The Real McCoy: Karl Urban at Ottawa Comiccon

KARL URBAN SPEAKS TO PACKED HOUSE AT OTTAWA COMICCON

By Christina Marie

It was the moment I had been looking forward to all weekend, Karl Urban.  I arrived early enough to get a front row seat just to the right of the stage.  I had a perfect view of Mr. Urban as he sat atop the stage answering questions from many elated fans.  Many whom just his presence made them speechless and star struck.  Karl Urban is from New Zeland and has performed in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dredd, Bpurne Supremacy and of course, as Dr. McCoy in the relaunched Star Trek series.

One of the first questions to be asked was what it was like working with Leonard Nimoy and which Spock he liked better.  Urban emphasized the presence Leonard Nimoy brings.  The second Leonard Nimoy puts on his Vulcan ears, the other actors were all in absolute awe as they realized they were in the presence of an icon.

When he was asked what kind of life advice, other than staying in school, could he give to younger people who look up to him the answer came quickly.   Without skipping a beat he replied, “If a child says they want to be an actor, you need to say, sorry son, you pronounced it wrong, it’s doctor”.  After a thought, he stressed that the power of positive thinking will get you where you want to go.  “Even if you don’t make it all the way, three quarters of the way is better than never having tried.  Any drop of negativity spread ripples that go out and interfere with positive thinking.  Always think positive.”

Aside from having great advice, Karl Urban is an exciting and entertaining story teller. He recalled being on the set of The Lord of the Rings, shooting the scene where the horsemen are heading to Gondor to fight.  He glanced to the left to see a hobbit stunt double flying by him on his pony real fast and thought “Wow, he’s really keen to get to Gondor!” then he realized the stunt double was out of control and it became a situation of shock and horror as they were travelling on a very rocky terrain.  The hobbit stunt double eventually bailed and rolled to safety.  Now that it has past and he was safe, it had once again become funny remembering a tiny little hobbit rolling like a ball.

Many of those asking questions became tongue-tied and flustered, but there’s no question, Karl Urban has a big fan base and loyal followers.  Fans wanted to know if there was a Dredd sequel coming, and who they could petition to get one started.  Many were saddened by the recent announcement of the cancellation of Almost Human and although it was thought to be a touchy subject for Mr. Urban, he seems to have some projects all lined up.  In the new year, he will begin filming the next movie in the Star Trek series, and currently the search for a director is underway.

I know I am looking forward to anything that Karl Urban will be acting in and have re-watched the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Doom, Ghost Ship and Star Trek since ComicCon.

Christina Marie is a student at Carleton University, working on her Bachelor of Computer Science. She has a background in web development and programming and her extra time is spent on being a single mommy to little geeklings, playing sports and gaming, with her current favorites being Warcraft, DayZ, CoD and CS:GO.  She enjoys blogging and tweeting gaming and tech updates @Xtina_Marie04.

Charisma Carpenter chats up Ottawa Comiccon

CHARISMA CARPENTER Q&A REVIEW

By Christina Marie

After the last minute cancellation of Eliza Dushku, Charisma Carpenter filled the spot with short notice.  The Comiccon crowd wasn’t disappointed as a long line outside formed and the room was filled.  Many of us know Charisma from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. Personally I still associate Charisma with Cordelia, even though I’ve watched her act in Supernatural, alongside James Marsters, in the Expendables (1 and 2) and a few other sitcoms.  I was quite impressed with her sense of humour, wit and ease with the crowd.  She was very entertaining and kept the room laughing and enjoying every minute.

After a few sound issues, people lined up to get a chance to ask her various questions.  When asked how she deals with playing “bad” characters, she replied that she’s never bad, she just has a different point of view from everyone else.  

Her lighter side was evident when she was asked how she felt when her character Cordelia was killed off of Angel.  “Like Shit” she replied and after a few she added “Thanks for bringing it up!” and pretended to get up like she was going to walk away.  Her sense of humour and wit kept the crowd laughing and hoping that the session was even longer.

