OTF's Blue Publication February 2014
I attended L.I. Who, a Doctor Who convention on Long Island, on Veteran’s Day weekend, November 8-10, 2013. It was my first experience at a science fiction convention of any kind, having missed the opportunity to attend three different Star Trek conventions when I was in high school.
Upon walking into the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center on Veteran’s Memorial Highway in Ronkonkoma, New York, I noticed a few con attendees, including one of two amazing Tenth Doctor cosplayers that I would get to know over the weekend. There was people setting things up for guests, and a couple women sitting at a table, ready to hand out three-day passes for the con, and passes under the names of The Valeyard’s Plan and The Master Plan, entitling those fans to other goodies.
The Valeyard’s Plan, which I had purchased two months before the convention, entitled me to be there for three days, plus have dinner with convention-goers and guests, as well as Sunday morning breakfast under the same circumstances. The Master Plan entitled its holder to a 2-night reservation as well as the 2 meals with guests and fans, as well as preferential seating for some of the panels, most notably the initial “Welcome To LI Who” panel which introduced the six major stars that were in attendance, and others that helped make the weekend possible.
I check into the hotel and get my Valeyard’s Plan pass and pamphlet outlining the weekend’s festivities, and I go to find my room. Now, some of you readers may know that I’m physically challenged and on crutches, so I should have asked for a room close to the lobby and goings on of the weekend. Fortunately or unfortunately, asking for an accommodation slipped my mind. I say fortunately because had I asked for an accommodation, I would not have seen an entourage entering the hall from a courtyard that served as a way to cut between from the two main corridors of rooms.
A woman in this entourage said “Hi!” to me. I knew going to the convention that I would know exactly one person there – a friend I’d had online for the last year, having connected with each other in a Doctor Who group on Facebook. Still, I recognized the voice, and processed it as I made my way down the corridor. By the time I got to my room at the far end of the hall, I realized who the woman was. Chase Masterson had just said hello to me. Right then, I got excited, and was determined to find her later and apologize for just running by her without acknowledging her.
I sat in my room for a couple hours, as panels and events wouldn’t start until 5pm. I attended the “Welcome To LI Who! It’s About Time!” panel, where showrunner Ken Deep told us the history of the Doctor Who fandom in the Long Island area, and how with the help of another fan club, this was to be the first Doctor Who convention in New York in 20 years.
He then introduced the guests of the convention. He first introduced Frazer Hines, known in the Whoniverse as Jamie McCrimmon, companion to the Second Doctor. He then introduced Ian McNeice, whose credits include Doc Martin, the SciFi miniseries Dune and Children Of Dune, and the reason he was in attendance that weekend – he had twice portrayed Winston Churchill opposite Matt Smith as The Doctor on Doctor Who. Next in the room was Simon Fisher-Becker, who also appeared in two of Matt’s episodes, as alien entrepreneur Dorium Maldovar. Chase Masterson was introduced after Simon, having done a few audio plays, and given her own audio series within the Whoniverse. The last 2 people to be introduced were Daphne Ashbrook (DS9’s Melora/Dr. Grace Holloway in the 1996 Fox TV Doctor Who movie) and the Seventh Doctor himself, Sylvester McCoy.
I stayed for the Ian McNeice Q&A, and in the 15 minutes between panels, I was able to chat with both Ian and Simon, as well as get a picture with them both. Ian was very funny, and it was fascinating to find out that he’d not only portrayed Churchill for Doctor Who, but in a play, and another production. I also stayed for a panel called “The Inside Scoop On The 50th Anniversary,” now accompanied by the Tenth Doctor cosplayer I had seen when I checked in. This panel was mostly a summary of what was known to that point, and speculation on what might happen. One thing that came out of the panel that ended up being true was Paul McGann’s involvement in the prelude released a few days before “The Day Of The Doctor”, named “The Night Of The Doctor”. One can hear Paul mimic a few lines that Matt Smith spoke in the “trailer” that had been released at the time.
I then got dinner and went back to my room for a while, having agreed to meet my friend that had come from Washington DC, at “The Karaoke Of Rassilon”. That was so much fun. I mingled with her group of friends, made a few on my own, sang songs and had a great time. Despite having been awake since 4am, after karaoke was finished, I went back to my room and watched TV until 2am. And at some point during that evening (possibly when I went to peruse the merchandise room), I would properly run into Chase Masterson again, and engage her in conversation. She’s so nice! And stunning.
Saturday morning, I had breakfast at the in-house restaurant, and had a picture done with Chase Masterson. After the photo op, I mingled with fans, bought some Doctor Who merch, got another picture with Chase and Daphne, and generally soaked in the weekend. I sat in on a showing of “Tomb Of The Cybermen, Episode One” which Frazer Hines provided live commentary on. I got a picture with him after that. Later, I attended a panel on Peter Capaldi, attempted to get a picture with Sylvester McCoy (who was also ill that weekend) my friend from Washington DC, had dinner, and went to my room to rest until the panel on Third Doctor Jon Pertwee. I then introduced myself to Ken Deep, told him how much fun I was having, and gave him a few suggestions for next year. By then, it was midnight, and I was exhausted.
Sunday morning, I sat at a crowded table for breakfast with Daphne Ashbrook, asked her about Paul McGann, and her experiences in both the Doctor Who and Star Trek franchises. I got Sylvester McCoy’s autograph, and then got a picture with him, as was the plan on Saturday. I had promised my friend that I’d do this, as a birthday present, and finally was able to make good on my promise to her. The convention would go until 5 on Sunday, but I hitched a ride back home with yet another former high school friend, who had brought her son to the convention for his birthday.