Last month, Variety ran an article about Fox, Paramount and Relativity in skipping Hall H presentations at San Diego Comic-Con, which cause a lot of the comic book news sites to proclaim that this might mark the beginning of the film studios abandoning Comic-Con and a return a more comics skewing focus.
Whether these studios’ taking a year off is a sign of things to come or a sign that they don’t have much to promote this year remains to be seen. But there will still be plenty of focus on films at the con, not only in Hall H but also at various venues across the city, in the form of panels, the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival, the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival, and a strong Anime presence.
Here is a list of the film related events going on in conjunction with the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con:
Thursday, July 12
The highlight of the first official day of SDCC ’12 has to be the final Twilight panel. Yes, no longer will you have to camp over night to see a panel in Hall H. As a matter of fact, unless you’re jonesing to see movie trailers that you will soon be able to watch on You Tube at your leisure, you might not have to camp out at all. The Twilight panel is the first official panel in the room, and the Twi-Hards and their Twi-Moms typically clear out the moment the panel ends. Experience Hall H as it once was, before the twinkling vampires took over!
Other highlights include the Disney panel, where Big Hero 6 might be officially announced; the RiffTrax panel, which is always fun; and the debut of documentaries on Image Comics and SDCC itself.
Don’t be sad if you miss the celebration of 1982 panel at the con, because we will be celebrating the summer releases of the film right here all summer long. And don’t bother with the Masters of the Web series, since neither Rich nor I were invited to be on the panel, it will be substandard at best.
10:00-11:00 Comic-Con Film School 101: Preproduction and Screenwriting—Comic-Con Film School is back for another four-day, nuts-and-bolts class on how to make a movie for very little money, using available video technology and desktop post-production software. Whether you’re shooting your first zombie short or that story about the leather-clad girl who pilots a steampunk dirigible, this course will take you from script to final product so that you, too, can enter your own movie into the CCI: IFF. This first class covers the specifics of pre-production on the cheap, including screenwriting, casting, scheduling, location scouting, crewing-up, and getting equipment for nothing. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril-Midnight Whistle), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (writer/producer, Fear News), Vera Vanguard (producer/star, GothGirl), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica). Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
10:15-11:15 TheOneRing.net: The Truth About The Hobbit—The Hobbit movie is imminent just at the book turns 75. With on-set visits, intrepid reporting, and the pulse of fans worldwide, the TORn staff shred rumors, answer questions, share New Zealand images-but not as part of the official publicity machine. Also featuring a special visual presentation from Weta Workshop and an account of Fandalf traveling the world and (all that is the tip of the iceberg!). Featuring Cliff Broadway (Ringers: Lord of the Fans) and Larry D. Curtis (Hobbit embedded reporter) and additional staff and guests. Room 6DE
10:30-11:30 Books and Hollywood: Literary Franchises in Television and Film—Authors discuss their work transitioning across various mediums, from screenwriters to novelists turning popular books into hit TV series and Hollywood films. How does the creative process differ when writing a screenplay as compared to a novel? Authors describing the process of adapting novels for the big screen include Rebecca Serle (When You Were Mine), Margaret Stohl (co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series), Scott Speer (Immortal City), Tony DiTerlizzi (The Search for WondLa series), Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz (Colin Fischer), Mike Richardson (president of Dark Horse), and Mark Frost (The Paladin Prophecy). Moderated by Geoff Boucher (Los Angeles Times). Room 24ABC
11:00-12:00 Twisted Twins: American Mary—Jen and Sylvia Soska (of Twisted Twins Productions and the makers of Dead Hooker in a Trunk) and Todd Masters (of MASTERSFX and make-up effects producer on True Blood) will discuss the use of prosthetics in horror. The Soskas will also address the challenges of working in a male-dominated genre. They will unveil a sizzle reel from their new film American Mary. Paula Lindberg (Ruby in American Mary) will also be on the panel, which is moderated by Beth Accomando (author of the KPBS blog Cinema Junkie). Room 5AB
11:15-12:00 DreamWorks Animation—DreamWorks Animation’s chief creative officer Bill Damaschke anchors a diverse group of filmmakers to demo and discuss the artistic ambition and technical innovation that goes into moviemaking at DreamWorks Animation. Moderated by Anthony Breznican from Entertainment Weekly. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
11:30-12:30 Trailer Park—A Comic-Con tradition comes home to Hall H! See the latest in trailers from your upcoming soon-to-be-favorite films, including some in that new-fangled 3D contraption (glasses provided, but please give them back as you exit the hall). Hall H
11:45-12:45 Stan Lee’s World of Heroes—The legendary Stan Lee introduces his new YouTube channel that tells the stories of heroes, villains, and the fans who love them. In this epic panel, Stan, Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Adrianne Curry (America’s Next Top Model), Peter David (The Hulk), Jace Hall (The Jace Hall Show), and Bonnie Burton (Star Wars Craft book) talk about their new shows, debut new episodes and trailers, answer questions from fans, and provide a few Stan Lee surprises. Room 6BCF
12:00-1:00 The Pitching Hour—Jermaine Turner (director, Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group), Ted Biaselli (VP, The Hub Network), Jill Sanford (director, Disney original series TV animation), Derek Hoffman (VP, Donner Co.), Valerie Alexander (screenwriter), Carina Schulze (Chatrone), Charlie Chu (editor, Oni Press), Lindsay Rostal (game producer, The Odd Gentlemen), Jennie Kong (VP, Miller PR), and your moderator Dan Evans III (freelance development exec, Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters) will take an idea from conception through production for various media. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creators should adopt to make their way through the creative battleground of the entertainment industry. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand is Brendan McFeely (IP lawyer, Kane Kessler) to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood. Room 5AB
12:00-1:00 Cartoon Network and Dreamworks Animation: DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk—Picking up where the critically acclaimed feature film How to Train Your Dragon left off, this weekly animated series follows the continuing adventures of master dragon trainer Hiccup, his faithful dragon Toothless, and his friends on Berk. Dragon training reaches new heights as our heroes unlock secrets about their dragons, explore wild frontiers, and discover new dragon species, all while battling fierce enemies they never dreamed existed. Come get a first look at the series, which premieres this fall on Cartoon Network, and hear from some of the talented dragon trainers who helped bring it to life. Room 6A
12:00-1:00 Machinima: The Future of Entertainment—Machinima has become one of the most talked about entertainment destinations in the world. Serving over 1.6 billion video views a month, the network has established itself with quality content and passionate viewership and is now considered the leading brand for the gaming generation. Don’t miss out on this panel with exclusive footage from Machinima’s new channel, Machinima Prime, which focuses on thrilling episodic content, including the much anticipated tentpole series Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. Be a part of mind-blowing discussions on the next wave of content creation and the new development paradigm. Catch guests from Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn, the Machinima Prime Channel, and the Machinima Network. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
12:45-1:45 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2—Summit Entertainment presents a sneak peek at the highly anticipated conclusion of The Twilight Saga films. This is a must-see for fans interested in the story’s final chapter. You will be shown exclusive footage from The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2 and be treated to a cast and filmmaker Q&A session providing details on the epic finale. Hall H
1:00-2:00 100th Anniversary of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars—He wrestled lions, poachers and ran through fire barefoot without a stunt-double or CGI. Actor Ron Ely will discuss filming Tarzan in the jungles of Latin America with writer Mark Evanier and Burroughs illustrator Tom Yeates. Also featuring David Lemmo, co-author of the new book, Tarzan: His First 100 Years. How Ancient Literature Became Modern Mythology and Created an Ape-Man Mecca in Southern California, coming from Angel City Press in 2013. Plus a 100-years of Tarzan and John Carter slide show included. Room 8
1:00-2:00 Voltron: Form Blazing Fans!—The classic animated TV series and toys that introduced the world to wild robot lions and a giant combining hero returns to SDCC. Celebrate Voltron memories with some of the Defender’s biggest fans, including Alex Albrecht (Diggnation, Project Lore podcast), Rob Bricken (ToplessRobot.com), Clare Grant with Team Unicorn (Geek and Gamer Girls), and other secret celeb guests. Plus an update on the live-action movie produced by Atlas Entertainment (The Dark Knight Rises); exclusive comic book reveals and announcements from VIZ Media with Traci Todd (senior editor, VIZ Media), Brandon Thomas (writer, Voltron, Dynamite Entertainment); and Voltron Classics toy info from Mattel’s Scott Neitlich (marketing manager, MattyCollector.com). Win big Voltron prizes, “Form the Head” with Voltron and be ready to share your own Voltron story. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1:30-2:30 Self-Publishing: Exploring the E-Frontier—The best time in the history of the world to be a writer is today. Mark O’Bannon (author of The Dream Crystal), E. C. “Feo Amante” McMullen Jr. (author of the science fiction collection Perpetual Bullet), Jimmy Diggs (freelance writer for Star Trek DS9 and Voyager), and Marc Scott Zicree (Space Command, Star Trek TNG and DS9, Babylon 5, Sliders, The Twilight Zone Companion) show you what it takes to self-publish your book or film. Join them and discover a new golden age for writers and filmmakers. Moderated by O’Bannon. Room 4
