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This page in under development.

As the year progresses, we will release information on many more exciting events that will be part of the convention!

 

FRIDAY NIGHT THEME PARTY

FRIDAY NIGHT THEME PARTY
Featuring the vocal talent of Erika Amato

Details about the Friday evening party are still being planned, but we do know that singer/actress Erika Amato (Lt. Anna Guri in the Quantum Leap episode "Lee Harvey Oswald") will be the entertainment! She and her piano accompanist will provide beautiful vocals for the evening with participating guest stars and fans in attendance. For a sample of Erika's wide range of vocals, click here.

Although Erika is probably best known as lead singer of the alternative band Velvet Chain, (who garnered a large cult following through their appearances on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show and soundtrack album), she is also an accomplished actress, working consistently on the theatrical stage in various venues across southern CA. Some of Erika's credits include: Sunset Boulevard at the Hollywood Bowl, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Candlelight Pavilion - Inland Theatre League Award nominee), Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at the Welk Resort Theatre, the Snow Queen in the original musical, The Snow Queen (Disney Workshop - music by Alan Menken), the Evil Queen/Hag in Snow White - An Enchanting Musical (Disneyland Resort), Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (Starlight Musical Theatre), Maria in The Sound of Music (Saddleback CLO), and Luisa in Nine (Chance Theater - OCWeekly "Best Performance in a Musical" nominee, named one of the "Top 10 Best Performances of 2002" by the Orange County Register). Television and Film credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bringing Up Jack, VH-1's Sparkle Lounge, Quantum Leap, starring roles in the indie features A Couple of Days and Nights and Smack (among others), and as a featured singing voice in the Danger Rangers TV series on PBS and the upcoming Disney feature film, Enchanted, starring Susan Sarandon, Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, and Idina Menzel, slated for a Thanksgiving, 2007 release.

For more info, photos, sample clips, and more on Erika Amato, please visit her website at: erikaamato.com. If you'd like to find out more about Erika's work with Velvet Chain, please visit the band's official website: www.velvetchain.com

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FAN FICTION CONTEST

FAN FICTION CONTEST

Okay, everybody…put those keyboards to work!

We’re happy to announce the opening of the LEAP BACK 2009 Fanfic Contest. As part of the festivities honoring the 20th anniversary of QL, we plan to produce a brand-new zine that will be available at the con and we need stories to fill it.

The story that the judges select as being the best will appear not only in the zine, but in the official program book, a copy of which will be given to all our guests and special honorees, including Don Bellisario, Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell and Deborah Pratt. The author of that story will also receive a framed certificate commemorating their selection as Grand Prize Winner and recognition during the onstage programming. We will also select a Second Prize and Third Prize winner, plus several “honorable mentions.”

Sound interesting? There are only a few rules: We will accept a story of any length. It must be brand-new and written specifically for this competition - stories that have been previously published online or in a printed zine are not eligible. Entries will be judged on the basis of originality, creativity, technical proficiency (that means spelling and punctuation) and whether you’ve captured the “heart” of Quantum Leap. Since the winning story will be included in a publication that’s being given to our guests and all of the convention attendees, we ask that your submissions follow the parameters set down in the series itself: no graphic violence, no graphic sex, a minimum of salty language, and relationships between the characters only as they existed on the show.

Initial judging will be by the Leap Back 2009 committee members, who will select the semi-finalists. Final judging will be done by a panel of volunteers.

Please submit your stories to emma@leapback2009.com. EXTENDED: Deadline for entries is September 27th, 2008 at 11:59pm EST.

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THE QUANTUM LEAP CENTERPIECE CONTEST

THE QUANTUM LEAP CENTERPIECE CONTEST

Don't enjoy writing Quantum Leap fan fiction stories? Not the best painter? There are many ways to participate at this convention and this one involves a different creative side. We know there are a lot of you out there who love to design and build, so here's your chance to display your creativity for over 500 fans of Quantum Leap and moe than 40 of it's stars! This competition is open to all attendees attending the evening parties. Please bring an original centerpiece that can be placed on tables throughout the ballroom with a Quantum Leap theme! You can create a centerpiece based on technical aspects of Quantum or try your hand at an episode-related theme. Your participation will make the parties more fun and the winner will receive on-stage recognition and a surprise prize. Centerpieces must be displayed for entire weekend.

Make sure to send us a note if you are participating to provide us an estimate of how many fans want to be involved!

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Fan Film Production

NEW FAN-BASED PRODUCTION
TO PREMIERE AT THE LEAP BACK 2009

QL-banner1.jpg (14672 bytes)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – *Award Winning Filmmaker Christopher Allen has announced the title of his company’s next film production, a fan based effort to re-launch the popular “Quantum Leap” television series that ran on NBC from 1989 to 1993.           Click for high-resolution version of teaser poster.   |  Play the teaser trailer!

Indianapolis based RACSO Motion Pictures is targeting 2008 as to when principal photography will begin.  “Whenever people hear of a fan based effort, or fanfilm, they immediately think of a high school kid with mom and dad’s hand held video camera.  This is clearly not the case.” said Allen from his studio in Carmel, Indiana.  “My last fan effort (award winning Star Trek vs. Batman) opened more doors for my career than everything else prior to it.  No one should underestimate the capability of what fan based films can do, if done professionally.”

