June 2011 Archives   28 June 2011 Danielle Cormack added to Australia Xena Con Guest List Danielle Cormack has been added to the Xena Con presented by Hub Productions, being held in Australia on Nov. 12 & 13. Danielle joins the previously announced Hudson Leick on the guest list. Convention information page   Contributor: Barbara Davies     28 June 2011 Creation Developing New Fan Reality Show with William Shatner It looks like The Captains may not be William Shatners "final farewell" to Star Trek. Friday at Creation’s official Star Trek convention in New Jersey, Shatner began shooting the pilot for a proposed new reality show called "Fan Addicts," which will be centered around fans attending Creation shows. Fans arriving for the first day of Creation Entertainment’s Star Trek Convention in Parsippany, New Jersey were surprised by none other than the original Captain Kirk, William Shatner. He was there not as a speaking guest, but in his capacity as Executive Producer and Director of a new reality television pilot, “Fan Addicts.” The new show will focus on fans who attend Creation conventions around the country. Fan Addicts will not be limited to Star Trek fans, with each episode focusing on a different Creation convention for various different genre properties, which also includes Supernatural, Twilight, Stargate, Xena, Farscape and others. Adam Malin, co-founder of Creation, tells TrekMovie "the emphasis is on the fans," and he also made it clear that they will ensure that Fan Addicts will have a respectful depiction of passionate fans and the forces which drive them. To keep the emphasis on the fans (along with the team who put together Creation shows), Shatner will stay behind the camera for Fan Addicts. Click here for full article Contributor: Barbara Davies     26 June 2011 2012 Xena Calendar       NBC/Universal is putting out a 2012 Xena wall calendar. Source   Thanks to Barbara Davies     25 June 2011 Official XENA Convention 2012 "The Final Journey" Creation Entertainment put out a release today saying that the 2012 convention would be "The Final Journey" It has truly been a life changing experience for us to be involved with the amazing cast and crew of a television series that has meant so much to us all, and in reality, changed the face of TV itself. Through this joyous experience we came to know and love Lucy, Renee and Rob and all their co-stars and production team. There has never been a more supportive group nor one that has cared so deeply about their fans. They never let us down and it has been an honor to produce all of The Official XENA Conventions and merchandise all these years. And we thank Lucy, Rob and Renee for always stretching beyond what used to pass for convention appearances by doing plays, appearing in costumes, surprising the audience, signing and dancing in concert, and so much more. They raised the bar for EVERY other convention celebrity from that point forward and for this and so much more they will remain vital and dear friends to all of us at Creation and throughout the fan universe. As with all good things the time comes to raise a glass one last time and say goodbye with love and a heartfelt and tearful thank you. The 2012 convention, the final journey, brings us full circle to our return to our original Xena Convention venue, the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel and we promise one last rocking good time for all! The 2012 convention page is now up. They have added Tsianina Joelson to the guest list     23 June 2011 Subtext Virtual Season Italian Version Eps 14 and 15 The Subtext Virtual Season Episode 9 in Italian have now been updated with episodes 9.14 and 9.15 which ends the Season 9 virtual season. They are also available in English, Portuguese and Spanish #914 - Poke Xena and Gabrielle find themselves in a small village, surrounded by some interesting people. Read Italian Version Also available in Portuguese  and Spanish   #915 - Deserting the Past  (Season Finale) As Xena and Gabrielle finally look towards the future, they find their past hasn't quite given up it's hold on them yet. Read Italian Version Also available in Portuguese and Spanish       22 June 2011 Victoria Pratt in trailer for "Away"         Check out Vicki in this teaser trailer for "Away" Thanks to Barbara Davies         17 June 2011 2012 Xena Convention News - New Guests and Hotel information Creation Entertainment has added Steve Sears, Katherine Fugate, and Melissa Good to the guest list for the convention that already included Renee O'Connor. The convention will be in Burbank on 27-29 January 2012. They have also added hotel information. With the Group Code for the con being: xenxena There still is no convention page yet, but it is listed on main conventions page.     17 June 2011 Emmy Awards A Fanboy's Fantasy - LA Times 16 June 2011 The Los Angeles Times looks at how the Emmy Awards has treated Science Fiction and Fantasy shows over the years. Xena and Lucy are mentioned. A Fanboy's Fantasy - Los Angeles Times 16 June 2011 Let's hope there is some love for Lucy at this year's Emmy Awards. Her name is on the ballot to be nominated for her OUTSTANDING work on Spartacus: Gods of the Arena as Lucretia.     