Atlanta fan conventions Monsterama and Spy Con have decided to turn adversity on its ear in order to benefit The Motion Picture & Television Fund. Forced by Covid-19 related restrictions to cancel their annual in-person events, which were scheduled to take place simultaneously over the weekend of October 9th-11th, 2020, the promoters have partnered to mount a virtual event online to raise funds for the charity. The event is free for everyone. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/monsterama-and-spycon-mptf-benefit. 

 “We’re really looking forward to sharing some great programming with fellow monster and spy fans all over the world,” says event co-chairman Anthony Taylor. “Having our event online has opened us up to a lot of guests that would not have been able to attend in person.” Guests scheduled to appear include actresses Caroline Munro (The Spy Who Loved Me, Dracula, A.D. 1972), Lana Wood (Diamonds Are Forever, Night Gallery), and Trina Parks (Diamonds Are Forever, DarktownStrutters), actor/director Larry Blamire (The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra), as well as Oscar™-winning makeup artist Chris Walas (The Fly, Gremlins), James Bond film special effects director Steve Begg (Skyfall, Casino Royale), film directors Mick Garris (The Stand, Sleepwalkers, Hocus Pocus), Sam Irvine (Elvira’s Haunted Hills, Oblivion), and Robert Tinnell (Frankenstein and Me, Feast of the Seven Fishes), and many more.

“We’re also very happy to partner with The Motion Picture & Television Fund as our charity this year,” Taylor continues. According to their mission statement, MPTF supports our entertainment community in living and aging well, with dignity and purpose, and in helping each other in times of need. “As film and television lovers and fans, we think it’s a fitting cause to support the people who have done so much to entertain us as they age, or in times of need,” he said. Monsterama and Spy Con are utilizing the online platform Go Fund Me to collect donations for the organization.

Programming for the online event includes panels on subjects such as television’s The Outer Limits, James Bond Special Effects with Steve Begg, filmmaking, the origins of Dracula, monster art illustrations, as well as demonstrations on makeup effects, costuming, fabrication, and other arts, gaming, screenings, and a gallery of vendors. The complete line-up can be accessed at virtual.monsteramacon.com or virtual.spy-con.com.

Monsterama/Spy Con Virtual Convention
• Free For Everyone
• October 9-11, 2020 
• Hours – FRI. 4:00pm-11:00pm EST, SAT. 10:00am-11:00pm EST, SUN. 10:00am-5:00pm EST