By Melody Mendoza
Walking throughout the crowds of SXSW can be overwhelming. Finding your favorite panel speaker or even a celebrity is like picking up a good “Where’s Waldo?” book. (Those were so fun!)
In “Where’s Waldo?” you know who you’re looking for. You know he’s wearing red and white stripes. Well, think of this top 5 as your “Where’s Waldo?” guide to finding celebrities at SXSWi.
By knowing who to expect at SXSWi, you might be able to spot them in the crowd of people at SXSW. Then, maybe you can snap a quick photo or get a spontaneous interview.
Here are the top 5 celebrities expected at SXSWi:
When: Saturday, March 8, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 5
Hashtag: #sxsw #JABP
With last year’s Snowden disclosures, talk about online privacy and surveillance has been at the top of conversations. It can affect marketers and the like, who measure consumer online data every day.
At the forefront of the disclosures was Wikileaks, and its founder Julian Assange will have a one-on-one conversation at SXSWi to discuss the importance of online privacy, the ethical and political implications of releasing classified information into the public realm, and the concept of the “Internet Nation.”
When: Saturday, March 8, 2 p.m.
Where: Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 5
Neil deGrasse Tyson is a legendary astrophysicist, author of ten books and science communicator. He hosts a radio show and podcast called “StarTalk,” and is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York.
With the advancements in technology on the level of the average person, imagine how technology is advancing in space exploration. Tyson is definitely a celebrity to watch out for at SXSWi. Get your science questions ready.
3. Kevin Bacon
When: Saturday, March 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Where: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom D
The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon concept celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2014. This game started after Actor Kevin Bacon claimed he had worked with everyone in Hollywood. It reflects the six degrees of separation theory that generally says everyone is connected through a chain of acquaintances.
The Kevin Bacon game, now online called The Oracle of Bacon, allows anyone to see how two actors are connected.
I’m still not sure the relevance, but if you want to see Kevin Bacon, hear more about the game, and see “multiple SURPRISE guests” with varying degrees of separation to Bacon, then go see this panel.
4. Mindy Kaling
When: Tuesday, March 12, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon D
Hashtag: #sxsw #Queen
It was once unheard of to see women in the realm of the tech industry. And still, it’s just the beginning of women on the rise.
The Mindy Project, a TV comedy starring Mindy Kaling, writer, producer and New York Times best-selling author. Kaling is one of many more female showrunners, and SXSW wants to know her take on the future of women in TV, traditional and digital.
When: March 10-14, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Where: The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts
This isn’t a panel. But Jimmy Kimmel is famous, and he’ll be broadcasting his show from Austin, and that’s pretty awesome.
The ticket information isn’t available yet, so we’re not sure how that’s going to work, but stay up to date on the SXSW website.
If you want to find Jimmy Kimmel “Where’s Waldo?” style, he said he’ll be the guy covered in BBQ sauce. Gotta love that Texas BBQ!
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Do you have any video of that? I’d want to find out some additional information.
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These panels will be happening at SXSW this year in March, so no, we don’t have any videos yet but be sure to check back as we will be covering SXSW so there may be videos on this panel too if we’re lucky!