For 14 years
the SF Ball - or Sci-Fi Ball as it used to be known - has enthralled
convention goers, bringing a plethora of amazing guests down to the
south coast of England every February. Patrick Stewart, Kate
Mulgrew, Tim Russ, Jonathan Frakes, Jamie Bamber, Elizabeth Sladen: you
name a popular sci-fi actor or show and odds are the Ball will have had
them as a guest...
Mark - "It
was time for the Ball again, and I can never believe how fast that
weekend comes around. I've been lucky enough to see some amazing
guests at past Balls. Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Jamie
Bamber, James Callis and Kate Mulgrew just to name a few. But the
best thing about the weekend isn't just the convention, it's the whole
vibe and the party atmosphere and that all stems back to Anne, B, James
and company who do such a brilliant job at the Ball and the Reunions in
September.
Me and Bex arrived at our friends
Sarah and Alex in Poole near Bournemouth on the Thursday evening and
immediately got dressed for our murder mystery night. Our friends
Lee and Emma were there also and I was pretty pleased with the way the
evening went. I was the murderer - a turn of the last century
American boxer called Mike Bison - and not one person chose me as the
killer. Result!"
That's
Lee and Emma on the right watching someone totally mess up a
dance routine...
Mark - "Friday
consisted of a lie in after the late night and oodles of gorgeous food
and champagne, booking in at the Carrington for the Ball and a trip to
the cinema to see the ultimately disappointing Cloverfield. Back
to the ranch, a quick change into our rock gear and it was over to the
hotel for the first party of the weekend, the Glam Rock Ball."
Mrs N
looking rock chicky
Mark
- "For my sins I didn't dress up in the Glam Rock gear, although I
should have, having been in a glam rock band a few years ago.
Trouble is, I've probably added half a stone for every year since I was
in the band...back in 2001. Yikes!"
Saturday 9th February 2008
Mark - "Yep,
the Friday night was a very late one and once we wobbled into a taxi and
back to Sarah's it was exceedingly late and we stayed up talking into
the very very
small hours. The next day it was up, eat and drive back to the
convention. We'd missed Aaron Douglas from Battlestar Galactica
Erin Grey and Gil Gerard from Buck Rogers but were in plenty of time to
browse the dealers room, grab a few bargains and get a seat for the
1.15pm chat with LeVar Burton. But not before B did her customary
introduction and set the stage."
If she
was actually on that screen it would be a B movie...ahh,
groan all you want, this is a free website
Mark
- "LeVar was just as much fun as I remember. I was lucky
enough to be at the Generations convention at the Albert Hall back in
1995 when Generations was released in the UK and LeVar was great fun."
You
can't see but he's moonwalking...
Mark
- "He
had a whole range of stories, from his first acting job playing Kunte
Kinte in Roots right through his Next Generation years - and boy, does
he think Nemesis stinks or what? - up to his current and very successful
career as a director. He totally owned the stage, and answered
every question with a twinkle in his eye. Even the one where he
admitted his own prowess in the bedroom..."
Squint
and it could be Columbo...
Mark
- "LeVar was great fun and had us all in stitches, finishing off
with a question - how many of us would like to see the Next Generation
crew get one final movie to wrap it all up? There was a resounding
''Yes' to that one. I don't think it will happen, not with the new
movie coming in May 2009, but we can hope.
When getting our autographs LeVar signed my First Contact premiere
programme and told me how he was dog sick just before the showing, so
when he shook Prince Charles' hand he felt like throwing up. Not
the usual reaction I'd expect, but there you go..."
Back
screen projection - the future of cinema...
Mark - "B
arrived on stage again and warmed us up for the weekends special guest.
A blast of the original series theme and Nichelle Nichols came onto the
stage, and talked about everything from her experiences on the original
series, her latest roles as an actress and producer to her stint on
Heroes."
Nichelle - the first lady of Trek
Mark
- "Nichelle
is great fun and tends to go off at tangents with her stories. How
else could we run from wounded soldiers returning from Iraq to a tale of
being stuck on the highway trying to get to the Heroes audition that
never was."
Miss
Nicholls laughs as the 'kissing Shatner' question is asked
of her for the 1325th time...
Mark - "You
know when Nichelle thinks she's been asked a stupid question because she
very politely answers a question of her own. She was a lot of fun
and ended her hour on stage with a song for the crowd."
Nichelle fields another question
Mark
- "We drove back home and prepared for the Ball, getting into our
safari costumes. Sarah dressed as a Zebra, myself, Lee and Bex as
hunters and Emma as an Edwardian lady.
Arriving back just in time for the meal we watched as the guests were
introduced to the crowd - Nichelle Nicholls wears some HIGH heels for a
lady in her seventies - and me and Bex were collared by B for a word
with the cameraman. We sat down to a smashing meal with wine and a
cabaret act, Howard Read, who was hilarious despite his animated
companion Little Howard causing him a few problems."
Jeremy
just couldn't help boasting that Slave-1 was a lot better
than James' safari wagon...
Mark - "After
the meal and the wine we all had a wander around the room - well ok, the
bar - and saw this guy, who should have won the costume contest hands
down. Judge Fett, that's inspired."
Judge
Fett - come on, this totally won the costume competition
Mark
- "I'm
really glad we managed to get this one taken, as we don't have very many
images of the two of us together. Shame I look like I've already
eaten all the pies (note to self - go on a diet!)"
Mark
and Bex
Mark - "By
now the party was in full flow and the dance floor and bar were both
overflowing, just like it always is at the Ball. I've been to many
conventions over the years but the Ball is the best natured and most fun
of them all. Roll on 2009."
The
Timewarp in full swing
Mark
- "Yes,
Bex was telling me off, but I probably deserved it."
Yes,
this is Bex telling Mark off
Mark - "And
of course my good lady wife took the camera and shot me...."
Tired?
Drugged? Enigmatic? You decide...
This is
no effect, all those colours actually happened...
...and
then stopped...
...and
started again!
Six
pints of Stella and this is the result
Time
for Star Trekkin'...
Mark
- "As
you can see the party really hotted up and all the classic songs were
done. Bohemian Rhapsody, the Timewarp, Joe 90 and Star Trekkin'...."
Mark - "This
looks like a comedy shot of a drunk guy, but in fact this is Duncan and
he's one of the many guys who work their backsides off to make this one
of the best thought of and smoothest run conventions in fandom.
Hats off to everyone who makes this such a consistently great weekend."
Duncan,
who worked his tail off, takes a breather
Sunday 10th February 2008
Mark
- "The
Sunday ran very much like Saturday. We finally got home from the
Ball and stayed up chatting, slept in and missed Aaron, Erin and Gill
again and caught LeVar a second time, and it was just as much fun.
Especially when a particularly enthusiastic fan told LeVar of her
devotion to him prompting B to lead her from the stage for a 'prize she
had won'.
Again the Ball
was a great success and I'll be certain to get my tickets for Reunion 6
in Coventry in September. No matter who the guests are, these SFB
conventions are well worth the cost and journey, as evidenced by LeVar
Burton saying he will make sure to tell
Brent Spiner to attend in 2009. Here's hoping he succeeds."
