Comic-Con Film School is back for another four-day, nuts-and-bolts course on how to make a movie for very little money using available video technology and desktop postproduction software. Whether you're shooting your first Overwatch fan film or that story about the leather-clad girl who hunts cyborgs, 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 preproduction on the cheap, including screenwriting, scheduling, location scouting, crewing-up, and getting equipment for nothing. Panelists include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril series), Jack Conway (producer, Machinima ETC), Vera Vanguard (producer, The Building of Good and Evil), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), and Sean Rourke (writer of Ballistica).
The stuntmen and women from your favorite TV shows and movies discuss and answer your questions about the stunt industry. Featuring Jessie Graff (Supergirl, American Ninja Warrior), Esteban Cueto (Iron Man 2, Jungle Book), Tiger Rudge (Star Wars Episode 8), Patrick Stenberg (Jurassic World), and Brian Danner (Sword Fights Inc). Moderated by Eric Cajiuat (The Hit Girl).
Anastasia Washington (Anastationtv, Legion of Leia), CuriousJoi (CuriousJoi, Icon), Brittany Heyden (TenaciousBee Designs), Jasmine Rubero (TheBeheaded), Marlon (Nerd Coolture), Jennifer Kretchmer (producer, actress), Michelle I am Chubby Bunny Bradley (Geek and Sundry, Otaku Movie Anatomy), and Katie Elhoffer (Elhoffer Design) discuss traveling in Nerd style! Moderated by Emily Kelley (GameScribes).
The world is entering a new renaissance in geekery. Now, more than ever, media personalities and journalists of color have a poignant and influential voice that resonates throughout nerd culture. From the Gamergate scandal to the advent of BlerdNation, both high and low points are heavily highlighted. This panel will talk to journalists and media personalities about meeting challenges head on, and how they are working to make change. They will get really real about the climate of nerddom today. Panelists includeValerie Complex (freelance writer), Jamie Broadnax (Black Girl Nerds), Rob Salkowitz (Forbes), Jen Yamato (Daily Beast), Cory Vincent (Nerdreactor), and Twitch stream gamer Amethyst Leon.
Chris Ray (managing partner of DeInstitutionalized Films), Gerald Webb (managing partner of DeInstitutionalized Films), and special guest James Cullen Bressack (writer/director/producer) share their collective wisdom on how to independently produce your indie project with a low budget.
Crossing over into every genre, Steampunk has transformed some of our favorite Marvel characters into some of the steamiest superheroes and villains in the galaxy. Celebrating the incredible artists who create such wonderful fan art and the cosplayers who make the costumes a reality, come enjoy a walk on the wild side with everyone from Ant-Man and Deadpool to Spider-man and Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters as they are re-imagined in Steampunk style! Panelists include C. J. DeAngeles, Diana Given, Christine Quimbo, and a surprise artist guest. Moderated by Gaslight Gathering Steampunk Convention's director of programming, Anastasia Hunter.
An introduction to the creation of fan-made villain costumes from all seven Star Wars movies and beyond. Legion members from the Imperial Sands and Southern California Garrisons will provide an overview of the creative process that bring Stormtroopers, Tusken Raiders, Boba Fett, or Kylo Ren from the silver screen in to reality. Dean Amstutz (ISG membership liaison) will discuss the membership journey, from initial interest through final approval. Lesley Farquhar (ISG commanding officer) will present information on the history, organization. and mission of the 501st Legion as "Bad Guys Doing Good"! Kevin Weir (Imperial Surplus Armor, KW Designs owner) will relate his process for working with hard armor parts. Jazlynne Wilson (ISG member) will speak about soft fabric construction. Dawn Bright (Flagship Eclipse Detachment executive officer) will discuss the process and requirements for bringing a new canon costume into the Legion. Todd Mullin (ISG executive officer) moderates.
Day 2 of this four-day course on micro-budget moviemaking focuses on the specifics of production, from shooting techniques, to lighting on the cheap, to 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 series), Vera Vanguard (producer, The Building of Good and Evil), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (producer, Machinima ETC), and Sean Rourke (writer, Ballistica.)
Mobile filmmaking is becoming the next big thing! You have heard of movies that used smartphone cameras to shoot, but you may still not be convinced that you can make a movie yourself using a smartphone from your own back pocket! Smartphone cameras now have the capability of shooting 4K -- which makes mobile filmmaking a possibility to be taken seriously. The founder of The International Mobile Film Festival in San Diego Susan Botello (S. Botello Productions) and San Diego mobile filmmakers Luis Juarez (IndieFone) and Rick Naravaez will share the ins and outs of what you need to get started as a mobile filmmaker. Do you need an app? Can you use microphones? How do you stabilize your videos for a smoother more professional look? Do you need a million dollars? Panelist will answer your questions and present some cool filmmaking tools and accessories. Get inspired to make movies, documentaries, promos, music videos, and just about any films using your smartphone as a camera! Learn to edit on the phone (or computer) and share your films with the world. Bring your smartphones and share the world of mobile filmmaking! With moderator Machelle Noel (Supergirl Unburdened, GeekRockTV).
