Showing posts with label Comic Con. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Comic Con. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

RECAP: San Diego Comic Con 2015

It was that time of summer...again! For many geeks and nerds, we all know that time of year to be the annual San Diego Comic Convention, where fans of all genres of pop culture come together to celebrate and enjoy a 4-day weekend of fandom festivities. I will have to say that those four days was exciting, yet exhausting! Nevertheless, we can plan all we like, plans always changes once we're in the middle of all the festivities.

Quite frankly, we start preparing for this amazing event one year in advance! Oh yeah! This preparation is mainly saving up monies that we will spend at this Con which includes: food, souvenirs, signings, hotel, and etc. So far, our method of saving all our change for a year before has helped us to provide our pocket money...and, it works! For us, anyways!

 Every year, San Diego, particularly the Gaslamp Quarter, gets all decked out for Comic Con. And, every year, they always work at outdoing last year's set ups, especially with the onslaught of new movies, TV shows, books, and, of course, comic books. It's pop culture at its peak! Fans of all ages and all genres of pop culture enjoy a four-day weekend filled with exhibits that are amazing and interactive! Yes, several booths were set up for fans experience their favorite shows up close and personal. Booths such as AMC, ABC, SyFy to NBC's set up outside of the convention center, all to give fans a sneak peek and fun experience of many favorite and new TV shows. Let me just say that every year is always an amazing surprise to see all the cool and exciting set ups.



Oh, can't forget those religious fanatics preaching during this entire weekend....haha!! It's always the same thing every year. We actually saw a couple of ladies getting worked up over it. Wow! Those religious speakers accomplished what they wanted....a reaction! Anyways, just had to throw that out there...haha!

Even in the early hours, SDCC 2015 attendees line up to enter the exhibit hall, Ballroom 20, Hall H, and all the other rooms where many panels are held. There are those that also camp out, especially for Hall H and Ballroom 20, in order to get seats near the stage. Yeah... Mariah and I decided against that. We camped out one year, and that was the last time...not fun at all. Well...maybe a little bit of fun, especially when with friends and meeting new fellow fans
.

Even celebrities and authors were out and about in San Diego for this exciting four-day weekend; hence, the long lines and camping out just so they can get a decent view of their favorite celebrities of whom cast in movies and/or TV shows. Mariah and I got to sit in the panels for A&E's Damien and Fox's Lucifer! Both panels had the cast in the panel. Moreover, we got to watch the pilot episode for Lucifer. That was just awesome...what a sneak peek! A&E gave the audience an exclusive sneak peek with an exciting trailer! As for the other panels we attended, we focused a lot on anime and manga since Mariah is an aspiring artist and this is what her focus is. Sooo...that's what we took advantage of at the Con. Some panels were informative and fun, but others....eh...not so much.

I can't forget meeting authors! I can never get tired of meeting new authors and favorite authors! It's so much fun to catch up with them, especially with their latest books. So, of course, being a booknerd, I brought several books from home to get signed...that is if I can get to the signings...haha! When signings are ticketed, it can be difficult. Luckily, I got most of the authors that I wanted to meet, such as: Sarah J. Maas, Melissa de la Cruz, Cecil Castalucci, Marie Lu, Leigh Bardugo, Mary E. Pearson, and Thomas E. Sniegoski! This last author, Thomas E. Sniegoski, was a chance meeting, too! I just took a chance that maybe he would be at SDCC and brought my books...just in case, and it paid off. Thank goodness I brought my Fallen books with me...haha! 

On top of everything that was happening, it was especially exciting to see and catch up with friends! Even with thousands of people crowded in the convention center, we were able to run into friends...and make new ones, too!

We can't forget all the cosplayers out there! And, wow, there were some that were very elaborate. I am just amazed at how much work they put into these costumes, especially in getting it close to accurate! It's definitely very cool! They even cause a crowd! And...every year, checking out the costumes is always fun to check out.



By the last day of the Con, Mariah and I spent it walking the exhibit hall, snapping photos, gathering swag, and obtaining more signings. Luckily, we were able to get a few signings throughout the entire weekend. Most notably, the signing with the cast of Batman v. Superman! This was a ticketed signing at the DC comics booth. Huge "thank you" to Sue, Chelsea, and Jenevia for getting a couple guys to holler at me as I walked by them...hahaha!!! At the time, I was making my way to another booth to get a ticket for another signing, but the line they were in was a lot more exciting...haha! A chance to meet Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams, and director Zack Snyder...yeah, I definitely got my Con priorities straight...haha! I was definitely swooning after meeting these amazing people, even when the DC crew was ushering us along the line! However, I totally understand why the rush... it's Comic Con, after all!


