FedConXX Day 1: Wil Wheaton Talks JJ Abrams Star Trek + Garrett Wang Talks Voyager + more

FedCon, Europe’s biggest sci-fi and Trek con, is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and they’ve brought in some big guest stars like Scott Bakula, Richard Dean Anderson, Wil Wheaton, Garrett Wang, Robbie Duncan McNeill, and more! TrekMovie is in Dusseldorf, Germany to bring you all the highlights. See below for report and pictures from Day One at FedConXX.

 

FedCon Day 1 (Thursday)

Panels, panels, panels… FedCon opened Thursday with three Star Trek guests: Arlene Martel (T’Pring, TOS), Garrett Wang (Ensign Harry Kim, VOY), and first time FedConer Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher TNG). Highlights below.

Wil Wheaton, Wesley Crusher (TNG)
The Trek highlight of the day came late with Wil Wheaton’s first appearance in FedCon, and in fact his first time in Germany. He noted that he is also the last member of The Next Generation cast to visit FedCon after seeing a slideshow of previous conventions where pictures of all of his friends were displayed. Wheaton talked a lot about being an all around geek, and the fact that he is proud of sci-fi. “It brings people together,” he said. A picture of Wil in the infamous clown sweater popped up on the screen behind him, leading to a bout of laughter from the audience. “Oh. The clown sweater. That sweater smelled like it had been dragged through the human centipede. And everything that that implies.”


The infamous clown sweater

Wil took several great questions from the audience this evening, including questions about writing fan fiction, gaming, and the new JJ Abrams Star Trek. When asked about his honest opinion of fan fiction, Wheaton replied, “I think it’s absolutely a genuine creative effort. I think fan fiction is fantastic. Just once, though, I would like to be the guy who’s getting laid instead of the guy who’s being gang raped. Just once.”


Wheaton jokes about fan fiction

An audience member also brought up the new JJ Abrams Star Trek in which Wil has an uncredited part doing voice work for a Romulan. Wheaton said that he appreciates how JJ has taken Star Trek and made it relatable to the younger generation. “[JJ] spoke to my kids in their language,” he said.


Two thumbs up on JJ Abrams Star Trek from Wil Wheaton

Arlene Martel, T’Pring (TOS)
The first person to take the stage Thursday morning was Arlene Martel, known for her iconic role as T’Pring from the original Star Trek series. T’Pring, as you should remember, was in one episode: the famous Amok Time, where Spock must fight his captain to the death and forcibly marry the vulcan woman T’Pring. Martel spoke about how the character of T’Pring changed her outlook on life. “She was in control and operated on intellect,” said Martel. “She was methodical, analytical, and logical, and she had a great dignity about her and self respect. [She] made me aware of acting emotionally.” Martel said that T’Pring’s Vulcan ideals made her realize when she needed a bit more Vulcan in her own life. “I was always impulsive. Very opposite of T’Pring. She brought that element [of logic] to me.”

One thing everyone noticed was how good Martel looks on stage! “Every woman in the audience wants to know,” asked one con-goer, “how do you look so young?” Martel laughed and thanked the guest for his compliment, then added, “I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and I meditate a lot. I think it’s your spirit and your response to life that keeps you young.” This year was Martel’s first time at FedCon, and she is already planning to return.


T’Pring takes the stage


Martel takes questions about playing a Vulcan


Martel strikes a pose in the fog machine

Garrett Wang, Harry Kim (VOY)
Garrett Wang took the stage, not for the first time that morning, to speak about his experiences playing Harry Kim on Star Trek: Voyager. This year, Wang is the new Master of Ceremonies for FedCon, and was busy all morning introducing his fellow actors. Wang spoke about his transitions from acting into writing and working with conventions. In addition to MCing FedCon, Wang is the MC at Trek Expo and runs the Star Trek track at DragonCon. He spoke a lot about language, noting that he speaks English, Mandarin Chinese, and Russian, and that he is now learning German, too. He made a point to ask every question-asker what country they were from and celebrated what an international place FedCon is.


Garret Wang talks about cons, language, and culture


Of course, Wang took several questions about life on Voyager, specifically concerning Harry Kim’s love life. When asked who Wang would pick as a love interest for Harry, he said, “I think Harry Kim should have a relationship with ALL the women of Voyager!”


