Watch the full episode. See more Dragon Con.
Every Labor Day weekend, tens of thousands descend upon Atlanta for the largest convention of pop-culture fandom in the Southeast. From science fiction celebrities and their obsessive fans to colorfully costumed characters engaged in mock combat, FOUR DAYS AT DRAGON*CON explores the "Woodstock for nerds" known as Dragon*Con. What draws these 35,000 people together? Dragon*Con's inclusive multi-genre, multi-platform approach — combining science fiction, fantasy literature, role-playing, science, history, video games and more — gives attendees the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. Others, especially the costume designers and creators, seem to gravitate most to the element of escapism. Featuring interviews with fans, staff, performers, artists, stars and would-be superheroes, the documentary examines the sense of community and acceptance that forms among this often ridiculed and marginalized subculture. FOUR DAYS AT DRAGON*CON captures the heart and soul of this quirky and fascinating annual event with footage of the Dragon*Con parade and a stirring climax centered around an ambitious attempt to break the world record for dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
Four Days at DragonCon recently won a SE Regional Emmy Winner for best Arts/Entertainment program and is currently airing on select PBS stations across America. Last year I interview one of the directors Jack Walsh. Link to interview here.
Gordon Ray and Jack Walsh
