Star Wars Celebration Chicago - Spot Highlight on Digital Artist Darren Tan

Whatever you may think about the latest trilogy, Star Wars has the innate ability to bring people from all over the world together.

At this year's Star Wars Celebration held from 11 April to 15 April 2019 in Chicago's McCormick Place, several well-known as well as up-and-coming artists will be showcasing and selling their Star Wars inspired art at the exhibition floor.

One of them is freelance Singapore-based digital artist Darren Tan, who has built up a sizeable fan base locally and abroad with his beautifully rendered Star Wars themed artwork that spans from the three movie trilogies we all love to the expanded universe.

Darren's artwork is also featured on RPG and card games by Fantasy Flight Games, like Star Wars: X-Wing and Star Wars: Outer Rim.

It is only a week till the start of Star Wars Celebration Chicago, Red Dot Diva asked Darren some nosy questions, so that you will get to know him better.

Red Dot Diva: How did you get started in the career of illustration?
Darren: I actually started in animation but through it, I discovered digital illustration and Photoshop. I bought myself a wacom tablet and thought myself how to paint by imitating other famous artists on the internet. Eventually, I got good enough that I left the animation field, and got hired at Imaginary Friends Studios (IFS), a local illustration studio led by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau.

Star Wars May the 4th SG Celebrations Are Back On!

The Force is Strong in Red Dot Island.

After the dramatic announcement that there will not be a large-scale event for May the 4th (Star Wars Day) in Singapore this year, the festival is back on! *FIST PUMP*

(Did any #TeamRichGuys from Canto Bight throw some sponsorship money into this?)

The May the 4th SG affair will be backed by the five local costumed groups - 501st Legion Singapore Garrison, Cathar Base Singapura - Rebel Legion, Fightsaber SG, Kranak Clan - Mandalorian Mercs Singapore, and Galactic Academy - Hosian Prime Campus Singapore!!

Red Dot Diva heard that it will be an event held at a public space, and it is set to be as fun and as celebratory as previous years. She has no other further details right now, but will post as soon as she has more.

KEEP THE DATE FREE!


 

No Big Scale May the 4th Star Wars Event in Singapore This Year

BOO HOO.

There will not be a large-scale May the 4th (Star Wars Day) festival held in Red Dot Island this year. Due to the lack of sponsorship funds as well as interest by venue owners, the organisers were unable to pull together an event like what they did in the past 3 years.

Last year, despite the scorching weather, thousands of Star Wars fans came together at F1 Pit Building to meet founder of 501st Legion Albin Johnson and pink astromech droid R2-KT, scream during a Star Wars rock band performance, take photos with costumed groups like 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, and watch a scintillating lightsaber duel by Fightsaber.

So, it is heartbreaking to know that local fans will not be gathering at a common location for Star Wars Day. However, that does not stop anyone or any group of fans organising their own private Star Wars parties to honour the fandom.

After all, May the 4th began as a grassroot celebration of all things Star Wars, that is, it is by the fans for the fans. Here are some ideas on how to to mark the occasion:

* Organise a screening of Star Wars movies with the family and friends. Better still, invite someone who has not watched any Star Wars movies before.

* Start the day right with indulging in Star Wars-inspired cookies, toast and of course, blue milk. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, extra galaxy points for green milk.

* Carry out a Star Wars scavenger hunt in your neighbourhood. Everyone who participates has to dress up as a character.

* Get crafty! Make Star Wars pins, cards or bookmarks, and give them away to colleagues, family and friends.

* Bake or order a Star Wars cake, and share it with family, friends and/ or colleagues.

* Produce and film your own Star Wars Day fan tribute video, and post it on social media. 

* Achieve your daily steps requirement with John William's Star Wars score as your motivational pump music.

* Wear something Star Wars-related to work (if that is allowed). If there is a need to be discrete for office wear, perhaps a pair of Star Wars-themed socks, Death Star cufflinks, or BB-8 charm jewellery?

* Head to the book store and buy a Star Wars book or comic, especially if a butt-breaking Star Wars movie marathon is not your thing.  

* Put on a costume, take your favourite Star Wars toys and action figures, and make your way to the Sandcrawler building to celebrate with Master Yoda. Snap many selfies and share them.

Here's what Red Dot Diva think might also be fun to do. This year, May the 4th falls on the same day as Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). So, why not combine the two events with a crossover? Adorn your costumes or geek wear from a galaxy far far away, hop on to your speeder, and celebrate Star Wars Day with comic book fans at local FCBD venues!

Rebranded Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) Shifts Dates to 7 & 8 Dec 2019!

The signs were already there during last year's Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention (STGCC). Remember the huge signage made out of post-its with the new name, near the food court? It was a hint of what's to come concerning the rebranding of Red Dot Island's main pop-culture show.

Since then, there has been a fair amount of hearsay with bits of information flowing through from exhibitors and those who signed up for booths at this year's Artist Alley. However, for most local fans, things have been kept on the low-down... Until last night. 

At an exclusive fan party held at retro gaming bar NINETEEN80, ReedPOP Singapore made three important official announcements to a group of about 25 specially invited fans. 

#1 - STGCC Has Been Rebranded as Singapore Comic Con (SGCC)
The event's lengthy name - Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention - has always been a tongue twister. Red Dot Diva noticed that guests usually fumble when they need to mention the show's name at a promotional video or during interviews. Many local folks (especially those who are not so hardcore) sometimes call it Singapore Comic Con for short.

Also, the new name is more in line with all the other pop-culture conventions that ReedPOP organises internationally, like New York Comic Con, Oz Comic Con, Seoul Comic Con and Indonesia Comic Con. ReedPOP assures that other segments like toys, will still have their presence at the show even though it is not mentioned specifically in rebranding.

