Tag: John Bell

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Meet Paul Gorman – OV Party at the Suites

Oh, happy day! Saturday morning (Oct. 24), I joined Outlander fans for an Outlandish Vancouver Party in the Suite with Paul Gorman! 

You remember Paul?  He appeared in Outlander Season five, playing the Beardsley twins, Joshia (Jo) AND Keziah (Kezzie)!

What is Outlandish Vancouver (OV)? OV is an annual event held in Surrey, British Columbia, independent from but concurrent with the Surrey International Writer’s Conference (SiWC). 

I have been attending both events since 2016, although I missed 2017;  forgivable, because I was touring Scotland!  😃

A wee bit about SiWC. For more than two decades, SiWC  has included Diana Gabaldon as speaker, teacher, and panelist. One year, she served as organist for Michael Slade’s Shock Theater!  Shock is supposed to be silly and mysterious, hence the creepy music, but who knew she also plays the keyboard?

OV has focused entirely on Outlander, hosting celebrities and cast members. Over the years, I have met John Bell, Cèsar Domboy, Lauren Lyle, Steven Cree, Carmen Moore (S4, Wahkatiiosta), Braeden Clarke (S4, Kaheroton), and Trevor Carroll (S 4, Ta’wineonawira or “Otter-Tooth”), known in the 20th c. as Robert Springer!

Every interaction I have had proved to be delightful and well worth the long drive from Oregon to British Columbia!

This is me with Outlander’s Gaelic consultant, Àdhamh Ó Broin, who offered a rousing presentation and Gaelic lesson at OV 2016!  

You might wonder, who is the MasterMind behind the OV creative venture? Why, it is KoKo! Also known as the wee pocket dynamo!  

Both SiWC and OV were cancelled this year, but OV came to the rescue with virtual interactions between attendees and Outlander guests. Many thanks to her and her crew for their heroic efforts putting Outlander fans and cast in contact during a global pandemic. Kudos to all! 🙏🏻

Now, on to Paul! He joined the  Zoom group precisely at 10am PT,  to a bevy of adoring fans.

What a cutie!  Have you ever seen a more generous and genuine smile? Adorable! (psst…I can safely state this because I am old enough to be his grandmum!) 🤗

BTW, his somber IMDb photo does little to reflect this funny, articulate, and expressive young man!

As we each introduced ourselves, he greeted each attendee with enthusiasm, interest, and curiosity.

Understand, we came from near and far to meet Paul! Scotland, Washington, Oregon, Florida, New Jersey, California and as far away as Lebanon – the country!

And, this lucky lass, Carrie Needham, joined us from the Fraser’s Ridge set. Yep! She was actually there!!! 👍🏻

Paul offered a brief introduction including the tidbit that Lizzy finds BOTH brothers verra interesting. 😉😉

Next, each attendee was given the opportunity to ask Paul a question.

Tell us what your first day was like on the Outlander set? He thought for a moment and then responded that his prior acting experiences had been limited to theater so he was extremely nervous about filming!

Early on,  he met Caitlin O’Ryan (Lizzie Wemyss) for a “chemistry” test – it went very well!

On the first day of filming a van picked him up at 5am and hustled him to the set! Everyone, cast and crew, was extremely friendly and helpful, but he felt a bit overwhelmed by the number of people who periodically descended to fuss with his hair, costume, and makeup.  He explained that Sam and Cait helped calm and reassure him given the newness of the situation. He also said that Sam was always in the background crunching on carrots! 🥕😆

Given that Kezzie is deaf, how was their communication determined? Paul said that sign language wasn’t available to Kezzie and Jo, raised in the back country of North Carolina, so they had to develop their own communication scheme. 

In preparation, he worked with a consultant to develop style and signs unique to Kezzie. Paul recalls about 60 or 70 different signings  – extras in case a director asked something of Kezzie that was not scripted.

Were you outgoing and gregarious as a kid? No, actually he was shy and an introvert (surprising as he came across as a natural people-person in this Zoom).

He also noted that young girls scared him. How about the older ones? 😂

He settled on acting after visiting the Royal College of Art. Eureka! He realized hat he could get a job in the field of acting! And, aren’t we pleased that he did?

