Tag Archives: PopArtsPlace.com

Comic-Con International: San Diego 2015 Podcast Panel

Tenth Annual Podcasting Panel at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2015

Get ready for a no holds barred debate and discussion of the current state of the comic book marketplace in publishing, television, and film. Like sports reporters at the World Series, these podcast hosts voice their opinions on their shows. But what happens when they face each other and may not get the last word on a subject? Featuring John Siuntres (Word Balloon), Calvin Reid (Publisher’s Weekly–More to Come), John Mayo (ComicBookPage), Kay Kellam (PopArtsPlace) and Greg Pak (Action Comics, Totally Awesome Hulk, Kingsway West).

Links:
Discount Comic Book Service: http://www.DCBService.com
Comics Podcast Network: http://www.comicspodcast.com
League of Comic Book Podcasts:http://www.comicbooknoise.com/league/

Email us at TheGuys@ComicBookPage.com

Join the discussion on our forum at: http://forum.comicbookpage.com

This podcast episode originated on the Comic Book Page website:http://www.ComicBookPage.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Who Is George Lucas?

I was unsure what to expect from the book Who Is George Lucas? The title sounded interesting, but the book is clearly intended for a school age crowd.

The moment I started reading the book I was captivated. A very easy to read page turner the book is filled with interesting facts and stories about the man who went on to play a major role in making so many movies that influenced and thrilled a generation of cinema goers.

From reading about his childhood, and desire to be a race car driver — and how that actually turned him around and inspired him to become a better student, to reading about his teaching college courses to US Navy Cameramen while in college, I learned a great deal about the man who at one time considered making documentaries, and yet even in college was winning awards with his futuristic movies (Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB).

The book presents a well-rounded view of the man who went on to make Star Wars, even when friends were telling him it was a disaster, teasing him about Princess Leia’s hair and the force. Covering his life, and accomplishments to date, Who Is George Lucas? is a fun and informative read for anyone wanting to know more about the man behind so many movies they’ve enjoyed over the years.

This unauthorized biography Penguin was handing out at San Diego’s Comic-Con International is by Pamela Pollack and Meg Belviso, with illustrations by Ted Hammond.

George Lucas at IMDB
George Lucas Educational Foundation
Who Was Book Series Official Website

Orphan Black Locations – Toronto

One of the added bonuses of a trip to Fan Expo Canada in Toronto is the opportunity to do a little sightseeing in Toronto — like seeing a few of the locations used in the filming of the BBC America / Space show Orphan Black.

Within easy walking distance of the convention center we found both Beth’s Condo and Felix’s loft.

Beth’s Condo

At first glance Beth’s condo looks exactly as a fan of the show expects. A very modern building, with plenty of street in front of it for Art to pull up and talk to her, and the little dead end area for other’s to sit and wait and watch (that’s where we were standing as we took our photos.)

CN Tower over Beth’s Condo – Orphan Black

The show Orphan Black is discreet about where it is set, not blatantly being in Canada, or even “the here and now” as some fans have put it. Some of the fans have paused on the scenes where we see birth certificates and other personal documents trying to get clues as to when and where the show takes place, but viewers can rest assured that if the powers that be wanted it to be clearly set in Toronto they would have needed to just shift the camera angle on Beth’s Condo by a hundred feet or more and voila… the CN Tower would have been clearly visible in the background and they mystery would have been solved.

This was a quick and easy walk from Fan Expo, taking us past Rogers Centre / the Skydome and a Blue Jays game. If you are an Orphan Black fan, and ever at a convention in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre… you just might want to consider swinging by Beth’s Condo yourself.

Further afield, and a bit of a walk was Felix’s Loft, which has a different paint job than we were expecting, and a gate over the stairs, but we persevered and found it.

Felix’s Loft

Gotham – Cast on the Zipline

It is hard to believe San Diego’s Comic-Con International was a month ago! This coming weekend DragonCon will be taking place in Atlanta Georgia and FanExpo Canada will draw a crowd in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The three conventions have a lot in common, but for many San Diego’s Comic-Con International is still seen as kicking off the summer convention season, and it becomes understandable when you consider the displays and demonstrations that take place each year.

One such example was the cast of FOX’s Gotham taking their turns on the zipline in front of the Gotham City Skyline, and the Gotham City Police cars that were roaming around the gaslamp area offering rides to convention goers.

That’s what happened last month, here’s looking forward to my first trip to Fan Expo Canada, and hoping to hear from friends about DragonCon which I have not made it to in far too long.

On Monday, Sept. 22, origin story GOTHAM (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) kicks off. The series follows one cop, destined for greatness, as he navigates a dangerously corrupt city teetering between good and evil, and chronicles the rise of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes. The entirely new, untold chapter comes from executive producer/writer Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,” “Rome”) and stars Ben McKenzie (“Southland,” “The O.C.”), Donal Logue (“Vikings,” “Sons of Anarchy”) and Jada Pinkett Smith (“Hawthorne,” “Collateral”).