Mary Lou Who?: dragon*con

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It's Dragon*Con, Baby!

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 2:10 PM

I got to do some pretty incredible things at this year’s Dragon*Con. The most exciting of which is not going to mentioned in this post. It's an awesome interview, and I'm super excited to show it to you. Coming soon!! Because of the crazy scheduling inherent to the weekend, doing the interview meant I had to miss the annual parade. I had planned to wear Miss Martian from “Young Justice” with my cosplay group, TL;DR, and was sad I didn’t get to participate. But I’d say it was worth it! If you missed the parade too, I highly recommend you watch this great video by the guys at Bleeding Cool!

I was also really excited to participate in Dragon*Con in a new capacity. I’ve always attended this convention as a cosplayer and member of the press, but this year I was also a panelist! I sat on three discussion panels for the Stargate Multiverse Track and had a great time during all three! By Dragon*Con standards, they were pretty small panels, but we had great audiences. Team Dynamics, The Doctors of Stargate, Sexism in Stargate actually came to be highly debated topics. For each panel, the participants included highly knowledgeable members of the Stargate Multiverse Track staff who led quite interesting discussion. Ken Spivey of The Ken Spivey Band joined me as a panelist for the Sexism in Stargate panel as well. He brought a unique point of view as the only male member of that panel and though his interest in philosophy. If you missed it, here’s video from that panel:

Ken gave another great performance during his band’s concert on Sunday afternoon. The only thing I didn’t like about his show was that they needed to be in a bigger room! Quite a line had formed by the time the doors opened, and at least as many fans were turned away as got in. Next year I hope the Brit Track moves the concert so more attendees can experience the Doctor Who themed fun. If you haven’t heard The Ken Spivey Band’s music, you can hear their Celtic Time Lord Rock on Spotify and of course order their CD on Amazon. Here’s a peek at this year’s performance:

While attending panels isn’t generally my favorite thing about conventions (we all know I’m there for the costumes and the parties), two of my most beloved celebrities attended Dragon*Con this year and I got to see them both! As evidenced by my panels for the Stargate Multiverse Track, Stargate has been a big part of my life for a while now. It was the first show I owned on DVD in its entirety, and I’m a Stargate evangelist surprisingly to the delight of my non-geek friends. Richard Dean Anderson, or Colonel Jack O’Neill (also known as my favorite Stargate character), gave a great panel with several other members of the various multiverse casts. He doesn’t do conventions every often, which is why I was so excited to see him. He had some quite interesting points of view on the show’s direction and filming. Robert Picardo, most widely known as The Doctor on “Star Trek: Voyager,” was on that panel as well, and I had no clue how hilarious he was! He was full of quotes and one liners, and really livened up the panel in a way I had never seen before. Get a look at that romp here: http://spacegypsies.com/archives/7874

I also got to see “The X-Files’” Agent Dana Scully, Gillian Anderson! “The X-Files” was my first non-anime fandom, and the first time I learned about “shipping.” Let’s just say it opened a whole new world to my young eyes. For years Gillian Anderson has been a rarity at conventions, so this was not to be missed. She’s been doing mostly theatre since the end of “The X-Files,” but she was particularly excited about a great new project called “The Fall,” due to premiere on BBC Two in April! She told a few stories about her old “The X-Files” days too, which were incredibly interesting to hear. Catch a bit of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET2EmlJUrcA&playnext=1&list=PLuUL7WIBk69Vdcp0je-vNReNkpAV5qGeo&feature=results_main

As most of you know, I worked with Earth Station One for their Dragon*Khan Report leading up to the convention this year. We did one big group broadcast straight from the con. It was super cool finally meeting everyone in person! Those guys are really great, and totally know their stuff. Check out that episode here:

Disclaimer straight from ESO: Like the convention itself, this episode contains hard language, substance abuse, reports of nudity, and intense geekery.

http://erthstationone.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/earth-station-one-episode-127-eso-network-invades-dragoncon-2012/

Though I missed being Miss Martian in the parade, I did get to attend a Young Justice photoshoot! It was super fun to meet other lovers of the series and get some fantastic photos!! I also met another Miss Martian who did the comic version of her outfit. Here we are together:

And here’s a couple more sweet pics!

All three photos courtesy of Danny Hunter.

I’ll see if I can’t rustle up a few other photos from the con and share them with all of you.
All in all, Dragon*Con was a great convention. They always get the best guests and the best attendees. As always, I’ll encourage you to go, both new and old members of the con scene. Do it for the kittens.

Let the Insanity Begin!

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 8:22 AM

TODAY IS THE DAY, YOU GUYS!

