New Guests and More``xjslyon``xSome updates today for Gallifrey 2011 starting with confirmation of two returning guests: Phil Ford and James Moran will be back with us in 2011. Phil and James are currently the writers of the BBC's new interactive adventures, Doctor Who: The Adventure Games, to be found on the official BBC Doctor Who website, and will be joining us for the weekend including a panel discussion on writing scripts for interactive gaming adventures such as these. In addition, James Moran is the writer of the Doctor Who episode "The Fires of Pompeii" and Torchwood episodes "Sleeper" and "Children of Earth, Part Three" as well as scripts for "Crusoe," "Primeval" and "Spooks," while Phil Ford has both co-produced and written episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures, co-wrote the Doctor Who episode "The Waters of Mars" and the wrote animated serial "Dreamland," and wrote the Torchwood story "Something Borrowed". Phil and James are both great guests who have been with us in the recent past and we are delighted to welcome them back.
Additionally, we want to give a special shout out to Jane Espenson, who will be joining us for the first time in February; Jane has been a major force in science fiction television over the past decade, from "Buffy" to "Battlestar Galactica" and tons of other shows. Today it was announced that Jane will be one of the writers of the upcoming fourth series of Torchwood and we're even more glad to have her with us (if that's possible!) than ever.
Also, registration prices for Gallifrey 2011 increased a tiny bit as of August 1... it's now only $60 for the entire weekend for an adult membership. That's just $60 for admission to every event, panel, program item, the dealers room, art show, video program, and much more... get your membership today!
Gallifrey One is a very popular convention with the international Doctor Who and Torchwood fan community, with a large list of attending fans making the yearly journey from the UK. To help encourage folks from across the pond who may not be completely certain if such a trip is financially feasible, we'd like to recommend Blue Box Travel, a new travel service run by a member of the fan community. While this service is not affiliated with our convention itself, travel agent Angela Giblin is offering discounted fares and guidance on how best to maximize your enjoyment of your trip. We hope that this will encourage many more fans to make the trip over.
Our list of members has been updated through today for your convenience. And finally, there's a new island featured on our Islands page; check it out!
``xEklEEEyFkySXmYOMKu``x1281127126``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
Island #4: Craggy Island``xjslyon``xCraggy Island was the primary setting for the UK Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. A bleak, desolate community with no redeeming features whatsoever and where "nothing ever happens," it was populated by various lunatics, a small Chinese community and one Maori. The weather is often harsh and just about every house and business is shoddily built. As testament to the island's enduring unpopularity, the Irish state has given the British government permission to use the island's coast for dumping nuclear waste. The island isn't mentioned on any map and is frequently used by sailors as a navigational device (because, in the words of Father Ted Crilly, the general consensus is that, if you're heading away from the island, you're heading in the right direction).
Despite there rarely being any news of note, the island has its own broadsheet, called The Craggy Island Examiner. Because they never have anything worth writing about, the staff usually blow up any small event or piece of gossip into a major scandal, such as when a peeping tom's whistle was stolen. The 'story' helped make way for a full colour pull out on whistles as a way of exploiting the bored locals' excitement (one resident even remarked that Craggy Island was becoming like Boyz n the Hood). However, Ted was once seen reading an edition with the alarming headline: "Crazed Murderer Still on the Loose"; it was implied in the episode that this person may be Tom, an insane man who persistently observes the coast wearing his "I Shot J.R." t-shirt, usually while sporting a gun.
The only remotely modern places on the island are an internet cafe, a cinema, a lighthouse, an isolation tank, an aviary and a golf course, although the latter consists only of a small strip of concrete and a windmill. The island has a long-running feud with its almost identical counterpart, Rugged Island, which is ministered to by Ted's arch nemesis, Father Dick Byrne. Judging by their licence plates, all the cars on Craggy island were registered in Laois, Ireland's only double landlocked county. Points of interest include the Holy Stone of Clonrichert; The Field (not actually a field but it has fewer rocks in it than most other places on the island); the Craggy Island Crazy Golf Course; The Picnic Spot (even bleaker than other parts on the island); a pub called Vaughans; a pub called O'Leary's, which is also the name of a small shop; and the Magic Road.
