SDCC 2013 -- The EW Star Portraits Gallery

The Entertainment Weekly Star Portraits Gallery is something I always look forward when it comes to SDCC. I really like their photos. If they release a printed version, like a coffee table book, I'd so buy it! Here are few of my favourite photos from this year's portraits. 

Zachary Levi

Felicia Day

Nick Frost and Simon Pegg

Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr

Karl Urban and Michael Ealy

ChiCon 2012: A Very Supernatural Convention Experience - Part One

What a weekend that was! The Creation Entertainment -- Salute to Supernatural was truly over two weeks ago in Chicago. But I don't want to close this chapter and move on, not yet. Instead, I am revisiting the highlight and re-living the excitement. You have already seen my photos on Flickr. And I am sure you have watched clips on YouTube, read tweets and summaries from other fans. Me, myself and I have been watching the J2 main panel every night! And every night I remind myself, I was squeezed between the two men who are the best things since Shack Stack! 

For those who have been to a Supernatural convention, you know how I am feeling right now -- a little sad and may be depressed, but happy, very happy. Strange things do happen to your body and your soul, my friends. If you haven't been to a Supernatural convention, the following may help you to understand the magnitude of it. If you have been to a Supernatural convention, this may remind you of your own experience. 

Fan conventions are a strange territory, separating from the reality. Fan conventions reside in some intergalactic distance. It's not Tatooine and you cannot travel via a Stargate. But you may want to change your ringtone from R2D2 to a classic rock tune like Carry On Wayward Son. A Supernatural convention puts you under a spell -- it makes you forget who you are, what you do and where you are from; it makes you forget your definition of sanity and insanity; and it changes the way you think, speak and do things. But for some reasons, you feel pure because you are more than a number on the Neilson TV rating system. You are a dedicated fan. You know what you are watching and why you are watching it. You know crap TV and you don't accept crap TV. You are passionate enough to travel from afar to see your favourite celebrities live on stage. You get to sing with them, hug them and talk to them. As you travel to the convention, you keep asking yourself "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" And then BOOM! It hits you! Before you know it, your transport is here to pick you up. And you ask yourself "Why can't I have super power to stop time?" It's a very surreal experience.

You may find yourself surprisingly organised months before the convention, even you can't believe it -- from the moment you purchase your tickets for seating, photo ops and autograph, to the moment you book your accommodation and travel. You receive all your PDF confirmations, you look at them, you pinch yourself -- you are not dreaming. You may have a check list for a check list. You don't want to miss anything and you have to make sure you read every word on the program. You highlight stuff and make notes. You may or may not bother to get a good camera to take awesome photos. You're a fan, it's your obligation! Know your settings! Practice! Practice! Practice! You may even allocate all ten of your SD cards to sessions. Number each card if you can. One or two weeks before you travel, you pick your outfits and you go to your hair dresser. You pack and repack your bags for three days and nights. Don't forget your toothbrush! 
 

The cast of Supernatural is 99 kinds of awesome! They are talented, funny, polite, professional, friendly, kind, sweet, unpredictable, accommodating, smart, articulate, well spoken, hot, sexy and exceptional good looking. They are here for a good time. We are here for a good time. Fans ask great questions and you'll be surprised how well the cast answer them. Each panel is so entertaining you have not yawned once! Is that even possible? Is that healthy?

You try to concentrate during each panel. You try to not to cry and do embarrassing things when you stand in front of Jensen, Jared and friends at photo ops and autograph sessions. Your heart stops as the MC says their names. You gasp as they appear from behind the curtain. You scream and may even cry when you see them on stage live in person. You appreciate how beautiful the world can be now that Jensen and Jared are here. And then you remind yourself, "I get to hug them."

Even the Westin O'Hare turns into Planet Supernatural. Fans occupy the hotel lobby, restaurant, bathroom and Starbucks, Supernatural fans are on every floor. Those mathematicians at the conference next door are out-numbered and out-dressed by us. You flash your convention Pass, you get 20% off your total bill at the restaurant. Staff may even remember you and give you the same comfy booth three times you eat there. There is nothing better than seeing a Supernatural marathon on TV during a Supernatural convention. (Thank you TNT!) One minute you see them on TV and then you see them live in person. Jensen shared this story -- he was at the gym in the morning and he turned on the TV, and BOOM -- his face! The woman in the gym was confused!

Wait a second...can we go back to the bit where Jensen was in the gym?! It was highly possibly that he was in shorts or at least in a single layer. Sweat! He is so distracting! Quit looking so so hot.. oh wait...actually...don't! I dare you out-hot yourself Jensen Ackles!

