There were amazing moments at this year’s Supernova Pop Culture Expo held on the Gold Coast (8-10 April).
Panel highlights included ‘Arrow’ star Manu Bennett talking about anti-heroes and the assumptions we make about people; ‘Wolf Creek’ star John Jarratt showing just how far he’s come from his days on ‘Play School’; and Aussie debut novelist Maria Lewis dazzling crowds with her wit and effervescent personality.
Image © Jamie O'HanlonBut Jack Gleeson’s conversation about his time on ‘Game Of Thrones’ and his status as the most hated character of the franchise was a clear fan favourite.
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The cosplayers were, unsurprisingly, a riot of dazzling costume designs and photography opportunities, and a jaw-dropping spectacle of creative ingenuity.
Image © Jamie O'Hanlon My biggest gripe (I have a few) was the lack of planning for guests with mobility issues. If you’ve never walked around a con with someone with such issues, it’s easy to miss just how excluded they can be. Whether it’s the extended walking requirements, the lack of seating (which is an issue with Convention Centres in general, rather than a Supanova misstep), or even the general set-up of the exhibitor’s space, there are a myriad of ways that people with mobility issues are made a little less welcome at conventions.
Image © Jamie O'HanlonThere were tech glitches including a power outage during the Sunday sessions that left shoppers trapped in the crowded dark for a few minutes and poor location planning meant that there was a steady stream of interruptions to panel events and interviews. It seemed almost as though the panels were a last-minute consideration, wedged into random rooms to clear more space for cosplay and shopping.
Image © Jamie O'HanlonIt’s a shame, because it seems hard enough to encourage celebrities to Australian events without the laughter of cosplayers outside, or the crying of a baby, being able to drown-out proceedings. Add to that a switch in timetabling that saw Friday night (originally sold as the night to buy tokens and register for cosplay) become host to the only full 'Torchwood' panel and the sneak preview of Stan’s ‘Wolf Creek’ series, and fan feathers were ruffled.
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The truth is that I left GC Supanova frustrated. That’s a hard thing to admit. I love cons and I know just how fantastic Supanova can be. Supanova at its best is a dynamic, fun, wonderful weekend. This time around, though, it didn’t live up to its potential.
Image © Jamie O'HanlonMy fingers are firmly crossed that Brisbane’s Supanova – held in November – bounces back from the GC’s setbacks and reaches the heights we know it’s more than capable of.
Supanova's next stop is the Melbourne Showgrounds this weekend 15-17 April.
