Our STC "family" Kickstarter thank-you had a SCRIPT

Whether you were able to donate or not, please take a sec and check out this pretty awesome thank-you video to our Kirkstarter donors on the Star Trek Continues Facebook page ...It's the idea and execution of Todd "Spock" Haberkorn, with STC audio boomer Michelle Siles wrangling and webmaster Steve Crandall in support. I can't embed the video, so just follow the link.

By the way: If you are kicking yourself for missing this three-episode drive and its perks, good news: there's now an STC Paypal page to make a donation now, and everything sent there by "early" donors will roll over to the next Kickstarter drive and rewards at that time.

Meanwhile, to show how pretty basic everything is with ST Continues... here's Michelle with the actual thank-you "script" that people all claimed a word on (not counting at least a half-dozen more who were gone by this time)... plus a little proofreading by the resident words editor of the troupe, *ahem*:

STV: A wrap for me AND our KIRKstarter—thank you!

I can't believe it's been since April that I posted a "Switching to Visual" video here at TREKLAND—and that I break the drought finally with one featuring ME.

But this is the final day of our KIRKstarter for future Star Trek Continues episodes—and while, yes, we were blessed to make our goal and beyond with 2,900+ backers (!!), I've seen people really get emotional and insistent about being a part of this to help us—and get their name on the record and claim some perks to boot.

(UPDATE: Our $100,000 goal wound up with $126,028 courtesy 2,981 backers! Thanks to everyone of you for being a part.)

Your last chance ends at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT Nov. 6, 2013. This drive covers three episodes, and while it's always an option to make a future direct donation—why not jump in now, help hike the tally, get into the system and claim a spot? I should point out: our briefing room table is the biggest reward level. (And my set tour and phone call are among the many unclaimed cast items. Just sayin.')

All of the support from so many fans, just like all the love since premiere date back in Phoenix, has been rather amazing; the Kickstarter site's fan comments and suggestions alone carry their own vibe, worth a read.

Meanwhile, Episode 2 is a more guest-centric show and the regulars have a bit less to do, but I know I stepped up my game in some subtle ways as we all grow into this project and work with our talented and fun STC family. If you were a fan of "Pilgrim" you will love the surprises and color of this next, non-TOS-sequel episode:


I have a lot of STV videos backlogged, including a few from the set of STC, and some thoughts to share... But for now—take a quick late-day set visit with me and thanks again for helping run our Kickstarter tally up even higher: late adds were the secret reveal of our big guest star and the much-requested digital download of Episode 1, "Pilgrim of Eternity."

Thanks also to STC/Farragut set guy and crew mate Scott Grainger for handling the camera and letting me jump into this one!

Survive the turkey, then head to Indy with me!

If your fandom turf in the East Midwest or Northern South actually overlaps the Indianapolis area, then by all means and best available speed you MUST head over to the ever-booming StarBase Indy convention at the Indianapolis Marriott East next weekend, after Thanksgiving Thursday.

For me, THIS one is personal.

Not only will Trekland be there, but also Nikki "Ezri Dax" deBoer, Bob and JG— the Klingon Chancellor brothers in and out of makeup (or something like that) ... plus their makeup whiz John Palladin, Alexis Cruz of Stargate fame, and my old Trek Life Etc. artist buddy and Indy local David Reddick. And lots more, including NASA astronaut and native Dr. David Wolf.

See, I'd been a guest at Indy back in 2004 and 2005, when both this convention and Star Trek itself were sagging with doubt about the future. Enterprise's flame dimmed, and then did go out, with turnout and optimism plummeting about Trek for all but the hard-core. That's why, as I told Ron Hawkins of the suburban Reporter-Times for his great profile piece, that I've been so thrilled to see not only Starbase Indy but also all of Trek make a comeback of optimism, exuberance and direction (not to mention demographics—the whole "youth thing.")

Nay, it's been transformed into so many platforms of fun it's been incredible... and again, I mean both the con AND fandom: Geek culture, fangirls and the JJ renewal have all bloomed and boomed since then. For SBI, Kim Huff and her gang stay totally locally run and fan-run to boot. With THREE charities to benefit. And tracks and great panels on indie filmmaking, other media franchises, writers, costuming, art, gaming ... of course.

