July-Dec 2017

July-August 2017

What may be the last issue...

Inside INDIEblush Jul-Aug:

6

Cover Stories: What may be the last issue...

Christina Marie

8

Getting CON(nected) Science Fiction,Horror,and Fantasy Cons of CA Oscar Benjamin

22

Thank you for your readership!

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Editor-in-Chief/Founder: Christina Marie Staff photography: Quroscuro, CMYK photography Proofing: Pamela Finney

2014-2017 Covers That Told Stories

Christina Marie, Founder, Editor-in-Chief:

Christina Marie is a Writer, Producer, Director, and Actress with over 30 years experience in the entertainment business. She obtained her Theater Arts degree from CSU Sacramento with a Minor in Music. After working on the stage for several professional theaters, she converted to film. She is driven by the INDEPENDENT spirit in film, fashion, wine & food, and the outdoors. When not working, Christina enjoys camping, crafting, regional wine tours, day spas, and spending time with her extended family.

QUROSCURO

With over 30 years of combined photography experience and the creative minds of Darren Paquette, Craig Fouts and Jessie Rand we work to create a high-end finished product ready for print in magazines, billboards and all other advertisement needs.

Kimberly Lucero, Proofing:

Kimberly likes reading, writing, and long walks on the beach. She enjoys candle lit dinners, piña colada’s, and getting caught in the rain. Art, music, and theatre are top of the list, but she also enjoys cooking, painting, and sensual massages. Snuggling by the fire under a warm blanket and watching old love movies (while proof-reading, of course), Kimberly is a true romantic! The fact that she is “Librarian Hot” is a side effect of proofing INDIEblush.

David Alvarez, Writer, Photographer (Freelance):

David was born in Los Angeles but has made Sacramento his home for the past 30 years.

Some of the events he’s covered this year include Sacramento Fashion Week, Martin Luther King & Cesar Chavez annual marches, The Pacific Rim, Sacramento Horror Film Festival, SacAnime, Sac-Con, Wizard World, Fiesta en la Calle, Concerts in the Park and TBD Fest.

Photography is his passion and he enjoys showcasing the talent, places and events Sacramento has to offer.

Cliff Weimer, Film Historian

Clifford Weimer is a Sacramento-based writer and film historian; his website, inthebalcony.com, is celebrating its tenth year, and he also writes a regular column for ClassicFlix.com. He’s contributed bios, documentaries, and other material for numerous DVD releases for various companies, including VCI Entertainment, AC Comics, and others.

Arlene Barshinger, Media Outreach

Arlene Barshinger is a model, film producer, actress, and photographer. She is half German and half Korean, and was born in Fort Belvoir, VA. She’s been involved in such projects as Fruitvale Station, HBO’s Looking, HP commercials, and worked as an American Express Print Model. She also currently models for INDIEblush Magazine and Hopelessly Romantic.

Shane Maus, Co-Founder

Shane, began educating himself early on about start-ups and investing. Working as an iPhone tech at Apple, he spent breaks thinking up crazy app ideas & TV Shows and quickly became known as “The Idea Guy”.

Oscar Benjamin, Music & Film Industry Writer/Photographer:

Oscar has always lived with the idea that an individual should always pursue their dreams and interests to the fullest that they can. This philosophy shaped Oscar’s career and positions he’s held over the span of his adventurous life. Oscar’s been a mobile disk jockey, a truck driver, a commissioned artist, and more. He relishes his current life as a professional photographer and writer who’s documented a number of high profile motion pictures, TV shows, red carpet premieres and numerous other entertainment events. He continues to enliven IndieBLUSH with his first-hand tales of the entertainment industry.

Pamela Finney, Sales, Features, and Proofing:

Pamela Finney has a Bachelors in Communication and an ABT Masters in Education from Simpson College, along with a Masters in English from CSU Fullerton, and spent many years as a college English professor. Pamela is a breast cancer survivor who has also spent most of her life acting, always dreaming of becoming a full-time SAG-AFTRA actor, an accomplishment she is finally realizing.

