Special Report - ConCarolinas 2005
(source: ConCarolinas 2005, 06-09-05)

Well, everyone, ConCarolinas 2005 is over. In its wake, we present a post-con report, as is our custom. (Be aware, though, that the convention was very hectic this time around, so this report, written by Fanworks founder/operator Nathan P. Butler includes his point of view. Other participants in CC '05 are invited to submit their own post-con reports. Send 'em in!)

The con was held in Charlotte, NC, USA, from the evening of Friday, June 3, until the mid-afternoon of Sunday, June 5. On behalf of fan audio, several individuals were in attendance: Nathan P. Butler (Fanworks, Rayzur's Edge Audio); Rich Sigfrit (Outcast Media); Ron Garner (Requiem of the Outcast); Janine Garner (Requiem of the Outcast); and Amy Ferrell (Second Strike, et al). Others heard on fan audio productions in the past included Deanna Davis (ChronoRadio #17.5), Davey Beauchamp (Requiem of the Outcast, Tee Morris (Requiem of the Outcast), and numerous others.

The experience began at 5:00 on Friday afternoon with an introduction to the con and its participants, which was followed immediately by a live recording of an episode of Requiem of the Outcast (to be released online later), featuring an interview with CC '05 Special Musical Guest (and previous ROTO guest) "The Great LukeSki" (who, yes, performs live during the show). For Butler, this was followed at 8:00 (after the 7:00 "Hour with Greg Keyes") by a "Writing for a Franchise" panel, where Nathan had the honor of sitting on a panel alongside Star Wars and Babylon 5 novel writer J. Gregory "Greg" Keyes.

Saturday began at 9:00 for convention-goers, but really kicked off for Fanworks attendees at 2:00 with "Writing for Comics" (with Butler, plus Jim Bassett and Steve Antczak of Visible Light Entertainment). The two big events for fan audio enthusiasts on Saturday, though, were the fan audio panel (consisting of Butler, Sigfrit, and Ferrell) at 3:00 and the high-tension, full-throated debating of "Star Wars: The Verdict" (featuring the Garners, Butler, and the more academically-minded Krista Sprecher and Eric Snyder). Fans of Requiem of the Outcast got to see the culmination of the $20 Film Festival at 6:00 and Janine Garner's win in the ConCarolinas Costume Contest during a 9:00 presentation. (Also, behind the scenes, Saturday night included a joint ROTO/ChronoRadio interview with Keyes, minus Sigfrit).

After days like that, Sunday was a wind-down and departure day for most con-goers, as they returned to their everyday lives outside of con...dom. (Wait, can we even say that phrase?)

In the coming month or so, expect to see material from CC '05 cropping up, including ChronoRadio #21.5: ConCarolinas 2005, the first half of the Keyes interview as a ChronoRadio: Interview Edition, and the latter half of the Keyes interview, plus the live ROTO panel, in an upcoming episode of Requiem of the Outcast.

Overall, it was a blast, and we hope to see more people from the community there next year.