G-FEST XXIV (July 14th thru 16th, 2017)

[MekaGojira3k]

Didn't see a topic for this but holy crap: Shinji Higuchi is exciting enough but we're also getting Michiru Oshima and Kyotaka Taguchi (director of Ultraman X and Orb) is now a guest! Super excited!

Also hope to see a lot of familiar fan faces ad meet some new people!

[klen7]

Oh cool. I hadn't heard about Taguchi! I will have to bring Gehara to get signed

[MekaGojira3k]

I'm probably gonna bring like, an X spark doll or card or something.

[mr.negativity]

[Godzilla21]

They will be showing Shin Godzilla on Saturday night

[klen7]

So the schedule is up... I'm leaning towards

Thursday:
Godzilla 2014 at the Pickwick

Friday:
1:00 50th Anniversary of Gappa
2:00 - Not sure, Probably Kaiju Anime
3:00 Marvel Monsters
4:00 Godziszewski and Ryfle on Mysterians? Yes Please!!!
Opening Ceremony
Kong Skull Island at the Pickwick

Saturday:
9:00 Kazuhiro Nakagawa
11:00 Yuji Kaida (but arrrgghh Lost Godzilla films is at the same time!)
1:00 Shinji Higuchi!
2:00 Godziszewski and Ryfle on Honda.. although I have the book on pre-order, so maybe not?
3:00 Gorgo Konga and Reptilicus *or maybe Kaiju Ouji
Costume Parade
Shin Godzilla at the Pickwick (dubbed perhaps?)

Sunday
10:00 TG2WAC
11:00 tough... 'Kaiju Manga' vs '1967: The Year of Kaiju'
2:00 Taguchi!!! Glad i am staying for Sunday this year!

I'll play it by ear but Taguchi and Higuchi are musts. I feel like i need to record all of the Mysterians panel for posterity.

Currently I plan on getting The Art of Shin Godzilla signed by Higuchi, a Yuji Kaida artbook signed by Yuji Kaida, and Gehara Bluray (and maybe G DVD) signed by Higuchi

[DannyBeane]

I haven't decided what I am going to do this year. I do want to catch more of the movies but I plan on spending most of my time in the dealer's room and finding some of you bastards as well as other online Godzilla fans I associate with to BS with. I'm feeling like this year is going to be a very relaxed G-fest for me.

[lhb412]

Man, wish I was going this year. What a killer lineup!

Have fun, fellas!

[klen7]

^ c'mon out for a day or two, you can crash on the fold-out couch in my room as long as you dont steal my stuff or destroy any hotel property...


Also this year I'm gonna ... as long as he doesnt shave his beard between now and then

[lhb412]

^ Very tempting, but the ensuing car ride to rejoin my family on our beach vacation would be like 20 hours long.

Maybe next year... hopefully they'll have another killer guest roster. Haven't been to the convention since I was a teen. Would want to taken some extra days just to knock about Chicago...

[DannyBeane]

[klen7]

^ sounds like a plan

^^ Just tell the family what i told my wife the year G-Fest occurred on our anniversary.. "I get to see you all the time, but how often do i get to see the guy that built the Grand King Ghidorah costume from Rebirth of Mothra 3?"

[DannyBeane]

[Gojira07]

[klen7]

Funimation debuted the dub last month at Monstercon in Texas, so I think there is a decent chance it will be dubbed since G-Fest worked with Funimation to get showing

::edit::
Saturday @ 3 - Kaiju Gaiden Strikes Back (Mark Jaramillo)

[Godzilla21]

Guys, this will be my first G Fest. Any master list of tips you have for a noob such as myself.

[klen7]

- Bring a poster roll or some cardboard to successfully bring home any prints you buy
- If you are from a warm area, Chicagians keep their AC at 68-70, so bring warmer clothes. (My first year i only brought July clothes and often found myself cold and at war with the hotel thermostat)
- Find out if the guests have multiple signing times, for some reason everyone waits in a huge line for the first signing time, then the rest of the time the lines are very short
- Bring snacks, there is a hotel restaurant and bar and they do have some pizza/sandwiches etc set up during the day, but that money is better spent in the dealers room
- the dealer's room is overload of awesomeness, but some of the prices are wacky, so if you are looking for something in particular have an idea of what you want to spend in advance
- If you are flying in and the shuttling to your hotel, you will need to figure out transportation to the Pickwick at night. Uber is a godsend, but you can also mingle in the Crowne Lobby and try to hitch a ride (i have done this rather successfully over recent years)
- Everybody there loves Godzilla and kaiju stuff, so its very easy to talk to just about anyone
- If you arent feeling a particular panel, bail and check out the gaming room, the sculpting contests, the artist alley, the movie room (lots of cool shorts and stuff play here)
- Buy Klen7 a drink
- The lobby is a nice place to hang out during downtimes, sometimes the guests just come through and mingle there while they are waiting to go elsewhere. (Last year I was talking with MayorofDinosaurs and Bin Furuya and Akira Takarada came up and started shaking hands with us out of the blue)
- don't spend all your time in one place, theres a bunch of stuff to do. Some younger attendees spend the whole weekend in the game room

[Reaper G]

I'll add this too:

--Not just the lobby, but keep your eyes open anywhere in the hotel for guests. Don Frye was hanging out with fans at the bar at his first G-FEST.
-- Look out for familiar names, whether from here, social media, G-FAN bylines.
-- Maria's, a Mexican restaurant close to the hotel, is quite excellent.

As for me, it's been a while since I've done any real traveling, mainly for financial reasons. Maybe next year.

[Godzilla21]

Thanks guys. Drink for you klen if I see you

[DannyBeane]

I'll be flying into town on Thursday and staying with my friend for that first night. Then on Friday I'll be getting my room and staying there till Sunday. Then back at my friend's place til Tuesday. I'm excited. I need this vacation and can't wait to drink and hangout with you and some of my friends from the facebook group.

[lhb412]

And remember: if anything totally awesome happens feel free to tell us(/rub my face in it) here.

[klen7]

Like this...

[lhb412]

BOOOOOOOOO!

[DannyBeane]

In 2.5 hours I will be hopping on a plane to Chicago. Can't wait to see some of you bastards!

[lhb412]

Images of the dealers room have totally convinced me that I need to go next year.