Main Events
| Opening Ceremonies | 7 - 8:30pm Friday |
| Karaoke | 10pm - 1am Friday |
| Charity Auction | 2 - 4pm Saturday |
| Costume Contest | 6 - 8pm Saturday |
| Slave Auction | 8 - 10pm Saturday |
| Dance/Fan Iron Party | 10pm - 2am Saturday |
| Saturday Night Concert with Suzaku 7 | 10pm - 2am Saturday |
| General Membership Meeting | 2 - 5pm Sunday |
Panel Schedule & Descriptions
Panel Schedule Here
Panel Descriptions:
The 2013 CoastCon 36 Opening Ceremonies: A grand CoastCon tradtion and a chance to see some of the best and brightest on one stage for one time only. It is also an introduction to this year’s guests and the place where we honor CoastCon staff members and fans from yesterday and today.
2013: Year in Southern Fandom: Mobicon, CyPhacon, CONtraflow, BayouCon , Hubcon, LA Science Fiction and Costuming Festival-- An inside look at some of the conventions and events that will shape this coming year in Fandom with the founders and/or staff of each of the events on hand to answer questions and talk about their events.
The 48 Hour Film Festival- Highlights: Rob Cerio, Shannon Kitchens-- Presenting two award winning short subjects from the New Orleans 48 hour film festival and a Q&A with the writer and director.
Alternate Histories-What if and Why Not: Allan Gilbreath—A how-to approach to writing and reading this entertaining science fiction sub-genre.
Being a Brony: The Fandom and the Philosophy: Nathalie Morris, Joshua Stearns, Gabriella Rains -- A look into the world that surrounds the My Little Pony Fandom, including the show, its characters and just what exactly what being a “Brony” is all about, with special Guest Joshua “Stipple Point” Stearns from The Suzaku 7!
Breaking Into Bits-Is a Career in Video Gaming Right For You? Jennell Jaquays, Rebecca Heinman-- I want to make video games, but how do I make my passion into a career? An honest discussion of what it takes to make it as a game development professional and what you can expect your career to be like once you get in. Rebecca and Jennell take questions and will make time to look at portfolios, projects and talk tech afterwards.
The Business of Art: Breaking In- James Powell, an artist’s inside look at his art as well as the “art” of breaking into the art business.
Classic Computer Gaming-From the Beginning: Jennell Jaquay, Rebecca Hieneman--What was it like to be there at the start? Jennell Jaquays (former director of game design at Coleco) and Rebecca Heineman (one of the founders of Interplay) share tales of working in the earliest days of video and computer game development, including their work on classic ColecoVision and Atari games, and their work individually on Interplay's Lord of the Rings Game (Jennell) and Bard's Tale series (Rebecca).
The CoastCon 36 Charity Auction: Our annual auction this year held to benefit the folks a The Humane Society of South Mississippi and the great work they do in our region. Come check out all the great sales and one-of-a-kind objects for sale at the auction and also help our four legged friends.
The CoastCon 36 General Memebrship Meeting: YOUR annual chance to have your say in CoastCon’s future and elect the governing body for next year’s CoastCon.
CoastCon’s Annual “Dance Slave” Auction: Come find a friend for the Iron Party Dance and help raise funds for a good cause too.
CoastCon’s AV Club- Highlander: The Search for Vengeance: A viewing of the international anime classic Highlander: The Search for Vengeance.
CoastCon’s AV Club- Anime Surprise! – A great anime classic awaits, but you will have to attend the panel to find out what that may be….
CoastCon’s In Concert Series- The Suzaku 7: After a successful concerts series all across the South this past year The Suzaku 7 [the Deep South’s premiere Anime/J-Pop cover band] returns to their beloved CoastCon to celebrate their first anniversary as a reunited music force in a concert sure to be legendary.
CoastCon’s Iron Party Dance: A super-sized super party hosted by CoastCon and featuring the delightful Beverages and Amuse Bouche [that last part means party food] from some of the biggest and best convention groups and clubs in the region as well as some of the hottest DJ sounds around.
CoastCon Next: An open fan roundtable to share ideas and suggestions for the direction of CoastCon 37…and beyond.
CoastCon Stories: Michael Scott, Cynthia Majure, Lou Zocchi, Frank Schiavo—inside stories and memories from over 30 years of CoastCon history.
Comic Book Movies Anonymous: Dreux Blalock, Rob Cerio-- Point/counterpoint discussion of superhero movies.
Confessions of a Gaming Widow: Cynthia Majure, Unity Rains-Time to commiserate, empathize and share those stores [loving] of gaming widowhood with guest Cynthia Majure and super fan Unity Rains.
Cosplay- Original Character Concepts and Designs: Scotty Bannister, Ricky Bone--Do you love cosplay, but are bored with the established characters that are being done to death? This panel will help you deal with those blahs by showing you fun ways to create your OWN character for cosplay!!
