How did the panel do, what was discussed, anything come out of it?

> Then he wrote and reiterated:

> …ComiCon’s little brother…

> …second string comic convention…

Then he wrote and reiterated:

> …second string comic convention…

You still not have defined your point. One is bigger than the other. So what?

> ComiCon is by far the larger event

So? What’s your point?

> …being held at a 3-day event that is a second string comic convention
> (WonderCon is like ComiCon’s little brother). It was sponsored by
> Geek Monthly…

Came back from WonderCon. Thousands of people were there, hundreds of vendors and comic artists. If you go to the ComiCon/WonderCon website, WonderCon is put on by the same people who do ComiCon. ComiCon is for Southern California, and WonderCon is for Northern California. Of course, there are those who fortunate to go to both.

Feel better ToskMask?

I’m not saying there’s a call to arms or hostile takeover effort. But we’ve seen here plenty of times that fans often try to influence or send messages to the powers that be to “change this and that” or influence the creative process. As the guy deciding who is going to review episodes of ST-R or who is going to comment on Paramount’s creative decisions, Anthony is in a position of some power over fan opinion and online buzz (even if its relatively minor). He’s certainly free to do that and more power to him. Since we know the people at CBS-D DO read this site and consider the feedback, it’s fair to know more about the people running it because in ways small (and potentially large) they ARE influencing the future of the franchise.

“I would assume it just means they are a group of people with some things to offer that may be interesting to some other people without any other ulterior motives.”

You’re probably right. I’m not suggesting anything sinister here. What I’m wondering is just who is putting themselves out there as “Treksperts” and what qualifications they really have. Because their opinions ARE being read by a lot of fans and it does, to some degree, shape the direction of certain debates. Say, for example, Paramount had picked another director for Trek XI – one Anthony or Jeff really didn’t like for whatever reason. Their dissatisfaction could certainly influence the perception among fans about the film’s direction and the potential for success.

#23 “You make a panel of a few dudes who like Trek and have some minor ties to the industry out to have way too much influence.”

So, on the one hand these guys are promoting themselves to fans as “Treksperts” qualified to pontificate on the future of the franchise, but on the other they’re just “dudes” with “minor industry ties” and no influence. How many people would come to a panel advertised as “some dudes who like Trek with minor industry ties and no influence”? No one. It doesn’t have to involve a nefarious scheme to say that these “Treksperts” want to be seen among fans as more than just “some dudes”. And when you get enough people thinking you’re more than “some dude” and who will listen to your opinions, that puts you in the position to influence things. Look at AICN. The industry knows that Harry has enough sway over enough idiots to influence buzz if nothing else. And buzz equals bucks. That’s why some studios make an effort to invite him to premieres, send him gifts and ask him to visit their sets. They’re not idiots. They’re buying him off. And who the hell is he really? Just a guy with a keyboard surrounded by film posters in Austin. And to be clear, I’m not equating Anthony with Harry. I was just wondering who these “dudes” advertising themselves as experts are.

“And FYI: Geek Monthly was started after TrekMovie.com was and are to totally separate projects.”

Good to know. Thanks for clearing that up.

“The plus to Tony working on both is that because of living in the LA region and the networking he’s done he has been able to get contributors and information that applies to TrekMovie.com as well.”

And I think that’s great. Really. I’ve got NOTHING against Anthony. Don’t mistake me. But I think as fans we need to be careful about who is stepping up and calling themselves a “Trekspert” and what they’re pontificating about. Because it’s one thing to REPORT news, rumors and facts (which this site does really well) and another to start advocating certain creative directions. It’s a fine line that can be tempting to cross.