1:30-2:30 Hasbro: Transformers Brand—Aaron Archer (vice president, Hasbro Design) and Jerry Jivoin (director, Global Transformers Brand) discuss the hottest Transformers topics including the Transformers Prime and Transformers Rescue Bots TV series, action figures, video games, comics, theme park rides and more. Attendees will also get sneak peeks at upcoming action figures and brand news. Jerry and Aaron will also host some Q&A for your burning Transformers questions. Roll out! Room 24ABC
2:00-3:00 Spotlight on Jim Silke—With a career that spans comics, movies, design, and fine art, Comic-Con special guest Jim Silke has done it all. Silke talks about his past, present, and future work in this Spotlight event.Room 9
2:05-3:05 Walt Disney Studios: Frankenweenie, Oz The Great and Powerful, and Wreck-it Ralph—Walt Disney Studios hosts a Q&A panel featuring the imaginative director of Frankenweenie, Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland); a special look at the world of Oz The Great and Powerful with director Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy); and the illustrious voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Wreck-It Ralph, including John C. Reilly (Step Brothers) and Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), and director Rich Moore (Futurama). Hall H
2:30-3:30 Comics Arts Conference Session #4: The Dark Knight Rises: Is Batman Broken?—He’s strong, smart, and heroic. He’s the Dark Knight we want on our side, but is Batman also out of his mind? Caught between Catwoman and Bane as Christopher Nolan’s Batman movie trilogy comes to its end, will Batman break? Psychologists Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight) and Robin Rosenberg (The Psychology of Superheroes, What’s the Matter with Batman?) discuss Bruce Wayne’s relationships, strengths, weaknesses, and potential diagnoses and ask executive producer Michael Uslan (The Dark Knight Rises), comic book writers Len Wein (Batman) and Steve Englehart (Detective Comics), and Catwoman herself, actress Lee Meriwether (Batman: The Movie), exactly how healthy it is for an orphaned billionaire to spend his nights fighting crime while dressed like a bat. Does the Dark Knight have bats in his belfry? Room 26AB
3:00-4:00 1982: It was 30 Years Ago Today-Greatest Geek Year Ever!—It’s time to stand up and cheer the greatest geek year ever-three decades later-and the editors of Geek Magazine and guests are here to tell you all about it on this nostalgic trip down memory lane in which they go back to the future. Geek editors Jeff Bond and David E. Williams are joined by screenwriter Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X-Men: First Class), director Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, The Hills Run Red), writer Steve Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Transformers: The Series), Steve Kriozere (V.I.P., Elvis Van Helsing), Bill Hunt, Todd Doogan and Dr. Adam Jahnke (The Digital Bits, Geek), and Mark A. Altman (Free Enterprise, Femme Fatales, Castle) to discuss the year that gave us Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Blade Runner, E.T., Tron, Poltergeist, Conan: The Barbarian, The Road Warrior, The Thing, Liquid Sky (Liquid Sky? Really?!?), The Sword and the Sorcerer, Diner, 48 Hours, Dexy’s Midnight Runner’s “Come On Eileen” and many more. What’s your favorite? And can 2012 possibly compare? You be the judge. On second thought, they’ll be the judge. Moderated by Geek Magazine (geekexchange.com). Room 5AB
3:00-4:00 Hotel Transylvania—Animation superstar and 12-time Emmy nominee Genndy Tartakovsky, who previously created Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Sym-Bionic Titan and Star Wars: Clone Wars, makes his directorial debut this year with Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania. Join Genndy for an exclusive sneak peek at footage from Hotel Transylvania and an exciting look behind the scenes of this very unique project, which boasts a hilarious voice cast.
Welcome to Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of his best friends — Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Werewolf family, and more — to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’s 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but everything could change for the overprotective dad when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
3:15-4:15 Low Budget/Big Genre: Making it Fun—Script developers, producers, writers, and actors discuss lower-budget genre movies and some of the tools they use to make them so much fun that people keep coming back for more. Panelists include writer/director Eric Forsberg (Syfy, The Asylum, Active Entertainment), Micho Rutare (development executive, The Asylum), actress Gabriel Womack (Triassic Attack, Copperhead), Mark Beltzman (Re-Animator, the Musical), Karen Goodman Forsberg (producer and co-founder, Big Bear Horror Film Festival), and Bill Lundy (writer, Silent Warning, Alien Siege on SyFy; head of Scriptwriters Network). Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
3:25-4:25 CZ12—Jackie Chan & JJ Productions Limited are happy to bring you Jackie Chan’s upcoming classical full-action feature movie CZ12, which is produced and directed by Jackie Chan. The movie stars Jackie Chan, Kwone Sang Woo and with a special guest appearance by Oliver Platt. It is filmed in multi-territories including China, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vanuatu, Australia, and Latvia. Trailers will be presented and a Q&A will be held for the film. Hall H
3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Tim Bradstreet: 25 Years on the Edge of Fantastic Illustration—Comic-Con special guest Tim Bradstreet (The Punisher Max, Hellblazer, Vampire: The Masquerade) discusses his career in RPGs, comics, and film. Join Tim for this onstage interview and Q&A session moderated by Tom Racine (Tall Tale Radio). Room 4
4:00-5:00 Character Design in Entertainment: From Script to Sculp—When it comes to behind-the-scenes special features and “The Art of Making…” reference books for movies, gaming, and entertainment, oftentimes we only get a brief glimpse of what went into the design of a production. Leading creature and concept designer Neville Page (Avatar, Star Trek, Tron, Super 8, and most recently Prometheus) goes in-depth about the specificity of character development, from script interpretation to full design execution, referencing select work from some of the spectacular films he has worked on. You will not only see the final resolve, but the roughest of sketches. A thorough Q&A will be a big part of the presentation. Room 7AB
4:30-5:30 Masters of the Web—The annual gathering of some of the most prominent and influential film pundits on the web discuss the film industry, writing for film online, film fandom, and a whole lot more. Moderated by star of the new Lionsgate film Dredd, Karl Urban (Star Trek, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King), with special surprise cast members from the film. Panelists include Mike Sampson (ScreenCrush.com), Jen Yamato (MovieLine.com), Mali Elfman (ScreenCrave.com), Erik Davis (Movies.com), Steve “Frosty” Weintraub (Collider.com), Grae Drake (Fandango.com), Jenna Busch (Cocktails with Stan Lee), and Edward Douglas (ComingSoon.net), and hosted by John Campea (AMC Theatres). AMC is generously providing free movies passes to all attendees of the panel this year! Room 24ABC
4:45-5:45 The Expendables 2-Real American Heroes—Sylvester Stallone and the legendary cast of the sequel to 2010’s smash hit film preview the real-deal muscles, weapons, skills, and explosions that went into making a film even bigger and badder than the original. Terry Crews, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Jean Claude Van Damme, and Arnold Schwarzenegger will join the panel discussion. Hall H
5:00-6:00 Blu-ray Producers 2012—Bill Hunt, Todd Doogan, and Dr. Adam Jahnke of The Digital Bits.com and Geek Monthly discuss the process of making great Blu-ray special editions with producers Charles de Lauzirika (Prometheus, The Amazing Spider-Man), Cliff Stephenson (The Hunger Games, The Expendables 2), and Robert Meyer Burnett (Star Trek: The Next Generation-Seasons One and Two), as well as Warner Home Video’s senior VP of theatrical catalog marketing George Feltenstein. Audience participation is encouraged. Room 5AB
5:00-6:00 The Most Dangerous Women at Comic-Con—Actresses, stuntwomen, creative cosplayers, outspoken bloggers, and groundbreaking comic book creators-which women are the movers and shakers on the convention scene? Who are the innovators breaking barriers in the world of fandom? To discuss these game changers, Action Flick Chick Katrina Hill (GeekNation, MTV Geek) has assembled a team of women dangerous in their own right: Leah Cevoli (Robot Chicken), Holly Conrad (Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope), Adrianne Curry (Stan Lee’s World of Heroes), Abbie Heppe (Respawn Entertainment), Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Kristen Nedopak (Skyrim: To Lydia with Love), Milynn Sarley (GeekNation’s Lairs), Stephanie Thorpe (ElfQuest: A Fan Imagining), and Patricia Tallman (Night of the Living Dead, Babylon 5). With moderator Bonnie Burton (SFX Magazine). Room 7AB
6:00-7:00 The Character of Music—Composer and executive producer teams discuss the dynamics of music in film and television. Blake Neely (Arrow), Chris Lennertz (Revolution, Supernatural), Joseph Trapanese and Charlie Bean (TRON: Uprising), and Nathan Johnson and Rian Johnson (Looper) discuss their working relationship, how music plays a character in their stories, and the intense process of scoring their projects. Moderated by Anne Cecere, director of film and TV relations of BMI, and Chandler Poling, founder of White Bear PR. Attendees will get a sneak peek into their work and receive fun giveaways. Room 5AB
6:00-7:00 Monsterverse Horror Comics: Bela Lugosi Demands Flesh and Blood!—Monsterverse Entertainment executives Kerry Gammill (Superman, Stargate, The Outer Limits) and Sam F. Park (Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave) discuss the horror transmedia company’s current and future projects in print, mobile apps, interactive games, and Hollywood, along with Henry Mayo (Ted, Tarzan, The Mummy). Creators Robert Tinnell and Neil Vokes (Flesh and Blood) will discuss future plans for their award-winning (Ghastly Award-Best Horror GN 2011) graphic novel series along with its cover artist Dan Brereton (Nocturnals, The Last Battle). Q&A session to follow. Room 8
