WonderCon 2012 - The panels.(Lots of videos in here!)

It's probably difficult not to smile while on stage with such awesome people.

WonderCon had many smaller panel topics that pandered to my exact needs; effectively using creative time, successful women in the geek industry, seeing your drawings through to toy manufacturing, and more. I sat through these in rapt attention, soaking up what useful information I could and willing myself to feel inspired and motivated. It honestly helped to hear the same thing multiple times in a variety of ways, and the panels delivered on that front.


On the flip side there were a multitude of panels focusing on summer blockbuster titles such as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Snow White and the Huntsmen, Amazing Spider-man, Prometheus and a bunch more. There was also an event called Trailer Park, where a half an hour block was filled with new/recent movie trailers for this year.

This is where the exciting stuff happened.

Author Seth Grahame-Smith, director Timur Bekmambetov, and star Benjamin Walker
for the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter panel. Walker has such a macho way of sitting.
 I like it.

Enjoy this video of Grahame-Smith talking about his inspiration for the book.

I knew that I wanted to see the Trailer Park, and I wanted to attend the Prometheus/Abraham Lincoln panel too. Seeing as they were both in the ballroom and close in time to one another, I figured I'd show up for the first and stay for the second. Turns out there was a panel in between those two for a movie called 'Sound of My Voice', which was at Sundance last year.

Writer/director Zal Batmanglij and writer/star Brit Marling fill in the

audience on their intriguing film, as well as field audience questions.

I ended up in a seat relatively close to the front and sandwiched between two total strangers. As the lights dimmed again I began to look through the program book to find out what was going to be happening. There was no description though. Puzzled, I simply hoped it wouldn't be boring.

It turned out to be highly fascinating. A woman came out and introduced the film and said we'd be watching the first twelve minutes of it. What followed was something strange, moody, creepy, mysterious and intriguing. Go watch it. I'll wait. Afterward the female lead/writer and her co-writer came onto the stage to talk about the production and field questions. It comes out next month, I'm hoping at a theatre near me!

 Batmanglij and Marling demonstrating the secret handshake in the film.

There was intense energy in the room as the lights reset and the giant projector screens became emblazoned with the word 'Prometheus'. People clapped and cheered, and then Damon Lindelof and Ridley Scott took the stage. I'm pretty sure a few audience members peed themselves. The men took their seats and chatted about the film, commenting on it not being a prequel to Alien but having similar DNA, as it were. Then they jazzed everyone up by introducing the newest trailer for our viewing pleasure.

The official two and a half minute trailer was so intense. I was jittery and freaked out. Toward the end I swear my heart was beating too fast and I was too aware of being alone with a bunch of strangers with no one to turn to and say, 'I'm scared!' And then it was over, which was a relief.

This is going to be mind blowing on the big screen.

Then they brought out Charlize Theron and it was my turn to pee my pants. She is so awesome! Such an intense and amazing actress. It was a total shock and such an honor to see her in person. Michael Fassbender was there too with his jaunty accent and pleasant smile. The whole audience was thrown for a loop.

I have my own video footage of Damon Lindelof, Ridley Scott, Charlize Theron 

and Michael Fassbender. How awesome is that!?

The rest of my weekend included the Geek & Sundry panel, as well as the Nerdist panel. I wash hoping to attend the Amazing Spider-man presentation and see Emma Stone, but there was a huge line to get into the already packed ballroom, so that wasn't going to happen. I had also wanted to see the Community panel, but I ended up staying in the Expo hall to meet artists instead.

WonderCon 2012 was awesome, and I am hopefully going next year!

-MJ

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WonderCon 2012 - Amazing people!

My normal fare for conventions is the Penny Arcade Expo, and as a result I am accustomed to informative panels with a few medium to large names and a whole slew of upcoming video games to play on the show floor.

WonderCon presents a whole new array of things to be excited about, including the chance to meet some of your favorite artists (both comic book and otherwise), as well as see huge names in TV and film during presentation and special announcement panels.

I'm going to go ahead and focus on the artists that I met, because those actually involved conversations and eye contact. First and foremost, I met Brittney Lee! I've mentioned her before, and I'm going to go ahead and talk about her again.

Brittney Lee herself chattin' things up with prospective customers.

I was anxious to find her booth, purchase her book and ask her about her work flow. There are some things I've been trying in my own paper art, and I figured I may as well take the opportunity to ask for help from someone that I admire. I ended up purchasing a print of hers as well, which is exciting.

Her booth was fairly busy, but eventually I had a chance to say hello, gush about her work, and ask her how to curl paper. I experienced a technical malfunction and only part of the video survived (sad sad sad) but here's what I managed to salvage of her demonstrating paper curling techniques:

I could have stood around and thanked her a million more times for her help, but I had taken enough of her time. I had also been a bit awkward. Watch the next video to find out why.

