From Wikipedia:
Ghostbusters is a 1984 American fantasy comedy film produced and directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and the late Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd and Ramis as Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler, eccentric parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis co-star as their client Dana Barrett and her neighbor Louis Tully.

The original Ghostbusters movie is a classic that stands the test of time. The 1989 sequel was equally fantastic. Sadly the 2016 Ghostbusters (Answer the Call) was, in my opinion, completely unmemorable. There were also two animated TV series ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ 1986 – 1991 and ‘Extreme Ghostbusters’ 1997 – I didn’t watch either of these shows, although I’ve read that ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ was popular and well received.

Here’s the original Ghostbusters movie trailer

If you haven’t seen the original movie, please go and watch it right now!

There is also a new Ghostbusters movie scheduled for release in 2020 and that looks like an exciting to return to the original. Here’s the trailer:

Ghostbusters I was filmed on location in New York City and on some Warner Bros. LA studio soundstages. The franchise is owned by Sony Picture Studios and they have original Ghostbusters Car there. I took the Sony Picture Studio Tour in 2015 and it was outside on the lot.

Here’s me with the tour guide, who you may recognise as Devin McFly from the fan film ‘Back to the 2015 Future’.

I was excited to see that Wizard World, a company that usually specialises in comic conventions, are organising a Ghostbusters Fan Fest in June this year (2019). It’s an obvious move for a company that is used to organising conventions, managing fans dressed as characters from their favourite movies (cosplay) and organising actors to meet fans, pose for pictures and sign autographs.

They already have Dan Aykroyd signed up.

Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore), Ivan Reitman (Director/Producer) and William Atherton (Walter Peck) are attending plus others involved in the movie. The voice actors from ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ TV series will be there. Ray Parker Jr. who wrote the Ghostbusters theme (partially plagiarised from The Huey Lewis song ‘I Want a New Drug’) will not only attend, but perform the song on stage.

It sounds great doesn’t it? But it’s expensive, with a starting ticket price at $499. I have some concerns about how much investment will be made in to the event. Wizard World are good at hiring a huge hall, securing talent, selling merchandise booths and tickets for comiccon. The event is then made by the attendees in cosplay and the merchandise sellers. More is required here.

So what would I like to see? Here’s a list:

• A replica of the Ghostbusters Fire Station – at least the outside, where fans could pose for (free) photos.
• Professional actors recreating scenes from the movie throughout the day. These scenes could run from small vignettes through to the Ghostbusters arriving in ECTO1 and running into a building.
• Bill Murray.
• Chance to wear an actual prop proton pack.
• Chance to sit in the original Ghostbuster car.
• Bill Murray – yes again, he’s that important.

And I want the above included in the ticket price. I really don’t like it when, after paying a high ticket price, you are then nickel and dimed throughout the event and asked to pay extra for everything.

Personally, I don’t ever pay for photos nor autographs. If I meet someone famous, either accidentally, or because I’m introduced to them at an event, I tend just to chat with them rather than rush for an autograph or a selfie. Maybe it’s a British thing, but it seems vulgar to pay someone to be your ‘friend’ in a photo.

If money is no object, you can purchase more expensive tickets. Here is the range:

• Youth (15 and under): $99
• Class 1: $499
• Class 3:$699
• Class 5: $999
• Class 10: $1499

All Ghostbusters Fan Fest packages include a Friday Night Screening and Saturday admission, access to panels featuring Ghostbusters creators, talent and crew, special experiences on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot and limited edition collectibles.

Premium ticket packages include everything in Class 1, plus group Photo Ops and Autographs with talent, exclusive collectibles, reserved seating, and even a Class 10 private breakfast with Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman!

Will you be going? Who you gonna call? Maybe your credit card company!

https://events.wizardworld.com/gb-fan-fest/

https://www.ghostbusters.com/

http://www.sonypicturesstudiostours.com/

All events will be held at Sony Pictures Studio Lot
10202 West Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA.