My ship must be real because So-and-so said so! Yea, unless it was specifically stated ON THE SCREEN and not some silly âIf you stand on your head and squint just right itâs SO OBVIOUSâ type of bullshit, itâs called Canon. Canon is what is stated. That isnât even what is written, as scripts can go through dozens of re-writes before the final approved version makes it onto the screen. Fanon is what you wish were so. Canon is what IS so.
And this new trend to PAY a C or D list actor to say something for you and then call it canon is utter and complete bullshit. It drives me crazy.  Letâs break this down with a dose of reality, OK? Iâve been doing conventions for 40 years. There are categories of celebs and they get PAID to do conventions. A list celebs, like Robert Downey Jr or Chris Evans in the movie categories or Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles in the TV categories are VERY EXPENSIVE. They cost the con a shit-ton of money to bring in just for a day. If they are only coming for one day, itâs almost always on a Saturday because thatâs the busiest day for a con. A more prosperous convention can afford more than one day but a lot cannot. Iâve attended San Diego Comic Con many, many times and they are a very profitable con that can spend a lot of money on celebs. Most canât, so they resort to the B or C or D list. If there are no A list actors at a con, itâs because the con organizer canât afford them. The lesser known the celeb, the more in trouble that particular con organizer is in financially.
For an A list actor, con money is icing on the cake but not necessary. For a B list actor, like Misha Collins, who doesnât draw the massive crowds that Jared or Jensen does, itâs less about the money and more about staying in the public eye (although the money is definitely a perk). Â
For a C or D list actor, cons are a valuable and vital part of their income. They command far, far less for an appearance and will usually do the entire con. The income is as important as the exposure. The last con I did (just as Covid was starting to ramp up), I was tabled across from the celeb booths and Emily Swallow (Amara) was right across from me. There were long stretches where she had no one in line. Sheâd get bored and wander around. No one bothered her. She was there all 3 days. Emily is a C list actor. Sam Ferris and Chad Tyler are D list.
Being an actor is expensive. Youâve got to pay agents and publicists and personal trainers and a variety of acting fees (SAG, etc) in addition to maintaining a lifestyle that suggests you are successful and desirable. This is in addition to the regular run-of-the mill stuff like healthcare, groceries, etc.Â
Covid has seriously, seriously compromised the entire industry, especially the convention circuit. Conventions are needed income for many actors. Itâs been shot to shit because of Covid. So along comes Cameo or Pay-to-Hey or whatever and some pining ship fanatic PAYS an actor to SAY WORDS. Hey, thatâs what they do. They are paid to have words come out of their mouths. They are desperate. Many of them are, at this point, willing to degrade themselves to make a few bucks. Itâs not sanctioned by the studio. Itâs not from an official source. It is just them, willing to make a few bucks. IT. IS. NOT. CANON. So get over yourselves.