Panels

SCHEDULE

The 2024 OCon Expo has entertaining and engaging programming all weekend long. Navigate the tabs below to see what panels, events, and other programming is happening this weekend.

Friday, June 28th
Saturday, June 29th
Sunday, June 30th

TIME

PANELS

2:00 PM START TIME

FALLOUT PANEL

Chaz Liechti

We will be discussing the history of the lore of fallout, how the lore would fit and discuss many of the fascinations of key locations of the genre. We will also be including how a nuclear apocalypse differs from zombie (walking dead etc) to many other kinds. So with that being said, think the future! Think Vault Tec! And there will be a trivia near the end of the panel!

3:00 PM START TIME

GUNPLA 101.4

Wesley Weaks

This is an entry level guide to building gundams and plastic models. we explore the different types of plastic model grades, building techniques and creativity that comes with the hobby.

LEVEL UP YOUR COSPLAY!

Ezmeralda Von Katz & Others

Interested in taking your cosplays to the next level? This discussion based panel led by industry professionals focuses on the skill set needed to increase your cosplay potential.

4:00 PM START TIME

AMBER NASH Q&A

Amber Nash

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, Amber Nash.

THINKING AS AN ARTIST

Dylan Jacobsen

Join Midwest illustrator, Dylan Jacobson, in a discussion panel about thinking as an artist. Whether it’s creating new work, or approaching new clients, thinking as an artist can be critical in a creative career.

BOB HALL: 50 YEARS IN COMICS

Bob Hall

Bob Hall discusses his career in comics.

COSPLAY & INDUSTRY GUESTS Q&A

Black Zero Cosplay, Tim Harrison, Chad Lee Evett, Theo Tiedemann, Ezmeralda Von Katz, & Midwest Avenger

An interactive Questions & Answers session with our cosplay & industry guests.

5:00 PM START TIME

MARTIN KLEBBA Q&A

Martin Klebba

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, Martin Klebba.

PLASTIC TO PRESENTABLE: BASICS OF 3D PRINT FINISHING

Tim Harrison HDC

If you’re new to 3d printing or looking how to take your 3d printed props and costume accessories to the next level, look no further. We will go over the basics of surface preparation for your PLA , PETG, and Resin printed parts, talk about various fillers and primers, and then talk about sealers, paints, and clear coats to make your plastic indistinguishable from the real thing! We will have examples to pass around and make sure to come loaded with questions!

THE WORKING WRITER MODEL

Jeri Red Shepherd & Christopher D. Schmitz

Authors Jeri Red Shepherd and Christopher D Schmitz lead other writers and creatives in a discussion about how to make a viable and joyous career as a writer.

6:00 PM START TIME

HONKY TONK MAN Q&A

The Honky Tonk Man

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, The Honky Tonk Man.

CONNECTING WITH YOUR CREATIVE GENIUS

Matt Herbert

Learn to seek out boredom and failure in this discussion of creative outlets, how to find yours, and how to find more fulfillment in creative experience. Includes topics like creating for others versus for your own catharsis. Matt will finish with a dramatic reading from one of his books.

PESTER HESTER

Phil Hester & Friends

A unique opportunity to interact with Phil Hester & Co!

MEET THE NEBRASKA STAR WARS COSTUMING CLUBS!

Nebraska Star Wars Costuming Clubs

Come and learn about who we are, what we do, and how you can become involved! Hosted jointly by current members and leadership of local chapters of the Rebel Legion, Mando Mercs, the 501st, the Dark Empire, and Defenders Detachment.

ARTIST JAM

Fredd Gorham

Come hang out with us for an artist jam!

7:00 PM START TIME

AFTER DARK COSPLAY, COMMISSIONS, & INDUSTRY FABRICATION AS A PROFESSION Q&A

Tim Harrison HDC

Are you curious about taking your passion to the next level and pursuing fabrication, design, cosplay, or commission work professionally? Come chat with Tim of HDC, a veteran industry fabricator, designer, business owner, and adjunct professor with DePaul University Chicago. We will discuss practices, tips and tricks, how and where to get started, and more. This is a Q&A so come with questions!