6:00-7:00 The Science of Science Fiction: Canon Fodder—Aliens, robots, wormholes, superheroes…there’s more than a little science in all of these, but how can that science be kept straight and consistent across multiple movies and seasons of TV shows? Panelists Jon Spaihts (writer, Prometheus), Jane Espenson (producer/writer, Battlestar Galactica, Caprica), Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (writers, Thor, X-Men: First Class), Jaime Paglia (producer/writer, Eureka), and Dr. Kevin Grazier (science advisor, Battlestar Galactica, Defiance), talk about the ups and downs of respecting the science in ongoing science fiction TV and movie series. Moderated by Dr. Phil Plait (writer/host, Phil Plait’s Bad Universe, Discover magazine’s Bad Astronomy blog), and courtesy of The Science and Entertainment Exchange, a program of the National Academy of Sciences. Room 25ABC
6:00-7:00 RiffTrax Live—Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett (RiffTrax.com, Mystery Science Theater 3000) return to Comic-Con to perform another live, hilarious riff to a classic short. Join the riffers for fun, laughs and the latest news about their upcoming “Manos” The Hands of Fate and Birdemic live shows, playing for only one night each in select movie theatres nationwide this August and October. RiffTrax.com is the site where MST3K-style humor meets mainstream movies, TV shows and vintage shorts. At RiffTrax they don’t make movies, they make them funny! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
6:15-8:15 The Virtual Drive-In—Come with us again to those thrilling days of yesteryear where one of the few places you could see offbeat genre films was at your local drive-in, huddled safely in your car as the summer sky darkened around you. At least that was the germ of an idea that gave birth to this panel last year, and the reception by those fans who attended was so positive they’re doing it again. So, welcome to the second edition of the Virtual Drive-In, where you will preview three twisted tales by some talented filmmakers who will all be appearing on the panel to discuss their work and take your questions. Moderated by Robert Meyer Burnett. The featured films are:
Branded — A dark and mind-bending journey into a surreal, dystopian society where mega-corporations have unleashed a monstrous global conspiracy to get inside our minds and keep the population deluded, dependent and passive. One man’s quest to unlock the truth behind the conspiracy will lead to an epic battle with the hidden forces that really control our world. Appearing on stage is director Jamie Bradshaw. Crave — Aiden (Josh Lawson) fantasizes about a better life away from his gruesome job as a crime scene photographer working alongside his detective friend Pete (Ron Perlman)-a heroic life where he falls in love with the perfect woman and dispenses justice on the hard streets of Detroit. When he meets the alluring young Virginia (Emma Lung) and steals a gun from a crime scene, the line between his darkest fantasies and reality begins to blur, with deadly consequences. This visually arresting psychological noir begins its festival run with its world premiere at the Fantasia Film Festival and continues on to other festivals around the world. Appearing on stage: Josh Lawson (House of Lies) and director Charles de Lauzirika, with other guests to be announced. Coldwater — “Make sure the past isn’t watching you.” Andre agrees to help out his friend Robert by taking over a housesitting job at an unusual house nestled in the heart of Coldwater Canyon. As the day turns into night, Andre experiences strange things that lead him to believe he is not alone and that someone or something is watching him. Appearing in person are writer/director Dave Parker (The Hills Run Red) and star Ivan Djurovic (24).Hall H
7:00-8:00 LIVE PodCRASH with That Chris Gore—Chris Gore (G4TV’s Attack of the Show, Film Threat founder) is also a comedian, is the creator of some exciting upcoming animated shows and is currently making waves with his podcast PodCRASH. Chris has been called a renaissance nerd and now he will present a very special live edition of his podcast at Comic Con. Expect the content to be rated #GSFW-Geeky, Sexy, Funny, and Weird. Expect some very special guests to crash this panel. Room 5AB
7:00-8:00 Inside The Batmobile—No vehicle has ever captured fans’ imagination like the Batmobile. Be the first to see an exclusive Comic-Con, 22-minute sneak peek at the upcoming documentary The Batmobile, an in-depth examination of its many incarnations and impressive history. A panel discussion will follow the screening featuring distinguished Batman experts George Barris, designer of the famed 1966 Batmobile; Andy Smith, builder of the modern-day Dark Knight “Tumbler”; respected producer/author Michael Uslan (The Boy Who Loved Batman); Ralph Cirella and Jon Hein, hosts of GEEKTIME! Sirius-XM Howard 101; Batmobile designer Tim Flattery (Batman Forever); Batmobile builder Charley Zurian (Batman Forever, Batman & Robin); and a few surprise guests. Stay to the end, when a drawing among all panel attendees will determine which lucky five fans can sit in a Batmobile — which is on display all weekend in the “Batcave” between Hall H and the Hilton Bayfront Room 6DE
7:00-8:00 History of the Modern Zombie—Zombie Research Society hosts a panel of leading zombie experts moderated by ZRS founder Matt Mogk (Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies). Panelists include Max Brooks (Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z), Scott Kenemore (Zen of Zombie, Zombie, Ohio), Aaron Sagers (CNN Geek Out, entertainment writer, TV host), Steven Schlozman, M.D. (zombie autopsies, Harvard Medical School), and Bradley Voytek, Ph.D. (University of California, San Francisco). Join them for a spirited discussion about the evolution and impact of the modern zombie, and get all your pressing questions answered before it’s too late! Room 7AB
7:15-8:15 A New Generation of Spike and Mike Animation—See the greatest short animations the world has to offer: one hour of award-winning, artistic, funny, and entertaining short animated films from around the world. See winners from the 2012 Annecy Animation Festival in France, such as Second Hand and Friendsheep. MeetSpike of the Spike and Mike Festival of Animation and Gary Sohmers, the “King of Pop Culture” and Antiques Roadshowcelebrity. Free Spike and Mike DVDs handed out while supplies last. Room 6BCF
7:30-10:30 Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza—Celebrate 15 years of the craziest, coolest, comical, and most cheer-worthy Asian action film fight scenes ever witnessed by human eyes! This time promises to be one of the most lunatic laugh-n-thrill fests yet, with the best (and worst) the East has to offer. As always, award-winning writer, consultant, professor, World Martial Art Hall of Famer, and Films of Fury: The Kung Fu Movie Movie scripter Ric Meyers is your host, welcoming guest stars such as Comedy Film Nerd podcasters Graham Elwood and Chris Mancini, independent action film idol Eric Jacobus, and even the legendary actor, choreographer, stuntman, and movie icon James Lew (and maybe even more). 15th time’s the charm. Don’t miss this one! Room 6A
7:30-8:30 Famous Monsters of Filmland: Stake of the Union 2012—The world’s first monster fan magazine invades Comic-Con again this year. Publisher Philip Kim and executive editor Ed Blair are on hand to discuss the future of the magazine, including covers, digital issues, film and TV projects, and more. Special panelists include Bela Lugosi Jr.; Jeff Moor, and Allen Steelgrave of ESP Guitars on their top-secret project with FM; Todd Masters (True Blood) on celebrating 25 years of makeup excellence with his company MastersFX; and many surprises. Room 24ABC
8:00-11:00 Hall H and Ballroom 20 Thursday Panel Playback—Didn’t get into either Hall H or Ballroom 20 today? We feel your pain! In this three-hour block, Comic-Con will rebroadcast some of the day’s popular panels from those two giant rooms. Best of all, those in attendance will get to vote on what they want to see. It’s democracy at its finest AND it’s a second chance to see these panels. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.) Room 25ABC
8:00-9:00 Kickstart Comics: Come Meet New Publisher Kickstart Comics!—An in-depth look at new and upcoming releases from Kickstart Comics, plus a discussion of the company’s TV and feature plans with sister company Kickstart Productions, as well as Q&A with Kickstart creators. Also get a sneak peek at the upcoming film Bounty Killer. Plus: giveaways of graphic novels. Room 26AB
8:00-9:00 The Image Revolution Documentary—Twenty years ago, the seven biggest artists in comics created a company that revolutionized comics. Now, director Patrick Meaney (Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods) and producer Jordan Rennert (Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts) are telling the company’s story in a new documentary produced by Sequart and Respect Films. Get a first look at the film, and talk about the highs and lows of Image history with a couple of special guests. Moderated by F. J. De Santo (The Spirit). Room 32AB
8:30-10:00 Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Sing-Along—Join the fun as the California Browncoats screen Internet sensation Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog-coming back with call back sheets so you can play along during the screening. Enter our costume contest: horrible prizes awarded to the best version of each character from the show. DO NOT BOUNCE. Room 6BCF
8:30-10:30 Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope—San Diego Comic-Con premiere screening of the ultimate fanboy documentary from executive producers Stan Lee, Joss Whedon, Harry Knowles, and Thomas Tull. Q&A to follow with director Morgan Spurlock (Warrior Poets) and special surprise guests. Ballroom 20
Friday, July 13
The highlight of the day has to be the Sony panel, which will give us a glimpse of the highly anticipated Total Recall and Looper films. I am personally crestfallen that I am going to miss the Firefly reunion panel. Other than that, there seems to be a big focus on Star Wars and strong women both in front and behind the camera—two worthy Comic-Con subjects. And that Stripped documentary looks interesting.
