American SF and Fantasy on TV

Director:  Aaron Dunne

The American SF and Fantasy on TV track hosts panels covering everything from Slides to Quantum Leap, Charmed to Andromeda, MST3k to Stargate SG-1.  If it's modern American sci-fi or fantasy, we have it here!

Check out their main web-site here.

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American Science Fiction Classics

Director: Ron Nastrom

If you are a fan of classic sci-fi movies, television or literature, American Science Fiction Classics will have something for you. Anything that appeared on the scene prior to 1996 is covered in this track. During your four day experience with us you will be entertained by panels, videos, celebrity guests, how to seminars, and our ever popular Friday Night Games! Come take a ride in Dragon*Con's very own Time Machine and remember the Good Old Days.

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Anime/Animation

Director:  Jessica Merriman

The fascination with animated features is present in most modern nations across the globe, and DragonCon is no different. Join us for an exploration into animation from around the globe. We will be featuring a wide array of panels, speakers and workshops on subjects such as classic American animated shorts, Japanese anime and sentai programming, the unique fan-front of anime music videos and the creation thereof, and international cartoons. Discover how each culture plays into its own animated style, and the vast differences in standards from country to country.

More information can be found at anime.dragoncon.net

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Apocalypse Rising

Director: Tami Brown

Out of the ashes of the North American Tribal Gathering rises a whole new breed of programming: Apocalypse Rising: Apocalyptic Themes In Popular Media. Making our debut at Dragon*Con 2007 we offer a contemporary look at the end of days and all that will follow. And as we all know you can't have a good Apocalypse with out such fandoms as Jeremiah, Jericho, The Tribe, zombies, and more! Programming all weekend will look at apocalyptic themes in movies, television, books, and music.....even prophecy, theology, and mythology.

If you'd like to learn more about the track, please visit us at:

• Official Track Website: http://apocalypserising.dragoncon.net
• MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/artrackdc
• LiveJournal: http://community.livejournal.com/ar_dctrack

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Art Show Forums and Workshops

Director:  John and Anne Parise

We are planning many exciting events for the 2007 Dragon*Con Art Show including the annual Iron Artist contest, a large canvas on which all the artists can work (which will be sold at auction immediately following the competition for charity), live music, demos, how-to’s, and other wonderful events. We will be hosting our annual Artists Reception on Friday night of the convention. Panel discussions and demonstrations are very important to the Art Show as well and the programming room for all Art Show programs is next to the main entrance of the Art Show.

For more information on the Art Show & Print Shop, please click here.

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Autograph Sessions

Each year, Dragon*Con assembles many of its willing guests for scheduled autographings (signings) in one area. Not every guest is willing - or able - to sign items, but we do inquire as to each guest's willingness to do so.

Some guests - usually screen stars - charge for autographs, but autographings staged in our Autograph Area are always free. Limitations on number and type of items may be made, generally at the request of the signer, and sometimes due to time considerations.

Autographs will be handled on a first-come, first-signed basis. We will promote equal access for handicapped persons but this does not exclude them from the first-come, first-served rule; as with other convention attendees they will get their autograph in order of their arrival. A place in line will be saved for them.

Line breakers will be excluded from that signing session. No weapons, peace-bonded or not, will be allowed in the lines. Holding places in line is not permitted. Wait at the start of the line for friends and family.

Please, only the number of items allowed are to be signed. Please give others a chance to get their items signed. Convention rules apply at the signing sessions; please abide by them.

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British Programming Track

Director: Caro McCully

Britain has inspired every aspect of American modern culture. It has opened the gates to media innovation since it's BBC worldwide radio shows during WWII. In becoming the first country with a national television network, genres and fans were birthed and now are discussed here at the British Media Track! Dragon*Con's British Science-Fiction Media Track programming continues with this exploration of every facet, fad, and pop culture idiom of everything British for con-goers.

The Brittrack programming is broad and diverse, spreading across every medium (film, TV, comics, music, and literature) the Brit's have to offer. So you can see we have our hands full but our hearts are oh, so willing.

