Odds and Ends: Drama panels and KCON 2014

60 May 25, 2014May 24, 2014

by javabeans

javabeans: I know the event is a few months off, but we (the Dramabeans crew) just booked our flights for KCON this year (August 9-10) so that’s been on our minds this week.

girlfriday: Yup, no backing out now.

javabeans: I know that KCON likes to do their big tease to the big reveal, but we figured we might as well let you all know we’re going to be there again this year. And it sounds like the K-drama presence will be stronger than it was last year, when there was just one drama-related panel and it was the first one of the day and a bunch of people who had been lined up since early morning couldn’t even make it because it took too long to get them admitted inside the gates.

girlfriday: That was sad when we were getting tweets from people still in line. Hopefully there’s a better system this time for getting in.

javabeans: And we’ll be on two panels this time, so if you miss one, you can make the other one! We don’t actually know when they’ll be, but we were invited to do two and KCON said cool, and we said cool, so that’s all I know.

girlfriday: I’m excited that there’s more drama-related stuff going on this year.

javabeans: Me too. It’s understandable that much of KCON is geared toward K-pop (as in, purely the music), but there’s a huge drama fanbase out there (duh, says everyone reading Dramabeans) and it’s really nice to have a place carved out for us drama fans.

girlfriday: I wonder if they can build us a giant couch that can fit a hundred people on it.

javabeans: “It’s called a lawn. Go crazy.”

girlfriday: So not the same.

javabeans: Now if only they could do something about that weather. Because I really don’t enjoy the whole melting-into-my-shoes experience. But it’s LA, it’s August, what can you do. Although if someone were to spring for those misters that they have at places like Disneyland, I would buy that someone a drink personally. C’mon, misting tent! Make it happen!

girlfriday: That is a slippery slope to a wet T-shirt contest. Perhaps I’ll just pack a spray can of Evian like an ajumma with a giant picnic purse, and we’ll get those tiny handheld fans that do nothing.

javabeans: Will I look too much like a weirdo if I bring a parasol?

girlfriday: Yes, but then everyone will know how to find you so it’ll be doubly useful. It just also means you have to dress like a southern belle to match.

javabeans: You may mock me now, but just wait until I have the parasol and you’re trying to pry it out of my hands, only to fail at it because you’ve passed out from heatstroke.

girlfriday: You WOULD let me pass out just to be right. Hmph.

javabeans: I’d also do it to be funny? But mostly to be right. Basically, everybody plan for extreme heat is what I’m sayin’. In any case, we’ve put in our ideas for our panel and we’ve got a topic all planned, but there are also three months between now and then so we’re open to taking questions from you guys and suggestions for what you’d like to hear us talk about!

girlfriday: Yeah you should let us know what you want to hear, and if we get some great questions or topics we’ll bring them to the panel.

javabeans: Plus gummimochi and HeadsNo2 will be there to moderate our panel, so they’ll also be on hand to answer questions and the like. I wonder if we can have a twitter feed going during our panel to take questions from people who aren’t there in person.

girlfriday: Oh we should do that. I’m not the person who should be responsible for that, seeing as how I forget to check twitter just about every day, but someone should do that.

javabeans: I abdicate any and all responsibility affiliated with that idea, but it’s an idea that should happen! Maybe this is what we have minions for, and maybe those minions are way better at that than us.

girlfriday: Yeah, we’re busy trying not to die of heatstroke and dehydration, okay?

javabeans: At least we’ll probably get a free bottle of water for speaking on a panel, as long as we make sure the label is facing the camera in any and all photographs that are taken. (This is not a joke. This is funnier than a joke, but it is real.)

girlfriday: PPL. It pays for shit. Anyone who watches dramas knows that.

javabeans: Yep. So go to KCON and buy Bibigo! (Money, please. *waits expectantly*)

girlfriday: Does Psy give us money now?

javabeans: We just mentioned his restaurant! He should! *grabby hands*

girlfriday: I’m not sure this is how PPL works.

javabeans: Oh, you mean it’s not based on the extortion model? You learn something new every day.

