VoltCon year 5 - October 14-15th, 2023!
GUESTS
STEVE STERLING
Steve Sterling is an intellectual property rights and digital media entrepreneur with a track record across the live entertainment, media and software technology and manufacturing industries. He has been an innovator in traditional and non-traditional media, digital platforms and metaverse rights from ideation, development, acquisition and marketing through to global distribution. His experience base includes entertainment technologies as well as contracting diverse channels of distribution for live stage productions, global touring, cruise lines, resort destinations, internet, digital cinema exhibitions and digital goods. His competencies also include rights acquisition, strategic planning, corporate governance, financial modeling and IP licensing. Management experiences include business development and distribution initiatives worldwide for Sony Music Entertainment, Clear Channel Entertainment, Live Nation, ABC Television Network, ABC Sports, BASE Xperiential and other enterprises large and small. He is a co-inventor of two software technology patents. Industry credits include Grammy, Peabody, Telly & Emmy nominated or award-winning productions on projects including the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Dr Dre, Live By Request and Voltron Defender of the Universe. Professional and cause-related organizations include the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Grammy in the Schools and Student Career Days.
BOB KOPLAR
Bob Koplar is the President of WEP, LLC (formerly World Events Productions), the creators of Voltron. With WEP, Bob has been a leading producer of innovative and cutting-edge children’s entertainment. Since it was founded in 1980, WEP has created, produced and distributed several award-winning series, with a library of over 250 half-hour episodes (Voltron Defender of the Universe, Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, Denver the Last Dinosaur, and more). In association with Netter Digital Entertainment and Mike Young Productions, WEP produced the first all-CGI series to be entirely animated in the US with Voltron: The Third Dimension (1998). In addition to his key leadership role for the Voltron franchise, Bob was a producer on Voltron Force (2011) and Voltron Legendary Defender (2016).
GREG TYLER
Greg Tyler is co-host of Let’s Voltron: The Official Podcast. He has interviewed many of the people involved with Voltron productions old and new. Greg is the author of unofficial Voltron site LionsAndPilotsAndBots as well as Trekplace, a Star Trek website with original interviews and articles. He has created his own "conlang" (constructed language) and has made a short sci-fi film, entitled Astronuts. Greg is a lifelong enthusiast of science-fiction animation, television and feature films, toys, science, technology, 3D printing, and space. For some reason, he’s proud to know the names of all 15 pilots of the Voltron Vehicle Team, and which vehicle each pilot operates.
SHANNON MUIR
Best known to the Voltron fandom for World Events Productions' use of her fan-created star map in Voltron: The Third Dimension as well as her frequent appearances on the Let's Voltron Podcast, Shannon was inspired by Voltron to become an animation production professional on shows such as Jumanji (1996), Extreme Ghostbusters (1997), Invader Zim (2001), and Japanese series Midnight Horror School (2003). She has also written a textbook, Gardner's Guide to Writing and Producing Animation, and is currently working on her Masters in Library and Information Science at San Jose State University.
THE SHAKE UPS
The Shake Ups are an award-winning rock band that combines infectious tunes with cosplay and a multimedia presentation for a pop culture-fueled concert experience like no other! Their full-length album Legendary Defenders (2018) was a tribute to Voltron, and they followed it up by penning an official theme song for the convention itself in 2020, entitled "(I'll Meet You at) VoltCon!" The new Ignore City project is a sci-fi musical podcast series created by Ed Cho with original music and voice work by The Shake Ups. The band's repertoire includes songs from and inspired by a variety of cartoons. The Shake Ups are professional crowd pleasers - and the galaxy's most animated band!
MAMA VOLTRON
Marika Levine, aka MamaVoltron, has been a fan of Voltron since its inception in 1984. She has been cosplaying for over 30 years and has spoken at numerous conventions. Marika is a longtime fan of animated series such as Battle of the Planets, Robotech, Gundam and Rahzephon, among others. Marika is thrilled to be back with us for VoltCon! 2022!
ERIC STOCKER
Eric Stocker became a fan of Voltron at the age of 11 with the original series debut. He began cosplaying in 2018, not long before undertaking a deluxe Voltron cosplay that included transformable lions, debuted at VoltCon! 2019. Eric enjoys the cosplay community and hopes to inspire others to reach outside of their comfort zones to try something new and find their own undiscovered talents.