Dragoncon 2007

It’s hard to figure out where to start when describing Dragoncon. Imagine every subculture of humanity existing in three hotels over Labor Day weekend. Fandoms including scifi, comic book, anime, Goths, pirates, gamers, and everything in between. I think there’s a little of each of those in me.

Actor Michael Shanks said it best, when asked what he thought of the crowd at Dragoncon. He says what impresses him is the ability for people to express themselves there. At least 50% of the crowd (at least it seemed to me) was in costume at any given time. From Stormtroopers to Cookie Monster. Some were very scantily clad. A few were tough to tell what gender they were. The ones I didn’t recognize I assumed were video game or anime characters. Next year I’m going to join them; I have at least 3 planned! I’ll need a suitcase just for costumes!

What amazed me, as we were walking around dressed as pirates in the middle of the night, among all of the above subcultures (most of them intoxicated) was that everyone GOT ALONG. No fighting. No pushing, no attitudes. And everyone is packed like sardines in the building, creating the need for the Fire Marshall to close the building at
times.

There is so much to see, to do, that I decided to concentrate my efforts on the Stargate events. What is different about Dragoncon, is that panels and events of a particular subject, or show, are run by “tracks”. The closest way to describe it is like a fan club. So the Stargate Offworld Fandom Track is responsible for the SG panels, parties, etc. The Trek Track handles the Star Trek fandom. Some actors are “shared” between tracks.

I’ve been to many conventions, but the Stargate Guests Q&A panels were the best I ever attended. A lot of tom foolery among the guests, mostly started by Chris Judge. At times it was overbearing though, and I thank Alexis Cruz from providing the audience with some of the only intelligent answers to fans’ questions. I had the honor and pleasure of being able to meet the SG track director, Marcia. She worked really hard on this con. Kudos to her and the rest of the track crew!

One of the most interesting panels included Pierre Bernard, of Conan O’Briens “Recliner of Rage”. He explained how he went from just an employee of the studio, to his bit on Conan O’Brien, and how he ended up on a couple of episodes of Stargate. After seeing his rant about Daniel Jackson on Conan, he got a letter from the producers of SG which he thought for sure was a prank by the Conan staff. Seems he’s enjoying his crossover from fandom to stardom.

There was one actress, Vanessa Angel, that I had met at Vulkon in May. I was able to chat with her a bit then. She was at her table at Dragoncon, when I walked up she looked at me and her face lit up, she had remembered us and was happy to see us. That’s the coolest thing when someone like that remembers you.

So at the end of the weekend, with just 4 hours sleep, I drove the 6 hours home, visions of what I experienced over the past 4 days. I felt exhausted and overstimulated. Just like last year, I came home with a phenomenon known as “convention crud”. Apparently my immune system cannot handle the multitude of germs at Dragoncon. I can’t wait until next year.

Chris Judge - SG1

The box he is holding is a "photo box" I made and entered in a Fanworks contest on a whim; and it won for Original Artwork. Earned me several hugs and two kisses from Chris. Photos below...(of the box!)

Corin Nemec - Stargate SG1

Gordon M. Woolvett - Andromeda

Jason Momoa - SG Atlantis

John DeLancie - Star Trek TNG, SG1

It was great to meet John. Watching the character Q on TNG to me is like fingernails on a blackboard...the character you love to hate.

Lexa Doig - Andromeda, SG1

Louis Gossett Jr. - Enemy Mine, SG1

Enemy Mine is one of my favorite movies of all time. It would make me cry. Louis did the alien "sound" for us. During one of the panels he told us about a prank he pulled on the SG1 crew; when they set up his mic, he would talk in the alien voice. After 20 minutes and several battery changes, he admitted the joke.

Lani Tupu - Farscape

The Farscape cast is great at conventions. They have a multiple photo rule, they make you take 2-3 photos to make sure it comes out ok. I think the guys made that up...

Now, about that photo box...

The Stargate track was having a Fanworks contest, and was looking for entries. I replied that I can't draw a lick, but I can scrapbook; would that count? Given the ok, I decided to use a scrapbooking technique called "photo box". And here's what I came up with:

The top of the box:

Take the cover off, and inside the box:

Basically what it is, the top flaps have photos of the original cast. Behind those, on the other flaps are photos of myself and my kids with SG actors that we have met a cons.

I am honored that the judges picked it as the winner, and were able to understand what being a fan of Stargate means to me. My name was printed on the back of the track program.

Paul McGillion - Stargate Atlantis

Pierre Bernard - Conan O'Briens Recliner of Rage

Marc Singer - "V"

Marc did a movie called "If You Could See What I Hear" which is another one of my all time favorite movies.

Richard Hatch and Herb Jefferson Jr.

(Apollo and Boomer)

The Mythbusters - Kari, Tori, and Grant

I was shaking like a leaf to meet these guys! My kids LOVE mythbusters. Told them the kids wanted to come and meet them, but it was mommy's weekend off.

Erik Estrada

Erik was very charming with the fans. Hugging, and even kissing everyone. My friend and I couldn't resist the tepmtation to speak to him in Spanish, which was a trip. Don't think he was expecting that!

And now, the costumes...

Stargate costume contest

Mailbox in downtown Atlanta

IF MY FRIENDS EVER SEND ME THEIR PIX I WILL ADD MORE COSTUME PHOTOS!

Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another." — Plato.