10:00-11:00 Comic-Con Film School 102: Production—Day 2 of this four-day course on microbudget moviemaking focuses on the specifics of production, from shooting techniques, lighting on the cheap, and crew positions you need (and don’t need) to costuming, props, and set decorating for as little money as possible. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril-Midnight Whistle), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (writer/producer, Fear News), Vera Vanguard (producer/star, GothGirl), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica). Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
10:30-12:00 Comic Book Law School 202: Royalties, Residuals and (No) Regrets—With record-setting box office returns comes renewed interest in comic book and popular culture properties. Don’t be dazzled by the prospect of having your name up on the big screen or big potential paydays without the legal background necessary to understand what the contract actually says. And even the most brilliant negotiators cannot hope to succeed without an understanding of the business models used by the companies making an offer. Noted attorney Michael Lovitz, author of the acclaimed The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, is back and ready to tackle a number of the more advanced issues facing authors, artists, and designers, particularly once they’ve “broken through” and have started publishing and selling (and maybe merchandising or media, too). This second Comic Book Law School session addresses some of the complicated issues surrounding marketing properties and creative ideas, including: transfers and licensing of rights; production, merchandising, and distribution agreements; and the key things you should know when Hollywood comes knocking. This interactive seminar gives attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussions as Lovitz (ably assisted by entertainment attorney Mona Metwalli) covers various means for profiting from creative works and explores the many important elements that form the foundation of every contract (and time permitting, maybe participate in a mock contract negotiation). This year they are joined by CPA/CFF Dean Bower, who will be presenting tales of Hollywood and big business audits. (Note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]) Room 11AB
10:45-11:45 ParaNorman: Behind the Scenes—Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Travis Knight, Chris Butler, and Sam Fell discuss making their new stop-motion-animated comedy thriller, ParaNorman, made in 3D. Never-before-seen footage will be shown from the Laika movie that Focus Features is opening nationwide on August 17. Panel will be moderated by Dave Karger (Entertainment Weekly). Hall H
11:00-12:00 Hasbro: Star Wars—Hasbro’s Derryl DePriest (VP, global brand marketing), Jeff Labovitz (director, global brand marketing), Michelino Paolino (senior director, product design), Brian Merten (senior manager, product design), Adam Pagano (senior art director), and Erik Arana (Star Wars product designer) discuss the popular Hasbro Star Wars line. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at upcoming, never before seen items. The panelists will also host some Q&A for your burning Star Wars action figure questions. Room 7AB
11:00-12:00 Avatar Press: Hero Worship in Film and Comics—Zak Penn, screenwriter and director extraordinaire, discusses his long career in bringing comic superheroes to film. From his work with Marvel’s mutants on X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, to the development of his Alphas television series for Syfy, to his countless other big-screen successes (including Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, and the summer’s biggest blockbuster, The Avengers), he’ll cover it all. Also, Scott Murphy (writer on Star Wars: The Clone Wars) will join Zak on stage to discuss Hero Worship, their groundbreaking new superhero comic published by Avatar Press. Room 24ABC
12:00-1:00 A Quirky Point of View: The Fun Star Wars Books of Matthew Reinhart and Jeffrey Brown—New York Times bestsellers Matthew Reinhart (Star Wars: A Galactic Pop-Up Adventure) and Jeffrey Brown (Darth Vader and Son) discuss writing and illustrating the world of Star Wars for two generations of fans. Matthew will discuss the joys and challenges of creating Star Wars pop-up vehicles, aliens, droids, and Jedi, while Jeffrey will discuss finding inspiration in fatherhood for his humorous graphic novel that puts a new spin on the classic saga. Moderated by author Pablo Hidalgo (Star Wars: Head to Head). Room 7AB
12:30-1:30 Judge Dredd 35th Anniversary—It’s an exciting year for Judge Dredd-not only does he turn 35 but he has a big-budget movie coming, a brand-new IDW series launching, and more. IDW’s Chris Ryall, Dredd movie concept artist Jock, 2000 AD’s Matt Smith and Ben Smith, and some very special guests join moderator Douglas Wolk to announce the creative team of IDW’s series, talk about the return of the Dark Judges, and much more. Room 8
12:30-1:30 Firefly 10-Year Anniversary Reunion—Calling all Browncoats to unite! It has been 10 years since the crew of the Serenity took flight in the now infamous show Firefly. Science Channel will reunite, for the first time ever, Captain Mal Reynolds and the crew from the ship. Join Joss Whedon, Nathan Fillion, Adam Baldwin, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and many more for a trip down memory lane, some special surprises, and exclusive Science Channel giveaways. SHINY. Ballroom 20
1:00-2:00 From Imagination to Screen-The Art Department of Industrial Light & Magic—Creative director David Nakabayashi and the art directors of ILM — Christian Alzmann (Cowboys & Aliens, The Last Airbender), Yanick Dusseault (Star Trek 2, The Avengers), Alex Jaeger (Pacific Rim, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen), and Aaron McBride (Noah, Battleship) — discuss the legacy of ILM’s first art director, Ralph McQuarrie. The team will also cover some of the most memorable moments to come through their department during the company’s history, spanning over 35 years and more than 350 films. Room 7AB
1:15-2:15 From Fanboy to Filmmaker: A Case Study on How to Make a Successful Animated Film-Learn how one filmmaker turned a poem he wrote to his kid sister into an international cinematic sensation by enlisting his childhood heroes — Back to the Future‘s Christopher Lloyd, Academy Award winner Kathy Bates and musical legend Neil Young — to tell a seven-minute, animated love story, now being developed as a major motion picture. Follow the journey of this hand-drawn animated film from the living room to the Cineplex, and learn how you can leverage your creative project to launch the life you want to lead. Featuring writer/director Jonah D. Ansell, composer Chris Thomas, art director Eric Vennemeyer, lead animator Abe Dieckman, and a screening of the animated film Cadaver, hailed by MTV as “darkly beautiful.” Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
2:00-3:00 Star Wars Origami—Master folder Chris Alexander (Star Wars Origami) will demonstrate and teach the master folding techniques to make Star Wars origami figures. Attendees will fold an exclusive Comic-Con model along with other art from the movies. Materials included. Room 7AB
2:00-3:00 ASIFA: Hollywood’s State of the Industry—What do the pros think of the animation scene today? Is 2D ever coming back? Is there a Stop-Motion Renaissance? How do I get a job? Panelists include Tom Sito (Beauty and the Beast, Shrek), Jamie Kezlarian Bolio (Lion King, The Illusionist), James Parris (Spider Man, Benjamin Button), Ramin Zahed (editor Animation Magazine), Josh Scherr (Uncharted III: Drakes Deception, Jax & Daxter), and a stop-motion animator from Laika’s upcoming ParaNorman. Join the discussion! Room 32AB
2:15-3:15 Tron: Uprising—Disney XD is bringing the Grid to Comic-Con! Join the noteworthy voice cast Elijah Wood (Beck), Bruce Boxleitner (Tron), Emmanuelle Chriqui (Paige) and Tricia Helfer (The Grid), along with executive producer/director Charlie Bean and consulting producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Once Upon a Time, LOST), to see exclusive footage and find out everything you want to know about this ground-breaking animated series. The panel will also feature never-before-seen clips of Disney XD’s turbo-charged original series Motorcity and a sneak peek of the upcoming animated series Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. The panel will be moderated by Daily Variety film editor Josh Dickey. Room 6A
3:00-4:00 Walt Disney Animation Studios: Wreck-it Ralph: The Art of Story—Join Walt Disney Animation Studios story artists Nancy Kruse (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons), Leo Matsuda (Wreck-It Ralph, Princess and the Frog), Raymond Persi (Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons), Lissa Treiman (Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled) and Josie Trinidad (Wreck-It Ralph, Tangled), and writers Phil Johnston (Wreck-It Ralph, Cedar Rapids) and Jennifer Lee (Wreck-It Ralph) as they discuss the art of story for the upcoming feature Wreck-It Ralph, in theaters November 2nd. Room 6DE
3:00-4:00 The Future of Star Wars Publishing: Dark Horse & Del Rey—Find out what’s coming up in the Expanded Universe of Star Wars publishing. Editors Randy Stradley and Dave Marshall from Dark Horse Comics discuss what’s next for Agent of the Empire, Dawn of the Jedi, Lost Tribe of the Sith, and Darth Maul, as well as reveal a new secret title that’s on the horizon. From Del Rey Books editors Frank Parisi and Erich Schoeneweiss, along with author Troy Denning (Apocalypse), look at new novels coming later this year from fan-favorite authors Timothy Zahn and Aaron Allston, as well as give a peek into 2013. Also on the panel is Jennifer Heddle, senior editor at LucasBooks. Moderated by author Pablo Hidalgo (Star Wars: The Essential Reader’s Companion). Room 7AB
4:00-5:00 Motion Picture and Television Illustrators of the Art Directors Guild—Film starts with an idea that must be brought to life by a team of creative men and women. The illustrators and storyboard artists use their skills and imaginations to develop the transcendent visuals of the big screen, be it adventure son distant worlds or earthly hovels. Meet the artists as they discuss their craft and answer questions: moderator Tim Burgard (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Benton Jew (G.I. Joe: Retaliation), Dave Lowery (Oz the Great and Powerful), Derek Gogol (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise), Trevor Goring (Real Steel), and Chris Baker (War of the Worlds). Room 24ABC
4:05-4:35 Screen Gems: Resident Evil: Retribution—In Resident Evil: Retribution, we learn more about Alice’s mysterious past as she continues to hunt those at The Umbrella Corporation responsible for the T-virus outbreak, a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, including the return of Michelle Rodriguez as Rain Ocampo, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. Appearing in person: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Oded Fehr, Boris Kodjoe, Mika Nakashima and writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson. Please join them for a preview and discussion of this highly successful film franchise, based on the popular video game series, and watch never before seen footage from the latest installment, Resident Evil: Retribution, in state-of-the art 3D. Hall H
4:15-5:15 Entertainment Weekly: Powerful Women in Pop Culture (aka Women Who Kick Ass!)—Fan-favorites Kristin Bauer van Straten (True Blood), Sarah Wayne Callies (Walking Dead), Kristin Kreuk (Beauty and the Beast), Nikki Reed (Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2), and Anna Torv (Fringe) open up about the power and privilege of playing characters that have redefined the rules for women. Basically, a discussion with women who kick ass. Moderated by EW‘s Lynette Rice. Ballroom 20
4:35-6:35 Sony: Total Recall, Looper, and Elysium—
