- SAT. JULY 26
Saturday - Hell day! This is the Big Day for Comic Con. It was when we all realized that - Damn! Comic Con had actually sold out and surpassed all expectations. All that can be said on the walk to the hall was, “That’s a LOT of people!” 150,000 plus to be exact.
10 am, bright and early, Forrest J Ackerman celebrates the 50th year of his magazine, “Famous Monsters Of Filmland.” I remembered growing up reading that magazine voraciously - even before I knew what that word meant. “FMOF” and “Starlog” were the regular reads of the day - for us geeks.
Meanwhile, across the hall, a panel on Spirituality In Comics is going on chatting up about spiritual themes in comic stories and how it works.
If we hadn’t mentioned it before, also at 10 am was the Comic Con Film School. This is more for the creative process in how to get that independent film made. Today’s episode dealt with working with actors and crew. Always important to know. Comic Con isn’t just about comic books anymore. As media's meld and twist and turn within each other, the film industry is now firmly ensconced within the comic book genre. It’s only natural to now have an ongoing film school during the duration of the Con. Fantastic!
And also during the 10 am hour (busy day!) was the spotlight on Ralph Bakshi. He of the animated film fame that brought you “Fritz The Cat,” “Heavy Traffic,” “Wizards,” the original filmed version (although absolutely not on the same par) of “The Lord Of The Rings,” and much more. Ralph did a rare in-person chat about his career - now spanning 30 years (another anniversary) and his new book, “Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi.”
Still in that 10 - 11 am frame, The Simpsons also celebrated 20 seasons on TV, with more planned to go. This morning was turning into quite the party-mode of anniversaries (which I’ve said several times already).
At 11:30 am was the panel for “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” the popular TV series, which still hasn’t sold me. I think I lost interest after the last Terminator film (although a naked Kristanna Loken did make attending the film worthwhile).
Around the 1pm hour was a panel on “Dollhouse,” the latest creation from “Buffy” mastermind, Joss Whedon, also featuring another Buffy alumni, Eliza Dushku. Although I like both Eliza, and the creations of Joss, I have to wonder if this one will carry over. The “erased memory” storyline seems a bit played out.
And at the same time, another Terminator panel, this time on the new awaited film, “Salvation,” featuring Christian “Dark Knight” Bale as John Connor. As my opinion is that the Terminator franchise is also played out, as well as the ongoing glitches in the time travel tale, we’ll have to see how it goes. But I have no doubt it will be action packed.
And also during the 1pm frame, is Writing 101. If Comic Con already has lessons on law and copyrights, and filmmaking, the why not writing. The writing is almost the most important aspect, which separates a picture from a work of intelligent art (so to speak).
2 pm and it’s “Attack Of The Show!” time featuring American males’ newest wet dream idol, Olivia Munn. She seems so... cute and aloof, and yet, there is something so alluring about her. Keep watching, folks.
3:30 pm brought us the amazing Ray Bradbury, arguably one of America’s finest tale-spinners, who has made appearances at Comic Con since 1970. Ray chatted with an interviewer about his long career and upcoming projects.
4 pm brought us to the “Adventures In Voice Acting Workshop.” This was a great way for future voice actors to learn from the masters on how to do it right, how to prepare, and how to get into the industry. Let me tell you, this panel had one of the longest lines of any non-film premiere panels. Unbelievable. But well worth checking out, and I’m sure they’ll have it next year.
At 5:30 it was time to check out what Sony Pictures had to offer, in one of Comic Cons’ coolest panels of upcoming features. This time we were treated to “Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans,” “Quarantine,” and “Pineapple Express.” Many of the actors and producers were present to chat about the films. The guys from “Pineapple” are the same cast and crew as from all the usual Judd Apatow films (who was there as well), and made for an amusing panel.
For the evening’s entertainment, we were treated to an appearance by Sarah “Jesus Is Magic” Silverman for a Q&A session about Comedy Central’s “The Sarah Silverman Show.” And by 8 pm it was time for the grand Masquerade Ball. OK, now it’s a bit ridiculous with just how popular this has gotten. I remember less than 20 years ago when it was held in a small theater. Now it’s filled to the brim with about 3 million people (more correctly probably 7,000 seated), with extra screens showing the show around the convention hall’s outdoor section under the sails. Insanity when something gets this popular.
Written by Philip Anderson - with extra commentary and inputs by Perlito Godoy and Keith Denison
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- Stories / Events
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- The Trip Down
Thurs. July 24
- Fri. July 25
- Sat. July 26
- Sun. July 27
- Comic Con 2008
- Photos
- Interviews:
- Dean Haglund
- ("X-Files")
- Candace Kita
- ("Chuck & Larry)
- Conchita Campbell ("4400")
- Megalyn Echikunwoke ("4400")
- Ira Behr / Craig Sweeney ("4400")
- Jeffrey Combs ("4400" / "Reanimator")
- Rafael Navarro (Artist "Scooby Doo" / "Sonambulo")
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