Programming
There's lots to do all weekend long at BangPop! 2009. Check back for updates as we finalize the schedule. Here's a taste of what you can expect:
Film Screenings
Nerdcore Rising
Saturday, September 19 @ 4 PM
The documentary "Nerdcore Rising" investigates the newest, wave of hip-hop, nerdcore, as it follows the godfather of the genre, MC Frontalot, on his first national tour. Beginning in South Carolina and culminating in nerd mecca - the Penny Arcade Gaming Convention in Seattle - masses of fans across the country come out to bask in the Front's geek glory as he strives to achieve mainstream success. Throughout the film, music industry notables provide insight into nerdcore. Old school trailblazers like Prince Paul and contemporary hip hop aficionados like J-Live examine the legitimacy of nerdcore as a subgenre of hip hop. Music-nerd celebrities like Weird Al Yankovic and Jello Biafra discuss the origins of nerdcore while gaming-geek celebs Gabe and Tycho expound on the digital revolution that is enabling the nerdcore movement.
www.nerdcorerisingthemovie.com
www.bside.com
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film
Saturday, September 19 @ 6 PM
A feature-length documentary based on the book of the same name by Joseph Maddrey. It examines the idea that horror films reflect the times and places in which they are made – illustrating how classic monster movies exploited the anxieties of war-time generations, and how more savage modern horror films stem from the psychic fallout of America’s counterculture movement and the subsequent rise of increasingly conservative political forces. Nightmares in Red, White and Blue is narrated by horror icon Lance Henriksen and features exclusive interviews with legendary auteurs like John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Joe Dante, Larry Cohen, and Roger Corman, as well as film historian John Kenneth Muir and Fangoria editor Tony Timpone and others. In short, it is the most comprehensive documentary on America’s most durable and prolific film genre.
www.nightmaresinredwhiteandblue.com
www.luxdigitalpictures.com
Panel Discussions
Sit, Listen, Watch, Learn & Talk Back!
At the core of the programming for the BangPop! Comic & Pop Culture Convention are the panel discussions covering a wide range of topics about comics, writing, and more.
Comics in Maine
Saturday, September 19 @ 11am
Join the discussion with a group of comic creators from our fair state as they discuss comics publishing in Maine.
Breaking into Comics
Saturday, September 19 @ 2pm
So you want to make some comics? Well get started! And while your at it, listen to these creators as they share their stories about their creative journeys.
Webcomics 101
Saturday, September 19 @ 3:30 pm
Self-publishing your comic can be expensive, but Internet publishing may prove to be your venue. Listen to creators with webcomics experience about the dos & don'ts and get a look at their amazing work.
Write That Novel
Sunday, September 20 @ 11am
Join authors Kristen Britain, Alex Irvine and Catherynne Valente as they discuss the writing process, where it has taken them and how they've overcome some of the challenges of crafting a novel from beginning to end.
Cosplay 101
Sunday, September 20 @ 2pm
Comics on Comics: PANELS IN A CAN
Comics on Comics is an online talk show that pits comedians against comic book creators in nerd debates, essentially breaking everything down from the creative process to the business end of comic books, video games and pop culture.
BangPop! is presenting 3 of their best episodes on the big screen, creatively bringing more talent to the Bangor area.
WARNING: These creators and celebrities will not be signing autographs!
Comics on Comics - Battlestar Galactica: Richard Hatch & Michael Taylor
Saturday, September 19 @ 10:30am
Comics on Comics proudly presents our spectacular episode dedicated to both incarnations of Battlestar Galactica!
Host Juan-Manuel Rocha is joined by one of the stars of both Battlestar Galactica series, Richard Hatch as well as Michael Taylor (Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Mike Wellman (Battlestar Galactica: Echoes of New Caprica) along with comedians Robb Fulcher and Asterios Kokkinos (Cracked Magazine, NPR's Marketplace) for a mind-fraking hour of comics, Sci-fi TV and comedy!
In this episode, our panel of experts looks at the early days of both BSG series, examines the reactions to the current series by the fans and by former BSG actor, Dirk Benedict, discusses Toykopop's new BSG Manga: Echoes of New Caprica and unravels the controversial BSG series finale before Hatch gives us his views on his character, Tom Zarek and Taylor gives us some insight into the future of BSG and the upcoming spinoff, Caprica.
Comics on Comics - Watchmen: Len Wein
Saturday, September 19 @ Noon
Comics on Comics takes on Alan Moore's Watchmen in this super-sized episode!
Coming to you from Meltdown Comics in Hollywood, host Juan-Manuel Rocha welcomes comic book legend and original Watchmen editor Len Wein along with comedians Steve Marmel (The Fairly Oddparents, Danny Phantom, Sonny With a Chance), Sax Carr (UCB's Tournament of Nerds, Comics on Comics Radio), Graham Elwood (ComedyFilmNerds.com, The Sarah Silverman Program) and pop guru Bob Peterson (CC2K) to discuss the book's cultural impact and social significance, the controversial movie adaptation, the Watchmen video game and the story within the story, Tales of the Black Freighter.
