Writer Kieron Gillen talks about his career, from Phonogram, through Marvel and on to The Wicked + The Divine. And who better to interrogate him than his mostly platonic life partner, Jamie McKelvie? No one, that's who.
Thursday July 21, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 7AB
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 11, 09:34AM Before you start writing your story, you need a clear idea of where your story is going. Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake gives you insight into the theory of story creation, generating a strong foundation for you to build upon and ensuring that readers will be captivated from the very first page. From why readers read stories, to understanding how stories must be created so readers will read yours, this class will help you understand the psychology of what it means to create stories for others, leaving your readers hungry for more. This is part one of this class.
Thursday July 21, 2016 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Room 2
Okay, not literally a spotlight. And by literally we mean "literally" as opposed to "figuratively," which are two opposite words no matter what the stupid dictionary says. What in the world is happening to the English language, anyway? And what about . . . oh. Right. The panel. Peter David will talk about stuff. He wrote this description. Can you tell?
Thursday July 21, 2016 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 4
Bestselling authors Sylvia Day (Crossfire novels), Christina Lauren (Beautifulseries), Nalini Singh (Psy-Changling series), Chloe Neil (The Devil's Isle and Chicagoland Vampires series), and Tessa Dare (Castles Ever After series) turn up the heat at SDCC as they discuss the power of romance, the range and voice of the genre, and blush-inducing conversation and have a hilarious battle over movies, TV shows, and Hollywood's hottest. Moderated by HelenKay Dimon (Bad Boys Undercoverseries).
Graphic India welcomes legendary creator Grant Morrison (Batman, All Star Superman, 18 Days, The Multiversity) to discuss storytelling, global mythology, mysticism, the rise of Indian superheroes and his latest groundbreaking, mythic/sci-fi project with Graphic India called Avatarex: Destroyer of Darkness. In Avatarex, the epic world of living myth collides with the mundane realities and cultural upheavals of contemporary India. What happens when an all-powerful super-being awakens to fight the Last War of the Age, only to discover he's been sent too early for the End Days and must somehow learn to exist in a world that's too small and too frail to survive his presence? How does humanity react to the challenges of such a paragon in their midst? Will Avatarex raise everyone to his level, or will everyone drag him down? Can the embodiment of their highest aspirations exist side-by-side with their all-too-human failings or will the gulf between what they wish they could be and what they are destroy them?
Thursday July 21, 2016 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
During his tenure as publisher and president of DC Comics and later as a board member of BOOM! Studios, Paul Levitz oversaw an influx of creator-driven concepts (Watchmen, Sandman, The Dark Knight, Lumberjanes) and imprints (Vertigo, Milestone, WildStorm) within the framework of traditional and untraditional corporate ownership models. Levitz discusses his experience and insights on a range of topics shaping the comics industry in the big media era with Rob Salkowitz (Forbes).
Thursday July 21, 2016 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 4
Octavia E. Butler once argued that Kindred was the only one of her novels that wasn't science fiction. She called the time travel tale of slave times a "grim fantasy," because aside from the time travel, everything in the novel is powerfully, painfully real. Join moderator Erika Alexander (Concrete Park) for a conversation with artist John Jennings (The Blacker the Ink) and writer Damian Duffy (Black Comix) about their process translating Butler's fierce prose into the forthcoming graphic adaption, published by Abrams ComicArts.
Get a behind-the-scenes look into the bold new world of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. Meet Taylor Kurosaki, narrative director at Infinity Ward, and the dynamic cast of actors who will take players on an unforgettable journey as they engage in heroic battles on Earth and beyond our atmosphere. You'll also get an exclusive look at never-before-seen footage from the game. Plus, fans who attend the panel will receive limited edition Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare poster available only at Comic-Con.
Thursday July 21, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 6BCF
BOOM! Studios managing editor Bryce Carlson and editor Eric Harburn lead a discussion on the roles editors can play in the comics industry with James Tynion IV (Detective Comics, The Backstagers), Mairghread Scott (Toil and Trouble, Transformers: Windblade), Hope Larson (Goldie Vance, Compass South), Simon Spurrier (Weavers, Cry Havoc), Pat McHale (Over the Garden Wall), and Adam Smith (Long Walk to Valhalla). They'll explore the differences between working with and without an editor, working at an indie publisher or at the Big Two, and how editors can partner with talent to put creators' vision to paper.
Thursday July 21, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
The best science fiction comes from a kernel of truth, something that makes readers think, "Wait . . . could this actually happen?" From technology to medicine to space travel, distinguished authors J. Patrick Black (Ninth City Burning), Blake Crouch (The Wayward Pines trilogy), Christopher Farnsworth (Killfile), Patrick Hemstreet (God Wave), Leah Thomas (Because You'll Never Meet Me), and Andy Weir (The Martian) will discuss with moderator Brendan Reichs (The Virals series) how they create believable sci-fi stories and just how much fact there truly is in their fiction.
Thursday July 21, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Are you a writer or artist? Ever dream of working for Marvel? Do you find yourself thinking, "I could do that if I knew how?" Well, here's your chance! Join talent scout Rickey Purdin and a host of Marvel talent to find out how to get your foot in the door and make your job Marvel.
Thursday July 21, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Sarah J. Maas, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses series and YouTube star Christine Riccio of PolandBananasBooks discuss the incredible worlds and beloved characters in Maas's novels that have captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers around the world.
Thursday July 21, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 7AB
First Second editorial director Mark Siegel celebrates the tenth anniversary of this award-winning, bestselling publisher in conversation with Ben Hatke (Zita the Spacegirl), Eva Volin (Alameda Public Library), Karen Green (Columbia University), and Maryelizabeth Yturralde (Mysterious Galaxy). They'll explore the success and explosion of graphic novels in the past decade from the perspective of authors, librarians, academics, and retailers. Moderated by Graeme McMillan (Wired).
