Film & TV
2:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Anti-Heroes and Why We Love Them
Killmonger, Homelander, Deadpool—the entire Doom Patrol and Suicide Squad. What makes one a villain and another an antihero? While superheroes dominate the landscape, there’s a growing trend of fan affection for the not-so-straight shooters of the super squad. Why are antiheroic characters so popular, and how is this shaping pop-culture storytelling?
Moderator: ET Wardwell
Panelists: ET Wardwell, Sherri Dean, John Eads, Tim Frayser
Tracks: Film & TV, Comics, Cosplay, Writing & Publishing, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Gaming
1:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Cafeteria Monsters
Are classic monsters like mummies or vampires being diluted by their many fictional riffs? Or do basic archetypes provide endless springboards for variation?
Moderator: ET Wardwell
Panelists: ET Wardwell, James Hollaman, Ted Pennella, A C Smart, B J Thrower
Tracks: Film & TV, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Writing & Publishing, Horror, Gaming, Supernatural & Paranormal
3:00 PM | Location: University C
Cartoon Sing-Along
Come sing along to your favorite cartoon songs of the decades!
Moderator: EBA Comedy
Panelists: EBA Comedy, Crazy Red Artist
Tracks: Performing Arts, Music, Anime, Film & TV
4:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
I Can See a Trope from My Backyard!
Tropes are comfortable standbys for storytelling. But sometimes the cringe factor outweighs the narrative need. When's a trope welcome, and what do we really need to start leaving behind?
Moderator: A. Lee Martinez
Panelists: A. Lee Martinez, Aaron Bossig, Mark Finn, Sally Hamilton, Rook Riley, Tommy B. Smith
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Gaming, Writing & Publishing, Comics
Noon | Location: Sooner B
Philosophy of Fear
Delve into what makes chilling tales so delicious. Purgation? Vicarious punishment? Just a sick psyche? Exactly why do we want to be frightened for entertainment?
Moderator: Tommy B. Smith
Panelists: Tommy B. Smith, Mark Alfred, Daniel Erickson, Pigeon, A C Smart
Tracks: Supernatural & Paranormal, Gaming, Writing & Publishing, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Horror
4:00 PM | Location: University C
Q&A with Jamie Marchi and J. Michael Tatum
Meet voice actors Jamie Marchi and J. Michael Tatum in this all-ages Q&A session.
Moderator: Jamie Marchi
Panelists: Jamie Marchi, J. Michael Tatum
Tracks: Film & TV, Performing Arts, Anime, Pop Culture & Entertainment
3:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma HIJ
Q&A with Johnny Yong Bosch
Join Johnny Yong Bosch for this audience Q&A. (45 minutes. Seating begins at 3 PM.)
Moderator: Brett Parker
Panelists: Brett Parker, Johnny Yong Bosch
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Performing Arts, Anime, Film & TV
Noon | Location: Boomer A
Star Wars: Start Here
With such an expanded canon, the Star Wars franchise can be intimidating to newcomers interested in joining in and geeking out. Punch it on into the Star Wars universe.
Moderator: Stevo the Gutter Nerd
Panelists: Stevo the Gutter Nerd, La Blanke, James Dock, John Eads, TattedSith Cosplay
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Fandoms, Film & TV
5:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Art Imitating Life, Imitating…
Since the earliest times, we have experienced the world and shared that experience by creating works of art. New ideas emerge from creative expression. Examine this symbiotic journey, as how art eventually becomes reality and vice versa.
Moderator: Jan S. Gephardt
Panelists: Jan S. Gephardt, Daniel Erickson, Dara Fogel, PhD, Chaz Kemp, Tracy S. Morris, Steven E. Wedel
Tracks: Art, Anime, Cosplay, Film & TV, Internet Life, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Writing & Publishing
3:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Build a SyFy™ Saturday Night
Panelists spin the wheel for wacky plotline components and actor combinations, and create an original Saturday Night SyFy™ feature!
Moderator: Phillip Drayer Duncan
Panelists: Phillip Drayer Duncan, Dr Paisley, David J. Pedersen, Rook Riley, Selina Rosen, Craig Wolf
Tracks: Gaming, Writing & Publishing, Fandoms, Film & TV
8:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Suite 204 (Upstairs)
Cartoons & Cereal
Wake up conventioneers, it's time for vintage cartoons and cereal to get your con day started (with prizes)! Open to all ages, first come, first served while supplies last. (2 hours)
Moderator: Joshua Coughlin
Panelists: Joshua Coughlin
Tracks: Food & Drink, Film & TV, Meetup, Fandoms, Pop Culture & Entertainment
5:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma HIJ
Extended Q&A with Jamie Marchi and J. Michael Tatum
Join Michael and Jamie for this SoonerCon exclusive Q&A session as they talk more about their VA roles, share about expanding their current projects, and spill all the hot tea with fans.
