Autograph News Update

Farpoint 2014 autograph news for our FARP Fanatics!.

– Melissa McBride from The Walking Dead will be signing at a formal session on Saturday and Sunday. The line for these sessions will be organized by your badge number (the earlier you register for the convention the lower your badge number and the sooner you will be called for the autograph line). Each convention member will receive one signature on an item they present for signing at no additional charge on Saturday and Sunday. This is part of your weekend or daily membership! Weekend members will get one signature on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday and Sunday members will be one signature on the day they attend. Melissa will also be available at other times throughout the weekend to sign/sell additional items and take at the table photos. Cost for additional signatures and items will be announced closer to the convention.

– Phil LaMarr from Futurama/Samurai Jack/TMNT will be signing throughout the weekend. He will be charging for his signature and will accept either items you bring or an item you purchase at his table for signing. Phil will also be available for at the table photos. The price list for Phil’s signatures will be announced closer to the convention.

– Our authors will be available on Friday evening at our Book Fair to meet, greet and sign. They will sign your book at no charge. The authors will have copies of their latest books for sale and will sign your purchased books as well. As of now, all of our author guests (including Alan Dean Foster, Crazy 8 Press and Firebringer Press) plan to attend the Friday Book Fair. There will also be additional signing times for individual authors throughout the weekend, which will be included on the program schedule.

– A special feature at the Friday Book Fair will be a table dedicated to Ann Crispin and her books. Plans are in development for this and other memorial events at Farpoint. Please let us know your ideas on honoring Ann and her memory, and we will announce more details as plans come together.

Guest Update

We are pleased to announce the addition of Alan Dean Foster, IAMTW Grand Master, as a guest at Farpoint 2014! Alan will be at Farpoint Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and will be signing at no extra charge.

Foster’s work to date includes excursions into hard science-fiction, fantasy, horror, detective, western, historical, and contemporary fiction. He has also written numerous non-fiction articles on film, science, and scuba diving, as well as having produced the novel versions of many films, including such well-known productions as Star Wars, the first three Alien films, Alien Nation, The Chronicles of Riddick, Star Trek, Terminator:Salvation, and both Transformers films. Other works include scripts for talking records, radio, computer games, and the story for the first Star Trek movie. His novel Shadowkeep was the first ever book adapation of an original computer game. In addition to publication in English his work has been translated into more than fifty languages and has won awards in Spain and Russia. His novel Cyber Way won the Southwest Book Award for Fiction in 1990, the first work of science-fiction ever to do so. He is the recipient of the Faust, the IAMTW Lifetime achievement award.

Alan’s next project, The Moaning Words, is scheduled for release very soon – before Halloween! The Moaning Words is a game at the crossroads of books and video games. It is set in the infamous Cthulhu Mythos, The Moaning Words is a tribute to a writer he is deeply in love with: H.P Lovecraft. It will be a free to play game, available on smartphones, tablets (Android and iOS first), and web browsers.

You can keep up with him on his website, http://www.alandeanfoster.com.

Alan Dean Foster, photo courtesy Michael Melford

Your Questions Answered

This is the first in a semi-regular series of answers to some of the most common questions we receive about Farpoint convention. If there’s a particular question you’d like answered, please let us know either here on our blog or by sending an email to us at trekcontact at Comcast dot net.

Question: Are Farpoint and ShoreLeave the same convention? Are you run by the same group?

Answer: No and no. This is a question we get regularly, especially from fans who attend all three of the Baltimore fan-run conventions: Farpoint, ShoreLeave and Balticon. The biggest similarities between our conventions: all three are fan-run, located in the Baltimore area, and either now or in the past have been located at the Hunt Valley Inn. But all three conventions are different entities.

ShoreLeave is organized and run by the Star Trek Association of Townson and is held in early August. ShoreLeave is one of the best-known “summer destination” media conventions on the East Coast and has just celebrated 35 years. Balticon is organized and run by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and is held on Memorial Day Weekend. Balticon held its 47th convention this year and presents programming focused on science fiction literature and creativity. Both ShoreLeave and Balticon are held at the Hunt Valley Inn in Hunt Valley, MD.

Farpoint is organized and run by Farpoint Enterprises and is held annually on President’s Day weekend at the Crowne Plaza Baltimore North in Timonium, MD. Farpoint 2013 was our 20th anniversary. Our programming covers the gamut of fan interests, as we want to provide fans with the opportunity to both share and learn. We have multiple program tracks running all weekend to meet this mission: media (movies and TV), authors (books and writing), science, new media (film making, podcasting, webcomics, internet-based creativity), children and youth, live performances, cosplay/Masquerade, art and gaming. Our tracks include panel discussions, workshops, presentations and guest talks; con-goers are welcome and encouraged to interact with our guests to share information and meet new friends.

