DragonCon 2007 Battlestar Happenings

[Spencerian]

I'll be attending DragonCon on Labor Day weekend this year. Last year the con had a great Battlestar fan showing, and I ran into several fans of Battlestar Wiki that thanked us for the source material that helped in making their costumes.

I can't believe I missed all the parties last year. The site, ColonialFleet.org (http://www.colonialfleet.org/), has a movie that highlights last year's fun (including the many costumes) and notes a 2007 party. This year, Aaron Douglas and Jamie Bamber are in attendance (Katee had to decline at the last minute).

My friend, George (a man that bears a dangerous resemblance to George Lucas (http://www.atomfilms.com/film/pitching_lucas.jsp)) and I will appear in deckhand (http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Deckhand) jumpsuits. I find that appropriate since I, like St. Stan of Galactica (http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Stan_Gibson), mops the wiki a lot. :) I'll do what I can to document the fun at DC 07.

Anyone else going? I hope to make a nice alternate name tag with the Battlestar Wiki logo and name with my user name...it might be noticed! Any help in making one for me would be greatly appreciated.

[Steelviper]

If you still need help with a name tag, let me know. I've got an old version of PS on this machine. Although I imagine Merc could crank out something slicker than I...

[Spencerian]

Yeah, I'd really love to represent us...I'm pretty sure that this group has heard of us, and I'm tired of my friend being the Celebrity on the Floor. :) If you have a moment from being Dad, I'd love anything you have, or Mercifull.

[Steelviper]

Any specs? (Dimensions, etc.) Color printer to be used? A white background still might be advisable, if only to save ink.

[Steelviper]

Here's a mockup of a 4"x6" badge:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/steel_viper/BSG/badge.jpg

I drew some inspiration from:
http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2007/04/building-a-better-conference-badge

I figured the bottom right could also read "sysop" or "user" as appropriate. I couldn't think of any other info to add to it offhand (a picture of you might be redundant, what with you standing there in person, and edit count, etc. might be tacky). Let me know if that sparks any ideas. I'll keep it saved as a psd so we can mess with it if it's of any value.

I struggled mightily picking fonts, as well, so any suggestions there are welcome. The fonts suggested by Mike are expensive, though, and I didn't bother hunting down any free downloads yet. Just used a stock font.

[Spencerian]

Here's a mockup of a 4"x6" badge:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/steel_viper/BSG/badge.jpg

I drew some inspiration from:
http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2007/04/building-a-better-conference-badge

I figured the bottom right could also read "sysop" or "user" as appropriate. I couldn't think of any other info to add to it offhand (a picture of you might be redundant, what with you standing there in person, and edit count, etc. might be tacky). Let me know if that sparks any ideas. I'll keep it saved as a psd so we can mess with it if it's of any value.

I struggled mightily picking fonts, as well, so any suggestions there are welcome. The fonts suggested by Mike are expensive, though, and I didn't bother hunting down any free downloads yet. Just used a stock font.

That's great! Yeah, the title works although "admin" might be more knowledgeable to some, and maybe "Battlestar Wiki" written to the right to our logo. The white background works great. Thanks...I'll find some good paper stock to print the result. I want to be a good billboard for the wiki, so that should make it pretty close.

[Mercifull]

Make sure you carry a real mop with you :D

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

Mops are for admins. :P

B-crats have squeegees.

[Steelviper]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/steel_viper/BSG/busy_badge.jpg

I made it a hell of a lot busier...

I went with the BW label on the left (figuring people go left to right usually).

The article count is kind of bragging... but it's more of a no brag, just fact sort of thing.

Under "Battlestar Wiki", I was thinking of maybe some smaller text to the effect of "The Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia you can edit" or something to that effect. We used to have something like that on the main page. Something inviting, though, that might make somebody ask a question about joining.

Maybe even straightforward. "Ask me about how you can help." or "Join the team!"

[Spencerian]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j81/steel_viper/BSG/busy_badge.jpg

I made it a hell of a lot busier...

I went with the BW label on the left (figuring people go left to right usually).

The article count is kind of bragging... but it's more of a no brag, just fact sort of thing.

Under "Battlestar Wiki", I was thinking of maybe some smaller text to the effect of "The Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia you can edit" or something to that effect. We used to have something like that on the main page. Something inviting, though, that might make somebody ask a question about joining.

Maybe even straightforward. "Ask me about how you can help." or "Join the team!"

Awesome!
Mercifull, you read my mind...but Joe has a great point, so I'll see about carrying both for a picture or two. I wouldn't worry about the other text you considered...I'm pretty sure most of them will know about what a wiki is, but if they don't know BW, they will now.

I think that'll work, Matt. Unless you have other refinements, I'll make that Da Badge. Thanks for your hard work.

