Filmmakers JasonAron, LouisKrubich, and LeeLeshen discuss their film Back in Time, a feature-length documentary that shows the cultural impact of the Back to the Future franchise-just in time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the initial film
Friday April 3, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 207
Stuntmen and stunt actors from some of your favorite blockbuster movies (300, IronMan2, Thor, and JurassicWorld) answer your questions and discuss their experiences in the Hollywood stunt industry. Moderated by EricCajiuat.
Friday April 3, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 211
Access Hollywood's ScottMantz moderates a panel reflecting on the lives of those we've lost this year including the incomparable Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek movie auteur Harve Bennett (Star Trek II, III, IV, V), and Maurice Hurley (creator of the Borg and the ST:TNG showrunner for season one and season two). We'll also look back at the 50th anniversary of Trek's second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," as well as the 35th anniversary of Star Trek The Motion Picture, including the galaxy's leading Treksperts EdwardGross (The 50 Year Mission from St. Martin's Press), ChaseMasterson (Deep Space Nine, The Flash), DarenDochterman (visual effects supervisor, ST: TMP director's edition) and RobertMeyerBurnett (Free Enterprise, ST: TNG Blu-ray editions). The human adventure is just beginning.
HALON Entertainment's A. J. Briones (previsualization supervisor) and RyanStafford (visual effect producer) take you behind the scenes of creating a new Dawn for FOX's blockbuster Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Briones and Stafford will discuss the exciting creative process behind the most climactic scenes in the film's final battle. From concept to final feature, the audience will be led through the collaboration with director Matt Reeves and the production and stunt teams, using previs on a motion-capture shoot, and the final road to final visual effects. This is a great opportunity for artists and filmmakers to gain an insider perspective on one of the most visually exciting films there is!
Friday April 3, 2015 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
Moderator ScottMantz (AccessHollywood) discusses the great geek year of 1985 as we go back to the future with such films as Back to the Future, Lifeforce, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, Clue, Legend, Lifeforce, Rocky IV, Brazil, Commando, Weird Science, Silverado, Fletch, A View to a Kill, Cocoon, Witness, Return to Oz, Re-Animator, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Fright Night, Real Genius, Subway, AfterHours, Ladyhawke, EnemyMine, and, yes, Robert Burnett, just for you: To Live & Die In L.A. And for good measure, you'll discover a new type of martial arts-Gymkata-and prove to Virginia there really is a Santa Claus: The Movie. Enrolling in the brunch club are rocking RobertMeyerBurnett (FreeEnterprise), super SteveMelching (StarWarsRebels), ass-kicking Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X: Men: First Class), dashing DarenDochterman, gymkataspert SteveKriozere, and newbie NikkiGriffin (Fast & The Furious 3, Femme Fatales). Charge it to the Underhills!
The force is strong with these special guests! Moderator GregWeisman (Star Wars Rebels) will lead a stellar discussion of what it takes to work in the Star Wars Universe, with BradenLamb (Star Wars: Shadows of Endor), JohnOstrander (Star Wars: Legacy), SamdeLaRosa (StarWars comics), MikeMayhew (The Star Wars), KevinJ. Anderson (Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights series) and RebeccaMoesta (Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights series). Hear about what it takes to get from this galaxy to one far, far away.
Could 2015 be the greatest geek year ever? This panel of geeksperts salivate with excitement and have their midichlorian count awakened with Star Wars: Episode Seven, get back into Bondage for SPECTRE, get ready to pick up the hammer for Avengers: Age of Ultron, unearth Jurassic World, and will be back for Terminator: Genisys. These special executives for coolness, titillation, retorts, and excitement join forces to ponder whether 2015 will be a new benchmark for sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, and horror, or a bust. Panelists include savvy Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood), erudite EdwardGross (The 50 Year Mission), rocking Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise, The Hils Run Red), scintillating Steve Melching (Star Wars Rebels), ass-kicking Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X: Men: First Class, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers), dashing DarenDochterman (Chronicles of Riddick, Real Steel), and newbie NikkiGriffin (Fast & The Furious 3, Femme Fatales).
