Sci-Fi on the Rock

WELCOME

TO OUR 2024

guests

TYLER MANE

ACTOR & PRODUCER

From bringing iconic characters to life to producing feature films, Tyler Mane has proven time and time again that he is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. Next up Mane’s production company is producing a graphic novel titled, THE LAST SPARTAN, RED TAPE.

A native of Saskatoon, Canada, Tyler briefly played semi-pro football, before his childhood dream of becoming a professional wrestler began. From 1986-1999, Mane wrestled professionally, all over the world, for the WCW and the UWF, as “Big Sky,” with his tag team partner, Kevin Nash, as well as the evil Nitron. Mane hung up his wrestling boots in 1999 and fully immersed himself in acting following his childhood dream.

His big-screen acting debut was in 2000 when he starred as Sabretooth in Marvel Studio’s X-MEN. Additional film credits include PLAYING WITH FIRE, TROY, JOE DIRT, THE SCORPION KING, Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN, where he starred as Michael Myers, and THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, to name a few. On the television front, his credits include DC’s DOOM PATROL, Netflix original series JUPITER’S LEGACY, HBO and Hallmark’s mini-series HERCULES, HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER, MONK, SON OF THE BEACH, PARTY OF FIVE, THE LIBRARIANS, and MY BOYS!

When Mane isn’t acting, you can find him running his production company, Mane Entertainment. Mane’s company has produced two feature films: COMPOUND FRACTURE and PENANCE LANE and later this year will be releasing their graphic novel THE LAST SPARTAN, RED TAPE.

Blackstar, Jupiter's Legacy

Brian Dobson

   From a young age Brian Dobson has been developing and honing his wide vocal range. His venture began in theatre staring in high school plays and eventually joining his first theatre group “The First Company”. Following that Brian worked as a DJ until he eventually discovered the wild world of animation, where he soon found a new comfortable home.

   Brian has brought life to a wide range of characters over the years including Skeletor on the Emmy award winning series – He Man and the Masters of the Universe as well as Ben Grim/Thing on the all new Fantastic Four, Brutus in the new Barbie 9 Movie, Unagi and Paradoxter in Sushi Pack, Uncle Dumpling on Pucca, and Principal Kirkpatric and Mr. Spoerseclipe on YTV’s Galaxy High. Other highlights include – Bratz, Martha Speaks, Holly Hobbie and Friends, Dragons Fire & Ice, GI Joe – Venom vs. Valor and Spy Troops the Movie, Alien Racers, Go-Bots, Zoids Fuzors.

   The world of Anime also keeps Brian busy with an array of credits to his name. You may recall his voice powering up the Super Evil Majin Boo and Dr. Jero on Dragon Ball Z or as the autobots – Red Alert and Clocker on Transformers- (Armada & Cybertron). You’ve also heard his voice in Escaflowne, Ghost in the shell-SAC, Mobile Suit Gundam, Gundam Seed Destiny, Gundam00, Ramna 1/2, Inuyasha, Megaman NT Warrior, Star Ocean EX, Project Arms, Trouble Chocolate, Master Keaton, Hikaru no Go, Eon Kid, Black Lagoon, not to mention Hidekki Ede and Kiichiro Osoreda on the mega hit Death Note!

   In addition to animation, Brian works frequently in the realm of video games, recently completing the newest installment of the Warhammer 40,000 series voicing the characters Gabriel Angelos and Ork Bosses. Other games include, Scarface, Frogger Beyond, Kessen, Barbie, Marine Sharpshooter II: Jungle Warfare, World War II Sniper: Call to Victory, Western Outlaw: Wanted Dead or Alive, and Navy Seals.

  Brian has also lent his voice to many live-action television and feature films. His credits include – The Chronicles of Narnia, Narnia: Prince Caspian, Pitch Black, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, The Adams Family and The Mutant Ninja Turtles.

BRIAN HERRING

PUPPETEER

The Meep puppet on set from Dr. Who

Brian Herring is a film and TV puppeteer who was one of the performers for The Meep in the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary special The Star Beast, animatronics performer for the Goblin King in the Christmas Special The Church on Ruby Rd as well as the escaped Ice Warrior in Cold War.

He is best known as the principle performer of BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.  His other performances in the Galaxy Far, Far Away include numerous characters in Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story such as SE-2, Hirang Birren, the Porgs, Oki Pokis, Corellian Hounds, Lady Proxima, Craite Officer, Tham, Mouse Droids and many more.  

His other work includes Hellboy 2, Prometheus, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Wizards Vs Aliens, Dolottle, 28 Weeks Later, Spitting Image, The Hoobs, Jim Henson’s Construction Site, Mopatop’s Shop, The London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Muppets Most Wanted and Muppets Treasure Island. 

The Goblin King puppet from Dr. Who

Sheldon David Mercer has always been what the community would label a ‘well-rounded artisan’. His skills have been displayed in painting, sculpting, leatherwork, foam craft and various other mediums. His creative interests have been inspired by gaming, fantasy, horror and his own spin of creative madness. Cosplay has been a particular area of interest for several years and he is always aiming to improve and better his quality, mastering the nature of becoming a chameleon. This work not only represents but embodies these characters.

Some of the more notable characters he has embraced are The Witcher, Dr. Strange, Carnage, Revan, and even a Clicker from The Last of Us. His attention to detail is what separates him from many others and he also has a unique approach in his building that is not only cost-effective but movie quality. For further appreciation of his work search for his socials, that are Dark Dimensions Cosplay. He is truly a unique talent with a keen eye!

ElleKay Cosplay

COSPLAY GUEST

Laura Cross of ElleKay Cosplay started her cosplaying journey in 2016. As a self-taught seamstress, her work focuses heavily on intricate textile components and detail work. She first discovered the world of cosplay with her Princess Zelda costume. She has constructed a number of builds from Super Sailor Moon to live action Cinderella. 

ElleKay has competed in several costume contests and has taken home awards in both workmanship and journeyman level competition. Most recently she was awarded 1st place at the 2022 George Street Mardi Gras Costume Contest as an original cosplay, “Feathered Fairy”. 

When she’s not immersed in recent cosplay builds Laura enjoys video games, reading, riding motorcycle and spending time with family and friends. Cosplay has given her the opportunity to bring nostalgic video games, TV shows and movies to life while sharing her passion for textiles and craft with the cosplay community. 

Fat Apollo

comedian, local celebrity & MC Extraordinaire

Fat Apollo, Michael McCluskey, is a mixture of all things geeky and nerdy rolled up in a crunchy comedic shell. Donning Everlast boxing gloves, as well as a cape and shirt made of vintage Battlestar Galactica bed sheets (circa 1977) – Fat Apollo is a true multi-media juggernaut. The showbiz bug bit early with a stint as a Buster Brown shoe model, and appearances on the Reach for the Top teen show. Fat Apollo really made his mark in Victoria BC, as the special guest morning-man replacement on Q100.3 launching the briefly popular, guess that tune game, The Kazoo Monster.

Now residing in his hometown of Halifax, Fat Apollo is a charter member of the long running Geeks Versus Nerds comedy show. Voted funniest comedy night and best podcast in Halifax by The Coast’s readers, it is recorded live and has been featured five times at Hal-Con. In 2010, Fat Apollo debated Nathan Fillion as to superiority of the Millenium Falcon over the Serenity, and in 2011 defeated Teddy & Ajay of Innerspace, successfully proving Yoda was the better headmaster than Dumbledore. His one man show “Storytime with Fat Apollo” is a hit at conventions everywhere! Follow him on Twitter @realfatapollo and on Facebook Fat Apollo, celebrity.