Gallifrey One is proud to present our 2015 Schedule of Events and Program Preview. The event schedule, which is complete as of January 24, 2015, is mostly finalized but of course is always subject to change, so please refer to your at-convention program book for additional updates as they happen. The Friday Schedule also includes our Thursday Night Launch Events, while a handy Convention Map is also provided as a guide to the convention center floor located on the bottom floor of the Marriott.
Click on each of the circular links below for each day’s schedule grid. Details on many of the items on these grids can be found in the Program Preview later in this news posting. (Please note: our autograph, photo op and kaffeeklatsch schedules are not yet complete and will be posted soon.)
Important Information for Attendees
Access to the convention center floor, as well as the Program B room on the hotel lobby level, the Hospitality Suite on the first floor, and the 18th floor suites (including Gaming Hub, Children’s Programming & Auction Center) are secured and available only to those with CONVENTION BADGES.
Convention Badges, picked up at the Registration Desk (remember you will not receive tickets in the mail!), are required to be worn AROUND THE NECK at ALL TIMES. You will receive a lanyard for your use. You may not pin the badge to your belongings or wear anywhere else except around the neck – this is a new policy and it will be strictly enforced.
Convention attendees who have not yet picked up their badges may ONLY enter the Convention Center (and Registration Area) via the ESCALATOR from the hotel lobby level (on Friday-Sunday). For security reasons, there will be NO ELEVATOR ACCESS to the convention floor for people without badges (except for disabled attendees); if you use the elevator before picking up your badge, you will be required to return to the hotel lobby level via the elevator and then come down the escalator. (Note: this rule does not apply to people picking up badges on Thursday!)
The John Barrowman and Alex Kingston interviews on Saturday and Sunday are duplicated panels; that is, the content from the Saturday interview for each will be repeated at the Sunday interview. This is to accommodate everyone at the convention, as we cannot seat everyone. You are requested to choose ONE of the two interviews. The Saturday events will be much more heavily attended; the Sunday interviews are earlier and you are likely to get a much better seat. We do not wish to implement ticketing for these events, and in 2014 this request worked well with our attendees, so we ask your cooperation.
The John Barrowman and Alex Kingston interviews may not be recorded under any circumstances per the wishes of their agents. Those recording these items for personal use will be asked to turn off their devices and leave the hall.
As a reminder, ABSOLUTELY NO VIDEOS OR AUDIOS OF OUR CONVENTION MAY BE UPLOADED TO YOUTUBE, PODCASTS, OR ANY ONLINE SERVICES OR VENUES. Anyone identified as doing so will be removed from the convention and barred permanently from future conventions. Videotaping is allowed for personal use only, other than the Barrowman/Kingston interviews; other events may be added to this with notice.
All convention attendees are required to follow the Gallifrey One Convention Policies; click on that link to review our policies. Convention policies are strictly enforced.
Guest Update
We are happy to welcome one more behind-the-scenes guest to our 2015 convention. Claire Pritchard has been a Doctor Who makeup artist since the series’ return in 2005, and more recently, was the Makeup Designer for Series 8 of Doctor Who starring Peter Capaldi. She has also been a makeup designer and hair designer for Sherlock produced by Steven Moffat, makeup designer on all four seasons of Torchwood, and has worked on other series and films including Alexander, Saving Grace, Gavin & Stacey, Mine All Mine, Getting On, Stella,and Being Human. Ms. Pritchard joins her husband, Gallifrey One guest (and production designer) Arwel Wyn Jones, as a guest at this year’s convention.
We must also sadly note that Ingrid Oliver joins former guests Jemma Redgrave, Mark Sheppard and Kai Owen who have had to withdraw from this year’s convention due to filming schedule complications. All four originally intended to be with us, and regrettably had to cancel because of schedule changes. We hope to have them all next year.
Reception Update
We would like to announce that tickets to the 2015 Gallifrey One Evening Guest Receptions are now sold out. Tickets are locked to the people named on them and you can find the list attending each reception on our Reception List page. We will have signs to the 2015 Guest Receptions in the Elevator Lobby of the convention center floor on Friday and Saturday.
