but my father has been a huge fan his whole life. I did not even know what Megacon was at the time, but he wanted me to go with him to get the experience and I actually thought it was a lot of fun. It inspired me to watch my first anime, which was Attack on Titan and I loved it. I found Megacon very interesting. I went in 2016, when I was ten years old. My dad took my whole family to Disney and then just him and I went to the convention. I saw a bunch of people in costumes and different, awesome outfits. My dad tried to explain to me what each one was and the significance behind it, but at that age honestly everything he said to me, even things I cared about, just went in one ear and out another lol. However, I specifically remember seeing so many people wearing the same costume, Hinata Hyuga. I did not understand the significance of her until I watched Naruto, but after I understood why everyone wanted to cosplay as her. My dad cosplayed as Minato Namikaze from Naruto, and I just wore a plain shirt that my dad got me with Naruto’s face on it, since I refused to cosplay. I guess I thought I was “too cool” at the the time lol. The whole experience really was surreal. I always thought my dad was so unique for loving anime, but when I got to the convention and realized thousands of people love it just as much or even more I was a bit taken back. 

The convention gave me courage to pursue hobbies and other things that many people do not. For example, growing up I loved to make rap songs and produce them in my basement. Most of my friends thought it was corny and weird, but it was a passion of mine that I was able to pursue because this convention made me realize that as long as you love something and embrace it, other people’s opinions do not matter.

This convention was a great bonding moment for my dad and I, because it allowed me to do something and spend time with him involving anime which is something he loved, but it also was my introduction into the anime world, which has allowed me and my father to get much closer over the years. 

Overall, I loved Megacon and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I loved how unbothered everyone was, just enjoying the moments with their family and friends. All the people were so complimentary of each other which was something I thought was very nice to see. Immediately walking into Megacon I felt that I was welcomed into the anime culture and fandom, which was not what I expected. Although I did not know much, I did not feel out of place at all which was awesome. It was a great experience and writing this actually is going to make me text my father about it so maybe him and I can go to another one together.

[drzedzworth]

3 days until birthday (Fuck it's 2

Let's see what happened 3 years ago. I was having a fine birthday actually, I had presents and friends, for once I actually appreciated a birthday party. Then, I was watching the walking dead till a "friend texted me" She had problems with my best friend because they were dating, and so..I was talking to her, comforting her, etc...then she said she loves me..... ........I said I love you to... And...I feel wierd, because she's not even in the same state. And so. I guess we dated, we slept together on skype EVERY night..and we would always talk to each other ..I made me lose hearing on my left ear. Now I'm in balanced because I wore my ear Buds all the time. Anyway, I loved her, and she loved me.....but at the same time she didn't love me....she cheated on me with her ex..by doing it with him...I don't know about you, but when you truly love someone and they did that.. you will want to die..Cuz the pain hurts more than anything ever...she apologized. And I forgave her...months passed. And then she said that I should visit her, I happily did actually!^^ We traveled through all the stated, Georgia, South Carolina, new York, until we got to new Hampshire, we were close to Canada!:D And there she was...at first..I was stunned. Like..I don't know what's going on, I'm not used to this, it felt like a stranger, but at the same time I love her. So we had an amazing time but I had to go back, she misses me and then I visit her the second time I LOVE TRAVELING XD it's so much fun! And u stayed longer, we did so many romantic things and we even crashed a wedding accidentally XD, the food was alright. But then, as we said goodbye..she looked sad...I was sad too. I'm not the one to judge other people, but drugs..are bad..period, yes even Marijuana is bad, but I couldn't go one day without crying over my girlfriend, my nose started bleeding, and so...one day..I broke up with her ....as if there was an arrow to my stomach I pulled it out and it hurts so much...but I finally got it out. She was hurting all the time..so I for my own good, I stopped it...I still miss her sometimes, but then I remember that there will be better people out there to treat me like that...but I don't believe it.. ...I learned. To keep a distance. I'll admit I'll be a little flirty or silly, but. I don't want to have another long distance relationship. At all...it's too much pain, and I'm already in pain. And it feels like it's around this time when we first texted. But it was after my birthday. But I don't regret it, it was an amazing chapter of my life that I'll never forget. Oh btw my friend was cool with it he didn't really care :P Hell I'm gonna try to go to MEGACON with him XD

[bethgreeneishopeunseen]

Emily’s GA Apartment

For future reference, I have compiled pictures of Emily’s apartment in Georgia. She had purchased it by March 30, 2014, going by this (X):

“Kinney’s gotten comfortable in Georgia for now, having bought an apartment in what she calls a “golf cart community” in a town next to Atlanta.”