Come, stop by, and get sucked into the world of British Sci-fi Media! Meet a huge fandom whose passions include: Doctor Who (New and Old), Torchwood, Blake's 7, Red Dwarf, Monty Python, Who's Line is it Anyway, Young Ones, Alan Moore, David Llyod, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Prisoner, James Bond, Warren Ellis, the Avengers, Fawlty Towers, Neil Gaiman, Sherlock Holmes, Shakespeare, Danger Mouse and other cultural legacies of the United Kingdom. There is so much and not enough time to cover it all! Come have Tea Time with us at any hour, and join in on our bad Cockney accents!

All are welcome, young and old, fans new and devout! Our staff is here to make sure you're having fun, laughing hard, and safe from all daleks.

Want to find out what is going on with the Brittrack? Then go check out our website at http://brittrack.blogspot.com or join our updates group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brittrackupdates/

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Comics

Director:  Thom Trainor

Dragon*Con consistently provides a large number of comics-related panels each year, and this year will be no exception. Additionally, publishers and creators will be on hand to discuss their work, and our Comics Artists Alley offers you a chance to see many of your favorites in one place. Join us for the Southeast's largest gathering of comics professionals, as well as many related talents from the realms of film, television, fantastic fiction and art.

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Costuming

Director: Brian Holloway

We are back again, and hopefully bigger and better than ever. We have a new series of panels, some much requested items to look at, a few hands-on panels, and a new group of presenters. We have started a new trend in bringing a few professional designers to give us a different slant to costume creation. Additionally, we are going to feature some back-to-basics panels that will hopefully give everyone a chance to learn the process of costuming; from design to application to presentation. And we cannot forget our corseting classes that grow in popularity from year to year. Add to this make-up, prosthetics, and how to sew panels……….we are going to have some fun.

We are also bringing back the "Costuming Contest" so that we can have a chance to see our attending participants in a venue designed to judge their skill and craftsmanship...not just a pageant; it is more than presentation, but less than a cabaret.

And we have made some changes as well. Mostly, we are seeing the premiere of the new "Dragon-After-Dark" contest. Much along the same lines as our previous Saturday late-night contest, we are loosening things up this year. Although it is still focused on the sexy and revealing costumes we see lurking in the hallways each year; gone are the NC-17 rating, the no-camera rules, ID's at the door, and the female-ONLY participants. We are letting our hair down, relaxing our rules, and leaving it WIDE open for male, female, or any other non-gender specific costumes and entrants.

So we wish a welcome to all of the costumers this year, both newbies and old masters to have some fun, join the panels, give us your input, and we may even manage to have fun and learn some new things. But we still need your input. If there are things you would like to see or panels that grab your particular interests, please drop an email to the Track Director and we will attempt to get as much scheduled as we have time for.

More information can be found at costuming.dragoncon.net

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Electronic Frontiers Forums

Director:  Scott Jones

Electronic Frontiers Forums covers your rights online and the latest trends in online media. Topics include privacy, security, freedom of speech, intellectual property issues in the Internet age, and online activism. We also cover the ways that people come together in online spaces such as social networking, online publishing, and multi-player online gaming. Specific topics we aspire to cover this year include new media and Web 2.0, creative commons, Wikipedia, computer forensics, and sales tax on Internet purchases. Returning favorite panels will include Hacking 101, 201, and 301, Web Comics, and Web Cam Girls. To make programming suggestions or to volunteer to be on staff, please contact Scott Jones at scott@aprr.org.

Schedule posted at: http://www.aprr.org/dc/

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Filk Singing

Director:  Tom Smith

Filk Singing began life as a typographic error of “Folk Singing” in a convention program book back in the early 1960’s. Instead of correcting the mistake, a new form of music called “filk” was created.

Filk songs come in two varieties - parodies of popular songs with an SF theme (or fantasy or horror, etc.) and original music with the same themes.

