Dragon Con Media Relations

DCMR Podcast #3 for 2016: Interviews

Jul• 13•16

Welcome to the Third Dragon Con Media Relations Podcast of 2016!

This episode Dragon Con Media Relations Director Dan Carroll and Dragon Con Interview Manager Samantha Douglas cover a number of interview related topics including:

Dragon Con Guests: Exciting Announcements
- https://www.dragoncon.org/?q=guests
Guest Interview Requests Open on 7/15 (Read this bullet point, it’s important)
Interviews at Dragon Con:
- Overview! https://www.dragoncon.org/mediarelations/interviews/
- Request a Media Guest Interview (Actors/Walk of Fame)/ (Invitation only…password protected) https://www.dragoncon.org/mediarelations/interviews/form-for-requesting-an-interview/
- Request a Comic/Literary/Art/Science Guest Interview https://www.dragoncon.org/mediarelations/request-comicliteraryartist-interview/
- Director Interviews! https://www.dragoncon.org/mediarelations/request-interview-with-dragon-con-director/
Guidelines for Interviews
- https://www.dragoncon.org/mediarelations/interviews/scheduling-interviews-at-dragon-con/#guide
We banter a little and give some ideas for good interviews (prepared) and bad interviews (not prepared)

Note: Walk of Fame Guest Interviews are open to only a number of reporters who are invited. Literary, Science, Art, Comics, Music, and other guests are available to all reporters. We encourage all reporters to request interviews with directors prior to the convention.

Download This Podcast! (Right Click to Download!)

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Dragon Con Grows Its Gaming Space by 60 Percent

Jul• 06•16

Programming and Gameplay Moves from Hilton Atlanta to Westin Peachtree Plaza and AmericasMart

Designers and Voice Actors for Best Known, Top Selling and Fan Favorite Video and Table Top Games Take Part in Dragon Con’s 30^th Anniversary Celebration

ATLANTA – July 6, 2016 – Acknowledging the growing interest in gaming of all types, Dragon Con, already one of the largest gaming conventions in the nation, has expanded its gaming space by more than 60 percent for its 30^th Anniversary convention.

Ian Frazier, lead designer for the acclaimed Mass Effect franchise, Mark Jacobs, lead designer for the Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer franchises and his current project Camelot Unchained, and voice actor Mark Meer, best known for his role as Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect trilogy, lead a slate of top game designers, voice actors, and industry experts who will lead panels and meet with fans throughout the Labor Day convention.

Video game pioneer and American astronaut Richard “Lord British” Garriott, who created the Ultima and Tabla Rasa games, will also be on hand to talk about his latest project, Shroud of the Avatar.

“The strength of gaming has been a pillar at Dragon Con since our first convention in 1987. Just as the convention continues to grow, our ability to offer programming and gameplay does too,” convention co-chair Dave Cody said. “We are able to offer our fans more games, more gameplay, and more and better opportunities to talk with voice actors, game designers, and other guests from the worlds of table top and video gaming.”

Some 75,000 people are expected to attend Dragon Con 2016, filling downtown Atlanta over the four-day Labor Day weekend, September 2 to September 5, with events and activities across AmericasMart Buildings One and Two and five host hotels – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Sheraton Atlanta.

In order to accommodate the growth and popularity of gaming, Dragon Con’s gaming programming will move from the Hilton Atlanta, where it had approximately 86,000 square feet, to the Westin Peachtree Plaza and the adjacent AmericasMart Building One, where it will take up a combined 140,000 square feet. Panels, contests, and parties will be held in the Westin while free gaming, paid tournaments, and similar events will be held in AmericasMart. As always gaming will be open to all Dragon Con members 24/7 for the convention.

New programming this year includes Kids Gaming Adventure, a series of 45-minute sessions designed to introduce 6 to 12 year-olds to board games, collectible card games, roleplaying, miniatures, and LAN-based video games. An accompanying parent is required at all times.

The video gaming track is also expanding its popular gender and LGBT-related programming to include discussions on racial and disability issues in gaming. These panels will be led by developers and other industry experts about current trends, issues, and obstacles to creating video games.

“Our goal is to be a leading voice in making video games communities safe and inclusive for all,” said Kevin Stallard, director for the Video Gaming programming track.

Other events include a dedicated installation of Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator, which will be free to play for those with a Dragon Con membership. ASBS is your chance to operate as a bridge crewman during evil alien incursions and other exciting scenarios.

