Con-Con Provides Leverage

Bad guys going good, and good-bad guys conning the bad-bad guys. Is this a gray area for you? Not if you watch TNT's Leverage. This action-packed show follows a group of con artists taking down corrupt businessmen whose prime pleasure in life is to victimizes others. This unlikely team has won the hearts of many viewers, resulting in the first ever "Con-con", a Leverage fan convention held March 19th -21st in Portland, Oregon.

Executive producer Dean Devlin and actors Christian Kane, Aldis Hodge, Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman, and Beth Riesgraf, were more than entertaining to the hundreds of fans that attended. They participated in panels and set tours, joyfully signed autographs and dared the photo ops room. The weekend wrapped with a concert by Kane led by front man Christian Kane, who plays hard-hitting Eliot Spencer in the series. Heather J. (last name withheld at her request) was one of the volunteers at this convention, and was good enough to take time from her hectic school schedule to answer a few questions.

Q: How does this convention compare to the more traditional "science fiction/fantasy" conventions?

A: I've attended the Creation conventions for Supernatural and several local fan-run conventions here in Minnesota (one having almost 4,000 people) and this was a perfect blend of them both. There were fans all over the hotel hanging out and talking, and there were guests and photo ops and autographs and official panels. People from the production and creative teams mingled with the attendees, and a few of the actors did as well. It really did compare favorably to the conventions I really like going to.

Q: Were secrets or spoilers revealed?

A: Not too many secrets. There were some vague spoilers given, but nothing specific. Some in general for season three, and some for the episode currently being filmed. Everybody was very careful not to reveal too much. We did go on a tour of the studio they are using for filming, and saw the sets for season three episode three, which they were in the middle of filming, but nothing too major was revealed through the sets.

Q: What was the audience response to having the writers and creative staff involved as well as the actors?

A: It was very positive. To have the writers, producers, and creative team at a convention just doesn't happen. Special effects people will sometimes end up at a convention, but I can't think of one (other than ComicCon) where the writers are present. I wasn't the only one that was more interested in meeting the writers and producers than the cast. Don't get me wrong, I loved meeting the cast, but to have the production team involved in the convention was a rare treat that I was not going to pass up.

Q: If you could change something about the convention, would you?

A: The space wasn't used as effectively as it could have been, and the way to move five hundred people around the hotel for events, like the photo ops and autographs, wasn't well planned out. But hopefully that's something that will be addressed for next year. Hopefully with a full year to plan more things can be done ahead of time, like photo ops and autograph purchases being offered online, and ticket numbers and seating being pre-assigned.

Q: If there is another convention, do you plan on attending?

A: Schedule willing, yes, I will be there with bells on! Actually, bells are optional. Even with the glitches it was still the best time I ever had. I met so many wonderful people during the weekend. Everybody was friendly and personable and intelligent, guests and attendees alike. It felt like the guests wanted to be there as much as we wanted them to be there. It was an amazing weekend, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

Thank you, Heather!

Season three of Leverage will air this summer on TNT. Check your local listings for details. If you missed the convention you can find more news at IF magazine. And for more on Kane's music, click on his website below.

www.tnt.tv
www.christiankane.com
www.ifmagazine.com