By BetteAndTinaForever

Day 3

As I mentioned in the previous report, I scheduled all my photo sessions for Sunday morning, thinking that I would get enough beauty sleep to look presentable. I also assumed that I would get my pictures back and wouldn’t have an urge to tear them in half. I’m so not photogenic, even on a good day.

Needless to say, my plans didn’t work. Due to having too much fun, I only slept two hours the previous night, so I guess I should tell you that none of the photos from that day survived.

Guin Turner was the first to take pictures and she came a little late. When I took my position for the picture she told me that she just woke up about 10 minutes ago. I replied, “Me too…” That put her in a better mood, I think. Thank goodness I didn’t mention that I didn’t have the time for a shower.

Anne was next and she was very nice as usual. When you take pictures with her, it’s like she cuddles you. As I said, very nice!!

Then it was my turn with Rachel yet again. She wasn’t surprised to see me because I always take more than one picture since I’m not photogenic. I told her as much and Rachel was very kind by telling me that I looked fine because she saw my pictures after they were taken.

Lauren had her Q&A first and she was leaving right after it because she had to return to LA for some filming. She was dressed in a very comfortable pair of slacks and a t-shirt that she would wear later on the plane. She asked if the pants looked like pajama bottoms and they did but they were really classy and nice. I was in and out of the room and could only catch a few questions.

A girl from the previous day was asking a lot of questions again and when I got a minute, I walked in but I didn’t know what questions were asked already, so I went to the microphone and asked Lauren: “Have you been asked about your hobbies?”
Lauren: “Yes…”
Me: “Have you been asked who you wanted to be if you weren’t an actress?”
Lauren, “Yes…”
Me: “Crap…”

Everybody began laughing and I told the fans to keep asking her questions while I thought of something and she gave me one of her questions to ask, which was “What are your comfort foods?” Lauren said that she doesn’t really have something special, she likes lots of things like pizza, ice cream, hamburgers and she named lots of other stuff. I’m surprised that she can stay so thin, so maybe she doesn’t need a lot of comfort.

After it was done, I left to have my interview with Rachel Shelley and I missed the rest of Q&A and was only able to catch some of it with Anne Ramsay.

Q&A with Anne Ramsay

Anne was talking a lot about her character Robin and she mentioned one thing that I actually totally forgot about. At the end of Season One Jenny found out that Robin was dating Marina, as well. Anne said that there was a kissing scene between them but it was cut and we never saw it.

It happened at the Planet. Marina invited Robin to her office because she knew Jenny was seeing her and she was going to kiss her to sabotage Robin and Jenny’s relationship. When they were rehearsing that scene, Karina Lombard told her not to use tongue, it was her only condition. Since Anne was a guest star, she said that she usually follows the lead from the regular cast members but made a joke that she was surprised at that request because she didn’t know how to kiss without the tongue. The scene was cut out anyway and Anne never saw it.

When she was asked who she would choose from the cast to play opposite besides Mia; Anne said that she would pick Pam Grier and Jennifer Beals. Being Mia Kirshner’s scene partner was really great because Mia is a very talented actress and a wonderful person. Her favorite scene to film on The L Word was the Jenny and Robin break-up. When they were filming, both actresses felt that they were not getting it right. Mia suggested improvising the scene a little and Anne did just that. Whatever she said got a different reaction from Jenny and it was something they were looking for.

Anne said that she gets more satisfaction from her work when the scenes are harder to do. She is really hard on herself and is never completely satisfied with her work. Even during her Q&A, Anne kept saying how lame she was with her answers and criticizing herself. To me, Anne was actually very well-spoken and totally funny.

Someone asked how hard it is to cry on the spot and Anne said that when she was younger she had to think of something sad to get tears out but now she’s more experienced and it’s not that hard at all to cry. All she needs to do is to think and feel what her character is going through and it helps.

Anne was also talking about her other projects and she said that after The L Word, she now enjoys working with female directors and cast. She finds the atmosphere more co-operative and relaxed; there’s more understanding and support.

Since Anne hasn’t seen Season 5 yet, a fan explained to her Niki Stevens’ story and then asked how hard is it to be a gay actress and play a gay character but pretend to be straight in real life. Anne replied that those things happen in the movie business, unfortunately, and she knows a few people who are going through the same thing as Niki. Even though the industry is more open-minded, it is still hard to be out. And it’s not even the fear of homophobia. One of the things is a double standard of hiring straight people to play gay characters but then the producers and directors are not sure that a gay actor or actress could play a convincing straight person. Anne said that she knows an actor who came out and now he only gets offered gay roles. So, yes, to be out in the movie business could be a very hard business.

I left again to do my interview with Rachel Shelley and I was done after about 25 minutes. Rachel was fun to talk to and I wish I had more time because I always have more questions that I can ask and she is so easy for me to talk with.

Q&A with Rachel Shelley and Guin Turner

When I finished my interview, I went back to the main hall for the Q&A with Rachel and Guin. I didn’t record many things because it was hard to write, listen, remember, understand and take pictures at the same time. I missed the Q&A with Rachel the day before but my friends told me a few things, so I managed to put everything together I know and remember in this part.

Rachel and Guin were doing this Q&A session together and it was a lot of fun. They both have an incredible sense of humor and they are also really thoughtful in their answers.