And the National Security Decision Making Game (NSDMG) led by Mark McDonagh, a retired Navy Captain and co-designer of the game, returns to Dragon Con 2016 for their 26^th year. The National Security Decision Making Game presents players with a range of real world issues that they must decide how to solve, with each play assuming the role of a different political leader or deliberative body. Capt. McDonagh and his group of experts will also be presenting lectures and seminars on current global events.

About Dragon Con

Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than about 3,000 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music and gaming over four days. For more information, please visit www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information on Artemis Starship Bridge Simulator, please visit artemis.eochu.com

For more information about the National Security Decision Making Game, please visit NSDM – The National Decision Making Game on Facebook.

Download a PDF Version of this article

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Dragon Con Announces Official 2016 Literary and Artist Guests of Honor

Jul• 01•16

Author Jim Butcher and Artist Stephan Martiniere to Be Recognized at Awards Banquet

ATLANTA – June 14, 2016 – Dragon Con, Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy and sci-fi convention, has selected Dresden Files author Jim Butcher and fantasy artist Stephan Martiniere as its 2016 Guests of Honor.

Dragon Con, which held its first convention in 1987, has honored an author and an artist Guest of Honor in each of the convention’s 30 years.

Both Guests of Honor are widely renowned in their respective fields and recognized as endlessly creative individuals. They will be recognized at the Guests of Honor Awards Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 3.

“We are delighted to recognize Jim and Stephan for their significant contributions to science fiction and literature,” convention co-chair Rachel Reeves said. “Over the course of their impressive careers, Jim and Stephan have made tremendous contributions to the worlds of science fiction and fantasy art and literature.”

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Dragon Con 2016 Fact Sheet

Jun• 28•16

Download the PDF version of the 2016 Dragon Con Fact Sheet!

EVENT:	Dragon Con celebrates its 30^th annual convention in 2016.
DESCRIPTION:	Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than 3,300 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music and gaming over four days.
WHEN:	September 2 – September 5, 2016 (Labor Day Weekend)
WHERE:	Hyatt Regency Hotel, Marriott Marquis, Atlanta Hilton, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Westin Peachtree Plaza, and AmericasMart Buildings 1 and 2 in Atlanta, Georgia Registration will be located at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel.
ATTENDANCE:	More than 70,000 fans, dealers, artists, guests, and volunteers attended Dragon Con in 2015. Dragon Con 2016 is expected to draw more than 75,000 unique visitors. Registration is open to the public. Four-day memberships are $120 until July 15 and $130 until August 19. Four day memberships are $150 between August 20 and August 30, when prices return to $130 but are only available on-site. One day memberships are also available, and can be purchased on-site at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel only. Credentialed members of the news media may attend free of charge with advanced approval.
CHARITY:	This year’s official charity is the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency. In its fundraising efforts in 2015, Dragon Con raised about $100,000 for the Lymphoma Research Foundation – Georgia Market through convention-based auctions, special merchandise sales, special events and a dollar for dollar match, up to $50,000, of any money raised for its official charity. Since 2005, Dragon Con has raised more $526,000 for its official charities, which change each year. Dragon Con’s annual Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” blood drive regularly attracts record turnout, with some 3,000 people donating more than 6,000 units of blood and blood products each year. The annual drive – consistently ranked as the largest convention-based blood drive – benefits LifeSouth, which serves more than 40 hospitals in the Atlanta area and 110 hospitals in the Southeast.
MAJOR EVENTS:	Major events include our Annual Parade down Peachtree Street, the inaugural Dragon Awards for fantasy and science fiction literature, Guest of Honor Awards Banquet, Masquerade, and Dragon Con Night at the Georgia Aquarium.
PROGRAMS:	The actors, writers and artists that come to Dragon Con are the backbone of the show. In 2016, we are looking forward to Karl Urban, William Shatner, Alex Kingston, James Marsters, Charlie Cox, Jack Gleeson, and Robin Lord Taylor will be among the all-star guest list that covers television, movies, literature, comics, gaming and other realms. Attendees have the chance to meet their favorites in the Walk of Fame and elsewhere at the convention. Members and guests can also participate in panels, workshops, and contests hosted by more than 35 different fandoms covering everything from science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, science, literature, puppetry and film. Workshops give attendees a chance to work closely with experts on writing, art, acting, costuming, and astronomy. Other programming events include live concerts, puppet shows, late night parties, DJ hosted dances and Thursday Night Wrestling.
WEBSITE:	www.dragoncon.org

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Eugie Foster Memorial Award for Short Fiction

May• 23•16

Introducing the Eugie Foster Memorial Award for Short Fiction (or Eugie Award). Celebrating the best in innovative fiction, this annual award will be presented for the first time in 2016—for works published in 2015—atDragon Con, the nation’s largest fan-run convention.