Program Preview
And finally… in conjunction with our schedule grids above, we present our 2015 Convention Program Preview. In addition to the Discussion Panel series, which we previously released in a news update (and which is included below), this year’s convention will feature the following program items:
Special Events
The Nethersphere Jubilee – Gallifrey One officially kicks off Thursday night with our mixer party and ice cream social; there will be guest visits, photo opportunities and plenty of fun! And afterwards… karaoke all night up in the Program B room upstairs!
Good Morning Gallifrey One – Our introductory launch panel; find out about all the exciting things you’ll be seeing at this year’s Gallifrey One. We’ll have some door prizes and fun in store, too!
The Bob May Memorial Charity Auction – Join us all afternoon Sunday for our annual charity event, benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project. We also gladly accept donations of SF/fantasy merchandise to the auction; check out our Auction page on our website for full details (you can drop it off in our Auction Center on the 18th floor next to the Gaming Hub.)
The Masquerade of Mandragora – Gallifrey One’s Saturday night showcase event: a costume and fashion show featuring dozens of costumers of all ages and levels. After the presentation of costumes, we invite you to stick around (while the masquerade judges go off to do their work) for another rousing episode of “Just a Minute,” the hilarious game show hosted by Paul Cornell and featuring special guests Sophie Aldred, Terry Molloy, Chase Masterson and others to be announced!
Doctor Who Live – Doctor Who Live is an LA-based improv show at the iO West Theater in Hollywood that creates a fully improvised episode of Doctor Who. Using an audience suggestion, they create a 50-minute Doctor Who adventure never before seen on TV or the stage… and never to be seen again. The cast returns after an absence of several years to once again grace our stage on Friday night!
The British Invasion – Gallifrey One brings back our long-missed Saturday night disco event, featuring the stylings of DJ Paul Condon as he takes you on a joyride through British music history and more, immediately after the Saturday Masquerade.
Mysterious Theatre 337: Attack of the Cybermen – Our resident gang is at it again, going MST3K-style at an episode of the classic series on Friday night. This is a scripted performance; please no audience interaction (except your laughter and applause!)
The Idiot’s Lantern – The Honorary Doctors (the same comedy group that previously brought you Masque entries like “Androids: Three Generations of Cybermen”, “The Companion Game” and “The Brigadier: The Unsung Hero”) are back to perform an entire program of Whoniverse inspired skits bent around the TV dial and beyond in a special Friday night show.
Time Bash – The TARDIS from each of the twelve Doctors have crashed into each other! So of course there will be a party where they all meet! Please join us for the Time Bash- a celebration of the many regenerations of the Doctor. Play Who-themed carnival games or try your luck with Poker or Black Jack to win raffle tickets for great prizes. No actual money is exchanged- we give you starter chips to play and you do the rest. If you do have some party money you want to spend, we will also have a cash bar outside the event with a special themed drink.
The Iron Costumer – Iron Costumer! Two teams, one pile of STUFF and sixty minutes to create an ensemble based upon a yet-to-be- revealed theme. Think Iron Chef meets Junkyard Wars. Sign up at the Masque of Mandragora information between 9AM and 3:30PM on Friday. At that time, you’ll receive a handout with more specific information about the materials you’ll have on hand and a few strategy ideas. (We will have more information including a FAQ published this coming week!)
Friday Night Fan Club Meetup – Our annual meet up of Doctor Who fans from various fan clubs, in a mixer hosted by the Real Time Lords of Orange County and the Los Angeles & San Diego Doctor Who Meetup Groups.
Featured Program Presentations
Live Episode Commentaries – This year we present four ‘live commentaries’ of episodes from Series 8 of Doctor Who, featuring their writers and some other guests, including “Into the Dalek,” “Kill the Moon,” “Mummy on the Orient Express” and “Dark Water”.
