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It's that time of year again! Gallifrey One is nearly upon us. For those of you who have never attended, Gallifrey One is the largest Doctor Who convention in the United States, currently celebrating its 29th year. Gally (as it is affectionately called) is packed with fan meet-ups, cosplay events, powerhouse guests, amazing vendors, discussion panels of every subject, and so much more. Gally has been featured on the former Late, Late Show With Craig Ferguson, in various Nerdist media, and has been attended by major non-Doctor Who actors and companies like Her Universe. It is also located in Los Angeles...in February. Who wouldn't want to be in California in February? (Not me, that's for sure.) My usual role at this convention is to be there repping the company I work for (Alien Entertainment + Doctor Who Store) and our chosen Doctor Who guest, but I occasionally have the opportunity to slip away and be on panels. This year, I landed two - both subjects something I am passionate about. It's pretty easy to see why...
How My Cosplay Started, or How I Found a Hubcap and Ended up a Cyberman… (Friday, 10 am - Program E)
Remember when you found that cane on eBay and thought it would really make a good prop for your First Doctor cosplay? Or saw someone wearing a handsome pair of wingtip spectator shoes that could be a perfect start on a Seventh Doctor? Whether a bit of flotsam on the road that could be useful for crafting a Cyberman, or a stash of pink wool that would make a great Romana II outfit, cosplay always starts somewhere personal. We’re taking a deep dive this year into the inspirations behind the world of cosplay, a journey through the stories (told by our panelists and audience members) about how they got started in this crazy hobby. - and -
Starting at the Finish (Friday, 7 pm - Program D) From the monthly ranges to the companion chronicles, past Doctor adventures and spinoffs galore, the Big Finish universe can be a very difficult thing to navigate for the new listener (not to mention, expensive!) Our panel will help you dive into the universe of Doctor Who on audio, giving you some tips on where to start, what the best experience might be, which of the spinoffs are worth it, and much more!
Considering it was only yesterday that I found out my assigned panels, I have a lot to do. I can say that I will be wearing my nearly completed (and nearly screen accurate) 13th Doctor cosplay for my first panel. How could I not show up in full costume? As for the second one, my company is the official American distributor for Big Finish audios (the subject of the panel), and I've listened to a fair amount of audio dramas in my day. The full library currently numbers to about 5,000 titles, so I most definitely need to make some notes for this one. The Doctor Who stories are full adventures with many of the actors who have played The Doctor on screen. They are much like podcasts, and I would recommend you start listening to them if you've never indulged.
Gallifrey One will be held at the LAX Marriott in Los Angeles, California in mid-February. Tickets are currently sold out, but I would recommend following their social media to get updates about 2019. If you're a serious Whovian, this is a convention you won't want to miss.