Host bringing Cineplex to Hal-Con
Posted Oct 25, 2018 12:44:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Tanner Zipchen has been the face of Cineplex Theatres across the country for years, and if you’ve caught a flick at your local cinema, he’s graced your screen on the pre-show.
Now he’s headed to Halifax to be a moderator and talk film geekery with fans during Hal-Con at October’s end.
“I’ve never been to the East Coast. When I told the organizer [of Hal-Con] I’d never been further east than Quebec, they laughed,” said Zipchen.
“I’m excited to be here for an entire weekend, and I’ve done cons from San Diego to Calgary to Toronto. This should be a fun one.”
The conference, which started in 2010, has welcomed guests like Jim Beaver, Billy Dee Williams and Erin Gray, and this year’s line-up is full of celebrities.
Among them are Zipchen, Star Trek star LeVar Burton, cosplayer Akakioga, makeup artist Marc Deveault, The Magicians author Lev Grossman, comic artists aplenty and Billy Boyd, who played Pippin in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
But one guest who excites moderator Zipchen is Anthony Head, a 1990’s TV icon who played librarian Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
“This is about passion, nostalgia, and people you loved growing up. Getting to meet Giles from Buffy will be amazing for people,” he said.
“To see someone you watched for years is a trip down memory lane. For me, the toys, comics and everything else certainly brings me back to my childhood.”
Speaking of his own childhood, Zipchen’s favourite film has endured in his mind for most of his life.
“The film I love most – the one that sparked not just my love of dinosaurs, but film itself – is Jurassic Park. It’s stuck with me my entire life, and it still stands up today,” said Zipchen.
“The CG and effects are amazing, and the book by Michael Crichton is also great. Steven Spielberg was behind it, and I love anything involving Jeff Goldblum.”
He said the film sparked his interest in making-of documentaries on DVDs and special features accompanying films.
“The scene with the raptors in the kitchen toward the end was amazing. I saw it for the first time at the drive-in, and I dove into the back seat. The T. rex was larger than life on a drive-in screen,” he said.
“I was so inspired and began watching specials and learning about movie magic. It grew me into the person I am and informed what I do today.”
Zipchen watches so many special previews and film premieres that he can’t remember the last time he watched a movie surrounded by the film-going public.
But he does know the films he’s absolutely loved this year, including Viggo Mortensen – Mahershala Ali film Green Book, a Toronto International Film Festival favourite. He also loved A Star Is Born, and of course, Jurassic sequel Fallen Kingdom.
“I’m a little biased, but the sequel to Jurassic World [is a pick]. It was amazing to see Jeff Goldblum return,” he said.
“There should have been more Goldblum, like in [original sequel] The Lost World. More Goldblum is the secret to success.”
Zipchen, a Saskatoon native, got his start in radio and television broadcasting, and studied out west. He was pulled onto cinema screens after winning a YouTube contest.
He says the skills he learned on radio have informed his entire career.
“As different as radio and going on camera are, so much of it is transferable. I do a lot of my own writing and get to use my improvisational skills. My interview skills in general are still used constantly,” he said.
“Everything I did prior to this Cineplex opportunity allowed me to step up. It was all about building a foundation for what I’m doing now.”
He counts Deadpool himself, Ryan Reynolds, as well as other Canadian Ryan Gosling, and Mean Girls star Rachel McAdams among those he’s sat across from and interviewed. But he certainly has a soft spot for one guest.
“Meeting Goldblum was amazing. There’s just no beating it. He is an entity unto himself. But I’ve been blessed to have some great conversations,” he said.
“Another great one was Michael Keaton. Getting to chat with him about the original Batman was really cool. It’s fun to look back at who I’ve met.”
As Zipchen preps to hit the East Coast, he’s excited to see what Hal-Con has to offer.
“I look forward to seeing the creativity in the cosplay, and the passion behind all these conventions is always amazing. It’s so cool to be part of that community,” he said.
