On Saturday, March 25th The Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL hosted their second year of Heroes and Villains Fan Fest Chicago. The convention combined Walker Stalker, a convention for The Walking Dead and the Heroes and Villains con. Saturday’s panels mainly hosted the Arrow cast, where as Sunday’s panels were from The Walking Dead cast. Arrow and its fellow television shows are all filmed in Vancouver, Canada. The scenery and cost is better for the CW shows to film.
The first panel of the day was with Stephen Amell, who plays the Green Arrow. Amell is from Toronto Canada, whose first few roles were in Queer as Folk and Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2004. Amell and the television show Arrow paved the way for the DC Comics television shows on The CW and FOX for Gotham. There was opportunities during his panel for the audience to ask questions about the show, his life, or for advice. For example, one fan asked about his personal training and how he keeps so fit. His answer was, “no dairy. If it comes from a cow you don’t need it.” The crowd laughed, but he continued on, “I’m serious. Dairy holds and just sits in your stomach, but almond and silk milk are great a substitute.”
A majority of fans asked about what could possibly happen on the last five episodes of the season. “I don’t know. I mean I know, but I can’t tell you anything about it. Just that we have five more episodes and that we are filming the last three episodes right now.”
“I would love to have my arm cut off.” – Amell
One fan did ask, “are we going to see Oliver without his arm? Since they showed that as a possible future in Legends of Tomorrow.” His reply was very enthusiastic with, “I would love to have my arm cut off. I have told them I would love to see that happen in the show, but I don’t think that will be a possibility yet.”
Amell then was asked about ratings and how well he thinks the show is doing, which he then went on a tirade about how the rating system works on Rotten Tomatoes and various other sites. After his panel, there was an opportunities for fans to get autographs, photo ops, and a chance to meet him at his booth. Amell had the longest line for the DC side of the convention, followed by John Barrowman.
Barrowman was the next Arrow panel in the afternoon after a autograph and selfie session with fans. Barrowman is well known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness, originally in Doctor Who, then in the spin off series Torchwood. His most recent role is playing Malcolm Merlyn in Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. Barrowman is originally from Mount Vernon, Glasgow, but his family moved to Joliet, IL when he was eleven.
“Have fun explaining what that means on the way home.” – Barrowman
One thing to keep in mind when attending his panel’s is “Anything Goes.” Not only is that the titles of one of two of his autobiographies, but it is the song in which he will talk and say anything. Kids are welcome to watch, but his favorite line to tell parents is, “have fun explaining what that means on the way home. Mom in the passenger seat, kids in the back, and dad up front driving. Mom what did he mean when… NO NO NO NO! JUST SHUT UP AND SIT THERE!”
Barrowman is very considerate of making sure that any fan who has a disability in the audience is well taken care of. There is always a sign language interpreter at each panel and he had a little fun with both. He spent about two minutes continueously making fart noises because he likes the hand motions.
“Fart in my mouth and prove it.” – Amell
—Spoiler Warning— Which then led into a story of a time on set where they were doing a scene from Arrow in season 3 episode 20 where Thea dies and is brought back to life from the Lazarus pit. During the scene Amell is caring Willa Holland and behind him is Barrowman walking with David Ramsey. Barrowman tells Ramsey, “I have to fart. My farts don’t smell.” Ramsey responds, “what do you mean your farts don’t smell?” Barrowman says, “my farts don’t smell. Watch.” He then proceeds to fart and move a little to wave some towards Ramsey, who tells him “dude your farts don’t smell.” Which then the director calls cut and Amell turns around and yells, “fart in my mouth and prove it.”
Many of Barrowman’s stories are inappropriate for anyone under the age of thirteen. A few stories include a banana and a trick he can do to him wearing drag for some of his more private panels at other conventions. He did receive a request to sing Sweet Caroline, which he knew none of the words to and had the audience sing with him instead. Another question he was asked was, “since you and your sister write books together, what advice do you have for someone who wants to either become an author or a journalist?” His advice was, “read. Finding a good real book, not one that you have on your phone or iPad, but an actual book. Then getting glass of wine, or your preferred drink, and sitting on the couch and reading that book. Reading and writing everyday too. My sister and I are working on getting a few writing workshops together in the area since she works at Alverno College in Wisconsin. It will be a three to four day workshop at a hotel and we will work one on one and in groups with you. So keep an eye out for it.”
The final panel of the day was several cast members of Arrow such as; Willa Holland, David Ramsey, Katie Cassidy, Echo Kellum, Katrina Law, and Charlotte Ross. This panel consisted of fans having their favorite character answering a question instead of each individual person. —Spoiler warning— For example, a fan asked Cassidy, who played the Black Canary, what her favorite video game was. She told him that it was Call of Duty and what her gamer name was for anyone who might be on when she is playing.
“Want to be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson” – Cassidy
There was also a question directed at all of the members, but was only answered by Cassidy and Holland. The question was “what would your earth 2 doppelganger be?” Cassidy said she would want to be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, then Holland responded with, “I would want to be The Rock’s personal trainer that way I could see this.” They ended the day with singing a song for one of the fans and telling everyone they would see them later and to have a great time at Heroes and Villains Fan Fest Chicago.
