Media Talk Descriptions (in numeric order) (count 73)

Come hear about all the new Star Trek projects, from video games to traveling exhibits to the first ever Star Trek "manga" from the people involved with making them happen, Paula Block, John Van Citters, Terry Erdmann, and others. All questions welcome.

Brett R. Thompson, the writer and director of The Haunted World Of Edward D. Wood, Jr. shows us his award-winning documentary and tells us even more about the mad "genius" of Plan 9 From Outer Space and other classics.

Robert Vogel gives a presentation on Raumpatrouille Orion, a cult-favorite German science fiction show of the 1960s. Despite being only seven episodes, it holds the same cult status in Germany as Dr. Who and Star Trek do here. Come see what all the shouting's about.

Fantasy shows like Medium and Ghost Whisperer are big hits. Why didn't Surface, Threshold, or Invasion do as well? Is there a mainstream audience for television science fiction?

Was a larger-than-life scenery-chewing damn-the-Prime-Directive-full-speed-ahead heroic starship commander the one primary thing responsible for the enduring success of classic Star Trek? Is the absence of such a character why the following Star Trek series all lacked the same punch? Or should there have been more discretion, more consideration before acting? Is Jean Luc Picard the model to follow?

A discussion of fantasy and science fiction plays, today and through history.

Okay, you've written a novel, created a comic book, or done a series of dynamite drawings. How can you get your "intellectual property" from where its at to the tv and movie screen?

A look at what to look forward to from Sci Fi in the coming year.

There are some films with a bad reputation but which are really quite good. There are some films with a good rep which are just dogmeat. A few highly opinionated film fans will discuss these overrated films and overlooked movies with the aide of the audience.

It's not the same as reviewing books. Or is it? What special skills do you need to review movies and TV? Here from professional critics what it takes to do the job well.

So just what is Lost? Is it a science fiction series? If it's not, what is it? And why do so many people like it?

See the new, expanded special edition of Free Enterprise, the legendary cult classic about two sci-fi fans who meet their idol William Shatner and find out he's even more screwed up than they are. Starring Eric McCormack and William Shatner as himself, you can watch it in the comfort of fellow geeks just like you. Featuring new scenes and special effects! The new 2 DVD Special Edition was released by Anchor Bay Entertainment in March 2006, but this is the first time to be able to see it projected on the big screen, and, for the very first time, with an introduction and Q&A by the creators themselves, no, not Jackson Roykirk, but writer/producer Mark A. Altman and director/writer Robert Meyer Burnett. See it again for the very first time -- unless, of course, this is your first time.

The people behind the largest genre website on the planet, scifi.com, want to know what you want them to be putting on the site. Come to the panel and tell them what you think their site needs.

Performers from the original series talk about their adventures, on and off the air, making one of the classics of television science fiction. Fans offer their remembrances of the show as well.

Script writing is whole different medium from writing novels and short stories. How is it different from writing prose? And what's it like working in television and the movies?

Movie rights, tie-in books, toys! That's where you really make money. What are the ins and outs ancillary rights? What can you really make? Where can you go wrong? How much do you need to know about copyright and trademark?

It was Fandom that kept Star Trek alive for years after its cancellation and was the tool that eventually brought it back. Which recently cancelled show has the kind of Fandom that will keep the show alive even though it's not on the air? Which will be the next Trek? Buffy? Xena? Firefly? Or ???.

Writers of TV and Film adaptations and spin-offs discuss the process of going from screen to the printed page and the challenges of bringing their creativity to these works, the secrets for making them good, and more.

Three shows about an alien invasion, all involving the oceans, and all debuting in the same season. What can it all mean? Were any of them any good?

2001: A Space Odyssey is considered by many one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. Now, being prepared for the 40th anniversary of the original, is a remake for today's generation. Meet some of the filmmakers and hear their plans.

Some of the actors who have portrayed Klingons, Ferengi, and other aliens on Star Trek talk about getting into a character that no one's ever met and life under latex.

Should Joss Whedon have done it? Was killing Wash the right move or the wrong one?

With the new Dr. Who, there's a resurgence of science fiction on UK television. Here what it is we're missing on this side of the pond.

Today's SF and fantasy films rely heavily on computer generated characters and effects. How can you bring them believably to the stage? Or should you even try?

Sometimes a movie, TV show, or book is a really good idea but it just doesn't work. Our panelists -- with help from the audience -- talk about how they'd have done it right.

In the 1950s, the world was agog with the possibilities of space travel and television was no different. Tom Corbett, Space Cadet; Space Patrol; Captain Video; Rocky Jones; and many others filled the airwaves.

Fans of this great ape talk about the three versions. Is Peter Jackson's version the ultimate telling?