The real Craggy Island seen from helicopter shots is the Galway Bay island of Inisheer. The actual parochial house used in the series is on the mainland in County Clare, near Lisdoonvarna. Vaughan's pub, where Ted is confronted by a crowd of angry Chinese in "Are You Right There, Father Ted?", is also located in Kilfenora.
Wikipedia entry on Craggy Island
``xEklEEEykZFeVayBsew``x1281127073``x(default)``x``x2011-island-4.png``x``xIslands
Island #3: Skull Island``xjslyon``xSkull Island is a fictional island first appearing in the 1933 film King Kong and later appearing in its sequels and in the two remakes. It is the home of the eponymous King Kong and several other species of creatures, mostly prehistoric and in some cases species that should have been extinct long before the rise of mammalian creatures such as gorillas, along with a primitive society of humans. In the 1962 film King Kong vs. Godzilla and the 1967 film King Kong Escapes, the equivalents of Skull Island are called Farou Island and Mondo Island, respectively. Kong plays a similar role on these islands as the godlike being of the land, a role he plays in all versions of the King Kong story. Skull Island's origins are unknown, however Kong appears to be the only giant gorilla known to exist on the island. However, the 2005 remake shows other skeletons of Kong-sized gorillas, indicating that there was once a group of such creatures of an unknown number living on the island.
In the original 1933 film, the classic starring Fay Wray, Skull Island is never referred to by name on film; only Skull Mountain is named, while in the sequel Son of Kong, its simply referred to as "Kong's Island". In the novelization of King Kong (1933) by Delos Lovelace, it's called Skull Mountain Island. But RKO referred to it as Skull Island in their publicity materials. Though not called by name in the 1976 film starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange (it is simply referred to as the Beach of the Skull by Jack Prescott), and lacking the distinctive Skull outcropping, the island is referenced as Skull Island within the film's soundtrack. The 2005 film directed by Peter Jackson, starring Adrien Brody, Jack Black and Naomi Watts, the island is shaped like a large hand with long, skeletal fingers. It is surrounded by carved stone reefs, made to resemble faces crying out in anger and pain, and is criss-crossed by an enormous stone wall and covered with jungle-swallowed ruins that are countless generations old, which are all that remain of an unknown, ancient human civilization that somehow once existed and thrived on Skull Island.
Skull Island has also been referred to in countless other sources, including homages in the video games "The Curse of Monkey Island" and "Donkey Kong"; and in such media as "The Simpsons" (which visits Ape Island in one of the "Treehouse of Horror" segments), "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" and even in "Dungeons and Dragons".
Wikipedia entry on Skull Island
``xEklpEyyEAEtzUdJvnu``x1280176991``x(default)``x``x2011-island-3.png``x``xIslands
New Guests, Plus Island #2``xjslyon``xGallifrey One is delighted to announce our second batch of confirmed guests for our 2011 convention, Gallifrey One's Catch 22: Islands of Mystery, including several new headliner guests as well as our first batch of local writers and technical guests. Additionally, we have details about our second island, Lincoln Island, on the Islands page, so check it out!
It is our pleasure to welcome back to Los Angeles the wonderful Sarah Sutton, who played Nyssa during the classic Doctor Who series alongside Peter Davison. Sarah, who has not been to Gallifrey One since 2001, was also a confirmed guest for this past February's convention, but unfortunately had to withdraw at the last minute due to a family emergency. Although disappointing at the time, with the way our 2011 guest list has shaped up (with fellow guests Davison, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse from her era on the series) we're thrilled to be able to add her at long last to our confirmed guest lineup for what is shaping up to be a tribute to the Fifth Doctor era, and it is our great pleasure to welcome her back to LA.
Meanwhile, in conjunction with our friends at Tenth Planet Events, we are able to welcome Ian McNeice to Gallifrey 2011. Ian portrayed Winston Churchill in "Victory of the Daleks" this past season as well as brief cameos in other episodes, and of course is known to TV audiences through many other starring and guest starring appearances on television, including as the Town Crier in HBO's "Rome," as the evil Baron Harkonnen in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries "Frank Herbert's Dune" and "Children of Dune," and TV and film appearances in the UK including "Doc Martin," "Have Your Cake and Eat It" and "Jonathan Creek." Mr. McNeice's appearance is sponsored by Tenth Planet, as are some of our other guests.
