Charles Dane Clark
Charlie has watched scary movies between theater seats with one eye closed, checked out Jules Verne books over the objections of a librarian who felt he wasn't old enough, bought his first Superman comic at age 11 for 10 cents, and saw Star Trek and Batman during their initial runs on TV. His first girlfriend was Wendy from Disney's Peter Pan, and last year married Barbi, Wendy's real-life incarnation. They share a home 20 minutes from Lake Texoma. In 5th grade Charlie started a neighborhood newspaper (it had one edition). He went on to write and edit 28 years for a daily newspaper, along the way launching two tribal newspapers. He was twice named best entertainment writer by the AP and is a recipient of the Governor's Art Award for Media. He worked as writer-in-residence for the State Arts Council and served on a grants panel for the NEA in Washington, D.C. He produced and hosted Inside Native America at Tulsa's CBS TV affiliate, and worked in film (The Outsiders and Last of the Mohicans, among others). He now writes press releases for America's third-largest tribe and freelances.
12:00 PM | Location: Boomer B
Hope vs. Despair: How Sci-Fi Imagines the Future
From Star Trek's utopian ideals to Cyberpunk's corporate dystopias, sf has always wrestled with our best and worst possible futures. Join us as we break down how these visions of tomorrow shape our present.
Moderator: David Rike
Panelists: Allison Stein, Ted Pennella, Charles Dane Clark, David Rike
8:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Crimson Meeting Room
Oklahoma's Eerie Secrets: Urban Legends & Ghost Stories
Oklahoma has a rich history of strange happenings, from haunted sites to paranormal encounters. In this panel, we'll recount the eerie tales that define the state's urban legends, and invite you to share your own unsettling stories.
Moderator: Jeff Provine
Panelists: Charles Dane Clark, Britt Alfred, Jeff Provine, Joshua Trope, Tommy B. Smith
10:00 AM | Location: Sooner A
Green Flags & Red Flags in Sci-Fi
Not all sci-fi is created equal! In this panel, our experts take turns sharing the red flags that immediately turn them off in novels, TV shows, and movies -- plot holes, lazy world-building, or clichés we've all seen too many times. But it's not all doom and gloom! We'll also highlight the green flags that make sci-fi truly shine: unique concepts, strong character development, and mind-bending ideas that keep us coming back for more. Join us for a lively discussion on what makes -- or breaks -- a great sci-fi story!
Moderator: Phillip Drayer Duncan
Panelists: Charles Dane Clark, Phillip Drayer Duncan, Elaina Hamilton, C.C. Caldwell
4:00 PM | Location: Oklahoma G
Spectacle or Soul? The Decline of Sincerity in Blockbusters
From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Star Wars and Fast & Furious, modern blockbusters often lean on spectacle, humor, and irony. But where are the heartfelt stories that once defined these films? In this panel, we'll examine how the shift to action-packed, self-aware storytelling has changed the emotional landscape of blockbuster cinema. Is sincerity a casualty of the modern movie industry, or is it just waiting to make a comeback? Let's unpack what we've lost -- and what we might still find -- in today's biggest films.
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PHD
Panelists: FoxDaddy, A. Lee Martinez, Charles Dane Clark, Dara Fogel, PHD, Shai Fenwick
12:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
Humanity Among the Stars: The Ethical Implications of Colonizing Other Planets
As humanity looks to the stars, the possibility of colonizing other planets becomes ever more plausible. But what ethical questions arise when we consider colonizing worlds beyond Earth? From terraforming to the displacement of potential alien life, this panel will explore the moral quandaries surrounding space colonization, examining how these issues are handled in speculative fiction and how they may play out in the real world.
Moderator: Dara Fogel, PhD
Panelists: Dara Fogel, PhD, Charles Dane Clark, Robb Wetmore, Aaron Bossig