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Tags: conversation post, Odds and Ends

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1 ;)

May 25, 2014 at 4:16 AM

Ah, I'm in the UK and can't come. That's sad that a lot of KCON is more about Kpop. For me, I rarely listen to Kpop. I normally listen to the OSTs within dramas that I like - would you girls be talking about the OSTs or no?
Anyways have fun!!

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PL

May 25, 2014 at 8:17 AM

Wait, does that mean that the panel session will get live-casted, uploaded or ... (gasps) recapped?? That's no point asking questions when we can't hear (or read) the replies. :(

I find it hard to believe that the answer will be in the affirmative when the ticket prices were that exhorbitant last year.

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PL

May 25, 2014 at 8:19 AM

"There's ..."

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PL

May 25, 2014 at 11:02 AM

Permission for videotaping of the pricey event, I mean. Wouldn't it be considered another form of piracy?

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brian

May 27, 2014 at 12:20 PM

How much are tickets this year?

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2 stringofpurls

May 25, 2014 at 4:49 AM

Are you all still considering going to Dragon*Con? I really hope so even though it's less than a month after this.

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Z

May 26, 2014 at 5:54 AM

In Atlanta? Yes please do! I generally stay far far away from DragonCon but I will make an exception!

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3 mary

May 25, 2014 at 4:49 AM

That PPL thing, how do you do that? O___O Now I have visions of you turning the bottle this way and that everytime you spot someone taking a picture from the audience.....

Oh, and if you do a live twitter Q&A and get a crazy question about Song Jae Rim, that's my creepy way of saying "Hi beanies! -From Mary, Phil"

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tokkioncrack

May 25, 2014 at 7:41 PM

Maybe they'll tell them to drink water a specific number of times, in time for a photo op with the label facing the shutterbug.

;-)

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4 Stephanie

May 25, 2014 at 4:58 AM

LOL I love your snark.

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5 divyrus

May 25, 2014 at 5:32 AM

Yet Another year seems to have passed by fast !

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6 knookey

May 25, 2014 at 5:37 AM

Someone has to tell me: what on earth does PPL stand for? Haha
Thanks in advance! ^^

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minitwin

May 25, 2014 at 5:53 AM

I've always considered it Product Placement. That may not be exact but that's pretty much the idea.

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Sua

May 25, 2014 at 7:14 AM

It stands for peoplr, so like... "PeoPLe." ^-^

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flavoroflifee

May 25, 2014 at 6:18 PM

paid product placement ^^

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7 Laden

May 25, 2014 at 5:38 AM

Any time I see a product on tv with the name flashing my mind just goes 'Oh there goes another PPL' even for other country's movies even if the product just happens to be standing there innocently

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8 hipployta

May 25, 2014 at 5:43 AM

Unfortunately I will not be attending KCON for the third time...why give them a chance to charge crazy prices to screw people over again lol. Also the fact that while the first year was live thee second year with M! Countdown had a lot of lipsyncing.

I was one of the people to miss your panel because paying $300 for VIP ticket apparently means your line gets one person working it and a 4 hour wait time.

More drama panels are a good thing...I hope it's a good time!

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9 gummimochi

May 25, 2014 at 5:49 AM

I'll keep an eye on Twitter :) Maybe we can take live questions there, too?

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gummimochi

May 25, 2014 at 6:07 AM

Oh derp, you mentioned that. In any case, will take over Twitter responsibilities!

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10 Jules

May 25, 2014 at 6:00 AM

Yay!! Maybe this time I'll be able to see more than half your panel! I was one of those last year who got there at 7 in the morning, paid $300 and was supposed to get early admission, but ended up in line for 4 hours?