Total Recall–Welcome to Rekall, the company that can turn your dreams into real memories. For a factory worker named Doug Quaid (Colin Farrell), the mind-trip sounds like the perfect vacation from his ordinary existence. But when the procedure goes horribly wrong, Quaid becomes a hunted man. The line between fantasy and reality gets blurred and the fate of his world hangs in the balance as Quaid discovers his true identity, his true love, and his true fate. Based on Philip K. Dick’s classic story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale,” this brand new take on some of his most visionary ideas is directed by Len Wiseman, who will join stars Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, and Bryan Cranston on stage. Looper–In the futuristic action thriller Looper, time travel will be invented-but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a “looper”-a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)-is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good…until the day the mob decides to “close the loop,” sending back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. Writer/director Rian Johnson will join Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt to discuss the film. Elysium–Ever since writer-director Neill Blomkamp broke through with his first feature film, District 9, people have been wondering what he has in store for an encore. Be a part of the first audience anywhere to get a first look at his new movie, Elysium, as stars Matt Damon and Jodie Foster join Neill and producer Simon Kinberg on stage.Hall H
5:00-6:00 Sci-fi That Will Change Your Life—Sometimes science fiction does more than mangle your eyeballs with awesome explosions — it can also make you think. Come discuss the year’s most brain-expanding sci-fi with io9 staffers Annalee Newitz, Cyriaque Lamar, and Charlie Jane Anders, plus amazing guests Phil Plait (writer/scientist, Bad Astronomy), Deric A. Hughes (producer/writer, Warehouse 13), and Sarah Kuhn (writer, One Con Glory). Room 7AB
5:30-6:30 Dark Horse: Joss Whedon—Long before directing the biggest superhero film in history, Joss Whedon rewarded fans the world over with some of the most compelling characters and plotlines in the history of comics, television, and movies. Here’s your chance to find out what he has in store for us next, and hear exclusive insight into Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the ever-expanding number of titles in Dark Horse’s line of Season 9 comics. Ballroom 20
5:30-6:30 Berserk—At long last, the dark fantasy epic Berserk, by creator Kentaro Muira, comes to the silver screen! Join Dark Horse Comics and VIZ Media in a rare interview with Eiko Tanaka, founder and CEO of Studio 4°C (Tekkonkinkreet, Animatrix, Batman). Find out what it really takes to transform this stark manga into an animated feature. Room 32AB
6:00-7:00 Hermes Press: Buck Rogers: Past, Present, and Future— Be the first to see Howard Chaykin’s new Buck Rogers. Howard Chaykin (American Flagg, Time2/sup>,Black Kiss) premieres his new concept design for Hermes Press’s new Buck Rogers comic book series. Chaykin, Daniel Herman (publisher, Hermes Press), Flint Dille (Transformers and G.I. Joe), and Erin Gray (Wilma Deering from the Buck Rogers TV show) will discuss the history of the character, the classic TV show, the tie-in comic books, and the all-new version of this iconic feature, along with a Q&A session. Room 4
6:00-7:00 Girls Gone Genre—Listen to and talk with women who write, read, game, and perform in arenas that are statistically dominated by men. What happens when traditionally “male” genres are reinvented by female writers and embraced by female fans? Sex and the City (or for that matter, Girls), it ain’t. Meet the women who like to play with trucks and Barbies. And Wolverine action figures. And flux capacitors. Panelists: Marti Noxon (Buffy, Angel), Jane Espenson (Battlestar Galactica, Torchwood), Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body), Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood), Angela Robinson (True Blood) and Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead, The Terminator). Room 7AB
6:00-7:00 Optimus Prime: Up Close and Personal—The incomparable Larry King, one of the most recognized broadcast interviewers in the world, goes one-on-one with voice actor Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), a talent who is practically synonymous with Comic-Con itself. In this panel, “The King of Interviews” salutes the beloved Cullen and takes attendees through the actor’s early days on the original 1984 animated TV series Transformers Generation One, the three box office smash Transformers movies, and his current work on The Hub TV network’s Daytime Emmy Award-winning animated series Transformers Prime from Hasbro Studios. Audience Q&A to follow. Room 23ABC
6:30-7:30 Designing for the Undead—Costume designers guild members Chrisi Karvonides (costume designer, American Horror Story, Carnivale), Audrey Fisher (costume designer, True Blood), and Alexander Welker (costume designer, Grimm) and costume illustrator Imogene Chayes (True Blood, American Horror Story) talk about creating all those great paranormal television characters we know and love. Room 32AB
7:00-8:00 Blade Runner 30th Anniversary Celebration—In 1982, Blade Runner, director Ridley Scott’s classic adaptation of SF master Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? was released to theaters and forever changed the face of cinematic science fiction. Filmmaker, BR expert, and acclaimed author Paul M. Sammon (Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner) hosts a 30th anniversary celebration of this influential masterpiece. Sammon (who was present throughout BR’s filming and met Philip K. Dick) will interview numerous BR cast and crewmembers, including BR art director David Snyder and BR: The Final Cut producer Charles de Lauzirika. Be there to meet these and other very special BR guests. Room 6BCF
7:00-8:00 Stripped: The Comics DocumentaryIt’s the documentary film that comic strip fans have been waiting for. Stripped sits down with the world’s best cartoonists to talk about how comic strips work, why they’re so loved, and how artists are navigating this dicey period between print and digital. Set to music by Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band), and with notable interviews from Jim Davis (Garfield), Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics), Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins (Penny Arcade), Kate Beaton (Hark A Vagrant), Bill Amend (Foxtrot), Lynn Johnston (For Better or For Worse), Jeannie Schulz (Charles M. Schulz Museum), and over 70 others-this film will be an incredible experience for comics fans. Join the directors, twice Eisner-nominated Dave Kellett and twice Sundance-nominated Frederick Schroeder, and editor Ben Waters for exclusive sneak peeks of the film, a Q&A, and news of one secret participant that comics fans will go nuts for. Room 25ABC
7:30-8:30 Resident Evil: Damnation Worldwide Trailer Premiere, 7-Minute Sneak Peek, and Filmmaker Q&A—The next action-packed installment in the Resident Evil franchise continues. Fans will have the opportunity to watch the worldwide 2D trailer premiere (in English) of Resident Evil: Damnation, the all-new, 3D sequel to the full-length CG animated feature Resident Evil: Degeneration, based on the Resident Evil (known in Japan as Biohazard) series of games. Fans will also get an exclusive look at the first 7 minutes of the Japanese theatrical version of the film, followed by a Q&A with Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Japanese producer of the Resident Evil franchise) and Makoto Kamiya (Resident Evil: Damnation director). Room 5AB
7:30-8:30 Moving to the Web: Be Your Own Producer—Actors Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10), Tara Platt (Resistance: Burning Skies), Phil Morris (Smallville), and Stephanie Thorpe (Elfquest: A Fan Imagining) and director Steven Calcote (Shelf Life) discuss how producing content for the web has liberated them from an often obstructive studio system. Room 26AB
8:00-9:00 Meet the New Geek Roundtable—What happened to Geekdom’s most diverse podcast? Hear what the group has been doing in the last year and a half. Hilarious stories, heartwarming anecdotes, and the usual rants that the show is famous for. Meet the cast, which will have some of the same old faces and a few new ones to entertain and educate. Show host Ned Cato Jr., executive producer Jesse Lopez, and a cast of thousands will challenge your geek cred. Prepare for the geekiest panel at Comic-Con. Room 4
8:00-9:00 The Vacationeers are a Disaster—It’s a Disaster is a new end-of-the world comedy from the twisted minds of The Vacationeers comedy group. The film-which also stars Julia Stiles, David Cross, America Ferrera, and Erinn Hayes-is about four couples gathering for Sunday brunch unaware that the apocalypse is happening outside their door. It recently world premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival to rave reviews (The Hollywood Reporter calling it “the funniest film of recent vintage”). Writer/director Todd Berger along with actors Jeff Grace, Kevin M. Brennan, Blaise Miller, Rachel Boston (In Plain Sight, American Dreams) and Erinn Hayes (Children’s Hospital) will be on hand to look back at some of the comedy group’s favorite sketches and give an exclusive sneak preview of the film. Moderated by Kate Erbland of Film School Rejects. Room 6BCF
8:00-9:30 The Totally Rad Show Live: 5-Year Anniversary—Hosts Alex Albrecht (Four Points), Dan Trachtenberg (Portal: No Escape), and Jeff Cannata (Weekend Confirmed) bring their Webby and Podcast Award-winning geek culture show back to Comic-Con for the fifth year. Join the guys for an explosion of movie, video game, TV, and comic book news and reviews, and see what makes this Revision3 show such an Internet phenomenon. Room 24ABC
8:00-11:00 Hall H and Ballroom 20 Friday Panel Playback—Didn’t get into either Hall H or Ballroom 20 today? We feel your pain! In this three-hour block, Comic-Con will rebroadcast some of the day’s popular panels from those two giant rooms. Best of all, those in attendance will get to vote on what they want to see. It’s democracy at its finest AND it’s a second chance to see these panels. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.)Room 25ABC
8:30-9:30 Space Command: Bold Adventures in the Far Reaches of Space—Science fiction legends Marc Scott Zicree (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Doug Drexler (Battlestar Galactica), Neil Johnson (Humanity’s End), Michael Reaves (Star Wars, Batman), and Ian McCaig (Star Wars) premiere footage from the highly anticipated epic adventure series that spans 200 years of Galactic History. Stars Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth), Katherine McEwan (Humanity’s End), Christina Moses (Star Trek New Voyages), and Amber Benson (Buffy) discuss their roles. The visionary team gives you an early look at the stunning character design and visual effects, plus the epic score from David Raiklen. Inspired by heroic science fiction of the ’50s. A revolution in film funding and distribution, made by A-list creators for the fans free from studio restrictions. Room 5AB
8:30-9:30 Toy Masters and the 25th Anniversary of Masters of the Universe—To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the release of the live-action He-Man feature Masters of the Universe, the “Seacrest of Sci-Fi,” Robert Meyer Burnett (Femme Fatales, Hills Run Red, Free Enterprise) brings you a powerful discussion of Toy Masters, the first ever feature-length documentary on the worldwide phenomenon that inspired an entire generation of children and became a billion-dollar franchise. The film features interviews with the key creative personnel behind every version of the bestselling toy line and all incarnations of Masters of the Universe on television, film, stage, and print, tracing the inception and ups and downs of the fantasy juggernaut. Everyone involved in the 30-year history of this historic franchise makes appearances in the film, including such genre figures as J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Thor), Richard Edlund (Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark), William Stout (Conan The Barbarian, Pan’s Labyrinth), Lou Scheimer (Filmation), Michael Westmore (Star Trek franchise), Don Glut (The Empire Strikes Back, Transformers Animated), and even Dolph Lundgren, who played He-Man in the live-action film. Panel participants include Roger Lay, Jr. (director/producer), Cory Landis (producer), Gary Goddard (director), J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Mark Taylor (visual designer, Masters of the Universe toy line 1980s), Ted Mayer (visual designer/product engineer, Masters of the Universe toy line 1980s), Jack and Leslie Wadsworth (live-action He Man and She Ra, Masters of the Universe: Power Tour), and a special surprise guest! Room 26AB
Saturday, July 14
This is the big day at SDCC. We got your Django Unchained. We got your Warner Brothers panel (Will there be more comic movie stuff beyond just Man of Steel?). We got your Marvel Studios panel (Will it be Guardians of the Galaxy? Black Panther? Both? Neither? Something else?). We got your Kevin Smith Q&A!
