June 25th and 26th Liv and I went to Arccon. Arccon is a fan convention with guests from the series The Flash and Arrow. Shantel VanSanten plays the role of Patty Spivot in the Flash!
Patty Spivot is a former police detective at the Central City P.D. She joins the police force after her father is shot by Mark Mardon during a robbery. When Mardon is affected by the dark matter after the explosion at S.T.A.R. Labs he becomes a metahuman (He is able to control the weather). Patty joins Joe West's Metahuman Taskforce to get revenge on Mardon. Patty and Barry grow closer and eventually start dating. Eventually Patty decides to chase her dream to beecome a CSI and she leaves Central City. For me this was a bit to sudden and I hope Patty returns to Central City in the future, because she was a very loveable character.
Shantel VanSanten: the Flash
As fans of the Flash, we bought an autograph & photo op for Shantel so we were really excited to see her Arccon!
Arccon started with a Q&A of Shantel VanSanten and Rick Cosnett. As we already wrote in our post about Rick, they were great! You could really see the chemistry beteen them (even though they didn't play in the Flash at the same time) They're an awesome duo! Apparently they went on a sightseeing tour of Brussels together on Friday. I would love to have been a fly on the wall during this tour, because it sounded like a lot of fun. As was their Q&A: There was dancing, laughing and lots of talking! We didn't only see this Q&A but we also saw Shantel's own Q&A's, the full meetingroom and the Flash Q&A. What I liked the most in (all the) Q&A's was the fact that the actors were so open about themselves, their fears and their feelings. Especially Shantel VanSanten: she talked about the death of her grandmother (she died of lungcancer) and about the way it affected her. She also talked about the need to raise money and awareness to beat this terrible disease. One of the organizations she is associated with is Lungforce (wanna read about this or maybe donate some money just click the link).
Photo op & Autograph
First, we went for Rick Cosnett's photo op. So by the time we could go for our photo with Shantel VanSanten, we at least knew what to expect. Which room we would be in etc. At this time I felt like a veteran, because I also had my photo op with Matt Ryan on Saturday. Again, everyone already seemed to know a pose for a the photo. I (still) didn't. Me neither...ofcourse! Usually I perform best under stress. But not at a convention. There my brain just goes into a short circuit and that's that. Yeah what is that all about.? Same here: at school for exampe I started learning for an examn the day before, because I perform best when stressed out Unfortunately this is not the case with convention stress. I have no idea why I suddenly turn into a sort of Pinocchio, when I walk into a photo op room. I did not think about a pose too much before I walked up and decided to just wing it. I felt my face going in convention mode. Shantel greeted me and looked at me waiting for instruction for a pose.So much for winging it. All I could think about was my old (drunk) photo pose, so hey at least I thought of something.It turned out ok, so I'm happy about it (check out the picture below. So, my brain wasn't capable of thinking of any nice pose. But I was determined tough, to say something to Shantel VanSanten. Something about the Flash, her role, or the convention. And I did. So far, so good. I walked towards her and told her I was happy to meet her and that I loved her dress. And then something highly unexpected happened (for my brain in short circuit). She responded. Yeah.. It may sound obvious (someone talks to you, you respond). But I wasn't prepared at all! Usually a photo op is very, very quick. So I thought I'd just say something to her and disappear. But she wasn't so much in a hurry. So of course then I ruined it and just thought 'What are you doing..., aahhh what did you just say'. And I didn't come any further than my famous convention grin and a "Thank you" with a high pitched voice.
Luckily I got a resit! We were still going to get an autograph. And I was looking forward to that as well. When we went into the rooms for autographs, we first got one from Violett Beane. Shantel VanSanten was the second we went to. I decided to take my chance and actually tell her how I felt about her character. (I wrote about that earlier in the article I wrote about Shantel: Ín the spotight: Shantel VanSanten). So I told her that I loved Patty Spivot in the Flash: Where I thought it was kind of hard to see Eddie tear Iris and Barry apart I didn't have any trouble with Patty. I would have loved to see Patty and Barry spend more time together. I thought they would be a great couple and I would love to have seen her on the show for a much longer period! It was a real pity to see her leave the show. I thought Shantel did an awesome job in "The Flash". Patty was a great character.
She was really kind and we talked a bit. Now I didn't freak out as much and I loved talking to her.
And then it was my turn and I must say Shantel VanSanten was great. She made me feel at ease (or as much at ease as I can be at a convention). As I mentioned before Shantel talked about sightseeing in Brussels in her Q&A with Rick on Saturday. They asked for some tips, about what they really should see and someone mentioned the peeing baby ("Manneken Pis"), which turned into a hilarious misunderstanding by the way (Rick and Shantel thought it was a real peeing baby). I asked Shantel if she had the chance to go and see it and she answered she was going to try and see it that night. We talked a little bit more, while she was signing my photo. All I feel lucky to get the chance to meet Shantel, she is a wonderful person and really down to earth. It's always nice when the person who's playing a character you like in a show, turns out to be a great person in real life. I hope Patty returns to Central City in the Flash!