Are you musical? Yes! He plays bass and guitar in a band, although he claimed he sings, badly. Ahhh! I am dubious about this, because he possesses a mellifluous speaking voice!

Does he share similar traits with the twins? Paul said, yes. He pointed out that both Jo and Kezzie want to be part of a family. Kezzie, especially, is very affectionate. The twins are aware of the world and strive to put others first; these are traits Paul aspires to emulate. And, working on Outlander has affirmed to him how kind people really are.

Are you a hunter like Jo? Paul responded, “only of hearts!” Clever lad! 🥰

Paul has never hunted animals. Lacking such experience, he did research into Native American hunting styles reasoning that Jo would likely emulate their practices. He studied still hunting, a technique requiring practices such as slowness, patience, covering tracks, taking down the leader of a herd to make it less defensible. Growing up as a Beardsley servant in the back country of North Carolina, Jo also had learned by trial and error.  

He also revealed that in Outlander episode 509, Heroes and Monsters, the rabbit was dead but the maggots were very much alive!!! So, he is gaining experience with game. 😳

How did you film the twins together in one scene? Paul explained that director Jamie Payne had never filmed one actor acting as twins.  For some of the scenes, they used a double for him to interact with. For other scenes, Paul acted to air, but against a blue screen not a green one, as the latter did not work well in a forest setting. He said acting to air was not difficult because this is done in theater work.

Jo (L) and Kezzie from Outlander, episode 503, Free Will

Do you like cats? Turns out, Paul is obsessed with CATS! He likes dogs, but felines are the cat’s meow!

He has two cats and both are Siberian forest cats. He secured them from a breeder near Glasgow.  This breed is hypoallergenic and fetch much like dogs. 

He whipped put his phone and shared images of his furry children. They are sisters!

Ruby 

and Alexi.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Well, he has been obsessed with Spiderman since 5 y.o.! As proof, he shared a cute picture from his cell phone: Paul with his Spiderman costume! But, since Spiderman is not a super power, he would choose to be a shape shifter. Great choice, Paul!

Final question: How was the tonsillectomy scene from episode 505, Perpetual Adoration filmed?

He said filming that scene was trying because he spent the entire day with a mouthful of gauze! A bit of filming followed by “cut,” where upon his mouth was decorated with bits of blood or tonsillar scraps! More filming and repeat. The Outlander medical advisor was on hand to add authenticity and pointers.  

After the last question, the session came to a close. A thoroughly charming young man is Paul Gorman. I look forward to more storyline about Kezzie and Jo during Outlander, Season 6! 🙏🏻

Thank you OV and thank you Paul!

PS: If you wish to find out more about OV, you can find them on FB or their website.

PSS: OV images were taken from my iPad by my iPhone. Thus, they are a wee bit blurry. 🙄

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo and Video Credits: Sony/Starz, Outlandish Vancouver, Outlander Anatomy

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Fun Fact: Anatomy of Ian’s Uniform!

Hallo, Outlander fans. Welcome to today’s Fun Fact: Anatomy of Ian’s Uniform! 

This Fun Fact is especially appropriate for Americans as May 16th is  also our national Armed Forces Day!  Pretty timely, no?

If you are like me, you are fascinated with Ian’s uniform in Outlander episode 512, Never My Love, the splendid finale of Season five! In Claire’s dissociative dreamscape, Ian arrives in full dress uniform for Thanksgiving dinner at the Fraser home! 🦃

I wanted to know more about Ian’s uniform, so I turned to Edward Maloney, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army (retired) for assistance. Know that LTC Maloney is also a faithful, long-time fan of Outlander books and show and was more than willing to share his decades-long expertise in this matter.

Just so you know, Colonel Maloney’s former unit is the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army. Below is its beautiful and dramatic Distinctive Unit Insignia which reads “Rendezvous With Destiny!”

Addendum: I just learned “Hang Tough and Currahee!” is the Battle Cry of the 101st Airborne!  Hang tough means “in your parachute harness” and “Currahee” is from the Cherokee word meaning “We stand alone together.” (A good thought for soldiers trained to fight surrounded.)

Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Maloney, for your service!

 

So, grab a cuppa (or your fav beverage) and let’s learn about the anatomy of Ian’s uniform, courtesy of LTC Maloney!

