GS At MCM Expo 2009 Press Q & A with Idris Elba (Losers Movie Adaptation)

This was a special round table Q & A Session with Idris Elba recorded at the MCM expo 2009. We, slong with several other guys put some questions towards Idris regarding the upcoming adaptation of the Losers comic by Andy Diggle and Jock.

Idris Elba Q & A Session at MCM Expo 2009

Enjoy!

GS Reporter: Nuge

GS at the MCM Expo 2009: Press Q & A(audio) with Nelsan Ellis (aka Lafayette from True Blood)

We begin our coverage of the MCM expo 2009 with a bite! (yeah ok that was really cheesy but it’s Monday the jokes can only get better as the week goes on)with a special for you True Blood fans.

We were lucky enough to be invited to attend a round table session with some other press folk with Nelsan Ellis.

As all you True Blood fans know Nelsan plays Lafayette in the show.

The Roundtable session goes on for about ten minutes…enjoy!

Press Q & A with Nelsan Ellis (aka Lafayette from True Blood) 2009

GS Reporter: Nuge

Post BICS Interview with con organiser Shane Chebsey

With the awesome British International Comics Show 2009 behind us I took a moment to catch up with one of the organisers of the con, Shane Chebsey and get his thought on how this year’s con went.

So would you consider this year’s show a success?

Very much so. The feedback from all sectors has been overwhelmingly positive and for the first time since producing the show we have not lost any money. We are now in a very strong position to improve the show even more for 2010.

Was there anything you wish you had done differently in hindsight?

I could nit pick, but overall we are very happy with how things went. As I’ve already stated publicly, the launch party didn’t even resemble the event we actually booked and paid for, but the only way to deal with that is to learn from it and to make sure we book another venue next year. Overall though I don’t think a free event with free food that nobody had to pay for other than us (and our kind sponsors Diamond) is really a major issue. The actual show that folks have paid to attend was -as always-excellent value for money. Our guests all did so much to help us out, and our event hosts were all professional and entertaining (including yourselves). We will – as always be making changes next year. We never rest on our laurels and constantly try to improve the show. Many of these changes are in response to feedback from visitors and exhibitors etc but overall we are now very happy with the basic model we’ve adopted for the show.

What were your personal highpoints?

Meeting Howard Chaykin, who was a pure joy to speak to, and actually crying with laughter during the Cosplay competition. Irma Page did a great job hosting that and keeping Tony Lee and Dan Boultwood in line, who were their usual flamboyant and mischievous selves (and we wouldn’t want the any other way).
It was also great to meet Michiru Morikawa and Pasqual Ferry who were wonderful guests all weekend long.

There has been some criticism aimed at the Launch party what was your take on the event?

Answered above.

Maybe a bit early in the day but now that you have rebranded yourself The British International Comic Show can we expect the 2010 show to still be held at the Think Tank or is moving an option?

Thanks to the name change moving is always an option, but for the foreseeable future the main show will remain in the centre of the country where it’s easiest for folks to get to at our superb Think Tank venue.

Name one guest you wished you could have had for this year’s show?

We had a few near misses this year that we hope to get in 2010 or 2011 who I’d have loved to be there.
These included: Brian Wood, Steve Rude, Bryan Hitch, and Ed McGuiness.
All of these will be appearing at BICS in the future though once work commitments allow it as they’ve all want to come.

I’d really like to get John Romita Jr along at some point, and we’ll be working hard to make that happen in the future. The names we actually have down for next year are really major creators though and I think folks will be very excited when we announce them later this year.

Would you ever consider extending the show beyond the two days it currently runs for?

Yes we’d consider it if we felt there was a demand and that we could put on a good event for a longer period and still make it good value for money. Most people are working Monday to Friday, so if we did expand the show into the week it would not include a trade fair.

Again this may be too early in the day but other than continuing to make the show even bigger and better do you guys have any specific aims to achieve for next year’s show?

Yes, as always we aim to attract a wider demographic to the show and to comics in general. We have taken steps to make this happen next year. We also aim to do more outreach during the year into schools, colleges libraries etc, promoting both the show and the medium of comics to the general public.

