Convention Fans

Convention Fans attended Dragon*Con this year, and made a point to catch the epic William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy panel. We also paid to have our photo taken with the duo. It really was, well, EPIC. But while Bill was hamming it up with Nimoy down in Atlanta, there were some disappointed fans in Chicago.

Apparently, Shatner was scheduled to appear at an event in Chicago at the Star Trek Chicago Film Expo, right after Dragon*Con. However, he never made the Chicago appearance. In a press release dated August 30, 2009, it was said that Shatner’s appearance was canceled due to poor ticket sales. However, Shatner’s camp just recently put put out a statement that further clarifies what happened:

(more…)

If you’re involved in the world of conventions, especially on the organization/planning side, then you’ve no doubt heard the tale of Shane Senter of JumpCon. Just in case you haven’t, here’s a quick synopsis:

On July 15 2008, Senter posted a message to fans that he was canceling the Boston JumpCon. He wrote:

“This has never been a scheme, and was never about money for me. I hope when the refunds have all been issued, people will accept the truth. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me, but it will get done.”

Meanwhile, two Star Trek actors, Robert Picardo and John Billingsley, were also sharing their problems with the convention on their own websites. But then in the spring of 2009, Senter was indicted on theft charges. He entered a plea of “not guilty” regarding the various charges against him, and was out on $25k bond. Senter then filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

I was recently contacted by one of the individuals familiar with JumpCon’s epic fail. This person has provided Convention Fans with a copy of a recent letter they received from the New Hampshire Attorney General, and has given us permission to reprint it (with personal details of the individual who provided it having been removed for privacy reasons).

(more…)

Sheldon Dorf, the founder of Comic-Con, died of complications related to diabetes Wednesday. He was 76. Our sympathies and thoughts go out to his family.  (Source)

Some members of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), the organization behind Anime Expo, have requested a vote of no confidence against the board of directors, according to animenews.biz. Below is a quick list of some of the major grievances, quoted from the letter of intent (brackets are mine for clarification):

Mr. [Michael] Lattanzio [President and CEO of the SPJA] has placed us into a precarious legal situation by breaking the contract that the SPJA held with BAM! Marketing Publicity and Promotions.

[…]

Mr. Lattanzio has opened us to not only potential legal action but highly unnecessary legal fees that can potentially destroy Anime Expo® financially.

[…]

[W]e are aware of the slander and libel that Mr. Lattanzio has conducted towards Mr. Chase Wang and BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions. Mr. Marc Perez has been witnessed verbally supporting Mr. Lattanzio’s actions even though Mr. Perez has been fully aware of the existence of an “Addendum” to BAM!’s contract that dictates the terms in which we may break our ties with BAM.

[…]

It has come to our attention that promises of bonuses were provided by the Chairman of the Board and supported by the [Board of Directors] in amounts of up to $50,000.00.

[…]

Mr. Lattanzio has further proven no regard for the financial welfare of the SPJA or Anime Expo® by flying to Japan on Business Class with his newly appointed Marketing and Administration Director, Ms. Kimberly Groomes. This trip cost the SPJA and Anime Expo $8,400.00 in airlines tickets alone.

[…]

Another issue we wish to bring up is that, under Mr. Lattanzio’s guidance, The Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) has yet to obtain a check with the amount raised at our Charity Auction from Anime Expo® 2009.

[…]

There is also question as to whether the SPJA bylaws as they currently stand are legal. In July of 2008, this Board ratified the Bylaws of the SPJA. These bylaws are possibly in violation of the current IRS tax code.

[…]

Yikes! Not that any of this behavior (if proven true) is acceptable, but not sending a charity the money you raised for them is pretty damn shady. Bad form! Ironically, some of the SPJA’s core values are Transparency and Integrity. Stay tuned for developments on this issue as they become available.

A few months ago, news broke that Metrocon’s Founder and CEO, Roy Harms, had been arrested for “Carnal Intercourse with Unmarried” under Florida Statute 794.05 (unlawful sexual activity with certain minors). Of course, the Metrocon website quickly posted a notice denying the charges. Staff posted comments on forums such as “We suggest that you disregard baseless rumors and come to the convention and have a wonderful time as you always have!”

At the time of the arrest, Metrocon Director of Operations Alex Craddock wrote: “Roy Harms is our CEO, and a very close friend of mine. I trust him with my life, my dreams, and my 4-year-old child, and so would anyone else that has ever met the man.” He continued, “An arrest does not mean a conviction to or admittance of the crime being charged. In this particular situation there is one thing required for an arrest to be made, and that is a claim.”

After his arrest, Harms did step down, and Craddock worked with Metrocon Head of Security Nick Fazio to put on the convention. But a dark cloud has loomed over Metrocon since Harms’ arrest. Was he guilty? Was he innocent? Was this all just an “attack on the convention” as Craddock had suggested?

Well, Roy Harms just plead guilty to those charges this morning, October 27th, in front of Judge Diana L Morelan. He was given three years probation, and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Guess that answers that, eh?