Holodiction '98
april25,brisbane,australia
Guest Speaker: Ethan Phillips (Neelix from Voyager)
This is the convention I remember with the greatest detail (probably because it was this year). April 25, 1998. Anzac Day (here in Australia). This year, our fortune was to visit the Sheraton Hotel here in Brissy, and proceed up to the magnificent ballroom. The huge glass windows overlooked Anzac Square, where throngs of people had gathered to watch the Anzac Day parade. It was actually a VERY nice view. Meanwhile, up in the Sheraton, our own throng was slowly gathering.
I saw a few familiar faces from previous conventions (but never any names, I'm sorry). And as everyone gathered in a loose line (some vague semblance of order), they finally let us in. There were only three dealers' tables this year.. but what tables!! There was Photon Production's own table (with licensed, authorised photos able to be autographed), Starland's table (they have everything Trek, Bab 5 and, well, Sci Fi in general) and King's Comics came up from Sydney with some of the best T-shirts I've ever seen (amongst other stuff).
Our ever-faithful compere entertained us while we browsed the tables, and we spent, spent, spent. Ethan Phillips had brought over some photographs especially for the signing. If we liked, we could get two autographed (when we were specifically told we could have only one)!!
We had a cool auction, with lots of collectibles. I'm still kicking myself that I let that limited edition of the "All Good Things.." video get away. I managed to pick up an autographed photo of Todd Bryant (Captain Klaa in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier). For ten bucks.. SCORE!!! It's great.
George Papadeas (the editor of Australia's Star Trek Reporter, and president of the official Australian fan club) told us all about the Star Trek Experience which had started in LA, and what had (so far) been happening with the new film. It was at that time that he introduced our guest; short, funny, Ethan Phillips.
He came out, much shorter in real life than I'd ever expected. Now, I'd known who he was since I was a big fan of Benson back when I was very young (and watching repeats). He's a great comedian, and spent his entire time on stage trying to make everyone laugh. He succeeded admirably. The usual questions came up like "What do you like to do in your spare time?" He said that his biggest hobbies were bushwalking (or hiking, as he put it), and birdwatching. Simple relaxation for a long-time actor always on the run. About half way through, I became the butt of one of his many jokes.
Someone (not me) had jumped up and asked something like, "Has anyone ever mistaken you for George Castanza from Seinfeld?" He immediately replied, "Who?" There were a few shouted replies to this from the audience as he thought about it. Then it dawned on him. "Oh, I know who he is. Actually, I've known Jerry Seinfeld for years. He did a few episodes of Beson way back when." It dawned on me, then, who Jerry was in Benson. "Oh, yeah," I shouted out, "he was Frankie. The courier!" A simple click (you know what I mean). There was absolute silence. He then looked at me, grinning, and said, "You really have no life." Well, that cracked everybody up, and I went an interesting shade of crimson, grinning like an idiot. He laughed and added, "No, that's mean. You do have a life, it just consists of reruns," I laughed and agreed, "Yeah, cable." And that was that. That was my claim to fame for the day.
He went on for a bit, talking about the show (Voyager), and the practical jokes he played on Tim Russ ("pretend Vulcan, Timmy.. look at those ears!"), and how awful the Neelix makeup is to wear for the whole day.
Eventually, his time had run out (as it always does, all too quickly). George Papadeas presented him with a digeridoo (that's a musical instrument of the Aboriginal Australian peoples), and he sat down to sign some autographs. He was great. He talked to everyone, for instance, asking me if I was well, and if I liked barbeques (or cookouts). I answered in the affirmative for both (happy to engage in smalltalk with one of my fave televsion actors). I took some nice photos (see below), and after he left, that was it.
We watched two Voyager episodes (not at that time released in Australia - "Concerning Flights" and "Mortal Coil"). They were great (I recommend "Mortal Coil" to anyone who hasn't seen it yet - buy, hire, beg, or borrow a copy from somewhere).
We cruised around the tables again (like you do), and left the building. All in all it was a great day.
I look forward to the next convention here in Brisbane.
Photo 1: "So, you like Star Trek, do you?" Photo 2: Another avid fan gets it signed.
Photo 3: "And do you like Star Trek too?"
Go to Holodiction '99 - Garret Wang
Go to Holodiction '98 - Brent Spiner and Jennifer Hetrick
Go to Holodiction '97 - Patrick Stewart and Jennifer Lien
Go to Holodiction '97 - Rene Auberjonois
"Star Trek" and all subsidiaries, including symbols are registered Trademarks of Paramount Pictures.
"Holodiction" and "Star Trek Reporter" are productions of Photon Productions.
Personal photographs are the property of the author.
