Oct
13
Zombie Con X
October 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Zombie Con X in Milwaukee was 2 days of fun filled horror! This was a con that I enjoyed not only as a guest but also as a fan of the genre. Held in the Wyndham Hotel and Convention Center on October 10 and 11 I have to admit I was not fully prepared for the cold weather, but fortunately it was the only complaint I had over the course of the weekend. Things went so smoothly from my p.o.v. that it was difficult to believe that this was the con’s first year.
The Guests, listed in alphabetical order, bold if I was lucky enough to get to meet and chat a moment with them:
Tom Atkins (actor), Charles Cyphers (actor), Eugene Clark (actor), Scout Taylor Compton (actor), Elieen Diets (actor), David Emge (actor), John Everson (author), First Jason (band), W. D. Gagliani (author), Sid Haig (actor), Gary Klar (actor), Kristina Klebe (actor), Kenoshia Paranormal, Ari Lehman (actor), Nancy Loomis (actor), Terry McMinn (actor), Edwin Neal (actor), Joe Pilato (actor), Scott Reininger (actor),Kyra Schon (actor), Rex Sikes (actor), Billy Tackette (artist), Wisconsin Paranormal Investigators and Dee Wallace (actor).
 This is my husband, T. Glenn Bane and actor Jonathan Breck. The mask that John is holding is one of the heads thats was used in the Jeepers Creepers movie. The photo is not doing justice to the creepy thing, in person it is a scary bit of prop. |
 Scott Reiniger was “the general” in the 2004 film of “Dawn of the Dead.” As it happened the hotel was perhaps not fully aware of the drawing power of a con and the resturante was very crowded. Glenn and asked Scott if he would like to split a table with us so then we could all get in at the same time. Taking us up on the offer we seated and had a nice little breakfast together. Scott is sweet man and was kind enough to let me take a picture of him holding my sock monkey, Salty. Thank you Scott! |
 Another lucky break for the monkey, Jonathan was nice enough to pose for a photo with Salty. The Creeper’s head is there too, and I still think its very, well, creepy. |
|
 Dee Wallace took a moment to walk around the con and visit with the venders. As she did so she passed by the booth where the “Angry Young Men” were promoting their “Night of the Living Dead Puppet Show” by having Josh hawk it all weekend. Part of his schitck was working a Zombie Kissing Booth. As Dee walked by, she too was propositioned by the puppet who worked as hard as he could to get his kiss. I don’t know if the zombie was able to work his magic on her or not. |
Additionally, there were movies being shown, lots and lots of them:
Better off Undead, Dead Snow, Deadlands 2: Trapped, Horrid, The Landlord, Mary’s Friend, Monster of Phantom Lake, Terror From Beneath the Earth, The Tower and The Zombeatles. Because most of these movies were showing when I was working at my booth I was unable to see them, however, I was fortunate enough to have seen Dead Snow. Personally I loved it. It has more story than most zombie movies and is realist in its gore, but truthfully it had me at Nazi Zombies.
There was a costume contest, scream contest, as well as a charity auction, proceeds benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project.
I always enjoy meeting the folks who come out to the cons and speaking with them, I do. And I want to take a moment to give a special shout out to the three guys who came and spent time at my booth with me on the last day. They asked some really good questions and let me bounce some dialogue off them that I had been workings on for my upcoming interview with E! in NY next week for a show they are making. Additionally, a special “hey” goes out to Timothy “the bad” Kennedy. I hope I can do the Facebook thing and we keep in touch.
It is seldom that I spend time doing stuff after a day of working the booth. Truth is that I have a touch of Social Anxiety Disorder. Crazy, I know but in my head there is a difference being on TV, radio and working a con versus going out and doing things in a public place. So when I tell you that I made the effort to go to an event at a con it is not only something special for me but also something so compelling and different that I am able to push through and see it. “Night of the Living Dead – The Puppet Show” is just such a thing. Yes, it is our favorite cult movie done in puppets, and I promise you that if the opportunity ever come about for you to go and see this or any puppet show put on by the Angry Young Men I can’t think of any reason not to go. I don’t know when I laughed so hard for so long. When the zombies are shot in the head they explode and bits of red fabric as well as candy fly everywhere. “Night of the Living Dead – The Puppet Show” is not for kids, it’s the movie “Night of the Living Dead” made a little funny, cut to half hour, and preformed with puppets but is still a zombie flick with guns, gore, knives and adult humor. Here is a link to one of thier videos, its from 2007 and not as good as the one I saw but still pretty awesome. Youtube is full of thier stuff.
I have already been invited back to Zombie Con X next year and even now I am looking forward to seeing it. Visit the web site and see everything you missed if you weren’t there this year and then plan to go next year!
QtR – Theresa