[CON] Itzacon & A-Kon Announcements!

ELECTRONIC PROGRESS REPORT A-Kon AND Itzacon

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A-Kon 15 Info is Coming!  Watch for more info at www.a-kon.com.

NOTE: Our electronic processor has decided not to offer credit card 
services any longer, so we are working to establish the online credit card 
processing again.  In the meantime, we are using PayPal, so you can get 
your A-Kon memberships, and are in the testing phases now.  You CAN get 
your memberships to Itzacon, our Thanksgiving Post-Turkey 2-day multi-media 
show (www.phoenix-entertainment.net/itzacon) We hope to have the A-Kon 
option available soon, but in the meantime, you can still printout and send 
a check to make sure youre pre-registered for the Fabulous A-Kon 15th 
Anniversary!  (yes, this makes us the OLDEST anime convention in the nation 
(despite what some magazines may have reported they are badly mistaken)) We 
have some AWESOME things planned for A-Kon 15 and you WILL NOT want to miss 
them!

However, until A-Kon rolls around, here are some things to do this fall...
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INFO FOR NORTH TEXAS ANIME FANS!!!

The INWOOD THEATER in Dallas is currently showing the anime movie 
MILLENNIUM ACTRESS (which they didnt advertise well AT ALL) thru this 
Thursday, so GO SEE IT!  Its apparently a very good movie (good reviews 
come back from all the people who have seen it so far) and though its short 
notice, GO GO GO!

Here is a review done by the Dallas Morning News:

http://www.guidelive.com/profile/357690/

In Japanese with English subtitles.

Published in The Dallas Morning News: 10.03.03

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ITZACON APPROACHETH! (we mention it first as its closest to happening)

Join us the Saturday/Sunday after Thanksgiving for another small con, 
mixed-media, Anime, Science Fiction, Gaming (lots of it), Fantasy, and 
more.  Itzacon is a more intimate show, featuring all the things you love 
cons for video rooms, dealers room, fan gatherings, panels, audience 
participation events, autographs, demos, performances, etc. We felt the 
need for a late-autumn party, so were throwing a Con!  Go to 
www.phoenix-entertainment.net/itzacon for more info.

WHEN: November 29-30 (yes, just a 2 day con)
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Hotel-DFW Airport (INSIDE the DFW Airport), Terminal C
PRICE: $7/day or $10 for both days.  Pre-Reg is available online through 
PayPal from our website link at this time and will get you a swag bag with 
STUFF.  All other registration is at the door)
HOTEL ROOMS: $75/night for 1-4 people, plus tax (mention Itzacon to get 
this super low holiday rate. Well have late nite activities, so you will 
want to stay and party with us!
PARKING: Hotel will validate parking so that it is free, for anyone 
attending Itzacon- make sure to bring the ticket you get at the entrance to 
the airport in to the hotel desk and get it stamped.

SOME OF THE FEATURES SO FAR (but we need more!  If youd like to volunteer 
to do something, or be involved, contact us at [EMAIL PROTECTED]):

DEALERS ROOM with all kinds of merchandise from anime to jewelry to 
weaponry to books, comics, shirts, artwork, etc. etc.

PERFORMANCE: MUTEKI.  This popular rock & Japanese Cover band is composed 
mostly of A-Kon J-Pop staffers, and theyre GOOD! Come hear some of their 
selections on Saturday evening!  FREE.

OPEN CASTING CALL No, Really, were serious!
    CASHEL PRODUCTIONS is doing a sci-fi pilot in the area and wants to 
find local talent in the fan community! This is a serious endeavor, set in 
a futuristic dark world, for a potential series to be filmed locally (north 
Texas area).  The casting call takes place Saturday at Itzacon and will 
include readings and reactions while they look for people to fill various 
roles (including walk-on, principal characters and background people) for 
the show.  (come in costume or not, it doesnt matter, your ability to act, 
speak and/or react is what theyre looking for). Always wanted to be an 
actor? Nows your chance!

