By Dave Montalbano
AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com
Last weekend, the $150 million budgeted Mars needs Moms earned barely $7 million and joined the list as one of the biggest box office bombs in movie history, rivaling flicks like Ishtar, Speed Racer and Cleopatra. Fortunately for science fiction fans, Battle: Los Angeles earned a whopping $35 million for a non-holiday weekend. Given that this genre accounts for 50 percent of the biggest box office grosses of all time, science fiction is BIG business.
This might explain the consistent success of Megacon in Orlando, which has been in business since the original Jurassic Park was released, circa 1993. Held in the Orlando Convention Center, promoter Christine Alger has created a marketplace for entrepreneurs to sell their comic book collections, toys, clothing, gaming supplies and swords.
This year, Megacon provides an opportunity to hob knob with Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, and crew mates of the Next Generation of Star Trek, Marina Sirtis, Jonathan Frakes and Michael Dorn. Superman’s father, in the guise of John Schneider, will be in attendance as well as The Hulk’s television alter ego, Lou Ferrigno. The Hulk’s creator, Stan Lee will receive a special honor at this year’s convention.
Beyond selling autographs, many artists will be hosting panels and presentations. Among the highly anticipated panels will be the one hosted by Doug Jones. While he might not be as recognizable as Tron’s Cindy Morgan and Bruce Boxleitner (who will be in attendance), Jones is a respected character actor and contortionist who often appears under heavy make-up.
As part of the Guillermo Del Toro actor’s ensemble, Jones portrayed multiple roles in the two Hellboy movies, Mimic, and the modern classic, Pan’s Labyrinth. Considered the modern day “Boris Karloff,” Jones began his career as McDonald’s mascot Mac Tonight and paid his dues on television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Remembering how hard it was to break into the business, Jones, and his wife Laurie, mentor young people who wish to work in the medium of film. He is an active member of Media Fellowship International, a Christian group working within the entertainment industry.
For more information about attending this year’s Megacon, visit the website www.megaconvention.com. For fans, science fiction is alive and well, and living in Orlando the last weekend of March.
