May 19 - May 21, 2023

(Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Online, Everywhere, Free!

Registration opens September 12, 2022!

Wixameret, TAG Fans!

If you love The Atlantis Grail then YOU are a TAG Fan!

Be proud, you're awesome!

Panels * Readings * Q&A Sessions * Special Guests
Media and Hollywood * Science and Astrophysics
Archeology and Ancient Cultures * Languages
Art Show * Costumes * Surprises * Trivia Contests

Check back here often for Program Schedule, Guests and Much More!

Meet Our Guests!

Brad Chiet
Music Composer/Producer

Brad Chiet is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger. He has been working in Los Angeles since before Friends first aired! Brad is originally from New York.

He has won multiple awards for his original compositions (international) and television work. His music can be heard on top network shows including Deal or No Deal, The Wall, Extreme Home Make Over, Saturday Night Live, SuperNanny, and many others.

Little known fact: He holds a degree in Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering and before composing he worked in the aerospace industry. And... he is amazing at Jenga.

Dr. Michelle Thaller
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Dr. Michelle Lynn Thaller is an astronomer and research scientist. Thaller is the assistant director for Science Communication at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. From 1998 to 2009 she was a staff scientist at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, and later Manager of the Education and Public Outreach program for the Spitzer Space Telescope, at the California Institute of Technology. She is a frequent on-camera contributor to programming on The History Channel and Science Channel.

Bridget Landry
Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Bridget Landry has worked on robotic space missions for over 30 years, including the Hubble Space Telescope, Mars Pathfinder, the Cassini mission to Saturn and the Curiosity rover. In addition, she has been attending and working cons since she was 13 and is a Master-level costumer with a twisted sense of humor.

Richard Joel
405 Productions

Richard Joel is a native Angelino and the President and founder of 405 Productions Inc. He is an Emmy Nominated and Rose D’or award-winning, TV Creator/Writer/Executive Producer and an award-winning Film Producer. He has worked in all areas of production and development and brings a strong business and creative process to all sides of this business including scripted TV & film as well as the creation of original formats, competition & game shows.

Richard began his producing career with his first short film, “Foursome,” and his first feature, “Wild Heirs.” In 2003, he met the President of Wildrice Productions and was recruited for their unscripted development team. He quickly rose through the ranks to become Head of Alternative TV Development & Production. There, he created, developed and sold an array of projects to multiple cable networks. While still at Wildrice he created and sold an original game show format called, Heads or Tails, to Eyeworks USA, which aired in the UK during Primetime. For the next 3 years he served as Head of Alternative TV Development & Production for Muse Entertainment, USA.

Richard then founded 405 Productions Inc. Conceived as a boutique production house and development shingle by creating original formats, specializing in competition and game shows. Out of the gate, he co-created the hit CW game show and Rose D’or winner, “Oh Sit!,” where he served as Creator, Executive Producer and Writer. The format is currently selling worldwide. 405 Productions has created numerous original formats and then sold/partnered/produced on these formats.

He is quickly expanding 405 Productions Inc. and the Richard Joel brands with scripted and unscripted content for TV & Film domestically and internationally. On the scripted side he is currently working as an EP on an animated feature film in production with A list stars, recently co-produced a SYFY pilot, “99 Problems” written and brilliantly directed by Michael G. Kehoe, with the seasoned John T. Connor as DP and served as Showrunner/EP on a new digital series, “Before We Go,” He produced “Tainted Dreams,” a 2014, 2017 & 2018 Emmy Nominated series for “Best Digital Drama” series on Amazon, and Produced/Executive Produced “The Candle,” a multi-award winning (30 awards / 30 nominations) short horror film / feature-proof of concept, screening in more than 50 film festivals in 13 different countries. Lastly, and most importantly he is super excited and over the moon to be developing/pitching the bestselling sci-fi series of books, The Atlantis Grail for TV from the award winning author Vera Nazarian.

On the unscripted side he is currently partnered with A&E Studios International on a co-production of an original game show format for both Germany and Canada and he recently produced and wrote on the digital-series, “You’ve Been Had...Celebrity Edition!,” a Celebrity driven hidden camera prank show.

Richard graduated Arizona State University with a B.S in Business where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and is currently a member of the WGA, PGA, The Television Academy and SAG-AFTRA. He is a world traveler, previous restaurateur and still fancies himself a bit of a chef. He claims he makes the best BBQ Cajun Honey Pineapple ribs and Old fashions in town! He scuba dives, surfs, snowboards and is a die-hard LA sports fan and a Rams season ticket holder. Go Rams!

