Happy new year! We’re kicking things in high gear for Gallifrey One: Station 27 next month and have some updates to share today, including our fan discussion panel listing (and solicitation for participants). Read on!
Guest Update
We’re happy to welcome back actress NAOKO MORI (Toshiko Sato in Torchwood), who will be with us over the weekend for autographs and photos; Ms. Mori will be in Los Angeles during our event and we’re happy to have her back. We’re also happy to welcome back writer/producer MATTHEW JACOBS (writer of the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie), who will be returning to Gallifrey One this year to give us an update on his film project Doctor Who Am I?, the impending documentary about Doctor Who fandom; and BLAIR SHEDD, illustrator whose work on both the IDW and Titan Comics Doctor Who series has met rave reviews. We are happy to welcome all three of them back for our 2016 convention.
With this, we are fairly set on our 2016 convention lineup, though of course there may be a few small last minute additions. We are looking forward to presenting to our attendees one of our most diverse guest lineups in recent memory.
Receptions & Photos Update
Our partners at Showmasters Events have now put tickets for all of the 2016 Gallifrey One guest receptions on sale at their Convention Photo Shoots website. The receptions are optional add-ons to your convention experience; these have all sold out in the past :
Classic Who with Colin Baker and other classic series guests to be added (Friday & Saturday nights); we should have more info about all of the participants in this event next week
John Hurt and Friends with Hurt, Ingrid Oliver, Clare Higgins, Alan Ruscoe & others TBA (Friday & Saturday nights)
Worlds of Doctor Who with Michelle Gomez, Samuel Anderson, Matt Doman, Jami Reid-Quarrell & others TBA (Friday & Saturday nights)
John Hurt Diamond Pass Reception, a Saturday daytime event with Hurt and a very limited attendance; only available as part of the Diamond Pass (which also includes free photo ops & autographs and a ‘diamond pass dog tag’ allowing entry to all photo ops at the front of the line)
Additionally, many of our photo studio sessions have now gone on sale as well for pre-orders. (Photo op pre-orders are mostly for your convenience; all photo ops will also be available for purchase on site.) We expect all of our actor guests to take part, although details have not been finalized with a few of our attending guests, so only the ones who have been contracted are online; we will announce in future news updates when other photo ops go on sale. You can also find these pre-orders at the Convention Photo Shoots link above.
Please note: we do not sell photo ops, autograph sessions or reception tickets to non-attendees. ALL participants in any of these must have tickets to the convention; there are no exceptions.
Postcard Reminder
We will shortly be sending out our 2016 postcard reminders to all ticket holders of this year’s convention. If you have recently changed your address, please make sure to contact us and let us know so your postcard is received. Your postcard is not needed to gain entry into this year’s convention; it’s simply a refresher with our guest list and important info (all of which can be found on our website) and some people consider it to be a convention collectible. (Extra copies will be on the freebie tables at the convention. We do not mail these out to non-attendees, sorry)
Our 2016 Early Schedule
While it’s too early for our full schedule of events to be posted, we’re happy to announce our 2016 Tentative Schedule Outline, where you can find all of the major details you need in order to finalize your trip to the convention. The following is our general guide to the convention, starting with badge pickup (attendees with tickets pick up their badges at our Registration desk, which allows you entry into the convention):
Thursday, February 11
3:00pm — Early badge pick-up (for those with full weekend tickets and Friday one-day tickets only, see notes below after the schedule outline; lasts until 6pm; reopens at 8pm, closes again at 10pm)
8:00pm — Gallifrey One 2016’s Pre-Convention Celebration, including our Thursday night Ice Cream Social and Karaoke Party (karaoke runs late; only those who can pick up badges during the above times are able to enter)
Friday, February 12
9:00am — Registration reopens for badge pickup (for those with full weekend and Friday one-day tickets only; until 7:00pm)
10:30am — First event: Good Morning Gallifrey One (main stage)
11:00am — Main programming begins on the main stage, starting with our annual Radio Free Skaro live show (the main program schedule runs until 6:00pm); video program begins
12:00pm — Dealers room opens (until 6:30pm); panel programming begins in Program B, C
12:30pm — “The Iron Costumer” workshop (runs until 2:00pm; details to be announced)
Early Evening — Guest receptions (optional events, see “Receptions & Photos Update” above)
8:00pm — Evening events begin, including our Friday Night Main Stage Events (including a live Doctor Who episode commentary; a special live comedy show with Joseph Scrimshaw; and the cosplay stage show The Idiot’s Lantern); evening panel programming begins in Program B; plus other evening events to be announced soon (including karaoke)
Saturday, February 13
