Other than being in a convention center with woefully long bathroom lines and a single food concession place, DallasCon was laid back and lots of fun. Some of my favorite fangirls were there to hang out with and the cast was in a great mood – Jensen and Jared got to spend time with their kids and families, many of whom were at the con, and Misha is all better and back to smiling a lot, which felt wonderful. More photos and commentary from the con soon, but for now, here are some tidbits from Jensen’s meet and greet.
I usually relate mostly show related things, because that’s what I’m usually dying to know and thus am likely to remember, but I’ll share a little non-show-related tidbit, because it was so cute I can’t leave it out. A fan told Jensen that Jared had said in his meet and greet that JJ screams (with joy) when she sees Tom and Shep (awwww). Jensen laughed and said yes, that’s true. And then added that when she sees him recently and he picks her up, she puts both hands on the sides of his face, cradling it, and says tenderly, “Oh Daddy…”
Jensen: Danneel! Did you teach her to do that?
But no. Apparently it’s all JJ. And who can blame her? Look at that faaaaaace!
Of course he demonstrated this, and if the room hadn’t been so cold, we all would have melted.
Okay, back to the Show… A fan said she loved the dvd commentaries that Jensen and Jared have done, and asked if there would be more. Jensen said they would like to do more, that it’s cool to go back and watch an episode even when it’s one of the old ones because you see things more objectively – and because all of those memories spark the nostalgia. (In other words, he watches old episodes just like we do!) So far WB hasn’t asked them to do more.
Everyone: Hello?? WB?? Wake up.
With the new season already well into filming and the teaser trailer for S11 having just been released, there were excellent Show questions.
[Spoilery section below]
Since all we’ve seen of S11 so far is the trailer (which the cast clearly has a love/hate relationship with because it both gives things away and creates confusion and consternation in the fandom for perhaps no good reason), I asked Jensen a question about what we saw there. Jensen and Jared have both said that they’re excited about the new season because the brothers are back on track, back together, unafflicted by anything. But in the trailer, we see Sam bloody and tortured, and with ominous black veins bulging in his neck. That doesn’t exactly look like “unafflicted”!
Jensen was careful not to be explicitly spoilery, but he did say that perhaps what we see in the trailer is not exactly what it seems.
Me: So maybe what we see there is what happens in a one-off episode, instead of a whole season afficted!Sam arc?
Jensen nodded, and reiterated what he’d said to me before, that we won’t be seeing Sam with an affliction. Maybe something is after Sam, but who’s to say it’s evil?
Me: Ooooooh
Not to say that Sam necessarily lets Dean in on everything that happens.
Me: (exasperatedly, thus sounding a bit like Rowena but without the awesome accent) Aahh! Winchesters!
Jensen said again that this season feels to him very much like Season 1, with the Winchesters together up against this big thing that they don’t know how to fight and don’t have lore about, so in the meantime they’re going to get back to saving people, hunting things.
Me: That’s actually like a brilliant re-set to Season 1. Tell Jeremy good job.
Jensen: I know, kudos to Jeremy, I will.
(I’m sure there will be things that bother me soon enough, but in this case, I really do love that they’re getting back to a Season 1 Kripke-esque feel for the Show. We’ll see how long it lasts…)
The Winchesters will also team up with some unlikely allies, which made me squee a bit hoping they’re some of my favorite guest stars.
Someone asked if the Season premiere picks up where the finale left off. Jensen said yes, it’s a direct pick up — with a twist. We don’t know how much time has passed or what has happened during that time.
Hmmm.
[End of Vague Spoilers]
Another good question was how Jensen approaches playing Dean’s development as a character when they shoot episodes out of order. Isn’t that confusing? Jensen said he focuses on the one script he’s working on, especially on how Dean comes into that story and how he exits.
Jensen: Then I go from there. I keep them separate, compartmentalize the scripts. Jared does it differently, as one continuous story line.
What’s important to him, he said, is going into it with an understanding of where the character is at emotionally.
I’m always fascinated hearing actors talk about how they approach bringing a character to life. The emphasis on the emotional life of the character makes so much sense to me when I think about Dean, and how much emotion Jensen is able to convey in such subtle ways. Makes sense that he would prioritize emotional understanding of the character.
He also said that shooting out of order is routine for them.
Jensen: We often shoot the scene where the brothers are talking…like in the car…you guys have a word for it, right?
Everyone: Broments.
Jensen: (smiling) Yeah. We often shoot those scenes first. We shoot out of order all the time.
A creative fan asked an interesting question that Jensen clearly had fun with. What character that he’s played would he like to see Jared play?
Jensen: (pondering, and then breaking out into an absolutely gleeful grin) Priestly. I’d love to see Jared do Priestly.
Fan: In a kilt?
Jensen: (nodding, and still grinning)
Me: (forgetting my filter, because IMAGE!!) So would we!
Jensen: All right, all right.
Sorry, Jensen. But I mean, can’t you just see it??
He’s just so sassy!
Misha was not spared either.
Creative fan: And what character would you like to see Misha play?
Jensen: Jason Teague on Smallville. I’d like to see Tom Welling tower over him
Creative fan: And which of Jared’s characters would you like to play?
Jensen: Jared’s character in Friday the 13th. Because he got to ride an old Triumph. [laughing] Although he made it look like a mini bike!
Of course he acted this out, so we were all laughing too.
Another great question was when (what season, or what episode) Jensen felt like he really understood Dean. Jensen mentioned a few early episodes that helped him understand who Dean was — Phantom Traveler gave him an idea that Dean had a comedic side. And Dead in the Water solidified Dean as this kind of unsuspecting hero, someone who would run into a fire and not think twice about it.
Jensen: Even though he can have kind of a hard exterior, there was this morally good heroic man underneath it.
The scenes with Dad also gave him another clue about who Dean was, how he really looked up to his father and learned to do what he did.
Jensen said that he didn’t know Dean then like he does now, though. Now he can read a script and say “Dean would not say that” or “Dean would not do that.” He wouldn’t walk into a room and stumble over dead bodies on the floor, or go “Aaah!” when he sees them. That’s not a way to get a “jump scare” that would work with Dean.
Jensen: He’s seen 2000 dead bodies. Some of them his own!
After playing the character for ten years, he knows this character inside and out. And it shows, I think.
Near the end of the meet and greet, a fan asked the lovely and intrepid Jen from Creation to give Jensen some candy she’d brought for him.
Jensen: Thanks! Jared got some before and I already broke into it and had some.
Boys. I feel like I should hashtag that.
On a more serious note, Jensen also talked a little about Richard Speight’s Supernatural directing debut, which is about to happen.
Jensen: I’m actually a really big fan. I’ve been very impressed by the things he’s done that I’ve seen.
He said the script is very unique. It’s written by Jenny Klein, who is good friends with Ben Edlund (who I still miss like crazy!) and that this script seemed very “Ben-like”. Which makes me even more excited for Richard’s debut episode!
Jensen also said that Richard has the entire crew and all the actors on his side. They will undoubtedly prank him unmercifully, but I think we all know they’ll give him 110% and all the help he needs.
Later, we asked Jensen if he’s given Richard any advice about directing.
Jensen: [laughing] He keeps asking me! I don’t know what he’s thinking…
Me: Maybe the advice you should give him is watch your back!
Jensen laughed, but it’s probably good advice for Richard. I can’t wait to see that episode – and ALL the episodes, starting on October 7th. I’m so ready!!!
Photos by me
Edits by the ever patient and talented @arkine13
–Lynn
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