James | SpockSoc

Upcoming Marathons

I’m hoping to have our first marathon screening for the year on Saturday March 20th (that’s the Saturday following week 3) but it’s still reliant on room availability. We’ll be showing Babylon 5 regardless of when we end up having it, because I’ve been promising people for a while (probably starting from the first episode and going straight on from there, but it’s up for negotiation). Marathons usually run from about 9 or 10 in the morning and keep going until we’ve had enough, run out of episodes, or security throw us out at 11pm. If you’re interested, keep your calendar free. Expect more details next week.

I’m also hoping to have a Lord of the Rings (special editions for all three!) marathon sometime shortly after the Mid-Session Break, though having it during the break is also a possibility. If you’re interested, send me an e-mail to let me know roughly when you’d like it – during the break, a couple of weeks after, even later, etc. The easiest way to do that is to just push “reply” on this e-mail – replies will automatically be addressed to me.

Week 2: Defying Gravity

Last week’s screening was heaps of fun – we had maybe twenty-four people, or thereabouts. Probably the biggest crowd I’ve seen in a while, and I’m hoping that will continue. =D

This week, we’re showing Defying Gravity. This show takes place in the near future and focuses on the lives of eight astronauts from five different countries on a six-year mission through the solar system. The team is on a mysterious mission that is closely being followed by ground personnel. It strikes me as a
a spaceship, but we’ll see. It was reasonably well-received in America.

In any case, we’re still in Quad G032 this week – I’m hoping to move to a better room next week, but if not then certainly by week four. For those who didn’t see last week’s directions in pictures, here they are:

http://www.spocksoc.com/map/quad-g032/

The screening starts at 5pm, pizza run at about 7pm – $5 per half pizza. It shouldn’t take quite so long for the pizza to be ready as it did last week. At least, it had better not…

Stargate Convention

Yesterday The Hub Productions hosted a Stargate convention at the Sir John Clancy auditorium. I advertised it at the O-Week stall all through the week, though I think most people were turned away by the price tag. SpockSoc member Bethany and I were there, and we also bumped into former president Dallas towards the end of the day. We had heaps of fun. I made a write-up with lots of pretty pictures:

http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl4vhb/Stargate2010/Stargate2010.html

About a thousand funny things happened that I didn’t put there because I didn’t remember them at the time I wrote it, but I figure it’s long enough already – if I keep adding things I remember, I’ll be editing it forever. I just wish I could have recorded the whole thing so I could play it back.

In any case, go read. Let me know what you think. =)

Movie: Alice in Wonderland in 3D

SpockSoc’s first movie outing for 2010 will be this week. We’ll be going to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D at the Randwick Ritz – 7pm on Wednesday the 10th. We discussed it at the screening on Friday. Since it’s 3D, tickets cost $16 each, with an extra dollar if you don’t already have glasses – it’s the same regardless of the day of the week, so we’re going on Wednesday (as opposed to Tuesday as we usually do).

If you haven’t been to the Ritz before, here’s a map:

http://www.whereis.com/nsw/randwick/45-st-pauls-st?id=3DD8DB2CCA7EF1

If the map didn’t work properly, it
ple of blocks directly East of the uni (East is uphill when you’re on campus). If you’re at uni already, your best bet is to walk up High Street until you hit Avoca, then angle right onto Belmore Road, and at the next intersection, angle further right onto Perouse Road. St Paul’s is left at the roundabout. You could also start from the other corner of the uni (behind the AGSM) and cut through the hospital – it’s a bit more direct, but it also involves cutting through the hospital.

If you’re catching the bus from elsewhere, the 372, 373, 376, 314 and 315 routes all stop just around the corner. The 370 stops a little further away, but it doesn’t run after about 7pm or so. Parking is… limited, unless you know the sneaky tricks, or park about three or four blocks away.

In any case, we’re going to meet up inside the lobby, in front of the doors to Cinema 1 (left of the ticket booths) starting from 6:30. Considering the slightly short notice, I won’t be collecting numbers beforehand – simply buy your own tickets, and SpockSoc will refund you $2 if you show me your membership card. I won’t wait much past the posted starting time of the movie, so don’t be late. =Þ

Incidentally, I won’t need to give out directions for future movie outings, so they won’t need to be quite so wordy. We’ll sometimes arrange to meet up for dinner, but the starting time for this particular movie makes it a little tricky – we might head out for food afterwards if people are interested.) =)

Week 1: Mystery Univrse

To all the new members, welcome to SpockSoc. To returning members, it’s good to see you again – but remember to pay your membership fee for this year if you haven’t done so already.

This Friday’s screening is Mystery Univrse – we’ll most likely be starting over from the start of the season (since channel ten’s dismal attempt only managed four episodes) though that’s up for discussion at the screening proper, and we’ll manage seven episodes before we run out of time. I’ll let you know which room later in the week (Quad G032) – we’re still jumping through the administrative hoops to actually get a room booked.

For those new to SpockSoc, the way screenings go is like this: the screenings start at about 5pm on Friday (entry is free for members). At about 7pm or so, I’ll pass around a piece of paper taking orders for dinner, which is pizza from Pizza Hut. Feel free to order whatever you want – we charge $5 per half pizza (though we may ask for a bit more if you rack up too many surcharges) and arrangements can be made if you want garlic bread or pasta. You also get one free can of drink per pizza-ordering person, or you can pay $1 to get one without pizza.

Over dinner, we’ll usually sit and discuss what we’re watching, what’s on TV at the time, or other interesting happenings that might be going on. After dinner, we then return to the screening. Screenings usually finish at around 11pm, at which point security come and toss us out.