More than just a euphemism for "remake" and "cashing in", some TV series are actually well-thought out new adaptations of the same material. Battlestar Galactica and Dr. Who are two good examples of high quality shows that respect their antecedents but bring much that is new and good to the material. What changes get made and why? Are the audiences and commercial pressures different now than for the original?

How has the landscape changed for queer content in SF/F TV? We've come a long way, from the encoded characters of Xena to the out characters of Buffy to the predominantly gay and lesbian characters of Dante's Cove," here! Network's sexy, supernatural original drama. The producers, director, and cast members of this groundbreaking original series will be sharing never-before-seen footage from the upcoming second season, and discussing the unique challenges and opportunities of making a "guilty pleasure" show with a queer twist. Stay after the Q&A for a mixer with panelists, fans, and snacks. Gillian Horvath, Meredith Kadlec, Sam Irvin, Patrick Moore and cast member Tracy Scoggins (Babylon 5). Additional cast TBD.

The legendarily geekiest convention panel of all-time makes its first Worldcon appearance after another SRO appearance at last year's San Diego Comic Con. Ever wonder if the Jupiter 2 could kick the Sulaco's ass? Can the Serenity make mincemeat out of a Klingon D-7 battle cruiser? And will the Yamato ever be able to beat Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise? There's only one way to find out. Be there or be squarer than you already are.

Everyone talks about what has been filmed. Here is a discussion of works that haven't been filmed but should be. What should you look for to make a good film? What won't translate from the printed word to the visual media? Why haven't these works been made?

Not for the squeamish. That describes a number of the science fiction and fantasy films that have come out this year. It also describes the reviews a number of films have received. Come hear our experts' opinions and see how they differ from yours.

Thirty years ago some cast and crew of a small, strange, and mostly unknown science-fiction/fantasy film that would open the following year came to the 34th World Science Fiction Convention in Kansas City. For hundreds of thousands of fans across the world, things have never been quite the same. Lucasfilm's Steve Sansweet, head of fan relations, takes us back to that time with rare photos and explains how The Star Wars Corporation really started the whole idea of fan outreach for a movie. Now three decades later, George Lucas has completed his six-movie saga -- but Star Wars hasn't even entered middle age. Find out what's next for the saga: two television series, interactive gaming with compelling stories, and more -- and have a chance to ask Steve your questions.

Women on Star Trek sometimes seem to come in only two types: steely-eyed, super serious and hotties. Neither one is a very real character. What does it take to bring one of these characters to life, to add depth and real emotion? Or do you just have fun with it?

Seventy-five years ago, in 1931, Universal Studios released Frankenstein and brought "the modern Prometheus" to the silver screen. Since then, Frankenstein (or, more correctly, his monster) has seen a lot of changes, from the original through sequels and remakes and versions by Andy Warhol, Roger Corman, and Mel Brooks. Come take part as experts and fans reminisce about Frankenstein "puttin' on the Ritz".

Some of the writers of the original Star Trek series talk about the days that were. Did they know they were changing the future?

Let's face it, what we really love about DVDs is all the cool special features. The people who toil in the field of creating them talk about what it takes to make a DVD really special and things coming up in the future.

Making "amateur" movies goes back in Fandom to at least the 1950s with such films as The Mesquite Kid and The Genie

Starting in the 1960s, Walter Koenig's Paval Chekov has been a part of Star Trek's long history, on television and in motion pictures. And Chekov's had a career in Star Trek novels as well. This year, Chekov completes his story in New Voyages, being done for the Internet. Walter Koenig will tell us about his adventures as Chekov and with Star Trek and beyond.

There's a huge Fandom for Dr. Who but for a lot of other people, the show didn't do much. But the new Dr. Who series (last year in the UK and this year in the US) has won a legion of converts. Is the new show that different from the old one?

Particularly for science fiction and fantasy films, artwork is created to give everyone working on a film project a sense of place, time, and reality (or lack thereof). Most famous, perhaps, are Ralph McQuarries paintings for Star Wars. Artists talk about their work in this specialized area, what's required and how it feels to create works that will be brought to life

Ten years ago, it was being called "Japanimation" and its viewership was limited. Now, it's the hottest thing in animation with some of the best-rated shows on television anime imports. Hundreds of different titles are being sold on DVD. What made the audiences take notice? How is anime different from American and European animation?

The two versions of this series couldn't be more different. The original series, while fun, was far from great. Rolling Stone named the new version the best drama on television. Why do people still love the original series? What's the difference between them?

Since 1910, when Thomas Alva Edison lensed A Trip to Mars, the red planet Mars has been a favorite topic of over 100 feature films. Gerry Williams, creator of the MarsMovieGuide.com, takes us on a multimedia tour of some of the best (as well as the worst) movies about Mars ever made.

Robert Gordon, the writer of Galaxy Quest, talks about writing and making this Hugo-winning paean to science fiction television and Fandom.

