MediaWest*Con/MediaWest*Con 2009

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Convention
Name: MediaWest*Con 2009
Dates: May 22-25, 2009
Frequency:
Location: Lansing, Michigan
Type:
Focus: multi-fandom
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL: 2009 Convention Page[1]
2009 Convention theme
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Some Facts About the 2009 Convention

  • The theme that year was "The Fannish Frontier: These are the voyages of the fanship MediaWest*Con. Our twenty-ninth year mission: to explore strange new multiverses, to seek out new 'zines, new fandomizations, to boldly go where no fan has gone before! Or at least where we've been going since 1978..."
  • Due to the late planning start to this con, there were only two progress reports published.
  • Draft lists of programming are archived here,here and here. Some of the party scheduled in the Party Suite are archived here. They include the return of the Southern Enclave Star Wars Group and The Professionals fans.
  • The first progress report once again offered an explanation for the problems behind the room lottery: "There were delays in processing the reservation requests, due to the transition [of hotel ownership]. They moved their offices from the back to the front, near the reservation area. Among other things, Holiday Inn wouldn't let them use their booking system, so that had to be replaced. Eventually, we were assured they were sending out confirmations, then that they were sending out waiting list notices....Unfortunately, they hadn't held out any rooms for any additional handicapped members beyond those that had already made reservation requests. Fortunately, we haven't had a lot of additional handicap requests. And again we were told the reservation confirmations were sent out and the waiting list notices were being sent out. However, we kept hearing from members saying they hadn't heard anything. There were a few instances of people calling the hotel and getting hotel staff there that did not know about MW*C and gave out misinformation. We asked that people not call the hotel while we tried to straighten things out. Lori went over the forms with the hotel April 8th. The stack of reservation requests they have matches what we have. She was assured that confirmations did go out, but that waiting list notices had NOT been sent. It is still not clear why they hadn’t, but they finally started sending those out. The hotel is still slowly doing waiting list notifications. There have also been some cancellations, so they are going down the waiting list as rooms become available."
  • The second progress report listed approximately 20 fans who had not come to the convention (or designated an attendee) to pick up their FanQ awards. The dates ran from 2000-2008. If the con organizers did not hear from these fans by July, their paper certificates would be thrown away.
  • The second progress report also included an anonymous admonishment to MediaWest*Con attendees: "Grace: I've noticed that at mealtimes some people fold their hands and/or bow their heads for a mealtime prayer -- unfortunately some of their tablemates just jump right in and start eating -- even 'John Book' paused when the Amish lady and her son paused to pray before their meal. Can't fans do the same? I'm not saying that they have to pray, too, just show some respect for the person(s) pausing to pray before a meal. Remember IDIC!! (so far I've not noticed anyone 'making' their tablemates pray with them before a meal, that would be just as crude)."

Fan Q Awards

For specifics, see 2009 Fan Q Awards.

From the first progress report: "The 2009 Fan Q nomination form is on-line as well as the printable form. A nomination form is included below. If you reproduce the form, you must include the instructions. There are also instructions on the ballot for nominating by e-mail. Please remember it takes a minimum of competition for a category to make the ballot.I've been accepting nominations since June of last year although only a few bothered with early nominating. The deadline for Fan Q nominations has been extended to May 9. A few years ago we had a deadline of February -- it got moved to mid March, then late March, then to early April, & now we are extending the deadline yet again until May 9. Is it because there isn't anything worth nominating in this time of internet or have the Fan Q's become like the dinosaur and out-lived it's time? I keep asking for feed-back at the awards presentation and hear nothing. I need to hear something in order to know how to procede to make the Fan Q Awards as viable as it was. I can't sit around and watch it die a slow death. For the creators and all the winners over the years we owe it more than this. The final ballot will be in PR2, online, available through mail, and at the con. Drop boxes will be in the Fanzine Reading Room (if there is a ‘Zine Room), Registration and outside my room. Please use a form and nominate. Your writers, artists and editors deserve the recognition."

