The Comic-con Pre-Post

[bad_influence]

Yeah! Comic-con is this weekend. I keep forgetting about it, it just seemed to far off and now it's here!

That being said, if there is anything that anyone would like at Comic-con (if it's for free, all the better), please, just drop a comment here and I'll see what I can do. No promises, but I'll try my best. ^-^ I managed to do well with the requests I had last year, so I'll give it a shot this year.

Oh, and RI!Sarah, I'll email you too, but if you see this, is there any specific Brom print that you want if he's there again this year?

And now, just personal planning stuff.


Must See/do:

Saturday:

4:00-5:00 Bearing the Torch-and the Sword, and Shield, and Dragon…- How do established writers and new voices in the fantasy field balance giving readers the familiar elements they crave with telling stories in a fresh way? Moderator Maryelizabeth Hart (Mysterious Galaxy) seeks answers from Comic-Con special guest Peter Beagle (The Last Unicorn), Canadian-born teacher and fantasy writer David Keck (In the Eye of Heaven), best-selling author Todd McCaffrey (Dragon’s Fire), Temeraire historical fantasy creator Naomi Novik (His Majesty’s Dragon), A Song of Ice and Fire creator George R. R. Martin (A Feast for Crows), popular novelist Rebecca Moesta (Crystal Doors), and fantasy author and screenwriter Eldon Thompson (The Obsidian Key). Room 9

Bearing the Torch--and the Sword, and Shield, and Dragon...
Peter Beagle (The Last Unicorn), David Keck (In the Eye of Heaven), Todd McCaffrey (Dragon's Fire), Naomi Novik (His Majesty's Dragon), George R.R. Martin (A Feast for Crows), Rebecca Moesta (Crystal Doors), Eldon Thompson (The Obsidian Key)
AA4 Saturday, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Stop by SLG comics booth for Gargoyles stuff and in hopes that Greg Weisman is there.

Interesting things:

Saturday:

10:30-11:30 DC Talent Search 3- Find out what DC Comics is looking for when it comes to artists and whether you have the right stuff to draw for the DC Universe, WildStorm, or Vertigo! This informative orientation session will explain how DC’s Talent Search works. If you want your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory-not all attendees are guaranteed a review. Room 9

11:00-12:00 Getting Published in Gaming- Curious about what it takes to get your work published in the tabletop gaming industry? Learn how from an all-star panel of game designers, including Matt Forbeck (Marvel Heroes Battle Dice), Jamie Chambers (Serenity Roleplaying Game), Lee Hammock (Dawning Star), Seth Johnson (HeroClix lead designer), Stan! (d20 Modern), and Jeff Tidball (Cthulhu 500), plus artists Christopher Appel (freelance) and Tony Parker (Conan: Stygia) and industry insider Phil Lacefield (Paizo Publishing). Room 24A

Gigi Edgley, actor (Farscape, The Secret Life of Us)
AA10 Saturday, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

12:00-1:30 Training of Master Artists- Marshall Vandruff shows how successful artists master basic disciplines such as anatomy, perspective, and technique but emphasizes that the greatest challenge for bringing emotional power into a work of art is to master composition. This session is the first lecture of the Crash-Course in Composition that will be offered at The Art Institute of California, San Diego. Room 3

12:00-1:00 State of the Animation Industry- Top leaders in the field of animation discuss the current state of the animation industry and give insights in to the future of the field. Panelists include Jorgen Klubien, co-creator/writer Pixar's Cars; Kevin Koch, president of the Animation Guild; Dan Lund, director, Dream on Silly Dreamer; Sarah Baisley, editor, Animation World Network; Aki Umemoto, Mattel/Base Station; Jason Plapp, T.D., The Simpsons Movie; Angelo di Nallo, co-creator Bradwurst Nickelodeon; Eric Goldberg, director, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Fantasia/2000; and moderator Larry Loc, ASIFA-Hollywood board of directors. Room 4

12:30-1:30 Flight: A New Kind of Comics Anthology- The critically acclaimed Flight anthology has begun paving the way for a new vision in comics. Flight artists Kazu Kibuishi (Daisy Kutter), Phil Craven, Kean Soo (Jellaby), Jeff Smith (Bone), Steve Hamaker, and special guest Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics, Making Comics) talk about creating comics for a new generation of readers and artists. Room 9

