Missions Unknown » Worlds Collide

A San Antonio Meetup Group for You

Mission Control — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:58:36 +0000

Are you looking to team up with like-minded fans in the San Antonio area? Check out this great list of area Meetup Groups that may cover you specific field of interest:

Worlds Collide: Fellow SF/Fantasy fans meetup to have fun talking about science fiction in television, movies, books, graphic novels, fan fiction, vidding, media, gaming and art. The group watches Sci-Fi shows together, play games and travels to local/national/international conventions, signings, readings, movies and more! All SF fandoms are welcomed–there are no sci-fi snobs in Worlds Collide. Upcoming meetups include Wizard World in Austin, the Scott Pilgrim DVD Release Party on November 12 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 3D at the IMAX on November 2o.

Doctor Who Fans Unite: DWFU is a non-profit group of people who love the Doctor in all of his various forms, from the classic Doctor Who to the modern incarnation to spinoff series like Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures or K9. The group hosts the monthly Doctor Who Appreciation Night at Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes and participates in various events to raise money for charity in the spirit of the Doctor’s good works. This group is very active and upcoming meetups include a social mixer and a Scott Pilgrim DVD Release Party on November 12th and Doctor Who Appreciation Night on November 17th.

The San Antonio Science Fiction Writers Meetup Group: Meet and talk to other science fiction writers or potential science fiction writers. Share ideas, discuss characters, help each other get great ideas on paper. Bring pieces of your work, ideas, stuff to talk about. There are always big things happening in sci-fi and this is just the group to talk about it. The next meetup is November 2o at La Taza.

A.C.E.S (Anime Culture Enthusiasts Society): The biggest anime group in San Antonio, meeting every Saturday at Bobalicious Internet Cafe and frequently getting together for special meetings such as Cons and Anime movie openings. Meet fellow anime fans for fun, friends and to talk about your favorite Anime/Manga artists, shows and games. Share your own art and fiction! Whatever interests you about Anime and Manga is welcome here. Upcomiing meetups are ACES Studio and Jeeves’ Mech Night 2 both on Novemeber 13.

Whedonists Unite! San Antonio Chapter: This group is for San Antonio fans of the work of Joss Whedon including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse and any future shows he may create. Fans also can discuss any comics or books written by Whedon or about any characters created by him. So if you can name all the demons fought by Buffy, sometimes speak in Chinese learned from Firefly or are just a fan, this is the group for you! Their next meetup will be at Wizard World in Austin on November 12th to see Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris from Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

San Antonio Browncoats: Spun off from the Austin Browncoats, this group focuses on all things related to Joss Whedon’s Firefly and Serenity. The group’s next meetup will be at Wizard World in Austin on November 13th.

San Antonio Comic Book Guys and Gals: A group for discussion and recommendation of Comic Books and other things that fall under the category of Sequential Art. Superhero, Indie, anything that doesn’t fit in the categories of those other comic groups. From Brian Wood to Stan Lee. Upcoming meetings include Coffee & Comics on November 17.

We have more…after the jump…

San Antonio White Wolf Club: A dedicated group of socially-aware gamers playing White Wolf’s World of Darkness roleplaying system on a weekly basis. Currently we have games running for Vampire: The Requiem, Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Forsaken, Mage: The Awakening and Changeling: The Lost. For those who prefer the Internet, they also run a bi-weekly online game for Vampire: The Requiem. Upcoming meetups include Geist the Sin-Eaters Novemeber 12, Werewolf: the Forsaken November 13 and Vampire: the Requiem November 13.

The Cult Movie/TV Danger Zone: This is a group where you can meet other local fans of your favorite cult films and television shows. Watch, review, and discuss all manner of cult, B movies, and TV shows. It is open to anyone that has an interest in the strange, not so well known and usually pretty low budget films. While not all movies are SF/Fantasy/Horror films, many are. Upcoming meetups include the Scott Pilgrim DVD Release Party November 12, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows matinee November 20 and Better Off Dead November 21.

