Back from TREK EXPO 2008 - recap/report

Well I just got back in town from the Tulsa TREK EXPO, and once again I had a blast. Their guest list was terrific, featuring classic STAR TREK actors like Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig, STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE stars like Linda Park and Vaughn Armstrong, the STAR TREK: GENERATIONS Klingon "Duras" sisters Barbara March and Gwyneth Walsh, plus various TREK series alums such as Casey Biggs (Dumar on DEEP SPACE 9), Steve Rankin (featured in multiple TREK series), Richard Herd (Admiral Paris on VOYAGER), and Bill Jones, not to mention more non-TREK guests who were great as well. My lovely friend Amy Allen (Jedi Master Aayla Secura in STAR WARS: EPISODE II and III) flew in from New York where she had been working behind-the-scenes on a remake of THE TAKING OF PELHAM- 123 with director Tony Scott. Amy was a hit with the fans, but that's to be expected... I mean come on, she's gorgeous.

The Q&A panels were awesome. Ron B. Moore, who handled special effects on several of the TREK series, all the way up until the end of ENTERPRISE, gave a fantastic presentation about the various memorable FX shots he handled. He showed select scenes and explained how they were put together. It was a great look behind-the-scenes, and easily one of the coolest panels at the show. But as is to be expected, many of the other Q&A sessions were highly entertaining. I never get tired of listening to classic STAR TREK actors telling stories of their days working on both the series and motion pictures.

I got to work one-on-one with Helen Slater (SUPERGIRL) during her signing, and she was absolutely delightful. I always liked Helen as an actress, and I think people forget just how many great roles she's had. There is of course the classic LEGEND OF BILLIE JEAN, and THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS, but let us not forget her in RUTHLESS PEOPLE and CITY SLICKERS. Even tonight as I was watching a SEINFELD rerun I noticed her playing Jerry's hot neighbor (Becky Gelke) and subject of his longtime crush. Helen recently returned to the SUPERMAN universe playing Clark Kent birth mother Lara-El on SMALLVILLE. At first things were a little hectic with her signing, and she's a little new to the whole convention scene. But since Helen and I had a chance to talk beforehand, we had discussed the Dallas shows, and knowing that I had run quite a few of them she quickly said "You tell me what to do... you know how these things are supposed to go." Thankfully, it all went really well. She is a total sweetheart, great with fans, and very pleasant to talk to. Helen also has two music CDs out which sho wrote and sang on, so look for those if you get a chance. I'm hoping we'll have her soon for a Dallas Comic Con.

I also got to work with FIREFLY and SERENITY's Adam Baldwin... you know, the man called Jayne. Adam had been a guest with us for a Dallas Comic Con back in 2005, a few weeks after SERENITY had opened in theaters, so we had met before. However this show was a treat, because on Saturday night we ended up hanging out all evening, and even shared some fine cigars together. Adam is a big fan of news and radio programs, and we actually ended up talking politics for a majority of the evening. That man knows how to debate! At one point, after many hours of us talking (and many beers to boot), a trio of unknown folks walked outside and overheard Adam's political points. What quickly turned into a heated debate on issues fortunately ended with everyone being friends. The man knows how to get his point across, but is also sensitive to others feelings, and made peace even better (and faster) than our own president could ever hope to. One last note on Baldwin, he had been up the night before shooting CHUCK (already one of my favorite new series on NBC), and didn't finish shooting until 6:30am Saturday morning. But without going to bed, he jumped on a plane and headed to Tulsa, arrived at the show and hopped on stage for a Q&A, follwed it with a 2-hour signing session, attended the Tulsa Boys Home charity dinner, and STILL stayed up until 1am in the morning just to hang out. He had to leave for the airport at 7:30am! The guy is a machine. FYI - There's cool stuff coming on CHUCK. He told me a few things about the season premiere I can't wait to see. I only have a couple of photos from the trip, and the following is one of them. This is myself, Adam, and my good buddy Joe Bob Williams (who I've known forever) having cigars and unwinding after a long day. Is it just me, or does this remind you of the photo in THE UNTOUCHABLES? Maybe we all three could star in the sequel.

Mark Walters, Adam Baldwin, and Joe Bob Williams - TREK EXPO 2008

My thanks to John and Audrey Harper, Joe Bob and Mary Kay Williams, Tom the limo driver, Sue in the Green Room, Ronnie, Jamal, Lolita Fatjo, and the unbelievably friendly staff of the Hilton Garden Inn.

For more info on TREK EXPO check out http://www.trekexpo.net