April Potter, Sales and Marketing

April Pirl Potter has been involved in the Fashion, Arts & Entertainment industry for over 15 years, working in film, television, music and fashion in various capacities. She is an Actress, MC, Stylist, Producer, Director, Writer, Videographer, Talent Booker and Promoter of the arts. She is fiercely dedicated to inspiring and connecting with others using media and entertainment as her medium, sharing it through Megatude Media. If she’s not on a production of sorts, April can be found playing out in nature with her two dogs Johnny Cash and Pirl.

Rilma Marvel, Fashion Writer, Model & Talent Agent

Rilma always had a passion for fashion & writing. She wrote her first book at age nine. At seventeen Rilma had a poem, “Love”, published in a poetry book and the positive accolades she got fueled her creative desires. In March of 2010, Marvel Model and Talent Agency was born. Unable to give up writing, she achieved her Bachelor’s Degree & submitted a writing sample to Fashion Xchange Magazine where she was picked up as a contributing fashion writer. She concurrently writes for INDIEblush Magazine and does INDIEblush events.

Adam Downey, Your Personal Sommelier

Adam is an expert on wine, beer and mixology. Originally from Austin, Texas his passion for the good stuff has taken him all over the U.S. and most recently The Peoples Republic of China. He really loves a good quote, nachos and talking too much.

You can read more at yourownpersonalsommelier.com

Sabrina Baladad-Perez, Fashion Writer

Sabrina is a fashion design student at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in San Francisco (FIDM). She is a FIDM Social Ambassador and contributing writer for The Odyssey Online. Sabrina is a coffee lover, creative crafter, and proud Bay Area Native. She is always on the lookout for the latest trends and new places to adventure.

Adrielyn Christi, Fashion Writer:

Adrielyn is an obsessed fashion, beauty and music lover. To her, fashion is art, expressed through each designer’s creation. She loves everything about the industry from the clothing to the shoes to the accessories -which is why she loves writing about it. She’s experienced some physical and emotional pain from a car accident several years ago, but has found that writing is now her therapy. This journey helps her meet the most amazing people in the publishing, blogging and photography world. Because of them, she has the opportunity to share her thoughts and experience a whole new different side of life.

From the Editor: INDIEblush Magazine won’t see it’s fifth birthday without funding.

Starting up any business in the bottom of an economic recession is a challenge at best and a disaster at worst.

When I founded this magazine, I had a vision of creating a high-art platform for readers to discover the best in Northern CA Movies, Fashion, Wine, and Leisure. We included so much more and had hoped that we would boost a few careers, introduce new writers, and begin a buzz around NorCal’s Artistic Talent.

I added more team members over the years, including a sales staff, and still couldn’t get the magazine to turn enough revenue to pay for contributions. I never took a dime for myself. Any revenue raised went right back into the magazine for a better distribution platform, software, and promotions.

Like so many things in the Sacramento-Sierra Region, we continued to be underfunded through today. We slogged forward, giving photographers, writers, models, and entrepreneurs chances to shine through an online magazine that was also print-on-demand. We tried the newest apps, best Social Media practices, and held events around the magazine. But in the long run, INDIEblush could not find sustainability.

However, money does NOT define success.

We succeeded in building stepping stones for our writers who went on to find better writing jobs.

We succeeded in introducing The #DYSPHORIA Project to the world and helped raise over $1,000 to fight bullying.

We succeeded in giving models & photographers beautiful tear-sheets.

We succeeded in delivering engaging magazines, that were more akin to art-books, enjoying over 98,000 impressions per month on a regular basis.

We succeeded in providing the Nor Cal Film Festival Guide as a part of Mayor Johnson’s, “For Arts’ Sake” Initiative (without any funding from the city).

I am proud of INDIEblush and the contributors who helped us every quarter or bi-month.

Sierra Region has an abundance of really talented people who have hearts of gold.

