Though it’s changed over the years and is out-hyped by New York Comic-Con and other, more high-profile conventions, I-Con 30, at SUNY-Stony Brook on Long Island April 15-17, was a memorable weekend for fans. There is enough going on at this annual convention to satisfy gamers, fans, aspiring artists and writers, and anyone else interested in a good time. (Even cosplay enthusiasts, whatever it is they do).
One of the great things about a smaller convention like I-Con is the direct access fans have to pros. Where else can you watch Tom Jane give a talk about the movie industry for eight people? Though more people filed in as his hour-long program went on, it was fun to see him chatting informally with fans before and afterward. Primarily known for his starring roles in shows like HBO’s Hung and films like The Punisher and 61*, Jane is also a comic fan and writer. He’s even started his own studio, RAW Entertainment, and was selling his comics at the convention.
The authors track had some very notable people this year, including Joe Lansdale. During his guest of honor talk he was down-to-earth, funny, and very approachable. He answered questions from a roomful of fans about his writing style and his long career, and talked a bit about trying to break into the field and how difficult it can be. He’s written a wonderful piece about his early years as a writer that all aspiring authors (or anyone who aspires to do anything, actually) should read. It was interesting to learn that he writes for 3 hours a day, completing roughly 3-5 pages of work, and that he likes to write in the morning, but the most striking thing about Lansdale is how much he enjoys what he does, and how gracious he was with his fans. When speaking of the writing business, he wryly said, “It brings tears to my eyes when I see some people who didn’t make it but deserved it, maybe more than me. Then I see some stuff that does get published and that brings tears to my eyes too.” Look for Christmas with the Dead, a film based on one of his stories (and which he’s producing) later this year.
I can’t write much about the gaming and other aspects of the convention, but from what I hear those are pretty good too. There were programs about how to get started in the comics and movies businesses, and what to do if you run into a pack of zombies. Several rooms were devoted to board and video games, and there was a science and technology track that I didn’t attend. Maybe next year, but I will likely still avoid the cosplay kids. To paraphrase something Nigel Tufnel once said, some mysteries are better left unsolved.
(April 15-17, 2011 at Stony Brook University)
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