FanWorks 2020 Events
Panels
Art & Crafting Track
Build-a-Bot
Learn how to build a Twitter bot with zero coding experience or knowledge! Attendees will learn how to build a bot that generates fic or art prompts (here's an example of one: https://twitter.com/promptmetender). Attendees will also get a quick introduction to other (coding required) bot building resources.
Intro to Fanbinding
This panel will discuss ficbinding as a transformative and archival act of fandom. Ficbinding interacts with sexist and homophobic censorship, promotes the toehold of fandom as queer literacy, and demonstrates the value of grassroots media. This panel will contribute to the burgeoning field of fandom studies by placing ficbinding in a continuity of countercultural creators and activists and illustrating the necessity for fandom preservation efforts.
Costuming with Craft Foam
Learn the basics of using craft foam (EVA) in cosplay. Follow along as we create a pair of bracers, starting by making a pattern and finishing with tips on how to paint. A list of materials will be provided so you can make your own pair at home.
Audio Track
Does Lossy Mean Bad? Compression Explained!
If you create any kind of digital art in audiovisual formats, you're probably familiar with the idea of some formats being "lossy" or "lossless." But what do these things mean, how do they actually work, and why should it matter to you? Join bessyboo for a tech workshop on how to make sure you're putting out the best quality files you can at the right file sizes.
Community Track
This is Fine
2020 is happening to us all of the time - in every aspect of our lives, fandom included. This panel will be a group discussion on the impact of *waves hands at the world* on our fannishness - whether fandom has been an escape / coping mechanism or very much the opposite, the works we have or haven't made, the attention spans we do or don't have to engage with new fandoms or new works, the cons we haven't gone to, the state of our social media timelines, and everything else along the way.
Fashionably Late: Navigating Established Fandoms
We all come to fandoms in our own time, and sometimes that might be months (or years, or decades) after the fandom's popularity has peaked. Whether it's the joy of discovering a cornucopia of amazing fic and art ready-made for us to devour, or [gif of Troy Barnes walking into chaotic room on fire], we'll discuss these experiences as well as the pros and cons of making fanworks for your exciting new love when your fellow fans have been around much longer -- or moved on entirely.
Everything You Think You Know About Copyright Law Is (Probably) Wrong
What is "fair use," anyway? Why do fans who have been around a while hiss at the name Anne Rice? Why can't you put your Patreon on AO3? Two legal professionals will correct some common misconceptions, answer your questions on fanworks & copyright law, and reminisce about the days of putting disclaimers on everything.
Back On My Bullshit
You think you are completely finished and have this fandom out of your system. You don’t. You think this one pairing type was just an aberration. It wasn’t. You think you are out and it pulls you back in - Time is a flat circle and nothing truly ends, even your bullshit about X.
Writing Track
Writing Immortal Historical Characters
Tips and tricks on writing immortal characters with long, complex histories.
Video Track
Vidding 101 - Learn How to Vid Without Editing
Many Vidding 101 sessions focus on the technical side of vidding - preparing footage, making clips, using editing software. This panel isn't about that. This is about combining footage you'd like to vid with music you think might work and finding out if it does. Is the music a good fit? Does it work with this POV? Does it create the right kind of feeling? Does the combination do something surprising? No special software is required to do this and we'll be doing some live vidding experiments during the panel.