Join us each evening for the usual hilarity and throat-drying festivities (“where the heck can we get some water!?”).

• Atlanta Area Filk Singing

For up-to-the-minute details on the panels and activities we have planned, visit the track web site at:  www.geocities.com/sffilk/dc.htm

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Gothic Shadows

Director:  Derek Tatum

Gothic Shadows is DragonCon's programming track devoted to gothic culture and dark fantasy. The track features panels spotlighting darkwave/gothic rock, horror fiction, vampires, and the darker side of popular culture in general.

Although distinct from DragonCon's Live Performance programming, Gothic Shadows features an array of speakers from the field of gothic and darkwave music. Past speakers have included members of Bella Morte, The Last Dance, The Cruxshadows, Ego Likeness, Abney Park, Voltaire, Paul Mercer (formerly of ethereal act The Changelings), and Atlanta-based death rock act Tears for the Dying.

Past literary guests have included best-selling author Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jim Butcher, L.A. Banks, Steven Savile, Cherie Priest, Angelique Armae, Rosemary Laurey, Lilith Saintcrow, as well as many others. Also participating on various panels were comics talents Todd Livingston, Ted Naifeh, and Scott Allie. Speakers such as noted occultist Michelle Belanger, paranormal investigator Patrick Burns, and Ghost Hunters/TAPS investigators Brian Harnois and Steve Gonsalves have given a metaphysical/supernatural touch to previous years' programming.

For further information, visit us on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/dragoncongothic and http://groups.myspace.com/dragoncongothic , as well as LiveJournal at http://community.livejournal.com/dragoncongothic.

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Independent Film

Director:  Matthew M. Foster

The place to be for filmmakers and film-lovers, with a combination of feature screenings, filmmaker panels, and the Independent Short Film Festival.

2005 was an exciting year that included two world premier, test screenings: Rob Fritz's indie, vampire bloodbath, God of Vampires, and Mark Racop's sci-fi comedy, Starship II: Rendezvous with Ramses (with special appearances by John Astin, Jason Carter, Richard Biggs, and Leslie Culton).  We also hade the best in Asian cinema with two trips into the unusual--films not released in the U.S.  First, there was Takashi Shimizu's (the creator of Ju-on and The Grudge) dream-like, Lovecraftian vision, Marebito.  Then there was the best of Korean supernatural thrillers with Spider Forest.

Our programming included panels on directing on a budget, SFX make-up techniques, story boarding and animation (with nationally acclaimed Mark Simon), working with a green screen, and making fan films.  Plus, Charles Band, the founder of Full Moon Entertainment, producer of over 230 films including Trancers, Puppet Master, and Subspecies, spoke about his career.

And there was the Independent Short Film Festival, with over 70 of the best genre shorts.  Twisted animation, spine-chilling horror, cutting edge fantasy, challenging science fiction, and all kinds of comedy are just a start.  Acclaimed actor Dean Stockwell will hosted the award ceremony.

To learn more about what we did, and to see what is going to happen next year, keep watching the D*C Indie Film website at: http://filmfest.dragoncon.net.

If you have a question, please e-mail Matthew M. Foster.

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Late-Night (LIVE) Programming

Director:  Cassy Gordon

We'll again offer late-night DJ'd dances Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, beginning after the last concert's over in the ballroom and lasting until dawn (or whenever everyone gets tired), so you vampires can dance until the sun comes up!

Traditional SF convention filk-singing will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, late-night. Filking will begin at midnight and will also continue to the light of day. If you have any questions, please contact our Filk Director, Theresa M Wachowiak via our Contact/Feedback Page.

For the last few years, we've also had an impromptu drum-circle form up for several hours on the pool-deck on Friday and Saturday nights. In 2000 the drum-circle was made a formal part of the schedule for Friday through Sunday night, forming up around the pool and then moving inside (typically to the Chicago Room) due to noise and foot-traffic concerns.

This tradition will continue in 2005 (although the room might be different), so bring your doumbek or djembe (or your congas or your violin or your flute...) if you've got one.