Nerd Trivia Challenge is a one-hour ame show featuring three teams of today's biggest authors competing for the chance to be the champions of nerdy knowledge. Authors Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle), Pierce Brown (Red Rising), Romina Russell (Zodiac), Chuck Wendig (Invasive), Sam Sykes(The City Stained Red), Cecil Castellucci (Star Wars: Moving Target), V. E. Schwab (A Gathering of Shadows), Camilla D'Errico (Pop Manga, Pop Painting, Pop Manga Coloring Book), and Duane Swierczynski (Revolver) test their knowledge of everything from Marvel Universe characters to Harry Potter. Moderated by Brandon T. Snider (What Would Captain Kirk Do?).
Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry (executive producer, 2017 Star Trek TV series, son of Gene Roddenberry) and Trevor Roth (executive producer, 2017 Star Trek TV series) will be showing a special 5-minute Star Trek celebration video, releasing some exclusive material from the Roddenberry Vault, and partaking in a Q&A session moderated by Tory Mell (producer, convention director at Roddenberry Entertainment).
Thursday July 21, 2016 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Moderator John Fleskes (Flesk publications) leads a rousing discussion with Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, World of Payne, Savage Wolverine), Terry Dodson (Princess Leia, Red One, Uncanny X-Men), Wendy and Richard Pini (Elfquest), and Mark Schultz (Storms at Sea, Xenozoic) about the differences between working for major publishers and shepherding through their personal projects. The pros, the cons, the triumphs, the tears! Plus, panelists share the latest news of upcoming projects.
Thursday July 21, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Authors Nidhi Chanani (Pashmina), Ben Hatke (Mighty Jack), Nilah Magruder (M.F.K.), Raina Telgemeier (Ghosts), and Ron Wimberly (Prince of Cats) discuss the current state of diversity in the comics industry, what's changed over the past decade, and what changes still need to happen. Moderated by Petra Mayer (NPR).
You have a really cool idea for a new comic or story, but you don't know how to begin plotting it out. Award-winning writer Marv Wolfman (Crisis on Infinite Earths, New Teen Titans, Blade, Black Cat and hundreds more) brings his famed writing seminar to Comic-Con 2016. He will talk about how to create characters, how to put together a story, and most everything you should think about even before you start typing.
Thursday July 21, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
Kids! Join authors Jeffrey Brown (Lucy and Andy Neanderthal), John Patrick Green (Hippopotamister), Eddie Pittman (Red's Planet), and Judd Winick (Hilo) in an interactive storytelling hour, where you tell the story, and these authors draw it. Bring your most creative storytelling hats! Moderated by Jennifer L. Holm (Sunny Side Up).
Thursday July 21, 2016 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
A team of Blizzard Entertainment's veteran designers, writers, and artists talk about World of Warcraft: Legion, and the exciting content that will be leading up to its launch. The panelists include Alex Afrasiabi (creative director, World of Warcraft), Chris Robinson (senior art director, World of Warcraft), Matt Samia (senior creative director of brand marketing), and James Waugh (director of story & creative development). The panelists will also take part in a Q&A session, where you can ask all your burning questions about the Burning Legion.
Thursday July 21, 2016 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 6BCF
Do you dream about quitting your day job to pursue your passion of being an artist, writer, or professional in the industry? Are you already in the business and need help with figuring out how to budget between paid contracts, deal with taxes, get credit, or determine the best way to raise and save cash for future projects? Join Karen Martin (Force4Creatives, Art FORM), Sean Nisil (Sigdestad Financial), and Eric O'Connor (Land Home Financial Services) for a panel on superhero financial planning and best practices for artists, writers, industry professionals, and all others interested. The discussion will follow with a Q&A of industry guests including Chris Neuhahn (Dreamworks Animation, McSteed TV), Alonso Nunez (Little Fish Comic Book Studio), and Erin Pennell (Rare Hare Studio, Art FORM), who will talk about financial challenges and successes in their fields.
From Cinderella to the Queen of Hearts, these authors know that "happily ever after" isn't always the end of the story. Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles, Heartless), Renee Ahdieh (The Rose and the Dagger), Colleen Houck (Recreated), Anna Todd (Imagines), Jodi Meadows (My Lady Jane), and Colleen Oakes (Queen of Hearts)dish about how they put a fresh twist on the classic tales we love. Moderated by Sam Maggs (Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy, Wonder Women).
Thursday July 21, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Comic-Con special guest and Eisner Award-nominated comics writer Jason Aaron (Star Wars, the Mighty Thor, Southern Bastards, Scalped) sits down for an open, unfiltered discussion of his work, the craft of writing and pretty much anything else you feel like asking about.
Thursday July 21, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Many people often think of the artist and the writer as the masterminds who bring us our weekly comics. However, much credit should go to the colorists, inkers and letterers who put in hours of work to bring us what we love. A lively discussion with Dave Lanphear (veteran DC and Marvel letterer), Joshua Reed (letterer for Aspen'sSoulfire and Fathom), Beth Sotelo (colorist for IDW, DC Comics, Aspen), Matt "Batt" Banning (DC Rebirth: Batman, Superman/Wonder Woman), and Jessica Tseang (comic book historian) about how the comic book industry can change, the importance of their work, a brief look into their daily lives, and how to break into the career. There will a Q&A for budding colorists, inkers, and letterers.
UPDATED: Wed, Jul 13, 11:51AM Amazon's most-streamed original series, The Man in the High Castle, returns to Comic-Con! Based on Philip K. Dick's Hugo Award-winning novel, the show depicts a haunting and unsettling reality that could have been if the Allied Powers had lost World War II and explores that world almost 20 years after that loss. Join executive producer Isa Dick Hackett, daughter of the late Philip K. Dick, executives David Zucker and Dan Percival, along with members of the cast DJ Qualls, Alexa Davalos, Luke Kleintank, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Rupert Evans, Bella Heathcote and Rufus Sewell to learn how starkly similar this world is to today and what's to come in season 2.