UCLA Extension instructors Dallas King (director and genre-filmmaker, U.Z.L.A.), Peter Gend (VFX producer, The Simpsons Movie), Quinton Peeples (feature film and television writer/producer, Netflix/Marvel’s Iron Fist, Hulu’s 11-22-63), Brooks Wachtel (animation series writer, X-Men, Spider-Man), Robert Bryant (video game producer & author, Slay the Dragon: Writing Great Video Games), and moderator Kim Adelman (indie filmmaker, Just Friends) discuss how they transitioned from a practical day job to a professional career in the creative fields of writing, filmmaking, and gaming. Explore best practices for making the transition to your own dream job and get answers to your questions during a Q&A.
NEW: Mon, Jul 11, 09:55AM Are you a writer with a great idea for a comic book series, but you can’t draw? Or maybe you’re an artist looking to illustrate an incredible story, but you can’t write. Perhaps you’re both looking for someone to collaborate with so you can jumpstart your careers in the comic book industry. At San Diego Comic-Con 2016’s Comic Creator Connection, you just might find each other! San Diego Comic-Con is proud to once again host the Comic Creator Connection, a fast-paced networking event that puts writers and artists together to help them meet new creative partners. Here’s how it works: in two 2-hour sessions—on Friday, July 22, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and Sunday, July 24, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM—writers and artists will sit down across from each other at a table. (And by artists, we mean pencillers, inkers, colorists, etc. All are welcome!) Then, in 5-minute sessions, you will talk one-on-one with each other about your ideas and skills. At the end of each 5-minute period, you will get up and move on to the next person. If you’re interested in furthering the conversation, you’ll exchange contact information. Think of it as speed-dating, but for writers and artists! Sign ups are taken in advance for this event, but space may still be available on site.
UPDATED: Wed, Jul 13, 12:39PM Do you ever wonder how the latest Star Wars fashion collection was made or why companies are hosting fashion shows featuring your favorite fandoms? This panel will offer an inside look at the business of geek fashion, examining the major changes that took place in the industry over the last year and what they means for the future. Moderated by Lisa Granshaw, panelists Ed Labay (Hot Topic), Ashley Eckstein (Her Universe), Jon Schindehette (ThinkGeek Denver), and Sara Scargall (WeLoveFine), and Tony Kim (Hero Within) will discuss the process behind creating pop culture apparel and accessories, how geek fashion is expanding into new areas, how the industry has evolved over the years, and recent geek fashion trends. There will be time left for attendees to voice their opinions and ask their questions about geek fashion.
Day 3 of our course on microbudget moviemaking deals with how to direct actors, organize a crew, and keep them all happy without anybody making a dime. Panelists for the class include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril series), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (actor, Nazis at the Center of the Earth), Sean Rourke (writer, Ballistica), and actors Megan Rees, Kelsey Walmer, and Bradley Upton.
Rehan Jalali (bestselling author and nutritionist to the stars), Latreal Mitchell (top celebrity fitness expert and TV personality), and Grant Roberts (leading celebrity fitness and nutrition expert), a.k.a. the Bod Squad, discuss tips to getting that chiseled superhero physique!
Ivy Doomkitty (SyFy's Heroes of Cosplay, professional cosplayer), Zach Fischer (illustrator), Deela Designs (cosplayer, fashion designer), and Kelton FX (cosplayer, MUA) discuss the nuances of custom cosplay design from concept to crafting and offer tips and tricks to help create mind-blowing unique designs that are sure to set you apart from the crowd.
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 19, 02:40PM This panel will explore the diverse world of comics, geekdom and fanboy culture. Panelists include Murs (rapper/actor), Jamie Broadnax (Black Girl Nerds), Miguel Gomez (The Strain), Henry Simmons (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Eric Pumphrey (Reckless Tortuga) and Chuck Creekmur (All Hip Hop). Moderated by Ryan Ford (EVP, Cashmere Agency).
How do you create and sustain a business that caters to the geek lifestyle without exploiting the very people to whom you provide services? Entrepreneurs whose businesses cater to a predominantly nerdy or geeky clientele will discuss how these businesses started, how they sustain their service to their clients and compete with big conglomerates looking to capitalize on the geek marketplace, and how they sell goods and market services to a community seeking authenticity, without falling into the trap of pandering or gimmicks. Panelists include Matthew Arevalo (Loot Crate), Janelle Badali (Badali Jewelry), and David Nett (Nerdstrong Gym). Moderated by Brian Ward (The Arkham Sessions, Shout! Factory).