Joining us for the first time is Peter Bennett. Peter's contributions to the modern era are impressive: as first assistant director on Doctor Who episodes stretching back to the first season's "Bad Wolf" and "Parting of the Ways," then later production manager during the fourth series, and finally, as producer (alongside our guest Tracie Simpson) of four episodes of this past season starring Matt Smith and Karen Gillan; and as first assistant director of several episodes of Torchwood and then as full producer of the landmark Torchwood: Children of Earth. Together with Tracie, the two will be discussing their experiences throughout the history of Doctor Who's modern era, giving terrific behind-the-scenes accounts of the making of the programs. We are delighted to welcome Peter for his upcoming visit to Los Angeles!
It is also a pleasure to welcome director Ashley Way for his first-ever US convention. Ashley began his association with the series directing both the interactive episode "Attack of the Graske" and the "Tardisodes," the online-only short videos that accompanied the second series of Doctor Who. He then moved on to direct six episodes of Torchwood including the Hugo-nominated episode "Captain Jack Harkness," the series 1 finale "End of Days" and and four episodes of the second series, including both the season premiere and finale. This past season, he directed the two-part Silurians story "The Hungry Earth" and "Cold Blood," and is currently directing four episodes of the forthcoming next series of The Sarah Jane Adventures, including the episode that features guest appearances by Matt Smith and Katy Manning.
This year, we're going to be branching out a bit to include more genre television, film and even science fiction literature. To that end we've confirmed a number of new guests as well as guests who haven't been with us in a very long time (at least a decade), including some big names in their fields. To start, we've confirmed a first-ever visit to Gallifrey One by Jane Espenson, who came to prominence with fans as the co-executive producer and writer of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, wrote for episodes of Firefly, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Warehouse 13 and Angel, and later became an executive producer and contributing writer to Gilmore Girls, Tru Calling, Dollhouse, Battlestar Galactica and Caprica. Jane will be visiting to talk about her work in the SF & fantasy genre.
We are also very excited by the long-awaited return of science fiction grand master Larry Niven, the Hugo and Nebula Award winning writer whose novel Ringworld and its sequels are amongst the most popular SF of all time, and whose bibliography includes novels, short stories and screenplays (including for the animated Star Trek. Also joining us for the first time since being at the very first couple of Gallifrey events in the early 1990s is acclaimed fantasy and science fiction author Barbara Hambly, whose many works include her own series such as The Darwath Trilogy, Winterlands and the Benjamin January Mysteries as well as many popular tie-in novels in the Star Trek and Star Wars universes. Additionally, we're in for a visit by Rick Sternbach, the prominent space and science fiction illustrator whose most famous work is (alongside artist Andy Probert) designing the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sternbach later helped define the look that would be used throughout TNG and the series that followed it, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager.
Back within the Doctor Who community, we're delighted to welcome four members of the comics team: Gallifrey One regular Tony Lee, writer of The Forgotten and the regular writer of IDW's monthly Doctor Who series; artist Matthew Dow Smith, who has drawn for IDW as well as every major comic publisher including on The X-Men and Hellboy; and Richard Starkings, the prominent comic letterrer with hundreds of issues under his belt, the founder of Comicraft, and author and letterer for recent Who comics. They are joined for the first time by illustrator Blair Shedd, who worked on several issues of the IDW Doctor Who comics series and who has produced illustration and graphic art for a variety of publishers including Marvel, Upper Deck, Red 5 and dozens of mainstream companies. In addition, we welcome back Steve Roberts of the Doctor Who Restoration Team; long-time live-action and animated series TV writer David Wise, whose latest project is as one of the writers for the forthcoming (long-awaited) fourth series of Gallifrey audios for Big Finish Productions; and Richard Dinnick, writer of the forthcoming book The Big Finish Companion about the long history of the audio company that carried along the Doctor Who tradition for a decade, as well as audio plays for the same company.
There's more! We welcome back Len Wein and Marv Wolfman, two of the powerhouses of the DC and Marvel Comics universes, among them having created Wolverine, Blade, Swamp Thing and The New Teen Titans; Javier Grillo-Marxuach, creator of the TV series The Middleman and a long-time TV producer with a new pilot, Department Zero being produced by ABC; and David Gerrold, the long-time science fiction novelist and screenwriter who first came to prominence on the classic Star Trek series and whose War Against the Chtorr series has been deemed a SF classic.
