Informal ChicagoTARDIS report #1

[neadods]

The train ride was slow, but not too heinously uncomfortable. Very few people in my car. (Almost even fewer, as for a couple of minutes, I was on the wrong train!) So we could all spread out a lot. No plugs by the seats, though, so I couldn't work on the computer in my little nest. That was annoying. I may spend much of the return trip in the lounge, working on the ficathon stuff that's due.

Got into Chicago technically late, but the difference between 8:40 and 9 a.m. is close enough to make no nevermind.

Let's see... it's all already starting to blur in my mind. In the "My Sarah Jane" panel, I got to point out what a thrill it was to see an older woman being shown as sexy, scientific, action-oriented, etc., and that's why I loved her. That led to a lot of chat about how as the baby boomers get older, more women are allowed to be portrayed as vital at older ages, whereas it used to be careers were over by age 30.

At the same panel, we also found out that Sarah Jane is now considered a "new Who" character instead of a classic one and is thus being treated under the same embargoes.

The Robert Shearman/Nick Briggs show is the funniest thing in the universe and should not be missed.

Odd moment at the Telos publishing panel, with this Q&A:
Fan in audience: "Was there a lot of controversy in England when the companions changed?"

Telos Publishing: "Not at all."

"No one comparing Rose and Martha?"

"No."

"People saying 'I don't like Freema' and stuff?"

"No."

This went on for about three more increasingly batchipper-sounding questions, all of which were answered with a quiet, getting more confused by the moment "No."

Welcome to life outside fandom, my friend, where the ratings for the Martha episodes were huge.

I missed much of the opening ceremony, but came in for the thunderous acclaim to the showing of Time Crash.

No sonic lippy yet, but the two SJA audios are in the dealer's room (bought 'em) and the four novelizations (thinking about them; they're very expensive.) There were at least a few of the Master's laser screwdrivers ("makes laser and aging sound").

And now, to try to catch up on LJ before the fan films start in about an hour.

Comments

[longtimegone]

Sounds like you are having a wonderful time. :D I'm glad travel stress was relatively low.

I can't wait to hear more about your trip!

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

we also found out that Sarah Jane is now considered a "new Who" character instead of a classic one and is thus being treated under the same embargoes

Can you explain what this means? I don't know the technical side of what's allowed and what's used how and stuff and am curious.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

It means that she won't be allowed to appear at conventions and Big Finish can't use her in new stuff, for example, to finish their cliffhanger-ended Sarah Jane series.

Intriguingly, the question as to whether Sarah could be used in a 4th Doctor era "Companion Chronicle" was *not* answered, with the sort of not answer that usually means "we're trying to negotiate that one."

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

Is it wrong that I want to know what the batshipper sounding questions were?

But sounds like you're having a fun time.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I didn't remember them all; right after "People saying 'I don't like Freema" I had to take time to scrape my jaw off the floor.

It was a guy. I wasn't expecting that.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

At least it seems that the people being asked were just as surprised as you were.

And if I have learnt nothing from HP fandom, it's that guys can just as - if not more so - crazy about shipping and ship related stuff as girls. (For a DW related example: Mr Kelsea)

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

But it's boring outside of fandom, and severely lacking in squee! = )

[box-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

How can anyone not love Freema and/or Martha?

Jesus Christ, you'd think she was Mel Bush, if you listened to certain overly vocal corners of fandom.

It kills me that this is retroactively souring me on Rose, who was well-written by Russell, and well-acted by Billie, all the moreso because she very easily could have become an insufferable Mary Sue, except that that's exactly what a lot of her fans want her to be.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

hey! i was the wee guy who made the comment about lis sladen being 59 and her awesomeness that was the precursor to your comment! IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN. we must meet up tomorrow! i dunno if you saw me, but as i said i am short and wear glasses, plus i got this really excellent tweedy jacket the other day, with patches on the elbows and shoulders (which led many people to believe i was in costume), and shall be wearing it throughout weekend. also i will be lugging a big green backpack all over the place, mainly full of food and extra layers of clothing.

i was keeping an eye out for blue totebags the whole day, but then all the dealers decided to give everyone bright blue bags in which to store their purchases, so that didn't work out so well. anyway, i'll keep an eye out still, and am planning to be at rob shearman and nick briggs' talk again tomorrow, because they were so rule, so if you miss me before that perhaps we will see each other.

i am excited, hurrah!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I've given up on the totebag because it turns out that the wireless network in the conference area /= the one in the hotel rooms, and I'm not paying a second time for access. So, not carrying the laptop, thus not carrying the tote.

(that said? I might to the panels anyway, just to keep stuff fresh in my mind. I'll also be at the Nick and Rob show, plus "Ongoing Squee" and Big Finish, and I'm probably going to split my time between Ethics of spoilers and TOrchwood.

If not by the tote, I think I'm the only one at the con with my badge in a thick black wristband instead of around my neck.

[thanatos-kalos.livejournal.com]

No sonic lippy yet,

I haven't seen them over here as yet.

Glad that your train ride was good.

[wolfdancer.livejournal.com]

hugs and hope that the rest of our con was better.
Heading off to Darkover in a few hr.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

How did the con handle the news?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

In hushed tones, mostly. The Friday slot for the guest star Eric Roberts (stuck in Bulgaria by a missed plane and a storm) was turned into an impromptu memorial.

Mr. Roberts did make his Saturday appearance, approximately 15 minutes after deplaning. That was one serious case of jetlag!

[aligoestonz.livejournal.com]

"People saying 'I don't like Freema' and stuff?"
Well there was that bitchy little article in one of the tabloids (The Sun) which basically suggested she'd been sacked for being crap. But that was about it.

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear that you're enjoying yourself, although I'm sad to hear that whilst SJA grace our screens we won't get any more SJS audios :(

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I was startled to discover via another question that Gallifrey also ends on a cliffhanger. It's making me raise eyebrows when considering investing in other BF series. (Although I did take the introductory Sapphire and Steele offer, out of sheer curiosity. But at least I'll know to expect to be left hanging.)

[hildy.livejournal.com]

I understand season 2 ends on a cliffhanger of S&S but at least we know we're getting a third season, so it's not quite as scary?

Glad you had a good time. I've done the 18 hour train rides regularly (Alexandria, Virginia to Tuscaloosa, AL -- fun times!) and they're not for the weak.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

No. That was completely exhausting!