I do love the fact that the Rodenberry panel, which is scheduled against the Warner Brothers panel, is using a “WIN A FREE IPOD!!!” marketing gimmick to try to get people in. It the Comic-Con version of a Flash web ad!
Also love that the Twilight phenomenon is so vast and powerful that even its fan fiction garners a panel at Comic-Con. Does Jacob kiss Edward first, or the other way around? Find out here!
10:00-11:00 After Earth—Enter the world of After Earth with an in-depth panel that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the universe of the upcoming film and comic book. With the film now in post-production and set to hit theaters next June, screenwriter Gary Whitta (Book of Eli) and director of photography Peter Suschitzky (The Empire Strikes Back) will discuss the making of the film. They will be joined by comic book artist Beni Lobel (Spanish horror comic anthology Cthulu; G.I. Joe comic books; Torchwood: Web of Lies motion comic), and writers Robert Greenberger (Iron Man, Batman, and Hellboy novels) and Michael Friedman (Star Trek and X-Men novels) — the creators of the comic book After Earth: Innocence, which will introduce Kitai and Cypher Raige (played by Jaden and Will Smith in the After Earth film). Also joining the panel is Eisner Award winner Peter David (Star Trek novels and comic books; The Incredible Hulk), who is writing the After Earth prequel novel and also created the After Earth bible with Greenberger and Friedman.
In After Earth, one thousand years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape from Earth, Nova Prime has become mankind’s new home. Legendary General Cypher Raige (played by Will Smith) returns from an extended tour of duty to his estranged family, ready to be a father to his 13-year-old son, Kitai (played by Jaden Smith). When an asteroid storm damages Cypher and Kitai’s craft, they crash-land on a now unfamiliar and dangerous Earth. As his father lies dying in the cockpit, Kitai must trek across the hostile terrain to recover their rescue beacon. His whole life, Kitai has wanted nothing more than to be a soldier like his father. Today, he gets his chance.Room 6A
10:00-11:00 Activision Panel Featuring Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Video Game Talent—Legendary Transformers voice talent and game experts at developer High Moon Studios come together in one epic panel to discuss their roles in the upcoming Activision video game Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. Panelists include Peter Cullen (voice of Optimus Prime), Gregg Berger (voice of Grimlock), Nolan North (voice of Cliffjumper), and Matt Tieger (High Moon Studios game director). They’ll give everyone an inside look into bringing your favorite characters to life in the making of the video game, as well as answer the questions you’ve been dying to ask. Room 7AB
10:00-11:00 Film and TV Production Designers of the Art Directors Guild—In collaboration with a highly skilled art department, the production designer lays out the design plan that will guide a small army of illustrators, set designers, decorators, carpenters, sculptors, painters, and artisans of every sort in creating small worlds to warm the heart and entire civilizations to fire the imagination. Designers include Suzuki Ingerslev (True Blood), Bill Creber (original Planet of the Apes), Rick Heinrichs (Dark Shadows), Thomas Walsh (Vampires), Dominic Watkins (Snow White and the Huntsman), and moderator John Muto (Terminator 2:3D). Room 25ABC
10:00-11:00 Attack of the Show—G4’s Attack of the Show is your ambassador to the information age-from the technology you want, what you watch, listen to, and play to what the world is talking about right now. Whether it comes from 140 characters, from a 30-second video, or straight from the mouths of today’s trendsetters, visionaries, and pop-culture icons, panelists will tell you what is happening, why you should care, and what will happen next. Candace Bailey, Sara Underwood, Matt Mira, Blair Butler, Attack of the Show executive producers Vinny Rutherford and Joshua Brentano, along with special guests, bring you the closest thing to being on a LIVE Attack of the Show, an interactive Comic-Con panel! You’ll also get a chance to grill the hosts and producers and find out the dirty secrets and television tricks behind Attack of the Show. With over 1,000 shows to choose from, there’s got to be something you wanna know! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
10:00-11:00 Comic-Con Film School 103: Working with Actors and a Crew—Day 3 of this course on microbudget moviemaking deals with how to direct actors, organize a crew, and keep them all happy without anybody making any money. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril-Midnight Whistle), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (writer/producer, Fear News), Vera Vanguard (producer/star, GothGirl), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica) and actors Susan Smythe, Brian Stevenson, Kat Steel, and Brad Upton. Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
11:00-12:00 Geek & Sundry—Felicia Day (The Guild, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Eureka), director Daniel Strange (Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis), and the cast of The Guild — Vince Caso, Jeff Lewis, Amy Okuda, Sandeep Parkih, and Robin Thorsen — make some big announcements and offer an exclusive sneak peek at what’s to come. Moderated by Kim Evey (producer, Geek & Sundry). Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
11:30-12:30 Save the Date: Your New Favorite Film—This may be the first comic book film that isn’t based on an actual comic book; instead, Save the Date uses the style and sensibility of indie comics by renowned graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown as a jumping off point to tell a contemporary story of the trials, pain, and happiness of modern love. Explore the challenges and advantages of working in film versus comics with cartoonist/screenplay co-writer Jeffrey Brown (Clumsy, Darth Vader and Son), director Michael Mohan (One Too Many Mornings), and producers Jordan Horowitz (The Kids Are All Right) and Michael Roiff (Waitress), and discover how the cast has been influenced and inspired by comics and geek culture, with Lizzy Caplan (Party Down), Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men), Martin Starr (Freaks & Geeks, Party Down), Geoffrey Arend (500 Days of Summer), and Mark Webber (Scott Pilgrim). Join them for a lively session moderated by Noel Murray (The A.V. Club). Room 5AB
11:30-12:30 Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained—The Weinstein Company presents a sneak peek at the highly anticipated new film from acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino. Fans will get to see exclusive footage from Django Unchained and take part in a special discussion with Tarantino and the cast. You won’t want to miss this! Hall H
12:00-1:00 The Naked Truth About Tarzan and Jane: The First 100 Years of Spectacular Tarzan Imagery, and One of Literature’s Best-Loved Couples as They Enter Their Second Century— Bestselling novelist Robin Maxwell (Jane: The Woman Who Loved Tarzan) and author Scott Tracy Griffin (Tarzan: The Centennial Celebration) gather with illustrator Joe Jusko (The Art of Joe Jusko) to discuss these iconic literary characters. Join them for a presentation and Q&A session hosted by Jim Sullos, president of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Incorporated, the official licensing entity for Tarzan and John Carter of Mars. Room 25ABC
12:00-1:00 Twilight Fan Fiction Group—This year writers Sweetlolapops (We Were Here, Summer of Salt), Conversed (Twinned), Tkegl (Cutless), MeraNaamJoker (Miror Quaenam Sis Tam Bella), Shoefreak37 (A Light Exists in Spring), WriteOnTime (Breaking News), and moderator Kimpy0464 (The Nightingale Journals) are on hand for laughs and fun at the Twilight Fan Fiction Group. They’ll answer questions about the challenges and joys of writing derivative fiction in Twilight fandom and how to keep it fun. Room 28E
12:00-1:00 Nerdist Channel—Chris Hardwick (the host of BBC America’s The Nerdist and AMC’s Talking Dead) and some very-relevant-to-your-interests talent from the Nerdist Channel on YouTube will engage in lively conversation about the current channel lineup and upcoming shows and specials, and also reveal some exclusive footage and surprise announcements about the future of Nerdist Industries. Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
12:30-1:30 Celebrating 50 Years of Mars Attacks—They’re back! Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mars Attacks. To help to commemorate this milestone, Topps licensees Abrams ComicArts, IDW Publishing, Mezco Toyz, and more gather in this panel. Find out what’s new with Mars Attacks, including the first-ever book compilation of the infamous science fiction trading card series, new comics, and toys! Panelists include Charles Kochman, editorial director of Abrams ComicArts; Greg Goldstein, president and COO of IDW Publishing; and Adam Levine, licensing manager of The Topps Company. Room 8
12:45-1:45 Open Road Films: End of Watch and Silent Hill: Revelations 3D—Global exclusive! Catch an early look at the highly anticipated action film End of Watch, with special guests Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña who play police officers patrolling the meanest streets of south central Los Angeles, and writer/director David Ayer (Training Day). Also, based on the groundbreaking video game franchise from Konami, Silent Hill: Revelation 3D is the sequel to the hit film Silent Hill. Experience the world premiere of 3D footage from an unparalleled horror experience with special guests Adelaide Clemens (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Kit Harington (HBO’s Game of Thrones), director Michael J. Bassett, and producer Samuel Hadida. Hall H
1:00-2:00 Cartoon Voices I—Audiences flock each year to moderator Mark Evanier’s panels of folks who supply the voices of your favorite animated characters. They demonstrate their craft and tell who they are and how they got into that bizarre line of work, and you’ll hear a voice session happen right before your ears. This year’s Saturday gathering features Matthew Mercer (ThunderCats, Resident Evil 6), Debi Derryberry (Jimmy Neutron, Monster High), April Winchell (Lilo & Stitch, The Legend of Tarzan), Steve Blum (Transformers, The Super Hero Squad Show), Jim Ward (The Avengers, The Fairly OddParents), Jack Angel (Toy Story 3, G.I. Joe), and the legendary Chuck McCann. Room 6BCF
2:00-3:00 Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski—Joe has been coming to SDCC for decades (despite popular requests) with news and announcements. If all goes as it should between press-time and this panel, he will be making the most important announcement of his career (no, not his retirement-despite popular requests). If all does not go as it should, he will be giving a talk about migratory bird patterns. So come roll the dice with J. Michael Straczynski! Room 7AB