Friday April 3, 2015 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Could lightsabers ever be a reality? Does science matter when designing a Star Wars spacecraft? What does it take to resist the Dark Side of the Force? FonDavis (production designer, StarWars prequel movies), BobakFerdowsi (NASA flight engineer), KieranDickson (editor, Outerplaces.com), TravisLangley (Star Wars Psychology), and moderator JennaBusch (Legion of Leia) break down the science behind a galaxy far, far away and discuss whether or not Kylo Ren's ForceAwakens lightsaber is sacrilege or genius.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation welcome WonderCon Anaheim attendees to the World Premiere of Batman vs. Robin; the latest entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Original Movies. In the film, Damian Wayne, now bearing the mantle of Robin, blazes a headstrong and sometimes reckless trail alongside his father, Batman. While investigating a crime scene, Robin encounters a mysterious figure, Talon, who leads him on a life-altering course through the depths of Gotham's secret society, known as The Court of Owls. It's a dangerous journey that will force Batman and Robin to face their most dangerous adversary: each other! Be among the first to see this new film, then stay for a star-studded panel led by the voices of Batman, JasonO'Mara (Terra Nova, Complications), Robin, StuartAllan (Son of Batman), and Sean Maher (Firefly/Serenity, Much Ado About Nothing), respectively, alongside producer JamesTucker (Justice League: Throne of Atlantis), director JayOliva (Batman: Assault on Arkham), Eisner Award-winning writer J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League, Teen Titans Go!), character designer PhilBourassa (Justice League: Throne of Atlantis), dialogue director AndreaRomano (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), and some special guests. DC All-Access host Tiffany Smith will moderate the fun, including the awarding of a few exclusive prizes. Inspired by the storyline from the bestselling graphic novel, Batman: Court of Owls, Batman vs. Robin arrives April 14 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD.
Margot Kidder,Sarah Douglas,Valerie Perrine,Diane Sherry,Marc McClure,Jack O'Halloran,Aaron Smolinski,David Michael Petrou, and Ilya Salkind discuss their experiences filming Superman-The Movie and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut under the direction of director Richard Donner. The stars will partake in a Q&A session moderated by Jim Bowers (founder of CapedWonder Superman Imagery) and Jay Towers (morning news anchor for WJBK-Fox 2 News Detroit).
Saturday April 4, 2015 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 300AB
Learn the down and dirty low-budget tricks on how to create your own stop-motion animation models and super fast and easy stop-motion sets and props. Find out where to get supplies, how to assemble the equipment you need, and what software to use to edit and composite your project. Featuring Larry Loc, animation educator and author of Stop Mo on a Shoe String, Animation on a Shoestring, and The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath stop-motion comic book series.
Saturday April 4, 2015 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 208
Camille Eden (manager, recruitment), Matt Roberts (artistic recruiter), and Brooke Keesling (director, talent development) share some of the different creative roles that help make animated films and television shows. Moderated by Disney animator Darrin Butters (Big Hero 6, Frozen), the panel will offer a behind-the-scenes look at this wonderful artform.
Saturday April 4, 2015 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 207
Head of story Joe Mateo (Big Hero 6, Tangled), Brian Kesinger (Big Hero 6, Frozen), and Normand Lemay (Big Hero 6, Frozen) share how Disney Animation brings stories to life through the art of storyboarding, collaboration, and art.
Saturday April 4, 2015 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Literary agent Holly Root (Waxman Leavell Literary Agency) teams up with film agent Brandy Rivers (ICM Partners) to take your questions and discuss the wild world of manuscript querying, the role of agents in the publication and film rights process, and more! No pitches, please.
Saturday April 4, 2015 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 208
UPDATED: Fri, Mar 20, 04:17PM Join VP of marketing Dirk Wood, senior book editor Justin Eisinger, special projects editor Scott Dunbier, and a bevy of special guests for a wild presentation filled with announcements, sneak peeks and Q&A! Think you know what IDW is up to this year? You won't REALLY know unless you're in the room for this one!