Dr. Billy San Juan (Star Wars Psychology, Star Trek Psychology) hosts a discussion on the past, present, and future of geek culture. Experts include Brian Kibler (professional gamer and content creator), Travis Langley (Batman and Psychology, Doctor Who Psychology), Janina Scarlet (Superhero Therapy,Star Wars Psychology), Jenna Busch (Legion of Leia, Most Craved), Alan Kistler (Doctor Who: A History, The Walking Dead Psychology), and Cary Kazmaier (manager, Artifex, U.S. Navy ret.).
UPDATED: Wed, Jul 13, 04:14PM LARP, or live-action role playing has been depicted (semi-accurately) in movies likeKnights of Badassdom and Role-Models; TV shows like ABC's The Quest and CW's Supernatural; comic books like LARP! (Dark Horse), and novels like It's All Fun and Games, debuting this weekend from Nerdist in partnership with Inkshares. But what is LARP, really, and how can you join the fun? Panelists will explain the current state of LARP and where it is going, from using apps to record health and power levels like a real-life video game to larping in the classrooms as pedagogy. They'll help you begin or improve your game with tons of info and some unbelievable giveaways. Featuring Dave Barrett (author, It's All Fun & Games), Kristin Brumley (creator, Basic Adventuring 101 webseries, Cake Golem Productions larp marketing), Ford Ivey (creator, NERO Larp and Legacy game system), Mark Mensch (creator, Adventures Unlimited, author, Alliance LARP Tales of Fortannis anthologies), Cheyenne Rain (creator of LARP House webseries), Alec Patton (Chula Vista high school teacher) and moderator Aaron Vanek (editor-in-chief, Larp World Magazine, co-creator of the LARP Census).
Andrew Ho (guest relations, BronyCAN), Carlos Marquez (representative, Bronies Tijuana), Joseph Noblit (vendor manager, Pacific PonyCon), Louis Rosales (administrative head, Horse News), Sonya Hipper (founder, BABSCon), and Steve Stern (blog author, Equestria Daily) talk about the fandom of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, especially on the West Coast. Moderated by James Udan (vice president, Order of the Friendship).
The final day of our 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, visualFX, and finally, how to optimize your movie for uploading to the internet. Panelists for the class include Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril series), Nick Murphy (writer/director, Pizza and Bullets), Jack Conway (producer, Machinima ETC), and Sean Rourke (writer, Ballistica).
The members of Haran'galaar (San Diego chapter) and Manda'galaar (Los Angeles chapter) discuss the process of building Mandalorian armor, the application process, what happens after you're approved, and why exactly they troop.
The films have been shown, now it’s time to award the recipients of the 2016 Comic-Con Independent Film Festival with their trophies and recognition! Comic-Con’s AdamNeese talks to this year’s trio of judges, filmmaker Eric Jacobus (writer/director/star of last year’s CCI: IFF Judges’ Choice award for Rope a Dope 2), filmmaker Nick Murphy (Spoon Pictures), and editor-in-chief of Rotten Tomatoes Matt Atchity (Sleepy Hallow, Bedazzled, MADtv) about the films and presents prizes and trophies to the winners.
NEW: Mon, Jul 11, 09:56AM Are you a writer with a great idea for a comic book series, but you can’t draw? Or maybe you’re an artist looking to illustrate an incredible story, but you can’t write. Perhaps you’re both looking for someone to collaborate with so you can jumpstart your careers in the comic book industry. At San Diego Comic-Con 2016’s Comic Creator Connection, you just might find each other! San Diego Comic-Con is proud to once again host the Comic Creator Connection, a fast-paced networking event that puts writers and artists together to help them meet new creative partners. Here’s how it works: in two 2-hour sessions—on Friday, July 22, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM and Sunday, July 24, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM—writers and artists will sit down across from each other at a table. (And by artists, we mean pencillers, inkers, colorists, etc. All are welcome!) Then, in 5-minute sessions, you will talk one-on-one with each other about your ideas and skills. At the end of each 5-minute period, you will get up and move on to the next person. If you’re interested in furthering the conversation, you’ll exchange contact information. Think of it as speed-dating, but for writers and artists! Sign ups are taken in advance for this event, but space may still be available on site.
Calling all big damn heroes! Come join fellow Firefly fans as the California Browncoats share news of the 'verse, artist Zac Pensol (project director, ToyVault) gives an insider's view into designing Firefly board games, and whatever fruity oaty goodness can be squeezed in. The red button's been pressed, calling you to find us!
Lenny Schas (CEO PinPics), Christian Hoff (actor), Holland Hayes (actor), Chris Henning (artist), Terri Trainor (lead programmer), and Sandi Bois (avatar characters) explore the current and exciting future of the next-generation online world of pin trading and collecting.
