Missoula's Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Steven L Sears

MisCon 40 Writer Guest of Honor

Steven L. Sears is an acclaimed screenwriter, producer, and author with a career spanning over 40 years in the ’trenches’ of Hollywood. Steven might be most celebrated for his work as Co-Executive Producer and writer for the cult-classic series Xena: Warrior Princess, where he was instrumental in developing the show’s unique Amazon mythology. He later co-created and executive produced the series Sheena, based on the legendary comic book character.

His career took root in the high-octane era of 1980s television, where he honed his craft on some of the decade’s most iconic action and adventure series, including:

The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick, Riptide
, Stingray, The Highwayman, and Superboy.

Beyond the screen, Steven is a prolific author. His literary works include the gritty sci-fi graphic novel Stalag-X (co-authored with Kevin J. Anderson), the short story collection Tales of the Aboveground/Underground, and the essential industry guide The Non-User-Friendly Guide for Aspiring TV Writers.

Web site: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0780798/?ref_=mv_close

Scheduled Panels and Games:

Key: =On a Panel =Moderating =GMing

(Tentative)

• Thu 5:00 - 6:50 PM, Tea Party!, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Lynn LilSnikSnak (LilSnikSnak); Panelists: Bruce Brenneise, Dragon Dronet, Lynn LilSnikSnak (LilSnikSnak), Todd Lockwood, Steven L Sears, Steven K Smith (SKS Props), Zootown Tea, Lacy Zee (Vox Moxxi)

  Join us for a cosplay tea party with our Guests of Honor. We'll have swag, treats, a bunch of your fellow cosplaying attendees and even some non-cosplayers who just want to make new friends. You can also learn about some of the cosplay-related events happening during the convention, like the Costume Contest & Cosplay Chess.

• Break Thu 6:50 - Fri 1:00
• Fri 1:00 - 1:50 PM, Informal Author Meet & Greet: Speedfriending Edition, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Jessica Brawner, C E Chester, Stoney Compton, Katie Cross, Laramie Dean, Jayel Draco, Manny Frishberg, James Glass, Lynsey Griswold (Lynsey G), Rhiannon Held, GS Jennsen, Esther Jones, Frog Jones, Sanan Kolva, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Joseph Malik, Tod McCoy, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix, AM Scott, Steven L Sears, D.L. Solum, Jeff Sturgeon, Patrick Swenson: Fairwood Press, Hunter Kay Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Matthew Yetter

  If you want to get to know some of MisCon 40's writers/editors, this is the place for you! It's like speed dating, but without the romance. We'll provide lists of question prompts to help break the ice (though you can ask whatever you want), split everyone into pairs, and run quick 3 to 5-minute rounds before rotating to a new conversation partner. Come swap stories, talk art, movies, anime, pop culture, and make a new connection.

• Break Fri 1:50 - Fri 4:00
• Fri 4:00 - 4:50 PM, Hollywood Q&A: Steven L Sears & Dragon Dronet Interview Each Other, Dragon Pavilion
  Panelists: Dragon Dronet, Steven L Sears

  A different kind of Q&A session with M40 GoHs Dragon Dronet and Steven L Sears. While Steven is a Hollywood writer, and Dragon is a Hollywood prop master, they don't know each other. Where did they get their starts? Have they worked on some of the same shows? Let's get to know both of them as they get to know each other.

• Fri 5:00 - 5:50 PM, STORYTELLERS CONTROL THE WORLD!, Dungeon
  Panelists: Steven L Sears

  An examination crafting stories and how the same techniques used to manipulate and affect readers/audience are the same tactics used by dictators and corporations to motivate people toward their causes.

• Fri 6:00 - 6:50 PM, Opening Ceremonies, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Bruce Brenneise, Becky Cass, Dragon Dronet, Todd Lockwood, Steven L Sears, Steven K Smith (SKS Props), Jeff Sturgeon, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Lacy Zee (Vox Moxxi)

  Join our Guests of Honor and Featured Pros at MisCon 40's Opening Ceremonies and find out what's going on throughout the weekend. We'll talk about the 40 years of MisCon, the Upside Down theme, will give Golden Squid Awards to a few convention committee members who worked especially hard this year to make MisCon happen, and will highlight some fun things happening at the con. 

• Break Fri 6:50 - Sat 10:00
• Sat 10:00 - 10:50 AM, How Do I Break Into Professional Screenwriting?, Dragon Pavilion
  Panelists: Steven L Sears

  Learn how to break into screenwriting today from Steven L Sears, MisCon 40's Writer Guest of Honor.

• Break Sat 10:50 - Sat 2:00
• Sat 2:00 - 2:50 PM, Building a Story on the Fly, Dungeon
  Moderator: Sanan Kolva; Panelists: Sanan Kolva, Cheyenna Krone, Gwendolyn Nix, AM Scott, Steven L Sears

  Your page is blank. Even worse, your map is blank: no lands, no plants, no buildings, no industry, and not a single inhabitant in your world, let alone a culture. So how do you create a story? The panelists will ask questions, the audience will lend a hand giving answers and sharing ideas. Andy will make it all visual, and together we will give shape to a world. No blocking, no wimping, but laughter is encouraged as we show that the blank space is not empty: it's full of potential

• Break Sat 2:50 - Sat 4:00
• Sat 4:00 - 4:50 PM, Creating Totally Rad Villains, Great Hall 1
  Panelists: Steven L Sears

  Pretty much what it is; an examination of the "Villain" trope and the correct way to approach it as a creative.

• Break Sat 4:50 - Sun 10:00
• Sun 10:00 - 10:50 AM, Science Fiction: What Is It?, Monster Tent
  Panelists: GS Jennsen, Frog Jones, Danith McPherson, Steven L Sears

  Mysteries need mystery, right? Romances need romance. Horror needs horror. Does Science Fiction simply require "science?" That's not really accurate. SF is a huge genre that sprawls across places, times, technology. It asks questions about humanity, morality, the future, and usually provokes thought about the real world. Let's discuss what makes stories science fiction.

• Break Sun 10:50 - Sun 1:00
• Sun 1:00 - 1:50 PM, How'd You Get Your Start?, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Kyle Elliott (Big Kyle); Panelists: Kyle Elliott (Big Kyle), Todd Lockwood, Steven L Sears

  Our panelists will discuss how they broke into their fields, found success, and stuck with it to get where they are today.

• Break Sun 1:50 - Sun 3:00
• Sun 3:00 - 3:50 PM, 1 Lie, 2 Truths, Rocket Tent
  Moderator: Kyle Elliott (Big Kyle); Panelists: Bruce Brenneise, Kyle Elliott (Big Kyle), Steven L Sears

  Come play a game with Bruce Brenneise, Steven L Sears, and Big Kyle. They'll take turns making simple (probably outlandish) statements, and the audience will vote on whether they're lies or not.

• Break Sun 3:50 - Sun 6:00
• Sun 6:00 - 6:50 PM, Closing Ceremonies, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Bruce Brenneise, Becky Cass, Dragon Dronet, Steven L Sears, Lacy Zee (Vox Moxxi)

  Finish out MisCon 40 in style, and catch a sneak peek at what's in store for you next year at MisCon 41.