EDITOR’S NOTE: Eve Gidion, Chicagoactor.com Global Correspondent, since her returnfrom Atlanta’s Dragon*Con, has been pouring over all the interviews and photos fromthe fantastic convention. Due to space limitations, we’ve had the difficult job of picking and choosing what material to post. We think you’ll enjoy the selected stories below…….

“If it’s on Earth, then it’s here. Then again, if it’s not on Earth, it’s probably here, too.”

By: Eve Gidion,

Chicagoactor.com Global Correspondent

What happens when you mix up Spiderman, The Muppets, Storm Troopers and Harry Potter? You get Dragon*Con, one of the largest multi-media, mulit-genre conventions in the world! Launched in 1987, Dragon Con celebrates its 20th year of bringing the best and most diverse attractions to the fans who keep these worlds alive year after year. Held annually over Labor Day weekend, the event spans four days and takes over a six-square block area of downtown Atlanta. This year, over 30,000 attendees from all over the world participated in more than 30 specialized programming tracks such as American Science Fiction Classics, Podcasting, Star Trek, Writing, Costuming, , Space & Science, and much, much more (with new tracks being added each year). Over 400 actors, writers, filmmakers, artists and musicians contributed to the 850+ hours of panels, seminars and workshops and, of course, were often available just to meet their fans. Some of the scheduled highlights of Dragon Con are: The Independent Film Festival, The Masquerade, and The Annual Dragon Con Parade. But, unofficially, many may say that the hallmark of the convention is, simply, the costuming. Many attendees work year-round to prepare elaborate and creative costumes for this gathering. Their skills are astounding and the display is limited only by imagination.As a 5-year veteran of Dragon Con, I can say firsthand that it only gets better every year. New friendships are made and old ones reunited. You discover interests you never knew you had. And the surprises never end. One convention-goer I spoke to probably described the essence of Dragon Con best: If it’s on Earth, then it’s here. Then again, if it’s not on Earth, it’s probably here.Find out more about Dragon Con at www.dragoncon.org. You won’t regret it! Dragon Con is hosted by the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, and the Atlanta Hilton and Towers. These venues have always been most welcoming to the conventioneers and make them feel at home. To make your reservations for next year’s event, please visit:

http://www.atlantaregency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/atlmq-atlanta-marriott-marquis/ www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=ATLAHHH NICHELLE NICHOLS is Lady MagdaleneThe timeless icon of stage and Star Trek fame discusses her latest film project. By: Eve Gidion, Chicagoactor.com Global Correspondent Ms. Nichelle Nichols promoting her latest film “Lady Magdalene’s”

Photo by Eve Gidion Nichelle Nichols, elegant and lovely as ever, was gracious enough to hold a press conference to introduce her latest movie, Lady Magdalene’s. Not only does she star in the title role, but Nichols also performs three original songs, is the choreographer, and is co-executive producer with writer/director J. Neil Schulman, who was also in attendance. Dragon*Con had the honor of hosting the world premiere screening of the film. In this suspense-comedy, Nichols plays a no-nonsense yet compassionate madam of a small brothel in Pahrump, Nevada. Also starring Ethan Keogh, Susan Smythe, and J. Neil Schulman, the film may be summed up as such: “A federal agent, assigned to manage the brothel with tax troubles, finds himself facing an al-Qaeda plot. Luckily he has the help of an undercover operative and the brothel’s Madam, Lady Magdalene.”Q: Why did you want to play the part of a brothel Madam?NN: Are you kidding? That’s the ultimate choice for an actor, to play something so far removed from their identity or who they are. I think the idea or dream of an actor is to stretch. It was also well written for me by [J. Neil Schulman]. …It was just so exciting to play this hard-core broad – it’s not the first hard-core broad I’ve played! But it was a lot of fun. …And, in this, I found that there was a lot compassion, a lot of pain, a lot of love that she covers up in order to feel independent.Q: How did you become involved in the project?NN: [J. Neil Schulman] had the idea and he sent me the script…and I liked it. A mutual friend introduced us…and I don’t know whether to bless him or never forgive him! It’s been a process making this film. I’ve directed and produced in theatre – my original and, still, first love is theatre, especially musical theatre. So I took that experience with me. But with producing and co-executive producing…that was an experience that I needed and enjoyed -painfully! But I enjoyed it.

Q: When you’re working and surrounded by a lot of actors near the beginning of their career, what’s your approach to kind of helping them along?

NN: Three of the young women (she indicates by pointing at the promo poster) are professionals – (quickly realizing the double entendre) not “professionals” - professional actors, that is! Although one WAS [a “professional”] and I’m not saying who that was!

Q: (The roomful of reporters gasp) Really?!

