Con IntelFrom the Con

SDCC 2016: Saturday Hidden Gems

By:Alyssa, DRWho_42, ComicConDad & Transmute Jun

Note from the Editors: We are approaching the big show in San Diego quickly and as each day draws closer we are treated to exciting news and announcements. Over the next few days as the schedules are released we will have posts highlighting some of the gems that we have found in the schedule.

DRWHO_42:

Blindspot Special Video Presentation and Q&A 12:00pm –  12:50pm   Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Sullivan Stapleton and Jaimie Alexander star in this one-hour action thriller from Berlanti Productions and Quinn’s House, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television. Stapleton is hardened FBI agent Kurt Weller, who is drawn into a complex conspiracy when a mysterious woman, with no memories of her past, is found in Times Square, her body completely covered in intricate cryptic tattoos. As Weller and his teammates at the FBI-Edgar Reade (Rob Brown), Tasha Zapata (Audrey Esparza), and the tech-savvy Patterson (Ashley Johnson)-begin to investigate the veritable roadmap of Jane Doe’s tattoos, they are drawn into a high-stakes underworld that twists and turns through a labyrinth of secrets and revelations-with the information exposing a larger conspiracy of crime, while bringing her closer to discovering the truth about her identity. See a special video presentation followed by a panel with series stars Sullivan Stapleton, Jaimie Alexander, Rob Brown, Audrey Esparza, Ashley Johnson, and writer/executive producer Martin Gero. Blindspot returns for its second season on NBC September 14 in a new time period, Wednesdays at 8/7c.Blindspot: The Complete First Season will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 2.

Bear McCreary: Creating Musical Worlds 3:30pm –  4:30pm Room 8
An effective musical score is a vital component of storytelling and invites the audience to immerse themselves in a fictional narrative. From the blank page to the orchestral stage, composer Bear McCreary explores the creative process of crafting musical worlds on projects such as The Walking Dead, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Battlestar Galactica, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and more.   

Buckaroo Banzai: Getting the Band Back Together  5:30pm –  6:30pm  Room 8
Lewis Smith (Perfect Tommy), Billy Vera (Pinky Carruthers), Damon Hines (Scooter Lindley), and Gerald Peterson (Rug Sucker) discuss their experiences making this cult classic, their participation in the upcoming Shout Factory special edition Blu-ray, and their potential involvement in the new Banzai television series being spearheaded by Kevin Smith. Moderated by Joe Parrington (publicist, Raining Hollywood Publicity). 

Robert Kirkman’s Outcast: When in Rome 5:15pm –  6:15pm   Room 6BCF
Cinemax’s newest series chronicles Kyle Barnes, a young man who has been plagued by demonic possession all his life. Now with the help of the Reverend Anderson, a preacher with personal demons of his own, Kyle embarks on a journey to find answers and regain the normal life he lost. But what Kyle discovers could change his fate, and the fate of the world, forever. Executive producers Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead franchise) and Chris Black (Desperate Housewives) and cast members Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous, Gone Girl), Philip Glenister (Life on Mars), Wrenn Schmidt (Boardwalk Empire), Brent Spiner (Star Trek, Independence Day), and Reg E Cathey (House of Cards, The Wire) discuss their experience with Outcast season 1 and look ahead to the already green-lit season 2. Moderated by Scott Aukerman (Comedy Bang! Bang!).

Transmute Jun’s picks:

I Read It Before (And After) It Was a Movie 10:00am – 11:00am  7AB
Each day, our newsfeeds blow up with items of more amazing sci-fi/fantasy books being optioned for film or TV, and bookstore shelves are filled with cinematic tie-in novels to geeky summer blockbusters. But what does it take to make the jump from page to screen, and back again? Authors explore the journey of stories from page (both prose and comics) to screen (multi-media) and even stage, and vice versa. Maybe this illustrious group will be able to answer the question of whether it really is better to read the book before seeing the movie! Ransom Riggs (Tales of the Peculiar),James Dashner (The Maze Runner), Melissa de la Cruz (The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Prequel), Scott Westerfeld (Uglies, Zeroes), Ben H. Winters (Underground Airlines), and Comic-Con special guest Peter David engage in conversation with moderator Anthony Breznican of Entertainment Weekly.

NASA & Angry Birds on a Journey to Mars 1:30pm –  2:30pm Room 5AB
Rovio, creators of Angry Birds, and NASA talent discuss their collaboration and the millions of people it reached, including those from the generation that will eventually set foot on the Red Planet. Phil Hickey moderates a panel of NASA’s best and brightest, including Kjell Lindren (NASA Johnson Space Center), Bobak Ferdowsi (Mohawk Guy, flight systems engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Rebekah Sosland Siegfriedt (systems engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Jay Falker (early stage portfolio executive, space technology mission directorate NASA), and Ville Heijari (Rovio Games CMO). The panel will include video content and a special preview of the new NASA and Angry Birds short: Rocket Science Show: Next Stop Mars.

