It seems there is a lot of confusion and I have to hold my hands up and say that following the discusion on here last year regarding this event I went away in the belief that you were happy with an Aliens only event at the NSC in September.

Now I realised that this might be a big ask, but with all the history you guys have at the NSC and the opportunity to make this your event I, once again, assumed that the "we have 10 months to make this happen" final thread was a positive one.

Movie Mania is planned for December 3-4 as a Christmas event and I am going to focus on a lot of traders, so people can come along and get some cracking sci-fi Xmas pressies (and I can do my own shopping!)

My understanding was that we were going to have:

1. Alien Encounter
2. Firing Range
3. Displays
4. Harry's "tut"
5. Invite Terry English
6. Show the film (red carpet event)

In addition we can put bug hunts, armour painting displays, talks and (I have a budget) stars from the film.

All of this would fill the hub of the galleries and make for a great celebration weekend.

Now if this is not what you thought or agreed to we have the option to cancel the event and include some of the Aliens activities in Movie Mania in December, but it will be on a much smaller scale.

So it's over to you chaps... what do you think?

I can help organise stuff, invite people and sort out a timetable of additional stuff, but this will be your event to make happen, so it really is up to you.

Thanks for posting Malika. I think that there has been some confusion as well but everything you have posted above sounds great. My personal opinion is that we can make this work.

With it being the 25th Anniversary I think it would be a shame not to make this happen.

I'm sure we can make everything on the list above happen and with maybe one or two more Aliens guests I think it would be great. We could have a Q&A each day. Maybe Harry could "Host" those like the first year?

I'm sure Terry and Trevor would be happy to be asked back again. Just need to find someone else (or 2 ) that also fits inside the budget as well of course.

If everyone promoted the event on any social networks they go on then that would help. Are you able to promote in any other media Malika?

Cheers

Darren

We will of course be including it in all our marketing, so going out in 300,000 leaflets throughout the east and west mids, on our web-site, Twitter, Facebook and in print adverts.

As I said to ADC, I have a small budget for star signers and have asked Rico Ross through FB, but got no reply. I cannot afford some of the US guys as they ask silly money (Vasquez - 4 x first class flights + 5* accommodation = £12K!) so if people have thoughts or contacts please let me know!

I'd be more up for an event in September, since it'll all be a bit hectic in December for a migration South. Ive got a couple of folk up here that may be able to come be lab rats / help out.

Shall get on it.

_________________
MSgt Samantha 'Boltie' Watters
Chief Medical Officer, UKCM
1st Batt. 42nd Regiment - Hadrian's Wall

Area 52 Bioweapons division - Amber T. Alien


"Harsh"

im hoping to pop down for my first event to check it out. will also bring the kids and misses as well as they might enjoy it too

_________________
Cpl.
Smith,G 'Nogarth'

UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters
H.M.S. Valhalla

I'll be there and will help in any way I can

_________________
If found, return to Skapunkninja

Didn't William Hope once tell us (at Collectormania MK) to let him know if we were to organise an Aliens event?

Him, Trev and Terry up on a platform answering questions like the first event in 2006 would be awesome.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

I'm up for December to be honest, i think money will be tight for some of use after D*Con. =[

_________________
Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

Whilst money is tight for all of us at the moment it would be a shame to have to cancel the September event as the one in December would be "on a much smaller scale" (as per above) Aliens wise as it would be a small part of a much bigger show. For the 25th Anniversary it would be awesome if we could do this.

Cheers

Darren

Yep funds may be tighter but it'd be awesome to have our own weekend in sept and also do the NSC as well!

I'm in for both!!

_________________
When the pin is pulled - Mr Grenade is NOT your friend

PFC Cliffe.S
A09/TQ2.0.62144E1

I'm not sure the December date is an "also" on top of the September date or if Malika intended it as an "instead of". I believe we have the option of an Aliens weekend in September OR be a smaller part of the show happening in December. That's my understanding of it anyway.

Cheers

Darren

If we go for the stand-alone event in September then we better make damn sure we do something bigger/better than our usual contribution to a Movie-Mania weekend.