9:00am — Registration reopens for badge pickup (for those with full weekend and Saturday one-day tickets only; until 7:00pm); video program continues
10:00am — All programming tracks open (until 6:30-7:00pm); dealers room open (until 6:00pm)
Early Evening — Guest receptions (optional events, see “Receptions & Photos Update” above)
8:00pm — Evening events begin, including the Masquerade of Mandragora (main stage) and limited panel programming
After Masquerade — Late Night events including dance (main ballroom), karaoke, plus other events to be announced soon
Sunday, February 14
9:30am — Registration reopens for badge pickup (for those with full weekend and Sunday one-day tickets only; until 1:00pm); video program continues
10:00am — All programming tracks open (until 6:00pm); dealers room open (until 4:00pm or time approximate)
6:00pm — Closing Ceremonies (main ballroom)
Please note that the above times are subject to change and may be altered at any time in the near future, so please stay tuned for our full schedule later in January.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BADGE PICK-UPS: Gallifrey One will only issue badges to Saturday one-day attendees on Saturday, and to Sunday one-day attendees on Sunday; we will not make exceptions to this, so if you are a Saturday or Sunday one-day ticket holder, please only show up on the day in question. Full weekend attendees may pick up their badges at any time registration is open (see the times above) including the Thursday pre-event pickup sessions.
For Friday one-day ticket holders: We announced during last May’s registration period that Friday one-day tickets included complementary admission to Thursday night’s events. Therefore, Friday one-day ticket holders may pick their badges up on both Thursday and Friday and will be granted admission to the Thursday night pre-convention parties.
Fan Panels 2016: Panel List & Panelist Solicitation
We are happy to present our 2016 Gallifrey One fan discussion panel listing. Fan panels on Doctor Who and science fiction, fantasy, comics, gaming and other genre-related topics are a long tradition at Gallifrey One (dating right back to our first event in 1990!) and are comprised of three or more attendees as panelists, and then open to all attendees to participate as members of the audience. Many of these panels also have one or more of our attending featured guests participating (our attending speakers are usually also Doctor Who fans, after all!) This list is what we intend to present on all three days of the convention (plus some in the evenings on Friday & Saturday).
It is important to remember that this is only one track of our program; we have tons of other program events including all of our main auditorium panels, Q&As and special events; our science program track; live commentaries; our ‘pro’ panel track with featured guests on a variety of topics; and other presentations throughout the weekend. This year we have decided on four simultaneous programming tracks, as five has seemed a bit excessive to us in the recent past, and we’ll have more details on the rest of our program coming soon!
Do you want to participate in one or more of these panels as a panelist (and already have tickets to the convention)? If so, we’d like to hear from you as quickly as possible – please contact us before the end of the day next Monday, January 11 with the following information: your full (real) name; the panel(s) you wish to participate on as a guest; and a very brief statement as to why you feel you are qualified to speak as a panelist on each of your panel requests. (Your qualifications summary does not need to be many paragraphs; we’d just like a basic idea of who you are and why you should be on the panel.) Also note: if you are listing more than three panels in your selections, please give us your list in numerical order of preference. We will NOT guarantee any spots on any panel, and reserve the right to put people on panels at our own discretion. Please remember that this is only a solicitation for panelists; all of these panels will be open for any interested audience members with tickets to the convention, and there is no sign-up required at all for audience members.
GALLIFREY ONE 2016 FAN PANELS
Ninth Symphony — Gallifrey One’s annual discussion panel about the best and worst of the past season of Doctor Who, as we delve into the episodic high points and low of Series Nine, discussing the performances of Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman and the series’ various guest stars (Missy! Ashildr! Osgood!) as well as the overarching storyline and the return of Gallifrey itself.
Farewell, Impossible Girl — This panel will look at the development of Clara Oswald from the Impossible Girl of Series 7 to the turbulent relationship with the Doctor in Series 8 to the confident protégé of the Doctor of the past year. We’ll talk about Clara’s best moments and her worst and remark on her timey-wimey exit from the show. Has she earned a place among the very best companions?
Teaching Moments: Doctor Who 101 — One of the biggest appeals of Doctor Who to families with children is the strong message it sends: to fight without words instead of weapons, to build bridges between strangers, and to look at the universe with an open mind. Our panel will discuss the impact of Doctor Who on children and teenagers, and the life lessons that are learned from the mad man in the box.