Additionally, Len Wein gives us an inside look at the making of the original comic book and offers his take on Alan Moore and the original ending...
Comics on Comics - Lost: Damon Lindelof & Jeff Katz
Sunday, September 20 @ 11am
Comics on Comics presents our blockbuster episode dedicated to the hit TV series Lost!
Host Juan-Manuel Rocha welcomes Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof (Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk, Star Trek), Jeff Katz (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Booster Gold), Doug Benson (Last Comic Standing, VH1's Best Week Ever), Chris Hardwick (Attack of the Show, Wired Magazine), Jonah Ray (X-Play, The Rotten Tomatoes Show) and Matt Weinhold (G4's Code Monkeys) for a mind blowing night of comics and comedy!
In this episode, our panel delves into the origins of Lost, the unresolved stories of Libby & Mr. Eko, the Lost alternate reality games, the future of Lost in syndication and DVD, the unexplained mysteries of the island and the upcoming final season. Additionally, Lindelof explains the significance of the cursed numbers for the first time in public!
A Reading with Catherynne M. Valente
World Fantasy Award nominated author of Palimpsest and The Orphan Tales
Saturday, September 19 @12:30pm
Treat yourself to the talent of World Fantasy Award nominated author Catherynne M. Valente as she reads from her work. Q&A to follow.
The author will be signing at her table all weekend at BangPop!
An American Werewolf at BangPop!
Selected scenes from the upcoming stage performance
Saturday, September 19 @ 1:00pm
Special Preview presentation of selected scenes from Freeport Community Players & Gaslight Theater's Upcoming Halloween Production of "An Amercian Werewolf In London", The special preview performance will include a special introduction from the director of this production, Tim Ryan.
The Freeport Players and Gaslight Theater team up to present this cult classic tale of fangs and fear produced by special arrangement with and permission from the writer/director of the original cult classic movie, John Landis, and the writer/director of the BBC Radio 1 production, Dirk Maggs. This script includes scenes and characters not seen in the movie! Come celebrate the 30th anniversary of this classic horror flick!
For more information on show dates & times for this World Premiere production please visit www.FCPonline.org
Cosplay at BangPop!
Get in character and join us for the Cosplay Masquerade on Saturday at 2pm. Judged categories will include Best Male, Best Female and Best Group, as well as Craftsmanship Awards. Cosplay Sign Ups will be Saturday from 10am until 1pm, along with Craftsmanship Judging.
There will also be a Cosplay 101 panel on Sunday at 2pm.
Short Films at BangPop!
THE STAG HUNT
Sunday, September 20 @ 12:30pm
The Stag Hunt is a 21-minute, Hitchcockian thriller from writer/director Alfred Thomas Catalfo and producer Marc A. Dole, the team behind the Web-based hit The Norman Rockwell Code. It is presented by Left Bank Films. Former National Security Agency scientist Byron Lazlo is a winner. Whether he's trying to beat a speeding ticket, playing poker or betting on a horse race, Lazlo always knows how to calculate the odds and win. His friend and attorney, John Bandini, is mystified by Lazlo's amazing luck until Harold DeWitt, a deranged and dangerous client, tells him a strange story that may explain the secret behind Lazlo's ability. With DeWitt hunting them, Lazlo and his niece Eva lead Bandini into a shadowy world of probability theory, quantum mechanics, a clandestine Government program and murder... the world of The Stag Hunt. Catalfo has been a winner and/or finalist in 21 major screenwriting competitions with three different feature scripts in three years. Dole, the CEO of Hatchling Studios, produced the animated short The Toll, which has won more than 40 honors, the second-most awards of any one short submitted to festivals across the nation.
THE NORMAN ROCKWELL CODE
Sunday, September 20 @ 1:30pm
One of the most celebrated short films of all time, The Norman Rockwell Code is a 35-minute spoof of The Da Vinci Code released online on May 19, 2006 -- the same day The Da Vinci Code was released in theaters. In The Norman Rockwell Code, the curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum is murdered and the police call in Professor of Symbology Langford Fife -- the son of legendary Mayberry Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife -- from the local community college. There are, of course, references to Opie Taylor, the character played by Da Vinci Code director Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show. The Norman Rockwell Code made The Must List ("Ten Things We Love This Week") in Entertainment Weekly which hailed the "whimsical, Web-based parody" and had over one million online hits in less than three months. The Library of Congress selected The Norman Rockwell Code for inclusion in its Film Collection which features works by American filmmakers chosen on the basis of their historical, cultural or aesthetic significance.
Tour
Tommyknockers & More Bus Tours
The Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau proudly presents the Tommyknockers & More Bus Tours throughout the summer and fall months. They're making a special stop at BangPop! Cap off your BangPop! weekend aboard the Stephen King Literary Bus Tour Sunday, September 20 at 4 p.m.
Join your guide on a school bus for a tour of Bangor as seen through the books of Stephen King. You'll see where Ellie saw the "Skinny Santa." You'll see the 
"Sematary" where Stephen King presided over the funeral of Missy Dandridge. Do you dare stop in "the Barrens"?
And More
Click on the links for info on Educator Workshops and Kids' Day.