NN: Well, because she was [a prostitute], she was more trouble than she was worth, in a sense, because she expected the film to reflect an honest portrayal of that life, especially in Nevada where it’s legal. I had to finally tell her, ‘This is fantasy. This is not reality.’

Q: (Ms. Nichols continues about the experience of the cast members)

NN: Three of the ladies were professional actors…three were not. The three who were not [actors] were lovely, but very nervous…and it came across sometimes, which stops production and you can’t do that in filmmaking. But, all in all, the experience was one of…anticipation…an experience I had not had before.

Q: (In regards to her role as Lady Magdalene)

NN: I loved doing Maggie because I was able to bring another dimension to her as opposed to the obvious. She really cared about her girls…she really cared about what happened to them. She made sure they had their medical tests done at regular times and she paid for that – and she paid dearly because her dear husband was spending her money faster than she could make it…fortunately, he died.

Q: Tell us more about the cast.

NN: There are some wonderful performances in this young cast, not least of which is this young man [Ethan Keogh].

Q: And the feel of the story…

NN: There’s drama to it and a good story, but there’s a lot of humor to it. It’s not a comedy, per se…the humor is in a lot of the ridiculous things that are happening and how the characters respond to them.

Q: Would you tell us more about the songs in the movie? You said you wrote one of them?

NN: In my first scene…she pulls a young man in – a customer – and instead pulling him in with dialogue, she sings Lady Magdalene’s to him. It’s a lot of fun. Then more songs came into it. It’s not a musical; it’s a dramatic comedy with music. The next song, I wrote – A Woman’s Got to Be Ready for Anything. The third song, written by J. Neil Schulman, is Rahab the Harlot.

Schulman: …it’s an over-the-top gospel number!

Q: With all the music that’s in it, can you see taking this to Broadway?

NN: I would love to. I wasn’t even going to say that…but it has all the components of a really good Broadway show. …The songs are peppy, they’re poignant…and the song A Woman’s Gotta Be Ready for Anything is raunchy – and it talks of her life…(Nichelle then says, almost singing) a woman’s gotta be ready for anything or she won’t be ready at all. I can just see me whipping THAT out on Broadway!

Q: How would you describe your role as executive producer on this project?

NN: Well, as executive producer…it can encompass a lot of responsibilities. One – seeking out funding. But more…as assistant to the producer and molding everything and bringing in people who can function in bringing the film to reality.

Schulman: Nichelle helped me develop the characters and make them stronger all the way through. …Nichelle had constant input to make things stronger all the way through.

Q: (Ms. Nichols tells us of her much-anticipated upcoming role on NBC’s Heroes)

NN: I learned that I was to join the cast of Heroes next season…I was sworn to secrecy that I was going to be in [Heroes] and I said, “Surely, you jest! Do you not know that 90% of the people that work on this lot are Trekkers??” And one of the main things that happens is that Trekkers find out secrets that NOOO-BODY ELSE GETS! …Within 24 hours, most of [Star Trek] fandom all knew it. 24 hours after I got the notice that I was going to be joining Heroes, someone called me from across the country and said, “Is it true? You’re going to be on Heroes?! Do you have a power? Who are you going to be??”

A little trivia: Lady Magdalene was shot on location in Pahrump, Nevada…and actually shot in a brothel that was handed over to the film crew for 25 days.

View the trailer and get more information at www.ladymagdalenes.com.

Since Lady Magdalene, Nichelle has completed three more films: Tru Loved, Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, and This Bitter Earth. And be sure to watch her this fall on NBC’s hit series, Heroes, where she will have a recurring role. For more about Nichelle, visit www.uhura.com.

Erin Gray`s Act Right

BY: Eve Gidion, Chicagoactor.com Global Correspondent 

Actress/Author Erin GrayPhoto by: Eve Gidion  PROFILE: ERIN GRAY and SAMANTHA GRAY HISSONGErin Gray, the stunning veteran and versatile actor is perhaps best known for her roles as Kate Stratton on Silver Spoons and, of course, Wilma Deering in Buck Rogers in the 25^th Century.  In an era when strong female characters in television were just coming to light,
Erin’s portrayal of Colonel Deering provided a powerful role model for young women around the world.Q: Samantha, you’ve already started on your career – what roles have you taken?SGH: I just did a pilot for a TV show on ABC coming up this fall; it’s called Miss/Guided. And, I’m filming a movie this October – it’s a vampire story.Q: Erin, how do you feel about your daughter getting into the business?EG: (Saying with a doting smile) Well, it’s not my first preference, but I think if it’s exactly what she wants to do and that makes her happy, then I’m all for it. …Having been one that’s been in the business, I highly recommend to anyone who wants to be an actor to have many jobs, to wear many hats…it’s the best way to survive. One of the keys to being a good actor is to be an interesting person…and being interested in a lot of different things, and you will bring that curiosity to whatever part you’re playing.

