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jennariaSo one of the attractions DragonCon boasts is having lots of actors from various geeky shows and movies, old and new. Thing is: part of the SAG-AFTRA strike terms is that actors can't talk about current roles, they can't do promotion, because that's work and they're on strike. And some actors did, in fact, withdraw from appearing! But some did not.
...now, I have heard Stories about at least one actor who appeared at a con and promptly stuffed his foot into his mouth vis-a-vis the strike and talking about his current project. So I was worried on DragonCon's behalf, because usually the point of the panels is, well, the actor or actors talking about their current project! How would this work?
For Paul Bettany, the answer was: questions were submitted via Discord to the moderator, so he could filter as necessary. The result was questions about his favorite food (cheese!), hobbies (playing the guitar), opinions on controversial questions (he is pro pineapple on pizza, but anti peanut butter and jelly sandwiches), and performing naked (in a carefully unnamed film! They wanted him to wear a bright yellow sock, and he refused; instead they taped him down with medical tape - and his advice for future actors, if they're in that situation, to inch it off, not rip it off, don't repeat his mistakes) - this last, and some discussion of his recent stage show, was as close as he got to talking about acting.
Also, he told the story of how he and his wife got together (met making another carefully unnamed film, being friends for a few years, and then he panicked in the wake of 9/11 because she lived in Manhattan and he realized, after 36 straight hours trying to contact her, that maybe he felt more for her than friendship). Somehow I had not realize he is married to Jennifer Connelly (!!!). He joked that they walk down the street, and people stare, and clearly it's because they're trying to figure how she was lucky enough to land him. (Moderator: "Well, she was in a couple famous movies herself, and she's beautiful, and the subject of more than a few youthful crushes too." Paul Bettany: "Allow me my illusions!")
I choose to view this as a good sign. Will report back later as I watch more!
...now, I have heard Stories about at least one actor who appeared at a con and promptly stuffed his foot into his mouth vis-a-vis the strike and talking about his current project. So I was worried on DragonCon's behalf, because usually the point of the panels is, well, the actor or actors talking about their current project! How would this work?
For Paul Bettany, the answer was: questions were submitted via Discord to the moderator, so he could filter as necessary. The result was questions about his favorite food (cheese!), hobbies (playing the guitar), opinions on controversial questions (he is pro pineapple on pizza, but anti peanut butter and jelly sandwiches), and performing naked (in a carefully unnamed film! They wanted him to wear a bright yellow sock, and he refused; instead they taped him down with medical tape - and his advice for future actors, if they're in that situation, to inch it off, not rip it off, don't repeat his mistakes) - this last, and some discussion of his recent stage show, was as close as he got to talking about acting.
Also, he told the story of how he and his wife got together (met making another carefully unnamed film, being friends for a few years, and then he panicked in the wake of 9/11 because she lived in Manhattan and he realized, after 36 straight hours trying to contact her, that maybe he felt more for her than friendship). Somehow I had not realize he is married to Jennifer Connelly (!!!). He joked that they walk down the street, and people stare, and clearly it's because they're trying to figure how she was lucky enough to land him. (Moderator: "Well, she was in a couple famous movies herself, and she's beautiful, and the subject of more than a few youthful crushes too." Paul Bettany: "Allow me my illusions!")
I choose to view this as a good sign. Will report back later as I watch more!