She was very sincere when a little girl came up to ask if she had ever met anyone with the real name Cordelia and discovered the little girl was named after her character in Buffy.  She took the time to come to the edge of the stage to chat off mic with Cordelia. It was a very touching to see her take the time to talk this little girl.

It is amazing how much you can learn about an actor by attending one of these Q&A sessions.  It brings so much light on how they are in everyday life, just like us, non-actors.  Charisma enjoys playing roles where she can be constantly busy.  The most scenes she can be in, the more she enjoys acting.  Although she was nervous about making the move from Buffy to Angel, having more screen time and responsibilities was something she really enjoyed.  

She liked that her character, Cordelia, grew as a person from start of Buffy to the end of her time on Angel.  She told us about the time in the episode “Prom” from Buffy, that she picked up a spatula in the cabin to use against the demons and was really annoyed.  She thought, she’s not that dumb, after being on the Hell Mouth for three years, she would know better to pick up a spatula!  She approached Joss and David as she was also offended that her character was slutty and after 3 years on the Hell Mouth would know better than to use a spatula!  Joss’ response was, “really Charimsa, that’s why America loves you!” Oh, Ok.

 Soon she will be hosting a true survival series called “Surviving Evil”, based on people who have faced evil and survived. The first episode will be of her facing a serial rapist police officer when she was in her early 20’s.  She will also be in a couple other projects, Griddle House and a Christmas Promise.

I, along with the others in the audience will be looking forward to seeing her in future roles and there is a hope that perhaps being a Whedon graduate, maybe we’ll be lucky enough to see her in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Christina Marie is a student at Carleton University, working on her Bachelor of Computer Science. She has a background in web development and programming and her extra time is spent on being a single mommy to little geeklings, playing sports and gaming, with her current favorites being Warcraft, DayZ, CoD and CS:GO.  She enjoys blogging and tweeting gaming and tech updates @Xtina_Marie04.

Mother's Day for Geeks: Perfect Gifts for Geeky Moms

by Christina Marie

MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS FOR THE GEEKY MOM

Mother's Day is fast approaching, are you stuck on ideas of what to get that Geeky Mother in your life?  I have sorted through many items and pages and pages of geeky stuff that all Geeky Mothers must have from our local "The Comic Book Shoppe" and also from ThinkGeek.com, an online store based out of the U.S.  

I visited The Comic Book Shoppe for ideas on what I thought would make great gifts for the geeky mom.  Of course, it was a very easy job to find items as I am a geeky mom, the only problem was trying to limit the amount to post on this blog. If I could have I would post a picture of The Comic Book Shoppe and say, anything in this place would make a geeky mom happy!  But, I did cut my list down to some very special items for that geeky mom in your life.

Purses, bags and backpacks, something every mom needs.  I found a wide variety of superhero and animé bags, including The Walking Dead and a Darth Vader handbag (hey, my kids, I love this one!). 

Just in time for the soon to be spring/summer weather we are going to have (think positive!), I found some wonderful superhero tank dresses, as well as a Tardis version.  There were several other clothing and jewellery items for your mother, including superhero socks, tank pj sets, to which I just could not wait until Mother’s Day for and bought myself the Batgirl version.  

  

And last but not least, houseware items consisting of superhero, fantasy, sci-fi, comic and animé cups, mugs, glasses and water bottles and my favorite, the Star Wars lamps, using a lightsaber base with your choice of the Rebel Alliance or the Empire lampshade.

What I would give to have a Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead kitchenware sets and a Batman water bottle to take to the gym!  I would be the coolest mom there.

For those who have time to order and wait for delivery, one of the best online places for Geeky stuff is www.ThinkGeek.com.  Now this is a site that covers items of all price ranges and almost anything you can possibly think of, is there.

