Alright, for real this time…

The schedule, with changes, and, per one helpful comment on the blog, dates and days.  You’d think I’d have thought of that.  Link below.

-Eli

2009schedulefinalv201

Farpoint Map of Crown Plaza

Some folks have been asking for a map of the hotel and the convention spaces.  I’ve attached it here.  My thanks to Lew Aide who put it together.

http://farpoint.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/crowne-plaza-floorplan-for-farpoint09.pdf

Farpoint 2009 schedule

117 hits each yesterday and today. I guess some of you are excited to see the schedule. I warned you it was subject to change. Some small changes were made… and dealers room times are still coming Real Soon Now.

2009schedulefinal

-Eli

Lightsaber Duel Workshops coming to Farpoint 2009

A new hotel, with new programming spaces. So we are trying something new this year. On Saturday in the Atrium Rear Coskumite (description below) will be running a series of Lightsaber choreography workshops. The workshops will be good exercise and promise to be a lot of fun.

Availability for these workshops is limited to around 15 participants each, so sign up at the Coskumite fan table when it is open to ensure a spot.

Workshops will run on Saturday at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Wear comfortable close and bring a shinai or lightsaber if you have one.

There will be a Q&A with Chuck and his crew at 18:00 in Chesapeake 6 (across from the Game Room) where you can ask about light sabers, fight choreography, stunt work, everything.

About our workshop presenters:

C.L.A.N.S. of the Revolution / MD Jedi is a group of Light Saber enthusiasts from the Maryland, DC, VA area. They also represent the Maryland area as “MD Jedi”, part of an international coalition of saber enthusiasts started by the NY Jedi (SaberWars).
C.L.A.N.S. (Clans, Legions, Aliens, Nobles, & Soldiers) of the Revolution is an off-shoot of CosKumite, the Art of Cosplay Combat.

Helmed by Maryland based professional stuntman, fight choreographer, and actor
Chuck Jeffreys (Blade, Spiderman 1, Freddy Vs. Jason, Blade Trinity).
Jeffreys created CosKumite to help cosplayers (Anime, Fantasy, Pirate,
Klingon, Ninja, Predator, etc.) create safe and creative mock combat routines to spice up their cosplay skits. CosKumite also adds a whole other level of enjoyment, skill, and fitness to the fun that is costumed role play.
various links:
C.L.A.N.S. / MD Jedi (http://www.clansoftherevolution.com)
NY Jedi (http://www.newyorkjedi.com)
Chuck Jeffreys IMDB page (http://www.imdb.com)/name/nm0420333/)

Chuck Jeffreys’ Combattitude
(http://www.combattitude.com)
C.L.A.N.S. / MD Jedi video various clips (http://www.youtube.com/user/combattitude)

Farpoint 2009 Schedule Preview

Attached is Farpoint program schedule for 2009 .  We’ve got a lot going on so take a look  and feel free to post questions.

Important note: The schedule is subject to change, so do refer to your pocket program when you get to the con.

See y’all next week!

schedule0220091

-Eli

Programming lackey

Autograph Information for 2009

All of our guests at Farpoint will be available at different times throughout the weekend to meet and greet convention members.

Our author, podcasting, science and performing guests will be available at various times throughout the weekend to meet fans, and they will also have signed items available for purchase. The schedule for these appearances will be published as part of the convention program.

Members of the various film groups participating at Farpoint will be at tables in the Atrium throughout the weekend to meet fans.

The main autograph sessions will be Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Final times will be part of the program schedule. Who’s signing what:

Harve Bennett and Phil Weyland will sign 1 item per badged member per session at no charge. NOTE: Neither Phil nor Harve will have items for sale, so this item to be signed must be either the program book or an item already owned by the member.

Alan Tudyk will sign 1 item per badged member per session at no charge. Again, this no charge item must be already owned by the member. However, Alan will also have items during the session for sale and will sign those (or another member personal item) for an additional charge. We do not have word yet on the item costs, but you can assume it will be the going market rate of $20-$25 for additional items. We do not yet know if there’s a limit on the number of additional items Alan will sign for an individual person, but will forward this information as soon as possible.

Members can also look for many of our other guests to be available during the main autograph session to meet and greet.

One More Day

Saturday, January 31st (TOMORROW) is the last day to pre-register for Farpoint, and is also the last day to add on a banquet ticket to your membership.

Farpoint hosts TRENCHES Premiere

Farpoint is proud and excited to announce that we will be hosting the world premiere of “Trenches”, the exciting new original science fiction action series from Stage 9 Digitial Media and our friends from X-ile Pictures!

Our current plans are for 2 showings – one on Friday evening and one on Saturday afternoon. The Saturday showing will be followed by a Q&A with “Trenches” producer/director Shane Felux and other cast/crew.

To learn more about “Trenches” check out the official website: http://www.trenchesonline.com/

A new Science Guest coming to Farpoint

Dr. R. Michael Anson

Dr. Anson is a scientist in the field of biogerontology (the study of the biology of aging), an educator, and a lifelong science fiction fan. His personal interest in fighting aging was born when he was a small child, as he watched his favorite grandmother suffer an osteoporosis-induced fall, after which she suffered trauma- and micro-stroke-induced dementia. She could no longer recognize him, and she spent the last decade of her life trapped prostrate in a bedroom peopled by imaginary companions. His scientific interest in aging was generated when, in his early teens, he read, “Time Enough for Love,” by Robert Heinlein. His interest piqued, he spent many long days in the library trying to learn why different species age at different rates, and why we age at all. What he learned instead was that no answer was available. The details of that particular biological mystery are still being discovered.

At the age of 25, he abandoned a promising career in the graphic arts to pursue science. (In the 80s and early 90s, his artwork graced – or perhaps cursed, depending on taste – the art shows of many a scifi convention.) Since he had dropped out of high school in 1975 to pursue more interesting uses of time, including a tour of the US on a motorcycle, this wasn’t an easy task. He began his studies in Anne Arundel Community College, determined to ace every course: from there, he progressed to the University of Maryland. Ultimately, he earned his Ph.D. in biology from the Johns Hopkins University. While still an undergraduate at UMBC (during which time he met and married his true love!), he arranged to conduct student research at the NIH’s National Instutite on Aging. Later, as a graduate student in JHU, he arranged to continue his participation in aging research at the National Instutite on Aging by selecting a program that permitted him to conduct his thesis research there. Ultimately, in various capacities, he spent 13 years studying the biology of aging at the National Institute on Aging, and his final study there (which dealt with the influence of intermittent fasting on the aging rate of mice) received international press coverage.

Since that time, his interest in aging has continued. He spent 3 years teaching at St. George’s University’s School of Medicine in the West Indies, during which time he published several articles dealing with dietary influences on aging rate. Since his return to the United States in 2004, he has published book chapters and spoken at scientific conferences on the same topic. Now approaching 50, he anticipates a continued involvement in the biogerontological field for the remainder of his own lamentably short lifespan.

Annual Collective Model Contest!

A message from The Collective:

The Collective is hosting our annual Model Contest at Farpoint this year.

Entries must fall into the genre of Science Fiction or Fantasy. All models entered by you into the contest must be built by you.

The contest will begin on Friday, upon opening of the dealers room and entries will be accepted up until Noon on Sunday. All models will be displayed at a designated table next to The Collective dealer tables.

First, Second and Third Place ribbons will be awarded at 3p on Sunday at the model contest table. There is no charge for entering the contest.

Contact The Collective directly with any questions at emailcollective@earthlink.net or www.collectivemodels.com