THE TRUTH ABOUT PUBLISHING IS OUT…AND IT’S NOT PRETTY

Jeri Red Shepherd & Christopher D. Schmitz

Learn the differences between independent and traditional publishing in one of the fastest changing industries in the world. Author Darby Harn moderates a panel of professional authors with experience in both arenas for an insightful conversation.

TIME

PANELS

9:00 AM START TIME

COSPLAY TECH REHEARSALS

Cosplay Coordinator

Open time to walk through what to expect with the Cosplay Contest and rehearse.

THE INTERSECTION OF WRITING AND GAMING

Christopher D. Schmitz and Jeri Red Shepherd

Discuss how the two biggest entertainment industries today have learned to play together in the pages and around the tables of homes throughout the world. Join authors and game developers Christopher D. Schmitz and Jeri Red Shepherd as they explore this topic with a mix of fun, stories, and learning.

10:00 AM START TIME

FOUNDLING ARMOR COLORING HOUR!

Star Wars Costuming Clubs

“We’ve saved our “beskar” scraps all year to provide armor for all the young foundlings who want to follow the way of Mandalore! Parents and guardians, make sure your foundlings are ready to stretch their creative coloring muscles as they color their own set of cardboard armor. Crayons, markers, armor, and artistic encouragement all donated by Ne’tra Vhipir Clan.

Representatives from Galactic Academy and Verd’ika Corps will also be present to answer questions for any kiddos interested in joining kids’ Star Wars Costume Clubs.”

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY LEGO TRIVIA! (PLUS: LEGO IN NEBRASKA)

LOLUG

So you think you’re a GOTG fan? Let’s find out! Test your knowledge to win a Guardians LEGO set! Members of the Lincoln Omaha LEGO User Group (LOLUG) will also talk about our community of adult LEGO builders in the greater Lincoln/ Omaha areas and how you can get involved. Presenter/ Panelists will include Lauren Boswell, Nate Flood, and Brian Hirt

11:00 AM START TIME

ANDY MERRILL Q&A

Andy Merrill

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, Andy Merrill.

SO NOW YOU’RE A COSPLAYER

Mark with Prairie Sea Props, Amethyst Phoenix, Jess Starry Creative

“Congratulations! You’re a Cosplayer. But now what? Join veteran cosplayers (professional and hobbyist) as we tackle all your burning questions. Find out what cosplay life is like and get insights on what you can do with your newfound costuming power.
This is a live version of a podcast, and may be recorded for future content.”

MANDALORIAN CULTURE: A HISTORY

Star Wars Costuming Clubs

Join members of the local Mando Mercs Costume Club as they discuss Mandalorian Culture throughout its history in the Star Wars universe.

12:00 PM START TIME

MICHAEL ROOKER Q&A

Michael Rooker

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, Michael Rooker.

1:00 PM START TIME

MING CHEN Q&A

Ming Chen

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, Ming Chen.

HONKY TONK MAN Q&A

The Honky Tonk Man

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, The Honky Tonk Man.

ENGAGE YOUR INNER HERO!

David Depew LMHC CADC

“Engage Your Inner Hero!” is an immersive panel guided by a certified mental health counselor. Together, we delve into the profound parallels between Joseph Campbell’s iconic Hero’s Journey and our individual mental health paths. Through spirited conversations, participants explore beloved films and legendary heroes, weaving their own personal challenges and victories into the rich tapestry of the Hero’s Journey.

YOUR ONE-PAGE RPG AS A NOVEL OUTLINE

Jeri Red Shepherd

Come ready to write, adventure, and have fun as you enjoy a workshop with Legends Of Avantris and Troll Lords game writer Jeri Red Shepherd. Learn to create your own one-page RPG and discover how this tool can both be played and be used as an outline for a longer written story.

2:00 PM START TIME

LINNEA QUIGLEY Q&A

Linnea Quigley

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, Linnea Quigley.

THERESA CASSADAY Q&A

Theresa Cassaday

An interactive Questions & Answers session with local celebrity guest, Theresa Cassaday.

HUMANS IN SPACE

John Powers

Humans are starting to travel into space, but what does that entail? What will happen to the species as it adapts to the environmental changes of space and new worlds.

DRESS FOR FEST: A QUICK AND DIRTY GUIDE TO DRESSING UP FOR FESTS FOR LESS!

