Until Midnight (& Sometimes Later)

Philcon is this weekend! I’ll be busy, busy, busy, right here in Cherry Hill. Look for me sitting in the main convention lobby at the Masquerade Table (I’m Masquerade Director this year) if you need me or in Operations (I’ll be helping with the cashy money). Come by and volunteer to help with either the Masquerade or my sanity.

Here’s my panel schedule:

FRIDAY, 8 November
6pm – Plaza III (Three)
Cosplay in the Anime World versus International Costumers Guild (ICG) Competition
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond(mod), Aurora Celeste, Byron Connell, Raven Stormbringer, Laura Kovalcin]
Masquerades at science fiction conventions began in the 1950s–how do they differ from the cosplay competitions at anime conventions? A lively discussion to dispel myths, clear up confusion and help integrate two compatible groups.

SATURDAY, 9 November

11am – 1pm (2 hours!) – Grand Ballroom A
Masquerade Rehearsal

1pm – Plaza III (Three)
Editing Anthologies: Beyond the Gimmick
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond (mod), Brian Koscienski, Alex Shvartsman, Keith R.A. DeCandido]
Anthologies are often sold on the basis of a gimmick or concept that connects the stories, such as “Killer Rutabagas from Space”. How do you get beyond the gimmick to a work of substance. Note: This follows right on the main Masquerade rehearsal. Alex Shvartsman will start moderating the panel if I’m late . . .

SUNDAY, 10 November
11am – Plaza V (Five)
The Summer of Science Fiction
[Panelists: Jay Smith (mod), Tony Finan, Orenthal Hawkins, Mark Leeper, Elektra Hammond]
2013 had an impressive line-up of genre films, from Star Trek Into Darkness and Elysium to Man of Steel and The Wolverine. Did this summer’s blockbusters fulfill our geeky needs? Discuss with the
panelists the pros and cons of this summer’s movies and which ones you would buy on DVD Note: This panel is opposite the Broad Universe Rapid-Fire-Reading, which I also really wanted to do . . . but I am a movie critic.

Philcon is this weekend!

When I’m not scheduled for programming Friday and Saturday, look for me in the lobby, shilling for the Masquerade, which is 8pm Saturday.

FRIDAY, 9 November
pre-con 12:15pm – AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 – Skyfall (hey – I’m reviewing it for buzzymag)
No scheduled programming

SATURDAY, 10 November
4pm
Plaza IV (Four)
My Best Quickie . . . Costume
[Panelists: Kimberly Ann Kindya (M), Lisa Ashton, Amy Fass, Elektra Hammond]
Our costume panelists talk about (and show pictures) of their best QUICK costumes, and talk about their shortcuts and what you could do at home to look great—for little money and time! Think thrift stores, yard sales, Grandma’s closet, and you’re there

8pm
Grand Ballroom A
Maquerade
[I’m the Assistant Director of the Masquerade this year, learning about how things run . . . ]

SUNDAY, 11 November
11am
Plaza IV (Four)
Steampunk, From Inspiration to Creation
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond (M), Robert Himmelsbach, Matt Black, Thomas Willeford]
Make outfits from scratch, or dress up thrift store clothing; what is the Steampunk dynamic for dress? Is it all about the hats, the gears, the accessories, or is a true Victorian profile a must? What historical eras are appropriate fodder? Is a persona necessary? What if you just want to dress up and have cool goggles?

12noon
Crystal Ballroom Three
A Song of Ice & Fire: The Fan Speculation Panel
[Panelists: David M. Axler (M), Elektra Hammond, James Harper, Andrew C. Murphy]
George R.R. Martin’s great fantasy series has complex characters and a tangled plot, both of which mean that there are plenty of fan theories about some things… Jon’s parentage, the fate of Benjen Stark, Young Griff’s background, and the plots of the Tyrells have all generated theories that range from the likely to the “needs-a-tinfoil-hat-to-believe”. We’ll talk about what some of the more interesting fan ideas about the series may be.

Philcon is this weekend!

When I’m not scheduled for programming Friday and Saturday, look for me in the lobby, shilling for the Masquerade, which is 8pm Saturday.