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11 Denali

May 25, 2014 at 6:36 AM

Wait javabeans - is it even 'allowed' to bring a parasol as a luggage for a flight? Then again this item wouldn't fit into a handbag or the storage compartment. If too bulky, might as well coerce a minion to fan you during the Q/A sessionr. These days laborers are required to be skilled in multitasking.

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12 Julia the Berkshire Beanie

May 25, 2014 at 7:06 AM

DO THE LIVE TWITTER QUESTION AND ANSWER.

I think it is a great idea. Your fans would love a time when we could send you questions and get live responses from you and your minions.

It doesn't have to be part of the KCon. Do it just because we all love you girls and can't get enough. Maybe as a part of your next podcast?

(Realizes it is too much to ask of already very busy people. But I am just planting the seed.)

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Sue

May 26, 2014 at 9:48 AM

Actually, I kind of think it would be disrespectful to take questions from outside of the audience. Those people will have to deal with a lot of crap to get to those panels, and they will deserve your full attention. I just took my daughter to a Comic Con yesterday and she was disappointed that she could not ask a question of her favorite voice actor. And this was the one thing she wanted to do the most. If he had taken questions from outside of the audience there would have been riot.
But a twitter event would be great once a month. Just for twitter beanies.

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reeyah

May 28, 2014 at 7:57 PM

You make a good point Sue. I think just have twitter questions as backup if there's a lull from the audience or if they're all stuck at the gate as others have said.

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13 Baby panda

May 25, 2014 at 7:42 AM

Is there going to be a meetup? I can make it this year!

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14 djeedjes

May 25, 2014 at 7:43 AM

the twitter feed live, it's definitely doable. You can ask the KCON people to set up giant screen for you to broadcast it~
You know a la After School Club Show in Arirang TV (check on their YT channel, it's a live show for international fans of KPOP, they interact with Twitter and Google Hangout. )

Oh, i wish I can see JB and GF in real life..or maybe you can do Dramabeans' World Tour? :D

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blueribbon

May 25, 2014 at 3:24 PM

If you have directv Arirang tv is shown free on channel 2095. :)

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15 cherkell

May 25, 2014 at 8:08 AM

Sorry gals. As much as I want to hook up with Heads and Gummi (thereby completing the 'DB Quadrangle') and being this/close in proximity, I just cannot justify spending $300+ for one day's attendance while suffering in that Los Angeles heat. You would think that their powers-that-be would remember the number of fainting fangirls overrunning the medical tents would have taught them something... but apparently, no.

I'll catch you guys on another tour in a cooler climate, and await the reports from the field. Besides, I know where you live. :P

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16 My2Girls

May 25, 2014 at 9:39 AM

I will even be making my annual trek from Seattle to LA during that time this year but as a responsible person with a family to consider there is NO WAY I can justify going to KCON. Even putting aside the driving downtown, forking over big money and the heat - I am not a KPOP fan! Sure I get addicted to some of the OST's from my favorite dramas but I still could never tell you who sang them. I can't tell an EXO from a Big Bang from a Super Junior. But I would almost do it for my beloved JB nd GF! I hope that those intrepid Beanies out there that make it have a marvelous time and it would be great to see photos! But as an aside note it would be wonderful if someone could arrange another informal meet-up over that weekend. Sarah I would even be willing to make a new batch of K-drama felt ornaments for the occasion. So if any kind Beanie would like to get the ball rolling on that you will be loved for ever! Amy

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kyuri

May 27, 2014 at 3:04 PM

Amy--totally there with you (though I'm not sure I'm an "intrepid" DB fan, but definitely an adoring one).

Live in the Bay Area but would be totally down for a SoCal meetup around that time. Can I bring my totally eligible and supposedly swoon-worthy brother-in-law who speaks Korean and looks like a slightly swarthier KPop idol?

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Alija Quinonez

April 29, 2016 at 7:11 PM

Are you making the treck again this year i am looking for people to roadtrip with....