Radio Free Skaro: Behind the Magic – Gallifrey One’s official podcast does their annual live show to launch our main stage programming, with guests all coming from behind the scenes of modern era Doctor Who.
Doctor Who Props, Miniatures and Visual Effects Presentations – We go in depth into the modern Doctor Who series to take a look at the stunning props, miniature work and special effects are created with the experts who crafted them, Nick Robatto, Mike Tucker and Danny Hargreaves.
Gallifrey One 2015 Science Programming – Our experts from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will take you on a journey through the solar system, looking at the Dawn spacecraft approaching the dwarf planet Ceres, the process of landing on Mars, searching for life on Mars, the design and function of the Mars rovers, a survey of Saturn’s exotic moon Titan, and what to expect as the New Horizons spacecraft approaches Pluto this July!
Doctor Who Am I? – Matthew Jacobs, screenwriter of the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie, is heading up production on this brand new documentary film about the nature of Doctor Who and its fandom. Come hear all about the project and learn how you can get involved.
Doctor Who Legacy – The makers of the popular Doctor Who mobile game visit our convention to talk about their products, with special tips and even some surprises!
The BBC of Yesteryear – Some of our guests take a look back in time as they discuss the BBC of the past, sharing memories behind the scenes in the pioneer years of the broadcasting giant, how things worked during the 50s-60s-70s, and what’s changed in the meanwhile.
The Timey Wimey Puppet Show 2: Gallifrey Boogaloo – Last year’s surprise hit returns! Direct from the YouTube web series and packed appearance at Gallifrey One 2014, we’re pleased to bring this family-friend Punch-and-Judy-inspired Doctor Who comedy puppet show to our 2015 convention. The show is for all ages!
Creature Comforts – Three of our guests have played major villains on Doctor Who covered by prosthetics and makeup; come learn all about their experiences!
The Sound of Danger – How do voice actors make those amazing sounds? What sorts of techniques are used by actors who sit under heavy makeup, or can’t even be seen at all because they’re doing radio or audio presentations, to create their elaborate characters? We’ll find out how.
Inspector Spacetime Live Reading – Travis Richey’s upcoming film comes to Gallifrey One 2015 in a special live reading of the screenplay on Saturday and a panel/Q&A on Sunday.
Star Trek Continues – The popular fan spinoff series showcases the third episode that was released last fall, “Fairest of Them All,” a sequel to the original series episode “Mirror, Mirror,” with cast members taking questions and a screening of the episode.
Doctor Who’s Line Is It Anyway? – Learn basic improvisation techniques such as your what, your where and most importantly your WHO through improv games and exercises that will take you to distant planets, battle evil monsters and travel through time and space!
The Women of Young Justice – Following up last year’s terrific panel about the TV series, we will feature a panel all about the women of Young Justice, with series producer Greg Weisman moderating.
Frazer Hines: Vintage Voice – Frazer Hines talks about the famous people he’s sung with Tom Jones , PJ Proby , The Monkees etc and show clips of their songs, from his vintage TV show collection.
Big Finish Talkback – Nick Briggs and Jason Haigh-Ellery hear fan feedback and discuss their strategies on the popular Doctor Who and other audio lines.
Inside the Sci Fi Universe – Arne Starr’s annual look at present and future science fiction film with trailers and more!
Discussion Panels
The following listing combines both our fan-led discussion panel series, as well as panels on science fiction & fantasy television and film and other topics featuring many of our professional guests.
Doctor Who Panels
Twelfth Nights – Love him or loathe him, revel in his adventures or scratch the collective head – reactions to the adventures of Peter Capaldi’s Doctor in his inaugural year have been as varied as they are fervent. We’ll discuss the first season of adventures of the Twelfth Doctor in detail, hitting high points and low, and discuss how Doctor Who has changed over the past ten years to lead up to this moment of Capaldi’s older, more abrasive take on the role.
