Press Release to Fan Clubs, Fanzine Publishers, Fan Artists, and Fans
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| Title: | Press Release to Fan Clubs, Fanzine Publishers, Fan Artists, and Fans |
| Creator: | Paul Darrow and Terry Nation |
| Date(s): | January 2, 1989 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Blake's 7 |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Press Release to Fan Clubs, Fanzine Publishers, Fan Artists, and Fans was a Blake's 7 open letter. It was signed by Paul Darrow and Terry Nation, but appears to have been written by Nation.
It was part of the January 2, 1989 Press Release packet.
It was written in response to the debate about The Blake's 7 Wars, specifically Open Letter by "Name Withheld By Request".
This letter was distributed to fans in a variety of ways, one of them being the publication in Resistance #7.
Some of Nation's comments here were previously stated in the December 1988 letter, I don't need to be lectured on my responsibilities toward Blake's Seven fans..
Some Topics Discussed
- The Blake's 7 Wars
- fandom and profit
- when Nation and Darrow refer to "these self-styled 'protectors of fandom,'" they are taking a jab at Ann Wortham, Leah Rosenthal, Linda Terrell and others
- Darrow and Nation suggest that some fans are not "real fans," which is an attempt to divide fans
- "Since this is our idea, we want it to be as special for everybody as we can make it. And if that means sitting in the lobby playing Trivial Pursuit until 3:00 in the morning, or gathering in the con suite to watch and discuss episodes together with the fans, we'll be there to do it!"
- "Neither of us can imagine why we should be accused of trying to "control" fanzine writing and publishing."
- "Would you like the chance to perform with members of the Blakes 7 cast in a Blakes 7 skit written specially by me for the tour? Would you like to see Paul, together with other guests and fans, perform the Blakes 7 skit you wrote? Would you like to participate in an acting workshop or a writing workshop? Would you like to create your own video with special appearances from your favorite Blakes 7 actors? "
Excerpts
We are angry about the irresponsible rumours and outright lies that have been circulated concerning the prospective convention tour we are hoping to organize for next fall. Therefore, although the planning for the tour is still only in the preliminary stages, we felt it necessary to issue a statement that will clear up some of the calumnies that have been levelled at us. Also, we want to make clear that without the support of a vast majority of you, the fans out there, the tour as we have conceived it cannot succeed. At this point everything is still very tentative, but here are the true facts as far as they presently exist:
1. The idea for a Blakes 7 convention tour originated in a conversation between the two of us while Paul was visiting me in California recently. We were discussing conventions, their good points and bad. We are both well aware that "for profit" conventions frequently offer the attending fan little opportunity to see and spend time with us, little in the way of fannish programming, and are often very expensive as well. On the other hand, traditional fan-run conventions, which we both find far more enjoyable to attend, frequently do not and cannot offer fees to their invited guests, so each of us has frequently been reluctantly forced, sometimes rather late in the day, to cancel a planned convention appearance because we have been offered paying work. So, we thought, why not try to combine the best of both: the guaranteed appearance that a "for profit" convention can provide, with a fan-run convention tour, offering reasonable pricing, fannish activities, lots of opportunity to spend time with the guests, and the other amenities traditionally found in fan-run conventions?
2. First and foremost, we wanted this to be a fannish operation. That is why over the Thanksgiving weekend we approached Laurie Cohen, an old friend of ours, about organizing the tour. Laurie’s background is in fan-run conventions: she has been on the Con Committee of several Scorpios and was the principal organizer of DSV One, which has been widely and justifiably praised as a wonderful convention. We know that Laurie will insist on giving the interests of the fans top priority in making the arrangements. Laurie's response was quite predictable: she agreed to investigate the possibility, but would only proceed if the conventions could be organized on the Scorpio/DSV One model, with the enthusiastic support of the local fan groups in each area, on the basis that each local fan group would assume principal responsibility for the organization of its respective convention.
3. The structure we collectively agreed upon is as follows. There will he a small central core group which Laurie will put together to provide oversight) assistance, and to handle matters requiring overall coordination such as pre-registration, budgeting, tour newsletters/progress reports, etc. We are counting on local fans and/or fan groups with convention experience to take the lead in putting together these conventions in detail. We envision anywhere from four to six geographically separated convention locations. No decisions have yet been made on sites, but what we are looking for is (a) the enthusiasm of a local Blakes 7 audience and (b) the willingness of a local Blakes 7 fan group to help organize the arrangements. Thus, this tour will not proceed without your help and involvement! You know your area, you know your local fans, you know what kind of programming they like.
