Hugh Howey (author of the self-published Silo trilogy), Gary Whitta (author of the debut novel Abomination, crowdfunded through Inkshares, co-writer of Star Wars: Rogue One), and Lora Innes (author of The Dreamer, crowdfunded through Patreon, co-host of the Paper Wings Show) discuss crowdfunding and crowdsourcing models that allow creatives to connect directly with their audience to produce their work. Gary and Lora will participate in a Q&A session moderated by Veronica Belmont (host of The Sword & Laser, crowdfunded through Patreon, and Dear Veronica for Engadget).
Thursday July 9, 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 7AB
Career at a dead-end? Not sure how to make your talents known? Veteran web series producers, directors, executives, and stars who have figured out how to successfully launch their own online series and parlay them into moneymaking ventures will dole out tips on producing, content creation, crowdsourcing funds, luring advertisers, marketing, branding, and-when TV comes calling-negotiating the transition so you retain ownership. With What's Trending? co-founder/CEO/host Shira Lazar, crowdfunding queen Leah Cevoli, Collective Digital Studio president Dan Weinstein, Con Man executive producer PJ Haarsma, and Big Frame talent manager Jacob Israel and moderated by Fast Company'sSusan Karlin.
Thursday July 9, 2015 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Eugene Roddenberry (CEO Roddenberry Entertainment, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry), Trevor Roth (COO/head of development, Roddenberry Entertainment) and Tory Mell (producer, Roddenberry Entertainment) discuss the groundbreaking new app for their film White Room: 02B3. They will also be talking about the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek and premiering their new short film Instant, along with special guests Tony Janning (actor, White Room: 02B3, Instant, Legend of Neil) and Alex Albrecht (director, Instant). A surprise guest will be giving away a traditional iPad.
Thursday July 9, 2015 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt, veteran Blu-ray/DVD producers Charles de Lauzirika (Twin Peaks, The Martian),Cliff Stephenson (Hannibal, The Hunger Games), and Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, Star Trek: The Next Generation Blu-rays), and executive producer Alec Peters (Star Trek: Axanar) discuss major upcoming Blu-ray titles and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray developments. They will explain the groundbreaking process of creating studio-quality independent Blu-ray releases, including the new Prelude to Axanar: Special Edition. There will be an audience Q&A and lots of great giveaways.
Thursday July 9, 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, and friends chat with you, the audience, about everything you want to know-favorite shows, upcoming projects, the latest happenings at Geek & Sundry. Felicia will give a sneak peek at her book You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost).
UPDATED: Thu, Jul 02, 05:19PM Project creators, actors, producers, and crowdfunding professionals discuss the power of crowdfunding as it pertains to greenlighting your own project! This panel of pros has successfully raised millions of dollars for feature film, short-films, documentaries, and web-series. Join an informative and uplifting discussion on the power of crowdfunding your dreams, featuring Ericka Anderson (Seed & Spark director of crowdfunding), Mark Gantt (The Bannen Way, The Night Visitor), Etta Devine (The Selling, Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse), Mark Netter (Nightmare Code, Dark Matter Productions), Jodie Bentley (COO Reinventing Films), Dan Mirvish (co-founder of Slamdance) and moderator Leah Cevoli (film producer and crowdfunding professional).
Thursday July 9, 2015 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 7AB
ComiXology, the revolutionary cloud-based digital comics platform, spills the beans on everything you've ever wanted to know about digital comics, publishing, life, and more. From how to publish your own comic on comiXology Submit to how to begin your own successful start up-just like comiXology co-founders and panelists David Steinberger (comiXology CEO) and John D. Roberts (director of comiXology Submit). Moderated by comiXology's marketing maven Chip Mosher, this panel will answer all your burning questions in a no-holds-barred Q&A of epic proportions!
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 06, 10:52AM Alan Tudyk's dream show based on his global convention experiences seemed impossible with the compromises Hollywood demanded. Instead he went directly to fans; over 46,000 responded, with a recordbreaking $3.2 million raised on Indiegogo, and Con Man was officially born. With filming wrapped and a Vimeo on-demand release on the horizon, Alan Tudyk, Nathan Fillion, P. J. Haarsma, Mindy Sterling, Tricia Helfer, Felicia Day, Casper Van Dien, Nolan North, Alison Haislip, Michael Trucco, Sky Haarsma, Seth Green, and Wil Wheaton and others talk Con Man and the crazy ride that made his dream project a reality.
