TwiCon Forums

I am wondering how this is going to affect Twicon:



Summit Entertainment and Creation Entertainment to Produce the Official TWILIGHT Fan Conventions

Los Angeles, CA August 17, 2009 – Summit Entertainment and Creation Entertainment today announced a partnership to produce a series of Official TWILIGHT Fan Conventions over the next three years.

The unprecedented success of both the Twilight novels by Stephenie Meyer and the feature film adaptation of the first book has created a worldwide following of passionate fans who are eagerly awaiting the release of THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, the second movie in Summit’s TWILIGHT film franchise, which will be released theatrically in North America on November 20, 2009.

The Official TWILIGHT Fan Conventions will offer attendees the unique opportunity to involve themselves in all aspects of THE TWILIGHT SAGA. The weekend gatherings will feature on-stage appearances by TWILIGHT celebrities, exclusive footage screenings, panel discussions, TWILIGHT themed parties, musical performances, costume and trivia competitions, auctions, autographing, merchandising, and photo opportunities. The major online TWILIGHT fan websites, including www.twilightlexicon.com and www.twilightMOMS.com, will be participating with special presentations at stops on the convention tour.

Erin Ferries, VP of Creation Entertainment, said, “It is a delight to be involved with the tremendous excitement that surrounds THE TWILIGHT SAGA. The fans are incredibly knowledgeable about the property and have used the story as a springboard for their own creativity. The Official TWILIGHT Fan Conventions will allow attendees the chance to show off their TWILIGHT inspired artwork, writing, costumes, filmmaking, and music with thousands of their fellow fans. While the conventions will offer fans the chance to cheer for their favorite actors they are equally about gathering with like-minded folks and forming friendships based on a common devotion. We can’t wait to bring some of the magic of TWILIGHT live to cities around the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom!”

“The fans of THE TWILIGHT SAGA continue to be incredibly supportive of the film franchise and we wanted to find a way to allow them to immerse themselves in the films and the characters in a much more interactive setting,” said Nancy Kirkpatrick, President of Worldwide Marketing of Summit Entertainment. “The Official TWILIGHT Fan Conventions will offer incredible opportunities to get up close to the characters which they have grown to love.”


Official TWILIGHT Fan Conventions around the country with more then 20 stops have already been announced including New Jersey, Chicago, Miami, Seattle, Nashville, San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Arlington, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Boston, Toronto and Portland.

More information on any of these weekend events can be found at www.twilightconvention.com.



Any thoughts?!?!?!

well twicon posted an update about this on their facebook page. From what I read they don't seem too worried. They are still planning Vegas and Toronto for next summer.

but as for the fans....i don't know...twicon is going to have some MAJOR competition

I wonder if it is going to affect which stars go to Twicon?

In my mind Twicon and Creation are 2 totally different conventions. I've never been to one of Creation's twi-tours, but based on the event info posted on their website and what I've been told by friends this is the conclusion I've drawn.

To me, the Creation conventions seem solely dedicated to the Twilight movie franchise, and I believe they will be even more so now that they have partnered with Summit. I love the movie and the actors as much as any of us, but the books are what started my love of Twilight. If I were to go to one of the Creation conventions it would be to meet the cast, and for that reason only. Twicon offered not only the chance to meet those involved with the film, but to discuss our love of the books and the many different aspects of the world Stephenie Meyer created. The panels and various break-out sessions, everything from character discussions to fanfiction to the biology of Twilight, were like nothing offered by Creation. In my opinion Twicon also did a much better job of involving the fandom. Being able to attend a convention is a rare opportunity for me, and as a result I get most of my Twilight fixes from youtube and Twilight fansites. Getting to meet some of the webmasters and twitubers at con was a major highlight, and again, isn't something that I would get to do at a Creation event. Getting to do all that in addition to meeting the cast was what really made Twicon worth it for me.

I do eventually want to try a twi-tour, but I'm sure most of the time will be dedicated to discussing on the cast's on-set experiences and which actor makes the hottest vampire (which I do not have a problem with, believe me ) However, in my mind, Twicon was able to offer something different than the cookie-cutter conventions put on every month or so by Creation/Summit.

<3 Catie

VmprFreak wrote:I wonder if it is going to affect which stars go to Twicon?

it might affect depending on what restrictions Summit gives the actors in regards to the different conventions ... so we'll see what happens!

ErwinG wrote:it might affect depending on what restrictions Summit gives the actors in regards to the different conventions ... so we'll see what happens!

Ugh, i hope not!