Ian’s uniform indicates he belongs with the Infantry, the oldest branch of the US Army. When was this branch formed? Turns out, very close to the date  depicted in the Outlander S5 finale! 

On 14 June 1775, the Continental Congress authorized ten companies of riflemen, the first infantrymen.  Nine years later, the First American Regiment was constituted on 3 June 1784 and it was the 3rd Infantry. Currently, well over two hundred years old, clearly the Infantry is a distinguished branch of the US Army!

So, follow the colored arrows in the below images to discern the anatomical features of Ian’s uniform. (psst…The following image appears twice so you don’t have to keep moving up and down to follow the arrows and explanations!)

Let’s get on with the dissection! 😉

Blue Arrow:  A branch insignia on Ian’s L lapel displays two gold crossed muskets, overlying a disk of Saxony Blue. This insignia is unique to infantry and no other branch of the US Army is allowed this distinction.

The crossed muskets are vintage 1795 Springfields, the first official US shoulder arm made in a government arsenal:

    • caliber .69
    • flint lock
    • smooth bore
    • muzzle loader

 

 

Yellow Arrow: Above his L breast, Ian wears a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, unique to those who have served in combat. It is a single flint lock musket on a blue background. 

Green Arrow: Just above Ian’s L breast is a line of Decoration & Award Ribbons, also known as “fruit salad” or “Travel Ribbons.” These are worn in lieu of larger full-size or miniature medals which are awarded for service.  Here, the Ribbon is a line of Ian’s Mohawk beads! 

Gold Arrow:  Over Ian’s L breast is The Maltese Cross with a Bull’s-eye surrounded by a wreath, known as the Expert Marksman Badge. This badge is unique to Army and Marine Corps, although the designs differ. The suspended bars underneath the badge are added for each weapon the soldier qualifies as an expert, such as pistol, rifle, etc. 

White Arrow:  Worn on Ian’s L sleeve, the chevrons signify a soldier’s rank. Two chevrons indicate Corporal, the lowest Noncommissioned Officer Rank (NCO) who leads an infantry fire team. 

Violet Arrow: Ian’s service cap bears the US Coat of Arms. It is backed on a brass disk and in the case of infantrymen, backed by a Saxony Blue disk. 

Khaki Arrow: Ian’s Regimental Coat of Arms is worn above his R breast.  This insignia will indicate his permanent regiment not necessarily the one to which he is currently assigned. 

Tan Arrow: Also worn above his R breast, this insignia indicates a Unit award such as Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished Unit Citation, etc. 

Next image,  we see Ian’s left shoulder!

Aqua arrow:  Indicates the Distinctive Unit Insignia which is usually a variation of the regiment’s coats of arms but unique to each regiment. This one looks like the 2nd Infantry Regiment but the colors are altered. 

Red Arrow:  L shoulder – Shoulder Sleeve Insignia  indicates the current unit of assignment – Ian serves with a Native American unit, the Mohawk. this insignia was created by Outlander.

And finally, Ian’s infantry blue cord or fourragere (below) is a military decoration worn over the right shoulder of all infantry-qualified US Army soldiers. 

Ian’s fourragere from afar.

And, a closeup. This is Ian’s fourragere in light blue, (dubbed “Infantry Blue” by the US Army), worn under the right shoulder and under the right epaulette of a US Army infantry soldier’s dress uniform jacket.

The cord is composed of a series of alternating left and right half knots that are tied around a leader cord to form a “Solomon bar”.

Fitting that Ian should wear his dress uniform for Thanksgiving, even if that bird is just an illusion!

In summary, Ian’s uniform tells us he is:

    • Infantryman
    • Decorated soldier
    • Served in combat
    • Expert marksman
    • Corporal of an infantry fire team
    • Bears US Coat of Arms for infantrymen on his service cap
    • Wears his permanent regiment’s Coat of Arms
    • Decorated infantryman
    • Member of a distinct infantry unit
    • Member of Native American unit
    • Qualified infantryman

Whew! I don’t know about you, but I am thoroughly impressed with warrior Ian!

And, I am deeply grateful for the men and women who serve in the US Armed Forces.