1:00-2:30 Kevin Smith- The moment is here. Kevin Smith’s Clerks 2 is in theaters now, and the man, the myth, the legend behind it is here at Comic-Con to talk about the making of the film and whatever else he damn well pleases. Hall H

1:30-2:30 Pitching An Animated Show- How do you get your cartoon on the air? Selling an animated series isn’t as easy as it seems. The process is as creative as it is frustrating-and equal parts unpredictable. The major networks get thousands of pitches every year, so is there a secret recipe to getting your idea on the top of the pile? Maybe, and these are the people to tell you: the executives responsible for shepherding new shows at the major studios, including Eric Coleman, VP animation, development & production at Nickelodeon; Heather Kenyon, senior director of development original animation for Cartoon Network; Mike Moon, vice president, animated series at The Disney Channel; Halle Stanford, head of children’s programming for The Jim Henson Company; and creators Jorge R. Gutierrez (Nickelodeon’s upcoming 2007 series El Tigre) and Gabe Swarr (Big Pants Mouse), both industry veterans currently in development on several projects. This will be an hour chock-full of wisdom, woes, and even a few “you-saw-it-here-first” surprises, moderated by animation writer/creator Jon M. Gibson, also in development. Room 5AB

2:30-4:00 Dynamic Drawing with Jeff Watts and Erik Gist- Two renowned art teachers will demonstrate the “Watts Atelier Method of Drawing.” Jeff Watts and Erik Gist will share with you the skills that have allowed them to excel as professional artists. Watch as these artist demonstrate their fantastic skills and explain the essentials of working from the live model and its importance to every working artist. Jeff founded Watts Atelier of the Arts some 15 years ago in hopes of preserving the tradition of master artists of the past. Jeff and Erik will share their thoughts on what it takes to train and perform at peak professional levels. A must for professionals and aspiring professionals alike. Room 3

3:15-4:00 Inside Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender- This panel will be jam-packed with insider information that you can't see anywhere else, including a special behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of the show's creators, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, a look at what's coming up in the new season from the show's head writer Aaron Ehasz, insight on the show's art style and production process from director Giancarlo Volpe, Q&A with the cast Jack DeSena (Sokka) and Dante Basco (Zuko), and a special sneak-peak of the upcoming one-hour special! Moderated by Eric Coleman, vice president of animation development and production. Room 6B

3:45-4:45 Disney Previews: From Narnia to the Caribbean- Academy Award-winning producer Mark Johnson (Rain Man, Galaxy Quest, Young Sherlock Holmes) will preview never-before-seen footage from the upcoming four-disc limited-edition Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe DVD. You’ll see all-new scenes from the director’s cut of the film and hear some exciting details about this new release. Then join legendary ILM Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll (Star Wars I, II, and III, Star Trek: First Contact, Pirates of the Caribbean) on board the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman for an insider’s look at the making of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Exclusive Comic-Con collectibles from these films will be made available to all who attend. Hall H

4:00-5:00 How to Make Compelling Web Comics- Lee Marrs (Pudge, Girl Blimp, Indiana Jones) will present the most direct methods and pitfalls of creating both webcomics and interactive hypercomics, with demonstrations and examples. The direct-from-the-trenches “Marrs Hypercomics Recipe” will be shared by this Inkpot Award winner and Emmy Award-winning TV art director. Room 3

4:30-6:00 The Costume Designers Guild: Costume Centric Session 3- The Costume Designers Guild concludes its three-part series on costume design and its profound influence on world culture. In this final session, CDG president Deborah Nadoolman Landis (Raiders of the Lost Ark) will host Isis Mussenden (The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe), Mary Vogt (Men in Black 1 & 2, Fantastic Four 2), and Judianna Makovsky (Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, X-Men 3) in a discussion about designing for the big screen. Comic-Con attendees will have the rare opportunity to hear from costume designers and see the sketches, fabrics, costumes, and film clips from some the most influential productions of the last five years. Room 2