My pessimistic opinion is that we don't have enough time before September to do that, short of a miracle. But, I'd like to be proved wrong; it still doesn't look like I'll make it in September so I can spare myself one aneurism at least ...

Apologies, I'll try again

I'm up for either, obviously Dec leaves more time to save pennies after D*Con but whenever the NSC drop happens I'll be there!

_________________
When the pin is pulled - Mr Grenade is NOT your friend

PFC Cliffe.S
A09/TQ2.0.62144E1

My optimistic opinion is that we can make a good weekend and all have a great time. In the unfortunate event that you can't make it G is it possible that you could go to the NSC ahead of time with someone (even me) and show them how to set up the equipment and give a field guide on how it works, that sort of thing. Otherwise we can always go back to the first years set up of pre-recorded sound effects triggered by a hidden techie.

Cheers

Darren

Malika - I suspect this thread is due to me messaging you on Facebook, aye?

I said from the start that I don't think a purely Aliens related weekend is a good idea... NOT due to a lack of what we could put together for it ( Although I didn't think we had a concrete confirmation til a few weeks ago! ), but purely due to the fact that if we have ONLY Aliens-related stuff, we're severely limiting our target audience compared to a weekend at which punters/kids could see Stormtroopers/Ghostbusters/Borg/whateverelse.

Whilst many of the Garrison do have Aliens related costumes... Many do NOT, and I think a big part of the atmosphere at previous events has been due to the sheer number of costumed types milling around, and the sheer variety of items on display... From Daleks to Noisy Crickets.

Personally, if I only brought Alien-related pieces from my prop collection, I'd be leaving 80% of it at home!

Also bear in mind that the Aliens movies are all 18 rated... And again, given that a lot of the intended audience in the past has comprised of parents and their kids - We'd once again be putting folk off coming if there was nothing but Aliens stuff.


If anyone can give me a good reason not to call the thing a "Movie Mania Weekend - Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Aliens", and have an event where the main focus is the Alien films... But including other characters and props as peripheral attractions to give more general Sci Fi fans a reason to attend... Please do!


Given that there's a Movie Mania weekend planned for December as well - Having given it some thought, if our options are "Purely Aliens related event in September" or "Movie Mania weekend with AE and prop displays" in December... My vote would definitely now be for a combined December event - Being that I would assume any budget for a September event could be carried forward to a December one? ( If there's a reason we'd have to cut down on the Aliens-ey stuff if we switched to December... What would that be? )


Especially if Gareth can't make September. How the hell can we even consider an Aliens event without Abe?!?!

Last point in favour of December - Dragoncon is at the start of the month!

_________________
MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop

I, on a strong level agree with Scapey. As much as an one genre event would be cool. I think it would attract more punters if it was mixed. From the sounds of it. To get a collection of well known actors from the movie would be in great expense. There as if we had Terry, Trevor and possibly William Hope. We would have a great time. Regarding children, the movie was an 18 and most parents with a strong view of horror movies won't let there kids watch them. As for Aliens towards children. You have some babbies and toddlers that don't react to Abe/Aliens were as kids that are 5+ do. And i'm sure parents wouldn't be that stupid to take there children through something like that. I know if i was a parent. I, personally wouldn't. Not because of the Characters nor crew but because of the daunting/distressing atmosphere with sounds. Regarding the September event i find it great difficulty to comit now that i think of D*Con. Where as December, it would also be nice to end the year and a chance to have a Christmas bash. I too agree that Abe would be sorely missed.

I think it's best to collaberate with Malika with the dates. We would need to organise ASAP with september dates due to D*Con and other events.

Possibly a Poll Vote Topic would secure votes. Ether way. There will be ether lots of attendances and declines.

Callum

_________________
Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

I'd be happy to see other costumers and props at the event. At the moment though I'm just trying to work with what Malika has offered which personally I see as a great opportunity for us but that doesn't mean I don't want anything else included if everyone else wanted it.

