(All the photos are © 1998 by Hester. If you'd like to use them somewhere, please ask for permission first. Thanks!)

That smile... I could watch him all day. It's totally disarming. I wish we'd see that on the show more often -- Janeway would be helpless! Other than that I think he looks better as Chakotay. I like his hair up, instead of down over his forehead. Of course this is just my personal opinion, you are completely welcome to disagree. <g>

During his first panel on Saturday morning, Robert seemed a bit slow in answering questions; he was far more lively on Sunday. I don't know whether that was due to the early time (he was on at 9 a.m.), lack of sleep, lack of caffeine (he kept asking for more coffee all the way through the 45 min. panel -- and I thought Janeway was the coffee addict!) or a combination of all three. But after 'waking him up' with a few teasing remarks (which almost made him choke on his coffee), we did managed to coax a couple of answers out of him.

He decided to become an actor after watching "Ben Hur" at the age of six. His family was under the impression that he wanted to become a lawyer, but all he really cared about were his acting classes. They didn't take his acting ambitions seriously until he actually started making money with that.

He has some Native American as well as European blood (probably like 99,9% of all Americans...) but regards himself as a Mexican-American (since that is where his main roots are), quite to the disappointment of some fans who wanted to know about his own "tribal rituals". He obviously speaks at least some Spanish and is all too happy to do the Spanish accent.

He does not particularly like science fiction (apart form the movie 2001) because it often creates the impression that all problems can be miraculously solved by some new technological invention. It is probably due to this dislike of technology that he prefers reading stories about people rather than action. He also hates crashing all those shuttle, because that just verifies his criticism of "miracle technology" being utilized the wrong way. He did admit to crashing three cars in his private life -- I think I see a trend there... But shuttle replacements are obviously quite easy to get, even in the Delta Quadrant. (I think Roxann Dawson once revealed that Voyager has a special "Shuttle Replicator"...).

Robert seemed a bit uncomfortable with compliments (e.g. female fans telling him how great he looks, etc.) but I'm not sure if that wasn't just acting since he joked around a lot with many of the people who asked questions. On the other hand he said (replying to a question) that he tries not to think about being regarded as a sex symbol -- I guess getting compliments in that respect could make anyone quite uncomfortable unless you're specifically aiming for that kind of image.

He got the part of Chakotay after three auditions. He wanted it because he liked the script for "Caretaker"; that it was a Star Trek show didn't really influence him one way or the other (even though I'm surprised he wanted to take part in science fiction at all...). He watched the DS9 Maquis episodes in order to prepare for his role, but doesn't know too much about ST besides Voyager. Oh, he did like Spock in the old series. He is glad that his part doesn't require too much make-up.

Robert helped found a theater group in L.A. (East Los Angeles Classics Theater Group), but when someone asked about his current involvement, his somewhat cryptic answer indicated that they sort of dropped him some time ago. He refused to elaborate but seemed somewhat disappointed.

Like all the other guests he was asked to tell about some of the funny things happening on the set, and he revealed that Ethan Phillips always drops his pants in front of everybody (I wonder why Ethan didn't talk about that last year...;-)). When the bridge scenes get boring he plays Tic-Tac-Toe on his monitor (hey, we should have asked him whether he plays it with Kate!). Garrett Wang and Robert like to sing a little song (Garrett started it) to aggravate Tim Russ: (to the tune of Mr. Sandman) "Mr. Tuvok, send us a dream, you're just the cutest Vulcan we've ever seen..." It's hilarious, but Tim hates it! Someone asked: "Do you sometimes want to 'push' Kate Mulgrew/Janeway out of the Captain's chair?" (as in: "Do you feel she gets too much of the focus compared to you?") At first he wasn't quite sure whether that question was meant seriously (and was assured that it was), but then assured everyone that he was quite happy with his part and his relationship with the other members of the crew. Quote: "If the broad gets us in trouble, I'll fix it!".

A fan complained that the people on Voyager are still too formal (e.g. compared to how the Next Generation crew interacted) and Robert explained that in his opinion the underlying military structure prevented any closer contact. But since the ship is so far away from Starfleet and the Alpha Quadrant, maybe military protocol will get lost on the way...

Addendum/Correction:
After first posting this report, I got an e-mail from someone questioning my account of RB's evenings at the bar. Because of what I was told then, I have decided to withdraw that part of the report (if you have no idea what I'm talking about, all the better), and sincerely apologize to anyone I might have offended, especially Robert Beltran himself (as if he would ever read this -- dream on, Hester!). I wasn't there myself, so I have no right to spread any kind of rumors.

Let me instead finish by saying that this was the best convention I have ever attended, and I hope to see everyone again some day..."

Hester

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