Connui Go!
I can only assume that there are many names for it, that inevitable and cloudy confusion which descends in the wake of a major pop culture convention such as San Diego Comic-Con International, which ended a scant two weeks ago. Only one term comes close to summing it up: connui.
Part of overcoming connui, in my case, is the methodical culling of the thousands of photos taken over the course of the event, uploading the chosen few (even when some of them don’t quite satisfy me). This year, after what seems to have been my best experience at Comic-Con in my four years of attending, I’ll add something new, if somewhat cliche.
What follows (because I couldn’t reduce it to ten) are my twelve favorite things about this year’s con, in chronological order.
1. Arriving at the convention center area.
It seems kind of silly, but there’s a distinct and definite rush just upon arriving within view of the San Diego Convention Center, even if you’ve not yet stepped inside. In all likelihood, I have a shot similar to this from each of the past few years. The travel to San Diego complete, here’s where all the anticipation is about to begin paying off. Once you pick up your pass, anyway.
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Westboro Baptist Vs. Comic-Con
The shot heard ’round the geek portion of the Internet today was the news that Westboro Baptist Church (the “God hates fags” people) will be protesting Comic-Con on Thursday, July 22.
Are you kidding?! If these people would spend even some of the energy that they spend on these comic books, reading the Bible, well no high hopes here. They have turned comic book characters into idols, and worship them they do! … It is time to put away the silly vanities and turn to God like you mean it. The destruction of this nation is imminent – so start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry.
But while the bigots of Westboro Baptist might ridicule your Batman and Superman, they do love at least one piece of current pop culture, as documented in this photo from a picket in Portland, Oregon, held in 2008.
Unfortunately for them, it doesn’t sound like Twilight will be at Comic-Con this year. But, with any luck, the event’s population of furries (we had just the one in Portland) will decide that 1:15 PM to 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 22, is a fine time for a flash mob outside the convention center.
Me, I’ll be skipping the Burn Notice panel in Ballroom 20 in order to be outside for this once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity.
Firefly Fan Films Redeemed?
Once upon a time, I ripped a Firefly-inspired web series shot here in Oregon something of a new one. A disaster in almost every conceivable way, I even got yelled at by some people for discussing a version of the episode’s script after the episode itself had been posted for viewing. (The project, however and in fact, then partially fell apart, complete with cast departures, and promised some sort of eventual do over.) All in all, the entire experience left a bad taste in my mouth when it came to Firefly-inspired fan film and video projects.
Which presented something of a problem, because long in the pipeline has been Browncoats: Redemption, a labor of love for both the Firefly universe itself and (since proceeds from the film will go to charities such as Equality Now) for the good works its fans so often can be found doing. Knowing that this project was close to being released into the world, the sour aftertaste of an abysmal Firefly-themed web series was an unnecessary distraction.
Seven cities participating in this milestone fifth year of Can’t Stop the Serenity — global charity screenings of Serenity to benefit Equality Now and other charities — have been given the opportunity to screen a rouch cut of Browncoats: Redemption. Amongst these seven is Portland (where CSTS was founded in 2006), which will screen the film as the first part of its all-day event on Saturday, June 26.
Other cities will get to screen the film’s first twelve minutes. I’ve now seen those minutes, and since I know a number of people in the wake of the Firefly web series debacle have wondered how I will react to Browncoats: Redemption, I felt I should go ahead and react.
Let me dispense with this up front: I did not in any manner come away from these first twelve minutes of Browncoats: Redemption feeling like I did after the aforementioned backbirth of a Firefly web series. At all.
Yes, this is a fan film, and so carries with it things that all fan films, even decently-produced ones, do. Even accounting for the rough cutness of it all, there’s some awkward bits, and some performance stiffness. But that just brings up the important part.
You likely won’t care.
Redemption’s opening pretty deftly doles out the exposition and quickly establishes some basic character energies. And while it might be a bit over-loaded with in-jokes, they’re mostly so funny you’ll just find yourself rolling with it. There’s one entire conversation at the bar in which the film begins that’s total and complete fan service, but it’s such a clever bit of reversal humor that you’ll eat up every syllable of it.
If you consider yourself a Browncoat (and judging by, say, the attendance at Firefly at the Mission back in 2007, many people in this town do), it’s time to stop stalling and get to purchasing a ticket for this year’s Can’t Stop the Serenity event here in Portland.
We’re one of only seven cities awarded the opportunity to see a rough cut this fan film months before it receives its official premiere at Dragon*Con and then is released to the public at large. If the rest of Browncoats: Redemption manages to live up to the fan film promise of its first twelve minutes, you’ll be sorry if you make yourself wait.
Become A Patron, Get A Print
Several days ago, I engaged in some self-promotion in which I asked that, if in the past you’ve found my convention and panel photography valuable, you consider either donating directly to help defray the costs of this year’s trip to Comic-Con in San Diego, or indirectly supporting the trip by purchasing a photo and get 25% off with the “25junejuly” coupon code.
Here’s a new incentive to donate directly, in addition to the fact that I will send you your very own “I Am A False b!X” button: if you donate at least $25 to become, for lack of a better term for it, a patron of the convention photographic arts, when Comic-Con is over and I have this year’s photos uploaded (to go along with those from previous years), you will be able to receive a print of the photo of your choice from this year’s batch.
If you’ve seen my photo sales site, you know that I don’t sell convention photos. You might also know that I’ve taken a number of convention photos that would make nice prints. While there’s no way to know in advance just what I’ll end up with this year, this is a very rare opportunity to be able to obtain a convention photo print.
Support A Convention Photographer
It’s almost time for the annual trip to Comic-Con in San Diego, which means it’s time to figure out how to not go entirely broke making the trip. So I turn now to a little shameless self-promotion.
Over the past two years, I’ve taken thousands of photos at Comic-Con, posting nearly 600 to my Flickr account. Because of my slavish devotion to trying to capture larges portions of my Comic-Con experience, attendees and non-attendees alike have gotten to enjoy photos such as those below.
If you’re among those who look forward to my Comic-Con photos, please consider hitting my PayPal to help defray the costs of this year’s trip. Depending on the response, you might also be clearing the way for me to purchase the much-needed flash for my Nikon D300.
But don’t worry. My photography at this year’s Comic-Con isn’t being held for ransom here. Whatever I shoot and find worth sharing will be posted to Flickr, as always, regardless of the response to this little self-promotional fundraiser.
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