Now, for those who are after autographs and photo ops with celebrities, the autograph area, located in the Sails Pavilion, is the place to go. However, there are those that charge a "pretty penny," I say it is totally worth it, especially if these opportunities to meet favorite celebrities don't come often. For instance, meeting some of the cast of Battlestar Galactica (2003), totally made it worth it! Oh yeah! Mariah and I met Kandyse McClure, Tahmoh Penikett, Sam Witwer, and Edward James Olmos! I was totally giddy like a fangirl...haha!


Though it was an exhausting four-day weekend, it was expected with all the walking we did. Although we didn't get our usual parking at the Hilton Bayside, due to a lottery by ACE Parking, parking at the Horton Plaza wasn't too bad. However, along with other attendees, I wasn't all too happy with this parking lottery that took place in April. Many attendees, including myself, weren't aware that it even took place....oh well!

We'll be highlighting each panel that we attended in separate posts. I'll also be posting more photos on our Facebook page, here!

Well, another year of the San Diego Comic Con has come and gone...and all the festivities has ended. Time to save up for next year...hahaha!!

View all the photos from all four days, HERE!

Saturday, August 24, 2013

THE WALKING DEAD Season 4 Sneak Peek Coming Sunday!

Hey awesome nerds!

We have already seen a trailer released during Comic-Con 2013 for Season 4 of The Walking Dead, and, boy, am I excited! 

I don't know about anyone else, but...WHOA! Fans are in for more "walkers" and new characters like the character Bob Stookey from the comic book which this popular TV horror-drama series is based on. Stepping into these shoes is Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. from The Wire and The Machinist.

But, hold on!!! Like any other fan, I would love to get a sneak peek at what to expect in Season 4! After watching this trailer, yah, I am definitely looking forward to this coming season! Wow! So... AMC is going to do just that! Coming this Sunday, fans of The Walking Dead will get just that...a sneak peek! Now, tell me that's not awesome of AMC to do that for the fans! I mean...REALLY! We have to wait...just under two months! 

Here's what AMC posted on The Walking Dead blog:
Attention The Walking Dead fans! Ready for your first look at a scene from Season 4? Then tune in to AMC this Sunday between 10 and 11PM ET/PT and catch the debut of a special sneak peek that will air during AMC's new original series Low Winter Sun. If you haven't seen Low Winter Sun yet, you can check out this all-new video recap that will catch you up on the first two episode in just 45 seconds.
Posted by Clayton Neuman, August 23, 2013 
Watch the Low Winter Sun recap, Low Winter Sun recap! 

I don't know...but, I'm REALLY excited! But, for the meantime, check out The Walking Dead's Season 4 Comic-Con trailer!

The Walking Dead Season 4 premieres 
October 13, 2013 at 9/8c on AMC!


Friday, August 2, 2013

Riddick 2013 - Official R Rated Restricted Red Band Trailer - HD

Hey awesome nerds!

Check out this Riddick Red Band trailer which was released for Comic Con 2013!


Oh yeah! This Red Band trailer of Riddick was released during the Riddick panel at the San Diego Comic Con 2013! 
The full length official Red Band trailer for Riddick has been released to tie in the Comic-Con panel for Vin Diesel's upcoming sci-fi action movie. The trailer reveals new R rated content reminding audiences just how dangerous Riddick really is!  
It covers the same scene featuring the ever-cocky Riddick and the rather naive bounty hunters but with extra explicit content that will no doubt appeal to Riddick's hardcore fans.
Vin Diesel and David Twohy didn't want to reveal too much during the film's panel but you can get some excerpts from the discussion.
Excerpts from the Riddick panel at SDCC 2013:
Vin Diesel: "When the audience asked for this movie to be Rated-R, it actually helped us get the movie made, because we didn't have to spend $200 million to make the movie. The film maintains the style and tempo of Pitch Black, while still servicing the mythology. You will end up in the Underverse."
Discussing the influence of Dungeons and Dragons on his career: "Dungeons & Dragons was a training ground for my imagination in so many ways. I have friends in Hollywood that tease me, saying I'm attempting to 'DM' Hollywood. We would act out these characters that we were playing. It didn't take more than a couple of hours before you really believed that you were this witch hunter and the dice that you were rolling was really your weapon."
David Twohy: "Once we realized we were not going to be a studio picture and we were going to be an independent movie, it became daunting and exciting. Production meetings were in Vin's kitchen. He'd roam around, trying not to smoke his American Spirits." 
Katee Sackhoff: "Science fiction fans are the most loyal fans in the world. They'll watch things that [we] actually should give them their money back for and love it and create drinking games for it."
source

My Thoughts


Whoa!! Talk about Red Band trailer!!! Gotta love Vin Diesel for reprising his role as Riddick. I don't think I can see anyone else play the part...haha!! I definitely enjoyed the first two films, Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick. I am, after all, a sci-fi nerd...haha!  

