dayfour

My view on the Con-Monality Convention June 18-20, 1999 Novotel Airport Hotel.

DAY FOUR

(this all happened on June 21, 1999)

I can say this was not part of the official convention. This great chance happened all by luck. You can read about that in Day One. After getting up at 7 or 7:30 that morning, we drove back to the hotel (from "Rod's" house) to change and get ready to go to where they where filming that day. Most of us any way. One thing, on the way back to the hotel we almost got in a "fender bender". No one was hurt, Cleya (who was driving) had nudged some guy's bumper.

Get back to the hotel, I get a shower and get ready to leave at 11. I rode in the car with Stella (she had one too), while everyone else that was going, was in the car with Cleya. We get downtown and park in this huge parking garage. As we exit the garage, we see across the street the "set". Somebody (probably Carrie) ask if Anne Marie was there. The girl said no, but everything was this ok and we went on location!

Location that day was the area of Temperance Street and apart of Bay Street in downtown Toronto. One specific location was Cloud Park (North side of Temperance). When get got there, they were filming up in front of the "green house"type thing that was there and the waterfall. Angela (the script supervisor) saw us and waved. She then pointed us out to Robert, who was filming in a scene up there. We couldn't believe it was him. Cleya thought is was his stunt double. I believe Angela (or someone),after awhile came down and confirmed that was really Robert up there.

Boy, where we happy. Eventually they finished shooting the scene up there and everyone was moving back down to the ground to set up for the next scene. *Note: The scene they where filming up there was where Liam was talking to Hubble,telling him Albert Phillips didn't shoot Thompson.* We were just relaxing under the trees of the parks, just hanging out. At some point also the craft people where handing out some of those freezer pops (it was a warm day). I do believe at some point Robert came down and was talking to Carrie.

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In this process Carrie talked to someone and got us to be extras in a scene. Us being Stella, Cleya, Inessa, Elizabeth and me. Inessa and Elizabeth needed to get a wardrobe change. So we got to see the inside of the mobile wardrobe trailer. That was interesting! Somebody sure has alot of leather jackets. Hehe. So they got to change and the rest of us were ok the way we were. Carrie came in but they couldn't find anything for her. I did find out that the same wardrobe people do the wardrobe for every other show.

After that we went to go shoot/set up for the scene we were in. The "press" people and volunteers were milling about waiting for the scene. I believe some of us got some pictures with a volunteer. And I believe that was also when someone from the prop department let us take a picture of some globals he had. Finally we got to "shoot" the scene. This particular scene was right after Liam found out Judson Corr was really the shooter (from the DNA sample he got earlier). It was about 40 minutes into the show. *Note: They were shooting episodes 47/48-Crackdown and Vanished,that day. We where in Crackdown.*

The scene lasted about five seconds or so. A general description of the scene was-taking place in the afternoon, a ribbon cutting ceremony. An increased volunteer presence and a number of secret service agents indicating a V.I.P. will be coming. As the scene gets started, some volunteers walk in front a group of reporters. Inessa and Elizabeth are standing next to press,behind a ribbon blocking off part of the park. Then me (Amy) and Stella walk in past the camera. It was the one is white, Stella who was behind me, was wearing a plaid color shirt. As Stella and I walk out of frame, Cleya walks in and talks to Inessa and Elizabeth, who greet her. Elizabeth was the one looking at the camera during the scene, wearing a red/gold kind of outfit. Inessa was wearing black, with white accents. Cleya was the tall one, with the curly hair.

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I can say that was a pleasant surprise. I was just happy being there! After that we just stood around,again. Rob (another member of the "group") showed up about now. We just were sitting in the actor's chairs, fooling around, etc. Very laid back. Then we got to meet Jayne Heitmeyer (Renee). She was very nice. Everyone got their picture taking with her and Carrie got her to autograph some hats. Her first E:FC autograph too!

They were at this point setting up for the next scene. The scene later turned out to be when Liam and Renee are walking through the park. And at this point we got to me Robert. I also thought famous people (and yes I think RObert is famous) were snobbish, didn't really care about there fans, etc. But Robert is NOT like that at all! He is very nice and genuinely cares about the show and the fans. I know we shook hands. During this Renee comes up and everyone gets the picture thing done again. I am in heaven! I just can't believe I actually got my picture taking with Robert Leeshock!

The shoot the scene and do some other stuff too. Somewhere during this "Rod" also has shown up. Stella did have to leave to get her flight back and we all said goodbye. Now dinner time comes up. Of course craft services has dinner set up for the crew, etc. Rod invites us to go get with him there. That was very nice. The had a nice set up in the building across where they were filming. So everyone sits down and eats. Greg, the 3rd A.D. from EFC sits with us also. Robert is sitting a few tables away, talking to the director and some other people I can't remember. At one point Greg, gets up and walks away and Robert comes over to sit with us! The funny thing is that Cleya didn't know this and turns around, sees Robert in Greg's place and asks him where Greg went. You just had to be there.