And don't forget our video room.  Plus, the Short Film Festival will have the best in modern shorts going all night long.

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Main Programming

Director:  Pat Henry

Main Programming refers to events, contests, presentations, and performances not covered under specific "programming tracks." Main programming items are usually single events which are not part of a specific genre, including:

• Contests
• Performances (Theatrical, Musical, and Radio)
• Presentations and Ceremonies
  • Opening Ceremonies (Friday evening)
  • Closing Ceremonies (Monday afternoon)
  • Awards Banquet 

• Miscellaneous Main Programming

  • The Con In Review (Monday afternoon)
  • Late-Night Dances and Drum-Circles (Friday - Sunday nights)
  • Red Cross Blood Drive (Vampires Anonymous)

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Pern Track

Director: Steven Duncan

Dedicated primarily to the Dragonriders of Pern novels written by Anne McCaffrey.

Check out www.weyrfest.org, the Home Page for the Anne and Todd McCaffrey fan track and Pern Gather at DragonCon. Find here the Panel Schedule, the WeyrFest Message Board, Photos from past events, and a Pern Related Links Page!

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Podcasting: Now and Beyond

Director:  Derek Colanduno & Swoopy

Welcome to Podcasting: Now and Beyond. Here, there are no limits to what can be created in the realm of Portable Media. In Podcasting you'll find a world rich in Science Fiction, Fantasy and original Speculative Fiction content like no other.

Are you already a fan? Our panels this year will include some of the most popular names in Podcasting from the likes of Geek Fu Action Grip, Slice of Sci-Fi, and The Signal to name a few.

Looking to start your own Podcast? We'll have Podcasting workshops taught by the authors of Secrets of the Podcast Masters, and Podcasting For Dummies to get you on your way, or just show you some new tips and tricks.

Are you an author looking for a new way to market your work? We'll have discussions with some of the most successful authors in the Podosphere on creating a Podiobook, publishing your Podcast material, or even turning your existing Podcast into a comic.

We'll also be hosting the First Annual Parsec Awards, dedicated to rewarding excellence in various aspects of Speculative Fiction Podcasting, Sci-fi & Fantasy Original Content, Podiobooks and a variety of other categories dealing with the new frontiers of Portable Media.

For details as they unfold, Podcasts of our featured panelists, as well as information on Podcasting and Portable media, see us online at: http://podcasting.dragoncon.net

This is just the beginning, so make sure and check your schedule and join us for Podcasting: Now and Beyond events at Dragon*Con 2006.

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Readings

Director:  David Gordon

Offering readings by authors from their own works (and usually some discussion with the audience afterward), our past readers have included T.W. Miller, Janny Wurtz, Kevin J. Anderson, Jana Oliver, Karen McCollough, Tracy Hickman, Laura Curtis, and Caitlin Kiernan.  Check back closer to the convention for the latest on who will be reading for you this year!

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Robotics

Director:  Michael 'Shaggy' Macht

The Robotics Track features robots from both fiction and fact. We will be looking at how to build a fighting robot, space robots, artbots and more. Both biological and mechanical participants are welcome. In 2005 we will be continuing our robotic competitions: Robot Battles (one of the longest-running robot competitions in the world) and an antweight robot fight. New in 2005 is our catapult building contest.

For more info or to suggest panel ideas, please email Simon using the link above.

For complete information about Robot Battles and Robot MicroBattles, including rules and contest times, please visit the Official Robot Battles web site at: www.robotbattles.com

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Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time

Director:  Jennifer Liang

This programming track is for the many fans of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series of books. We'll host discussions about various aspects of Jordan's astonishingly vast vision.

Readers of this voluminous series are well aware of the nearly endless parade of seemingly-unimportant details that Jordan sprinkles into his narrative... which then jump up and bite you when you least expect it!