Moderator: Jamie Marchi
Panelists: Jamie Marchi, J. Michael Tatum
Tracks: Film & TV, Anime, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Performing Arts
Noon | Location: Sooner A
Fantastic Connections
Stories explore the human condition in ways that help us think. Allegories analyze us and society. How does this work? Why are we so connected with fantastical people/places/stories? Can escaping into speculative fiction help us heal in the real world?
Moderator: Rhonda Eudaly
Panelists: Rhonda Eudaly, J.H. Fleming, Melinda LaFevers, Bradley H Sinor, Tommy B. Smith, Craig Wolf
Tracks: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Writing & Publishing, Film & TV, Pop Culture & Entertainment
1:00 PM | Location: University C
Larry’s State of the Trek: Fan Forum 2022
“Dr. Trek” Larry Nemecek will intro and referee – YOU vent or share your thoughts with fellow fans about current Trekland: the changing face of media, fandom, culture – and what it all means for Star Trek. Comic Lower Decks, kid-centric Prodigy, Picard’s familiar faces, the evolution of Discovery, old-school Strange New Worlds, elusive “Star Trek 4.” All opinions welcome – as long as the emphasis stays on listening and reflecting.
Moderator: Larry Nemecek
Panelists: Larry Nemecek
Tracks: Film & TV, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Science Fiction, Fandoms
4:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma HIJ
My Hero Academia VAs Q&A
Join voice actors Johnny Yong Bosch, Jamie Marchi, Cory J. Phillips, and J. Michael Tatum as they share their experiences and answer your fan questions about all things My Hero Academia! (45 minutes. Seating begins 4 PM.)
Moderator: Johnny Yong Bosch
Panelists: Johnny Yong Bosch, Jamie Marchi, Cory J. Phillips, J. Michael Tatum
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Anime, Performing Arts
Noon | Location: Oklahoma HIJ
Q&A with Johnny Yong Bosch
Join Johnny Yong Bosch for this audience Q&A. (45 minutes. Seating begins at noon.)
Moderator: Brett Parker
Panelists: Brett Parker, Johnny Yong Bosch
Tracks: Anime, Film & TV, Performing Arts, Pop Culture & Entertainment
1:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
The B-Movie Panel
Bad sci-fi movies are a guilty pleasure for so many of us! Why do we love movies that love to be bad?
Moderator: Caleb Masters
Panelists: Caleb Masters, Buck Berlin, Mark Finn, James Hollaman, Bekah June
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Fandoms
4:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
The Hero's New Reality
The Hero's Journey, one of the most appealing narrative structures, takes a person from the ordinary to extraordinary then back again. How do these steps define a hero? How do our encounters with fictional heroes shape our worldviews when we face similar challenges IRL?
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Pigeon, Alan J Porter, Selina Rosen, Bradley H Sinor
Tracks: Cosplay, Writing & Publishing, Gaming, Comics, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV
5:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Welcome to Larry's Trekland Briefing Party!
Come sample Portal 47 and hear about Larry's Trekland Treks location-site tours—visit with P47ers, try for door prizes, get sign-up gifts! Perfect time to vent or ply Dr. Trek with your questions, too.
Moderator: Larry Nemecek
Panelists: Larry Nemecek
Tracks: Science Fiction, Fandoms, Meetup, Film & TV, Pop Culture & Entertainment
3:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Biodiversity in ST: Discovery: Why It STILL Matters in Trek
How does “Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations” play out? Whales working alongside the crew? Humans with multiple lifetimes of experiences? Discuss inclusion near and far in various Star Trek properties.
Moderator: Gwenna Laithland
Panelists: Aaron Bossig, Tim Frayser, Rebecca Jackson, Ted Pennella, ET Wardwell
Tracks: STEM, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Fandoms
3:00 PM | Location: University C
Breaking into the Acting Biz
This is an introduction to finding the right tools and connections for aspiring actors. We also offer advice on how to find an agent, what to look for in headshots, demo reels, and voice reels. We’ll cover where to find classes and ways to avoid getting scammed, as well as locations to find work based on experience and network with others pursuing the same goal.
