Damien will be appearing on a discussion panel alongside Being Human creator Toby Whithouse on 4th November at the BFI Southbank, London. The event, ‘Cool Gothic and the New Vampire’ is part of the BFI’s ‘Gothic events’ programme and will also screen clips fromBeing Human.
Other panelists include Anthony Head (Buffy), Lily Loveless (The Fades), Dominic Mitchell (In the Flesh) and Darren Blackburn (The Fades).
Ever since Anne Rice gave the vampire a conscience in Interview with the Vampire, the Gothic myth has been reinterpreted for a new generation. Here the creative teams behind such ‘new Gothic’ works as Being Human, In the Flesh, The Fades and Buffy the Vampire Slayer are assembled to discuss the resurrection of Gothic myths on our TV screen and their vast appeal to todays generation. Illustrated with clips of these vastly successful shows and others, our panel will examine the whole ‘Cool Gothic’ phenomenon. – Marcus Prince
Damien, who played over 500 year old vampire Hal Yorke (aka Lord Harry) for 2 series of Being Human, shared his top 3 vampire movies in an interview earlier this year before the final run of the supernatural drama aired in the UK. Check out the video below:
The ‘Cool Gothic and the New Vampire’ panel event is held at the BFI Southbank, London, 6.30pm Monday 4 November. Buy tickets on the BFI website here.
I'd have wanted to go just to see Toby talk about being human - Toby Whithouse talking about being human!!! My first thought was that I'd have to miss Ripper Street - Damien's first episode on BBC1 and I'll have to watch it on catchup! But if Damien's going to be there too, that kinda makes up for it (kinda - lol!)
I sooooooo want to come along, but at the moment I'm working a late shift. Am trying all my charms and persuasive wit to get myself switched to earlies, but until then I'll just have to sit here jealously whilst you all get to go!
This is a no-brainer, fifi! Television can always be watched later (yes, it's true it's fun to watch "live" to participate in discussions, etc, but even that can be done later, and sometimes it's fun to discover something a little late and then jump into the fandom...) and live events can't. I'd go see Toby in a heartbeat if I could! Have fun, and I'm hoping for no cancellations for your sake!
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Curses once again living so far away...Damien and Toby talking Being Human and Vampires. A fanfic researchers dream right there!!!! I'd love to be able to pick their brains!
However, I did suddenly realise that I am not really into the world of the vampire - don't really watch those kinds of films, never watched Buffy - and it is the prospect of seeing Damien and Toby (and it was cheap!) that attracted me...hope I'm not too out of my depth, lol!
But Hal is the exception right Kat? and Being Human was about so much more too.. perhaps that will be delved into during the panel.
I so wish i could be at this.....
for me the 'world of vampire' (even since Nosferatu and early portrayals) has always been about the pathos and tragedy of the solitary existence, and the pain of not belonging..and of immortality of, being a monster as much as the horror and the blood. I think Being Human did an amazing job of bringing that in to the contemporary. It's the paradox of vampirism... the monster we feel sorry for. The 'new gothic' is, in a way, personified by Hal.
If it makes you feel any better, kat....I'm not exactly a vampire expert myself!
Although I did study Dracula for my english dissertation, it was in the context of the victorian novel......and I only watched the first series of Buffy. I have now reserved Interview with the Vampire at the library (.....it's about time I read it) and have found The Fades is on netflix - I guess I've got a busy week ahead (thank god it's half term!)
But Toby Whithouse.......Being Human!!!!!! What more do you need?
OMG LOVE Damien for posting that little gem of a photo!!!!!
I am a long time vamp girl and here there's going to be Toby Whithouse and Damien Molony talking about Being Human and clips being shown on a large screen... the perfect confluence! it's KILLING me that I won't be going to this.
I vehemently hope they will recored and post this talk. Tempted to call BFI and ask if they will.
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
I LOVE buffy. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Being human! What more could you want?!! I think this is the most exciting thing ive had tickets for so far. This is defo my kinda thing and i cannot WAIT to seeing being human on the big screen!!!