  

courtesy of ThinkGeek.com

Once again, bags, bags, bags, as any mom knows that the perfect bag is an essential item to our everyday outfit.  Not just for looking good, but for storing all our necessary items, from makeup to kids stuff.  Above we see the Batman Wings and Cowl Backpack, the Handbag of Holding, which also has a sleeve to carry your laptop, and of course, for the moms with babies a Batman Diaper Bag.  

Next from ThinkGeek are some great items to add to her wardrobe.

courtesy of ThinkGeek.com

  

A SeV Sterling Women’s Jacket, with 23 hidden pockets to store all your electronics, including space for your iPad, and an RFID-blocking wallet pocket.  

Because we know all moms are superheroes, what better than to tell her by getting her a Wonder Woman Hoodie  or a Super Heroine Caped Sleep Tanks.

ThinkGeek has an awesome selection of kitchen items that can make cooking fun and gadgets to make her life easier.  

  

Here we see DarthVader using an Exclusive Star Wars R2-D2 Measuring Cup Set, a USB Thermoelectric Cooler and Warmer for when she games or uses the computer which is more compact than trying to fit a mini fridge in your room, a Keyport Slide 2.0 Starter Bundle which includes a USB Flash Drive (8 or 32 GB), a mini-light, bottle opener, gift code for 3 Standard Blades and s-biner for attaching loose items.  

Some other ideas, World of Warcraft Paladin and Priest robes/housecoats, which sold out fast at BlizzCon, and a Smartphone X2 Camera Zoom, both of which can be purchased at ThinkGeek.com, and World of Warcraft Cookie Cutters from www.WorldofWarcraft.com.

Some tips if you decide to purchase online.  Remember you are usually buying from the U.S. and often if you choose fast delivery, FedEx or UPS will charge you extra for duty.  I found out that if I order from ThinkGeek and use the regular delivery method, I can avoid paying extra duty costs.

Happy Mother's Day to all geeky mothers out there.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Pet moms also like Mother's Day gifts. Just had to put that out there. -Jordan

Christina Marie is a student at Carleton University, working on her Bachelor of Computer Science. She has a background in web development and programming and her extra time is spent on being a mommy to little geeklings, playing sports and gaming, with her current favorites being Warcraft, DayZ, CoD and CS:GO.  She enjoys blogging and tweeting gaming and tech updates @Xtina_Marie04.

Retrospective: Ottawa Geek Market 2014

by Christina Marie

THE GEEK MARKET: A GEEK'S SHOPPING PARADISE 

Armed with my teenage son, and this time, enough cash, or what I thought was enough cash, I got the wonderful assignment of attending the Geek Market.  I grew up on old Ataris, Star Wars, Nintendos, Superhero Saturday morning cartoons, original sci-fi movies and TV shows, so being at the Geek Market was heaven.  The Geek Market consisted of not only recent and most sought after retro games and toys, but also anime and cosplay items; baked goods, yes, baked good, delicious Lego Cupcakes by Cici & Co which were almost sold out by the afternoon on the first day; and science fiction and fantasy literature, including a booth with Ottawa author, Patricia K. McCarthy who writes a Vampire series of novels set right here, in Ottawa along with other local artists.  The Nepean Sportsplex Hall A and B were filled with rows of vendors, each offering something a geek really must have.  People came out in cosplay as well.  I had to take a picture of “Rick” from The Walking Dead, one of my favorite series on TV. 

Our CGG friend, CiCi & Co!

Clothing by Roxanne

After stopping and trying to decide on which novels to try from Patricia McCarthy’s series, (to date I am on reading my second one and enjoying them immensely), I went by the cupcake booth, who could resist cupcakes from CIci & Co.  One of the bigger displays at the Geek Market were Lego’s.  There was a booth by adult lego creators group of Ottawa, Parlugment (www.parlugment.org) who displayed many video game and sci-fi movie scenes, notably, Link (from Zelda) and Star Wars displays.  I was amazed at all the various artistry among the booths, including painter SophieniArt, jewelry and cosplay items, such as Kigurumi “pajamas”, and Suburban Changeling, who sold elf ears and woodland designs,  Steampunk items from Creative Clothing by Roxanne and Butterfly’s Lab who made various articles such as Harley Quinn aprons, purses and wallets, just to name a few items.  Harley Quinn is a personal favorite, but they made others as well.