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17 Rosalind

May 25, 2014 at 9:55 AM

Hi ladies,

I am a regular reader, but a once in a blue moon commenter. Anyways, I was wondering if it would be possible for someone to video tape the event? Live streaming may be challenging, as we are all in different time zones, but a video would be fantastic!

Just a humble request from a faithful reader...

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oyveyjj

June 2, 2014 at 12:06 PM

I was planning on taping the panels and uploading them on Youtube so the people not able to attend KCON didn't have to miss out. That is, IF I can even make it into the panels. :/

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18 anais

May 25, 2014 at 11:13 AM

Damn it, this one I may have to go to. Hopefully your panel will be on Sunday.

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19 Brasslefrat

May 25, 2014 at 11:20 AM

Girls, just an idea. There is now this thing that is a spray can with a handheld fan attached to it! Maybe thay will help with the heat!

http://alamode2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/spray-bottle-mini-fan-mi159.jpg

Good luck!

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20 lindsay

May 25, 2014 at 11:26 AM

the kdrama panel was one of my favorite from last year! you two were very entertaining and the viki rep was sweet and of course the actor was cute! (err spacing on his name right now...) but yeah, the line to get into kcon made me sad bc so many people couldn't make it to the panel. (yay for being a local!) i'm looking forward to it this year! on behalf of the residents, i apologize for the oppressive weather! august isn't our best month

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21 kanz

May 25, 2014 at 3:46 PM

Live tweet and taking questions from DB readers? Woohoo... Sounds like a good idea...

My question is:
Years ago, Taiwanese and Japanese are more popular than Korean but now Korean dramas are much popular. For how long do you think Korean dramas can stay at the top of Asian dramas?

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22 Evelia

May 25, 2014 at 4:42 PM

Nice. But I am not sure if I want to go to KCON this year. Last year I miss the panel.
The twitter idea is cool since the ones who can't make it to the panel can still ask their questions.

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23 oneohone

May 25, 2014 at 5:05 PM

SNSD are going to KCON. You lucky Americans :(

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24 flavoroflifee

May 25, 2014 at 6:21 PM

oh how i wish this was on the east coast...i'd be there in a heartbeat!

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25 danydanybobany

May 25, 2014 at 9:37 PM

( will you be in the 9 or in the 10 of august? Because i have my visa again and im willing to go just for the weekend to see you guys! But i need to know if i buy an entrance for the 9 or the 10. Or is there going to be a panel each day? I hope i can go. I will make it happen

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danydanybobany

May 25, 2014 at 9:47 PM

300 dollars for going in? Awww :(. I can pay the airplain and i have family there but not even here in my country i think its a reasonable for an entrance

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anotheraddict

May 26, 2014 at 12:44 AM

I believe only the VIP (which last year, apparently stood for Very Ill-Fated Person) tickets were $300. I remember reading that the cheapest tickets were $50 or $60.

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26 Mary :D

May 25, 2014 at 10:23 PM

OMG! THIS IS GREAT NEWS!

I really want to go to KCON this year for the artists and groups that has been confirmed so far to go, but knowing that you guys are going to be there also really makes me want to go now! I'm such a big fan of Dramabeans and has been a reader / visitor for a few years now so it would be an honor to see you guys at KCON. Just thinking about it makes me excited! :D

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27 cheese

May 26, 2014 at 12:36 AM

Yay, another reason to go to KCON! I live close to LA, and I really want to go this year. But I don't have any friends that like kpop or kdramas, ugh. Does anyone else have the same problem?

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28 anotheraddict

May 26, 2014 at 12:58 AM

Whether it happens during the K-CON weekend (like maybe the Fri. night?), or another time, I really hope there'll be another DB meetup in the L.A. area. Last year's meet-n-greet at a food court didn't seem worth traveling from out-of-town to (especially on such short notice) and I know there are a lot of Beanies who'd love to meet up and who could make it to L.A. fairly easily. I remember there were one or two Beanies who offered to organize a shindig in L.A. last year~ I'm sure volunteers could be found this year, too.

