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It's getting very exciting here at Team Azkatraz. I can tell you that the program book is looking fabulous and definitely deserves some close inspection after the hours and hours of work we've been putting into cram it simply chock-full of helpful information.
We've also had some final pieces of our puzzle fit into place this week: our MPA Schedule is at long last complete, and we couldn't be more pleased to announce Sunday's Keynote Speaker: Eddie Newquist. See the special article in this edition to learn more about Mr. Newquist and the amazing presentation he'll give.
I'm especially thrilled that we've managed to squeeze even more Wrock into the weekend, with a special performance on Saturday night at the Pajama Party, three different bands to play at the Prison Break Ball after-party, and of course, acoustic Wrock in the Common Room Annex, which is now available for sign-up. Also, meetups, fanfic readings, and other activities are yours to schedule now - so put together your timetable and request your slot!
Finally, we're playing a new game this year. In the past, we've done scavenger hunts, interactive quests, duelling, and live chess. This year, we're doing something different and, I hope, a whole heck of a lot of fun. It's also a charity fundraiser that fits with our theme. Check out our "Jail-and-Bail" information below, and get into the spirit with this light-hearted bit of silliness.
Oh - and before I forget: VOLUNTEER! We need volunteers to help with everything from Registration to Meet-and-Greet to minding the Programming and Common Rooms to serving warrants in the Jail-and-Bail game. If every attendee gives just one hour to volunteering we will be incredibly well-staffed and each of you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you've helped in a tangible way to bring Azkatraz to all your fellow inmates. It's fun, it's a great way to make friends, and it's a much-appreciated favor to the conference. So please provide some Community Service and serve your time with distinction!
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON SPEAKER ANNOUNCED
At our Sunday Keynote Luncheon at noon, we will be hosting Eddie Newquist, president of Branded Entertainment at Exhibitgroup/Giltspur, the creative and innovative company behind HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION, which is now open at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, and which will shortly begin a world tour.Eddie Newquist
Eddie will speak about the curatorial process behind the creation of the exhibit, and the fascinating items found inside.
With more than 25 years of experience in branded entertainment, Eddie has worked for Universal Studios on the creative development of high-profile attractions such as Twister, Jurassic Park, WaterWorld, Terminator 2-3D and Universal’s CityWalk, and his exhibition work and films have been hosted by the Museum of Science and Industry in
Chicago, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Eddie is also an industry innovator, holding three patents for the development of advanced show systems and for the design of high-capacity entertainment experiences.
Tickets to this Keynote Luncheon are $60, and can be added to a new registration, or by modifying an existing reservation. As of June 15, about 40 tickets are still available.
Fundraiser Game: Jail-and-Bail
AZKATRAZ shines its spotlight on justice and its application in both the wizarding world and the real world. This year, instead of a dueling club or live chess, attendees are invited to take part in a game we’re borrowing from the world of sci-fi conventions that reflects our theme and helps raise funds for the Prisoners Literacy Project: “Jail-and-Bail.”
In this activity, attendees are encouraged to swear out “warrants” against their friends for several alleged “crimes” – we’ll have a sheet of ticky boxes (everyone loves ticky boxes!) – and pay a nominal fee to have their friends brought to the Azkatraz Jail. The suspect then must pay a very small amount of Bail in order to clear herself of the alleged charges against her.
Now, we don’t want anyone to miss out on the programming Azkatraz has to offer, and we do want this to be FUN, and not a horrible inconvenience or experience, so we’ve established some rules and guidelines to keep it that way.
The Basic Rules:
- This is just for fun. If you don't want to play, no pressure. You'll be asked to sign up and if you don't want to play, you'll be listed as non-playing and given a "Get out of Jail Free" card in case you need it.
- No means no. Even if you are playing, if you can't go to jail at the very moment you're approached, just say so. The officers may not touch you without permission and there is to be no chasing in pursuit (so don't run away).
- The process ought to take no more than five minutes or so, but just to be sure, no one may be pulled out of formal programming (or a line to go into formal programming) and you will not be asked to accompany anyone to jail if you are a volunteer on shift, if you are running an informal programming event, or if you are otherwise scheduled to be somewhere. If you have a conflict, you'll be served and asked to report to the jail by the end of the day.
- Warrants will only be served during specific hours when the jail is open. They will only be served within the Azkatraz public areas (excluding the bathrooms) and not on sleeping floors, in the restaurant, or outside the convention space.
- There is no limit to the amount anyone can pay to have a warrant sworn; however, there is a limit of $5 for any single amount of bail. There is a cumulative limit of $20 and 5 arrests throughout the weekend. You can elect to keep playing thereafter, if you wish, but you will not be asked to go to jail more than 5 times or pay more than $20 in cumulative bail fees. (Remember, a significant portion of the proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the Prisoners' Literacy Project.)