From the second progress report: "Well, the nominations are in and the ballot has been assembled. We received a total of 298 nominations. The earliest came June 1, 2008 and the last came 8 hours after the last deadline. We have 16 Honorable Mentions and 6 ballot battles. I’m doing things a bit differently this year as I am announcing the Honorable Mentions now; they may pick up their certificates at the con anytime after noon on Friday from my room."

Photos

Photo Links

Skit

One play was submitted: Meet Me In Atlantis by Mark Kobrak, Bev Grant, & Chaos Collaboration. This play, however, was withdrawn from the programming and not presented.

There were no other skits.

Fan Fund

The nominees had their submissions printed in the first progress report.

The winner was Barbara (Leanna) O'Rourke-Drake. She attended MW*C 30.

_____ Sue Jenkins 52, living in Bristol UK. Found fandom in 1978-9 through Star Trek Welcommittee and started writing. 1979-80 produced first 9 issues of gen multi-media 'zine Enigma, first Starsky/Hutch slashzine Forever Autumn, & wrote the first Professionals slash story, “Power Play.” Responsible for Hatstand genre. Wrote in more than 32 universes (Listed 21 pseudonyms & press names Blue Jay Press, Titans West Press, Crevichon Press). Convention organizer of Dobeycons (S&H), Weekends in the Country (Professionals), Amerikon (Knight Rider, A Team, Remington Steele), Just William Con (Shatner), Santacon (1984) & Santacon 86. After remarrying in 1987 I suffered a nervous breakdown. Re-entered fandom 1988 with slashzine Undercover, becoming series of 'zines Uncharted Waters running through 1997. After a short break transferred activities to internet, with website Android's Dungeon (www.slashfic.co.uk) since 2001. I have had intermittent battles with depression since the 1980's, together with an ongoing sequence of crippling migraines (both now more or less under control), as well as other physical health problems. I have given up hope of returning to work, & am not entitled to benefits of any kind. I have not been to a convention of any kind for about 10 years.

_____ Mary Ann Walther Keisel (Martynn) Martynn is, & has been, a BNF for many years, as well as a long-time MW*C attendee. She is well known for her artistic & vocal contributions to fandom. Last year she illustrated Bev Grant's Harry Potter story in Millenium V. In previous years her works have been seen in the MW*C art show. Martynn is an experienced opera singer, best known in fandom for her participation in most of Bev Grant's plays. Currently, she keeps her voice in practice with a Slavic folk group at OSU. She also likes to participate in panels. She is also fluent in Russian.

_____ Barbara (Leanna) O’Rourke-Drake I have been going to MW*C since 1984, with one or both my sons, until 2004. I shared expenses with my sister, who at that time no longer wished to attend. I am 61, on disability, in college part time, and can't afford the trip on my own now as of this count, even with my sister this time. I have been hospitilzed 5 times since last May which has stilted the budget. My older son, now 29, had started college but now is working in a boiler producing factory in order to go on with college and therefore probably wont be attending. Plus that my multiple disabled 21 year old is going part time to the community college I am attending and definitely wants to attend. I myself miss the con and would like the opportunity to attend it.

Party Suite and Other Gatherings

FRIDAY:

  • The Annual Affair Affair (MUNCLE), G. Smith
  • Eastern Media Con Party, K. Sanders
  • Magnificent 7, Supernatural, Firefly, M7SPNFF

SATURDAY:

  • Shabbat and Pre-Shavout Service/Pot-luck (Dairy/Vege), P. Cooper
  • Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Character Teddy Bears
  • The Professionals Party, FJ Bryan & PRZed
  • Vidcon Party, Stonehill SF Assoc
  • Private, M7
  • Private, BlacknBucksin

SUNDAY:

  • Amazing Race, S. Clark
  • Southern Enclave, Southern Enclave Star Wars Group
  • The Fellowship of the Ring: the Victory Party, C. Golledge & E. Reese
  • Private, B. Gardner
  • Private, V. Wilson

From the first progress report:

"Forces of the Empire WANTS YOU! Yes you!!! Coming to a Cantina near you... at MW*C 29 Friday night dance, and the FoE live action Blaster Battle... Are you part of the Empire? Or an Alliance officer..? Visit us at the Cantina (Cedar Street Station ) for more information, We'll be there all weekend (no alcohol available & no smoking in cantina). Web site: www.forcesoftheempire.org

FoE Cantina: Jedi, Alliance, Sith, Imperial & Mercenaries can be seen at the FoE Cantina. What are you waiting for? Come on in!! We welcome newbies, and other races to come play in our sand box... Friday night we have costumed fun in the Cantina (Cedar St Station, near main elevators). Dress up and come join our fun."