The Eugie Award honors stories that are irreplaceable, that inspire, enlighten, and entertain. We will be looking for stories that are beautiful, thoughtful, and passionate, and change us and the field. The recipient is a story that is unique and will become essential to speculative fiction readers.

Eligibility: Original speculative short fiction of 20,000 words or fewer, published—including in print, ebook, or online, individually, or in a magazine, collection, or anthology—for the first time in the English language in the previous year (2015).

This is a juried award, with the long list nominations coming from editors, reviewers, and select readers. In the future, the nominations will be gathered in the first three months of the year, but for our first year, we will be running a bit late. The names of the five finalists will be released before the award recipient is selected.

For more information, contact EugieAward@EugieFoster.com.

Eugie Foster was a Nebula Award-winning author and the long-time editor of the Dragon Con’s Daily Dragon. She died on September 27th, 2014 of respiratory failure related to Lymphoma at Emory University in Atlanta.

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DCMR Podcast #2 for 2016: New Forms, Awards, Charity, And More Awards

Apr• 29•16

Welcome to the Second Dragon Con Media Relations Podcast of 2016!

This episode Dragon Con Media Relations Director Dan Carroll covers a number of topics including:

Dragon Con Celebrates Labyrinth’s 30 Anniversary
New 2016 Forms For Reporters To Get The Most Out Of Dragon Con
Dragon Awards To Recognize Excellence In Fiction, Comics, Gaming, Tv And Movies
Dragon Con Selects Atlanta Center For Self Sufficiency As Official Charity
Dragon Con, Inc. And Momocon Forge Strategic Partnership
DEEPSOUTHCON Presents Awards To Dragon Con Leaders (Including audio from the awards ceremony).

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Dragon Con Celebrates Labyrinth’s 30 Anniversary

Apr• 27•16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

We celebrate our 30th Dragon Con while Labyrinth celebrates its 30th Anniversary. We are working with the creative team at Labyrinth to bring our celebrations together. Expect announcements about how we are bringing Labyrinth to Dragon Con. Today we are sharing exciting news about the new theatrical and Blu-ray releases of Labyrinth. Look for more information from Dragon Con Media Relations and the Dragon Con Puppetry Track.

PDF COPY: Labyrinth 30th Press Release FINAL 4-25-16

CELEBRATE THE VISIONARY TALENTS OF

JIM HENSON AND DAVID BOWIE WITH THE

LABYRINTH 30^th ANNIVERSARY THEATRICAL RE-RELEASE

AND ALL-NEW SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY EDITIONS

Fathom Events Presents The Jim Henson Company’s Classic Fantasy in Select Movie Theaters on Sept. 11 & 14

All-New 4K Restoration Presented in Collectible Digibook Packaging & Limited Edition Gift Set Debuts on 4K Ultra HD^™, Blu-ray^™, DVD & Digital Sept. 20

CULVER CITY, Calif. (April 25, 2016) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates the 30^th anniversary of the generation-defining fantasy: LABYRINTH, newly restored in 4K. Directed by renowned filmmaker Jim Henson, executive produced by George Lucas (Star Wars) and with a screenplay by Monty Python’s Terry Jones, LABYRINTH stars David Bowie (The Prestige) and Academy Award^® winner Jennifer Connelly (Best Supporting Actress,
A Beautiful Mind, 2001) in the story of a girl (Connelly) who must save her little brother from the Goblin King (Bowie).

As part of the anniversary celebration, the film will have a limited engagement theatrical run through Fathom Events and will be shown in select movie theaters in the United States on Sept. 11 & 14. The theatrical engagements will also showcase select exclusive content. More information is available at https://www.fathomevents.com/event/labyrinth-30th-anniversary.

Following the theatrical re-release, the beloved fantasy will come to Blu-ray^™ and next-generation 4K Ultra HD^™
Sept. 20, with the Blu-ray available within a gorgeous 24-page Digibook package that includes rare photos and a look behind the scenes. In addition, the film will be released in a Limited Edition Gift Set in unique “mirrorbox” packaging inspired by the film’s climactic and iconic final scene. The Gift Set also includes the Digibook and will initially be available exclusively at Amazon.

