Hey Guys,
I've been working with Dave Connover and Donnie Waddell at WONDERFEST over the last few years. This year some of my programing ideas have become a reality, and I've been dying to share them with you guys for months, but I wanted to wait until the website was updated and the guest list was 100% confirmed.
I've been buddies with Harry Knowles at Ain't It Cool News for about 10 years, so this year I dropped his name in the hat as a Wonderfest guest. He has always wanted to meet Bob Burns (in fact, he's almost a junior version of Bob), so I thought we might be able to kill two birds with one stone. When I visited Austin in December to attend his annual Butt-Numb-A-Thon I was able to talk to him about it in person. Not only is he a major model kit fan, but so are his friends, director Robert Rodriguez and Nimrod Antal, director of the new "Predators" film. They wanted to come too!
So this year we'll be getting an advanced preview panel on "Predators" two months before its release date thanks to Harry, Robert, Nimrod and Greg "Mr Awesome" Nicotero. That means Greg may be showing us cool Predator masks, props and who knows what else! There is also a planned "Attack of the Superfans" panel with Harry, Greg and Bob Burns! If that weren't enough, we'll be doing a Dan O'Bannon tribute with several "Return of the Living Dead" cast members and production designer William Stout. Need more cool stuff? Not a problem. Cortlandt Hull and Dennis Vincent from the Witches Dungeon will be debuting their new documentary, "THE AURORA MONSTERS: The Model Craze That Swept the World!" on DVD for you to purchase at the show! It's hosted by Zacherley and features the only interview ever with artist JAMES BAMA.
Word I'm getting on the street is that Cortlandt and Dennis have recently discovered a guy who worked at Aurora that nobody knew about that has an amazing stash of unproduced Aurora artwork and prototypes, including Flash Gordon and Ming the Merciless! So they may be bringing that stuff as well!
All of this and more! Even though Robert Rodriguez's name isn't officially on the website yet, he has already expressed interest in coming. This will be a first convention appearance for Robert, director of such films as "Terror Planet," "Sin City" and "From Dusk Til Dawn" among many others and we are thrilled to have him join our little family. He's currently very busy making "Machette", producing "Predators" and developing new projects and we know his time is valuable, so perhaps Dave Connover is waiting to make sure his schedule is free to commit to the weekend. As you know, working industry professionals are very busy!
I'm also happy to report that fantasy artist Ken Kelly is returning. If you're a KISS fan, you know Ken's work very well. All other Wonderfest family members and lurkers in the Old Dark Clubhouse will be here again this year too! You know who you are! This includes the illustrious Raymond Castile and the UMA! Much more info to follow!
Check out the website for further guest info:
http://wonderfest.com/guests.html#NimrodAntal (http://wonderfest.com/guests.html#NimrodAntal)
Stay tuned. There's much more in the works. Screenings of "Return of the Living Dead" (in Louisville, the city where it all took place!) with cast members in attendance! A possible Dr Gangrene Horror Host show! Rondo Awards!
I'm not kidding. There's so much cool stuff in the works that it boggles the mind! This could be the Wonderfest to end all Wonderfests!
That is one show I keep meaning to attend. WOnderfest, I'll get there yet.
The COrtlandt Hull and Dennis Vincent AURORA docmenatry will be well worth the trip. I saw some edits from the piece and it is way fantastico!!
Wow, I didn't expect this little interest in discussing Wonderfest here on the UMA. I hope this isn't a harbinger for attendance this year, as I think this will be one of our best shows ever.
Oh, there'll be plenty of interest in W-fest! I think maybe the March Maskfest/HorrorHound, which will be coming up before we know it, might be attracting folks' attention at present. I'm looking forward to meeting Jim Karen at W-fest--that will be a HUGE treat! And any time I get to spend with Bob & Kathy Burns and with Dennnis and Cortlandt is always pure gold. The new Witch's Dungeon film is something I've been watching the progress of for some time now--it will be TERRIFIC! The bits that have been previewed at other events are great--absolutely unique material NO ONE ELSE has!
I'm looking forward to Wonderfest!
Do you think the kit level will be down due to Uni's crack down on things?
BK
That sounds magnificent. I'm looking forward to it. Not to nitpick, but I feel I must remind everyone that the UMA Display is a collaborative effort. The "illustrious" Raymond Castile would be a brown diaper stain without the amazing leadership, sacrifice and elbow grease provided by Terry Ingram, Jeff Prepisuch, Andy Williams, Bobby Beeman, Elizabeth Haney, Robert Taylor, Max Cheney and all the other fine folks who have helped out, like Jane, Nicole, Paul, Elizabeth's family, and John Mitchell who designed the display.
Right now, my attention has to be focused on MaskFest. We have a display to put on there. Once that is behind us, we can worry about Wonderfest. From a planning perspective, that is the way I have to organize my brain. One show at a time. After MaskFest, I'll be babbling about Wonderfest frequently, whooping people up, causing a commotion.
