They warned us about crowds and lines. They weren’t kidding. But nothing any different than Disney World. And instead of a 3 minute ride, we generally got an hour of entertaining and informative information. Not to mention all the tv and movie stars. Granted, having to watch on a screen wasn’t TONS different then just watching online. However, it was LIVE and in person.
We started out the day trying to get there earlier for the Stormtrooper parade. Never saw it. Lines were long to get in the convention center, but moments after opening them, the crowds flooded in. We had waited outside for a bit as one of us had forgotten our wallet. The wait proved educational so we didn’t rush to get there early on Saturday.
Once there, we got in line at Starbucks which took forEVER! Nearly 45 minutes. WHAT WERE WE THINKING???
We met up with our high school alum Kim H. and headed to see the panel for the upcoming Watchmen movie (due out next year). The room was filled to 6,400 capacity! And it was AWESOME. The lead cast was there along with the director. Additionally, the artist of the comic from 1986 was there. He had a great comment during the Q&A. After years of languishing in development hell, seeing his artwork come to life in real sets, with real actors, all come to life was surreal.
Can you imagine? Doing artwork and later in life it’s all real? Very cool.
From there we RUSHED to the Joss Whedon panel and ended up staying in line for nearly 45 minutes. Only to reach the end of the line and we were 8 people away from fitting in the room. (see pics from last post outside…the line wrapped up and down a hallway and outside back and forth…capacity was around 4,500 people).
You see, the trick was (we learned), to arrive to a panel happening BEFORE the one you wanted to see. Or even one before THAT! (which worked very well on Saturday…more on that later).
With time to kill before the next thing we wanted to attend (Kevin Smith’s panel), we wandered the floor (see crowd pictures from last post and additional ones here).
Grabbing some lunch, we sat down for a bit. While reading over schedules for the day, I looked up at a man and his red headed kid who sat down to eat their cheeseburgers. I did a double take, but thought better of it. But curosity got the better of me as I glanced at his name badge. However, it was just below the table and I couldn’t read it. Still curious, I popped open my laptop and pulled up IMDB.com and confirmed my suspicions…
There, sitting at our table, was none other than Bill S. Preston, Esquire, of the Wyld Stallions!!! (for you NON-geeks out there, that’s Bill from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure!”) (cue air guitar)
I didn’t get a picture, but did strike up a short conversation with him and his son. They were on the prowl for a Joker action figure. I told him I was a big fan of the movie and he graciously accepted the compliment. His kid was cool too.
After shopping, it was time to go get in line for Kevin Smith. We planned on getting there TWO sessions early. Can’t recall, at the moment, what was first. The line was VERY long, but we got in without a problem.
The first panel was really great. It was Entertainment Weekly’s Visionaries panel with Frank Miller, Judd Apatow, Zack Snyder and Kevin Smith. BONUS! Hilarious and informative panel. Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin) and Kevin Smith played well together.
Staying in the room, we got to listen to Kevin Smith lead the panel and show us a clip from his upcoming movie Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Stars Elizabeth Banks, Seth Rogen, Traci Lords, Justin Long, Brandon Routh and an ex porn star I don’t recall the name of. No really. I don’t know it.
The panel lasted until 8:00 and it took us a while to find food in nearby Little Italy. It was VERY tasty. However, finishing at 10:00 (or later) and being an old fogey now-a-days, we decided to call it a night.
I wanted to catch Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” with Felicia Day, Nathan Fillion and Neil Patrick Harris. I found out, by bumping into Felicia Day the next day, that the room was filled to capacity and they had to open two more rooms! It’s available for download on iTunes. Joss Whedon created Buffy, by the way.
No new pics. I uploaded them already. But wait for the next posting!!!