Escape Velocity 2018: Full Schedule

NEW this year! For panels with the black LIMITED icon, attendee space is limited. Please add the panel to your My Sched to reserve a spot unless the panel’s description contains a link to a special ticket.

3:30pm EDT

Movies: Science Fiction Shorts

Murmurs of a macrocosm

Using NASA recordings from the Apollo missions and sounds of the universe recorded by satellites in space, we travel through a microscopic world.
Adam Azmy, Director

NOISE
A secretive young woman listens to mysterious noise alone in her room - until she inadvertantly lets her brash flatmate into her life.
The noise that appears in the film is actual noise recorded from space by satellites orbiting earth - provided by researchers at Queen Mary's University in London, UK.
Ali Jennings, Director

Horizonland
In the 1980’s, a public broadcasting science show titled “Horizonland” explains how we know what we know.
Jeremy Waltman, Director

Speakers

Adam Azmy

My strength as a director is cemented in a never-ending curiosity to learn. Driven by my interest in all aspects of film making, I began teaching myself composting. Following my graduation from film school in 2008, I was hired by Oscar winning visual effects company Framestore. This... Read More →

Ali Jennings

Co-Founder, COLLABLAB

My films explore scientific ideas through narrative and drama. I believe stories can allow us to understand the heart of complex scientific situations, even if we've never considered them before! As well as directing these, more experimental, films, I direct and produce short documentaries... Read More →

Jeremy Waltman

Director/Writer, An Open Place Productions

Jeremy Waltman is the director and writer of "It Plays Like Love," "Locomotive," "The Empty House," and "Horizonland." His work began with drawing and writing the graphic novel German and An Open Place. His casts have included Rya Kihlstedt (Heroes Reborn, Dexter), Joseph Culp... Read More →

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Paul A. Oehlers is most recognized for his “extraordinarily evocative” film scores. (Variety) Films incorporating his music have won the Grand Jury prize at the Hamptons International Film Festival, the Atlanta International Film Festival, and the Indiefest Film Festival. In addition... Read More →

Friday May 25, 2018 3:30pm - 4:20pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

4:30pm EDT

Movie: Centralia, Pennsylvania's Lost Town

A coal mining town of approximately 1,500 residents in upstate Pennsylvania is overcome by a massive underground mine fire which began in May of 1962. After many failed attempts by the government to put out the fire, it grew larger and moved beneath most of the town.

By 1982, the first of many residents were relocated voluntarily. Through the 80’s and into the 90’s the mine fire and gases from the fire grew worse, and a subsidence would occur on a regular basis. As a result, eminent domain was imposed, forcing the remaining residents out of their homes. However, as the new millennium approached, a group of residents filed a lawsuit and fought the state of Pennsylvania for the right to stay in their homes. By 2013, the case was settled and granted those remaining residents life estates.

As of 2017, five homes, three families, one municipal building, and one business remains in the borough. As the years go on and as the families pass on, the state of Pennsylvania will tear down the remaining homes, leaving one day nothing but vacant lots and sidewalks filled with trees and weeds.

Moderators

Joe Sapienza II

Director

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Friday May 25, 2018 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

6:30pm EDT

Movie: Malice: Emergence

**World Premiere**

Film screening and Q&A with the cast and crew of Malice, including director Phil Cook

Moderators

Philip Cook

Producer/Director, Eagle Films

Philip Cook has written, directed, edited and/or photographed hundreds commercials, films, program opens and on-air Ids from clients ranging from The Washington Opera to MTV. He holds a degree from the University of Maryland in film production. His productions have won numerous... Read More →

Speakers

Brittany Martz

Brittany Martz is known for her work on Malice (2012), Malice: Metamorphosis (2014) and Macabre (2013... Read More →

Matt Sharpe

Matthew Sharpe is an actor and producer, known for Consequences (2015), A Clean Exit(2016) and Fat Guy with a Shotgun: Hillbilly Prophecy (2017... Read More →