Life and Death in the Moffat Era — These days it doesn’t seem like anybody who’s dead stays dead… it’s merely a setback! From Clara to Rory to Missy to Osgood to Davros and even the Time Lords — and you have to through the increasingly complicated history of River Song in there somewhere — has Steven Moffat’s decision to bring back multiple characters made death in Doctor Who anti-climactic? Or is it just another example of the wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey fun that keeps the show fresh?
Colour Separation Overlay II: More Colour, Less Separation — Picking up where we left off on the similarly-named panel at Gallifrey One 25. We can all trot out examples of when Doctor Who got it wrong (Talons of Weng Chiang, anyone?), but how about when the Doctor got it right… not just in recent years, but in the past as well? Let’s talk about those moments when Doctor Who pushed the boundaries of diversity and showed us that yes, we CAN be bigger on the inside.
Kids Heart Who, Too! — Parents and their children can probably agree that they love Doctor Who equally, but maybe for different reasons. We’ll lead a discussion with interaction from the audience from parents and children alike, talking about why they love Doctor Who and what they’d love to see in the near future.
New Perspectives on Classic Doctors — Let’s face it, we all know we have different outlooks toward the Doctors of yesteryear depending upon the era we view them. What changes in the critical narrative (not to mention, the reexaminations many of them have received through their audio adventures) have changed the way we look at the Doctors from the classic series?
The Burdens of Continuity — Doctor Who’s rich tapestry of storytelling often falls to fan service; often times we find ourselves looking forward solely to that twist that brings back a familiar face, a villain we cannot live without, or a voyage to Gallifrey or otherwise. But how does this shrink the canvas Doctor Who plays out upon? We’ll take a look at where continuity supersedes good storytelling… and why, paradoxically, the conservatism of some parts of fandom begets the notion that fans of a show about change seem to dislike change entirely.
Larger than Life: The Role of the Companion in Modern Who — The modern series of Doctor Who has featured each companion doing remarkable and sometimes super human things… but in the meanwhile, there are massive cries for returning back to the old paradigm of a perfectly normal ‘regular person’ stepping into those shoes for the next round. We’ll discuss the evolution of the role of the companion, including addressing some of the reasons why people might be over the larger than life companion role (and why there are sometimes sexist notions behind that), and debating why developing the companion back into a supporting player might not be the best thing for the show in 2016.
Wilderness Babies: Bringing Younger Fans to Classic Who — There’s a growing generation of fans who were born after Classic Who was already off the air, used to fast-paced episodes, streaming every episode of a show on-demand, and slightly higher quality special effects. This panel will discuss the barriers to getting younger fans into the show, and provide some resources for younger or inexperienced fans on how to find the best of the best.
Feminism and the Companions — The Doctor’s companions have always included smart, strong women; some have been very vocal about aligning themselves with feminism, some not, but they’ve all caught our imaginations (and our hearts). This panel will focus on the variety of ways companions have discussed and aligned themselves with feminist movements and ideologies and what a perceived lack of explicit identification with feminism in more recent episodes of Doctor Who means for the movement.
More Music of Doctor Who — A reflection on the music of the Peter Capaldi era, referencing back to earlier years of the program in comparison to the tunes of today… not to mention, how the Doctor’s love of rock music and the electric guitar in his current incarnation has become important to the show today.
Doctor Who Comics: The Year in Review — A discussion panel of the past year of Doctor Who in the comics as published by Titan: our panelists will review and contrast them both with each other as well as to what has come in years (and decades) before.
Doctor Who Books: The Year in Review — In other years, we’ve taken hard looks at the books of years past… but today there’s a rich catalog of new fiction and nonfiction from the BBC, some of it absolutely stellar. Our panel will discuss the current slate of Doctor Who fiction from the past few years, as well as discuss some of the nonfiction product coming out of the BBC.
The World Before the Doctor — Science fiction and fantasy television has been around since the 1950s (even earlier than that, if you want to talk about radio!) Our panel will look at what fantasy TV was like before Doctor Who rewrote the rule books in the 1960s and 70s.
Embroidered Question Marks: Totally 80s Who Fashion — The 1980s is arguably the most polarizing decade both for fashion and Doctor Who. We’ll discuss some of the costuming choices during the John Nathan-Turner era of the show, whether it impacts how the showed is viewed today… and all those wonderful accessories (badge of mathematical excellence, anyone?)
Doctor Who as a Period Piece — From “The Aztecs” to “Robot of Sherwood” and recent trips, many episodes take place in the distant or recent past. Are fixed historical events portrayed in an accurate fashion or are they window dressing for timey-wimey shenanigans? This panel will analyze Classic and New Who episodes for historical accuracy versus science fiction storytelling.