Masquerade

From the first progress report: "We’ve been having very good Masquerades of late, so let’s build some more on that happy trend. Anyone who has a costune and an idea, really considering entering. Anyone who has both, and is doing role play during the weekend, do also consider sparing a bit of time to enter. The time needed is really not much. An hour or so, on Saturday night, the night to par-te!

As before, entry forms are avalable online, and will be available at con registration, and after hours, in the con suite. Please do get your forms in as early as you can, as my having them early lets me arrange the order to best effect for all. Also, as usual, for anyone who wants to have a good look and run through, not in costume, of the ballroom where the Masquerade will be, we can do that on Saturday around 6-7pm, when the room is being set up for the evening's events. This is NOT a mandatory item, just a convenience for anyone who can find it useful to them.

If you have any sound that you want played with your entry, we'll have a casette playback capability. I'm not sure yet about CD playback, so check with me either by e-mail, or at the con. Narration can be given to me to be read during your entry, or if you can project well, you can do some dialogue from the stage, but remember, there won't be mikes on the stage itself. That'd be another thing to bump into. <g>

There will be a prize for the best in show, so there’s something to shoot for. Enjoy. Lets make the MW*C 29 Masquerade the best one we've ever had."

Masquerade Awards

  • Best In Show - The Everything's Better in the Original Russian Award - Memories of the Motherland by June Edewards, Angela Varesano, Lyn Burgess
  • Silent But Deadly Award - The Closet? Monsters? by Kelly Lowrey
  • If It's The End of the World, At Least I'll Die Laughing Award - Audience Choice - Dean's Angel by Peter Cooper
  • The Oh No Not Again Award - Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by Ken Keisel
  • The Quiet Elegance Award - 12th Century Lady by Bev Grant
  • The Duck Award - Castle Flasher by Chris Kashavsky
  • The Great Scott Award - Yet Another Star Trek by Brenda Gasahl

A complete list of winners, with photos can be seen here.[2]

Door Decoration Awards

A complete list of winners, with photos can be seen here.[3] A few sample doors are included below.

Gallery

Art Show

From the second progress report:

"Art Show Director: Gordon Carleton; Karen Klinck & staff will be running the Art Show under his supervision at the convention itself, and Jesse McClain will be heading up the Auction, with a great deal of staff assistance.

We recieved [sic] Art Show Space Reservation Requests from the following artists (in roughly the order received): The Cat's Meow Creative Arts!, Elaine Tripp, Rebecca Morris, Laura Quiles, Ziggy, Lorraine Brevig, Melissa Mastoris, Bast, Mestiza Woman, Patricia Leslie, Erika Frensley, Kate Nuernberg, Nicole Pellegrini, Alesia, Montana, Jesse McClain, Seth Cutts & Gail Felipe, Karen River, Maribel Molyneaux, Ianna Fauver, Dean Stahl, Susan L. Williams The Teddy Lady, 3Dbud, Ann Wortham, Siouxie Sherman, Tracy Ingalls, BoneZ, Barbara Nice-Miller, Digitalwave, Doctor Beth, Leah Rosenthal, Suzan Lovett, Gail Celio, Ann Larimer, and Dwayne Moore."

Art Show Awards

The art show winners are selected by popular vote.

Source: 2009 Art Show Winners.[4]

Fan Video Room

From the second progress report: "I would like to request that video producers who have made compilations of their past work please bring them to the convention. There are many people who would like to see them again, and depending on how many new videos are in the competition, there may be many opportunities to run them.