The Sacramento-

I hope that someday we may be able to pick up the magazine again and celebrate the next chapter. This issue is dedicated to the staff who worked so hard to bring you the best. As usual, we have a great article by Benjamin Oscar. Enjoy our highlights and covers from over the years as well!

Until then... Thank you for reading. You are why we did this.

~Christina Marie

Getting Con(nected) The Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy California Convention Scene

All Photos and Story by:

Oscar Benjamin

Oscar Benjamin enjoying some fun with a robot at Silicon Valley Comic Con.

The state of the Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy has never enjoyed such popularity as can be experienced at this present moment in time. Your INDIEblush reporter has attended a countless number of conventions as a fan in his halcyon days of the 70’s followed by the more recent time as a professional correspondent and sometime panel guest that continues to this day. This “report card” will draw upon that experience to examine what I consider to be the cream of the crop of conventions that fans can enjoy in the state of California. It is said that “as goes California, so goes the nation” and it is in that spirit that this article exists to demonstrate.

A discussion of the convention scene and its immense

popularity should begin with the phenomenal juggernaut known as Comic-Con International which is held on a yearly basis during the month of July in San Diego. Comic-Con International was breathed to life on March 21, 1970 at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego. It was to be a one day con which drew the late Forrest J. Ackerman as its main celebrity guest. One can be quite certain that the 100 or so attendees to this historic event could not foresee the amazing metamorphosis that would transpire over the decades as the convention literally took over the San Diego Convention Center and the surrounding historic Gaslamp Quarter district. From 100 to over 130,000 fans in 48 years, Comic-Con International can be seen as

Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman) reacts to fans at Comic-Con International.

a rite of passage for fans willing to take on the challenge of overnight lines for the infamous Hall H panel room as well as the mad lottery like scramble to purchase tickets.

Attendees are richly rewarded with the dizzying amount of A-list talent from both the entertainment and comic-book industry alike.

Their mission statement: “Comic-Con International-- San Diego, is a nonprofit educational corporation

dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture”. That is a very lofty pedestal to ascend and place your hat upon and only hints upon what I believe this convention truly creates. The con is five days in length beginning with a so-called, “preview night” on Wednesday immediately creating a fascinated sensation of an altered

Fans gather at the surprise Star Wars concert at Comic-Con International.

reality in the Gaslamp Quarter. This amazing altered sense of reality was ignited one year after the release of Bryan Singer’s “X-Men” in 2001 which one could arguably state was responsible for the virtual tsunami of this genre that is currently dominating box-office revenues all across the globe. The convention also offers daily and nightly events outside of the convention center itself with a variety of screenings, interactive games, impromptu gatherings, artifact displays, industry red carpet events,

lavish Hollywood after parties and so much more. If there is a consolation prize for the individual who could not obtain the much coveted con passes it is those remarkable outside events.

Fans have been treated to some rather amazing and sometimes surprising events during the colorful history of the convention. A most remarkable one occurred after the panel within Hall H for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”. All of the individuals in Hall H where suddenly invited to an impromptu celebration of the main themes of the Star Wars series of films as interpreted by the San Diego Symphony. The event would be capped off by a joyous display of fireworks that lit up the San Diego skyline. It is just one of many events that make Comic-Con International: San Diego the top convention must attend event for fans.

For those who are unwilling or unable to make the pilgrimage to San Diego for Comic-Con International there exists Wonder-Con. Wonder-Con was a convention concept created by the late retailer John Barett who famously founded the Comics and Comix comic book store in Berkeley.

Wonder-Con began in the Oakland Convention Center in the year 1987 and would later begin a remarkable growth transformation under the ownership of retailer Joe Field and famed comic book publisher, Mike Friedrich.