FILM PREMIERS & SHOWINGS:

   DARK EVOLUTION a new (and better) cut of a short film, based on a Live 
Action Role Playing Game, that takes place in a future where mutants exist, 
corporations rule and undercover strike teams are used to accomplish 
certain tasks, never quite knowing who to trust..or who NOT to. Was the 
accidentof their latest mission really a bad turn of luck?  Or were there 
other forces at work?

     Winner of the Best Short Narrativeaward at the 2003 Oklahoma Film 
Festival, and showcased at the Chick Flicks Film Festival (films produced, 
written or directed by women) in Dallas and will show at the Deep Ellum 
Film Festival this October in Dallas. (Oh yeah, A-Kon chairman Meri 
Hazlewood Davis is in it we should probably say that!)

    DARK TALISMAN PRODUCTIONS MAY premier (if its done in time) their new 
horror film THE REALITYoriginally scheduled for an HP Lovecraft film 
festival, but the timing didnt work out, as well as showings of 
CONTAMINATION(described as a 1950s style sci-fi/comedy). BURDEN OF LOSS, 
their newest feature, described as a werewolf/romance/revenge film, will be 
premiered if The Reality is not completed in time.  Pictures from 
CONTAMINATIONcan be found at 
<http://www.darktalisman.20m.com/>www.darktalisman.20m.com .

30 SECONDS TO FAME COSTUME CONTEST  The title says it all you have 30 
seconds to strut your stuff!  MCd by voice actor Kyle Hebert and 
Bizzaro(who actually APPEARED on 30 Seconds to Fame, the TV 
show!).  Saturday Night.

BIZZARO'S MAGICAL ADVENTURE:  Fresh from his European Tour.. ok well not
really fresh...nor European... but at least Fresh from Six Flags' Fright
Nights and Screams haunted park!  We bring to you Bizzaro: The Optical
Illusionist and Mischief. Come see amazement, wonder, and people getting hit
with bats. If you miss it you may never get to see it again because you 
could go blind at any moment. For more info go to 
<http://www.smappdooda.com/>www.smappdooda.com . Be there because we know 
where you live...

2 VIDEO ROOMS showing mixed titles a lot of Anime, Japanese horror & 
weirdness some other Asian live action films, Rocky Horror, shows with 
science-fiction/fantasy focuses, and whatever else we can come up with!

2-DAY ANIME ART WORKSHOP(benefitting Studio Ironcat)

    Steve Bennett, President of Studio Ironcat, has agreed to conduct a 
2-day, 3-4 hrs. per day actual art training seminar covering all things 
manga/anime.  The How and Why of the character design, how to turn a 
regularart piece into an anime styled work, line thicknesses, how to 
indicate motion, how to paint cels, the meanings behind the various types 
of art stylings, proportions, eye shape/size and the meanings, 
etc.  Manga/anime has a specific lookand there are REASONS for that.  Day 1 
The basics the initial concept, line drawings, pencils, body positionings, 
etc.  Day 2 Finishing the Work inking, coloring, backgrounds, 
etc.  Includes pens, paint, pencils and all materials.  This extensive 
class costs $25 and the proceeds benefit Studio Ironcat.  (It is suggested 
you register for this in advance, either by mail or via the PayPal 
registration form, so we have enough seats)

ANIME 101 Just what is this stuff all about anyway?  Comes complete with 
paper handouts and guides for parents, etc.  Hosted by Shannon Terrill of 
Irving Public Library.

GUESTS (so far) include:

KYLE HEBERT (Sat. night only)
     A popular voice actor & radio personality, Kyle will lend his energy 
and wit to our 30 Seconds To Fame costume contest as one of our MCs.  Hell 
also hang out and be generally cool, as thats just the kind of guy he is!

PN ELROD
   Author of several popular books in the Vampire genre, Pat is a well 
known cape maker as well as all around nifty lady!  She may be debuting her 
new book Lady Crymsyn at Itzacon!

STEVE BENNETT
    Making an appearance in the Dallas area, Steve will be running a 2-day 
anime/manga art workshop, delving into all the depths unable to be explored 
in a shorter panel.  And Steve is aptly qualified, as President of Studio 
Ironcat, Steve has animated in Japan on such classics as Urusei Yatsura, 
Yamato, and more!