Saturday April 4, 2015 3:30pm - 4:30pm PDT
Room 213
With the ever-increasing number of films based on comic book characters, these illustrators, including storyboard, scenic, and graphic artists, adapt the worlds of the printed pages to the screen. They will discuss what they do and how they do it. Panelists are Darrin Denlinger (Captain America 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Winter Soldier), Michael Jackson (Fantastic Four, Pixels, Terminator: Genisys), Mark Moretti ( Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Salt, I Robot), and Mark Vena (Oz the Great and Powerful, Cowboys and Indians, Twilight), with Tim Burgard (Jurassic World, Fantastic 4, Independence Day 2) moderating.
Saturday April 4, 2015 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 209
Benson Shum (Big Hero 6, Frozen),Trent Correy (Big Hero 6, Frozen) Hyun Min Lee (Big Hero 6, Feast),and Eric Goldberg (Aladdin, Winnie the Pooh) walk kids and adults through some of the key principles of animation. Bring your love of art and drawing. Supplies will be provided.
Saturday April 4, 2015 4:00pm - 5:00pm PDT
Room 210
Your host, Mark Evanier, gathers together some of the best actors in the animation field to tell you how they do what they do, and demonstrate their amazing skills right before your ears. This time, the dais features Sumalee Montano (Transformers Prime, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis), Bob Joles (Spongebob Squarepants, Planet Sheen), John Mariano (Animaniacs; Hey Arnold!), Julie Nathanson (Final Fantasy XIII, Skylanders), Gregg Berger (Garfield, Spider-Man), and one more talented person to be named later.
Saturday April 4, 2015 4:45pm - 5:45pm PDT
Room 300DE
UPDATED: Mon, Mar 30, 02:38PM Blockbuster producer Jason Blum hosts an inside look at two of his upcoming horror thrillers from Blumhouse Productions. The stars and filmmakers of Universal Pictures's Unfriended will be present to reveal footage and discuss their film that ushers in a new era of horror. Cast members from the smash Insidious franchise will also be on hand to show never-before-seen footage and reveal details of this June's Focus Features release Insidious: Chapter 3.
Fans will have a chance to hear from the people responsible for the look of this iconic show. John Iacovelli (production designer) will lead this panel in a discussion of how they were able to keep things fresh through 110 episodes and 6 TV movies. Panelists include Mark-Louis Walters (art director), Roland Rosenkrantz (art director), Dark Hoffman (prop designer and prop master), Timothy Earls (set designer), and Luc Mayrand (illustrator).
Saturday April 4, 2015 5:30pm - 6:30pm PDT
Room 213
From "psychopathic" villains to asylums for the "criminally insane," mental health issues permeate television, film, and comics. But just how realistic are these depictions? What impact do these presentations have on audiences? Psychologist Andrea Letamendi (The Arkham Sessions) and writers Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost; The Middleman), Brenden Fletcher (Batgirl, Black Canary), Jody Houser (IDW's Orphan Black; Avengers: No More Bullying), Mairghread Scott (Windblade, Swords of Sorrow), and Zack Stentz (ACME, X-Men: First Class) discuss the importance of accuracy, inclusion, and the promotion of more psychologically dynamic characters in fiction. Moderated by Brian Ward (Shout! Factory).
Saturday April 4, 2015 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 208
Kyle Kurpinski and Terry Johnson (How to Defeat Your Own Clone: And Other Tips for Surviving the Biotech Revolution) discuss the discoveries and innovations that inspire science fiction and the ways that science and engineering are depicted in popular television shows, comics, movies, and more. After a brief presentation, these UC Berkeley bioengineers will be available to answer questions about your favorite science fiction or real-world breakthroughs.
