Live Blogging Clare Kramer's Q&A Panel

Convention attendees asked questions in this 45 minute Q&A session with Clare Kramer that ended just minutes ago!
(**Note, we also did a separate exclusive interview with Clare earlier today which will be up later this week!)

Q: What was your favorite episode to work on?
A: My favorite episode was probably my first. It laid the groundwork for my character.

Q: Season 5 [of Buffy] definitely took a darker tone. How did you feel about that?
A: I was kind of glad it took a darker turn because it gave it a sense of, I don't want to say depth, but groundedness?

Q: Are you still active in Kids4kids or any other charity organizations?
A:Yes, Kids4kids is an organization with my sister-in-law. We do events in Texas where people donate toys. I'm also involved with Children International.

Q: How much say did you have in how you played Glory?
A: Well, once the words were written I had a lot of freedom like, "Why doesn't she throw shoes here or block this here?" In terms of what she said then no, I didn't get involved with that at all. Maybe others did, but I was just thankful to have a job. I just went with the flow with that.

Q: How were the core characters when you got to set? And did you get to keep the wardrobe?
A: The wardrobe, no. Some of it I hated but some I really liked, so I would've loved that. I think they auctioned most of it off on eBay. As for the rest of the cast, they'd been working on the show for 4 years. Everyone was extremely welcoming, gracious and nice. Michelle Trachtenberg was also new and they were pretty open. I had a great experience with everyone.

Buffyfest's own Bitsy (Dan) asks Clare Kramer about Glory's Minions:

Now that you have a couple of kids do you ever think 'Maybe I'd like to have a couple of minions again!"?

Q: With the split personality mentally and physically between Glory & Ben, how did you act that out?
A:They didn't tell me that Glory had this Ben side to her. I didn't know until I read scripts and I was like "Waaaaait a minute." That was just another component. It was actually much easier to play the bipolar side of her character.

Q: Did you maintain a relationship with Eliza Dushku between working on Buffy & Bring It On?
A: Well, I knew she was on a show named Buffy when we worked on Bring It On and filming was only like 2 months later, which was close. We actually worked together 3 times. I was on her show Tru Calling. She's a cool chick. I'm sure everyone likes Faith here. (Audience "woos!")

Q: When you go for a role like Glory, do you know that she was the ultimate evil villain?
A: That's an interesting question. There's a lot of secrecy. The character was called "Sherry" and it was for 1 episode. I think they wanted to test her. I think if I would've sucked there would have been no Glory. I guess they wanted to make sure that people were responsive because they have such a loyal fan-base.
Q: So do you never know when you're going to die?
A: Yes! I'd get a script and I'm like, "Oh good! I'm still here."

Q: Can you talk about how you got into acting?
A: Sure, I grew up in Ohio. I did absolutely everything I could do like theater. When I applied to college I really only wanted to go to the NYU theater program. Then I just auditioned. I never really had that one break-out role. I mean Buffy was big, but only one season. So it's all about auditioning and working hard. I think the hardest part about acting is staying emotionally available. Staying in a place where you can still be creative, which isn't the easiest to do. My advice is try, persevere and don't just limit yourself to in front of the camera. Knowledge is power.

Q: Is the rumor true that Warner brother's is considering you for Wonder Woman?
A: That's a rumor? Damn, I need to get my people on that.
Q:Would you take that?
A: Hell yes! You know, I've had my feelings hurt by reading about myself online so I don't really know about this rumor. But that would be incredible! That would definitely be that break-out role I'm looking for.

Q: With having kids now, do you find that it affects the roles you're looking for?
A: No. (Laughs. Pause.) The dirtier the better.

Q: Did you see James [Marsters] here today? And another question, what was it like being called back to the 7th season of Buffy? Was everyone there on set?
A: Yes, it was like all the villains hanging out. They didn't say if it was one or ten episodes. That was kind of a fun day. As far as seeing James here, I haven't seen him in a long time and yeah...he's good folk.

Q: How did you meet Julie Benz since you weren't on Buffy at the same time?
A: We weren't on at the same time, but we did a convention together in London. It was several years ago and yeah, we became close friends.

Live Blogging the James Marsters Q&A

Video, photos and quotes from today's panel with James Marsters at the Philadelphia Comic Con!