What a difference seven years makes. It's been such a kick to be invited back after this bounce back for Indy... and to even have them GIVE me space and schedule gridtime for our traditional CON OF WRATH Meetup/Fundraiser Party—my documentary about the most "glorious failure" in Trek and pop culture history  ... as well as all the other stuff. Here's the "known space" where I'll be:

FRIDAY:
7 p.m.—Meet and Greet with all guests, during Opening Ceremonies,

SATURDAY:

12 noon—Trekland: Between the Cracks: Our signature "slide show"-plus of in-jokes, info and archives.... updated for SBI, of course, with even some JJverse updates.

10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.—Our Meetup-Fundraiser for THE CON OF WRATH where, as always, $20 not only gets you your screen credit (as per any donor) but also two hours of prize trivia, rare Trek video, and new clips yet unseen from our shoots for THE CON OF WRATH. Can Indy outpace even Vegas and Comic-Con (at right) and the blast we had back home in OKC, and just recently in Austin? We'll see! (And this still leaves an hour for late-night Karaoke...)

SUNDAY:
1 p.m.— Star Trek: The State of the Franchise: Our patented past-present-future Trek discussion forum where, as we recover on Sunday, we provide floor mics and I kick off YOUR crosstalk and opinions, dear audience, to maybe send each others' Trek insight where it has not gone before.

AND of course I'll be no stranger at my TREKLAND table, with new CDs, photos, SECRET FUNDRAISERS, and cool stuff cleaned out of my closet like old scripts.  SBI enjoys the nighttime services of Barfleet party-givers, too, which seems like a natural watering hole as well. (I can't let the Chancellors outgun me, now can I?)

This will be the last con of 2012 for me, in what has become a groundbreaking one in many ways—and my, I can't wait to see how much little Starbase Indy has grown! If you are in the neighborhood, please stop by.

STV—Bridge restoration update: Cons & Kickstarter in gear

When we last checked in with Huston Huddleston, we weren't even saying his name until this whole crazy "restore the bridge" project actually turned out—and prop-hunting crazies didn't descend upon "Dallas's" backyard in the Valley.

But here's Huston, all visible, to give an update on the sets, the progress, their con touring itinerary coming up (where you can sit in your TNG finest and snap pics for free, or make donations if you like for "Save the Bridge" T-shirts and other rewards)... and the whole Kickstarter campaign and some donor-celeb rewards. The drive is now over 50% to goal before ENDING Dec. 18.

Hello, EP-CON—with an El Paso meetup for the doc!

Wait, it's not the end of summer con season yet! Footballs may be flying, but the temps are still in the 90s—and I'll be in El Paso for the booming EP-CON 2012 this weekend (Seriously, this show is just about doubling in size every year.)  Come out and see us, Big Bend Treklanders! (And among the many guests of all stripes are Trek resident Jeff Combs)

For me, our "Between the Cracks" show is 6-7 p.m. Saturday in Juarez Panel Room 2 —fresh with Walter Star Walk of Fame pics and other goodies. I'll also be at my table daytimes with my brand-new Trekland: On Speaker Vol. 1 CD, plus photos, books, and promoting THE CON OF WRATH, of course.

And we'll have a meet-up/fundraiser for the doc in Sun City style from 8-10 p.m. Saturday night—just like our prior ones. Our meetup site will be a downtown adjacent pub to be announced on Friday, so follow me on Twitter—but meanwhile, you can reserve yourself at the Facebook event page, too.

Of course, I'll also be at the con's official Launch Party at The Garden on Friday night 9 p.m., and our Meet-up Saturday night lets out in plenty of time to get us over to the official AfterParty at The Hoppy Monk til 1 a.m.!  All adjacent downtown—check them all out at Facebook, too.

STV: LOOK—video of that Enterprise-D bridge project!

I'm just going to let the video and my guest speak for themselves (below the fold).

Unless somehow the past couple weeks you've been under a rock and missed all the online pop culture news and blog stories and podcasts—and some misconceptions—and you still need a set-up for "that fan who saved the Enterprise bridge set when it was about to rot."

