Posted in: Movies, TV | Tagged: BBCA, Dylan Bruce, entertainment, Evelyn Brochu, Jordan Gavaris, Kristian Bruun, Maria Doyle Kennedy, orphan black, tv, wondercon

WonderCon '15 – Orphan Black Season 3 Will Rock Your World, With Graeme Manson, Kristian Bruun, Jordan Gavaris, Dylan Bruce, Evelyn Brochu, Maria Doyle Kennedy

Leanne Aguilera hosted the panel for the BBCA series Orphan Black at WonderCon on Saturday evening, and after a teaser peek at Season 3, she introduced Graeme Manson (co-creator), Kristian Bruun (Donny), Dylan Bruce (Paul), Evelyn Brochu, and Maria Doyle Kennedy, and lastly, to great fanfare, Jordan Gavaris. Absent Tatiana Maslany filmed a special WonderCon message introducing us to the season.

Manson opened with a few words about the show. Giving a sneak peek before the premier of the season, he was concerned about social media response to reveals, and asked for things to be kept under wraps (you won't hear it here).

Bruce, when asked about seeing a new host of clones in male form, said "You all cannot wait to see what he's done with these boys", referring to Ari. Manson said the clones were raised "more as a wolf pack", differently and on purpose, a "bent band of brothers".

Gavaris was asked how his role for Felix will change this year, and he said that Felix will share more screen time with Cosima. "Not to reduce the show to the sexuality of the characters", he said, but they have something in show. They are outsiders, and have been oppressed, and so can now relate to each other in their loneliness. Cosima is "insular", he said, and "lonely", like Felix, who has a lot of partners, but doesn't get taken on a lot of dates. Gavaris said that he can certainly relate as an actor and finds things scary in a similar way.

When asked if Mrs. S made a "big mistake" in betraying Helena and handing her over. Kennedy said, "Well, we met her as she was trying to kill Sarah", but they have developed a relationship. She found it was hard to do, and it would have a huge impact and "rupture" on the family relationship, Kennedy said, but it was all about protecting family.

Manson was asked about the pasts of different characters and whether we will learn more backstory. Manson said "tons of people are intrigued by Beth" and "so am I". This year they are going to open up Beth's story "a crack" and will look deeper into Beth and Tatiana Maslany was excited to "step back into those high-heeled shoes that she only wore for like 4 seconds". People are going to get "a little verklempt", he predicted.

Asked which pairings were hottest on screen, Bruun said that the last time we saw Donny, "we saw his backside" because of a little romance, to applause. Gavaris said that all of the chemistry is funny and "hypnotic" in their own way. Brochu says that "each of us have found our clone" and that's "special". They can all say, Tatiana Maslany "is the best kisser".

Brochu was asked about Delphine's "intentions" this season, and she said that she's going to have a new position that challenges her plans. She's not going to "unveil her intentions as fast as we'd like", she said. She's going to have to make "hard choices and sacrifices" which lead her to make "heartbreaking decisions". But she's also "going to get a chance for revenge", she revealed.

Asked to reveal a "deep dark secret" about their characters, Gavaris said Felix has never been in love. Kennedy said Mrs. S. doesn't really like tea (not true). Brochu said that Delphine isn't really French (joking), but added that she never wanted to be in love, unlike Felix. Bruce said Paul has wanted to "put another clone notch in his belt". Bruun said that Donny "is a lot tougher than he looks".

A Twitter question posed to Bruce was whether he was worried not to be the only sexy military man in the show this season. Bruce joked, "Have you seen me with my shirt off?"

When asked if we'd be finding out more about Paul's past this season, Bruce said definitely so, he'll be "quasi-leader" of the clone-boy wolfpack as well.

Manson was asked about his "five clone Thanksgiving dinner" that was promised in the DVD press information and whether that would happen this season. He said that when they get to finales, he and his co-creator usually end up doing a massive, technically-challenging clone scene, needing an extra day to film those kinds of scenes. Two full days are the norm. He said that yes, "We almost really do that" this season. Gavaris said that Donny is going to be more quoted than anyone else this season because of the comedic elements coming up.

Bruun was asked if Allison and Donny will continue to be comedy relief this season. Brunn said to look out for some "drama thrown in there" as well. Donny is now part of "Team Hendrix" and they are going to "tear up the suburbs".

Asked to do an impression of one of the other Orphan Black characters, Bruun did an impression of John Fawcett. Gavaris countered with his own Fawcett impression. Manson asked Gavaris to "do me". Gavaris also did an impression of Allison that was short but impressive.

During the Q&A, the panelists were asked how it is to work with the same actress or in scenes where clones are together. Manson spoke about the technical aspects, and using doubles and split-screens are used. A "motion control" system called a "techno-dollie" is used. Maslany's doubles block out the scene, and then they leave and she plays it "empty". In the monitor, you're watching in "real time" a composite image of Maslany acting with Maslany. They use a machine they call a 'Time Vampire" because of the time it takes to do.

Brochu said that Maslany "channels a superpower of greatness" in doing so, acting opposite a tennis ball. Gavaris gets terrified that he can't be alive or spontaneous because he shouldn't move into the space where a clone is supposed to be when overlaid. Kennedy said watching the clone dance scene brought things home and "made me cry" because it's about emotion. "We care now" about those characters as different people. Seeing them in a "room emotionally connecting was incredibly moving".

Gavaris was asked how much of his "sass" is scripted and how much he brings to it. Gavaris said that Felix was always very "alive" on the page to begin with. He's "either really self-assured" or he "hates himself", and you could go either way. He sits on a "precipice", Gavaris said in a dangerous lifestyle. There's also a sense of discovery in the character, though. Manson agreed. He was "expecting a character a little more like Sarah, a little more punk", but Gavaris "brought the sass". Gavaris says it's difficult because "we get stuck as purveyors of medias as representing minorities in only one way" at particular times. He said that "some of the biggest phobias I've seen is in the gay community". Gavaris asked fans to remember that Felix is "so much more than his sexuality" and there are a "million shades to everybody". "If we could remember that", he urged, "I think we'd all be so much happier". The crowd broke into applause at his message.

Manson let the audience know that Kennedy actually has several albums and records out, by the way.

The tagline this season is "I'm not your….." and the cast were asked to complete it. Gavaris said, "accessory", Bruce said "man meat", Kennedy said "not actually your mother", "not your schlub, I'm Allison's" said Bruun.

Throughout the panel, really astonishing clips were shown from this season, but spoilers. I will say they were FANTASTIC and take the drama and depth of this show to a whole new level that we might have suspected it was capable of. However, this season seems to be entirely composed of surprises. If you're not a fan of Orphan Black, you probably haven't watched it yet and should. If you are a fan of the show, this season is going to rock your world. The new season arrives on Saturday, April 18th on BBC America.

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