Callum, the part of your post about children in the AE. I assume this is referencing my "suggestion" of ending a bug hunt there. That suggestion was posted in a closed forum about organising the show and comments on it's practicalities should really be posted there and not here. It was merely a suggestion and as discussed there children would not be going through the whole of the AE. Nor would they be going through on the normal sort of atmosphere. I'm not "stupid" enough to do do that.

If everyone feels that we can't do this then I guess the option is to ask Malika to take part in December and leave it at that.

Cheers

Darren

I think you guys could easily pull off an Alien Weekend in September with the support of some UKG. You guys seem to self doubt your abilities, you guys rock and should remember that! I know Rich would be there with his tech abilities to help run the AE and the UKG members have got your 6

_________________

Yes, invite the UKG and other costumers let them bring a Darth and some troopers. Perhaps we could even ask the Dalek builders to make an appearance? They seemed to go down well that summer.

We can have the emphasis on Aliens at the event, but also advertise that others will be there too.

_________________
Sgt A. Richardson CMD A04/TQ1.0.02151E1

Sorry chaps but it is not just a case of inviting other costumers to the event. What is advertised is the 25th anniversary of Aliens, Movie Mania has a slot in the calendar and is advertised as a movie celebration and sci-fi Christmas market.

OPTION 1 - stick to the advertised 25th anniversary event in September and pull out all the stops
OPTION 2 - participate in Movie Mania in a costuming only capacity (limited space due to the market element of the event)

Please vote and then I can take the appropriate action to cancel stuff or continue marketing.

Thanks Jo. I'm sure we can as well. The sign up lists so far have been for September so presumably the people on those can still all make it. Im confident an Alien weekend would be a success for all concerned.

As Malika has said above though we need to take a vote as to wether people want the Aliens weekend or to costume at the December event instead.

Cheers

Darren

We can get the numbers if we make the plunge. Let's try do this. Ether date is fine aslong as I'm with my dearest friends.

(September)


(December)
Vito

_________________
Sgt C. Kee-McParlin
A05/TQ1.0.02160E1

13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'

(September)
Bolty

(December)
Vito

If there aint gonna be an encounter and such in December, that makes it just another costume drop. As fun as they are, I would prefer to do something interactive! =D

_________________
MSgt Samantha 'Boltie' Watters
Chief Medical Officer, UKCM
1st Batt. 42nd Regiment - Hadrian's Wall

Area 52 Bioweapons division - Amber T. Alien


"Harsh"

Guys, I can't believe some of the negative attitudes towards this! Were being given an amazing opertunity to put on our own Aliens show! To plan it, run it, basically do what we want. With the fanbase and talent here, and with the guys from the UKG who want to help out, we can put on a seriously kick ass event.
A perfect venue, with advertising and a guest budget has been handed to us on a plate, and you seriously don't want to take it???

_________________
M/SGT Rich Hyatt-Dowling (Retd)

UKCM Black ops

Rich, Xenajo - It's not that I don't want to take the opportunity... It's that I don't want it to be crippled for no good reason if we DO take it.
As I said, we could put on the best Aliens related event in history, and we'd STILL get more people coming along if the other costuming and prop display groups were along to provide some non-Aliens-specific entertainment, because the fact remains that the Aliens movies are a niche market and don't have the broad appeal and age range of fans that Star Wars / Trek / Dr Who etc hold.

On a personal note, the last few years' events have been the absolute highlight of my year, every time... Mainly because of the various people that were there. If we do Aliens-ONLY, I suspect that those who don't have anything Aliens related to contribute will simply not be there, and the event will therefore become a pale reflection of it's former self.

From a business point of view - Malika, surely the whole point here is to get as many people in as possible?
The last thing I want to see happen here is for the event to have a smaller turnout than we'd hoped for, then for the High Heid Yins to blame that on the Encounter, and subsequently find that future events don't even have a UKCM/Encounter presence...

_________________
MSgt, UKCM 42nd Reg., 1st Batt. : Hadrian's Wall. UKCM

Wasteland Workshop
Props, cosplay pieces, upcycled ornamentation, and miscellanea;
For the discerning survivor of the apocalypse.
Steve Fletcher : Maker, Scavenger, and Junksmith.
linktr.ee/wastelandworkshop