(It should also be noted that Gimple said he’s had Beth’s death planned since season 4, so he would have cautioned Emily from buying a place: X.) Anyway, this post was prompted by @emilysnorman​. In a post I made about Emily’s tweets early in season 5 filming, emilysnorman pointed out that Emily’s New York apartment has wood floors while her Georgia place has carpeting: (X).

The second part of this meta is also based off a post I read over a year ago. I can’t find it now, but I remember the pertinent information, so I researched it myself. If any of you know about the original post, please let me know.

Under a read more because it is picture heavy.

Emily had the place as early as the summer of 2013, as she posted this picture on July 13th, 2013. (The white bed frame appears in another picture which matches her Georgia place.)

Source (X).

Source (X). Posted on October 4th, 2013.

Source (X). Posted October 24th, 2013.

Source (X). Posted October 31st, 2013.

Source (X). Posted November 8th, 2013.

Notice the white bed frame in the upper righthand corner.

Source (X). Posted November 16th, 2013.

Source (X). Posted November 23rd, 2013. Emily’s show was November 25th (X).

Source (X). Posted March 17th, 2013.

Emily’s show was that night (X), and this picture was not a latergram, going by her nail polish.

Source (X).

Source (X). Posted May 6th, 2014.

I was discussing all of this with @bethgreenewarriorprincess, and she pointed out that around this picture Emily started getting fancy with her Instagram posts, in retrospect.

Source (X). Posted on May 24th, 2014.

Source (X). Posted on June 14th, 2014. (My birthday btw.)

Source (X). Posted on June 21st, 2014.

Source (X). Posted on July 31st, 2014.

This is Emily’s apartment. In a latergram she posted late that year, she wore the same black-shirt with the fur-like fringe. That latergram is definitely in her Georgia apartment.

Source (X). Posted on October 31st, 2014. Emily hosted the costume contest at Eddie’s Attic that night (X).

Source (X). Posted on November 16th, 2014.

Source (X). Posted on December 4th, 2014.

This is the latergram. You can see she’s wearing the same outfit, and she also has the mug. She probably took both pictures at the same time. She likely has many pictures saved on her phone so she can latergram.

Between the end of season four filming and the end of season five filming, Emily performed at Eddie’s Attic three times. She first performed on November 25th. On the 16th, she was in Georgia for the wrap party, and she didn’t post on Instagram between those dates except once on the 21st. She likely was in Georgia that entire week. 

Source (X).

By the 27th, she was with her family for Thanksgiving (X). 

She was at Eddie’s Attic again on March 17th to promote the rerelease of Expired Love, which came out the following day (X). She didn’t post about her location again till the 20th, confirming she had been Georgia.

Source (X).

She then went to Orlando for MegaCon the weekend of the 21st to 23rd (X). But she missed New York so much that she rushed home the night of the 23rd.

Source (X).

If you were already in Orlando for work, wouldn’t you stay an extra day to rest up and to enjoy the weather? It indicates that she hadn’t been in New York for a while. On March 5th she was still in New York as she was on CBS New York (X) (X). On the 6th, she recorded her interview with MTV.com, which was later posted on the 11th (X). 

Source (X).

The following day, she performed in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at Monster Mania (X) (X). This was also posted by delawareonline, one of my local papers, and Emily was so close what the fuck. Why didn’t I know about this? On March 9th, she posted a latergrammed picture.

Source (X).

Then she performed threes from March 11th to the 12th at the South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas (X). On the 13th, she was in Chicago for an interview (X), before she appeared at the first WSC on the 14th.

Source (X).

Source (X).

She disappeared on March 15th and 16th, so she was likely in Georgia, as she would have mentioned getting back to New York. If she had a few days off before MegaCon, wouldn’t she just fly back to New York? Why would she stay in Georgia if she had no other gigs?

