|
Is anyone out there?
One of the quickest ways to obtain information on the internet is via the many search engines that are ready and waiting for you to utilise. No matter what topic, it is represented in one way or form, be it a technical manual from your favourite sci fi show or booking a ticket to your next convention.
The same can be said for the fan that is actively seeking a forum to login to or a blogg to post a comment on, right?
Wrong!
Welcome to our Winter edition and we hope you are nice and warm whilst reading the latest issue of the Sci Fi Reporter.
There is an increasing downward spiral in active SF fan participation in fan forums and bloggs as well as other fan resources like chatrooms and e-mail groups, and like the great Professor Julius Sumner Miller once said...
"Why is this so?"
It is a very difficult question to answer but a question worth investigating.
We have seen the recent closure of some of the biggest SF fan forums and e-mail groups due to the lack of comments, or information being posted by fans and site administrators. Are fans losing interest in using this medium of communication, or are they moving on to another topic of fandom, or is time playing a factor in the priority of one's daily schedule?
Sci Fi fandom is evolving as rapidly as new television shows are being created and the old fashioned paper newsletter and membership card, that was once a major marketing tool to secure a prospective membership, has long been replaced by the multi media online newsletter and club website containing vast amounts of information as members surf the links attached within the website.
So why the decline in blogg and forum participation? Are fans simply happy to observe what is being posted by the regulars that are continuously posting information within their forum or e-mail group, or is there a general lack of interest?
In our own way, The Sci Fi Reporter has created a blogg to find out from our readers, what you want or what you see as being the next evolution of this form of fan communication?
The Sci Fi Reporter is now located at Myspace and you can share your thoughts with us by posting your comment. You can connect with us at Myspace via the link below in the Sci Fi market place.
We would like to hear from you.
Have a great month ahead - Stuart
Want to receive Sci Fi Reporter regularly? Add your email address via the "Join Our Mailing List" section of this newsletter.
|
Check Out ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convention Listing Oz - valid @ July - 2007
|
|
|
|
Note: Only new or updated listings are given
Promoters: if your event is not listed here or you have new information advise us for inclusion.
Whoniverse 2007
Melbourne's Dr Who Event
Sunday - July 29
Live on stage - Sylvester McCoy
The 7th Doctor
Northcote Town Hall
189 High St, Northcote
Doors open at 1130am
Convention information
Alan Ruck Tour
Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide
August 18 to 26
Film Screenings and Q&A
Check website for tour details
Alan Ruck information
The Adelaide Pop Culture Festival
A National Science Week Event
August 18 to 26 - 2007.
SA Museum, Adelaide - South Australia.
Tickets on sale now!
Nine days of non stop activities!
Festival information
Trek In Oz
East Coast Tour
Live on Stage - Mr Jack Donner
Canberra - August 26
Brisbane - September 2
Check website for Tour details
Trek In Oz information
Stop the Press!
Supanova
Australia's Pop Culture Expo
Sydney - October 12 to 14
A massive event with a proud reputation
Supanova information
|
|
The sci fi market place
|
|
|
Autographs - are yours authentic?
Whether you are visiting a Dealer room at a convention, browsing in a Collectible store or surfing the many Internet Autograph auction houses, we pose the question...
How authentic is your autograph?
I would like to believe that here in Australia, we can be quite confident in what autographs we are purchasing, be it from a convention dealer or local collectible store owner, are in-fact "The real McCoy." Sadly this is not the case and fans are being urged to know their product before they make their purchase.
Buyer Beware, could not be more emphasised in this area of collecting and hopefully a few handy hints should keep your growing collection one hundred percent authentic.
When visiting conventions always research the dealers before you make your purchase, where did they get the autographs that are on display? Who has authorised the certificate of authenticity? Are just a couple of questions you should be asking before making your purchase. A certificate's warranty of being authentic is only valid with the initial owner, so if you are purchasing a certified autograph second or third hand, you have no chance of really knowing for sure that the two articles are in-fact authentic
Just because a dealer has a large and impressive selection of autographs on display, does not mean they are all what they should be, as it has been well documented by fans and actors, where they have witnessed dealers signing blank photos with signatures looking identical to the real thing!
