22 posts tagged “science fiction”

Reason #24 to attend Mountain-Con:
Klingons and Hobbits and Pirates, Oh My!

If the title feels a little bit like "The Wizard of Oz", there is a reason (pun intended). It's that we have so much going on during our event! But before we get to that, here are a few announcements:

• Extended Deadline: Mountain-Con's latest discounted rate ($40 per adult/$20 per child for the 3-day admission) has been extended until September 12, 2008. Visit http://www.mountaincon.org/NOW to get your discounted tickets. (Prices increase at the door.)
  
• Banquet Price Reduced: We have decided to drop the price of our popular "Banquet With The Stars" from $100 per person to $85 per person. Remember, the Banquet includes a mix & mingle as well as a photo with the stars.
  
• Auditions Class: Richard Herd, who has been a working actor for decades, is offering a 90-minute class on how to audition for jobs. This exciting opportunity to learn from a "name" in the industry is just $25 per person (with paid admission to Mountain-Con). The class will be held Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
  
• Salt Lake Area billboards: Mountain-Con has finally caught up with 21st Century advertising ideas and has purchased time on two electronic billboards this year. Because of the nature of these billboards, you can actually see our ads by going to the Digital Advertising Company's website: http://dacsigns.com/ ... one in downtown Salt Lake City, the other in Sandy. (Just click the appropriate link.)

Now back to the Klingons...and the Hobbits...and the Pirates... and the Vampires... and Wookies... and the Justice League... etc.

Mountain-Con has a wide variety of things to see and do...things that will fit every taste. The schedule includes Question & Answer sessions from all of our guests, panels on everything from writing to film-making to world-building (for gaming and/or for writing) to games, and miniature contests.

Some of the panel titles include "I Need a Hiro" (a discussion of NBC Television's Heroes), "Pirates in Science Fiction" (enjoying pirate-based stories in the science fiction genre), "How to Write Fanfic That Doesn't Suck", "Sci-Fi Jeopardy" (a Jeopardy-like game with science fiction based answers), "What the Filk Is Going On?" (a discussion of filking), and "POTCO and DDO and W-O-W, Oh My!" (a discussion of massively online multi-player role playing games and their appeal).

Additionally there are Photo Ops with the individual stars, special screenings of "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men" and "InAlienable", the Banquet with the Stars, Sarah Douglas's special event "Resident Alien" and Richard Herd's auditions class.

None of the aforementioned titles includes our gaming schedule, our media room or our anime room, each of which is running without a break from open until close. This year our gaming chairs are proud to offer some special gaming tournaments, including a "Magic: The Gathering" tournament and "Living Forgotten Realms". (See our website for scheduling information under "About Mountain-Con" and then the appropriately named tab.)

We'll also have our costume contest/masquerade, dealer's room, a "meet the clubs" section, KidCon (for the under-twelves), and either a dance or karaoke.

If tradition holds out, many of the attending clubs will be throwing "room parties". This will be a time to get to know the individual clubs in and around the area. It is also a time to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances. It is also another reason to reserve a hotel room. (wink, wink)

To recap:

Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

 

Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo*

Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull

Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con: Mark Goddard*

Reason #18 to attend Mountain-Con: Richard Herd

Reason #19 to attend Mountain-Con: Scott Schwartz

Reason #20 to attend Mountain-Con: Victor Brandt

Reason #21 to attend Mountain-Con: SHINY! (New Stuff)

Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con: David Reddick

Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con: Penny Johnson Jerald

Reason #24 to attend Mountain-Con:
Klingons and Hobbits and Pirates, Oh My!

* Due to professional commitments, Mr. Kevin Sorbo is no longer able to attend Mountain-Con. Also, Mr. Mark Goddard has a personal conflict with our convention dates. Please stay tuned to our Web site for up-to-date information on replacements.

Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con:
Penny Johnson Jerald

Mountain-Con is excited to announce two brand-new guests to our convention... Penny Johnson Jerald and her talented husband Gralin Jerald.

PENNY JOHNSON JERALD’s biography describes her as a “nasty piece of work, Penny’s from heaven, hell on wheels, powerful, and just plain talented.” She played the scheming, conniving, JR of television character, Sherry Palmer, on the Fox television hit, 24. Ms. Jerald won critical acclaim for her role as Sherry and made the list of television’s “50 Most Powerful Divas.” She recently completed two seasons as Dean Etwood on ABC’s drama series, October Road.

Ms. Jerald has also recurred on the sitcom, Eve, as the sassy, sexy, and outspoken mother of the young star. She was nominated for both a Cable Ace Award and NAACP Image Award for best actress in a comedy series while creating the quick-witted assistant, Beverly, on the Larry Sanders Show for HBO. Ms. Jerald spent four seasons on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Captain Kasidy Yates, Commander Sisko’s love interest and then loving bride. (She also did a single guest role on TNG’s “Homeward.”) She is proud to have a huge Trekkie following and honored to add her incorrigible role in the hit sci-fi series, The 4400. Penny Johnson Jerald has had the pleasure of portraying the most powerful African-American woman in U.S. politics, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, in both Showtime’s and ABC’s reenactment of September 11.