Dahlia Waingort Guigui
Producer, Actor, Production Manager

Dahlia Waingort Guigui is COO and Head of Production at Sunset Pictures, is a member of the PGA and SAG-AFTRA and a founding member along with Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga and Esai Morales of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.

Dahlia was a financing consultant on the award winning documentary Blackfish and Produced the documentaries Newman, Hero With A Thousand Faces, and Stronger For Life. Most recently, she Produced the feature films Sweetwater, 9/11, The Bronx Bull, the hit thriller Beneath the Darkness starring Dennis Quaid, Paradise Cove and The Fight That Never Ends.

Born in Miami, Dahlia graduated from New World School of the Arts and attended England's Oxford School of Drama. Through her distinguished associations with Richard Attenborough and Arthur Miller, as an actress Dahlia has caressed stages with memorable performances from London's National Theatre production of Twelfth Night to the John Anson Ford Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing in Los Angeles. Best known for her starring role alongside Ann-Margaret and Sonia Braga as a series regular on the CBS drama series Four Corners and as a recurring guest star in Felicity, Dahlia went on to work with Burt Reynolds in Hard Time, co-starred on America's Most Wanted, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior with Forest Whitaker, recurring role on HBO hit series True Blood and on the ABC Family series Jane By Design. Dahlia recently starred in Selfie Dad and The Muppets for Disney. Dahlia goes back to the stage anytime she can — most recently she performed at the Santa Monica Playhouse in Plays in the Park along with Esai Morales, Mark Rydell, Ed Asner, and George Segal.

Hayley Babcock
Media & Television Executive, Producer

Hayley Babcock is a widely respected television executive known for her exceptional mix of creative and business skills, worldwide network of contacts and an expertise in formats. Ms. Babcock has built strong relationships in the global entertainment industry through holding senior executive positions at 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Television, A+E Networks and CBS International in the US as well as RTL Television and Fremantle Media in Germany.

Applying that experience, Ms. Babcock now runs HBMC: Hayley Babcock Media Consulting, which provides clients with market strategy guidance, content development collaboration, format sales, executive producing services and new business development all while utilizing unparalleled skill in bridging the divide between the US and international markets. Current business includes developing and monetizing scripted and non-scripted programming for clients beyond their own territories, crafting and implementing US market strategy and providing guidance on development slates. HBMC also provides connections between companies to build business collaboration and create new streams of revenue.

A selection of HBMC’s clients: Two Rivers Media (UK),Truly Adventurous (US), Catalyst (Canada), Chatterbox (UK), Ritual Arts (US), Les Mills International (New Zealand), Magnify Media (UK), Vincent TV (Netherlands), Zig Zag Productions (UK), Frantic Films (Canada), A+E Networks (US).

Hayley sits on several industry advisory boards such as Content London, FRAPA and The David Lyle Foundation. She is a member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been lead mentor for Horsepower, the Canadian format incubator from Media Ranch and TVA in Canada.

Craig Martelle
Author, Novelist

I write science fiction with a few forays into fantasy. I have a number of books, nineteen different series with a little something for everyone. I'm a retired Marine, lawyer, and leadership consultant. I put all of that into my books. Justice and honor, characters you want to hang out with. Visit my web page, craigmartelle.com for the latest posts and updates or find me on Facebook, Author Craig Martelle.

Rachel Marsh
Actor

Rachel Marsh is the breakout star of the latest Netflix hit original series, Unstable, co-starring father-and-son duo, Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe, who also serve as creators alongside Victor Fresco. Marsh stars as ‘Luna Castillo,’ the quirky yet quippy biotech engineer who is working on Dragon’s carbon-to-concrete project in his game-changing experimental Red Lab. Additional notable television credits include: the wildly successful iCarly revival for Paramount+, the HBO Max Head of the Class series reboot, and the Disney+ supernatural comedy, Just Beyond. Marsh first developed her love of the craft through improv and sketch comedy. She continues to regularly perform at the renowned comedy club, Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) theater. The Seattle native currently resides in Los Angeles.

Steven L. Sears
Screenwriter/Producer/Author

Beginning his career as an actor, Steven L. Sears moved on to be a Writer, Story Editor, Producer and Creator in Television, Film, digital media, and animation. His TV series include Hardcastle & McCormick, Stingray, Walker-Texas Ranger, Highwayman, Hollywood Detective, Grand Slam, Jesse Hawkes, Superboy, S.H.E. Spies and other Television favorites. He produced Swamp Thing for USA, Raven for CBS, was Co-Executive Producer of Xena, co-created Sheena for Sony/TriStar Television, and has had many pilot and development deals with the major studios. He wrote the Non-User Friendly Guide for Aspiring TV Writers, co-created the graphic novel Stalag-X with Kevin J. Anderson, and has stories in such anthologies as Jeff Sturgeon's Last Cities of Earth and Alien Vs. Predators: Ultimate Prey.