The Truly Impossible Girl – From shoehorned and surprising beginnings, Clara Oswald has bridged the gap between the eleventh and twelfth Doctors and become both an immensely popular as well as controversial companion – and now it appears she’s with us for another year. Our panel will discuss the contributions Jenna Coleman has made to the series, the effect Clara has had on the Doctor and his travels, and where the character might head in the future (on screen or off).
Adventures Too Broad and Deep – It was the tagline for the New Adventures, and it began an era of deep passion for Doctor Who fans as Virgin – and later BBC Books – brought the Seventh and Eighth Doctors, as well as their predecessors, into the 1990s, 2000s and beyond. Our panel will delve deep into the heart of the Doctor Who novel era, what worked and what didn’t, and bring some insight into how they got all of us through the show’s wilderness years.
The Gallifrey Genderbend – It’s now official: Time Lords can indeed change genders during regeneration – though in the wake of such a well-received gender swap for the Master, the controversy has never been more rampant. Is Michelle Gomez’s Missy the predecessor of a new era after Peter capaldi, or does it bode badly for those who hope Doctor Who can break that gender mold? Will we ever truly see a female Doctor?
Faith and Fantasy – It’s a show that normally remains secular, but… is there room for God in the TARDIS? Wouldn’t someone like the Doctor, who accepts and celebrates diversity in every form, embrace people’s spiritual goals and need for belief in higher powers. How does Doctor Who present itself in a world in which religious beliefs are ever present in people’s daily lives? We’ll discuss where Doctor Who has embraced – and where it’s conflicted with – matters of faith.
Raising Who Fans: Teaching Young Geeks to be Self-Confident and Successful – Even in an age where geekdom has transcended mainstream culture and become cool, young people still struggle for acceptance in wanting to embrace what they enjoy while being accepted by their peers. Our panel of Doctor Who parents and teachers will talk about their experiences and provide some insight into how to help the next generation of Doctor Who and genre fans.
The Modern Age of Doctor Who Media – With (nearly) all of the classic and new series available on DVD, official downloads or streaming, we’ve never had access to as much Doctor Who as we do now. But what will the next steps be? Will we see more missing episodes or animated recreations? Are we copasetic enjoying the reconstructions of the missing stories (and did the actual finds of Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear change how we perceived the recons?) Will value-added media such as webisodes and documentaries continue to be offered as incentive to buy?
Rivers and Captains and Teachers of Maths – From River Song to Captain Jack and Danny Pink, from Madame Vastra’s Paternoster Gang to Mickey Smith and Wilf, Osgood and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart too… we love our recurring players in Doctor Who. Our panel will take a look at what the supporting cast has brought over the years, from the long-running to the one-shots (Astrid Peth and Santa, anyone?), and how they’ve enriched the universe of Doctor Who.
The Critical Eye – When a TV series becomes a pastime, fans can sometimes go a bit nuts. Never has that seemed more prevalent: from omnirumours about missing episodes and demands for more screen time, to criticism about the production itself. Healthy debate amongst fans is one thing, but when does this go overboard? How does fan entitlement make a direct mark on the subject matter? And how can we rise above the fray?
Pondering Melodies – Doctor Who’s incidental music – the music that accompanies every episode, from harmonies of sweeping grandeur to the moments of terror that send us behind the sofa – is rich and varied. Our panel will take a look at the use of different styles of music used by different composers over the past 51 years, noting what they brought to each era and how they changed with the times… and set the tone for Doctor Who’s musical legacy.
The Missing Companion – Fifty-one years of school teachers and sailors, stoic military men and sassy stewardesses, teenaged wanderers and impossible girls – but there are still new stories left to tell. Our panel will take up the mantle creating the next era of companions, discussing new archetypes and new ideas, and how this next era of companion might fit into the Doctor Who milieu.
Conventions, Cosplay and Consent – It should be common sense, right? If you see someone in a costume in a convention – or in street clothes, for that matter – you shouldn’t try to touch them (or their outfit) or take photos without permission. Yet, too many people ignore basic convention etiquette, and such misbehavior seems to getting worse as geek activities go more mainstream. Join us in a lively discussion about why this behavior is happening and what we can do about it.
