Spy convention sneaks into Atlanta

Weekend gathering puts espionage in a modern context

SpyCon
Photo credit: Courtesy Spy con
WINNER TAKES ALL: Artwork for the James Bond film 'Thunderball.'

In a world where Facebook sells your most private information to the highest bidder, is James Bond relevant anymore? Spy fans think so, and plan to converge on Atlanta this weekend to celebrate the venerable fictional agent and his contemporaries at Spy Con, March 30 - April 1, at the Atlanta Marriott on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta.

“James Bond is one of the most successful film franchises of all time, and with the 25th film in pre-production, it shows no sign of stopping,” says event organizer Anthony Taylor.

Taylor stresses that Spy Con honors more than just the British action series, citing other series like “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” “Get Smart,” “The Americans,” “Austin Powers,” and the books of John Le Carre.

“They all have fans who had nowhere to gather as groups, in person, to talk about them and enjoy them socially,” Taylor says.

Related fan groups and newsletters abound online. While there have been a few Bond-related events over the last several years, no comprehensive occasion dedicated to the genre existed until now.

Events at Spy Con include talks by guests Lana Wood (Natalie’s sister and “Plenty O’Toole”) and Trina Parks (“Thumper”), both from the film “Diamonds Are Forever,” graphic novelists Dean Motter and Van Jensen, and even Victoria Price, Vincent (“Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine”) Price’s daughter.

In addition, there will be 16 mm film screenings of espionage films and television episodes all weekend long, courses on how to be an agent in “Spy School,” panels on the history of espionage, a casino night on March 31st, and even several Bond cars on display from the film, “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Though replicas, the Lotus Elan automobiles represent the cars used on land and underwater by Roger Moore in the film.

Nostalgia is a strong factor in bringing people to event, says Taylor.

“Everyone has a favorite spy film or secret agent, many from the cold war era, where the genre truly began,” he says.

Indeed, the spy fiction genre took flight in the 1950’s when Ian Fleming’s James Bond books began fly-ing out of stores. Even John F. Kennedy admitted to reading them while in office at the White House. The first Bond film, “Dr. No”, was released in 1962, igniting the genre cinematically as well.

That being said, is the spy genre relevant today?

Why not? Who’s to say that the CEO of Cambridge Analytica doesn’t carry around a big, fluffy white cat, stroking it obsessively?

Spy Con takes place March 30-April 1 at the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta, 5750 Windward Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30005. Tickets are available at the door. For more information see www.Spy-Con.com.

 






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