NYCC and C2E2 friend of show ItsJustSomeRandomGuy this week put up his 100th video. That's right. 100. 100. 100. Think about that. That's a lot. That's a crazy lot. How's RandomGuy celebrate? With song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyPh8aIdR-4
BRAVO!
I'm copying this directly from Colin Riley's article on Examiner.com...
The Vilcek foundation with help from ABC has brought the secrets of the island from LOST to our island. If you dare to take an excursion out to 167 East 73rd Street ( between 3rd and Lex) and you will find a modest art house with a mind blowing collection of LOST Artifacts direct from the hit TV show.
Parked just inside the front door the 1970’s Dharma VW van looms along side the ominous door to "the Hatch" from season 2, around the corner you can see Ben's secret stone door where he called the black smoke monster, and get up close and personal with the full scale "Jughead" H-Bomb complete with the specially rigged core that set the final season in motion.
There is a wonderful collection of rare small items like Faraday's physics notebook from the episode "The Constant" along side Locke's Suicide note that was addressed to Jack Shephard, and a pantry sized collection of Dharma food and Beer!
It is a really unique experience that will satisfy even the most hardcore fan, until they get to see that extra twenty minutes on the DVD release. All presented entirely free.
Don't leave the island, with out seeing this exhibit! Be warned all the artifacts like the Wheel under the Orchid station to John Locke's hunting knife will disappear into the either, or possibly eBay, forever on June 5th.
http://www.examiner.com/x-25553-NY-Pop-Culture-Examiner~y2010m5d27-LOST-lands-on-the-Upper-East-Side
Memorial Day Weekend is just hours away, but before the fun and sun (or window shades and AC), we'd got one more Celebration update for you! We're honored and excited to announce the next round of guests at Star Wars Celebration V, all appearing in the Official Pix Autograph Hall, meeting, greeting, and signing autographs throughout the show...
Jake Lloyd: Anakin Skywalker, The Phantom Menace
Daniel Logan: Young Boba Fett, Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars
Matt Wood: General Grievous, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith
Amy Allen: Aayla Secura, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith
Caroline Blakiston: Mon Mothma, Return of the Jedi
Julian Glover: General Veers, The Empire Strikes Back
Frank Hensen: Stormtrooper, Rebel guard, Skiff guard, Return of the Jedi
Ian Liston: Wes Janson, The Empire Strikes Back
Jack McKenzie: Cal Alder, The Empire Strikes Back
Christopher Muncke: Captain Khurgee, A New Hope
Chris Parsons: 4-LOM, K-3PO,The Empire Strikes Back
Toby Philpott: Jabba Puppeteer, Return of the Jedi
George Roubicek: Commander Praji, A New Hope
Keep your eyes right here and on starwarscelebration.com for more announcements coming soon!
In our galaxy and "far, far away," love is the strongest Force of all. It is a power that surrounds us, drives us, and binds us together. And Star Wars fans will be able to express their deep commitment to their special someone at the Star Wars Celebration Chapel this August in Orlando!
We're very pleased to reveal this new show feature at Celebration V - something we've received a lot of requests for from fans wishing to attend the show with a special someone.
At Celebration's Chapel, attendees can choose between a "light side" and "dark side" ceremony, and have their union officiated by their choice of colorful characters from the Star Wars Saga. All ceremonies are public, so invite family, friends, fellow fans… even enemies! All participants will also receive exclusive Star Wars mementos to commemorate their commitment. Swoon!
More details will be coming soon to http://www.starwarscelebration.com/en/Events/Commitment-Chapel/, including how to reserve your spot in the chapel.
And remember what Master Yoda says:
A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.
Oh, also, please note SWCV's commitment ceremonies are for enjoyment only. They do not grant any legal rights, and they are not legally valid in any state (except your state of mind).
Just a week ago, Celebration announced Gus Lopez would be returning to this summer's Celebration V with a lineup of panels, presentations, and events for the show's collectors. This week, we're proud to reveal the first four of his panels…
Animation Collecting: The Holiday Special to The Clone Wars
From the Star Wars Holiday Special, to the Droids and Ewoks Adventure Hour, to The Clone Wars television series, animation has played a large part in expanding the stories of the Star Wars universe. Join collector Shane Turgeon as he explores the animated history of Star Wars, discusses the differences in traditional and modern animation, and covers the wide variety of animation art available to both the casual and experienced animation collectors of all eras.
Food Collectibles
Food collectibles represent one of the largest, oldest, and most diverse categories of Star Wars treasure hunting. There have been over 10,000 different food-related packages, premiums, and store displays from hundreds of promotions in over one hundred countries. Food collectibles can be challenging to track down due to their short lifespan and national, or even regional, differences. Most fans are familiar with recent promotions from soft drink and fast food companies, but who knew that there were Star Wars promotions for hot dogs, peanut butter, cheese, mustard, fish flakes, and even dog food? Come see examples of obscure food collectibles from all over the world in this fascinating panel presented by Jonathan McElwain.
The Empire Strikes Back in Trading Cards
Cathy Kendrick and Andy Dukes celebrate thirty years of collecting The Empire Strikes Back on cardboard, paper, and stickers. This presentation will explore the many trading card and sticker sets created around this film from 1980 through today. Tips on collecting and enjoying these unique collectibles will also be discussed.