Cosplay on a Budget: Tabby Ely, Nathalie Morris-- Want to cosplay, but worried that your income will not support your hobby? Cosplayers Tabby Ely and Nathalie Morris show off the tricks and tips to make sure you can look good for less.
Costuming- Working With What You Got: John Magnus, Brian Held—A panel on choosing the right characters for your costuming experiences and using that character to make a better you.
Crossplay 101: Ricky Bone—One of the hottest trends in convention cosplay- crossplay [Male to Female and Female to Male cosplay] is given a simple beginners guide and walkthrough/how-to.
Damon Bowie: Artist Spotlight-Damon Bowie-- An introduction to the work of artist and illustrator Damon Bowie.
Darth Disney: The Future of Star Wars? The 501’st Legion’s Rancor Raiders—some of the most well known Star Wars fans invite you to a roundtable discussion of the future of the Star Wars franchise…the facts, the rumors and more.
The Digital Gamer: John Grigsby-- Whether you are new to the gaming scene or an old grognard; seeking a group to join or have a well-established crew; a gamemaster or a player, the Internet has changed and redefined the face of tabletop role-playing. Join the CoastCon Game Room Director for a look at the many resources available on the World Wide Web that will help improve the way that you play (and if you are the GM, make your life a little simpler).
Faith in Science Fiction: Fans for Christ—Come join a non-denominational, provocative and stimulating discussion on all things faith and faith related in Science Fiction.
Fan 2 Pro: M. B. Weston, Jennifer Mulvihill, Diana Rowland—An insider’s look at the long-and fun—path from super fan to professional writer.
Fan Art on the Fly: Joshua Stearns-- Fan Artist Joshua Stearns talks about the process and inspiration of Fan Art, all while creating Fan Art while you watch!
Fandom, Faith and Fellowship: Fans for Christ—Everyone is welcome at a Sunday morning sharing of fellowship and faith.
FanFic For All Ages: Shannon Rains, Gabriella Rains--A gathering of ALL AGES to enjoy the process and share outtakes of from their FanFics from all genres.
Fan Wedding: Congratulations Andrea Bonin & Billy Dwyer- A special one of a kind event and CoastCon fans are invited for the Dwyer Bonin Nuptials.
Fashion from a Galaxy Far, Far Away: The 501’st Legion’s Rancor Raiders—Mississippi’s largest Star Wars fan club talks about some of the ins and outs of Star Wars costuming and how to make the looks on nearly any budget.
Friday Night FanFic Slam: Claire Williams— An open FanFic mike night just for those adults who want to talk about and/or share outtakes and sections from their own FanFic works.
From the DVD Player to the Stage: The Music of Anime and Video Games: Thomas DeVille, Dreux Blalock-- The Masterminds of The Suzaku 7 explain the process in just how they take a selected song and prepare it for performance on the stage.
Haunted Houses EXPOSED…Maybe? Jennifer Griffith- Inside the world of professional Haunted House tours with someone from both sides of the fence.
Hollywood South and You? John Magnus--More Hollywood features than ever before are filming in this region and here is an insider’s look at how you can get involved in all levels of those films and TV shows.
HomeStuck Dream Bubble: SouthernStuck – Characters from the popular, online world of HomeStuck (dead AND alive) gather to answer YOUR questions about their past and [possible] future in the Webcomic.
Horror Movies: Sequels and Remakes: James Powell, Frank Schiavo—a look at the good, the bad and the pretty darn ugly in horror film remakes and sequels.
How To Make a Better Fan Film: Michael Moreau—A quick and dirty technical course for the non-technician on the cameras, the lighting and the shooting styles to make your fan film happen.
I Wrote a Book/Story- Now What? Kimberly Richardson, Allan Gillbreath, Jennifer Mulvihill- Taking your stories from editing to publishing and all the stops in between.
I’ve Read Harry, Kara, Mercy and Sookie…What Next? Ann Neagle, Robert Neagle, Julie Schiavo, Unity Rains, The Harrison County Public Library- A lively discussion of where to go next for the great reads for fans of dark/urban fantasy and adventure.
Jessica Cox- Artist Spotlight: Jessica Cox-- A one-on-one look at Jessica’s signature art work and artistic style.
King Size Kaiju All Out Attack! C.J. Slaughter and Friends—Kajiu fan prodigy C.J. Slaughter takes on the world like the great monsters that he wishes to talk about. Ever wonder just why Gigan and Godzilla HATE Each other? This is the place to find out!
Karaoke @ CoastCon 36 with Inebriated Labs—Come sing along with your favorite tunes and/or theme songs and/or even lead the sing-along yourself. Now with even more karaoke SCIENCE courtesy of the “mad” scientists from Inebriated Labs.
