A Sneak Peak at the Fun to Come!
PROGRAMMING AT ICON 30: A Sneak Peak at the Fun to Come!
(In no particular order…)
Firefly/Serenity: A new life
A look at the series, the movie, and the phenomenon
Wild About Harry
A discussion of our favorite wizard just for kids
Hogwarts: A History
A discussion of the history, mythology and future of JK Rowling’s amazing series focused for adults
Bulwer Lytton: SF Style
Try your hand at creating the WORST opening sentence in SF and F history.
Vogon Poetry Contest
The Vogons are infamous for their bad poetry (The 3rd worst in the Galaxy). You can beat that. You know you can.
Writing for the Silver Screen
A Q&A on the Basics and Business of Screenwriting
Learning from Disaster
Over the years, airlines have become so safe that often a year will go by with not fatalities on any scheduled flight world wide. One reason for this is that crashes are systematically examined to find and eliminate the causes. This panel will discuss several aviation disasters, their causes, and how engineer practices or flight training have been revised to prevent recurrence.
Starfleet Knots
Judging from what we’ve seen on Star Trek, a basic knowledge of knots will continue to be useful into the 24th century, both for away missions and ship board emergencies. This workshop will demonstrate and teach basic knots used by modern fire-rescue services. Participants will get hands on experience with joining ropes together, forming loops, and securing ropes to anchorages.
Writer’s Block
We will discuss writer’s block. What it is. What it isn’t. What can cause it (Stress, medication, ADD, etc). And what you can do about it.
DOCTOR WHO: It’s not your Father’s TARDIS anymore.
The longest running science fiction series in the world, Dr. Who, returned to the BBC in the spring of 2005 and was a critical and viewer success. Russell T Davies (Queer as Folk, the Second Coming) produced the series along with some of the best minds in British SF with Christopher Eccleston as the 9th Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose. And it was like nothing anyone had ever seen before with big budget sets and effects work that help make it “The Trip of a Life Time.” This discussion takes a look at how the Doctor was transformed into the 21st Century and embraced the new world while still holding on to it’s original concepts.
FAN FIC: Playing with Someone Else’s Imaginary Friends
A discussion of why we write it, why we read it, what we look for in good fan written fiction and that sort of thing.
Name your Berti Bott Beans
Contestants will be blindfolded and given an opportunity to display their taste prowess by naming the flavors of the mystery beans
Attack of the Killer Gazebo
Sharing our favorite gaming stories
Whose Con is it Anyway?
This is our take on the zany improv show. Watch our talented guests as they make complete fools of themselves for your entertainment.
Star Talk - From Interplanetary Public Radio
Want to buy a second hand speeder without getting ripped off? Need to know how to fix that flux capacitor or retrofit that antiquated slip drive? These Guys can help! Listen in as our experts do puzzlers, crack wise, and dispense invaluable advice on broken spaceships and other super science devices. Having a problem reversing the polarity of that integrator bypass circuit? Just ask. These know-it-alls know it all!
Fannish Funerals Revisited
This is a follow up to a similar panel given at a previous ICON dealing with conducting funerals for fans. Content may be funny or serious but be aware that, as last time, there may be attendees still in the grieving process for recent departures, so some sensitivity must be shown. Additional subtopics might include disposing of collections etc.
Shrinky Dinks with Shrinky Dink Master Steve
Join Shrinky Dink Master Steve Wilcken in making mini-masterpieces. Make and take home a glorious, full color piece of art. All ages are welcome and all materials will be supplied.
Understanding Your Anime Teen
Do you have any idea what anime/Manga is? Do you wonder if your children are lost in a world of big eyed freaks and giant robots? Would you like to become familiar with one of the fastest growing areas of fandom? Dr. Catherine Schaff-Stump will be your guide through the strange world of Japanese Cartoons.
Fannish Pumpkin Carving Contest
A tradition of the season with a Science Fiction and Fantasy twist; contestants will have 1 hour and 1 pumpkin to create a gourd masterpiece. Pumpkins will be displayed around the convention throughout the con but may be claimed by their creators at the end of the weekend.
FILK 101
An introduction to Filk - What is it? What is its History? What can you expect to see at a Filk gathering? A good preparation for the other filking events this weekend
KidFilk Concert
Filk fun specifically for the younger set!
General Filking
Filkers can be found at almost any time if you are willing to look, but we’ll have a specific time and place who don’t want to have to hunt to hard to meet their filking needs.
Coming Attractions
Movies that are on their way to the theatres (what’s in post-production, pre-production, negotiation, etc.)
The Web Invades Hollywood
A look at how the internet is affecting the decisions of filmmakers. Discussion of sites like Aint it Cool, Hollywood Stock Exchange, and the Internet Movie Database, as well as the need for studios to use blogs and websites as marketing tools.
Stargate Season 9: Last Gasp or Fresh Breath
Do the changes at the SGC spell the end of this award winning series or are their signs of life after RDA? You tell us.
Come Make a Movie with Me
Pre-production is underway on a ground-breaking (for Iowa) video production based on C. J. Cherryh’s Downbelow Station. Come and find out how you can be part of this epic project.
How to Design a Costume on a Budget
So You Want to Run a Convention
The Future of Star Trek
The Masquerade Aid Station
The Matrix: What Went Wrong
- The Art Auction
- Art in an Hour
- Benefactor Brunch
- Chocolate Ceremony
- Dance
- Guest of Honor Speeches
- Masquerade
- Mindbridge meeting
- Opening Ceremonies
- Tour the Art Show with the Artist Guest of Honor
- Wine and Cheese Party in the Art Show
- Open Gaming (bring your own or check out one of the many great games available through the Mindbridge Game Library)
Plus Classic Programming such as:
And more panels and programs are being finalized everyday! Topics include writing, technology, recent scientific discoveries, movies, tv shows, and more!