Houston-area Ghost Busters attend ConJour 2011 a sci-fi, fantasy and horror convention held in the Bayou Atrium II March 11-13. Photo by Norma Villarreal: The Signal.
Natalie Epperley
The Signal
Roaring chainsaws, busting ghosts and mingling with stormtroopers were all part of ConJour 2011 held at UHCL March 11-13.
For the third consecutive year, Gamers’ Guild hosted the event in the Bayou Building where fans of fantasy, horror and sci-fi convened to discuss films and books within those genres.
Game designers and developers brought in their own equipment to show convention attendees their latest products.
Full costumes are always encouraged, as well as realistic-looking weaponry, which made it an unique event. Several of the attendees said they enjoyed being a part of the event because it’s fun to dress up in an unique way and to get together with other people who share an interest in science fiction and horror.
Admission for the weekend was $15 for UHCL students and faculty, $20 for the general public. Children under 10 were admitted free.
“Normally this event is held in January, but this year it was held in March,” said Guild Master James Kent, president of Gamers’ Guild and a computer information systems major. “Usually the attendees consist of fan communities as well as close friends and family.”
Guest of honor Jody Lynn Nye poses with stormtrooper TB8171 at Conjour 2011. Photo by Norma Villarreal: The Signal.
Authors and even scientists from NASA took part in ConJour. Louisa Riofrio, ConJour attendee, is a physics major working on her Ph.D. and president of the physics club. She wore a Star Trek outfit and said she enjoyed taking part in this event.
Riofrio, employed at NASA, gave a speech on the theories of the speed of light. She also worked with actual moon samples that hadn’t been touched in 39 years.
Beverly Hale, a sci-fi writer who has written many stories, also participated in the event. Her latest short story “Pest Control” was featured in the anthology, “To Houston: We’ve Got Bubbas!” Hale also runs her own blog.
ConJour provided guests with a wide range of games and activities.
Houstonian Chris Smith took part in “light saber choreography” and said that this is the third year for the worldwide costuming organization Star Garrison, that is based on Star Wars. This is where individuals can actually dress up in costumes and imitate the use of their light sabers from the movie. For more information about this, Smith can be contacted through email at caandssmith@att.net.
Elle Velie, a scheduled speaker on the Costuming panel on Saturday, is a make-up artist for One-Eyed Gopher Productions, a sci-fi and horror film group out of the Houston area. She said that what she liked best about this event is that, it is student run, and it is about having fun and not all about having money to run it.
Simon Nightingale, professional graphic designer and artist of the comics “Dying’s Easy” and “Undeath” said this is the third year he has participated in ConJour as well as the second year for him as designer for the website.
Founding Gamers Guild president Marion Carpenter has been involved with Gamers’ Guild for about 10 years and said that the group is all about the camaraderie and is sort of a social club, that brings many volunteers together; anyone from friends and families to film authors and scientists from NASA.
Gamers’ Guild meetings are open to UHCL students, faculty and community members. Meetings are held Friday evenings in the Student Services Building, Room 1202.07. They usually run from 5 to 11:30 p.m. and attendees are welcome to show up early to play games, in fact many members do.
