Dragon*Con 2004, Star Wars, and Fanworks
(source: Dragon*Con 2004, 08-19-04)

It's that time again, fan audio fans. For the last two years, Star Wars fan audio has had a growing presence at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA. In 2002, Digital Llama Radio's Christopher Hanel participated in the convention's Star Wars track and arranged for an episode of DLR to be recorded on-site during an informal dinner with Hanel (Digital Llama Radio, Second Strike, et al), Nathan P. Butler (ChronoRadio, Second Strike, et al), and fan film personalities Tony Colluci (Sins of the Jedi) and John Hudgens (Crazy Watto, Jedi Hunter, et al). In 2003, fan audio held its first dedicated Star Wars fan audio panel anywhere at Dragon*Con, when Rise of Nobility's Pamela Kinney, Linda Lyons, Michael Smith, and Shawn Johnston, along with Nathan P. Butler, participated in the Rise of Nobility panel (with RON and Fanworks both hitting the 'net that weekend). That was the first fan audio panel to be held, and you can still find a recording of that session here at Fanworks under "Features."

Now, after a stellar experience at ConCarolinas 2004 back in June, Star Wars Fanworks is following that up this year at Dragon*Con 2004 in Atlanta. Several members of the fan audio community will be attending the convention, including Janine Garner (Requiem of the Outcast), Amy Ferrell (Second Strike, Responsibility, et al), and three members of the community that are there to promote both fan audio and the forthcoming cartoon series Small Town Creatures (Shawn Johnston of Rise of Nobility, Kirsta Kolesar of Nothing Changes, and Christopher Walker of To Overcome). Fanworks founder Nathan P. Butler will also be in attendance for the last day of the convention and as much of the preceding days as possible.

What can you look forward to if you're a fan of fan audio? Aside from getting a chance to check out the team members from Small Town Creatures, a dedicated fan audio panel, entitled Fan Audio Revolution, is being held at 11:30 a.m. on the last day of the con, Monday, Sept. 6 (Labor Day) in the Dunwoody room. The program currently lists participants as Nathan P. Butler, Rich Sigfrit, Janine Garner, Ron Garner, and Amy Ferrell. Please note the list of participants on the schedule is incorrect. Due to being sent to South Korea, Ron Garner will not be in attendance (unless he returns early), and family concerns have likely forced Rich Sigfrit to sit out Dragon*Con entirely. However, those slots have been filled with Krista Kolesar and Christopher Walker, both of Rayzur's Edge Audio (and more), who are also promoting Small Town Creatures over the weekend. So it's a new, different fan audio panel from what ConCarolinas alumni would expect. Please join us that morning and welcome newcomers Krista and Chris to their first fan audio panel.

Outside of fan audio, the Matters of the Force Star Wars track is full of great Star Wars events for the entire weekend. The full schedule of Star Wars track sessions can be found here.

It looks to be an outstanding weekend for fans of the saga, but what if you can't be there? Well, keep an eye out here at Fanworks for our convention coverage, complete with the usual post-convention wrap-up article, a feature on the fan audio panel, and a full recording of the fan audio panel, just like last year. It's the next best thing to being there for the panel. Right, panelists?

We hope to see you there, so be sure to drop by and introduce yourselves if you attend. May the Force be with you . . . and with Dragon*Con 2004.