15 June 2011 Going on My Winter Wonderland Break... Hey folks, I'm taking a few weeks off and recharging my batteries, try to finish my third novel in the Eva and Zoe series (won't my publisher be happy) and basically just relax on my winter holidays! YEAY! Yes it's my annual "let's-see-how-long-Mary-goes-without-touching-the-sites-and-driving-Lori-and-Mesh-crazy" :) I may be taking a break but AUSXIP will continue to update you all on all things related to our favourite show/s and fave actors. Whilst I'm away getting my batteries recharged, Lori and Mesh will take over the reigns of updating everyone! If you need to contact Lori or Mesh: Lori is on LBoyles859@aol.com and Mesh is on mesh@ausxip.org Battle On! MaryD     15 June 2011 Meet Costume Designer Barbara Darragh - Creator of Xena's Iconic Leather Costume Costume designer Barbara Darragh is the creator of Xena’s iconic outfit, Billy T James’ look as the Tainuia Kid in Came a Hot Friday, and has won awards for her work on the feature films The End of the Golden Weather and River Queen. Darragh’s television credits include Under the Mountain, Greenstone, Hercules and Xena, and, most recently, Spartacus. In this ScreenTalk, Darragh talks about: * Helping create special effects on the classic TV series Under the Mountain * Using an assortment of odds and ends to create Billy T James’ Tainuia Kid costume for Came a Hot Friday * Scouring old photo albums to create a vintage feel for The End of the Golden Weather * How winning an award for the film’s costumes recognised the costume designing craft * Having fun creating costumes for the ‘sandals and swords’ fantasy show Hercules * Never intending to create a lesbian icon when designing the signature costume for Xena * Using an incredible amount of blue dye for the soldiers’ uniforms on River Queen * Managing tension on set over different views on how the film should look * How beauty, pain, dirt and nudity make designing for Spartacus a ‘dream’ Watch Video Clip     15 June 2011 Women Who Run With Warrior Princesses - Renee Interview Austin Chronicle 1998 Here's an older interview from 1998 with Renee. Women Who Run With Warrior Princesses Reneé O'Connor ROCs By Kate X Messer, Fri., Feb. 13, 1998 Everything you know is wrong. Every legend, story, myth, belief.... The real history of the world was recorded long ago by a young writer who traveled the globe with a fierce warrior, creating and recording history as it really was. Blasphemy? This is the premise that drives the plot of Xena: Warrior Princess (XWP), the Rob Tapert/Sam (Evil Dead, Darkman) Raimi-produced television series which boasts the conceit that women had a hell of a lot more to do with history than we were led to believe. The two lead characters serve as proof: Xena, the warrior, and her trusty sidekick, the buoyant, idealistic Gabrielle. Gabrielle, the Bard of Potidaea and Xena's bestest friend, is portrayed with warmth, wit, and Old World charm by native Texan Reneé O'Connor. O'Connor was the natural choice for Gabrielle, after her portrayal of a similar character, Deianeira, in one of the original Hercules telefeatures. Born February 15, 1971 near Houston, O'Connor was raised by her mom, Sandra, who now runs the International Reneé O'Connor Fan Club (see sidebar) and is married to Threadgill's purveyor Eddie Wilson. Even before the age of 12, when O'Connor enrolled in Houston's Alley Theatre, her mom was convinced that she was headed for a life of professional make-believe. O'Connor was encouraged to pursue acting at the High School of the Performing & Visual Arts in Houston; her first professional gig was as a dancing Porky Pig at Astro World, soon after which she moved to L.A. By 1989, Disney picked her up for serials on the Mickey Mouse Club. From there, the parts came more frequently: She appeared in episodes of Tales From the Crypt and The Rockford Files and worked with Cheryl Ladd in the Danielle Steele miniseries Changes. This interview was conducted in two sessions, shortly before and shortly after the Wilsons visited her in New Zealand, where XWP is shot. Reneé O'Connor's level of achievement thus far in her young career, some might say, is positively Herculean. Read More -- Submitted by Barbara Davies     14 June 2011 Ngila Dickson Talks About Rob Tapert and Xena - NZ Herald 14 June 2011 The New Zealand Herald has a great article / interview with Ngila Dickson, the Oscar winning costume designer from New Zealand. Many a Xena fan would remember Ngila - she designed the costumes for Hercules & Xena. Ngila has gone on to bigger things since Xena and the NZ Herald article has a fantastic interview with her. The interview reveals at one point she had doubts about leaving Xena and going to work on Lords of the Rings but a chat with Rob Tapert convinced her to move forward. She won an Oscar for her work in the movie "The Return of the King". Here is the truth of the matter," she says, then pauses slightly for effect - something she's rather good at. "I had a moment," she continues, "when I was offered The Lord of the Rings when I was having so much fun on [television shows] Hercules and Xena that I seriously was thinking that I was not going to accept it. "It is one of those sort of pivotal moments in your life. I loved what I was doing and who I was working with and, in fact, it was [Hercules and Xena creator and producer] Rob Tapert himself who made me make the decision. He was having a conversation with me about how he had fired the [Hercules] writers in LA. He said, in that wacky American accent of his, 'Ngila, those guys, they've been