Yes, video. Whether you're either curious or cyncial, well, TREKLAND's STV camera is here to prove that there is a collection of Bridge pieces... no, not a filming set, but an amalgam of surplus pieces from the Star Trek Experience and Europe's 1999-era World Tour replicas—and so yes, both were licensed projects under the design and production eye of Trek TV/film production designer Herman Zimmerman and the Paramount team.

And yes, this thing really is sitting right in the San Fernando Valley in the home (and yard) of one Huston Huddleston—a screenwriter and songwriter and most of all fan/collector ... who, at the time we shot this before the national news storm leaked his name, had originally asked to be in cognito so as to avoid local pranksters.

He and his growing volunteer team now have a website at newstarship.com and an IndieGoGo fund page for the restoration—with a sweet video, several cool rewards for donors, a support store full of unique, custom-designed and tax-deductible goodies.... All with the aim of a non-profit foundation overseeing a rental center for parties, weddings, film projects ... even educational uses for schools and students.

Not to mention, meantime, the hope of a fundraising tour of the captain's chair (due to be finished by October) and other pieces at conventions around the country.

In an era left with a void for such popular uses after the closure of the original ST Experience in Las Vegas, it seems the demand is there—and people are clamoring for a replacement.

Enjoy this initial visit with my friend "Dallas" ...and send some IndieGoGo donation love their way if you can spare it. This is an exciting prospect, and one with a growing, capable brain trust behind it. There's a Facebook and Twitter space as well, of course, to keep up with the whole thing.

And we'll be back shortly with more footage of our visit to the bridge pieces from this "early" visit ...

New mini-teaser up for "The Con of Wrath"!

Hey—we premiered a new little teaser at Comic-Con San Diego this summer for THE CON OF WRATH to show off a few more of the early faces who have talked to us so far about “The Ultimate Fantasy” gone wrong in 1982. Only fans in that room have seen it so far—not even at Vegas.

So today we posted a version of that teaser at the conofwrath.com website—up now! You'll know a lot of those faces, too, I reckon (at right).

Our documentary on the infamous Houston "glorious failure" Trek event ... and the human spirit... is still collecting faces and moments, and I just found a couple more Survivors at Vegas. Our fan meetup-fundraisers have raised cash, spread the word and most of all been a lot of fun all year long as we add more fan donors to the screen credits and gift list. We still have a lot of funding and producing to go, though.

In the new mini-teaser, watch for a few words from the first of the original Houston crew to see daylight, in an uncredited appearance: that's Marc Dowman up in the arena catwalk—graphic artist for the event and a stage and pyro assistant for the show. He's just burning up to tell one of the best weekend stories ....

Remember, this preliminary piece we put together for big-room conventions does not feature final graphics, rendering looks and of course music score. Director of Photography Neal Hallford whipped it up in July, and edited it for this showing. So—just for fun and a little taste:

Thanks: Our 'Wrath of Con' fundraiser is a hit at Vegas

So far this convention year, I've not gotten in a single stand-alone post about those meetup-fundraisers for The Con of Wrath in a timely way—but what better place to start than with Vegas Khaaan!

I mean, look at this last-cycle crowd (below)! And yes.. that's my HOTEL ROOM. That was a risk.

I mean, San Diego and the comic-cons have more bodies, but only Vegas Trek Khhaaan! could truly field the passion and "get-it"-ness for a Trek-based historic documentary—and human nature, of course.

So, I'll indeed reflect on the Official Las Vegas Star Trek Convention for 2012 soon—the 12th in Vegas and the 11th for Creation. And recap our debut Geek Nation Tours' "Hollywood2Vegas" Trek film site trek, soon.

But today, I have to say it was a blast to "go for it," and finally host the VegasTrek version of the event I first cooked up in Seattle for Emerald City CC.

In many ways, it was a first-of-its-kind.

For one thing, the Rio's lack of decent meetup space and those famous "every room is a suite" quarters led me to risk ...hosting it in my own two-queen-bed room! Just in case, I limited it to 30—plus, no real eats or bevs. And everyone still had a blast, even with a little come-and-go.