Fandom isn't just one thing these days, and it never was. But now that fans and their creativity, content, and consumption are something for media companies to understand, PR people to focus on, social media to thrive on, and news organizations to report about, what happens to the "traditional" fan community and the fanboys and fangirls that create their culture and content? Are follow-on works like fanart, vids, and fanfic to be mocked, tracked, supported, and enjoyed within an organic community, or considered a stepping-stone to a creative career? What if the answer is "sometimes one, sometimes all, and sometimes something more?" The panel will look from deep inside popular fandoms, the media companies that work with them, and the sites that host them with Amanda Brennan (community and content associate tumblarian, tumblr), Flourish Klink (Chaotic Good, Inc., Transmedia producer for East Los High), Meredith Levine (Fanthropologist, ZEFR), Aron Levitz (head of business development, Wattpad), Elizabeth Minkel (writer, New Statesman, The Millions), Betsy Rosenblatt (legal committee chair, Organization for Transformative Works), and Jules Wilkinson (founder, SuperWiki) in a panel moderated by Heidi Tandy (founder/essayist, FYeahCopyright).
Thursday July 9, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 14A
UPDATED: Tue, Jun 30, 10:03AM As transgender representation in comics grows in the mainstream, the indie scene, and on the web, creators are bringing the triumphs and challenges of the trans experience to a new readership. What is the best approach to writing transgender characters? How should creators balance the demands of authenticity, advocacy, and entertainment when representing this diverse and often misunderstood community? Join Prism Comics and moderator Tara Madison Avery (Gooch, Prism Comics board member) for a lively discussion of these and other issues with panelists Knave Murdok (Transcat), Ronnie Ritchie (Gqutie), Kat Blaque (illustrator, animator, blogger), Dylan Edwards (Transposes), Dax Tran-Caffe (Falling Sky, 2015 Eisner nominee and Gillian Cameron (Calogrenant).
Thursday July 9, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Bleeding Cool's editor-in-chief Hannah Means-Shannon hosts Rich Johnston and special guests who have experienced the wrath of the Internet firsthand to talk about the dangers of social media hype and recovering from notoriety. Learn how fans can be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Thursday July 9, 2015 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
Join the Geek & Sundry Twitch channel crew in a trivia battle with you, the audience. The game will test your geek culture knowledge (and improve skills) and award you the chance to win some sweet swag.
Thursday July 9, 2015 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
Do you want to make your own board game or publish via Kickstarter? Get practical advice, key resources, and tips for pitching to publishers, and learn how to avoid common Kickstarter mistakes. Panelists include game designers Jeremy Commandeur, Chris Castagnetto, and Payton Lee and publishers Brian Henk and Ali Showkati.
Thursday July 9, 2015 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 32AB
UPDATED: Tue, Jul 07, 05:57PM Hosts Ben Blacker (Thunderbolts; The Thrilling Adventure Hour) and Heath Corson (Bizarro, Batman: Assault on Arkham) present The Nerdist Comics Panel, where the process and business of writing for comics will be discussed. Catch this special San Diego Comic-Con edition with Tom King (DC's Grayson, Omega Men), Frank Barbiere (Five Ghosts, Howling Commandos of SHIELD), Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class, upcoming: Power Rangers, Big Trouble in Little China) and more!
Thursday July 9, 2015 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 03, 09:14AM Web series have established themselves as providing some of the most innovative content in the entertainment world. But where do they go from here? Join Jeff Burns (chairman of the International Academy of Web Television and host of Super Geeked Up) as he leads a discussion about the future of the digital space and how you can get involved! Featuring a panel of some of the most well-known stars of the web series world: Joanna Sotomura (Video Game High School, Emma Approved), Christine Lakin (Telltale Games The Walking Dead, Lovin’ Lakin), Jonathan Robbins (Out With Dad, Clutch), Nicole Wright (Progress, Super Geeked Up), and Vanessa Verduga (Justice Woman). And find out what exciting series you’ll be able to watch from these creators soon!
Thursday July 9, 2015 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
Webcomics Advocates co-founders Phil Vecchio and Brendan Creecy (Brax the Alien Rocker, Radio BrendoMan podcast) celebrate and discuss the exciting world of webcomics. Joined by Patrick Scullin (Super Siblings) and moderator Josh Anderson (Extra Damage podcast), they will give any webcomic creators in the audience 30 seconds to promote their comic to the crowd.
Join the fun and sing along as the California Browncoats screen Internet sensation Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Enter the horrible costume contest and win horrible prizes in four categories: Best Dr. Horrible, Captain Hammer, Penny, and "other" character from the show. A grand prize will be awarded to one well-prepared individual for "Best in Show." Do not bounce!
Thursday July 9, 2015 8:30pm - 10:00pm PDT
Room 6BCF
On the hot, thirsty roads of the summer video games drought, Nerdist Gaming editor Malik Forté (Nerdist Play) and company are looking to provide relief in the form of insightful, uplifting, and hyperenthusiastic discussions about everything game-related. Join Malik and guests for an easygoing powwow about the state of the gaming industry and what its future holds.
Thursday July 9, 2015 9:00pm - 10:00pm PDT
Room 23ABC
