Official European Kevin Sorbo Fanclub

GOOD BYE, VANCOUVER!
On September the 13th we mount the airplane to Vancouver once more. Checkup at Heathrow (stopover) is tightened, but the employees are friendly. Canadian Air takes us safely to Vancouver where we wearily arrive at our hotel in the evening.

SIGHTSEEING
This year it's chilly and quite rainy - nothing to see of the mountains, all are covered in clouds. The next morning it's not any better, but nothing shall spoil our good vacation feel-ings. There are still so many beautiful spots in Vancouver which Karl and I haven't seen yet and so we plan an excursion for each day. A favoured place to go before we start is a butcher in a big shopping mall in North Vancouver, where a German master butcher has settled and provides gastronomic specialities from the Black Forest in Germany. We don't have to abstain from juicy smoked pork chop, gammon, cooked sausage and fresh pretzles. With a drink as well nothing can stop us.
Expectantly we come around Horseshoe-Bay, following the tracks of the people that had been working in a vast copper mine (around that mine a city had been built that unfortu-nately didn't last). Fort Langley takes us back to the time around 1870, when the first trad-ing post of the Hudson Company was established and Indians and trappers traded peace-fully with each other. Inside the fort we take a look at each single blockhouse. In one of them a blacksmith is situated, in another furs and articles for exchange can be admired. In the meeting house a woman clad in the original dress of the pioneer era tells us about the development and significance of this trading post which experienced its height almost 100 years ago. In each of the blockhouses a traditionally dressed person awaits us and tells us about this time, which actually is not that long ago - what are one hundred years?
On Grouse Mount we observe a lumberjack show - on this day the weather is more friendly and we enjoy the magnificent mountains surrounding us. Probably all of you have noticed: we are fascinated by the nature and fauna of Vancouver. Again and again we en-counter squirrels of every colour in the woods and parks. They are not afraid of human be-ings and if you stand still, they approach your shoes and look up to you hoping to get some delicious nuts. At Stanley Park we come across our very first and very curious ra-coon - not for stroking - there's a rabies alert in this region - and so we only watch and photograph this cute little fellow which poses charmingly in front of the camera.
On route 99 we drive towards Squamish through the mountains. We come across Ferry Falls with its gorgeous waterfall pouring out from a high altitude over the rocks down the valley. Close by is Roudhouse where we later stop to get a bite to eat and get a gigantic portion. After Squamish there's Whistler, a well-known spot for skiing. The houses in and around Squamish are built in a Swiss Chalets style and huddle perfectly against the moun-tains.
If you love shopping you'll find everything your heart desires in downtown Vancouver. Chi-natown offers the visitor a particular Asian flair. If you're interested in the old original Van-couver you'll find old houses in Waterstreet, a clock run by steam that sounds the West-minster bell every quarter of an hour, many beautiful shops that offer Indian art, but also traditional and typical Canadian things, such as warm clothing for the very long and cold winters - maple syrup - maple candies and the usual merchandise.
This holiday we once again have the opportunity to visit the Andromeda set. We sign in during our first holiday week and arrange an appointment through Kevin's assistant. At the entrance area to the Andromeda production we encounter Jorge Montesi (director), who kindly asks us what we would like. There's a short and joyous reunion with Nancy, Sid and Kevin's assistant. A view from the window into the yard indicates that again a very thrilling and interesting episode is being shot. Leaving we see Lisa from afar and wave to her.