This track is for anyone who's ever agonized over whether Verin, Mazrim Taim, or indeed almost anyone else in the series was a Darkfriend. If, like ye humble Director, you've ever looked at one of the chapter-head logos and thought "Well, the snaky-square denotes some sort of involvement by the Forsaken in the chapter, so this means Someone New and Evil has turned up," then you'll feel right at home.

Fan suggestions for programming ideas are always welcome; please feel free to email Jennifer at the link above.

For up-to-the-minute details on the panels and activities we have planned, or to make suggestions of your own, please visit the track web site at:  www.ageoflegends.net/index.php

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Sci-Fi Literature

Director: Sue Phillips

We'll be covering science fiction on the printed page...and yes, that includes fantasy as well. Discussion of what we read, why we read and what is science fiction anyway? Favorite writers, why and who.

I hope to be presenting some writers to discuss these issues as well as fans.

Kaffeklatsches are under consideration; perhaps a swap meet - old books for other old books. I'm setting up a yahoo group for the track; please come over and join us. Let us know what you'd like to see. Who knows, you might find yourself on a panel or two.

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Silk Road: Asian Cinima & Culture

Director:  Susan Shockley

For thousands of years asian cultures have been writing fantasy, horror, and science fiction. This track will cover all the exotic stories, and movies from the rich tapestry of these cultures.

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Space & Science

Director: Dru Myers

Do YOU enjoy the science in science fiction? Are you fascinated by the realworld potential of nanotechnology, manned space exploration and genetic engineering? Do you secretly harbor desires for global domination and the ruthless yet stylish elimination of all who dare oppose you?

THEN BOY DO WE HAVE THE TRACK OF PROGRAMMING FOR YOU!

MEET people who find new and exciting extrasolar planets to conquer and exploit, make antimatter for a living, build and launch working spaceships, and manipulate the very fabric of life itself!

WITNESS "psychics" and purveyors of the paranormal tremble in fear as we demonstrate the debunking powers of Logic, Critical Thinking and Empirical Evidence that run amuck through our enormous throbbing brains!

EXPERIENCE the wonders and glories of the universe in a veritable plethora of wavelengths and time exposures, as recorded by our faithful robotic probes, telescopes and orbital sensor arrays!

Plus, WE GOT FREE ROCKET POWERED FLIGHT SIMS AND MYTHBUSTERS, BABY!

All this and more can be yours! Simply grab a body (yours or someone else's, living or dead), drag it on down & donate it to the SPACE AND SCIENCE track for a while.

Satisfaction absolutely, positively and unconditionally guaranteed, or else.

PS - New mailing list. Upgraded message board. Preliminary schedule. Free beer. Info at MadScientist.Org.UK. W3RD.

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Star Trek: TrekTrak

Director:  Eric L. Watts

TrekTrak: The Star Trek Convention at Dragon*Con --- devoted to Star Trek in all of its various forms, and to its fans, in all of THEIR various forms!

Dragon*Con 2007 will present TrekTrak for its 15th big year! Whether we're celebrating the Original Series, the animated series, the motion pictures, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager or Enterprise, TrekTrak consistently sets the standard for quality fan programming with its wide variety of highly acclaimed discussion topics, unique presentations and guest panels.

For up-to-the-minute details on the panels and activities being planned for 2007, or to make suggestions of your own, please visit the TrekTrak web site at www.trektrak.com.

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Star Wars: Matters of the Force

Director: Cathy Bowden

It's the 30th Year Anniversary of Star Wars!

The Star Wars Programming Track will be thrilling the fans this year with new shows, new panels, the 12th Annual Costume Contest (more categories), the 5th Annual MSTK3-Star Wars, Mr. Star Wars Contest, The MotF Cantina Ball, Trivia, One-on-One with guests, authors, illustrators, Prop Challenge, Collecting, Kid's Hour, Lego Building, Droid Builders, and many more.

For more information and up-to-date chatter, join us at http://mattersoftheforce.org. Chats are on Sunday nights – here we talk about the planning of the program track, changes, or just sit back to enjoy our Yoda Soda & Wookiee Cookies. You can visit our link http://motf.dragoncon.net/ also.