Meeting Shantel
I loved meeting Shantel VanSanten! She's really kind and easy to talk to. So I can say out of experience, no need to be scared ;). Her Q&A's were very inspirational. It was lovely to hear her insights on the Flash and One Tree Hill. But she also really opened up. It was a very personal Q&A as well. And she's a great person. I'm glad to know more about her and respect her even more for it. So if you ever get the chance to attend one of her Q&A's or panels: Go for it.
Cheerio!
Write a comment
ROBERT LEE (Wednesday, 27 July 2016 09:56)
You know what? Superheroes are a bunch of liars! Really. Patty is such a nice girl who was going through her personal issues, but BARRY wouldn't admit he was the FLASH. In some ways though, Patty had to call Barry and had him speeding to the train to see her off (and he thought Patty was in trouble). It was unspoken but it was the closest Barry admitted to being the FLASH. I want PATTY back in the show! Hahaha.
theresa (Wednesday, 27 July 2016 10:55)
I am not familiar with her but she's pretty. Meet-up conventions like this reminds me of my favorite KPOP artist who also do meetups. HOwever, they only allow a limited number of guest like 50.
Maria (Wednesday, 27 July 2016 11:02)
Now that the third season is entering the Flashpoint arc, I wonder where Shantel's character, Patty, will now be. But I'm still rooting for Barry and Iris. I just hope nothing bad happens to Patty.
Sriparna (Wednesday, 27 July 2016 11:24)
This is the first I am hearing about any of these people; but sound like you have had a nice experience talking to them and knowing them a bit more. I am sure you will come across more of such kind people; of course how they are in front of fans, is completely different from how they pretend to be otherwise :)
Nya (Wednesday, 27 July 2016 23:34)
That sounded like a very interesting Q&A session, I admire anyone who can pull those off :) Even though I don't know Shantel's character, and I haven't started watching Flash yet, I love how the pictures turned out. Both of you look really spontaneous and happy.
Fenrile (Thursday, 28 July 2016 00:05)
I really like her character in The Flash. Like I wish we could have seen her longer. The Flash and her make a great couple and I'd have liked to see them longer together. Even though Iris is supposed to be his match, I really liked the complicity Patty and Barry had. Also because the thing with Iris takes too long and feel honestly like a pathetic teenage love. Anyway, Shantel has a good vibe in the show, she seems kind and even if she's an actress and she can be totally different in real, you proved that she is as kind as she shows. I'd like to meet her on a convention one day and tell her how her character is so cool. I hope that she comes back in the flash. And damn, you got a photo with Matt Ryan too ? I love the guy so much, such a shame that Constantine has been cancelled and still not bought by CW or some other channel instead of a few cameos. Anyway, I had the chance to meet Jerome Flynn and Tom Wlaschiha and they are very kind. Spending time with them helped me relativize the feeling you can have with actors and other famous person. Even though it's always special to see them in real, thanks to them and the time we spent, I'd feel more comfortable to meet other actors than if I would have never met them
Rowena C (Thursday, 28 July 2016 01:38)
Both of you looks amazing. It is so nice that you got the chance to talk, be with and learn from her. I've always wanted to do this Q and A thing. By the way she is great in the Flash :)
Alyssa Panghulan (Thursday, 28 July 2016 07:03)
I'm embarrassed I don't know who Shantel is. But she seems like a nice girl. I'm assuming she's an artist? She's really pretty. And you're lucky you got to talk to someone you look up to :)
Dunja (Thursday, 28 July 2016 15:32)
She seems really nice and an interesting person! She's gorgeous too. It looks like you had a great time!
Karlaroundtheworld | Karla (Friday, 29 July 2016 12:36)
I honestly haven't watched the show yet, though I'm familiar with the characters. Patty's powers sure can be awesome but in real life I would probably use it to help prevent extreme hot weather and rain/flooding back at my homeland. She looks and sounds like a very nice person. I'm sure I would drop by and get a chance to experience conventions like this whenever possible.
Marge Gavan (Friday, 29 July 2016 15:39)
I just started watching Arrow and The Flash and obviously I haven't met Shantel yet. I am now excited to watch her. She's really pretty. It might have been exciting to meet someone from the show that you're watching. I want to experience that too.
Teresa (Monday, 01 August 2016 02:23)
My husband and I watch The Flash! :) We're actually looking forward to the next series in October. Can't wait to find out what happens next. Even our kids want to watch this with us.
ROBERT LEE (Monday, 15 August 2016 16:56)
I agree with Fenrile. I want Patty back in the Flash and hopefully, she decides she can't live away from Barry and returns to Central City. BUT, things aren't suppose to be what they seem to be and from the trailer of season 3, they are shoving Barry/Iris down our throats again. Lame!