I don’t want you to feel comfortable about being a bigot
I wrote a radio play for Vaudevilification Tennis and because the show took place during Pride, I decided to include a “public service announcement” against the gay marriage ban. My opinion on the issue should be clear but I saw a good opportunity for some comedy that also made a statement that is important to me.
When it came time to put that script in the CONvergence show, I initially balked at the idea of including the public service announcement because I felt that CONvergence is not a political convention and the announcement might be out of place.
Two things changed my mind.
CONvergence 2012 Highlights
There were a few low points at CONvergence 2012 but they aren’t even worth mentioning. Most of them had to do with last minute planning failures and my complete inability to sleep past 7:30, even when I went to sleep at 5:00 A.M.
So forget that stuff, here’s some of my best moments from CONvergence 2012 (more or less in chronological order):
Alphabetical Movie – Inglourious Basterds
I was at a panel about Tarantino films at CONvergence this weekend. Because the convention theme was Wonder Women, the panel was about Tarantino as a “feminist” filmmaker.
I’m not going to rehash the entire panel but the question of Tarantino as a feminist filmmaker is a complex one. Some of his films pass the Bechdel test but by no means all of them. Inglourious Basterds, for instance, does not.
Powerpoint Conspiracy Karaoke
Having complely killed at Power Point Karaoke today, I’m sharing my performance from last year’s panel. It was the first time it had been done at CONvergence and I had to go first. I think I did OK.
This year I killed it. I know I keep saying that. But I totally killed it.
I Hate Brian Keene
Actually, I don’t Hate Brian Keene. I just used that title as a hook.
Last year at CONvergence, I was on Iron Artist as a snobby French Beat Poet. This is a video of the poem I wrote. Be sure to watch to the end to see some terrific drawings!
A Simple Equation – Don’t want to pay, Don’t go
I rant about this annually because every year I encounter people trying to circumnavigate the simple concept that if you want to attend CONvergence, you have to pay for it.
Before I make my blanket statement on the issue, here are a few facts:
1) I am not speaking as a representative of the convention when I rant about cheap jerks who think that badge sharing is completely OK. This is my opinion.
2) In case you are unaware, I am one of the founders of the convention. While I’m no longer on the board, I have put in as many or more hours than just about anyone who has ever worked on the convention. I’ve paid for my badge every year. My wife has paid for her badge. We’ve paid for our kid’s badges.
I’ve never gotten a free ride and that is by design. We want everyone to know that we all pay to attend.
3) If you are one of the few people who has received a badge because you are a professional or a performer, good for you. I’m totally not talking to you. Thanks for coming and sharing your talents with the convention attendees!
Oh man! Did I sign up for all of that?
I’ve been reviewing my CONvergence schedule for 2012 and while I have not quite achieved Melissa Kaercher levels of insanity, I will be participating in 15 different panels and events.
Holy shit.
Here’s the breakdown for those of you who care:
Crazy ideas are crazy
Details coming at CONvergence. A new project the Vilification Tennis folks have in the works. Concept art by John Newstrom:
Grail Diary 