The End of Star Wars Collecting?
Shrunken heads, baseball cards, trolls, stamps and coins, Beanie Babies, Star Wars... There are thousands of collecting hobbies. History has shown that all hobbies follow a predictable evolutionary path ending with their disappearance. The only difference is how quickly that inevitable end arrives. What does the future hold for Star Wars collecting? Is the end near? Or will Star Wars buck the historical trend and last forever? Collectors Martin Thurn, Charlie Marcus, Elling Haug, Isaac Lew, and Mark Salotti will draw on the wisdom and experience of three generations of Star Wars collectors to offer answers these questions and more.
As a very special bonus, those who attend the Collecting Panels at Celebration V can look forward to receiving exclusive collectibles dreamed up by Lopez and his team. The Collectors’ Panel give-aways have become one of the hottest “must have” items at recent Celebrations, and this time around it will be no different.
Star Wars Collecting Panels
Room W303 ABC
Thursday through Saturday, August 12-14
1:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Sunday, August 15
11:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Two men of action from the Star Wars Saga will be signing autographs and meeting fans at Star Wars Celebration V this August! Nick Gillard and Ray Park are coming to Orlando!
Nick Gillard - Swordmaster and Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard will share his stories of creating the exciting lightsaber scenes in Episodes I, II, and III. Gillard has been the master choreographer behind some of the most memorable moments of the prequels, including the “Duel of the Fates” battle between Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace, and Anakin Skywalker’s duel against Obi-Wan Kenobi in Revenge of the Sith. Gillard created individual fighting styles for each of the Jedi in the films, even though some of these were “fictional” martial arts. He felt that each style used needed to have an authentic, real-life feel. Taking into account each character’s distinctive personality and position in the Jedi order helped Gillard fashion a fighting style best suited to each. In addition to the Star Wars prequels, Gillard’s credits as stunt coordinator include the movies Dirty Pretty Things, Reign of Fire, Shaft, Sleepy Hollow, and Wanted, among many others. At Celebration V, fans can catch an interview with Gillard, and hear behind-the-scenes stories on the work that goes into making memorable and believable fight scenes. They can also meet the stunt master in the Celebration Autograph Hall, run by Official Pix.
Ray Park - Ray Park, the actor and acclaimed martial artist who performed Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, became one of the iconic faces of the dark side for the Star Wars Saga. Park, who is a fan favorite whenever he appears, will be signing autographs, meeting fans, and is scheduled to appear on stage for an interview and question and answer session during the Celebration weekend. Park has performed in X-Men, Sleepy Hollow, and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation in addition to Episode I. Recent credits include the character Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, a THX security guard in Fanboys, and Edgar in the 2009 and 2010 seasons of television’s Heroes.
For more information on Celebration V, go to www.starwarscelebration.com. For more information about the Celebration Autograph Hall, prices, tickets, and process, please go to www.OfficialPix.com.
The first image of the Captain Action Be@rbrick's been released! To any serious toy collector, when I say Be@rbrick, you know what I'm talking about. To the more general readers, a Be@rbrick's kinda like a Lego, only it's a bear. And Be@rbricks have been designed featuring the look and feel of some of the world's biggest comics and pop culture icons -- ranging from Iron Man, to Toy Story, to Gremlins.
And, now, Captain Action joins in, with a Be@rbrick in the line's upcoming Series 20 release. Click the image to embiggen!
For more on Captain Action, click over to CaptainActionNow.com.
Confused? Click here...
http://gammasquad.uproxx.com/2010/05/living-the-dream-in-a-bouncy-castle
Just learned that Zoth Rothberg of Morrigan NYC will be unveiling a new nautical themed print, second in her 19th Century Literature series, during Lolita Fashion Day at Kinokuniya. You can learn more at her panel from 3-4 PM "Lace, Thimbles, and Pincushions" on June 5.
For more on Lolita Fashion Day, visit this post...
http://www.mediumatlarge.net/2010/05/lace-frills-cookies-kinokuniya.html
Japan has a single word for "clean" and "beauty," kirei, a linguistic phenomenon that has certainly contributed to the evolution of the Japanese bathroom. Objects of fascination and admiration worldwide, Japan's toilets are considered among the most environmentally friendly in the world, with cutting-edge technology and fixtures rendered into works of art. Features can include self-cleaning capabilities, low-flush and noise-masking devices, as well as toilets with self-opening lids and ones that remember a user’s personal preference for seating position, temperature and water pressure.
NYC's Japan Society will present "Green & Clean: Bath Culture of Japan", looking at this unique world. The talk features Rose George, author of The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters, and Gunnar Baldwin, water efficiency specialist for TOTO USA. Moderated by Scott Clark, Professor, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the discussion takes place Wednesday, May 26 at 6:30 pm at Japan Society and is followed by a Q&A, reception and book signing.
For more, visit japansociety.org.
Our friends at Reading With Pictures are a new organization built around getting comics into schools and getting schools into comics. They played an instrumental part in C2E2 earlier this year, and their big project since has been their first anthology book. And today's the day. The last day to pre-order the limited edition hardcover that will not be available in stores. The last chance to provide Reading With Pictures with seed money at their critical start-up phase.
