So I went to see him again…
yes yes I know I’m cray. I do hope by telling this again I can move on more easily though.
Every time I went through this I described it as the most amazing day of my life. How amazing this time is I don’t know, but it’s definitely the funniest and most embarrassing one.
This is the first time I attend the whole STLV. Last year it’s just one day to see him, but this time I thought since I’ve watched much of the whole Trek why not give it a try? Turns out I did enjoy it. Meet Andy Robinson, James Darren, Armin Shimerman, Michael Forest and even Vic Mignogna. With all I have really productive conversation and did have a good time. But of course none of it can compare to Saturday. Oh the day he came…
Different from last year, this time his photo opp is arranged before his panel. So at the very beginning of that day I was so lost and nervous at the same time. I couldn’t fall into sleep at all before that day. I didn’t prepare to have a photo or signing of his at all before the con, since I already had so many. But don’t know what once I arrived, I went to buy those immediately. So I come to the photo session really early, about the first 20 ones. It’s just totally worth it. With all those experience beforehand, I sure remember that he’d be tired really quickly during either photo or signing. When he came in, everybody whoooaaaa. He hugged the photographer, appreciating his work, and then saw James Darren there (who starred with him in TJ hooker, and DS9 of course). They greeted, hugged, and talked for a very short time, then the line started to move forward.
I never expected to say a lot to him during photo or signing. So I was either consciously or unconsciously, having my best mood when I came forward, “so good to see you Bill.” He hesitated for a sec., and then as if he suddenly realized something, “so good to see you too!” I assumed he recognized me at that moment because of fan club weekend, and I did go to see him three times in two months, but of course it can be my imagination too. I don’t want him to recognize me at all honestly. After the picture, he commented me “you look good today.” which almost blew me off. Because as someone very nerdy, remember to brush my hair is the best thing i can do every time I go out. I was so shocked. Afterwards my mom mocked me that I should start to care about my own looking to validate Bill’s comment.
So the photo session is over. I was continuously lost and nervous. I was so nervous that I told everybody that I’m gonna vomit, by which my friend only commented “well nobody forces you.” I went in the theater, and went out, for so many times. Finally there are only 30 minutes around till his panel. I went to the left side of the stage, where one of the microphone is set up.
Here I should add up one story. Before STLV, what I prepared to ask him is only about his actor’s craft. Because I was enthusiastically catching up his shows these days and thoroughly enjoyed it, I really wish him to talk about acting for a bit, which he seldom talked about. But two days ago, during Jason Issacs’ panel, he made a comment about Bill. He said the first time he’s approached to appear on Star Trek, he replied “absolutely not. I grew up worshipping William Shatner. (pause) No not Shatner. Captain Kirk. There’s a difference.” The audience went into hysterically laughing for it, including me. The official star trek account reported the first half of this comment, and Bill went furious about it since he somehow knew the whole comment. But everyone else who’s not attending only read the first half and not understand it. So basically everyone thinks Bill’s being grudged old man again and supports Jason completely. Lots of mutuals on my twitter feed were saying very nasty things about him, which somehow just ignited me a bit. Normally I wouldn’t since such things happen all the time. But this time I witnessed it by myself, and he’s coming in two days. So I thought, no I’m going to do things. I’m not going to argue with you. I’m going to sing all the complimentary I can to him in front of thousands, and expressed my complete support.
So finally it’s time for QA. Quite unfortunately for me, he turns to the other side for the first. I did feel upset for a sec, because I’m afraid other people’d bring this up first, but thankfully he didn’t. And all the other panelist turns to the other side mostly. What can I do.
So I said, “’so he who must not be named’s best friend’ made a comment about you, which you already aware of…” I actually have zero idea about Harry Potter fandom. I only quoted this directly from him when half year ago he blocked Jason. After letting me repeat it again he quickly realized it. I told him with all due respect to Captain Lorca I have to disagree, because there’s no difference between him and Kirk, everything good in Kirk is part of him. And if there’s any difference that is he’s much greater because he’s just a high spirit in everything.
He’s shocked. The audience went silent for a sec., and then applauded. “WOW” he said, “I’m going to do a tour in Australia in September. Can you come with me and repeated what you just said?” OK this come out of surprise. I thought I know him a bit now, and know his method of teasing others, but completely didn’t expect this. I don’t know why but saying it’d be my honor, by which I feel so embarrassed afterwards and mocked by friend as “he did a hole for me and I just jumped right into it.” But what can I say? If not jumping into his hole, who else’s hole can I jump into?
He made a comment about Jason again, and of course got himself into trouble. But that’s just his character. So we went back and force for a while, then I went into embarrassed myself again, I said, “you’’re the greatest actor on the planet…” “I’m the greatest actor on the planet?!?!?!?!?!?!” He’s shoooooocked. I guess he heard so many praises and criticism over the years, but seldom heard such brainless shameless comment. OK so what I wanted to say beforehand is “one of”. Yet though I know one of is still over exaggerated (even though in my heart it’s not) I want to calm him and make him happy, so that he could answer my question carefully. The audience went “whoaaaaa” again, Everybody around me laughed so hard, a guy even came to me and clapped my back so hard “you did it! hahahhhh.” I also told him all of his roles are memorable and beautiful, by which the audience had some understanding laugh. He’s flattered and shy, asked the audience “what are you all looking at me for?” The situation is just going into hysterically funny… Finally I got to ask him about his actor’s craft. He became EXTREMELY HUMBLED, like out of character type of humble. He made a comparison between him and his granddaughter who he thinks is really talented at acting (”which is terrible” he said). But his granddaughter is outside in, while he’s inside out, which quite surprised me, because it’s more a technique way of acting, for an unorthodox type of actor like him. He even mentioned Marlon Brando again after so many years. How he’s so shy to knock his door back when they’re neighbors. Overall his answer satisfied me partially, it’s not much of a “craft talking” for a veteran actor, but have way more content than he used to.
So this is it. At the end of the panel, he said he’s book is firstly available here at STLV, though he doesn’t know where it is. I then went to his assistant Paul who doesn’t know where it is as well. I went around the whole convention center again and again with my friend, asked everybody, and finally got to find it near his signing table where he himself is not there at that moment. I messaged his assistant, and he told Bill, then Bill got to tweet about the location to everyone else. Somehow I feel like my friend and I are the first and second in the world to get to have his book, which is quite a thing to talk about LOL.
During his signing session, my friend and I once again became the first and second one in the line and asked him to sign the books. I told him everything I said during his panel I speak from my heart. He said he realize that. He took my hand and shook it, with a beautiful smile on his face like a blooming flower (for real). I went wild with joy for that because I know he hates shaking hands since there are too many people at cons that he doesn’t want to get any bacteria.
Who isn’t touched by this smile? Honestly.
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