Thursday July 21, 2016 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
Room 6A
Q&A session with veteran writer and editor Christopher J. Priest (Black Panther, Quantum & Woody, Deathstroke) covering his 38 years in the comics industry.
The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead franchise, Outcast), longtime artist of The Walking Dead Charlie Adlard, and Skybound Entertainment editorial director Sean Mackiewicz discuss all thingsThe Walking Dead and what's to come for the comics series as it approaches its 160th issue. This panel will be moderated by Jason Mantzoukas (The League, Brooklyn Nine-Nine).
Thursday July 21, 2016 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 6DE
What's the difference between creating original characters and playing in someone else's sandbox? Find out from these comic book pros who have worked both sides of the trenches: Amy Chu (Poison Ivy, X-Files), Sarah Gaydos (Star Trek, Batman Li'l Gotham), Mariah McCourt (True Blood, Angel), Barbara Randall Kesel (Hellboy, Sundown Crossroads), Sarah Kuhn (Barbie,Fresh Romance), Kel MacDonald (Misfits of Avalon, Buffy), and Ari Yarwood (Rick & Morty). Expect an hour of war stories and frank advice for new and established comics creators. Moderated by Casey Gilly (Comic Book Resources, Goners).
Thursday July 21, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 5AB
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.
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 15, 03:51PM The Women in Comics Collective, aka WinC (Pronounced 'Wink'), is an international organization that highlights the merit and craftwork of women working the comic book and multimedia industries. Their membership is comprised of artists, writers, educators, filmmakers, show producers, art gallery directors, cosplayers, game developers, bloggers, and toy makers. They have an on going panel discussion series that has traveled all over the country. This latest installment will focus on female and racial representation in comics, the fandom as well as the industry! Featured panelists are Vanee Matsalia-Smith (English professor, sci-fi writer, Black Girl Nerds contributor), Leen Isabel (artist, Girls Drawin' Girls, Pole Dancing Adventures, co-publisher at Dark Productions, GeekxGirls Cosplay Collective), Jay Justice (professional cosplayer and costumer, Marvel Comics), Kimberly Jesika (publicist, journalist at Huffington Post, publisher at Dollface Entertainment, animator), Ray Felix (artist, publisher, Bronx Heroes Comic Con founder), and Vita Ayala (writer, Black Mask Studios, DC Comics). The panel will be moderated by Regine L. Sawyer (coordinator and founder of The Women in Comics Collective, owner/writer at Lockett Down Productions).
Thursday July 21, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
While the scientific accuracy depicted in television and film has increasingly come under the microscope in the past decade, science fiction and science-themed productions serve the scientific community in ways other than as entertaining lessons. Many scientists point to series like Star Trek and films like 2001 as their inspiration for choosing their careers. Even the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is looking to Hollywood to inspire America to go to Mars. The panelists share their favorite sci-fi films and TV series (including guilty pleasures), as well as what those productions have meant to them in their careers. Featuring Zack Stentz (The Flash, Lore), Amy Berg (Counterpart, Eureka), Kevin Grazier, Ph.D. (Gravity,Battlestar Galactica), Phil Plait, Ph.D. (Bad Universe, 51 Degrees North), Jessica Cail, Ph.D. (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Zootopia), Andrea Letamendi, Ph.D. (Under the Mask, The Arkham Sessions), and Helen Stringer, (The Gloaming, Paradigm). Session moderated by Aaron Sagers (Syfy Blastr).
Thursday July 21, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 5AB
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 19, 09:46AM It's time for our annual state of comics journalism panel, and the challenges faced by those writing about comics have never been steeper. Yet against a background of decreased funding and big media consolidation, a new generation of passionate advocates for comics are rising up and demanding a more inclusive industry for everyone. Heidi MacDonald (The Beat), Megan Purdy (Women Write About Comics), Cynthia Francillon (Black Girl Nerds), Brett Schenker (Graphic Policy) and Mark Stack (Comics Bulletin) talk about breaking news and boundaries.
Thursday July 21, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Editing a book is no easy feat, especially for the person who wrote that book. Authors Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid Chronicles), Michael J. Sullivan (Age of Myth), and Harry Turtledove (Fallout) each read a deleted scene from a published novel and discuss why it landed on the cutting room floor. Moderated by Del Rey editorial director Tricia Narwani.
There's no surefire blueprint for success, but having just optioned an idea to a major studio, Cesare Asaro (artist, Finding Frank and His Friend) and Kirstie Shepherd (writer, Spaceman Jax: Through the Mantagon Minefield) will share the story of their unconventional path to Hollywood, all the way from Austria, and lead an open discussion about how you can find your own way to the big screen.
Thursday July 21, 2016 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 19, 05:14PM Let’s share our memories and adventures of our pal and mentor for over 40 years. George wrote “The Man Trap” the very first Star Trek episode that aired. He also wrote 8 original Twilight Zone episodes, Oceans 11 movie and the “Logan’s Run” novel with William F. Nolan. Panel participants include David Gerrold, Craig Miller, Greg Koudoulian, Gene Henderson, Clayton Moore, Scott Smith, Jimmy Diggs, Anthony Keith and Floyd Norman.
Thursday July 21, 2016 9:00pm - 10:30pm PDT
Room 9
The Comic Creator Connection (CCC) is Comic-Con's premier networking event that brings together writers and artists who are searching for their creative counterparts. This "All-Star" panel spotlights some of the latest teams coming out of the CCC and their newest creations. Hosts Douglas Neff and Corey Rothermel (authors of Epic Win! The Geek's Guide to the Journey from Fan to Creator) will focus the discussion on how each team built a successful creative partnership, from their first handshake to their first draft to their first sale. This year's panelists include Dylan Davison, Jasper Korneitchouk, andRenatus Tao (Jack the Hunted), Alberto Veloso and Michelle Pengson (Virtues & Vices), Alberto Veloso and Victor "Mikey" Torres (Visions), and Jeff Rider and Michael Dorman (Major Holmes & Captain Watson). If you want to know how to create comics with another person, don't miss out on this collection of practical advice and hard-earned wisdom from the industry's newest published comic book creators!