Trek Talks: Star Trek & NASA Boldly Go 6:00pm –  7:00pm  Room 5AB
Star Trek has influenced many of us to fall in love with the infinite possibilities of space exploration. The various television series and films have also made an indelible impact on NASA. NASA scientists, engineers and astronauts often cite Star Trek as inspiring them to pursue careers in their fields. (Nichelle Nichols even helped NASA recruit astronauts in the 1980s.) Today, NASA is turning science fiction into reality. Humans now live and work in space full time on the International Space Station. SNASA continues its goal of sending humans to Mars in the 2030s. How does NASA’s vision of the future mimic the world of Star Trek and where does it differ? What technologies in the Star Trek world have paved the way for real technologies being developed by NASA? This moderated discussion in collaboration with CBS will be accompanied by the latest visual and graphics of some of NASA’s newest and most exciting missions. Robert Picardo, who portrayed The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager, moderates a panel that includes Astronaut Kjell Lindgren (NASA Johnson Space Center), Amber Staughn (astrophysicist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Bobak Ferdowsi (flight systems engineer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and Jay Falker (early stage portfolio executive, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters).

ComicConDad’s Picks:

Creating Universes 11:30am – 12:30pm Horton Grand Theatre
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson (Cosmos, Star Talk) hosts an A-List panel of creators, including Len Wein (co-creator of Swamp Thing and Wolverine), who will discuss how universes are formed with the imagination and with science. Renowned artist Rob Prior (Game of Thrones, Star Wars) will provide a live painting exhibition during the panel.

Vigilante Justice 4:00pm – 5:00pm Room 29AB
Tales of regular people taking the law into their own hands have been a staple of comics from the beginning. Our favorite heroes are often driven to the edge, leaving the audience to simultaneously empathize with and reject their actions. Comic-Con special guests Jason Aaron (Southern Bastards), Rafael Albuquerque (Batgirl), Mike Baron (The Punisher), Paul Gulacy (Jonah Hex) and Hope Larson (Batgirl) discuss with moderator by Vince Hernandez (Aspen Comics) what it takes to really serve up vigilante justice!

Darwyn Cooke Tribute 8:00pm – 9:00pm Room 25ABC
Celebrate the life and art of award-winning cartoonist Darwyn Cooke (The New Frontier, Parker) with moderator Jimmy Palmiotti and some of the biggest names in comics and animation, including Mike Allred, Scott Dunbier, Cully Hamner, Frank Tieri, and Bruce Timm.

Alyssa’s Picks:

Investing in Original Art  10:30am –  11:30am   Room 24ABC   
John Siuntres moderates a panel about all-things original art. Whether you’re buying to sell, invest. or just collect,you’ll get tips, tricks, and strategies for your burgeoning art collection. Get details on preliminary sketches and pencils, thumbnails, and more.

Star Trek: The Roddenberry Vault  12:30pm –  1:30pm   Room 5AB   
On September 8, 1966, a new television series premiered with a basic mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before. Little did anyone expect Star Trek to become one of the most adored and influential entertainment icons of the last half-century. Fans have watched and re-watched episodes over and over. But what if there were another scene or a different version of a scene? What impact would it have on the episode? Star Trek documentarian Roger Lay, Jr., Rod Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment and son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, CBS’s Phil Bishop, and Star Trek alumni Mike and Denise Okuda will reveal never-before-seen clips and photos from some of Star Trek’s most beloved episodes.

Terrordactyl: Blockbuster Film Effects on a Shoestring Budget 1:00pm –  2:00pm   Pacific 23, North Tower, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Learn from the makers of the indie monster comedy Terrordactyl as they walk you through the process of how they made — and sold — a film with huge battles and monster visual effects way beyond their budgetary constraints. Jason Tobias (star), Don Bitters (co-director/writer/VFX supervisor), Geoff Reisner (co-director/DP/editor), Eric Edmonds (producer), and Christopher Jennings (star/executive producer) will give you tips on how to create a microbudgeted film that will sell — from preproduction, through a streamlined production and post pipeline, to attracting a distributor and marketing to audiences. Moderated by Fast Company’s Susan Karlin.

What’s YOUR hidden gems? Click here and share them with us on the FoCC forum.

Panels by Room

Panels 10am-12:45pm

Panels 1pm- 3:45pm

Panels 4pm – 6:45pm

Panels 7pm – End

 

Alyssa

Alyssa bought her first comic at age 7 and was hooked. She has collected comics most of her life. Recently, she has branched out to comic art and books and the occasional Lego set. She goes to as many cons as she can and enjoys the 'long form' storytelling of the television medium. She is also a foodie and is always up for trying new and different food.