Wednesday July 17, 2013
Today is the day to pick up your badges. You can pick the badges up at either the Convention Center downtown or at Town and Country in Mission Valley. Town and Country is just down the road from my work. Chris and Betsy got there first. Bridget picked me up so we only had one car and we got there. It didn't take too long and soon the four of us were heading to dinner.
We picked Urge Gastropub in Rancho Bernardo
We ordered beer cheese soup, the gastro salad, a couple of burgers and Sesame Ahi. Chris ordered a North Coast Old Rasputin (Russian Imperial Stout) and I ordered a BIT Pils. We went to the house afterwards to plan our strategery.
Missed the first part of Sharknado's encore, but saw about half. Sharknado did have a presence at Comic Con this year as we were about to find out.
Thursday July 18, 2013
We got on the road early and places that we use to be able to park were now closed with equipment. We had decided to concentrate on smaller panels and see more and spend less time in lines.
We walked in the convention center looking at all the booths. Our first panel of the day was Dreamworks Animation.
It had the directors of Turbo, Peabody and Sherman and How To Train Your Dragon 2. It was very interesting.
Finally got the coveted T Shirt!
Later in the afternoon we went to We Still Love the 80's 1983.The discussion centered on Return of the Jedi for most of the panel. Also the Bond Battle between Roger Moore in Octopussy and Sean Connery in Never Say Never again. Also Blue Thunder and Sudden Impact.
A good start to the first day. We went to our local taco shop for dinner Cotijas.
Friday July 19, 2013
The first panel of the day was the 2013 Black Panel.
Wayne Brady (The Wayne Brady Show, Let’s Make a Deal, The Dave Chappelle Show)Orlando Jones, (Sleepy Hollow, Tainted Love, Black Dynamite) Tatiana El-Khouri, (Dark Girls, The Milestones Show) John Jennings, (BLACKCOMIX, Octavia Butler’s Kindred) Tony Rich, (The Tony Rich Project, The Hidden Beach) and David Walker (Bad Azz MoFo, Super Justice Force.) Moderated by Michael Davis. San Diego Comic Con Room
After the black panel we went Behind the Scenes with Star Wars Authors. They talked about writing novels, nonfiction or cartoons within the Star Wars Galaxy.
On to Hasbro: Star Wars
Members of the Hasbro brand and design team, including Derryl DePriest (VP, global brand marketing), Jeff Labovitz (director, global brand marketing), discuss the popular Hasbro StarWars and Angry Birds Star Wars line. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at upcoming action figures.
Next it was Star Wars Origami. Origami Master folder Chris Alexander (author of Star Wars Origami) demonstrates and teaches the master folding techniques to make Star Wars origami figures. Attendees will fold an exclusive Comic-Con model along with other art from the Star Warsuniverse. Materials included!
It was fun, but I forgot what we made. I have only made it through 3 of the Star Wars movies.
Off to Little Italy for dinner.
Trattoria Fantastica.
Dinner of Antipasto, Lasagna, Bolognese with meat balls and Pescatore.
Saturday July 20,2013
Today was a busy day!
First up Bates Motel.
Bates Motel opened its Saturday morning Comic-Con panel with a bit of a scare for the assembled masses: Freddie Highmore was conspicuously absent.
'Bates Motel's' Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore on Hints of 'Psycho,' Norma and Norman's 'Wacky Love Story'
Addressing his mysterious absence, producers unspooled a hilarious video going inside the writers' room with the actor -- just back from hiatus and studying at Cambridge -- making a surprise appearance. Visiting the Universal-based lot, Highmore gradually evolved from kind-hearted actor into his on-screen alter-ego of Norman Bates as he saw fake storyline cards giving newly minted Emmy nominee Vera Farmiga (Norma) all the dialogue and a prime spot in the second season key art.
PHOTOS: Meet the Residents of A&E's 'Psycho' Prequel 'Bates Motel'
Looking to escape the awkwardness, showrunner Carlton Cuse led the actor to visit the Universal Studios lot where the actual set from Psycho exists as part of the popular studio tour, which is where things go horribly wrong.
Following the amusing clip (below), Highmore made his debut on the panel to a screaming ballroom -- explaining he "got out" of his faux arrest with the help of a good agent. from The Hollywood Reporter
Next was Quick Draw. Very fun.
It's the fastest, funniest panel in the whole convention! (Well, some folks think it is-mainly Sergio and Mark.) Once again, your Quick Draw Quizmaster Mark Evanier pits three super-speedy cartoonists against one another as they go mano a mano to create great cartoon art right before your very eyes. Competing this year are Sergio Aragonés (MAD, Groo the Wanderer), Scott Shaw! (The Simpsons), and this year's Special Guest Quick Draw-er, Neal Adams (Batman, X-Men).
Cartoon voices #1
Each year, moderator Mark Evanier gathers a bevy of the most talented cartoon voice actors working today and invites them to explain and demonstrate their artistry! This year's lineup includes Scott Menville (Teen Titans Go, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Grey DeLisle (Scooby Doo, Pound Puppies), Christopher Cox (Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Family Guy), David Boat (Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Family Guy), Michael Leon-Wooley (The Princess and the Frog), and Kari Wahlgren (Bolt, Tangled).
Grimm Season 3 and Dracula Exculsive trailer.
Join your fellow "Grimmsters" for an hour filled with wesen, third season themes, and of course, a Q&A session with the cast members David Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch,Silas Weir Mitchell, Reggie Lee, Sasha Roiz, Bree Turner, Claire Coffee, and executive producers/writers Jim Kouf, David Greenwalt, Todd Milliner, and Norberto Barba.
Lester Holt, from Dateline, was the moderator so Bridget was happy.
Grimm also got Chris and I hooked on Stumptown Cold Brew. Yes it is true, Chris is my dealer.
Person of Interest
As the science "fiction" in Person of Interest becomes reality with recent real-world events. Person of Interest is a crime thriller about a presumed dead former CIA agent who teams up with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes. Aided by the Machine-and opposed by ruthless criminals, corrupt cops, and shadowy elements within the government-the team works with two NYPD detectives to stop crimes before they happen.
Last panel today: Revolution
A family struggles to reunite in a postapocalyptic American landscape where every piece of technology has mysteriously blacked out, setting in motion a swashbuckling journey that leads to the reason the lights went out. The season 1 finale found our heroes at The Tower and the switch to turn the lights back on-but the mystery of the blackout is just the beginning. Fans will be treated to an exclusive video presentation, followed by a special Q and A with series stars and producers.
I have not seen any of the television shows, but they were interesting panels and at some point I might with reruns or Netflix.
Dinner at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar downtown.
Sunday July 21, 2013
We did not do any panels today. Just walked around and saw all the booths.
Chris and I both purchased the Collectible Zoetrope Box. Got a great deal on the last day.
We left early and we went to Karl Strauss for lunch. Chris and Betsy headed home.
Another successful year at COMIC CON!