Rachel was asked about the “unusual” couples’ sex teasers and how it was to film that scene with Jennifer Beals. A fan, who asked the question, made an observation that in the teaser when Helena and Bette were making out, it looked like a fight. Rachel said that Jennifer Beals is really strong and when they were told to make out, Jennifer said, “You have to fight me.” It was fun to make and to show couples together that would never happen on the show.

Originally, Rachel was supposed to be in the first 6 episodes and it was shocking news to her that she was only in 3 and then came back in episode 512. She also confirmed that she will be in all the episodes of season 6 and she’s very excited about it. Rachel said that she wants Dylan back.

Rachel said that she’s a really good friend with Alexandra and, in fact, during the convention Alexandra Hedison was in London and they had dinner together at Rachel’s place the night before. I almost asked why she didn’t invite her to the convention but decided not to, because I knew it wasn’t up to Rachel.

I do remember, though, about 2 years ago I went to a book-signing event in Los Angeles and only a certain cast members were scheduled to appear. Alexandra Hedison just stopped at the bookstore to get her own copy of “The L Word: Welcome to Our Planet” book and she was easily persuaded into staying and signing autographs, as well. It was awesome!!

Memories, memories…anyway, back to L4 Convention.

Another question was brought up about the storyline with Helena and Catherine Rothberg in Season 4. Rachel said that it was interesting to play because in the previous seasons, Helena was someone with power and money and now she found herself in the situation that was controlled by someone else. Her life was so different from what she was used to. A fan asked where Helena really hid the money she had stolen from Catherine and Rachel replied that it was probably in Alice’s apartment in a cupboard because Alice never looks there.

Another fan asked who Rachel would choose as her L Word partner, Madonna or Angelina Jolie. That questioned stirred excitement in certain circles because I know a few people among my friends who enjoy Madonna very much. At first Rachel made a joke about a three-some with both of them but then she said that she would be terrified to have scenes with either of them because they are both so great.

Rachel’s favorite L Word scene was the Bette and Tina break-up sex scene in the Season One finale. She said it was so powerful and wonderfully done. I personally think that Rachel is a TiBetter, as well as many other members of the cast. If you read my interview with her, she mentioned there what she thought about Bette and Tina reunion in season 5.

Rachel’s other favorite scene was the superb improvisation scene between Jenny and Alice when they were talking about Jenny’s book and Monet in season 4. It was hilarious and I agree. When I was watching it I didn’t know they were improvising. Kudos to Mia and Leisha!!

When the improvisation was mentioned, a fan asked Rachel and Guin to improvise something, imagining that they were doing a scene from The L Word. Guin at first didn’t want to do it; she was saying that she’s not good at improvising and that she had never even taken acting classes. Rachel was all up for it and finally they decided to do a scene when Guin’s character, Gabby, was working as a receptionist at the vagina rejuvenation clinic in Season One. Rachel was Helena who came to make an appointment for someone with a problem and she wanted to book the whole clinic for a day. This whole dialogue was hilarious. I don’t remember the exact words but it went something like this:

Rachel: I want to book the entire clinic for someone else who needs your help, it’s quite urgent and they want to do it privately.
Guin: What exactly does she need?
Rachel: What you specialize in.
Guin: Was there an incident that created this emergency?
Rachel: I think you could call in an ongoing matter, it’s called age…

Then they both began laughing and Guin said that she couldn’t go on any more. It was really entertaining.

Someone asked Guin about the projects she is working on and if the world was ready for a Lesbian Brokeback Mountain. Guin replied that it could totally happen in the future and that maybe she should just write it and beat everyone else to it. She was also talking about the sequel to her movie Go Fish that she was working on with Rose Troche. Another fan said that she was writing a script and she asked Guin if she thought it would make a good movie. I don’t remember the storyline; I think it was something to do with planes and flying…

Someone asked Rachel and Guin about their hobbies. Guin said that one of her hobbies is to make things out of plyarn. I’m not sure if this how it is spelled but Guin just made that word up. When Rachel got a confused look on her face because she didn’t know what it meant, Guin explained that it was plastic and yarn – plyarn. Guin also said that she likes to watercolor and she only started doing it because while they were filming The L Word, a psychic told her and Jennifer Beals that they have to use more color, and that prompted Guin to have another hobby.

There was more but like I said before, sometimes I forget that I should write the answers. I often just listen and laugh and enjoy the experience, so I hope you all can forgive me for not giving you a complete and exact account. Blame it on my senior-citizen memory lapse.

The closing ceremony

The closing ceremony was sweet and swift. Sean introduced the guests again and thanked everyone who helped with the preparation and the smooth running of the event. Then all the guests, sans Lauren, who had already left, said a few words about their excitement with being there and their gratitude to everyone. They all said that they would love to come back.

All three of the remaining guests left but they showed up an hour later at the closing party and they talked and danced with the fans. It was great!! It’s not that often that the cast members actually do that.

All in all, the L4 Convention was wonderful, even without my favorite Laurel Holloman there. I had a great time, met some old friends and made some new ones, got interviews and pictures; babysat a cute four-year old girl who was never tired and learned to appreciate McDonalds again.

If you aren’t bored with me yet, stay tuned for more reports from events. It’s never over until it’s over!!