The folks from RADIO COMIX are going to try to come up too, and theyre 
always a lot of fun!  If youve never gotten a chance to chat with Ellen, 
Pat, or their crew, youre missing out!

And more will be here as we get closer.

GAMES (we have a lot planned)

CLASSIC BATTLETECH (sponsored by Mechwarriors Guild)
LARPS (Vampire, and a couple more)
REAPER MINIATURES with several of their games, including a speed paint mini 
workshop and a Paint N Take workshop
VARIOUS tabletop CCG, RPG, and whatever we can find (we need some help here 
too contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you want to run games!  We have a BIG space 
to fill!)
DDR our favorite dance arcade game will be back!
LAWG Live Action War Games aimed at a younger audience than a standard 
LARP, they also use boffer weapons to indicate damage, etc.  Its scaled and 
tailored for the 18 and below crowd, although all are welcome! For more 
info on what LAWG is (a book is due out soon) go to: 
<http://geocities.com/lawgcaprica>http://geocities.com/lawgcaprica
CONSOLE games will be sponsored by GameStop, and will include various 
platforms such as PS2, X=Box, etc.

MAKOTO ARENA a New Game! now THIS is cool!  A new game that involves the 
whole body as you use a staff (or two striking sticks) to turn offa series 
of lights on 3 poles that surround you like Ninja Whack-A-Mole!  This is 
FUN!  More info is available 
at:   <DOCUME~1MERIHA~1LOCALS~1Tempwww.makoto-usa.htm>www.makoto-usa.com. 
The description is:
     "Facing one of the six foot tall opponents (target towers), you see 
the other two opponents at either side in your peripheral vision. You are 
in a competition of three against one! Each tower has ten targets, any one 
of these thirty targets could be the one to randomly activate. You never 
know which one of the computerized opponents will draw your action!
     A gong sounds the start of your session. An explosion of light and a 
vibrant tone draws your attention to the active opponent. As you turn 
toward its direction your mind searches for the location of the lighted 
target on the tower. You quickly stretch to strike the target with the 
lightweight padded staff in your hands. A second tone confirms that you 
scored a point on the target before it darkened. Another explosion of light 
and sound causes you to lunge across the arena bending to strike the lower 
target. As quickly as you strike one target another one activates. Your 
opponent, Makoto, is pacing you!
You are relentlessly drawn in to focusing continuously on finding and 
striking the targets to the exclusion of all other thoughts. Your movements 
are a dance, your breathing is rhythmic as you slip into an automatic flow 
state. Your total body moves, lunging, stretching, bending, twisting, 
burning calories rapidly. Your mind is clear and calm, your spirit is 
energized. You feel transported beyond time and space...then you remember 
how your "friend" ate all your Pocky.  You attack the towers with a renewed 
frenzy!
     Makoto....not just a game....its Catharsis!"

WARMACHINE TOURNAMENT sponsored by GameWyze
     Come join the first official GameWyze Southwest Warmachine 
Tournament.  Warmachine is a fast-paced and aggressive 30mm tabletop 
miniatures battle game made by Privateer Press and is set in the 
steam-powered fantasy world of the Iron Kingdoms.    Be part of the titanic 
battle as the forces of the Iron Kingdoms battle in an ancient burial 
ground of the infamous colossals.  Through the wreckage and remains of a 
long ago battle a new war rages.

      The tournament will be 550 points and will following the Privateer 
Press official tournament structure.  Prizes will be given for each 
faction's top player and a grand prize will be awarded to the victorious 
combatant.

         For info on GameWyze go to www.gamewyze.com

And more!

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ITZACON is put on by the A-Kon people, so you KNOW its quality and you KNOW 
its FUN and you KNOW you want to be here!
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There will be more exciting A-Kon info shortly after we nail down a few 
more things.  Watch This Space for the latest scoops!  A-Kon 15 a 
Spectacular Anime Extravaganza!  We loved Anime before Anime was cool!
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from there.
Meri Hazlewood Davis
President, Phoenix Entertainment
www.a-kon.com

"Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground."
~Author Unknown

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