My own involvement with BICS has always been about promoting comics to a wider audience and educating people about the potential of the medium and I’ll continue to push this aspect of the show for as long as I’m involved.

Cheers for your time Shane!
Thanks Barry

GS Reporter: Nuge

Press Release – Insomnia Publications goes digital on the PSP this December!

At the moment it seem that everything  Crawford Coutts, Managing Director of Insomnia Publications and his team touch turns to gold. Their latest big announcement is a deal with Sony which will  all their comics comics coming to the PSP via the Digital Comics Store on the PlayStation®Network.

The Insomnia guys will be around all weekend at the London MCM Expo at the Comic Village, no doubt celebrating this huge coup.

The first comics to be released for the PSP will be Cages,  Cancertown and Burke and Hare in December.

Check out the all info below in the press release

Graphic novel sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula comes to MCM Expo

HARKER: Over a century ago, Bram Stoker brought the immortal Vampire Count Dracula to the printed page, affecting the hearts and minds of millions and starting a century of adaptations, prequels and sequels involving the enigmatic Count. And a hundred years later the Vampire has never been stronger, with books like Twilight hitting the bestseller lists and shows like True Blood and Being Human showing alternate takes of the popular mythos to critical acclaim.

Written by British comic writer Tony Lee (Doctor Who, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, Outlaw: The Legend Of Robin Hood) and drawn / coloured by the acclaimed South African art team of Neil Van Antwerpen and Peter-David Douglas (Starship Troopers), FROM THE PAGES OF BRAM STOKER’S ‘DRACULA’: HARKER is a faithful return to the original characters, set six months on from the Count’s grizzly death, and six months before the birth of Jonathan and Mina’s son, Quincey.

The comic is being launched at the MCM Expo this weekend at Tony Lee’s stand in the Comic Village.

We reviewed  Harker several weeks ago  and, for those who are interested, you can listen to our review here.

In short  we thought the graphic novel was a worthy follow up to Bram Stoker’s original. It had a great plot by Tony Lee and some very atmospheric art from Neil Van Antwerpen and Peter-David Douglas to complement it.

Do yourself a favour and give it a look see if you’re at the show.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Press Release – SCI FI To Screen Exclusive V Preview at MCM Expo 2009

As a huge fan of the original V mini series (and no I didn’t like V the series) I’ve been following the news of the remake with a mixture of fear and hopefulness. I’ve liked the look of the trailer and the few scraps of footage that have been thrown my way but as yet haven’t had to really get my teeth into until now.

Fans of the show who, like myself, will be attending the MCM Expo this coming weekend will be lucky enough to get the chance to watch an exclusive preview at the show.

Check out below for the full press release!

Report on UK Sanctuary Convention – Haven 1 or Three Men & a Lady

Sanctuary Convention: Haven 1
Hosted by Wolf Events

Three Men & a Lady by Rebecca Lorna Macias

Guests: Christopher Heyerdahl, Robin Dunne, Chuck Campbell and Emilie Ullerup

London MCM Expo Oct 2009 – ComicVillage Table plans and listings + Stage schedule‏

For everyone planning to stop by the comic village at the MCM Expo next week you may this post useful. The organisers have kindly provided us with the all ComicVillage table plan, listings and events.

Please stop by the Geek Syndicate table and say hi!

GS Reporter: Nuge

MCM Expo Comic Village – Guest signing schedule announced

For all you comic fans who will be hitting the Comic Village at the MCM Expo (24th -25th October) here’s a listing of signing times for the comic guests attending.

The organisers wanted me to stress that all the timings are subject to change and guests will also be signing at their tables as well as the signing area.

Merlin’s leading ladies return to MCM Expo!

Seems in the last few weeks before the MCM Expo the organisers are pulling out all the stops to make it one hell of the show for anyone going.

At 2pm on Sunday (25th October) creator Johnny Capps will be joined by  Katie McGrath (Morgana) & Angel Coulby (Gwen) for a Panel. The ladies will also be signing autographs at some point during the show.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source:MCM Expo