If you're interested in supporting Reading With Pictures, you can for as little as $5...
Pledge $5 and get the digital edition of the inaugural Reading With Pictures anthology: 192 pages of full-color awesomeness appropriate for ages 7 and up. With a painted cover by Jill Thompson, it features stories by more than 50 brilliant cartoonists including Jim Gownley, Fred Van Lente, Ryan Dunlavey, Raina Telgemeier, Jeffrey Brown, Chris Giarrusso, Bill Barnes, Gene Ambaum and many more.
Pledge $15 and get a signed copy of the RWP anthology in softcover.
Pledge $20 and get a signed copy of the RWP anthology in hardcover.
Pledge $50 and get a RWP logo T-Shirt plus a signed copy of the RWP anthology in hardcover.
Pledge $75 and get a limited edition signed print by anthology cover artist Jill Thompson plus a RWP logo T-Shirt and a signed copy of the RWP anthology in hardcover.
Pledge $150 and get the your name (or that of your business/organization) and face (or logo) drawn into the book's Honor Roll section plus the limited edition Jill Thompson print, the T-Shirt, and the signed hardcover.
For more information and to pledge, visit www.readingwithpictures.org. Again, you have until day's end. Come Sunday, RWP's fundraiser will be over.
By way of io9.com...
http://io9.com/5545030/the-best-lost-memes-videos-t+shirts-fan-art-and-more
A little light reading from our friends at the ECA... The ECA will be submitting a friend of the court document (amicus brief), in response to the Supreme Court’s recent decision to review Schwarzenegger v. EMA, California’s infamous violent video game case, this fall. That means that this year, or early next, the court is going to listen to oral arguments on whether to agree with those other lower court finding, or not. Agreeing would mean that they believe that video games are, and should continue to be, First Amendment protected speech, just like movies and music. The court disagreeing would mean that they believe that games should be treated differently – more like alcohol, tobacco or firearms.
The ECA has created a petition that any American who cares about gamers and gaming can sign. If you'd like to help communicate to the court that games are protected free speech and should continue to be treated like other entertainment media, sign it at www.gamerpetition.org.
The week's winding down, but we don't take Fridays lightly. No. Especially this Friday. This Friday is special. This Friday is very special.
We are very, very proud to announce Star Wars creator George Lucas will make a special guest appearance at Star Wars Celebration V this August in Orlando! This will be Lucas's second Celebration appearance, and only his third Star Wars convention appearance, the last of which was Celebration III in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2005.
Lucas will appear onstage during the four-day run of the show, with the specific information about dates, times, and where and when to start the line coming later this summer. (You can ask, but we can't tell you yet.) Celebration V takes place August 12-15, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center.
Visit www.starwarscelebration.com for tickets and additional guest information! May The Force Be With You!
Gus Lopez's Star Wars Collectors Panels are returning to Celebration, with new and interesting talks and events for Star Wars collectors of all levels! Gus Lopez, who organized the Collectors Panels for the past four Celebrations, is assembling a new lineup of topics that will be announced over the coming weeks for Celebration V.
Each day at SWCV, a dedicated Collectors Room will feature subjects to entertain and inform all collectors, from beginners to the most experienced. As a very special bonus, those who attend the panels can look forward to receiving exclusive collectibles dreamed up by Lopez and his team. (At Celebration Europe, unique Star Wars medallions, created by Lopez, were given away, and they were one of the most sought-after items of the show.)
On Saturday, NYC's Paley Center is throwing one last LOST bash. The NYCC Team will be there with some trivia and some prizes, but we're really just the opening act. The main course? A panel featuring some of NYC's most prominent bloggers and LOST fans. Here's the line-up...
Alan Sepinwall, Hitfix
James Poniewozik, TIME
Dan Manu, Television Without Pity
Christopher Rosen, 42 Inch Television
Ryan Penagos, Marvel.com
Emily Nussbaum, New York Magazine
It's moderated by Ryan McGee of Zap2It.
For more details, visit paleycenter.org. For hints to NYCC's trivia contest, follow @petertatara.
NYC's Dwyer Cultural Center will be hosting "PJ Mini Pop", an afternoon-long Japanese event on Sunday. Running from noon to 6 PM, it'll include a karaoke contest, robots, anime screenings, food and drink, and a performance by singer Reni-chan. The Dwyer Cultural Center is at 258 St. Nicholas Avenue. Admission is $15, and you can learn more by calling 212-222-8901 or emailing rsvp@dwyercc.org.
Highlights:
Clyde Adams gives a crash course of the impact of anime culture on American culture, including interesting topics and some special anime video clips. 12:45-2:00 PM
Karaoke Contest & Concert! Bring your CDs or MP3s if you want to sing karaoke! 2:30-5:30 PM
Robotic Room:
Robot Demonstration / Practice! 1:00-2:00 PM
Robot Battle! 2:15-4:00 PM
Vendors Include:
Anime Castle, Toy Tokyo, IACE Travel, JNTO, and Gundam Planet
The upcoming movie Splice stars Adrien Brody (Clive) and Sarah Polley (Elsa) as young and rebellious genetic engineers who splice together DNA from different animals to develop hybrid creatures. When they lose their funding, they begin to secretly conduct their own experiments to create "Dren," a beautiful and uncommonly intelligent creature. While she first exceeds her creators' wildest dreams, as she grows and learns at an uncontrollable rate, she may prove to be their worst nightmare.
