BSG actors to appear at "Gatecon 2005"
From The Richmond News:
Island Life
Beam me up, Scotty
By Michelle Hopkins
07/24/2005
Science fiction fans will see stars in Richmond next week.
Mark your calendars, devotees of all things sci-fi. The sixth annual Gatecon 2005 convention kicks off Monday, July 25 and runs to July 31 at the Best Western Richmond Hotel & Convention Centre.
"A lot of fans enjoy the imagination of these shows, their ability to see into the future," says Bill Wanstrom, corporate liaison and publicity for Gatecon. "This convention allows them to take that journey."
Gatecon 2005 is a journey into the unknown. Fans of Stargate SG-1, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Andromeda and The Collector of will attend acting workshops, competitions, fiction writer's workshops, a costume competition and meet some of the hottest science-fiction actors, including Kevin Sorbo (Andromeda) and Robert Picardo (the holographic doctor on Star Trek: Voyager), as well as a host of others.
Gatecon was initially inspired by the Vancouver-based TV series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, but was modified this year to recognize other series in the popular genre.
In the past, Wanstrom says organizers were focused on promoting MGM's Stargate. This year, the organizing committee expanded the convention to other television shows and movies. Actors Richard Hatch, Aaron Douglas, Kandyse McClure, Lorena Gale, Tahmoh Penikett, Alonso Oyarzun, Alessandro Juliani and Dirk Benedict are all expected at Gatecon.
"All Battlestar actors will be appearing a few times stage during the convention, including Q &A sessions," says Wanstrom. "It's five solid full days and nights of events to entertain everyone... photo sessions, signing events, auctions for charities, studio tours, workshops, and Richard Hatch will be conducting workshops."
But there's another reason to attend Gatecon: "We are a fan-run, charity driven convention where more than $250,000 US has been raised and donated to various Canadian charities," says Wanstrom.
Gatecon has raised some $100,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, proceeds go to three charities - Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and new this year, C.H.I.L.D.
Wanstrom is hoping to raise the convention's profile in B.C. Attendance last year was more than 700, mostly from outside the province, and for that matter Canada.
"Over the last five years we have found that more than 90 per cent of our visitors to our conventions have been from other countries other than Canada. They come from Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Holland, and other countries."
Bottom line, says Wanstrom: "We are a fan-run, charity-driven sci-fi, horror, adventure, fantasy convention where our net proceeds go to charities, and where our attendees and guests have tonnes of fun and everyone is put in the spotlight."
Advance one-day passes are $75 US ($100 at the door) or a five-day pass in advance is $225 US ($250 at the door). Visit gatecon.com.
Island Life
Beam me up, Scotty
By Michelle Hopkins
07/24/2005
Science fiction fans will see stars in Richmond next week.
Mark your calendars, devotees of all things sci-fi. The sixth annual Gatecon 2005 convention kicks off Monday, July 25 and runs to July 31 at the Best Western Richmond Hotel & Convention Centre.
"A lot of fans enjoy the imagination of these shows, their ability to see into the future," says Bill Wanstrom, corporate liaison and publicity for Gatecon. "This convention allows them to take that journey."
Gatecon 2005 is a journey into the unknown. Fans of Stargate SG-1, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Andromeda and The Collector of will attend acting workshops, competitions, fiction writer's workshops, a costume competition and meet some of the hottest science-fiction actors, including Kevin Sorbo (Andromeda) and Robert Picardo (the holographic doctor on Star Trek: Voyager), as well as a host of others.
Gatecon was initially inspired by the Vancouver-based TV series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, but was modified this year to recognize other series in the popular genre.
In the past, Wanstrom says organizers were focused on promoting MGM's Stargate. This year, the organizing committee expanded the convention to other television shows and movies. Actors Richard Hatch, Aaron Douglas, Kandyse McClure, Lorena Gale, Tahmoh Penikett, Alonso Oyarzun, Alessandro Juliani and Dirk Benedict are all expected at Gatecon.
"All Battlestar actors will be appearing a few times stage during the convention, including Q &A sessions," says Wanstrom. "It's five solid full days and nights of events to entertain everyone... photo sessions, signing events, auctions for charities, studio tours, workshops, and Richard Hatch will be conducting workshops."
But there's another reason to attend Gatecon: "We are a fan-run, charity driven convention where more than $250,000 US has been raised and donated to various Canadian charities," says Wanstrom.
Gatecon has raised some $100,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year, proceeds go to three charities - Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and new this year, C.H.I.L.D.
Wanstrom is hoping to raise the convention's profile in B.C. Attendance last year was more than 700, mostly from outside the province, and for that matter Canada.
"Over the last five years we have found that more than 90 per cent of our visitors to our conventions have been from other countries other than Canada. They come from Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Holland, and other countries."
Bottom line, says Wanstrom: "We are a fan-run, charity-driven sci-fi, horror, adventure, fantasy convention where our net proceeds go to charities, and where our attendees and guests have tonnes of fun and everyone is put in the spotlight."
Advance one-day passes are $75 US ($100 at the door) or a five-day pass in advance is $225 US ($250 at the door). Visit gatecon.com.