Robert was sitting next to Rob and Inessa, Cleya was across from Robert, Carrie was a one end of the table, Elizabeth at the other (near me) and Rod was next to Cleya. And he just talked to us. He did ask us what we did and when he got to me and I replied nothing (at the time I was out of work) he sang a little song. And for the life of me, I can't remember what it was! If anyone who reads this knows what it was (or even part of it) email me! That was the total of all I said to him that entire day. I just couldn't speak up! Inessa was talking to him about current events, Rob was trying to fix the watch he was wearing (it was off a little bit-and boy was that watch big) and everyone else was just there.

What I can remember of the conversations is: Robert talked about his trip to some place. He did some scuba diving (He didn't like that). Mentioned about his one man show he wrote. Talk about his time on 90210 (He "slept" with 3 girls during his six episode stay-laughed about that). Said something to the effect of not really liking S2 (or at least the first part) *Note: While there alot of people made reference to S2 being in two parts-Part One and Part Two.* Said up that point "Deja Vu" was his favorite episode (they filmed episode 3 and 4 before episode 1 and 2,so they had only filmed up to 2 full episode at that point). Of course he made references to S3, probably said something about Da'an (their relationship),Augur, Lili, Zo'or, Johnathan and Renee. He did like working with Jayne. And probably some other stuff I just can't remember.

Well, dinner was finished and Robert and everyone walked back to his dressing room. Okay, he had is own little camper as a dressing room. Nice. He was going to rest a bit and study some lines. He wasn't needed in the next scene. The next scene that was shot ended up being that Sandoval's apartment-lobby shot, with Renee and the guard. And I believe another scene was shot, but I'm not 100% sure.

After Robert went to rest, Cleya went with Rod to go see what he did at the production company. Inessa want to go to a one hour photo place, so the rest of us walked up to the Easton mall. (The only reason we left the set was we were told the scenes they were "setting up" just weren't interesting). Inessa ending up getting her pictures and we went back to the set. The had just finishing filming, I believe the hotel lobby scene. Met up with Cleya and said goodbye to Rod, since he had to go. No way where we leaving until everyone else did.

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The next scene (which ended up being the last) was the scene where Liam ends up meeting with Emily Langford-receiving the Anders call. There was sure alot involved in setting up this shot. The background had to get just right, the set had to be lighted just right, the camera tracks laid, etc. For awhile we were watching from above. There was a ramp above the cafe set. A few other people had wondered up there and were making some noise. They sure got told to stop. It was just so neat. After awhile we went down to the ground and watched the filming from behind the director. It was like watching the scene on tv. It just was beyond words. During some takes Robert flipped the channel to watch a basketball game (this was on 6/21, I know it was a playoff-world champion game, I don't know between who though).

It was about 10-10:30 that night when they finished filming. Cleya has Robert if she could get a picture with him, setting up a mock fight scene. Well, Cleya got a surprise! Robert just picked her up in his arms! I know alot of us wish we were her then. Then one of asked Robert and a few people if they wanted to got out. Robert said he had to see, he still had to call David Kirschner to tell him about that days shoot. Greg, the 3 A.D. guy recommended a place called the Rivoli's-the "Riv". He said something to the effect that he would meet us there. He never come ( neither did Robert but hey, he just got in at 2:00 am that morning and I bet he was tired-I would be!). Everyone got something but boy did that place,lets say Monday night wasn't the best night to go.

After that,we said bye to Rob (he was catching a bus back to Hamiltion) and we drove back to the hotel. We were dead tired. I didn't feel so hot and after that day, anything else was a let down. I said my goodbyes to everyone (I was leaving early the next morning) and finally went to bed at 2:00 am.

I got up a 6, left to go to the airport at 7. I did my souvenir shopping (like I had a chance any other time) and got to by flight with 20 minutes to spare. I had no problems and waved goodbye to Toronto.

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~Well, I hope everyone enjoyed reading my view of the first E:FC convention. Believe me, it was well worth the trip. It what went on after Con hours that made this trip extra special. Seeing Robert and them filming was the tops! If anyone does go to the next Con-Monality do not automatically expect to visit the set, see them on location or etc. We had to keep it small and if it had gotten too big, things just well lets say they would never want us back. That kind of thing has to be kept small. Its way better that way.

Thanks go to the people who put together Con-Monlity, Eugene Roddenberry Jr., Richard,Anita and Leni for coming, Stella for making the wrong turn going back to the hotel from the church, Carrie for asking Ann Marie if we could come see them shoot, Ann Marie for saying yes, Robert and Jayne for just being themselves, Greg for letting us be extras, and Cleya (Melissa), Elizabeth, Inessa, Rob, Baby Kosh, and anyone else I forgot to mentioned for making the trip and the Con a memorable one. And one last note remember to bring alot of good film and keep your camera on you AT ALL TIMES!~

>Thank you from Amy Lynn Gaddis<

Interesting EFC info: After watching the episode "In Memory", Inessa noticed something.

That little black jacket with the white around it (the one

"Lili" was wearing), was the same jacket she wore

being an extra that day we saw the location.

Any comment send them to me.

Comment are welcomed!