Thursday 2 April 2015

✧✧Dee☆Con 2015 Itinerary!✧✧

✧✧Dee☆Con 2015 Itinerary!✧✧





✧12.00 – DOORS OPEN ✧

✧CAMPUS:✧
11.30 – 17.00 BBQ
14.00 – 14.30 Medieval Display

✧LEVEL 1 MONO:✧
12.00 – 16.00 Stalls and Artists’ Alley (AA) 
16.30 – 17.00 Raffle
17.00 – 18.00 Shinjori Kempo display
18.00 – 20.00 Cosplay Masquerade and Competition Results

✧LEVEL 1 MARQUEE:✧
12.00 – 16.30 Stalls and Artists’ Alley
12.00 – 16.00 Portfolio review with George Lennox (Cult Empire comics, at his table) 

✧LEVEL 2 RECEPTION:✧
12.00 – 19.00 General information
13.30 – 16.30 Cosplay Judging (enquiry centre/behind reception) 

✧LEVEL 3 LIAR:✧
12.00 – 19.00 Games Area and Competitions (sign ups finish 14.00)
13.00 – 14.00 Sharon Campbell Portfolio reviews
17.00 – 19.00 Diamond Steel Portfolio reviews
19.00 – 20.00 The Finish-up hour (Under-18s must be off the premises by 8pm due to licensing restrictions)

✧LEVEL 4 FLOOR 4:✧
12.00 – 16.30 Stalls and Artists’ Alley 

✧LEVEL 4 MEETING ROOM 1:✧
13.00 – 14.00 Bandursnatch
14.00 – 15.00 Monty Nero and Phil Vaughn
15.00 – 16.00 John Farman
16.00 – 17.00 Lolita Panel
17.00 – 18.00 Calum Laird 

✧LEVEL 4 CARNEGIE SUITE:✧
13.30 – 14.30 Diamond Steel Comics Talk and Launch
14.30 – 15.30 Orion Mavridou
15.30 – 16.30 Diamond Steel Workshop
16.30 – 17.30 Jim Alexander
17.30 – 18.30 Sha Nazir 

✧LEVEL 4 FOOD ON 4:✧
12.00 – 18.00 Food on 4 open 

✧LEVEL 4 AIR BAR:✧
12.00 – 18.00 Food and Drink & Bar (Alcohol)
19.00 – 20.00 ‘Toni Paxtoni'
20.00 – 20.30 Niall Calder
20.30 – 21.30 DeeCon PubQuiz
21.40 – LATE Karaoke Open

✧LEVEL 5 FLOOR 5:✧
12.00 – 19.00 Tabletop games and Photography Open
13.00 – 18.00 'Yugioh' Tournament and 'Magic of the Gathering' introduction games
22.30 – 03.00 After Party with DJ’s Nanashi, Redwood and The General 

✧TOWER BUILDING, BAXTER 1.36: ✧
Film Screenings:
12.00 - 13.45 Patema Inverted
13.45 - 15.30 Giovanni's Island
15.30 - 17.30 Tiger and The Bunny: The Beginning



☆*・゜゚✧・*\(^O^)/*・✧゜゚・*☆

Portfolio reviews

✧Bringing your portfolio along? Thinking about doing animation?✧

Well we have our very own Sharon Campbell, Course Director of Animation at DJCAD with us who will be available for portfolio reviews from 1pm till 2pm in Liar!
Come and get a professional and academic opinion on your work!


°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

Guest Speaker


Phil Vaughn 



Phil Vaughn, the Course Director of MSc Animation and Visualisation and Module Leader of Comic Art and Graphic Novels at DJCAD, will be joining us to talk about the release of his new creator owned digital comic 'Bantah Six', which will be published in Aces Weekly (Run by David 'V For Vendetta' Lloyd).

 https://www.facebook.com/bantahsix?fref=ts




He will also talk about Anthology Five, which includes work from level 3 DJCAD students who took the Comic Art and Graphic Novel module.



☆*・゜゚・*\(^O^)/*・゜゚・*☆

Tuesday 31 March 2015

Code of Conduct

✧✧DeeCon 2015 Code of conduct✧✧


Please make sure to read all the information below as it is for the safety of you and others around you at DeeCon.

DeeCon 2015 Code of conduct



For all attendees, vendors, guests, performers, press and staff (hereafter referred to as participants).


All participants must comply with the code of conduct (as set out in the DUSA Bye-Laws) at all times. If anyone is found in breach of the above, they will be removed from the DUSA building (hereafter referred to as the premises) immediately by Customer Safety.



·      DUSA operates a Zero Tolerance Policy, which all participants must adhere to at all times.


DUSA Believes
·      “The following behaviours are unacceptable:
·      Unwanted sexual comments, including comments on an individual’s body or private life.
·      Comments that can be deemed racist, sexist and disablist
·      Unwelcome sexual invitations, innuendos, and offensive gestures.
·      Wolf whistling, catcalling, or offensive sexual noises.
·      Groping, pinching or smacking someone’s body
·      Moving or grabbing someone’s clothes without their consent
·      Exposure of sexual organs
·      Objectification, fetishisation and stereotyping of individuals based on their gender or sexual orientation does lead to a culture of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination and its normalisation.
·      That any plan of action should be gender neutral in its language and approach as all students should be free from sexual harassment regardless of their gender.
DUSA resolves
1.     To take a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment in ‘The Union’ as defined below;
‘If the conduct is of a sexual nature; this could include:
·      Comments about the way you look which you find demeaning
·      Indecent remarks
·      Questions about your sex life or sexual orientation
·      Sexual demands by a member of your own or the opposite sex
·      Incidents involving touching and other physical threats are criminal offences and should also be reported to the police.

Any conduct that is committed with the purpose of, or have the effect of, violating an individual’s dignity, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.’

2.     To promote DUSA’s stance on sexual harassment and discrimination through an annual publicity campaign in consultation with the DUSA Executive.
3.     To not display images in ‘The Union’ or any related social media2 which objectify, fetishise or stereotype people.”


·      If anyone witness or is a victim of unwanted or unacceptable behavior please report it to a member of staff immediately.

·      All participants must respect each other and treat each other with kindness and politeness at all times.

·      All participants must respect both DUSA and DeeCon staff at all times.

·      All Participants must respect the performers we have on during DeeCon.

·      A responsible adult must accompany all participants under the age of 14.

·      Participants over the age of 15 are requested to carry ID with them.

·      Participants under the age of 18 must vacate the premises by 10pm due to licensing laws and DUSA policies.

·      Vendors must identify themselves to member of staff immediately on entrance to the building so they can receive their vendors pass and table allocation.

·      Vendors must have their stall covered at all times. DUSA and DeeCon are not responsible for any loss or theft of item/s.

·      Vendors are requested to stay within the area of their stall, unless they are visiting another activity or browsing the Artists’ Alley as an attendee.

·      Vendors must not sell any bootleg, fake, forged, copied items or art work. If anyone is suspected if selling bootleg or fake items or artwork that is not their own they will be asked to leave the premises immediately.

·      Vendors must not sell any content that is deemed inappropriate. This includes but is not limited to mature content, graphic or disturbing material. If Vendors feel their work contains such content please seek a member of staff for advice. Staff may request that you keep some materials in a folder or out of sight for younger attendees browsing the Artists’ Alley.

·      Press personal must have a press pass, which will be provided on entrance to the premises by staff, on them at all times while they are at DeeCon in a professional capacity.

·      Press Personal must identify themselves to member of staff immediately on entrance to the building.

·      Press personal must not record in any fashion any unwanted or unacceptable behavior.

·      Press personal are permitted to approach participants but must get permission before recording or photographing the individual or group.

·      Press personal are permitted to interview any or the participants as long as the participant is happy with this.

·      All participants can say ‘no’ to being recorded at any times. Press personal must respect their wishes.

·      All participants are requested to have fun and be safe at DeeCon 2015!


Portfolio Reviews

✧Some information about portfolio reviews!✧



Diamond steel will be doing portfolio reviews for artists, with a focus on comics artists and they will be starting at 5pm in Liar!


We also have George Lennox from the publisher Cult Empire Comics. He will be selling at his table in the Artist Alley which will stock some of their retail stock and also the publishing side with their titles Vietnam Zombie Holocaust and Horror Show both written by George Lennox himself! George will be happy to see anyone who has artwork/portfolio/ideas!



✧So make sure to bring your best work and a nice smile!✧


(ノ´ヮ´)ノ*:・゚✧

Photo Booth information

✧Some Information about DeeCon's booth photographer!✧



On saturday slots at Alasdair's photobooth include 2 prints, and will be £15 on the day, but are £10 for those who pre-book through his store.
On Sunday he will be offering location shoots on campus, which can also be booked through his store.
Make sure to book if you want to ensure some amazing photographs and prints of your cosplays!


*✲゚*。✧٩(・ิᴗ・ิ๑)۶*✲゚*。✧

Guest Speakers

Some info about another of our wonderful speakers!


Calum Laird: Comando Comic Editor 


Calum was born in Dundee, home of Comic Kings DC Thomson & Co, there was always a fair chance that he would end up working in the comics industry. 
No-one, however, had told him that and he took a science degree at St Andrews University in the late 70s. Once he had graduated, though, the comic magnets were switched on and, after a brief spell as a labourer at the firm’s print works, he landed a job as a trainee on Jackie Magazine. After 18 months there Calum moved to Commando Comic, which became my home from home. 
Despite several “postings” to teenage magazines, women’s magazines, a motorcycle title and one of the commercial departments, he returned to Commando in 2007 after three years on The Dandy Comic. Calum was in the fortunate position of taking over from the man who had mentored him in his early days and was delighted, if not a bit overwhelmed, to be doing his best to fill his very large footprint. He is expected to say this, but it’s true – Commando was his favourite comic growing up. To be responsible for nurturing this national treasure is a privilege, a dream come true…and one big responsibility.
Calum has recently graduated from Dundee University with a Masters Degree in Comics Studies, one of the first intake to a new and exciting development at the University. 
Calum will be taking about the successful Comando comic and how ideas develop from observations and experiences to a story filled with action and adventure.


Commando’s Biography:

Between the covers of Commando lies the story. These are always fiction but they’re always set against an authentic background based in solid fact and the author’s research.
But a Commando is more than just paper and ink. It’s the story of a struggle against adversity, a tale of action and adventure, which can be set against the background of the Roman invasion of Britain, the battlefields of Nazi-occupied Europe or, sometimes, the imagined battleground of the future.
The action can take place anywhere from the depths of the ocean or the dizzy heights of space.
Every Commando starts with an idea. These can be the slightest thing and can be prompted by almost anything. They could be born as the result of seeing a piece of military equipment, the tale of an actual event, an imagined piece of dialogue. There’s no formula, every writer is different and may come up with ideas a hundred different ways.
All we know is that the ideas come and we’re glad of it.

So, you've got your idea, what’s next?
From the idea, the writer has to build his story into a plot with a beginning a middle and an end. And characters. Commando revolves around characters. Square pegs in round holes, the fearful, the daring, the compassionate, the cruel. All must overcome or be overcome.
When all that comes together it’s written down as a synopsis, a stripped-down outline of the incidents and the players who will bring the tale to life.
Next there’s the script, a sample of which you can see in this exhibition. It follows a format and contains a picture description for the illustrator to follow, a panel or panels to carry the plot forward and balloons to reveal what those vital characters are saying or thinking.
This completed script is given form by the artist. He gives faces to fighting men, gives them guns and uniforms, gives them life. And, where the script demands, he may bring death to them too.
Once he has done his bit, the words and pictures finally meet up on the finished page.
And all that from a chance remark or observation.





(ノ´ヮ´)ノ*:・゚✧

Sunday 22 March 2015

General Info

✧We have a general info post to share with you!✧

DeeCon is held at Dundee University's Student Union, Airlie Place, DD1 4HP, Dundee and the event opens at 12pm. 

Exhibitors will be granted access no earlier than 10:30AM to set up stalls. 