The dramatic growth of Wonder-Con was noticeable in the mid to late 90’s when the impact of the still rather nascent “superhero genre” in films leading to more attendance and acceptance. Field and Friedrich eventually sold their interests in Wonder-Con after a successful 15 year run to the organization that operates Comic-Con International. Wonder-Con moved to San Francisco’s Moscone Center where it would begin to resemble Comic-Con in content on a smaller and more manageable scale from the point of view of fans who had attended

Emma Stone (La La Land) at Wonder Con both conventions. The metamorphosis of Wonder-Con eventually caused it to be relocated to Anaheim in 2012 ostensibly because the Moscone Center was being renovated. Promises that the convention would return did not materialize and for the foreseeable future, Wonder-Con will be calling Anaheim its home.

The cast and crew of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at Wonder Con. Wonder-Con can be considered to be Comic-Con International lite and it is now more apt because both events are run by the same organization. You can attend panels with the same level of star and director power with the added caveat that you will not need to participate in the overnight camping aspect that is very much a part of the San Diego convention. Another factor is the often overlooked booking a place to stay while you are attending the event.

Anaheim has a fair amount of hotels and motels that are within walking distance which is in stark contrast to the Comic-Con International event where one will often take up a new vice as they attempt to successfully book a room that has not already been marked up just for the occasion. Wonder-Con can also be used as a warm-up event to help a fan get used to how to dodge and weave amongst so many of your fellow fans with the same intentions of getting to a particular panel! Wonder-Con makes my list as the second must attend convention on my list of California cons to attend.

In my opening paragraph I stated that I believe we have never seen or experienced the sheer amount of conventions as we are at this very moment. In this kind of an environment there will be many who will succeed in beginning a new convention in the hopes of perhaps being a serious contender. One such contender who brings impressive credentials with him is the legendary Apple Inc. co-founder, Steve Wozniak.

“Wonder-Con makes my list as the second ‘must attend’ convention on my list of California cons...”

Wozniak and Stan Lee introduced Silicon Valley Comic-Con online on April 17, 2015. Wozniak’s vision was to meld comic book, popular genre film, television, gaming and science cultures together under the aegis of a northern Californian destination event con nestled within the area known as the “Silicon Valley”. There were whispers and open discussions that this might be the convention that would dethrone Comic-Con International: San Diego. Anticipation equaled that of the latest chapter of the Star Wars saga or another season of the Game of Thrones!

Steve Wozniak greet press and fans alike at Silicon Valley Comic Con This convention which just celebrated its sophomore year debuted March 18 and ended its first year on March 20.

The impressive debut did not disappoint and may have well been the most remarkable freshman effort in the history of such conventions. The success of the convention can be attributed to a number of factors not the least of which was the fact that Steve Wozniak wisely chose to purchase the rights to a popular convention known as “Big Wow� from respected and seasoned convention organizer and owner, Steve Wyatt. The deal would also allow Wyatt to run the convention based on his years of business management of being involved in a variety of convention efforts. The eclectic and inspired mixture of celebrity guests which included actors William Shatner and Jeremy Renner and figures from the world of science as typified by author Andy Weir added a palpable ambiance of originality and excitement to what might have been yet another convention.

Silicon Valley Comic-Con just celebrated its second year of official existence with obvious evidence that the con was larger than its previous year. Difficult maneuvering in between panel presentations, dealer’s room pedestrian traffic pile-ups and additional off convention events are the most obvious road signs that the con is indeed growing. Official attendance numbers were reported at 65,000 which appeared to be a conservative estimate as those that were there might argue otherwise. The space demands of the convention also reflected growth as Silicon

Legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin at Silicon Valley Comic Con.

Valley Comic-Con expanded beyond the San Jose Convention Center to include the City National Civic and the California Theater.

The future looks rather promising for Silicon Valley Comic-Con and if there truly is a convention that can upstage and dethrone Comic-Con International it is this con nestled within the heart of the Silicon Valley. It will be fascinating to watch and perhaps wager on who will truly have bragging rights on which con will be the most popular in the state of California.