Michael Sigler

Michael Sigler was born at just after 6:00 in the morning on July 2, 1964 at Miners Hospital in Frostburg, MD, USA. His first stage experience was in Mrs. Conway's first grade class at Frost Elementary School when he sang "I'm Going To Ride in a Rocket Ship" in a play. It was a timely... Read More →

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Friday May 25, 2018 6:30pm - 9:00pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

9:00pm EDT

Movie: Flora

**New Extended Cut Premiere**

Film screening and Q&A with executive producers and actors Dan Lin and Teresa Marie Doran

Speakers

Teresa Marie Doran

Actress, Executive Producer, Art Director, FLORA

Teresa Marie is an Irish and American dual citizen born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. She grew up acting in the Twin Cities with multiple theatre companies including the Tony Award winning Minneapolis Children's Theatre. She attended drama school at The London Academy of Music... Read More →

Dan Lin

Actor, Executive Producer, Vocalist, FLORA

Dan Lin is a native of Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Dan is an Executive Producer on the independent feature film Flora, where his portrayal of Matsudaira Basho won him a Best... Read More →

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Friday May 25, 2018 9:00pm - 11:30pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

12:00am EDT

Movie: Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Celebrate this anniversary with a special midnight screening of the movie with a special introduction.

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Saturday May 26, 2018 12:00am - 2:15am EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

10:00am EDT

TV: Scienstars

A shuttle on a training mission is overrun by a swarm of menacing spacefaring aliens. They are the Errg, fearsome creatures that feed on energy. When the Errg set their sights on our energy rich solar system, the team at Scienstar Academy race to prevent Earth from being turned into an energy graveyard!

With material from the new K-12 science education standards worked directly into a narrative fiction framework, Scienstars creates a seamless transition between entertainment and education that drives students' enthusiasm for learning to stellar heights. Our goal is to entertain, educate, and inspire the next generation of scientists!

Speakers

Vince Barrett

Creator/Writer/Producer

Science fiction is a gateway to science. I know this to be true, because that’s exactly what happened to me. I grew up on sci-fi, starting with the original Star Trek and Doctor Who. TV and movies led to sci-fi literature, and the works of Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke... Read More →

Adam York

Director

My experience with television production began in high school. I worked as a video editor and master control switcher at the local TV station, as well as the high school new channel. It was during this time that I became a fan of many science fiction dramas, including Star Trek... Read More →

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Saturday May 26, 2018 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Annapolis 3

Film, Education, Kids-friendly

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

11:00am EDT

In Saturn's Rings with NASA! A Journey for IMAX theaters

In Saturn’s Rings, narrated by LeVar Burton, is a ground-breaking giant-screen documentary film. Using only real images, the film's simulated spaceflight flies you through the real Saturn and its moons, more intimately and with more stunning detail, than has ever been possible before. Feel as if you were actually there, because we were. This is real.

NASA scientists from the Saturn mission join the filmmakers for an extended preview of this remarkable film, and go behind-the-scenes of NASA's mission to Saturn & Titan.

Learn about NASA's mission, what they learned about Saturn's great moon Titan, and how this stunning film was made. Also on the panel will be Jason Harwell and Val Klavans, Co-Producers. Enjoy Q&A with filmmakers and NASA scientists to close the presentation.

More info. at:
https://www.insaturnsrings.com/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/cassini-huygens/

Speakers

Carrie Anderson

Planetary Astronomer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Carrie Anderson is a Planetary Astronomer in the Astrochemistry Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Her research focuses on the remote sensing of planetary atmospheres, primarily in the areas of thermal structure and particulate composition, using space- and ground-based... Read More →

Paul Romani

Space Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Paul Romani has been studying planetary atmospheres since he attended college. In 1986, he joined NASA as a NRC post-doc and in 1990, he started as a Co-Investigator for the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS). He's continued his research on Saturn and other Outer Planets... Read More →