The Pen Is Mightier… – The last time a woman wrote for Doctor Who on television, David Tennant was the Doctor (contrast that with last year’s finale being directed by a woman). Catherine Tregenna has been announced as writing an episode during series nine… but it’s 2014, and that announcement was a big deal, when it should be something commonplace. , but whither the era of Matt Smith, or the first season of Capaldi’s Doctor? We will discuss the reasons why this does – or does not – matter, what female writers could bring to the program, and where the series might be served in a different way.
Remember When? – Before the days when Doctor Who was cool, before the resurrection in 2005… Doctor Who was just about as fringe as you could get as a science fiction fan. But fandom nevertheless endured. We’ll explore some of the reasons why Doctor Who maintained its fan base in the late 1970s throughout the 1980s, and how a small but dedicated group of fans kept the show’s candle burning until it returned.
The Changing Face of Doctor Who – The world of Doctor Who has changed over 51 years, and we’re not just talking about the title character, either: through different producers and script editors, cast members and television eras, the show has changed with the times, and sometimes even been part of setting the trends themselves. We’ll discuss the format of Doctor Who from Verity Lambert to Steven Moffat, and how Doctor Who has changed with the times.
The Doctor, the Witch and the Spinning Christmas Tree – As popular as the Doctor Who Christmas specials are, they aren’t without their share of controversy… and that includes a popular notion that they should be shown on Christmas but not be ABOUT Christmas. We’re going to take a critical look at the good, the bad and the ugly of Doctor Who’s holiday romps, and what each brings to the mythology.
Teeth and Curls – For so many here in America, Tom Baker was our Doctor… the one we grew up watching, the one whose appearance in the 50th Anniversary special was just that: special. Our panel will take a journey back through the days of the Fourth Doctor, Sarah, Harry, Leela, Romana, Adric and K9, to find out why Tom continues to enchant us with his portrayal and remains one of the Doctors against whom all else are judged.
Comics Across Space and Time – From the pages of Doctor Who Magazine and TV Action, to IDW Comics and now to Titan: the world of Doctor Who comics has a rich and storied history. Our panel will take a look back at the best days of Doctor Who on the four-color page.
Genre Panels
Torchwood: We’re Still Waiting! – It’s been a few years, and still no news as to whether Torchwood will ever return to the television screen. But all hope isn’t lost, and our panel will discuss some of the ways it might come back – on TV, on film, maybe even on the Internet – and some things they hope will happen (and change) if and when it does. The torch still burns…
When Do Spinoffs Spin Too Far? – Doctor Who has brought us Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, K9 and Company and even the semi-spinoff K9. Big Finish’s stories have led to Vienna, Iris Wildthyme, Counter-Measures, even a Charley Pollard series. But that’s not all: there are six Star Trek spinoffs, Star Wars animated series, Angel, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland… the list goes on. Where do we draw the line? Are spinoff series in any capacity a good thing, or do they sometimes lead us down roads traveled far too often?
Sustaining Television – The question isn’t whether television will survive. It will, just maybe not on a TV set. But how do you keep a series going? For a year, two years, ten years, or decades, how do you keep telling new and different (but not too different) stories that will keep viewers interested in tuning in again and again.
A Day in the Life of the TV Writer/Producer – Walking fans through HOW their favorite shows are made, from the writer’s room to the script to the set to editing and visual effects.
Scripting TV – What’s it take to write a script for television? Are the skills different from the what you need to write a novel? Perpetrators of the artform talk about what they do and the things that surprise them about it.
Getting The Science Right – Is it that hard? Can’t the makers of TV shows and movies look things up? Maybe George Lucas didn’t have Google to help him define “parsec” but there are people who can help with such things. Aren’t there? Or does it even matter if the science is right? Writers and producers talk about it.
“Holy Bleep, Batman!” Censorship & Television – What can’t you say on television? What can’t you show? Why? Who says? Writers and producers from animation and live-action television series tell tales out of school about Broadcast Standards & Practices, sponsor demands, what they didn’t get to do, and what they got away with.
