Blockbuster Hollywood Actor Coming to Lanka Comic Con 2017

Kevin McNally, who plays First Mate Joshamee Gibbs in the Pirates of the Caribbean series across from Johnny Depp, is coming to Lanka Comic Con 2017. 

Buddies on the set, buddies off the set. Sticking to The Code! Credit: Walt Disney 

Buddies on the set, buddies off the set. Sticking to The Code! 
Credit: Walt Disney 

McNally has quite a deep record in show business. Fans of ABC's new hit show, Designated Survivor (2016) have seen him as General Harris Cochrane, opposing Kiefer Sutherland's character.

Foreshadowing White House-Military relations in Donald Trump's War RoomCredit: ABC

Foreshadowing White House-Military relations in Donald Trump's War Room
Credit: ABC

Others will remember him from the amazing The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015), with Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons. He played Major MacMahon, challenging Ramanujan to crack Partition mathematics.

Before Defriending had a button.Credit: IFC Films

Before Defriending had a button.
Credit: IFC Films

I first noticed McNally myself, in Valkyrie (2009, Tom Cruise and Bill Nighy), a film about an attempt to topple Hitler. If you haven't seen Valkyrie, you need to. 

Credit: MGM

Credit: MGM

Credit: Carnival Films

Credit: Carnival Films

 

Fans of Downton Abbey will recognize him as Mr. Bryant. He met his wife Phyllis Logan on the set of the show. 

 

(I imagine Sri Lankan Downton Abbey fans did not ever think they would see a cast member at Lanka Comic Con.)

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: BBC

Credit: BBC

 

McNally was even in Doctor Who.

Here he is in the 1984 classic, The Twin Dilemma. 

I'm not sure who he shoots here, but I'm pretty sure it was the right thing to do. 

 

 

 

 

McNally returns to his role next summer, in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, coming out in May. 

Lanka Comic Con will be at the SLECC, on August 26th and 27th. For information on sponsoring the event, please contact us, here. 

 

 

 

 

 

Get A Handmade Nazgul at the Geek Xmas Market

Picture Credit: Prasanna Welangoda (who did a 3 hour shoot with these) 

Picture Credit: Prasanna Welangoda (who did a 3 hour shoot with these) 

I met Aishwarya Tennekoon in 2015, when we first did Lanka Comic Con. I’d set up some upcycled cardboard as city ruins for a game. I was pretty proud of it - but it was basically garbage, thrown together in a day. Aishwarya meanwhile, came in with a scale model of Barad-dur.

It was the first of many cases where I’d be stunned - both by the quality of his work, and by his great humility about the whole thing. For him, this is just something he does. He would do it whether or not there was anyone to see.

He has been busy since then. He’s been learning how to draw for comics. He's travelled around Pettah, trying to find something to use for model grass. And he’s been building Lord of the Rings models - Hobbit holes, Nazguls, you know, the usual stuff.

Recently, he tried selling one on the Geek Collectors Page. People went nuts - I was quite annoyed, because I found out about it much too late. Encouraged by the reaction, he’s decided to make a bunch more, just to sell at the geek Xmas Market.

Here are some of the things you can expect. All of these are handmade. All of these are highly limited. And the fell beast with the rider? That's the only one there is.

He is pricing these to be accessible. You can buy a Bag End for 4,000/= (complete with Mahogany or Teak bases). The mounted Nazgul is going to 6,000 rupees. And Sauron? He’s just 4,000/=. The Nazgul on Fellbeast, which is 29 inches wide, is going for 12,000/=.

You can meet Aishwarya, talk to him about his work, and maybe hire him for a commission at the Geek Xmas Market.

Be early.

Collectique is giving away Collectibles Prizes and Vouchers at the Geek Xmas Market

Collectique, a one-stop shop for toys, collectibles and comic merchandise in Colombo, is giving prizes and vouchers at the Geek Xmas Market. Here’s what’s up for grabs:

Cosplay Prize

If someone wants to give you a prize, say thank you, smile, and put it in your pocket. You may have just been having some fun, but you know what? Sometimes, you get a prize for that.

Collectique will be holding a cosplay competition; the winner will get a 12" Marvel Titan Hero Series Action Figure.*

They will also have a photo booth, which they encourage everyone to make use of.

 

But I Just Want to Shop...

Collectique is also holding a prize draw for people who shop at their table. For every 3,000/= spent, you get a raffle ticket. The drawing will be at 5:30pm. The prize? A Kotobukiya ArtFX+ statue.* Its’ going to be worth as much as 11,000/=.

 

I Love Shopping! "Add to Cart" is "Add to Heart!"

Their third offer is for every 5,000/= spent, they will give a voucher for 500/= - that’s 10 percent! - redeemable with them on the weekend of 12th and 13th of December.

You can contact Collectique, here. Ask for Oshan, he’s pretty cool. He may or may not be a cute teddy bear though. 

*Exact item to be determined on the day, at Collectique’s discretion.