Stephen van Vuuren

Filmmaker, In Saturn's Rings

Stephen van Vuuren is an award-winning filmmaker, musician, photographer and ubergeek. He grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and Knoxville, Tennessee. His father purchased a manual 35mm camera for him when he was 12 and his love of image-making began. He has directed, produced and/or shot over... Read More →

Staff

Stacy Bruss

Director, Event Programming, Museum of Science Fiction

Stacy Bruss, MS, MSIS, is a reference librarian at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). At NIST, she supports all Physical Measurement Laboratory researchers and manages the Innovation Hub, a center with 3-D printers, technology bar, data visualization tools... Read More →

Saturday May 26, 2018 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Annapolis 3

Film, Science

Host Organization Escape Velocity

12:00pm EDT

Movie: Black Wake

Specialists gather in a top-secret facility to investigate a series of strange deaths on beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. One of the team's scientists (Nana Gouvea) examines video evidence to uncover a possible parasitic explanation for the fatalities. But when a determined detective (Tom Sizemore) sends her the crazed writings of a mysterious homeless man (Jonny Beauchamp), the scientist slowly learns that the actual threat may be more dangerous -- and far older -- than anyone ever imagined. Can she convince her colleagues (led by Eric Roberts) of the true danger before an ancient force rises from the sea to bring madness and death to all of humanity?

Speakers

Carlos Keyes

Executive Producer

President of Red Entertainment Agency. Carlos Keyes has commanded over three decades of experience in the entertainment industry as a talent agent, music producer and film producer. During the 80s and through early 90s Carlos Keyes entered the entertainment business as an artist in... Read More →

Jeremiah Kipp

Director

Jeremiah Kipp is a New York City based writer, producer and director with over ten years experience creating narrative and commercial films. Through his work, he has the proven ability to provide the highest level of visual direction, story development and work with actors. He... Read More →

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Saturday May 26, 2018 12:00pm - 1:50pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

2:00pm EDT

The 50th Anniversary of 2001: A Space Odyssey

There is scarcely a better example of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) collaborations than 2001: A Space Odyssey. After 50 years, Arthur C. Clarke's story, as shown to us by Stanley Kubrick, is as visually stunning, thought provoking, and scientifically relevant as it was in 1968. Guests Robert Godwin and Adam Johnson bring us the history of this epic film in a panel moderated by the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation's Timothy Logue. Book signing and film screening to follow.

Note: once the room has reached capacity, we will not be able to let additional attendees in. However, we will not take pre-registrations for this panel. Make sure to arrive on-time for this panel!

Moderators

Timothy Logue

Senior Director, Sales and Business Development, Thales Alenia Space

Timothy J. Logue is a lifelong science fiction fan who has been fortunate to work in thespace and satellite sectors for almost 40 years. He is currently Senior Director, Sales and Business Development, for Thales Alenia Space, a major European space manufacturer, in Washington, D.C... Read More →

Speakers

Robert Godwin

Owner and Founder, Apogee Space Books

Robert Godwin is the owner and founder of Apogee Space Books. He was the Space Curator of the Canadian Air & Space Museum in Toronto and has written or edited over 100 books, including the award winning series "The NASA Mission Reports". Robert has appeared on dozens of radio and... Read More →

Adam Johnson

Adam Johnson has a two year Certificate in Performance Music earned in Adelaide, Australia. After moving to the United States, he was educated at Washington State University and then worked 15 years in Audio engineering and design. For the past 17 years, he is an aerospace engineer... Read More →

Greg Nicotero

Executive Producer / Director / Special FX Make-Up Designer, The Walking Dead

With more than three decades of work in the film industry, Greg Nicotero still remembers his first days working with Tom Savini and George A. Romero on Day of the Dead. This unexpected detour redirected Nicotero into the world of horror/fantasy special makeup effects that has included... Read More →

Staff

Stacy Bruss

Director, Event Programming, Museum of Science Fiction

Saturday May 26, 2018 2:00pm - 3:00pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Guest, Film, Literature

Host Organization Escape Velocity

3:00pm EDT

2001 Book Signing: Rob Godwin and Adam Johnson

Following their 2001 panel session, Rob Godwin and Adam Johnson will be on hand to sign their books. Film screening to follow.