When not shooting film or television, Ms. Jerald can be found working side by side with husband Gralin for the couple’s theatre group, OCTC (Outreach Christian Theatre Company). She may be directing a play, teaching a class, producing vocals with her manager/husband in their recording studio, Behind the World Productions (http://www.behindtheworld.net/), or imparting knowledge in areas of strength to those who seek it. She continues to do public speaking engagements, personal appearances, and charities close to her heart. Ms. Jerald is currently producing a documentary, Women in Power, a story about an historical political event in Baltimore, Maryland, Penny’s hometown. For the first time in history, Baltimore’s top government positions are filled by African-American women: mayor, city council president, city states attorney, and city comptroller.

GRALIN JERALD is the “behind the scenes tour de force” of the hard-working husband and wife duo at Behind the World Productions, Inc. Mr. Jerald is CEO of BTWPROD and heads all engineering at BTWPROD Recording Studio. He is the silent leader of the company, making final decisions in budgets, projects, travel engagements, and scheduling. He serves as the musical director and producer of OCTC (Outreach Christian Theater Company) in Los Angeles. The company is a non-union corporation specializing in projects that present moral issues using original works from up-and-coming playwrights and innovative music.

Mr. & Mrs. Jerald founded the company in 1994. Having written songs for Renee Geyer and Billy Davis & Marilyn McCoo early on, Mr. Jerald felt a certain freedom and passion for what a career in music would afford him. However, marriage and fatherhood had plans of their own. He would end up managing his wife’s career while extending his talents outside of the home by teaching.

Gralin Jerald holds a BA in classical guitar and an MM in commercial music, and has served on staff at various colleges in the Los Angeles area, teaching voice, all genres of guitar, arranging, songwriting, and music business for the past 20 years. With over 100 songs written and having engineered other artists’ ideas and efforts, Gralin Jerald is ready to hang up his professorship and give us an idea about what the “real” Gralin Jerald is all about. He is now geared up to showcase his own talent in BTWPROD’s newly released “400 YEARS REMEMBERED.” Partial to the music of the oppressed Black American, Mr. Jerald has intertwined his musicianship, ancestral background, rich-rooted voice, and quest for equality to create a body of work that should be heard and embraced throughout this country.

We look forward to meeting Gralin and Penny in person at Mountain-Con 4 in (can you believe it) three short weeks! Please visit their table as well for special Mountain-Con rates on their CDs.

To recap:

Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo*

Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull

Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con: Mark Goddard*

Reason #18 to attend Mountain-Con: Richard Herd

Reason #19 to attend Mountain-Con: Scott Schwartz

Reason #20 to attend Mountain-Con: Victor Brandt

Reason #21 to attend Mountain-Con: SHINY! (New Stuff)

Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con: David Reddick

Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con:
Penny Johnson Jerald

* Due to professional commitments, Mr. Kevin Sorbo is no longer able to attend Mountain-Con. Also, Mr. Mark Goddard has a personal conflict with our convention dates. Please stay tuned to our Web site for up-to-date information on replacements.

Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con:
David Reddick

Hello, True Believers:

We are proud to announce that Mountain-Con will be graced with the presence of Mr. David Reddick.

Although perhaps best known to our audience as the creator behind The Trek Life web comic on www.startrek.com, Mr. Reddick has been creating comics for a very long time.

To paraphrase from "David's Reddickulous Blog", Mr. Reddick is a professional cartoonist who not only created "The Trek Life" but the "Legend of Bill" (located at LegendofBill.com, presented by the SoulGeek.com network), "Gene's Journal" and "Rod & Barry" comic strips. He is also a full-time cartoonist for "Garfield", does editorial cartoons and single-panel cartoons for national newspapers, comics and cartoons for magazines, for comic books, and for web sites. Mr. Reddick has also done product designs for several companies including: Paramount Pictures/CBS Studios, Roddenberry Productions, the NCAA. His acrylic abstract and pop art paintings have also been exhibited in galleries and museums all over the world including England and France (and some U.S. locations like Indiana, Florida and Michigan).

In addition to gracing us with his presence, Mr. Reddick has agreed to do the cover art for our program book this year. This will be a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of artwork that you can only get through Mountain-Con (and, perhaps, directly from Mr. Reddick himself).

For more information about Mr. David Reddick including his convention appearances, photos, and his different art work visit his online studio at www.davidreddickstudio.com.

(Note:
THIS IS THE FINAL WEEK FOR THE PRE-SALE DISCOUNT PRICES!
Pre-sale tickets for an adult, 3-day Mountain-Con VI pass are $40. After August 31st, we will discontinue the pre-sale registration and sell tickets at the door for $45. Single-day rates are also available at the door.)