Friday July 22, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 23ABC
The Big Bang Theory writers return to San Diego to take you inside the biggest moments of season 9, and behind the scenes of TVs #1 comedy! From the wedding to the baby news to Shamy's big night, find out what goes into making the hit series each week and how the writers keep things fresh after more than 200 episodes. The show's executive producers and writers take you inside the writers' room for a lively discussion and special video presentation. From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory returns for season 10 this fall airing Mondays at 8/7c on CBS. The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Ninth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 13.
Friday July 22, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Ballroom 20
Kate Beaton (Step Aside Pops: A Hark! A Vagrant Collection), Emily Carroll (Through the Woods), and Lisa Hanawalt (Hot Dog Taste Test) are three of the most critically acclaimed cartoonists working today. All three are masters of the short form, imbuing great narrative depth into a few panels or a few pages of comics. Beaton, Carroll, Hanawalt and Abraham Riesman (associate editor of Vulture) will discuss how keeping things short can make for great stories.
Friday July 22, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 28DE
A lovely discussion of writing romance for teen fiction with a panel of experts including Alexandra Bracken (The Darkest Minds series, The Passenger series), Andrea Cremer (The Nightshade trilogy,Conjurer's Riddle), Kate Elliott (Court of Fives), Kami Garcia (The Beautiful Creatures series, The Lovely Reckless), Amy Tintera (Ruined), and Brenna Yovanoff (Places No One Knows). Moderated by Mary E. Pearson (The Jenna Fox Chronicles, The Remnant Chronicles).
Friday July 22, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 32AB
UPDATED: Wed, Jul 20, 08:30AM The biggest event of the year, Civil War II, is underway and the Marvel Universe is reeling from the shocking events! Learn more about what’s to come with Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, Director of Content & Character Development Sana Amanat, Marvel Talent Scout Rickey Purdin, as well as Sanford Greene (Power Man and Iron Fist), Marc Guggenheim (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Matthew Rosenberg (Civil War II: Kingpin), David Walker (Power Man and Iron Fist), and G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel)!
Friday July 22, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 6DE
Moderator Alex Segura (crime novelist and Archie writer) conducts a freewheeling discussion with acclaimed comic book writer, playwright, and screenwriter Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, spotlighting his time at Archie Comics, including the creation of the hit Afterlife with Archie and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comics and writing other beloved comic book properties like the Fantastic Four; his prolific television (Glee, Supergirl), theatrical (American Psycho, Spider-Man on Broadway), and movie (Carrie and Town that Dreaded Sundown remake) work; and the upcoming Riverdale TV series from the CW.
Friday July 22, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 29AB
People have been telling stories for thousands of years, and during that time all the tools you need to create compelling, well-thought-out stories have been created. In this class, award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake introduces you to many of these tools in a way that will stoke your creativity, keeping you motivated, and organized as you move through the creation of your own story. This is part two of this class.
UPDATED: Wed, Jul 13, 03:34PM Moderator Spiro Skentzos (Grimm) is joined by some of today's biggest TV writer/producers/executives, including Beth Schwartz (Arrow), Terry Matalas (12 Monkeys), Jose Molina (Agent Carter), Karen Horne (NBC) and Jeffrey Bell (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) discuss navigating the TV spec terrain, including beginner's mistakes, what they look for in a writer, and what it takes for you to write a killer spec that will stand above the crowd. There will be a huge Q&A component, so bring your questions.
#1 New York Times Bestseller Ben Hatke (Mighty Jack) talks with renowned fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind) about the creative lifestyle, how are books created, and what does creativity mean outside the writing and drawing process?
UPDATED: Thu, Jul 14, 09:23AM Sven Larsen (VP of marketing, Papercutz), Betsy Gomez (editorial director, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund), and Lizette Serrano (director of library and educational marketing, Scholastic) explain how librarians can build programming to foster a love of graphic novels in their communities in a Q&A session moderated by Dawn Rutherford (teen services coordinator, Sno-Isle Libraries).
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 19, 06:44PM From life as a trashman to life as a Michael Jackson impersonator -- there's no topic graphic novels can't cover. But how do creators shape their ideas into narratives that thrill and chill? Derf Backderf, Keith Knight, Sydney Padua and Ron Wimberly talk about their craft with PR's senior news editor Calvin Reid and an all-star line-up.
Friday July 22, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (writers of Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: Winter Soldier) discuss the joys and challenges of adapting the beloved comic tale into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Backstory Magazine publisher Jeff Goldsmith (host of The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith podcast). Bring your questions!
New York Times bestselling author Patrick Rothfuss tells stories, answers audience questions, and discusses strange things with his interviewer, Hank Green. Be prepared for tangents, inappropriate humor, and impromptu singing.
This panel has traveled from Australia to Ireland, and now it's coming to San Diego Comic-Con! Part Q&A, part stand-up comedy, part serious discussion, the only way to know what will be said is to show up and ask questions. For this one-hour period, Seanan McGuire will answer anything you care to ask her (although, as a warning, the answers will rarely be as simple as might be expected). There may be prizes for particularly good questions, depending on how much room she has in her suitcase.
Friday July 22, 2016 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Authors in the horror and thriller genres are more than just talented writers. They have to be masters of psychology, understanding what makes us most terrified and portraying worlds and scenarios that strike at the very core of our deepest and darkest fears. Del Howison of Dark Delicacies probes the twisted minds of Paul Tremblay (Disappearance at Devil's Rock), Amy Lukavics (Daughters unto Devils), Paula Treick Deboard (The Drowning Girls), Tosca Lee (Progeny), Thomas Olde Heuvelt (HEX), and Jonathan Maberry (Rot & Ruin) as they discuss the best ways to scare you.
