Ring*Con 2009 - Press Conference
Here you can find a transcript of the Ring*Con 2009 press conference (or rather those parts in which Mark Ferguson and Craig Parker are talking, the rest is just summarized). Some parts were just inaudible and are marked by [....]. You can find
clips from the press conference at the audio/video page].
Introduction of the Guests
Question: Hello together, I just want to say to Craig: Thank you for being back. [Laughters, Applause]
[Silence]
Craig: So long ... have a great day [pretends to get up and go, laughters].
Someone wants to know from everyone why they think that vampires or magic are that much loved at the moment.
Bruce Hopkins says that it's some kind of escape from reality. Edi Gathegi has to talk because he's handed the microphone and says that vampires have super power and are strong. Christian Seratos means it's to escape, too, to get to somewhere/something different. And Kyle Schmidt says, he's a real vampire.
Craig: In real life?
Kyle: In real life.
Craig: That's why the curtains are pulled down (point towards the back of the room) Or you'd just sparkle like diamonds! [laughs, audience and Kyle laugh about Craig laughing, more with him than about him] But doesn't that just get, doesn't that piss you off? You're a vampire hunter and you've spent, you know, your entire life hunting vampires and finally get them, you pull the curtains and go "Ha! Die!" and [they get?] [makes a sparkling sound and a matching gesture with his fingers] And they look prettier. It's like, it's really gonna annoy you! But, ehm, luckily I'm not vampire hunter so - doesn't really matter to me. [Puts away the microphone, looking like 'oops, what did I do?', looking to Mark]
Mark: Ah ... I think we've done this question? I think we've done this question, really? Any more questions?
Question that there are many vampires in television and movies and if Edi and Kyle decided themselves how to play a vampire or if they had a role model. Kyle says that his garandfather has given him much inspiration.
Question: Kyle Schmid is asked if it changed his life being a vampire, if it pushed forward his career or something. He says that it's a cool thing and gives him a chance to be in Germany and says Thank you for that. The same question goes to Edi and Christian, if some doors might open. They talk about meeting fans, their passion about the stories and such.
Question to all the new guests, did you hear about it before and what did you expect. Someone says that he's excited.
Mark : [with a very low voice] They have no idea, Craig, do they? [Laughters] So young and innocent.
Someones says excited about the size with 3000 people and about never being to such a big thing before. They talk about stuff on YouTube on which they could have a look before the actual thing.
Craig: Someone's been recording ringcon and put it on you tube, that's a copyright violation [laughters] well, we'll be tracking that down after lunch and we'll see your offers, with your lawyers
Question to Kyle and everybody else, inaudible. Kyle says something about loyalty, Lori wants to know what the question was. It's repeated, it's about what they want to say to those who cannot be at Ring*Con.
Question to Christian Serratos, what does she like about the character she plays in Twilight? She says she likes everything. She then is asked if she likes to watch vampire movies. She says, she has seen a few. Another question goes to Edi, if he has been in a vampire movie before.
Question to everyone who was in The Lord of the Rings, if they will have a part in The Hobbit sas well. Lori says that it is disappointing, that there are hardly any hobbits in The Hobbit. She talks about it just being in pre-production, that there are no auditions yet, but everyone is excited and has read the book and now is awaiting more.
Craig: But Lori's happily wandering around wearing a full hobbit outfit [laughters] and walk past Peter's house [waving]. On her knees. [Laughs. Then there's a dirty laughter from Mark and then from Lori, too. Craig realizes why they are laughing, looking to Mark like he was saying 'Yeah, so typical for you to think of *that*]no, that's because she's short, Mark.
Mark: Of course!
Craig: Yeah. [Everyone laughs, including Craig]
Question to Kyle who then talks about his projects.
Question: "A question to Craig, and, eh, and eh ... [Laughters] [Mark collapses, sobs because he was so easily forgotten, Craig pats his back]" They are then asked about projects they are currently working at.
Craig: We're making a vampire film [Laughters] [Mumbles something inaudible with vampires] Really good. [eats gummi bears] It's, it's the gummibear vampire, the worst kind of vampire. Which doesn't drain your blood, it just cuddles you and leaves you sticky. [laughters] Yeah, it's kinda like that scene in Twilight, at it's start, but, erm, [looks at Mark who's eyeing him very suspiciously] cuddling [laughters]
Lori Dungey: Cuddling.
Craig: Yeah. [Then again answering the question] We're, we're at the moment are making, shooting second series of a thing called Legend of the Seeker which I think is about to start in Germany next week or something. Which is [cheering] which of course noone here could have seen because it didn't screen actally in Germany yet ... [People shouting: no no no. Not at all. Not even the end] No. And so the second series it's on it's way of that and it's a kind of fun. It's like a goodie, you know, the young woodsman which discovers his great destiny and must destroy great evil and I play the great evil and he destroys me BUT [raises index finger and waits] maybe not. And we're making a new series called Spartacus which starts in the States in January next year which is filthy, dirty sex and violence and blood [People shouting: Yihah!] Yeah, there's a lot of that and there's a lot, there's not a lot of costume, but [laughters] so far I managed to keep mine on. But it'll be good. But sure you wanna watch it because it's [...] [Looks at Mark] Ah, yeah, and we're going back to sleep now. Bye. [slides down his chair a little. Puts away microphone very carefully.]
