[Time_Traveler]

Anyone here planning on attending the "San Diego Comic Con" (probably the largest sci-fi convention on the planet)? It will be on July 24 - 27.

http://www.comic-con.org/cci


Some of the highlights include:

{ http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci08_prog_thu.php }

The Gene Roddenberry Legacy: Roddenberry in the 21st Century— Building on his father’s legacy with Star Trek, Rod Roddenberry and Roddenberry Productions are bringing the Roddenberry philosophy into the 21st century, through their work on the forthcoming feature documentary Trek Nation, as well as the development of original content in webcomics such as Rod & Barry and Gene’s Journal. This panel features exclusive Comic-Con looks at new Roddenberry content and projects currently in development. Featuring Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Trevor Roth (COO of Roddenberry Productions), and Paul Keller. Room 10


STAR WARS:

Spotlight on Frank Beddor— Comic-Con special guest Frank Beddor, author of the best-selling "Looking Glass Wars" series, and creator of the Hatter M graphic novel, talks about the creation of his books, gives the story behind the story, and presents concept art from a wide array of artists who have visualized his text: Ben Templesmith (30 Day of Night), Doug Chiang (Star Wars), and Stephan Martiniere (I, Robot). He'll reveal the new online game The Card Soldier Wars, show a special effects trailer for The Looking Glass Wars movie, and discuss how each of these mediums connect and extend The Looking Glass Wars universe. Room 5AB

Star Wars Fan Film Awards— It’s the 7th Annual Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge Awards! Brought to you by Lucasfilm, and hosted by San Diego Comic-Con International, the Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge honors the best promising Star Wars moviemakers. The top award is chosen by Star Wars writer/director George Lucas himself. Come see this year’s winning movies.



Star Wars: Designing the Clone Wars Universe— Meet the original in-house team that designed the unique look of the Clone Wars series. They will discuss how they worked with supervising director Dave Filoni to come up with the graphic, painterly style of imagery that gives Clone Wars its distinct look. Drawing on the last three years of production, they will share how the characters and environments have evolved using much of the rich classic Star Wars imagery as reference for designing the show's overall look. Moderated by Lucasfilm's Steve Sansweet.


Star Wars: The Clone Wars 3D Modeling— What gives The Clone Wars series its live action cinematic sensibility? The process is called 3D Story at Lucasfilm Animation. Learn how this innovative team of panelists worked together to redefine traditional storyboarding so that the majority of storytelling is now done in the computer. This panel will give you firsthand insights into the challenges the crew faced as they embarked on defining this new process, both technically and creatively, while training traditional and CG artists to combine skill sets and create a new process for television animation. Moderated by Catherine Winder, producer, The Clone Wars.


Star Wars: The Clone Wars: New Books Based on the Movie and TV Series— The Star Wars Saga continues with a wide variety of tie-in books for the groundbreaking new series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, including novels, nonfiction, comics, and children's books. Please join Carol Roeder and Frank Parisi from Lucas Books, along with Karen Traviss (author of The Clone Wars novel from Del Rey), Henry Gilroy (author of The Clone Wars comic from Dark Horse), Jason Fry (author of The Clone Wars Visual Guide from DK Publishing), and Erin Dempsey (marketing director, Penguin Young Readers) for questions and answers—and a sneak peak at these must-have books! Moderated by Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo.


Spectacular Spider-Man— Spend some time with the cast and creators of the renowned webslinger's newest animated adventures, The Spectacular Spider-Man, a Culver Entertainment Production. Ask your burning questions about the first 13 episodes of Season 1, learn about what's in store for the next 13 and catch an exclusive sneak peek at Season 2! Michael Vogel from Sony Pictures Television Animation moderates a panel that includes supervising producer Greg Weisman (Gargoyles); supervising producer/supervising director Vic Cook (Hellboy: Blood and Iron);—character designer Sean "Cheeks" Galloway (Hellboy animated films); voice director Jamie Thomason (2007's TMNT, Spirited Away);—the voice of Spider-Man, Josh Keaton (The Young & The Restless); the voice of Mary Jane Watson, Vanessa Marshall (Star Wars: Jedi Knights II); the voice of Eddie Brock and Venom,—Ben Diskin (Codename: Kids Next Door), and the voice of Adrian Toomes and Vulture, Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street).