Kate Enggren
Casting Director, Actor

Kate Enggren has been a casting director for over 30 years casting thousands of commercials and films. She has a BFA from California Institute of the Arts and also a background in acting so she has an understanding of actors and the talents necessary to deliver the perfect performance. She has been involved in every aspect of the entertainment world.

Recently she’s worked on a series of Indie films and found the voices for a couple of Illumination animated films. Every year there are three or four commercials on the Superbowl that she has cast. Many of the projects she produced, cast, or has been involved with, have won awards at film festivals including Best Feature Comedy at the International Family Film Festival. One of her latest projects, Secret Santa, directed by Adam Marcus of Jason Goes to Hell fame, is taking the horror film festival circuit by storm.

As an actress Kate's TV and Film experience include roles on Criminal Minds, Truth be Told, House, West Wing, Six Feet Under, and Meet the Blacks, along with many faces on the soaps and even a few slasher films. Kate has done hundreds of commercials hocking everything from toilet paper to pharmaceuticals.

Having dealt with every aspect of the business Kate is a pro when it comes to contracts, SAG matters, and negotiations.

Shiva Negar
Actor

Shiva Negar is a talented and accomplished actress known for her captivating performances in both film and television. Born in Iran, raised in Turkey and Canada, Shiva developed a passion for acting at a young age and pursued her dreams with determination and dedication.

After completing her education in Toronto, Canada, Shiva embarked on her acting career, making her mark in the entertainment industry. She gained recognition for her versatile talent, seamlessly transitioning between different genres and characters.

Shiva's breakthrough came in 2017 when she portrayed the lead role of Annika in the action thriller film American Assassin. Her powerful portrayal and remarkable on-screen presence garnered critical acclaim and made her a rising star in Hollywood.

Since then, Shiva has continued to showcase her acting prowess in various projects. She has starred in two feature films released just this year, The Threat Next Door a Tubi original and Burned by Love now available on Amazon. Both inspired by true stories, where Shiva delivers a gripping portrayal and delves into complex emotional territory as she navigates a suspenseful storyline.

In addition to her impressive film work, Shiva has also made her mark on the small screen with notable recurring roles. On Fox's The Cleaning Lady, and the military drama Seal Team.

Outside of her acting career, Shiva is known for her advocacy work, particularly in promoting equality and empowering women. She has been involved in charitable initiatives and uses her platform to raise awareness about important social issues.

Vera Nazarian
Author, Novelist

Vera Nazarian is the author of The Atlantis Grail series, historical (Renaissance) epic fantasy trilogy Cobweb Bride, and other science fiction and fantasy novels and short works.

As a double refugee, after immigrating from the USSR during the Cold War, and then escaping from the Civil War in Lebanon (by way of Greece), she spent 35 years in Los Angeles, California. She now lives with four wacky cats in a small town in Vermont and uses her Armenian sense of humor and her Russian sense of suffering to bake conflicted pirozhki and make art.

Highlight Panels:

Watch the Complete Convention Playlist Below:


PROGRAM SCHEDULE

All Times in Eastern Daylight Time
 

COLOR KEY:
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Fandom
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Ceremonies
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Pre-Recorded
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TIME

Eastern Daylight Time


PROGRAM TRACK 1

(Live and First-Run Events)


PROGRAM TRACK 2

(Replays, Previously Recorded Events)


Friday, May 19, 2023

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Phoinios Heights Estate Living Room - Fandom Casual Meet and Greet #1 - TAG Fans, this is YOUR panel! Come and meet your fellow convention members, relax, and socialize!
Moderators: Mary C. Sellar
10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Phoinios Heights Estate Living Room - Fandom Casual Meet and Greet #2 - TAG Fans, this is YOUR panel! Come and meet your fellow convention members, relax, and socialize! ...The fun continues!...
Moderators: Kerry Vosswinkel
11:00 PM - 12:00 AM Midnight Four-Point Star Window Bedroom - Author Presentation: "A Gift From Earth."
Vera Nazarian
Author Presentation: "A Gift From Earth."
RECORDING available, starting now.