ANDROMEDA SET 1st Day
And then the ultimate amazing day arrives: it's Tuesday, September the 21st and we go to the film-studio with throbbing hearts. There's less staff than the year before, everything seems pretty quiet. This time there's nobody in the offices, only Sid, Nancy and Laura are there overseeing the telephone calls. We bring little Milka chocolates for nibbling and spoil-ing - then Kevin's assistant fetches us and takes us through the costumes department di-rectly into the studios. On our way there we learn that David Winning (director) is there. With David we have had a lively email and information exchange about Andromeda and it's really gorgeous to meet David finally in person. In the studios they are shooting and we are as quiet as a mouse, because we know that there must not be any noise. From afar we see Kevin and Gordon acting and, as we learn later, also Alex. Alex plays Hohne whom we already know from season one and two. Hohne is a Perseid.
The episode 5.11 which is being shot this week is entitled "Through A Glass, Darkly". After the shooting we are heartily greeted by Kevin . He is visibly pleased to meet us again only that short after London. He introduces us to Brandy Ledford who is preparing for a scene and then they both hurry away. Kevin's assistant shows us the studios, because they have changed. One room is arranged for a bar, whereas Dylan's room seems unchanged. In the yard they have built a true city scenery - streets - flags - the fronts of the houses take us to a mediaeval looking town - Seefra.
Episode sketches: Harper's tinkering with the quantum teleporter (remember "Banks of the Lethe": Harper trying to teleport a melon and it bursts). Hohne is back again, although he actually should be dead. Harper and Hohne want to make history - and while they are in front of the teleporter - it announces that it received a transmission. Harper can't believe this, because the teleporter isn't ready yet - just think of the melon. The changes Harper made to the teleporter have not been tested yet and a transmission from the outside should not be possible. Three Perseids become visible on the screen. They have a mes-sage and at that moment I'm not supposed to tell you more, but it's going to be a thrilling episode, that's for sure.
Brandy joins us during the short breaks between the shootings and we talk about Bay-watch that made her well-known, about travelling, Germany that she would like to visit and the Andromeda set, where Brandy feels very comfortable and accepted. Shortly before lunch Kevin asks us if we have already seen Brent Stait, who's here at the studio too. Gee, where have been our eyes? Actually, he's sitting on a chair a bit in the back. Kevin intro-duces us. We ask him how he's doing and tell him that we miss him very much in the se-ries Andromeda. Brent really loved his Magog character, but couldn't bear the mask any longer due to allergic reactions. He's very sad that there will be no reunion. But he tells us that he's planning to take an important role in a movie - we keep our fingers crossed for him.
We see Gordon during the shootings and he smiles at us charmingly, but after the shoot-ings he disappears very quickly. When Karl comes around with his camera Gordon waves to him, so Karl can take photos.
We are actually quite surprised that Brandy, Gordon, Kevin and also Brent are willing to pose for photographs between the shootings. Even David, who we run into at the studio several times, is always willing to be photographed. Finally, during lunch Kevin has time and sits down at a table with us. He talks about his relocation to LA, which Sam has been taking care of for some time now, and that he's looking forward to his own comedy show on ABC. He lets us know that Shane is changing constantly. At the moment he is growing a lot of blonde hair and Braeden is dealing quite fondly with him. Kevin thanks us again for the remarkable present that he got from his club in London. He tells us that he's been very happy about the gorgeous pullover in Scandinavian style, it's been an amazing gift. We ask him about Fedcon starting in Bonn in May 2005, where he's listed as guest and if he's really going to attend. Yes, of course, he says, May is the only month where he's got some leeway and he's really looking forward to visiting Germany. Kevin invites Karl and me for the day after the next to watch the first episode of the 5th season. Furthermore he wants to pre-celebrate his birthday, because he's taken the day of his actual birthday off to cele-brate together with his family and parents.
After lunch we still stay some time on the set trying to shoot as many photos as possible. David comes apologizing for being late, but he has to attend many meetings this week. But now he's taking some time for us, he's posing with me for a photo in front of an An-dromeda poster in the office. David would like to come to Germany very much, but has not been invited yet - yes, we too would like to show David a bit of Germany, however we don't have that much influence on the guest lists of the convention here in Germany. We are convinced, that David could tell us many interesting things about his work as director, he's very humorous and has a very charming and lively way of telling stories.
Then we say good-bye to them all, Cid doesn't miss to give me some "sweets".... The next day Karl has the film developed just to be on the safe side to see if the photos did work out in the very dark studios. The outcome is shattering; we discover that the camera must be broken. Only a few photos really succeeded.

