supernaturaldrafts

Let me start out by saying – imo JIB IV was a very good convention :) I enjoyed it a lot. The panels were good fun. The atmosphere was a happy one. Misha gave me a fluffy elephant (!). I was very satisfied with the answers to all my questions.

That said, there was STUFF happening behind the scenes I want to share. Or rather, I feel like I NEED to share, since it concludes the saga of The Question, which many of you have been following for some time now.

The cliff notes version for anyone unaware – I’ve been planning a question for Jensen about Dean’s sexuality for, oh, going on a year now. It had been carefully crafted with input from all over tumblr and it dealt with the academic debate among fans about how certain things in the show suggest Dean might be repressing bisexuality and asked how Jensen himself viewed Dean’s sexuality.

As of the NJcon fiasco, I quickly came up with several reworded versions of the question to avoid dealing with the subject head on like in NJcon and, hopefully, avoid a repetition of the same shameful crowd reaction at JIB.

What resulted was Plan A, Plan B and Plan C.

After the con schedule was released, I looked it over and decided the best time to ask my question would be in Jensen’s first solo panel, which was Saturday afternoon, coming after a J2 morning panel – the idea being that Jensen would have had time to settle in, but wouldn’t yet be too tired.

Ok tumblr, here’s how it all went down. But understand this isn’t really a con report, lots of stuff happened in-between and even during what I’m relating here, there was squeeing and flailing and meeting friends etc etc. I’m just cutting everything down to the relevant info:

I missed a load of Osric’s panel as I had to run to photo ops, but there was some really cool stuff discussed so these are just a few highlights of what I can remember/actually ended up seeing.

He talked a bit about his cosplays. Apparently they’re all his favourites in different ways. Highlights include the Ariel costume, which was the first of his cosplays that went beyond a convention audience to the point that a load of his rl friends and family had seen it because it was being shared so widely. He also loved the cosplay he wore at Asylum 10 which was what started the whole tradition. It was his second convention and when he saw some buzz on social media about a superhero party, he packed his costume. It was only when he got to the hotel and started talking to the other actors, some of whom he hadn’t really met before, that he realised the party was only for attendees. After going to all that effort, he decided to do it anyway and had so much fun, he did it again. Apparently his Princess Bubblegum costume nearly led to him getting fired (he didn’t explain why, at least not while I was there), so his Rapunzel costume was a bit of a “If I’m going, I’m going to do it right”. Also, he got some teasing and being laughed at for the Princess Bubblegum cosplay, so Rapunzel was also a chance to show that he wasn’t going to let that bother him.

He met Hilly and Hannah a few years ago and when he became familiar with their work, asked why they didn’t make a Supernatural parody. It was about half a year after that when they got the idea and put it all together. He talked a bit about how much he respected their directorial approach, how they’ll come up with a concept and work at it until the shoot comes out just how they want it. They had an ipad on set so he would rewatch the relevant Sam scenes before takes to make sure his impersonation was spot-on.

Someone asked a question about if he thought we would get much Destiel in S10. Some cheering from in the audience, a few murmurs, but more along the lines of “did they really ask that?” than outright negativity, I think. He made the comment “Aren’t there always?” before going on to say how beautiful the relationship between canon and fanfiction etc is. Also, destiel moments are to be expected. Because Jensen and Misha are good friends, that deep connection can’t help but be expressed in episodes while they’re filming.

He reckons that Kevin will be trying to break through the veil. He’s a smart guy and would probably take the time to practice. If they brought Kevin back, he would want to see Kevin having got so good at that, he would be able to be a hunter even though he’s a ghost.

Favourite moment to shoot was the bit in “Reading is Fundamental” when Sam is chasing Kevin. Partly because it was an action sequence, but partly because he loved the energy on set that day. Gen was expecting and Jared’s nervous energy because of that affected the scene. Jared found out that she’d gone into labour after filming that scene too.

First up, Mark pellegrino:

Mark’s obsession with big bags of dicks.

Kim’s inability to believe that ‘MISHA wanted to put JENSEN in the closet’ (re Kathryn’s cat swiping recreation video)

Adam’s face as Chad talked about ghosts. Thought his eyes were going to pop out!

Osric and the time he almost stabbed someone as a child over a snowman (seriously it got dark)

Seeing a video from a14 of Jensen first dancing to Taylor swift then mouthing ‘Bastard’ as he realised Misha was crashing his panel.

Kim and Briana talking about fanfiction being an art and understanding it’s not all about porn. And how important watching the female driven episodes is. (Coffee lounge)

Osric telling us about his 3 hour long poo sessions reading novels and becoming known as 'poo guy’. And how Jensen and misha could have a conversation about anything and make it seem intense because of their chemistry.

Kim saying Mark Shepard was amazing. Then realising she meant the other Mark and cringing that she was now on record admitting that.

Every time Osric sees a picture of his Ariel photoshoot he cringes a little bit, like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s a thing that happened.’

Fan asks Osric if there should be a Destiel moment in S11. Osric: “When is there NOT a Destiel moment?!” Osric says a lot of Destiel moments come from Misha and Jensen’s friendship.

Osric was never a reader but a friend in high school made him read Harry Potter and it was his first ‘page turner’.

Also, Osric’s response there is a polite, fan-pleasing response that is careful not to agree or disagree. Anyone who has interaction with fans is taught how to handle such situations so as to keep the fans happy, but also to not fuel stupid delusions too much. Unfortunately, certain people- like OP here- will still latch onto anything and run with it.