[Steelviper]

You're welcome. Let me know if you need it sized any differently (proportion-wise). 4x6" was just something that one article recommended (for visibility purposes).

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

Sweet. Though I'm not sure as to whether or not the "Battlestar Wiki" text to the left of the logo isn't necessary... unless the logo itself won't appear to well under lighting or whatever. Minor nitpick. Ignore as needed or wanted.

Good work, though!

[Steelviper]

and maybe "Battlestar Wiki" written to the right to our logo.

Sweet. Though I'm not sure as to whether or not the "Battlestar Wiki" text to the left of the logo isn't necessary... unless the logo itself won't appear to well under lighting or whatever. Minor nitpick. Ignore as needed or wanted.


Just following directions. (Except for the whole right/left thing, but I didn't have the article counts before.) You're right, I guess it might help people that don't bother to read the logo text.

[Spencerian]

I plan to get to Richard Hatch and ask if it is remotely possible to get a still of TSC from his group for use on the wiki. Not likely, but given our cause, it stands a better chance than any. The problem is that a still he releases becomes available everywhere, but if it is the only still, at least he knows the source.

Photos and/or drinking with Aaron D. and Jamie B. would be good, in costume if possible. I also plan to talk to Dr. Kevin Grazier (the BSG science advisor) about a few things related to the "Science" wiki articles.

The ColonialFleet.org guys almost surely know of the wiki, but "recruitment" of new contributors will also be in the cards.

I have a Picasa album that I will try to post daily photos from the con. Here's the link which contains other photos from last year and other cons I've attended (http://picasaweb.google.com/kspencerian?pli=1).

The DragonCon guest page is here (http://www.dragoncon.org/dc_guests_list.php). If you have anything or anyone I should also see, let me know.

[Mercifull]

We could always put a watermark on the image?

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

We could always put a watermark on the image?

Yeah, we can always watermark any stills or images we are given, and keep the original unwatermarked material off-line.

I plan on doing this with the scripts. I should have the first one ("The Day They Kidnapped Cleopatra") released within the week on BSP.com's splash page.

[Spencerian]

At the hotel, finally. Drove 8 hours. Going to try crashing the ColonialFleet.org Hard Rock dinner in a bit. My pal George has made awesome deckhand jumpsuits, although they need a couple of final touches. On Saturday there is an annual con parade through the city streets. The Galactica group should now be large enough to be on their own, so I'll try to get some pics of us and others throughout. I'm going to try to match people names to BW user names whenever I can. Remember the photo page, where I'll get in some pics later tomorrow.

[Spencerian]

After a hotel version of "musical chairs" (George forgot which one of the 3 central hotels he registered in), we checked in and quickly prepped for The Colonial Fleet (TCF) dinner at the Hard Rock.

Athena (http://www.colonialfleet.org/quorum/index.php?showuser=9), the lead for the dinner (and who used per personal credit card to help in reservations) guided the nuggets through the hotel lobby to our destination, where we enjoyed various burgers or salads. Since we needed to make sure Athena's credit wasn't wrecked, many pre-paid or (like us) paid her directly. "So pay we all!" because the tagline of the dinner.

A few hours later and a party broke out at Syko (http://www.colonialfleet.org/quorum/index.php?showuser=248)'s little room in the Marriott. A few of us were in the Hyatt bar enjoying drinks. A red-headed guy came up to chat, and I soon realized I was talking with the BSG science advisor and JPL rocket scientist, Dr. Kevin Grazier. I had a nice talk about the wiki and the science of the show. For future use he provided me with his business card, including a special email address to ask him any Battlestar-specific questions. Score one for the Wiki!

Grazier and many others in TCF eventually found Syko's party. There were two Starbucks: one who made drinks, and one who drank 'em. Now, whatever happens at the party has to stay at the party, but let me say that, with all the drinking, callsign changes were cosnidered. Eggroll (http://www.colonialfleet.org/quorum/index.php?showuser=527), for instance, became "Lightweight". My callsign morphed from "Morpheus" to "Mr. Clean." We all morphed from sober to remarkably drunk in two hours.

Much later, back in the Hyatt bar, we run into Aaron Douglas enjoying the crowd. Remarkably, he still enjoyed a lot of anonymity in the large crowd, but a few of us sharp-eyed people noticed and greeted him. (We heard a bit earlier from Dr. Kevin that Aaron's grandfather passed away that evening, and so the TCF made a toast in salute to "Bud.") Aaron, in his olive-green attire that wasn't too different (save flip-flops) from his BSG character was, frankly, a chick-magnet. Being very late in the evening, my little group said goodbyes, but made sure he knew of the smaller party and the larger parties on Friday.