Saturday, May 20, 2023

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Pharikoneon Chamber - Opening Ceremonies
Nancy Huett, Mistress of Ceremonies.
10:00 AM - 11:AM ICS-2 Command Deck - “Meet the Author: Dawn of the Atlantis Grail, Expanding the TAG Universe.”
Vera Nazarian, Moderators: Nancy Huett
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM The Atlantis Grail Stadium - Trivia Games of the Atlantis Grail - Stage #1 (Red)
MC and Host: Kerry Vosswinkel. Moderators: Kerry Vosswinkel
12:00 PM Noon - 1:30 PM Shesep's Bar, Fish Town - "Writers Round Table: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and the State of Publishing in 2023."
Steven L. Sears, Craig Martelle, Vera Nazarian, Moderators: Teri N. Sears, Elizabeth Logotheti
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM Phoinios Heights Estate Living Room - Focused Fan Chat: The Games of the Atlantis Grail - TAG Fans, your turn to discuss! Let's talk about the wild and crazy action of the Games!
Moderators: Elizabeth Logotheti
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM Atlantis Station SPC Headquarters - "Science: What's New and Exciting in Space Science in 2023?"
Dr. Michelle Thaller (NASA, Goddard), Moderators: Nancy Huett, Teri N. Sears
4:15 PM - 4:45 PM The Atlantis Grail Stadium - Trivia Games of the Atlantis Grail - Stage #2 (Blue)
MC and Host: Kerry Vosswinkel. Moderators: Kerry Vosswinkel
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Astroctadra Mission Control Room - "Science: What's Coming Down on Mars? Landers!"
Bridget Landry (JPL). Moderators: Teri N. Sears
6:45 - 7:15 PM Phoinios Heights Estate Living Room - Focused Fan Chat: "Life Choice: Cadet or Civilian?" - TAG Fans, your turn to discuss! Let's talk about what life track would you choose to pursue once Qualified for Atlantis? Would you become a Cadet or a Civilian?
Moderators: Mary C. Sellar
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Starlight Resonance Chamber - "What's New in Hollywood?"
Richard Joel, Brad Chiet, Rachel Marsh, Dahlia Waingort Guigui, Hayley Babcock, Kate Enggren, Shiva Negar, Vera Nazarian. Moderators: Nancy Huett, Teri N. Sears
9:15 PM - 9:45 PM The Atlantis Grail Stadium - Trivia Games of the Atlantis Grail - Stage #3 (Green)
MC and Host: Richard Joel. Moderators: Kerry Vosswinkel
10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Nubu Depet Imperial Bedroom - "Amrevet Days: The 5-Chili Pepper Spicy-Hot Panel" (Adult 18+ Only)
Vera Nazarian, Moderators: Nancy Huett, Teri N. Sears
11:15 PM - 11:45 AM The Atlantis Grail Stadium - Trivia Games of the Atlantis Grail - Stage #4 (Yellow)
MC and Host: Richard Joel. Moderators: Kerry Vosswinkel
12:00 AM Midnight - 12:30 AM Phoinios Heights Estate Living Room - Casual Fan Chat #3 - TAG Fans, this is YOUR panel! Come and chat with your fellow convention members, relax, and socialize! Discuss the exciting events of the convention!
Moderators: Kerry Vosswinkel


Sunday, May 21, 2023

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Four-Point Star Window Bedroom - Author Reading: Chapter One from COBWEB BRIDE.
Vera Nazarian
Author Reading: Chapter One from COBWEB BRIDE.
RECORDING available, starting now.
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Imperial Poseidon Museum - Art and Costume Showcase
Moderator: Elizabeth Logotheti, Teri N. Sears
9:45 AM - 10:15 AM Phoinios Heights Estate Living Room - Focused Fan Chat: "Character Deaths: Impact on You and the Story" - TAG Fans, your turn to discuss! Let's talk about the loss of pivotal TAG characters and how it affects the storyline and the reader.
Moderators: Mary C. Sellar
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Sekar Mehet Museum, New Deshret - TAG Swag Show and Tell
Vera Nazarian, Moderator: Teri N. Sears
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Noon The Atlantis Grail Stadium - Trivia Games of the Atlantis Grail - Final Tie-Breaker Championship Round
Champions of Sections One, Two, Three, and Four, compete in the Final Tie-Breaker Round to crown the ultimate TAG Con Trivia Games of the Atlantis Grail Champion.
MC and Host: Richard Joel. Moderators: Kerry Vosswinkel

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Benben Island, the Akhet Islands Archipelago - "TAG Con GREECE 2023 - Discussion and Q&A."
Elizabeth Logotheti, Vera Nazarian, Moderators: Elizabeth Logotheti
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM Pharikoneon Chamber - Closing Ceremonies
Nancy Huett, Mistress of Ceremonies, MC and Host: Richard Joel.