Intro:

Q: I heard from someone that Joss wasn't a big fan of yours?
A: No! My second day of work Joss came up to me and screamed, "You beautiful actors! With your looks and women, you get everything! And we writers get nothing!" I said, "But you gave me the hair...If I look cool, it's your fault." Joss: " But you got those cheekbones!" And he put his hands on my face like he wanted to rip it off. "You're going to get laid all your life off this role."

Q: What was your least favorite costume to wear?
A: Andromeda, why did they dress me in Purple?

Q: You were sick as Brainiac in Smallville. My favorite villain ever. Do you prefer playing villains or heroes?
A: Villains! (Applause) When you play the hero you're always running and sweating. When you're the villain you just lurk!

Q: You're so pretty. I loved you as Buzz Aldrin and I was wondering what it was like to play a real, historical, idolized person.
A: I'm with you, I'm a huge nerd, love history. I was afraid the real Colonel would come and say, "You're making me a wimp!" (gestures punching) I was terrified.

Below Video: Which Angel episode were you really proud of?
 

Q: Ad libbing? Did you get to do a lot of that on Angel & Buffy?
A: Um, there was NO ad libbing on Buffy or Angel. If you had a comma wrong they'd re-take it....and I was under no illusions that I could improve upon their dialogue. That was the best writing I've been given in my life and I wouldn't change a single word.

Q: How hard was it to banter with puppet Angel?
A: Ben [Edlund] who wrote The Tick wrote it and we were waiting for the script and we weren't into it. He said, "Dude, I gave you the best scene of the whole script. Just take the paycheck and take the week off."

Below Video: Spike or Angel?

Q: Do you stay in touch with actors from past shows?
A: The truth is about actors is that we're shattered people. We have bad childhoods and when the job goes you never speak to them again. (Crowd: "aww") Guys, I'm an artist, I'm not healthy and I don't have a lot of friends.

Q: Who was your favorite writer on Buffy/Angel?
A: That's a hard question because there were so many good ones. You know what? The best writer was Joss. He didn't like me! I knew if he showed up on set I had the week off. He wasn't into the whole Anne Rice thing. He got talked into the character of Angel by David Greenwalt. When I came on I was supposed to be dirty and dead. So the best writer was the one who didn't write anything for me! But it's ok, he didn't fire me!

Below Video: James Marsters "How did I feel about the rape Scene on Buffy? I wanted to commit suicide that day"

Q: If you were given and opportunity to create your own character for your next role, what would it be?
A: I wanted to develop a Star Trek series about the very First Starship.

Q: My absolute favorite episode was the musical episode, "Once More, With Feeling". Can you describe that time?
A: You know, we didn't have fun doing that. It was like Joss asking us to juggle chain saws. "You're going to ruin everyone's career", we thought! Joss hands me a cassette tape for material for the next week. It's Joss and his wife Kai, and neither one of them can sing. And Joss can't play the piano. They're warbling and I said to myself, "He's lost his mind! This is a joke." I walk out of my trailer and everyone else has the same face on. He's believed his own press and thinks he can do this! Tony Head and I were kind of cool with it because we're both singers, but we all fought it. Sarah had two vocal coaches. We all though we were going to die. But then we saw the Xander/Anya dance scene which was done first and we all realized it was going to work. We all went from that to "triumph" in one week.

Below Video: Torchwood Question, "What was it like making out with a male actor?"

Overheard quotes at the Marsters Panel:

First of all, before they opened the doors to the con attendees, the staff decided they needed to open the sliding doors on either side of the panel room to TRIPLE it's size/capacity. And they really needed to
because the whole thing has filled up!
 
Overheard quotes at the Marsters Panel so far:

"I may start crying"
"I would risk damage to be in this panel"
"I didn't come here to buy nothing else, just get this signature. Get
this signature....or die"

12:08 James Marsters arrives!

Stay more tuned!

Buffyfest is going to Wizard Philly!

So this weekend, 6/11-6/13, Wizard will be hosting it's annual Philadelphia Comic Con and, I have to say, they've really stepped up their game big time this year.  Not only will fan favorite James Marsters be in attendance but the amazing Clare Kramer will be there as well.  I can't actually remember the last convention she's been to so hooray for all of us scabby worshipers of the mighty Glorificus.

In addition there will be loads of artists and retailers on top of so many special guests including Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, John de Lancie, Bruce Campbell, Virginia Hey, and loads more. 

Plus, we'll be there!  So, you know... you should come and see us.  Oh, and all the actual famous people.  Let's not forget about them.  The link is below.  Be there or be a thing what is square.

Philly Comic Con