Emily likely had her three Eddie’s Attic performances to justify her being in Georgia. Her Halloween performance would have obviously been as a cover while she filmed post-Coda. I think in November 2013 and March 2014 she was meeting with TPTB in Georgia. The meetings would have been focused planning and preparing for Beth’s arc. Such preparations would include the rigorous filming, her social media activity, and her answers to interviews she would be asked leading up to and post Coda. They needed to coach her sometime. They probably took her to the studio and put her through secret arc boot camp, which would include getting into a van from her trailer without being seen, tilting her hat the right to hide the bullet scar, saving pictures to latergram, etc. It’s plausible. Writers and actors communicate about their characters and upcoming arcs. She even met with the writers that April 11th.

Source (X).

So now we come to the second part of this piece. On the afternoon of November 16th, 2014, Emily posted a picture from her Georgia apartment. It was in support of Consumed, which aired that night. 

Source (X).

Later that day she posted twice about filming the Bulletproof Picasso video:

Source (X) (X).

Source (X) (X).

I remember the post talking about how cold it was that day. I researched the weather for Los Angeles, and the mean temperature that day was 65 degrees.

Source (X).

So on the 16th, the temperature ranged between 55 and 74 degrees, with an average of 65. That water would have been too cold to splash around in, especially since it was the Pacific. I grew up with a pool. It takes a long time for  water to heat up, and even if the general temperature is warm, the water will feel much colder than the air. The Bulletproof Picasso was not filmed in mid-November. Its album, also called Bulletproof Picasso, came out in September of that year, and the album’s first single came out in June. With how in-depth the planning and marketing have been for this arc, I would not be surprised if TPTB set this up. They wanted Emily’s first non-music project to be a music video referring to a bulletproof artist. The theme song played; “Beth” was first seen afterwards with the music playing. Since the video also has so many Beth parallels (X), TPTB likely reached out to Train and worked out a deal. The bum pic is in Emily’s apartment, and since the Train pictures are latergrams, that would mean her bum pic isn’t. She was in her apartment, and considering her last scenes were filmed in late August, she would have sold her apartment by then. On the 15th, Emily was in California. She reunited with a friend of hers (X) (X), and she was wearing blue nail polish. TDers later figured out that she was filming her Rockstar video out there (X). It should be noted that the season 5 wrap party was on the 16th (X), and that filming finished right after midnight on the 22nd (X). Beth foot was spotted on the 17th, the day Emily posted from her trailer. She was holding a polaroid of the Bulletproof Picasso shoot, and she wasn’t wearing nail polish. What likely happened is Emily arrived in Georgia on the 16th and spent the better part of the week filming before she finished the Rockstar music video.

Emily still has her apartment in Georgia, because Beth is here to stay. For a long time.

[periodicreviews]

Star Wars Celebration 2017

A long time ago

In August of 2010, I was about to start college at UCF. August 20th was move in day for on campus housing. The weekend before that, Star Wars Celebration was going to coincidentally be held in Orlando. I remember being excited but I think I ended up not going just because it was that weekend and the timing would be inconvenient. I honestly don’t know why I didn’t go but maybe my interest in Star Wars was already starting to wane.  (It happened again in 2012 in Orlando, so then I really didn’t have an excuse except maybe money?)

Fast forward to 2017 where all I do is go to conventions and I just barely convinced myself to go to it in Orlando. I picked Friday since I had a floating holiday at work and getting to see a preview of the new Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi, would be neat. After I bought my ticket, I almost immediately started second guessing myself. Was I still a big enough fan? Was I “that” kind of fan that went to conventions? Maybe it’s just because I wasn’t a big fan of The Force Awakens and Rogue One that those questions started to creep in. I haven’t asked myself those kinds of questions before, at Megacon 2013 for example, when I paid maybe too much money to listen to the full Star Trek Next Generation cast.

Thursday morning I was checking Twitter before work and saw #SWCO was trending. I thought to myself “Wow, even at 7am a lot of people are excited for Day 1.” The first few tweets were complaints from people who had slept overnight at the convention center and still didn’t get a ticket to the 40th anniversary event. I was very confused by these tweets, “Did people actually sleep outside at the convention center all night? And that wasn’t enough to get in?” I learned that for certain panels, 40th anniversary and The Last Jedi, you had the option to sleep inside the convention center in order to be first in line, before they opened the doors at 5am. At this point I thought to myself “Would it be fun to say I slept in the convention center?” I legitimately considered this as an option during the day on Thursday as I continued to think of myself as a “fake fan”.

