The Great Escape

At each convention, Creation Entertainment features fan made videos that have been submitted by attendees of the con as part of a Fan Video contest. After my first DallasCon in 2013, I wanted to try my hand at it. It'd be totally fun! I knew exactly which song I wanted to use. Unfortunately, I had zero clue about how to even make a video. So, DallasCon 2014 came and went, and I hadn't done a single thing. Oh well, there was always next year. 

Fast forward to early 2015 when Jared launched his "Always Keep Fighting" campaign. The outpouring of support for the cause and the stories shared by the fans were incredibly moving and inspirational. And I realized that the song I had chosen over a year ago for my still-to-be-made video fit perfectly. With that in mind, making a video wasn't just about putting together some clips because I thought it would be fun anymore. Now it meant something--to me, and hopefully to others who might see it. 

I spent days Googling how to make a video, and weeks putting it all together, playing it over and over and over again to make sure it was perfect. When I was finally satisfied, I sent it off to Creation and hoped for the best.

On Friday afternoon at DallasCon 2015, I watched my video play on the big screen in the convention hall. In front of the fandom. And they cheered! I still can't believe it. For me, making that video wasn't just about winning a contest. It was about sharing the message of "Always Keep Fighting"--a message that has been echoed across this fandom/family since it's launch, and one that I've held close to myself lately. 

And now, I'm sharing it with you. Pass it on. And remember to Always Keep Fighting. 

Fandom Picture Usage

For years I've been living vicariously through others, jealous of their convention experiences. When a convention weekend rolls around, I'm glued to my computer and my phone, reading endless live-tweets and looking at hundreds of pictures on Instagram and Twitter and Flickr. I live for it. It makes me feel like I'm part of the experience, even if I'm thousands of miles away.

Which is why when it was my turn to pack up and head to Dallas the past 2 years, I wanted more than anything to share my pictures with the rest of the fandom, so someone else could live through me and share my experience. 

These pictures (to date, there are over 10,000 of them) mean the world to me. They will be my way of reliving the experience for years to come, and they're my contribution to the fan community that I love so much. So feel free to share them. Love them. But please take care of them. They're mine. They represent all the hard work I did to save the money I spent on tickets and travel and gear. They're the hours I spent painstakingly sorting, choosing, and editing. They're the experience I will never forget. So please keep them mine. They're free for use as long as it's not commercial. I didn't get paid for these, so neither should you. If you choose to share them, leave the watermark intact. Credit me with a link. Show me some love. That's all I ask.