"Out-hot myself huh? I'll see what I can do."

The whole time you ask yourself, "Am I dreaming? Am I really here?" You take a moment and listen to the ambient sound in the ballroom. You take a moment to observe people's behaviour and expression. You take a moment to smell the roses, or Jensen. You remind yourself to remember every second you spend at the convention.

Convention days are usually long. There are multiple long queues, so make sure you drink enough water. You sit with strangers while you wait patiently for your row to be called for photo ops and autographs. You sing Dead or Alive together. You don't know what gets into you, but you channel your inner Sammy as you sing the chorus "...want it! Dean or alive.." Wait.. that's a typo..."Dead or alive.. Dead or alive.. Dead or alive.." Bon Jovi rocks on this occasion.

Every second is a photo perfect opportunity, so make sure your camera is charged up and take three extra batteries! You never know who's gonna show up at the lobby, like Richard walks in with Maccas and Rob drops by to say "hi" to the crowd. Oh, did I mention I think Rob's room was on my floor? Misha may hang out with the crowd for a bit after his panel. And don't forget, when someone ask you if you've been hugged by Matt, say no, because you will get one. 

 

The excitement is too overwhelming, some may cry, some may laugh like crazy, some may just squeeze the day light out of the person next to you because Jensen and Jared are a piece of art, like Michelangelo's DAVID. They look exceptional hot on TV, they look exceptional hot live in person. For this reason, I am actually surprised how well behaved fans are at conventions. What's wrong with us? 

Even when you go alone, you are never alone. The person standing in front of you or behind you is always happy to give you fashion or any advice. You trade stories about convention experiences. You discuss Supernatural episodes. You talk about driving in the snow. You realise you are not far from Milwaukee, and all of a sudden you want to go there for no reason. People tell you they too have planned the weekend so that they know when to put on the trenchcoat and transform into Castiel. You may even find out the 'beard' on her face was just mascara. And you reply by saying "That's a genius idea!" You meet your Twitter buddies. You hug and you find out James Patrice Stewart visits The Art Institute of Chicago that morning. You have breakfast and cocktail with strangers, but are they? We are family -- the Supernatural family. 

Photo ops can scare the crap out of you. But you need to be awesome. We need you to be awesome! The queue is supernaturally long but you don't want it to move too fast because one step closer to hugging Jensen is one step walking away from him. People walk out of photo ops crying and shaking because they are just too happy. Jensen's touch and hug can heal your soul. You feel more alive than ever. It costs you $129 for one hug, but the two seconds of heaven is worth it because of this -- if Michelangelo is still alive, he would want to build a JENSEN and you want to touch him. He is hotter in person than you can process. 

After the convention, you find yourself in my position -- the post-convention depression. It takes awhile to recover. The best thing about post-convention is that you get to sort the amazing photos you've taken from the panels, karaoke and breakfast. You get to blog about it and share your experience with others. You take your time to sort out the merchandise, autographs and photo op prints. You may not have the space in your room to put your treasures, but you put your interior designer hat on and redecorate your room. You may even clean your room before you do that, making your parents proud. 

At a Supernatural convention, I feel pure. I forget who I am, I forget my problems, I forget where I come from. I am a Supernatural fan. That is my identity. That's all you need to know. I may have an addiction problem, but I don't care. I can only be healed by returning to another Supernatural convention. So, (super)naturally I will go again. I pray to Chuck Shirley that Creation Entertainment will announce VegasCon 2014. This is my therapy. I need multiple hugs from Jensen. I want to chase UFOs I don't care if they are fake.

This has been A Very Supernatural Convention Experience -- Part One. In coming days, I will post another entry about my photo ops and autograph experience. Can I be dismissed and watch A Little Slice of Kevin the 3rd time today?

The Creation Entertainment -- Salute to Supernatural took place at the Westin O'Hare in Chicago on 26th to 28th of November, 2012 at the Westin O'Hare in Chicago. Guests include Jensen Ackles, Jared Padelecki, Jim Beaver, Misha Collins, Richard Speight Jr, Matt Cohen, Rachel Miner, James Patrick Stewart, Kim Rhodes, Gabriel Tigerman, DJ Qualls, Rob Benedict and Emily Perkins.

Related Posts:
-- My ChiCon Photo Album on Flickr
-- ChiCon 2012 Photo Set -- Misha and Jim
-- ChiCon 2012 Photo Set -- Jensen and Jared