Rounding out our collection of panel speakers are writer Wendy Pini, co-creator (with her husband) of Elfquest; Larry Nemecek, author of many factual Star Trek books; "Futurama" assistant director and illustrator Aimee Major Steinberger; Logan's Run: Last Day writer Paul Salamoff; writer and speaker Daryl Frazetti; SF screenwriter and publicist Craig Miller; writer and anime producer Audry Taylor; writer and comics historian Dr Arnold T Blumberg; SF/fantasy and comics illustrator Arne Starr; and our old friend Eric Hoffman, film and television historian, who will be taking care of some of our annual retrospectives and tribute presentations. And of course, our friends at Doctor Who Podshock will be back with some special surprises of their own! They will, of course, be joined by many other guest speakers and panelists to be confirmed down the road.
Our list is by no means final! In fact, we have several other invitations out to prominent Doctor Who themed guests as well as local actors, writers and speakers. We expect to have further development of our guest list as we enter the fall of 2010, and we will keep you posted!
``xEkZAkpAllyiIMCKmkA``x1279220686``x(default)``x``x2011-guestsimage2.png``x``xNews
Island #2: Lincoln Island``xjslyon``xLincoln Island is the name given to the island oasis discovered by the castaways of French novelist Jules Verne's classic novel, The Mysterious Island. The five American survivors, who escape from being prisoners of war by the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, flee in a hot air balloon and later crash land on the island, which they name after President Abraham Lincoln. After facing down pirates, malaria and the elements, the survivors discover the truth about the island: it's the home harbor of the Nautilus and the hideout of Captain Nemo!
The novel is a sequel to Verne's famous Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and In Search of the Castaways, though thematically it is vastly different from those books. In September 1875 Sampson Low, Marston, Low, and Searle published the first British edition of The Mysterious Island in three volumes entitled "Dropped from the Clouds," "The Abandoned," and "The Secret of the Island." The first American edition was published in November of the same year. It has been translated many times thereafter, including as a column in Philadelphia's Evening Telegraph, and is considered a modern classic.
The book has been adapted into other media many times, mostly notably as the 1929 film "The Mysterious Island," which was filmed in color but now only exists in black and white, and which was filmed as a silent movie, but talking sequences were filmed later for the beginning and several sequences during the film; as the 1961 film of the same name directed by Cy Endfield, with Herbert Lom starring as Nemo and featuring special effects from legendary effects producer Ray Harryhausen; as a short-lived Canadian TV series from 1995; and a TV movie directed by Russell Mulcahy in 2005 starring Patrick Stewart as Nemo and Kyle MacLachlan as Cyrus. "The Mysterious Island" along with its predecessor novels also serve as inspiration for such works as the Tom Hanks film "Cast Away," the computer game Myst and the themed land at Tokyo DisneySea. J.J. Abrams, creator of the television series Lost, credits "The Mysterious Island" as the chief inspiration for the show, and Alan Moore, writer of the graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, uses it as inspiration for the reintroduction of Nemo as part of the League.
Wikipedia Entry on "The Mysterious Island"
``xEkZAkpAEyuNGwioPxa``x1279219964``x(default)``x``x2011-island-2.png``x``xIslands
Welcome to the Gallifrey 2011 Website``xjslyon``xWelcome to the website for the 2011 Gallifrey One convention, Gallifrey One's Catch 22: Islands of Mystery. If you're visiting for the first time... Gallifrey One is North America's largest fan-run Doctor Who event, and the longest-running annual Doctor Who convention in the world. We have many confirmed guests announced, with more coming later this year. Also throughout the summer, we'll be announcing lots of new programming events, panels and other fun things to take part in at our next convention!
If you've never been with us, check out the About Gallifrey One page and our Photo Gallery from past conventions. Also, feel free join us on Facebook! We also feature Online Registration for the event, and you can find out about everything from the program to our dealers room and art show, the masquerade, our autograph & photo sessions and much more here at the website. Feel free to drop us a line via email if you have questions, too!
``xEkZlykuppEBGIwjYxm``x1278634801``x(default)``x``x``x``xgconwelcomenote
The Islands of Mystery``xjslyon``xEvery year, Gallifrey One has a convention theme. Our theme for 2011 takes us in a slightly different direction than in recent years: into the southern seas, the tropics, toward the Islands of Mystery. Everything at our next convention will be touched by this theme, from con apparel (tropical or Hawaiian shirts will be encouraged) to decor of our main stage, and even a few things that may, shall we say, interrupt our plans through the course of the weekend. (Just wait until our Friday night gala gets going!)