- In lieu of paying bail, you may elect to serve out your arrest with a one-hour volunteer shift ("Community Service"); you may choose to place a Floo call to a friend to raise your bail; you may choose to call upon an Alibi; or you may choose to Floo another wizard or witch who can provide a Defense against your accusation. The Alibis and Defenses will be taken in the form of drabbles (100-word essays) that may be displayed in the Jail.
- Although warrants will only be served five times per player, the Sheriff will continue to collect them on any player through the end of the weekend. At the end of the last day of the game, the ten players who have had the highest number of warrants sworn against them shall be named "Azkatraz's Most Wanted" and will receive a small token of appreciation.
There are a few more details which will be on the website and in the program, but we hope everyone will consider playing, having fun, and getting creative with their sentences. We are also looking for volunteers to help the Sheriff as arresting officers. Please contact volunteers@hp2009.org to help out!
Wrock Updates
We're pleased to announce that Fair Fortune: A Wrock Opera will be performed at Azkatraz! When our own Minister of Magic, Gwen, heard the Wrock Opera at LeakyCon, she knew it had to be brought to cheer up the inmates at Azktraz Prison. The performance will take place on Saturday, July 18, at 10:00 PM in the Cyril Magnin Ballroom and features original cast members from The Ministry of Magic, the House of Black, and the Parselmouths, as well as composer Lena Gabrielle and a guest Narrator.
After the Ball is Over...
Just keep right on Wrockin'. Three bands: The Parselmouths, Marked as His Equal, and Wingardium Leviosa will each play a short set in our After-Party. We won't turn into pumpkins at midnight, but we'll jump away the last of our dancin' energy while the DJ packs up and the hotel clears away the bodies... oops, that's the balloons and confetti.
FOG BOWL and PICKUP QUIDDITCH
 We've had some questions about the scheduling for Quidditch - we plan to play round-robin Fog
Bowl Tournament games in the morning from about 10 AM until a little
after noon, then have pickup games for 60 - 90 minutes while the teams
take a lunch break. Then, we'll resume Tournament play to determine
the top four teams, and finish it up with more pick-up Quidditch until
4:00. The buses will make runs from the fields to the Parc55 regularly
all day, but we expect that the Fog Bowl Tournament will be over by
3:00, so players can head back to the hotel and shower and change
before taking our bus to Wrock Around the Rock, or heading off to
dinner and other fun activities. Our goal is to have everyone back to
the Parc55 by 4:30 or so.
LAST CHANCE FOR HOTEL BLOCK
Remember that as of June 16, the PARC55 can raise the hotel rates, or start charging for 3rd and 4th people in a room on newly made reservations because our room block will be closed.
If you want to get a room for 165+tax for up to four people in a room, make your reservation this week!
ADDENDUM: We learned that the rooms in our block sold out just before the weekend. We're trying to get an extension to allow people who tried and failed to reserve their rooms. Stay tuned!
Common Room Annex Scheduling
This year, Azkatraz will have an Annex in addition to the Common Room. While the main Common Room is for hanging out and socializing, playing cards and board games, etc., the Annex is where you can schedule Fan Fiction readings, acoustic Wrock or other musical performances, and other more structured time. To schedule time in the Annex, contact creativity@hp2009.org.
Azkatraz Day-By-Day: Monday
In this Informant, we shine our spotlight on the events of Monday, Azkatraz's third Programming day. Monday's programming at the Parc 55 continues and we also add on the events of the Master of Potter Administration and our Creativity is Magic! day at Zeum.
Monday, July 20:
All day at Parc 55: Formal Programming, Art/Vendor Room, Common Room
MPA
- 08:00 - Breakfast with Susan Gunelius (at Parc 55)
- Remaining MPA programming at Zeum:
- 09:30 - 12:00 - Morning MPA Sessions
- 12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch, Convict Theatre reprise
- 1:30 - 4:30 - Afternoon Breakout Sessions
- 4:30 - 5:45 - Reception
Creativity is Magic! Day (at Zeum)
- Karaoke - book your 15 minutes of fame!
- Claymation Workshops
- Video - 25- or 55-minute slots available
Back at the Parc....
- 07:00 - Auction
- 09:00 - Podcast Palooza
Monday's programming is split between the Master's of Potter Administration (MPA) tracks and the regular formal programming. While the MPA itself has an extra charge to attend, other events at the ZEUM are available for individual purchase.
