Firefly mention in DragonCon Article by EmpireX

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Firefly mention in DragonCon Article

POSTED BY: EMPIREX
UPDATED: Thursday, September 6, 2007 06:28
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Sunday, September 2, 2007 3:42 PM

Found this on Yahoo News while I was at work. I kinda squealed like a girl (I am a girl) and raised a few eyebrows.

Sci-fi throngs boldly go ... to Atlanta
By ERRIN HAINES, Associated Press Writer Sun Sep 2, 7:31 AM ET

ATLANTA - Allen Hansard did not want to be one of 500 Supermen at this year's DragonCon parade. Determined to stand out among hundreds of sorcerers, intergalactic soldiers, superheroes and other sci-fi characters, Hansard spent weeks on his Hawkman costume. The gold helmet alone took him three months, and the gray wings cost $1,000 at a costume shop.

On Saturday, Hansard got his payoff: not another Hawkman in the lineup of more than 1,000 parade participants.
"I like to do characters that are kind of unique, kind of difficult," Hansard said.
The parade is one of the highlights of the four-day DragonCon event, billed as the country's largest annual convention for fans of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comics, art, games and computers. It features more than 600 hours of panels, workshops demonstrations and discussions with authors, editors, artists, game designers and media personalities.

DragonCon is named for its beginnings in the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players, a local science fiction and gaming group. The first convention was in 1987 and had about 1,400 attendees. By 1989, author Anne McCaffrey was lured as the convention's guest of honor, and by 1990, suspense writer Tom Clancy joined the fun.

In only eight years, convention attendance topped 10,000. By 1999, more than 20,000 were descending on the city. In 2005 and 2006, convention attendance reached 30,000.

While much of the convention is contained at two hotels, attendees can be seen making a scene downtown, taking their pride for Star Trek, Star Wars, Middle Earth, Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer or their favorite superhero to the streets.

Some of the more popular parade regulars are nearly as famous as the sci-fi celebrities who make appearances at the conference. Matt Pfingsten posed as the famous Star Wars wookie, Chewbacca, with admirers before the parade began. The Nashville, Tenn., freelance film and video editor has marched in all six DragonCon parades.

"For me, it's a big party and a family and a lot of fun," Pfingsten said.
And DragonCon still attracts new faces to the party. Cindy Pickard, a retired grade school teacher from Scottsdale, Ariz., was a first-time attendee.

"I'm a sci-fi fan, but this is my very first convention ever," said Pickard, a big fan of the now-canceled show "Firefly" who dressed in a soldier's uniform from the show, complete with gun, backpack and helmet. "Last year, some people came to DragonCon and it sounded so cool I just thought that's what I have to do next year."

Charlie Carlson of Kokomo, Ind., had the same idea. He strapped on his 40-piece Star Wars stormtrooper costume to join dozens of his brethren as they marched down Peachtree Street.

"When I was younger, I saw the movie and just loved them. I always wanted to be one," Carlson said, looking around as the stormtroopers lined up, an impressive assemblage of shiny, white plastic.

"This is awesome," he said.
Hansard got his twin brother, Adam, in on the fun for the first time. After all, what would Hawkman be without The Atom? The two characters were in a comic book, and besides, Adam and Atom are homonyms.

Not that Adam Hansard needed much of an excuse.
"It's kind of surreal seeing yourself in a costume, as somebody who doesn't dress up in costumes," Adam Hansard said, standing in a blue and red Lycra suit handmade by his brother. "But it makes a lot of people happy, so why not? I don't know if I'm hooked, but I'll certainly come do it again. It's a lot of fun."

Patsy: When you were two years old, we tied you to the central reservation of a motorway.

Edina: But you were like a homing pidgeon, sweetie....back within a week!

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Wednesday, September 5, 2007 8:21 PM

VERSEEXPLORER

Quote:
Originally posted by EmpireX:
And DragonCon still attracts new faces to the party. Cindy Pickard, a retired grade school teacher from Scottsdale, Ariz., was a first-time attendee.

"I'm a sci-fi fan, but this is my very first convention ever," said Pickard, a big fan of the now-canceled show "Firefly" who dressed in a soldier's uniform from the show, complete with gun, backpack and helmet. "Last year, some people came to DragonCon and it sounded so cool I just thought that's what I have to do next year."

It tickles me that you found this article. It's ME. I know most of you don't know the other name that I use outside of FFF.net, but it's me. We were waiting at the park area for the parade to start, and I was sitting on a ledge away from the 76th. A man came over and said he had taken my picture, and asked my name. He came back with a woman, who introduced herself as a Errin Haines a reporter with Associated Press, and she asked if I would do an interview with her. I was thrilled to see that my favorite canceled TV show was included in the article.

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Wednesday, September 5, 2007 9:34 PM

MOOSE

Outstanding!

Thank you!!!!

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Thursday, September 6, 2007 1:15 AM

KC5F

That made it into our local paper, too. It was good to see FF mentioned!

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Thursday, September 6, 2007 2:05 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Shiny interview VeX. That was who you were talking to when I came over to check on you, yes?

Now we just need to track this reporter down next year and get her to interview Tristan about the 76th.

__________________________________________
Holding the line since December '02!

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Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

Color Sergeant

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http://76thbattalion.homestead.com/index.html

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Thursday, September 6, 2007 5:40 AM

VERSEEXPLORER

Quote:
Originally posted by BrownCoat1:
Shiny interview VeX. That was who you were talking to when I came over to check on you, yes?

Now we just need to track this reporter down next year and get her to interview Tristan about the 76th.

Yep, she was doing the interview when you came over to give me the two minute warning. I did mention Tristan and the 76th, but it didn't make it into the article. I'll keep my eyes out for her next year.

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Thursday, September 6, 2007 6:04 AM

MSG

Vex you did the 76th and FFF proud. Way to go gorgeous:)

"I'm not all that interested in the mental health of people who want to kill me. "- Leroy Jethro Gibbs

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Thursday, September 6, 2007 6:10 AM

VERSEEXPLORER

Quote:
Originally posted by msg:
Vex you did the 76th and FFF proud. Way to go gorgeous:)

Aaaah, thanks!

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Thursday, September 6, 2007 6:28 AM

MAGDALENA

"No power in the 'verse can stop me!"

Wheeee! Isn't it exciting when something you're passionate about gets picked up in the regular press!!

RIMG and I were at his parents place and his mother showed us this article!! She's been looking out for it on the local TV stations too! She also told us of a few of RIMG's friends who'd made the trip to Atlanta (about an hour+ from where they lived) just to see us in the parade! They did and there will be photos no doubt! I love the support we've had as the 76th!!

Does anyone know of an article that mentioned that folk came from as far away as Sth Africa & Canada to march with the 76th? I wanna meet that twit and make them do the 24 hours+ plane trip with transfers!!!

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www.myspace.com/lady_magdalena www.crazypurplewombat.blogspot.com

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