Hasbro: Star Wars and Indiana Jones— Derryl DePriest and Justin Kreter (Hasbro marketing), are joined by Brian Parrish, Mark Boudreaux, Dwight Stall, and Brian Wilk (Hasbro design) to talk about what the Hasbro design and marketing teams have in store for the remainder of 2008 in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones lines. Plus a special sneak peek into some 2009 secrets and a Q&A session! Room 7AB


The Saga Continues: Star Wars 2008— For Star Wars fans it’s a stellar year, with the new Clone Wars movie on its way next month and great new Star Wars games from LucasArts to follow shortly. Lucasfilm’s Steve Sansweet will welcome Dave Filoni (director), Catherine Winder (producer), Henry Gilroy (co-writer), and Jason Tucker (editor) to talk about George Lucas’ ground-breaking new, fully animated movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in theaters August 15. There’s news for video game fans too, on The Force Unleashed and The Clone Wars. Prepare for exciting, exclusive previews of the movie and the games too!

Star Wars: Imperial Costuming 101 (Dressing to Serve the Empire!)— This discussion talks about the basics and essentials for an individual to get into costuming in general but is specifically geared toward making costumes that would be eligible for membership in the 501st Legion. Panelists will discuss basic materials, costs, and time factors involved in building costumes of this nature, as well as provide some insight as to what motivates the members of the 501st to invest the time and energy required for such a hobby. They will also demonstrate some basic techniques that are applied in costuming as well as show the progression of donning the costume.



INDY:

Indyfans and the Quest for Fortune and Glory— Join the filmmakers of the documentary that focuses on Indiana Jones' legacy and the fans that follow him! There will be a Q&A regarding the progress of the documentary as well as a general discussion on all things Indiana Jones, and maybe even a few giveaways!


SMALLVILLE:

Smallville Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con favorite Smallville returns with series stars Allison Mack, Justin Hartley and the introduction of Sam Witwer alongside new showrunners Kelly Souders, Brian Peterson, Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer to talk about the year ahead, answer fan questions and give an exclusive sneak peek at clips featuring the new villains for season eight. Award-winning comic book writer, Emmy-nominated film and television writer/producer, and Smallville alum Jeph Loeb (Heroes) will moderate the session.


AND... Tons, and tons, and tons of other stuff, too!

[Time_Traveler]

I forgot to mention that I am going on Sunday. I am particularly looking forward to the Smallville presentation!

[Elizadolots]

They are also going to be running shuttles to Star Trek The Exhibition and there will be a special Comic Con party at the Museum.

[Zardoz]

I wouldn't mind going, but my budget won't allow it.

[Time_Traveler]

A one-day membership is only $20. That's pretty reasonable, really, considering the cost of things nowadays.

[Elizadolots]

Yeah, but Zardoz is in Kentucky so there's airfare and hotel rooms involved. I don't do Comic Con anymore. Back in the old days when it was at the Grant it was a wonderful thing, but somewhere after it moved to the old Convention Center it started to get out of control and by all accounts, it's 10 times as large now.

But, have fun! Is it your first Comic Con?

[Time_Traveler]

It'll be my first San Diego Comic Con (my friend goes every year), but by no means my first con.

My first con ever was a non-profit one called Equicon '73, put on by Bjo Trimble.

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by Elizadolots

Yeah, but Zardoz is in Kentucky so there's airfare and hotel rooms involved. I don't do Comic Con anymore. Back in the old days when it was at the Grant it was a wonderful thing, but somewhere after it moved to the old Convention Center it started to get out of control and by all accounts, it's 10 times as large now.

But, have fun! Is it your first Comic Con?

At current airline ticket prices we'd have to take out a second mortgare to go...lol...

[trekie]

well I am going on Sunday. Hubby dragging me to it. I guess it's only fair I dragged him a few years ago to the scifi convention in Pasadena. I will drag him to the start trek, one in Vegas one day lol. It should be fun, but it's going to be about a 2 hour drive for us with a baby lol

[Elizadolots]

How old is the baby? Comic Con has paid child care for kids over 6 months. It's not the least bit inexpensive, but taking advantage of it for an hour or so might provide sanity saving relief.

http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_child.shtml