This will also apply to a new convention-wide contest, the Islands of Mystery Game. Over the course of the weekend, you'll be able to collect individual stickers of 22 different islands from fiction, both SF & fantasy as well as classic literature, from various places at the convention, events that take place throughout, and even a few puzzlers you'll need to decipher. Collect a certain number and we have a small incentive... collect all 22 and you'll win something nice. Each island will have a unique icon, set within a border framework (those of you paying attention to recent television phenomena should hopefully recognize that border!)
Every so often we'll announce a new member of the Islands of Mystery here on the website, along with its corresponding icon. Get to know the symbols for each of the islands, learn about them through our website and links we'll provide. You may find it educational, and hopefully a lot of fun once you arrive at Gallifrey 2011.
The first island to catch at the 2011 convention is Themyscira, also known as Paradise Island, from the Wonder Woman comics. Click here or on the Islands tab on the top menu for information about the first of our twenty-two Islands of Mystery...
``xEkZluFAyFFzWxCmPmP``x1278450433``x(default)``x``x2011-island-1.png``x``xNews
Island #1: Themyscira``xjslyon``xThemyscira is the fictional island nation in the DC Comics universe that is the place of origin of Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons. Also known as Paradise Island since Wonder Woman and the island's first appearance in All Star Comics #8 (December 1941), it was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February 1987 relaunch in Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #1. The island is named after the mythological city of Themiscyra, the capital of the Amazon tribe in Greek mythology. Themyscira is also the name of the city on the island.
When Wonder Woman's homeland is first introduced in 1941, it is a secret and hidden island inhabited by the Amazons of myth. The Amazons had grown tired of the evil ways of mankind in ancient Greece and had separated themselves to this island where they could practice a peaceful way of life and cultivate their minds. With the island blessed by the Olympian Gods, no man is allowed to physically set foot on it. When United States Army intelligence officer Steve Trevor's plane crashes there during World War II, he is nursed back to health by Princess Diana, daughter of the island's Queen Hippolyta. Recuperating on the nearby Island of Healing, the rule of no man being able to step foot on Paradise Island remained in effect. Diana competes against other Amazons to become Wonder Woman, the representative from Paradise Island who will accompany Steve back to "Man's World" and aid in the fight against the Axis powers. It is established that all Amazons are adept at a discipline called "bullets and bracelets" in which they are able to deflect bullets fired at them using the metal cuffs on their wrists.
This basic back-story remains intact throughout the Golden Age and Silver Age of Comic Books, until the 1985-1986 Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline. Upon the conclusion of this limited series, most characters in the DC Comics universe underwent some revamp or retcon in their storyline history, and Wonder Woman was one of several characters whose entire continuity was rebooted. The 1987 relaunch of Wonder Woman establishes that the Amazons are the reincarnated souls of women slain throughout pre-history by men. Shaped from clay over 3,000 years previous and given new lives by five Olympian goddesses, the Amazons are granted immortality, great physical strength, highly acute senses, beauty, wisdom, and love for one another. They are tasked to teach the merits of virtue, love, and equality to the men of “Patriarch’s World." They found the city-state of Themyscira in ancient Turkey. Renaming the island paradise Themyscira after their fallen capitol, the Amazons began their new lives, erecting buildings and monuments and perfecting their skills as artisans and warriors. Themyscira is presently located in the Bermuda Triangle, but possesses the magical ability to teleport to any location or time period its inhabitants desire.
Wikipedia Entry on Themyscira
DC Comics Wiki on Themyscira
``xEkZluFZVVpWanhjeCl``x1278448350``x(default)``x``x2011-island-1.png``x``xIslands
Farewell, Bob Null``xjslyon``xIt is with deep sadness that we must announce the passing of Gallifrey One's long-time logistics director, and our dear friend, Merlin "Bob" Null. Bob passed away last night, Monday, June 21 after a long illness.