I am definitely looking forward to seeing this soon.


Riddick hits theaters September 6, 2013

What say you awesome nerds!!!

Sound off below!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

My San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Experience

So, we have survived another year at the San Diego Comic Con! And, as always, the Con did not disappoint with the grueling schedules and the abundance of fun in and outside of the convention center. This event definitely brings together fans, from around the globe, of everything from comic books, books, TV shows and movies. And, each year, it just gets bigger and bigger. 

This is our third year attending Comic Con, and every year, we prepare an entire year for this. Our excitement mounts as months turns to days, then to hours as we get closer.  What made it all real that the Con was upon us was when the schedule was finally posted.  As soon as we looked over the schedule, our stress level increased...haha!!! 

There's so much we wanted to do, but we couldn't do everything. Not only did we try to plan out our four days in the convention center, we had to "squeeze" in panels at The Nerd HQ!!!  Yes! There was no way we could miss that! We have been going to Nerd HQ since it started in 2011! Even though we had planned out our four days, we didn't necessarily stick to it...haha!!! All four days was filled with excitement, fun and chaos...haha! 


And, for those that are huge fans of Zachary Levi and Nerd HQ, The Nerd Machine merchandise was also available for purchase! It was totally AWESOME!!! Since I didn't purchase any during the Con, I will just order merchandise from their site. I definitely need to get some new Nerd Machine stuff!
Zachary Levi
The wasn't just confined to the convention center and the surrounding hotels, we also enjoyed our time at the Nerd HQ sitting in panels and checking out the games that were set up for fans to play and to enjoy. This year, we sat in two panels at Nerd HQ...The Maze Runner and I, Frankenstein! 

To make these amazing panels (Conversations for a Cause) at Nerd HQ, all proceeds from Nerd HQ goes to benefit Zac's favorite charity, Operation Smile!



James Dashner, Wyck Godfrey, Dylan O'Brien, Wes Ball
Check out the video of The Maze Runner panel at Nerd HQ!
For more photos of The Maze Runner panel, go to: 

As always, the talents from The Maze Runner and I, Frankenstein were fun and entertaining as they answered fan questions. Yup! Zachary Levi has definitely put together an amazing line up of panels at the Nerd HQ! 

Aaron Eckhart, Kevin Grevioux, Stuart Beattie,
Yvonne Strahovski
Check out the video of the I, Frankenstein panel at Nerd HQ!
 For more photos of the I, Frankenstein panel, go to:

For more videos of the various panels held at Nerd HQ 2013, go to: 

The entire Gaslamp Quarter was decked out for the festivities, from banners to elaborate set ups...and the amazing booths in the convention center! 






Starz booth featuring Black Sails
ABC's booth featuring Once Upon A Time
AMC's booth featuring The Walking Dead
Oh yeah! it's "no holds barred" when it came to putting up elaborate booths to draw in attendees. Many fans, as well, went all out dressing up in their favorite cosplay. 


We met a variety of fans in the lines for signings, swag and just walking the exhibit hall! Amazing how thousands of people come together to this massive convention of comic books, books, television, movies, anime and video games. We even ran into friends! It can be difficult to put into words...but, the pictures! The pictures can show how massive, exciting, fun and exhausting this Con can be...haha!!

Doctor Who cosplay!!
Legend of the Seeker cosplay
Even the kiddies were decked out in cosplay!
No matter which way we turned, the Gaslamp Quarter was completely decked out with movie banners...


In addition to meeting a variety of celebrities, we met a few favorite authors! These meetings definitely added to a memorable ComicCon experience! 
Kristin Kreuk & Jay Ryan of Beauty and the Beast
The cast of Once Upon A Time in Wonderland
The cast of Under the Dome
Frank Beddor, author of
The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy
Kami Garcia, co-author of Beautiful Creatures,
signing ARCs of Unbreakable
All in all, we had a blast! We were definitely exhausted...haha! Nevertheless, every year, we attend the San Diego Comic Con, the fun doesn't stop for the entire four days! Five days...if you got preview night! Now, we have to get ready for next year! Yes! It takes us a great amount of time to prep for the next Con!! Hahaha!!!
Jasmine and Sherrilyn Kenyon
Mariah and Yuri Lowenthal & Tara Platt
Jasmine and Frank Beddor
Mariah and artist, Bill Sienkiewicz
Til the next San Diego Comic Con!!!

Check out the full photo albums of our fun-filled four-day adventure at the San Diego Comic Con!