MediaWest*Con/MediaWest*Con 1983

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Convention
Name: MediaWest*Con 1983
Dates: May 27-30, 1983
Frequency:
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Type:
Focus: multi-fandom
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
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front cover of 1983 program book
back cover of 1983 program
flyer

Some Facts About the 1983 Convention

  • The theme that year was: "MediaWest*Con Take 3: The Return of the Midwest"
  • The con program book included a letter from Maureen Garrett thanking fans for their involvement in fandom and in zines: "On behalf of LucasFilm I want you to know how much we appreciate your enthusiasm, support, and incredible talents regarding the STAR WARS Saga which you so lovingly share through your fanzines. We consider you our friends -- and mind you even the best of friends disagree occasionally." This is in reference to Open Letter to Star Wars Zine Publishers by Maureen Garrett.
  • There was a Georgette Heyer Tea and Dance.
  • Many folks went to a movie theater to see "Return of the Jedi." "Return of the Jedi had premiered just 63 days before [the start of MediaWest*Con 1983]. There were some Trek panels, but those were few in number.
  • The convention urged that fans organize and communicate their group trips to the movies. There was a long list opf potential movies:
    RETURN OF THE JEDI drivers and riders post your needs and availability at registration. Also, anyone planning expeditions to any of the other local movie houses is urged to do the same. The Lansing Mall Theatre (321-2603) has BREATHLESS; The Spartan Triplex (351-0030) has Q, _FLASHDANCE, TOOTSIE, with midnight showings Friday and Saturday of MONTY PYTHON ANO THE HOLY GRAIL, CHEECH AND CHONG'S STILL SMOKIN', and THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SKOW. The Campus Theatre (332-6944) is showing THE RETURN OF THE JEDI. Meridian Eight (349-2700) has BLUE THUNDER, HIGH ROAD TO CHINA, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, MONTY PYTHON'S THE MEANING OF LIFE, SPACE HUNTER, SORCERESS, and LOCAL H~RO, with midnight showings on Friday and Saturday of MAD MAX, BLADERUNNER, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, and HONTY PYTHON'AND THE HOLY GRAIL. 'The State Theatre (332-5817) has DOCTOR DETROIT"

  • Most panels were generic or devoted to other "media" fandoms. This year the Fan Qs were divided into the interest categories Star Trek, Star Wars, Starsky and Hutch, Doctor Who, and Other ("other" was a catchall category including multi-media fanzines or media fandoms not large enough to merit a separate category)." [1]
  • The convention organizers submitted a long explanatory letter to Interstat # 63:
    "Contrary to popular rumor, MediaWest*Con is not a "closed" convention. Membership in the past has ranged from the 300's to the 5OO's, and we prefer to have the convention remain as intimate and friendly as possible. We have not set a final cut-off number of attendees yet, but are waiting to see if there is a natural limit. We will not, however, take any memberships at the door, and thus memberships will be cut off by date (as of yet unspecified), if not by number of attendees.We welcome feedback on this. In the past, we've had waiting lists, but have always been able to offer those on the waiting lists an attending membership at the con. MediaWest*Con is a multi-media convention, with emphasis on STAR TREK and STAR WARS fandom. No fandom is excluded, and all are welcomed....As of the end of October, we have over 200 attendees signed up already."

  • Some fans felt there was a "grudge-match" going on between MediaWest*Con and Altercon, a convention scheduled around the same time. Both convention organizers wrote letters to the Jundland Wastes denying this (see that page, issue #13).
  • The hotel was a member of The Playboy Club, open to all guests, a fact that was listed in the program book: "The Playboy Club is open to Club members, their guests, and guests of the Hilton. So, if you're booked at the Hilton, you can go see the bunnies"
  • There was a tongue in cheek call for obits and eulogies for fictional characters and TV shows:
    REQUIEM,AD MAUSEUM- Write up your obits and eulogies for characters, shows, etc. such as MASH, Spock, E.T., Ward Cleaver, BRING 'EM BACK ALIVE (how ironic) that "bought the far" this year. Those that meet our standards of taste and eloquence will be read at a special Memorial Day "service." (Gordon will be the judge, if that gives you an idea of the standards we're talking about here.) In case of duplication, we'll pick the best one, Winners may remain anonymous, if they wish. A box for your contributions will be provided in or about the con suite.

  • The convention program book thanked Lucasfilm.
    We'd like to thank Lucasfilm for sending us enough copies for all our members of the preview screening RETURN OF THE JEDI cast and crew credits sheets/program books. [there were approximately 400+ attendees that year.

