Following the Indie Toymakers panel I headed over to Ballroom 20 for the Comic-Con doc panel. I have a very love/Hate relationship with depictions of "nerd culture" as it pretty much just leaves me with a huge chip on my shoulder so I've been fairly content to avoid Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope. However, I'm curious just enough that seeing it for free and with this "right kind of crowd" made it seem like a pretty appropriate thing to do to wrap the first full day of the Con.
First, documentary superstar Morgan Spurlock came out to introduce the film. The film was born out of his first trip to SDCC 4 year ago for a Simpsons documentary Fox had hired him to shoot. One night he was at a party and was introduced to Stan Lee, to whom he gushed and lavished praise. Stan, characteristically enthusiastic, suggested that the two of them should work on a film together, perhaps a doc about Comic-Con. Right after that meeting a friend of Morgan, who was also an agent I believe, asked how it was meeting Stan. "He wants to make a Comic-Con documentary with me," he replied, and the agent/friend said Morgan should talk to another client of his, who turned out to be Joss Whedon. And thus... there you have it. Many people have tried to get the Con's permission to film a documentary but this was the first one granted access and Morgan is sure it's because of Stan and Joss' support. And with that... they screened the film.
In a lot of ways I'm the toughest audience for the this film - as I said I generally am opposed to any depiction of "nerd culture" plus SDCC has been a very substantive part of my life over the last 15 years so I am equally shoulder-chipped about depictions of that too. Well... it turns out that I quite liked it. It has all the elements I expected, storylines following select emotionally invested attendees, celebrity and fan interviews about the con and footage of the actual con) but it intertwined them all pretty well and rarely got too "soppy" or condescending - they even allowed for some negative Con opinions in the interviews amid the massive praise being lauded, which was nice. All of the people followed in the documentary come across as "real people with a dream," which is far better than most folks fare in most documentaries on nerd culture. It was, despite my hang-ups, an engaging film that does a decent job of capturing the "real SDCC" while still building up its mythological reputation.
Of the "characters" followed in the film are two guys trying to break in to drawing comics, a girl passionate about costume building, a short subplot about a toy collector after one particular exclusive, a guy hoping to propose to his girlfriend and the owner of Mile High Comics whose been coming to and selling at this show for 40 years now - these four are the core group whose story we follow. What's particularly fun is that I know the Mile High Comics booth well, in fact I bought one of, if not my first Trade Paperback there way back when, and recall walking past the glass case of vintage comics shown in the film. I also very clearly remember the girl's Mass Effect costumes from that year's masquerade and how we all lost it when the big guy's mouth moved - that was very much the sort of thing that has made the Masquerade an annual tradition for me. So it actually pulls me in through my own experiences with these things when they happened in a way that I didn't expect, and actually kind of counteracts my inherent discomfort with such documentaries. Despite my heavy misgivings (and that loathsome title) I did actually enjoy this film and would recommend it.
After the screening Morgan came back out to host a panel of folks from the film. Now, most of this Q&A can be considered spoilers as it's been exactly two years since the film was shot so much of the discussion is about what has happened since or how things "actually occurred." So... read at your own risk!!! The panel included, Right to Left:
-Ashley, Chuck's Protege
-Chuck Rozanski, owner of Mile High Comics
-Holly Honrad, the costumer
-Skip Harvey, one of the hopeful artists
-Dennis Harvey, Skip's dad
The end title doesn't mention it but Chuck did have to sell his books from the film to afford the new space mentioned at the end. It was hard but he wanted to continue to do well and be here for another 40 years. Selling Red Raven has allowed some additional $8 million in sales in the two years after. He also made it clear that Mile High Comics has a big team and they all deserve a round of applause, and thus receive one. Chuck also said that Comic-Con is the one show Mile High does any longer.
Skip sees self publishing as the way to go and is currently working on his own book as well as one called "Middle West" with other artists about what it's like to grow up as a geek in the Midwest. He's also working with someone on another a book about what it's like to go to Comic-Con.
Holly has moved to LA. She co-founded a costume/prop company with her friend Jessic (who is the film directing the masquerade skit). She also has a show at Nerdist Industries called "Try This at Home" about making props and costumes by yourself. She's also working with Bioware.
This was the biggest crew Morgan has worked with, with about 150 people. There were 15 full crews, at least 2 cameras per crew in case they needed to split up to follow the action. Morgan and his team would review footage from about 9pm-midnight each day and then give notes/direction to full crews for the following day.
Q&A
-How did Morgan contact them? They submitted an "application" to Morgan. 2,000 submissions, Holly was first person "cast". She was "the litmus for casting," she brought a real focus and specific reason. Skip saw the casting call on AICN.
-A guy who was cut from the film asks about a longer version with those who were cut out? The DVD is out, possible the bluray could include even more bonuses. Full interviews are on the DVD and celebs cut from film too.
-Morgan's next project? Mansome with Will Arnet and Jason Bateman about "manscaping" coming to OnDemand soon and will be spin-off to a Yahoo web series in two weeks.
-What was Holly's first costume? She was 4 or 5 and playing Super Mario Bros and wanted to be a Koopa, so she strapped a green pillow to her back
-Why not include self/Morgan in the film as with his other work? Decided early on Morgan wouldn't be in it, wanted to tell the story from people who were very invested in the Con.
-What might make Comic-Con better? Morgan - pornography. Chuck, he's been coming here since '73 and really likes how unique SDCC is. Morgan suggests a digital pass to attend virtually online like streaming panels as a first next step, also thinks it should be a week long and offer split pass for first 3 days and/or last 3 days.
-Holly, do you do more than Mass Effect? Yes. Her company is Crab Cat Industries. Mainly does the videos to show off technique.
-What was greatest struggle in making the movie? Hardest thing was so much was going on at every moment. They planned on shooting the Resident Evil panel, but then he decided why bother - but that was the one where the guy got stabbed! So you just accept that you're going to miss some things and need to focus on moving forward and following your story.
-Morgan says he cries every time James proposes to his girlfriend. Also, Holly's Dad came up to Morgan at the premiere and said "thanks, I never understood what she did and why she is so passionate about it until now." This is the "'I'm Okay, You're Okay' for 2012."
-Did Holly's technique change since working for Bioware? Yes, she's become friends with guys who have studios near hers now who have given her tips and advice. One of them made the taxi for 5th Element and showed her how to make armor out of foam with balloon latex skin so it's much more comfortable to wear
-Holly, where is cosplay headed? Cosplay is about being someone different for a day, so do that at every opportunity. "even if it's a thimble convention go dressed as a thimble."
