Botcon 2006: VampyerBA's Report

Venue: Hyatt Regency convention centre, Lexington, Kentucky

Dates: 28th September - 1st October, 2006

I left for botcon 2006 on Wednesday the 27th. I arrived in Louisville and was greeted by Hacker. I stayed with her at the campus for a bit. Later on we picked other people up including Outtsyder, miss special, and sapphire. I was so excited to meet Sapph as I have been speaking to her for over 3 years, She is just as nice in person as she is online Anyways, much didn't happen until Thursday evening. Our group from bwint.net, which included about 15 0r 16 of us, were waiting in the lobby about to go into one of botcons room for a program called MSTF. Everyone else was in the MSTF, but we were just chillin in the lobby for a bit. Suddenly the room went silent. I looked to my right, and low and behold I saw my absolutely favorite actor: Scott Mcneil! I had wanted to meet him for years so I was quite in shock. My first instinct was to look at Sapph 'cause we all knew how excited she was to see him. Her hands went right over her mouth and Scott shouted at her and she burst out "I'm your biggest fan!!" He went over to her and gave her a huge hug. We all introduced ourselves to Scott. I was standing to his left. He turned over to me and saw my card that was attached to me, which said where I was from. He turned it over and said "Oh, from Winterpeg! Chicago thinks they have bad winds, well they've seen nothing til they've been to Winnipeg." I agreed and we started chatting about my city. He said He went there before in winter, and was heading off portage and main, and had to go through the tunnels. He said it was like a whole labyrinth there, and that winnipeggers are like underground mole people in the winter who stay in the tunnels to keep warm (lol so true!!).He then went on to say how he just ate dinner and a whole cow had to be killed to feed him, as he stuck out his stomach to make it appear larger. He was sooo hysterical in person. I was still in shock and it didn't quite click to me that I had finally met Scott. He asked if we would be at the panel tomorrow and we said yes. He said he would not going on unless we were there. He then turned to sapph and did a rattrap imitation saying you gotta promise me, in which sapph yelled "I promise rattrap!" It was sooooooo CUTE. He then had to leave and go to his hotel room, while we went to the MSTF show.

MSTF is a kind of theatre presentation, where transformer episodes are played, and 3 guys are sitting there critiquing them horribly. It was soooo hysterical We all laughed so hard. At the end, they played the pilot episodes for beast wars. My favorite part had to be when they were choosing their names. The part where Cheetor says "I'm Cheetor" And Optimus replies "hmmm, Interesting".... one of the critics added in his Optimus impersonation "you're more retarded than I thought you were." That got us all roaring! So anyways the next day, they had the voice actors panel with Scott McNeil, Richard Newman, Pauline Newstone, and Blu Mankuma. I got to ask a few questions which I have myself on tape. I was sooo nervous. One part I didn't get on tape was Scott's impersonation of Gary chalk. He has a story about Gary in the studio (he does a funny impersonation of his voice, he makes it sound sooo goofy). And Gary had to make this belch. So he chugged back a soda and tried to burp, which started out good, but then turned out into poor Gary getting sick all over the floor. Anyways, when the panel was done I went to scoot and asked if he remembered me and said of course and brought up Winnipeg again. Then I gave him a card to bwint.net. He said he had visited it before, but would now go there officially. Then he noted that I was all sparkly, and how he loves sparkled (of course he said it in his silly voice). Later we went for autographs. I only got to fit in time for Pauline and Blu. Pauline was very shy and quiet. When I went to Blu, he was very friendly and excited. He's got such a distinctive voice. Later on, we met up with Ben Yee, who is widely known in the transformers fandom, for his website, huuuge transformers collection, and his help on some of the beast wars episodes. We decided later on to invite him for dinner. Sapph, spesh, hacker and I were driving in the car when we got call from Dragonsflayme. She had asked the voice actors if they wanted to come as well, and they accepted! We all started screaming in our girlish voices. We went back to the convention to meet up with everybody. Scott and Richard said they were coming, but Blu and Pauline were unable to as Blu had run into some friends and Pauline was exhausted. SO off we went to the cracker barrel.

Sapph, Miss Special, Beast Bot, Crab, Ben Yee and I shared one table, while every one else was scattered over 2 other tables sitting with Scott and Richard. Our dinner was lovely. Ben shared some great stories of his with us. Miss Special Sapph and I wanted to have a moment with Scott and Richard and tell them about how Beast Wars brought us together. I would go first. I had so much to say to them. How much I looked up to them, how Beast Wars had been in my life for 10 years, how much I had wanted to meet them and never thought it would happen, and how grateful I was to have them at dinner with us. As I went over to their tables both Scott and Richard turned to me and Scott jokingly said "Now what" with a huge grin. I said I was kinda nervous and Richard said it was okay and to go on. I got about 2 sentences in, and then I started to cry. It had meant so much to me that they were there, taking time out of our lives to get to know us, I cant even remember what I had said but I broke down. I started apologizing profusely when Richard was comforting me saying it was all right and how sweet I was. Then, Scott stood up in front of me. I looked at him, and he had tears welled up in his eyes. Then He was trying to joke and hide his face a little. I couldn't believe that it meant so much to them. What I had said really effected them. Scott gave me the worlds biggest hug. And let me tell you this, no one can hug like Scott. He hugs you with his whole body, and makes you feel important. Richard gave me a big hug as well. Sapph and miss special went on to tell them how Beast Wars has had an impact on them (without crying lol).Then we paid for our meals (Ben Paid for our tables...the sweet heart!). We went outside in front of the restaurant to take group pictures. Charade had a great idea. She called, Landray DepthCharge on the phone, and then handed it over to scott without telling her who would be on the other end. We all had a good laugh. We then went back to the hotel and went to sleep.