Quote from: typhooforme on January 30, 2010, 11:15:31 AM
Oh, there'll be plenty of interest in W-fest! I think maybe the March Maskfest/HorrorHound, which will be coming up before we know it, might be attracting folks' attention at present. I'm looking forward to meeting Jim Karen at W-fest--that will be a HUGE treat! And any time I get to spend with Bob & Kathy Burns and with Dennnis and Cortlandt is always pure gold. The new Witch's Dungeon film is something I've been watching the progress of for some time now--it will be TERRIFIC! The bits that have been previewed at other events are great--absolutely unique material NO ONE ELSE has!
One more little thing. My new short film, THE DEVIL AT LOST CREEK, will be shown at Wonderfest. So there is another reason to attend!
Thanks Guys! We spend a whole year planning this stuff, and I was just bursting at the seams wanting to open the secret envelope on some the guests that I was personally involved with programing on some level. I'm looking forward to Horror Hound/Mask Fest too. They, of course, have a ridiculously awesome guest list, and the gathering of Horror Hosts looks amazing. I'll update the Wonderfest thread over the course of the next few months when I find out anything new. Thanks for the UMA support!
Rod
Just a little Wonderfest 2010 update: Joe Moe and Frank Dietz have been added to the guest list.
Also, the after hours films and events are looking really impressive. Co-producer Joe Moe will be presenting Bruce Dickenson's "Red Velvet" with Henry Thomas and Kelli Garner. Saturday Night looks amazing. First we'll be watching "The Aurora Monsters" documentary followed by UMA's own Raymond Castile's "The Devil at Lost Creek" topped off by a live spookshow with Dr. Gangrene who will be doing a live Chiller Cinema presention of "It Conquered the World". In the past, Dr. Gangrene has brought life-sized versions of the on-screen monsters to the stage, so I'll be holding my breath waiting to see if he attempts to recreate Beulah for us to marvel at.
Also, the Sunday Banquet promises some TOP SECRET looks at "Predators" that no one else in the world will have seen.
Thanks for the update Rod, I'm not sure if I'll be there, but I'm trying.
BK
It sounds like it is gonna be a GREAT time!
It's sure to be another great Wonderfest. I'll be moderating the RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD Q&A, with my friends James Karen, Linnea Quigley and William Stout. Dr. Gangrene was missed last year, so we're very pleased to have him back this year with another whacky live show. Plus the Rondo Award ceremony and of course the UMA Display!
I'm looking forward to the q&a, Frank. James Karen is a particular favorite of mine (you're up there even higher on the list, of course)! I missed Gangrene--it'll be great to have him back.
My heart skipped a beat this week. The big Walking With Dinosaurs Live Arena show has scheduled its Louisville dates for May 14-16, the same weekend as Wonderfest!
I spoke with a couple of my film fan friends with children and they've already bought tickets, meaning they've blown their money and time budgets for that weekend and will have to skip Wonderfest. Unfortunately, the Walking With Dinosaurs show appeals to the same audience demographic as Wondefest, and GIANT MOVING DINOSAURS will likely eat severely into our local press coverage as well.
I've tried to make lemonade out of this lemon by suggesting we try to use the opportunity to offer guests like Bob & Kathy a chance to see the dinosaurs, but it just won't work. It will just pull people away from our Wonderfest programing and time is just too short.
You just can't plan for these types of conflicts. You can study the calendar for months choosing the right time for your event, and still have something like this happen, and it's nobody's fault. WWD didn't schedule their Louisville event on this weekend on purpose.
I wonder if I can get tickets to WALKING WITH DINOSAURS...
hehehehe--Remind me to give you my special "boot to the head" greeting.
I wouldn't worry too much, Rod. It may take a small bite out of the local attendees, but WF is a "destination" event, and I predict this year will still be swarming with genre fans. And since WWD is a 2-hour show, I'm sure there will be some that can manage both. The activity on the boards and mail I've received from fans would indicate a strong attendance.
May 14? Maybe I can make it. I've been trying for years now, and I actually won't be out of country for once, but I also won't be getting a regular paycheck anymore, so it's still quite iffy.
This is gonna be the one! I've also been waiting for 5 years to attend a monster related show. This falls right into my plan. I can't wait to see the UMA display and the movies look awesome! I tried to sign up as a non-vendor, but I got some kind of error. Anyway, my husband said it's only 400 or so miles from our house, which is less than Orlando and we go there all the time, and it's the week before our daughter graduates, so we are on!
I just saw William Stout's original art for the Wonderfest 2010 t-shirt and it's AWESOME! I can't post it yet. It's top secret, but I can tell you that Bill did an incredible job.
Hey got my reservations for Wonderfest, can't wait for another road trip with my mom and both dogs!!
We just added Lou "The Hulk" Ferrigno as well as original Aurora model sculptor Rey Meyers and fx animator Staffan Linder.
Sadly, Bob and Kathy Burns can't make it this year due to doctor's orders. See our website for details. Hopefully, they'll be back with us next year!