Splice hits the big screen on June 4th, but we're giving away ten pairs of advance screening tickets along with awesome prize packs for a special June 2 preview in Manhattan!
How do you enter to win? Just follow @ny_comic_con on Twitter and use the hash tag #spliceme in any of your tweets. The contest ends May 25th, and we'll be direct messaging ten random winners between May 27th and May 28th with details about how to claim their prize.
Good luck!
Dear Japanator, I heart you. I remember long ago when Destructoid first launched and when she, reaching womanhood, gave birth to a big-eyed, squeaky-voiced anime news/reviews/rumors blog. You! And, now, look at you, all grown up and applying for jobs. We're honored that you want to be part of NYAF's Maid Cafe. We're kinda scared, too. We're actually really scared we got close to a hundred girls and guys applying to pretend to be Japanese maids and butlers for the weekend.
And because competition is so tough, Brad and Jake, before we accept you to be one of our most honored maids, how's your caramel dance?
PS: The gauntlet's been thrown. Sevakis, where's your Maid Cafe submission?
Want tickets to NYAF? Want fifty free manga? Want your work on display at Kinokuniya Bookstore in NYC? Then you'll want to enter the New York Anime Festival's mascot contest. Get all the details now at nyanimefestival.com! Hurry, though, as entries need to be in by May 20th!
Hello blogosphere, how are you? You’ve all been very curious about what the VIP tickets for NYCC/NYAF will be this year and when they will go on sale. You’ve been emailing me, posting here on the blog and yes I’ve caught a few people digging through my trash and looking for clues (that might have just been the garbage man doing the weekly trash pick up now that I think about it).
So here’s a little update, we’ll but announcing all of the details for the VIP packages on Thursday, July 8th and then putting them on sale on the following Thursday the 15th. Why July? We have been re-working some things based on feedback form last year and waiting on a few other pieces to fall into place. We’d like to offer the best ticket packages we can, not the fastest ticket packages. Plus it’ll still be 3 months before the show so you’ll have plenty of time to work yourselves into a rich, foamy lather.
Don’t forget, you’ll be able to upgrade your regular tickets if you have already bought passes, so don’t stress yourself out trying to decide when to buy. If you want to grab your tickets now, do it. Come July 15th we’ll have an easy upgrade option for you.
Also, because I’m a big smelly jerk, I want to tell you that we got two pretty awesome guest confirmations this past week. You’ll have to wait a bit to find out though. We’ll be announcing guests throughout the summer and getting serious in August.
Make sure you are on the newsletter list so you get the announcements and details on the VIP packages, guests and what I’m planning to eat. And of course, keep your eyes right here on the blog, I usually leak our announcements here first.
That’s the scoop form NYCC/NYAF global headquarters. More soon.
-Lance
LOST all comes to an end this Sunday. All the mysteries... All the characters... Everything ends on Sunday on ABC, but before it goes the way of Battlestar, Buffy, and The X-Files, see how it all began again on Saturday at The Paley Center in NYC. Featuring trivia contests, discussions, prizes, and a special screening of LOST's premiere with pop up facts from the show's producers, it'll bring the series full circle for New York's LOSTies. The Paley Center's LOST Party is free for Paley Center members and $10 for the general public. For tickets and information, visit paleycenter.org.
NYCC's Kim, Lauren, and Peter will all be at the event, too, so say "hi", but don't talk to Kim about Season 6 yet -- as she's still catching up.
News from the world of ruffles and pink by way of our friends at Kinokuniya... For its third straight year, Kinokuniya Bookstore is proud to offer activities for NYC's Lolita fashion community in honor of International Lolita Day, a day created to spread information and outreach about the diverse world of cute, cool, elegant, and hip Lolita fashion in modern Japan. Taking place on Saturday, June 5 at Kinokuniya Bookstore, located at 1073 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan, the store will present an afternoon series of workshops, presentations, and giveaways
Kinokuniya's Lolita Day events -- created by members of the NYC Lolita community -- are aimed at discussing with general New Yorkers and fashion lovers alike how Lolita style has influenced designers, bloggers, fans, and both runway and mainstream fashion. The day will include a selection of special activities aimed at everyone from dedicated Lolita fashionistas, to casual fans, to New Yorkers up for a unique experience.
For newcomers to the Lolita fashion scene, Japanese Lolita fashion embraces child-like charms and details from periods such as Rococo France and Victorian England. The Lolita look is full of knee-skimming skirts, pintucks, petticoats, and blouses edged in lace. Developing since the 1970s in Japan, Lolita fashion is now rapidly gaining a large following worldwide.
Kinokuniya Lolita Fashion Day All-Day Events
Café Zaiya Sweet Treats: Any customer who comes into Kinokuniya's Café Zaiya will receive free sweets in honor of International Lolita Day with their purchase.