Klingon Martial Arts Demonstration: Denzil Miracle-- A look at the self-defense tactics with a Klingon flare based on the principles of Aikido style martial arts.
Krewe du Who-- Doctor Who’s 50th Year Celebration: Krewe du Who, Diana Rowland, Jennifer Mulvihill, Robert Neagle—Come join the largest Doctor Who Fan Club in our region, Krewe du Who, and guests and fans from all across the region as they celebrate 50 years of the Doctor.
Krewe du Who Presents- Dr. Who? Inside Stories, Trivia and History- Fifty years of trivia can be a lot to digest for those just discovering Doctor Who. Come join the folks from Krewe du Who as they try to break it down for you.
The Lolita in You: Megan Geeck-- The Suzaku 7’s own Megan “Nami-Chan” Geeck has decided to bring back her wonderful panel on the Lolita Fashion that has crossed the pond to America. Discuss the clothes, the mannerisms, and history of Lolita style and maybe even show off your own Lolita Garb!
Reading Manga 101: The Harrison County Public Library-- An introduction to the basics of Manga, including styles, subgenres, and basic terminology. We will also present suggested reads for a variety of ages and tastes, and different ways of finding titles you’d be interested in.
Magic the Gathering 101: Chris Thompson-- An introductory panel into those who have watched Magic: The Gathering from the distance, but are wanting to know MORE! Come on out to find out just what has been going on all these years, and what exactly keeps players engrossed in the lore and world of Magic: The Gathering.
Meet the 501’st: The 501’st Legion’s Rancor Raiders —Come spend some time with the bad guys. Learn from the best and the baddest and maybe learn enough to join them.
Mississippi Cosplay Meet-Up: Nathalie Morris-- Are you a cosplayer? Do you live in Mississippi? Well, this panel is set up to let YOU meet fellow cosplayers from around the region, interact, discuss the ways/style of your cosplay, and hopefully create a lasting network of friends!
Multiculturalism/Genders in Speculative Fiction-Kimberly Richardson—Author Richardson takes a look at some of the issues and themes that make up these very important topics in science fiction and fantasy fiction.
Music & Monsters-The Art of Allen Jaeger: Allen Jaeger- An artist’s spotlight on the work of guest Allen Jaeger.
My Artemis Mission Program: Nathan Reese- Had fun as part of the Artemis Mission during the weekend? Here is you chance to come and find how how to make missions of you own.
Mystery, Magic and Murder-Urban Fantasy Who Done Its: Diana Rowland—A look at one of the most popular publishing genres around…the Urban Fantasy Mystery…with one of the most successful authors in the field.
Mythology- Creeping in to Your Literature: Jennifer Mulvihill-- a discussion of the latest literature, television, and movies where mythology has been introduced or used as a base of the storyline.
Myths and Fairies On My Canvas: Jessica Cox— A look at capturing the secretive world of myths and fairies in art.
On Writing- Making the Make Believe Believable: M. B. Weston—A convention writing workshop on techniques to make your paranormal/fantasy writing become more believable…and sellable…to your readers.
The Para Para Explosion: Brenna Carson-- Brenna Carson of Trinity Inc. describes aspects of the dance phenomone known as “Para Para”. Come to learn about the basics, Stay to learn a dance!
Q & A with Adrian Paul: An inside talk with actor/star of Television and Film, Adrian Paul.
Return of the Dungeon Crawl- New/Old School Gaming: John Grigsby, AJ Brockway, Michael Scott—A look at old school dungeon crawl and Retro Clone gaming and some of the reasons why it is making such a comeback now.
Preston Asevedo- Artist Spolight: Preston Asevedo—A one-on-one look at the art of the popular digital and comic artist.
Reading from Darkness: Diana Rowland—Best-selling author Diana Rowland shares with us a special taste of her latest work in a one of a kind CoastCon 36 reading.
REALLY Changing Character Classes- Transgender Issues in Gaming: Jennell Jaquays, Rebecca Heinman— There have been transgender characters in video games for years and transgender game developers for even longer. Guests Rebecca Heineman and Jennell Jaquays regularly speak about transgender issues as part of a speakers group called PressXY: Transgender issues in Gaming, and in this panel they will share stories about characters, some personal experiences, and what to expect if you choose to make a change while working in games and gaming.
Romulans, Klingons, and Vulcans, Oh Myyy! The USS Neptune, The USS New Orleans— Star Trek costuming for beginners and those on a budget. A hour long how-to for everyone.
Saturday Night FanFic Slam: Claire Williams— Everyone is welcome to come share a second night of open FanFic. Especially those adults who want to talk about and/or share outtakes and sections from their own FanFic and SlashFic works.
