GMX Day 2

Jazzed from the night before, I was all gung ho to have an awesome time at GMX on the second day. While things weren't bad, they weren't all that stellar either. The highlight of the day had to be Q&A with Chris Judge (Teal'c from Stargate) and getting to watch the short film Nickel Children.


Chris Judge is probably one of the funniest men that I have ever listened to speak. He is quite the character (no pun intended). He made a lot of jokes, told us about all the gags he pulled on the set, writing for his character and pretty much kept the entire crowd entertained for the entire hour. He even talked about what is like to be one of the few blacks in the Science Fiction genre. Unfortunately, all the pictures I tried to take of him were pretty blurry. I'm sure there was some type of photo op with him, but I didn't take advantage of it.


Nickel Children is definitely an interesting film concept. I keep forgetting that science fiction doesn't always have to be set in the future. This film is a steam punk, alternate history, sci fi film. From the beginning, it was interesting. There is a scene where no one says a word, but they really don't need to. As a viewer, you clearly understand what is happening. No one needs to talk. The director and producer said they either want to do it as a feature film or as a web series. Personally, I think I would like it better as a web series. To me, it feels like something that should be watched in pieces instead of in one 2 hour dose.


There was a panel on costume making which was pretty informative. It was called 'Costumes on a Dime'. The person who gave that talk was very...maybe colorful is the best word for it. She gave some really good information on how to pull together a good looking costume without breaking the bank. And she also gave some tips on how to make a good costume. It seems like the bottom line is to be creative and look in expected places for material.


Some of the panels I went to seemed to be a little on the weak side. Either people didn't prep well or they were new to giving panels or something. They just seemed to feel like they lacked something the good panels had. The worst one had to be the Comic Creation panel. I think everything was stacked against this one. Most of the seats were empty. It was out in the atrium, which was open to everything and pretty loud. It was later in the afternoon, so people might have been tired. And the panel was set up as a Q&A, but what they didn't factor in was "What will happen if no one asks any questions?". Watching those three men sit up there and GMX guy with the mic ask if anyone had questions to a dead audience was simply painful. Probably the most awkward hour ever. I asked two questions just so the people on the panel would have something to talk about. There was a lot of time used up by two men bantering between themselves while the third guy just looked as bored as hell. Oh that panel could not have ended fast enough.


I didn't get to see what happened later on that night, because a friend of mine was having her birthday party and I hadn't seen her in a while. But from the looks of it, they had a lot of good things planned. Maybe next year.

GMX: Day 1

Well let's start off with the fact that my mind has been totally blown by this con and I have a feeling that I might be coming back to this one even after I graduate and leave Nashville. So, Geek Media Expo was something that I just happened to find out about due to Jeph Jacques (creator and artist of Questionable Content) mentioning that he was going to be there. The fan girl in me shrieked with sheer delight and I was determined to get a picture and not trip over my own tongue when I met him.


Last night was the kick off and of course the first thing that catches my eye are the costumes. They were a hodge podge of everything, steam punk, anime, nerd chic, sci fi stuff, movies, Halloween stuff, just a glorious parade of interesting. (I am hoping to get a few pics of the Zombie Walk today.) First panel I went to was all about Magic:The Gathering. I was the only one in the room that hadn't played before. Everyone else seemed to be pro. But I finally know now how this whole game works now. I was totally mystified by it back in middle school. No one would explain to me what was going on. I find it weird how almost 15 years later, I am now in possession of two new decks of my own. (Green and white if anyone cares to know.)


Next panel was all about Steampunk and making costumes. It was kind of a loose panel, but still informative. I knew that steampunk was more that putting metallic looking things on yourself and slapping goggles on your head, but these guys took it to another level. Like I had no idea that there was an American style and a European style of steampunk. And I saw some great costumes. If I go next year, I am going to have to have myself a costume.


The last panel I was in was way over my head and I decided that I was going to head home and get some sleep. It was a discussion about the expanded universe of Star Wars. I read a few of the books they were talking about as a teen, but no where near as many as these guys had. I remember getting laughed at for reading those Star Wars books in high school and now fast foward 10+ years and I'm in a room full of people who read the books, watched the movies, and played the video games.


All in all, I am loving GMX. There was early morning cartoons today, but I decided to spend those three hours getting more sleep. Oh yeah, meeting Jeph Jacques. Can't believe I almost forgot to write about that.


So I have no idea why, but out of my element, I all of the sudden become extremely shy. (I know, unbelievable, right?) So I am basically having an inner debate on whether to go up to Jacques' table and say anything or not. So I decide, yes, go up there tonight because I might lose my nerve later. I'm standing in line and of course the guy in front of me, word for word, tells Jacques exactly what I want to say. "I love your work, I read it all the time, blah blah blah, I'm  huge fan". Great, now what am I supposed to tell him?


To make a long story short, I told him I was a fan, listened to his Ustream, thanked him for introducing me to new forms of music, blah blah blah and then asked him for a picture. He seemed to relaxed and even keeled. I mean why wouldn't he be, GMX is nothing compared to SDCC or NEWW. But him being relaxed made me calm down and I was overjoyed when he said he would take a picture with me. Definitely was the highlight of the night.