2:00-2:30 Trailer Park I—See the latest in trailers from your upcoming soon-to-be-favorite films, including some in 3D (glasses provided, but please give them back as you exit the hall). Hall H
2:30-5:00 Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Preview Their Upcoming Lineups—
Legendary Pictures: Pacific Rim-From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic sci-fi action adventure Pacific Rim. When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes — a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) — who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse. Pacific Rim also stars Idris Elba, Ron Perlman, and Charlie Day. Warner Bros. Pictures: Man Of Steel The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey-From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Jackson returns to Middle-earth in an adventure that begins 60 years before the events depicted in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The first of two films adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s enduringly popular masterpiece, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows titular Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who-along with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a band of 13 Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage)-is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. The film’s ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lily, and Andy Serkis as Gollum. Hall H
3:00-4:00 Roddenberry Presents—Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry (CEO, Roddenberry Productions), Trevor Roth (head of development, Days Missing), and Tory Mell (producer/writer: White Room: 02B3) are taking the name that created Star Trek and bringing it to levels not seen since the original days of the genre-changing television show. Join them for new exciting Roddenberry news and a sneak peek at the sci-fi short White Room: 02B3, followed by a Q&A with director Greg Aronowitz. Moderated by Frank Meyer (producer, Fresh Ink on G4. Also, giveaway of a new iPad! Room 7AB
3:00-4:00 Indiana Jones Fan Group—Grab your fedora and dust off your Aldens, the Indyfans are back! Brandon Kleyla gathers the troops once again as they discuss all things Indiana Jones! Attractions, Blu-rays, toys, impersonation contest, you name it-if it’s Indy, they’ll cover it! Room 28E
4:00-5:00 Heroic Visions: Sergei Eisenstein’s Nevsky from Screen to Panel—Pioneering filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein developed many storytelling techniques that revolutionized film and have influenced comics. The new graphic novel by Ben McCool and Mario Guevara based on his classic motion picture Alexander Nevsky not only presents a timeless story of heroic deeds but highlights the way film and comics interact and influence one another. Writer Ben McCool (Choker, Nevsky), historian Steve Saffel, director/writer Scott Tuft (Severed), and some very special guests explore visual storytelling through the ages. Hosted by Russ Films. Room 23ABC
4:15-5:15 EPIX Originals: William Shatner and Roger Corman—Two legends of the entertainment world take to the Comic-Con stage to preview their latest projects. Get a gander at the EPIX Original movie, Roger Corman’s first-ever made in 3D, Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader, in which a meek college co-ed is transformed into a gigantic cheerleader. Then take a sneak peek at William Shatner‘s Get a Life!, an EPIX original documentary based on Shatner’s hugely popular book, in which he examines the cultural phenomena of Star Trek, its fan-following, and his own role within it. To top it all off the panel will be moderated by “Mr. Comic Book Men” himself, Kevin Smith. Room 6A
5:00-6:00 Costume Designers and Illustrators: From Concept to Reality—Join a discussion with the creative minds that help bring your favorite sci-fi, fantasy and comic book characters to life on the big screen through the art of costume design and illustration. Learn how Costume Designers Guild members Shawna Trpcic (The Cabin In The Woods), Monique Prudhomme (Underworld Awakening), and Varya Avdyushko (Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter) and costume illustrators Christian Cordella (Snow White, Hunger Games, Thor), Constantine Sekeris (Green Lantern, Thor, Star Trek), Phillip Boute Jr. (Man of Steel, Star Trek, Hansel & Gretel, Twilight), Brian Velenzuela (Star Trek, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice), and Rosi Gabl (xXx, Mission To Mars) take costumes from concept to reality. Room 24ABC
5:15-5:45 Trailer Park II-Once more with feeling! See the latest in trailers from your upcoming soon-to-be-favorite films, including some in 3D (glasses provided, but please give them back as you exit the hall). Hall H
5:30-6:30 Spotlight on John Scalzi—Comic-Con special guest John Scalzi (Redshirts) talks about his latest work, his upcoming novel, video game, and film projects, takes questions and generally tries to amuse the hell out of you for an hour. With him as moderator/interviewer/conspirator: Wil Wheaton (Tabletop). It’ll be the most fun you can have while respirating. Room 7AB
6:00-7:00 CCAS Panel: Spiritual Themes In Comics—The always lively CCAS panel examines spiritual themes in both contemporary comics and pop culture in general, with a special nod this year to Ridley Scott’s Prometheus. Join Wayne Gardiner (Crucidel Productions), Sergio Cariello (The Action Bible), Leo Partible (The Action Bible), moderator Buzz Dixon (Savage Angels), and others for this fascinating analysis. Room 4
6:00-7:00 Adobe Photoshop: Insights from the Photoshop Team and Pro Artists—Photoshop’s Daniel Presedo, Chris Cox, and Nikolai Svakhin are joined by artists Brian Haberlin (Witchblade, Anomaly) and Bill Sienkiewicz (Marvel, DC) to discuss Adobe Photoshop, the industry standard in digital imaging. It’s used by professionals worldwide for design, photography, video editing, and more. Prepare for a lively discussion and Q&A. Adobe will be giving away two copies of Photoshop Extended CS6. Room 11AB
6:00-7:00 Marvel Studios: Iron Man 3—Producer Kevin Feige and special guests provide an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hall H
7:00-8:00 Building Props for Sci-Fi in the 21st Century—Sci-fi props already have the advantage of a sharp aesthetic, but in this day and age, how do you take sci-fi prop making and the replica making that tends to follow to the next level? Andy Gore (QMx), Jack Kenney (Warehouse 13), Andy Siegel (Avatar, The Amazing Spiderman, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), John Eblan (Star Wars Episodes II and III), and Nick Robatto (Doctor Who, Torchwood) discuss how your favorite props are made, from concept to execution. The panel will discuss the impact of accelerated production schedules and technology on how TV and movie props are conceived and created. You will also learn the various types of prop making, from working props and digital modeling to 3D printers and the use of advanced materials. Room 24ABC
7:15-9:15 Comi-Kev: Q&A with Kevin Smith—For like the millionth year in a row, Saturday at Comic-Con’s not over ’til the fat lady sings…and that fat lady is @ThatKevinSmith! Taking the the Hall H stage like he takes the desserts off your lunch tray, the guy in the hockey jersey will A all of your Qs! Query about Comic Book Men, Spoilers, SModcast.com, his book Tough Sh*t, Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, his Fat Man on Batman podcast, or just ask him about stuff he’s got nothing to do with! But get ready to listen because this fatty is chatty! Warning: Kevin Smith throws around adult language like it’s clever. It’s not, but he loves it. A lot. Hall H
8:00-9:00 Star Wars Trivia Panel—Think you know all about the galaxy far, far away? Want to win valuable prizes? Hosts and San Diego Star Wars Society co-founders Linda Crispien and Brendan Prout put you to the test! The San Diego Star Wars Society has challenged fans at Star Wars Celebration III and Comic Con International for 11 years with intriguing trivia. The games begin with a kids round, where kids 12 and under are eligible to play. The remainder of the games are open to all ages. Do you have what it takes to win? Come to this panel to find out…and may The Force be with you! Room 23ABC
8:00-9:00 Make It So: What Interface Design and Science Fiction Can Learn From Each Other—Chris Noessel (co-author, managing director, and practice lead for Interaction Design at San Francisco software design agency Cooper) and Nathan Shedroff (co-author, program chair of MBA Design Strategy Program at California College of the Arts) share material from their forthcoming Rosenfeld Media book, due in August, that uses video clips of interfaces from sci-fi movies and television shows to trace the lines of influence between design in sci-fi and design in the real world. Room 24ABC
8:00-11:00 Hall H and Ballroom 20 Saturday Panel Playback-Didn’t get into either Hall H or Ballroom 20 today? We feel your pain! In this three-hour block, Comic-Con will rebroadcast some of the day’s popular panels from those two giant rooms. Best of all, those in attendance will get to vote on what they want to see. It’s democracy at its finest AND it’s a second chance to see these panels. (Please note: these playbacks will include only the panel discussions. None of the film clips or footage shown at the live events will be shown here.)Room 25ABC
9:00-10:00 Tromatize Yourself—This year’s Troma panelists reveal their secrets on branding, or how to market yourself, your art, and your ideas in your quest to make a creative living. Troma president and creator of The Toxic Avenger Lloyd Kaufman is joined by a panel of indie experts, including Mick Garris (Masters of Horror), Ron Jeremy (film actor), Anina Bennett and Paul Guinan (Boilerplate), Chris Brandt (Independents), Pat Swinney Kaufman (New York Film Commissioner), and moderator Mimi Cruz (Night Flight Comics). Also: special screening of Brand Your Own Damn Self, starring Stan Lee, a 12-minute video lesson that will premiere at this panel! Stan wrote the foreword to Lloyd’s book Sell Your Own Damn Movie. Parental advisory: This panel may not be appropriate for all ages. Troma Entertainment is Reel Independence! Room 9
Sunday, July 15
After all the excitement of Saturday, Sunday is typically the cool down day of the convention. It does feature the Children’s Film Festival and that Drew Struzan documentary looks interesting. But, best of all, Sunday gives you several opportunities to see a panel by Mark Evanier. You should definitely do so.