The San Antonio Dungeons & Dragons Meetup Group: Come to a Southern Dragons Meetup to explore fantastic worlds, clash with dark monsters, spin lore and commit heroic feats while having greatest adventure of all time! Southern Dragons is a South Texas-based Gaming Club dedicated to the promotion of all types of gaming. Upcoming meetups include Lonestar Historical Miniatures November 9 and Tim Hernandez Presents: The 4E D&D Eberron Campaign November 12.

Other groups you may be interested in include:

If you know about more…be sure to let us know.

Options abound this weekend for S.A. sf/fantasy/horror fans

Sanford Allen — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:52:47 +0000

Dr. Who Fans Unite will screen the show's "Pyramids of Mars" serial this weekend.

There’s plenty for San Antonio-area sf/fantasy/horror enthusiasts to do this weekend. Here’s a quick rundown:

“Repo! The Genetic Opera” will show Friday, Oct. 15, at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Westlakes along with the Internet cult classic Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. Show time is 9 p.m. and tickets are still available.
Doctor Who Fans Unite will come together Friday at 10 p.m. at the Overtime Theater to screen the show’s “Pyramids of Mars” serial, starring Tom Baker, the fourth doctor. Admission is free, although the group will be selling dolls of Stutekh the Destroyer (“Pyramids’” baddie) and Clockwork Men/Women.
Worlds Collide will screen episodes of the late ’90s TV show Sliders on Saturday at 3 p.m. The group convenes at La Madeline at 722 NW Loop 410.
The San Antonio SciFi Writers Meetup Group will gather at 8 p.m. Saturday at La Taza Coffee, 150606 San Pedro Ave.

Worlds Collide: Star Trek Trivia for Charity

Paul Vaughn — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:35:29 +0000

Mr. Scott certainly knew how to take care of unwanted animals.

Join Worlds Collide for a Star Trek Trivia Game, with elements of Royal Rumble thrown in the mix to raise funds for a San Antonio animal shelter. Trivia questions will cover all the Movies and TV series. The event is July 31st at 3:00 PM at the Lion and Rose (700 E. Sonterra Blvd, 210-798-5466).

There are two ways you participate in this game. You can either contribute $5 for the cash pot with another $5 going to the charity, or you can bring something sci-fi related to put in the pot and then bring something else to donate to the animal shelter.

Don’t worry if you don’t want to bring money. Donations of items for the shelter are gladly accepted.

Items on their wishlist include: Hand Sanitizer, Office Supplies, Watering Cans, Bounty Paper, Trash Bags (large size), New D Batteries, Catnip, Cat Toys, Cat Treats, Cat Litter, Kitten Milk Replacement, Dog Toys, Dog Treats, Puppy Formula, Wet Food, Crates (all sizes), Brushes, Shampoos, Nail Trimmers, Stainless Steel Water/Food Bowls.

Check after the jump for a look at the rules to this Trek Trivia Challenge.

A short synopsis of the rules are below.

30 are split up in 15 pairs / each pair sits at a table (15 members volunteer to asks the questions)
All 30 Trekkies are assigned a number, (1-30) (Number assigned according to who signs up first)
30 draws the number (1-15) to sit at what table. After seated, the 15 members first draws The Showdown question whoever answers the question right first STAYS in the ring. The Loser gets an OVER THE TOP ROPE question to save him/herself, if the question is answered right he STAYS in the ring, If NOT he/she is thrown OVER THE TOP ROPE and out of the contest. After the round is over.

SA Current: The Clash of the Titans Heresy

Mission Control — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:09:18 +0000

Poseidon, the real golden-shower god

You may have heard about the fundamentalists decrying the recent blockbuster film Avatar, now you will have to steel yourself for more of the same with the upcoming release of the remake of Clash of the Titans. At least according to Jeremy Martin over at the San Antonio Current. Martin has an insightful (and hilarious) preview of the religious heresies you can expect to see. Let him explain it:

Don’t be fooled by the movie’s spectacle, fellow believers. Just like the original Clash of the Titans, this movie’s true purpose is to poison the minds of children and other mental feebs with false religion. Below is a believer’s guide to this aberration with the counterpoints to its nonsense helpfully boldfaced and in all caps, so you know they’re right. Scream them at theater-going families this weekend, and let them know the true meaning of Greek Orthodoxy.