There are very few people in the world who have been as integral to the Los Angeles convention community as Bob Null has been. Bob has been central to the material management of countless L.A. conventions, and has been an important part of Gallifrey One since our foundation. Bob made certain our supply truck was ordered, supervised its loading and unloading, and provided material management throughout the convention. He purchased supplies for the Con Suite, organized our office equipment, supervised the loading and unloading of our TARDIS, and verified the usability of equipment such as our art show displays and main stage pipe & drape. Bob was so identified in the Logistics position at conventions that they frequently identified it as "the Bob Null committee position," and his passing is an enormous loss to Gallifrey One and many other conventions in our city. We will be dedicating our 2011 convention to Bob's memory. Rest in peace, dear friend.
``xEkZZkkZpuudqUFPOmo``x1277237844``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
Beware the Islands....``xjslyon``xAs the long crawl toward Gallifrey 2011 continues through the year, we offer you a taste of what lies in store. The Islands of Mystery beckon...
``xEkZylpVkukpFUTXfWo``x1276816042``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
Tachyon TV Goes to Gallifrey One``xjslyon``xOur friends at Tachyon TV (and the Behind the Sofa Doctor Who blog) have just released a videolog entitled I Haven't Been This Drunk Since 1989, a two-part video documentary about their visits in 2009 and 2010 to the Gallifrey One conventions. It's about 22 minutes long, and features a look at the sights and sounds of both years, the guests, the costumes (including a detailed look at convention cosplay) and the fans, and we think it's just wonderful! Check it out by clicking here... especially if you haven't come to Gallifrey One before and would love a sneak peek at what you'll find. Our thanks to Simon Harries, Neil Perryman, Damon Querry and John Williams for such a fun production (and for saying nice things about our convention!)
``xEkZuAEkpFVDOLIHcau``x1274922835``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
New 2010 Photos!``xjslyon``xAt long last, there are nearly a hundred new photos from Gallifrey One: Blackjack 21, our last convention (this past February), now online in the Photo Gallery. Check them out -- they are the photos numbered 300 to 396 (on, roughly, pages 24 to 37... sorry, our gallery doesn't automatically sort them the way we really want it to!)
``xEkZkZupApyAOPOocFH``x1272751706``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
Complete Website Online``xjslyon``xJust a quick note: our website for 2011 is now completely active, and all sections are live. We will, of course, have plenty of updates to all pages going forward. Of note: a separate page this year with complete plans for our autographs & photos; updated deadlines for artwork for the Gallifrey One postcards for 2011; early details on the 2011 masquerade; and tentative schedule items (yes, this far out) detailing our general plans for next year. Be sure to watch for many updates to the programming & events lists starting in late summer.
``xEkZkpVklFZsOlQipKv``x1272063637``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
Hotel Registration Opens, Website Update``xjslyon``xWe are delighted to announce that the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel has opened up Gallifrey One's 2011 room block, meaning hotel reservations are now available! As we announced last summer, due to the negotiations that came out of our unexpected date shift for last February's convention, Gallifrey One is now available to offer the special room price of only $100.00 per night per room... a discount of nearly twenty dollars per night from last year's prices, and a rate good for the next three years! Click on the link to visit our Hotel page, which gives you specific directions about reserving a hotel room. (Note: we do encourage you to do so online; by phone has proven to be a bit more tricky!
We are also extremely delighted to announce that, starting with our 2011 convention, Gallifrey One has secured the entire convention floor for our event. No longer will we be sharing the convention center - the lower floor of the hotel, under the main lobby level - with other functions during the weekend... everything from our programming to dealers room, art show to autographs, video and photos, located in the convention space. (The only exceptions: the con suite and party rooms, located in the hotel proper.) Convention registration will also be out in the main foyer area, and there will be much more room to move around.
Also... we've updated our website! Check out the menu bar above; while some of the sections are still unavailable (such as programming, masquerade, the schedule and membership list), the Dealers Room & Art Show, Hotel & Transportation and other pages are now live. More coming soon... enjoy!
``xEkZEZEyFylfYWLvDgN``x1271727168``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
Gallifrey 2011 Major Guest Announcement``xjslyon``xThough it's only March and our 2010 convention is still heavy in the minds of everyone who attended, Gallifrey One has gotten the ball rolling earlier than ever this year for our next event, Gallifrey One's Catch 22: Islands of Mystery. To that end, as of today we have re-opened Convention Pre-Registration at the low cost of only $50 for the entire weekend, a rate good until this summer (after which rates will slowly rise to the same at-the-door price as in 2010, $75.) And in the meanwhile we are delighted to announce a headline slate of ten guests so far for the 2011 event, all confirmed for next February's convention.
