An Interview with Sean Astin by Debbie Yutko Volume 11, Issue 2 Saturday, Aug. 30 Sean Astin, best known to self to that truth: that I got to con-goers for his role as Sam- carry the standard for Sam in wise Gamgee in The Lord of a meaningful way, but it gets the Rings, is attending his first carried by others, both theatri- Dragon*Con. He agreed to sit cally and in music and media. down for a chat with the Dai- For me, I think there’s some- ly Dragon. Before we began, thing basic and fundamental Sean said with a wide smile, about Sam: the fact that he’s “I love Dragon*Con. I LOVE a gardener. I both understood, Dragon*Con!” because of my experience with Daily Dragon (DD): What do you my maternal grandfather and think of Dragon*Con so far? propriate” to do that. I like his gardening […] In terms of www.dailydragon.dragoncon.org Sean Astin (SA): I’ve heard that the word “appropriate” literature, I understand the about it for years. It’s like a lot gets a thorough thrashing at sanctity of a gardener as a of the conventions, but a little Dragon*Con. philosophical pillar. It’s put- more. It’s like a campus. To DD: From your first appearance ting your hands in the soil, me it feels like an institution— in The Fellowship of the Ring to communing with nature, and in the good old sense. Now the final farewell in The Return returning home. [It’s] what that I’ve been in the post–Lord of the King, you were so true home means; a big word, of the Rings universe, there’s to my idea of Samwise Gamgee [home]. A big sound and a big been no shortage of interac- that I cannot imagine anyone word. And I think, on a visceral tion with people. else playing that role. I would level, I got that. I didn’t have to DD: Is that a good thing or a like to know how you gained understand much more about bad thing? such a wonderful understand- the character [...] The words ing of that pivotal character. themselves, the things that SA: It’s both, but when I come Samwise Gamgee has to say, to something like Dragon*Con, SA: Thank you. And you don’t if you understand what they I’m reminded of how, for other have to imagine anyone else mean, they can’t come out of people, [it’s] having a locus because I did it. For now. But your mouth wrong. where it’s permissible to say, it will eventually be reinter- “Hey, what are you doing? preted—five years, a hundred (Read the complete interview Look at what you’re wearing.” years—by another filmmaker, on the Daily Dragon website, Whereas most of the time, and there’ll be another Sam. It and be sure to catch Sean at when you’re wandering around took me a little while after the booth 35 in the Imperial Ball- in life, it’s not necessarily “ap- film came out to reconcile my- room (M) and at his panels.)

The Iris is Open: Stargate: Offworld by Desiree Jackson

Dragon*Con 2008 A delay in the arrival of the guests him worried, but his trip from Sunday, followed by an auction did not dampen the fervor with Atlanta to Bogota, Colombia. to raise money for the Ameri- which Stargate fans greeted Beau expressed his delight at can Heart Association. the stars of Stargate for their being back in Atlanta after not Cliff, when asked what proj- first appearance at Dragon*Con having the chance to be in the ects he has on the horizon, 2008. Erick Avari, Morena Bac- city for several years. announced that he is produc- carin, Beau Bridges, Rainbow Before the question and answer ing a film about the first black Sun Francks, Torri Higginson, session got started, Beau, in a person to swim the English and Cliff Simon were as eager touching memorial, asked for Channel. Beau also took the to answer fan questions as the the audience to join him and the opportunity to announce his fans were to ask them. rest of the panelists in a stand- participation in Max Payne with Erick won the award for big- ing ovation for the late Don S. Mark Wahlberg, as well as a gest audience reaction when Davis. An official Tribute to new ABC comedy series called he mentioned that it wasn’t Don S. Davis will be hosted by Single with Parents, in which he his trip to Atlanta that had the Stargate Offworld track on plays Alyssa Milano’s father.