Saturday April 4, 2015 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 213
UPDATED: Mon, Mar 23, 04:00PM Game on! The widely popular Capcom videogame franchise Dead Rising rises to life. Actors Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives, Dallas), Meghan Ory (Once Upon a Time), Dennis Haysbert (Men Woman & Children), Rob Riggle (Let's Be Cops, 21 Jump Street), filmmakers Zach Lipovsky (On the Lot) and Tomas Harlan (Mortal Kombat), and Tim Carter (writer/producer) discuss the recent release of Dead Rising: Watchtower. Dead Rising: Watchtower is always streaming on Crackle.
Saturday April 4, 2015 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Face off with your favorite Rotten Tomatoes critics, including Scott Mantz (Access Hollywood) and others, when they join editor-in-chief Matt Atchity and senior editor Grae Drake of Rotten Tomatoes along with their editorial team. As Matt and Grae invite audience members to share movies they love, hate, or love to hate, everyone in the room uses their "Personal Tomatometer Paddle" to dis/agree with the score. Remember: fortune favors the bold.
Saturday April 4, 2015 7:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Room 207
Your favorite comic creators talk shop with Ben Blacker and Heath Corson in a special edition of their Nerdist Comics Panel podcast. There are no taboos as the guys discuss art, film, writing and more with the talent behind today's biggest titles.
Saturday April 4, 2015 7:30pm - 8:20pm PDT
Room 208
UPDATED: Thu, Mar 26, 11:51AM The Sideshow Network presents Comics on Comics, the talk show that pits comedians against comic book creators in nerd debates! Join hosts Juan-Manuel Rocha and Vito Lapiccola as they welcome creator Satine Phoenix (co-creator of the New Praetorians graphic novel and CEO of Burning Quill), BlackNerd (Black Nerd Comedy) and other special guests. They'll debate the latest developments in comics, movies, video games, and pop culture, making you laugh along the way!
Saturday April 4, 2015 8:00pm - 9:30pm PDT
Room 207
Join Ben Blacker,Ben Acker and members of the Workjuice Players as they take you inside the world of The Thrilling Adventure Hour, the home of the likes of "Sparks Nevada: Marshall on Mars" and "Frank & Sadie Doyle".
Saturday April 4, 2015 9:10pm - 10:00pm PDT
Room 208
Another storm is brewing in Gotham, and it's not only raining cats and dogs but evil Cyber Animals! Be among the first to see how Batman and his team of superheroes meet the challenge in the World Premiere of Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts. When the city is plagued by a slew of bizarre crimes committed by an animal-inspired villain squad known as the Animilitia-made up of Silverback, Cheetah, Killer Croc, and Man-Bat-Batman must swing into action to investigate. These animalistic villains bring new and exciting challenges for the hero of Gotham, and Batman must find a way to bring these criminal creatures to a halt! But could the Animilitia be working for powerful businessman Oswald Cobblepot, aka The Penguin? How does The Penguin's new invention of robotic Cyber Animals fit into the mix? In the end, it'll be up to the combined forces of Batman, Flash, Green Arrow, Nightwing, and Red Robin to combat these Animal Instincts. Catch this new flick, then stay for an entertaining panel featuring the voice of Batman himself, Roger Craig Smith (Batman: Arkham Origins), Yuri Lowenthal (Ben 10 franchise, Naruto), screenwriter Heath Corson, and other guests. Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts arrives May 12, 2015 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD.
Sunday April 5, 2015 11:30am - 1:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Trevor Roth (COO/head of development) and Tory Mell (producer, Roddenberry Entertainment) present a sneak peek of their newest sci-fi short film. Special guests John Champion and Ken Ray will be on hand to chat about their awesome podcast, Mission Log. There will be a bit of trivia, a giveaway, and a Q&A session moderated by Tory Mell.