How did Japan's male dominant culture produce so many kick-butt female characters? Did Japanese anime creators develop the concept themselves, or did they all watch lots of Avengers episodes when they were young?

Ever had nightmares of running down long corridors away from Dr.Who’s nemesis, praying to find some stairs? This panel will hopefully cure them, as there’s interactive construction - while the panel discuss ways to stop the Daleks we build their preventative measures, and then see if they are up to the task

Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of this science fiction classic.

Star Trek's longtime assistant director Mike DeMeritt presents a slide show of crew-taken photos of behind-the-scenes moments on Star Trek Enterprise.

Animated science fiction on U.S. television goes back to Colonel Bleep and Tom Terrific (both 1957) and The Jetsons (1962). What are the unique aspects of creating and writing science fiction for animation? What's around today and what's coming in the future?

In addition to Star Trek, another science fiction TV series debuted 40 years ago. Time Tunnel, the story of two scientists who find themselves trapped as they adventure through time, only ran one season, but it was a memorable one. Fans of the show reminisce. (Time Tunnel previewed at the 1966 Worldcon, shortly before it's debut on television.)

Some showrunners are now reading fan boards & fanfic sites to gauge reaction to what they're doing on their shows. Others avoid sites in order to keep "untainted". Writers and producers talk about the effect the fan community has on how a show develops. Do they ever have to deal with actors and their responses to the fans? What happens when you're torn between two disparate but equally vocal groups of fans?

Some movies have a profound effect on people. Come here from our panelists which movies had a major effect on them and share your own stories.

Not that it's easy to do special effects with computers but, before CGI, things were different. Some of the practitioners of those early effects and others with expert knowledge talk about those halcyon days of miniatures, stop motion, and Jacobs Ladders.

Fifty years ago, Godzilla was released in the US. (It was released two years earlier in Japan.) Over the years, Godzilla has gone from giant monster and anti-nuclear message to a heroic warrior, keeping nasty monsters at bay, and back again. In that time, fans have come to love the giant lizard. How has he changed? Which changes were for the better? And where is he headed now?

Overseeing a TV series? How hard can it be? You just write the scripts and hand them to the director, right? People who have had the job tell us about the ins-and-outs of being in charge on genre TV series.

Come see trailers, film clips, and other previews from upcoming major films. Surprises, prizes, and maybe even mystery guests.

It's been almost thirty years but now the story is complete. How has the tale changed over the decades? The original films seemed to be about Luke. But the newer films are all about Darth Vader. Just whose story is it? Did advances in special effects hurt or help?

Horror on television, from 1949 to today, including The Twilight Zone, Thriller, One Step Beyond, The Outer Limits, etc.

The Star Trek franchise has flamed out with decreasing ratings and series that don't inspire. Is it possible to recreate the wonder? What should a new Star Trek series include and what should it avoid?

Joss Whedon has created three television series that struck a cord with people. The characters, the situations, the dialog, the relationships, etc. Hear from people who were intimately involved with shaping and guiding those series through the seasons.

Hollywood has brought science fiction and fantasy to life, but how are some of those things created? How do you design something that doesn't exist? And then how do you make it work? Some top motion picture craftsmen tell all, or at least most.

James Gurney gives a presentation on his best-selling Hugo nominated works and talks about what goes into making realistic fantasy pictures, National Geographic illustrations, and fantasy art.

The average major studio film these days costs $40 million. But there are still plenty of films being made between $100,000 and $5 million. Independent filmmakers discuss their trials and triumphs.

There's something about Buffy and the Buffyverse that drew people in. What was so special about this show? The Big Bad? The characters? The dialogue? What made it so special to so many people, where other shows haven't connected?

A look at the series with Executive Producer Ron D. Moore and others.

A lot has to happen before a film is ready for showing. What is the actual filmmaking process that transforms a vague idea into a finished 70mm dolby stereo blockbuster?

Firefly was a show that connected with some people yet left others cold. Why didn't it find an audience. Could audiences just not see past the dirt roads and western trappings?

Three of the writers for the new Dr. Who TV series (each nominated for a Hugo award this year) talk about the new series.

There was a deluge of science fiction movies made in the 1950s. Many people who grew up in that decade have made those movies part of their lives but even people born much later have embraced them, and not just on a "so bad they're good" basis. Why does this continue to happen? What is the appeal of these movies? Are they unique?

Spooks and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Has there ever been so much fantasy on television? And such successful shows, too. Buffy and Angel were fantasy shows and while they had definite followings, they weren't the hits that Medium and Ghost Whisperer are. Why are they so successful?

A fond look back at 40 years of Star Trek along with a hopeful look forward at what J.J. Abrams may or may not do with the franchise in the coming years.

Art Directors have to take today and make it look like tomorrow. How do they do it? What's their track record been like?