2 March 2012 - 12:47
From the vault! Here is a very poorly recorded copy of the Director’s Roundtable panel from the 2010 Gallifrey One Convention. Moderated by Gary Russell, and featuring Colin Teague, Graeme Harper, and Alice Troughton, this roundtable discussion covered topics of the role of the director, working with producers, working on the various Doctor Who franchises, and the differences in production from Classic Who to New Who. read more
24 February 2012 - 13:11
Let me preface this by saying that I am an academic, a professional student, and tend to approach all things with a critical eye and a desire to categorize and understand what I enjoy and participate in. Probably because I’m a music theorist. (As one of my supervisors likes to say, I’m more of a lumper than a splitter.)
Now that I have three Gallifrey One conventions under my belt, I’m beginning to notice a few things. Like how even though it is one giant convention, it really does seem like two conventions going at once.
Here’s what I mean.
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22 February 2012 - 11:38
As promised, here is the recording of Friday’s “More Magical Moments of Doctor Who Music” panel at this year’s Gallifrey One convention.
Here’s the abstract:
At our 2011 convention we focused on the unique and memorable music Murray Gold has contributed to the series since its return in 2005, but the rich history of Doctor Who music goes back nearly fifty years. We return to the joys of Doctor Who music as we open up the discussion to encompass the classic series, the most memorable pieces and themes it has brought us from 1963 to 2012.
Here’s a fancy picture of me:
Photo by RCIN Photography
And here’s the panel:
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Special thanks goes out to Chip the Two Minute Time Lord for lending me his recording equipment yet again this year to record the panel. And thanks to my fantastic panelists CJ, Michaela, and Ramie! We’re quite a team. And a very sincere thank you to everyone who attended the panel, to all the kind words and remarks from attendees afterwards, and to Shaun Lyon and Gallifrey One for letting us talk about music again! Now to plot what to talk about next year …
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p.s. If you liked the panel, please write to Shaun Lyon and let him and the Gallifrey One staff know!
p.p.s. Here is last year’s panel on Murray Gold if you missed it!
p.p.s. Here is the recording of “I am the Doctor” in the style of Keff McCulloch:
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20 February 2012 - 23:18
Gallifrey One: Network 23
Another Gallifrey One convention has come and gone. This was my third; as soon as you go once it’s hard to miss a year. As Gally approached, and the hype reached its height the weekend before the con was to take place, I got news that my dad’s wife was unresponsive in the hospital. While other people were planning panels, trading numbers, and packing costume pieces I was stressed out of my mind over her well-being. And on Tuesday, when people were on their way to the con and preparing for a weekend of nerdery and hangouts I got the news that she had passed away. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are a bit of a blur for me. I’ve never dealt with the death of a close family member in my adult life. And I am still filled with an incredible sense of guilt that I attended this big Doctor Who convention while my father was burying his wife, my step-mother, a friend of the family longer than I’ve been alive.
I found myself sitting quietly in the lobby for most of the weekend, when I wasn’t on a panel or sitting half-attentively in someone else’s. Chip‘s moving account on the power and family of Gally really got to me, because part of my own family had left us. And I’m still not entirely sure how I’m coping with it all. The stress of preparing for a panel in my research area (the music of Doctor Who), the game-face required when in constant contact with friends (and strangers) non-stop for four days, the constant buzz and noise of people who were committed to the experience while I felt like my mind and heart were in two places at once …
Anyway, I don’t want to dwell on the negative. But I’m having trouble feeling like Gally Was The Best Ever this year. Part of it may also be that my panel was on Friday, so I feel like my involvement ended early and the rest of the weekend was me killing time until I headed home. Not the most positive outlook, I know. But life has been weird lately.
I did really enjoy a few moments of the convention, like the “Doctor Who in the 60s” panel. William Russell! He was Doctor Who‘s first leading man. And this was his first Gallifrey One convention. He seemed so happy and had so many great stories. Toby Haynes was an absolute delight. Paul McGann is wee and adorable. People seemed to enjoy the music panel (that I’ll be posting this week here) though I feel like I stole the mic most of the time. The Inspector Spacetime panel was a real highlight for me; probably the only time of the weekend that I really had fun, laughed heartily, and enjoyed every second.
You can take a look at the pictures I took on my flickr account. Stay tuned for an audio recording in the coming days here on my blog. And I promise to be more chipper next year.
13 February 2012 - 11:14
Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a veteran, Gallifrey One can be a overwhelming without some semblance of a plan or an idea of what to see and/or do while there. A fun way to think of things to do, meet new people, experience new things, and take fun pictures is to follow along with one (or both) of these bingo cards. Some things are inherent, others will take some searching. All, however, are awesome. Except maybe buying overpriced drinks at Champions.
Gally Bingo, part 1
Gally Bingo, part 2
Here are printable PDFs for the cards: Part 1, Part 2.
If you take on the challenge and get a line of five, come find me and you’ll get a Gold Star of Gally-Attending Excellence sticker to put on your nametag with pride. And like any good bingo card, these ones have a Free Space of Rassillon.
See you this weekend!