Superheroes may get the glory, but it's their "sidekicks" that do all the real heavy lifting...and steal your heart. Join the definitive voice of Robin, Loren Lester (Batman: The Animated Series), Eisner Award-winning writer J.M. DeMatteis, Warner Archive Collection podcasters D. W. Ferranti and Matthew Patterson, and a myriad of special guests for an engaging look at some of the most endearing sidekicks to grace popular DC-based TV series; from Burt Ward in the 1966 Batman series and Legends of the Superheroes TV special and the early TV cartoon incarnations of Teen Titans and Batman & Robin to modern high-def presentations of Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Beware the Batman, and the populart Teen Titans Go!.
Sunday April 5, 2015 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
TheOneRing.net staff, observing the minutiae of Peter Jackson's translation of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth filmmaking for 15 years, are intimately familiar with the hows and whys of the decisions that shaped The Hobbit trilogy, for good or ill. Invited as an embedded reporter on set, TORn had a front-row seat. Expect opinion, educated guesses, audience input, and photos. Q&A to follow.
Sunday April 5, 2015 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 300AB
Learn the secrets behind the team who make the online satirical sensation Honest Trailers. Series creator Andy Signore, writer Spencer Gilbert, editor Dan Murrell, and ScreenJunkies favorites Hal Rudnick and Nick Mundy will show off an exclusive sneak peek of an upcoming Honest Trailer, debut a WonderCon Anaheim exclusive video, get into a live Movie Fight, and offer more special surprises for the ScreenJunkies faithful!
Sunday April 5, 2015 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
Room 300DE
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Animation offer an encore screening of Batman vs. Robin, the latest entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Original Movies, along with a video replay of Friday night's panel. In the film, Damian Wayne, now bearing the mantle of Robin, blazes a headstrong and sometimes reckless trail alongside his father, Batman. While investigating a crime scene, Robin encounters a mysterious figure, Talon, who leads him on a life-altering course through the depths of Gotham's secret society, known as The Court of Owls. It's a dangerous journey that will force Batman and Robin to face their most dangerous adversary: each other! Enjoy the film, then stick around for the inside scoop during a video replay of the panel featuring the voices of Batman, Jason O'Mara (Terra Nova, Complications), Robin, Stuart Allan (Son of Batman), and Sean Maher (Firefly/Serenity, Much Ado About Nothing), alongside producer James Tucker (Justice League: Throne of Atlantis), director Jay Oliva (Batman: Assault on Arkham), character designer Phil Bourassa ( Justice League: Throne of Atlantis), and dialogue director Andrea Romano (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns). Inspired by the storyline from the bestselling graphic novel Batman: Court of Owls, Batman vs. Robin arrives April 14, 2015 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD.
For anyone who has ever been to Comic-Con, you know the singular power of the Starship Smackdown. Now from the panel of intrepid spaceshipologists comes The Geekspert's Court, as this honorable panel of geeksperts render verdicts on the greatest genre films of all time in the trial of the century. Chief Justice Mark A. Altman (Free Enterprise, DOA: Dead Or Alive) exercises jurist prudence over a bench of judges including Kay Reindl (Scream, Millennium), Chris Gossett (The Red Star), Steve Melching (Star Wars Rebels), Ashley E. Miller (Thor, X-Men: First Class), Jose Molina (Agent Carter, Firefly), Daren Dochterman (Hollywood conceptual designer), Robert Meyer Burnett (Agent Cody Banks, Free Enterprise), and Nikki Griffin (Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift, The Dukes of Hazzard).
The Winner Twins, multiple award-winning and national bestselling sci-fi authors, script writers, and producers, teach you how to create your own novel step by step, from building your universe, to overcoming writer's block, to the different paths to publishing. The twins have written four science fiction novels and have taught their unique award-winning creative writing method to hundreds of thousands of convention attendees, teachers, and students across the country. The Winner Twins, along with Steven-Elliot Altman (bestselling author of Deprivers, game writer of 9Dragons and Pearl's Peril) and Richard Hatch (Captain Apollo/Tom Zarek of Battlestar Galactica, author of the bestselling Battlestar Galactica book series), will teach you how to craft your story idea into a marketable novel, television series, or film property.