Kevin Sorbo by Amanda Philbeck-Keener In the Marriott on Friday, His charity, A World Fit For some A-List people coming to Kevin Sorbo was charming and Kids, has had huge success. raise money for this charity. funny as he fielded questions The 6,000 kids that have gone There is also talk of a se- from the audience. He talked through the program have had ries he may be in, which may

The Daily Dragon The Daily about his movies, as well as a 100% graduation rate, as be out for the fall schedule Hercules and Andromeda. He’s compared to the 54% dropout next year. Cross your fingers. had five movies on the table rate in California. He is hosting this year, but all of them fell the first annual golf tourna- Be sure to catch Kevin at his through at the last moment. ment in Las Vegas this fall with other panels this weekend. Saturday, August 30, 2008 The Daily Dragon Vol 11, No 2, p.2 D.Gray-man Photo Shoot/Gathering Schedule Changes*The default is the Hyatt if no hotel is indicated. All cosplayers from the hit Japanese Additions “Frodo, the Reluctant Hero” Camp- Sun 1PM, Athens (S). manga/anime D.Gray-man are wel- bell and Jung call the reluctant hero a come to join us for some photos and “Free Realms: Q&A with Sony” A live- (NEW) Mitchell Graham will not be hero for the times we live in. Sun 4PM, fun. Photographers welcome, too! ly overview of Free Realms. Sat 10AM, signing autographs Sun 4PM, M301- L506-L507 (M). Athens (S). M304 (M), or on “Question and Answer Sat 5PM, 3rd Floor Lobby by the Sail- “LARP Costuming and Props” A Q&A Roundtable,” Mon 2:30PM, Manila/Sin- boat Bar (M). (NEW) Patrick Rothfuss will be sign- with LARP costume designers and prop gapore/Hong Kong. ing autographs Sat 11:30AM, M301- makers. Sun 4PM, Salon B (Hil).  303 (M). “Tolkien’s Darkness” Sun 4PM, L506- “Why We Love (and Hate) Disney” L507 (M). “Stargate Worlds: Sneak Peek” An ear- From Daddy Join our panel for a look at Old Men, ly look at Stargate Worlds, the exciting “Middle-earth Gaming: Board of the to Mommy & Adam Princesses, and Uncle Remus. Sun new MMO. Sat 11:30AM, Athens (S). Rings” Sun 8:30PM, L506-L507 (M). 4PM, Baker. Welcome to your first Dragon*Con. “By a Shire Fireside: Songs and Tales Scott Sigler will not be on “Talk Back Anne Petty will be signing autographs. It will never be the same. I love ya from the Real Middle-earth” The sto- to the Podcasters!” Mon 1PM, Rockdale Sun 5:30PM, M301-M304 (M). both! ~Rob ries that influenced Tolkien’s writing. (Hil). Sat 1PM, L506-L507 (M). Caitlin Kittredge will be on “Outsid- Corrections  ers.” Sun 7PM, Montreal/Vancouver. “LARP StoryTellers’ Roundtable” What “Film Festival Shorts Block: Georgia Star Wars Royal Court storytellers and their staff do behind “Requiem for the DC Animated Uni- Showcase (preceded by Animation All children ages 12 and younger are the scenes. Sat 1PM, Salon B (Hil). verse” Where are DC superheroes go- at 9AM)” Sat 10AM, Learning Center. ing? Sun 7PM, Baker. invited to take part in the Star Wars (NEW) “25th Century Archeological The Georgia Filmmakers panel begins Dig” Experts look at today’s every- “3rd Annual Anime Music Video at 11:30AM not 11AM. Royal Court during the Star Wars Costume Contest, Sun 2:30PM, Re- day objects to deduce their use. Sat Contest” The best AMVs submitted ”Voice Acting” Sun 1PM will be in Re- 2:30PM, Fairlie. over the past year: Action, Drama, gency VI-VII not Baker. gency VI-VII. They must have a Star Romance, Comedy, and Best In Show. Tobias Buckell will be doing a Wars costume and preregister before Sun 11:30PM, Hanover C-E. Updates Dragon*Reading, Sat 2:30PM, Univer- Sat 7PM in Dunwoody. sity. “Anime Music Videos” Mon 1AM, Ha- “Star Wars Galaxies: Q&A w/Sony nover C-E. Online” moved from Fri 11:30AM to  Robert Brown will be on “Steampunk: Sun 1PM, Athens (S). From Fiction to Reality.” Sat 4PM, Mon- “Oh, They’re BIG in Sci-Fi” Actors be- For Iz treal/Vancouver. come well loved and effective tools in “TrekTrak Presents: Robert Picardo” genre planning and niche marketing: moved from Fri 7PM, Savannah 1-3, to Happy 1st Dragon*Con, you scruffy Graham Watkins and Dr. Frank Gor- pros and cons. Mon 1PM, A704 (M). Mon 10AM Grand Ballroom A-F (S). lookin’ nerf-herder! I love you! don will be on “2nd Annual Skeptics ~Monica vs Believers Debate” Sat 4PM, Grand Cancellations “Adult Swim’s Aqua Teen Hunger Ballroom (S). Force & Squidbillies” moved from  “The Agency: Demo/Q&A with Sony” Sat 2:30PM, Regency VI-VII, to Sat Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick Sat 10AM, Athens (S). 