The creation of the photo and signature opportunity driven style of convention can be traced back to 1971 in the state of New York. Creation Con was created by Gary Berman and Adam Malin who were and still are enthusiastic Science Fiction fans. Creation Con can also claim to have brought attention to the economic might of fandom to film studios that perhaps did not take the merchandising aspect of fandom seriously. Creation Con established that actors can make an impressive living on the sale of their signatures and their images being taken with awestruck fans. The precedents that were established with the juggernaut now known as Creation Entertainment cannot be overstated. Berman and Malin would eventually add a rock concert element to convention. Their Creation Cons would travel from city to city and country to fans that wanted the Creation Con experience. Creation Con created the concept of selling seating that would correspond with what you had purchased. There would be no need to que up in an overnight line when you purchased utilizing this method. The Creation Con panel room will not be cavernous and all seats purchased allow for good viewing of the guests on stage. Package rates will allow an individual to have closer seats if they are willing to pay more for that right. These elements and more create a decidedly more personal convention where the chances for actual interaction with a celebrity guest can almost be guaranteed.

An interesting phenomenon that is the female factor in fandom and the economic power can be argued to have begun with Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997 which led to the release of Twilight in 2008. The Creation Entertainment management shrewdly capitalized on this by creating a welcoming atmosphere at their conventions to female fandom. Creation Entertainment created theme cons that featured the stars of Twilight which eventually led to other theme cons that feature the talent of Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, The Vampire Diaries and other genre shows that are immensely popu-

The late Leonard Nimoy at Creation Con.

Ian Somerhalder below and merchandise (The Vampire Diaries) at -Creation Con. lar with women and girls. There can be no doubt that the women who are now more than just a curiosity at what was once a very male dominated scene. Fans can thank Gary Berman and Adam Malin for doing more just going with the flow with which conventions can and should attract.

Buoyed by a statement that proudly claims that “Fans Come to Play� at SacAnime is a promise that can make or break a convention and con creator Dan Houck can justifiably receive kudos for delivery on that lofty goal. SacAnime began life on July 1, 1986 as comic book show called SAC-CON in Sacramento. An extension of SAC-CON was created in 2004 with a heavy emphasis on the popular animated art form known as Anime. SacAnime grew in popularity and that reflected in choice of locations that began in Sunrise Mall which led to the Scottish Rite Center in 2005. In 2009, SacAnime moved to the Woodlake Hotel where it would continue through to the summer of 2012.

A singer entertains the crowd at SacAnime.

Robby Benson(Beauty and the Beast, Ice Castles) at SacAnime.

Popularity and growth inspired Houck to undertake a bold move to the Sacramento Convention Center starting in January 2013.

Incredibly reasonable attendance fees, impressive guest line-ups, well received musical content and an atmosphere skewered to a youthful fan base has made SacAnime a convention not to be overlooked. Aggressive growth ambitions reflected by the daring embracing of the new and larger venue displays a management business plan that looks to future growth as well. SacAnime encourages Cosplay and its culture and at the very least attendees can and will enjoy the amazing craftsmanship and poise of attendees in full Cosplay pride! SacAnime has always embraced the voice actor with its amazing line-up of well-known and up and coming talent that many of us would recognize upon hearing but not in appearance. The recent expansion of SacAnime has also led to procurement of more wellknown talent such as Mark Sheppard, Doug Jones, Chris Sarandon

and

ter ues

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) talks to fans at the WalkerStalker con.

tion

Paige O’Hara.

SacAnime occurs twice yearly and is divided by seasons. SacAnime-Summer falls upon the Labor Day weekend in September and SacAnime-Winfalls upon the beginning of each new year. Dan Houck continthe con that started SacAnime.

SAC-CON was initially held 4 times each year, but now has been cut to 2 cons each yearly.

Bak-Anime is another conventhat is also run by Dan Houck’s organization and that con is held on a yearly basis in Bakersfield each February.