Black X Pink Giveaway: Any customer who comes into Kinokuniya Bookstore at 1073 Avenue of the Americas on Saturday, June 5 can enter to win a $50 gift certificate to the Tokyo Rebel boutique located in the East Village, as well as one of two Lolita First Aid Kits, bags containing essentials that every Lolita should have. Contents inside the Lolita First Aid Kits will include items from Lolita brands I Do Declare and Morrigan NYC as well as Anna Sui, Magnolia Bakery, and Rose House. The giveaway is located beside Kinokuniya's cashier, and winners will be drawn at 5 PM, following the final Lolita Day presentation.
Kinokuniya Lolita Fashion Day Schedule of Events
Lolitas in the Wired: Ever wanted to start a blog on Lolita or Japanese fashion? Not sure where to start? Prominent bloggers Dalin Rowell of La Vida Frills, Victoria Tignor of Lolita Charm, and Crystal Marlarsky of Pretty Wonderland discuss why they blog and how Lolita fashion has influenced them. 2-3 PM.
Lace, Thimbles, and Pincushions: Join Kelsey Hine of I Do Declare and Zoh Rothberg of Morrigan NYC as they talk about sewing your own Lolita closet and the steps it takes to develop your own fashion brand. Learn about the skills you need to sew, sell, and run your own business. 3-4 PM.
Spoonful of Sugar: Long-time Lolita Bibi presents a discussion on Lolita history and aesthetics, along with mini-tutorials on adding Lolita touches to daily life. With a taste for all things old and fussy, she has been in love with Lolita fashion for over 10 years. To Bibi, being a Lolita is an exercise in aesthetic living and a fulfillment of a mid-youth crisis. 4-5 PM.
Kinokuniya Bookstore invites Lolitas and New Yorkers up for an unforgettable experience to come out to Kinokuniya's Lolita Fashion Day on Saturday, June 5!
Evangelion 1.11. Cosplay DJ Ruby Red. A costume competition with prizes from Kinokuniya Bookstore. Uncle Yo. The World Cosplay Summit’s 2009 Team USA. Mangaka Hiroki Otsuka. All this and more at NYC's Japan Society today!
For more, visit www.JapanSociety.org!
Today's the day! Today's the day Early Bird pricing ends. Tickets sold through today are all at a discounted rate: Weekend Passes are just $45, Friday passes are $25, Saturday passes are $30, and Sunday passes are $25. Tomorrow, tickets will be sold at their standard online price: Weekend Pass - $50, Friday Pass - $30, Saturday Pass - $40, Sunday Pass - $30.
Order your tickets now to avoid the lines on-site and save some dough. Or wait. Your choice. It’s completely up to you, but – if I was you – I’d log into nycomiccon.com or nyanimefestival.com now. (And remember, you need a badge to either NYAF or NYCC. Not both. One badge will get you into both events.)
One of the great "mythology" shows of all time -- and by that we mean right up there with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The X-Files -- ABC's Lost is coming to an end after six glorious seasons on Sunday, May 23, 2010. Can’t take it? Come to the Paley Center on Saturday, May 22 to ease your pain amongst friends.
NYCC and the Paley Center will jointly present a fun-filled celebration of the series with a slew of events: a DHARMA aptitude test (aka trivia contest), games, prizes, giveaways, a panel discussion, and a special screening of the premiere of Lost: The Enhanced Pilot, directed by J.J. Abrams, featuring pop-up trivia facts from the executive producers.
Don't tough it out alone, come and get Lost at the Paley Center. Paley’s Lost Party is free for Paley Center members and $10 for the general public. For tickets and information, visit www.paleycenter.org.
On Saturday, May 15, NYC's Japan Society is hosting a one-day anime convention -- including New York City's first-ever big screen presentation of the anime film Evangelion 1.11, nonstop musical entertainment by cosplay DJ Ruby Red, a photo booth, free admission to Japan Society's current exhibition "Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters", and a full-blown costume competition with prizes from Kinokuniya Bookstore, hosted by Uncle Yo, and judged by the World Cosplay Summit’s 2009 Team USA.
In addition, Japan Society's mangaka (comic book illustrator) artist-in-residence, Hiroki Otsuka serves as a guest judge for the costume competition. In the early part of the day, participants can meet and observe Otsuka as he creates an original comic book based on Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters.
Tickets are $20 in advance ($15 for members).
For more information, including the Cosplay Party’s schedule of events and costume contest entry information, visit www.JapanSociety.org!
Are you going to the New York Anime Festival and New York Comic Con this year? Did you buy your tickets? Or are you still putzing around? We recommend you not wait much longer, as the current Early Bird prices expire after May 15th.
Ticket sold through May 15th are all at a discounted rate: Weekend Passes are just $45, Friday passes are $25, Saturday passes are $30, and Sunday passes are $25. After May 15th, tickets will be sold at their standard online price: Weekend Pass - $50, Friday Pass - $30, Saturday Pass - $40, Sunday Pass - $30.
You've been warned.
Have you heard the news? First appearing over at StarWars.com, we've got a selection of new guests who'll be at Celebration V -- all signing at the Official Pix Autograph Hall. Who's newly announced?
Peter Mayhew: Chewbacca, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Revenge of the Sith.
Paul Blake: Greedo, A New Hope.
Richard Bonehill: Snowtrooper, Stormtrooper, Ree Yees, Rebel Soldier, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
John Coppinger: Senator Yarua, Jabba the Hutt's eyes, Graxol Kelvyyn, Return of the Jedi and The Phantom Menace.
