Madicon 21

FRIDAY March 9, 2012

Author Reading with Leona Wisoker
Come join Leona as she reads selections from her upcoming third novel in the Children of the Desert series.

Thread to Form: Cosplay Basics
Everything from fabric selection to posing for photos, come learn the ins and outs, dos and don’ts  of the art of cosplay with costumer Eliza Strauss.

Worldbuilding, part 1:  Writing Food into your SF/F Series
Food is as much a part of developing a realistic world as is the political chain of command, local wars, and flora and fauna. In this workshop, writers will learn ways to add depth and tension to their fantastical world via the language, economics, and yes, ingredients, preparation, and serving of food, all while avoiding the Dreaded Infodump. All must participate.

Videogame Music as a Genre
I hypothesize that video game music became a widely recognized musical genre between 1985 and 1995. Currently, I am writing a doctoral thesis to support this. The panel will explore some of this research.

Quidditch Panel and Demo
This demo/panel will discuss and demonstrate the latest and coolest game out there—quidditch. The event will be hosted by one of JMU’s own Quidditch team members

The Devil’s Carnival Trailer Premier
This is a very special premier preview event. The creators of Repo! The Genetic Opera are at it again, spinning a tale of three individuals trapped in the Devil’s personal carnival in Hell. The Conchair herself will be showing trailers to promote this movie.

Robots, AI, and Everything In-Between
Come talk about robots, cybernetics, A.I., and more. Should robots have rights? When does A.I. cross the line from just a robot to something more? Ever consider uploading yourself into a computer? All points of view are welcome to come and discuss the implications of an increasingly technology-heavy world (before the singularity hits).

Nerd Music
A brief intro into various nerdy music genres.  Everything from 8bit to nerdcore, filk to steampunk, and more!

What is the Best Game of all Time and why is it Shaq-fu?
Many people have ideas of what the perfect game was or is, and what system it belongs to as well. There are few fundamental truths in this world but we can all agree on one thing: Shaq-fu is the greatest game ever and if you don’t know why, then come see us; if you do know, then come share the love.

Ballads and Sonnets: Woo the Man or Maiden of Your Dreams!
An exploration of ballads and sonnets: learn about music and poetry from the Middle Ages to today, and learn to write  poetry to woo the man or maiden of your dreams!

Character Design with Kelly Turnbull
Discussion of how to design engaginc characters to fit into any kind of story and appeal to your audience.

SATURDAY March 10, 2012

Writing Basics: Before You Pick Up a Pen
Time is a beginning writers most valuable resource. This workshop will walk participants through the basics of scheduling one’s life to make the most of that time— and how to ditch “deadwood” activities that get in the way. All attendees must participate

Worldbuilding, part 2
Writers who attended  part 1 of this 2 part series will receive feedback on their drafts of a scene written using the info from part 1.

Who Cares About GMing Anymore?
GMs, DMs, STs, or whatever acronym you choose, people who run good games are a dying breed. Come discuss GMing techniques and methods to learn and train. This panel will  feature two veteran GMs and will be moderated by a mildly not terrible GM, or so he says.

Time Travel & You
Attention all current and future time travelers! Come share your theories and experiences. We will talk about the physics and philosophies of time travel, as well as popular theories and examples found in books and television.

Detective Comics vs. Action Comics
A comparative look at DC Comic’s 2 biggest players and the true foundation of the DC Empire. Over the years both have been adapted into film and small screen. This is the epic showdown between Batman and Superman, not just in the new DC 52, but a comparison of the art, writing, and general storylines of both series.

Readings with C.J. Henderson
-Let C.J. Henderson regale you with a few readings of his works. He’s a gregarious show-off, but has also been told that he has an excellent voice.

A View From the Top: Birds of Prey
-What makes birds of prey such successful hunters? Learn about the fantastic tools these magnificent predators have and discover what they can teach us about the world they inhabit. A presentation by our charity, the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

The Battle of Gaugamela in 28mm
Never fight a land war in Asia— unless you’re Alexander the Great. The year is 331 BC. Alexander of Macedon meets Darius III of Persia sixty miles north of the city of Arbela, where the Tigris flows through Kurdistan. Two men—okay 300,000 men— in a battle for supremacy. One will rule the Middle East; one will not live to see 330. Witness the Battle of  Gaugamela (aka the Battle of Arbela) unfold in breathtaking 1/6 scale. Narration & historical commentary by celebrated SFFG Alumnus JC Lira.

Animation Q&A
Discuss animation industry and how to break into it with Kelly Turnbull

Webcomic Q&A
Kelly Turnbull discusses comics, how to make them, and how to find your audience.

How to Get Your Work Rejected: Writing Pitfalls
Join Jack McDevitt as he discusses some of the most common mistakes aspiring writers make.

Why I Love Science Fiction
Author Jack McDevitt and participants discuss their passion for writing.

Day in the Life of a Retro Gamer
This will be a fun, informative panel about the few, the proud retro gamers. Whether your fix is Atari, NES, SNES, N64, Dreamcast, or Genesis, we have you covered.

Wrestlemania: The Best of the Worst Brought to you by the Triple Threat
The Triple Threat of The Brick Method brings you wrestling insanity as they review Wrestlemania’s worst moments!!

Abuse the Author, parts 1 and 2
So, you don’t really abuse him, but Author GoH CJ Henderson will happily answer your questions about his work, writing in general, Cthulhu, or points related. He’ll be doing this twice and it’s always a good time.

Medieval Fantasy Wargaming, Religious Fundamentalism, and Mass Hysteria
During the 1980s, Dungeons and Dragons was literally demonized by religious fundamentalists. This audio-visual presentation examines the origins of the game, events that spawned urban legends about the game, efforts to eradicate the game, and the transcendent function of the game and fantasy in general.

Costume Contest
This event takes place Saturday afternoon at 3pm in the Vendor Room and is a great chance to show off lovingly crafted costumes from all fandom genres  including games (video/board/card), novels, tv series, movies, comics, and anime. All ages and skill-levels are encouraged to enter, but please, only  handmade costumes, not bought and assembled.

Authors vs Artists SF/F Pictionary
Who is the true master of the pen? Come join your favored team as our Madicon guests battle it out!

SUNDAY March 11, 2012

Author Reading with Jack McDevitt
Join author Jack McDevitt as he reads selections from any of his highly acclaimed novels.

Danny Birt Media Variety Show
Come take in a variety of media from Madicon’s Media GoH! Danny may read one of his books, sing some songs from his albums, act out a scene, do a Youtube review, play a game of his own creation , or maybe even take outlandish requests from the audience.

Mass Effect Mania!
Celebrate the release of the final installment of Bioware’s bestselling series. Come be fan!

Coffee Q&A with Guests
Come have a cup of joe with our many Guests of Honor in an open Q&A about writing, creativity, music, art, etc.