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29 Fernanda Smith

May 26, 2014 at 8:47 AM

Someone from Brazil wanting to go to KCON this year??
I want someone to share the expenses :(

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30 watchumlots

May 26, 2014 at 12:40 PM

LA in August. So now people are paying to go to hell?

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31 thedramarian

May 27, 2014 at 12:57 AM

I can't wait to see you ladies there! I'll be ready with hard-hitting questions. LA meet-up, please!?!?

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32 Gidget

May 27, 2014 at 4:10 PM

Never one to think small....what about a format that both builds the Dramabeans community, and gives your audience a firsthand experience of the international following of Kdramas?

Something like this:

* Let people organize regional meetups to happen concurrent with the panel discussion.
* Set up a group Skype call to 'live-stream' the panel to those locations. Skype can link in up to 25 participant locations.
* Take a limited number of questions from the meetups (for the sake of optics, maybe have a minimum size of participants for questions to be considered? Or at least give guidance on how to create good optics. Two people sitting in front of a computer screen probably isn't what this would be aiming for.)
* Give extra consideration to taking questions from those groups who are meeting in the middle of the night because they are on the other side of the world. :-)

Twitter could be a backup plan, in case of a technology fail.

I know some people who run a big weekly live-streamed event and could ask them for technical advice, if needed.

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Gidget

May 27, 2014 at 4:31 PM

Edit: Skype can link in up to 5 locations on video. But the size restriction can be eliminated by using multiple (LA based) devices as hubs.

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33 Gidget

May 27, 2014 at 5:50 PM

Re: Topics

I guess my goal would be to do something that forms a bridge between the KPop and Kdrama worlds. One idea would be to discuss popular drama themes, and the current trend toward (for lack of a better term) Fusion Dramas.

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Gidget

May 27, 2014 at 5:51 PM

Prime Minister and I: Fusion of themes from Classical Works into a modern drama
Fandom props: Yoona
I'd start by imagining a way to have a discussion about Prime Minister and I. Because SNSD is performing, you'll have a lot of Yoona fans there already. And she did a nice job in creating a lovable character for PMI; so there can be good things to say.

PMI was a fusion of themes from classical works. People in the comment section noted: Arabian Nights, Pride and Prejudice, A Sound of Music, Emma, etc. PMI echoed the themes in those works, but executed them in a modern way.

And (important to the people at Kcon) Yoona did a good job of echoing the heroines of those classics as touchstones - so her character felt at once familiar and beloved - but she still gave her character her own voice. Mention the recaps, and if her fans came to read them, they'd see nothing but support for their beloved star. ;-)

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34 Gidget

May 27, 2014 at 5:57 PM

YFAS: Fusion of tropes, archetypes, genres and meta

Fandom appeal: Jun Ji Hyun and Kpop artists

You could discuss how a successful Kdrama - like a successful Kpop artist - can have an immediate impact on trends in the fashion industry.

Cite other examples.

If possible use visuals. Take some Kcon ‘street style’ photos that show people wearing styles popularized by the show.

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Gidget

May 27, 2014 at 6:00 PM

Contrast: Fusion of Genres

Fandom appeal: Lee Min Ho

Even a mega-star cannot save an ill-conceived fusion drama. Faith envisioned being a fusion drama. It had a bold vision, was executed in a disjointed way. Faith’s genres were too-rigidly attached to storyline components.

LMH: Saeguk (court), Melo (relationships), Fantasy (Old Order)
KHS: Sitcom (Modern world), Melo (relationships), Medical
Old Supernatural Order: Manga (stylistically like a comic book), Fantasy
Royal Court: Saeguk
Modern World: Sitcom, Medical

However the interplay of the characters failed to mesh into a cohesive believable world. It was a series of genre vignettes, stitched together into a patchwork drama. The disconnectedness overshadowed the unifying theme about the rise of one of Koreas greatest generals.

Disclaimer: rely on subs and have no idea of performances, other than face-acting.