All conventions have a common denominator of being organized and thrown by people who are truly fans of whatever theme they decide upon for their convention. It took the organizers of the WalkerStaker Con to truly create a fan convention funded by the generosity of fans on the Internet platform known as KickStarter.

The WalkerStalker Con began as an idea that arose from the Walker Stalkers podcast that celebrates the popular television series, “The Walking Dead”.

The convention idea arose from the podcast created by James Frazier and Eric Nordhoff and a season three finale party that was held in Newnan, Georgia in the year 2013. KickStarter was utilized and sponsors also eventually came aboard to help launch the traveling convention that would be known as The WalkerStalker Con. It was only logical that the first con would be held in Atlanta, Georgia which is close to where the majority of the filming for the television show is accomplished. Capitalizing on the relationships that were created from the podcast, Nordhoff and Frazier were able to successfully attract many of the actors, producers and actors from the famed show for their first con. It was quite successful and the WalkerStalker convention has traveled throughout the United States and even has landed upon the shores of England and Australia!

The WalkerStalker con has adopted the Creation Con method of business and fan interaction with guests. It is an autograph and photo opportunity driven convention sprinkled with incredibly candid and funny panels as well as creative fans cosplaying as their favorite characters throughout the length of the con. The guests are consistently A-list quality and the more recent cons have featured appearances of actors from shows as well as films. This has widened the appeal of the

con beyond the hardcore group that enjoys The Walking Dead. The photo and signature opportunities are conducted in a very professional and surprisingly fast pace. The talent is genuinely pleased to greet and be among fans and there is nary a touch of a false note that also adds to the fan pleasing atmosphere of the con.

There can be no doubt that the WalkerStalker convention is as advertised-by fans, for fans. There is the thrill of seeing zombies walking around; actors with tales of filming that are quite entertaining and the added surprise of food trucks that offer cuisine for various tastes that a fan may have.

The final entry is the must attend list of conventions is a spin-off of the WalkerStalker convention known as Heroes & Villains Fan Fest. This convention also utilizes the photo and signature driven convention concept pioneered by Creation Entertainment. The Heroes & Villains Fan Fest is a celebration of the superhero genre in television and films. The convention itself is barely 2 years old but its popularity is soaring due to many factors not the least of which is the fact that actor Stephen Amell is a primary interest holder in the traveling convention. Amell’s enthusiasm goes beyond financial interest which is quite evident when he interacts with attendees which surely contributes to his almost legendary social status on the internet. The popularity of the convention can also be attributed to the almost free-for-all atmosphere that the talent seems to revel in during the time of the convention. Attendees have witnessed actors John Barrowman and Neal McDonough engage in playful nerf gun wars giddily running on the dealer’s room and other tales of rambunctious behavior are starting to gain legendary status.

The convention also includes areas where attendees can indulge in zip line adventures, arrow marksmanship and other activities of fun and controlled mayhem. The Heroes & Vilains Fan Fest will continue to gain in popularity as the word is passed among fans that at any moment during the con you can actually end up playing a game with a much loved celebrity from one of your favorite superhero television shows or films. That alone is worth the price of admission.

Michael Rooker(Guardians of the Galaxy) talks to a fan at the WalkerStalker con.

This list will please many and possibly upset many more, but as an experienced observer and participant in this scene I have had the pleasure and honor of seeing how this necessary sample of collected fandom has evolved over the decades. Fandom as represented by conventions is the purest petri dish in which we can examine the current scene and how many of us as fans can also influence the direction of what we cherish so much. Many fans have entered the industry through convention contacts and many studios are being influenced by fan reactions to panels and their presentations so the importance of the power of the convention cannot be left for granted. At the very least these conventions that have been hand-picked by your IndieBlush reporter will give you many memorable moments that will forever be carried within you to share and tell your own tales.

~Oscar Benjamin

Echo Kellum (Arrow) and Katrina Law (Arrow) dancing on stage at Heroes & Villains Fan Fest

Stephen Amell (Arrow) at Heroes & Villains Fan Fest

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