Dermot Crowley: General Crix Madine, Return of the Jedi.
Mike Quinn: Nien Nunb, Return of the Jedi.
Tim Rose: Admiral Ackbar, Return of the Jedi.
Orli Shoshan: Shaak Ti, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.
Hasbro is giving away 2 Star Wars Celebration V VIP tickets so get to the nearest toy store ASAP and look for the specially marked Hasrbo Star Wars toys for you chance to win. Click here for all the details from Hasbro.
Mostly though, I just think it is really cool that a show I am working on has such a cool promotion with Hasbro. Come on, how sweet is it to see the CV logo on all those toys?
-Lance
Are you going to the New York Anime Festival and New York Comic Con this year? Did you buy your tickets? Or are you still putzing around? We recommend you not wait much longer, as the current Early Bird prices expire after May 15th.
Order your tickets now to avoid the lines on-site and save some dough. Or wait. Your choice. It’s completely up to you, but – if I was you – I’d log into nycomiccon.com or nyanimefestival.com now. (And remember, you need a badge to either NYAF or NYCC. Not both. One badge will get you into both events.)
Craving something cool to do in Chicago this weekend? Might we suggest Anime Central? Taking place Friday through Monday in Rosemont is the 13th Annual Anime Central convention. ACEN’s a celebration of the best of Japanese Pop Culture, and its guests include Shinichi "Nabeshin" Watanabe, Yumiko Kobayashi, Kouki Uchiyama, Kaori Nazuka, Narumi Takahira, and Aural Vampire. Plus, we know a lot of the ACEN team, and they’re good people. No, they’re awesome people.
So, if you’re looking for something cool (and a little bit crazy) to do this weekend, check out Anime Central! For more information, visit www.acen.org.
The awesome folks at JibJab.com unveiled an amazing new piece of technology this week -- a simple tool that allows you to insert your face into the Star Wars trilogy. Visit StarWars.com/StarringYou to feel the Force as has never been possible before, by becoming one with the classic films.
Just upload an image and watch the intertubes go to work, casting you in a starring role. Of course, it's Caturday. So, rather than plopping your image into Empire Strikes Back, go find Chairman Meow and make him the star.
Like anime? In NYC on May 15? Make the short trek to Japan Society at 333 East 47th Street!
On Saturday, May 15, NYC's Japan Society is hosting a one-day anime convention -- including New York City's first-ever big screen presentation of the anime film Evangelion 1.11, nonstop musical entertainment by cosplay DJ Ruby Red, a photo booth, free admission to Japan Society's current exhibition "Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters", and a full-blown costume competition with prizes from Kinokuniya Bookstore, hosted by Uncle Yo, and judged by the World Cosplay Summit’s 2009 Team USA.
In addition, Japan Society's mangaka (comic book illustrator) artist-in-residence, Hiroki Otsuka serves as a guest judge for the costume competition. In the early part of the day, participants can meet and observe Otsuka as he creates an original comic book based on Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters.
Tickets are $20 in advance ($15 for members).
For more information, including the Cosplay Party’s schedule of events and costume contest entry information, visit www.JapanSociety.org!
Our friends at Aniplex today announced a special Gurren Lagann cosplay contest with American Cosplay Paradise and Anime Expo. Up for grabs are tickets to AX, seating for their screening of Gurren Lagann: The Movie - Childhood's End, and a meeting with Mr. Katsuyuki Konishi, the voice of Gurren Lagann's Kamina.
For all the details, visit www.acparadise.com.
Aniplex will release the first Gurren Lagann film on on July 1. It's available exclusively through Bandai Entertainment’s Online Store - store.bandai-ent.com.
Let's wrap this week up right with two new Celebration guests. Jedi and Sith, give a warm welcome to Celebration's latest celebrities, Jeremy Bulloch and Dickey Beer!
Bulloch is the actor behind Boba Fett, and he'll be signing in the Autograph Hall as well as appear on stage for various events, and while he might be known best for his role as the galaxy's most infamous bounty hunter, Bulloch has also had some face time of his own in the movies, portraying Captain Colton in Revenge of the Sith and Lieutenant Sheckil in The Empire Strikes Back. Outside of a galaxy far, far away, Bulloch's television and movie credits include roles in Doctor Who, Robin of Sherwood, and three James Bond movies.
Stunt performer and coordinator Dickey Beer played a number of roles in Return of the Jedi and has a wealth of behind the scenes stories, such as Jedi's Sarlacc Pit scene, where he performed stunts for both the Boba Fett and Luke Skywalker characters, essentially fighting himself. Beer remains busy in the world of stunts, stunt coordination, and production, recently working on Terminator 3, Hancock, and Pineapple Express.
Dickey Beer will make his first-time Celebration appearance at CV and will be available in the Autograph Hall run by Official Pix, Lucasfilm's licensee for official photographs and signatures.
For more, visit starwarscelebration.com!
Look at these 3 handsome devils, wanna be as good looking as them? Plastic surgery? Face Transplant? No, instead be one of the first 10 people to leave a comment on the blog and I'll send you a limited edition, super cool, mega swanky, smart looking C2E2 CV t-shirt.
Why are we doing this? Because we are a magnanimous, fan loving organization, that's why! And we had a few extras.
