As we mentioned yesterday, it’s been a long time coming but we finally have the programming all done for Fabletown and Beyond.
We’re now only ONE WEEK AWAY from the convention that you don’t want to miss and we’re ready to unveil MORE of what will be going on…
Sort of…
We announced the schedule for Friday March 22 yesterday and today we’re announcing the programming for Saturday and TOMORROW we will be posting up the final bit of information: the programming for Sunday. So… without further delay, head over to our Programming page for a full list of what’s going on OR continue reading below:
Saturday Programming
10:00am
Show opens
Talk Show Room
Remember your most beloved talk show of old? Well, since we wanted to have a room specifically dedicated to Star-on-Star interviews, we thought, “Why not do it in the talk show format?” So that’s what we did. In the talk show room we have wonderful panels planned, but with the couch full of guests, the desk for our host, and the cheesy potted palm – just like on TV back when TV was most beloved.
We start off the programming day with the wonderful show, Star Gazing! With your host Allison Baker. This time Allison interviews a couple of local stars in the ever-growing comics firmament: Peter Krause and Mitch Gerads.
Boring Panel Room
We call it the “Boring” room only because it’s set up in the same old fashioned panel room style that one can find in any convention, because that really is a proven best way to have a discussion in front of a large audience. But be assured, the content won’t be boring at all.
Our first foray into the big panel room is World Building. If you write fantasy, you need to build a world, sometimes in part, by changing our own world in key ways, or often from the ground up. Who does it well? What are the pitfalls? In comics, is it more the responsibility of the artist or writer? Kurt Busiek will lead the discussion with Mark Buckingham, Gene Ha, Dusty Higgins and David Petersen.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
Lauren Beukes will read from her new novel called The Shining Girls, coming out in April.
Bill Willingham will read from his new novel called Tom O’Harrow, coming out in 2014.
Of Mice and Men Room # 2
Portfolio Reviews with Shelly Bond. Show up here if you want to have the Top Vertigo Editor look over your art pages. Note that she won’t have a ton of time to spend with each artist, so limit your portfolio to no more than your six best pages, and get ready for some serious critiques. Shelly is on the lookout for the next Fables artist, so she can’t spend a lot of time encouraging those who aren’t ready. If you’re not able to hear real critiques of your work, think about giving this a pass.
11:00am
Talk Show Room
It’s The Barbarian Hour! With your host Mark Finn. Mark is a Robert E Howard expert, so he loves nothing better than to talk barbarians. His guests this time are noted Conan writer Kurt Busiek, Matt Sturges, who has a couple of new books coming out featuring certain well known Norse Barbarian Gods, and Dusty Higgens, who draws a certain wooden barbarian near and dear to our hearts.
Boring Panel Room
The Unwritten Panel. If the comic is called unwritten, even though it’s in fact wonderfully written, why isn’t it also called The Undrawn, even though it’s also wonderfully drawn? Maybe Mike Carey, Peter Gross or Shelly Bond can explain why. If not, they’ll have other great stuff to talk about, including their upcoming 50th issue, which kicks off The Event (cue dramatic fanfare).
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
Drawing with Andrew Pepoy. He’s going to talk us through the process of drawing, his philosophy and practices. He may even draw a bit while doing so.
12:00pm
Talk Show Room
What’s the Big Idea? With your host, Shelly Bond. This time Shelly interviews a trio of guests she’s nurtured in their comics careers: Chrissie Zullo, Lauren Beukes, and Andrew Pepoy.
Boring Panel Room
Getting it Made. Comics become movies. It’s how Hollywood works now. But exactly how does that happen. Short version: It isn’t easy. For the longer version join Brad Thomte as he interviews Ken Levin on how comics become movies. Ken has some insider stories about the process, some of which will amaze you.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
Drawing with Gene Ha. What’s worth drawing and what isn’t. He’ll talk about a career in drawing and may even draw a bit while doing so.
1:00pm
Talk Show Room
AH HA! The talk show about comics art! With your wacky co-hosts, Adam Hughes (AH!) and Gene Ha (HA!). As always, Adam and Gene are still feuding over who gets to sit behind the host’s desk, but this time their guests are Peter Gross and Chrissie Zullo.
Boring Panel Room
Killing Them Softly With His Nose. This is the Pinocchio Vampire Slayer panel. Basically the more the wooden kid lies, the more vampires he can stake. Join Van Jensen and Dusty Higgins in this exploration of their odd and hilarious series.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
An hour with Kurt Busiek. He’ll share stories of his long and illustrated (pun intended) career, including his practical and impractical advise on the writing trade, including how he became an overnight success after only 11 years.
2:00pm
Talk Show Room
Get to Work! With your host Conor McCreery. Work for hire still abounds in the comics industry. It may even be said to still dominate. Is it ethical? Are there better publishing templates? Or is anything okay, as long as writers and artists get to work? Conor will discuss this with his guests Allison Baker and Kurt Busiek, both of whom have been known to be able to express an opinion or two.