In other news, we’re considering a Babylon 5 marathon on a Saturday within the next few weeks. Also, if you’re interested in going to see the new Alice in Wonderland movie as a group with SpockSoc, then send me an e-mail – SpockSoc offers a $2 discount per ticket if you go with us.

UPDATE: We have a room booking! For the first few weeks of session, we’ll be in Quad room G032. I’ll try to arrange for a map and some photos showing the way up on the website soonish (that’s http://www.spocksoc.com ) but it’s basically underneath where the sundial is in the Quad, through a set of glass doors on the Western side of the passageway. It’s opposite the main stairwell, so if you go through some glass doors and see stairs, you’re on the Eastern side – go the other way. =)
For those who have been at uni a while, it’s the room next door to where the second-hand bookshop used to be (in fact, the shop’s sign and opening hours are still on the wall outside). In any case, I’ll hang the SpockSoc banner in the window so you can see it – the same one that was hanging on the front of the stall at O-Week. Remember, we’re starting at 5pm tomorrow.

We’ll probably change rooms to something more comfortable and easy to find after week three or so – I’ll keep you posted.

0-Week

Almost time for session to go back – O-Week starts next Monday, the 22nd. Don’t forget, everyone, last year’s membership is only good for last year – you’ll need to sign up again if you want to be a member again. For those who have graduated, we’re still happy to have you as members.

In any case, we’ll be running a stall all through O-Week on the Quad lawn, so feel free to drop in for a visit and to reapply – otherwise you can come to any of our screenings. Expect a tentative screening schedule to be posted on the website sometime this week, with screening location to be posted next week.

SpockSoc won’t be having an O-Week Friday night screening, but instead we’ll be showing not one but two movies as part of the O-Week festivities. On Wednesday the 24th we’ll be showing Labyrinth, starring David Bowie, and on Friday the 26th we’ll be showing the new Star Trek, with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. Both movies start at Noon in the Red Centre theatre – there should be signs up around the place – and entry is free for anyone.

We’d really love to have lots of people both at the movies and signing up to the club, so if you’ve got any friends in first year (or not, it doesn’t matter) who you think might be interested, then feel free to drop in and drag them along, even if it’s just to a movie screening.

Membership for SpockSoc is still $5 for the whole year – Arc membership (which is not required to be a SpockSoc member) is $69 for the year. We’d like people to also be Arc members, as we get more funding the more Arc members we have, but it’s by no means required.

Hope to see you there,
-Joel
el presidente

Week 13: Doll House

It’s been pointed out to us that this session has thirteen weeks. Who woulda thunk? Mind you, it’s MEANT to have fourteen, but we won’t go there.

In celebration of an extra week of session, we’re having an extra screening. Yay. So this week, the second half of Dollhouse season one – we showed the first half in week eight. Starting at our normal time and place – 5pm in Goldstein G06.

Week 12: First Eps

Last week of session. I know everyone’s got exams coming up, but come to SpockSoc for one last break before exams start.

First off, thanks to those who turned up for the AGM – we just managed to scrape through with fifteen members. And congrats to Caroline, who’s joining the Exec as the new secretary and ARC delegate. The Exec for 2010 are as follows:

President – Joel
Vice President & Webmaster – James
Secretary & Arc Delegate – Caroline
Treasurer & Publicist – Erin
Immediate Past President – Kate
Chief of Staff – Matt

Secondly, we’re going to end out the session by starting a whole bunch of series – this week we’re having a pilot episodes screening. Basically, we’re going to screen the first episodes of a whole bunch of Sci-Fi and Fantasy series that have started in America within the last few months, to see what series people like, in order to have full screenings next year.

We won’t have time to get through all of these at the screening, but the list of pilot episodes include Better Off Ted, Defying Gravity, Eastwick, Eleventh Hour, The Vampire Diaries, Virtuality, Warehouse 13, and the big one you’ve all been waiting for – Strgte Universe.

Starting at 5pm as ever in Goldstein G06.

Week 11: Sanctuary + AGM

Hey all!

Only one more week of session after this, aww. But on the plus side, this week’s our AGM, yay! Come and hear how the club is going, and maybe even run for a position on the exec. All positions are up for grabs, but remember you have to be a student and arc member to be president, secretary or treasurer.

Oh, and we’ll be showing Sanctuary. Starting from episode eight (since we showed up to episode seven at our last screening). The series stars Amanda Tapping (Sam Carter in Stargate) as Doctor Helen Magnus, a woman who became immortal as a result of experiments with vampire blood. Now, she runs a sanctuary for all sorts of creatures who need her help – werewolves, lizard men, creepy worm-paratise things from Chernobyl. Et cetera.

We’ll be starting at 5pm in Goldstein G06 – come at 7:30 for just the AGM. Pizza run as normal during the night. I’m also bringing a tasty oreo cheesecake as incentive for people to come to the AGM. Don’t take it as bribing for votes. =)

Week 9: Legend of the Seeker

This week at SpockSoc, we’ll be continuing showing Legend of the Seeker. It’s based on the Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. The series follows the epic journey of a young woods guide named Richard Cypher (played by Craig Horner), a mysterious woman named Kahlan Amnell (Bridget Regan), and a wizard named Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander (Bruce Spence) to stop Darken Rahl (Craig Parker) from unleashing an ancient and terrifying power.

In our first screening last session, we showed roughly the first third of the season, and we’ll probably manage another third at this screening. We’ll start at 5pm in Golstein G06, as ever. Pizza run during the night.

Also, our AGM is coming up in two weeks, in week eleven. Be there, or be… without a club. Cause, you know, we can’t get reafilliated if people don’t show up to the AGM. And that’d be a Bad Thing. Yup. So… please? All exec positions are open for the taking, but we’ll only allow nominations of people who are present at the meeting. Also, president, treasurer and secretary must be UNSW students, and should also be Arc members.