11:30AM, Cent I. Atlanta Outworlders Party will be signing autographs. Sat 4PM, “Stargate Worlds: Tales from Beta” Regency VI-VII. “Actors Discuss How They Choose Sun 9PM, room 1705 (correction: not Sat 11:30AM, Augusta (S). a Character to Portray” moved from on Sat). Van Allen Plexico will be doing a “How to Take Modern Patterns and Sat 4PM to Sat 7PM, Manila/Singapore/ Dragon*Reading. Sat 4PM, Williams. Turn Them Into Costumes” Sat 1PM, Hong Kong.  “The Guild” The award-winning web L506-L507 (M). “Vampires Amongst Us” moved from series about a group of online gaming (NEW) “Techniques of Medieval illu- Sat 4PM to Sat 2:30PM, A704 (M). Sexy Redhead! addicts. Sat 7PM, Hanover CDE. minations” Sat 1PM, Hanover G. “The Venture Brothers” moved from Five years ago today marrying you Doc Ezra will be on “Nuts on the Road: (NEW) “Trial of the Most Dangerous Sat 11:30AM, Cent. I to Sat 2:30PM, was the best decision of my life, and Gonzo Sound & Vision.” Sat 10PM, Re- Man” Sat 2:30PM, Fairlie. Regency VI-VII; autograph signing to it is still is. ~All my love is yours, gency VI-VII. follow. Raya “What Makes A Hero?” Sat 2:30PM, “MMO Player Gathering” Party for all A704 (M). “2nd Annual Skeptics vs Believers MMO players. Come one, come all. Sat Debate” Sat 4PM moved from Regency  10PM, A601-A602 (M). “Pirate Party on the Burning Sea” Sat VI-VII to Grand Ballroom (S). 10PM, A601-A602 (M). Another Great Anniversary! “Q&A with Lance Henriksen” Meet “Writing Bestselling Fiction” moved the man behind the android Bishop. David Nykl will not be on “I was a from Sat 7PM to Sat 4PM, Manila/Sin- I’m so happy you’re a part of my life, Sun 11:30AM, Cent I. Paranormal Guest Star!” Sun 11:30AM, gapore/Hong Kong. Misti. And I can’t think of a better M106-M107 (M). “The Future is ONLINE” Webisodes, “Maintaining Wife (or Husband) Fac- place to spend our anniversary than the new breeding group for inde- (NEW) Claire Eddy will not be on “Now, tion” moved from Sun 10AM to Sun at the con with you, Heather, Brian, pendents and viral marketing. Sun That’s Funny” Sun 11:30AM, Manila/ 1PM, Athens (S). Paul, Jill, and Ronnie the “Master- Singapore/Hong Kong. 11:30AM, A704 (M). (NEW) “Planet Strange” retitled blaster.” Love you guys! ~Danny “Animated Short Films” A block of “Heroes are people too!” Sun “Draw It Strange,” featuring Emily the  animated shorts from the Independent 11:30AM, A704 (M). Strange and illustrator Buzz Parker, discussing the cult character and the Film Festival. Sun 1PM, Baker. Kevin Grazier will not be on “Dradis creative teams behind the art and mes- To the Staff & Crew Contact is Made.” Sun 1PM, A704 (M). David Nykl will be on “Stargate Char- sage of “being true to yourself.” Sun of Saber Idol ity Auction.” Sun 4PM, Cent II-III. “The Secret World: Q&A w/Funcom” 4PM, Montreal/Vancouver. It has been a pleasure working with D*C Bleeds Cosplay Contest The Future of Machinima you. The show at Dragon*Con ’08 will go down in infamy! May the A hundred people gave blood for Anime and Animation tracks bring We got machinima! Come to a Force be with you! ~Anthony the 2008 Dragon*Con Blood Drive back the Cosplay Contest. Contest Q&A session with guest speakers in the first three hours alone! Come forms available in Baker. During pre- Matt Kelland, Clint Hackleman,  help us surpass Comic-Con and judging, contestants will parade in and Micheal Nitsche. Sat 4PM, become the biggest blood drive in costume before our panel of judges Augusta (S). Also, don’t miss our DCTV Problems? SF convention history! Sat and Sun who will rank the winners. Everyone machinima screenings, includ- If you can’t receive Dragon*Con TV 10AM-7PM with extended hours will then show off their handiwork ing award-winning machinima in your room at the Marriott, please Mon 9AM-4PM. Now in two rooms: at the Cosplay Contest onstage. Sat from around the world. Mon 1AM, contact the front desk. Your televi- M202 and L405 (M). 4PM, Int’l North. Athens (S). sion set may need to be reset.