Friday July 22, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
Joss Whedon has rewarded fans the world over with some of the most compelling characters and plot lines in the history of comics, television, and movies. Here's your chance to find out what he has in store next and get exclusive insight into Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity, and much, much more!
UPDATED: Thu, Jul 21, 06:17PM Join Industrial Light & Magic senior visual effects art director Christian Alzmann (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Hulk), writing duo Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely (Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War), and comic writer Christopher James Priest (Black Panther, Batman) to discuss the ultimate question: Who are the greater heroes – those who were born with powers, or those who have none? Panelists will participate in a Q&A session moderated by Christian Blauvelt (deputy culture editor, BBC.com).
Friday July 22, 2016 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Science fiction has ever been the muse of real-world advances, but now ideas can be achieved almost as soon as they are thought up. So how do writers, out-dream the dream makers? How do writers handle the truth of real science and the fiction that is needed for writing their stories? Is it a crisis for the writer's imagination? Or does it serve to inspire? Join Madeline Ashby (Company Town), Cecil Castellucci (Tin Star), Emily Lakdawalla (The Planetary Society), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The 100), Sherri L Smith (Orleans), and Greg Van Eekhout (The Boy at the End of the World) in a roundtable discussion as they take this subject on.
Friday July 22, 2016 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
Man of Action legends Joe Casey (Sex, Officer Downe), Joe Kelly (I Kill Giants, Deadpool), Duncan Rouleau (The Great Unknown, The Nightmarist), and Steven T. Seagle (It's a bird . . ., Camp Midnight) bring their world-renowned workshop on universe building to Comic-Con. They will talk through some of their creative processes for their monster hits, including Ben 10 and Big Hero 6 for Marvel, which became Disney's Academy Award-winning film, and teach the ins and outs of creating compelling intellectual property from the ground up, with hands-on exercises. Attendees will need to bring something to write on, something to write with, and big batch of brain power, as the Man of Action crew and the audience will, over the course of the panel, build a new story universe!
Friday July 22, 2016 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Storytelling is entering a new golden age in the computer gaming industry. This panel of insiders share their experiences in creating some of the best-reviewed narrative-driven titles in gaming history. Neal Hallford (Betrayal at Krondor: Remastered), Chris Avellone (Divinity: Original Sin II), Anne Toole (Horizon Zero Dawn), John Zuur Platten (Ingress), Geoffrey Thorne (The Librarians), Jean Leggett (Betwixt), and Blair Leggett (StoryStylus) promise an entertaining and informative hour. Moderated by Jana Hallford (Swords & Circuitry: A Designer's Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games).
Sense8 fans! This is the only SDCC panel where one of the creator/writer/producers of the Netflix series will be appearing to answer your questions. For everyone else: each year, Straczynski (writer for Thor, Superman Earth One, World War Z and other projects) brings announcements to SDCC, and this year is no exception, but the announcements this time are especially big. Be there for news that's going to blow up the Internet.
Max Allan Collins (Mike Hammer), co-founder of the IAMTW, hosts this year's Scribe Awards for excellence in tie-in writing, including honoring this year's Grandmaster Award "Faust" winner, Timothy Zahn (Star Wars). Panelists Michael A. Black (Executioner), Adam Christopher (Elementary), Matt Forbeck (Halo), Glenn Hauman (Star Trek), Nancy Holder (Crimson Peak), R. L. King (Shadowrun), Jonathan Maberry (Wolfman), Andy Mangels (X-Files), Cavan Scott (Pathfinder), and Marv Wolfman (Batman) engage in a freewheeling look at one of the most popular and yet underappreciated branches of the writing trade.
Friday July 22, 2016 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
This panel addresses what new writers need to do once they have material ready to go out to the masses. The shifting 21st-century digital frontier means the age-old methods of building a career have been rendered irrelevant, and this group of Hollywood screenwriters and graphic novel creators share insider information, publishing secrets, and the professional realities on how to develop your ideas into a viable property and market yourself accordingly. Moderated by 2015 Disney/ABC Writing Program winner and 2014 Eisner Award nominee Brandon Easton (Marvel's Agent Carter, IDW's M.A.S.K.), the panel includes TV producern Geoffrey Thorne (Leverage, The Librarians), writer Erika Alexander (Concrete Park,Living Single), artist/writer Tony Puryear (Concrete Park, the Schwarzenegger film Eraser), and writer Brandon Thomas (Skybound's Horizon, Miranda Mercury).
Friday July 22, 2016 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
Faith is the breakout superhero of the year. This stereotype-demolishing character from Valiant Entertainment has won critical acclaim, fan enthusiasm, and now, her own monthly series. But what makes her tick? Faith writer Jody Houser (Orphan Black, Mother Panic) takes a deep dive into this soaring hero's past, present, and future. Moderated by Vulture's Abraham Riesman (associate editor).
Friday July 22, 2016 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
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.
French YA graphic novel creator Mathieu Reynès(Alter Ego, Harmony) and American novelist Matthew J. Kirby (Last Descendants: Assassin's Creed Series) discuss and compare their work, experiences, and readership as seen from the two sides of the Atlantic. Moderated by Brigid Alverson (Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal).
Anne Sowards (Ace/Roc), Jessica Wade (Ace/Roc), and Christina Colangelo (Penguin Young Readers Group) give you the dish on forthcoming books from exciting authors and licensed properties, such as Jim Butcher, Ransom Riggs, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews, Anthony Ryan, Sabaa Tahir, Marie Lu, Anne Bishop, Taherah Mafi, and many others. You can expect giveaways like finished books or advanced reading copies!
Friday July 22, 2016 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
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.
