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).