Sophie Art

The Geek Market is not only a market, but they also raise funds each year for a charity.  One of the highlights of the Geek Market was a silent auction, with proceeds going to The Royal Ottawa Hospital. Two dollars of every admission and all Silent Auction proceeds are donated to the charity selected for that year.  This year, $6,244 was raised and donated to The Royal Ottawa Hospital.

Butterfly's Lab

There were many other booths, several with video games for out of date systems, new and older collector action figures and I came out of there with several priceless to me items which required a few trips to the bank machine.  I was pleased to discover all the local and online vendors that are in the area that I did not know existed.  I am anxiously awaiting the next Geek Market which is going to be held October 4^th and 5^th.

Christina Marie is a student at Carleton University, working on her Bachelor of Computer Science. She has a background in web development and programming and her extra time is spent on being a mommy to little geeklings, playing sports and gaming, with her current favorites being Warcraft, DayZ and CoD.

G-Anime 2014: How I started my daughters onto the path of Geek Girldom

story and photos by Christina Marie

I brought along my two daughters with me to G-Anime in Gatineau this January, and they were amazed, as was I.  I have been to many cons, fanexpos and fests and most of them, including Blizzcon only had a handful of cosplayers.  So the three of us, armed with cameras and smartphones, began the tour of the booths, because, I must shop. At a venue such as this, my purse was crying from not having enough money to buy everything I wanted, and my daughters as well, who are turning into little geek girls.  I was nervous about going and being able to find enough geek girls to write about, but to my amazement and awe, half the con was female, including the vendors. 

The amount of talent among the female vendors was amazing.  My first stop was to chat with Maria and Rochelle of Kigurumi.ca, who import Japanese Onesies (pajamas) in a wide range of characters such as Stitch, Spyro and Pikachu. 

As I went further in the vendor area, I came across a couple amazing artists.  Veronique Thibault who has been crafting since 2007.  She enjoys drawing and it really shows in her work.  She sells glasses, handbags and other items with animé designs.  Veronique sells only at conventions and does 10 conventions a year.  Her portfolio is at http://pinkviviz.deviantart.com/.  Another artist I visited was Katsuke (Catherine) who started out at conventions with only 6 drawings to start.  Her art consists of bookmarks, buttons, key chains and posters with Chibi animés.  She can chibi any avatar and can chibi people as well.  I am hoping to see if she will Chibi my gaming avatars!

  

Veronique Thibault

We moved on from the vendors room as with little girls, we must eat, find water and use the public restroom as often as we can!  The hallways were filled with cosplayers and my first encounter was to stalk Melanie Gauthier,  a Vocaloid , “Hatsune Miku” in the restroom as she prepared her outfit and answered my questions.  This is her third year doing cosplay, but has been interested in it for much longer than that.  She enjoys the difference in outfits and the feeling of being able to become something different.

I was amazed at just how many female cosplayers there were at the convention and the amount of detail in a lot of their costumes.  I came across a group who all dressed up as characters from an obscure Japanese video game and called themselves the Knights of the Round Table, I met several dressed up as characters from the game “League of Legends” and an elaborate design from Kale, who is on her fifth design and Em who is a first timer with the assistance of Kale, both creating Pokemon Legendaries from X and Y.  It took them a month with little sleep to create their costumes.  The work paid off and their costumes were a big hit with the fans.

