With 13 SVA faculty and alumni in attendance as vendors, speakers, or both, this Flame Con is set to inspire, encourage and reinforce current and future artists. [SVA NYC]
Geeks OUT Board Interview #1 – Steve Gianaca
We here at Geeks OUT want you, the reader, to know more about who we are. To help with that, we’ve started interviewing members of our board so you know what makes us tick. Here’s our first interview!
Who are you and what do you do for Geeks OUT?
I’m Steve Gianaca. I’m the Vice President of Geeks OUT and current chair of Flame Con.
How did you first get involved?
I found Geeks OUT while visiting PAX East in Boston almost 6 years ago. I found out they were local to NYC and emailed to get involved. I had a “small world” moment when my coworker emailed me at home shortly afterward. I thought there was a work emergency, but it turned out my coworker of two years in NYC was actually the founder of the non-profit I found in Boston, Geeks OUT. I’ve been involved ever since.
What makes you geek out?
So much! I love comics, fantasy and sci-fi of course, but my biggest nerd-hobby is gaming. Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, Pokemon, Pikmin, Mortal Kombat, Katamari… the list goes on and on and on.
What fictional character had the most inspirational story arc to you and why?
Tohru Honda from Fruits Baskets comes to mind. In a world where others may intimidate you, the strength to compete can be found in kindness, compassion and growth.
What book/tv show/comic/etc are you enjoying now?
I’m currently diving down the rabbit hole and playing the original Dragon Quest games before 11 comes out on Switch.
What are your favorite geeky past times?
My yearly sojourn to PAX East is one of my favorite palette-cleansers from the stresses of life.
What’s Something underrated you think could use a shout out?
Local gamer meetups! I personally love the low-key atmosphere at Rockbar in NYC every Saturday from 3-9.
Who do you ship?
Axel and Roxas from Kingdom Hearts. Or Luxord and anyone Luxord is currently talking to, from Kingdom Hearts. He’s too swarthy for his own good.
What fictional setting would you most want to live in?
Send me to the Pokemon world please!
Who would your bff be?
In the pokemon world? I’d love a clique with Cynthia and Wallace.
What was your introduction to geekdom?
When I was in preschool, my older brother would sometimes setup my dad’s ancient and barely-working Intellivision. It was my first exposure to video games, quickly followed by the NES and Gameboy.
We hope you dug this interview and hope to see a bunch of you at Flame Con this weekend!
The Geeks OUT Podcast: Thots on the 90’s
In this week’s super sized episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin and Lynaé DePriest preview some of the things they’re looking forward to seeing at Flame Con this year, discuss their 90’s nostalgia with the new trailer for The Addams Family, and celebrate the trans storyline in Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling in This Week in Queer.
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FLAME CON BIG OPENING
KEVIN: Panel: We’re Here, But Not Just Queer Performance: Spellbound Strings, Panfandom (Queer &) Workshop: Cosplay for Beginners Demo: Xbox Adaptive Controller Special Guest: Tana Ford, DJ Kirkland Vendor: Astonishing Queer Tales, Jennie Wood, Doable Guys
LYNAÉ: Panel: Leveraging Labels Performance: Bonfire, Cosplay Contest Workshop: Take Pride: Create Your Own Flag Demo: Intro to Smash Bros. Special Guest: Food 4 Thot Vendor: Night Owl Designs
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DOWN AND NERDY
KEVIN: Detective Pikachu, Two Sentence Horror Stories, Young Justice, Super Mario U Deluxe
LYNAÉ: Rocko’s Modern Life, American Ninja Warrior
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STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER
ABC announces The Little Mermaid Live
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THIS WEEK IN QUEER
Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling has a transgender storyline
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CLIP OF THE WEEK
New trailer for The Addams Family animated movie
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THE WEEK IN GEEK
MOVIES
• Andy Serkis to direct Venom 2
• Disney+ to “reimagine” Home Alone, Night at the Museum, and more
• New trailer for Wonder Woman: Bloodlines
• First look at live-action Lady and the Tramp cast
• Universal cancels the release of The Hunt
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TV
• Game of Thrones creators sign Netflix deal
• Disney+ announces bundle with Hulu & ESPN+
• New trailer for Carnival Row
• Amazon developing series based on Event Horizon
• New teaser for season 2 of Titans
• New trailer for Katy Keene
• Crisis on Infinite Earths adds more characters
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COMIC BOOKS
• Superman reminds fans of his stance on immigration and refugees
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SHILF
• KEVIN: Foxy Love
• LYNAÉ: Foxy Brown
The Geeks OUT Podcast: Aquaman Queers Up Atlantis
In this week’s episode of the Geeks OUT Podcast, Kevin is joined by Jon Herzog, as they discuss Aquaman (formerly Aqualad) finding queer love in the ocean deep on Young Justice: Outsiders, check out the teaser trailer for the Are You Afraid of the Dark revival, and celebrate Gal Gadot playing Hedy Lamarr as our Strong Female Character of the Week.
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BIG OPENING
KEVIN: Stephen King writing a new ending for The Stand limited series
JON: Teaser trailer out for Are You Afraid of the Dark? revival on Nickelodeon
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DOWN AND NERDY
KEVIN: Agents of SHIELD, She-Ra & the Princesses of Power, Twelve Forever, Powers of X
JON: The Boys (show and comic!), Good Omens, Loki, Lois Lane
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STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER
Gal Gadot to star in new Hedy Lamarr limited series
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THIS WEEK IN QUEER
Young Justice: Outsiders confirms Aquaman’s queer identity
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CLIP OF THE WEEK
New trailer for Little Monsters
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THE WEEK IN GEEK
MOVIES
• New trailer for The Hunt
• Sif wants to be Valkyrie’s queen in Thor: Love & Thunder
• New Gods movie to feature Darkseid and his Furies
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TV
• CBS All Access orders adaptation of The Man Who Fell to Earth
• New season of Runaways to feature crossover with Cloak & Dagger
• HBO Max orders Circe series based on the fantasy novel
• Sam Witwer joins Riverdale
• New teaser for The Walking Dead spinoff
• New trailer for season 2 of Mindhunter
• Cast announced for Joss Whedon’s The Nevers
• New teaser for AHS: 1984
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COMIC BOOKS
• Tyra Banks turning Modelland into graphic novel
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SHILF
• KEVIN: Adora/She-Ra
• JON: Annie/Starlight from The Boys