10:00-5:00 San Diego International Children’s Film Festival—The San Diego International Children’s Film Festival presents creative, exciting, and imaginative short films from around the world-animation, live action, and documentary-good for all ages, all day. Enjoy films from the U.S., Canada, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Spain, and beyond. Animators and filmmakers will talk about their work, how kids can make their own films, and careers in animation and filmmaking throughout the day. Room 9
10:00-11:00 Comic-Con Film School 104: Postproduction—The final day of the comprehensive course on microbudget moviemaking revolves around what to do after your movie is shot. Panelists will go over the basics of postproduction on your home computer, as well as what software to use for editing, graphic design, sound design, and visualFX, and finally, what to do with your film when it’s finished. Panelists for the class include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril-Midnight Whistle), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (writer/producer, Fear News), Vera Vanguard (producer/star, GothGirl), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica). Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
11:05-11:55 Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival Awards—The films have been shown, now it’s time to award the recipients of the 2012 Comic-Con Independent Film Festival with their trophies and recognition! Comic-Con’s Gary Sassaman talks to this year’s trio of judges — Steven-Charles Jaffee (winner of last year’s CCI: IFF best documentary award for Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird), journalist Borys Kit (The Hollywood Reporter), and filmmaker Kyle Newman (Fanboys) — about the films and presents prizes and trophies to the winners. Marriott Hall 2, Marriott Marquis & Marina
11:30-12:45 Cartoon Voices II—It’s the second of two panels this weekend featuring folks who supply the voices of your favorite animated characters. Moderator Mark Evanier will interrogate them about how they do what they do, ask them how they came to do what they do, and make them demonstrate what they do. Their ranks this time will include Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad, SpongeBob SquarePants), Rob Paulsen (Pinky and the Brain, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Audrey Wasilewski (The Garfield Show, My Life as a Teenage Robot), Fred Tatasciore (Kung Fu Panda, The Hulk), Gregg Berger (The Garfield Show, Transformers), and Misty Lee (The Garfield Show, Spider-Man). Room 6A
12:00-1:00 California Browncoats Meet-Up—Stop by to hear a few announcements, play a few games, and share a few stories about how everyone found their inner Browncoat. There’s no better way to share the 10th anniversary of Firefly, and it’s a lot more practical than starting a fight in an Alliance-friendly bar on U-day. Room 32AB
2:00-3:00 501st Costuming 101: Dressing to Serve the Empire!—This panel describes the essentials about what it takes to create a costume that meets the standards of quality for entry into the 501st Legion. It will provide an overview of what is involved in creating a costume, the different costume categories, and how much time is involved in creating a costume that is screen accurate. A panel of experts will describe, display, and demonstrate tips and techniques used for their costume specialty. They will also share information about the mission of the 501st legion. Room 24ABC
3:00-4:00 Behind the Music with CW3PR: Composers and Singers on Creating the Perfect Sound for TV and Film— Singer and composer collaborations are essential to the creation of poignant and thrilling moments in TV and film. Learn how these dynamic collaborations work and how a singer’s voice can amplify an original score from composers Trevor Morris (The Borgias), Danny Jacob (Phineas and Ferb), and Robert Duncan (Castle), singers Lisbeth Scott (True Blood) and Laura Dickinson (Phineas and Ferb), and others. Moderated by Phineas and Ferb creators Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and Dan Povenmire.TBA Room 7AB
3:00-4:30 The Business of Cartoon Voices—Have you ever been interested in a career doing voices for animated cartoons? Every year, voice director Mark Evanier (The Garfield Show) gathers together experienced actors and folks involved in casting and hiring and presents an informational panel on how the business works and how to avoid the most common mistakes of aspiring voice performers. The odds are against you, but they might get a little better if someone speaks the truth to you about what to expect and why. Room 25ABC
3:30-5:00 Starship Smackdown All*Stars: InterGalactic 3D Edition—The must-see panel of Comic-Con, brought to you by the new Geek Magazine, as featured on National Public Radio, returns for another action-packed year as the greatest spaceships in the history of the universe converge in the ultimate cosmic conflagration for the highly-coveted Smackdown title in Comic-Con’s most scholarly and erudite panel. Will the Enterprise once again defeat an Imperial Star Destroyer? Can the Serenity make mincemeat out of the Battlestar Galactica? In space, can anyone hear you scream on the Prometheus and can you actually get cell reception in the TARDIS? And what exactly is the “Captain’s Courageous” lightning round anyway? Join our panel of expert spaceshipologists as they outwit, outplay and outphaser, starring Chris Gossett (The Red Star), Ashley E. Miller (X-Men: First Class, Thor), Steve Melching (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Transformers), Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, The Hills Run Red), Kay Reindl (Millennium, Twilight Zone), and the Gene Rayburn of the stars, moderator Mark A. Altman (Femme Fatales, DOA: Dead Or Alive), along with some surprise guests. End your weekend with the geekiest and most beloved panel of all time in this or any other dimension, known or unknown. All new ships, all new quips as the Smackdown beams down to San Diego for its final mission. Courtesy of the all-new Geek Magazine. Room 6A
3:45-4:45 Drew: The Man Behind the Poster—Screening a premiere clip from the feature-length documentary about movie poster artist Drew Struzan, which includes exclusive interviews with George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Michael J. Fox, Frank Darabont, Guillermo del Toro, Steven Spielberg, and many others. Followed by a Q&A panel that will include artist Drew Struzan, actor Thomas Jane, director Erik P. Sharkey, producer Charles Ricciardi, composer Ryan Shore, co-cinematographer and supervising editor Greg Boas, editor Jeff Yorkes, Stephen Saffel of Titan Books, and Zach Martin of Skywalker Sound Studios. Room 5AB
4:00-5:00 15 Years Since Philosopher’s Stone: Harry Potter Fandom in 2012—Seven books from J. K. Rowling — or ten, depending on how you count — plus hundreds of thousands of fanfics. Eight studio movies — plus dozens of popular fanfilms, musicals, and songs. One theme park — but soon there’ll be three or more! An international museum exhibition — and piles of fan-made shirts, crafts, fanart, CDs and DVDs. An encyclopedic website — and fancons, fan-made wikis, and history courses on the impact of the Harry Potter fandom. We’ll look back at 15 years of Harry Potter fandom and try to predict — better than Trelawney! — where we go from here. Room 6DE
4:00-5:00 A Cross-Generation Collaboration: The Inside Scoop of a Comic-Con Success Story—In 2009, a nine-year-old San Diego artist and award-winning film critic Perry Chen (Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest) met Oscar-nominated animation legend Bill Plympton (Guard Dog) at Comic-Con and drew a “Hot Dog” next to the one Plympton drew for him from his acclaimed animation series. A year later, Perry was hired to work on an animation short, Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest, about a young Holocaust survivor (actress Ingrid Pitt’s story), under the guidance of Plympton. The rest is history. A panel of the creative team, sponsors, and distributor, including Perry Chen (animator), Kevin Sean Michaels (director), Bill Plympton (storyboard and character design), Zhu Shen (producer), Karina Bessoudo (Toon Boom Animation, vice president of marketing and communications), Douglas Little (Wacom, public relations), and Linda Olszewski (Shorts International co-head of worldwide acquisition), share the amazing behind-the-scenes story: how a first-time child animator’s film got sponsorship from leading animation companies, went on to premiere at the 2011 Comic-Con and LA Shorts Fest, won multiple film festival awards, was featured in Animation magazine and on 2011 Animation Show of Shows, qualified for an Academy Award, touched many hearts, and secured worldwide distribution by Shorts International, the distributor of Oscar-nominated shorts and other outstanding short films. This lively panel, moderated by Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) will share tips and lessons learned not only about getting started with animation, but also how to identify and secure corporate sponsorships; how get your film produced, marketed, and distributed; and how to select the right film festivals for your film. Room 7AB