The Crusade: If We Were Episode Hunters — We all want to regain the nearly 100 episodes of lost Doctor Who from the 1960s… but do we know why, apart from the novelty value? Our panel will proceed as if they’re episode hunters on the cusp of several major discoveries, noting exactly which couple of stories they’d be proud to recover, and why.
How To Start A Doctor Who Fan Club (And Survive the Politics) — Over the last 50+ years many local Doctor Who Fan Clubs have started and disbanded; others are still going strong. We’ll discuss tips and tricks on how best to start up a new fan club or Meetup group from some people who have been involved in their own local fan organizations including secrets, practices or policies that may or may not work for others.
Bringing Us Together — Doctor Who has brought generations and scores of fans together — young and old, married and single, gay and straight, rabid fan and casual viewer, English dweller and American native, and so much more — due to shared passions about the programme. Our panel will take a look at how the series has bridged the generations, the social divides and the geographic barriers to create an international community over the years.
Separate but Equal: The Spin-offs of Doctor Who — With Class in pre-production, we’ll take a look at how spin-offs have played an important role in expanding the Whoniverse. From K-9 and Company to Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood, to the upcoming Class, our panel will discuss how these spin-offs support each other while standing on their own.
The Case For SuperWhoLock — Crossovers have been a big part of fandom for years, but there’s one that has really stuck, even bafflingly so: Superwholock, the mashup that brings the three shows Doctor Who, Sherlock and Supernatural together in one giant shared universe, and it’s huge online. Our panel will discuss the reasons why this holy trinity of TV shows is so big on Tumblr and elsewhere: is it the danger? The adventure? The hot, smart guys? What’s the secret?
Doctor Who Crafting — The universe of Doctor Who is full of amazing creativity, be it knitting (such as those wonderful Tom Baker scarves), crochet (amigurumi), jewelry making, leatherworking and more. Our panelists will discuss the wonderful world of Doctor Who craftmaking, including tips on how to get started and how best to share your ideas.
Sir John Hurt: The Career — There’s a legend coming to Gallifrey One this year, and in a panel that will take place prior to his first taking the stage, we’ll go into depth on his greatest hits and memorable performances that have been so enjoyable over the years.
Out of the Closet and Into the TARDIS — It’s no secret that Doctor Who has an enormous popularity amongst gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered friends on both sides of the Atlantic. But what is it about this show, as opposed to any of the other shows, that brings everyone together? We’ll have a sensitive and thoughtful discussion about the mainsteam appeal of Doctor Who to the LGBT community.
Geekomancy and Pop Culture Spirituality — People have sought wisdom from mythological beings for eons, so why not the Doctor or the Sisterhood of Karn? People can, and are, using “pop culture” sources for divination, magic, and spiritual practices. Come explore how people are working with a more modern mythos for personal growth (and for fun).
It Takes All Kinds: A Deconstruction of the Multitude of Ways to Enjoy a Fandom — Whether you throw out multiple “Squees” or grunt “Oh Please,” there are many different ways in which people enjoy Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars and many other fandoms — and all are valid. In this panel we’ll discuss all forms of fandom as a way to understand one another and eliminate misconceptions and stigma. Please leave your Dalek Blasters at the door.
Is the World ready for a Female Superhero Lead? — Comic book based films are just about the hottest commodity in Hollywood right now. The past 15 years in cinema have seen numerous women superheroes, but none yet carrying the film on their own, and you are hard pressed to find much in the way of licensed merchandise for those female superheroes. Will fandom support a female lead or is Hollywood stereotyping alive and well? The Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman, Xena and now Agent Carter and Jessica Jones are with us… Ms. Marvel and Wonder Woman are coming, so are you ready?
Revisiting A Galaxy Far, Far Away — Star Wars is back, and it’s never been bigger; The Force Awakens is shattering box office records, Star Wars Rebels continues to engage on TV, and there are at least five new Star Wars films coming in the next five years. Our panel will serve two purposes: we’ll critically review The Force Awakens, comparing and contrasting it to what has come before; and we will take a look at the Star Wars onslaught coming down the pipeline.
James Bond Deathmatch — Spectre has come and gone, Daniel Craig may very well be on the way out… but the Bond legacy will endure. Our panel will, at a very high rate of speed, review, then vote on, the worthiness of each James Bond film, and declare through elimination an outright winner.