-Lance
Are you going to the New York Anime Festival and New York Comic Con this year? Did you buy your tickets? Or are you still putzing around? We recommend you not wait much longer, as the current Early Bird prices expire after May 15th.
Ticket sold through May 15th are all at a discounted rate: Weekend Passes are just $45, Friday passes are $25, Saturday passes are $30, and Sunday passes are $25. After May 15th, tickets will be sold at their standard online price: Weekend Pass - $50, Friday Pass - $30, Saturday Pass - $40, Sunday Pass - $30.
Order your tickets now to avoid the lines on-site and save some dough. Or wait. Your choice. It’s completely up to you, but – if I was you – I’d log into nycomiccon.com or nyanimefestival.com now. (And remember, you need a badge to either NYAF or NYCC. Not both. One badge will get you into both events.)
Cool news today. Huge news today. Amazing news today. Disney and Star Wars Celebration are presenting the Last Tour to Endor -- the final running of Disney's Star Tours!
After more than two decades of operation, Disney's Star Tours attraction is powering down to make way for its reimagining in 2011. But before the current Star Tours goes away, fans will have the opportunity to attend its decommissioning ceremony.
Taking place on August 14 from 8 PM to 1 AM at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, LA, the Last Tour to Endor is a special event on the Saturday night of Star Wars Celebration V. Fans and families attending the Last Tour to Endor at the Walt Disney World Resort will enjoy a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience – including specially-themed intergalactic party zones, Star Wars shows, a Death Star Disco and much more. The evening will culminate with Symphony in the Stars –- a Star Wars fireworks spectacular as only Disney Parks can create. Though the party begins at 8:00 PM, Last Tour ticket-holders will also be allowed early entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 4:00 PM – where they can be sure to secure a seat one of the StarSpeeder 3000’s final voyages.
Disney Parks will also have a prominent presence on the Celebration V show floor at the Orange County Convention Center –- including Jedi Training Academy for younglings and Padawans and a Disney merchandise booth featuring a host of exclusive items as well as Star Wars items only previously available at Disney park stores. CV attendees will also enjoy special room rates at Walt Disney World Resort Hotels, specially-priced tickets with pre-arrival purchase savings for Walt Disney World parks and an exclusive, reserved room block at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort –- which will include complimentary round-trip transfers to and from the convention center.
To purchase tickets –- and to take advantage of Last Tour to Endor special offers –- visit www.starwarscelebration.com/Disney.
Chuck Palahniuk is making his only NYC appearance for his new book, Tell-All, tonight. Kicking off at 6 PM, it takes place at The Great Hall at Cooper Union (7 East 7th Street) and is sponsored by The Strand. For tickets and more information, hit up strandbooks.com.
ANN's got a nice story on Samurai Beam, the product of NYC's Japan Society's first manga-ka artist-in-residence.
Artist Hiroki Otsuka's been working on a new title -- Samurai Beam -- just for Japan Society, and the first 14 pages are available to view online. Each week during Otsuka's residency, new pages of Samurai Beam will be made available.
(Japan Society's also throwing their second Cosplay Party on May 15th.)
NYAF Guest and Friend of Show Tom Wayland will be at the P&G Bar on the Upper West Side on Friday, making some music with friends, starting at 6 PM. P&G Bar is at 380 Columbus Avenue.
For more, visit www.pandgbar.com.
The ReedPOP team is looking for a smart, driven, funny, experienced sales professional to help us continue our meteoric growth in the pop culture space. Here’s the deal though, this is a serious, adult gig that will require massive amounts of hard work and sales skill. We love all of you, but if you are not an experienced customer focused sales pro, then this might not be the best job for you. So please read carefully and if you are still interested and know you are qualified, the contact info is at the bottom of this post.
The ReedPOP group contains some of the coolest events happening in the pop culture world including shows like Penny Arcade Expo, Star Wars Celebration, New York Comic Con and the UFC Fan Expo. We have demanding customers that we love and strive to provide the utmost in service and an experience at all times. We are looking for a sales executive to work on the front lines of providing value, service, attention and care to all of our existing customers while working hard to find new customers to be a part of our events.
In its simplest form these are a handful of the core traits we look for in someone who joins our funky little team:
• The are overachievers
• They are crazy hard workers
• They are creative and collaborative
• They are willing to pitch in on whatever is needed (flexible and not hung up on job descriptions)
• They are focused on our fans and our customers with no exceptions
• They have a good sense of humor
• They are someone who loves the pop culture space but also knows this is a job, not a vacation
• They are a good listener
• The have the ability to communicate and work well in a team environment as well as on an individual basis.
• They want to work really hard, have a lot of fun and create amazing experiences for our fans and customers. No excuses.
Digging a little deeper, there are specific technical requirements we ask for. If you don't have these, this is probably not the best role for you. So, we are super fortunate to have many candidates applying for positions with ReedPOP but unfortunately, we will only reach out to those candidates that possess the skills that we are looking for in this role. Take a look at the minimum requirements and job description below.
The Sales Executive will focus on
• Spending large amounts of time on the telephone speaking to customer and prospecting new customers
• Making numerous customer service calls throughout the show cycle to our exhibitors helping them prepare for the event
• Providing programming and guest ideas from exhibitors they are working with
• Achieving sales standards and adhere to all selling process practices (including inputting accurate and complete data into our CRM system).