The next day I went in line to se Scott and Richard. I saw Richard first. He said "Hey Jennifer" and asked how I was doing and if I was doing good today. I felt so happy that he knew my name. I then went over to Scott. There was a couple in front of me talking to Scott for several minutes. They then asked for a pictured and he accepted. So they stood in front of me. I guess Scott noticed me because he said one second to them, walked past them, said ":Hey Sweetie" and kissed me on the cheek, then took the picture with them. I was so touched, I wanted to cry again lol. Then Scott asked me how I was and gave me another huuuge Scott hug! Then, the other voice actors panel was on. I sat down and waiting several questions to ask mine. I raised my hand and Richard pointed "Yes, you. Oh Jennifer hi!" That just made my day, being addressed in front of everybody. Then, the lovely Scott piped up "She's from Winnipeg". I Said "This one's for Scott. What were your thoughts on the romance between Blackarachnia and Silverbolt and how did it affect Silverbolt?" Then he said "Infected??" "No, affected." He then went on in his SilverBolt voice "I always protected myself" I burst into laughter...I said affected not infected...the silly guy. Then he went on again as Bolt "Us heroes have to protect ourselves you know" He then went on about how Venus made it VERY easy to act out the love story and every once in awhile he'd say "Okay guys you gotta leave, venus and my love scene is coming up!" What a guy. Another person asked what their favorite catch phrase from each character was. Pauline said that she didn't remember a specific phrase but she remember airazor saying "Oh Tigatron" a lot. Well, you know where that one went. Some one said "Do you guys need a moment" and Blu said "We already had our moment" which then Scott added "Yeah you guys can't see what's going on behind these tables!" LOL. Later we had a fanfiction reading, of myself and Sapph reading Mr.Crowley. I think it was the next night but I'm not too sure, Zucca read Death Shall never part us, and he sure can do a good silverbolt.

The next day I visited Blu and Pauline again. Pauline was a bit more chatty as she was opening up. I told Blu what I had told Scott and Richard the night before, but I didn't cry this time. Blu said I just made his day, then said he needed a hug, and gripped on to me hard. He gives very powerful hugs. Later that night we had to dinner to attend to. It was OVER crowded so we stayed out in the food court, and laughed with each other. We spotted Scott with a bunch of people (including his gorgeous girlfriend.) Later on I went over to him to just say hello. He looked up at me, as I was all dolled up and said "Wow, look at you!" and gave me another huge hug, and of course commented on my sparkles again, and kissed me on the shoulder. We were taping this all, and suddenly Sapphire exclaimed "Dance Scott Dance!" jokingly, not expecting him to do it. He then jumped up and did a little Irish like jig, which got us into another fit of laughter. Dragonsflayme had her remote controlled rattrap with dinobot riding on it, and was making it ride across the floor. Now, I don't know where this came about, I guess Scott was just being Scott, but he then was pretend to be a robot, using very slow motions and speaking in a monotone voice "Hi, I am Scott McNeil, this is my domain." And then hung his head down as if his power went out. Dragon tapped him then he bolted up again saying "I am Scott McNeil" he even laughed at it a little. Then Scott went off on his way and we went back in the dinner hall to play bingo, and watch the awards. We later spotted Blu at a table when Miss spesh said we should all bombard him with hugs, which we did. He laughed and said when you give someone a hug you gotta make it big so the person will remember it and will keep coming back for more. Apparently later on he came off the elevator exclaiming "Hugs for everyone!" lol.

The next day was the final day. I said my goodbyes to Pauline and Blu first. Blu asked me if I would be attending the next year and I said I couldn't promise but it was doubtful. The he said "No, you're going to be the 1st in line, right?" I laughed and said okay. Later, right before botcon ended, I said my goodbyes to Richard and scott. I could feel my eyes welling up but kept it together. Richard said I would have to attend next year, because it was closer to me. He said he wanted me to send the pictures I took to him so his daughter could see how botcon works, so he gave me his email (yay).He signed an autograph that said "You go, girl!" I then went to Scott, I really felt emotional. He too gave me his email (double yay!), and said he checks them every day, but is notorious and replying. Then he stood up and gave me the final biggest Scott hug. He cupped my face with his hands and told me to keep it up, and kissed me on the cheek. We then left to get our stuff and went back to Hackers house for another fanfiction reading. Sapph read a day at the funfair, which delivered soooo many laughs. It was hilarious. We then watched Sinead's movie : V for Vendetta. Sinead and Zucca had to leave, so we said goodbye, Sinead was so sweet and saying how much this all meant to her, so we both hugged each other and cried...again.I also said bye to Barron who would be leaving at 4am. Then the rest of us went to sleep. Now, I am at the campus on Louisville with Sapph, Ouuty, Stellar and Hacker. I will be going back home shortly. I had to most amazing experience of my life. I have never been happier. I am so grateful for all my friends for coming out, and to Ben Yee and the voice actors. Ben always made sure we were having a good time. And for Scott and Richard, they made me feel truly important. They will always have a special place in my heart. I will never forget BotCon 2006. I'll be sure to post the video footage and pics as soon as I can. Til all are one.