Too, it was amazing to finally have a complete AV system for clips—video AND audio. White closed-space walls, no band or fan noise, new mini-speakers from San Diego, and a projector—saved, at the 11th hour, TWICE when I was separated from my intended unit:

First, Paul Walker and crew of the USS Las Vegas, the big local Star Trek club, offered their  projector as a fill-in loan ... but with a half-hour til show time I realized it had no VGA cable! Even THAT was saved when ASU/NASA speaker and Phoenix buddy Dr. David Williams did his Bugs-n-Daffy impersonation and pulled a VGA cable, without missing a beat, out of his near-empty shoulder bag—just  as I had written off video yet again. (Who WRITES these shows?) But a big THANKS to them both for saving Star Trek... well, at least this corner of it.

So with all that... we not only raised more funds for THE CON OF WRATH, but it was great to hear gasps at some of the old and new clips. It was also great to have some of our H2V "Tourists" come by, too.

I also have to thank, quite in shock, the unexpected and generous donations made point-blank at my table on Sunday and around the floor. It's truly made it possible to press on with the project, at this stage.

Look for another live meetup--somehow, somewhere--at my next guest jaunts to the El Paso Comic Con Sept. 14-16 and then Starbase Indy's con Thanksgiving weekend in November. If I can do one for Walter's Star Celebration weekend without being a distraction, I will.

Of course, you can always check out the online donor page and gift list using Paypal.

What's up for us? We're catching our breath, launching into tape transcripts with more staff help, and planning the next step—so stay tuned as our "shadetree" project picks up steam.

Meanwhile, my DP Neal Hallford is still feeling his loss—so please give his stolen Redrock unit Fundrazr replacement project a help if you can.

The Vegas Vamp: Where to Find Me—and a SURPRISE

It's the busiest year ever for me AND for everyone else setting foot in Creation's annual Vegas Trekapalooza event.

I'm debuting a NEW SURPRISE product to be announced on Thursday ... for one thing... all part of my promotion and fundraising for THE CON OF WRATH, among the usual fun stuff. So please be on the lookout for that.

(And please note: Anything I host or co-sponsor in the EVENING hours is for those of you who are sold out of, or do not wish to partake of, the scheduled convention events and parties. Please support Creation all you can in this once-a year blowout like no other.)

I'll be rolling into town about 6 p.m. Wednesday after five days with the Holywood2vegas Trek Film Tour with Teras and Geek Nation Tours (check out the booth and future plans, shared with TrekRadio) but I barely have time to grab my room key becasue it all starts Wednesday night:

And note this does not include table time—check my table, and at Geek Nation Tours, for posted hours there—because I did a lousy job of seeing fans and pros alike last year!

WEDNESDAY
—9 p.m.: The "Second Annual Party Like A Spock Star" Game and Trivia Night," co-sponsored with DVD Geeks and Trek News.Net. at Masquerade Bar in the Rio's casino nightlife area. No cost! Just come have a blast!  (At left: Here we are last year!)


THURSDAY

—5:30 p.m.: The Fifth Annual Rapid-Fire Trivia Prize Challenge —And once again with prizes thanks to CBS Consumer Products (at right). Get in line, take a Q, win a prize or lose and get back in line—it's that simple. Secondary Theatre

—"Evening" : I'll be hanging out with fans and the DJ folks in the TrekRadio party at Irish Pub (formerly McFadden's) in the casino area ... and who knows what all that will be, but I've been told I'll be "handing out prizes." So it sounds like a blast!

FRIDAY:

—2:15 p.m.: "Star Trek: Today and Tomorrow," my forum to engage YOU and your fellow fans on the status of Star Trek--how it got here and where it might be headed, with business, cultural and even ego-political angles you might not have considered. Secondary Theatre  (At left: In Dallas/Plano, 2010)

—9-11 p.m., in MY SUITE! (Room to be announced)  My latest Meetup/Fundraiser for THE CON OF WRATH: Vegas Edition! Yes, we do what we've been doing all year on the con trail: offering fans a chance to chip in to save some Trek history and expose an amazing human-nature tale all in one with our documentary. Have you read about this?: For a $20 (or more) chip in, you get not only the screen credit and thank-yous later, but a chance at trivia/prizes, rar trek videos and sneak-peek raw footage from the doc...and the chance to ask me tell tales I'd never do on stage in public! After doing this on the run, and even attacking massive Comic-Con San Diego (left), I want to see what our Trek Tweeps can do at VegasTrek.  (And ... whether we need to do a second party on Saturday night?)