See you there!

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Star Gate: Offworld Fandom

Director:  Marcia Patterson

The iris is open! Star Gate: Offworld Fandom welcomes all new and fully initiated Stargate fans to interactive participation panels covering a wide range of topics including characters, plot developments & twists, and informative far ranging discussions. Other activities are fan videos, fan films, giveaways, games, contests, trivia and open social meeting times.

Panels & Activities may include filking, Egyptology, behind the scenes, creative activities, comics, zines, and a fan swap (so bring your extra stuff) and perhaps a surprise or two!

For updates join our yahoo group: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/stargatefandomtrack/
subscribe to the group at: stargatefandomtrack-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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Tolkien's Middle-Earth

Director:  Jean Baughman

One con to rule them all
One place to find them
One track to bring them all
And in Atlanta bind them

Welcome to Tolkien's Middle-earth! If you're looking for a fantastical place, filled with Elves, Hobbits, and talking trees, in a world full of myth and magic, then this is the place for you. The Tolkien Track pays homage to the beloved creator of Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien, and his myriad of works, including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillion.

Our track is packed with fun and includes everything from the best entertainment Arda has to offer to exciting informational panels to an awesome group of special guests. The unique mix of scholarly sessions and fan forums guarantees something for every Tolkien fan. From talks on elements of Tolkien's Middle-earth to fan films, fanfiction, live action role playing and costuming, we'll take you there and back again on an incredible journey.

We are planning an even more incredible schedule than last, and hope you'll drop by the track room to check out all the fun. For up-to-date information including schedules, guest and staff bios, and the latest track news, please stop by our official website http://www.elvenlords.net/tolkientrack

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Whedonverse

Director:  Wayne Hutchinson

Welcome to the All New Whedon Universe Track! Anything your heart desires from the mind and imagination of Joss Whedon can be found here. Our track discusses the best and worst of Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Comics and beyond. This is the place to test your trivia accumen, sing your heart out at the Buffy Horror Picture Show and dance til you drop at the Shindig. With all this salty goodness, you will NOT be disappointed .

For up-to-the-minute details on the panels and activities we have planned, visit the track web site at:  www.whedonuniverse.com.

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Writers' Track

Director:  Nancy Knight

Ever had a hankering to try your hand at becoming a professional writer?

Programming in the Writers Track will cover wide-ranging topics for both beginning and experienced writers, from basic submission procedures, to character development and world building, to plotting and pacing.

Or maybe you'd just like to sit down and listen to your favorite author read from their own works. With past guests like Ray Bradbury, Anne McCaffrey, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Robert Asprin, Betty Ballantine, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Stephen Hurst, and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, Dragon*Con is bound to have something just for you!

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X-Track

Director:  Leigh Bennett-Conner

Join us as we explore the world of the strange and the supernatural. With topics ranging from such popular television shows as The X-Files, Millennium, Poltergeist: The Legacy and The Twilight Zone to general discussions of the paranormal, UFOs and aliens among us, and other unexplained events, Dragon*Con will be taking a look at the real and the not-so-real surrounding us. Do you want to believe? Join us as we search for the truth.

• The X-Files (official home page for the series) 

• Fox Home Entertainment (get X-Files videos)

For up-to-the-minute details on the panels and activities we have planned, visit the track web site at: www.xtrack.dragoncon.net.

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Young Adult Literature

Director:  Bev Kodak

The Dragon*Con Young Adult Literature track focuses on Young Adult (ages 12-16) literature and culture. Programming is directed towards young adults, adults, and education professionals. Panels are designed with booktalks, arts and crafts, activities, and speakers. There will be a particular emphasis on current YA trends, such as the Harry Potter series, Lemony Snicket, R.L. Stine, and many upcoming cinematic interpretations of classic texts and current favorites.

More information, schedules, guests, etc., visit the Young Adult Literature website at http://yalit.dragoncon.net.

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