REPLAYS of all remaining events available four (4) hours after their initial airing.
2:30 - 3:00 PM Phoinios Heights Estate Living Room - Casual Fan Chat - Weary Pegasus Edition - TAG Fans, this is YOUR panel! Come and chat with your fellow convention members, relax, and socialize! The convention is over, the pegasei are escaping, but the fun continues!
Moderator: Teri N. Sears

COLOR KEY:
Major Panel
Track
Fandom
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Ceremonies
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Pre-Recorded
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Art Show
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CosPlay
Track


Convention Committee Volunteers

(The TAG Con Astra Daimon)

Shelley Bruce, Nydia Fernandez Burdick, Ellen Contard, Nancy Huett, Elizabeth Logotheti, Teri N. Sears, Mary Sellar, Kerry Vosswinkel.


Convention Swag for Your Goodie Bag!

Take this Atlantean Color Quadrant Quiz to find out YOUR Color Quadrant!

Don't forget to personalize your name on both sides, front and back of the badge!

Don't forget to personalize your name on both sides, front and back of the badge!

Get some additional TAG Swag! For you, your friends, and you convention goodie bag!

  • The Atlantis Grail Store on Zazzle for all kinds of fun swag and merchandize inspired by the Atlantis Grail Series, including mugs, t-shirts, buttons, totes, holiday ornaments, and more. The TAG Con 2023 Swag is all there! (Or use this convenient link.)


Visit the official hangouts for TAG Fans online:


More TAG Fan Resources:

  • TAG DOT FAN is your one-stop starting place for all your fandom questions!

  • YouTube Channel with exclusive video content including chapter readings by the author! The video recordings of various events of this convention will eventually end up there! Don't forget to subscribe to the Channel!

  • Atlantean Calendar Date Converter, a fun website gadget to enjoy! Find out your Atlantean Birthday, see Fun Facts and TAG Quotes and more!

    Delicious TAG-inspired custom Tea blends from Plum Deluxe, which premiered in 2021 at TAG Con!

  • Official website of The Atlantis Grail Series: TheAtlantisGrail.comEverything is here! Up-to-date Status Updates on the next TAG novel or TAG novella writing progress and release schedule, the Color Quadrant Quiz, forthcoming TAG books, novellas, audiobooks, hardcover and paperback editions, movie/TV series film option info, Music of the Atlantis Grail, wiki, videos, prequel series, etc.

  • New to the series? Start reading the books here: QUALIFY (The Atlantis Grail Book #1) is free in all digital formats!

  • Have questions? Want your books autographed? Check the official TAG website FAQ!


REMINDER - Using Hashtags.

When you talk about TAG Con 2023 and The Atlantis Grail on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media, be sure to use the proper hashtags!

They are: #TAGCon2023 #TAGCon2023GoldenDiskOfRa #TheAtlantisGrail #TAGfan

It really makes a difference!



Official Rules of Conduct:
  1. Be kind and courteous, respect others, and strive to create a welcoming environment.

  2. Respect everyone’s privacy. Do not share anything outside the convention. This includes the taking of screenshots as well as any links to convention-related programs or applications such as Discord, Zoom, and YouTube.

  3. Participants are to place themselves on MUTE and VIDEO OFF for all Zoom Sessions unless otherwise indicated by the Moderators.

  4. No politics or controversial subjects.

  5. No spam of any kind. Self-promotion and off-topic links are not permitted. Posts deemed inappropriate are subject to deletion.

  6. No bullying or hate speech, no disparaging comments of any kind. No discrimination on the basis of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, identity, or culture. If, for whatever reason, you feel bullied or threatened by another participant, please let the event organizers know so we may address the situation.

  7. Failure to adhere to these rules may result in your removal from the event and possible banishment from future events.



Recording Disclaimer:

By attending and/or participating in these panels, all participants hereby grant permission for their audio and/or video likenesses, and names (if applicable) to be used by TAG Con 2023 Golden Disk of Ra in recordings and replays of the panels and other recorded materials, including YouTube Channel videos of the convention.



Prizes Disclaimer:

All TAG Con Contest and Competition Prizes, as described, will be awarded to the Winners, to the best of our ability. There may be item substitutions based on item availability and regional shipping restrictions. There may also be delays due to international shipping restrictions caused by global events. No purchase required.


 

   

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TAG Con 2023 Golden Disk of Ra - Website Copyright © 2023 by Vera Nazarian