To address the announcement regarding Summit's exclusive contract with Creation, we aren't going anywhere (and no, they aren't buying us out or anything of the sort). The post above, pointing out a few distinct differences, is a perfect example of how we'll be offering something different than Creation. We aren't an autographing convention. We respect that's what they are doing, but it's not our goal. As someone stated above, we want to maintain a well-rounded program that also focuses on the literary side of the series. In addition, we offer breakouts and other exciting programming that you can't get anywhere else. We pride ourselves in offering something unique, and you won't see us trying to conform to what Creation is doing. In fact, we'll be making some announcements in the near future that set us even further apart from what they are doing. We'll be offering some new things that they definitely have never offered before, and in fact, that no con has ever offered before. Along with our improved registration company (we are working with a registration company who handles all aspects of the process, including on-site registration check-in), volunteer training program and logistics team, we know our convention will strike the right balance with Creation. We aren't trying to compete with them, even though I can honestly say they've definitely openly taken a few jabs at us. We respect them and wish them much success...we simply don't plan on offering what they offer. We want our con to be the destination con and the vacation people plan for, save up for and spend all weekend enjoying and documenting. We don't want to do city touring, or focus our con on celebrity autographing. Sure, we'll have celebs there. But we'll have so much more. Like I said, Creation has been around for a long time. Their pricing is in some cases lower, and in some cases higher, than our 4 day con. Fans will be able to choose which style of convention is for them. We know that our convention announcements coming up will really excite our fans and will further set us apart as the innovative and creative convention planners for 2010.

Regards,

Becky Scoggins

Becky,

I wish you all the best, but speaking as someone who has over 35 years of
fan and professional convention planning experience and a deep
understanding of how Creation operates, you will have lots of problems
getting guests.

Creation tends to take over a successful franchise, like Star Trek, and
runs fan conventions into the ground by offering actors and other media
guests large amounts of money and a contract that forbids the guests from
appearing at any other conventions within a certain time frame around
their event, usually six months. If they are planning a Toronto
convention around your time frame, you can be sure they will offer your
intended guests much more money than you can afford and will tie them up
so that they will not be legally allowed to attend your event, even for
free. They purposely schedule against fan events in order to maximize
attendance at their events and leaves the fan events high and dry.

I've seen this happen again and again, and since Creation is in it for
profit and they have mega $$$ to play with and now the official support
of Summit, I would say your chances of getting any major guests at all
are nil. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I know them a heck
of a lot better than your organization seems to. I know first hand the stuff
they've done in the past. You have about a snowball's chance in hell of
succeeding against them.

I perfectly agree that many of Creation's tactics have been....less than professional. However, many of the cast refuse to sign exclusivity contracts with any con anymore. It's too barbaric of a thing to ask anyone from the Twilight franchise in particular. Although I can nod my head in agreement that they offer them large sums of money, we have personal friendships and relationships with the cast and their agents. They've already told us they would definitely come back and yes, their appearance fees have all gone up across the board due to the popularity of the franchise. We aren't trying to succeed against Creation; we aren't competing with them. They are free to do what they will, and so are we. We know what they are doing; we know they are scheduling things, contracting fandom guests, etc. so that other fan cons can't have them. Thankfully, the fandom guests, such as the Hillywood Show, know better than to sign exclusivity contracts that prohibit other appearances. 10 years ago, or for older fandoms such as Star Trek, it may have been done. Now, the cast and other guests know that it limits their income and PR potential by closing other avenues of opportunity by promising an exclusive contract with Creation. Sure, they throw money at them, but I believe you underestimate the love of the fans these actors have. We offer them their going rate and happily pay it, but they join us because we offer something different for the fans and the actors support that. Creation offers them a multi-city tour with income potential that could triple what we offer, but our event has given them exposure in a much more broadbrush and mainstream way. There are pros and cons to holding an event for a franchise that Creation is trying to monopolize. But industry insiders, which we have relationships with, aren't fooled by exclusivity given by Summit. Sure, Creation will get photos and images from Summit, and the cast will tour with them, but that doesn't mean they won't make other appearances and it doesn't mean that Twilight as a series or as a fandom now belongs to Creation. They focus on a certain demographic of movie lovers....we focus on fans of Twilight in general. I know for a fact that many of the cast touring with Creation aren't on binding contracts of any sort other than the dates selected for the tour. I hope that clears things up! We're excited to have the cast join us again, as are they, and I believe that in order to respond to Creation's attempt to rule the world, so to speak, we'll be making some exciting announcements that will set us further apart.

Thanks!

Becky Scoggins

Becky do u have an idea when registrations will go on sale? do you guys have a particular month in mind?