Scream Queens/Screen Dreams: Margali Morwentair, Frank Schiavo: Life-long fright film fans Niels Erickson (the face behind horror host legend Margali Morwentair) and Frank Schiavo lead a discussion of the REAL ladies of the night…the great horror film Scream Queens--past and present.
See You Next Wednesday: Robert Neagle, Frank Schiavo, Doug Lewis—A look at some of the biggest, best and most anticipated [as well as the hidden gems and future cult classic] Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Animated films coming for 2013 and beyond.
Shimmy Shimmy Pop: Beginning Belly Dance for Everyone-Julie Schiavo—Everyone is invited to learn the basics of the ancient art of the Dance…the Belly Dance that is…with Dance Mistress Julie Schiavo.
Slap Happy- Stage Combat: Allan Gillbreath—A convention demo of some of the basic, and fun, aspects of theatrical stage combat.
STARFLEET Awards Ceremony with the USS Neptune and the USS New Orleans— Come join the crews of the Starships Neptune and New Orleans as they share with their friends at CoastCon the recognition of some of their best and brightest crew members for 2013.
STARFLEET 101: USS Neptune, USS New Orleans—A special inside look at one of the largest fan organizations in the world- STARFLEET. How they share the wonders of Star Trek around the world [and in our region] and how YOU can join them in this great adventure.
Star Trek: Are We There Yet? USS Neptune, USS New Orleans-- A look at the science and technology of the Star Trek universe; how close we are to it and how far we have to go to get there.
Steampunk 101: Adventurers League of G.E.A.R.S.—The ABC’s and 1-2-3’s of Steampunk, including the literature, films, music, myths and misconceptions of the very popular alternate history sub-culture.
Steampunk-Awesome or Over It? Allan Gilbreath, Kimberly Richardson, Jennifer Mulvihill-- Is there a real definition of Steampunk? Is that definition too nitpicked and, most importantly, has the popular fiction style and subculture already peaked?
Steampunk Couture: Adventurers League of G.E.A.R.S—The fashion, the props, the gear and more that every fashionable Gentleman and Gentle-lady needs to live in the new age of Steam. Tips and tricks on how to make the look and make it work for you.
Super Heroes and the Law II: Rob Cerio, Raymond Boudreau-- A continuation of the epic discussion of how super-folks would fare in the REAL US legal system.
Surviving the Test of Time: Classic Anime: Dreux Blalock, Joshua Stearns-- Robotech, Sailor Moon, Speed Racer. These are all Anime’s that have survived the test of time. Just what makes an animea classic and who/what maybe the next title to make that list? Discuss your thoughts with the public at this panel!
Up From the Underground-Manga & Anime: Scotty Bannister-- A look at what is making the underground circuit in regards to the latest in Anime and Manga
Vampire: The Masquerade LARP 101: Red Revolution LARP-- Have you ever wondered what Vampire LARP Is all about? Are you interested in trying it out for the first time, or are you a returning player wanting to get in on the Action? Red Revolution LARP Is here to answer your questions Friday night and Saturday night! Come for the Panel, stay for the game!
Vintage Computer Development: Jennell Jaquays, Rebecca Heinman— Apple II and C64 aficionados come reminisce with Rebecca Heineman about the "old days" of working on these and other classic computer systems, discuss favorite games, or invite panel attendees to share your current retro development projects.
Welcome to the Night-Writing in the Dark Fantasy Genre: Kimberly Richardson, Allan Gilbreath— An insider’s guide and experiences with writing/publishing dark fantasy stories and novels.
Witches, Are They On the Rise to Power? Jennifer Mulvihill-- A discussion/debate, do Vampires and Zombies still rule or have witches invaded literature, television, and movies, or…have they always been there?
A History of Modern Warfare- a Short Presentation of Weapons and Tactics: James Rouse-- James will be looking at weapons and tactics up thru World War I. This panel is great idea generator for gamers and history buffs alike.
Writing as a Challenge: Rob Cerio, Shannon Kitchens-- How online and offline Challenges can make you a better writer. Focus will be on NaNoWriMo, Script Frenzy, NaNoBloMo, and the 48 hour film festival style events.
Writing for the Young Adult Market: M. B. Weston, Jennifer Mulivhill- Authors M.B. Weston and Jennifer “J.L.” Mulvihill goes into their experiences inside one of the hottest markets in today’s publishing world- Young Adult Fiction.
Zombies, Apocalypses, and Death Matches, Oh My! Dystopias and Urban Fantasy in YA books- The Harrison County Public Library--A discussion of the many fascinating dystopian societies and hidden subcultures that YA books have to offer. Hunger Games was just the tip of the iceberg? Join us in sharing and discovering some fantastic reads.
Zombies-My Life with the Undead: Diana Rowland—Author Guest of Honor Diana Rowland takes a look at the multi-media phenomenon of the shambling, hungry, undead as only the author of My Life As a White Trash Zombie can.
Programming