Most of these cosplayers are from the area, but one of the headliners came all the way from Virginia.  I was fascinated by DeAnna Davis, or “It’s Raining Neon”, who has been a cosplayer for seven years and is an animation and media arts major.  What intrigued me was that she came about cosplay honestly through gaming, even before she knew cosplay and Anime cons existed.  She would dress up as characters that she liked and made her own designs until one day a friend told her about cons. She then realized that there were places she could actually go dressed up in her creations where she would fit right in, where dressing up was “normal”.  She travels all over to different cons and designing and creating her outfits has become much faster.  When it used to take her a month, it now can take her 1 - 2 weeks.  I asked if she still has time for gaming with all that designing.  As busy as she is, she ALWAYS makes time for gaming, which is why she has learned to make costumes faster, to allow for time to game! (http://itsrainingneon.wix.com/its-raining-neon).  I had to ask, what game she would make time to play:  Borderlands 2.

From the vendors to the cosplayer, the G-Animé had a wonderful lineup of events.  We watched some of the gaming tournaments, Magic, Pokémon and Xbox Dance Dance Revolution, which was extremely entertaining.  From that we moved to watch the Cosplay Chess and G Idol which kept my daughters thoroughly entertained, as well as myself.  The in demand evening event was the Masquerade.  All those dressed up wanting to compete came out in full force. 

I now have piles of costumes to make as my daughters eyes have been opened to a new world and their imaginations will continue to grow more than ever.

Christina Marie is a re-student at Carleton University, working on her Bachelor of Computer Science. She has been fascinated with Sci-fi since watching the original Star Wars movies when she was younger and spent a few Halloweens as Darth Vader. Currently, her extra time is spent on being a mommy, web programming, playing hockey and gaming from MMO`s to DayZ.

Prequels vs. Originals: What makes a good Prequel?

by Christina Marie

Why does the movie industry insist on bring out prequels? I have been introduced to new characters such as JarJar Binks, taken my view of Darth Vader, the awesomely bad, and discovered what a whiny brat he was in Star Wars Episodes I-III, but has any prequel ever really held up to the original? You might say, what about the Hobbit? Yes, the Hobbit was good, the LoTR trilogy was and still remains one of my favorite movies, broken into three parts of course, but I don’t really consider the Hobbit as being a prequel. Most prequels that come to the big screen have been written after the original has come out. The Hobbit (1937) and The Lord of the Rings (1954) were written in order, and even with Peter Jacksons adds, they still maintain a fluid sequence of events and quality that we expect.

Aliens vs Predator (AvP) promised us aliens fighting predators. While entertaining, there is no way it is anywhere near the entertainment and excitement that the Alien franchise produced. Perhaps it was lacking a more dominate hero/heroine such as Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), and intense action scenes and the horror quality. Predator/Predator 2 had more graphic fight scenes than we were shown in AvP. On the other hand Prometheus was very well done and enjoyable to watch and directed by Ridley Scott. Not as intense as the Aliens were but it was a great prequel explaining how aliens came to be.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine, blah but Wolverine was good. Why do so few prequels hold up to the original? If we compare directors, as good example being X-Men vs. X-Men First Class vs. X-Men Origins: Wolverine, it seems the ones that don’t seem to hold up to the original are done by directors who have yet to have many great movies in their credit. The only good action, close to superhero movie Gavin Hood has directed was Ender’s Game, based on a novel and with a great cast. X-Men, etc. had a great group of directors, such as Bryan Singer. In the Star Wars franchise, George Lucas had a bigger crew with him the first time around. 

 Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t dislike Star Wars Episodes I through III. I was extremely disappointed that I didn’t hear Darth Vader’s theme song in Episode III, but they don’t compare to IV to VI. I have high hopes on Episode VII, even being owned by Disney, I have not missed opening day to any of the Avengers franchise movies and I believe that a good prequel/sequel is based on a director’s credits.

Christina Marie is a re-student at Carleton University, working on her Bachelor of Computer Science. She has been fascinated with Sci-fi since watching the original Star Wars movies when she was younger and spent a few Halloweens as Darth Vader. Currently, her extra time is spent on being a mommy, web programming, playing hockey and gaming from MMO`s to DayZ.