No pictures just yet, but there will be more today. The hot panel (which Dr. Kev talked up as well) was "Star Trek: TNG vs. Battlestar." War has come, and WE. ARE. COLONIALS!!!

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

FRAKKING AWESOME!!!

So we have contact with Dr. Kevin. Nice!

I'm glad that you're having a blast. Remember to drink responsibly, old man. ;-)

As for Aaron, I'm sorry to hear about his loss. :(

[Spencerian]

Some first pics (http://picasaweb.google.com/kspencerian), including some good Battlestar costumes.

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

Sweet! Keep 'em coming!

[Spencerian]

More pics (http://picasaweb.google.com/kspencerian), including:


New pics of Jamie Bamber, Dr. Kevin Grazier and John de Lancie (all of which now grace their respective bios)
The DragonCon parade, including The Colonial Fleet's march
A few odds and ends


Set 3 hasn't many captions yet (gotta go to the big Battlestar party tonight!) but they will be updated later.

I am now owner of a deckhand jumpsuit. On my updated wiki user page (http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/User:Spencerian) you can see me, also adorning the Squeegee of the bureaucrats.

During the parade (a cast of thousands from many walks of SF life, including Dr. Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate...) I got to hold the boom box where we played the Colonial anthem (as heard on our page) at full volume as we marched. It was more than too cool. Athena (in red jumpsuit and shackles) occasionally "escaped", and marines retrieve her to our chant of "Airlock! Airlock!"

Later in the Walk of Fame (the star's autograph room), my friend George (the one that looks too much like Lucas) stymies Jamie Bamber. Bamber was incredulous and didn't believe that George wasn't "George" at first.

George got a quick photo with John de Lancie (who, if you didn't know, has a minor role in an Original Series episode). Tomorrow I visit Felix Silla (http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Felix_Silla), the man who has been in TOS Trek, TOS Galactica, Buck Rogers, Return of the Jedi, among others. He is the closest star to a "Rosetta Stone" actor that has been in most of the larger or popular iconic SF in history.

[ThPrime]

AICN: What The Frak?? (http://www.aintitcool.com/?q=node/33862) 9/1 10:48PM Eastern

"And some bad news: There are 20 episodes in the final season and the plan now from Sci-Fi is to show 10 of them in Feb. of 2008 and then wait until Feb. of 2009 to show the final 10!"

What was said during the panel exactly and who said it?

Reply direct to Skiffy forums suggested. If you can get in there, it's in meltdown at the moment.

DragonCon+BSG related search Google page rank for this thread is higher than the AICN article. Start 15 minute internet fame clock. :)

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

It's, uh, AICN...

They may, however, be doing the same thing as "Lost", though.

[Mercifull]

SciFi are idiots. If they do something like this then they are probably still guaranteed to get the viewers for BSG but that chances of people staying loyal to the channel to watch any of their other commissioned shows will decrease immensely.

[Serenity]

http://picasaweb.google.com/kspencerian/DragonCon2007Set2/photo#5105290010259744562

Entirely red uniform trim? That's completely wrong! :)


"Bamber saying that the channel is not used to producing high quality material and now that it has a hit, it doesn't know what to do with it."

That sums it up perfectly. BSG is the first and only really good original show that they have (some others might be watchable, but are just superficial popcorn fare) and while they don't want to spend any more money, they want to stretch it as long as possible. I could actually understand a 3-month hiatus until September or so, but one year is just blatantly ridiculous.

EDIT:
Actually they had Farscape :o That's one of the best SciFi shows ever. So let's say that BSG is the only good SciFi series they've had in years.

[Spencerian]

...are likely NBC network executives.

Yes, that is what Aaron Douglas and Bamber said in the Saturday panel. I was there. Whether this is true or not, I cannot say.

Wouldn't surprise me, though. Sci Fi Channel is, of course, part of NBC Universal, the great network that should (but isn't) kicking itself for its lack of vision involving another show from long ago.

A tiny little space opera called Star Trek. They sold off the rights to Paramount Pictures and the rest is history. Not that CBS has a good history with SF, but they took greater control of the TOS episodes recently and the result is the excellent remastered episodes, which have been very popular. The movie reboot of Kirk and Spock at Starfleet Academy may also yield some luck.

NBC seems to only react purely and entirely to ratings numbers. That's very important, but they are slow to react to other trends unless numbers are overwhelming. Heroes is a good example...they couldn't ignore its ratings or the internet chat about it. This success seems more from the writer's and director's marketing influence and use of internet-based secondary stories (from fake blogs and comics) helped a lot.

No, it wouldn't surprise me. Remember that Sci Fi Channel has had a BSG season that was almost as short before (season 1: 13 episodes). The panel's attitude was very "nuke 'em from orbit." What was NBC going to do now? Cancel them?