The show's acronym/ hashtag itself though, is rather unfortunate. It is a running joke that SGCC stands for Serangoon Gardens Country Club, so... will there be a pop-culture mini golf competition at the show? Red Dot Diva thinks that will be quite a fun and novel idea. Hahaha.

Apparently, SGCC was chosen over SCC in order not to cause confusion for those who associate the latter's acronym with Singapore Comics Community.

Tumble into Artscience Museum's Wonderland Exhibition, Opens 13 April 2019

Photo: Phoebe Powell

Look out for the White Rabbit! Then, follow him down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, a new exhibition at Artscience Museum that opens on 13 April 2019. The interactive and whimsical exhibition is based on Lewis Carroll's beloved book series “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There”.

Red Dot Island is the first stop of Wonderland's global tour. Developed by Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Wonderland aims to enchant readers and audiences with immersive environments consisting of theatrical sets, stunning props and audiovisual works.

Alice and her adventures in Wonderland has inspired countless movies, comics, games since 1865, and has also become a pop culture icon through the ages. The Wonderland exhibition shows how she has been interpreted and adapted through the centuries, by pulling together an amazing range of original behind-the-scenes material that includes over 300 artefacts and objects, like original 19th century manuscripts, first edition books, imaginative drawings, fantastical costumes, films and so much more.

In addition, Wonderland will also show the technological advances and progress with animation, puppetry and special effects from the era during the first Alice movie adaptation by Cecil M Hepworth in 1903 to the recent TV shows and films produced and screened in the 21st century.


Wonderland at ArtScience Museum

Here is a brief run down of what visitors can expect in the upcoming Wonderland exhibit.

Starting from Lewis Carroll's drawing room, visitors will be given their own Lost Map of Wonderland to use as a guide in exploring the area. But first of all, you have to choose to be one of the four characters – the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat, the Queen or the Mad Hatter - which will set you on a path consisting of secret doorways, winding corridors, and interactive props that beg to be touched and fiddled with.

Photo: Phoebe Powell

The journey continues through the Hallway of Doors, to the Pool of Tears, the Looking Glass House and then, to the Queen's Croquet Ground, where you can become one of those on screen taking part in a croquet game.

Photo: Phoebe Powell

Most wondrous of all is the immersive centrepiece of the exhibit - the Mad Hatter's Tea Party! Sit down and be one of the kooky guests at a table served with giant tea cups, surrounded by a digitally projected dreamscape.

Photo: Phoebe Powell

Leave the adult world of logic behind when you step into topsy-turvy Wonderland, as things get curiouser and curiouser, and where it is OK if you think you have spotted a glimpse of the Cheshire cat's mysterious grin from the corner of your eye.  


-------------------

Tickets are available for purchase from 1 April onwards at all Marina Bay Sands box offices and website. Wonderland opens its trippy doors on 13 April till 22 September 2019

For more information, head to this link - https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/wonderland.html

Gamestart Asia Is Ready for Another Edition at Suntec Convention Centre, 12 & 13 October 2019

Gamestart Asia has announced their convention dates for 2019!

Back for the 6th year, South-east Asia's premiere gaming convention will be back at Suntec Convention Halls 401 to 403 on 12 & 13 October 2019.

Last year's show had attendees excited for the high-stakes e-sports competitions including the SEA Major (SEAM), game releases as well as meet and greet sessions with special guests Elise Zhang, voice of Mei from Overwatch, as well as wrestler and celebrity gamer Kenny Omega.

The convention is set for even more exciting gaming and pop-culture events and activities in its next edition, so keep your eyes on Gamestart Asia's social media sites, as well as here on Red Dot Diva!

--------------------

Gamestart Asia links:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GameStart.Asia/
Twitter - http://twitter.com/GameStartAsia
Instagram - http://instagram.com/GameStartAsia

Triple Frontier Biceps Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund at Red Carpet Event, Singapore

WOWZA!

Not only was the weather scorching hot yesterday, the area at Marina Bay Sands' Digital Light Canvas rose to a few hundred degrees Celsius in the evening as well.

Why, you ask? Because three-fifths of the Special Ops Boyband aka as Netflix's action thriller-heist-drug cartel war movie called “Triple Frontier” - Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedland plus producer Chuck Roven - were in town for a red carpet event.

Red Dot Diva was there to check out those hunky biceps and here are some of the details of what went down during those couple of hours.

The fan area opened at about 4 PM for those who had tickets for the event. Unlike other red carpet events, this one seemed pretty chill. The layout was neatly designed with clearly marked out areas for fans to stand in. Security and crew also seemed clear with their instructions given, and there was a generous space for the media folks right in front of the stage.

There was only a handful of fans who were very early. Up till 6 PM or so, there was a still lots of space available for more people to get onto the fan pit. Before the Netflix PR folks arrived, Red Dot Diva was still unsure if she wanted to stand with the fans (better chance of selfies and autographs), or get into the media pit. In the end, she decided to sacrifice the chance for possible (sometimes blurry) selfies, for the opportunity to take clearer pics up close for social media and the RDD blog. You can thank her much much by following her blog and social media accounts. ;)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Red Dot Diva (@reddotdiva) on Mar 8, 2019 at 12:11am PST

Check out the striking red carpet, all ready for the stars to walk on. While everyone was waiting, Class 95 DJs The Muttons got everyone warmed up, gave out some swag, and introduced the fans to the “Triple Frontier” trailer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Red Dot Diva (@reddotdiva) on Mar 8, 2019 at 4:18am PST