DRAGON CON: CAITY LOTZ, PAUL BLACKTHORNE, AND KATRINA LAW TALK ARROW

In September at Dragon Con in Atlanta, Paul Blackthorne (Detective Lance), Caity Lotz (Sara Lance) and Katrina Law (Nyssa al Ghoul) sat down for a press conference discussing all things Arrow. These three really knew how to entertain. This was a fun room to be in and I am so glad I had the opportunity to be there.

Paul Blackthorne’s selfie at Dragon Con. Nice girl Lisa is laughing in the front row. 🙂

Paul Blackthorne arrived first and took a selfie of all the press people (Caity later referred to him as the selfie king)! It was his first Dragon Con so he was excited about it. Once the ladies arrived it was full speed ahead.

I asked Caity about her audition process and if she knew she was auditioning for Sara Lance/Black Canary. She responded, “I did not know. I auditioned for a character named Lisa.”

I said, “That’s my name!” Paul Blackthorne said, “Oh she was auditioning for you!” and we all laughed. It was pretty awesome! Caity continued, “I was auditioning for you, and the sides were about how Arrow killed her brother because her brother was selling vertigo or something like that. I remember I really liked it because that character was so strong. She was there to give the Arrow shit; it wasn’t like she was this weak person. She was a very strong character even from the audition sides. So I auditioned and it went well, actually it went bad and I thought I wasn’t going to get it.”

Paul said, “Those are the parts you get! The one you think are bad.”

Caity Lotz at Dragon Con 2014. Photo Credit Ella Worley.

Caity continued, “Well they just said ‘You’re not the CW type. Sorry.’(Laughing) Funneled down that’s what I heard. Then they were like never mind we are flying Stephen Amell in to do a chemistry read with you. So we did a read together and after that it was still a long process because it was a great part, an important part so they wanted to make sure they got someone who fit like they wanted it. After I booked it is when they told me it was for Sara Lance and Canary.”

Paul Blackthorne then asked Katrina Law what her audition process was like. Katrina said, “I was called in to play Greta or Jen. I was doing this really intense smitten and spiteful lover of Oliver and I got called in for that. Then they said I would be doing a chemistry read. I was like cool. Then they said I would be doing a chemistry read with a girl on the show named Caity and I was like, ‘What?’ So I asked for my new sides and they said the sides were the same. I was like ok this one I am heavily interested in Oliver, so should I change it to make it more like my sister? They said no, just do it exactly the same. So I asked, is my character going to be a lesbian? ‘We can’t tell you that’ they said. (Everyone was laughing at this point). So, I walked in and I saw Caity (who I saw her par course online and I knew she was badass)and I’m like ok this is weird. I think there was this moment where we just stared at each other and I was like ok let’s do this. I was offered the part, and I didn’t find out until TV Guide announced it, what part I was playing.”

Paul Blackthorne said that the Lance family flashbacks were a lot of fun to shoot and it felt like they were filming a sitcom. He said he enjoys filming the flashback scenes but wouldn’t confirm or deny if we will see anymore scenes like that in season 3.

They talked about how talented and hard working the stunt team is. Caity said they are able to achieve feature film stuff on an episodic TV show with very little time. Paul said they just keep upping their game and impress them more and more. They truly are amazing.

Katrina Law at Dragon Con 2014. Photo credit Ella Worley

When asked what they geek out about, Katrina said she geeks out about baby animal pictures, Paul geeks out about trees (he admitted to be a tree hugger and he secretly hugs trees in the dark…hilarious) and Caity had some trouble thinking of something. First she said internet memes, and then she said she likes baking, and then she settled on books. She definitely geeks out about books. Smart Girl!

This was the first Dragon Con for all three of them and they talked about their experience. Paul said he loves it when he hears the word “Y’all.” Katrina said Atlanta is one of her favorite cities and she loved it. She said Dragon Con had the best cosplay she had ever seen (Oh yeah! I totally agree with her there). Then it was cute because she had to explain to Paul what cosplay was. Once he learned the term, he agreed that the costumes were amazing. Caity said it felt like everyone knew each other and she liked how friendly everyone was (and she enjoyed the sweet tea she had at lunch). Paul said it was great place to be. Yes it is!

After the press conference, Paul Blackthorne was so nice to stay because I didn’t get the opportunity to ask my second question. It was a fun one so I am so glad I was able talk with him. He was awesome! So I had to ask him (because there was a buzz at Comic Con about it) if there was an Arrow musical, what would be his must have songs for Lance. He said it was funny because at the end of season one, everyone was at a wrap party at an old bar and Susanna Thompson (Moira Queen) , who they love to spend time with, they had this old rendition of God Save the Queen, like God Save the Moira Queen. It was so loud it echoed through the hotel bar. So God Save the Queen would be a great choice for the musical in general.

Paul Blackthorne at Dragon Con 2014. Photo credit Ella Worley.

He said he listens to his iPod to get in character and of course he loves all the songs on his playlist. Paul likes to see how a character reacts to a song and he discovered listening to Pandora that Lance loves Bob Seger music (even though Paul isn’t a fan of it). So his choice songs for Lance are Better Days by Bruce Springsteen and Like a Rock by Bob Seger (which he feels would be hilarious). Awesome!

Are you ready for the big Season 3 premiere? Well the wait is almost over. Season 3 of Arrow premieres Wednesday October 8^th at 8/7c on The CW.