To understand the impact of Comic-Con on the motion picture and television industries, look no further than the 2013 panel discussions from some of the worlds major entertainment content creators. There on stage was the entire cast of X-Men – Days of Future Past featuring a few actors you might have heard of: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lawrence, Peter Dinklage, Ellen Page, and Michael Fassbender among others.
Right there is a pretty good indication of how “mainstream” comic culture has become in the business of global entertainment.
Legendary Comic-Con “Hall H” holds more than 6000 fans
Warner Brothers (whose comic heritage links directly back to Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny!) – used Con public panels to announce major movie projects including a mega mash up expected next year featuring the twin titans of the comic universe, Superman AND Batman, scheduled to appear together for the first time in a single live action film — and high concept features like Gravity, a space adventure set for later this year starring George Cooney and Sandra Bullock as two astronauts set adrift in outer space.
Last year, NBC partnered with Warner Bros. to introduced it’s Revolution TV series and used this year’s Con to promote the NBC flagship shows Community and Grimm, along with a big promotional effort touting their Sony Pictures Television partnership on the new Blacklist series.
An NBC promo display across from Comic-Con 2013
HBO was on scene with Game of Thrones and fans got a chance to hear directly from novelist George R. R. Martin.
Promo banner in the registration hall
Fox’s TV and Movie divisions were showcasing everything from future plans for Family Guy to the new Wolverine movie starring Hugh Jackman.
And even the History Channel set up a fan-friendly compound across the street from the Convention Center with a Vikings experience to promote their Canadian Irish historical drama.
History Channel’s “Viking village” near the Convention Center
To think that Comic-Con is just a convention about comic books and action figures just doesn’t get the event’s growing impact on the global video and movie production industries.
The BBC promotes Dr. Who’s 50th anniversary
Plus, frankly, it’s just a whole lot of fun just to hang out in balmy San Diego for a part of the summer, surrounded by 100,000 or so smiling, costumed creative types!
Alexa Crew shoots Comic-Con 2013
About the Author
Bill Davis owns and operates NewVideo, a production studio in Scottsdale, Arizona focused on corporate video projects. During his 20 year career in the visual arts, he’s been in demand as a voice talent, videographer, script writer, and producer. He became one of the earliest adopters of Final Cut Pro in 1999, and spent a decade as a featured writer and Contributing Editor at Videomaker Magazine.
He is also the creator of StartEditingNow! — a unique modern turnkey editing instruction curriculum that ships with professionally shot, fully rights-cleared “multi-track movie” content for classroom editing instruction in middle schools, high schools and universities.
