The other day, I received an email from longtime gater Gilder who informed me of the recent troubles being experienced by a once-mighty fan-run Stargate convention. Gatecon was the first and, in my opinion, best of the Stargate cons as it: 1) Took place in Vancouver where the show (SG-1 at the time) was being filmed and, 2) Always sought to be as inclusive as possible, extending invitations to as many production personnel as possible, everyone from actors and producers to artists and stand-ins (which is more than can be said for the other cons, but I‘m thinking of one in particular). In its infancy, it was an enjoyable week-long gathering that focused on all things Stargate. Gatecon used to be THE Stargate cons to end all Stargate cons because, at its core, it was a convention organized BY Stargate fans FOR Stargate fans. But, in time the big machine cons came along and, as a result, Gatecon had to shift its focus from all things Stargate to all things scifi. The name changed, from Gatecon to Timeless Destinations, yet the spirit of the get-together remained unshaken. But the truth is, even the best of intentions and grass-roots support are often not enough to guarantee survival in a very competitive field and so, this year, the fan gathering formerly known as Gatecon and formerly known as Timeless Destinations, now sporting the unwieldy moniker The Timeless Legendary Gathering of Fans and Friends, has had to scale back as a result of poor attendance. Rather than cancel the event (which would have left many fans with non-refundable hotel and airline tickets in the lurch) organizers were forced to compromise. Originally conceived as a 6-day event, the convention has now been contracted to three (August 3rd-5th).
Now a fairly modest operation, this little fan-driven jamboree will be hard-pressed to compete with its big corporate rivals. “They can’t pay you,”Gilder warned, “but they could use your support. Can I forward them your email?” You bet. The next day, I was contacted by one of the event organizers, Sylvia Graff, and I told her I’d be delighted to drop by. I won’t be able to make all three days, but I’ll definitely make it a point to show up for one evening and help out as: a thank-you to the fans who continue to support the show, a kind gesture for old-time’s sake, and an F.U. to that other con. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by. It will be a much smaller gathering but I’m sure the fans will be no less enthusiastic.
Well, back to work tomorrow and a week’s worth of meetings as prep begins on Kindred I. And, as I reflect back fondly on my three week hiatus, I also look forward to the next few weeks and specifically: Comic Con, some finished visual effects, and the release of two hotly anticipated titles – Scott Lynch’s Red Seas Under Red Skies, and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Pics: The final count – 18 books over three weeks, not quite a book a day but not bad and six better than I predicted.
Q&A –
Anlaria Onyx writes: “Do you know what kind of extra features Season 3 of SGA will have? And does buying the seasons help ratings?”
Answer: I don’t and while buying the DVD’s doesn’t help ratings, it certainly motivates MGM to keep producing the show.
Laz writes: “Lulu is such a little cutie. (…) When do you get to bring her home?”
Answer: She gets her microchip and final round of shots the 24th of this month and then she’ll be good to go.
OhioAnne writes: “I am bored and seeking suggestions for funny movies. Any favorites?”
Answer: Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Better Off Dead.
Crazymom writes: “Who was Vala’s father referring to when he told Landry he had a friend who spoke highly of them?”
Answer: Just one of the many off-world victims of the goa’uld SG-1 has helped over the years.
Karen writes: “How do the episodes get matched to a director?”
Answer: At the beginning of the year, we set the directors schedule and then, as scripts are written, they are slotted into that schedule. It has less to do with marrying a specific episode to a specific director as it does timing related to construction and actor availability.
Anonymous #1 writes: “Who is Fondy’s favorite character on Stargate Atlantis?”
Answer: Rodney McKay.
Someday Scientist writes: “So, I’m writing a book that will probably never get published, but it’s always nice to dream. It’s science fiction, of course, and full of snark. Do you mind if I dedicate it to your supreme evil villainitude?”
Answer: Dedicate away.
FuzzyDuc writes: “Any words of encouragement before I tackle the evils of scams?”
Answer: Uh – Go get ‘em? Tiger?
Anonymous #2 writes: “Is it true that Carter takes command again of SG-1 as the actor that plays Mitchell won’t be around for any future movies?”
Answer: Nope.
Jenny Robin writes: “My precious Gracie kitty was very ill for a number of days, and I finally had to say goodbye to her on Thursday.”
Answer: Hey, Jenny, I’m sorry to hear about Gracie. Hope you’re doing okay.
JohnManzione writes: “Joe, It seems as though my questions are being passed over of late. I hope I didn’t ask anything that ticked you off.”
Answer: No, nothing personal. It was probably a question I couldn’t answer or wasn’t in a position to answer.
Michelle writes: “If Fondy’s new dog spa means she is giving up her jewelry store?”
Answer: Nope. She’ll be running both. For now.
Michelle also writes: “ You never seem to mention a passion for gadgets. Does new stuff like robot vacuum cleaners, x-box 360s or iPhones make you itch to get out the credit card?”
Answer: I don’t have a passion for gadgetry. That’s more Marty G.’s department.
Anonymous #3 writes: “Have you read any of the essays in “Reading Stargate SG-1”?”
Answer: I haven’t. Anything of interest?
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