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DeepSouthCon Presents Awards to Dragon Con Leaders

Apr• 26•16

Dragon Con President Pat Henry and Senior Director Bill Harrison Win 2016 Rebel Awards

Daily Dragon Editor Eugie Foster Recognized with Posthumous Phoenix Award

DeepSouthCon is the South’s oldest regional Science Fiction Convention, held every year in a different southern city. JordanCon was the host of the 2016 DeepSouthCon and host to the awarding of both the Phoenix and Rebel Awards. The Phoenix is given to the professional (writer, editor or artist) who has done the most for Southern fandom while the Rebel is awarded to the fans who has done the most for Southern fandom. This year’s Phoenix award was given to Nebula Award Winning Writer Eugie Foster. Two Rebel Awards were presented to Bill Harrison, Senior Director of Program Operations at Dragon Con, and Pat Henry, Dragon Con Co-Founder and President of Dragon Con, Inc.

Eugie Foster was a writer and editor and ran the Daily Dragon at Dragon Con. Eugie Foster passed away in 2014, though her presence is still felt throughout fandom. Eugie’s husband, Matt Foster, accepted for Eugie, eloquently reminding the audience that Eugie Foster’s legacy is and always will be her writing. Matt Foster is the Director of the Dragon Con Film Festival.

The Rebel Award for Bill Harrison recognized his contributions to fandom through his tireless work in providing technical and programming operational leadership to countless conventions in the Atlanta area. Dragon Con Director of Programming Operations, Regina Kirby, presented his award and recounted Bill’s strong influence on fandom throughout the south.

The Rebel Award presented to Pat Henry celebrated him as a visionary pioneer who helped create Dragon Con as a multi-genre convention and a steadfast leader who preserved and grew the convention. As Chairman, Pat Henry oversaw the growth of Dragon Con to its current size of over 70,000 members. During his 30 years with the convention, he provided transformative leadership and influenced fandom throughout the region and the country.

Dragon Con President Pat Henry – 2015 Rebel Award Winner

Bill Harrison accepts his Rebel Award From Regina Kirby.

Matt Foster accepts Phoenix Award on behalf of writer Eugie Foster

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New 2016 Forms for Reporters to Get the Most Out of Dragon Con

Apr• 24•16

New forms have been added to reporters for Dragon Con 2016:

Request to Interview a Director at Dragon Con: Use this form to request an interview with one of our many fascinating and informative directors. Interviews with directors should be scheduled before the convention because during the convention they have limited time. You can also request an interview before or during the convention with Dan Carroll, Dragon Con Media Relations Director, and official spokesperson. Please only ask for a total of 10 interviews, picking no more than 3 directors from any one area.

Reporters Interested In Working Panels: Use this form to offer yourself as available to participate in Dragon Con track panels. Most reporters who will be invited to join panels can expect the panels to be programming track panels, but reporters with the appropriate background can be tapped for moderating guest panels.

Podcast Space Request: Space is limited, but we can provide podcasting space for you. This space will have electricity, chairs, and a table. We can not guarantee total quiet, since we will be working Media Registration in the same room, but you will have relative quiet with some background ambiance to give you that “we are live at a convention” feel. Also, we will not be able to provide internet access, so this if for recording and not live streaming.

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DRAGON AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN FICTION, COMICS, GAMING, TV AND MOVIES

Apr• 06•16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:

Phone:

Email:

URL:

Dan Carroll, Director, Media Relations

404 692 1958

mediarelations@dragoncon.org

www.dragoncon.org

DRAGON AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE EXCELLENCE IN FICTION, COMICS, GAMING, TV AND MOVIES

Fans-Focused Process Will Recognize the Best Science Fiction Properties in Fifteen Categories

Awards Will Be Announced at Dragon Con over Labor Day Weekend

ATLANTA – April 5, 2016 – Dragon Con, Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy, sci-fi and gaming convention, announced the introduction of the Dragon Awards, a program of fan-chosen awards to recognize outstanding achievement in science fiction and fantasy literature, comics, gaming and filmed entertainment.

The introduction of the Dragon Awards is part of the convention’s 30^th Anniversary celebration.

Dragon Award winners will be selected by all fans – not just Dragon Con members or attendees – in an open nomination and final voting system. To accommodate as many creative genres as possible, awards will be given in each of 15 categories covering the full range of fiction, comics, television, movies, video gaming and tabletop gaming. Winners will be announced at the 30^th Anniversary Dragon Con convention, which will be held September 2 to September 5, 2016 in Atlanta.

“We wanted to offer fans an opportunity to vote for their favorite book, comic, movie, television show or game, which just about covers all the different ways that we enjoy science fiction and fantasy today,” said Pat Henry, president of Dragon Con, Inc. “In the last 30 years, the way we enjoy science fiction and fantasy has changed so much, but the demand for quality has never diminished. These awards are our way of recognizing the best writers, artists, directors and game designers who breathe life into the things we love.”

(more…)

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