The Fanbase Press staff is very excited to be providing several panels for this weekend’s WhedonCon 2019. Taking place from June 7-9, 2019, at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton (a.k.a. Hilton LAX), the annual event is a convention celebrating all things in the Whedonverse (defined as encompassing the worlds forming the setting for the television and film works of Joss Whedon — notably the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly, and the film Serenity), designed by fans for fans, with the aim of harnessing the power of fandom to raise money for charities while creating a fun, interactive environment for attendees and guests.

The Fanbase Press staff and contributors will be participating in quite a few intriguing panels throughout the weekend that you will not want to miss!

PANELS

Saturday, June 8

10:00 a.m.: Fanbase Presents: Serenity: Leaves on the Wind – A 5th Anniversary Retrospective – Published by Dark Horse Comics, Serenity: Leaves on the Wind serves as a legitimate sequel to 2005’s Serenity feature film and is easily one of the most popular canon comics produced for the franchise. In this panel, the Fanbase Press staff and special guests will examine the plot, themes, and impact of this look into the future for Mal Reynolds and what’s remaining of his crew. Moderated by Bryant Dillon (president, Fanbase Press), panelists include Georges Jeanty (Artist – Serenity: Leaves on the Wind) and Barbra Dillon (Editor-in-Chief, Fanbase Press). (La Jolla Ballroom)

11:00 a.m.: Building Your New Media Empire and Knowing When to Burn It to the Ground – We’re all told that we need to build our own social media empire if we want to succeed as creators across various platforms. But no one tells you when you should burn it all down and walk away. We’ll examine the pros and cons of building versus destroying your budding empire. Panelists include Jessica Brawner (Author – Bad Altitude, Odd Goods), Jonathan Latt (Author – The Geek), Thomas Parham (Writer – JAG, Big Brother Jake), and Barbra Dillon (Editor-in-Chief, Fanbase Press). (Carmel)

1:00 p.m.: Fanbase Press Presents: Before Buffy – The Origins of the Bestiary of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Featuring vampires, demons, ghosts, and more, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was known for bringing a different “monster of the week” to nearly every new episode. This panel will serve as an examination of the original legends, folklore, and representations that influenced the various supernatural critters who appeared on the show. Moderated by Bryant Dillon (president, Fanbase Press), panelists include Michele Brittany (Editorials Manager, Fanbase Press), Jonathan Latt (Author – The Geek), and Ross Tallent (Sculptor, FX artist, traditional artist). (Marina)

Sunday, June 9

10:00 a.m.: Creating Strong Mythology in Your Writing – If you want to write, you need to understand the world you’re creating. The mythology of your story, be it a short story, screenplay, or novel, governs the laws of your world from how people act to how things work. This 45-minute seminar will give you insights and basics of how to create a believable world before putting pen to paper. Panelists include Bryant Dillon (President, Fanbase Press), Jessica Brawner (Author – Bad Altitude, Odd Goods), Jonathan Latt (Author – The Geek), and Thomas Parhum (Writer – JAG, Big Brother Jake). (Carmel)

11:00 a.m.: Fanbase Press Presents: Channeling Campbell, Whedon and the Hero/ine’s Journey – Creating Characters We Care About – Joseph Campbell popularized the monomyth, a template that outlines the elements of the protagonist’s journey explored in narratives. Using examples from Joss Whedon and many of the popular IPs today, our panelists will discuss how this narrative structure can lead the writer to develop dynamic characters audiences will care about and be invested in following their journey. Moderated by Michele Brittany (Editorials Manager, Fanbase Press), panelists include Bryant Dillon (President, Fanbase Press), Rachel Litfin (YA author – The Chronicles of Royal High), and Matt and John Yuan (Comic creators – Love Town, Serving Supes). (Marina)

12:00 p.m.: Inspired by the Whedonverse: Indie Creators That Aim to “Misbehave” – Many fans of the Whedonverse are not content to simply be passive viewers and seek their own ways to be part of the stories they hold so dear. This panel will showcase indie creators and their products that have been inspired by the Whedonverse and the creative individuals who helped to create them. Moderated by Barbra Dillon (Editor-in-Chief, Fanbase Press), panelists include Chrissy Callahan (TurtleBunny Creations), Chris Rubin (Bubbles and things Soaps), and Claire Thorne (Author – A Geek’s Guide to Cross-Stitch: Journeys in Space). (La Jolla Ballroom)

Please visit the WhedonCon website to purchase your tickets for this exciting event.

Everyone at Fanbase Press is greatly looking forward to the convention, and we hope to see you there!