Moderator: Cory J. Phillips
Panelists: Cory J. Phillips, Take One Improv
Tracks: Film & TV, Performing Arts, Anime, General Interest
9:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Suite 204 (Upstairs)
Cartoons & Cereal
Wake up conventioneers, it's time for vintage cartoons and cereal to get your con day started (with prizes)! Open to all ages, first come, first served while supplies last. (2 hours)
Moderator: Joshua Coughlin
Panelists: Joshua Coughlin
Tracks: Food & Drink, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Meetup, Fandoms
Noon | Location: Sooner B
Entertaining the Climate Crisis
According to the 2022 World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report, climate change is THE greatest global threat today. Speculative fiction is uniquely suited to explore these issues. From the wry satirical allegory of Don't Look Up, to Solarpunk futures, to biodiversity and ecosystem loss, natural disasters, survivalism, and what hope the future holds, how can we explore climate change in our specific media?
Moderator: Tyrell Gephardt
Panelists: Tyrell Gephardt, Tim Frayser, Brian A. Hopkins, Carolyn Kay, Caleb Masters, Selina Rosen
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, STEM, Culture & World Affairs, Film & TV, General Interest, Science Fiction, Writing & Publishing
1:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Crimson Meeting Room
From Corpse Flowers to Corpses: Making Uncovering Oklahoma and Tales Unveiled
Writer, filmmaker, and paranormal podcaster Dennis Spielman and fellow author and podcaster Jeff Provine share the behind-the-scenes process for video and audio storytelling about all things weird, wacky, and whimsical in Oklahoma culture and urban legends.
Moderator: Dennis Spielman
Panelists: Dennis Spielman, Jeff Provine
Tracks: Podcasting, Film & TV, Supernatural & Paranormal, General Interest, Internet Life
10:00 AM | Location: Boomer A
Reimagining the Hero's Journey for SF
What does a good hero story look like today in spec fic? High tech, low tech, otherworldly and fantastic settings aside, how has the hero's journey changed in 2022? What stories need telling now? What's it mean to be a hero, anyway?
Moderator: Rhonda Eudaly
Panelists: Rhonda Eudaly, Brook Bullock, David Carrico, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Daniel Erickson, A C Smart
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Anime, Film & TV, Gaming, Fandoms, Cosplay
10:00 AM | Location: Sooner A
Serial Star Wars
Perhaps Star Wars was always destined for TV. In such an expansive universe of media tie-ins, why not? First The Mandalorian, then, uh, The Book of Boba Fett, then Obi-Wan Kenobi, then Andor. Are the possibilities truly endless, or will we need more feature films to sate our cravings for the onscreen stories from a galaxy far, far away?
Moderator: Tracy S. Morris
Panelists: Tracy S. Morris, Michael Cross, James Dock, Carolyn Kay, Matthew Price, Karen Thrower
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, Fandoms
Noon | Location: University C
Writing for Voice Acting: Anime Script Adaptation & Video Games
What's the process for getting an anime script adapted for English-language voice-over? What makes a GREAT video-game story? Michael and Jamie share their experiences and writing pro tips about the creative writing side of the film, TV, and video-game industries.
Moderator: J. Michael Tatum
Panelists: J. Michael Tatum, Jamie Marchi
Tracks: Film & TV, Anime, Gaming, Writing & Publishing
11:00 AM | Location: Boomer B
You Mean Star Trek Star Maps Are Kinda Real?
Join “Dr. Trek” Larry Nemecek, the author of Star Trek: Stellar Cartography (2013/2018) and a Trek star-mapper since 1976, for more than you ever realized: How much of Star Trek’s stellar layout is based on real science? Where does everything go? And does anyone working or playing on Star Trek really pay attention?
Moderator: Larry Nemecek
Panelists: Larry Nemecek
Tracks: Fandoms, Science Fiction, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Film & TV, General Interest, STEM
2:00 PM | Location: Sooner B
Your Own Away Mission: Star Trek Location Sites
We love the stages and the sets of Star Trek – but those are under lock and key ... or even long gone. But hey, away-team wannabe – did you know there’s plenty of Star Trek out there you can visit on your own? Let “Dr. Trek” Larry Nemecek, host of Trekland Treks, take you on a virtual tour of just a few of the iconic L.A.-area locations used across the generations of Treks – and even how some sites have shifted, like Starfleet Academy and Chateau Picard.
Moderator: Larry Nemecek
Panelists: Larry Nemecek
Tracks: Fandoms, Pop Culture & Entertainment, General Interest, Film & TV, Science Fiction
1:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
“I Love You.” “I Know”: Romance in SF & Anime
Talk about the iconic sci-fi, fantasy and anime onscreen love interests that gave us squeeeee.
Moderator: Karen Thrower
Panelists: Karen Thrower, Charles Dane Clark, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Sally Hamilton, Lyde Van Hoy
Tracks: Film & TV, Fantasy, Fandoms, Science Fiction