Game of Thrones: Into Uncharted Waters — The TV show is caught up with the books. George R. R. Martin is now on record stating his next novel won’t be out before season six of the landmark fantasy series is released… so where does that take us? Our panel will discuss some of the ways we think the series will move forward (and yes, we’ll be spoiling the past five seasons, so make sure you’ve seen it if you don’t want to talk about the fate of Jon Snow!)
The Trek and the Furious — With two films under their belts, the producers of the current Star Trek film series have sought more mainstream appeal with a trailer that left longtime fans a bit cold. Meanwhile, a new series is on the horizon, but paywalled by CBS; and at least one independent fan production has raised the studio’s hackles. Did the Golden Age of Star Trek already come and go? Where’s it all heading?
Elementary, My Dear Fandom — Sherlock Holmes may never have been more popular, with a Steven Moffat-produced television series in the UK, the series Elementary in the US, audio adventures featuring Nick Briggs as the detective from Big Finish, several recent films and many other adaptations. What is the appeal of this dynamic character and his adventures?
Marvel in the 1970s, DC in the 1980s: the Best Decades? — Those who recall superhero comics in the 1970s and 1980s talk about the many high points of Marvel and DC Comics in what many fans believe are their golden ages.
Fan Film Making: A Beginners Guide — If you are interested in making a fan film about your favorite show, film, book or comic or even if you just enjoy fan films then join us as we talk about our experiences making our own. We’ll offer helpful tips that may get you started and field any questions you may have.
Collecting Who — Are you a relatively new fan who wants to start collecting Doctor Who or other genre memorabilia, be it books, comics, toys, games or memorabilia from the show? Or are you an expert on the topic and want to share your tips and tricks? This panel will help you get started or keep you engaged in the art of collecting.
Audio Odysseys: The State of Podcasts Today — Doctor Who isn’t the only topic where podcasting has become a major player; there are podcasts about all sorts of fandoms all over the science fiction, comics and genre television & film spectrum… and even ones that don’t touch on these topics, but are worthwhile for their comedy or mass appeal. This discussion panel will discuss some of the best podcasts out there: the ones you may or may not have yet discovered, be they Doctor Who or otherwise.
The Year In Review: SF Film and The Year In Review: SF Television — Our annual panel discussions (note: these are two separate events) about the best and worst of science fiction and fantasy film from 2015, at the movies, on network and cable television, and now even streaming to a mobile device near you.
The Perfect Prop: A Guide to Prop Design — Our panel will take a look at the arduous task of photorealistic prop making, from authentic looking Daleks to amazingly impressive sonic screwdrivers, and give you some insight into the best ways to collect materials those fantastic replicas, including tips on the best places to hunt.
Fan Collaboration & Conflict — Working with friends on crafting, cosplay, propmaking and other group projects can be a thrill and make for some great memories! Characters that go together with the right props (and scarves!) offer a great opportunity to work with friends and fellow geeks, but whether just for fun or a convention, issues can and do often arise when it comes to actually finishing your projects. Come talk to through those issues and how to handle them with cosplayers, propmakers and crafters of a variety of styles and experience level.
Costuming for Beginners — You’re ready to take that first big step beyond hitting up the local Halloween or thrift store for a jacket and a fez– but where do you start? Learn tricks, techniques, and resources to go beyond Party City in your look.
Taking It To The Next Level — Masquerades, that judged cosplay competition at this and other conventions, have grown immensely in the last few years. Why turn a geeky hobby into a judged contest? Is the existence of these contests good for our geeky communities, both specifically as Whovians and in general? On an individual level, what are the realities of competition? If you’re thinking about competing your cosplay, this panel will help answer your questions.
Ask The Costuming Experts — If you’re a beginner who is unsure where to start or you’re an intermediate cosplayer who hit a roadblock in a project, this is the panel for you. Our experts want to share tips and tricks gained from many years of designing, sewing, and constructing cosplays. No question is too simple or too difficult to share with our panel!
Cosplay Diversity — Who says you have to look exactly like the character you want to cosplay? This panel is a guided discussion on the experiences and challenges of those who are affected by societal standards on race, age, gender, and size in the cosplay community.
Cosplay Crash Kit — On this panel we will discuss the art or traveling for Cosplay – especially if you have a delicate or ornate costume. From car-pooling to TSA tips, the trick is to get you there and around the con floor in one piece.
Gallifrey One would like to thank Paul Cornell, Billy Davis and Ken Deep (Long Island Who), Jennifer Kelley (ChicagoTARDIS), and everyone who submitted panel ideas for this year’s fan panel track.