Renaissance Festival of Nebraska

Many people are excited about the idea of dressing up in costumes to come to the Renaissance Festival OR Pirate Fest, but are overwhelmed by the cost, or they don’t know where to start. All of our cast are fans of faire who started out small, and built their way up to full characters and costumes. If you’re just wanting to feel more immersed in the festival experience, we have a lot of tips on how to “shop your closet,” what to look for in good basics, easy patterns for simple pieces (it’s all rectangles!) and what to look for at your local thrift, second-hand shop, or yard sale. We can get you pointed in the right direction to start living out your festival costume dreams on a budget.

3:00 PM START TIME

J.G. HERTZLER Q&A

J.G. Hertzler

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, J.G. Hertzler.

COSPLAY IS GOOD MENTAL HEALTH!

David Depew LMHC CADC

“Cosplay is Good Mental Health!” This engaging panel, led by a certified mental health therapist, delves into the transformative power of cosplay. Through lively discussions, we uncover the myriad benefits it offers: fostering connections, igniting creativity, and boosting confidence. However, like any adventure, there’s a cautionary note—the dark side. Join us as we explore the intricate tapestry of mental health within the colorful world of cosplay.

WHO WOULD WIN?

Jacob Titus

A very serious discussion panel about answering the important questions. Could Wonder Woman eat more pancakes than Naruto? Would Sailor Moon throw a better party than Rogue? Who would win?

DERYL SKELTON’S DRAWN-OUT LIFE

Deryl Skelton

50 Years as an Artist from Comics and Cartoons to Paintings and Prince

4:00 PM START TIME

VICTOR YERRID Q&A

Victory Yerrid

An interactive Questions & Answers session with special celebrity guest, Victor Yerrid.

ANDE PARKS: HOW A GRAPHIC NOVEL BECAME THE EXTRACTION FILM FRANCHISE

Ande Parks

Writer Ande Parks talks about how his graphic novel, Ciudad, was adapted as the Extraction films. Ande will compare images from the comic and the films, and discuss his journey through the dense, sometimes confounding Hollywood landscape.

ALL THINGS COSPLAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Lauren Schweer

“With the popularity of cosplay in the mainstream media, not only is there so much competition and demand for “”quality content””, but there are SOOOO MANY “”cosplay”” photographers to sift through. How do you pick the one best for you? How do you make the most of your session? Maybe you’re just looking for some tips on how to enhance your selfie game? Not sure what to do with your hands when you get in front of a camera?

Come chat with All Things Lauren Studios, who has been a photographer for over 14 years, and is now living her dream job of traveling to conventions all around the country!”

LET’S MAKE UP AN ANIME

Jacob Titus

A panel where attendees brainstorm the next big anime hit together, and then volunteers help act out the first episode.

GALACTIC WASTELAND: COLLECTING STAR WARS 5 YEARS AFTER THE SEQUELS

Mike Harvat, Phil Reno, Bill Harvat

The Star Wars Bounty Hunters Collectors Podcast would like to host a panel discussing the state of collecting Star Wars now that we’re (nearly) 5 years removed from The Rise of Skywalker. We will shine the light on obscure and unloved items, while demonstrating that it’s possible to collect on a budget! We also plan to do some fun giveaways.

5:00 PM START TIME

KLINGON JEOPARDY

Members of IKV Raptor’s Heart

Star Trek trivia in the form of Jeopardy with a Klingon Twist

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRO WRESTLING IN NEBRASKA

Mikey Taylor, Donnie Dodge, Moose Harder, Dave Sullivan

The Nebraska Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame presents a presentation on the rich history of pro wrestling in Nebraska. Learn about some of the great performers and showmen they came right here from the heartland.

6:00 PM START TIME

THE 2024 OCON COSPLAY CONTEST

OCon Expo’s Annual Cosplay Contest is back and ready for action. Come support (or enter) amazing cosplayers as they compete across multiple categories and multiple classes to see who is crowned the champion.

TIME

PANELS

10:00 AM START TIME

CUDDLE A CORGI

Omaha Corgi Crew

You don’t want to miss this room full of corgis – A.K.A. the best start to a Sunday Morning! Come play and cuddle with corgis to kick off the final day of OCon.