writing it for three years. They're getting stale. They're just repeating themselves.' And I was sitting there going, 'Oh my God, that's me. I've been doing this for five years'." Read the full interview - News submitted by Jo     11 June 2011 Lucy as Xena Mention in Daily Mail Weekend (UK) 11 June 2011 The Daily Mail had a look at some of the numerous New Zealanders to take the global stage and of course Lucy in Xena Warrior Princess is mentioned briefly. For more articles about Lucy as Xena go to the AUSXIP Xena Warrior Princess Press Archive     7 June 2011 2012 Xena Convention News - Renee Confirmed! Creation Entertainment has posted some news about the 2012 Xena Convention being held in Burbank on 27-29 January 2012. It's a little different in the way they are announcing this convention and the guest list. They still haven't created a page for the convention - just a mention on the main convention page. The good news is that Renee has confirmed she will be at the 2012 Official Xena Con!   BURBANK Fri., Sat. & Sun. January 27-29, 2012 The Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel 2500 Hollywood Way Burbank, CA 91505 WE'RE GOING BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL HOME & IT IS BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED WITH LOTS OF NEW RESTAURANTS IN SHORT WALKING DISTANCE! The Official Xena Convention FIRST GUEST BOOKING IS THE SENSATIONAL RENEE O'CONNOR (GABRIELLE) IN PERSON!     6 June 2011 New Xena and Gabrielle Art by Klippart Added five new artworks by Klippart from Xena to the AUSXIP Xenaverse Art Gallery Click here to view artwork     4 June 2011 Danielle Cormack in Channel Nine's New Underbelly Razor - New Trailer I've been reading a book called Razor by Larry Writer and it's just an incredible read. I'm stoked that Channel 9 in Australia is going to be making a mini series out of it called Underbelly: Razor. It has a Xena element to it with the incredible Danielle Cormack in the role of Kate Leigh - one of the vice queens! The acclaimed true crime account of Sydney's infamous criminal razor gangs. In the 1920s and '30s in inner Sydney, some of the most terrifying criminals in Australia's history waged war with razor and gun. As gang fought gang, the streets echoed with the sound of violence and ran with blood. Razor chronicles in compelling detail the nether word ruled by fabled vice queens Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh, and financed by the spoils of illegal drugs and alcohol, prostitution, gambling and extortion. Gangsters such as Guido Calletti, Big Jim Devine and Frank "the Little Gunman" Green killed, robbed and slashed with impunity. Facing them were the police – some corrupt, some honest, and a few as tough and feared as the razor gangs they fought.Razor is the fascinating true story of the people who lived and died in this world of violence and vice. Razor brings a city's dark past back to life, and ensures that you will never look at inner Sydney in quite the same way again. Watch trailer   -- Reported by MaryD and Barbara Davies     4 June 2011 A Land In Turmoil - New Lucy as Xena Artwork by Klippart Klippart has submitted a gorgeous new Lucy as Xena artwork "A Land in Turmoil" - for those not familiar with the words, it's the opening lines of Xena Warrior Princess. Click here to view the artwork "In a time of ancient gods, warlords and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess forged in the heat of battle. The power. The passion. The danger. Her courage will change the world." View more of Klippart's artwork For more about Lucy as Xena go to the Australian Xena Information Page (AUSXIP's mothership)     3 June 2011 The Top 10 Hottest Warrior Women In Entertainment - Lucy Lawless as Xena There’s nothing sexier than a gorgeous babe armed to the teeth (unless she’s pointing her laser submachine gun at you, of course). Even more so if you take into account that, as Hollywood has dictated, heroines must not only carry weapons, but also wear ridiculously hot outfits. It doesn’t matter that, in a life-or-death situation, said outfits would prove as appropriate as a steak knife in a vegetarians’ convention. The truth is that an armed babe (it doesn’t matter if she’s wielding a sword, shooting arrows, or firing a bazooka) can tempt us to watch even the worst excuses for films – like Blood Rayne, for example. But hey, we’re weak and these goddesses are strong and beautiful! Babe: Lucy Lawless TV Show: Xena: Warrior Princess Weapons of choice: Chakram and sword Read full list     3 June 2011 SF’s Serial Guest Stars - Lucy Lawless The Top 10 telefantasy actors we love to see putting in a special appearance, by our special guest star Jayne Nelson Some actors can’t seem to get enough of sci-fi TV, and even if they’ve never landed themselves a regular gig on a show, their faces become so familiar, they almost feel like honorary members of the sci-fi family. Here we celebrate those serial science fiction guest stars who can raise the standard of an episode just by putting in an appearance. Lucy Lawless She’s never quite rediscovered that Xena high, but we still get a thrill seeing her in things like The X-Files, Battlestar Galactica, Spartacus Blood And Sand and No Ordinary Family (she also had a cameo as a punk in Spider-Man 2, dontchaknow?)   Read more: SF’s Serial Guest Stars -- News submitted by Barbara Davies     Read More Archives