5:30-7:00 Gays in Comics, Year 19: Infinitely Out and Civil Pride- From Young Avengers to Batwoman, Freedom Ring to Tough Love, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) characters are popping up more in mainstream comics, and GLBT creators are writing, drawing, or self-publishing more than ever. At its near-two-decade mark, the annual Gays in Comics panel takes the pulse of queer comicdom, showcasing some groundbreaking creators and their insights. Joining moderator Andy Mangels (writer of Star Trek novels, director of He-Man and She-Ra DVD documentaries) are Patty Jeres (past DC director of marketing communications, current PRISM board member), Abby Denson (creator of Tough Love: High School Confidential graphic novel), Greg Rucka (writer of Gotham Central, 52, Checkmate), Gail Simone (writer of Secret Six, Birds of Prey), Marc Andreyko (writer of Manhunter), and Phil Jimenez (artist/writer of Infinite Crisis, Otherworld). Afterward, stick around for an hour-long gay comic fan mixer/social, sponsored by PRISM Comics! Room 6A

5:30-7:00 [adult swim] 2 for 1- That's right. Here's your chance to see new stuff and ask dumb questions. Panel #1: Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Jim Fortier (Squidbillies), Dino Stamatopoulus (Moral Orel), and Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha (Metalocalypse) will kick off the first half of this year's panel. Panel #2 follows with Seth Green and Matt Senreich (Robot Chicken), Jackson Publick (Venture Brothers), Adam de La Pena, Todd James, and Peter Girardi (Minoriteam), and Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim (Tom Goes to the Mayor). The gang's all here. You should be too. Room 6CDEF

6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Yoshitaka Amano- BOOM! Studios presents the genre-crossing artist. Best known for his work on the Final Fantasy videogame series, Yoshitaka Amano is one of the most popular artists working today, and his work includes illustration, game design, and manga. His American-based work includes The Sandman: The Dream Hunters for Vertigo and Wolverine/Elektra for Marvel. Room 2

7:00-8:00 Gays in Comics Mixer- The follow-up to the 19th annual Gays in Comics panel. Stick around and socialize! Room 6A

8:00-10:00 CCI:IFF Extra: Done the Impossible: The Fans' Tale of Firefly and Serenity- Adam Baldwin hosts the telling of this vivid Browncoat story that features interviews with Joss Whedon, creator of Firefly and Serenity, the cast, crew, and most important, the fans themselves. Join filmmakers Brian Wiser and Jeremy Neish for a Q&A after the film! Room 6B

Sunday:

10:30-12:00 Nickelodeon Sneak Peek Screening- This can’t-miss screening for fans of Nickelodeon will feature a brand-new, never-before-seen episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, and that’s not all! You’ll also get a look at fresh episodes of Catscratch and The X’s before they hit your TV, as well as trailers for the upcoming one-hour special Avatar: The Secret of the Fire Nation, and the Danny Phantom special Urban Jungle. Plus, we’ll show you Nick extras you can’t get anywhere else. Room 6A

11:00-12:00 Trailer Park- A Comic-Con tradition. The very best in movie trailers appearing now-or very soon!-at a theater near you! Room 20

12:30-1:30 Spotlight on Christopher Paolini- This young author took the fantasy world by storm with his book Eragon, written when he was just 17 years old! Christopher Paolini comes to Comic-Con as a special guest to discuss his "Inheritance" trilogy of fantasy books, including Eragon (soon to be a major motion picture), and Eldest. Paolini will be interviewed by noted fantasy writer (and Comic-Con special guest) Peter S. Beagle. Room 6B

1:30-3:30 California Browncoats Group Meeting- Browncoats are fans of Joss Whedon's Firefly and Serenity. Fans new and old, as well as anyone interested in quality storytelling, are welcome to the meeting. The group will be holding a thank you drawing for all those who donated at the Browncoat table on the show floor. They expect to have many unique and rare prizes from across the 'verse, including the Grand Prize: Adam Baldwin's cast signed shooting script from Serenity. You do not need to be present to win a prize. Tickets for the drawing and information about the fundraiser are available at the Browncoats tables, A11 and A12, in the Exhibit Hall. Room 24A

If I feel like the humiliation and waste of time, do Portfolio review stuff (Dark Horse Comics, Wizards of the Coast, and McFarlane Toys)