The back entrance to Level one will be open and accessible for exhibitors easy access to setting up. 

You can also use the car park space at Airlie place by this entrance to unload your products. However if you do use this space, please unload you products then move your car to park elsewhere. Do not use the space for parking for the duration of the event!

There is no parking at the event but there is street parking and car parks in the centre which are only a short walk from the venue.

Artist alley closes at 16:30 to allow us to clear the tables away due to other events including The Raffle starting at 5. All stallholders must begin clearing up at 1630.

The screenings will be held in the Queen Mother Building, which is located across from the union's main entrance.

Any Cosplay weapons deemed unsafe by security will be taken to the side and returned to you as you leave the building. Props involved in the Cosplay Competition and Masquerade will be made available at those events.

No under 18's are allowed in Air Bar as it will be selling alcohol during the day as well as food.
Liar Bar will sell soft drinks and snacks only.

All game tournament sign ups for Liar Bar will take place there between 12pm and 2pm with tournaments beginning after 2pm.

Restrooms are available on level 3 and level 4 of the building.

All under 14 years olds must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

All under 18 year olds must be off the premises by 8pm for legal and licensing reasons regarding sale of alcohol.

Everyone 15 years and over is advised to carry ID with them at all times to be on the safe side.

Any non-student members of the public attending the After-Party will have to pay a further £2 on top of the ticket prices. This is a standard charge from DUSA that applies to all non-student members of the public for all the nightclub events run at DUSA.




☆*:.。. o(≧▽≦)o .。.:*☆

Guest Speakers

✧The Lolita Fashion Panel✧

The Lolita Fashion Panel will be held by Lisa and Sinsemellia.

Lisa is a 21-year-old fashion technology student who has been wearing the fashion for almost six years. Her preferred styles of lolita are sweet, classic and hime; anything that can be worn with roses and pearls!



Sinsemellia, a chocolate-hoarding, shoujo-preoccupied 21-year-old with aspirations toward becoming a magical girl, has been wearing lolita for two years. She wears mainly sweet or hime, drawing inspiration from the glitz of hime gyaru.



The panel will be aimed a little more at people who are already aware of the fashion. The focus will mostly be building coordinates, building a cohesive wardrobe, taking outfit photos and general lolita lifestyle tips and info.





˚✧*Lisa*✧˚

lovinglolisa.tumblr.com




°˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°




Wednesday 18 March 2015

Guest Speakers

Diamond Steel Comics:
Saltire 




DeeCon will see the exclusive launch of Saltire: Annihilation Part 2, the next epic installment of the Scottish superhero graphic novel series. The critically acclaimed series “Saltire” first emerged in late 2013 and publisher Diamond Steel Comics has since received award nominations for Arts and Culture, Best British Comic and What’s On Book Of The Year among others. The series centers around Scotland’s first comic book superhero while the dark and gritty world of the main character is a pseudo-history of the country and its mythology. Set entirely in the landscape of Scotland during pivotal moments from the past the novels are familiar to those who enjoy the legends of Scotland and modern superhero dynamics. Selling out across Scotland and gaining international recognition, Saltire has received wide spread critical acclaim, frequently compared to Marvel’s Thor and The Lord Of The Rings.The books sold out translations into Gaelic and Scots language have also created a new medium for learning within the comic book field.




The series author and creator John Ferguson along with artist Claire Roe will be in attendance at DeeCon for an exclusive pre-release signing one week before the book hits high street shops. John will be introducing the book and the whole creative team (John, Claire, colourist Lauren Knight, cover artist Jimmy Devlin and letterer Phil Vaughan) will take part in a Q & A panel on the new book and all things comics and superheroes.



Diamond Steel Comics will also run a superhero workshop for all ages! The workshop is an event for all the family, where you can create a cool and fun superhero (with help from the professionals)! Come dressed as your favourite superhero and join in. Free to attend, with free signed Saltire posters for all and a great prize for the winning superhero creation.


For budding comic book artists (all ages), John and the art team will be reviewing portfolios at our table in Floor 4 from 5pm.





°˖✧◝(*^ワ^*)◜✧˖°