I called the BFI southbank yesterday and asked if cameras were permitted for speciel events such as these. They said that was unlikely. I also asked if the event would be recorded and they said they didnt know but there was a possibility that it would....they basically fobbed me off and said they didnt know anything. I'm gonna take my camera and just hope that they allow us to take pictures and stuff.
I cant see why not though, its not like its a film and were spoiling it or anything?
ps, I WANT TO MEET TOBY WHITHOUSE!!! That is all ;) xx
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Sooner or later, we all go back to being the monsters we truly are!
I went to the screening of the first 2 episodes of London Irish last month. There was a panel there too. The cast (including Sinead), the writer, director and head of Ch4 Comedy. At the end, the audience were allowed to ask questions, so I suppose we ought to think of some before Monday.
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~Hal Yorke is in my dreams. Can't wait to go to bed!~
It sounds like a massive group of fans are going to BFI on Monday!
All through Being Human from series 1 I had imagined events like these (in the early days BH actors went to comic con on America or was it wonder con?) but when I have watched other cult tv show panels on YouTube there is always a chance for the audience to ask questions, so as you say Laura, think of some amazing questions !
Maybe we could brainstorm a few in this topic, so that the fans who cannot attend can join in a little with the fun?
What would you ask Damien and lord Toby if you were in the audience ?
OMG, Su - Yes! I hadn't even thought about Being Human on the big screen....I was so excited by the prospect of seeing Toby.......and Damien too, of course!!
At the BAFTAs I was totally taken by surprise at just how AMAZING it was to see such a short clip of being human on a big screen. I am sooooo looking forward to this!!!!
Wonder what Being Human clips they will show?
And..what aspect of vampirism they will focus on?
Questions I would like to ask Damien and Toby:
1. Being Human vampirism, particularly the portrayal of Hal, highlighted the pathos of the struggle of being a vampire and the pain of isolation away from humanity, which creates a topsy-turvy situation where the monster becomes the victim with whom we empathise. How do you see Hal, as a monster or a victim? (the answer probably is 'both' but i'd love to see that conclusion arrived at)
2. In Being Human, who are the monsters: vampire or humanity?
1. Being that vampirism changes the human on a cellular level, how much of Hal's apparent dual personalities - his cycles that tend to amplify - are Hal's inherent human personality, his reaction to the vampire change (primal instincts), or his reaction to all the atrocities he's committed (his conscience).
2. What do vampires see when their eyes turn black? IS it a form of x-ray vision? (allows them to see veins)
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
There are a couple of clips from recent events on the BFI website. So hopefully they will record this and put some clips up.
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papillon... pamplemousse... bibliothèque... un baiser A lilt in his voice. Every sentence like music... #kisskisskiss A terrible beauty is born. Love me some #Jacksass
I'll chime in with the most common (it seems) vampire question:
Are vampires evil, or do they just need to eat?
We had this debate quite a lot in the Stargate fandom concerning the Wraith. Eating is a biologic imperative. And if you can only subsist on one food source (as is the case with the Wraith and many vampires - Being Human's canon bending those rules, mind you), then you are not evil for consuming it - you are merely a living creature with needs that cannot be otherwise met. Now, in the case of vampires, there is a former life, and a former set of values, to consider. If someone is turned, and they are a blood-only vamp, they have to decide whether to just go with it (as a biologic need that cannot otherwise be fulfilled) or kill themselves. Those are their only options. If their values are strong enough, I suppose they can override the biologic imperative to stay alive, and thus feed, but killing themselves. But in general, the will to live supercedes our values, whatever they may be.
In that context, vampires are not evil, but merely creatures with dietary needs that happen to mean humans must die, as animals must die to feed non-vegetarian humans (who are perhaps more "evil," in that they have a choice not to eat animals).
So, are vampires evil or not? Does it vary by the vamp? (This is usually my personal take, depending on my mood - that some vampires enjoy killing for the sake of killing, but others do it only out of necessity/enjoy it only because of the blood rush that being a vampire imposes on them. As with humans, there is great variation in the vampire, I think.)
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