Subject: [FFML] [Con Report] More thoughts on AI2K1
From: "GL Sandborn" <sandborn@kc.rr.com>
Date: 8/29/2001, 9:58 PM
To: "FFML" <ffml@anifics.com>


     Allow me a moment to amplify Ukyou Kuonji's AI2K1 Con
Report as it relates to the Fan Fiction panel.  (BTW, this
in no way is meant to suggest there was anything wrong
with his usual excellent job of con reporting.  For my
money, his reports clue me to the things I missed and help
me decide what not to miss next year.)

[Rant-mode]

     I haven't been this appalled at a convention panel
since the 1998 Nan-Desu-Kon Fan Fiction panel.  (Just to
refresh your memories, that panel consisted solely of a
local unemployed independent film-maker who spent the
entire two hours talking about how to better package
your film project proposal to get grant money.  A total
of five people were subjected to this nonsense - three
of which had the good sense to leave before it was over.
The only writing discussed amounted to five minutes on
movie scripts and grant proposals.)

     To call what we experienced at AI2K1 a Fan Fiction
Panel is an embarrassment to both AI and the fan fiction
writing community in general.  It was little better
than a pre-slumber party giggly gab-fest where kids
barely out of high school giggle on about how their
writing consists of a 'lot of stuff on their hard drive'
and some stories about obscure video game characters
unheard of by all but a handful of people.  (And they
wonder why more folks don't read their stories.)

     The AI2K1 Program Guide lists in its Glossary that a
panel consists of "2) A group of experts discussing their
area of expertise".  Outside of discovering these little
girls don't think lemon writers know anatomy and their
own total writing experience is restricted to tales
passed amongst themselves, it was a complete waste of
50 minutes.  Either the program guide needs some editing
or AI is not really serious about what it puts in there.
     Maybe my feelings came from noticing two writers in
the audience who'd been voted by their peers to be among
the Ten Most Influential Fan Fic Writers of the 90's.
Maybe it was the way in which the panel was conducted.
Maybe it was the feeling of being cheated by AI.  Like
AI advertising Rumiko Takahashi as a guest and offering
someone who once caught a glimpse of her instead.
    In any case, the whole episode left me with the feeling
that this panel demonstrated little regard the fan fiction
community in general.

     I'm not certain I agree with the con report writer when
he hints that the failure to have a proper panel falls on
the shoulders of FFML members.  Just as AI wouldn't sit
around waiting for someone to volunteer as guest of honor,
I expect that if they are going to have a panel of any sort,
they take appropriate and aggressive steps to assure it is
properly done.  The results reflect directly on their
convention.  To grab whomever asks first, regardless of
experience or insight, is a sign of benign disinterest.
Panels are no different than any other form of programming.
They deserve to be done right.

     I've already expressed my concerns to the AI organizers
in the hope they will take steps to assure this situation is
not repeated.  The least they could do now is take fan
fiction as seriously as they do fan art - or even origami.

[/Rant-mode]

- Greg
(Flame away!)


Email:  sandborn@kc.rr.com

Web:  http://home.kc.rr.com/sandborn




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