SATURDAY:
—9:40 a.m.  (gulp): Panelist on Jordan Hoffman's "Best TOS Episode" debate panel for startrek.com, Secondary Theatre.  Well, THIS should be fun: "Friday's Child," anyone?

—Oh come on, you know I'll be doing more. I gotta see the costume record attempt, for one thing...


SUNDAY:
—I'll be recovering, but look for my posted hours at my TREKLAND table and the Geek Nation Tour/TrekRadio booth, where we'll have fresh pics from our adventures along our just-completed Trek, even as the group stays together for night events and dinners during the con.

There you go. If I survive the Tour, I'll be in great shape for this and probably a lot more...!

And mark my words: the formerly forgotten "secondary stage" is EXPLODING with panelists, historians, academics, scientists, and oh yes LICENSEES to talk about their Trek products. If last year was the "Comiconification" of Vegas in a costumes/cosplay sense .. then it's happening this year again but in regards to companies and presentations.

More about that later, but for now I just want to scope you out on Trekland Central for Vegas...

Whoa.

Comic-Con 2012 and another fun "Wrath" meet-up

All the recent news and events delayed my simple Comic-Con wrap up after San Diego, but I do want to make some points and share some pics ... as we look forward to ramping up for Vegas Khhaaann.

I especially want to thank everyone who came out for my big gamble: the latest edition of my 2012 meetup/fundraisers for THE CON OF WRATH—Comic-Con size (right)! To have two dozen come and go to make it was very gratifying and encouraging—especially doing this on the wing. To have everybody have a great time was just a kick.

Yes, these brave Treklanders get big props from me for the support in making our documentary... and purely from my Tweets/Facebook feed, and the announcements made at our 7 p.m. panel just before.  We shoot for no-overhead sites during cons so as to get the most bang from our donated bucks as possible, and Seattle and Phoenix, so far, are pretty big shows. But Comic-Con San Diego was a whole new huge scope unto itself, and biting off this same set-up on the scale of SDCC was a big risk to take if the logistics and venue were a disaster, and that's too much to ask of any Trekfans kind enough to come out. Aside from our louder-band-than-normal, everyone had a great time, enjoyed the trivia, clips, prizes and talk ... and I met all kinds of new fans who will now follow our progress feeling a small stake in it. (A big thank-you also to manager Mike at Hennessey's and waitress Jenna, who got this together on a day's notice and played patient with our audio-visual tech weirdness.)

Remember, as a relatively new and small-scale player at SDCC (ie, not a studio marketing guy, and just since 2006), I was lucky enough and thankful for the second year to have had my panel accepted (right)—the second flirtation with my "Between the Cracks" slideshow format, which is pretty flexible. I advertised it as a TNG anniversary celebration from my archives, but of course was thrilled to also offer the world-premiere of our new teaser for THE CON OF WRATH, put together for the occasion by my DP, Neal Hallford. (You can see that, and more, after I sneak-peek it at Vegas Khaan, as well)

So a big THANK YOU as well to the 500-some who turned out at 7 p.m. Saturday for "Trekland: Between the Cracks!" And to all of you who signed up your new names to our news list there. As usual, we ran out of time, but —if Eddie and his bunch have us back next year—we'll have some real Q&A quality time in 2013, I promise.

Otherwise, realizing how few pics and parties I got in this year at Comic-Con made me realize I'm working way too much there and playing way too little!


My normal gang o'guys was disrupted this year due to birthday plans for buddy Lee Wochner—my web guru/marketer at his Counterintuity Inc. and my entree into SDCC in the first place—so I had to shift "residence" mid-con and commute in with my Con of Wrath DP Neal (helping me set up, left).