Allen will enlist a wide array of Indianapolis talent to help continue the story of Dr. Sam Beckett, who ironically is from a fictitious town in Indiana.  Once completed, Allen hopes to use Quantum Leap: A Leap to Di for to persuade the science fiction broadcasting networks to re-launch the popular franchise.  “I hope that the story is what will ensure the film’s acceptance by the fans.  It centers on Dr. Beckett’s journey to 1997, where he is presented with the likelihood of saving the life of Princess Diana.” Allen said.  “That one possibility is something I believe everyone can identify with.” Allen went on to add.           

Originally from Madison, Indiana, Allen has been producing independent films since 1993.  Previous titles include The Living Years, In My Life, A Certain Justice, Star Trek Vs. Batman (*First place winner of the RadCon Film Festival in Seattle, WA), and most recently, the feature film A Time for the Heart.   Quantum Leap: A Leap to Di for will be a non-profit venture since the rights and ownership are not his.  “I just want to re-launch the (Quantum Leap) series in some way or another.  I don’t care about not making any money on this.   It’s not about money... its about quality stories and characters people still care about to this very day.  Above all else, it is ultimately for the fans.” Allen said.


For more information on RACSO Films and filmaker Christopher Allen, please visit his website at http://www.racsofilms.com and the official site for this Quantum Leap Fan Film at http://www.racsofilms.com/QL.htm

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QUANTUM LEAP NOVEL AUTHORS PANEL

QUANTUM LEAP NOVEL AUTHORS PANEL

The convention will feature a panel including authors of the official Quantum Leap Novels! We have confirmed Mindy Peterman (Song and Dance) and Julie Barrett (The A to Z of Quantum Leap). More to come! Please visit this page often for updates and additions.

If you wrote one of the Quantum Leap novels, please contact us to appear with this panel!

Mindy Peterman -
Song and Dance 

Julie Barrett -
The A to Z of Quantum Leap

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THE MAGIC OF JOSHUA CHAIKIN

THE MAGIC OF JOSHUA CHAIKIN

Josh is a member of the younger generation of magic who has been delighting audiences throughout the Midwest with his unique brand of magic. Josh is able to quickly read an audience and gauge what would be best suited for a crowd; equally adept performing for physicists and musicians, Josh has been able to elicit laughs from Bose engineers and rock bands.

Josh will be performing close-up acts daily at The Leap Back 2009 Quantum Leap convention. The Great Spontini has nothing on this very entertaining magician! Josh has his training in the theatre, showing his versatility in roles from Shakespeare to Sondheim. In the past five years, Josh has taken what he learned as an actor, and brought the grandeur of theatre to the intimate environment of close-up magic. This past summer, Josh's efforts were rewarded by his peers by placing 3rd in the Close Up Magic competition at the Midwest Magic Jubilee in St. Louis, with his original Chinese Restaurant act. For more information, photos, and other performances dates, please visit joshuacmagic.com.

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QUANTUM LEAP: THE LINE DANCE

QUANTUM LEAP: THE LINE DANCE

Join the "Dancing Librarian" Jodi Wittman as she teaches fans how to do the Quantum Leap line dance set to the music "Somwehere in the Night." Admission to this activity is free and fun!

Click here to watch a short clip of Jodi's Quantum Leap Line Dance!

If you enjoy dancing and/or the music of Scott Bakula (who doesn't?) then come on down and spend an hour learning the Quantum Leap line dance! We might be doing the dance later at the evening parties...

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MASTER OF CEREMONIES

We are very excited to announce the signing of a special Master of Ceremonies for The Leap Back 2009: Mr. Marc B. Lee!

Marc B. Lee is known internationally as an amateur Auctioneer and Master of Ceremonies for a number of events. He has been a science fiction fan for over 30 years and his specialized brand of humor and energy has ignited the excitement of every convention-hosting job from here to Europe.

Marc’s association with many Trek actors and behind the scenes artists has kept his wit and knowledge on edge and he takes his responsibilities as a party-rouser and pitch man very seriously, realizing how much the average con-goer pays to be entertained.

Residing outside of Orlando, Florida, Marc was born and educated in Baltimore, Maryland where he learned a lot about Star Trek from seasoned con organizers of the FARPOINT convention group in that town. Upon moving to Florida 18 years ago, Marc established an architectural design firm specializing in exquisite homes and commercial structures ranging in sizes of 4000 to 300,000 square feet. He’s become very active in charitable events in Florida and has been working with the youth of his community for the last two years.

Marc’s hosted the largest sci-fi media convention in Europe for the past 11 years and the largest Lord of the Rings gathering in the world for the last six. Both held annually in Germany, he’s discovered that fandom burns just as bright abroad as it does on our own shores and has experienced infinite diversities in infinite combinations.

Serving his 6th year as auctioneer for DRAGON CON in Atlanta and as Show Host for LIGHTSPEED FINE ARTS’ ANNUAL CELEBRITY CHARITY BENEFIT in California, Marc’s most recent gig was as a speaker on behalf of fans of James “Scotty” Doohan’s, during his memorial launch into space from Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert with an offer to fly out to the Marshall Islands for another memorial launch. In 2004, he hosted the last convention appearance of Jimmy Doohan in Hollywood, California and attended his Star Ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For STAR TREK’s 40th anniversary, Marc hosted a huge event at the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle, Washington attended by celebrity members of both science fiction and science fact. He's scheduled to host a benefit celebrity golf tournament and banquet in California in May 2008 and a FEDCON USA convention in Dallas next June, but feels the QUANTUM LEAP event will top off his year.

Marc will also be serving as our auctioneer and will moderate our guest panels. If you'd like to know more about him, check out his website at www.marcblee.org.

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(All proposed and scheduled events are subject to change. Guests are subject to availability.)

 

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