Report by Marion Schrader
(C) 2011 Marion Schrader
Mark Ferguson was the Master
of Ceremonies on the RingCon and leaded through the opening ceremony
on Friday. He had some feature parts in Xena like as John Smythe in
the “Xena Scrolls” and as Centaure Krykus in „Hooves and Harlots”,
maybe some fans recognize him. When he introduced Hudson as the
actress of Callisto in “Xena” to the fans he said that he was killed
ones by Callisto, she was so dangerous in her part, but very
different in real life. Renee was introduced of him as the nicest
and kindest actress he ever met. Both talked on stage about some
memories on the set of Xena. One story was about the shouting with
the Centaures where Mark had the problem to walk like the horse and
the problem of getting beaten from tail. The next story was about
the crazy outfits of some cable bearer (I am not sure maybe camera
operators) as frogs. Mark and Renee have been so funny together on
stage, it was my highlight of this ceremony.
The panel with Renee and
Hudson on Saturday was in a small hall and so all fans had a better
view on the stage. Mark made again the introducing but he must not
say much because all of us have been Xena fans this time. Renee and
Hudson made it very entertaining, interesting and funny. They asked
first if it was ok for us to start with talking and asking question
about Xena and then to play with them a little game.
I try to remember so much as
possible and I can’t promise that I understand all right.
Hudson told us the story
about Thanksgiving (Andrea wrote about it before) and said that
Renee was so disciplined and hard working all the time. She was able
to kick her (Hudson) and Lucy in their ass all the time without
problems. The difference between Renee and Gabrielle on the
beginning of Xena was that Renee wanted to fight every time a weapon
came in her grasp, but must be reserved. So she was exercising
always off screen when Hudson was just sitting around and eating her
fruits on her free time on set. Renee was laughing about Hudsons
statement. Hudson said that it was easy to play Callisto because she
was just evil and she could not made much wrong with it and Hudson
made her typical Callisto face. One problem was only to play Xena
during role reversal with Lucy. A fan was asking if they are still
doing material arts. Renee said NO, but that she is thinking about
it. Her son is in material arts lesson. She met someone at one
lesson who knows about her past in it. Hudson told us that she is
doing Yoga. She was just in Prague giving lesson. And she would like
to do it also somewhere if enough interested people came together.
Renee will be for her Awareness Seminar in Paris next weekend, but
she isn’t able to do it somewhere else because of problems with the
foreign language.
I can’t remember where it
started but Hudson told us about her wish to touch always a snake
when she is spotting one. And she tried it, but has been stopped by
the rattle of the snack: “Ok, ok I don’t touch you. Look I go away.
“ Hudson is fascinated about the moving of snakes especially around
and up tries and she will not stop to try touching them. Renee
looked horrified, she is very afraid of snakes because they are
anywhere in texas and everyone is very careful walking outside and
looking for them. Renee told us a story about her walking the long
way to a new location while the whole crew of Xena just walked the
short way through the high grass.
A fan asked if they have
been ever so afraid of fans or reporter that they have been trapped
inside their home like Michael Jackson. Hudson joked about this: “
He hasn’t this problem anymore, he is dead.” (Sorry to all his
fans!) Both answered that it isn’t such a problem for them because
they are “only” TV actresses. Renee talked about her shopping with
her kids, wearing normal clothes and her hair in two braids. The
sales clerk looked first irritated, maybe recognize her but he
shrugged then and said that it can’t be true. Hudson remembered
Renee that Renee was often mistook as somebody else. (I don’t
remember the name of this actress). Hudson was surprised that she
was most recognized at passport control and asked if this people all
have been watching Xena. She told us a funny story on a flight when
a steward said to her that he recognized her and before he could say
more she answered: “Yes I know you mean Callisto”. But he said: “No,
No this was an ugly one. You are this model…..” Hudson gave up and
said: “Yes”.
A fan asked about the
difference about shooting in NZ and USA. Hudson answered that it is
very different. One point: A union agreement guarantee that there is
always a catering with all what is wanted, especially chocolate. In
NZ they got only a plate of fruits and always tea. Both joked about
it. Renee told us that for her it was the feeling of a family. She
said after working hours on set it was like driving home to sleep
and the next day coming back to the family. In USA it is all more
doing your work right and going home after it. Hudson agreed with
her. All laughed when a stuff member of RingCon came on stage to
give a little bowl with chocolate to them.
Renee isn’t thinking about
going back as leading part on TV show, it would be to hard for her
with her family now. She wants to take care of her kids, they need
their mother. She talked about her traveling after Xena, her own
Production firm, her being able to make own movies. She said that we
will not believe it but her preference is doing comedies, also when
she gets now most parts in drama movies. She asked us if we know her
web page and her short comedy clips “5 Ways”. This is the way she
wants to do every months something and being a comedian. She liked
this also on Xena, like her part on “Xena Scrolls” playing with the
whip and cigar in her mouth. But her favored ep of Xena is “The
Bitter Suite”, also when she was not singing her part. She likes it
because this ep was so complex and dramatic, she was able to show so
much different emotions.
Hudson talked a longer time
about going on in her life after Xena, how all on the way has an
effect who we are, how we feel and how we are treat and care for
others. It was emotional and a deeper look on her who she is. Yoga
is a way to find her inner self and she enjoys to give her knowledge
about it back to others.
When a fan asked if they are
not tired now speaking about Xena after such a long time, both
answered NO. They don’t speak so often anymore about Xena, only on
Conventions like this.
Of course Renee was also
talking about her friendship with Lucy, that she loves her and when
they are able to meet it is always something special to both. She is
missing her and also the family of the Xena crew.
Hudson and Renee made a
break between the Q&A to play with us. They asked for some
volunteers to come on stage. 4 women got a chair and Hudson and
Renee sat in front of them, because they should not see them during
the play. Hudson and Renee switched with asking questions. All
volunteers answered the question one after the other. Hudson and
Renee picked their winner after answering all.
The questions have not been
about Xena. Here are just 2: “What do you do if you want to go to a
date and you have no clean clothes to wear?”, “How do you clean a
pan? Go to a river to clean it with water or just spit in it for
cleaning?”
Renee wanted to ask one
question and Hudson asked it in a very funny way: “What do you do if
someone falls in mud in front of you? Do you help him/her up or
force him/her down? ” Renee changed her question: “What would Xena
do if I (Gabrielle) would fall in the mud? Help me up and let me sit
on her horse? Or….” Hudson answered before anyone other was able to
do it: “Xena would jump with Gabrielle inside, plashing and playing
around, kissing and then ridding together away on her horse!” It was
for the best answer for the fans and the loud agreement and laughing
were extreme.
This one hour with Renee and
Hudson was such a wonderful time and we all enjoyed it. I am sure it
would have been last longer if not a stuff member reminded both to
end. Many thanks to both of them to be there, making the evening to
a special memory of their fans. Renee and Hudson are both such
nice, kind and charming women. Everyone of us was feeling their
connection and caring to their fans.
One of the big surprise at
the Closing ceremony on Sunday was Renee. She says always she can’t
sing but she was singing with us “In the heart of Texas”. And it was
NOT BAD!