ANDROMEDA SET 2nd DAY
But we still have another chance and fortunately Karl also has his digital camera with him. At the set we are greeted heartily, we belong to the set family, all are very friendly. Gordon has brought his family. Karl and I get a surprise, because today Kevin gets a visit from Ohio. It's M. Henderson from NBC - SciFi - Channel. Nancy introduces us to each other and we are very surprised as Mona tells us that she already knows us. She has been visit-ing our web site for a long time and she remembers the photo of the birthday cake we pre-sented Kevin with last year. She also has already seen the group photograph of Kevin and his European Fan Club in London.
Today the shootings are very exciting.
Hohne wants to use the teleporter, although Harper tries to prevent this, because he doesn't want to lose Hohne once more. However Hohne succeeds in entering the tele-porter. Harper wants to follow him, but Dylan hinders him and Harper pulls his weapon on Dylan. But he doesn't stand a chance, Dylan wrests the gun from him... "the film crew in action"
Very soon it's lunchtime. The whole film crew assembles quickly and secretly. Kevin ap-pears and suddenly all burst into singing "Happy Birthday!" - I've never heard so many voices not singing in tune!. A trolley with very delicious cakes is rolled in and a blinking toy plugged into one of the cakes is also croaking "Happy Birthday!" while spinning around its centre. Kevin thanks everybody for the excellent team work on the set and for the cake, but doesn't seem to be entirely happy, because this time there are no presents besides the cake.. this is our opportunity, I wish him a happy birthday from all of us and present him with the gifts from his club. Kevin looks a bit puzzled, but then being really thrilled about it proudly shows the gifts to his film crew.
Now we go for lunch. Kevin calls Karl and me to his table and we barely get seated before the room is dimmed and we witness the first showing of the 1st episode of the 5th season "The Weight - part 1".
Because parts of this episode's scenes are violent Gordon covers the eyes of his son from time to time. Next year we will elaborate further on the 4th and 5th season. To reveal this much: the meeting between Dylan and Rhade in another dimension on the planet Seefra (which they reached through the Route of Ages) is full of suspense, because it's unpre-dictable who's side Rhade will actually be on. After the show we all agree that the 5th season will be a great show - perhaps the best.
After lunch we heartily bid farewell to them all, probably there won't be a reunion, because there's no 6th season in sight. Kevin says good-bye: " See you in May in Bonn, I'm really looking forward to meeting you all again." We don't go home empty handed. Kevin was - it was my wish - kind enough to sign the London group photos (we had reprints made for everybody) with a personal dedication to everyone who was there. He also richly regaled us with new photos and autographs. As soon as we get software for a multilingual auction we'll go for it.
Karl and I were presented with a framed picture of the Andromeda in photo-quality along with everybody else on the crew.
Thanks
Here we want to thank everybody who made the set visit a wonderful and thrilling event. We were very comfortable there and appreciated very much that we were trusted and ac-cepted as members of a family.
We especially want to thank:
Thank you Lexa, Lisa, Laura, Gordon, Steve and Brandy for the chance to watch you working.
Thanks to the very nice directors - Allan Harmon, Jorge Montesi, Peter DeLuise and David Winning - it was a pleasure to get to know you and to admire your work.
A big thank you to the entire film crew, to Cid with his fantastic coffee and pastries, to Nancy and to all the others who provided an insight into the life of a film production.
An especially nice thank you to Kevin's assistant who exerted herself unfailingly on our behalf so we didn't miss anything and who always was at our side in a very friendly way.
Thank you to Kevin for the invitations to the set and the incredible possibility to attend him while shooting and to take a look over his shoulder.

Translation: Edith

Home