  • The convention sold out by the 3rd Progress Report:
    MEMBERSHIP - By the time this P.R, is out, membership is expected to be full up. However, we will start a waiting list for those who waited up til now to try getting in. Consideration will be made for gofering, of course. Last year, everyone on the waiting list got in, Supporting memberships and apocryphal memberships will be taken any time up to the con. No memberships will be available at the door.

  • Because many fans had not yet seen Return of the Jedi movie, the convention offered color coded "spoilers" stickers:
    Show Your Color - On yer con badges--a red sticker means Stop--Don't tell me about 'Jedi' and a green sticker means Yes- I want to talk about Jedi--we'll have these stickers at registration, and ask you to respect red and green sticker-wearers' requests. Believe or not, some people are not planning on seeing THE RETURN OF THE JEDI until Saturday night of the convention, and some people don't want to know all the juicy plot points ahead of time!

  • A long list of "additional" fanzines available at the convention were listed in the 3rd Progress report:
    The following are additional 'zines expected to be at the convention: THE DOCTOR AND THE ENTERPRISE, BLUE GUARD IAN 13, FACETS 11, LEAPIN' JEEPS, WIDE OPEN SPACES #8, FURBALL EXPRESS, TIMEFRAME 4 and back issues, PASSAGE TO ARS, ANOTHER K/S ZINE, TALES FOR THE TELLING, ARCHAEOLOGY 101, CONFLICTING IMPULSES, FAR REALMS, SHOOTING STAR, DOCKING BAY #4, FACETS OF TIME II (Dr. Who), ALPHA LOG (Space: 1999), CITYSPEAK: THE SPECIAL EDITION, SHADOW SHIFTIN', ERRANTRY, GUARDIAN, VAULT OF TOMORROW #4. BROKEN IMAGES, THE DISPLACED, TRANSITION, THE HONORABLE SACRIFICE, THE THIRD VERDICT, (DON'T) TELL IT TO THE CAPTAIN, 'NOIDS 'N 'DROIDS, ZINE, SPACE CORPS SCANDALS, EE-MINIAR, ALDERAANI IMPERATIVE, JUNDLAND WASTES, KESSEL RUN, CROSSED SABRES, CONTRABAND, PURPLE & ORANGE (back issues & premiere of #5), SHADOWSTAR, GATEWAY, CONTACT 8, SLIME DEVIL SONGBOOK, THE HARRISON FORD FILMOGRAPHY, TRUST, TIME DISTORT (Blake's 7/British Media), TIME LOG (Dr. Who), ENTER-COMM 6, THE RETURN OF TARDIS KEY (Dr. Who), an untitled U.N.C.L.E. 'zine, THE FARTHEST STAR II, SAREN WALLWALKER ... JEDI, DATAZINE, BeNiF, ECHOES OF THE EMPIRE #6, IMPERIUM, PEGASUS, SYNDIZINE II, RERUN, ZEBRA III VOL. 6.

  • A Radio Room was suggested in the 2nd Progress report. It would operate like the Video Room with playing of Sci-Fi themed radios shows: The Radio Room will be set up much like the Video Room, only with continuous airings of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Is there any interest in any other radio broadcasts? It did not appear in the final Program Book.
  • For the Fanzine Reading Room, in the 2md Progress report:
    For the 'Zine Reading Room, people have requested old 'zines, out-of-print 'zines, in multiple copies when possible, and with heavy security (obviously). It would be helpful to have the Fan Q nominees represented, for those who wish to vote at the convention and who haven't seen some of the items. If you can volunteer any 'zines of interest, please let us know as soon as possible what you can bring, and how many copies.

Fan Q Awards

For specifics, see 1983 Fan Q Awards.

Skit

The con play was "S*M*A*S*H: Goodbye, Farewell, & Oh My!", riffing off the series finale of the TV show M*A*S*H.

Many male parts are still available for SMASH, including B. J., Potter, Winchester, Klinger, Col. Flagg, and assorted cameos, Males are preferred for male roles, but we'll take whats we kin get. If yer interested in this thespian extravaganza, send a photo of yer face and a s.a.s.e. (& an explanation as to just what part yer talkin' about) to SMASH, [address redacted]. Yes, you can be a star--or, at least, a walk-on. No wonder there's hospital shortages-various people have volunteered enough medical hardware to gut Korea. What we need now are operating whites (for 4) and assorted fatigues. Anyone got em? The illustrated script of SMASH will be available only to those who contribute to the play fund! Contributors will be credited in the MediaWestCon Program Book and in the illo'd script itself. $5 seems to be a nice, round figure to start with. Thanks go to: Elizabeth [L], Cindy [F], Maryann [W], Cindy & David [M], Jackie [B], and Karen L. [M]. C'mon out there--loosen those pockets, check those seat cushions! Also, it doesn't look like there's enough interest to reprint last year's HILTON STREET BLUES script.So far...