Still, it was great to be a red-carpet  guest at Rod's Trek Nation/White Room premiere showing on the big screen... meet up a lot of old friends out of the blue, like Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore, or some totally out of the blue like the great John Eaves himself (right) ... and table once again a few hours in Autograph Alley, and see who else could find me. You never know, you know?

Just took one costume pic all weekend—and "she" had nothing to do with Star Trek, of course (do YOU know who she is, below? I can't believe I have to tell you. ). But I love the unique costumes—rare, skewed or with a sense of humor, like Dragon Con—and not just the obvious and trendy recreations that I feel Comic-Con has fallen into. Vegas Trek is tilting toward the more and more rare/unique in cosplay all the time, a good thing—and time will tell what 2012 brings there in a few weeks. Stay tuned ...

Meanwhile, how cool is it to take a big bite out of Comic-Con and not get bit back?


Thanks to Dwayne Day, Jana Hallford, Stephanie Sullivan, and Justin "BayouCon" Toney for help with the pics. Best coverage ever!

"The Con of Wrath": Big story, big donation, big apology!

Treklanders, I've  been sitting on a big story for nearly a month and I want to apologize to you all—especially to Bonnie.

Bonnie (I'm going to protect her identity, for now) also gets a HUGE thank-you from me. I had to go out and buy new jaw glue when my old one fell off when her envelope arrived in the snailmail.

As a North Carolina stalwart and Trekkie since Day One, Bonnie's one of those fans who were actually AT the 1982 Ultimate Fantasy event that I'm searching out for my documentary "The Con of Wrath," along with the cast and committee. We had met last August at Vegas Khhaaan! when she marched up, parked herself at my table and said, "Hey! I'm a Survivor!" And I instantly knew of course what she meant.

We stayed in touch ... she sent some UF photos from 1982 ... and then early in June I got the following letter, along with a VERY nice donation check. (Check the "crowdfunding" donor levels here for The Con of Wrath and you can likely figure it all out.)

Look, we have not yet ramped up our serious funding efforts, and for now are relying on fan-level crowdfunding.  So this cash IS very, very welcome... and hopefully a portent of things to come from others across the country whom I don't even really know but who want to be vested in this project for all fandom, old and new and wherever they are.

Or, maybe I should just share Bonnie's words ... (emphasis in boldface is mine):
           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, "say hello to my little friend" AND your new co-producer!

I felt I needed to do this for the documentary for several reasons:

1) I am a survivor of "The Con of Wrath" and have the memories (or those my brain has allowed me to remember) to prove it!

2)  I wanted to represent the Trek/fan girls out there—we've scaled the heights and been in the trenches in Trekland for many years, too!

3) I'm not from Houston or Burbank or New York or L.A.—I'm from a small Southern town. The Con of Wrath, and fandom in general, was/is made up of folks from all countries, states and walks of life. I wanted that to be apparent (And I think you do too!) in the making and outcome of this film.

AND FINALLY 4) I just love a great story! (The jacket and watch sound cool too —ahem. {*}) 

Hope this will help keep you keeping on!

Best,

Nimoy-devotee extraordinaire and... co-producer??

Bonnie

          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part of my apology to Bonnie about being so tardy to share this news is that she has longtime Trek-friends who don't believe her. Sorry again—never meant to ever leave a donor hanging! No, indeed.

Especially a letter-writer who says what I have been saying for years now—that the geekgirl revolution is great for the attention it is getting, but the all-male stereotype of Treksters is not deserved nor accurate: women led fandom in the early years. Plus, her observation about scattered or small-town Trekfans feeling "a part of it all" is priceless—it's not the thrust of "The Con of Wrath," but it's nice subtext.

So THANK YOU so much, Bonnie, and to any other like-minded friends you might have who want to help preserve the textures of Trek history—whether or not you were there firsthand. And anyone else, at any level, who feels so moved—please be my guest!

Rest assured my jaw has been safely glued back on.  But I'd be happy to do so again, any time.

So, what do you think of Bonnie's letter—do YOU agree with her feelings?

