BSG’s Back Baby!

Once again, Fridays will bring us new Battlestar Galactica!  How long has it been since we could say that?  Since March 2009.

It’s been a long wait, and I’m hoping not too long. As anyone who reads this blog may have noticed, we haven’t been as active recently.  We are without question one of the largest BSG fan clubs in the world, and yet we’ve barely hung on through this long break.  We’ve been holding out for the one more morsel of our favourite show…and it’s suddenly here.

In a few days we will have a new dose of our favourite epic drama, albeit a much smaller dose, and in a different medium.  On Friday, November 9^th, Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome will make its debut online.  On Youtube, exclusively on a channel called Machinima Prime, previously known mostly for video game content.

The trailer looks good, but with all the fast cuts it’s hard to tell. I see lots of action, but not a lot of character.  To succeed, I believe it will need both.

I have hope.  But it is mixed with a dose of caution brought on by a long wait and the bad taste from “the Plan” that still lingers when I think about it.

Glad Fridays are back to being BSG days.  So Say We All!

The 13th Colony is Throwing a Party

Feel like your planet has been nuked by technology you created and the entire human race is on its last legs, finding new ways to both argue and get along in the vast black distances between stars?  Bummer.  Want to party anyway?

13^th Colony-Vancouver’s Battlestar Galactica Fan Club, is hosting a room party at VCON, our homegrown sci-fi convention, on the night of Saturday, September 29^th.  VCON 37’s theme this year is Post Apocalypse, and BSG definitely fits in with that category.  The con is taking place at the Sheraton Guildford in Surrey.  The exact location for the party will be posted around the convention on the day of the party.  We will have snacks and drinks in the theme of BSG, and promise only that everything we find will taste better than algae!

13th Colony and Fan Expo Vancouver

We were there.  It was awesome.

13th Colony was lucky enough to be part of the “Fan Zone” at the inaugural Fan Expo Vancouver back in April. We got a great new poster (from @jediyves) and certainly found more than a few BSG fans in the crowd. Now, the dates are out for next year’s Fan Expo: April 20 & 21, 2013.

Looking ahead, I think we’ve reached a critical point for deciding the future of Canada’s largest Battlestar Galactica fan club.

Do we go on?

With disappointing news about “Blood & Chrome” staying as a web series that SyFy Channel does not appear to know what to do with, and no new BSG content on the horizon, has the time come to take a bow? Attendance at 13th Colony events has been decreasing since the show went off the air and we all expected that. Recently, it’s tough to get anyone to show up at all. We have a reasonably active Facebook group, but our Meetup page is largely inactive. Quite frankly, I’ve been hoping the club would have migrated off the meetup site before now.

Is there enough support out there to have 13th Colony involved in Fan Expo Vancouver 2013? If we’re going to do it, I would like to see the BSG fans put on a display at least on par with the BC Ghostbusters (kudos guys, great booth!) To do it right, we need to build…stuff. Costumes, props, Cylons. I have some great ideas, a few skills and contacts that could make it happen. But, I cannot do it alone. Despite my title, I’m no Laura Roslin or Bill Adama, and I cannot continue to lead us into the future without active support from the club members. We’ve had a great run! It’s been an amazing journey and I’ve met some incredible people because of 13th Colony. It’s because we hit such highs that I would rather see 13th Colony die than just gather dust online.

Are we alive?

Valorie Hoye
aka Madam President

Where Did Laura Dream?

Here at the 13th Colony, we’ve got a mission to find locations where the new BSG TV series was shot.  One of the ones we’ve been looking for (and thought more than once that we had already found) is from “Flesh & Bone” from Season One, where Laura dreams of Leoben.  Well, thanks to the lovely ladies behind www.battlestarlocations.com, we’ve got the inside scoop.  The dream sequence was shot in Robert Burnaby Park in Burnaby.

We’re heading out on Saturday, May 12th at 11am to take a look.  Here’s a link to our meetup event.

There were at least two other scenes shot in the park–from the same episode, Six & Doral waited near a swingset for Sharon to report on the status of her seduction of Helo, and later on Kara was shot on Caprica before being captured and taken to “The Farm.”   “Cabin in the Woods” shot there, as did at least one of the Twilight movies.  Currently, there is a large standing set for the sequel to “Percy Jackson.”

We’ve got a good weather forecast for Saturday’s adventure.  We’ve been known to venture off trails to find a matching camera angle, so wear good footwear!  It’s still early enough that we might find some mucky bits.

For more info, check out this link from Battlestar Locations:

http://www.battlestarlocations.com/1/category/burnaby/1.html

Here’s a google map image of where we will meet–the parking lot next to the baseball diamond:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Edmonds+Street,+Burnaby,+British+Columbia&hl=en&ll=49.230497,-122.935295&spn=0.002449,0.006539&sll=49.244584,-122.976322&sspn=0.009792,0.026157&vpsrc=6&hnear=Edmonds+St,+Burnaby,+British+Columbia&t=h&z=18

13th Colony heads to FanExpo

There’s a new convention coming to Vancouver, there will be Battlestar Galactica guests, so 13th Colonists will be there!

You may have heard of FanExpo, the biggest sci-fi/fantasy/comic convention in Toronto each summer, which last year drew 75,000 fans. This year, FanExpo is coming to Vancouver for the weekend of April 21/22. They are bringing in a variety of media guests, but the ones BSG fans care about are Aaron Douglas and Michael Hogan –   two Vancouver actors who made huge contributions to our favourite show.