Our annual Open Committee Meeting, held at the end of every Farpoint, is one of our best ways to learn about your interests. We invite you to include this meeting as part of your convention schedule each year to sit down with the convention committee and other con-goers to give us ideas for our next convention. The ideas we collected at the end of Farpoint 2013 are being used right now to help plan program events for next year. And our door is always open to you for questions and comments at our main email address, trekcontact at Comcast dot net.

WORKMANSHIP – Your Secret Masquerade Weapon!

(Or, why you should go to Workmanship judging even if you’re worried about your sewing skills.)

Thanks to committee members Cindy Shockey and Sarah Yaworsky for these costuming words of wisdom!

So you’ve pulled together the most amazing screen accurate space warrior uniform ever. Or pored over a fantasy trilogy to discover every last detail of a wizard’s wardrobe. Or maybe you freeze-framed an anime series and re-read two manga titles before designing the ultimate mecha pilot’s suit.

You look awesome and everyone who knows the source material knows it. But how about the poor Masquerade judge who doesn’t play the game, hasn’t seen the movie yet, still needs to read Book 5?

Come to Workmanship Judging and bring some documentation with you!

Copy descriptions from books, hold up a videogame box, show pictures on your phone or tablet, pose with an action figure – anything that lets the Workmanship judges see what you have recreated. The Workmanship judges also take part in the on-stage judging and share what they’ve learned about your costume with the judges who only see you on stage.

Knowledge is power! Give yourself every advantage by making sure the judges know who you are. Somebody’s going home with a trophy and it just might be you!

Marty Gear, 1940-2013

As many of you have already heard, fandom lost a giant on July 18 with the passing of Marty Gear. Marty was a member of the Farpoint committee, managing our charity auction up through this past February. He and his late wife Bobby were the second recipients of the Volker/McChesney Award for service to fandom. Marty was also a long time member of Costume Guild and the Baltimore Science Fiction Society and ran the Masquerade for their annual Balticon. He was seen onstage hosting each Balticon masquerade in his trademark vampire attire with his non-stop patter of bad vampire jokes.

A visit to Marty’s home was always a delight. Marty and Bobby had collected amazing treasures during their travel, which were lovingly displayed throughout the house. Any object you could point to had a story attached to it. Marty’s travels started when he was young and began attending science fiction conventions. I remember sitting in his living room being absolutely jealous as Marty told the story of how he met one of my personal favorite writers, Isaac Asimov, at one of his first worldcons.

Marty’s generosity was as large as his store of bad vampire jokes. He could always be counted on to share his home, possessions, time or money when there was a need. A few years ago, we needed a last minute location for a Farpoint meeting and Marty volunteered his house. I arrived to Casa Gear to be treated to a huge pile of boxed and bagged snacks on the kitchen counter. “Marty, the committee doesn’t eat THAT much!” I said. Marty replied, “Oh, it’s okay. I just got back from the store. Most of this is for tonight’s meeting at the BSFS clubhouse.” Marty had decided to completely over-schedule himself in order to accommodate with a grocery shopping trip and two separate committee meetings in order to help us out. That’s the kind of guy he was.

Marty, your many friends will miss you terribly but we take comfort in our memories of you and the knowledge that you are now reunited with your beloved Bobby.

Sharon VanBlarcom, Farpoint convention co-chair

Guest Announcement at Balticon 2013

Balticon 2013 this past Memorial Day weekend was a great event. Farpoint always has a publicity table there, and it’s always great to see old friends and make new ones. This year, we used our Balticon presence to announce our first celebrity guest for 2014, actor Phil LaMarr (“Baxter” – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / “Hermes” – Futurama). We will be announcing additional celebrity guests along with our first programming track guests (authors, science, media, youth/children, and live performances) at ShoreLeave.

Balticon had a wonderful selection of programs to choose from this year. Programs of particular interest to Farpoint fans would be the readings and discussions that included our good friends Steve Wilson, Bob Greenberger, Keith DeCandido, Phil Giunta, Ethan Wilson, Helen Madden and Nobilis. Several current and former Farpoint committee members also work at Balticon and did a fantastic job this weekend – congrats to Brian Sarcinelli, Sarah Yaworsky, Cindy Shockey, Chris Shockey, Steve Lesnik, Eta Hack, and Marty Gear for a job well done!