Today I am leaving for Dragon*Con. Because Wednesday is the new Thursday, and all the cool kids will be there. Yes, despite the fact that the convention doesn't technically start until Friday. But who cares?! There's so much to see and do before the con even begins! I'm really looking forward to tonight (ZOMG IT'S TONIGHT) and getting to see my con family for the first time in a while! I plan to stay up late, have lots of drinks, and have a grand old time!
Thursday evening I'll be hitting the sack a little earlier, because I will be appearing on TV on Friday morning!! And yes, I'll be in costume to help promote Dragon*Con. I'm really excited and super flattered that they would ask me to represent them, and I'll be on with some other really fantastic cosplayers, so I'm very much looking forward to it! If you're in the Atlanta area, watch 11 Alive WXIA Friday Mornings!!
My schedule gets a little crazier come Friday and Saturday, but rest assured I'll be out costuming in the day and partying at night! I'll be hitting a few panels, too, seeing as I'm attending as a reporter. :) I hope to get some really great stuff. I'm mostly excited about Richard Dean Anderson (McGyver and Jack O'Neill from Stargate SG-1) and Gillian Anderson (Scully from The X-Files)!!
I'll also be on three panels for the Stargate Multiverse Track! I'm pumped to get to be a panelist. Friday at 2:30, I'll be on "Team Dynamics," where we'll talk about the various parts of a Stargate team, Sunday at 1:00, I'll be on "The Doctors of Stargate," a discussion of the doctors and their fates, and on Monday at 11:30, I'll appear on "Sexism in Stargate," which is pretty much what it sounds like. I hope to see you guys there! :D
Sunday evening Earth Station One will be doing a live broadcast of the 6th episode of their Dragon*Khan Report, which I've been helping host. The location is yet to be determined, but that should be a pretty fun couple of hours! If I remember, I'll let you know where we are so you might be able to be on the podcast!
As a media professional, I have a couple of celebrity interviews lined up, but I don't want to give anything away! Surprises are fun, right?

This is the trip I plan for all year long, and it doesn't seem like it's here! I was up til 3am packing and finishing costumes...it should feel like Dragon*Con time. I think I've just been looking forward to it for so long I can't believe it's actually happening! I'll get excited when we pack the car, I think. Anyhow, I hope to see you guys at Dragon*Con!!!!

NINE DAYS TIL DRAGON*CON

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 2:19 PM

I wrote a post exactly 9 days before Dragon*Con last year, and here it is again this year. NINE DAYS, YOU GUISE. NINE. There's so much left to do! I got a few things finished this weekend - you know those small things that only take 30 minutes that you put off because they'll be so easy and you have more important things to do? And then before you know it you have 20 of those things and 10 hours worth of work on top of everything else? Yeah, I hate those. But I got several finished this weekend, and bought a couple of things I need. I've made a list of everything that needs to get done, and I think it's actually doable. It won't be easy, and I'll probably be working right down to the wire, but I think I can do it.

Finished costumes:
Captain Shortpants
Natasha Romanoff
Pinkie Pie

Costumes which still need work:
TARDIS
Cersei Lannister
Fleur Delacour
Minerva Mcgonagall
Stargate
Dana Scully
Miss Martian
Yeoman Rand

..............crap.

I'm not sure if I had more or less to do this time last year. GAH!
Plus I've got a mysterious surprise costume I'm considering making. If I have time.
But I'm superduper excited! It's going to be a fabulous time.
I've been working with the Earth Station One guys on a great Dragon*Con prep podcast! Go have a listen!!
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3

I've also got these awesome new business cards to give out at the con! Thanks a ton to Klout and Moo for the box of 50 free cards of my own design! I only had to pay for shipping. I'm really happy with how they turned out, despite my lack of graphic design know-how. The quality of the paper and printing is really fantastic. Definitely ordering from Moo in the future!!

Dragon*Con vs Comic-Con

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 7:28 AM

So, apparently I'm a little behind. I haven't posted about Dragon*Con yet.

Well here it is. The Dragon*Con post.
Well, the Dragon*Con vs Comic-Con post.

I've also got a few other things coming up concerning Dragon*Con, so get excited! These include:
Awesome photos
More Fatshirt Kirk funtimes
And best of all........my interview with Mark Sheppard! That's right, sci-fi guest star extraordinaire. So yeah. There you go. Read on!

I told you earlier this year I was planning to write a comparison piece as a first time attendee to both Comic-Con and Dragon*Con. Now that I’ve been, I’m hesitant to write it. They’re so different, I don’t really feel a comparison is possible!

I think the main difference is people’s purpose for attending. Both have loyal fans and followers who have attended their respective event for years, even decades. I felt the purpose of Comic-Con was to see your favorite celebrities in action, secure autograph opportunities, and take part in a little bit of stardom. It’s like a geek’s portal into Hollywood. If you read my article about Comic-Con, you know how exciting this was for me, and all the amazing stars I got to see in person. But because it’s a portal into Hollywood, there’s a substantial “industry” presence. There are a lot of non-geeks in attendance, who are looking to network and otherwise advance their careers. Of course I saw this at Dragon*Con as well, but from what I could tell, most of the industry people were geeks too. I found that the attendees at that convention were all geeky, rather than the distinct nerd/non-nerd distinction I saw at Comic-Con. Dragon*Con is really a convention run by fans for fans. The purpose of Dragon*Con seemed to be fun in all capacities, from meeting fellow geeks to taking part in interesting panels, not solely the thrill of meeting a favorite celebrity.