Boring Panel Room
The Fables Panel. Considering the theme of the show, a Fables panel was required. Here it is. Join Shelly Bond, Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Andrew Pepoy and Gene Ha for this panel full of stuff about Fables. Will there be some breaking news? Why, yes, it seems there will be.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
An hour with Anthony Del Col. What’s it like to follow so directly in the steps of Shakespeare, even to the extent of finishing (or at least adding to) his stories? Does one need more ego or humility to pull it off? Since Anthony is in the process of pulling it off, he might know the answer to that question.
3:00pm
Talk Show Room
It’s a Different World! With your host Peter Gross. In the mythic fiction corner of our comics universe, many different books feature the same characters showing up in the different fictional worlds. Pinocchio is out slaying vampires in one world, but another has him trying to grow up and get out from under the shadow of his evil warlord father. Different versions of well-known characters abound. Peter will talk this over with his guests, Chris Roberson, Mike Carey and Van Jensen.
Boring Panel Room
In the Shadow of the Wolf. As long as we’re already in this room talking about Fables, Telltale Games gives us a first look at their upcoming video game based on the Fables Series. Join Richard Iggo from Telltale, as he grills Bill Willingham, or maybe it will be the other way around, but in any case, one of them will show you a few visuals from the game, and give away as few secrets as they can hold on to.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
An hour with Bryan J. L. Glass. He writes about mice with swords. He also hung out with a fella named Thor for a while. His first job in comics will surprise you. In this hour we’ll find out what’s on his mind, what chips are on his shoulder, and what’s smart and good and right about our silly business.
4:00pm
Talk Show Room
Mad About Mice! With your host Bill Willingham. This time Bill talks to noted chroniclers of adventurous mice stories, David Petersen, Mike Oeming and Bryan J. L. Glass. What’s with all the books about heroic mice? We’ll get to the bottom of it, once and for all.
Boring Panel Room
Drawing Legends. In comics the art is at least half the story, and usually more. The visuals take the place of the exposition in prose tales and bear the burden of implying a thousand scenes for every image presented. It’s a tough job, done alone in a room, often at the cost of what anyone else would consider a normal life. What are its rewards, beyond a paycheck? What sort of person can do this arguably toughest of all jobs in the storytelling field? Steve Leialoha will lead the discussion with Peter Gross, Chrissie Zullo, Mitch Gerads and Peter Krause.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
An hour with Lauren Beukes. Her first novel got noticed. Her next one won one of the most prestigious awards in fantasy fiction. Her third one’s on the way. In the meantime she’s writing comics, like the just completed run on Rapunzel for Fairest. She’s a force of nature in sensible shoes. Come see why.
5:00pm
Talk Show Room
It’s The Welcome Matt! With your host Matt Sturges. This time Matt throws out his magic welcome mat to Mark Buckingham, Ken Levin, and Sean E. Williams.
Boring Panel Room
Killing Shakespeare. Yes, after all this time, we still can’t keep a good man down. Noted Bardophiles Anthoney Del Col and Conor McCreery will introduce you to their comic series Kill Shakespeare, answer for why they want him dead, and explain why they get the bar named after them.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
An hour with Chrissie Zullo. She’s too soft spoken to talk much on panels, so the only solution is to give her an hour of her own, all on her own, in a small setting, in which she has to speak up. Once you get her talking, you’ll find out she can spin story out of art like no one else. Maybe she’ll even show you how.
6:00pm
Talk Show Room
The Good Fortune Hour! With your host Mike Carey. With the wealth of public domain and folklore stories individually owned by every single man woman and child in the world, we’re all born rich. Mike will discuss their fortunes, and how some are cashing in on them, with his guests Mark Finn, Bryan J. L. Glass and Chris Roberson.
Boring Panel Room
Ethics of Story. What can be written? What can’t be? What are the forbidden subjects in today’s sensitive culture? What are the writer’s obligations to his readership and what consequences should he bear because of his stories? Mike Oeming will lead the discussion with Matt Sturges, David Petersen, Adam Hughes and Conor McCreery.
Of Mice and Men Room # 1
An Hour With Sean E. Williams. He started out in Hollywood, now he lives in the middle of nowhere writing comics. Come see how he got from here to there.
7:00pm
The exhibit hall closes.
10:00pm
Informal Poolside Party. It’s a bring your own everything kind of get-together, with straw hats, loud tropical shirts, shorts and swimwear the official dress code. Note the pool rules do not allow alcohol in the pool area, nor any glass containers. Also note that this isn’t exclusive to Fabletown and Beyond attendees. Any guest of the hotel can come. They kick us out at midnight.
2:00am
The bar closes. You knew it had to happen. We may write about gods, but we’re only mortal after all.
Note that some of the panel times and guests on any particular panel are subject to change before the big show begins.