PHIL’S HAPPY FUNTIME CREATIVE WRITING HOUR

Phil Merkel

Remember the original novelizations? Ever notice how the covers never quite matched what the story was about? What WERE the covers about?

This is your chance to let your creativity flow! Phil leads a creative writing exercise using novel covers as a writing prompt and lets YOU take the story anywhere! Plus, stop by Phil’s booth in the vending room to talk all things Trek anytime!

Come talk Star Trek collectibles

Peter Wolchak

Most great Star Trek collectibles have a great story behind them. Come hear some of those tales and share your own stories about the item you finally bought — or let get away.

I have been collecting Star Trek for decades. I have many autographs, all the early comics and most of the 1970s fanzines, all the older cards (except the 1967 Leaf set; almost no one owns that), most of the plates and the Playmates nine-inch figures, almost all the Enterprise models worth owning, plus toys and books and scripts and memos and figures and magazines.

I love talking about Trek collectibles, and I’ll be giving away some great stuff during the session. Maybe you’ll go home with something to add to your collection.

ROUND TABLE

Michael Rizzo

Our most popular round table returns with Mike Rizzo. Discuss all things Trek with Mike and don’t be afraid to speak up! There are no wrong answers!

Finnerman is a God: The visual magic of Jerry Finnerman

Kent Schmidt

Basic movie/ TV crew structure and what a Cinematographer does, with a particular focus (heh) on how Finnerman lit the original Star Trek television series.

Your New Religion: Supernatural

Alex & MB

You’ve seen all of the Trek episodes over and over again, and maybe you are looking for something different. May we suggest Supernatural? Eric Kripke’s 15-season juggernaut is still drawing new fans from all over the world. The series follows the two brothers as they hunt demons, ghosts, monsters, and other supernatural beings, and we will walk you through everything awesome about it.

Indie Filming in your Backyard

Samuel LaPointe

In this hour-long presentation, I explain how filmmakers or aspiring filmmakers can find resources, hone their craft, and build communities outside regular film hubs such as major cities. There will also be a showing of our work-in-progress new short, and an opportunity for questions.

CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SPACE:1999

Roy Bjellquist

Please join Roy Bjellquist from “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner” as he discusses the Spectacular 1970s Science Fiction series, Space:1999. Discussion will center around the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the series, including the upcoming convention in Los Angeles this September, and news of the upcoming release of the documentary by filmmaker Jeffrey Morris regarding “The Eagle Obsession”.

Through the Wormhole!

Matthew Szydagis

What are wormholes, and what are they good for? Can a stable one exist: how would one hold the throat open? What is the difference between wormholes and black holes, and can the latter make the former? Join Matthew, who has spoken on time travel, warp drive, and many other topics at past cons, as he takes you on another mind-bending journey into the realms of exotic physics and engineering.

VIEWMASTER PREVIEW

Dave Harvey

Dave shows us an exciting preview of a Viewmaster project he created for the Set Tour! Yes, the fun kid’s stereoscope slideshow you remember from childhood is coming to the Set Tour, and Dave will give you a sneak peek of how it will look!

Behind the Scenes- Producing and Script Supervision

Lolita Fatjo

What really goes into creating Star Trek? Lolita gives you the real story of how to make an episode, from the script all the way through to filming. Lolita had a front row seat to the production team, and she will share their stories with you.

Exploring the Ghosts of Trek

Matt Haley

This presentation examines the differing approaches to the concept of the supernatural in Star Trek and Ghostbusters. While Ghostbusters readily embraces the supernatural, featuring ghosts and demons as part of its narrative,  Star Trek, guided by Gene Roddenberry’s humanist and skeptical philosophy, strives to offer scientific or advanced technological explanations for phenomena that might otherwise be considered supernatural. This analytical approach sets Star Trek apart from Ghostbusters, where supernatural occurrences are central to the narrative, even if they are eventually tackled with scientific equipment. The analysis concludes that while viewers might debate the nature of such events in both franchises, the fundamental difference lies in Star Trek’s inherent belief that anything observed can ultimately be understood through scientific inquiry and termed “natural”.

Life on a Space Station: daily living on the ISS

Dr. David Alexander

Deep Space 9 had artificial gravity and sonic showers. There are no such luxuries on the International Space Station. Join Dr. Alexander for a look at what it is really like to live and work on the ISS.

Collecting advice: how to start, what to buy, and how to display it

Peter Wolchak

Most fans have at least a few Star Trek collectibles — and some have a lot. Let’s talk about why we collect, what we should buy, and how to show off this stuff so you’ll enjoy it even more. Come for a great talk about the collectibles you own and the ones you want to own. And I’ll be handing out some great Star Trek merch, so you might snag a nice item.

History of Cosplay

Andrew Liptak

An overview of the history of fan costuming and cosplay, with particular focus on how Star Trek and Star Trek fandom helped build the modern cosplay scene.

Did Star Trek get the science right?

Dr. Ronald Held

We will be discussing different examples for actual science in our universe as seen in various Trek series.

Beyond Antares: Star Trek’s Musical Legacy

A free-wheeling discussion of Star Trek’s storied, diverse musical universe, and the impact of the scores on Star Trek’s storytelling. The conversation will encompass the various composers who have contributed their talents, the many themes and motifs associated with the shows and films, how the sound of the franchise has evolved over the last 59 years, and much more. The presentation will include live musical demonstrations.