June 9th 2019
MARY WINSPEAR CENTRE
ENTRY BY DONATION
10 Am-7 PM
Guests
Nick Kondo
Artist/Senior Animator Sony Pictures Imageworks
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
Nick Kondo is an artist and Senior Animator for Sony Pictures Imageworks in downtown Vancouver.
After working for 15 years in the Seattle-area video game industry in a number of capacities including animation, motion capture, storyboards, camera layout, concept art, marketing, and as a lecturer, he transitioned to feature film animation in 2017 with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Join Nick as he talks about some of the techniques that gave the film its unique look from an animation perspective. He'll break down the process of creating some of his most memorable shots and share what it was like to be a part of the team that created the groundbreaking Academy Award-winning film.
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Blake Foster
Actor
Power Ranger fans will know Blake Foster as Justin Stewart, the Blue Ranger in the hit TV show, Power Rangers Turbo. Blake made his debut for the show in the feature-film, Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie at the age of 12, making him the first and only pre-teen Power Ranger in history.
Audiences may also remember Blake from hit shows such as: Walker: Texas Ranger, the famed Beverly Hills: 90210, Two of a Kind with the Olsen Twins, Boy Meets World, and the TV film Casper Meets Wendy alongside Hillary Duff. Blake's film work has included Danielle Steeles' Family Album, Above Suspicion, the TV movie The Brady Bunch in the White House, and Kids World. 

Blake holds a 4th degree master black belt in American Tang Soo Do style karate and is a three-time state champion in martial arts.
Power Rangers Turbo: Blue Ranger
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MICHAEL COPON
Actor and Singer
Michael Sowell Copon is an American actor, model, producer, and singer. He is known for playing Felix Taggaro in the television series One Tree Hill, Vin Keahi in the television series Beyond the Break, and Lucas Kendall in Power Rangers Time Force.
One Tree Hill, Power Rangers Time Force, Bring It On: In It To Win It, and The Scorpion King 2
KEN STEACY
Comic Book Artist and Writer
War Bears, Astro Boy, Spawn, and Jonny Quest
Ken Steacy is a Canadian comics artist and writer best known for his work on the NOW Comics comic book series of Astro Boy and of the Comico comic series of Jonny Quest, as well as his graphic novel collaborations with Harlan Ellison (Night and the Enemy, 1987) and Dean Motter (The Sacred and the Profane, 1987).
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RENEE NAULT
Illustrator and Comic Book Artist
The Handmaid's Tale
Renee Nault is a Canadian artist, illustrator, and graphic novelist.
She is known for her vivid watercolor and ink illustrations.
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Renee was born in Vancouver and later moved to Victoria. Growing up near the ocean, she was influenced by the languid weightlessness and bright colours of underwater landscapes. Later she connected these ideas with the "floating world" of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints which interested her with their repeating patterns and shapes. To this she brings a very personal edge, a cryptic symbolism and a dark sense of humor.

Renee loves to travel, and she has spent long stretches of time in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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Renee’s work has appeared in books, magazines, newspapers and advertising around the world. She has completed work on a graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian classic, The Handmaid's Tale. The book will be released on March 26th 2019.
MIMI REAVES
Professional Seamstress and Cosplayer
Disney, Game of Thrones, and More
Mimi Reaves is a professional seamstress and an experienced cosplayer. She loved playing dress-up as a child, so it was only natural she fell in love with cosplay in 2007 at her first anime convention. While she has made many Disney cosplays, she has also created other costumes such as Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones, Violet Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Claire Fraser from Outlander. Mimi also enjoys designing her own costumes for well-loved characters, such as her fairy princess Rapunzel. Her work is featured on many websites, has won several awards, and has been a cosplay guest at local conventions.
TARAN FIDDLER
Freelance Illustrator and Concept Artist
Local, up and coming artist.
Since Taran was a kid, he had always enjoyed producing art (Whether it be drawing and painting in traditional mediums, carving, or working digitally.) In the past, he did a lot of drawing from photos which includes the commission work he did as well. Lately Taran has been moving more into an imaginative process relying on reference only when necessary. He's never had any formal training, though he is always willing to learn and develop his skills as an artist. A couple of years back, Taran had to unwillingly take a break from his art, but he is now heading back in with full force.