Last year we were able to connect my laptop computer to the projector on Saturday afternoon to watch some online machinima -- videos made using characters from role-playing computer games. If any producer is contemplating a venture into this realm, it would come under the category of Original video (after all, a script must be prepared, "actors" directed, etc. -- more effort than collecting and assembling clips). If there are enough machinima entries, they will have their own category. Just as with all entries, however, they must be in DVD format, not from an online source.

And just a reminder to the non-vid-making populace -- you can still enter the Video Box and Video Flyer competitions without having an actual video...."

Vid Show

While there were not enough entries for awards, 8 gen vids were submitted from 3 production groups (Spirit Guide, Stampede Productions and SiDiC), along with a non-music-video vid from Philip Chien using Buffy footage, followed by 3 slash vids by kat-byrd.

One fan reported on the vid show:

"I checked out the videos. The gen vids were less than an hour this year, and there were only THREE slash vids, all Professionals. If you blinked, you missed them. Sheesh!"[5]

2009 Vids Submitted

2009 Playlist (courtesy cannellfan)

SiDiC MUSIC VIDEOS

  • Credits -- [credits]
  • Many the Miles -- multi-fandom -- annual tribute video)
  • The Amazing Race MediaWest*Con 2008 -- instrumental music -- [original]
  • Burn Notice to MacGyver theme -- MacGyver theme music

SPIRIT GUIDE

  • Red Headed Woman – The Sentinel
  • You Can't Lose Me – The Sentinel

STAMPEDE PRODUCTIONS

  • Opening Credits -- [credits]
  • Love to See You Smile – The Mentalist
  • Shape of My Heart – Lonesome Dove the Series
  • This is Home – The Mentalist

ORDER OF AURELIUS

  • [no title] – Buffy/Angel clips of Spike's origins assembled from multiple episodes – Constructed Reality (though not really) (no music used)

SLASH VIDS IN COMPETITION

KAT-BYRD

  • Breathe – Professionals
  • Every Little Kiss – Professionals
  • I Know You're Out There Somewhere – Professionals

Programming

Programming at MediaWest*Con 2009 included its typical diverse range of fandoms and general fan-related topics. Some of the fandoms represented in multiple panels included: Star Trek, Magnificent 7, Doctor Who, NCIS, The Sentinel, Stargate: Atlantis, Supernatural and Torchwood. Some of the general fandom topics which were covered in panels included:

    • Decline of the Printed Zine
    • It's Not Easy Being Gen
    • Over 40 in Fandom
    • Toxic Fans
    • Blogging Communities
    • There was also a panel hosted by Dr. David Carrozzino called "Ask the Doc". People asked the doctor about medical questions that came up when writing their fan fiction. Many questions dealt with medicine from the 1880s.

Acknowledgements

  • Co-Chairs -- Lori Chapek-Carleton & Gordon Carleton
  • Membership/Registration (records, data entry, onsite), Transportation — Lori Chapek-Carleton
  • Communications (e-mail, publications, website), Data Output (membership badges, lists), Graphics (logo, T'shirt design) — Gordon Carleton
  • Art Show -- Art Show Director: Gordon Carleton; Karen Klinck & staff will be running the Art Show under his supervision at the convention itself, and Jesse McClain will be heading up the Auction, with a great deal of staff assistance.
  • Plays -- c/o Gordon Carleton
  • GoFers -- Jeanne Sullivan, GoFer Captain
  • Con Suite -- Jeanne Sullivan
  • Programming -- Elyse Dickenson & Dawn McLevy
  • Party Suite -- Elyse Dickenson & Dawn McLevy
  • Fan Quality Awards -- Jan Keeler
  • Fanzine Reading Room -- Jan Gosnell
  • SF/Media Fan Fund -- c/o MediaWest*Con. To donate auction items, please contact Jan Gosnell
  • Dealers -- Debra & Anna Barber
  • Orphan ‘Zine Table -- Margaret Basta, Janice St. Clair, and Laura Basta-Sandler
  • Video -- see Con Suite
  • Fannish Video Room -- Sheryl Adsit
  • Masquerade — Andre Lieven
  • Security — Seth Cutts
  • Blood Drive — Kim Dyer
  • Lansing Liaison -- Carl Tielking
  • Door Decoration Competition -- Alem

Convention Reports

Photo Albums

References