Basically, these will be your conventions to organize: the central core group will handle advance registration; cover the expenses and set budgetary constraints; and provide ideas and assistance as to any particular problem or problems; but the respective local organizers will have considerable autonomy. And for once, no headaches about professional commitments — you know the guests will be there! Plus, a share of the profits will be donated to the local organizers as a gesture of appreciation for their time and effort, which they may contribute to their local PBS station or to charity, or use to fund other fannish activities, etc. So you see, contrary to the malicious propaganda that has been spread by these self-styled "protectors of fandom," we’re not trying to take Blakes 7 conventions away from you. We’re trying to put them back where they belong: in the hands of the real fans.
4. The conventions will be three day conventions with limited attendance, fashioned upon the Scorpio/DSV model (except that there will probably be only one or two art auctions for the sake of the sanity of all concerned). There will be fan programming, filking and masquerades (if there is interest), a con suite, and all the other trappings of a typical fan-run convention. We also hope to have an impressive video program, including some material that may never have been shown here before. There will be at least three, and hopefully four, guests at each site. Some guests may attend only one convention; some, in addition to the two of us, may attend all. (This is one of the areas that has not yet been worked out.) Whoever the guests may be, the emphasis at the tour conventions will be on making the guests more , rather than less, available than at previous fan-run conventions. After all, since this is our idea, we want it to be as special for everybody as we can make it. And if that means sitting in the lobby playing Trivial Pursuit until 3:00 in the morning, or gathering in the con suite to watch and discuss episodes together with the fans, we'll be there to do it!
Along those lines, we are also planning some pretty special guest programming! Have you ever wanted to see what it would be like if Michael Keating played Avon and Paul Darrow played Vila (or Blake)? Would you like the chance to perform with members of the Blakes 7 cast in a Blakes 7 skit written specially by me for the tour? Would you like to see Paul, together with other guests and fans, perform the Blakes 7 skit you wrote? Would you like to participate in an acting workshop or a writing workshop? Would you like to create your own video with special appearances from your favorite Blakes 7 actors? These are only a few of the ideas Paul and I have been kicking around as we plan our tour! We'd also like to hear your ideas - if there's some programming idea that you’ve always wanted to see tried at a convention, a particular guest you'd like to see included in the tour, if there's something you've liked from prior conventions that you'd like to see us do on the tour, let us know. We want your input. We want these to be the best Blakes 7 conventions you've.ever attended — or, at least, right up there with the best!
There will be one, or maybe two, art shows and auctions, depending on interest and on whether we do four or six conventions (if there are two, they will be geographically and chronologically separated). There will most emphatically not be a "stable" of "convention-approved" artists; ALL ARTISTS will be welcomed and encouraged to participate. (In that sense, you could say that all artists are "convention-approved"!) We understand from Laurie that art show hanging fees will be nominal, in the best fannish tradition, and will probably be counted as a credit against the TEN PERCENT (10X) (not fifty) commission on sales of artwork. Naturally, in the best fannish tradition, we shall be doing the auctioning! Zines too will be welcome on the tour. Neither of us can imagine why we should be accused of trying to "control" fanzine writing and publishing, but please be assured that we possess neither the desire nor the inclination to try.
5. The cost to attendees of attending these conventions will not be any higher than the fannish norm: we anticipate rates of $35/$40/$45. Fan dealer tables will be in the $20 neighborhood. It is also likely that there will be discounts for fans and dealers who are attending more than one convention.
The tour is not intended to compete with, nor to jeopardize the more traditional fan-run conventions. The tour is a "one-shot" event, a means of ensuring our attendance at a group of conventions. It is not intended to preclude our attendance — or that of any other prospective tour guest — at any other fan- run convention (subject, of course, to professional commitments). We both have very fond memories of Scorpio and DSV One and other conventions of that type, and we hope and expect to attend many more in the future.
In short, we think the tour could be wonderful for all concerned — wonderful for the local con organizers, for the artists, the dealers, the fanzine publishers, and, above all, for the fans. We hope that you will want to be involved, that you will want to make the tour a reality. We can't and won't do it without your help. If you, your club, your group, etc. would like to help with the tour by organizing one of the conventions, by providing publicity, by making programming suggestions, by- helping out generally, etc., please contact us c/o Decima Productions, P.O. Box 7926, FDR Station, New York, New York 10150. We look forward to hearing from you!
- Terry Nation
- Paul Darrow
The Letter
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