Imaginarium 2026

It's that time again. As I sit in my office a month removed from the event, I can finally take a moment to talk about Imaginarium 2026.

This year was a bit calmer than year. I didn't submit any panels of my own, but I was apart of several others that I was "drafted" to. Other people submitted panels and specifically requested my participation. I have to admit, that's a lovely feeling. To think that people like me enough to include me or respect me enough to value my opinion on one topic or another.

This is kind of the theme of this year's event.

I was featured on four panels. The first was "Nuclear Heat", a panel where we were suppose to defend particular wrestling-related stances and while we DID indeed do that, there wasn't enough people in the crowd to warrant the original presentation so we just went back and forth with the audience that was there and we defended our stances in the midst of the conversation. I had the stance that "The Miz is the greatest professional wrestler in the world." [I might make a video or something to explain that further.] I don't remember what my second point was, but if I remember, I might mention it on The Moon=Wrestling Podcast, which, if you don't watch it, you should!

https://www.youtube.com/@MoonMedia502 - this is the link to my YouTube channel. All my shows, with the exception of "Sako and the Moon Horror Podcast" can be found there. Sako and the Moon can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@SakoandtheMoonHorrorPodcast

My second panel was "A Match Made in Hell", a wrestling discussion about how, for some reason, horror and wrestling just doesn't work. There were two non-wrestling fans who wrote horror on the panel and it felt good as someone who is always saying "Everything Comes Back to Wrestling" to show them wrestling in a semi-familiar light. They both learned quite a bit about the theater that is pro-wrestling and one even entertained writing a wrestling-themed horror story. I don't know if it'll happen, but to consider it is progress and growth, if you ask me and since you're here, you basically did!

Panel three and four were both on Sunday and very different. Number three was "The Future of Creative Integrity" - it was an AI panel. Basically, what do we do with Generative AI so prevalent in creative space nowadays. I haven't softened my view on Generative AI - I still believe it's the bane of creativity - but I have softened my judgment of those that us it in certain ways. If your ENTIRE ARTWORK is just a prompt, that's not art at all to me. If you used it for a event flyer or book cover or logo... sigh... I still wish they didn't, but not everyone CAN hire this person or has an ARTIST friend. I do warn others that it will lead to judgments by others and a risk to their credibility.

Panel four was about Mystery Wrestling, a wrestling promotion out of Canada run by AEW's Evil Uno. It was fun to talk about this "very pro wrestling" promotion and there will be a Moon=Wrestling Podcast episode about it pretty soon so subscribe to that Moon Media YouTube page above.

Special thank you to James Sabata and Chad Elliott for hosting these panels and inviting me to be apart of them!

Beyond panels, I got to catch up with SO MANY of my creative friends. The list is far too long to place, but it is always great to see them and catch up and make plans. I will say it was great to introduce this convention to Joker, Amanda, Mark, and Brittany Hardy.

Speaking of Brittany, I want to congratulate her on being a finalist with her non-fictional book being up for an award. Sadly, she didn't win, but I love that she came and had to experience of the convention. Now, to get her to enjoy the day with the panels and connections. All in due time.

And now, speaking of awards,. I won my third screenwriting award as a runner-up in the Best Screenplay - Short Form category. Humbled as always, because I got to read some of the other works and I thought they were better than mine, but I guess I can be negatively biased to my own work. I often am.

To have three awards is such a strange thing to type out and know it to be true. I look at them on my shelf and it doesn't really feel like an actual thing. It does motivate me to continue the work I'm doing in hopes that "the next level" reveals itself sometime soon. I just have to be ready whenever it does.

Also, a thank you to the security at the hotel for what they could do when Amanda's car was broken in to.

As for Imaginarium 2027, they will move from the Holiday Inn Louisville East to the Crowne Plaza. I'm also debating if I'm going to panel next year. I'll be there, but I may or may not panel. Nothing wrong with paneling, I just want to focus more attention on attending panels and more networking. I have lots of plans and I want to be available to find those who will help me execute OR work on things in my room. I haven't made a final decision yet, but you're find out with next years blog OR you'll find out at DwanLHearn.com

Until then,

The Moon