Festival of Fear 2010

[MysteryWho]

Well, here's the guests for the big Canadian Nerdfest in the area of horror:

Guest of Honour
DAVID CRONENBERG

Also Appearing
LANCE HENRIKSEN

Special Guests
KEN RUSSELL
GLENN DANZIG
BILL MOSELEY
WILLIAM FORSYTHE
HEATHER LAGENKAMP
EL HIJO DEL SANTO
JAMES MARSTERS

Additional Guests
JOAN COLLINS
JULIE NEWMAR
SHERRILYN KENYON
THE UNSETTLERS
CHARLES BAND
CORPUSSE
PETER FACINELLI
KELLEY ARMSTRONG
MAX TURNER
ALYXANDRA HARVEY

I'm not overwhelmed, but I'm definitely pleased. There are at least a few must-see guests on the list. Between comics and Sci-Fi there's usually a couple others. That's more than enough when you're also trying to shop for deals and enjoy the sites. What y'all think?

[wolfie]

Blimey i wish i was going to this.

[toys2cool]

good list man

[cjefferys]

Cronenberg? Awesome, he's a great director, and I've heard that he's a cool guy, so I'd go just to see him. I've also always wanted to meet Glenn Danzig too. Looks like I'll be hitting this convention this year (I usually do anyway). I got to hand it to them, they've gotten some cool directors to attend this convention over the recent years (Romero, Argento, Jodorowsky, Deodato, etc)

[samurainoir]

Julie Newmar!

[palitoy]

I'll never set foot at that show again, it's unbelievably mismanaged, the staff are rude and it's overpriced.

I prefer motor city to fan expo, wider aisles, no wait time, guests are more accessible and I find vintage stuff.

[MysteryWho]

Yeah, it's true there are plenty of potholes but I always seem to come through alright.
It's not always easy to find the deals, but I do pretty well, at least where comics
are concerned. Unfortunately, some of the repeat staff have become legendary for their rudeness.
It's as important too that I'm doing this every year with a good friend whom I see rarely.
That probably makes it seem more fun than it actually is.

[Meule]

Sweet guest list

[wolfie]

How much does it cost to get into this sort of show over there.?

[palitoy]

It's as important too that I'm doing this every year with a good friend whom I see rarely.
That probably makes it seem more fun than it actually is.

Most of the people that I know go to it, do it as a "meet up" of friends or message board colleagues. I get it in that respect but when some jerkass staff member yells at your kids to get out of his way, it kind of taints you. That guy almost ate a size 15 wide but he wasn't very brave.

Basic admission two years ago cost me $70 for the family, after two hours of line ups. To see certain guests you have to purchase "packages", I think to see Nimoy and get his autograph (you didn't get to see him sign your piece) it was like $120.

[Brazoo]

I'm with you palitoy - Motor City always seems to have better comic artists too.

But Cronenberg AND Ken Russell - that's kind of hard for me to pass up.

[MysteryWho]

The Sci-Fi list is up now as well. Very disappointing. A lot of repeat guests.
I get the feeling they're going for some sort of themes.
Joan Collins and Shatner. Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar.
Maybe I should look into this motor city event.

[palitoy]

It doesn't seem like Polaris gets much attention these days, it used to be Toronto Trek:

Polaris :: July 16-18, 2010

I try to go every year but often I forget about it. They used to let you in for like $20, providing you only stayed for 2 hours, I don't know if they still do that.

[samurainoir]

The line-ups are exhausting and much less efficient than San Diego if you believe that. I even had a VIP Pass and it didn't help too much. Really ridiculously crowded the past few years as well, even moving into the bigger hall. It's definitely a huge cash grab at this point.

I like to go early and use the opportunity to go shopping until the crowds get too much for me. Not really many celebrities I would find it worth the time and expense to line up for hours to see, but most comic creators are accessible. I find going to panels a welcome relief once it gets too claustrophobic in the main hall.

[palitoy]

The line-ups are exhausting and much less efficient than San Diego if you believe that. I even had a VIP Pass and it didn't help too much. Really ridiculously crowded the past few years as well, even moving into the bigger hall. It's definitely a huge cash grab at this point.

I remember walking through the dealers area and running into an old friend standing in the middle of the room, I asked him what he was doing and he said he was waiting for Carrie Fisher. The line for Carrie fisher blocked all the aisles in the dealer's room!

Fisher was at the next Motor City Con but they had her tucked in the corner with a roped in line that didn't disrupt traffic.