DOC UPDATE: As a "weekend" project, after all, we are currently concentrating on editing the many hours of voices we have in the digital can so far, exploring the best ways to further make "The Con of Wrath" come alive ... and looking at "the next level." There's more key faces to film, as well... as well as more Survivors' voices to gather. More on all that, too, to be shared at the summer cons! Or stay abreast with our monthly, non-spammy e-newsletter.

...Also, a sidebar: at Fundrazr you can help camerman Neal recover the loss from a bizarre theft of some gear in Houston during our second June shoot. If you can help fill this loophole, please do so for this and his other projects—thanks!

Kajun Klingons and me: Join us for BayouCon weekend!

Bumpy head or no—if you are anywhere from Houston to Nawlins and up to DFW or Shreveport this weekend ... consider heading down to Lake Charles and joining me for a scifi/gaming/anime weekend at BayouCon IV.

Or US, I should say— Bob O'Reilly and J.G. Hertzler will be in human guise and also made up as Gowron and Martok for grins and photo ops, courtesy of their makeup artist John Paladin. AND assistant director Mike DeMerritt will have some very cool insider talks and images on working the modern TV Treks...and some rare goodies at his table, too.

Of course, as per our convention stops this year, we appreciate any BC-goers to keep the human Trek history alive and head over for the BayouCon edition of our Meetup Fundraiser for THE CON OF WRATH —this one at 8:30-11 p.m. or so in the Film Festival room.  For your donation of $20 or more, you not only get the regular donor pack and screen credit but a shot at trivia prizes, some rare Trek videos and sneak peaks from the doc and outtakes, too.

Of course, we will be leading more fan trend talks, sharing archives in our latest Trekland: Between the Cracks show, and joining a couple other multi-bodied panels as well. Lots of regional authors and artists are on hand, too.


BayouCon IV is the second con this year in bustiling Lake Charles that's been kind enough to have me over, and is another fan-run effort—this one benefits the Southwest Louisiana Science Education Foundation.

There's no place like "home": Thanks, SoonerCon!

Just one corner of SoonerCon 21's fan/pro interaction

 What a great time we just had at SoonerCon 21,  and what a supportive one, too.

Of course you know that's what "going home" means—but even so I made it a goal this year to get to know a lot of younger creatives in OKC in indie film, steampunk, new media art, various guilds/crafts, etc.—and not just our beloved pre-1994-move-west buds. I got about 1/4 of the way toward that goal....and we'll make more progress in 2013, if not sooner. And a lot of that new "bubbly" is reflecting the bustle and boom that is currently in Oklahoma, unrelated but reminiscent of the NBA Thunder's own bootstrap success wave.

SoonerCon is not a heavy Trek con, of course, but out of its litcon roots+media restart it's even well beyond the comic-con format. Just sad that we did not get to meet more folks, but that will come. I realzized, even for your peeps, that I had to invent a whole new way to "do" SoonerCon for myself—one which got me out of the comfort of oldtimers' chatter and more out and about the fresh blood. 

Another "Con of Wrath"  /fundraiser, Home Edition

Big thanks to Jerry, Angela, Leonard, Aislynn, Bryan, Nicco, Vickie, Noddy, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for such a great welcome and great weekend.

They and everyone else were very supportive of my projects, including THE CON OF WRATH, and also that of cameraman (and native Okie/OU grad) Neal's gear replacement effort—including donations for his raffle. 

Now I just have to shed the Fried Food Five and I'm good to go!

Peeps time! See you back home at SoonerCon 21 in OKC

Of course it's cool because I get to visit family ... but the recent restart of SoonerCon and my guesting trips there get me back to my sci-fi and Trek "family" as well—lots of old familiar faces (and all the newer ones since the L.A. move, too.)

Plus, SoonerCon 21—next weekend, June 15-17 at the downtown Sheraton— is one helluva a grass-roots convention in its own right, its subtext showcasing Oklahoma's fandom explosion: filmmakers, pro comic artists, steampunk, costumers, small press, as well as the usual litfan, gaming, anime, and media hijinks. They're on Facebook, too.