Taking questions


Garret strikes a pose

Merchandise
One of the best aspects of any sci-fi convention is the merchandise: companies rolling out their latest futuristic gadgets and games, production companies promoting their newest films and TV shows, and resellers offering up sci-fi props, artwork, and more. The merchandise is spread out all over the Hotel Martim here in Dusseldorf, and part of the fun is winding your way through the conference rooms to see what new goodies are out on display. We got a look at some of the awesome new things available, and you’ll get a more detailed look into each one of them when we post our FedCon wrap-up article, so stay tuned!

Star Trek: Infinite Space is the new browser-based, free to play online multiplayer Star Trek game coming out from Game Forge. We got a chance to play around with the game, which is set to be released this summer, and we talked to the producers about what awesome features you can expect. Look for a video update on this product at the end of the weekend!

Gigaset is a company using Star Trek to advertise the new hands-free home phone device, which was inspired by TNG’s comm badges. “Home telephony: The Next Generation” reads one sign. They even have adverts in Klingon!


“Discover new galaxies, Call Mom” boasts Gigaset

We also talked to several of the resellers (and will be meeting and greeting more throughout the weekend). The most unique product I’ve seen for sale (probably ever at any convention) is custom made sci-fi themed bags, hoodies, shoes, and jewelry. Artist/geek girl Sandira Reddy of Canvas Warriors started painting shoes for fun, and it turned into a business. Check out her website at CanvasWarriors.co.uk and look for an exclusive video interview with Sandira in the wrap-up article.

Costumes!
Certainly a spectacle at any sci-fi event is the pure creativity and artistry put into various sci-fi and Star Trek costumes. Check out some of the awesome folks we ran into at today’s event!


Starfleet: brothers in arms


Homage to Scotty


New movie dress


Jaffa kree!


Star Wars girls


Orion couple


SG-1 and Atlantis romance

More FedCon to come

TrekMovie is in Germany all weekend at FedCon. We will have more reports, interviews, photos and video so stay tuned.


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Reminds me of the Golden Age of cons here. Excellent!
(And…1st.)

Fed Con looks fantastic….we have to travel there one time.

Need to add “get to FedCon” to my Odo Bucket list. Looks awesome.

Oh man! I want to know where to get those ST First Contact rifles????!!!!!

Got to talk to Garrett Wang at ST09 convention for a while.. He is a truly nice guy. Apparently he was raised in Memphis and he recognized that I was from little rock and we hit it off pretty nice.. he is truly grateful to the fans and I admire him for embracing us.

Garrett Wang- Live Long and Prosper!

I always liked Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) on Voyager.

Thanks for the report!

looks like a fun event! Makes me nostalgic for the conventions of the 70’s and 80’s here in NY

Great work Kayla and look forward to your future reports. I have always wanted to go to Fedcon and so am jealous!

The universal issue of ill fitting FC costumes aside, those Phaser rifles are awesome.

Love the look, however did they really need a Stargate portal to walk through, why not the guardian?

Entertainment Earth sells the First Contact phaser rifle. It’s hella expensive though.

Wil Weaton & ugly sweaters seem to attract one another, glad he doesn’t ware them to cons ;-)

All hail the king of nurds & geeks everywhere

He admits to it too, often

We of the internet generation salute you

Harry Kim, the guy who knocked back sex with Seven of Nine.

Will Wheaton would have to pull more than a dodgy sweater to outdo the level of geekiness.

Garrett Wang looks like he could be sporting a good solid pair of thighs under those jeans…Just saying.

As for the “Record”, there seems to be a lot of Pajamas and not to many Regular Species. There was a picture of two Klingon Warriors?

Where are all of the klingon Warriors??

I know. They will be in Las Vegas this August 2011.

The wallpaper from Wil Wheaton with the infamous clown sweater is from me…can I have a copy of the picture?

Thank you soooo much to be here on this page with such Pic of me! WHOW!
Its the pic of the “Scotty”!
I do wear it cause the first Actor I have met was Jimmy (he was such a wonderful Person)
Did you all know that StarTrek in germany started as a TV-Show for Children in the early 70s?? And all shows and movies are translated and we grew up with german voices of Kirk and co, lol..
Greeting from “good old” germany.
Josef