8:00 AM: Our special track begins with a keynote breakfast hosted by Susan Gunelius, author of Harry Potter: the Story of a Global Business Phenomenon. In Ms Gunelius' own words, her book "[breaks] down the story of J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter brand to better understand how a children’s fantasy book could become a global brand worth over $4 billion. As it turns out, Harry Potter did not become a global phenomenon overnight, but what factors were in place to catapult J.K. Rowling’s book about a boy wizard into first a cult brand and later an icon? And can the success of Harry Potter be duplicated?" These and other questions will be examined not only in Ms Gunelius' breakfast address, but throughout the rest of the MPA programming.
NOTE: While this event takes place at the Parc55, please note that the rest of the MPA is hosted just down the street and around the corner at San Francisco's landmark ZEUM - you'll know it by the carousel.
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Allow fifteen minutes to make your way between venues. MPA registrants may travel between the MPA and regular programming as much or little as they like. This is an additional track, not an alternative one!
Eligibility: MPA registrants, Merlin's Circle registrants, and individual event purchases
The MPA continues at ZEUM with a series of special guest lectures in the morning, followed by lunch and then an afternoon of breakout sessions on select topics. If you're still not certain just what this special line of programming is, think of it as an intense examination of how the Harry Potter phenomenon has impacted not just the literary and educational worlds, but also those of business and law -- and conversely, the impact of those worlds on Harry Potter. The full list of presenters is available on our website, but just to whet your appetite, this is your opportunity to hear Lev Grossman of Time Magazine, Aaron Schwabach and Julie Cromer-Young of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and Dr. Henry Jenkins lately of MIT speak to a smaller audience. The afternoon breakout sessions will allow you to dig deeper into topics of interest with a smaller group. The schedule is now available here. Or if you need a break, enjoy the Film Festival in the lecture theatre, which will feature a reprise of our vidding show - Convict Theater - as well as We Are Wizards and an abridged version of Ryan Freerksen's Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows - Claymation-style. The MPA concludes with a networking reception available only to you and the day's special guests.
Eligibility: MPA registrants. All other full and Merlin's Circle registrants will be permitted to audit* a single MPA session. Additional audits are available for purchase ($15 per session). NOTE: THESE SESSIONS WILL NOT BE RECORDED and will not be available on the Audio Proceedings.
*Audit: v. tr. To attend (a course) without requesting or receiving academic credit.
9:00 AM: The Creativity is Magic! events are also hosted at ZEUM, although you don't need to be an MPA registrant to participate. We've closed off this hands-on, activity based venue for creative expression to allow AZKATRAZ attendees to take their ideas to new places with three offerings.
- 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM: If you haven't yet seen the claymation version of Deathly Hallows, it's sure to inspire you to get your hands dirty. Ryan Freerkson, the fanfilm's creator, is teaching Claymation Workshops, so make sure to reserve your place soon. The 10:00 AM session is intended to be a workshop for attendees 16 and up, so that your projects may, if desired, address mature themes. The afternoon session is for family-friendly groups and is open to attendees and kids under 16 with their parents or chaperones.
 "Ongoing: Have a band? A cosplay group? A script just begging for out-of-budget backgrounds? Rent time in the Video Studio, where you can use real green screen technology to create or recreate scenes of your own, and take them home with you. You will have an opportunity to upload your script ahead of time, so that you can maximize your rental of up to 55 minutes of filming.
 Ongoing: Are you the next American Idol? Well, even if not, ZEUM's Karaoke Studio can let you pretend for a day! Reserve time to record your own version of "Dancing Queen," your filk about Snape's underpants, or even original tunes. Bring a removable hard drive and take your video home right away. The studio features a large catalogue and we'll provide a thematic set of backgrounds; all you need to do is bring your voice. Bonus points for Death Eater choruses.
Eligibility: Tickets and session reservations available for purchase
7:00 PM: After spending the weekend admiring the other fans' creations, the Auction is your chance to take some of them home with you. Come ready to bid on unique arts and crafts. Proceeds will be shared with Kids Need to Read, the Harry Potter Alliance and our 2010 event, Infinitus. More about the charities we'll be supporting at Azkatraz is here.
Eligibility: All registered attendees
9:00 PM: Monday wraps up with the Podcast Palooza, featuring some of the fandom's favorite online radio hosts in a succession of specially-designed live shows. This event is a great way to kick back after an exciting day, and you'll get to enjoy these podcasts, recorded live in front of our Azkatraz audience:
- Podcast Palooza: Panel - 8pm-9pm
- Podcast Palooza: Spellcast's Podcast Play - 9pm-10pm
- Podcast Palooza: Hog's Head Pubcast - 10pm-11pm
- Podcast Palooza: Hogwarts Radio - 11pm-12am
Eligibility: All registered attendees
Have a question for anyone at AZKATRAZ? Input? Ideas? Or maybe you just want to comment on something you've read here. Write us at info@hp2009.org. You can also post on our message boards or at any of our online community sites. We'd love to hear from you!
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