Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been like?

[Amy Sisson]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

So what were your interactions with the cast of nuBSG and SGA like???

My brother-in-law is an actor in Vancouver, and when we went up for his wedding, Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol of nuBSG) and Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett on SG:A) were both guests at the wedding. Aaron hit it off with my husband because he (Aaron) is a bit of a space buff and my husband works at NASA.

Several months later, Aaron told us to let him know when we'd be in Vancouver again, and he would hold his housewarming party then. He invited the BSG cast and crew. At the party, we met James Callis (Baltar), Jamie Bamber (Apollo), Grace Park (Boomer), and Tahmoh Penikett (Helo). Oh, and Michael Rymer, the director, plus lots of the crew. They were all incredibly nice. At one point, by happenstance, I was standing there talking to Aaron, Jamie, and Tahmoh. A girl really can't ask for more!

The next day, Aaron took us on a tour of the BSG set. We visited Grace in her trailer, and got to eat with them in the commissary.

The funny thing is that my brother-in-law had told us Paul McGillion was going to be at his wedding, and we thought it was neat, but we didn't really watch SG:A so we didn't go apeshit. (We do plan to remedy that and watch the Stargates -- as soon as we finish Buffy and Angel!) So we arrived in Vancouver, and Alistair said "Oh yeah, I have this other friend on some sci-fi show, Battle... something...." So we said "You don't mean Battlestar Galactica, do you??!! Who does your friend play???!!!!" (thinking Extra #27 on the hangar deck or something) He said "The guy that fixes the little ships...." We said "Chief???!!! You mean Chief???!!!" And he said, "I don't know, but there's a picture of him on the fridge from a wedding last year."

We about died, we were so excited. I didn't want to be an annoying fan girl, though, so at one point I said to Aaron, "I don't want to keep you from the party, this is your time off" and he said "You don't understand. They don't show Battlestar up here [which was the case at the time]. Nobody knows about the show, nobody cares about the show. I can talk to you all night!"

We went up to Vancouver again for Christmas 2006, and Aaron came over to my in-laws for Christmas dinner, along with another actor named Daniel Bacon (he's guested on SG:A). We played poker. It was a little intimidating considering Aaron plays celeb tournaments!

Aaron and Paul McGillion are also buddies with each other in real life, so they hung out together at last year's Shore Leave. Let's just say the party doesn't end when the bar closes. (Shut up, Dilmore!)

 

[Jim Johnson]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Aaron and Paul McGillion are also buddies with each other in real life, so they hung out together at last year's Shore Leave. Let's just say the party doesn't end when the bar closes. (Shut up, Dilmore!)

Ah, yeah. Shore Leave last year. So many stories; this isn't place to tell them.

 

[garamet]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Cute Mark Lenard story:

I actually met him outside the context of Trek. He taught acting in NYC for many years, and one of his students was a friend of mine. She invited me to a showcase, where each of Mark's students performed a scene for a small audience of friends, family, casting directors, with a little wine 'n' cheese thing after.

My friend - we'll call her Joanna - introduced me to Mr. Lenard after the show, told him I was a Trek novelist, and he very politely asked, "What are you working on now?" Considering that there were about a dozen other people trying to get his attention, I thought that was especially gracious.

Now, a few things to note: Joanna is also a dancer, very petite, easily 4-5 inches shorter than I, and also about 15 years younger.

Fast forward to a small fan-run con at Brandeis University about a year or two later. Mark Lenard and I are the only guests. We're hanging out in the green room before the con starts, and *he* approaches me.

"We have met before," he says in that delicious Sarek voice.

Yes, Mr. Lenard, I start to say. I attended one of your showcases in Manhattan and -

"Ah, yes," he replies. "You're Joanna's little friend. What are you working on now?"

Over the next few years I ran into him at several other cons on the East Coast. It got to be a running gag. "Hi, Mr. Lenard, I don't know if you remember me - I'm Joanna's little friend."

 

[kkozoriz1]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

***** One of my proudest moments was at Comic-Con in San Diego one year when Chase saw me in the hallway and called out my name. We chatted for a bit, then went our separate ways, and these two fangoobers walk up to me all wide-eyed and slack-jawed and said, "You know Chase Masterson??????"

That reminds me of the time I met Chase at the Hilton in Vegas. My father was visiting along with my aunt and uncle. I decided to take them to Quark's for lunch. Chase was signing autographs just outside the entrance to the Experience but had NOBODY near her. just sitting at a table all by herself looking totally bored. I went over, floating about six inches off the floor, and told her how much I enjoyed her on DS9. She stood up and came around the table and gave me a big hug and then went up on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. I heard my uncle ask my father "How does she know Kevin?".

 

[captcalhoun]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

good one

 

[KevinK]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Hand to God, this is a true story: I once stood at adjoining urinals with Marc Alaimo.

Had a similar experience with Ron Glass at GenCon 2006.

My only interaction with a Trek actor was an e-mail from Walter Koenig telling me he hadn't followed the science, but he thought I'd captured the spirit of Chekov in "Indomitable." He also liked the fact that I'd incorporated his "Chekov met Kahn in the head" story.
(Which sorta ties in with Dayton's Gul Dukat story.)