Guests for future events

[primenova]

I would love to see Steve Parkhouse, John Ridgway, Barry Kitson, John Stokes attend AA - [i've seen Steve & Barry at Bristol but never seen John's at an event] Highly unlikely we'll ever have Alan Davis attend AA - only doing just 2 covers.

Returning comic guests like to see - Mike Collins, Lee Sullivan, Geoff Senior, Staz [after the last Classics Uk volume release as would have his work in the last 2]

Guests we've never had - Bryan Hitch, all the guys who drew/inked Earthforce [apart from Andrew, Geoff, Jeff, Lee, Stephen who already attend & John Stokes/Staz mentioned above]

[blueshift]

BOB BUDIANSKY

I don't care if he barely remembers anything, he's the flippin' creator of Transformers!

[The Huff]

Obviously Bob B!

I'd love to see Tom Kenny (Animated Starscream & film Wheelie) but mainly because I'm a Spongebob fan.

Richard Newman (Rhinox & Vecotr Prime) - mainly to get him to sign my Dvds.

[The Huff]

Oh and some presence from Hasbro UK who has some knowledge be it past, present or for the future.

[Bogatan]

Bob Budianski is a must.

As for the rest
Kevin Michael Richardson would be great if only because hearing him go from Cleveland Jr to Bulkhead is a thing to behold. The fact he was in Lilo and Stitch is only a slight factor.

Gina torres (I can dream), Adam Baldwin and Alan Tudyk just because. And Fillion if he really is appearing in Prime next year.

[primenova]

I was sticking with UK guys first. Are there any voice actors who are UK based - know we have UK voice actors who have moved over to US.

It would be great if we got Bob over - just for a panel with Simon & Bob - talking about how Simon spent time fitting in his stories.

But vote for Richard Newman on voice actors. {only getting BM 2 DVD cover boxes & BW video 4 & those 2 series 3 DVD's signed as I am waiting out in hope for UK release BW series 1,2 DVD so I'm not taking out the covers for the videos - then Ultimate Guide & Vault}

[Andy Turnbull]

Bob is the one guest I want more than anyone else.

Andy

[Philip Ayres]

Simce we've mentioned lots of artists, a reminder for those who don't venture in there that we're doing Top 5 Transformers Artists in our top 5 artists thread this week. Come by and vote.

I haven't yet...... and so far who I think my number one choice will be hasn't had a single vote!

[blueshift]

Aug 9, 2012 14:33:45 GMT Andy Turnbull said:

Bob is the one guest I want more than anyone else.

Andy

I know a while back someone was all "oh people won't know who he is, voice actors are much better" but he's the guy who created Transformers! And he barely ever attends conventions, at least to my knowledge. If you can get him and publicise it properly that would be immense!

[Philip Ayres]

I'd love to hear Bob speak. I'd pay money for that.

How old is he now?

[Bogatan]

He must be getting on a bit, having been involved with Marvbel UK in the 70s but didnt look that old when he was at botcon a few years ago. He might not have been able to remember everything as clearly as would have been hoped, but seems to have files of records and drafts which showed changes in the early stages of characters and plot stuff. It was the general goings on about setting up the line that was more interesting though from what I remember.

[Nigel]

Bob tops my list.

Voice-wise, I'd love Susan Blu to attend, because of the variety of Transformers series she's worked on over time, both as actor and director.

(I suppose Leonard Nimoy is nothing but a pipe dream now.)

[Philip Ayres]

Voice artists have never really interested me.... I think the only one I'd like to meet would be Blu Mankuma as he had such a vocal presence in Beast Wars.

[The Doctor]

No disrespect to the various comic folk, but I've seen them a dozen times over at TF cons and other events and voice actors are cool and all (but not a big draw for me personally) but the remaining 'holy grail' Transformers guest for me is Bob Budiansky. I don't care what he remembers or not. I am usually quite shy about chatting to guests but I would love to shake his hand, buy some tat off and him and thank him for his work.

I'd also like to see Dan Reed, if he could ever be found. Or any of the toy designers who have worked for Hasbro, Takara/TOMY. That's an angle that UK conventions have missed out on, which is a shame. Would add extra value and something different. I'd just like to hear these folk talk about their work.

I couldn't give a toss about any current 'official' corporate Hasbro presence though.

-Ralph

[Deleted]

We have got rough guest plans / confirmed guests in place for the next four years at the moment and while we have several additional guests confirmed for 2013 already that we haven't announced, we are making a lot of long-term plans right now.

One thing I can't stress enough though is the importance of early registration to us. The quicker people book up, the sooner we hit break even point with our budget, and once we do that, we can look to offer more for the convention including additional gifts, increasing the page count for the magazine and comic and bringing additional guests to the convention.

In the case of overseas guests, this can take time to arrange and negotiate with costs so if you want to see these guys then the best way to help us to make it happen is to get your bookings in early each year!

[Nigel]

I would also like to see someone who worked on the films, in whatever capacity. The Mark Ryan video link was one of my all-time favourite AA moments, because we haven't had a film presence.