Len Wein (co-creator of Swamp Thing and Wolverine) moderates a panel that will discuss the many ways one might create a universe, whether in comics, novels, gaming, television, film and virtual reality. Panelists include James Lopez (creator, Hullabaloo, an animated Steampunk series),Mark Murphy (co-creator, Neil deGrasse Tyson Presents: Space Odyssey), Peter S. Beagle (author, The Last Unicorn),and representatives from cutting-edge VR companies, including HTC Vive and Samsung GearVR.
Having trouble revving up your creativity engine? Creating worlds and characters can be a daunting idea. However, with the right tools and inspiration, the wonderful world of art, writing, and creativity becomes your oasis. Genese Davis (The Holder's Dominion), Rob Prior (HeavyMetal), Eric Kieron Davis (Star Citizen), and Jonathan Maberry (Rot and Ruin) divulge their experience creating worlds, telling rich stories, and seeing how gender and genre sometimes conflict or combine in interesting ways.
You're a comics writer, or you want to be. You're motivated and driven. Great. You're just like a thousand other would-be comics writers. So how do you stand above the rest? John Barber (Ultimate Spider-Man, Transformers) has written for several major publishers and edited for both Marvel and IDW. Between him and Andy Schmidt (X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy), founder of Comics Experience, they've seen thousands of pitches and worked with dozens of editors. Together, they've created a top 10 list of things that the strongest writers do to stand above the crowd. They will give you all 10 in this jaw-dropping panel.
Friday July 22, 2016 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
Award-winning bestselling authors and actors discuss romance in science fiction, fantasy and horror. Crush, heart throb, or love at first site? Attraction, compatibility, offspring, love, society, (extremely) long-distance relationships, close quarters, customs, rituals, religions, marriage, and more! Featuring Rebekah R. Ganiere (Fairelle Series, president of Fantasy Futuristic & Paranormal RWA Chapter), Juliet Landau (actress, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), Gigi Edgley (actress, Farscape, Star Trek Continues), Mark O'Bannon (author, The Dream Crystal, Imperium), and Katrina Law (actress, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow). Moderated by James Ganiere (chief editor, Fallen Angel Press, CEO-Rio Vista Universal).
Want to write for animation? How do you break in? What's it take to get that first job? After that, how do you get a second gig? And a third? What are the skills and secrets of maintaining a career in the field, including becoming a story editor/showrunner, and perhaps creating and selling your own show. Craig Miller (Curious George, Beast Wars) leads a panel of animation writers with extensive careers and others who have recently broken into the field, including Kaita Mpambara (Ultimate Spider-man, Elena of Avalor), Steve Melching (X-Men: The Animated Series, Star Wars Rebels), Nicole Dubuc (Young Justice, Transformers: Rescue Bots), Dean Stefan (He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, CatDog), and Rachel Vine (Rainbow Brite, Wander Over Yonder) who will share their knowledge and answer your questions.
Saturday July 23, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 9
All great stories need both a hero and a villain. Award-winning author Maxwell Alexander Drake gives you the tools you need to create both sides of this opposing force. You will learn to create each in a dynamic way that will capture the hearts of your readers, making them cheer for their triumphs and commiserate withtheir losses.
Saturday July 23, 2016 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Room 2
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 12, 09:54AM Marv Wolfman (creator, Blade, New Teen Titans), Zac Atkinson (writer, Transformers: Robots in Disguise, Transformers: Rescue Bots), Daniel Corey (writer, Image Comic's Moriarty and Red City), Rob Cain (producer, Abattoir and Mongol), Ralph Miranda (artist/creator, Man Fighting Street and Bone Saw) and Shaene Siders (writer, Herokins andDiscovery Channel's Great White Sharks) discover exciting new twists and technological advances that have begun to transform the future of comics, including interactive comics with motion sensors, choose-your-own story comics, social media comics, and more.
Saturday July 23, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
William Gibson is the novelist and screenwriter credited with pioneering cyberpunk science fiction. His Blue Ant trilogy-Patterson Recognition,Spook Country and Zero History-were New York Times bestsellers, as was his most recent, The Peripheral.Archangel, co-written with his friend, Michael St. John Smith, is now being published by IDW. Join Gibson, Smith and some of their IDW collaborators for a discussion of Archangel.
Saturday July 23, 2016 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 11, 03:32PM Before there can be a hit series (or even a Manimal or Supertrain), there has to be a pilot. A panel of expert creators and writer/producers will share their experiences-the good, bad, and the very ugly-in selling and making a television pilot. Get the straight scoop on how shows go from their synapses to your television sets and tablets. Moderated by Sony Pictures Television's executive VP of drama development and production, Chris Parnell. Panelists include Ryan Condal (Colony, Logan's Run), Sarah Watson (Parenthood, About a Boy), V. J. Boyd (Justified), Ashley E. Miller (Black Sails, Fringe, Terminator), Craig Engler (Z Nation), Amy Berg(Counterpart, Caper, Da Vinci's Demons), Toni Graphia (Outlander, Battlestar Galactica, Cop Rock), Mark A. Altman (The Librarians, Agent X, Femme Fatales), and Robert Hewitt Wolfe (Elementary, The Dresden Files).
Saturday July 23, 2016 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Want to write for TV? Learn how the sausage is made? Jose Molina and Javier Grillo-Marxuach, writer/producers ofLost, Firefly, Agent Carter, and The 100,spill the beans, tell the truths, and dispense advice in this informative live presentation of their popular podcast.
As game platforms emerge and evolve, games have even greater potential to tell compelling, immersive stories. Game industry veterans Chris Avellone (Divinity: Original Sin 2, Planescape: Torment), Leah Hoyer (Guild Wars 2, Quantum Break), and Elbert Perez (HTC Vive, Xbox) discuss the strategies for and challenges of making innovative game narrative.