Especially cool this year is that I finally get a chance to bring another "Meetup/Fundraiser for THE CON OF WRATH"—my documentary, of course—to the hometown crowd on this 2012 convention "crowdfunding" party tour: 10 pm.-12 midnight Saturday in The Boardroom: the usual hijinks but with a red dirt flavor I'm sure. Special guest: fellow Okie and onetime fanguy-turned-San Diego game designer/filmmaker Neal Hallford, my DP!  If you are an SCon attendee and on Facebook, click on the Meetup/Fundraiser FB Event page and come on over!

I can't wait—and here's hoping the FIFTH one will be the biggest and funnest one yet.  Just bring enough run & coke, and no one gets hurt ...

I only regret that the lovely McKenzie Westmore, host of SyFy's Face-Off whom I helped get to SCon, had the dang show change shoot dates on her and force a last-minute cancellation. So....next year for OKC, she promises!  (Maybe even with her dad, Trek makeup maestro and Oscar winner Michael.)

So, bottom line: If you are in the Oklahoma/Arkansas/Kansas/Texas region and have NOT made your SoonerCon plans, DO IT NOW.

Meanwhile, my own panel schedule:

Friday 4-5 PM: Speed Drawing Competition, Host

Saturday, 4-5 PM: Real Panel: "Hope In Warp Speed:  The Ethics of Star Trek in the 21st Century", moderator, with Eric Flint as a panelist

Saturday, 6-7 PM: "Larry's Trekland:  Between the Cracks 2012": from the archives as usual, but with a SoonerCon twist

Saturday, 10-12 PM: Meetup/fundraiser for CON OF WRATH, per above

... and some table time for the TCOW and TREKLAND, of course.

And while in town, fanfolk, take a break and go south one hour to see the National Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, right on I-35. I kid you not. (Take that, East/West Coast fan snobs. If there are any.)

Come party and fund-raise with us at Phoenix Comicon!

Well, THIS is exciting!

—Like almost every other convention this year, Phoenix Comicon is exploding...
—I've never been before...
—And both facts come to a head this long Memorial Day weekend in downtown Phoenix!

So who is "PHXCC"-bound?

I've even got one event that's so fresh it won't be on the schedule or mobile app you can download—and click "conquest" on your fave events and panels to help schedule the day.

But yep—I'm SO excited to get the word last week that I'll be moderating the TNG Cast Reunion stage show at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Ballroom 120—although there's nothing "moderate" when Brent, Michael, Marina, Wil and LeVar are let loose on the same stage! Come see if I survive ...

PLUS  TJ  and my various best new buds at PHXCC have helped us to set up our biggest, bestest fundraiser/meetup ever for THE CON OF WRATH—and it DID get in the schedule this week. If you can make it, "conquest" THAT to your list , would you?

Well, the two meets-ups in Seattle were a hoot (at right). I mean, you can spend 9-11 p.m. Saturday with us in ROOM 128AB, right? We'll be in laid-back format as best we can without pit groups--no "panel dais," at least—I promise you. For 20 bucks as your ticket and donation—for which you get screen credit, as would any donor, and the gift package—we'll also do prize trivia, rare Trek videos, sneak peeks from "The Con of Wrath," and most of all—the chance to get me to say stuff and tell tales I'd never say in public. Most of all, you get to help preserve another bit of our wacky and wonderful Trek history—the original full-cast "rock concert" Trek event that became infamous. (And of course, you're welcome to make your gift more, if you please and thank you.)

Here's the rest of my "public time"—amid sooo many good choices for panels:

—6-7 p.m. Friday, Rm. 128AB: "The State of Trek" franchise discussion with YOU, me and fellow fans about the past, present, future of Trek—and hopefully in a new light.

—3-4 p.m. Sat., Rm. 129A: "Trekland: Between the Cracks"—another edition of Uncle Larry's groovy and goofy Trek slide show.

—And of course, Table 1152 in the big room ...  promoting Trekland, fund-raising for the CON OF WRTAH, and cleaning out more of my garage with stuff like rare studio scripts and other Trekland goodies you don't see very often. I won't be chained to the table, but we'll be talking Trek with whoever stops by.

Seriously--better follow me on Twitter or FB at LN's Trekland and stay up on any and all updates for "#PHXCC".