[primenova]

Maybe someone from Hasbro who was involved in the toys back stories for the Uk line - when we got extra mini comics before G2. I don't think anyone can find out who they are.

But this thread isn't just for AA - can be any event if anyone is looking [we only have the one convention thread on here]

{oh - just noticed the meet/convention up top]

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Bob Budiansky is the one thing that could get me to attend a TF convention.

Martin

[blueshift]

Given that the cartoon was always secondary to the comics in the UK, the voice actors aren't as big a draw to me as other guests, though I did really enjoy Greg Berger the year he was there.

I've got to say though, I was really confused at the massive buildup at AA given to the third voice actor chap who was revealed. I'd have thought Neil Kaplin and the voice of G1 Bumblebee (both excellent choices btw) would have been accorded far more weight than the guy who is Prime Starscream.

That said, other people in the room seemed to know who he was, so maybe I'm in the minority.

Seriously though, I think Bob Budiansky would be the only guest which would really get me excited about, maybe Peter Cullen and Frank Welker a few steps down.

[Benn]

The Steve Blum excitement I attribute to the amount of Anime/Wolverine fans in the room.

[legios]

Aug 9, 2012 19:10:18 GMT Benn said:

The Steve Blum excitement I attribute to the amount of Anime/Wolverine fans in the room.

He has been in rather an impressively long list of things. (Although until just now I had forgotten he was Major Nexx in Mac II and didn't realise that he was the late Capt Mitchell from the Ghost Recon games)....

I would have to say that Bob Budiansky would have to be my guest of choice as well - given his role in the early development of Transformers as a fictional entity he qualifies as virtually a primordial architect of it all, giving shape to the sentient gears and levers like the first Quintesson overseer. It would just be wonderful to hear him talk about the early years and to get the chance to give him a resounding ovation for his role in making Transformers what it is.

Karl

[The Doctor]

I will admit to feeling completely flat at the Steve Blum announcement, but that's more down to not following Prime. I was more enthused about the Bumblebee and RID Prime announcements as I remember them being engaging guests in previous years. But then the issue of which guests intrigue me is always down to personal interests. I had no interest in Gregg Berger prior to his first AA appearance but took to him a great deal at the event.

-Ralph

[Jaymz]

Aug 9, 2012 20:01:31 GMT The Doctor said:

I will admit to feeling completely flat at the Steve Blum announcement, but that's more down to not following Prime.

Same here, wasn't entirely sure who he was at first, but looking him up on the tfwiki he voiced Dark Scream in RiD, so hopefully he'll shout "Centre Laser" at some point.

Budiansky would be my favoured guest, but I wouldn't mind seeing some of the current TF artists either, like Milne or Guidi.

[Andy Turnbull]

Aug 9, 2012 18:31:11 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

Bob Budiansky is the one thing that could get me to attend a TF convention.

Martin

Funnily enough when I was canvassing opinions on guests it was remarked upon by a couple of people that it would be a selling point for you!

Andy

[primenova]

He also did Fortmax/Cerebros & WARS in RID

[primenova]

I hope AA crew have enquired for Bob for 2014 to tie in with 30 years. But expect Botcon have already got him for their event - but that should be 2 months before so Bob should be free & hopefully he'll like to meet us over here. [don't know date for botcon 2014 - but know we'll hate the comic they produce, but i'll still be trying to buy it - still need the 2008, 2011, 2012 ones. ]

[The Doctor]

John Barber would be a good guest, I think. I'd like to hear from the comic's editor.

-Ralph

[glaug]

I don't attend conventions for the guests, signings, etc, so the lack of interest in Steve Blum doesn't put me off attending next year or anything, but I guess it;s nice to get a current voice actor?

[primenova]

If Bob could be secured for 2014 - then this could be done on the firday night.

script reading of Bob's first written issue #5

so cast -

GB Blackrock, Josie Beller, Buster,
Megatron, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Shockwave,


We can do the same with Simon the year after - but need to find if #13 was written before Annual #1. Jeff Anderson did the annual #1 before #18 which came out 2 months before the annual.

[Deleted]

Aug 9, 2012 20:01:31 GMT The Doctor said:

But then the issue of which guests intrigue me is always down to personal interests. I had no interest in Gregg Berger prior to his first AA appearance but took to him a great deal at the event.

-Ralph

I remember people saying the same thing to me about a lot of the guests that we have booked over the last 8 years ever since I've been bringing voice actors to the convention. Believe me, I spent a LOT of time making sure these guys are right for Auto Assembly...!

You'd be surprised who I've turned down because I didn't think they'd fit in or wouldn't be entertaining or the sort of person that's worth meeting. For our guests, it's not always the biggest star or most active TF personality that's going to make the best guest. When he came over in 2004 a lot of people hadn't seen RiD but Wally Wingert was still a hit because of who he was, how involved he was with the convention, and the sheer range of other work he talked about.