Saturday July 23, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Words are important. But how are they made? Claudia Christian (Wolf's Empire), Gini Koch (The Alien Series), Seanan McGuire (the October Daye and InCryptid series), Brandon Mull (Five Kingdom's Series), Scott Sigler (The Generations Trilogy), and Jon Skovron (Hope & Red) discuss how they set the stage for their stories and explore the dos and don'ts of building a living, breathing world for their characters in a panel moderated by Cindy Pon (Serpentine).
If your heart is driving you to write and you can't imagine doing anything else, this is the panel for you. The discussion will cover writing for film, television, and comics in a Q&A style workshop, the quality of the discussion determined by the questions you bring. Learn the tricks of the writing trade from an Eisner, Icon, Inkpot, Hugo and Bradbury Award-winning writer and producer also nominated for a British Academy Award for Changeling. He's worked on World War Z and Thor and is one of the writer/producer/creators for Sense8. Come prepared for information and impertinence.
Saturday July 23, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
From a giant chaos-causing bunny to a land where left can be right to the puzzles of a haunted hotel or a rebellion against a powerful reign, from superpowers to super-scientists, middle-grade authors Ned Rust (Patrick Griffin's Last Breakfast on Earth), Tahereh Mafi (Furthermore), Tania del Rio(Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye), Shannon Messenger (Keeper in the Lost Cities #4: Neverseen), Cece Bell (El Deafo), and Rachel Ignotofsky (Women in Science), along with moderator Sherri L. Smith(The Toymaker's Apprentice), discuss ways to reach and inspire the imaginations of even the most reluctant young reader.
Saturday July 23, 2016 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Comic-Con special guest Noelle Stevenson, author of Nimona and co-creator of Lumberjanes, chats with Shannon Watters (Lumberjanes) about comics, cartoons, heroes, villains, queer teens, free will, first crushes, and probably more than a few tangents about mountaineering and extinct animals. This one-on-one interview will be followed by a Q&A session.
Saturday July 23, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
The past decade has seen an explosion in the number and scope of journalism - from the rise of citizen-journalism to blogging to vloggers, podcasters, and online-only news sources. Nationally-known writers and hosts Mary Anne Butler (AggressiveComix.com), Jeff Bond (Geek Magazine), Aaron Sagers (Blastr, Syfy), moderator Bill Watters (TrekMovie.com, BleedingCool.com), and a few surprise guests will talk about the role new-media plays between readers and their beats. If you've ever wanted to find out about the trials and tribulations behind the scenes or how to find out more about becoming a writer as well.
Panelists discuss the process of building a world for storytelling-the challenges of consistency, character authenticity and staying true to the world that has been set into motion; when to bend the rules, allowing the characters to speak for themselves-and when the rules must be unchangeable.Moderated by Jeff Twohig.
Saturday July 23, 2016 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
If writers rooms were like superhero teams, they've just lined up the Justice League and The Avengers for this all-star insider look at your favorite TV series. The scribes behind some of today's hottest genre shows share their candid thoughts on how to write, rewrite, and actually produce the series we love (and sometimes loathe). Find out the deep, dark secrets (and low-calorie snacks) of the writers room and what happens after your script hits the stage and why editing is considered the final rewrite. Moderated by Sony Pictures Television's jocular executive VP of drama development & production, Chris Parnell. The line-up this year includes Gabrielle Stanton (Time After Time, The Flash, Haven), Michael Narducci (The Originals, The Vampire Diaries, Medium), Gennifer Hutchison (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul), Javier Grillo-Marxuach (The Middleman, Xena, Lost), Steve Holland (The Big Bang Theory),William Harper (Grey's Anatomy),Steve Melching(Star Wars Rebels, Guardians of the Galaxy TV),Jose Molina(Agent Carter, Firefly, Sleepy Hollow), andMark A. Altman(The Librarians, Castle, Agent X).
Saturday July 23, 2016 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Video game writer Andy Schmidt (Transformers: Devastation) discusses the ins and outs of writing for video games and how it differs from writing prose, comics, and screenplays. Andy's last game, Transformers: Devastation garnered rave reviews and excited fans of all ages of the franchise. And he's here to give you the insider's look at the skills it takes to write for giant media and massive hit properties while learning the step-by-step writing process for video games.
Saturday July 23, 2016 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
If you're a writer or artist attending the Comic Creator Connection, this is your chance to practice giving your pitch before the networking event and get some free coaching from a pro. So what's a pitch? A pitch is simply the way you present yourself or your project to others. It is usually a brief speech designed to persuade and interest your listener in what you're doing or what you've made. Most creators have no trouble coming up with fantastic ideas for new comics, but they often struggle to talk clearly and concisely about those ideas to other people. Giving a good pitch is a vital skill you must have to bring your project to life. Fortunately, it's also a skill you can learn and improve with practice,and Pitch Review is a great place to do that. Pitch reviews will be conducted by Douglas Neff, an experienced presentation coach and professional public speaker who hosts the Comic Creator Connection and From Fan to Creator: Goal-Setting for Creative Types. This is not a panel. Instead, these are 3- to 5-minute individual coaching sessions for as many people as they can accommodate in the scheduled time. Everyone is welcome. Please note that showing up is not a guarantee that you'll get a review session. Spaces are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, sits down with NPR's Petra Mayer to talk everything from the explosive success of The Lunar Chronicles to the power of YA fandoms, her first Lunar Chronicles graphic novel, to what fans can expect from Heartless, this fall's most-anticipated young adult novel. Arrive early for a front row seat for a Lunar Chronicles Fan Appreciation video.
Sunday July 24, 2016 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 24ABC
The Winner Twins, Brittany and Brianna, multiple award-winning and national bestselling science fiction authors, as well as award-winning writing teachers, are best known for their popular Strand series and The Write Path series. They will teach you how to create your own novel step by step, from building your universe to overcoming writer's block to the different paths to publishing. The twins have taught their unique creative writing method to hundreds of thousands of convention attendees, teachers, and students across the country. They will be joined by Graeme Manson (co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner of Orphan Black), Richard Hatch (Captain Apollo/Tom Zarek of Battlestar Galactica, author of the bestselling Battlestar Galactica book series), and Stephen Glickman (comedy writer, producer, star of Big Time Rush, Workaholics) and special guests to share their war stories, answer your questions, and teach you how to craft your story idea into a marketable novel, television series, or film franchise.