THE ART OF JIM MEHSLING

Jim Mehsling

Professional illustrator and animator Jim Mehsling discusses his art..

11:00 AM START TIME

KIDS COSPLAY PARADE

The adults aren’t the only ones showing off their awesome costumes. Come cheer on the awesome kids of the greater Omaha area as they show off their awesome costumes.

CROSSING THE BARRICADE: YOUR JOURNEY INTO PRO WRESTLING

Logan Davis

Ever thought pro wrestling might be a calling? Then join this panel of wrestlers and promoters both as they answer your questions and give tips on how to start that journey, whether it be producing, wrestling, or managing!

OUR FAMILY PLAYS GAMES STREAM

Our Family Plays Games

Join Our Family Plays Games as they live stream!

12:00 PM START TIME

MAXIMIZING YOUR CREATIVE IP

Jeri Red Shepherd moderator

Stories today are meant to leap off the pages in more ways than you think. There are different formats, different platforms, and different forms of reaching your audience. Jeri Red Shepherd moderates a panel of creatives as they share the many ways they have learned to make a single story into a list of viable products.

IMPROV GAMES WITH CAST FROM THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL OF NEBRASKA AND MIDWEST PIRATE FEST!

Renaissance Festival of Nebraska

The Volunteer Cast of The Renaissance Festival of Nebraska and Midwest Pirate Fest prepare for interacting with patrons in character in a variety of ways, including improv games! Several cast members will encourage panel participants to join in a variety of improv activities to help build confidence and improve response times when presented with silly scenarios. THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE PANEL!!! These are the same kinds of activities we do in preparation for embodying our various festival characters. What do you do when someone asks you a really silly, weird, or difficult to answer question? What’s the best way to have fun talking about everyday modern objects when interacting as a historical or fantasy character? How can you turn an ordinary interaction into an extraordinary memory? How can you act as your character physically, verbally, emotionally? What would your character do in this scenario? These are all questions we seek to answer as we play these games.
Games like:

Wrong Answers Only
But Wait, There’s More…
Don’t Be A Slacker
My Name is Inigo Montoya
Two Minutes to Tell It
Who Am I?
Yes, And…

and more!

We’re very excited to engage our panelists in these games. Fun, lighthearted, interactive, and great for folks who are curious about joining cast, as well as those who just love a great party game.

1:00 PM START TIME

SING & DANCE WITH MISTER K

Mister K’s Clubhouse

Join Mister K from Mister K’s Clubhouse, Omaha’s only live-action education preschool television series for some singing and dancing fun. Mister K is joined by his two puppet friends, Eddie and Speedy.

HOW TO ASK FOR THE DAY OFF WHEN YOU’RE THE BOSS

K. Lynn Smith & Janna Ayoub

Talking working as an artist, but more importantly, getting down time without the guilt, with Jenna and K. Lynn.

MUCK IT UP: INTRO TO FINISHING, DISTRESSING, & AGING TECHNIQUES

Tim Harrison HDC

Looking to add that extra bit of realism to your prop or costume and not sure where to start? We will go over developing your visual story and emulating the passage of time, or chronosynthesis, various techniques on how to prep and finish your prop and then basic acrylic and oil paint washes, highlighting and lowlighting techniques, air brushing, battle damage, rusting and more! At the end of this, you will be armed to sufficiently muck up your clean work to better bring out its realism!

HOW TO TURN YOUR HOBBY INTO A BUSINESS

Justin Hansen

Turning your hobby into a business while still having fun!

2:00 PM START TIME

CRAFTING ARMOR 101

Anne Yankus, William Massengill, Alex Bottorff, Glenn Hightower, netravhipir

Join experienced members of the local Star Wars costuming clubs as they discuss how you can craft armor using all types of methods and materials from pepakura to shaped plastic to 3D printing!

BALANCING A DIVERSE ART CAREER

Dylan Jacobson

Today’s creative landscape is defined by multiple income streams and avenues of creativity. Join Dylan Jacobson in a panel discussion exploration of avenues he’s pursued, what they’re like, and what you might pursue. From Twitch to live events, Dylan has done it all.

I'M THE MAP

Not sure where to find the panel you’re looking for? Have no fear, we have a map!