Journalist: And, is Mark speaking? [Mark takes the microphone]
Mark: No, ehm, I am working on my business, event business and it's being alright, we've come through the year. It's, we've been more connected probably than a lot of people, you know, the business is connected with the economy so [laughs] it's been an interesting year but got through and things are picking up so that side of things is good. And it's been grip tight even that since because things are a little bit slow with the development of our new projects, because we have to. It's been quite [...] with these people.
Lori Dungey talks a little about her own projects like Austen Found, The Undiscovered Musicals of Jane Austen.
Craig: Have you seen, I saw those at the bookstore the other day - is any of these people here, no - they release those books like Pride and Prejudice and Vampires and something, Sense and Sensiblity and Zombies. They are crazy! They've taken the story and just added Zombies
Lori: Yes! [Laughters]
Craig: I didn't buy them, but [...] pretty cool.
Lori: Isn't it like Sense and Zombies or something?
Craig: Yeah. There's [...] and werewolves, zombies, serial killers
Lori: There's [...] very good funny book
A question for Marc B. Lee, if could tell some things from Behind the Scenes from an event like Ring*Con, something interesting or embarassing. He says there's nothing he could tell and talks about every single actor he has ever worked with being his favourite, especially Craig Ferguson, Craig Parker and Mark Ferguson and Lori Dungey, that they are fantastic. specially when they are drunken. Craig gets out some money and throws it to him. Marc is thankful that it's no American money because that wouldn't be worth a bit. Laughters.
Marc B. Lee: Otherwise see you at the bar, can tell you there
Mark: We do think of a few embarassing things behind the scenes with that Marc B. Lee ...
Question to Edi about the changes from the Twilight book to the movie regarding his character. Edi says that it's pretty much the same, a traditional vampire that has a concious, though. He then talks about being in Alaska for shooting it.
Mark: Why didn't you eat Sarah Palin while you were there?
Edi: [...] You're Mark Ferguson, right?
Mark: Maybe ... It depends.
Edi mentions that he has seen Mark's name next to the Acting Workshops.
Mark: Welcome!
Edi says that he might come, to be thought some secrets.
Mark: Okay, come along, I'll see what we can do.
Edi agrees, then goes on that his character hasn't been changed from the book to the movie. Christian is asked, too, and answers the question as well.
A question to everyone, both elves and vampires are immortal, which of those two do they prefer?
Christian: Men [Laughters]
Craig: Tolkien actually wrote another book whic was skipped by the publishers, but it had Vampire Elves in it and that's right, but it was deemed a little too escape the time. So I think it was never published, but I think in 2012 they gonna bring it out, you know, as a film. It's great.
Mark: I did see a thing online, you know, there is sort of, like, you know, who'd win a fight between like a shark and a grizzly bear and all sort of things.
Craig: The grizzly bear.
Mark: Yeah. That was a thing between ...
Craig: Unless it's under water.
Mark: ... Edward Cullen and Legolas [Laughters], like The Ultimate Smackdown [Craig laughs] And you think 'Yeah, they will never get to that sort of thing, they'll look in the mirror, doing their hair and does never get to a fight or anything like.
Craig: Quite good.
Mark: I stop talking now
Craig: Look. But you saw the Beowulf movie, so cool isn't it? You just, you get bored when you have to sleep a thousand years, but that would just be great and if you wake up 'Ah, it's kind of a crap decade', you just go to sleep. Take a really big [...] And you wake up in the Sixties, whoohoo! Or the Eighties, Nineties, but [...] [looks at Mark who stares at him like he is mad] Erm, so ...
Mark: You could have stopped talking there
Craig: Yeah ...
Edi says he should go on, he likes it. [Laughters]
Question to everyone: "I would like to know what you think of Vegetarian Vampires?"
Edi says that he likes to hear the answer from an Elf. Lori only has a Hobbit to offer, but then says that she has a horrible confession to make and that she didn't read the books, but she saw the film. But she'd be all for vegetarian vampires, "Go Vegetarian Vampires!". She sums up that it makes a Vampire Vegetarian when he doesn't drink human's blood but animal's blood. Lori thinks, Vampires should just suck blood from free range chickens, though, instead from caged chickens.
Craig: But, eh, the problem there was, there was the mexican vampires who fed exclusively on pigs [Mark looks at him like he was mad, lets his microphone sink and burries his face in his hand]
Mark: Don't do it, don't do it.
Craig: Two years ago, in Hong Kong, I don't know, I am not blaming anyone, but I am going, yeah, bird flue, swine flue ..
Lori: Who are you blaming?