It's always good to know what an actors signature looks like, though, I have seen actors sign their names with many different variations during an official signing, thus making the re-sale of an autograph difficult if it in turn does not look the norm.
Pulling your hair out?
Well, we haven't touched the internet yet!
Purchasing an autograph off the internet is one hundred percent risk. Unless you know the dealer personally, you have no way of knowing if it is authentic, even if they can show you a photo of the actor signing something, you do not know for sure that it is the article you are viewing, or worse, that the photo of the Actor signing, is from a completely different event!
We are not going to recommend or not recommend where you spend your hard earned dollars, all we can do is advise you to choose carefully and offer you the safest advice of all...
You are only guaranteed a true and authentic autograph if you are standing directly across the table whilst the actor is signing the article for you.
Good Luck and happy hunting!
Sci Fi Reporter at Myspace
Post your comment or simply become a friend of The Sci Fi Reporter.
We value your input!
Sci Fi Reporter at Myspace
Cruise Trek
"The Down under"
Only five months to go!
Cruise Trek, the Star Trek cruise specialist's, have been bringing fans and actors together since 1992 for adventures at sea in some of our worlds most exotic waters.
November 4th - 2007 will see the cruise, for the first time, set sail from Sydney to New Zealand via Melbourne and Tasmania.
Tickets are now on sale with a great range of affordable accommodation on-board including their exclusive "Trek share" accommodation.
Plenty of interaction to be had with your favourite actors, 24 hour movies, organised activities and tours!
Cruise Trek Information
|
|
Fan Club Focus
|
|
|
Australian Costumers Guild
New members most welcome.
Costumers Guild have an activity packed schedule in 2007 with monthly workshops as well they are pleased to present their annual Costume Ball.
Aug 25 at the Burnside Ballroom Adelaide - S.A.
Costumers Guild
Les aventures de Tintin
Tintin in cyberspace is a group for fans of the classic comic and cartoon Icon by Herge.
The group meets online as a resource for Tintin memorabilia and upcoming events.
You can contact the group here.
Tintin in cyberspace
Terra Australis Garrison
The 501st TAG boasts over three thousand members worldwide and now have member bases in all states of Australia. Star Wars fans can feel right at home with this group of dedicated Storm Troopers and you can contact them via their website at.
www.501tag.com
"Out there Social club" Adelaide
You find a lot of queer things in outer space, so it's only natural to have a queer Sci Fi group for all the "Homo" sapiens who are out...there.
The group meets monthly to share a meal and indulge in a little Fantasy! Members range from 30+, Contact Rod on 0402027891, they are also located on Yahoo Groups at
Out There Sci Fi Group
SA Dr Who fan club
Pub Meeting - August 4 at 5pm.
Buckingham Arms Hotel
Club Meetings - July 21, August 18, 1pm till late.
Adelaide High School - off West Tce.
SFSA info
Star Wars Costume Alliance of Australia
Actively recruiting new members around Planet OZ
Star Wars Costume information
Austrek Club Events
Actively recruiting new members.
Club Meeting - August 4
Where are they now?
Away mission - August 18
Astor Theatre
Logon to their website for regular updates and activities for 2007.
Austrek Events Info
Dr Who Club of Victoria
Presenting - Sylvester McCoy
The 7th Doctor - Sunday, July 29
Northcote Town Hall, 189 High St - Northcote
Doors open at 1130am
Details contact Peter on Mob:0417322326 or e-mail Dr Who club on..peterrosace@hotmail.com
Star Walking
The Star Wars Appreciation Society of Australia. Ph 05005 Jedis
Club Meeting Sydney - August 26
Club Meeting Melbourne - July 28.
See national website for meeting venues.
