MediaWest*Con/MediaWest*Con 1990

MediaWest*Con 1981 · MediaWest*Con 1982 · MediaWest*Con 1983 · MediaWest*Con 1984 · MediaWest*Con 1985 · MediaWest*Con 1986 · MediaWest*Con 1987 · MediaWest*Con 1988 · MediaWest*Con 1989 · MediaWest*Con 1990 · MediaWest*Con 1991 · MediaWest*Con 1992 · MediaWest*Con 1993 · MediaWest*Con 1994 · MediaWest*Con 1995 · MediaWest*Con 1996 · MediaWest*Con 1997 · MediaWest*Con 1998 · MediaWest*Con 1999 · MediaWest*Con 2000 · MediaWest*Con 2001 · MediaWest*Con 2002 · MediaWest*Con 2003 · MediaWest*Con 2004 · MediaWest*Con 2005 · MediaWest*Con 2006 · MediaWest*Con 2007 · MediaWest*Con 2008 · MediaWest*Con 2009 · MediaWest*Con 2010 · MediaWest*Con 2011 · MediaWest*Con 2012 · MediaWest*Con 2013 · MediaWest*Con 2014 · MediaWest*Con 2015 · MediaWest*Con 2016 · MediaWest*Con 2017 · MediaWest*Con 2018 · MediaWest*Con 2019 · MediaWest*Con 2020

Convention
Name:	MediaWest*Con 1990
Dates:	May 25-28, 1990
Frequency:
Location:	Lansing, Michigan
Type:
Focus:	multi-fandom
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Some Facts About the 1990 Convention

front cover of the 1990 program book

back cover of the 1990 program book

map

• The theme that year was: "Back to the MediaWest*Con Part X " a nod to the movie "Back to the Future"

• The Hilton Inn changed management after being sold to Rado-Mat Holdings, Inc., and the facility became the Lansing Holiday Inn Conference Center West.

• from the program book: "Due to unforseen circumstancs, the artists regret that they were unable to hold the Artists' Reception previously announced in the Progress Report. Please accept their apologies, and many thanks for your support."

• the Holiday Inn agreed to act as a UPS substation so that fans could ship all packages during the con

• there were 58 dealers and approximately 70 tables in the dealers' room, and 26 dealers in the dealers' hall

• Sheryl Adsit took over the Video Room and Video Contest and proposed showing the vids in a Friday night vid show theme vs being scattered across the days in the Video Room
• The Blaster Battle that raged across the hotel corridors was addressed in the 1st Progress Report by the organizer:

  "We who are involved with the Blaster Battle and want it to continue wish to appeal to those who want nothing to do with it, in order to make this next MediaWestCon more enjoyable for everyone. First of all, each year we have gone out of our way to emphasize that participants avoid the "quiet" halls and leave non-participants alone. Weleave the "base" room numbers with the hotel desk, so they can inform us of any complaints. Last year there were problems mainly because people who had children and animals were placed in rooms randomly with no emphasis on "quiet" vs. "party" hallways. We want to make this suggestion for this year. We will limit the blaster battle to the first and second floors only. The middle hallway (by pool) on first floor will also be used. The middle hallway on the second floor and the entire third floor will be off limits. Anyone who will be bringing children or animals, requiring quiet in the early evening can take rooms in these halls and be assured we won't disturb you. Just request e third floor or middle hallway second floor room when you make your room reservation. Also, Blaster Battle hours will be Sunday night, 9 p.m. to midnight. For those who plan to participate, this year we will have an emphasis on role-play. As soon as possible, send me a bio of the persona you will be using. I plan to coordinate persons with secret missions involving other personas and so I need this information quickly. I will have a complete list of this year's rules for PR #2 or 3. We will also have a few personas done up for those who join last minute at the con. Sorry, but with the interaction involved, you won't be able to sign up at the con and use your own persona. When you send me your bio, please include a s.a.s.e, Persona info I need: your real name, persona name, which side you'll be on (Imperial, Rebel, or Mercenary), a physical description, and a personality description (i.e., temper, trustworthiness, beliefs, loves, hates, etc.) And any other information important to your persona

that I should know.