FRIDAY, 9 November
pre-con 12:15pm – AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 – Skyfall (hey – I’m reviewing it for buzzymag)
No scheduled programming

SATURDAY, 10 November
4pm
Plaza IV (Four)
My Best Quickie . . . Costume
[Panelists: Kimberly Ann Kindya (M), Lisa Ashton, Amy Fass, Elektra Hammond]
Our costume panelists talk about (and show pictures) of their best QUICK costumes, and talk about their shortcuts and what you could do at home to look great—for little money and time! Think thrift stores, yard sales, Grandma’s closet, and you’re there

8pm
Grand Ballroom A
Maquerade
[I’m the Assistant Director of the Masquerade this year, learning about how things run . . . ]

10pm (This one is likely to change–or I may not make it at all due to the Masquerade)
Plaza V (Five)
Cosplay on a Budget: Using Discount Stores and Creativity
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond (M), Stephanie Burke, Rebecca Robare]
It doesn’t matter if you can’t afford custom shoes and corsets – this panel is about using the resources within your budget to achieve awesome effects. For example, using costume pieces double as clothes you can wear to work.

SUNDAY, 11 November
10am
Plaza IV (Four)
Steampunk, From Inspiration to Creation
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond (M), Robert Himmelsbach, Matt Black, Thomas Willeford]
Make outfits from scratch, or dress up thrift store clothing; what is the Steampunk dynamic for dress? Is it all about the hats, the gears, the accessories, or is a true Victorian profile a must? What historical eras are appropriate fodder? Is a persona necessary? What if you just want to dress up and have cool goggles?

12noon
Crystal Ballroom Three
A Song of Ice & Fire: The Fan Speculation Panel
[Panelists: David M. Axler (M), Elektra Hammond, James Harper, Andrew C. Murphy]
George R.R. Martin’s great fantasy series has complex characters and a tangled plot, both of which mean that there are plenty of fan theories about some things… Jon’s parentage, the fate of Benjen Stark, Young Griff’s background, and the plots of the Tyrells have all generated theories that range from the likely to the “needs-a-tinfoil-hat-to-believe”. We’ll talk about what some of the more interesting fan ideas about the series may be.

Jennie Ivins of Fantasy Faction posted a write-up of her experience at this year’s Philcon, and sent along this picture from the Saturday night panel on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. From left to right, Andrew C. Murphy, Myke Cole, David Axler and me.

Philcon rocked.

I got in Friday a little after things got started (Mike had to work and I waited for him so we could travel in one car instead of two), and the weekend was filled was fun, friends, and surprises. Friday included the PSFS (Philadelphia Science Fiction Society) meeting, attending a panel on the 75-year history of Philcon, including reminiscences of the early days by Robert A. Madle, an attendee of the very first Philcon. I rounded out the evening by attending the concert given by the featured filk guest, S.J. [Sooj] Tucker. To my very great surprise, Sooj was accompanied by Betsy Tinney on cello, a fellow maine coon breeder I’ve known forever.

After the concert (and a quick hello to Betsy), we headed off to Chez McPhail, where we were able to spend our weekend in comfortable accommodations (including yummy dinners).

Saturday I wasn’t committed to any panels until 3pm, so in and around my commitments I attended panels on Space Art (an intriguing look into the process of very different artistic minds), Costume Philosophy 101 (why create a particular costume?), the infamous Pirate Ninja, Alien, Big Damn Space Hero discussion? battle?, Psychic Detectives to Paranormal Investigators, and Cory Doctorow’s GOH Speech. I spent some time in the Huckster’s Room, and committed Mike and I to working in the Green Room for the Masquerade at Chicon 7 in September.

I moderated a lively panel on Costume Embellishment (I dragged out a few bits of show & tell, but mostly tried to just moderate–the last con where I did costuming panels I was the only one without show & tell, this time I was the only one who brought some . . . ). Later, at 7pm, was the Song of Ice and Fire panel–one of the highlights of the convention. We had a full room of fans, and a fun hour discussing George R.R. Martin’s wonderful epic. Afterwards, I headed downstairs with Mike to watch the masquerade and the halftime show (Sooj & Betsy joined by Heather Dale & Ben Deschamps) before calling it a night.

Sunday was super busy–panels at 10am, noon and 2pm. The first panel was on what makes a story Steampunk. Panelists included G.D. Falksen, Gil Cnaan, Jonah Knight, Richard Stout and me. Noon was a Steampunk costuming panel, after which I went to Jonah Knight’s 1pm Supernatural Steampunk concert. At 2pm, I moderated a Found Materials Costuming panel, then took a final turn through the Huckster’s Room.

Sometime during the weekend Mike and I managed to buy a small mountain of books, and I picked up a gorgeous skull-and-crossbones cameo (that glows in the dark!) from Robert Quill. Not to mention drooling over a bunch of great stuff–I want a Bat’leth for Christmas!