Starwalking information
StarshipMawson.com - Adelaide's Sci Fi fan Organisation
Latest online newsletter out now
Pancake Meeting
July 27 and August 10 from 730pm
Pancake Kitchen - off Hindley St, Adelaide
Club Meeting - August 5
S.A. Writers Centre from 3pm to 7pm.
Explore the Starship Mawson website for their next event
The Adelaide Pop Culture Festival
August 18 to 26 - 2007
Starship Mawson information
Quest - sci fi fan club, Queensland
Celebrating 30 years in 2007!
Order your commemorative mug today!
Club Contact - President, Mary Kemp
Ph:0732904243
Colonial Defense Forces
Australian Battlestar Galactica Chapter
Free membership!
Part of the world wide BSG fan organisation.
CDF information
|
|
In the next edition of Sci Fi Reporter
|
|
|
|
-- Our focus on internet televsion
-- Another exclusive interview!
-- New products for Summer
And a plethora of news ....
The Staff at the Sci Fi Reporter wish all our subscribers a fantastic month ahead and remember....If you like what we are doing, please forward a copy to your friends!
The Sci Fi Reporter...
Suggestions for our next issue - tell us!
Website coming soon - what would you like to see?
Need to unsubscribe?
Simply click on the "safe unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the newsletter and you will be removed from our mailing list.
The contents of this newsletter are copyright 2007 The Sci Fi Reporter. All Rights Reserved. No material contained herein may be duplicated without express written consent of the owners.
|
|
|
In the Delta Quadrant - with Tim Russ
|
|
|
|
Star Trek Voyager enjoyed a very successful seven year run on television before the Starship Voyager arrived back safely from it's unscheduled deep space journey.
Since the shows farewell episode, Tim Russ, who played the ever logical Vulcan - Tuvok, has made the switch from Actor to Director whilst working on his other passion, his music.
We hope you enjoy our exclusive interview with Mr Tim Russ.
Stuart: Tim, Australians are yet to view your new television show - "Samantha Who?" Can you tell us about your role on the show and on working with Christina Applegate?
Tim: I start shooting the series the first week of August. The role I play is that of "Frank" the doorman. He is a dry humoured, sort of mentor-guide for Samantha because he knows a lot about who she was before she lost her memory. Working with Ms Applegate was wonderful, she's a very easy going, professional actress.
SB: Your recently released CD, Second Thoughts, is a compilation of your earlier work as well as some new material, what inspires you to write your music?
TR: I don't write much music actually. When I do write, I am usually inspired by some event or thought, and I will write the song in a very short period of time. I otherwise prefer to find songs out there that are not that well known, and I adopt them. I have songs I've written, but I prefer not to play or record them.
SB: How is production of your film - Star Trek Of Gods and Men progressing, and what can Australian audiences expect from the film?
TR: "Gods" won't be out until around September this year as far as I can tell. It's going well, but there are a number of things that need to be finished, and changed before it's done. It otherwise looks fantastic, and the fans will enjoy watching it.
SB: You are the guest of honour at the upcoming Starfleet - The International Star Trek fan association world conference in Boulder Colorado this August, Can you tell us what you like most about attending fan run events?
TR: I attend the conventions as a matter of business. There is some networking, promotion, sales and signing for the fans. I also enjoy seeing my cast-mates and other actors I haven't seen in a while, and I sometimes get the chance to perform for the fans, which is always cool.
SB: What does Tim Russ do for relaxation, does it exist for you?
TR: I go to the gym on a fairly regular basis, go to the movies, and sometimes participate in an online flight simulator game. And of course, there is always the occasional short vacations out of town. I otherwise, am not as stressed as one might think...busy at times, but not stressed.
Stuart: Thanks Tim, at a time where sci fi fans are waiting patiently for the eleventh Star Trek film to be released, it is refreshing to view the many quality fan made productions that are available via internet download.
Star Trek Of Gods and Men is a big production with a great cast assembled and we wish you all the success with the film.
Tim's website can be viewed here.
|
|