Knock, knock jokes. Fart noises. The word "butt." Hilarious books for kids succeed at making everyone laugh, including grownups who haven't quite grown up. Moderator David Mariotte leads children's book authors Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series), Dan Santat (Are We There Yet?), Ed Masessa (Wandmaker), Greg Grunberg and Lucas Turnbloom (Dream Jumper), and Brandon T. Snider (Peter Powers and His Not-So-Super Powers) discuss their personal formulas for creating funny books-and getting paid for it! Leave the milk at home, as there are no guarantees it won't come shooting out of your nose while watching this panel.
Sunday July 24, 2016 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
A lot of science fiction/fantasy takes place in worlds inspired by Western and European cultures. How can writers break that trend and create fully developed, unique cultures for their stories? Moderator Michael Spradlin is joined by authors Stacey Lee (Outrun the Moon), Indra Das (The Devourers), Damian Duffy and John Jennings (Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation), Elizabeth Briggs (Future Shock), and Ru Xu (NewsPrints) to talk about how they developed inclusive futures (and presents and pasts).
Sunday July 24, 2016 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
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.
New York Times bestselling author of Six of Crows Leigh Bardugo and the acclaimed graphic novelist and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Gene Luen Yang get together for a one-on-one conversation about diversity in literature and readers, fandom, fantasy, and more.
Sunday July 24, 2016 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
There is no limit to the depth of experiences that can be created in the realm of virtual reality. But is a trip to the bottom of the ocean or a walk on the surface of Mars enough to keep audiences coming back for more? Creators who are working on the front lines of this exciting new technology discuss innovations such as 360-degree movies and the art of creating interactive story experiences. Moderator Neo Edmund (screenwriter, author of the Red Riding Alpha Huntress Series) is joined by panelists Micke Hjorth (chairman of the board, Starbreeze Studios), Sarah Kinga Smith (producer of motion picture, digital and VR, CEO of RES literary talent management & production), Andrew Cochrane (digital & interactive director, Mirada Studios), Varun Lella (digital, business development & TV literary agent, Paradigm), and Kane Lee (head of content at Baobab Studios).
Sunday July 24, 2016 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Learn from children's book literary agents Deborah Warren (East-West Literary), Kelly Sonnack (Andrea Brown Literary), Taylor Martindale Kean (Full Circle Literary), Jill Corcoran (Jill Corcoran Literary), and Jennifer Azantian (Jennifer Azantian Literary) about writing children's books, acquiring representation, and becoming traditionally published. Moderated by picture book author Henry Herz (Mabel & the Queen of Dreams).
Sunday July 24, 2016 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Whether you're thinking about launching your first Kickstarter project or you're ready to embark on your fifth, our lineup of veteran creators has a wealth of invaluable information for you. Jamie Tanner (Kickstarter's comics outreach lead), Hope Nicholson (The Secret Loves of Geek Girls), Kel McDonald (Sorcery 101), and George Rohac (CEO, Breadpig) discuss all things Kickstarter, from the best way to promote your project to avoiding common pitfalls and everything in between.
Strong protagonists, engrossing romance, humor, action, and angst! Join us for this popular annual chat about the hottest new titles and trends in YA fiction. Moderated by Nathan Bransford (The Jacob Wonderbar series) and featuring Renee Ahdieh (The Wrath and the Dawn series), Victoria Aveyard (The Red Queen series), Michelle Hodkin (The Mara Dyer Trilogy), Lauren Oliver (Vanishing Girls), Brendan Reichs (Virals series), Victoria Schwab (A Darker Shade of Magic), Laini Taylor (Strange the Dreamer), and Adam Silvera (More Happy Than Not).
This annual panel is for any group with a goal. It presents the vital basics of group management and networking that can apply to literally any project, from hobbiest to professional. Whether your goal is a career or professional-level hobby, your projects are a full-time job and you have only part-time hours to accomplish them. Much of achieving your goals rests with everyone helping each other with the skills, training, or talents no one individual has. Topher Davila (art director, GeekdomWear), Heather Joseph-Witham, Ph.D. (Mythbusters), Amber Goelst (Wacom Enterprise/Education), Sean Glumace (Adobe education leader), Gene Turnbow (general manager, Krypton Radio), Renah Wolzinger (higher education leadership: statewide technical assistance provider), Brendan Creecy (Radio Brendo Man podcast), Ron Coleman, Ph.D (molecular geneticist), Stephen Burns (Photoshop digital artist, author, and lecturer), Chris Dickens (writer and co-creator of Vigilante Project), and Mario Martinez (co-creator, TomatoTV) provide a mix of speaking, questions, and some short interactive applications where the audience can directly apply the topics covered. Handouts will be provided that cover tips, wisdom, and dos and donts from previous panels. As a bonus to help get your creative work life further along, you'll get a one-year subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud. They also have a second tool to give away of particular use to anyone that even touches artwork: A Wacom tablet! You must be at the panel to be eligible for either giveaway.
Sunday July 24, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Video game media is a growing platform teaming with a plethora of avenues for geektastic careers, including podcasting, journalism, literary writing, broadcasting, video production, and more. Genese Davis (The Holder's Dominion, MMORPG), Michael Annetta (Nevermind, Flying Mollusk), Kiri Callaghan (Geek and Sundry Kiriosity), and Aaron Carter (Video Game Bang) divulge the ins and outs for breaking in and producing quality and unique content. Speakers will reveal not only their tips and tricks but also vital dos and don'ts for writing, podcasting, and creating in video game media and how these avenues influence the industry.
Sunday July 24, 2016 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