I didn’t end up sleeping there, but by the time I drove over and made it past security on Friday, all tickets were gone at 7am.

The two panels I was able to get tickets to were Warwick Davis’s Small Talk (he played an Ewok in the originals) and Mark Hamill’s Tribute to Carrie Fisher. I didn’t even get into the actual Mark Hamill panel, just into a room that had the livestream playing. At that point, that kind of defeats the purpose since the whole thing was live streamed. They could have used bigger rooms, though if you’re 2 miles from the stage, is there any difference between seeing it on the screen in the room it’s happening in and seeing it on a screen in another room?

From there I got in the “entry line,” another first for me at a convention. I guess the purpose being that there was merchandise that would sell out or other things to get in line for inside the convention. Being earlier in this line would make it easier to get a good spot in another line, like the “Official” convention store. Once our section was let it, I watched as people ran past me frantically to some unknown objective and I wondered if I should be running too.

Part of my existential con crisis may have just been that I didn’t know enough. I had tried to do my research before all the schedule/details were released and I didn’t bother looking up any past reviews of the convention. Then I remembered to do it the day before and once I found out about the sleepover portion, I kind of gave up.

I wandered around the dealer area, which was felt surprisingly sparse. Maybe it was a large amount of stuff, it was just very spread out to accommodate the large crowds that had yet to arrive. I wasn’t planning to buy anything and I didn’t see anything that I felt compelled to buy. I already have enough junk in my apartment as is. In fact, it’s currently slowly suffocating me as I write this.

 Panels

I checked out a few fan panels as well, but none of them were very engaging. Two of them had what felt like very long intros where the panelists would go down the line with introductions. This was neat for the droid builders because they explained how they built their first droid and what they are building now. But for another panel that was described as looking at lightsaber battles and how they’re influenced by real battles, they spent a little too much time talking about themselves. Maybe I just misunderstood what the panel was really about.

The big Mark Hamill and Warwick Davis panels were great and interesting. I’m especially glad that Warwick had pre-written questions to substitute for when audience members would ask horrible questions. When it was a good question, he could play it off as his ego that he had a better one. When it was a bad question, it worked as a lifeline to save the audience member from embarrassment.

 The Star Wars Show

While waiting for Mark Hamill’s panel, I watched the Star Wars Show that was playing on screen. I had never seen it before so I didn’t hang out where they were filming it in the dealer room. There were a few weird things that caught my attention as a first time viewer.

During what I assumed were commercial breaks, they would play Star Wars songs as the camera panned over the crowd. After the 6th time hearing the Cantina theme, I really just never wanted to hear it again. Noticeably absent were any Force Awakens or Rogue One songs, except for maybe one, though it was mostly the more popular tracks anyway.

One segment discussed “Forces of Destiny”, a new series focusing on Star Wars heroines. They also gave a run down of the action figures that would be available. At first, I didn’t really understand why they would have multiple animated projects at the same time. I thought more about the timing and it seems logical that after the controversy of Rey not being included in Monopoly and the general lack of female characters in the Force Awakens merchandise (aside from the crucial Captain Phasma), they began to plan this show and its merchandise. There happened to be a younger girl sitting next to me so I bounced this theory off her and she seemed to think it was reasonable. So obviously, it’s confirmed as truth.

The last segment I watched was an interview with the head of an auction company who was in possession of the dress that Carrie Fisher wore during the throne room scene at the end of A New Hope. The Princess Leia theme was playing in the background and the CEO of the company was describing the process of what they do, where they got it, etc. But for me personally, the interviewer came off as just way too excited and upbeat. We don’t have to mourn continuously for Carrie Fisher’s death, but any kind of segment involving her should be handled a little differently than introducing a new trailer, at least at this first Celebration without her. I wish they had either chosen a different song or told the interviewer to tone down his excitement.

 As I mentioned before, my current sentiments towards conventions heavily impacted how I perceived SWCO. I don’t want anyone to think I have something against Star Wars fans in particular. I’m glad I went, even if I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped to. The lack of cosplayers was a little surprising but it could be that this is just more of a “mainstream” event nowadays. I’m curious as to how this compares to the big Star Trek conventions. I’ll probably cut back on conventions in the future unless there’s something really appealing about the event since otherwise it’s just wasted money.