Because of the differences in purpose, the dynamic at each convention varies greatly, as do the actual activities. At Comic-Con, I waited in line. A lot. And I got used to it. Hanging around doing nothing is just part of the experience. After waiting in line, every panel is very similar to every other panel, with the subject matter and guests simply changed. At Dragon*Con, however, if someone is doing nothing, it was because that’s what they feel like doing. Waiting in line comprised a surprisingly small percentage of my time. What panels I did attend were all very different; some were led by celebrities in a question/answer format, others were moderated by fans who wanted to discuss their ideas and theories about a particular subject.

When there wasn’t a panel I wanted to attend, there was a lot more opportunity for meeting geeks than I experienced at Comic-Con. The presence of several bars in close proximity to one another probably helped a lot. Alcohol has a major presence at Dragon*Con. While I’m sure there are big parties and other events at Comic-Con, they aren’t really a part of the daytime festivities. At Dragon*Con, people are drinking all day long. And they’re sleeping in the very same hotel where they’re doing their drinking, so why not?

One of my favorite aspects of conventions is seeing other people’s costumes and showing off my own. While there were a few great costumes at Comic-Con, I must say I was underwhelmed. I guess I figured the biggest convention in the world = the best cosplay in the world, but I was wrong. There were more cosplayers at Dragon*Con, and they were significantly better costumers than most of those I saw at Comic-Con. If you costume, or if you want to costume, Dragon*Con is your destination.

I suppose I’d say Comic-Con is business event, and Dragon*Con is a party. Both were intensely enjoyable in their own way and had a plethora of activities. You definitely have to make choices though – there simply isn’t enough time to do everything. Having been to both events now, I know better what to expect for next year and can definitely manage my time better. Both were amazing, and I’ll definitely be attending Dragon*Con every year for the foreseeable future. If I get another opportunity to make the trip out to California for Comic-Con, consider it done!

If I had to choose a favorite, though, I’d probably say it was Dragon*Con. But that’s ONLY because the socializing and costuming aspects of conventions are the most attractive to me. Both definitely had strongsuits, and areas in which they out did the other. And both will certainly appeal more strongly to different types of people. But all in all, they were both amazing experiences and I’m extremely lucky to have been able to attend.

Nine days 'til Dragon*Con

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 7:39 AM

That's right. NINE DAYS.
I am so not ready.

I might have been ready, but my parents suddenly decided to come into town this weekend. So my sewing time is basically cut in half.
Yeah.

I love them and want to see them, but gah!!!

So, I'm going to post my costume progress to help me keep track of what I still need to do. *hopefully* this will help, and not actually make me take more time....

Hopefully you're interested, too! :P

Most of the remaining work is on the Ceremonial Leia and Cersei costumes.

Cersei's underdress, corset, and overdress are constructed, but not hemmed. I also need to add boning and closures to the bodice. Pics soon, I hope. :)

The pieces for Leia's dress are cut and serged. I just need to do the actual construction, and hem everything. Hemming is such a bitch.

Basically, Leia's dress is three dresses in one. Which makes it so you can't see through the whole thing, but is also SUPER annoying.

Today I'm working on Leia's belt. I've tested four different silver spray paints on the leather, and I think I've chosen one. I have to wait for it all to finish drying, but I think I know which I'm going to use. So that's yay! But I still need to cut out all the metal plates, draft and cut the actual belt, and construct everything. Need to get my butt in gear!!!! Rawr.

Pics soon. I'll have to post them from my phone, so they'll be in smaller posts. But they'll be here soon.

Wish me luck!!!

Comic Con And A Childhood Dream

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 12:11 AM

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TimeGate: Doctor Who and Stargate

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 5:31 PM

Hey guys! Here's my wrap up video from my most recent convention: TimeGate! We had an amazing time and are already looking forward to next year!!

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Technical Difficulties

0 comments Posted by Mary Lou at 8:58 PM

Hey guys! This weekend I was experiencing some technical difficulties with the website. I think I've got it fixed now! I'm so sorry to all of you who tried to visit me only to have the site not work. :( Sad panda! But I think everything is ok now. <3 you all!

We're back from TimeGate, and a wrap-up video is forthcoming. So are pictures! I have tweeted a few, so see them here. More to come of course. I met some wonderful people, and and am so glad we drove the 4 hours to Atlanta. We had an amazing time, and I'm more excited for Dragon*Con than ever before!!

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Mary Lou Who?

It's Dragon*Con, Baby!

Let the Insanity Begin!

NINE DAYS TIL DRAGON*CON

Dragon*Con vs Comic-Con

Nine days 'til Dragon*Con

Comic Con And A Childhood Dream

TimeGate: Doctor Who and Stargate

Technical Difficulties

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