Joining PETER DAVISON, whose return we announced in February during our last event (confirmed by Peter himself in his video message to our attendees) are two of his co-stars during his tenure as the Doctor. We are delighted to welcome back JANET FIELDING, who played the headstrong flight attendant Tegan Jovanka throughout most of Davison's tenure, and who was last with us in 2004 to rave reviews; Fielding recently returned to the fold in a new series of audios from Big Finish to be released later this year. Also joining us is MATTHEW WATERHOUSE, best known as Adric during Tom Baker's final year and Davison's first, who returns to Gallifrey 2011 after an absence of twelve years. Janet and Matthew are both terrific convention guests and will be appearing as sponsored guests of our friends at Tenth Planet Events.
It is our great pleasure to welcome TRACIE SIMPSON, the Producer of both the 2009 specials and the forthcoming 2010 series of Doctor Who as well the former Production Manager of the series for its first four seasons, for her first North American convention. Tracie, like several of our previous convention guests, comes to us with great insight about the series, having been responsible for day-to-day operations as both manager and producer throughout the series' tenure, and will be able to share great stories about her time, including the new series starring Matt Smith.
Next, we are delighted to bring not one, but two guests from Torchwood. Joining us for his first West Coast appearance is TOM PRICE, best known to fans as Police Constable (PC) Andy Davidson, Gwen's partner and police officer in Cardiff throughout the past three seasons. In addition to his acting talents, Tom is a stand-up comedian and voiceover artist who has appeared on BBC Radio 4 in "Rigor Mortis". Joining Tom will be the returning KAI OWEN, who plays Rhys Williams in all three series (including as a regular in Children of Earth), and who made his first North American appearance at Gallifrey One two years ago. Tom and Kai are a terrific double-act, and are both appearing courtesy Tenth Planet.
We are also able to add to our list of classic series guests we've never had with the appearance of JOHN LEESON, best known to Doctor Who fans as the voice of K-9 during the classic series from 1977-1979 and again during the 1980-81 season. Leeson then reprised the role for the "K9 and Company" special in 1981, the episodes "School Reunion" and "Journey's End" in the new series, in eight episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures and as the title character of the new show, K-9 The Series. Leeson was also seen in Blake's 7 and a variety of other shows, and we are delighted to welcome him for the first time to a Gallifrey One event, again as a sponsored guest of Tenth Planet.
Another guest making his first-ever appearance at a North American convention is NEILL GORTON. Neill owns and operates the UK based company Millennium FX, which provides make-up effects, prosthetics, animatronics and visual effects to films, TV and commercials worldwide. For the past four years, Gorton has been behind the award-winning prosthetics and designs of Doctor Who, prosthetics and creature effects of Torchwood and special effects of The Sarah Jane Adventures, providing many of the memorable and amazing visuals of each of the three series. Gorton, who has also worked on Being Human, Jekyll, Hex, Little Britain and The Catherine Tate Show, will continue our tradition of bringing you the best from behind-the-scenes hands-on production.
And finally, we can announce the return of novelist and script editor for all three of the current BBC series, GARY RUSSELL, as well as the executive producer of Big Finish Productions, JASON HAIGH-ELLERY, both of whom are long-time Gallifrey One regulars and great program participants.
And this is just the start! Later in 2010 we'll be able to announce additional guests who will be joining us in February 2011, including more behind-the-scenes folks from Doctor Who, Torchwood and Sarah Jane, as well as a bunch of local guests including participants in our science program track, authors, artists and entertainers galore. If you have ideas, too, we'd love to hear from you, simply drop us a line. We hope to see you in 2011!
A note regarding Sarah Sutton: As we noted during our 2010 convention, we have invited Sarah Sutton, who was unable to be with us in February. Sarah is extremely interested in coming but is unable to fully commit at this time. Rest assured our invitation remains open to her and we have every intention of having her with us next year, her schedule permitting.
``xEkyllyFVEEhgNozCGZ``x1268874311``x(default)``x``x2011-guestsimage1.png``x``xNews
Photo Update: Gallifrey 2010``xjslyon``xGallifrey One's Photo Archive has been updated with both a collection of convention photos from a variety of attendees, as well as the contents of our Friday Photo Op photo set. If you have additional photos you would like to contribute to the gallery, please email us - thanks!