You can read the rest of A shower of gold: Release the Kraken on Clash of the Titans’ heresy as Martin hits topics like “Zeus is not a Perv”, “The Riddle of Calibos was Stupid” and “Perseus didn’t Kill Medusa”.

Whether you believe that Harryhausen’s 1981 original is sacrosanct and should have never been remade or you just can’t wait for the CG versions of Medusa and the Kraken in 3D, take a minute to see how the latest incarnation of the Perseus legend will “poison the minds of our children and other mental feebs“.

Afterward, make your reservations for the Worlds Collide meetup for the film: Clash of the Titans 3D at Regal Northwoods. The group is converging on Saturday, April 3rd at 2:00 PM.

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on the Big Screen

Paul Vaughn — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:01:02 +0000

“The Cylons were created by man. They rebelled. There are many copies and they have…a plan”

Join Worlds Collide at the brand new Alamo Drafthouse at Park North for your chance to see Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on the BIG SCREEN, February 25, 2010 at 7:30 PM. It should be lots of fun, and admission is free!

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan retells major events from the first two years of the celebrated SciFi series through the eyes of the Cylons. It weaves together recycled scenes from the series with new footage to reveal a first-hand account of the Cylon agenda, or “plan”. The Plan is directed by series star Edward James Olmos and written by series writer Jane Espenson.

Come for food, drinks and Cylons! There will also be a Battlestar Galactica costume contest! The new Alamo Drafthouse Park North (618 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78216, 210-677-8500) is located off of Loop 410 between San Pedro and Blanco Road.

Check out the trailer below if you still need convincing.

Star Wars and More: The Music of John Williams

Paul Vaughn — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:20:06 +0000

Actual Death Star content may vary.

Shake off the carbonite and prepare to get your Star Wars geek on because the San Antonio Symphony presents an evening of the music of John Williams. Two evenings, actually. You can experience Star Wars and More January 22 & 23, 2010 at the Municipal Auditorium.

The Force will be with you as Michael Krajewski runs the symphony through The Imperial March, Star Wars Main Theme and Yoda’s Theme. You will also enjoy John Williams music from ET, Jaws and Harry Potter.

Guest conductor Michael Krajewski is principal pops conductor of the Houston Symphony and the Jacksonville Symphony. He also enjoys a special relationship with the Atlanta Symphony where he makes frequent appearances as a guest conductor. For eleven years Krajewski was principal pops conductor of the Long Beach Symphony and for eight years he held the same position with the New Mexico Symphony.

These shows start at 8:00 p.m. Tickets run between $10-$80, Children or Students can get in for a mere $8. Droids are not allowed.

Thanks to Peter Gonzales on the Worlds Collide forum for the tip.

Farscape – Celebrating 10 Years Of Frelling Awesomeness!

Paul Vaughn — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:42:25 +0000

It has been 10 years since the SciFi Channel (or whatever misspelling they use now) cancelled the series Farscape, one of the greatest SF shows on television. So to celebrate commemorate, Worlds Collide will be show a couple of episodes in honor of the show!

Astronaut John Crichton hurtles through a wormhole in the first episode dropping him into a weird mix of humanoids and aliens thrown together in a living space ship, on the run from militaristic authorities. The Austrialian-American was conceived by Rockne S. O’Bannon and produced by Jim Henson Productions and Hallmark Entertainment. The Henson Creature Shop did the alien makeup and effects and two of the main characters, Rygel and Pilot, were completely animatronic.

Ross Ruediger from The Rued Morgue has an excellent overview of Farscape, Farscape: A Frellin’ Retrospective, that is worth checking out, for both current fans of the show and the uninitiated.

This meetup is Saturday, December 12 at 5:00 PM in the HEB Central Market Community Room (2nd floor, 4821 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209, 210.368.8600). You can’t bring any outside food into Central Market, but feel free to purchase food downstairs at the various food counters they have. They offer deli foods, sushi, salads, etc.

Space is filling up so reserve your place now. If you have already reserved, but you aren’t going to make it, be sure to let the organizers know so they can fill your seat.

Click through to see the Farscape into…

My name is John Crichton… an astronaut. Three years ago I got shot through a wormhole. I’m in a distant part of the universe aboard this living ship of escaped prisoners, my friends. I’ve made enemies. Powerful. Dangerous. Now all I want is to find a way home, to warn Earth. Look upward, and share… the wonders I have seen.