[Serenity]

Yeah, NBC has been very hit and miss in the last few years.
Though to give them credit, they kept around "Friday Night Lights" purely because of critical appeal, although the numbers didn't support it. It's basically the best show on network television.

Also, if SciFi wanted to spread out BSG, they could have just made 2 seasons of 13 episodes, like a full cable season. But this isn't sure thing yet. Apparently, what they said is that it's being discussed. Nothing more.

[Spencerian]

Saturday night, my pal George and I donned our deckhand costumes again and made our way to The Colonial Fleet's BSG party. Last year was very popular with Tahmoh P. and Aaron D. in attendance.

But as we got to the area there were several hundred people waiting to get in to a room that the Fire Marshal (who was at the room) strictly limited to 110 or so people.

In the end the TCF people were in first, and others were allowed in as others left, but not without some DragonCon squirt showing why peons with delusions of grandeur are close to death when pissing off people who paid to party. He survived, and the party began.

Jamie Bamber and Mark Sheppard visited and spoke to fans awhile; a nice gesture. Shortly after they departed, the party kicked up a big notch. Aaron soon appeared and the life of the party for many. Juliana (Starbuck #1), who is also an accomplished singer, did several great tunes, but the mood-setting one was a great version of "All Along The Watchtower."

Several fans who greatly resembled the main cast (including Roslin, Adama, Helo, and Athena) took a group photo with Aaron as well.

Athena and others had a great song mix for young and old. "Mr. Roboto" was played to great humor, and pushup battles were in the cards too. Aaron helped with a raffle of BSG swag that netted over $400 for the American Diabetes Association. Aaron is a natural comedian and kept us all in stitches all night.

A damn fine party and one to repeat next year. The "exclusivity" of getting in made it feel like we were in a private club. Maybe we were.

[ThPrime]

Thanks for the reply and clarification Spencerian.

And thanks to Aaron and Jamie for breaking ranks EJO style and getting the word out to fans about this scheduling Sci Fi is contemplating.

Consensus on the blogs is that they were serious. With Jamie first raising the issue and Aaron letting the 2009 bomb drop. But the audience erupted in disbelieving laughter and that is causing the confusion. Transcript is up, video is on the way.

I never doubted there wouldn't be a season 4.5. Just never imagined anyone would have the audacity to stretch out the mid-season "break" into eleven months. Certainly, whether or not the decision making process goes higher into NBC/Universal, Ms. Hammer continues to prove she does indeed have a pair :)

[Spencerian]

On Sunday I had two goals: Get to Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek and to Felix Silla. If you note the wiki, Silla is one of the rare "rosetta stone" actors that have has roles in TOS Trek, TOS Galactica, and Return of the Jedi in the original Star Wars, among others.

I ran into Lee Stringer. Sadly, his wiki article is a stub, but not for long; this was too cool a guy. Stringer was the VFX supervisor for the Miniseries & Re-imagined Series. He had the most perfect prints of Galactica and lots of other items, which I bought for later use on the wiki. Stringer was very happy to tell us to reproduce these and other pictures from his site (not sure what that is yet) He is currently an instructor to many aspiring computer VFX students in Oriando as BSG has its own in-house VFX team. And I have more contact information. Between Stringer and Dr. Grazier, there's plenty of answers available for our articles, with improved renderings of many ships to boot.

Meeting Felix, I began to stammer. (I write well, but speak poorly.) But, luckily for me, my friend George was around to break the ice again with his uncanny likeness to Lucas. Felix went totally fanboy about George and took pictures with both of us. For a small guy at 70, Silla is still quite spry. Silla's article will be updated shortly.

Sadly, no Nichelle. I was in the wrong places at the wrong times I guess.

The Sunday night festivities was marred by the Hyatt hotel and the fire marshal's desire to keep crowd control by prohibiting photography anywhere in the building. "Frak that," many of us thought, and moved the fun to the more relaxed (and larger) Mariott hotel next door.

I considered wearing my "Mace Windu" Jedi costume, but I got lazy and a bit mischevious. After all, here's my pal George "Lucas" wearing a Battlestar costume earlier and causing tears in SF continuities, so I thought of how I could worsen the breech with most popular costume I had.

Soon, you should find pictures of me on the internet if you Google the following words.

"MORPHEUS" "LIGHTSABER".

The night wrapped up with some Colonial Fleet members who were (and I kid you not) playing cards. "Starbuck", true to form, was kicking everyone's ass. We took a final picture together and saluted our 1st anniversary and parting with a "So say we all."

The last of the pictures are uploaded. The album is complete! (http://picasaweb.google.com/kspencerian)

[Steelviper]

Did the badge end up coming into play?

[Spencerian]

Yep it did, on Thursday before I got my registration badge. Some noticed and I tried to show it off a bit! I chose the simpler version...looked good.