``xEkyZyZAEVFJBkUXLlK``x1267689953``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
Gallifrey 2010 Wrap-Up, plus 2011 Launch/Preview``xjslyon``x
Gallifrey One: Blackjack 21 is now a memory... but what a memory! A fabulously successful weekend from many accounts, with 1,595 attendees, our highest number ever (revised from the original report of 1,543 after our membership coordinator counted all of the paperwork). This year we raised $3661 for our charity, Direct Relief International. A terrific weekend full of interviews and panels, autograph sessions, kaffeeklatsches, wonderful guests, great friends, unparalleled costuming, Daleks large and small, knitting circles, lively (and sometimes even combative) panel discussions, photo ops, "LobbyCon," podcasters around every corner, Ood processionals, casino gaming, Casino Royale cocktails, a Titanic party, a costume designer sharing swatches with eager fans, surprise drop-in guests, poolside fun, eleven Doctors, two Tony Lees, Doctor Who role play gaming, chicks who dig Time Lords, massive Masquerade lines, and a moving video tribute to Barry Letts that brought guests to tears. And then, of course, convention greetings from abroad via video, from new producers and old friends...
We would like your photos for our convention photo album on the website. Please Email Us if you have photos to share... we'd love to see them and feature them in our archive.
Friday Photo Op Photos will be available for download on Tuesday, March 2 on the website... keep checking back for details!
Year In Review Quiz: For those interested in the answers to the Mastermind quiz featured as part of the Year In Review presentation on Sunday, you can click here.
The #gally Twitter feed has been non-stop all weekend... check that out, plus our Facebook page and the thread on the Gallifrey Base forum (links up on the top menu bar on this page) to leave your thoughts!
Our very special thanks to our very special guests this year: Katy Manning, Tommy Knight, Georgia Moffett, Graeme Harper, Louise Page, Deborah Watling, Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines, John Levene, Bob Baker, Andrew Hayden-Smith, Nicholas Briggs, Phil Ford, John Fay, Colin Teague, Alice Troughton, Rob Shearman, Paul Cornell, Gary Russell, Jason Haigh-Ellery, John Pickard, Tony Lee, Pia Guerra, Matthew Dow Smith, Paul Tams, Stephanie Beacham, Amber Benson, Marv Wolfman, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Mark Waid, Wendy Pini, Nancy Holder, David Wise, Scott Handcock, Steve Roberts, Kate Orman, Jonathan Blum, David J. Howe, Larry Nemecek, Sam Stone, Arne Starr, Dr. Arnold T Blumberg, Eve Eschenbacher, Paul J. Salamoff, Richard Dinnick, Aimee Major Steinberger, Audry Taylor, Richard Starkings, Joshua Hale Fialkov, Dr. Robert Gounley, Tanuki Suit Riot, Dr. Jim Busby, Eric Hoffman, the folks from Doctor Who: Podshock, and our special visitors in Daphne Ashbrook and Yee Jee Tso. Of course, our very best wishes to Sarah Sutton and her family... we hope to see her very soon, and our thoughts and prayers are with her. Huge additional thanks to Sandy Knight, Ed Stradling, Derek Hambly, Paul Jones, Gareth-Michael and Laura Skarka, Denton Tipton and Alonzo Simon, Dominic McDowell-Thomas at Cubicle 7, AnnaMaria White at IDW Comics, Scott Armstrong, Emily Danyel, plus Ken Deep, Louis Trapani and James Naughton at Doctor Who Podshock, and all our dealers, displaying artists, cosplayers, podcasters and attendees. Great big ginormous thanks to Catherine Douglas-Frank and her team at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel, and to Jill Rode at Direct Relief International. Finally, our special thanks to Steven Moffat and Peter Davison - they know why.
And our thanks to you... all 1,543 of you, who made this a weekend that will not soon be forgotten. Thank you for joining us.
And now... the journey begins! Just fifty weeks and counting to Gallifrey One's next convention odyssey; don't say we didn't warn you. Gallifrey Conventions proudly announces Gallifrey One's Catch 22: Islands of Mystery, February 18-20, 2011 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel. Peter Davison is our confirmed guest of honor, and we'll have tons to announce over the course of the year. Pre-registration opens in late March. We hope to see you there!
``xEkyZuAVAVuYoobiRvx``x1267506754``x(default)``x``x``x``xNews