Sri Lanka’s first All-Geek Christmas Shopping event is happening on the 4th

17 different geek vendors (so far) are coming together for The Geek Xmas Market.  Three, yet to be announced, are international brands. This is going to be the best local opportunity to buy geek gifts for your loved ones. Perhaps more importantly, it's their opportunity to buy them for you.  

You’ll find collectibles, posters, comic books, shirts, jewelry, handmade pieces - you name it. We even have someone making bantha milk shakes (you're going to love those).  We are building a list of the vendors, here. 

 

The Collectibles exhibition

For the first time in Sri Lanka, we are also having a collectibles exhibition. This is being organised by the Geek Club of Sri Lanka's Collectors Page. You can hear more about this from the founders, Tony and Shanil, here. 

 

We would not be Geeks, if you were not also having some games. For one, the LARP Guild of Sri Lanka will be holding a sword fighting tournament - no prior training (or swords) necessary for this child-friendly event. However expect some cardio. You can hear the founder, Johann Balasuriya, talk about what’s planned, here.

“This is going to be the best local opportunity to buy geek gifts for your loved ones. Perhaps more importantly, it’s their opportunity to buy them for you. ”

They're also going to be some interactive presentation and a hands-on workshop on how to shoot collectibles. If you want to get the most out of the macro photography workshop, please bring your camera.

“TNL Radio is the official radio partner for the Geek Xmas Market.”

 

The Geek Xmas Market will be happening at Trace Expert City in Maradana. You can follow the event on Facebook, here. 

Sri Lanka's Biggest E-Sports Event is This Weekend (It's gonna be Yoooge)

Sri Lanka Telecom is holding the SLT eSports Championship at the BMICH this weekend. 

“I got to tell ya, the SLT eSports Championship, it’s tremendous.”
— Donald Trump

 

The tournament will feature a number of popular, new online multiplayer and single player gaming titles. 

TEAM TITLES
- Dota 2 (5v5)
- Counter Strike: Global Offensive (5v5)
- League of Legends (5v5)
- Overwatch (6v6)

INDIVIDUAL TITLES
- FIFA 16
- Project Cars
- Mortal Kombat XL
- Call of Duty Black Ops 3

“They’re doing it bigly. Like the burgers Chris Christie eats. ”
— The Donald

 

In a progressive change in the male-dominated hobby (unlike in US politics), the SLT eSports Championship will have a women’s gaming event, as well as a unisex team event.

Oh, and did I forget to mention? 

The prize pool is 2 million rupees. 

“Two million rupees? That’s bigger than my hands. ”
— President Elect Donald Trump

 

For more information, check out their event page here. 

 

Competition Results

Saturday, Day 1

Best Books / Comics Character
Chakrapani Marage - Raven
Sajith Kandanaarachchi - Peter Parker, Spiderman 

Best Anime / Manga
Vinu Ramanayake - Lambo
Dilon Perera - Himura Kenshin

Best Movie / Show Character
Lake - Stahma Tarr
Shyamal Makalanda - The Predator 

Best Video Game
Nadine Mendis - Prestigious Leblanc (tied)
Sonia Jayatissa - The Crystal Maiden (tied) 
Sahan Perera - Daedric 

Best Group Cosplay
Ishan and Aric Seneviratne - Darth Maul and Apprentice 

Best Original Cosplay
Eefaa Hassan - Melted Daenerys Targaryen

Best Kids
Aiden Perera - Starlord
 

Sunday, Day 2

Best Books / Comics Character
Uvini S - Dark Enchantress
Chathurinda Sumithraarachchi - Nightwing

Best Anime / Manga
Janithri Kariyawasam - Gaara
Tilan Dhanuka - Uchiha Itachi

Best Movie / Show Character
Eliza Shivani - Evie Frye
Shaun McLean - Green Arrow 

Best Video Game
Chathumi Wijesekara - Kindred
Ishaq Deen - Arthas

Best Group Cosplay
Opula Fonseka and Ethan Perera - Corpse Bride and Victor 

Best Original Cosplay
Jeevan Sukumaran - Angelic Harambe

Stephanie Siriwardhana is a Geek, and she’s coming to Lanka Comic Con

Stephanie Siriwardhana represented Sri Lanka at Miss Universe in 2011. She was Miss Asia Pacific World Sri Lanka in 2013; is a Senator for the Youth Parliament of Sri Lanka; and a Curator Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum.

She is also a Geek.

Exhibit A: Stephanie draws castles. Only Geeks draw castles. 

Exhibit A: Stephanie draws castles. Only Geeks draw castles. 

 

“It is always been an ambition of mine to go a Comic Con in cosplay,” she told us.

Stephanie grew up in Dubai, where she attended conventions regularly. She enjoyed them, but never got the chance to cosplay.

“If I had had more time, I would have come as Catwoman.”
— - Stephanie Siriwardhana

 

 

Stephanie is going to be one of our cosplay competition judges. She may or may not bring this sword with her. 

You can follow her official Facebook page, here. 

Exhibit B: Only Geeks think cool swords, are cool. 

Exhibit B: Only Geeks think cool swords, are cool.