Masquerade Awards

  • Best Humorous: Doctor Pooh (Bobbie Pallone)
  • Best Original: Thall (John Drouillard)
  • Best Group: Royal Family of Amber (Laurie Farkas & Co.)
  • Best Non-Star Trek/Star Wars (tie): Aroree (Diane Scott) and Sark (Melody Womack)
  • Best Fantasy: Mrs. Beaver (Mary Gross)
  • Best Apocryphal: Ewok (Missy Mitch)
  • Best Star Trek: Joachim (Ken Keisel)
  • Best Star Wars: The Emperor (Mark Hyde & Co.)
  • Best In Show: Red 4 (Jenny Hiza)
  • Best Cheap: Generic Fan (Tim Blaes)


The convention also offered a "Costume Contest "Class" Photo Opportunity:

This is your big chance to get together with all those other Time Lords, Corellians, Imperials, Starfleet Officers, etc., and have the evidence to prove to your mundane friends that you're not the only one who does this sort of stuff. Just sign up for a category at registration. If there's enough of you to qualify as a group, we'll schedule a time for you to pose for posterity. A backdrop will be provided as something more in an SF setting than the normal hotel walls. You provide the cameras. Group schedules will be posted. If you already have a time and day preference, let us know!

Art Show Awards

  • Best Star Trek: "Straight On 'Til Morning" by Joni Wagner
  • Best Star Wars: "Why Didn't You Tell Me?" by Scott Rosema
  • Best Non-Star Trek/Star Wars: (tie) "If You Believe in Faeries, Clap Your Hands" by Joni Wagner and "Queen of Thieves" by Frank Liltz
  • Judge's Choice (Lori Chapek-Carleton): "Octagon Fantasy" by Genevieve F. Saylor
  • Judge's Choice (Gordon Carleton): "Queen of Thieves" by Frank Liltz
  • Popular Choice (ballot vote): "Eclipse" by Barbara Fister-Liltz

Vid Show

We are looking for any info on the pre-1998 vid show entries and winners. Also information as to when the first fan vids were informally shown at MediaWest*Con (the first Video Contest was held in 1984).

Programming

programming, click to see larger version

Some panels: "Women's Roles in SF/Media -- in Print and Screen," "Morality in Fandom," "SF Literature -- Also a Medium," "SW Fan Universes," FIAWOL/AWAL: Once a Fan Always a Fan?", "Neo Orientation," "Fen Vs. Fans: the Important Difference," Japanimation," The Empire and Imperial Point of View," "The Perfect Man for a Fannish Woman," "Real Fen Don't Eat Quiche -- The Rebuttal," "Going Pro in Medialand," and "Zine Publishing."

Convention Reports

MediaWest 3 was the first con I went to, and I was surprised at the lopsided ratio of women to men. It's less so at non-media cons, of course; in fact, I've been to some where there are more men than women (list available on request ...but you might want to think twice about it!). [2]

To those who missed MediaWest Con: It was at once educational, enjoyable, zany, profound, and even edifying. The camaraderie was infectious; the good humor unmatched by any I'd ever experienced. The panels, in particular, were fine examples of shared opinion without hurting anyone's feelings. I learned that ethics and morality in fandom are important elements; that the novelizations of the SW Saga are only supplements to the film (the final authority) and not necessarily written in granite. I have found mediafen to be open, warm, intelligent, creative and great fun. The costume competition and art auction were revelations of creativity and imagination mixed with fun and laughter. We attended ROTJ en masse—about 500 of us. Even though the film was delayed due to mechanical problems and we didn't return to the hotel until 3 a.m., no one complained. When the panel gathered the next day to share comments and/or brickbats, most (about 90%) agreed that the film was a joy and quite satisfying. The Ewok Chorus was charming, enchanting and delightful. Like the film, the chorus members shared a true "Celebration of Love." I never expected to enjoy myself at a Con as much as I did. I made new friends, took lots of photos and was inspired to write my first story for a zine. [3]

References

  1. ^ Joan Marie Verba, Boldly Writing page 63.
  2. ^ Fan convention report from Southern Enclave issue #4 (1985).
  3. ^ from a new fan in Southern Enclave #2
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