Craig: Vegetarian vampires. The vampire sucks someone's blood, gets on with that, to your throat, draining blood, [... rest inaudible]
They go on talking about vegetarian vampires.
Question how they like German food, Lori says "Hmmm", Edi says that he mostly had breakfast so far and then asks for German delicacies, someone says "Spätzle". They talk about Spätzle then.
Question: "Can I ask you another question, Mark and Lori about the acting workshops. We heard something that you team up with Bruce and Craig. Is that true and what have you planned?"
Lori says that she and Bruce have planned way more stuff than Mark and Craig, and Bruce says that he and Lori will make babies on stage and that he wants to see Mark and Craig doing that.
Mark: Oh that hurts, Bruce, you know, we've been trying for so long. [Craig nodds, then snickers]
Lori says that she and Bruce will just have fun and she hopes that people will come and just relax and make some new friends. 1 o clock today, somewhere.
Mark: Yeah, we planned a lot. Craig was just going ... Isn't it 4 o clock. [tries to unfold schedule with one hand while holding the mic in the other, shakes head] [laughters] [mumbles something to himself]. Yeah, we've been working very hard on our workshop, last six months or so, we've done nothing else but the work around the workshop. Basically pretty much going clean on the written thing, that people after workshop should expect leading roles eventually. [Lori laughs] We haven't really worked it out yet, but by the time, by 4 o clock.
There'll be a huge amount fun. Do I need to [...] Does anyone plan coming? No [...].
Another question, about Merchandise in general and that there's a lot of Twilight, even Make Up. Isn't it too much, maybe?
Craig: There's Twilight Make Up? No ...
Christian: Yes.
Craig: Fantastic!
Christian talks about the Twilight Make Up, even Body Make Up, and so does Edi. The question is repeated, if they think it's too much and if it's necessary to support the projects. Christian jokes that she gets some money out of it so it's never too much. [Laughters]
Craig: I think, all this, you know, you don't have to buy it. So if it's stuff you want ...
Christian: Wait, wait, wait, wait!
Craig: No no no no! [Laughters]
Edi: You need Body Make Up!
Craig: Yeah, buy that lip venom and try that different places and see what happens, very exciting. But, you know, people go 'Ah, there's too much merchandising', but when there's something that makes you go 'That's cool!', absolutely grab it! But some merchandising is kind of thrust at you, that the point of merchandising stuff. But when it comes from the thing you love, if you love the film and book you can still love those things and McDonalds can sell us whatever it wants. You don't have to take it, so ... Someone out there is going to want that Venom and that Body Painting and go Whooo!
Bruce says that Merchandise is a little like a Vampire, it doesn't support but sucks the blood out of things and that it's just business big time.
Craig: But I am really enjoying my coffee out of this Ring*Con mug. How about you guys? [to Kyle] You're enjoying your coffee? It tastes better. Oh, hi Mark!
Mark has played around with a gummie bear, stuffing it into his face. [Laughters] [Craig laughs]
Mark: Hmmm, this is it.
Question to Christian and Edi, if the whole Twilight crew would be lost on an island with no food, who of the crew would be eaten first? They joke around and cannot answer it.
Question for all the actors who have some convention experience, could those be a real part of the carreer of an actor or still something [...]
Craig: I think its, this special thing, specifically to the Fantasy genre or Sci-Fi, the people who love it and come to these things, are mental and wonderful and it is a rare opportunity, often you kind of make something and you don't even get to meet, to properly meet people who enjoy it. These kind of events are fantastic, because I remember, I think this is the first thing Mark and I ever did, years ago, and we had no idea what to expect and you're "Right!" and you just go "My god, those people are truly mental", which ... played out, has been, these mental times, but they're, you get access to a world that's fantastic, this is enthusiastic and passionate and, you know, in love with the stuff that you're a part of which is so exciting for an actor, I think, and it's, it's also very good, actors can get a little bit lost in their own importance [Kyle nodds] and I think these things are fantastic that you just go 'Ah, this is why you do it' and, you know, these people love the products that you're a part of so it's very, it's good, that's ... [looks at Mark, not knowing what to say else]
Bruce Hopkins talks about the fans being a real part of it, about TheOneRing.net, as an example, how they visited the sets and had many visitors and so they got invited to Conventions and now are a quite important part of it.
Lori says it's a nice magical experience, coming all the way from NZ to meet other New Zealanders, Marc B. Lee talks about some studios not wanting their actors out at a certain point of production because they could reveal something they shouldn't. Bruce says that he is impressed what has been brought up with Ring*Con and kept running for so many years, everyone applaudes.
Edi and Christian are asked which other character they'd have liked to play in Twilight, Edi says it's James for him.
Question to those who are new to success, if they like to be recognized, Edi jokes around about not liking to be recognized and not liking not to be recognized. The same question goes to Kyle who answers it. Bruce talks about some actors being identified with just one character that he had played years ago.
Question to Edi what he expects from his life after finishing Twilight and one last question to Christian Serratos about a song she recorded, if it's coming out in Germany.
End of the Press Conference.
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