To recap:

Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo*

Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull

Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con: Mark Goddard*

Reason #18 to attend Mountain-Con: Richard Herd

Reason #19 to attend Mountain-Con: Scott Schwartz

Reason #20 to attend Mountain-Con: Victor Brandt

Reason #21 to attend Mountain-Con: SHINY! (New Stuff)

Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con:
David Reddick

* Due to professional commitments, Mr. Kevin Sorbo is no longer able to attend Mountain-Con. Also, Mr. Mark Goddard has a personal conflict with our convention dates. Please stay tuned to our Web site for up-to-date information on replacements. As soon as we know ... you'll know!

Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con:
Mark Goddard

Wow! Mountain-Con is only about two months away, and here we are announcing another of our major guests... Mr. Mark Goddard, famous for his role as Major Don West in the original "Lost In Space" television series. He also played a General in the "Lost In Space" movie (with Heather Graham, Matt LeBlanc, and William Hurt).

We mentioned back in "Reason #6" that a few of the B-9 robots from "Lost In Space" would be attending Mountain-Con...and we've decided to place them near Mr. Goddard's table. (Remember...the robots are cool to look at, but no touching!)

Mr. Goddard has also appeared in several soap operas, including One Life to Live, General Hospital, and more. In addition, Mr. Goddard appeared in several television western series including "Gunsmoke", "The Rifleman", and "The Virginian". According to IMDB, his most recent role is Steve in the soon-to-be released film "Soupernatural".

So...visit www.mountaincon.org for your tickets, links to the hotel, and scheduling information...and be on the lookout for additional guests to be announced over the next few weeks.

(Reminder: Pre-sale tickets for an adult, 3-day Mountain-Con VI pass are $40. After August 31st, we will discontinue the pre-sale registration and sell tickets at the door for $45. Single-day rates are also available at the door.)

To recap:

Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo

Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull

Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con:
Mark Goddard

Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con:
Costume Contest and Masquerade

You never know who you will meet at Mountain-Con. We've been visited by the Ghost Rider, Green Lantern, the Borg, Professors Snape and McGonigal, several Stormtroopers, Starfleet officers, and Hogwarts students, Captain Jack Sparrow and the entire family of The Incredibles.

As per usual, Mountain-Con will hold a costume contest and masquerade. All participants win some sort of prize/recognition. Last year, we had our guests judge the contest, and they decided that one of our contestants deserved the "Bravest in Utah" award for his "Dr. Frank N. Furter" costume. (If you don't know who that is...you're probably too young to find out.) Other awards included "Best Choreographed", and "Best Child's Costume". Everyone involved had a great time. (Thanks to the folks at CONduit for helping us run the masquerade this year.)

So, get those creative juices flowing and get your costume together this September 19th through 21st. Who knows...maybe YOU'LL get the "Bravest in Utah" award this time.

(Reminder: Pre-sale tickets for an adult, 3-day Mountain-Con VI pass are $40. After August 31st, we will discontinue the pre-sale registration and sell tickets at the door for $45.)

To recap:

Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo

Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con:
Costume Contest and Masquerade

Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con:
Banquet with the Stars

Ever since the second Mountain-Con, we have had an excellent "Banquet with the Stars"...an opportunity to share a meal and some experiences with one of our guests.

Held on the Friday night of the convention, the Banquet is sort of the "official opener" for the convention. The banquet comes with a souvenir photograph and other unique opportunities available only to Banquet attendees.

Since the Banquet is one of those extra "add on" goodies, there will be a cost to it. Considering all that comes with the banquet, the price is definitely reasonable (under $100)...which is much less than some other conventions charge.

Please note: Only those 18 or older will be admitted to the banquet. Additionally, the Banquet has a dress code... costume or nice dress (Sunday best).

(Rumor has it that Club Fahrenheit 451 will run a cash bar at this year's Banquet.)

To recap:

Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo

Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con:
Banquet with the Stars

It's been about three weeks since we highlighted one of our awesome guests, so I guess it's time to do so again.

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con:
Herb Jefferson Jr.

Mr. Herb Jefferson Jr. may be known best for his role as "Boomer" on the original Battlestar Galactica, but is by no means the whole of his career.

Some of Mr. Jefferson's other roles include Baxter in "Columbo: Playback", Muntzy in "Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix" (i.e. the "Knight Rider" pilot), Otis Barnes in "The Devlin Connection", and a news reporter in "Apollo 13." Mr. Jefferson has guest starred in numerous television shows, including "Airwolf", "The Dukes of Hazzard", "Mission: Impossible", "ER", and "Hill Street Blues".

Mr. Jefferson's latest role is an appearance in the film: "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men", which will be shown in its entirety at Mountain-Con this September (see "Reason" #9).

Herb Jefferson Jr. is also supporter of our Armed Forces, and is involved in organizations like the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve "Toys For Tots" program, the USO, and the California Paralyzed Veterans Association. As Mountain-Con will be near Hill Air Force base this year, we hope that the soldiers will come out and visit with Mr. Jefferson, who would be pleased to see all of you!

To recap:

Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo

Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con:
Herb Jefferson Jr.