Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con 2010

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 30 September 2010 07:10

Written by Film Festival Traveler Staff

A variety of entertaining and informative panels and comic industry sessions are among the extensive programming scheduled at Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con, October 1-3, 2010, Friday through Sunday at the Penn Plaza Pavilion in Manhattan.

Thousands  of  fans will converge in New York City to celebrate the best in pop culture -- movies and TV, anime and manga, horror, wrestling and MMA, comics, toys, video, gaming and games, original art and collectibles. As New York's longest running comic con, it returns to its long-running home of the Penn Plaza Pavilion, 401 Seventh Avenue at 33rd St., steps away from Penn Station.

Friday, the cast of Human Centipede will be on hand to discuss the eerie film.

Day programming begins on Saturday at 11 am with a “Creator Q&A” with superstar artist Shane Davis and former DC Publisher Paul Levitz. Davis will discuss his new graphic novel Superman: Earth One”and Levitz will talk about his new run on Legion of Super-Heroes. At noon, in the Gold Ballroom, writer Mark Millar and artist Leinil Yu will discuss their new project Superior.

That will be followed in the same room at 1 p.m. with two-time Academy Award nominee Mary McDonnell discussing her many projects, including her famous role as President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica.

The Caped Crusader and Boy Wonder, Adam West and Burt Ward, take over at 2 p.m. for a “Bat-Panel” on the iconic 60's TV series. From 3 – 3:45, fans can join world-famous Green Lantern: Rebirth and Flash: Rebirth artist Ethan Van Sciver and Wizard Editor Mike Cotton for the latest installment of the popular 100% Cotton Q&A series.

Then at 4, the three original “Brady Bunch” boys, Barry Williams (“Greg”), Christopher Knight (“Peter”) and Mike Lookinland (“Bobby”), reunite for the first time in New York for an exclusive panel. The day session concludes with iconic comic book scribe Mark Millar, former Marvel Publisher Bill Jemas and superstar artists Yu and J.G. Jones for the high-powered “Mark Millar & Friends” panel.

Sunday's day programming starts with a unique “Brady Brunch” at 8:30 a.m. at the Affinia Hotel Peyton Room, one block south of the Penn Plaza Pavilion. It's an exclusive Continental breakfast event featuring Williams, Knight and Lookinland (note that there is an additional charge for this event).

The kids take center stage in the Gold Ballroom at 11 a.m. with the Kids' Costume Contest, in which children 10 and under can win great prizes and giveaways.

Buffy fans won't want to miss the noon “Buffy Panel,” in which Nicholas Brendon (“Xander”) and Clare Kramer (“Glory”) retell tales from the set of “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.”

At 1 pm, comic book legend Joe Madureira will talk to fans about his new video game work and what he may be doing next at Marvel. Artist Greg Horn is next at 2 with his well-attended Digital Art Class, giving tips and tutorials on his amazing covers.

STAR WARS EPISODE 1 fans won't want to miss the chance to talk to Ahmed Best and Jake Lloyd at 3 p.m. in their dual panel, before the day session concludes with professional wrestlers Kevin Nash, Torrie Wilson and Sunny giving fans an insiders’ look at one of the toughest sports around in the Wrestling Panel at 4 p.m.

Save up to 15% off ticket prices by ordering in advance. Tickets also on sale at the door.

Become a fan of Big Apple Comic Con on Facebook, and for more Big Apple Comic Con guest and programming updates go to: http://www.wizardworld.com/home-apple.html

Wizard World Big Apple Comic Con
October 1-3, 2010
the Penn Plaza Pavilion
Pennsylvania Hotel
New York, NY

IFP's Independent Film Week & Conf. Courts Fresh Voices

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 10 September 2010 16:47

Written by Laura Blum

Revving up for its 32nd edition, IFP’s Independent Film Week and Filmmaker Conference is set to turn New York City into a pageant for independent film maker royalty from September 19 to September 23, 2010. Let the discussions, screenings and networking begin.

If the recent past is an indication, these two inter-related events --essentially a professional conference that is open to the public in various ways -- will draw more than 2,000 filmmakers, film industry professionals and lay cinephiles. 

Read more: IFP's Independent Film Week &...

A Conference about Human Rights Crisis in Burma

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 27 August 2010 05:00

Written by Brad Balfour

On Saturday, October 16th and Sunday, October 17th, 2010, Free Burma Alliance, Network 355 and Amnesty International will hold a two-day conference to raise awareness about the human rights crisis in Burma (Myanmar), as well as funds for Burmese children with cardiac disease.

There is an urgent need to raise awareness about humanitarian crisis in Eastern Burma, where over 3,500 villages had been burnt and over 3.5 million people displaced. Provisions for health care are inadequate: 80 per cent of Burmese citizens live in malaria risk areas, thousands go without treatment for conditions such as tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, and countless children have minimal access to treatment as marginalized refugees.

Forced labor, torture, rape, religious persecution, landmines, forced relocation, and attacks on civilians persist as everyday realities for the innocent people of Eastern Burma.

The event will start with a fundraiser on October 16th to raise money for crucial cardiac surgeries for four Burmese children cared for by the Burma Children Medical Fund. The cost of each surgery is $5,000.  If left untreated, the children – Shin Aw Ba Tha, Hell May Say, Surin, and Thant Zin Win – face death or serious handicaps..

The fundraising dinner, featuring Burmese performers and a silent auction, will take place from 7-10 pm at the famed Friar’s Club, 57 East 55th Street in New York City (www.friarsclub.com). Guests will include notable celebrities, politicians, and philanthropists.
 
On day two, Sunday, October 17th, the Free Burma Alliance/Amnesty International Inaugural Conference takes place. It aims to establish a community that will share knowledge and collectively develop and implement strategies for expanded public awareness, advocacy and activism in relation to Burma. The conference will take place at the Liederkranz Foundation, 6 East 87th Street, from 12-5 pm, followed by a cocktail reception.

The agenda includes three films – Meh Sha by Hezekiah Lewis, This is My Witness by Nobel Women's Initiative and the Women's League of Burma, and Burma: An Indictment by Jeremy Taylor – as well as three panel discussions.

Scheduled panelists Thomas Van Dyke (Heroes Serving Humanity), Mac McClelland (author of For Us Surrender is Out of the Question), Roland Watson (Dictator Watch), Myint Soe (NLD-LA Secretary) and Nay Tin Myint (political prisoner for 15 years) will discuss strategies for expanded advocacy and activism concerning this on-going crisis.

Free Burma Alliance is a coalition of human rights and humanitarian relief organizations dedicated to raising awareness about humanitarian crisis in Burma and providing support to the ill-treated and oppressed women and children of Burma.

Network 355 is a NYC based network of socially responsible professional women who volunteer their expertise to raise awareness about humanitarian and cultural causes.

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all.

Tickets ranging from $20 to $250 are available at: burmaevent.eventbrite.com For more info go to:

www.freeburmaalliance.org

www.network355.org

www.amnesty.org