Speakers

Robert Godwin

Owner and Founder, Apogee Space Books

Adam Johnson

Staff

Stacy Bruss

Director, Event Programming, Museum of Science Fiction

Saturday May 26, 2018 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Guest

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Book signing

4:00pm EDT

Movie: 2001: A Space Odyssey

Humanity finds a mysterious, obviously artificial object buried beneath the lunar surface and, with the intelligent computer H.A.L. 9000, sets off on a quest. It's the 50th Anniversary of this iconic film. Whether your interest is adventure, philosophy, model making, literature, costuming, or social commentary - Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick gave us everything we could want in a science fiction story.

Note: priority seating will be given to those who attend the 2 pm 2001 panel session.

Moderators

Timothy Logue

Senior Director, Sales and Business Development, Thales Alenia Space

Speakers

Robert Godwin

Owner and Founder, Apogee Space Books

Adam Johnson

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Saturday May 26, 2018 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Film screening

10:30pm EDT

Late Night Karaoke

Back for a second night due to popular demand--join us for some Fun and Nerdy Karaoke!

Speakers

Lindsay Bartleson

Geek Diva Cosplay

Lindsay Bartleson started cosplaying just three years ago, at her first convention, which was the first ReGeneration Who. She has gone on to win several craftsmanship, performance, and Best In Show awards. She is now a master level costumer. She also has been a performance judge... Read More →

Staff

Barbara Mabie-McClain

Manager, Pop Culture Programs, The Museum of Science Fiction

Barbara, Is a Master Class costumer that has been sewing small things, crafting, and beading for over 20 years. In 2013 Barb discovered the convention scene while attending her first convention, PaxEast, and fell in love with costuming and cosplay since. She has her Cosmetology license... Read More →

Saturday May 26, 2018 10:30pm - 11:59pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Pop Culture, Night Time, Performance, Workshop

Host Organization Escape Velocity

10:00am EDT

Science Fiction Writing Workshop for Teens

Limited Capacity seats available

This panel, designed for teens, will teach authors how to write science fiction short stories.

Speakers

Robert Aldrich

Robert V. Aldrich is a novelist and writer based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. He writes mostly sci-fi/fantasy, and draws inspiration from anime, video games, comics, lucha libre, and even opera (no really, it’s true). Robert has three books published through Caffeine & Ink Books... Read More →

LG Ransom

L.G. Ransom, the author of Hollin's Heir and Conquering Mount Ta-Ta, was born in Miami, Florida but grew up living in various countries around the world including Europe and the British West Indies. She is an accomplished artist who’s computer art and canvasses have graced... Read More →

Kenneth Rogers

English Teacher, Montebello Elementary Middle School

Kenneth Rogers has earned a Master's Degree in Education from Johns Hopkins School of Education, the number one ranked school of education in the country. Since growing up and moving from Peoria, Illinois he graduated from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio in 2008... Read More →

Staff

Aisha Matthews

Director of Literature Programs at Escape Velocity, Museum of Science Fiction

Aisha Matthews is a Ph.D. student in English Literature at Southern Methodist University, having finished her Master’s Degree at Southern New Hampshire University in early 2017. As an undergraduate at Yale (’13), she studied Young Adult Science Fiction Literature (alongside more... Read More →

Sunday May 27, 2018 10:00am - 11:50am EDT
Annapolis 3

Literature, Education

Host Organization Escape Velocity
Panel Type Workshop

12:00pm EDT

Winners, Escape Velocity Film Festival

Come watch the best short film and best feature film from this year's Escape Velocity Film Festival!

Staff

Paul Oehlers

Director, Escape Velocity Film Festival, Museum of Science Fiction

Sunday May 27, 2018 12:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Annapolis 3

Film

Host Organization Escape Velocity