Breaking Into Comics – The comic book industry has changed a lot since Superman and Batman debuted in the 1930s. A lot. The world of comics is a different place than it was even 10 years ago. How do you get in? Writers, artists, and others talk about the jobs that are out there and get past the gatekeepers to get one of them.
The Left Hand of Darkness – Dark fantasy is all over popular media these days, and it’s not just vampire serials and sword & sorcery, either. We’ll take a look at the impact of dark fantasy on the television and film world, looking at some of the highlights (and lowlights) of the genre.
Superhero Supercrush – We’re looking at the future of superhero and comic-related films on the scale of an entire decade. Marvel and DC will be giving us more Fantastic Four, Captain America, Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Avengers, X-Men… the list goes on. Our panel is going to look at the announced lists of upcoming superhero related films, explore some of the films that have already been released (where they went right or wrong), and speculate on some of the other comics genre characters that might make their way to the silver screen.
Whither Sci Fi: The Future of “Hard” Science Fiction TV – We live in a golden age of fantasy and genre television, but when it comes to “hard” science fiction – stuff without whimsy, based on factual science or speculation – everything’s come off the rails. Without a Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica (or even a Stargate) series on the air, what sort of future does solid science fiction, without fantasy or cute aliens & robots, have? We’ll take a look.
A Dance With Dragons – Game of Thrones is arguably the most popular fantasy series on TV for a generation. Divided sharply into fans of the novels and fans of the series who haven’t read them, debate is often heated. With the next book at least a year or two away, what will become of Game of Thrones as it enters uncharted book territory? We’ll explore the series’ past four seasons, looking at where it’s stayed true and where it’s come up with its own mythology, and figure out where it’s headed.
Gone Before Their Time – Some of our favorite science fiction and fantasy television series met ignominous ends, without the benefit of a proper finale. Our panel will take up the mantle of make-believe showrunners planning the final episodes, or final season, of some of these television shows that didn’t quite get their final curtain call.
The Year In Review: TV & Film Panels – Our annual roundtable discussions of the best – and worst – in science fiction, fantasy, horror and genre television and film, separated into two panels. (For prospective panelists, let us know which one – or both – you wish to participate in.)
How Much is That Dragon in the Window – Struggling artist? Looking to exhibit in a convention art show, perhaps? This panel is a how-to for artists that are selling their work directly to the public or submitting to convention art shows, including covering pricing strategies, marketing tools and tricks and more.
From the Archive – Based on the popular site, From the Archive, this panel is a celebration of all things British television – not just Doctor Who. Come by to discuss your favorite British television show or learn about a new one. Everyone is welcome to stop by and share their favorites. Also, there will be DVD and Blu-ray giveaways from BBC Home Entertainment and Acorn Media.
Cosplay Panels
The Art of Cosplay in the Doctor Who Universe – Cosplay in the Doctor Who universe isn’t always just about outlandish outfits and cosmic ensembles. This panel will assist new cosplayers in finding/buying/constructing the off-the-rack styles seen in the series, from finding the best Clara Oswald ensemble or Jack Harkness coat, to sizing up the Capaldi Doctor and maybe even one of Santa’s elves.
Diversity in Cosplay – The sky’s the limit when you’re creating costumes about your favorite characters or original designs… and that includes accepting diversity and innovation. We’ll talk about ways cosplayers can challenge discrimination or shaming, and find ways to make sure your cosplay is the best and most inspiring it can be.
Cosplay Launchpad – There are so many wonderful costumes out there… but where does a beginner stick their toe in the water? From fancy dress to world-class masquerade competition, our panelists will show you the best ways to get into the world of cosplay as a newcomer, give you some pointers on construction and design, and even share some secrets about getting into your first masquerade.
Photo Analysis For The Cosplayer – Okay, so you want to cosplay, and you’ve fallen in love with a photo of an outfit. Where do you go from there? How do you take a photo (or illustration) you love and turn it into a costume? We’ll take you through the steps.