Other guests include Adam West & Burt Ward (Classic Batman & Robin), Lou Ferrigno (Classic Incredible Hulk) as well as Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn and John DeLancie (Troi, Worf and Q from ST:TNG).   Check out the guest page here, and the incredibly low ticket prices here.

13th Colony is one of several local fan clubs participating in Fan Tables at the convention.  Look for us in the main Hall, at the B.I.F.F. table.  We guarantee some highly visible viper mechanics manning the table for at least a portion of the weekend.  Come out and show your support for 13th Colony, and other local sci-fi fan groups.

Let’s help FanExpo Vancouver make a big splash on the west coast!

Merry Frakkin’ Xmas to All!

13th Colony's 2011 Christmas Card

BSG Locations website goes live

Finding shooting locations for the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica TV series in and around Vancouver has been a favourite past time of 13th Colonists for a few years now.  Having inspired a couple of particularly ambitious ladies to take the idea and run with it makes this blogger very proud indeed.  Check out www.battlestarlocations.com  for the most comprehensive centralized source of BSG locations info, with great site pictures and screen shot comparisons.  The designers have done their homework, and put in the hours finding sites.  They’ve had info directly from the source, BSGs Locations Manager Kent Sponagle, but these ladies have put in the hours in the woods trying to find just the right trees!

We tip our hats to them for finally finding one of our most elusive locations – where Laura’s dream sequence from “Flesh & Bone” was shot.  Turns out it’s in Robert Burnaby Park in nearby Burnaby, BC.  We’ve already scheduled a Locations Scouting Mission to head out and confirm their find!

13th Colony will continue to explore new locations and produce new video files (Yes, we know you’re waiting!  We’ve got several more episodes shot and waiting in post-production.) and we’re thrilled to be able to share all that with the new Battlestar Locations website.

Congratulations to Anne & Mo.  Job well done.  So say we all!

BSG Exhibit AND Jane Espenson? Frak Yeah!

A very special event is coming to a city very near to us….in conjunction with Geek Girl Con in Seattle the weekend of October 8th and 9th, BSG and Caprica writer Jane Espenson will be appearing at the Science Fiction Museum  for a 90 minute talk.  What better time to arrange a trip down to the Museum to see that BSG Exhibit we’ve been talking about for so long!  And, to top it off, the folks at the Sci-Fi Museum have given the 13th Colony our very own portal to buy discounted tickets:

For tickets to the Sci-Fi Museum (and Experience Music Project), follow this link for tickets at $15 rather than the regular $18 at the door:

https://estore.empsfm.org/store/index.asp?code=13th%20Colony%20BSG

For tickets to the Jane Espenson event called “Oral History Live! with Jane Espenson” follow this link:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/192821

**Note, if you are a Geek Girl Con pass holder, use the code MEMBERS ROCK in the discount section to get a half price ticket for Jane’s talk – $5 rather than $10.

**Note, the Jane Espenson talk is extra, not included with your EMP/SFM admission ticket

Jane Espenson, and a bunch of other cool guests, are appearing on a Whedonistas panel later in the day as part of Geek Girl Con.  If you are interested in the convention, check it out here:  http://www.geekgirlcon.com/   My husband and I will be attending the convention, so I hope to see you there!

PS>..and yes, GEEK GUYS are also very welcome!!

So Say We All! in San Deigo

For you frakkers who are lucky enough to be going to San Diego Comic Con (No, not jealous, not one bit….grrr) there are a couple of special BSG things to watch out for.

The makers of some really cool replica BSG costume items like the double tanks, ANOVOS, are getting together on Friday afternoon from 1 – 1:30 at Booth 2913 to take a really cool picture of all the BSG fans in their costume gear.  (Interesting tidbit: Mythbusters very own Grant Imahara tweeted recently how thrilled he was to get his ANOVOS BSG Duty Blues in the mail!)  And if you don’t have ANOVOS gear, you can still show up and take part.  When the photographer says “On three…1, 2, 3” you just know you all have to say “So Say We All!” as loud as you can.  And if, like me, you won’t be able to make it to SDCC this year, you can watch the event on Ustream here.

Also on the apparel front, female BSG fans should keep an eye out for the Her Universe booth, where they will be unveiling some new BSG items specifically aimed at female fans.  They will have just 300 of their new Cylon toaster necklace.  Since the creator of Her Universe is Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, you can find her merchandise at the Lucasfilm Booth 2913-F.

There will be a “Battlestar: So Say We All” panel on Thursday morning, hosted by Richard Hatch,  featuring BSG Science Advisor Kevin Grazier and writer Michael Taylor.

For those of us who can’t be there…have a great time at SDCC!

Guided Tour of Kobol

When the Colonials visited Kobol in Galactica’s second season, it was pouring rain, the Cylons were close on their heels and the future of humanity was at stake. In our world, summer is finally here and it’s time for some outdoor events. How about a relaxing but geeky day in the park?

We’ll admire the Gates of Hera on Kobol, we’ll find where Caprica’s Jordan Durham took a tumble, and we’ll go into the trees in search of Laura’s dream sequence. Bring your cameras, wear good walking shoes, and bring a snack. Depending on the weather, it can be cool in the trees. We’ll have to walk a couple of kilometres, including some uphill. Believe me, it’s worth it. It’s a beautiful spot to sit and ponder the future of humanity.

On Saturday, July 23rd, we’ll meet at 1pm in the parking lot at the north end of the park, next to the Cleveland Dam. Here’s a map.

If you want some background on the BSG and Caprica locations within the park, check out Episode 3 of the 13th Colony Video Files.

This event is also set up on our Meetup page.