I could not have done this fun Fact without the aid of LTC Edward Maloney, US Army. Thanks to his expertise for this brief lesson exploring the anatomy of Ian’s US Army insignia!

I hope all Outlander fans, worldwide, will express their gratitude for the warriors who daily protect them, their families, and their homelands. Please take a quiet moment to honor them!

Disclaimer:  If there are any glitches in the insignia descriptions or attributions in this Fun Fact, the fault is entirely my own for not expressing the information with precision.

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo and Video Credits: Sony/Starz; Lt. Col. Edward Maloney; www.wikipedia.com; www.amazon.com

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2019 SiWC & Outlandish Vancouver, Day 3

Hi Outlander fans!

Last day at Surrey International Writers’ Conference (SiWC) and Outlandish Vancouver; things to do at both events.

I arrive early for Diana’s SiWC workshop, Managing a Mob, and take a moment to get my microphone set up. I am very excited.

This workshop was scheduled for 2018 SiWC, but was cancelled  when Diana was called to NYC for the PBS’ Great American Read. You may recall, To Kill A Mocking Bird took first place. Outlander book took second place! … beating out Pride and Prejudice. Puir Mr. Darcey! <G>

But, good news! SiWC rescheduled Herself’s Managing a Mob workshop for 2019, and the presentation was worth the wait! I recorded the entire session including Q and A, and share it (with her permission). Here it is in its entirety. To listen, click on the white arrowhead and wait for it to load. So, grab a cuppa and enjoy! 👍🏻

A quick lunch with Diana. She accommodated my request to photograph her beautiful nails. These are not gels, but regular polish. Love the electric violet! They also don’t interfere with keyboard work as she “types” with fingertips (I asked 😜).

What did we talk about? Nails, femurs, medial condyles, grandchildren (her little grandsons are gorgeous!), Season 4, Season 5 (she is enthusiastic)! Yay!

I gifted Diana with one of my beaded pieces.  This “Queen Bee” honors big book nine, Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone. A queen bee can be recognized by its elongated abdomen.

You may note that the upper left wing is upside down. I didn’t notice until it was stitched in place. I started to correct and then changed my mind  – only the Divine is perfect! 😉

A quick hug, goodbye, and off to meet Courtney Williams of Outlanderbts. We drove together to the final Outlandish Vancouver event, Cocktails with the Cast!

We are bound for the Native, a paddlewheeler on the beautiful Fraser River, New Westminster, B. C.

Diana and all the invited cast members, except John, were able to attend. We missed ye, lad!

Here are the guests, up close and looking, oh, so fine!

Paddlewheels start turning and we are off!

After drinks and hors de oeuvres, there is a splendid moment: Diana officiates in renewing wedding vows for this Texas couple! I am sure many of you recognize them as they are devoted Outlander fans. Few dry eyes as Diana recited “Ye Are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of My Bone!” Congratulations to Mark and Tina on 40 years of wedded bliss!

My view from the upper deck as the sun is setting. A tug tows log booms behind it. Then, the tug sounds its horn in greeting! (Pardon the fingers 😜)  Stunning!

Later, Koko informs us that Diana is helming (not driving) the boat!

A beautiful moment for her, I am sure. Diana does a seamless job as pilot – we didn’t know Herself was skillfully guiding us through the water. The next is one of my all time favorite photos of Diana! 🥰

Being petite, she cannot see over the wheel, but between the spokes works!

After docking, I grabbed Courtney and we scurried back to Surrey! She called me later that night to ask if my refrigerator was running? Silly girl! 😜

Just so you ken, Outlandish Vancouver is the brain child of Koko Pipkin. In the photo below, she is surrounded by the cast (she is also petite).

I don’t believe I have ever been to a fan event that ran as smoothly as this. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and organized.

Case in point: As I was shaking Mark’s hand, a small plate slipped out of my hand and shattered on the deck of the Native. Gah! 😱 Koko was there to pick up the pieces before I even bent down. Thank you, Koko!

Next year’s date is penciled into my calendar. Plan to be there come heck or high water!!! 😁

The deeply grateful,

Outlander Anatomist

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Photo Credits: Outlander Anatomy, Starz, Outlandish Vancouver, DWPhotography