Bakotopia

All > Rants & Raves > Seen on the Scene
Live from Comic Con 2008
Topics: Comicon, steam punks, indiana jones, Insight Editions, Palace Press, star wars, 24, Jack Bauer, Jon Cassar, book, behind the scenes, Bakotopia, NL Belardes, Bakotopia.com
Posted by thenovelist Wed Jul 30, 2008 14:47:21 PDT
Viewed 300 times
0 responses 0 comments Location: 111 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101

Live from Comic Con 2008
'24' Director Talks Revealing Book In Comicon World Of Steam Punks, Dancing Donuts - Bakotopia EXCLUSIVE!

By NL Belardes, Bakotopia.com contributor

I just went to Comicon 2008 in San Diego to help promote Insight Editions book, “24 Behind The Scenes.”

Even though the locals must go crazy from all the insanity at the event, Comicon is one of those rare places where people who aren’t normally celebrities can be a star.

<<CHECK OUT ALL THE PIX FROM THE CONVENTION!

They come in all shapes, sizes and ages and they’re not all dressed normal. I saw steam punks posing like 19th Century industrial garb-wearing rock stars, Jokers with over-painted crazy grandma smiles, fat hairy Chewbaccas, a couple on their honeymoon dressed as a rebel fighter and Death Star employee, pot-bellied Ghost Busters, pirate pranksters, Batmen pieced from black-stained straight jackets…



Comicon is the land of entertainment, though there were more comic books there than you can imagine. The convention is also about television, film, celebrities, toys and freaks. I mean, I even saw dancing Mexican donut men. I have a mysterious YouTube video to prove it.

Yes, Comicon is sensory overload and filled with toys! The giant LEGO Indiana Jones? I wanted it. The giant fat slimy Jabba The Hut? I wanted it. The Force Unleashed video game. Yowsa! The life-sized steam punk blunderbuss? Can I have one? Steam punk, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Anime and every comic book collectible statue and action figure imaginable were showcased. There were even hot ’steam punk’ chicks. OK, they’re exceptions to my toy rule (sorta).

I attended to help Brenda Knight of Insight Editions get a little promo for their Hollywood-related book line. I was amazed at some of their titles on movie and pop culture art: The art of the Force Unleashed video game, Iain McCaig’s forthcoming art book (He developed Darth Maul art ideas and tons more, including ideas for the upcoming John Carter of Mars film), Will Eisner’s pop-up graphic novel for The Spirit, The sell-out sensational Art of Kung-Fu Panda (Yes, a sell out!), a future book with Hobbit, Pan’s Labyrinth Director Guillermo Del Toro, “Frames” (a giant limited edition Star Wars book sold at, gulp, $5,000 a copy. Buy two and you have enough walls for a new home). And then there was the book I took a peek at: “24: Behind The Scenes.”

I even had a ticket to the official Star Wars party. Sorry, no details.

I started watching ‘24′ last season. I spoke with Jon Cassar, director and executive producer of ‘24,’ who along with a few other ‘24′ crew members, collected years worth of candid photos and put them into book form. It’s perfect TV show memorabilia for the serious collector.

You should have seen Cassar looking at Insight Editions $5,000 limited edition Star Wars book, “Frames.” He was as googley-eyed as the next guy (me) and wanted one. He said he would make Lucas a clean trade…

I thought one of the most interesting writer-related footnotes Cassar made during his book signing was how not to let the writers of shows like ‘Lost’ and ‘Heroes’ fool you. Like ‘24,’ he said the writers barely stay ahead of the game and never know what’s going to happen to the storyline at the end of the season even when halfway through shooting and writing. 

So if anyone thinks we writers have anything all figured out. Well we don’t. Doesn’t mean writers aren’t thorough creatures or great at their craft. But even Kiefer Sutherland said on the Comicon ‘24′ panel that the show’s writers have a daunting task to write the equivalent of 12 feature films per year. And they try to keep fans happy by integrating their ideas at the same time.

I could write so much more but let me just say I plan on being a much bigger part of Comicon in 2009.

Article also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 34, 8/7/08


*There's another version of this article on:
TheNervousBreakdown.com

Send to a Friend

Report a Violation