I’ve also attended Asylum in May for the last three years, and if ever the subject of Destiel has been brought up I’ve never heard “muttering in distaste” or felt ‘disappointment and awkwardness’ fill the room.  In fact the only time I’ve ever felt the atmosphere change was A14 when Jensen was there, in case a question about Dean’s friendship with Cas and how it’s become more strained over the past couple of seasons and would it get better again was misinterpreted as a veiled shipping question.  (Side note:  it’s sad how people with an interest in a friendship between two characters have to be so careful and cautious about a simple, legitimate question about what it portrayed on screen because of the backlash from those who viciously hate an imaginary ship.)

Yes, certainly fans at British conventions are a lot more polite - something Jewel Staite said several times at A15 - and while not booing does not equal support, cheering certainly does.  And people cheered Osric’s response, which the OP didn’t mention started with, “When is there not a Destiel moment?” asked in the same tone you’d respond with if someone asked you if it’s still cold in Alaska, or if Sam and Dean are still lying to each other:  a ‘the answer is surely so obvious why even ask the question?’ tone.  He came across as 100% genuine when he was talking about how it was hard to know where Jensen and Misha’s friendship ended and Destiel began, and not at all like he was trying to answer without offending anyone.

“Yes, Castiel. Though right now he and Dean are dating.” - Mark Sheppard

😭😂😂

FYI…. that’s a manipulation. They cropped the fan out of her own photo.

More Jim Michaels panel tweets

The blanket’s getting a little cramped now, but it’s not like I’m complaining (A13 autographs are in white, A14 in cream, and A15 in light blue)

[More Asylum 15]

There are some hilarities from blanket signing under the cut :D

*Jared & Jensen’s separate panels have been combined into one summary.

Jared says that Gen tells him to throw out the razors when the season ends :)

Asked what would season 10 Sam want season 1 Sam to know? “Probably don’t be so hard on that Ruby chick” and to not forget the pie!

Jensen talked about how Eric Kripke picked the Impala as the car based on a friend’s suggestion. If Jensen couldn’t have the Impala he would have a Chevelle ‘66

Toy car is JJ’s favorite toy <3

Jared is afraid of bears, Gen is terrified of worms.

Jared thanks for supporting the Always Keep Fighting campaign

Jensen says Sam and Dean both have dreams for their lives and a slice of normalcy - thinks that they dream of things they know they can’t have.

Jensen talked about being really comfortable with Jared from the very first day shooting in the library in the Pilot ep.

Jared says you don’t have to be in a tv show or a movie to be an actor, tells a young actor not to “lose sight of who you are.”

Jared: “The only thing you have, that nobody else has, is you.” 

Jensen said Kathryn and he were constantly challenging each other to play golf. Says she is talented and sweet.

Jared says Tom has a really active imagination.

Jensen says working with Jared felt very natural from the beginning.

Jared: “This is my life and I’m happy with that. It’s amazing. If my career ended with Supernatural I’d be so proud.” Also reported: “I’m not doing Supernatural and postponing my life. This is my life.”

Jared is grateful for his relationship with the fans and wouldn’t trade it for a bigger fanbase.

Apparently a woman’s daughter got into acting school because she wrote an essay about Jensen.

Fan comments on Jensen’s style - Jensen “fluffs shoulders” and raises eyebrows lol.

Jared referred to himself as a sweaty mess lol.

Jared would love to go to Poland because of his Polish heritage.

Jensen says there are a # of ways to get into acting. No right or wrong way. He says to focus on learning the technical aspects as well as the creative aspects of acting.

Jensen jokes that Jared is “tall, awkward, and ugly.” 

Jensen comments that he’s a really bad liar.

Jared spoke about working with Paris Hilton and the Olsen twins. Had nothing but praise :)

Jensen talked about his character Tom Hanniger. He says that he didn’t do a lot of research into split personalities, just talked to his wife a lot. Jensen then defends himself saying he was joking, that he can say what he wants because she’s in America! lol

Jared comments that it “doesn’t seem like Jensen ever gets hurt” (unlike Jared apparently lol!) Jared says that maybe he “needs more milk” since he’s always getting hurt.

Jared says that Jensen once injured himself by hitting himself in the eye with a gun prop (see: gag reel.)

Someone asked Jensen about a funny convention moment, Jensen talked about how he and Misha had the “resume-off” in Rome.

Jensen: “We are one big family and we really enjoy being with you guys!”

Jared talked about the Soulless!Sam workout scene.

Jensen loves to play tricks on JJ, loves to hide and seek.

Jared says he and Jensen bump and bruise each other all of the time.

SPOILER ALERT!!! Jared says he and Jensen (Sam and Dean) fight in the finale :o

Jensen says that he and Jared “teamed up a long time ago and realized we were much better allies than enemies,” especially when working against Misha.

Jared said that he and Jensen prank Misha by texting him loads of messages that cost him money to receive in Canada - they send him one word at a time lol. (Kind of funny they were both talking about this at about the same time.)

Jensen says that Danneel does not play pranks on him because she knows he would get her back tenfold! 

A fan gave Jared a flower crown <3 Jared: “I feel so pretty!”

In the s9 finale Jensen found it difficult to play dead at the end and not breathe on camera.

Jared says that they wanted Jared to be Conan (in the recent remake) but that his buddy Jason Momoa did it.

Jared: “I love Sam Winchester, I feel like he’s my friend.”

Jared says that some days he gets home and just wants to sleep for 10 days. His body doesn’t know the difference between real tears and Sam tears.

Jensen says Demon!Dean was a surprise to him and he liked the storyline.

A fan said Jared is very philosophical.

Another fan reported at Jensen’s panel: “Jensen’s face when he talked about the finale…just no.” Jensen gave an “evil chuckle” about the finale.