Q: What’s interesting to me is that, when I talk to people in the industry – actors, in particular – who have children that want to get into the business, I often hear the same things: It’s not my first choice for her, or, I wish she would pick a different career, etc. Why is that?

EG: Because there’s no guarantees in the business. As soon as you do a job, you’re unemployed. It’s hard to plan your life. You have to be really prepared for the ups and downs of the business. No matter how successful you are, there are lots of challenges. If you go in knowing that and are emotionally prepared, you’ll do great. People like Harrison Ford, who was a carpenter…that’s how he made his living for a long time and had other interests to keep him going. If you just focus on acting (Erin says with a chuckle) – good luck. A lot of people don’t realize this, but very few people acting making a living as an actor.

Q: Samantha, when you hear your mom say things like that, does it scare you at all?

SGH: Oh, not really because I’ve been around the business all my life through my parents and I really DO love it. And, I also plan to get an education, to go to college…to have something to back me up.

Q: Erin, one of the things I often hear is that the entertainment business is so different now than it was, say, even 20 years ago. Do you agree with that?

EG: Absolutely.

Q: In what way?

EG: Financially, first of all. What they pay actors – it’s embarrassing. It’s humiliating. And also, the fact there’s so much “reality TV” – the jobs are getting less and less because it’s cheaper to do “reality” television. [With regards to television] It’s a dying art, in many ways, the television of the 70’s and 80’s, when we had the hour dramas, or even the sitcoms. How many sitcoms are there now? Very few. How many shows are there where an entire family can sit down and watch? In one way, it’s diversified; but in another way, it’s very segmented – you have the dad in one room watching his favorite program, mom’s in another room, and the kids are in their room. Nobody is sitting down, watching programs together.

Q: What kind of programs do you guys, as a family, sit down and watch together?

EG: (Erin and Samantha share a laugh) Actually, we’re more of a movie family. Dad likes to watch the news. And after the news, we turn on a movie. We like to sit down as a family and watch a feature film.

Q: Any TV shows at all?

EG: Well, for me, late at night I’m usually at my desk doing work and watching Law and Order. But Sammy and I like to watch Gilmore Girls, so a lot of times in the afternoons we’ll catch that together.

SGH: I watch Gilmore Girls. I also like Extras on HBO.

EG: Oh, yes – Extras – it’s a great show!

Q: Samantha, if there was a show – any show - on television right now that you could have a part in, what show would that be?

SGH: Oh, that’s really difficult! I don’t know if I can answer!

EG: I would say [for Samantha], probably, getting picked up on Ashton Kutcher’s new series, the one she did a pilot on – Miss/Guided. It would be a perfect series for her to get involved in.

Q: Erin, you have a book that you’ve co-written with Mara Purl – Act Right: A Manual for the On-Camera Actor. Tell me about this book!

EG: My friend, Mara Purl (her sister is actress Linda Purl), and I would often hike in the mornings and tell each other stories about our business: “Oh, I can’t believe what happened…,” or “I lost the role to this person…” or whatever. And in sharing our stories, we realized that we shared a lot of the same frustrations. As actors we had studied acting. …We couldn’t prepare ourselves for getting a job and then realized that, once we got the job, we knew ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. So we decided to write this book for the young actors, so that they understand that there’s a protocol that you don’t want to learn when you get the job. You’ve got to know what’s going on before you get there. It’s so hard to get that first job or be asked again or get hired again. And so you don’t want to make a lot of mistakes or they’ll never hire you again. Everything you do in this business is about money. If you cost that studio money, or not understand what you job is, or what you’re supposed to do, or the editor couldn’t cut properly because you didn’t know how to walk in… Or if you didn’t understand the terminology and were afraid to ask, like, “What does it mean to ‘walk in?’” You’re standing there and you’re overwhelmed just at the fact that you’re there, and suddenly there’s all this new language that’s flying past you. If you do something that’s inappropriate – like if you have a problem with hair or makeup and you go directly to the executive producer and tell him that something isn’t right – big mistake. BIG MISTAKE. There’s a protocol. There’s a hierarchy on the set and you don’t mess with it. And, if you do the right thing, they’ll hire you again.

Q: Is there a personal example you could tell us about?