As a side note, I was excited originally to find that I would get a channel devoted to Science Fiction programming. That SciFi would cancel a brilliant program like Farscape was probably just a poor business decision. Why they would would siffy out and show complete and utter crap like ECW wrestling, Scare Tactics and a host of other realty TV dren is beyond my ken.

Electric Crush: Between The Lines

Mission Control — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:01:46 +0000

Maybe you didn’t make it to the Alamo Drafthouse Thursday to see the fan film Star Trek: Of Gods and Men. You might have missed the San Antonio connection with this film. Check out this music video from San Antonio rockers Electric Crush for their song Between the Lines. This video was shot on the set of Star Trek: Of Gods and Men and presents a look behind the scenes of the production.

Thanks to Ralph C. on the Worlds Collide Forum for the tip.

Worlds Collide: Red Dwarf and Food

Paul Vaughn — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:48:46 +0000

Don’t forget about the Worlds Collide Meetup this Saturday, November 7th. This time it’s Red Dwarf & Food at La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe (722 NW Loop 410, 210-524-9900) in the Party Room at 6:00 pm. The event is full up, but there is a waiting list. If you are already signed up be sure to let the organizers know if you cannot make it.

I’m a big fan of the exploits of the crew of the small rouge one: Dave Lister, Arnold Rimmer, Holly, The Cat, Kryten and Kristine Kochanski. In 1994, the show’s episode Gunmen of the Apocalypse won an international Emmy award and the series was voted “Best BBC Comedy Series” at the British Comedy Awards. The show was very popular in Britain, garnering upwards of eight million viewers for the eighth season in 1999.

The series follows the crew of the Jupiter Mining Corporation ship Red Dwarf. In the first episode, titled The End, Lister is busted for having an unauthorized cat on board the ship. Instead of turning over the cat he chooses to spend the rest of the mission in stasis, forfeiting his pay. Holly, the ship’s computer, wakes Lister several million years later after a radiation mishap has killed off the rest of the crew. With Lister being the last human in the universe (for all we know) Holly resurrects Lister’s crewmate Arnold Rimmer as a hologram in an attempt to preserve Lister’s sanity. During the millions of years that have passed, Lister’s pregnant cat’s offspring evolved into a race of Felis Sapiens, of which The Cat is the final member of the initial cast of the show.

Red Dwarf is comedy gold with a wildly evolving SciFi premise. Check the Worlds Collide discussion on the show for recommendations.

Check after the jump for more great clips.

Ghost Hunting in SA!

Mission Control — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:00:48 +0000

Shoutout to all San Antonio fans of the paranormal and ghost chasing at-large: the SA fan groups Doctor Who Fans Unite and Worlds Collide will be ghost hunting in downtown SA, Saturday night, October 24th. All SA science fiction, fantasy and horror fans are invited to join them.

From the Worlds Collide website:

“Come join (Worlds Collide) and the Doctor Who Meetup Group for the most popular ghost tour in San Antonio. You will get to use some of the latest equipment currently used by paranormal investigators to possibly see and photograph a ghost during your ghost hunt. EMF Detectors, Temperature Guns and UltraView Goggles are provided for the whole group to have a ghost hunting experience!

Ghost Hunts will start at 8:30pm at the Alamo Cenotaph. That’s the big monument right in front of the Alamo. Once you get to the Alamo, the Cenotaph is shaped like a big “L”. It’s about as big as a bus — hard to miss when you are in front of the Alamo.

Go there and look for the group along with our ghost guide. The guide will be wearing a blue backpack, and a baseball hat that says “Alamo City Paranormal” on it. Crystal and Marcella (the presidents of Doctor Who Fans Unite and Worlds Collide, respectively) will be wearing “Nightmare Before Christmas” shirts.

This 90-minute walking tour covers about five blocks of downtown San Antonio. Then they break out the equipment and let us ghost hunt for about 30 minutes–if you dare!!

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 8:30pm
Place: The Alamo / 300 Alamo Plaza / San Antonio, TX / 78205
Price: $8.00 per person

Here’s more information about the San Antonio-based Alamo City Ghost Tours.