• Providing Sales Manager or Sales Director with forecasts against the sales strategy and budget. • Maintaining and developing Exhibitor Prospect Lists and generating targeted lists that increase the probability of sales.
• Utilizing the CRM system efficiently and effectively (e.g. enter more information in fields and less in notes).
• Ensuring signed contracts and payments in full for all space reservations are sent on time. • Selling additional services to Exhibitors and following through on all requirements for these sales. • Preparing reports as required on an accurate and timely basis.
• Performing additional duties as required to ensure a successful show.
Job Requirements: College degree preferred; Two or more years of solid sales experience, particularly phone sales, required and comic experience/passion preferred. Effective oral and written communication skills. Must be organized and self-motivated. Strong computer skills and familiarity with CRM systems needed.
We offer competitive compensation, a convenient location in Norwalk, CT and excellent benefits, which includes tuition reimbursement and 401(k) plan. Please send resume with salary history and requirement in confidence to Reed Exhibition Companies, 383 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851 hr@reedexpo.com (Microsoft Word)
Patton Oswalt is on Twitter. That is all.
https://twitter.com/pattonoswalt
Want to volunteer at Star Wars Celebration? Want to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a galaxy far, far away? You've got until 11:59 PM EST on Monday to sign up. Click over to either of these links to apply to be part of Celebration's Clone Army...
http://www.starwarscelebration.com/en/Overview/Volunteers/
http://www.starwarscelebration.com/en/Overview/Costumed-Volunteers/
David Collins and Pablo Hidalgo, both of Lucasfilm, have been announced as hosts of Celebration's Digital and Behind-the-Scenes. An Audio Lead and Voice Director at LucasArts, Collins has led the sound efforts on projects such as Battlefront II, Star Wars: Republic Commando, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, in which he also performed the role of the loyal droid, PROXY. Hidalgo is managing editor for StarWars.com, overseeing daily publication of content as well as developing special online spin-off projects for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Hidalgo is a walking encyclopedia of Star Wars knowledge, and some of his guests on the Behind-the-Scenes Stage just might learn something new about their own area of expertise.
Both gents have unique perspectives on the Star Wars universe, and fans can look forward to their insights as they bring out the best in their guests and find the untold stories waiting to be told.
For more, visit starwars.com.
NYC's Dwyer Cultural Center will be hosting "PJ Mini Pop", an afternoon-long Japanese event on May 23. Running from noon to 6 PM, it'll include a karaoke contest, robots, anime screenings, food and drink, and a performance by singer Reni-chan. The Dwyer Cultural Center is at 258 St. Nicholas Avenue. Admission is $15, and you can learn more by calling 212-222-8901 or emailing rsvp@dwyercc.org.
Star Wars Celebration is pleased to announce the international R2-D2 Builders organization will be coming to Celebration V this August in Orlando! The R2-D2 Builders started as an Internet network for sharing building tips and information for building movie-real droids from the Star Wars galaxy. With members from Australia to Germany, the builders have grown to hundreds of craftsman since Dave Everett of Sydney, Australia founded the group in 1999.
The droid designers will exhibit their creations in their own dedicated room at CV and will be on hand to talk about their work and share their building tips with fans and potential builders.
The R2-D2 builders have attended previous Celebrations, and while it’s hard to imagine the Builders topping their past exhibits, initial plans reveal that they'll outdo themselves once again. All we can say now is The Empire Strikes Back.
For more details on the R2-D2 Builders at Celebration, visit www.starwarscelebration.com!
Check it out, they are looking for extras to be in a "comic con" style event scene on the Jonathon Ames show Bored to Death. Read on, you could be on TV and pretending to be at a con no less!!!
- Lance
Comer & Gallucio Casting is seeking comic book collectors and enthusiasts for an upcoming episode of the TV show "Bored to Death". This is for background work at a comic book convention scene.
This is a paid position - rate TBD
***
-SEEKING: Males & females, ages 18+, and must be legal to work in the US.
-SHOOT DATES/LOCATION: End of May (no specific dates yet but will probably be within the last week). Shooting in NYC.
-CONTACT: Please email the following info to BOREDTODEATH2010@GMAIL.COM: Full name, phone number, and 2 current & clear snapshot photos (no professional shots). One should be of your face and the other should show your body. If you have costumes that you wear to conventions, please include photo of yourself in this costume, as you might be used with it on the show.
Fanboys and fangirls, it's Free Comic Book Day! Every year, on the first Saturday in May, comic book shops around the country give away free comics to encourage new readers. Interested? For the full details, check out freecomicbookday.com, but for a quick hitlist of NYC area stores participating...
Connecticut:
Heroes Comics and Cards and Legends of Superheros
New Jersey:
New Moon Comics, The Joker's Child, Zapp! Comics, FJB Comics & Games and Fat Moose Comics
New York:
Amazing Comics, Chameleon Comics, Forbidden Planet, Fourth World Comics, Jetpack Comics LLC, Jim Hanley's Universe - Staten Island, Jim Hanley's Universe - Manahttan, Magnum Comics, Midtown Comics - Grand Central, Midtown Comics - Times Square, Royal Collectibles and The Lair Inc.