Speed Dating – Farpoint Saturday

“De Baisch will be conducting Farpoint’s first-ever speed dating session on Saturday evening at 7pm. Participants will meet several people throughout the course of the hour and perhaps might make a match in the process! If you’re interested, please email De directly at julianbaischir@yahoo.com.

Given the timeframe (one session from 7-8pm), we have room for 15 men and 15 women who are at least 18 years old. There is absolutely no cost involved, but the payout is a fun and interesting event that just might land you a date for the Ten-Forward dance 🙂

Live Performance Track 2013

Two for one Track Preview today – what’s happening with LIVE PERFORMANCES?

Friday has our Cocktail Party at 7pm, followed by our Opening Ceremonies at 8pm, both in Greenspring. The Cocktail Party is open to everyone; there will be a cash bar available. If you wish to partake of the yummy food during the party, you will need to purchase a ticket wristband. There will be a limited number available at the door. The Opening Ceremonies include presentation of this year’s Volker/McChesney Award and performances from Insane Ian, Jonah Knight and Prometheus Radio Theatre. Guest stars with Prometheus will include Felicia Day, Lee Arenberg, Rob Paulsen, Bonita Friedericy and John Billingsley.

The Boogie Knights will perform Saturday at 11am in Greenspring, featuring songs from their new CD, which will also debut for sale at the convention.

Sunday features the return from detention, errrr….. sabbatical, of The Usual Suspects performing in “And Then Schwarma After”! Come see The Avengers (or at least our facsimile of) live on stage.

If you’re interested in more interactive live performances, check out The Game Show with Diane Sahar at 12pm in Chesapeake 2 – you could win prizes! – and the Thriller Dance Lesson at 4pm in the Atrium.

Closing the convention on Sunday at 5 in Dulaney 2 is the ultimate in Live and Interactive performances at Farpoint – the Open Meeting with the Farpoint Committee! We want to hear your thoughts on Farpoint 2013 and your ideas for the future.

New Media Track 2013

Next up – NEW MEDIA, which encompasses podcasting, independent film and electronic publishing of all types.

Friday’s New Media offerings include an episode from our friends at Starship Farragut, “The Price of Anything” in Ridgely 1 at 9pm.

Saturday’s very full list includes our friends from SciFi Diner Podcast at 12pm in Ridgely 2, Let’s Talk Podcasting at 1pm in Ridgely 1, and Social Media: Harnessing It’s Power for Your Projects at 5pm in Ridgely 1.

On Sunday, we have Making: Hackerspaces, Fablabs and the Future of DIY at 12pm in Ridgely 2 and New Art of Old Time Radio Drama at 1pm in Ridgely 2.

The ideas and topics of many of these panels translate across specific mediums to DIY New Media projects of all types. If you are creating, or want to create, a project of your own, these panels are for you.

Authors Track 2013

Today, let’s look at our AUTHORS program track.

On Friday, there’s a panel discussion on Writing YA Fiction at 6pm in Dulaney 2 with authors Robert Jeschonek, Marianne Petrino-Schadd and Aaron Rosenberg. Friday night at 10PM in our KHAAANN SWWEETT in the Timonium Room, you’ll find our Farpoint Book Fair, featuring as many of our authors who can make it on Friday night. Crazy 8 Press will have a table featuring their latest works, including those of Peter David who can’t be with us this weekend. A portion of the proceeds raised by Crazy 8 Press and several other authors will be donated to help with Peter’s medical expenses. Constellation Books will be on hand with books to sell, but you are encouraged to bring your own books to be signed.

All of our authors will be available at different times throughout Saturday and Sunday for signings as well. There are Author readings throughout the weekend as well, which can be found on the schedule.

Saturday Author offerings include a 12pm discussion in Dulaney 2 on Self-Publishing and Self-Promotion with Donna Galanti, Danielle McPhail, Julio Angel Ortiz, Marianne Petrino-Schadd, Aaron Rosenberg, Don Sakers and Mark Walker. The All Kinds of Writing Workshop is being run by Howard Weinstein, Dave Galanter, Bob Greenberger and Kelly Meding at 2pm Saturday in the Con Parlor (hotel Room 308). And Time Management for Writers is set for 4pm in Dulaney 2 with Phil Giunta and Bob Greenberger.

Sunday offerings in the Dulaney 2 room include The Business of Being a Writer at 11am with Dave Galanter, Donna Galanti, Bob Greenberger and Robert Jeschonek, and Music to Write By at 2pm with Bob Greenberger, David Mack, Kate Mason, Richard C. White and Lance Woods.

Take the opportunity to say hello to your favorite authors, and you’ll probably meet and talk to your new favorite author sometime this weekend.