EG: My partner, Mara, actually gave the book to a young actress…but she still made three major mistakes and afterwards she didn’t get hired again. For example, she was on the show and she had a very expensive wig that she had to wear – and wigs are very important and cost a lot of money – and the important thing is do NOT rip the wig off your head…because if you rip the netting, that may be a $4,000 repair. And that person in the hair department…has a budget. And if she suddenly has to pay $4,000 to have that wig fixed because you didn’t have the decency to take it off carefully or put it on the wig stand the proper way, she’s not going to hire you. Her job is on the line! That business is going to go to her and be mad at her and say, “Why are we $4,000 over budget? What happened?” And once that happens you don’t get asked back.

Q: And word like that gets around?

EG: Oh, absolutely. Right away. RIGHT AWAY!

Q: (Erin elaborates further on gems the book has to offer)

EG: There’s a lot of do’s and don’ts when you go in for an audition. [For instance] When you’re auditioning with the casting director, NEVER touch the casting director. Even if it calls for it in the scene…fake it. And do not touch the things on their desk.

Q: “Don’t touch the things on their desk”? Why?

EG: Read the book and find out why! But it’s really about their personal space. Even if you’re doing a scene where you’re having to kill somebody, don’t grab a hold of their collar and really give them all that anger and rage…all you’re going to get is [the casting director saying], “I’m not gonna hire this person…they don’t understand boundaries…”

Q: This book is golden! Where can we find it?

EG: www.havenbooks.net, or contact me through www.eringray.com .Erin Gray and Mara Purl’s book, Act Right: A Manual for the On-Camera Actor, is an invaluable resource and a must-read for anyone entering the television and film industry.For more about Erin Gray, visit www.eringray.com, and be sure to see her in upcoming projects such as Loaded, Ghouls, and Dreams Awake. Be sure to catch Samantha Gray Hissong on Miss/Guided. And keep an eye on her – Chicago Actor is certain that she has a bright future ahead!

DRAGON*CON HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE….JUST TAKE A PEEK…….

OUR OWN EVE GIDION’S TRIBUTE TO CAROL BURNETT AT

FAN PROFILE: THE GREEN LANTERN TRIO BY: Eve Gidion, Chicagoactor.com Global CorrespondentTHE GREEN LANTERN TRIO at DRAGON*CONPhoto by: Eve GidionThis is the first Dragon*Con for New Yorkers Tony (21), Jess (23), and Jason (29), all clad as their own incarnations the DC Comics superhero group. As I talked to them on the first day of the convention, I could tell they were already overwhelmed!Q: This is your first day of your first Dragon*Con, so my first question, of course is: what do you think?Tony: Ohhhh! I’m amazed by all the costumes so far and it’s only the first day!Jason: It’s like Mardi Gras for geeks! I love it!Q: Even though it’s only been your first day, could you see yourself coming back?Tony: Oh, yeah! In 10 years I’ll probably have [my] KIDS coming to Dragon*Con!

Jess: If there’s one thing I’ve heard, it’s that it gets better every year.

Q: With all that’s offered at this convention, what programs do you look forward to seeing the most?

Tony: DC (comics).

Jess: Yes, the DC, Marvel, and anything sci fi.

Jason: DC, Marvel, and Star Wars.

Q: If someone were to ask you, “Why should I go to Dragon*Con? What’s it about?” What would you say?

Tony: Costumes.

Jess: Yeah, I think the costumes. But also the wonderful conversations I’ve had with people…you can talk about their costumes, you can talk about their interests and, the next thing you know, you have something in common and you make really fast friends.

Jason: Exactly. The thing about these [conventions] is that you can come by yourself and there’s this like…community…there’s a community of people who are into the same interests that I love.

Q: What do you think of some of the costumes you’ve seen around here – especially the unusual ones? For example, I saw a Storm Trooper whose armor was actually blue with Indianapolis Colts paraphernalia all over it.

Jess: I saw a ‘Captain America’ whose entire costume was done in fuzzy material – it was really cool…because especially the themes that have been around a long time – like Captain America, who is an icon – and you put a twist on it, it’s like…surprising and it’s really cool. …Even with our costumes, we made up these symbols (pointing to the logo on her chest)…just to put a little bit of a different twist.

Jason: …You express your own individuality with it.

Over 30,000 people could not be wrong. Dragon*Con is simply the best, with something for everyone.

“If it’s on Earth, then it’s here. Then again, if it’s not on Earth, it’s probably here, too.” We look forward to Dragon*Con 2008. Chicagoactor.com would like to thank Star Roberts, Dragon*Con Media Relations Director, the Dragon*Con staff, the staff of the convention hotels, Erin Gray, Samantha Gray Hissong and the great Nichelle Nichols.

 For more photos of Dragon*Con click on the folowing link…

http://chicagoactor.com/blog/blog/2007/11/14/dragoncon-photos/