The second artist that I had the pleasure of meeting was Kris Straub, creator of the webcomics Chainsawsuit and Starslip, as well as the co-star of Kris and Scott's Scott and Kris show and Blamimation on PATV. He is, hands down, the friendliest and most laid back individual I've ever met sitting at a table. I approached him on Saturday, having recognized him from his show with Scott Kurtz, and started babbling away about how funny the show is. He was gracious and pleasantly chatty. I filmed part of our conversation, and I'm going to share it with you here:

I went ahead and told him that I didn't realize he had his own webcomic *le gasp* and he was kind enough not to tell me to get the hell away from his table. I had only ever seen his videos with Scott on PATV, so I figured he was a friend who liked to doodle. Turns out, he's a friend who likes to doodle and has his own very successful webcomics that he draws for a living. Whoops! haha As I stood and chatted with him I flipped through all of the Chainsawsuit books that he had for sale and ended up buying one. They're very funny, and you should buy them too.

On Sunday Andrew came with me and he stopped to say hi to quite a few artists while I hovered in the background looking at pictures. Some of them I recognized, like Stephen Silver, and some of them I didn't, like Joe Weatherly. We also chatted with Andrew's friend Fabian Molina. We saw Mike Mignola, but his line was outta control.

I can't wait to build up my own art, maybe make a book and sell some prints and have more opportunities to meet those that inspire me! Check back tomorrow to hear about the panels I went to, and how I reacted when Charlize Theron came on stage.

-MJ

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WonderCon 2012 - A brief wrap up

In the silent aftermath of WonderCon 2012, I sit with my eyes closed and rehash the events of the weekend. Everything is a blur in my mind, a constant stream of cosplay, t-shirts, plushies, action figures, and comic books in numbers beyond my wildest imaginings. Row after row of artist tables; comic and traditional alike. Colorful images and smiling faces belonging to people who are more than happy to talk to everyone. Hands are flying across pages, pumping out simple sketches and autographs; iPads are everywhere to facilitate credit card purchases. The giant purple swirl of WonderCon is emblazoned on every surface and outlining the speakers at each panel. I see interviews taking place, and children hugging Adventure Time dolls while dressed as Finn and Fiona.

That is WonderCon, and still only a portion. That's just what I was able to experience in an insane and exhausting three days.

A lot of fun things happened this last weekend that I want to share with the world, and that's exactly what I'll be doing this week! Be sure to check everyday for something fun and new about my first trip to WonderCon. For now I will leave you with a smattering of photos for entertainment purposes, and also to whet your appetites for the entries to come!

::: It was difficult to not purchase these Adventure Time comics.

::: Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton at the Geek & Sundry announcement panel!

::: Chris Hardwick and his panel introducing the Nerdist YouTube channel.

::: Why yes, this is a photo of Damon Lindelof, Sir Ridley Scott, Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender.

::: A flash of exciting new projects to come during one of the Marvel panels.

::: Just Optimus Prime using an escalator. No big thing.

::: An amazing array of Venture Bros. cosplay. Love it!

::: Aaaand a creepy plushie. One of many.

So, are you excited for the rest of the week? Who else was able to attend WonderCon? I had a pretty amazing time considering it was my first time attending. I can't wait for next year! And, if I'm lucky, I'll get to go to San Diego ComicCon too. Fingers crossed!

-MJ

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It's a great year for movies, and Wondercon has all the previews!

I'm feeling incredibly jazzed right now because tomorrow I'm going to Wondercon! I'll be attending all three days, and this is my first time going.

Creative professionals?! That's me!

First Gallifrey One and now Wondercon! This year is really shaping up to be fantastic for conventions!

I had never heard of Wondercon before, but after looking at the schedule I found at least seven panels a day that I'm incredibly psyched to attend! Aside from insider information on writing, breaking into the industry and general interesting information, every day has movie previews for some of the year's biggest hits!

If my years at PAX have taught me anything, then I know I'll spend a lot of time standing in lines and first come first serve is vicious at a highly anticipated panel. It'd be wonderful if I saw everything I wanted to, but that may not happen.

Here are the movie previews I'm excited for!

-The Hobbit!!
-Prometheus and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
-Snow White and the Huntsmen

So pumped to visit The Shire again.

source

I'm pretty sure there's a preview for The Hobbit and it's not just insider information (which would still be cool). Hopefully I'll have an answer for you next week! There's also a whole panel segment dedicated to showing trailers for even more films, and I don't know what to expect from that!

There are panels on Spider-man and writing and creativity and just... ugh, I'm so excited!

I'm so fortunate that Wondercon is being held in Anaheim this year! Normally it's in San Francisco, but that convention center is being renovated. I'll be able to drive myself to and fro each day, which will save me a lot of money. The three day badge is only forty dollars. What a deal!

Is anyone else going? Would you like to meet up? Do you have a con schedule?! Here's mine!

Has anyone gone before? Do you have any advice for me? The Doctor Who convention was a lot different from PAX, so I can't even guess what Wondercon will be like!

-MJ

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