C2E2 2011: The Walking Dead Panel

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MjL – TwoCents Reviewer
MjL@thetwocentscorp.com

The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo is the latest and greatest Midwest convention of its kind. Established in 2010, it brings all forms of fictional pop culture into downtown Chicago once a year to celebrate, promote and entertain the fans that love their fiction whether in book or on screen. Being a reviewer for one of the predominant websites about television, I was given exclusive press access to the event. Pretty keen, huh?

At the second annual C2E2, the entertainment portion of the convention got things started with a bang beginning with a moderated Walking Dead cast panel consisting of Laurie Holden (Andrea) and Jon Bernthal (Shotgun Shane) to inform us of the upcoming second season. So what happened at the McCormick Place? Read on and find out.

The panel started with questions from the moderator. Both actors gave us a recap of their characters and expectations for the new season. Bernthal promised more ups and downs coming from Shane, while Holden stated Andrea is going to be more of a zombie-stomping lone wolf.

You could seriously tell that both actors fully embrace and honor the characters they’ve been graced to portray. By listening them discuss the characters’ emotional journey, they are really studying their craft. Bernthal gave me an interesting perspective into Shane’s metamorphosis, when he stated that he believed the starting point came when Rick was shot as opposed to the arrival of the zombies. I feel that reinforced the show was something deeper than just watching survivors of a zombie apocalypse.

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They both indicated that while Frank Darabont might not be creating everything in the show, he is very interested in the final product including the final scripts, which they both mentioned scripts are not final until they have been “Frank-ified”.

It was also noted that comic creator Robert Kirkman is there to green-light plot decisions that have differed from the comic. As Bernthal said, “he’s using (the TV show) as a chance to revisit… and breathe life into things.”

My favorite moment of the panel came from Bernthal after he realized he was stuck in a double entendre trap. Earlier he mentioned he was going to make sure he watched his language with children in the audience. Then answering a question, he began the juvenile humor with the statement “they just wanna stroke their own… stroke their own egos” and ended with the intentionally innocent “shoots it all on a sound stage”. I’m sorry but I was as juvenile as the others.

The actors were really invested in connecting with the audience, taking the time to answer a question no matter if the fan was one who didn’t like the zombie genre but watched for the drama to young girls who weren’t afraid of the guts and gore one bit.

As for insight into the current and upcoming seasons, check these out.

Pay attention to the zombies, because there are interesting cameos amongst the undead and I’m not talking about the rumored Jim Carrey zombie. For example, special FX man Greg Nicotero plays a zombie in two different scenes.
While the actors stated they do expect to get to the farm but not the prison, they have not seen a script yet.
Holden knows what Dr. Jenner whispered to Rick, Bernthal doesn’t.
Holden knows how to shoot a rifle, so expect Andrea to have some realistic fighting skills.
Filming for the new season begins June 1.
There will be thirteen episodes in season 2.
Darabont might be directing an episode.
Stephen King might be writing an episode.
Bernthal’s ultimate zombie fighting team: Hulk Hogan, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Hillbilly Jim. Nice.

How are anxious are you for the new season? Hopefully more so than this group of protesters at the event, geesh. Anyone wanna get a caravan together for a summer trip to Atlanta for some zombie stories? Invitation not extended to you, God Hates Zombies group.