Fan Q Awards

For specifics, see 1990 Fan Q Awards.

Party Suite and Other Gatherings

Parties included: Miami Vice, Wise Guy, Quantum Leap, and Phantom of the Opera.

Other gatherings: Alliance Breakfast, Twin Peaks Coffee and Donut Social, Imperial/Rebel Tug-of-War (on the front lawn), Star Wars Live-Action Role-Playing Blaster Battle, FOE Club Meeting, Star Wars Auction, Diplomatic Embassy & Cantina, and Summerfest.

Summerfest was a Beauty and the Beast gathering open to all attendees. There were refreshments and a "candle ceremony." Fans were encouraged to bring their scrapbooks, costumes, and handicrafts to show and share.

Masquerade Winners

That year, Masquerade class levels were dropped: "as it has been pointed out that this is not a CostumeCon, WorldCon, or other major convention--we're here to have fun."

At MediaWest*Con X, two dozen Hall Costume awards were available, of which 22 were awarded.

The MediaWest*Con X Masquerade winners were:

• Apocryphal--Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Dog (Praeses and Amy Kaplan)
• Cheap--John Book (Jan Boll)
• Most Humorous--MediaWest*Con 40/The Blaster Battle (Bev Grant, Jan Gosnell, Martynn, Ken Keisel, Carol Lynn)
• Presentation--Ursula, the Sea Witch (Paula Smith)
• Re-Creation, Animation—Ariel, the Little Mermaid (Rebekah Hennig)
• Re-Creation, Literature--Rag Dolly (Linda Cuchinski)
• Re-Creation, Television—Sparta Cop (Charlotte Desilets)
• Re-Creation, Film—The Joker (Melody Womack)
• Re-Creation, Theatre--A Night at the Opera (Janet Paderewski, Laurie Shanahan, Sandy Williams)
• Historical—A Blast From the Past (Donna Fadness, Mary Jean Holmes, J.R. Holmes, Mary Wood, Carol Paulson, Karen Pauli) *Original and Most Beautiful—Women For All Seasons (Linnese Dawe, Dawna Snyder, Joan McKeel, Sandra Cook)
• Best In Show—The Hunt (Jean Marie Dewey, Rachel & Michael Maley, Sandy Pettinger)
• Workmanship Awards given to: The Phantom in His Moods (Scaramouche) for mask work; The New Ship's Counselor (Susan Perry- Lewis) for fabric enhancement; Women For All Seasons (see above) for applique work; A Night at the Opera (see above) for gown and Best Workmanship

Art Show Awards

Art show winners were selected by popular vote.

We are looking for any info about the Art Show contest. The progress report in 1991 states that the concom lost the list of the winners.

Door Decoration Awards

The winning best-decorated guest room door from MediaWest*Con X was Carol Salemi, Room 164, for her QUANTUM LEAP door.

Vid Show

The Winners (as listed in the Media*West 1991 progress report):

• ORIGINAL: "Pressure"(Sterling Eidolan & The Odd Woman In)
• INTERPRETATION/SINGLE MEDIA: "You Can Call Me Al"(Sterling Eidolan & The Odd Woman In)
• Honorable Mention: "Nobody's Side"(Bunnies from Hell)
• MULTI-MEDIA: "We Need a Little Christmas"(California Crew)
• CONSTRUCTING REALITY/SINGLE MEDIA: "If You Asked Me To"(I.C.Oranges)
• CONSTRUCTING REALITY/MULTI-MEDIA: "One Night in Bangkok"(Frozen Treats)

Sheryl Adsit proposed a Friday night video show in the 1st Progress Report:

She is tentatively planning to use Friday night to premiere new fannish videos (8 or 9 p.m. until whenever) with encore showings to be scheduled throughout the duration of the convention. If you'd like to have your fannish video(s) scheduled, you must contact Sheryl and let her know the length and subject matter. She'd also like to schedule requested videos that were shown in previous years. All MedialestCon video equipment is VHS, unless someone brings a Beta machine and makes it available. MediaWestCon and the video room staffers are not responsible for any videotapes chewed up by the video room equipment. We don't expect any damage to occur, however!

Acknowledgments

• Co-Chairs: Lori Chapek-Carleton & Gordon Carleton
• Programming Scheduling: Mary Uhrausen
• Art Show and Auction: Gordon Carleton, Susan Perry-Lewis
• Blood Drive: Kim Dyer
• Fannish Videos: Sheryl Adsit
• Fanzine Reading Room: Jan Gosnell
• Fan Fund: Deborah Laymon
• Masquerade Competition/Masquerade Ball: Seth Bonder
• Fan Quality Awards: Jeanne Sullivan
• Gofers: Jeanne Sullivan
• Security: Seth Cutts
• Computer Help: Bill Hupe
• Program Book Graphics Production: Kim Dyer
• Slide Show Work: Bill Dyer, Keven Lewis, Terri Korthala

Programming

Friday

• Cross-Universe Fanfiction
• Series Romances, what works, what doesn't
• Young Stuff, the appeal of the younger male stars -- Keifer Sutherland, Michael J. Fox, Johnny Depp, etc, from the fannish point of view
• Creating Original Fan Fiction Characters, avoiding Mary Sues
• ST:TNG, armchair directors
• Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera, a comparison of the two
• Blake's 7, a fandom overview
• Simon & Simon, the current status of the fandom and what the future looks like
• Coming Soon from Hollywood, previews by Paula Block of upcoming movies

Saturday

• Disguised Romantic Heroes, romantic heroes with hidden identity
• War of the Worlds, armchair directors
• Writing Good Adult Fanfiction, part is not parts
• Robin of Sherwood: Legend in Modern Times
• The Professionals: What They Were, What They Are
• Going Pro: Can You Get There From Here?, and what do you want to do?
• Heroes Outside the Law, heroes who bend the rules
• The Sandbaggers
• Wiseguy, armchair directors
• The Future of Fanzines, the changing face of fan publishing
• Making Music Videos, a short course, a practical demonstration
• Introduction to Costuming, costuming on a budget for beginners
• Alien Nation: Fans Welcome the Newcomers, an overview of fandom's hottest new addition
• Artists, Part 1: Materials and Methods
• Hypnosis
• Cannell's Series: A Common Touch
• ST and ST:TNG Beyond TV, the novels, the movies, and what we would have done
• Artists, Part 2: Marketing
• Name That SF Tune Contest
• Medical Accuracy in Writing, help for the layman
• Fannish Jeopardy, the popular game adapted for fans
• Artists, Part 4: To Frame or Not to Frame, There is NO Question
• Poetry Reading, hosted by Ruth Berman
• Mel Gibson and His Rodes, a look at one of fandom's most popular actors
• Vader Roast
• Endangered Cats

Sunday

• Quantum Leap: The Face in the Mirror, an overview of another hot fandom
• Miami Vice, armchair directors
• Batman: The Dark Knight
• ST:TNG: Does/Can Data Have Feelings?
• Heroes Inside the Law, heroes working within the system
• Writing: How to Research & Avoiding Common Pitfalls
• SF as Social Commentary, the power of the genre as a view of our society
• Hurt/Comfort: The Enduring Appeal
• The Equalizer: Just a Charming Vigilante?
• Phantom of the Opera: Not Just Another Pretty Face, an overview of various versions
• Fish Out of Water: Why It Works as a Theme
• Harrison Ford and His Roles, an enthusiastic look at the popular genre actor
• Beauty and the Beast: Armchair Directors and Current Status, what we would have done -- and the current status of the show
• ST Slide Show, by Ruth Berman
• The Relationship Between Editor and Writer, what every fanzine contributor should know
• The Future of Space Exploration
• Dark Shadows

Monday

• The Buddy System, the appeal of this ever-popular theme
• Star Wars Fanfiction: Where Has It Been and Where Is It Going?
• Slash Fanfiction: Whey Some Works and Some Doesn't
• Convention Wrap-Up